Chapter One
Loneliness permeated Mason Taylor, even surrounded by friends, family, and the chaos of the pack house. Gazing at himself in the mirror, he tucked the blue-and-black plaid shirt into his jeans and huffed a frustrated breath. Only one time in the thirty plus years he’d walked this planet had he not felt the gnawing emptiness. For one night, he’d connected with someone and then he’d shoved them away as if they meant nothing.
They couldn’t mean anything, because the relationship would be doomed on so many levels it made his head ache to think about it. Lacing up his tan boots, he focused on his upcoming “date.” He had no idea if that was even the word for it, considering it might be another one-night stand…another mistake like all the other women he’d been with. None had made an impression, and they all blurred together, but he hoped Madam Eve had come through like she’d done for others in his pack.
He stared at his reflection in the mirror and shrugged. “Good enough.”
He should probably shave and find some nicer clothes, but he wouldn’t want to give the woman the wrong idea. Lumberjack chic was his go-to style, no point giving his date false hope. It was probably the wrong attitude, but his mama always told him to “start off how you intend to go on.” No point dressing up all fancy when it would likely be the last time.
He grabbed his duffel and headed out.
The moment he stepped into the hallway, a stampede of little feet swamped him. He’d been considering moving out of the pack house and finding a place of his own for a while. With Garth’s trio on their feet and causing heaps of trouble, now was as good a time as any.
“Hey, you three,” Garth called out, running up behind Matthew, Michael, and Margaret. “Stop bugging Uncle Mason.”
He wanted to say they weren’t bugging him at all, but why lie? He didn’t much like children, and seeing how ragged they ran the pack alpha only confirmed his no kids stance.
Garth scooped Margaret up first and put her on his shoulders then grabbed the two boys and nodded at the bag in his hand. “Where’re you off to?”
He could have respond with any number of excuses, but he didn’t. “A date.”
“Ah, there you all are.” Maddy’s voice echoing down the hall saved him from any further inquisition. “Have my hellions been running amok again?”
“Just Garth,” Mason replied. “The other three have been perfect angels.”
Maddy chuckled. “I find that hard to believe, but I’ll take it.” She gathered her kids and shooed them back up the hallway, leaving him alone with Garth.
“So, anyone special, this date?”
“No, why would you ask?”
“Well, you have a bag I presume holds a change of clothes, which hints at an overnight stay, and I know you never stay overnight, so it must be someone special.”
Mason hated being so predictable. In truth, he hadn’t actually been with anyone but Mrs. Palmer and her five daughters in at least twelve months, probably longer. But he had a reputation as a ladies man. One well earned. He’d spent all of his twenties and his early thirties fucking his way through as many women as he could. Most thought him commitment phobic, but he’d just never found anyone who inspired him to take the leap. Except that one time.No, not thinking about it.
He looked up to see Garth staring at him expectantly. Crap, he couldn’t remember what he’d asked, something about his evening. “It’s a 1Night Stand.”
“As in the Madame Eve kind?”
“Yeah.”
Garth clapped a hand on his shoulder and cracked up. “About time. I thought you were never going to settle down. Madame Eve will set you right.”
Mason sure hoped so.
“Go on. Get out of here.”
He took the opportunity and booked it toward the front door. The universe seemed to have it in for him, though. As he pulled the door open, Brute and Lizzie stumbled in.
“Whoa!” Brute yelled as he grabbed his wife and stopped her from face planting. He leveled an unhappy glare at Mason. “What’s your problem, dude? You could have hurt her.”
“Hey, I had no idea you were behind the door.” He should have, though. His shifter sense should have warned him. His impending date had him far more preoccupied than even he’d realized.
“No worries, dude. Got to look after the missus now she’s carrying my pup. Ooomp!”
Mason had to hold in the laugh threatening to bubble up as Lizzie not so gently elbowed the pack enforcer in the ribs. “What part of we’re not telling anyone yet did you not understand?”
“Sorry, babe. I’m excited. You can punish me later.”
