Chapter 102: Chapter 101

Katie There was a knock at the door.

Finally.

I'd been alone since Quinn had left earlier that evening, and Stella had already gone down. | was anxiously waiting for Mason to come back He’d told me Xander was his brother then rushed out before | could ask any questions.

| knew there had to be way more to the story, the question was, would he tell me the rest?

“I'm so sorry | left in such a hurry earlier,” Mason said as soon as | let him in. “My head was all over the place, but | didn’t want to leave you in the dark.”

He pulled me into a hug, and when we pulled apart, he was smiling “How’s my girl?” he asked sweetly.

My heart swelled every time he said that. My girl.

“She’s sleeping, but she’d be smiling like a madwoman if you were here,” | answered. Mason beamed.

| wasn’t ready to move on from his apology, though.

“But Mason, you did leave me in the dark.” His face fell a little. “| know Xander is your brother, but | still don’t understand why he’s here now.

He sank down onto the couch, and | joined him.

“That’s why I’m here. There’s so much | need to tell you.”

His eyes were shining with some frantic emotion | couldn't quite place.

| breathed in deeply, trying to see if his scent would give it away.

But all | got was smoke.

“Where have you been? You smell like a chimney.”

“Campfire. | had a meeting with Xander and Zane. Hank mediated, hence why | came back in one piece.”

He breathed out a small laugh, but the joke didn’t reach his eyes.

“Our father...”

“Was an Alpha,” | finished for him. “Quinn told me.”

name “| wished | could've told you myself.” Mason pinched the bridge of his nose. “Orion Constantine is his “He didn’t even know he had another son until | confronted him, and my mom died giving birth to me. | had no family, and everyone expected me to grow up faster and take care of myself, but | couldn’t.”

Tears sprung to my eyes imagining little Mason, lonely and confused, no one around to help him.

| understood him, too, remembering when I’d woken up in Stillwood with no memory of who | was or if |

had any family at all.

“| was going to run away from home anyway, but then | found it”

“What?” | asked, my voice barely a whisper.

“A photo of my mother and Orion. My father was the Alpha of a neighboring pack. Rich, powerful, and he’d never once tried to help me.”

My heart panged for him, and for the family he never had.

| reached out for Mason, and he took my hand in his “| left-home and tried to find Orion, but a guard stopped me before | could get there. Without family or any place to go home to, |

was banished to the rogue territory | now call home.”

“I'm so sorry, Mason,” | said.

He squeezed my hand.

“There’s something else.” He fixed me with an intense gaze, not speaking for an excruciating few seconds. “I’m going to go to the Constantine packlands with Xander and Zane.”

“What?!” | cried.

They'd almost ripped each others’ heads off in the street.

Now he was going to their territory where they had even more power and influence?

“| know it sounds crazy, but | need to figure this family s hit out,” he said. “I had all these fantasies of challenging Xander and making him pay for having the childhood | always wanted. | guess | still feel that way a little, but | also want to get to know him.”

I | moved closer to him, taking him in my arms.

His body was warm and solid against mine. Even when | held him | felt protected.

“| get that,” | said, running my fingers through his long, dark hair. “If | had the chance to know my family, | would take it in a heartbeat.”

He reached for my leg and gave it a tender squeeze.

“My head is such a f u cking mess right now,” he said, “but being with you makes everything feel a little clearer.”

He sat up slowly, his eyes tw inkling with something resembling hope.

“Katie,” he said, his voice sounding bright and hopeful. “I want you and Stella to come with me.”