36. Lakelyn
CHAPTER 36
Lakelyn
Even with Chad not physically by my side, I can still feel him—our bond is this bright, unbreakable thread that pulses in my mind, warm and steady. My body’s in this weird state of being relaxed, a little sore, but still somehow ready for more. It’s like my whole being is tuned to him now. Humming softly to myself, I push open the door to the coffee shop, feeling that familiar buzz of anticipation. Chad and I agreed to meet here once he wrapped up whatever it was he had to do.
At the counter, I order my usual, then add a Peanut Butter Chia for Chad—his favorite—and a black coffee for Mason. It's strange, but a good strange, knowing I'm doing this for my pack . My heart swells just thinking about it. I have a pack. And it’s not just my soulmate—it’s Mason, too, the man I’ve been obsessed with for years. How crazy is that? This is happiness. Pure and absolute.
Now we just need to figure out how to talk to Mason about Dean.
The thought makes my chest tighten a little, like a weight pressing down. What if Mason rejects the idea? What if he can’t handle adding another alpha? But then, he won’t be able to say no to Chad. That much I know. Alpha’s want to make their omega happy. It’s just the way things are. There are packs with more than one alpha, and it works. I mean, omegas usually need more than one alpha during a heat, and it would be super awkward, not to mention dangerous, to bring in some random alpha every time. Mason has to see that, right?
I grab the tray with Chad’s Peanut Butter Chia and Mason’s black coffee, turning from the counter when I spot her . Jenny. She’s right in front of me, wearing that sugary sweet smile like a weapon. Her eyes rake over me, landing on my neck.
The instant she notices the mark, that fake smile vanishes, her sweetness melting away as if it was never real. Her eyes narrow, lips twisting into something sharper, more menacing.
“Is that from Chad?” she demands, her voice losing all its fake warmth as if she doesn't already know the answer.
“Yes,” I reply, clipped, firm. “And it’s none of your business.”
She steps closer, her expression darkening. “Oh, I think it is my business. Betas like you—” she practically spits the word—“are just there to fetch things during a heat. Toys. Something to play with. But you’re not enough. Not for Chad. Not for any omega.” She leans in, her voice lowering to a vicious whisper. “Once I’m his alpha, he won’t need you anymore. You’re just temporary. A cute little distraction.”
My heart pounds in my chest, her words cutting deeper than I’d like to admit. But before I can respond, someone moves past her, stepping into my field of vision.
Mason.
He strides up to us, his presence commanding the space with a casual confidence, though he acts like Jenny doesn’t even exist. His arm slips around my waist, pulling me in close, his fingers brushing over the edge of the mark Chad left on my neck.
“Looks like I missed something today, Lake.” His voice is smooth, a hint of amusement threading through it. His fingers trace the spot just next to Chad’s mark, his touch warm and possessive. “We’ll add mine right here tonight,” he murmurs, the low timbre of his voice sending a shiver through me, a sensation that’s the exact opposite of the cold dread Jenny’s words had stirred up.
I let out my held breath, leaning into Mason’s warmth. Jenny’s presence, once looming, suddenly feels insignificant.
Jenny’s eyes narrow, flicking between the two of us, but Mason doesn’t spare her a glance. He’s focused entirely on me, his hand firm at my waist, and it’s like nothing else matters.
Jenny’s eyes flicker with disdain as if Mason’s presence is completely beneath her notice. Her gaze settles on me again, cold and calculating. “You think you’re special because you have his mark?” she scoffs, her voice dripping with condescension. “It won’t last. When Chad realizes what he needs, what he deserves, you’ll be nothing but a memory. Betas aren’t meant to keep omegas. They’re good at manual labor, nothing more than servants. Fetching things,” she says again, her eyes dropping to the coffee tray I’m still clutching, “Amusing the omega when they are bored. But never truly part of the pack.”
Before I can even process the sting of her words, Mason’s arm tightens around my waist, his voice cutting through the tension like steel. “Back off.”
