Boarlander Beast Boar(27)

Home. Mason had said they had to go home, and it was the first time he had said that to her. Beck bit her lip hard so she wouldn’t lose it in front of the boys.

Pulling his hand, she led Mason toward a fountain in a park next to the courthouse, and then she gave Ryder a few coins to make wishes with.

“Tell me what’s going on in your head,” Mason said as he sat on the stone ledge of the water feature. He pulled her between his knees and cocked his head, his eyes lightening just a shade. “Don’t think, just tell me. What was that look for?”

“I’ve been working so hard to get Ryder out of that little apartment in Douglas. I mean, my focus has been on building a better life, and this whole time, I thought a better life meant more money, a bigger place to live, a puppy, better clothes. Those were the thoughts that kept pushing me to go for bigger jobs while Robbie was falling farther behind on his child support payments. I was determined to give Ryder this cushy life and prove that I could make up for Robbie’s shortcomings.”

“I wish for a puppy!” Ryder yelled and threw a penny over his shoulder.

Mason tossed him a quick look and then lowered his voice. “And now you’re settling for an old trailer park.”

God, she would’ve laughed if he didn’t look so concerned. “Not settling, Mason. I see things differently now. In Damon’s mountains, Ryder will grow up with other kids like him. Dragons, ravens, falcons, and bears. He won’t have to feel alone like I did growing up. You know what Brooke asked me the last time I was visiting the Ashe Crew?”

“What?”

“She was wondering if you would be interested in helping Tagan coach a baseball league for the kids in the mountains. And not just shifter kids, but creating teams with the locals who are too far out to travel to Saratoga for baseball season. Humans and shifters, and Ryder could play ball without having to hide his strength or agility. I could imagine you coaching him, and him being a part of something. Mason—” Beck’s voice cracked, so she tried again. “I don’t care about the money, or living in an old trailer, or any of that. I care about the smile on Ryder’s face. Even when his lips aren’t smiling, his eyes are. So yeah. Maybe I’m settling for something different than I imagined, but only because it’s better than I could imagine.”

Mason dragged her against his chest and sipped at her lips. “You know I’ll coach his team, right?”

She huffed a laugh and rested her forehead against his. “Somehow, yeah, I knew that you would be interested.”

“Tagan’s going down. Ashe Crew versus Boarlander and Gray Back kids.”

“Gonna get a C-Team trophy,” she murmured through a giggle.

“C-Team,” he repeated softly.

“I thought Ryder wouldn’t ever have opportunities like that. And rumor has it Aviana is going to start teaching a school for the shifter kids right outside of Damon’s boundary next year, so the human kids in the area can attend, too. If we stay here, he’ll have a foot in both worlds, Mason. I know my job will end, likely after the vote, whether we’re given our rights back or not. But every time I think of leaving the trailer park and going back to my old life, I get this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I imagine seeing Robbie around town with his new family and having to explain to Ryder why he won’t acknowledge him. I imagine how much it’ll hurt both of us being away from you, and my mind revolts against the idea of not fighting for a life here. With you.”

Mason brushed his fingertip down her cheek. He was quiet for a long time, just drinking her in, but finally, he reached in his pocket and pulled out a knife. It was small and finely crafted with a polished wooden handle and a closed blade. On the handle the letters MC + RA were carved neatly. “My people don’t bite to claim,” he murmured low, looking around. “We use a ceremonial knife. Two slices to represent our tusks, right under your collarbone. It’s against my peoples’ laws to mark anyone other than another boar.” Mason flicked open the blade, and it shone in the sun. “It’s against human laws for me to mark you.”

“Mason,” she whispered, hope blooming in her chest as he unbuttoned her jacket.

“I had Beaston make me this knife just for this. For you. I don’t care what anyone else tells me I can and can’t do. You’re mine, and I’m yours.” He jerked his head at Ryder, who was squatted down, watching a line of ants on the stone walkway. “That boy is mine.” Mason pushed her jacket off her left shoulder and moved the thin strap of her top to the side. “I didn’t plan on doing it like this, but I haven’t seen Esmerelda in a week. You wrote my name on that paperwork, you’re telling me you’re staying here, and it feels right to do this now. This is our moment, Beck. I’m taking this day back for us. Fuck anyone telling us we can’t be bound.” Mason blinked slow and raised his blazing blue eyes from her collar bone to her face. “Do you want my mark, Beck? Do you want all of me?”

