Chapter 9 Mason
Mason
The shifter moved restlessly on the bed, his eyes squinting open for a second before he shivered hard, like something cold had brushed down his spine.
I straightened immediately. The chair legs scraped softly against the floor as I leaned forward, pulling the blanket higher over his shoulders.
His skin felt too cool when my fingers brushed his wrist, and I forced myself not to flinch. He made a small sound, almost a whimper, then settled again.
I stayed there, watching him, counting each rise and fall of his chest until his breathing evened out. Only then did I sink back into the chair and lean against the metal rail of the bed.
He looked young, around Kai’s age. Maybe a little older, but not by much. Too young, either way.
Too young for the bruises still fading along his throat, for the hollow look that had lingered in his eyes even when we’d first found him.
What was going to happen to him after this?
The pack would help him, probably. They’d find him somewhere safe, somewhere he could recover. That’s what they did. I’d seen enough over the past week to know that.
But if they didn’t, the thought of him slipping out there again, of Daniel getting his hands on him, made my chest tighten.
I swallowed hard. Maybe there was something I could—
The thought died before it even formed. I could barely even help myself, or Kai.
And that wasn’t even the biggest problem right now.
My gaze snapped back to the deer shifter’s face. What if he recognized me?
We’d barely spoken when he and the other deer shifters camped at the clearing outside my cabin. A few days… no, more than that. A little over a week ago. Had it really only been a week?
But what if he remembered? Worse, what if he remembered everything — the attack, them being herded off, and me standing there with Daniel, close enough it could’ve looked like I was part of it.
My fingers tightened around the metal rail, knuckles whitening.
If he said anything… if he told Cooper or Gino… if Levi—
I squeezed my eyes shut for a second, my pulse loud in my ears.
Because what if that was the point?
What if this was the catch? Daniel had handed over that information too easily after I’d begged him for something, anything, to help me earn the pack’s trust.
At the time, I’d been too relieved to question it. But what if he wanted my cover blown?
It didn’t make sense. Not unless he thought it would push me harder, make me more cooperative, and give him what he wanted.
More details, more names, more information. He already knew I was holding back. I wasn’t exactly a great liar.
Still, it had been worth it. Worth it not talking about Levi or giving Daniel anything more about him. Not even saying his name out loud where it could be used. If nothing else, I’d bought myself time.
I dragged a hand down my face. God, I was tired.
My eyes drifted back to the deer shifter. My thoughts circled again.
Why risk this? Why risk exposing me?
Unless Daniel didn’t think it mattered. Unless he assumed the shifter wouldn’t remember. Or wouldn’t be able to talk.
Or—
He thought the shifter would be dead by the time we found him.
My stomach dropped.
If Daniel thought he was dead… then maybe that was the only way to keep him out of their reach.
The thought cut off abruptly as the clinic door opened.
Ethan, the pack healer, stepped in first, followed by Cooper and Gino. Levi came in last, closing the door quietly behind him. As soon as I saw him, something in my chest eased before I could stop it.
“You’re still here?” Ethan asked, surprised.
“Yeah,” I said, my voice rough. “I didn’t want him waking up alone.”
I could tell Levi was trying to catch my eye, like warmth at the edge of my vision. My gaze slid away before it could meet his.
Because I hadn’t stayed all night only to make sure the shifter was okay. I’d stayed because I needed to be here when he woke up, to know whether he remembered me. Whether everything I’d built over the past week would collapse in a single sentence.
Ethan stepped closer to the bed. “I’m going to check on him.”
Cooper nodded. “And see if he remembers anything.”
Ethan frowned, glancing back at him. “Let me make sure he’s stable first. He’s been through a lot.”
I edged backward until my shoulders met the wall, putting distance between myself and the bed. From there, I watched Ethan lean over the shifter, his voice gentle as he called softly, trying to rouse him.
He pressed two fingers lightly against the shifter’s wrist, then touched his shoulder. “Hey. Can you hear me? I just need you to wake up for a moment.”
The shifter stirred, brow creasing. My gaze locked onto his face, every muscle in my body tightening.
Don’t look at me. Don’t remember me.
Levi will know. Cooper will know. Everyone will know.
The room suddenly felt too small. My pulse pounded in my ears as the shifter’s eyes fluttered open, unfocused at first. He blinked slowly, confused.
I braced myself. Everything was about to fall apart.
Then a warm hand wrapped around mine.
I startled, looking down. Levi’s fingers had closed gently around my hand. I hadn’t even noticed him moving closer.
“It’s going to be alright,” he murmured, low enough that only I could hear. “I’m sure he’s fine.”
I managed a small, tight smile, but I didn’t pull my hand away.
At the bed, Ethan spoke softly. “Hey there. You’re safe. You’re at Pecan Pines. Can you tell me your name?”
The shifter swallowed. “I… I don’t…” His voice cracked. He shook his head, wincing. “I don’t know.”
“That’s okay,” Ethan said gently. “Do you remember where you came from?”
Another shake of the head. “There was… a truck. I think. And… dark.” His breathing quickened. “I don’t— I can’t—”
“It’s alright,” Ethan soothed. “You don’t have to force it.”
Cooper and Gino had stepped closer, their expressions tight with concern. The shifter’s gaze flicked between them, then around the room over Ethan and Levi. Over me.
