Chapter 139: Chapter 138

Katie | walked to my room in a daze.

| didn’t want to stay at Rhiannon’s tonight. | wanted to go to someplace safer, someplace that felt more like home.

Stella clearly agreed. She’d been fussing almost nonstop since we’d gotten there, and nothing | tried would calm her down.

| could relate, though. If Stella wasn’t in my arms, | probably would’ve already broken down completely.

Hours ago, | was angry with Mason for letting his emotions get the better of him and putting us all in this I position, but now | was weirdly grateful for it.

If he hadn’t bitten Braden, would | have ever found out who and what | really am?

“lm a vampire,” | said again to myself. I'd repeated it over and over, almost not believing it. What the hell did that even mean?

Would | become an outcast? Would | be hunted like the others? Would Mason hate me now?

The very idea of it made my eyes fill with tears.

Mason attacked Braden because he thought he was an enemy who would hurt me. but turned out we were a lot more alike than |

ever would’ve thought. Was that why Braden and | knew each other before? Did he know this whole time that | was a hybrid?

Stella let out another great wail, and my heart panged. The tears welling in my eyes spilled over.

| hated seeing her so distressed like this.

| rocked her back and forth, cooing to her, “It’s okay, my love. There’s nothing to be afr shook, and she didn’t calm at all. She must've known | didn’t believe the words | was sayin Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and Mason slipped inside without waiting fo “Let me take her,” he said, holding out his hands for Stella, “I can’t imagine what you mu now. I’m sure you could use a break.”

| openly wept as | passed Stella off to Mason. Of course, he had come to help me, and | didn’t to ask.

He held Stella with one hand and pulled me into him with the other.

But my voice 1 was scared you'd feel differently about me now,” | said in a shaky voice. “You hated Braden as soon you knew what he was. |

was worried the same thing might happen to me.”

He pulled back and looked me in the eyes. They were full of hurt and sympathy and what seemed like love, too.

“| could never Mason said. “I acted rashly when | bit Braden. | don’t think he deserved that.”

He leaned down and kissed my forehead. My eyes fluttered closed.

“And more importantly,” he said softly, “It doesn’t change how | feel about you. Not even for a second, If anything, it just makes me want to protect you and Stella even more.”

| blinked up at him. There he was again, right there when | needed him most, saying all the right things.

“Thank you,” | said tearfully.

He smiled softly. “T’ll put Stella down,” he said. She’d already quieted in his arms, her favorite place to be. “You go take a hot shower and try not to think about all this s hit for a minute.”

| looked him up and down. His long hair tousled perfectly, his chiseled face arranged in a gentle expression, his big arms flexing as he held my baby... He looked perfect. | bit my lip.

-Will you join me in there when you're done?” | asked Mason’s face morphed from surprise to arousal. “I’ll do anything you want,” he said, his voice a low rumble.

| stepped into the bathroom and turned the water as hot as | could stand it, letting the steam wrap itself around me as | peeled off my clothes piece by piece.

“| do love you, Katie.” | thought about Mason’s words as | stepped inside, letting the water run over me.

| suddenly felt desperate to have him here with me, to have his hands all over me. My insides tightened and my core pulsed. | let my hand travel down between my legs, imagining my touch was his.

As if I'd conjured him, the door opened and Mason’s silhouette appeared in front of the glass shower door.

He stepped inside, and without a word, his lips claimed mine, not bothering to be gentle. His hands were all over me, his hard c ock pressed into my aching belly.

“Mason, wait,” | said, pulling back. “I have something to tell you first...”