Warmth spread through my chest like sunlight breaking through clouds. My wolf let out a satisfied rumble deep in my mind.
Mate. The realization settled into my bones with quiet certainty.
* * *
Morning crept into the cabin slowly. At first it was just pale light filtering through the curtains, soft and gray.
Then birds started up somewhere outside, the quiet chatter of the forest waking for the day.
I blinked awake gradually, the warmth of the blankets wrapped around me and something warm pressed against my side.
Mason. The memory of last night returned in pieces. His laugh, the quiet conversations, the way he’d curled against me like it was the most natural thing in the world.
I turned my head slightly. He was still asleep, and for a moment I just watched him.
Mason lay on his side facing me, one arm tucked under the pillow, dark hair falling messily across his forehead. His breathing was slow and even. My chest tightened with something warm and unfamiliar.
Careful not to wake him, I brushed a strand of hair away from his face. He didn’t stir. A smile tugged at my mouth before I could stop it.
Mate.The word echoed quietly in my mind again. My wolf stirred in sleepy agreement.
I shifted slowly, easing myself out of the bed. The mattress dipped slightly but Mason only made a small sound and burrowed deeper into the blankets.
I paused, watching to make sure he stayed asleep.
When he did, I slipped on a pair of boxers and dragged a shirt over my head before tiptoeing out into the kitchen. The cabin was quiet, still holding the warmth from the night before.
I opened the fridge and studied the contents. Mom had definitely been here recently. There was eggs, bread, milk, even a few stray berries. Heck, there was even some bacon.
“Alright,” I murmured to myself. “Let’s see what we can do.”
Soon the quiet kitchen filled with the soft sounds of cooking. Eggs cracking, bread soaking in the mixture, and the faint sizzle of butter warming in the pan.
A sweet, warm and comforting smell followed not long after. I was flipping a piece of French toast when I heard soft footsteps behind me.
Mason stood in the doorway between the bedroom and kitchen, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
He had my shirt on, and only my shirt. It hung a little loose on his frame, the hem brushing mid-thigh, sleeves pushed halfway up his forearms.
For a moment my brain stopped working. A slow, possessive warmth curled through my chest.Mine.The thought came so naturally it startled me.
Mason noticed me staring and froze. Then he looked down at himself and his cheeks flushed red.
Chapter 12
Levi
“Oh, sorry,” he said quickly, tugging at the hem of the shirt. “I didn’t really think when I put it on.”
I leaned against the counter, crossing my arms.
“You don’t need to apologize,” I told him.
He glanced up uncertainly.
“You look great in it,” I informed him.
That only made the blush deepen. Mason cleared his throat and shifted the conversation quickly. “What are you making?”