My lungs locked.
But his eyes moved past me without recognition, settling back on Ethan.
“I don’t remember,” he whispered, distressed. “I’m sorry.”
Relief hit so hard my knees almost buckled.
Ethan sighed. “He may have memory gaps. Head injury, trauma… both can do that.” He looked back at the shifter. “You don’t need to worry about anything right now. Just rest.”
The shifter nodded weakly, exhaustion already dragging his eyes closed again.
Once he’d settled, Ethan motioned toward the door. “Let’s give him some quiet.”
We filed out into the hallway. The door clicked shut behind us.
Everyone looked concerned. I felt something completely different.
The relief was overwhelming, almost dizzying. He didn’t recognize me. My cover was intact.
Gino exhaled slowly. “Could still be a trap.”
Cooper nodded, jaw tight. “Leaving him out there alone in a cage… that doesn’t sit right.”
“Whatever the circumstances,” Ethan said, “I’m glad we found him in time.”
“They move around a lot,” I heard myself say. The words came too easily.
“The anti-shifter group. They probably used that spot temporarily. Sometimes they leave shifters behind if they’re too weak.” I shrugged, trying to keep my tone casual. “Sometimes they just… leave them.”
I realized that I’d said too much a second too late.
But Ethan nodded slowly. “I’ve heard similar accounts from other healers. It happens more than people realize.”
Cooper’s expression darkened. “Damn it.” He turned to Gino. “Go back to the site. If they left him there, they might not be too far. See if you can pick up anything — tracks, scent, whatever’s left.”
Gino gave a sharp nod and was already moving. “On it.”
He disappeared down the hallway.
I drifted back toward the door and glanced through the small window. The shifter had already fallen asleep again, his breathing shallow but steady.
Levi followed my gaze to the small window. “We’ll do what we can,” he said quietly, mistaking the tightness in my chest for worry about the shifter. “He’s safe now. That’s what matters.”
Cooper nodded to me now. “And if you hear anything else… if you know of anyone who might need help, let us know. We’ll do what we can for them too.”
Ethan snorted softly. “You say that like we’re not already stretching our resources. Have you looked at the expense spreadsheet recently?”
Cooper froze. “I—”
Ethan raised a brow.
Cooper cleared his throat. “Actually, I just remembered I need to… check on something.” He turned and walked off down the hallway a little too quickly.
Ethan shook his head, then looked back at me. “I’m joking. Mostly,” he added, softer. “We really will do what we can.”
I nodded, unsure what to say.
“You two should get some rest,” Ethan continued. “I’ll call if there’s any change.”
Levi murmured his thanks, and we headed out of the clinic together.
The early morning air hit cool against my face. The sky was just beginning to lighten, pale gold creeping along the horizon. We walked in silence toward Levi’s truck.
The pack didn’t even know him. Yet they’d risked everything to bring him back, to help him. To save someone who might have been a trap.
My chest tightened again.
“Hey.” Levi’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Thanks. For bringing that tip. And for trusting us with it.”
I blinked, caught off guard. “I—” I looked away quickly.
Trusting us.
Guilt curled low in my stomach. If he knew the truth… if he knew why I’d really pushed for that information…
We stopped beside his truck, both of us leaning back against it. The sun was climbing higher now, washing the packlands in a soft light. For a moment, neither of us spoke.
I could feel Levi looking at me.
“What?” I asked finally, turning slightly.
“Six,” he said.
I frowned. “What?”
He leaned in a little, studying my face more closely. “No. Maybe eight. Yeah, eight.”
“Eight what?”
“I think I’ll come by your place at eight.”
I blinked. “Why?”
“For dinner.” His mouth curved faintly. “You said you’d go out with me. Also…” his gaze dipped, assessing, “…you look like you desperately need food and rest. Probably rest first. Then food.”
A small laugh escaped me. “Fine. But why eight?”
He tilted his head, studying me again. “Some sleep would do you good.” He leaned in even closer, and I caught his scent.
It was warm, with something sharp underneath, like cedar and dry amber in the sun. “Or we could do a rain check,” he added. “You look pretty rough. Your eye bags are really bad.”
“Hey,” I protested, nudging him lightly with my elbow.
Still, I turned toward the truck’s side mirror, bending to check my reflection. My eyes did look tired, and much darker than usual.
“They’re not that bad,” I muttered.
Levi chuckled. “I’m joking.” He pulled open the passenger door for me. “So… seven, then?”
I huffed. “Fine.”
He walked around to the driver’s side, and a few minutes later we were heading back to Tony and Nico’s place, the radio filling the quiet space between us.
I tapped my fingers lightly against the door in time with the music, watching the trees blur past.
It was just dinner.
One night didn’t change anything. I was still here for a reason. Still needed to help Kai. Still needed to do what I came here to do.
I kept repeating it in my head, like it might make it more solid.
But my mind drifted back to the way Levi had leaned in, close enough that I’d caught his scent.
My coyote had perked up immediately, curious, drawn in a way that made my stomach flip.
I turned toward the window. My fingers curled loosely over my mouth, hiding the warmth creeping into my cheeks as I stared outside.
I wanted to go. More than I expected to.
That realization was both unsettling and strangely exciting. I wasn’t sure when that had happened, when Levi had gone from someone I needed to be careful around to someone I found myself wanting to spend time with.