Beck lifted her chin as her chest heaved. She blew out a steadying breath and nodded. “I’ve wanted all of you from the moment I saw you.”

Mason looked around again, glanced at Ryder, then quick as a snakebite, he cut two long, deep marks beneath her collar bone. The air smelled of pennies, and warmth trickled down her chest from the burning cuts, but she couldn’t see anything through her tears. Dropping her head with a sob, she melted into his arms and dampened his shirt with her happiness.

Gently, Mason cupped the back of her head and rocked them from side-to-side. “Someday, I’m going to put my last name on you, and someday I’ll fill out paperwork that binds me to Ryder as well. I swear I will. Everything will be okay, Beck. I promise. We aren’t there yet, but we will be. But for now, this is what I can offer you. An old trailer park, some crazy-ass friends, and all of me.”

“Mason?” Ryder asked softly, his eyes big and yellow in the sunlight where he stood right beside them. “Is Mommy okay?”

Mason swallowed hard and reached out for Ryder. “Yeah, boy. We’re all okay.” He drew him in beside Beck, and she wrapped her arms around her boys and quieted her weeping. She’d thought today would be the worst day of her life, but she’d been wrong. Mason had dug deep and grabbed ahold of the bright side, then offered it to her on his open palm.

She was claimed.

Claimed.

No one had ever picked her, but Mason had just said fuck everyone’s rules and marked her for himself despite the tornado swirling all around them.

He’s chosen her, chosen Ryder, chosen to fight for them.

She reveled in the sting of the marks on her chest because the pain meant they were deep and would scar. And damn, she wanted them to scar noticeably. She would wear tank tops and show everyone that Mason, the protective, sweet, quiet, strong boar shifter had picked her.

Today was supposed to be the worst, but instead, the man she loved had just turned it into a day that would rival all other good days.





Chapter Twenty-One




“But what if I cain’t swim?” Ryder asked as Mason slathered his wiry little arms in sunscreen.

“I got you a life jacket, and you’ll be in a tube with me and your mom. We won’t let you sink.”

“I like your swim trunks,” Bash said to Ryder as he walked by with Big Blue, the cooler Mason had filled with beer and juice boxes. “And your yellow eyes!”

Mason frowned at Ryder and said, “Little buddy, your eyes are pretty yellow. Are you just excited, or do you want to Change before we go?”

“I’m okay, Mason. I’m tough.”

He wouldn’t admit it out loud, but Mason had bought the little blue shark swim trunks for Ryder because they were the same color as his navy ones. Yeah, he wanted to match the kid. The guys would rag him mercilessly if he told them how soft his heart had gone, so he would keep that little tidbit for pillow-talk tonight with Beck. She was always really mushy after they had sex. Maybe she was still a little broken from how Robbie had treated her body, or maybe she just had a tender heart. Either way, Mason loved every freaking thing about her.

Ryder arched his gaze to Clinton as he walked by. And to Mason’s utter disbelief, Clinton ruffled Ryder’s hair gently until the little boy giggled and play punched at his leg. Clinton ducked and wove, fists up in the air and an easy grin on his face. What the crap was going on? Hell froze over or something. Clinton didn’t do easy, normal moments.

The shadow boxing bear shifter scowled at Mason and asked, “What are you lookin’ at?” Then he sauntered off without another look back and yep, there was Crazy Clinton again.

“Hey, did you park your truck at the end of the line?” Mason called.

Clinton flipped him off over his shoulder, which he supposed was a yes. Today, they were floating the river, something Clinton had been begging to do for a month. Well, actually he’d wanted to get sloppy drunk and float the river, but one out of two wasn’t bad since they were going to cut him off at beer five. When Ryder had told Mason that his dad was supposed to take him to swim lessons this summer, but had bailed for work instead, he found himself determined to make up for that asshole’s shortcomings. He would teach Ryder to swim before the weather turned, but for today, he was going to have some fun with the crew so that Ryder didn’t look back on the day Beck was forced to register him and have a bad taste in his mouth. Mason didn’t want him to suffer when he looked back on today.