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Christophe

Of course,when I’d announced to Mother and Father what I was going to do with Mason, they’d thought I’d gone insane. I told them my justification—that it was in the spirit and duty of our clan, and that this was the type of leader I wanted to be. In the end, it was probably the hate for the Bellocks and the Blood Gulch Clan that won them to my side. I knew they didn’treallycare to help Mason. And in the end, I guess I’d hidden my true intentions for why I was doingthis.

WouldI have done the same if I hadn’t thought that Mason might bespecial?

Ididn’t know.And maybe I was a terrible person forthat.

The thing wasthat every second I’d spent with him, even just arguing with him in the police compound, had convinced me that hewasspecial, that there was something cosmic connecting us. How else could I explain the way I felt about him? During every bit of those few short moments, my attraction to him had grown stronger and stronger. When I touched him, it was like a jolt of lightning had hit me. I wanted more. I wanted to feel him against me. I wanted to hold him, to take him, to make him mine. Maybe Ihadgoneinsane.

During that ride home,it took all my strength not to be overwhelmed by his presence. I had to force myself to look out the window so that I didn’t stare athim.

And yet,despite all this… He was still a lowborn omega. That was the worst part. We could never be together. Not that there was any explicit rule against it, it just was completely unheard of. Not to mention, Mother and Father would neverapprove.

What wasI expecting from all ofthis?

Ihad no idea.But I knew that I needed to do it, or else I’d regret it for the rest of mylife.

Mason followedme into the house, and I could see how nervous and uncomfortable he was being back here. I brought him to the coat room, where the old door still hung halfway off its hinges. Inside, the vent cover was hanging open, untouched from when I’d seen him disappear into it. The only thing that was missing was the climbing rope, which had been taken by thepolice.

“Iprobably should’ve mentionedthat I’ve never done anything like this before,” he said,sheepishly.

“You figuredout how to break in here undetected through a system of vents, so I think you can probably figure this out. But if you do need anything, let Stephen know. He’s the head of our house staff and can supply you withanything.”

Right on cue,Stephen appeared, pushing a cart of tools, a replacement door, andelectronics.

“Thanks,”Mason said. “Guess I’d better get to work,then.”

“I’ll be backto check on you,” I said. I left him there, staring blank faced at the supplies in front of him. I went upstairs, and then ducked behind an outcropping where I could watch him without being seen. He continued to stare the door for a few minutes, occasionally scratching his head, until he finally picked up a drill and started to remove the mangled screws that held the thing to the frame. I sighed. I wanted to find a way to talk to him normally, not with this uncomfortable divide between us. But what chance was there of thathappening?

Father was in his office,and I went to report to him that Mason washere.

“I’m still nothappy about this,” he grunted without looking up from the stack of paperwork he was poring over. “Having a criminal in our home. He could be taking stock of everything weown.”

“Iaskthat you trust my judgement, Father. I sense that he’s a man of good character, justmisguided.”

“He triedto steal from us. I think that’s all that needs to be said. But you’ve always had a good sense for people, perhaps better than I. I just hope you won’t regret thisdecision.”

Ido too,I thought tomyself.

“Just havehim out of here as quickly as possible,” Fathersaid.

As I walkeddown the hallway, Arthur passed by me and looked up from his phone. “Who’s the omega?” heasked.

“Mason Arkentooth,”I said. “He’s the guy that broke in here the othernight.”

“The hell is he doing here?”he asked, and I sighed and explained. Arthur gave me a look. “Weird. Okay. Interesting call, Christophe. Maybe I’ll go down and introducemyself.”

“Don’t flirt with him,”I said, just a little too quickly. Arthur’s eyes narrowed, and a little smile curled on hislips.

“Noooo.Isthatthe reason he’shere?”

Dammit.

“Idon’t knowwhat you mean,” Isaid.

“Hounds of Hell,Christophe. You don’t have a crush on the guy who tried to rob us, do you? I knew you were disappointed about the party, but I didn’t think you werethatbackedup.”

“I’m givinghim a chance to redeem himself,” I said. “That’s it. There’s nothing more tothis.”