5. Shya

Chapter five

Shya

T oday

I walked down the hallway toward the dining room, my footsteps muffled by the plush carpet beneath my feet. I hadn't been able to concentrate since Mason left four days ago. I thought the Mason fog only worked when he was nearby, but after the mind-blowing orgasm he'd given me, he was all I could think about. It was the first time anyone had touched me like that; hell, the first time anyone, apart from me, had touched me there. It had been eye-opening. Was it always like that? Would I feel that way every time Mason touched me? How the hell did anyone get any work done when they knew someone could make them feel that way? That was just his fingers; what would it feel like to have him inside of me?

These thoughts kept going round and round in my head and it was throwing off my game; I was starting to get seriously annoyed about it. It didn't help that reports had been coming in of a battle brewing between the Three Rivers Pack and Brock's forces.

I paused outside the dining room door, taking a deep breath and composing myself. I couldn't let my family see the turmoil that Mason had caused. They needed me to be strong, to be the leader they raised me to be. I had on my Shya-kicks-butt white Dior slingback pumps today for precisely this reason, and I needed their superpowers to start working. With a final shake of my head, I pushed open the door and stepped inside.

"Shya!" Tucker's excited voice rang out, and before I could react, my little brother barreled into me, wrapping his arms around my waist in a tight hug. I stumbled back a step, a surprised laugh escaping my lips.

"Hey there, Tuck," I said, ruffling his hair affectionately. "What's got you so excited this morning?"

Tucker grinned up at me, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "You'll never guess what happened this morning! I was out in the backyard just after dawn, and I found this really cool bug. It was huge, like the size of my hand! And it had these crazy colors, like rainbow wings! And Dede said she could catch it, but I knew she wouldn't be fast enough. She's only six!"

I listened as Tucker chattered on, his enthusiasm and innocence a welcome relief from thoughts of Mason fucking Shaw, and especially me fucking Mason Shaw. I felt the tension in my shoulders ease, and a genuine smile spread across my face. No matter how troubled the world seemed at times, Tucker's presence always brought a ray of sunshine into my life.

"So, then," Tucker said, bouncing on the balls of his feet, "I tried to catch it, but it was too fast even for me. I chased it all around the yard, and I almost had it, but then I tripped over a rock and fell into a muddy puddle, and Dede laughed so hard she wet her pants!"

My eyes widened. "Oh dear!"

"Nah, even that didn't stop her laughing! Not even when Henry came and dunked us both in the bath!"

"Well, it sounds like you had quite the adventure," I said, tapping Tucker's nose playfully. "I hope you didn't track mud all over the clean floors, or Mom'll have both our hides!"

Tucker giggled, hugging me tighter. "I didn't. I promise. Henry carried me on his shoulders!"

As if on cue, Henry walked into the dining room, his nose buried in a book. At seventeen, he had grown into a lanky young man, his frame not yet filled out but hinting at the strength he would one day possess. His watchful brown eyes, so like our mother's, flickered toward Tucker every few seconds, a silent check to ensure his little brother was safe and sound.

"Hello, Shya. Tuck." He nodded to each of us before sitting down at the table.

Henry had always been the quieter one, his thoughtful and soft-spoken nature so different from Tucker's exuberance and the rebellious streak I'd had when I was a teenager.

Despite his shyness around strangers, Henry possessed a fierce protectiveness when it came to our family, especially Tucker. The incident with Tristan last month had only intensified it, and I knew that Henry would go to any lengths to keep his little brother safe from harm.

I caught a glimpse of the book's title as Henry lowered it to his lap: The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Hmmm. Another effect of Tristan taking Tucker—Henry had given up his previous favorite fantasy books, and now all he read was about war strategy. I needed to spend more time with him, help him feel safe again, and go back to just being a teenager and not a general-in-training.

I shooed Tucker to his chair just as our parents came in. Mom and Dad had been mated for over two decades, but the love and affection between them were as strong as ever. They moved in perfect sync, Dad's hand resting gently on the small of Mom's back as he guided her to a seat at the head of the table.

