Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Kip
It had finally arrived, the day Mason and I had been working so hard toward.
Assuming I got to see him again, of course.
I glanced in the stands and scanned the assembled guests until I spotted Mom and Dad, still beaming. And there were Mason’s parents, staring at him and sporting wide smiles. They were obviously happy for him. Then I spotted the guy sitting beside them.
Oh my fucking God, is he leering at Mason?
That had to be Jerome. It was easy to understand why Mase hated him, because just looking at the guy, I found myself wanting to storm up to where he sat and punch his smarmy face.
Okay, I didn’t understand the whole religion thing Mase had told me about. My family practiced no belief in higher powers. We were always taught good deeds were done because people were inherently decent and they wanted to help.
Jerome exuded none of that. His posture, his bearing? It all screamed entitled douchebag.
“I take it you’ve seen him,” came a soft voice from behind me. I turned and found Mase standing there, his black robe swirling around his feet in the gentle breeze. He was worrying his lower lip as he stared up at the crowd, his own gaze darting to his parents and, I assume, his alleged fiancé.
I wanted to pull him to me and try to give him strength, but given his stiff posture, I wasn’t sure the gesture would be appreciated.
We’d always been open to touching hands or slapping backs, shit like that, but always in a bros-type way.
Seriousness wasn’t our forte at all. In fact, I think we often used humor to avoid talking about anything real.
Mase loved to talk to people, to interact with them.
After seeing him run home one day, I’d tried to convince him to join the track team because man, that boy could fly like no one else I’d ever seen.
His speed was phenomenal, his leaps breathtaking, and his smile when he did it?
I once told my parents Mase ran as though he’d been freed from whatever held him down.
Guess I wasn’t wrong.
College hadn’t brought the freedom I’d anticipated.
I’d really believed once we got away from our small town, Mase and I would be able to spread our wings a bit, but instead Mase was even more…
I guess guarded was the best description.
. During certain nights he would say he had to go out, and then he wouldn’t come back to our room for a few days.
I’d see him on campus, looking exhausted, but otherwise he seemed okay.
I wasn’t worried. Mase was a big boy who could take care of himself, right? Yet after finding out how different things were for him, I was angry at myself for not noticing my best friend needed me.
“I could go over there and smash his face in,” I offered, making a fist to show I was not even kidding. I wasn’t an inherently violent person, but Jerome pissed me off more than I would’ve believed possible.
Mason smirked, but it vanished a second later. “I don’t think that would go over too well,” he murmured.
I watched Jerome out of the corner of my eye, and it was clear his gaze was locked on Mason. I could almost see the mental masturbation taking place, and it sickened me. He wasn’t looking at Mase like a person, more like an object to be conquered.
“And just to change the subject…” Mason pointed to my face. “What’s with the chin fluff? Did we forget to shave this morning?
I gave a mock glare. “Hey. So I’ve decided to grow a beard. Don’t diss it.”
He snorted. “That is not a beard. It’s stubble with delusions of grandeur.”
“Dude, this is Day One. Give it time, and it will be full and thick, just like my—”
Someone cleared their throat.
Show time.
I don’t remember the ceremony. I was too focused on Mase, too angry at the circumstances.
Too hurt that I hadn’t known Mason needed me.
I think that was what got me the most. He’d always been there for me, as friend, mentor, co-conspirator.
Whatever role I needed filled, Mason was willing to do it and always had been.
Where I led he often followed, but he never made it easy on me.
Mase had no problem speaking his mind, but then I reconsidered.
He’d always been upfront with me, but with others?
He shrank back from them. There were times I’d see him take a different route to a class and it hadn’t struck me until now.
Was he avoiding someone or something? Was I so blind that I didn’t notice what was right in front of me?
Then it was all over, and we joined our relatives and guests, a babble of noise rising from everyone that filled the auditorium to its rafters.
“Mason!” his mother shouted, right before she threw herself into his arms and squeezed the stuffing out of him.
His father clapped him on the shoulder, then joined in the hug with his mother.
Jerome stood there, watching the proceedings as if he were in charge of the whole thing.
Apparently he was.
“Are you ready to go home?” he asked Mason.
I wanted to smash his face for the condescending tone of his voice alone.
Mason blinked. “What? No. I’m going to meet some friends out first.” Jerome scowled and Mason shrank in on himself. “I mean, if you’ll allow it.”
