Marked by the Alphas

Chapter 77: Chapter 77

Mason POV

I take a deep breath to calm myself. Seeing Stella with Kane ... I almost lost it. It felt like he was going to take her from me.

But the biggest surprise was Katie putting her foot down. I am proud of her for standing up for herself, but it also stings that she did not side with me.

Things between me and Katie are new and vulnerable. I must stake my claim before these two get the idea that she is available.

“As her father, I don’t approve of strangers picking her up,” I say more bitterly than I mean to. The words just slipped out.

“And neither does my mate,” I place my hand on Katie’s shoulder.

I silently pray that she does not slap my hand away and tell me to go to hell. I am acutely aware that I am grossly overstepping, but hey, I already fucked up. If I go down, I might as well go down in flames.

Kane and Axel exchange questioning glances, and I realise they actually believe me.

“Then why aren’t you formally mated?” Axel asks.

Good question. Probably because we are not mates at all. But if they think we are, then maybe they will back off. Kane and Axel have been ogling her shamelessly from the moment they set eyes on her, and they are so fucking arrogant, they are probably already planning some way to double-team me and get her into their bed.

“This is rogue territory,” I reply casually. “The rules aren’t the same here.”

“Sure.” Kane rolls his eyes.

“You’ve been so sheltered, living under the Council’s thumb your whole life,” I continue. “We can do what we want here. Katie and I certainly have.”

Katie POV

I stand frozen like a statue. Mason said what? I was too flabbergasted to say something, and now it is too late. But Mason can bet his life’s savings that we will have a discussion.

“Cut the crap, Katie,” Lily chips in. “You love that Mason is so protective over you and Stella.”

“Not when he is being petty,” I snap, and shut her out. Every girl appreciates a knight in shining armour, but Kane was only helpful. For goddess’ sake, is this a taste of things to come?

“Can we please get out of this windy place?” Axel sighs.

“Yes,” Kane nods.

We climbed into the luxurious SUV, and I was surprised to see a car seat for Stella.

“Thank you for the car seat,” I smile at Mason, and he beams.

The car seat is brand new. I realise he must have bought it especially for this occasion, and the thought makes me grin like an idiot. Truthfully, it was so hectic after I made up my mind that I did not think of it. Once again, he came through.

“Guys,” Mason looks at Axel and Kane. “Can we have a moment, please?” freёwebnovel.com

“Sure,” Kane huffs, and they get into the car.

Confused, I looked at him. Did he change his mind about me and Stella joining them?

“I can’t stomach an awkward drive to Constantine,” he whispers, flashing me a mischievous grin. “I know you want to ask, so go ahead.”

“Okay,” I nod, it will be better to get this out of the way sooner rather than later. Goddess knows what is waiting for us at Constantine, and if we will have a moment to talk about this. “Why did you tell Kane Stella is your baby?

“In case you didn’t notice,” he sighs. “I kind of overacted when Kane picked her up.”

“You don’t say,” I raise my eyebrows, crossing my arms. The growling thing was a bit much. Mason’s cheekiness is one of the things I instantly fell for. He is flirty and funny, but he never strikes me as the peacocking type.

However, that possessive growl also spoke to something deep inside of me. I love that he is so protective of me and my baby.

“Did it bother you?” he asks.

“A little,” I answer truthfully, and his face goes sombre. “But not really.”

“Oh, good,” he smiles, relieved. “I don’t know how to explain my behaviour. It just seemed safer to claim she was mine.”

“That’s it?” I ask, eyeing him intensely.

“Okay, fine,” he winces. “Maybe I was a little jealous of Kane, too.”

“A little?” I scoff freewebnσvel.cѳm

“Okay, a lot,” he replies sheepishly. “I didn’t want him to think you’re available. They already have everything, and I don’t want them to take my ...”

“Mason,” Axel shouts from the car, interrupting us. “Hurry things along, please. We have a baby on board, remember?”

“To be continued,” Mason quickly kisses me, and I nod.

Mason and I get into the back with Stella, and Kane steers the car towards Constantine territory.

I look lovingly at Stella and take her tiny hand in mine. I wish Axel had not interrupted us. Now, I am sitting here anxiously wondering what Mason was going to say. My what? Would he call me his mate again?

Honestly, I do not know how I feel about it. It feels almost too ... serious. Which is weird, because I do like him.

The drive is faster than I anticipated, and we pull up to the huge, sprawling mansion, and my palms start sweating when a slow, creeping sensation crawls along the back of my neck.

Was it fear? Anxiety?

Mason pulls out my luggage while I put Stella in her stroller, and we follow Kane and Axel inside. The place is massive but cosy, with high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and rich, dark wood everywhere.

I glanced at Mason. His face is scrunched up as his eyes dart around the room.

“So, this is how the other half lives,” I imagine him thinking.

But none of this is surprising or impressive. In fact, it all feels eerily familiar, like déjà vu.

As Kane leads us into a great room with a roaring fire, the sensation that I have been here before gets even stronger. A sharp pain stabs behind my eyes, and I squeeze them shut. I grab my head, and I struggle to stand as an image swamps my mind.

Kane and Axel came to me in the night. I was embarrassed, scared, and excited.

“It’s time to mate,” they said.

They led me into a bedroom, my bedroom.

“Ouch, dammit,” I cry out. The pain is too much. The vision is too much.

What the hell is this?

I try opening my eyes to return to the present, but I only fall further into darkness.