Chapter 8: Chapter Eight - Mason

I waited until they’d cut the cake and ate before pulling Jacob into the kitchen. His lighthearted smile changed when he noticed my face. “What’s the matter?

What happened?”

“A wolf ran out in front of us on the way home. It was a werewolf. It was giant. It stared at me like it knew me.”

Jacob’s shoulders straightened and his alpha came out. “Did you recognize his smell as what we’ve been picking up on?”

I shook my head. “No. Jessica saw it too.”

Jacob cursed under his breath and rubbed the back of his neck. “We need to run tonight. All of us…”

“What about Jessica,” I blurted out, unable to stop myself. “She mentioned how afraid she is of staying here alone.”

Jacob sighed heavily. “Maybe one of us can stay until she falls asleep.”

I didn’t agree but he was our alpha, so I didn’t push at him. Plus, I didn’t want to draw any attention to the fact that I couldn’t keep my eyes off his cousin.

When she’d offered me her drink I couldn’t think about anything other than putting my mouth where she’d put hers. Tasting her mouth…my wolf was on the edge just remembering it.

“What's going on?” Aaron asked from the doorway.

Jacob curled his finger, not wanting to speak too loud, and said, “A werewolf ran across the road today in front of Mason and Jessica. We’re going to take turns checking on Jessica tonight and all run together.”

He looked shocked but delivered the message to the others. Mrs. Tasha walked into the kitchen with a few plastic plates and dumped them into the trash.

“What are you two in here whispering about? You’re always so secretive.”

“Jacob found a girl he likes,” I said.

Jacob gave me a deadpan look as his mother turned and covered her mouth. “Jacob! Finally!”

I shot out of the kitchen to avoid any kicks or punches to the back of my head. Seth sat next to Jessica when I walked into the dining room and my wolf growled but I bit it down my throat.

Liam sat in the corner of the room with his feet kicked up on a neighboring chair. The look on his face as he ate his cake made me want to knock it out of his hands. It was an obvious look of knowing my feelings at the moment. “Seth,” I said sharply. “Jacob needs you in the kitchen. You’ll have to cancel the softball game tonight.”

He tore his gaze from Jessica. “What? Why?”

I gawked at him until he got up and went into the kitchen. Jessica cleared her throat. “I need to take a shower. My legs are starting to get sticky from that drink.” She stood and I noticed her luggage in the corner of the room. “Is that all you brought with you?”

She grabbed the handle. “Dad is going to send a U-Haul with the rest of my things this weekend. It isn’t too much, not until I truly decide.”

Mrs. Tasha walked into the dining room. “I put up the cake and pizza,” she said. “It’ll get you through a few days, Jessica. You’re more than welcome to come over for dinner at my house whenever you want."

“Thank you, Aunt Tasha.”

She smiled at her. “The boys will be around. Jacob mentioned you being scared to stay by yourself. I think the boys are going to rotate out until you’re not scared anymore. Sound good?”

Jessica nodded though I couldn’t understand the emotion flickering across her face. “Sounds good.” Mrs. Tasha kissed her cheek and let herself out.

Jessica sighed. “Going to shower. Will you guys be here when I get out?”

“We won’t leave until you’re finished,” I said.

Jessica thanked me with a look and walked toward the guest shower on the first floor.

Liam chuckled once she was out of hearing distance. “Dude you’re so obvious.”

I walked over and kicked the chair out from underneath his feet. “So are you. Eavesdropping on my wolves’ feelings is low.”

He stood and put his palm on my shoulder. “You’ll have to tell him sooner or later. When things calm down he'll notice, trust me."

Jacob walked into the dining room and looked around. “Where is Jess?”

“Shower.”

Jacob poked his head down the hallway to make sure she couldn’t hear. “Could you tell where the wolf was heading?” he asked.

“No, he ran across the road and stared as if he knew I was a wolf. Then he ran into the woods. We were outside of Covington. It wasn’t in Slade Springs.”

“But that doesn’t mean he won’t follow you,” Seth said from the doorframe. “And it doesn’t explain the scent we’ve been picking up lately.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “It could have just been a coincidence, but honestly, it seemed more than that.”

Jacob let out a deep sigh. “We’ll all go out tonight when dusk hits. Someone can stay here with Jessica until she falls asleep. She’s still scared of the place.”

“Who could blame her,” Aaron said, looking out of the back window. “The place is right in the middle of the forest and she’s alone. Plus, it has old people pictures on the wall.”

Liam laughed. “Because Mrs. Dotti was old before she passed. Should old people not take pictures of themselves as they age?”

Aaron cringed. “I wouldn’t if I got that old.”

“Technically you will get much older than that,” I said. “You just may not look it.”

“It’s not the same. The wrinkly skin freaks me out,” Aaron said, shivering at the thought.

“I’ll stay with Jessica until she falls asleep,” Seth said. “I’m tired anyway.”

Closing my eyes, I willed my wolf to calm down. He couldn’t stand the thought of Jessica being alone with Seth. She wasn’t ours and I knew that, but I wanted her to be.

My fingernails dug into my palms as I tried to calm him down.

“Mason…Mason!” Jacob’s alpha voice sliced through my thoughts and tore them apart.

“Huh?”

Jacob stared at me. “Are you okay? You’ve been on edge for days. I don’t get it. Is it the scents? Or what happened today?”

“No. I’m fine. My wolf gets this way periodically.”

“Well tell him to get it together,” Jacob said, his attention moving toward the hallway.

Jessica emerged a few seconds later in a pair of worn jeans and an oversized T-shirt. Her hair was damp at the end and I wanted to run my fingers into it so badly. “Don’t stop talking on my account,” she said.

Jacob jabbed her in the shoulder. “We were just talking about someone staying with you tonight in case you’re still scared.”

Those blue eyes shifted toward me and I felt the gesture down to my toes. “I don’t want to bother y’all. I’m a big girl. I can stay by myself.”

Jacob snorted. “Since when? I don’t want to get a text in the middle of the night because you heard a noise outside.”

She glared at him. “You can’t stay over here every night. I’ll be fine if you want to go have fun or whatever. You all have lives.”

Jacob made a face while Seth stepped forward. “I don’t mind staying over until you fall asleep. Would that help?”

Jessica nervously shifted in the doorway. “I’ll be fine. Scout’s honor. I’m going to watch TV in the living room and look for some online jobs. My professor sent some options over to me last night. I need to get my resume in soon.”

Seth looked disappointed and my wolf howled in excitement. It didn’t mean I wouldn’t run by her house and check on her occasionally when we split to run the woods.

It didn’t sit right with me that a werewolf was so close to our lands. If he wasn’t a rogue, it meant that there were others.

“Okay,” Jacob said reluctantly. “We’re going to head out then. Call me if you need anything.”

Jessica waved as they began to walk out of the house, but I didn’t budge. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and handed it to her. “Put your number in there and text me so I can have your number. Just in case you do get scared. Jacob is terrible about answering his phone. I’m not.”

Jessica smiled and typed her number in slowly. “Thank you for the ride and this. I’m not a big wimp normally. This is…”

“A new place. No one blames you,” I said. “I’ll see you soon.”

I left feeling her gaze on me. My wolf begged me to stay, but against the need to be alone with her, I didn't listen.

Because the town needed protecting and I was the pack’s beta.

Protect her, my wolf said.

My fingers curled into fists. I wanted nothing more than to protect her, to sink my fingers into her hair and angle her mouth upward. I'd do anything to taste that sweet mouth just one time.