Yeah, my fist itched to plant itself in Jerome’s face.
Jerome’s brows furrowed. “No, I don’t think so. I have things I want to do tonight, and I need you to be there, ready.”
He’s talking about sex, isn’t he? He wanted to deflower Mase, not caring what Mason wanted.
This farce had gone on for too long. I’d heard about as much as I could stand.
I squared my shoulders and gave Jerome my brightest smile. “Actually, he’s coming out with me.”
Mason’s eyes widened, as though he couldn’t believe I was challenging Jerome. “No, it’s okay,” he said weakly. “I’ll talk with you later, okay?” He gave me a beseeching glance that clearly said Don’t do this, please.
“No, you won’t,” Jerome growled. “You won’t be talking to any other men from now on.”
Oh, that fucking did it.
“And who’s going to stop him?” I folded my arms and stuck out my chin.
If looks could kill, I’d be one dead dude.
“He knows his place,” Jerome snapped.
“Jerome, can we not do this here?” Mason’s mother pleaded.
“Here is fine,” he insisted. “This one needs to learn Mason’s place and understand his life no longer has any room in it for him.”
“But he’s my best friend,” Mason insisted.
“You mean he was. You don’t need friends, you have our family now.”
Mason shrank back. “Yes, Jerome. I’m sorry, Kip. I have to go home.”
He didn’t even look at me.
No.
No.
Hell to the fucking no.
“No, you are not going home with this douchebag.”
Mason gasped, his parents gaped at me, and Jerome’s eyes flashed.
“You need to stop flapping your lips right the fuck now.” His tone was edged with steel.
Like I cared.
“Why does he have to do what you say?” I asked, my own voice hard.
“Because I am Mason’s intended ma—husband.”
I blinked. Intended what? It didn’t matter. I still didn’t like it. “And when exactly was this marriage arranged?”
Jerome’s eyebrows almost disappeared into his hairline. “What difference does it make to you?”
My heart pounded. I couldn’t believe I was about to say this, but fuck, he’d pushed me into it.
“Because I have my own claim.”
The silence was deafening, and the looks on everyone’s faces were priceless.
Including my parents.
Mason
The tension in the tackily decorated room was so thick it was almost tangible.
I hated that all eyes were on me. My mom and dad were staring openly, but the really weird part?
They didn’t seem angry. Jerome, on the other hand, appeared enraged, as if he wanted to rip my head off.
On one laptop screen Jerome’s father, Alpha Donnelly, pinned me with a flinty glare and on the other, my own Alpha, John, was somehow managing to send threats without verbalizing them.
I need someone here who has my back.
Kip wasn’t allowed in. I understood why, of course. This was pack business, and being human left him out.
If he were here, he’d stand up for me.
Which meant one thing, given the circumstances. I had to stand on my own two feet. I summoned up every ounce of courage I possessed, because Kip had gone to the wall for me, and I was not about to cave to anyone.
My literal freedom is on the line here.
“Father, he claims he already has someone!” Jerome whined.
“Is this true, pup?” Alpha Donnelly demanded, his voice tight with what I could assume was anger.
“It is, Alpha.” My voice came out stronger than I would have believed possible.
Thank you, Kip.
“And why is this the first time you’ve mentioned it?”
Now that was a good question.
“I feared the pack wouldn’t accept a human as my intended, especially given my station,” I replied.
“I would have left with him to spare my parents any humiliation, but then I was told Jerome was to be my mate. I panicked, trying to think of a way out of this without anyone—especially Kip—being hurt.”
The lie rolled easily off my tongue. I was glad no Alpha was present in the room, because they would have sensed the deception right away.
“And are you claiming this is forever?”
This was the make-or-break moment.
If I said yes, that would lock me to Kip for as long as he’d have me. I would be submissive to him in all things.
Better the devil you know than the one you hate.
“I’m certainly counting on it to be, Alpha.
I love Kip, and have since we pledged ourselves to each other all those years ago.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t think he’d make this claim, despite our vows.
Being human, he isn’t bound by our rules.
” I took a breath. “I was afraid he’d cast me aside, and find someone new. ”
Alpha Donnelly frowned. “And you no longer worry about this happening?”
“He claimed me in front of my parents, thus giving his own form of the pledge.” I hated the formal rhythm of my speech, but I also knew what was expected of me.