“We need to throw a party to celebrate!” I declare, my mind already racing to decorations, balloons, and cocktail menus. “Do we get a cake? Hire a DJ? Do I need to buy a suit?”
“Jagger?” Delilah’s face falls as her gaze strays to him. He’s still frozen to the spot like an ice statue. “Are you okay?”
“I…” Jagger’s throat bobs with a loud swallow. “I need some fresh air.”
He heads out into the backyard, the door slamming behind him.
“It’s okay.” Nash squeezes her shoulder. “He’ll be fine.”
She frowns, her gaze following Jagger’s retreating figure through the window. “I should talk to him.”
“I’ll come with?—”
“No.” She steps away from Nash then turns to stroke his cheek. “I think… I need to do this alone.” He doesn’t look happy about it, but her kissing him temporarily smooths out his scowl. If her kisses can help calm him down, I’ll make sure she’s around the next time I break something. “I’ll be back soon.”
He mutters something that sounds like, “Or I’ll come find you,” before she takes off in pursuit of Jagger.
“Congrats.” I clap Nash on the back. “Who knew showing her your workshop would end in a bonding? Do you have a love potion hiding out there?”
“I…” A deep grin curls his lips, crinkling his cheeks. “I… can’t believe it.”
“Tell me, how does it feel?” I open the fridge and begin rooting around for something to celebrate with. A group of three twenty-something guys don’t have any champagne, so I grab the pack of still lukewarm beers. “Want one?”
He takes it, feels the temperature, then grimaces. “Maybe later.”
“Good call.” I put them back in the fridge. “So…?” I stare at him. “How does it feel?”
“It’s…” He rubs the bond mark on his neck. “I can feel what she feels. Not as much now that she’s outside, but it’s like she’s part of me, you know? I didn’t know it was possible to feel so many different emotions at once. I don’t know how she functions.”
“Women are a lot more complicated than us, dude.” I chuckle. “Still, that sounds insane. I’ve never felt jealous of your knot, but that connection does sound pretty cool.”
“Having a knot is pretty badass too.”
“I’m good with my piercings.” I roll my eyes. “Although an alpha’s stamina definitely has some perks. Can you feel how she feels during…?”
“Yup.” He smirks proudly.
“Okay, now I really am jealous.” I look out the window where I can see Delilah and Jagger, facing away from us. Despite my happiness for Nash, a sinking feeling settles in my stomach. “This is going to be hard on him.”
“He’ll be okay.” Nash nods with a certainty that I don’t feel. “I can feel how much she cares about him. About all of us.”
I startle at the sound of my cell phone ringing. “It’s Valerie.” I frown at the screen “I’m pretty sure Jagger’s been ignoring her all morning.”
Nash’s expression sours. “Get rid of her.”
I pick up. “Hi, Val?—”
Before I can say any more, her frantic, high-pitched voice nearly deafens me, bombarding me with a string of questions. “Why’s Jagger not answering? Do you realize what he’s done? What is he thinking?!”
“Whoa… Hang on a second… Slow down.” I put the phone on speaker. “Look, Val, I don’t know what you’re talking about?—”
“He quit!” Her ear-splitting screech bounces off the ceiling and floor. “He publicly denouncedPack Fireon social media! The press, the magazines, the newspaper requests… they’re flooding in. Tell him to fucking call me!”
She hangs up, leaving me gaping across the backyard at my packmate. “Shit. What did he do…?”
Whatever storm is coming, it won’t be good.
THIRTY-NINE
