Caleb's POV
I watch Mason sprint from Riley's front porch back to my house. What the hell is he doing over there? Since when does he talk to her? And why does seeing them together make my blood boil like this?
The second he walks through my door, I grab him by the throat and slam him against the wall. "What the fuck are you doing?" The words tear from my throat before I can stop them.
"Put him down, Caleb." My father's voice cuts through my rage with calm authority. I snarl but release my grip on Mason. He slides down the wall with that infuriating smirk still plastered on his face.
"Goddess, I was just talking to her. What's your problem?" Mason rubs his throat, still grinning like he knows something I don't.
That's exactly the problem. I have no idea what my problem is. I haven't spoken to Riley since we were twelve years old. So why does watching him chat with her at lunch make me want to rip his head clean off? Why does seeing him walk her home make my wolf pace restlessly under my skin?
I need to get a grip on myself.
"The problem is she's human," I snap, my temper still barely leashed. "She shouldn't even know we exist, let alone start hanging around with us."
My dad steps between us, playing peacekeeper when I need him to stay out of this. "I don't see the issue. She already knows about us. She and her mother keep their mouths shut. Mason has months before he turns eighteen. Let them have some fun until he finds his mate."
Let them have some fun. The phrase hits me like a physical blow. Is my father seriously playing matchmaker now? A low growl rumbles in my chest as I glare at him, but he just laughs and walks away like this conversation never happened.
Jace and Silas choose that moment to barge through the front door. Through the window, I catch sight of Riley greeting Zoey on her doorstep before Jace slams the door shut, cutting off my view.
Good thing nobody notices me watching.
I give up trying to throttle Mason and head for the game room. The others follow, and I grab a pool cue while Silas does the same. I line up to break when Jace opens his mouth.
"So what's the deal with you and Riley?" He directs the question at Mason while grabbing drinks from the mini fridge.
Mason shoots me another one of those knowing smirks before answering. "Not sure yet. She said something that made me laugh at lunch today. Can't stop thinking about her since."
The pool cue snaps clean in half from the pressure of my grip.
Mason' smirk widens. "Future Alpha here doesn't want me talking to her though."
All eyes turn to me. I shrug and grab a beer, staying silent because I have no clue what to say. I don't understand these feelings clawing at my chest.
"When I tried talking to her, she wasn't exactly friendly," Jace laughs. Mason' expression turns murderous.
"What did you say to her?" The accusation in his voice is sharp enough to cut.
Jace grins wickedly. "Just asked what was going on. She crumpled up my note and tossed it in the trash."
Mason chuckles, but there's no real humor in it. "I invited her to Saturday's party."
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. "You did what?" I roar. They stare at me like I've lost my mind, trying to laugh off my reaction.
"Is she coming?" Silas asks. I lean forward, hanging on every word even though I'm not sure which answer I want to hear.
"Nah, she said she has plans," Mason replies. Something deflates in my chest, though I can't name what.
Silas snorts. "That's bullshit. Zoey's coming to the party. Zoey's her only friend. She doesn't have plans. She just didn't want to come with you." He looks straight at Mason with a smug expression.
I watch Mason deflate slightly, and for some twisted reason, that makes me smile.
He hops off the counter and pulls out his phone, fingers flying over the screen.
"Are you texting her?" Jace laughs.
Mason nods with that same cocky smirk. The fact that he has her number sends an unfamiliar burn through my veins.
His phone chimes, and we all lean in like vultures.
"Says her mom wants to spend Saturday with her," Mason reads. I can see the wheels turning in his head, and I already don't like where this is going.
"What are you thinking?" Jace asks.
Mason flashes us a megawatt smile. "I'm thinking moms love me."
Everyone laughs except me.
"This is a bad idea," I try reasoning with them. "Stella and her crew will be there. You know how they treat Riley at school. Plus Piper has a thing for you. It'll get ten times worse for Riley if Piper sees you two together."
Silas and Jace actually seem to consider my words, but Mason' face darkens with pure rage.
"I'll kill every last one of them if they touch her," he says slowly, each word dripping with deadly promise. I've never seen this side of him before.
Does he actually have feelings for her? How is that even possible? They just started talking today.
I stare at him like he's grown a second head. He seems to collect himself, but I'm wrong.
"Just keep your slut and her little friends away from us," he says with forced calm, though a growl rumbles beneath the words. His eyes never leave mine as he stalks out of the room. Seconds later, my front door slams hard enough to rattle the windows.
What the hell just happened?
I look at Silas and Jace, who seem just as stunned as I feel.
"Fuck, did she cast a spell on him or something?" Jace breaks the silence. "What was that?"
Before I can answer, my mom appears in the doorway, having caught the tail end of our conversation.
"A love spell? Seriously?" She rolls her eyes. Mom always had a soft spot for Riley. She never forgave me for cutting contact with her.
"Did you see him?" Silas gestures toward the door.
Mom laughs. "Maybe if you boys actually got to know her, you'd like her too. You sit up here in your ivory tower thinking she's not worth your time. As someone who loves that girl, I can promise you she is worth it. And Caleb, before you got your wolf, you thought she was worth it too. You boys have so much growing up to do."
She turns and walks back upstairs, leaving me feeling exposed and raw.
Thanks for throwing me under the bus, Mom. What is it with my parents today? They're usually not so obvious about taking Riley's side.
I grab another beer while Silas and Jace reach for the game controllers. Everything feels wrong, like the world has shifted off its axis.
And I have a sinking feeling it's not just about Mason wanting Riley.