Page 2 of Mason

Despite what I just said to him, that statement hits hard.My wolf bristles and it's a fight to hold him back.What did I expect?That we'd keep going on in a state of indefinite limbo?

"I thought it would be better to deliver the news in person.Plus, I'd like you to meet him."

Studying the beer bottle in my hand, I ask, "Does he know about us?"

"He does.I asked him to give me time to figure out what you and I are to each other before things went any further.He's been patient, but it isn't fair to make him keep waiting."

If Hex is ready to move on with his life, I won't hold him back, no matter how unhappy my wolf is about the situation."Tell me about him."

"He's a wild mouse shifter named Kory.Adorable.Sweet."Hex smiles in a way I've never seen before and a pang squeezes my heart.I want that kind of connection.

You could have it, my wolf says.I ignore him.

"What happens when he wants a formal mate bond and you can't give it to him?"

"I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

We sit in silence a few moments as we finish our drinks.After Hex tosses the empties in the trash, he reaches across the bar and takes my hand.

"You remember the night we met?"

"As if I could ever forget.They'd just returned you to your cell after taking more blood."

"They took too much and I was out of it.So when the guards came in to have a little fun, I was in no shape to defend myself.They wanted you to ignore what they were doing or join in."

I don't like re-living this.

"But because you're a good man, you did the only thing that would keep them away from me.Even those bastards respected the mate bond."Hex looks me in the eye."If you could go back and change your mind, would you?"

"Of course not!Why would you even ask that?"

"Why?What made me special out of all the others being held there and experimented on?"

"I don't know.There's something about you that interested my wolf more than the others."I look down at our joined hands."But you know our bond isn't the way it should be.There's no evidence we're Fated.We're not like Jericho and Faith, Ezri and Lorne, or Nicola and Tavian.If we were Fated, would we have been able to stay apart so long once the bond was in place?Would you have been able to fall in love with someone else?"

"I don't have those answers.But something led you to me that night.It would have been easy for you to ignore what was happening, but you didn't.You tied yourself to me in order to save me.That has to mean something, Mason."

"What do you want from me, Hex?You say you want to move on with this new guy, but it sounds like you want our bond, too."

"That's exactly what I want.You walked away because of how our bond came about.You think it's hero worship and our complicated lives are a barrier.You walked away, and I agreed to give you time to see how we'd fare apart from each other.But it's time to get our shit together.It's been years.Hanging out in this gray area isn't healthy – for either of us."

My mind is all over the place trying to figure out how to respond, but before I can utter a word, he releases my his hold on my hand."Come on.Let's go to Kory's place."

"Now?"

"You need all the information before you make a decision on how you want to move forward.And Kory doesn't deserve to be at the mercy of your whims."

I'd argue with him that I have all the information I need, but the look on his face tells me that won't go over well.My body feels as if it weighs a thousand pounds as I hoist myself off the barstool and follow Hex out to his bike.

Far too soon, we're speeding down the road toward an uncertain future.

Chapter Three

Mason

Thelateafternoonsunfilters through the trees as we pull up to a small cabin.Hex turns off the bike and I take off the insulated helmet that protects my ears.Shifter hearing can be extremely sensitive.While I can desensitize myself to sounds, sometimes it's easier to wear ear protection.

Setting the helmet on the seat after I climb off, I listen to the environment around me.There are the usual forest sounds, but one thing is missing.