Chapter Twenty

Kane parked his car outside of Mason's house. He didn't get out of the car right away, however. He picked up his phone. Nora answered on the second ring. "Kane," she said. He could hear the smile in her voice. "I'm glad you called, are you happy with a blue and green bedspread? I know we said-"

Kane cut her off. "That's fine. Pick whatever you want."

"Okay, perfect. Oh, and I found a lamp that would go so well on the desk, under that new painting of that wolf you put up the other day."

"Okay." He didn't have the effort to explain to her that the wolf in the painting was him.

Nora paused for a second. Kane could hear Violet and Amelia's voices in the background. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Kane told her. He glanced over at Mason's house. "I just wanted to see if you had any luck asking Jade about that witch doctor you told me about the other day?"

"Unfortunately, no one knows where she went. According to Jade they are pretty hard to track down."

"Did you ask your packs Alpha?" Kane asked.

Nora's voice was edged in frustration. "Well, if I ask him then he is sure to ask why I need to see one."

"Oh," Kane muttered. "You're right. Is there any excuse you could have for wanting to find one?"

"Not a plausible one. Can you talk to Victor? He might know of one."

Kane considered that. "Same issue. I'd have to think of a reason why I'd be looking for one."

"Maybe Adam can ask his father, pretend that he wants an educational experience or something?"

"That's not a bad idea."

"I'm not just a pretty face," Nora responded. "Anyway, what's with the sudden interest in finding one? You didn't seem all that into it the other day?"

"Wyatt talked some sense into me."

"Wyatt?" Nora asked. Kane could hear the jealousy in her voice even in that one word.

"Uh." Kane had forgotten for a moment that Nora knew of his run in with Wyatt at the party. "Wyatt came over today."

"He did? When?"

"Just then. With his mate," Kane added quickly. "He and I just talked. He and Duncan are leaving for Duncan's home pack in a few weeks. He was just saying his goodbyes."

"Good. I'm glad."

He didn't need to ask why she was so glad. "Yeah. Look, I'll let you have fun with the girls. I just arrived at Mason's house."

"Okay, I'll see you tonight."

Nora hung up. Kane wasn't sure if she was mad. He forced himself to not dwell on that conversation too much. He got out of his car, sliding his phone and keys into his pockets before making his way up the path.

Kane lifted his hand and knocked on the door. While he waited, he turned and faced the street. He knew instantly which one was Amelia's house. He wondered for a moment if he should have invited Mason shopping and they could have all gone together, but he was glad he hadn't. He knew the fragile place Mason was at right now, and he didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable. Kane was just thankful that Mason was still in town, after what had happened earlier in the week.

The door opened in front of Kane, but it wasn't Mason who stood in front of him, it was his Aunt. Kane recognised the woman instantly. He smiled. "Hi, I'm Kane," he said. He stepped towards her.

"I know who you are," she said. Kane wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing until she wrapped her arms around him suddenly.

Kane wasn't sure what to make of the hug. "Nice to meet you too," he said with a small laugh.

The woman pulled back. "Thank you for convincing him to stay," she said. Kane could see the gratitude in her face. "Mason told me about the other day, and I just wanted to thank you. I would have been beside myself if he was gone."

"Oh," Kane murmured, suddenly understanding what was happening.

"I'm Alison, by the way," she said. Alison moved so that he could enter the doorway. "I'm really glad that Mason's made friends here. What are you two doing today?"

Kane stepped past the door. "Just hanging out I think."

"You two have fun. He's in his room."

Kane followed Alison's pointed finger. He walked down the hallway, which led to a couple of doors. On one of the doors was slightly ajar, and he could see the corner of a bed and the edge of a desk. He knocked on the door. Kane pushed the door open slowly. He saw Mason, sitting at his small desk. Every inch of space was covered in paint and brushes. "Hey, your aunt let me in."

Mason looked up from what he was working on. His white shirt was covered in splashes of paint. "Come in."

Kane walked into the room. The first thing he noticed was the walls. They were filled with paintings. They weren't just plastered up on the wall in random order, however. They were somehow grouped together by colour so that the walls flowed on like a rainbow, seamlessly changing colours. Kane was filled with awe. This was even more than what Kane had imagined Mason's bedroom to look like.

"It's a bit overwhelming, I assure you that I know," Mason said.

Kane walked up to a section of the wall, his eyes scanning over every detail he could find.

"Amelia told me that I needed to tone it down a little," Mason admitted after Kane said nothing.

Kane allowed his eyes to drift from the paintings for a moment. He faced Mason. "The only problem that I see here, is that you're probably going to run out of wall space soon."

Mason blushed. He obviously hadn't been expecting that answer. "Oh. Well, uh. Yes, that is quite the problem."

"You could use the ceiling if you wanted?"

"Perhaps. If my Aunt would let me."

Kane walked around the room. He could feel Mason' eyes on him. "How long have you been painting for?" he asked.

"I loved to draw since I was a child, but I only started painting a few years ago."

"What made you start?"

"My boyfriend at the time, he loved to paint. He taught me."

"Oh," Kane murmured.

He leant forwards, his brow furrowing at a section of paintings he had stumbled across. They were at the darker end of the spectrum. They featured dark, scary looking wolves with big empty eyes and teeth dripping in blood. Kane knew exactly who the drawings were of. He wondered what happened back at his old pack. He must have seen something horrific to have wanted to paint things like this.

There was one painting that really stood out to him. It sat right at the edge of the wall. In the centre was a grey wolf with light flecks scattered throughout the fur. The wolf looked scared. The wolf was undoubtedly Mason's wolf. Around him sat many dark wolves, surrounding him from all angles. Mason really was terrified of rogues. He wished that he could rip the painting right off the wall, but he never would. He wanted Mason to feel safe here. He didn't want thoughts, or perhaps memories, like this running through his mind.

