Melina POV
Mason opened the door to my room, stepped aside, and waited for me to walk in. I hesitated because something about the way he leaned against the doorframe made my stomach twist.
Too calm.
Too confident.
Too… knowing.
I stepped inside slowly. He followed, closing the door behind him with a soft click that made my pulse jump.
"Now," Mason said, folding his arms across his chest, "tell me again… where exactly were you sneaking off to at two in the morning."
My throat tightened. I clutched the map and book behind me instinctively.
"I told you," I said, forcing myself to sound steady. "I was hungry. And I needed fresh air."
His eyebrow lifted slightly. The faintest smirk curved his lips.
"Mmh," he hummed. "So… fresh air. At the far end of the pack house. On the same floor where the private offices, treasury records, and secure rooms are located."
My heart stopped.
H-How did he know where I was?
He pushed off the wall and walked toward me slowly, each step controlled, too silent for someone his size. I backed up without meaning to until my legs hit the edge of the bed.
He stopped right in front of me.
"Melina," he said softly too softly. "If you're going to sneak around my territory… at least do it better."
A cold shiver shot down my spine.
"I wasn't ..I wasn't sneaking," I muttered, avoiding his eyes.
"Really?" he said, voice low and amused. His hand lifted and he tapped the corner of the book peeking from behind me. "Then why are you hiding that?"
I swallowed hard.
Caught.
"I just… borrowed it," I said. "It's nothing important."
He tilted his head, studying me with that sharp, unreadable gaze.
"You were studying the house layout," he said calmly, like he was reciting the weather. "Trying to memorize the pathways. The exits. The guards' rotations."
My breath hitched.
He knew.
He knew everything.
"How...how did you—"
He smirked fully now.
"Melina," he said, leaning down until his lips were near my ear, "I smelled the ink from the map the moment you stepped into the hall."
My knees nearly buckled.
Wolves could smell ink?
Seriously?!
"And," he continued, straightening again, "I heard you tiptoeing around the west wing long before you realized I was behind you."
Heat rushed to my cheeks. Great. So he knew I had been sneaking like a clumsy thief.
His fingers lifted and pinched the map lightly from my hand not forceful, just teasing. He pulled it away before I could react and unfolded it with one hand.
"Hm," he said, eyes scanning the lines. "You were three doors away from my financial archives. What exactly were you planning to steal, little human?"
"I wasn't going to steal anything!" I snapped before thinking.
He raised a brow.
Bold move, Melina. Too bold.
"Oh?" he said calmly. "Then what were you doing trespassing into restricted areas?"
The silence stretched.
I could lie.
Or…
Tell the truth and hope he didn't tear me apart.
"I… I just wanted to know the way around," I whispered.
He lowered the map slowly. The room felt too quiet. My heartbeat sounded too loud.
"Try again," he said softly. "The truth, Melina."
I lifted my chin stubbornly. "I don't owe you—"
He stepped closer, so close his warmth wrapped around me like a cage.
"You were planning an escape."
My mouth went dry.
He didn't shout.
He didn't growl.
He didn't even look angry.
That made it ten times worse.
"I…" My voice failed me.
He didn't move away. "Say it."
I squeezed my eyes shut. "Fine. Yes. I was trying to figure out a way out of this place."
A deep silence followed.
Then—
Soft laughter.
My eyes snapped open. "What's funny?!"
"You," he said simply, shaking his head. "Little human, did you really think you could escape a pack house guarded by hundreds of wolves? At night? Without even knowing where the stairs lead?"
Heat rushed to my face. "I wasn't going to run tonight, I was just—"
"Planning it," he finished for me. "Mapping out routes. Identifying weak points. Studying timing."
He stepped back just enough for me to breathe, but not enough to feel safe.
"You're smart," he added quietly. "Brave. Reckless… but smart."
I blinked.
Was—was that a compliment?
Before I could answer, he folded the map neatly and placed it on the table.
"You won't need this anymore," he said.
My chest tightened. "Why?"
He held my gaze, his voice dropping to something low and dangerous.
"Because from now on, Melina… you won't be wandering around alone. Ever."
My heart stopped. "What?! You can't—"
"Oh, I can," he said. "You're my mate. Whether you accept it or not, your safety is my responsibility."
I opened my mouth to protest, but he stepped closer again, lowering his voice.
"And before you even think about escaping again…"
He leaned in, his breath brushing my cheek.
"…know that I'll always find you first."
My breath caught.
Not because of fear.
But because of something else I refused to name.
He turned toward the door.
"Sleep," he said. "Tomorrow will be a long day."
"And if I don't want to sleep?" I snapped back.
He paused, glancing over his shoulder with a slow, dangerous smile.
"Then you can stay awake… thinking about how badly you failed to escape."
He left, closing the door behind him.
My cheeks burned with frustration and something I couldn't understand.
This Alpha was going to be the death of me.