The Veil of Light

Chapter Twenty

Amora chuckled before being unexpectedly pulled into Mason’s arms. “I’m a hugger. You’ll get used to it.”

“Don’t worry. It’ll be fine, I’ll make sure of it. You just go and relax, yes?” At sometime he began to feel a strong urge to protect her. Maybe because she’s Maddox’s mate. Maybe it’s because he knew she had shitty parents and she still turned out to be a genuinely nice person. Whatever it was, he didn’t want to see her hurt or upset.

Mason waited until her grip on him loosened and she removed her arms from around him before pulling away. She needed that reassurance more than he would ever know.

She quickly wiped the tears away before they could escape her eyes. He was acting more like a father than her real one, even though it didn’t take much for Mason to surpass Damon at all.

“Maddox is blessed to have you.” 

“I know right! But now so are you. I don’t know you as well as Maddox, but I know enough and can see that you are nothing like what you let people believe. You’ll change and help evolve the whole dynamic of the Mountain Ridge pack forever.” Mason laughed as her eyebrows scrunched together. “I have to get going, but I’ll be around to check on you later. Okay?”

Amora nodded as he turned and went on his way. The stares could have burned holes with how they were focused on her. With a smile and quick wave towards them, they all diverted their attention elsewhere and scurried away.

……..

After deciding that she’d do exactly as Mason said, she found something that’ll keep her occupied and just wait.

She honestly wasn’t sure of what to expect and was actually nervous. What if he really didn’t come? She kept asking herself. Amora did trust that Mason knew what he was talking about, but her insecurities began to creep in.

No matter how much tea she drank or the amount of time she had spent digging in the dirt in the greenhouse, her nerves were still frazzled beyond belief. 

Maddox felt no better. He had been sitting in his office staring at the same stack of papers for the majority of the day. 

Mason had popped in multiple times with a glare on his face but Maddox hadn’t even noticed because he was so stuck in his own thoughts. Since he could see that his son was already making himself suffer enough, he wouldn’t say anything to add onto that guilt.

……..

Maddox did exactly as his father had predicted. Mason had watched completely amused as he dragged his feet up the stairs, and had to cover his mouth trying to hold in the laughter as he came rushing by not even a whole minute later.

Amora could hear footsteps quickly approaching and she knew it was him. Hours had flown by and as far as she knew it was dark outside.

She didn’t turn around as he slowly pushed the door open. He stood there for what seemed like minutes before he started to approach her, and she still didn’t move to look at him.

He wanted to take some time and gauge what she was feeling, but he couldn’t focus on just one emotion.

Maddox knew it was childish of him to avoid her and not just say what he needed to, but telling her that he felt like less of a man wasn’t something that he thought he’d ever say. Especially not to his mate. He half expected her to curse him out. Compared to her not acknowledging that he had entered the room, he would’ve preferred if she did.