"You are okay with that, right?"

Kane stepped away from the wall. He sat on the edge of Mason's bed. "Okay with what?"

"That I dated a guy."

Kane had to fight the smile that tugged at his cheeks. "There's no judgement here, believe me."

"You were awfully quiet," Mason replied. "Why are you smiling?"

"I'm smiling because I've dated many boys in my day, and by my day I mean up to a couple of weeks ago," Kane revealed. He smirked. "So, no, there is no judgement here."

Mason's lips turned into a small smile. "Oh."

"So, what happened to this boyfriend?" Kane asked.

Mason shrugged. "What happened to yours?"

Kane laughed. "You first."

"What always happens. He found his mate."

Kane saw a flicker of hurt run across Mason's face as he spoke, but it was gone as fast as it had come.

"Were you okay with that?" Kane asked carefully.

Mason nodded. "Not at first, but I am now. He's happy."

"Same thing happened with me," Kane admitted.

"So, you found Nora and broke up with him?" Mason asked.

Kane cast his eyes down at the floor.  "Other way around. He found his mate."

"Oh, but you must be okay with it right? You have Nora now."

Kane considered that. "I am okay with it, but not because of Nora."

Mason got up from his chair and came to sit on the bed, next to Kane. "Why is that?" he asked.

"I don't know."

"What's it like, having a mate?" Mason asked suddenly.

Kane wanted to laugh. "I-I uh, I'm probably not the right person to ask."

"Why is that?" Mason asked. He titled his head towards Kane. "You have a mate. Is there other criteria I should be aware of?"

Kane shrugged. "My mate bond isn't like everyone else's."

"How so?"

Kane stood from the bed. "I don't really want to talk about it." There had been more emotion in his voice than he had intended, and he felt his cheeks go red.

Mason stood quickly. "I didn't mean to-"

Kane turned towards him. "It's fine."

"Do you want to see the garden?" Mason asked.

"Sure."

Mason led him back down the hallway and out the back door. They ended up in the backyard which was only small, but was edged with countless flowers. Bright colours stood out against the dark fence that surrounded the yard. Mason sat down with his legs crossed against the grass. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"I come out here when I get upset. It's a little oasis."

Kane sat next to Mason. "Did your aunt do all this?"

"Yes. She has quite the green thumb."

"Does she have a mate?" Kane wondered.

Mason glanced back at the house quickly. "She used to. Her name was Heather. She was wonderful. They met just after they turned seventeen. My mother used to tell me how jealous she was that she had to wait years to meet my father yet Aunt Alison found hers so early."

"What happened to her?" Kane was almost too afraid to ask.

"She died in a car crash almost ten years ago. It's so crazy isn't it," Mason said, his voice growing sad, "that we are wolves, that we are these strong, smart creatures, resilient to so many of the things that endanger humans, and yet she died because some human decided to text and drive."

"I'm sorry," Kane said. "I can't even imagine what that would have been like for your aunt."

Mason bit at his lip. "My family didn't know for years if she was going to survived it. She's doing so much better now. I think gardening helps her. I think having me here helps too." Mason looked over at the flowers. "I don't think I ever talk as much as when I'm around you." He laughed. "Sorry, that was so random."

"What do you mean?" Kane asked.

"Well, my friends at my pack used to always tell me I should talk more. I'm quite the stereotypical wallflower."

Kane wasn't sure if he believed that. "That's not how you are with me." Then he remembered how they met, Mason hiding outside in the middle of a party.

"I know. It's....nice."

Kane looked at Mason, only to find that Mason had been looking at him already. Kane couldn't help but admire him. The small smile that hung onto the edges of Mason's lips. The way the sunlight hit his hair, making it almost glow under the brightness. He felt like they were in their own little world out here, where his problems outside this fence didn't exist.

"I'm really glad that I met you," Kane told him.

Mason's cheeks turned an adorable shade of pink. "Me too."

Kane had the sudden, insane, intrusive thought that he wished Mason had been his mate. Mason was such an enigma, like no one he had ever met before. Every time he was with him, it felt like he was able to see more of the real Mason. There was a part of him that didn't want to go home to Nora, he just wanted to stay here. With him.

Mason suddenly stood. He walked slowly around the back yard, coming to a stop next to a bush of yellow roses. He reached down and picked one. Kane could see the care he was taking not to get pricked. He took the single rose over to the little table that sat against the house. He used clippers to cut off the thorns before walking back over to Kane.

"For you," Mason said as he extended the rose.

Kane took the rose and brought it to his nose. He breathed in the smell and took in the beauty of the flower. "Why?"

Mason sat next to him. "Yellow roses symbolise friendship, and I hope this is the start of a very long lasting friendship."

"Me too."

"I also just want you to know," Mason said as he leant towards Kane slightly, "that I don't know what's going on between you and your mate, but I'm always here to talk if you need someone."

Kane nodded. "I do want to talk about it but even I don't understand it."

Mason laid down with his back on the grass. He motioned for Kane to follow his lead. "Tell me everything and I'll try to help you figure out whatever it is that's the matter."

Kane pressed his back against the grass, the rose resting against his stomach. "I don't even know where to begin." He closed his eyes, the brightness of the sun blinding him. He felt so relaxed there, the warmth of the sun against his skin and the soft grass under his head.

"Start at the beginning," Mason said simply.

And so, Kane told him everything. For the first time, he was able to explain his situation with Nora and not feel fear of judgement. He felt no fear in bearing his heart to Mason. He realised in that moment how much he trusted the boy. In a way, it scared him, that was willing to say so much to someone he had just met, but it wasn't like that with Mason. He felt like he had known him forever. They stayed in that yard for hours, just talking, and it was the most relaxed Kane had been in weeks.

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