#Chapter 3: Utilize

The next day, Mason’s Mom came to visit the pack house to see me. Mason’s only parent, Vera was a strong, rare Alpha female. She was very dominant, but she’d always been kind to me, bringing me gifts and caring for me like her own. I was glad to see her after yesterday’s madness.

I didn’t bring up the party, but as the three of us finished breakfast, Vera asked casually, “So my dear, what is the relationship between you and your old alpha?” my eyes snapped to hers. What did she know?

“Whatever you said to him last night must have been powerful,” she continued, “Levi bought quite a large partnership contract with our pack, the benefit to us is significant to say the least.”

I just smiled and sipped my coffee. I didn’t know what to say. It was good news, but uneasiness sat cold in my gut. Levi had always been fair in his investments, the last thing I wanted was him investing just because of me.

“Our relationship is just average, really,” I told Vera, hoping it was convincing. “I really shouldn’t be getting involved in business matters between him and Mason.”

I glanced at my fiancé, but he just sipped his coffee, eyes on his mother. She gave him a subtle look I couldn’t read and just reached over to pat my hand.

“Of course dear.”

After breakfast, I headed out to water the plants. I moved on autopilot, my mind bouncing between whether or not I should reach out and ask Levi exactly why he was investing in Mason’s pack. But after about an hour of thinking – and trying to work up the courage – I decided it was better not to reach out. Not getting involved was the safest bet.

Especially after the dream I’d had last night.

I’d been at the entrance to the banquet hall again, grabbing Levi’s sleeve. I’d begged him not to leave, to stay and work things out because of how much I cared about him. I’d woken in a cold sweat, deeply uncomfortable.

Those were not the kinds of dreams I should be having, there was way too much ambiguity about how exactly I cared. And that was why it was best to distance myself from Levi. Even if he was around for the wedding, I had to. It was for the best.

Mason found me in the garden, tending my plants. He bumped my shoulder with a smile. He surprised me, pulling weeds along with me.

We worked in companionable silence for a minute before he ventured, “Soo… how bad is your relationship with Levi really? I mean, he adopted you for a reason, he has to care.”

I winced. “Honestly, Mason, we’re as good as strangers. If our relationship wasn’t so distant, I never would have come to the West for school when I could have gone back home for free.”

He didn’t look convinced. I nudged him. “Come on, you remember – when we met I could barely pay tuition. I was working two, sometimes three jobs. Why would I do that if it was easier at home?”

Mason frowned, but nodded, accepting the answer … for two seconds. “Well I think it’s time you mend things with him.” I started to protest, but he pressed, “Really Harper, I need you to try. The pack’s future depends on him.”

I bit my lip, sympathizing with him. The Ridgewood pack didn’t have many exports other than the sturdy lumber it was named for. But their size and success was a double edged sword – resources weren’t always stable. The pack managed enough to stay afloat, but barely.

And it was Mason’s job to keep everyone’s heads above water. I couldn’t imagine that kind of pressure. So I squeezed his hand and promised, “I’ll try for your sake.”

Try I did.

I sent Levi several messages inviting him to come talk to me, but he never came. Each message was met with another passive aggressive wedding gift – a heart shaped waffle iron, an obnoxiously large espresso machine, a blender that could juice a whole watermelon.

I made myself laugh and smile with each one, pretending not to care. But disappointment dig deeper and deeper every passing day.

To distract myself, I stayed busy managing things around the pack house. Back when I was with the White Fang, I handled the household and gardening – I was even praised for how well I did. Now that Mason and I were engaged, I was slowly taking over more duties here too, and I was determined to do my best.

As a she-wolf who’d never even shifted, I knew I had to prove I was useful. Mason’s relatives weren’t entirely wrong – I wondered every day how I could be the Luna of a wolf pack when I’d never even been a wolf. But I was determined to contribute in every possible way.

I’d studied cooking, gardening, finance, and management and I put all those skills to use for the Ridgewood pack house – for Mason.

We’d gotten into a good rhythm since I moved in. He worked in his study during the days while I went around making sure things ran smoothly, helping where I could and advising where I couldn’t.

One day, as I passed the study – quiet as I could since he was working – I heard Levi’s name and froze.

“…You mean my father-in-law?” Mason was saying. I frowned. “Of course, let me assure you and the rest of the council that I have Levi’s backing for the Alpha president election…”

My frown deepened. When did that happen? Levi hadn’t responded to me at all. Unease coiled through me, and even though I knew it was wrong, I pressed closer to listen.

“Oh, all the time,” Mason boasted – no, lied. “Just the other day, he said I was the son he never had. We just –”

How dare he! Levi nearly called things off, why don’t you tell them that! I don’t know what came over me, but before I knew it, I was pushing open the door.

“Why are you lying?” I demanded, towering over Mason’s desk.

His eyes flew to me, shock, then icy calm coming over his face. “Alphas, I’ll have to end it here. My apologies.”

Mason hung up the phone and stood slowly. “Well?” I asked again. He just went and closed the door. His shoulders moved as he took a deep breath, and when he turned to face me, he wore a mask of patience.

“Harper,” he said slowly, as if talking to a stupid child. “Did you even bother to consider my situation? Not only that you could have embarrassed me,” a growl slipped between the words, but he caught it. “But that this matter would benefit the pack –”

“You mean Levi’s connections benefit the you,” I accused, pointing at his chest. “You’re using the fact that you’ll be his son-in-law for your own gain, but he doesn’t even know you! He doesn’t even like –”

Mason’s face twisted into a mask of rage. He was across the room in two strides. I saw his hand rise, but that was all.

Then thunder cracked across my cheek. Mason had slapped me.