She doesn’t even look at him. It’s like he doesn’t exist. Her eyes remain glued to me, her smile sickly sweet but eyes blazing with something close to madness. “Chad will come to his senses. You’ll see. An alpha belongs with an omega. And when he’s ready for something real, I’ll be the one he turns to.”
I feel the pit in my stomach grow, but before I can respond, Mason steps forward, pulling me closer to him. His presence looms larger, protective, the usual easy confidence in his voice sharpened to a warning edge. “Chad’s already with us. Lakelyn and I are his pack now. And you need to understand something— I’m his alpha.”
Jenny’s eyes snap to him, narrowing, and for the first time, she truly sees him. Her lip curls, barely concealing her disgust. “You? You think you’re enough to keep Chad satisfied?” She gives a cruel laugh, but it’s brittle, revealing cracks beneath her composure. “You’re just a little fling, his walk on the wrong side of the tracks until he realizes what he could have with someone like me.”
The pieces start clicking into place. The way she acted when I first saw her at the country club—how her eyes followed Chad everywhere, the way she seemed to hover, always watching him. Now, her obsession is clear, and it’s terrifying.
She’s been fixating on him this whole time. She did watch him at the country club, not just the time we arrived together, but now that I think back on it, she was always hovering in the background. And Chad said she offered him a ride, almost insisting on it.
Mason doesn’t flinch, though. His voice stays calm, but there’s an unmistakable threat in his tone. “Chad knows exactly what he wants. And it’s not you. You’re wasting your time.”
Jenny’s face contorts with anger, her sugary facade a distant memory. She steps forward, looking between the two of us as if trying to regain control of the situation. “He’ll come to me,” she hisses, eyes flashing. “Just wait. You’ll see.”
I’m about to speak, but Mason beats me to it, his voice unyielding. “No, he won’t. Chad’s ours. Lakelyn and I are all the pack he needs.”
There’s a split second where she looks like she might argue again, but something flickers in her eyes—something unhinged—and she whips around, storming out of the coffee shop. The door slams behind her, rattling the glass.
For a long moment, I just stand there, my body still tense from the confrontation. Then I turn to Mason, who’s watching the door with a deep frown on his face.
“What the hell was that?” I ask, trying to wrap my mind around everything that just happened.
Mason shakes his head, his hand still resting possessively at my waist. “She’s losing it. I’ve seen alpha jealousy before, but that...”
“She’s been stalking Chad,” I murmur, the realization hitting me hard. “The way she was acting at the country club—always watching him. It isn’t normal. Then Chad said the other night she tried to get him into her car, and now... this?”
Mason’s jaw tightens, his eyes darkening as he processes what I’m saying. “She’s not just jealous, Lake. She’s obsessed.”
A chill runs through me, my chest tightening at the thought of Chad being caught in the crosshairs of someone so unstable. I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. “We need to tell him. He has no idea.”
Mason’s hand rests against my back, warm and grounding, but his voice lowers, more serious. “You think it could’ve been her? At the shop? The break-in?”
The idea sends a wave of unease through me. “I don’t know,” I say, shaking my head slowly. “But the way she’s acting, it wouldn’t surprise me.”
“Where is he now?” Mason asks, his eyes scanning the café as if searching for Chad.
I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly feeling dry. “He should be here any minute.”
I’m not wrong, because he comes barreling into the coffee shop like it’s on fire and he needs to save everyone inside. He’s in front of me, my face cupped in his hands, his eyes frantic as he searches my face for something, then he leans back and examines my body.
“What happened?” he asks, his eyes still running over me. “I felt—you, and it felt like you were distressed and unhappy.” He shifts his gaze to Mason as if seeing him for the first time. “Did you make her feel that way?”
Mason scoffs, rolling his eyes as he leans against the counter. “Does that sound like something I’d make her feel?”
A hint of a smile flickers on Chad’s lips, the tension easing from his shoulders just a bit. “No, Alpha.”
