Page 9 of Mason

His kindness is like a stab to my heart.Even after what I've done, my brother is still looking out for me.I shift to my human form, and we sit in silence watching the water while I eat.

After a bit, Nicola breaks the silence."Tell me about him."

So I do, the whole story, from beginning to end.

Chapter Twelve

Mason

WhenJerichocallsmeto face him again, he's much calmer than I expected.Nicola probably talked him down.Regardless of the why, I'm grateful for it.Not only is this my pack, it's my blood family.I'm not sure I could lose both at once and survive.Jericho is holding this meeting in his office, just the two of us, but since he hasn't activated the silencing ward, I know anyone else in the pack house can hear what is being said.

"I understand you were in an emergency situation at the time of the mating.But keeping your mating a secret, and abandoning him… I can't let that go unchallenged," Jericho says, running a hand through his hair.

"At the time, I thought Hex needed to be able to live his life without me.He didn't ask to be in the situation we found ourselves in.The mate bond never felt like it took right.I figured we'd find a way to break it eventually and no one would be the wiser.But we never did."

"Because you're Fated.Nicola tells me there is another mate that's missing."

I nod, hoping my fuck up won't keep my family from helping me find Kory for Hex.

"I called Isadora and filled her in."

I knew he would, but knowing the Coven is privy to my mistake is embarrassing.

"She's agreed to help in any way they can, but she's also asking for you to be removed from the position of pack enforcer.I agreed."

I expected consequences, but it's still a blow.They no longer trust me to keep the pack safe.

"Other than working to locate your missing mate, you're also benched from missions."

"For how long?"

"Until Isadora and I decide.We'll see how things play out."

I brought this on myself.There's nothing else to do but accept it.Kory and Hex are more important than being pack enforcer.My focus needs to be on them.

"As your Alpha, I'm disappointed in your choices and the way they could have endangered this pack.As your brother, I'm happy you've found your mates."

Relief floods through me.I didn't know how much I needed Jericho to verbally acknowledge me as family until this very second.I'm getting off easier than I would have in some other packs.

"Cordelia will be taking over as enforcer.I need you to get her up-to-speed on how you have things set up.And you'll need to inform your contacts, this Nefarious MC, they'll have to be okay dealing with her if we're still going to use them as resources."

I cringe internally."Hex and I left things in a bad way.Now isn't a good time for me to be making demands.Nefarious has their own secrets.Even I don't know everything."

"We have secrets that didn't need to be shared, yet here we are.They've known about us this entire time, which could have been dangerous.It still could if they decide to retaliate over Hex's anger.You need to fix this.Our pack needs to meet the MC and come to some kind of formal arrangement."

"Both Hex and Cipher have blocked me.How do you expect me to fix anything if I can't make contact?"

"Figure it out."

Jericho's phone rings, interrupting our conversation.Even though I could hear the whole conversation without it, he puts it on speaker.

"Xenos's vision gave us a location to check out – Emberloch Manor," Isadora says, getting right down to business.

"That's in Midnight Hollow, right?"Jericho asks.

"That's the one."

"Fuck.That's demon territory."