With him positioned adjacent to her, entirely unclothed, should he even be present? Would she desire that? Ought he to remain? Is he to depart? He was unaware.
She sensed her body adjust and observed as she nestled against him; he smiled, wrapped an arm around her, and embraced her, intending to depart, but not immediately. He ran his hand through her hair, kissed her forehead, and closed his eyes, choosing to remain here for a brief moment and indulge in selfishness.
Frowning, he sensed a tugging in his mind, opened his eyes, and yawned, realising he had fallen asleep. He looked down at Daisy, who remained asleep, her body nestled against his. Once more, he experienced that pulling sensation within his mind. It seemed as though someone was tugging at his tether, attempting to reach him, yet the connection remained elusive.
Reluctant to rise from her bed, she glanced at his watch and blinked; it was nearly 3 PM, indicating he had entered the room almost 5 hours prior. As she slipped from the bed, she murmured something in her sleep. He smiled down at her, finding her irresistibly endearing, tousled and still reeking of intimacy.
He traversed the room and donned his clothing, casting a glance at her canvas while fastening his trousers; it was unveiled, and he paused, observing his reflection. Indeed, it was highly detailed; hence, her prolonged covert observations of him within the pack were elucidated—quite the audacious woman.
Caelan’s gaze landed on the photograph adjacent to the canvas; he surmised she had been attempting to capture an image of him genuinely smiling, unaware that his smile had been prompted solely by her presence trailing behind him.
It is likely that his mother requested her to arrange for the Alpha portrait to be displayed in his office.
He turned to her on the bed, lying prone, and his gaze shifted to her back, widening at the tattoo that extended along the centre of her spine, from the nape of her neck to the midpoint of her back, which he recognised immediately. Mason possessed an identical one.
She turned and exited the room, ensuring the door was locked, without the opportunity to contemplate her tattoo. Upon exiting her room, he was inundated with voices, all of which conveyed stress and anxiety.
“Caelan, where are you?”Mason
“Caelan, where have you been?” his progenitor Ronan.
“Son, are you well?”his mother.
What transpired with you?Alex Caelan’s hand shot to his head; they were all excessively loud and shouting at him, despite his remaining in place. They were present in the pack-house the entire time; why was there widespread panic?
“I am well, in the pack-house.” He established a multi-line mind-link with everyone, then abruptly recognised he would carry the scent of Daisy. He proceeded to his suite to shower. “What is all the commotion?”
“You were utterly absent,” Mason remarked, directing his words at him.
“What?” I was not. What is your location?“
“We are all searching for you!”Mason retorted, sounding quite irritated.
Caelan frowned while ascending the stairs. “I am in the pack house; I have been all day,” he informed them, and it was not a falsehood.
“We are en route back.”
Caelan shook his head, showered, and donned jeans and a t-shirt before returning to his office, which became inundated with people ten minutes after his arrival, most attired in gym shorts. His mother, clad in a long t-shirt, approached him and began to pat him down, assessing him for injuries.
“I am well,” he reassured her and the others. “Please inform me of the situation.”
“You completely disappeared, Caelan,” Mason shouted at him. “Gone, vanished without a trace; no one could reach you, no mind-link, no connection, simply absent.” Where were you?”
“Caelan had contemplated this during his shower and change of clothes, as he was unwilling to disclose that he had been involved with Daisy in the library archives,” he remarked. Neither he nor Hudson needed to disclose their involvement with Daisy; Mason was particularly unaware following Caelan’s observation of the tattoo on her back. The identical tattoo that Mason possessed on his arm. How could they both possess the identical tattoo when she had not been present for a decade? It troubled him significantly. I conveyed extensively to him regarding their connection, and he was uncertain how to respond.
Mason’s Perspective
Mason observed Caelan abruptly cease movement on the hill, surveying the training ground, prompting the others to glance in his direction, intrigued by the reason for his sudden halt. Mason scowled upon witnessing his mother and younger sisters unclothed, averted his gaze from them, and instead focused on Ella. He found himself unable to resist; that woman possessed alluring curves and defined abs. If only Cole would grant his permission, she would be in his bed in an instant.
She captured his attention and observed her deliberately tormenting him, right in front of Cole, no less. The man stood directly behind him. She glided her hand slowly and seductively down her body, maintaining eye contact with him, nearly emitting a growl.
“Do you appreciate what you observe, Joe?” she communicated telepathically, her tone soft and alluring.
He emitted a playful growl in response, appreciating her appearance; she was undeniably ideal for him, and he had always been fond of her.
“Joe, rectify the situation immediately.” Caelan’s furious voice pierced through the mind-link, diverting his complete focus from Ella. He observed Caelan departing with rapid strides, seizing both Alex and Cole to prevent them from pursuing their Alpha. Mason comprehended the man’s needs regarding Daisy more than anyone else in the pack, except for the Luna. “Allow him some time alone.”
She appeared to be fully aware of all that was transpiring with Caelan; even then, she was not oblivious to her son’s circumstances. Mason recognised that he would not discuss Daisy with his mother, despite her attempts to compel him to do so, understanding that her intentions were merely to assist him.
Caelan had been reluctant, resulting in a physical altercation that necessitated MASON’s intervention to separate them. It was not enjoyable for him to mediate between his Luna and the Future Alpha of the pack. None of them had informed Alpha Ronan, who was outside pack territory at that time.
They all understood that Ronan would not only have verbally chastised Caelan but would likely have nearly beaten him to death for assaulting his own mother, despite the fact that the Luna had initiated the confrontation. Ronan would have anticipated that Caelan would simply endure the situation and withdraw from his mother.
Mason restrained Alex and Cole until Caelan was completely over the hill and out of sight, then released them to follow. The typically open Alpha’s office door was closed. “You may do as you wish until at least lunchtime; he requires solitude at this moment,” Mason informed them.
Alex gazed directly at him, enquiring, “What level of trouble will she face?””
“I am uncertain,” Mason replied, shaking his head. “I will probably manage it.”