As Dad pulled out Mom's chair, she smiled up at him, her eyes shining with adoration, and I felt a pang of regret. Would I ever have that with Edmond? My parents were fated mates and were the epitome of what an Alpha couple should be—strong, united, and deeply in love. I knew they hoped that Mason was wrong, that as soon as I mated with Edmond, our mate bond would reveal itself, and Mason would be a distant memory. It was how it happened for them. They were betrothed by their families, but it wasn't until they went through the mating ceremony that their fated mate bond came to life.

"Good morning, everyone," Dad said as he passed a dish to Mom. The Pack's cook had outdone himself this morning, with platters of crispy bacon, fluffy scrambled eggs, and golden pancakes drizzled with maple syrup already on the table. Despite the mouth-watering spread before us, no one touched their food until Mom and Dad had filled their plates and taken their first bites.

"So, what's on everyone's agenda today?" Dad asked, his tone light and casual.

Tucker, his mouth full of pancake, mumbled something unintelligible before swallowing and grinning. "I'm gonna catch that bug today! And then I'm gonna show it to Dede!"

"Just be careful out there, Tuck. I don't fancy giving you and Dede another bath!"

"It was a minor miscalculation! My reflexes are awesome; I'll soar over the rock next time like a flying wolf ninja!"

I couldn't help but smile as an image of Tucker's wolf dressed in black clothes, with a black headband tied round his head, doing ninja rolls around the backyard popped into my head.

Henry cleared his throat, setting down his fork. "I've been thinking about the Pack's training regimen," he said, his voice steady, but I could detect a hint of nervousness in my brother. "I'd like to propose some changes, maybe implement some new techniques I've been researching."

Dad raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? What kind of changes did you have in mind?"

Henry straightened in his chair. "Well, I've been reading about how some Packs in the conclave cities integrate more diverse fighting styles into their training. Incorporating elements from human martial arts, maybe even some parkour for agility. I think it could give us an edge."

Dad nodded slowly, a small smile forming on his lips. "That's an interesting idea, Henry." He paused, his eyes studying Henry for a moment. "It is not the way we have done it, but a great leader carves their own path. I don't see any problem with trying it out for a while. Why don't you put together a detailed proposal, and we can discuss it later?"

Henry's face lit up, though he tried hard to remain stoic. "Thanks, Dad. I'll start working on it right away."

I pushed my plate away. "Are there any updates from Ryan and Mai about the situation with Brock's Pack?" I asked.

There. That was calm, no mention of Mason at all. They didn't need to know about the knot in my stomach at the thought of what he was facing in Three Rivers.

Dad's expression grew somber. "Last I heard, they were preparing for a battle. They're going head-to-head with Brock's army today."

My stomach dropped, and I had to hold my wolf tight inside. Mason was out there, fighting alongside his Pack, and the thought of him in danger made my heart clench with fear. He could die today, and I was here sipping coffee. She was trying to get me to run out of here to be at his side, but I knew my parents would never allow it.

Mom's brow furrowed as she looked at me. "If the worst should happen, we've agreed to take in any survivors from the Three Rivers Pack. They're our allies, and we can't leave them to fend for themselves. Preparations are being made to accommodate them all."

I would have to approach this carefully. I needed to pretend that it was no big deal. If they knew I planned to sneak out of here as soon as breakfast was over and join the Three Rivers Pack for this fight, they'd lock me in the cage room until it was all over.

"Have we heard anything about the expected size of Brock's forces?" I said, keeping my voice even.

Dad shook his head. "The reports have been inconsistent, but it seems like Brock has managed to gather a significant number of followers. Ryan and Mai are facing a formidable challenge."

"Father—"

"No, Shya. Your Mom and I agreed. This is an internal Three Rivers issue. We won't put our people on the line for this, and Ryan and Mai have not asked."

I nodded, my heart racing despite my outward calm.

Mom reached across the table, placing her hand over mine. "I know you're worried, Shya. It's natural to be concerned for our allies , especially given the gravity of the situation."

Allies, huh? She was being careful not to mention Mason, too.

"You have nothing to worry about, Shya," Tucker piped up. "Ryan and Mai will kick Brock's butt!"

I forced myself to smile, even though my thoughts were whirling. I had to go and help them, but I'd have to be careful, bide my time, and wait for the right opportunity to slip away unnoticed.