Page 20 of Mason

The pack must have been waiting by the door because I don't even make it up the steps to knock before they're filing out onto the porch.

"Well, this isn't ominous at all," I mutter, forgetting about shifter hearing.

"Welcome, Mason's mate," one of the guys says with a smile, and I see a hint of fang.Vampire if I had to guess.

"Tavian, what are you up to?"Mason asks, his tone full of suspicion.

"What makes you think I'm up to something?"

"Nearly the entire pack is out here, and your smile is unsettling."

"You wound me, Mason.For once, I'm not up to anything but curiosity about the mates you've snagged."

"Uh-huh.We'll, as long as most of you are out here, this is Hex and Kory."

"Great to meet you.I'm Nicola," one of the other guys says."How about a tour of the immediate property before dinner?"

"Yeah, a tour sounds excellent.You're such a brilliant mate," Tavian says, his smile showing more fang.

I'm starting to agree with Mason.Something's up.It must not be anything dangerous or my wolf mate would be more tense.Maybe it's some kind of test to make sure Kory and I are worthy of the pack.Although, in my case, I'm already a marked mate.They're stuck with me.

"Show us around," I say.I'll play along.Whatever gets this evening over with.

"This way.We'll start with the training building and work our way back to the pack house," Nicola says, stepping down from the porch, Tavian following close behind him.

Mason, Kory, and I troop after them, walking across the space between the buildings.Halfway there, I glance behind us, then lean toward Mason.

"Why is everyone else trailing us?"

"They're weird, that's why," Mason says, not bothering to keep his voice down."Seriously, what is with everyone tonight?"He turns and walks backward for a few steps, glaring at his family.

"Is it a crime to want to welcome our new family members?"one of the women says.

"Not a crime, Jaz.But this is overdoing it, don't you think?"

When she shrugs in response, Mason turns back around and we approach the training building.

"Right this way," Tavian says, opening the door.

Suddenly, hands grab me and shove me inside.I'm quickly followed by Mason stumbling in where he's been shoved from behind.Before I can get my wits together, the door slams shut.

"What the hell, Mason!"I yell.

"Motherfucker!Tavian, Nicola, let us out!"he yells as he pounds on the door.

"You can keep trying to knock the door down, or you can iron things out with your mate.And we all know this building is made to hold up to shifter strength, so good luck with breaking it," Nicola shouts.

"Kory, baby, talk to Jericho.He'll make these asshats release us," I yell.

"Whose idea do you think this was?Although, I did think we were waiting until after dinner to do this, but whatever.You both are driving me out of my skull.Get your shit together!"

"Is this about the clothesline thing?"I ask Kory through the door.

"I'm telling you, the posts were a better idea.Those branches will snap under the weight of wet clothing," Mason says.

"Will you give it a rest?I tested the branches and they were fine," I snap back.

"Why are you so determined to argue with me about everything?First it was the most efficient way to load a dishrack.Then it was the best way to fix the porch railing.I could go on for days.If you hate me so much, why are we even doing this?Why are you still hanging around?"