Page 68 of Sweetheart

“Okay.” Levi cupped the back of Mason’s head, pressing him closer. “I got you.”

Mason allowed himself to drift a little. Not sleep. Just let his mind wander while ignoring the sounds coming from the back corner. Why had his father been hunting this mage? Just to return him to the coven, or was there something else worse going on? Was there a chance the coven was up to something as evil and sick as before? If the coven was in contact with his father, it worried Mason.

He’d just found Levi. They weren’t even mated yet. Hell, they hadn’t even had sex. There was so much that Mason was looking forward to. This world that he’d been born into was dangerous. Mason knew that better than anyone. He was also getting a good look at what a healthy and happy family actually was.

Mason wanted more time with his mate, new friends, family.

After all the pain in his life, it was nice to have a brighter future to strive for. He’d hoped, secretly, when he’d run from his father that he’d find a mate like his cousin had. He’d seen how Cassie had been welcomed lovingly into her pack. Mason had wanted that.

The men in this particular family might not make up a typical pack but they were people that Mason would happily get to know. He liked the boys, respected them all.

The sudden quietness of the building jarred him from his thoughts.

Lifting his head, Mason peered up at his mate and smiled. Levi looked back at him with so much love in his eyes.

Axel, Bo, Jason, and Tristan joined their little circle.

“Is he still alive?” Mason asked.

Axel nodded while wiping his hands with a blue towel. “He might wish he wasn’t, but he is. Bo will call the hounds for him in a minute.”

“The book?” Mason questioned.

“At the old lake house,” Jason said. He looked at his mate. “How about a road trip, hot stuff?”

Tristan grinned. “With you? I think I can handle that.”

“I’ll go with the hounds and fill Mal in on what we found out tonight.”

Axel sighed. “I’ll need to talk to Dean as soon as possible.”

“Dean?” Jason asked.

“The mage,” Axel said. “We need to find out what he knows about—” Axel huffed. “Could it really have been a coven that…that took mates away? Why would they even help the hunters?”

Mason didn’t have the answers. “I’m sorry.”

“No, baby,” Levi said gently. “We wouldn’t even know this much without you. We’ve been trying for so long to find answers, and this is really the first time that we have any real leads.”

“I just don’t know how it’s even possible,” Bo stated.

“They sacrificed the most powerful beings they could capture,” Mason said. “The journal goes into very specific details.”

“We need that book,” Axel said.

“Let’s get some sleep and we’ll leave first thing in the morning,” Jason said.

“Are you sure?” Mason asked his brother. “I can—”

“No,” Tristan said. “I’ll go with my mate. We’ll get the book and return quickly. In the meantime, find out what Dean knows.”

“We also need to make sure that everyone from Dad’s group is really gone,” Jason said.

“Get all the journals,” Mason ordered. “He wrote down everything. There should be more information on other factions of hunters.”

“If it’s too much to bring back, call me. I’ll portal to you,” Bo offered.

“That would be great,” Jason replied. He grabbed Mason’s arm. “Is there anything you want? We never went to the lake house after we left.”

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