**Mason''s POV **


    I don''t give a shit about what people say about me, they can all go fuck themselves for all I care, but I''m not having them talk about Theo like that. Despite how much of a brave face he puts on I know he takes theirments to heart. He''s a sensitive soul in many ways. I wanted to punch a few of them or unleash some of my best aggressive tricks with my abilities but I''m supposed to be a leader now, someone they can look up to. So I did the mature thing and shut them all up without any violence I''m sure Headmaster Collins would have been proud of me for it a few months ago. I''m not one for public disys of affection, in fact, I''m not really one for private affection. The only touching I like is fucking, but I tolerate Josie''s touch when she needs me, and maybe I''m starting to like it because I''ve just realised how much I miss it. I miss her needing my contact. When her warm skin is pressed against mine I feel a little more alive. Theo''s warm hand squeezes mine and maybe I like that too. That thought scares me and I release his hand, using the excuse to pick up two trays and pass one to him.


    "Thanks," he smiles, the light behind his eyes the brightest I''ve seen it in weeks. Did I cause that?


    "Mace," I hear Dot and turn towards the sound of her just in time for her to throw her arms around me in a hug. I''m definitely at my limit of affectionate touches now and I pat her back awkwardly. "I can''t believe you just did that, but it''s about damn time," she grins at me.


    "Um... thanks," I say, unsure how to respond.


    "Where have you been hiding? It feels like weeks since I saw you,"


    "It has been weeks, we''ve been camping," I shrug.


    "Why haven''t you been answering my calls?" she frowns at me looking just like our mother.


    ''Because I know what you are going to say and I''m not interested," I turn away from her as the line moves forward.


    "I wasn''t calling for Mum, she asked me to pass on a message to you and I did that. I was calling to see how you are and if I could help in any way. You don''t look great, Mace, you''ve lost weight and you look exhausted," she says as she moves in front of me, cutting ahead of me in the queue.


    "I''m fine," I brush her off. "Please, cut in front of me," I gesture mockingly.


    "Thanks, and no, you''re not fine, of course, you''re not. How could you be given the circumstances? But you need to look after yourself and keep your strength up," she says quietly.


    "You''re starting to sound like Theo. I''m not talking about this here. I slept in my own bedst night and I''m about to eat so take somefort in that if you need to,"


    "Fine. Where are Luke and Axel?" she asks.


    "I''m not talking about that here either," I say under my breath. What is it about the dining hall that makes everyone forget they''re in a room of people with enhanced hearing, there''s always someone listening in this damn ce.


    "Later then?"


    "Later," I nod and begin to load up my tray with food. I snatch thest slice of pizza before Dot can get it and then I put it on Theo''s tray before he starts to sulk "Thank you," he smiles.


    "Hey, bro''s before hoe''s," Dot ponts.


    "Don''t call yourself a hoe, Hunny, you''re bonds wouldn''t like it," Theo quips back. "Oh, they would like that, especially..."


    "Enough, I don''t want to hear it," 1 cut her off before she gives me Information I will never be able to unhear. "Do I need to remind you about what I had to hear in the infirmary? Because I still need therapy after that," she huffs.


    "No reminder needed, I think about it multiple times a day. I tease. She turns and sticks out her tongue, reminding me of the yful sister she was when we were children before everything changed. I put my hand on the top of her head and mess up her hair the way I used to and she grins at me.


    We eat lunch at our usual table but even with Dot and her bonds with us, the table seems too quiet without Josie, Luke and Axe. Coner catches my eye as heughs with his bond group and instead of the usual anger I feel when I see him I only feel an emptiness. I remember how Josie looked when she had danced with him. She was unreal, the way her body had moved was mesmerising. I hope I get to see it again. Not with Coner though, she should teach Theo, I think he''d enjoy it.


    "You''re thinking about her aren''t you?" Theo speaks in my head.


    "How do you know?"


    "Because you were smiling," he responds and I quickly wipe the smile from my face. I hadn''t even realised I was doing it.


    "Not just her, I was thinking about you too," I confess, surprised by my own honesty. Why am I sharing this with him? It''s as if he has some sort of hold over me that urges me to make his eyes light up with happiness, an urge to please him and see his smile. I don''t feel like this with Josie, though, we have a different dynamic. With her, I want to test her boundaries, to provoke her just enough to spark that fiery reaction. I get a thrill in watching her eyes sh with a challenge, and I feel a rush at knowing I''m the one who incites it. And when she finally surrenders to me, it makes her submission even more sweeter and so intoxicating. Maybe it''s because Josie is surrounded by her other bonds who strive to make her happy at every turn, so she doesn''t need my affection. She needs more than justfort from me. She needs the thrill of uncertainty, the excitement of being kept on her toes just as much as I do. I want to make sure she never bes too soft orcent, because strength doesn''t juste fromfort but from challenge. I want to give her the strength she gives me.