Page 13 of Little Red and Her Creatures of Chaos
“I’m supposed to call them today. They wanted to give me time to digest.”
“I think you should. Today’s your day off. Spend the day getting to know them in person instead of in your dreams. You’re twenty-two. It’s time to live your life for you.”
“What about Mom and Dad?”
“Screw them,” she scoffs. “Parents should want their children to be happy, not try to hold them back. I have no idea howsomeone like your mother came from me. I’m only glad she did because she gave me you.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too. Call them.”
We say our goodbyes, and I stare at my phone, trying to work up the courage to call him. On the fifth try, I finally hit the call button.
“Hello?” Mason’s raspy voice filters through.
“Hey. It’s, uh, Radley.”
“I wasn’t sure you’d call.”
“I wasn’t sure, either.” I hear Bryce laugh in the background, and something about that sound makes what I need to do that much clearer. “Can we meet?”
“Of course,” Mason says easily. “Where?”
I think through my options quickly and already know what I need. “I’d like to see more about your world.”
“I’ll text you directions. And Radley? I’m really glad you called.”
“Me too.”
“See you soon.”
The line goes dead, and even though I’m nervous, I’m also excited. Something about finally getting to know the truth has put some of my worries at ease. I get up and head for the shower. I turn the water on to get warm and strip out of my clothes. Right when I’m about to step in, my phone pings with a message. I swipe open the chat screen to see it’s Mason and the directions.
My heart does a little flip, as does my stomach.
I feel like I’m literally sealing my fate.
Two hours and four clothes changes later, I’m finally on my way to meet with the guys. Mason said that it was kind of hard to find, so he would meet me at the beginning of the road. My breath catches when I spot him leaning against the back of his shiny black truck. His light gray shirt is stretched across his biceps, and his jeans hug his thighs.Stop it, Radley!I pull in behind him, and he walks to my window.
“Do you want to ride with me?” he asks. “The road can get a little tricky.”
“Uh. Yeah. Sure.”
“Just back your car into that wide spot. No one will mess with it.”
I snort before I can stop myself. No one is going to want anything to do with my piece of shit car. I back into the spot, and he’s there waiting to open my door for me. Once I’m out, he walks me to the passenger side of his truck where he opens that door, too. He gently shuts the door once I’m safely inside and goes to the driver’s side. He climbs in and when he shuts the door, I’m overwhelmed with his scent. It smells faintly of cologne, but something that I can’t put my finger on lingers underneath. Mason jerks the truck into drive, and I stare at the scenery through the windshield.
“It’s beautiful out here,” I comment. I’ve lived here my whole life and never even realized this road existed.
“It’s our pack lands.”
“You own all this?”
“Not entirely. Several packs live out here, but we all live on these lands together.” He points to a large cabin to our left. “That’s my dad’s pack.”
I have to admit that I’m confused about how they form packs. From what I’ve read, they choose their own pack. If I accepted this whole fated mate thing, did that make me a part of theirpack even though I’m not a shifter? I’m getting ahead of myself, but I can’t help but think about everything.
“Grandma says you guys got run off,” I say, and turn in the seat to face him. “Is this where you went?”
