Chapter 29: Chapter Twenty-Nine - Jessica

The smell of dinner lingered outside of the house.

My stomach growled, despite the barbeque that Mrs. Jamie ordered us. The day had drained me. Maybe it was because I’d been out of school without a job for a few weeks.

Either way, it was bittersweet to be in the working world.

Mason opened the door for me. Dinner sat on the table with two wine glasses and a lit candle.

“Wow, fancy,” I said, watching Mason’s cheeks as he blushed. “Did you just blush, Mason?” I asked.

He chuckled. “Don’t push it.”

I placed my palms in the air as an act of surrender and followed him toward the table. I sat across from him as he opened the wine bottle and poured us both a glass.

“So, how was work? Did they ask about the lycans today?”

I nodded while slicing off a piece of steak. “They did. But Joey got the article. I’m stuck writing about some upcoming festival.”

Mason nodded. “Do you enjoy writing at The Eagle?”

I shrugged. “I think it’s too soon to say. I like Jamie and Joey, but the workload is what I worry about. I wanted to work in a fast-paced office where we could all get good stories. I don’t want to be queened the beauty pageant or the small-town drama girl.”

Mason nodded. “I understand. If we don’t put a stop to this lycan soon they may have plenty of articles to go around.”

“Speaking of,” I said, my gaze shifting toward the front window. Someone’s headlights flashed against the far wall.

“It’s Jacob,” Mason said, standing up to go toward the door.

Mason walked inside, sweaty and dirty from work. His gaze swept over the room noticing our dinner. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“It’s fine,” I called out. “Just make it quick.”

Jacob gave me a look before walking into the kitchen to meet Mason. Unable to keep myself from eating, I sliced off another piece and slipped it into my mouth. The feeling of being watched settled over me swiftly. I looked around the room, in the corners and out of the far windows. Nothing seemed out of the usual.

That feeling had gotten better over the last few days. I didn’t think a ghost was going to jump out from some old closet.

Clearing my throat, I grabbed my wine glass and froze. The reflection of the glass caught something behind me. I turned around, and standing at the window was a lycan.

It was bigger than I imagined. Taller than most guys I knew. The way he stood almost reminded me of a kangaroo. But he was hairy with red glowing eyes and a mouth that I knew would rip me to pieces.

My mouth opened to scream but nothing came out. The reporter in me wanted to snap a picture, but I didn’t dare make a sudden move.

Could he make it through the window? Glass would hurt him, wouldn’t it? A lump of fear formed in the back of my throat. The floor creaked behind me, and reality smacked me in the face.

I scurried around the table, seeing Mason and Jacob standing in the doorway of the dining room.

The movement startled me.

Suddenly, Jacob sprinted toward the back door. The lycan disappeared from the window. I expected them to fight but all I saw was Jacob

run across the backyard after the lycan.

Mason turned toward me, his eyes a golden hue that made my heart race. “Do you need to go?” I asked.

“The boys are in the area. Jacob wants me to stay here with you.”

I wrung my fingers together and cleared my throat. “So, that’s a lycan?”

Mason nodded absently. “I saw his paw print on your window today. I was going to tell Jacob later after dinner. He keeps coming back here. I don’t like it. I want to know why.”

I scratched my head and sighed heavily. “Is it safe to finish dinner?”

“Of course,” Mason said, guiding me toward the table. I stopped at my plate, grabbed it and moved it next to Mason so I wouldn’t be positioned close to the window.

“Good idea,” he said, taking a bite of food.

I watched the window as we ate in silence. My gaze shifted from one corner of the window to the other. What would a lycan want with me? Maybe he scented the wolves here. Or maybe he knew I was a wolf’s mate.

Mason placed his palm on top of mine. “What’s the matter? Your nerves are all over the place.”

“I’m afraid.”

Mason turned to face me and shifted my face toward his. “I’ve got you, Jess.”

The front door opened, and I turned swiftly. Mason walked in with wild hair and naked as the day he was born. I cut my gaze as he grabbed one of my hats and covered his junk.

“What did you find?” Mason asked, meeting him halfway.

“He got away,” Mason said, his voice gruff. “Seth and Liam joined me, but he just disappeared in thin air.”

Seth and Liam ran into the house a few seconds later. I turned my back to the room full of naked men. “It’s fast,” Aaron complained. “How does it shift so quickly and just vanish?”

“I don’t know,” Mason mumbled. He shifted and I heard his voice lower an octave. “He was watching her.”

My spine stiffened. I angled my ear to hear better, but the conversation stopped. “Are you okay, Jess?” Mason asked.

I sat down at the table to keep my back to them. I needed another glass of wine. I poured myself one and gave him a thumbs-up over my shoulder.

The door shut several seconds later, and Mason sat down beside me. “I’m sorry this happened,” he mumbled. “We think you need to come to the pack house to stay. There will always be at least two of us there. You’ll be even more protected.”

I gulped another mouthful of wine. “Why do you think it was looking at me and not you?”

“I could feel it,” he said.

I looked up at his handsome face. “You could feel the lycan’s thoughts.”

“No. I could tell his fixation was on you.”

“That’s…interesting,” I mumbled. “I couldn’t wait to get away from it.”

Mason turned his attention to his plate. “Let’s take this to-go. We’re going to go to the pack house tonight. You can sleep with me.”

He stood up and stalked toward the kitchen. I could feel his unease, and desperation to keep me safe. Bringing back to small containers, he shoved our dinner into them and then into a plastic sack. “You should grab the things you need for the night. I’ll get this.”

My heart pounded against my chest as I grabbed my duffle and shoved it full of clothes and my toothbrush. On my way into the living room, I put my laptop into my bag and grabbed my charger.

Mason took the duffle from me, his gaze anywhere but on mine. “This isn’t your fault,” I said.

“Isn’t it? I should have told Mason about the lycan’s scent and his mark on the window sooner. I was being selfish, not wanting to disrupt our time together.”

I smiled at his honesty. “Turns out I don’t hate you for wanting to spend time with me.”

He closed his eyes. “It’s my job as Beta to make smart decisions. I’m making selfish ones.”

I lifted onto my toes and kissed him softly. “You’re not selfish,” I said. “Come on. Let’s get over there. I’ll feel better once we’re safe.”

Mason followed me toward the door, grabbed the handle from me and stepped outside. His head moved from one side of the house to the other. Once he felt as if it was safe, he ushered me toward his truck.

The sound of a Louisiana night had been some of my fondest memories. Now, it sent fear down my spine.

Mason started his engine and pulled out of the driveway. “I have a favor to ask you.”

“Yeah? What’s that?”

“I want you to go meet my grandmother with me tomorrow. She’ll be at the library. She made me some fried pies for standing in for her during the funeral.”

I lifted both brows. “I can do that. Does she know you’re a werewolf?”

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “Her husband did. He died several years ago. Don’t bring it up. She wouldn’t believe you anyway.” He laughed. “She reads fiction all day but she’s a realist. You’ll like her. She’ll like you, too.”

“I hope so. Meeting family members is big time. Are you going to put a ring on my finger now? My dad would have a mini-stroke.”

He snorted. “What we have is stronger than marriage, Jessica. Just think about if he knew I bit your neck and a mark appeared.”

“Yeah, we should keep all of that to ourselves.”