33. Mason
CHAPTER 33
Mason
I lost control. Having them both so close—knowing what they are to me—it snapped something inside. The moment he leaned into me, the second Lakelyn’s and Chad’s scents filled the air between us, I couldn’t stop myself. Everything I swore I’d keep under control unraveled, and now, here I am, buried deep inside Chad, claiming him in the most primal way. My omega. Our omega.
I won’t lose them. I won’t be like my dad—walking away when things get complicated, leaving behind the people who matter most. I watched my mom crumble when he left, and it destroyed her. I can’t let that happen to us. To me, to Chad, to Lakelyn. They’re mine now, even if they don’t fully realize it yet.
The crescent-shaped bite on Chad’s neck glistens in the soft light of the apartment. My mark. The first visible claim that says he belongs to me. And even though he hasn’t marked me back yet, I know—he’s accepted it. Accepted me. He’s mine.
A low snort escapes me as I correct myself in my head. Not just mine. Mine and Dean’s. This only works if we’re all in this together. Dean, Chad, Lakelyn—this pack will only survive if we’re one, if we’re united. The thought sends a possessive heat through me, making my hips press deeper into Chad, earning a soft, muffled moan from him.
“You like that?” I murmur, flexing my hips up into him again, refusing to let my knot slip free just yet. Chad's body tenses, his back arching against me as I grind into him, and his breath hitches before he lets out a breathy laugh.
“Fuck, you really know how to—” Chad’s words cut off in a groan as I press deeper, holding him tighter. “—how to ruin a man, Alpha.”
His cheeky tone, even when he’s breathless, makes me smile. “Not done ruining you yet,” I growl, my hands gripping his hips harder. The way he melts into me, the way his body responds, pushes me to go slower, deeper, making him feel every inch.
Chad gasps, gripping my thighs beneath him as his body shudders. “God, the way you fuck… it’s like you’re made for this.”
I lean in, brushing my lips against his ear, my breath hot against his skin. “You’re made for me.”
As the words slip from my mouth, Chad's whole body reacts. A full-body shudder ripples through him, his muscles tensing before giving way, soft and pliant in my grip. His head falls forward against my shoulder, and a sharp gasp escapes him, the sound somewhere between a moan and a sigh.
I feel the tremor in his legs, the way his hips instinctively tilt into me, exposing himself even more. It’s like he can’t help it, like the sound of my words has unlocked something deep inside of him. His fingers dig into my shoulders, desperate for grounding, for something to hold onto as he melts under my claim.
“Yeah,” he breathes, his voice shaky, lips parted as if he’s struggling to catch his breath. “Yours, Alpha.”
That single word— Alpha —comes out in a ragged whisper, dripping with submission. It sends a surge of heat through me, and I grip his hips harder, pressing him even closer. A roar of possessiveness locked inside my chest.
“Good boy,” I murmur, my voice low and possessive. I can feel every tremble, every shiver, as his body surrenders completely to mine. And I love every second.
I feel like I’m floating as I finish up the room at the shop, my head still buzzing with everything that’s happened. Supplies line the wall, neatly filling the sleek black cabinet, and I prop my tattoo gun in its holder with a satisfied hum. Whistling along to the music playing over the speakers I set up today, I can’t help but grin to myself.
I left Lakelyn and Chad tangled together, still asleep at her apartment, and the energy flowing through me is impossible to ignore. I’m not due at the dog shelter until after one, so I figured I’d knock out a few things here before heading over. But no matter how hard I try, I can’t get the image of the two of them out of my mind—Lakelyn nuzzled against Chad’s side, fitting perfectly against him like they’ve always belonged that way. Which they do. And somehow, I belong with them, too.
As I adjust the lighting and step back to take in the space, the familiar jingle of the door opening pulls me from my thoughts. I glance over, and sure enough, Dee strolls in with that usual bounce in her step, eyes immediately locking onto me with a knowing grin.
“Well, well, look who’s all smiles today,” she teases, strutting over like she’s got something on me. “What’s going on with you, Mase? You’re in an awfully good mood for a guy who's normally brooding over everything. Does it have anything to do with you not coming home last night?”
I chuckle, shaking my head as I continue tidying up. “Maybe I’m just happy the shop’s coming together, Dee. Ever think about that?”
