6. Radley

Because you're ours.

That's been on my mind since the guys left last night. They quietly excused themselves after Mason dropped that bomb. I guess they could tell how freaked out I was.

What the hell did he mean that I'm theirs? Like they have some kind of claim over me? The feminist side of me wants to deny it, but I can feel it. It's like a warmth thrumming inside me, intensifying whenever they're around. They were so patient while answering my questions and were very understanding of my accidental voyeurism. They left without me having to say a word, leaving me to think about everything they said. Mason even gave me his number so I could call him when I was ready to talk.

When I got up this morning, I went right back to the books. The answer is staring right back at me.

Fated mates.

I grab my phone and dial the number of someone I know will comfort me.

"Hello, Radley," Grandma answers.

"Hi, Grandma."

"What's wrong?" I smile and relax in my chair.

"Nothing is really wrong. I talked to the guys last night."

"And?"

"Do you believe in fated mates?" The line goes so silent that I have to make sure she didn't hang up.

Grandma finally sighs. "I should have seen that."

"They aren't even human."

Grandma snorts. "That shouldn't matter. Let me ask you something. When you were talking to them, did you feel fear?"

"Yes, but not because of them."

"How far did you get in your reading?"

"Pretty far. It was a lot to take in, though."

"Did you get to the part about them being protectors? Although they have been known to cause trouble," she chuckles at that. "They're mostly harmless. Like I told you before, most of them don't attack unprovoked. To answer your question, yes, I believe in fated mates."

"But there's three of them!"

"Radley," Grandma laughs. "You should count your lucky stars that you have three gorgeous men as your mates."

"How do you know they're gorgeous?"

"Because I've seen them. Plus, I know what Luther looks like shirtless. I'm sure Mason looks just as good."

"Grandma!"

"I'm old, Dear, not dead. Are you going to see them again?"

"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 how someone 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 their pack 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?"

"This has always been our land, but when we were no longer welcome in town, we settled here permanently."

"I'm sorry that some humans suck."

Mason chuckles, and the hair on my arms stands up. "We understand the fear. We've been able to come out more lately because the ones who remember have already passed away."

"Is that why I've never seen you before?"

"Mostly. Dad was scared that someone would come after us, so we were homeschooled, and we have everything else we need here." There are several gardens, fruit trees, chickens, pigs, cattle, and horses. Everything they could ever need is here.

"Still, it's not fair that you guys had to hide."

"We got by fine," he answers, pulling in front of a smaller cabin.

"Is this yours?" It's gorgeous and sits right on the edge of the property, with a lake running behind it.

"It is," he says proudly. "But I thought we could walk for a little bit. We'd like to show you around."

As if on cue, Bryce comes bounding out of the cabin with a huge smile on his face. Nash makes his way out slower but with a smile of his own. Bryce pulls my door open and sticks his hand in to help me down. When my palm slides into his, I gasp at the electricity-type feel that runs up my arm.

Bryce sucks in a breath, but his smile doesn't falter. He helps me down from the truck and takes a slight step back. "I'm glad you're here."

"Welcome, Radley," Nash says, walking to stand behind Bryce. He's so tall that I have to look up at him.

"Hi." I give them a dorky wave and want to kick myself in the ass. "It's so peaceful out here."

"It is," Mason agrees. "Let's go for a walk."

We all walk in silence back up the road, but it's not uncomfortable. I take a second to look around and appreciate all the nature around me. A deep forest surrounds all the cabins, and it feels like I stepped into a totally different world. Which I guess I kind of did.

I'm so busy admiring the lands that it takes me a second to realize Mason walked us to his dad's cabin. I grab his arm to stop him, and that same feeling I got when Bryce touched me rushes over my arm but much more amplified. "Why are we here?"

Mason smiles, and it sucks my breath from my lungs. He's so beautiful. "There's someone here that I'd like you to meet."

"But it's your dad's place," I hiss like he didn't know that.

"It is." Mason gently pulls his arm from my grasp and puts his hand on the small of my back. That feeling rushes through me again, and I feel a slight shiver in his body. "I think it will help you understand some things." He leads me around the side of the cabin where a gorgeous blonde woman is weeding a flower bed. She looks up when we approach and jumps to her feet.

"Hey, boys!" She jerks them all into hugs and gives me a smile. "Who do we have here?"

"Margie, this is Radley," Mason introduces, and her eyes widen slightly.

"It's so nice to meet you finally," she says, and I hold my hand out for her to shake. With a laugh, she pulls me into a hug. "We like to hug around here."

I laugh with her. "I don't mind."

Margie pushes me back to arm's length. "You're just as beautiful as the boys said."

My face flames, and I try to duck my head, but I feel Mason's hand settle on my back again. "Yes, she is." Oh. My. God.

"Your dad is inside. You want me to grab him?" Margie asks.

"No. I was kind of hoping we could talk to you," Mason answers.

Margie nods and hooks her arm through mine. She waves her hand over her shoulder. "There is no we to this conversation."

"Oh, come on, Margie," Bryce whines. "We just got her here."

"You can have her back in a little while. Go see if Luther needs anything."

"Fine," Bryce grumbles, and the other two chuckle.

Margie leads me to the backyard and pulls me to sit on a huge swing. She lets me get settled before turning expectantly to me. "Do you know why they brought you to me?" I shake my head, and she rolls her eyes. "Those boys could have warned you. From what I understand, you know who they are and who you are to them?"

"I'm their…mate."

"You are, and I've never been happier for them. But they brought you to me because I'm sure you have questioned how you'll exist in this world as a human." I nod, completely tuned into the conversation now. "I was born human."

"You were bitten?" I gasp. I remember reading about that in one of the books.

"Yes. But not by anyone in my pack. A lone wolf was terrorizing Light Point many years ago, and I was out for a jog. He bit me and left me for dead. Luther and the rest found me the next morning because they could smell the blood. By that time, I was already starting to change."

"What happened?"

"They brought me back here and nursed me back to health. After they explained what was happening, they gave me the option to stay. I obviously chose to, and they marked me several months later as one of their pack."

"Do you change like they do?"

Margie laughs. "It took some trial and error, but yes. I'm much smaller than them because I wasn't born a shifter, but my form still takes on the wolf." I sit back on the swing and take that in.

Do Mason and the guys plan on changing me if I accept this? I have to admit their wolves are gorgeous, and it's not like my parents would miss me if I had to hide. And Grandma is obviously an ally. Am I really considering this?

The short answer is yes.