Chapter 68: Chapter 68
Katie POV
I smile as I walk to the door when there is a knock. Quinn is early today. Not that I am complaining. If it were not for her help, I would have been insane by now. You hear and read about sleep deprivation with a newborn, but you do not get it until you are in it.
I steady Stella against my shoulder and open the door.
“Mason,” I gasp, touching my hair self-consciously. Mason is as gorgeous as I remember, and I am wearing a tank top and sweatpants with my hair in a bun. “This is a surprise.”
“I hope you don’t mind an impromptu visit?” He smiles charmingly.
“No, not at all,” I open the door wider, allowing him inside. Stella stirs slightly in my arms, and I worry she might cry, but she opens her eyes and stares at Mason. “Looks like she doesn’t mind, either.”
“She’s so cute.” Mason runs a gentle finger down her little arm. “Looks like she’s going to have your hair colour.”
“Yes, she is,” I beam, looking proudly at my daughter. Stella already has a thick dusting of hair, the same cinnamon red brown as mine.
“Have a seat,” I invite, and we settle onto the couch.
“I got something for Stella,” Mason says, handing over a neatly wrapped package.
“That’s so sweet,” I smile, laying Stella in my lap, and accepting the gift.
“May I hold her?” Mason asks softly.
Even though I do not have a clue if this man has ever held a baby before, I like and do not hesitate to hand her over. And when he takes her, so unbelievably tiny in his giant arms, my heart melts into a puddle.
“Damn, she really likes you,” I smile when Stella makes little pleased grunting sounds when she settles into his arms.
Mason rocks her lightly back and forth, looking at her like she is the cutest thing in the world. But let us be real, she is the cutest thing in the world, but I am her mother. Of course, I think that.
I tear my eyes away from them long enough to open Mason’s gift. A baby blanket covered in quilted stars.
“Oh, this is beautiful,” I exclaim in delight. “Stars for Stella.”
Damn. Why is everything he does so perfect? He stayed with me while I gave birth, and now this gorgeous blanket matches my daughter’s name. My stomach flip-flops, and I have the urge to lean closer, to get him to wrap one of those giant arms around me, too.
Cut it out, Katie, I reprimand myself. He is only being nice, and I am only being hormonal. I am being inappropriate.
A chirping sound fills the room, and Stella wiggles in Mason’s arms.
“That’s my phone,” Mason gently hands Stella to me before stepping out of the room to take the call.
I lay Stella down in her bassinet and cover her with her new blanket.
“It can’t be,” I hear Mason say in a low, choked voice.
I turn around and realise he did not close the door, I can hear everything. I try not to listen, but the tone of his voice makes it hard not to.
“Fuck,” he says, louder this time. “Gather the guys from the regional packs immediately, you know what we must do.”
Whoever he is talking to, it sounds urgent ... and scary.
“Is everything okay?” I ask casually when he returns.
“Yeah, it’s fine,” he exhales deeply, and his eyes are dark and unfocused. “Just some plans that’s changed.”
“Okay,” I smile, deciding to let it go. It is none of my business, anyway.
“It’s nothing, really,” he says, standing in the doorway, his fists flexing repeatedly. He looks away, but not before I see his wolf flash in his eyes.
One thing is for sure: this call was unpleasant, and he is riled up.
“Would you like something to drink?” I ask, trying to distract him from whatever is bothering him.
“Actually, I should go,” he says, his eyes still not meeting mine. “I’ll visit you and Stella again soon.”
He turns around and quickly leaves before I can say another word. I expect the door to shut behind Mason, but instead, I hear Quinn’s voice.
“Oh, hey,” she greets, and Mason grunts an acknowledgement before the door closes and Quinn enters the living room.
“Where’s our little girl?” she coos, walking to the bassinet and gently stroking Stella’s cheek without waking her up.
“So, Mason, huh?” Quinn raises her eyebrows as she sits on the sofa.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” I roll my eyes, sitting opposite her. “He only brought Stella a gift.”
“Sure,” she smirks. “Listen, I get the appeal there, but you should’ve stuck with my brother.”
“It’s not like that,” I argue. I am sure as shit not going to confess my hormonal imbalance when it comes to Mason. “Not with Asher or with Mason. They’re both great guys, but I’m a mother, and my priorities lie with Stella.”
“If you say so,” Quinn shrugs. “But I must warn you, Mason is trouble. Even Asher told me so, and that’s his best friend.”
“How so?” I ask curiously. “I’m a mateless she-wolf with a newborn baby. I’m in no position to judge.”
“That’s not the kind of trouble I’m talking about,” Quinn laughs.
“Then tell me,” I urge her. I should not consider a relationship with Mason if he is a possible danger to me or my baby. I do not care how appealing he is. My child comes first. If there is something to know about him, I want to know. “I’m curious now.”
“Listen, Katie,” she says seriously. “I’ve hung out with those guys, and it’s crazy the shit Mason will say when he thinks I’m not paying attention.”
“What kinds of things?” I whisper, sitting on the edge of my seat.
“Like the fact that he’s some Alpha’s bastard son,” she replies.
So that is why he did not mention the Alpha thing sooner. He is a bastard child.
“He only found out a couple of years ago,” Quinn continues. “But here’s the really crazy part. He’s been plotting his revenge against the Alpha’s legitimate sons ever since.”
“Wow,” I mumble, stunned by the revelation. Is his phone call connected to this? Is that why he was so upset?
