“Hey. You don’t have to talk about it,” I said lightly.
For a second, something conflicted flashed across his face. Then his shoulders loosened a fraction.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “It’s just complicated.”
My chest did that annoying thing again. Of course it was complicated; nothing about Mason felt simple.
“That’s okay,” I said.
I meant my words.
Even with the questions starting to stack up in the back of my mind, and even with the faint, persistent sense that I was only seeing half the picture, my wolf still wasn’t alarmed.
He was alert, maybe, but not threatened. Which only made this whole thing more confusing. If I wasn’t attracted to Mason, I would definitely start questioning more.
Maybe he just doesn’t get along with his brother, I thought to myself. That could be the simple explanation.
We walked the rest of the trail at an easier pace, conversation drifting back to safer ground. Small, harmless topics like the weather. I told him about some of my packmates, silly family stories.
Mason even laughed once, and the sound was genuine. It was low and surprised, like it had escaped him by accident. I felt it all the way down to my bones.
By the time Tony and Nico’s house came back into view through the trees, the sun had dipped lower, painting the forest in warm amber light.
We slowed near the porch, but neither of us spoke for a moment. Then Mason shifted his weight, that same uncertainty from earlier creeping back in.
“I should go back in,” he said quietly.
My wolf immediately disagreed strongly, but I ignored it.
“Yeah,” I said.
I didn’t move away, and neither did he. God, this was getting complicated. Finally, I forced my feet to move, walking him toward the front door.
Halfway there, I stopped.
“Mason.”
He turned, brows lifting slightly. Up close like this, I could see the fine tension still riding under his skin.
The careful watchfulness. The way he was always half-braced, like the world had taught him not to relax too much. Something protective and possessive twisted low in my chest.
“I meant what I said earlier,” I told him quietly. “You’re safe here.”
His breath hitched. His gaze searched my face, like he was looking for the catch.
“Okay,” he finally said.
He didn’t sound fully convinced, but he didn’t dismiss my assurance either. That was progress in my book. I gave him a small nod and stepped back, giving him space.
He hesitated one more second, then returned to the house. I watched him go. Once he was safely inside, I dragged a hand down my face and exhaled hard.
I was undeniably interested in Mason, despite the doubt curling in the back of my mind and the questions that had started to stack up.
* * *
Dane’s cabin lights were already on by the time it came into view through the trees, warm gold spilling across the clearing like an invitation.
Good. Because my head was a mess. The walk over hadn’t helped at all. If anything, the steady crunch of gravel under my boots had just given my thoughts more room to spiral.