“You look different,” she says, tilting her head. “Relaxed. Happy.” A pause. “Terrified.”
I chuckle under my breath, leaning back against the workbench. “That obvious?”
She raises an eyebrow, smirking. “You’re practically glowing. So, either you just won the lottery or... your pack is official.”
I exhale, running a hand through my hair. “Yeah. It’s official.”
Dee’s grin stretches wide, and she claps her hands together. “No shit! I knew it! I could feel it coming!”
Her excitement is contagious, but I keep my grin tempered, unsure how much to give away. Dee, of course, doesn’t wait for me to offer details.
“Okay, wait,” she says, holding up a hand like she’s stopping traffic. “Let’s process this. You—Mason freakin’ Cain—are part of a pack. And let me guess: you didn’t exactly plan for it to happen, did you?”
“Not even close,” I admit, rubbing the back of my neck. “It hit me like a freight train.”
She watches me closely, reading every shift in my expression like she always does. “Lakelyn,” she says, her voice softening slightly. “I figured it would be her all along. But now it’s real. You’re in this. With her.”
I nod, the weight of it settling in my chest—but it’s not heavy. It feels solid. Right.
“And Chad,” Dee adds, her voice light but her eyes sharp, watching for my reaction. “Didn’t see that one coming, huh?”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “No. Not at all.”
Dee leans in, nudging me with her elbow. “Bet you thought he was just some pretty face, all fluff, no substance.”
“I did,” I admit. “I was wrong.”
Her grin widens, satisfied. “I told you. There’s more to him. You just needed to look past the show.”
I let out a breath, nodding. “Yeah. He surprised me.”
“Did Dean accept it alright?”
My lips twist slightly. “He doesn’t know about last night yet. But we are on the same page.”
Her brows raise. “You better hope he is.” She laughs before her expression softens, and for a moment, she’s not teasing, not poking fun. “So, how do you feel? About all of it?”
The question hangs in the air, and I let it settle before answering. “It’s... different. Like I’ve finally found where I’m supposed to be. But it’s still new, you know? I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
Dee’s hand rests on my arm, grounding me. “It’s not going to drop, Mason. This isn’t some temporary thing. You’ve been searching for a place to belong for years. Maybe this is it.”
Her words sink in, and I nod slowly, feeling the truth of them.
“And Landon?” she asks, her brow lifting. “You two good?”
I grimace. “He needs time. A lot of it.”
Dee nods, understanding. “He’ll come around. He loves you. And you’ve always been there for him. He’ll see it’s real eventually.”
“I hope so,” I say quietly.
She grins, the teasing edge returning. “Well, until then, enjoy it. You’ve got a pack now. And from the looks of it, they’re crazy about you.”
I laugh softly, feeling a warmth I haven’t in a long time. “Yeah. I guess they are.”
“And you?” she asks, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “You crazy about them, too?”
I smile, the answer coming easily. “Completely.”
Dee beams, giving my arm a squeeze. “Good. You deserve this, Mase. Don’t mess it up.”
“I won’t,” I promise, and for the first time in a while, I believe it.
“This deserves breakfast,” she says with a smirk. “So, are you gonna tell Ma?”
I pause for a second, straightening up, letting her words sink in. The idea of telling our mom—that’s a whole other hurdle. I grab the rag from the workbench and wipe my hands, the motion calming me just enough to think clearly.
"Eventually,” I mutter, tossing the rag aside. “Not yet, though. Gotta handle one thing at a time."
Dee’s eyes light up with amusement. “Yeah, you might wanna break it to her slowly. She’s gonna flip.”
I let out a short laugh, shaking my head. “Yeah, no kidding.” It’s not like my mom will hate the idea of me being in a pack, but I’m sure I will hear all the things I shouldn’t do to screw it up.
She claps her hands together, clearly ready to move. “Alright then, let’s go get some food. You can figure out how to survive telling Ma later.”
With one last glance around my finished room, I nod, satisfied. “Let’s do it.”
I grab my jacket from the hook by the door, and as we head out of the shop, the crisp morning air greets us. She loops her arm through mine, grinning up at me as we start walking toward the diner. The small town hums around us, familiar and comforting in its routine. It feels different today, though. Lighter. Like everything’s falling into place.
Dee looks up at me again, giving my arm a little squeeze. “You’re shining with happiness, Mase. It suits you.”