The next morning I wake up on top of Axel, Theo is snuggled in on one side and Luke is on the other. I''m not quite sure how this happened. I''m a little disappointed that Mason isn''t here but I don''t think group snuggling is his thing. I wonder if I could crawl into his bed with him for some one-on-one time. I gently extract myself from the bed, careful not to wake anyone and I creep out of my bedroom. I ce my hand on Mason''s door handle and I''m about to open it when I hear a noise behind me.


    "What are you doing?" Theo whispers.


    "I want to cuddle with him," I whisper back.


    "Fine, but I''ming," he sighs.


    "Come on then before he wakes up and gets grumpy,


    "You are going to get us in so much trouble," heughs quietly, I push the door open slowly and freeze when Mason rolls onto his back. He is only wearing his boxers, his stunning tattoos on full disy. Theo urges me forward when Mason''s breathing evens out and we each crawl into the bed on either side of him, we inch closer until we are both pressed into his side and then Ice my fingers with Theo''s on top of Mason''s chest. I sigh softly in contentment, it''s nice to finally hold Mason whilst he''spletely rxed.


    "Why are you two in my bed?" Mason''s sleepy voice startles me.


    "Erm... it''s my heat, I needed your contact," I lie.


    "Hmm, and you Theo?" he asks, sounding unconvinced.


    "I think I''m developing an empath gift and taking on Josie''s symptoms," Theo groans and I almostugh.


    "Is that right? Let me check," Mason hums and I have no idea what he''s checking


    but Theo looks worried. "You are both lying," Mason sighs.


    "What makes you say that?" I ask, acting offended.


    "Mason is an empath," Theo huffs.


    "Interesting. So you can feel what I feel?" I ask, an ideaing to me.


    "Yes, but not right now as my shields are back up. I have learnt to block everyone.


    I have enough of my own feelings to deal with, I don''t need anyone else''s,"


    I make eye contact with Theo, hoping he understands what we need to do, and then I look up at Mason and say, Drop your shields again,"


    "No, thanks," Mason snorts.


    "Just for a minute, please," I beg


    "Fine," he sighs. I close my eyes and rey the few good memories I have of him, letting him feel all the positive emotions he caused. Hope, safety, desire, gratitude, pride, excitement, awe and something close to love. His chest rises as he sucks in a breath. Heys still for a minute in silence and I hold my breath waiting for his reaction.


    "You know you could have just told me you were hungry, I didn''t need to use my gift for that," he eventually speaks and pushes himself up, then off of the bed, leaving me and Theo behind.


    "Hunger is not an emotion," I frown.


    "He feels physical feelings as well as emotional ones," The


    him.


    "I guess we should get breakfast then," I move to the edge swap Deacon''s suit jacket for the t-shirt and head to the kit more than hunger from us and if he wants to pretend he did


    "I think we might have overwhelmed him," Theoes up


    Maybe, but he needs to understand how much he is cared doesn''t need to push us away to protect himself. We will get happen," I say, shutting the kitchen cupboard with a sigh,


    "Just be careful, thest thing I want is for you to get hurt,


    "No one is going to hurt her ever again," Axel cuts Theo off


    "He feels physical feelings as well as emotional ones," The sighs and Mason ms the bathroom door behind.


    him.


    "I guess we should get breakfast then," I move to the edge of the bed and see Mason''s discarded t-shirt there. I swap Deacon''s suit jacket for the t-shirt and head to the kitchen, taking the jacket with me. I know Mason felt more than hunger from us and if he wants to pretend he didn''t then that''s okay. The main thing is he knows.


    "I think we might have overwhelmed him," Theoes up behind me and whispers.


    "Maybe, but he needs to understand how much he is cared for. He needs to know we are his safe ce and he doesn''t need to push us away to protect himself. We will get through to him Theo, one way or another it''s going to happen," I say, shutting the kitchen cupboard with a sigh, move to the fridge.


    "Just be careful, thest thing I want is for you to get hurt, and..."


    "No one is going to hurt her ever again," Axel cuts Theo off as he joins us in the kitchen.