Mason inhales deeply, and I can practically see the gears turning in his mind as the term “Alpha” lingers in the air. It’s like a spark igniting, and the heat radiating off both of them feels almost palpable. An awareness blooms through my bond with Chad, an electric charge that sends shivers down my spine.
Chad’s aroused, and it’s seeping into me through the bond. I take a steadying breath, trying to gather myself. If this is what he’s like not even in a heat, I can’t imagine what I’ll feel during one. Jenny’s words about me not being enough echo in my mind and a small, nagging doubt curls in my stomach. Could I really be enough for him when his need is more than this?
Chad’s gaze snaps back to mine, darkened with a mix of protectiveness and raw desire. Despite the overwhelming heat rolling off him, he puts me first. “You sure you’re okay?” he asks, voice low, his hand resting on my arm, grounding me.
I nod, trying to shake off the pure lust flooding my senses. It's not just coming from him—I feel it, too. “Really, I’m fine. Just some drama with Jenny.”
His brow crinkles, some of that desire ebbing away, replaced by confusion. “Jenny?” he asks, sounding baffled.
“Your mom’s friend,” I clarify. “We ran into her at the country club.”
Mason takes the drinks from my hand and, with a subtle nudge, leads us over to a cozy-looking couch by the fireplace. He sets the tray down on the coffee table and gestures for us both to sit, always the practical one. I sink down onto the soft cushions, grateful for a moment to settle the tumult inside me.
Chad follows, though his eyes haven’t left me, still filled with concern. “What did she want with you?” There’s clear confusion in his tone, like he can’t understand why she would even approach me.
Mason sits back, arms resting casually along the back of the couch, but I can feel the tension in his posture. “We think it’s more than that, man. This isn’t just a random run-in,” Mason says, his voice steady and serious.
Chad raises an eyebrow, looking between the two of us. “What do you mean? What did she say?”
I swallow, unsure how to bring it up without sounding paranoid. “It’s more than just what she said,” I start, glancing at Mason, who nods for me to continue. “I think… I think she’s been stalking you.”
His expression falters for a moment, and then he laughs, sharp and disbelieving. “Stalking? Jenny?” He shakes his head, brushing it off with a scoff. “Come on, she’s my mom’s friend. I flirted with her once just to be polite. She’s harmless.”
But Mason leans forward, more serious. “No, Chad, it’s more than that. The way she was talking to Lake—like she’s obsessed with you. She thinks she has some kind of claim.”
Chad frowns, his eyes darting to me. “Claim? She doesn’t even know me. What did she say to you?”
I exhale, recalling her sharp, cutting words. “She basically said I’m not enough for you, that once she’s your alpha, you won’t need me.”
Chad’s eyes widen, then narrow in irritation. “She’s delusional. I don’t need anyone but you. And maybe this alpha, too.” He nods in Mason’s direction with a smile.
Mason cuts in, his tone pointed. “You need to take this seriously, man. She’s been watching you. Lakelyn said she was acting weird at the country club, and think about the break-in at the shop. Who’s to say she wasn’t behind that?”
Chad scoffs again, brushing it off with a wave of his hand. “Come on, that break-in was probably just some kids messing around. Jenny’s not that crazy.”
I shift uncomfortably, not entirely convinced. “But what if it wasn’t just kids, Chad? What if she’s more obsessed than you think?”
He leans back, running a hand through his hair, frustration etched into his features. “I’m telling you, it’s nothing. Jenny’s just… I don’t know, lonely or something. She’s not some stalker.”
Mason’s jaw tightens, clearly not liking how Chad’s dismissing it. “You can brush it off if you want but don’t underestimate people like her. This kind of obsession can get dangerous.”
I press my lips together, glancing over at Mason. He meets my eyes, and the look he gives me says it all: I’ve got this. I’ll keep him safe. His silent promise settles over me, steady and reassuring, exactly the way an alpha should be with their pack.
I nod subtly, feeling a little more at ease knowing Mason’s not letting this go, even if Chad is.