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Mason

After the policetossed me out onto the street, I hitchhiked a ride across the city to my neighborhood. Normally I would’ve just shifted and ran, but my stupid paw was still bandaged andhealing.

Icouldn’t believemy luck. It just didn’t make any sense—I had no idea why, but for some reason Christophe had decided to let me go. Maybe he was trying to prove something to me, that what he’d said about his clan’s honor was true. I didn’t know, I didn’t care. All that mattered was getting home to make sure that Jennifer and Mom wereokay.

Ipaced aroundon the sidewalk below the apartment, running through all the different scenarios in my mind. I didn’t have any way of letting myself in, and I was too afraid to just knock on the door. I was afraid of what Mom would say when she openedit.

Finally,I decided to try Jennifer’s window. I picked up a bottle cap from the street and tossed it at the glass. After a moment of no response, I scooped up a small pebble and plinked it against the glass. A second later the curtains pulled back and I saw my sister peering down at me. Her eyes widened and she threw open thewindow.

“Hounds of Hell! Mason!”

Iheldmy finger up my mouth. “Not soloud.”

“Where have you been?”she said, lowering hervoice.

“Tell you inside. Is Mom okay?”

“She’s fine.I said you’ve been away forwork.”

“You’re amazing. Let me inside.”

Iwentup to the front door, and Jennifer pulled it open. She smiled at me, and I could see she was restraining her excitement to seeme.

“Mom, Mason’s home.”

“Sorry, I forgot my key,”Icalled.

Mom wasin the living room, sitting in her wheelchair watching TV. “How was work, honey? Longshift.”

“Yeah,”I said. I went over and gave her a kiss on the head. “I’m exhausted. Sorry, Mom, I’m going to gorest.”

“Go shower. You stink.”She gasped. “And what happened to yourhand?”

“Oh,nothing. Just slammed my fingers in adoor.”

Iwentto my room and Jennifer followed, closing the door behind her and squeezing me in a tighthug.

“You haveno idea how fucking scared I’ve been,” she said. “I’ve been waiting for the police to turn up. I thought they got you. I sawthem…”

“They did.They let me go today. Didn’t even figure out myname.”

“What the fuck?They let yougo?”

“You won’t believe this,but the alpha who chased me? The one that was on the balcony. He’s the eldest Luna alpha. He must’ve decided to have them let mego.”

Jennifer frowned.“Why would he dothat?”

“The idiot was tryingto prove something about his clan. That they aren’t all like the Blood Gulch. What a sucker,huh?”

Isaid this,but my feelings weren’t behind my words. I just didn’t want Jennifer to catch on to the fact that I was in complete awe of Christophe Luna. I hadn’t met many men of integrity. The fact that he’d done that without even knowing who Iwas…

Some peopleweresuckers,but I knew Christophewasn’t.

“Idon’t get it,”she said, “But I guess that doesn't matter. I’m so glad you’re okay.” She hugged me again, and I saw that she was crying. “I was so scared, Mason. I didn’t want you to go to jail. I thought we were donefor.”

“I’m sorry, Jennifer,”I said, hugging her close. “It was all my fault. I shouldn’t have made you go for the safe. Especially after all of the precautions we’d taken. I gotstupid.”

“You’re damn right you did.”She pushed away from me. “And I was stupid for listening to you. We have nothing, now. I don’t know what we’re going todo.”