Jasper looked at Aedan and Justice, giving them a small nod of acknowledgment. “Go enjoy your party, Justice.”
“Wait, I don’t need to be watched over,” Lucie said as Aedan and Justice chuckled while walking away. She looked at Jasper, who grinned at her.
“I came here to hang out with you anyway. And I’m not interested in any of the ladies.”
“Are you spying on me for your prince?” Lucie raised a brow and watched a crooked grin spread over his face.
“I wouldn’t call it spying. And I won’t tell you that he asked me to check on you to see how you were doing.” Jasper winked at Lucie, who looked at him in confusion.
Derrick asked him to come and check on her? But he always acted like he couldn’t be bothered with her lately. She remembered the change soon after he hit puberty. They used to play together all the time. Then, when she was ten and he was fifteen, he was different. Everything about him was different. His voice was deeper, and he’d grown so much. That was when he started distancing himself from her.
When her brother turned fifteen, he also went through growing changes. He shot up and filled out. His voice grew deeper. But his personality was still fun and goofy. She thoughtat first that Derrick just didn’t want to hang out with a ten-year-old, that he would change as she aged as well.
She was nineteen now, and he was twenty-four. Yet, when they last met, he was still fairly distant with her. He was considerate, but it was like he wasn’t trying to be friends with her at all, like he felt bothered having to be friends with her. She wanted to blame it on him being a vampire, except Jasper was never like that. There was only one logical conclusion … he didn’t want her. Yet now she learned that he was having Jasper check in on her, which made her wonder …
“Are you always reporting back to Derrick about me?” Lucie could see the guilt in his eyes and her mouth dropped. “So, are you actually my friend, or are you Derrick’s spy?”
Jasper chuckled. “You aren’t doubting my friendship, are you? Come on. I can hardly refuse my prince and future king now, can I? That doesn’t mean I’m any less your friend. I’m friends with both of you.” He smiled softly. “He just likes to hear how you’re doing and what you’ve been up to.”
“Then why doesn’t he ever ask me himself? Why doesn’t he ever visit me? He stopped visiting me here when he was a kid. Then he acts like it’s a chore to have lunch with me when I visit. If he cares, then why doesn’t he show it?”
Jasper’s eyes were heavy with sadness. “He has his reasons, Lucie, and that’s all I can really say. Trust me … he’s a great guy.”
“Well, I guess all I can do is trust you on that, since he doesn’t talk to me.” Lucie looked down at her feet and frowned. Jasper was certainly singing Derrick’s praises. At least Derrick seemed to be good to Jasper. But she honestly didn’t really know who Derrick was. “I take it you’ve told him I have a very outgoing personality, right?”
“I think I’ve used the term ‘passionate personality.’” Jasper chuckled. “Yes, I have told him how spirited you can be. I think your personality excites him.”
Lucie shook her head and laughed. “Now I know you’re lying. Derrick doesn’t get excited about anything. I think watching paint dry is his idea of a good time.”
Jasper laughed so hard that tears formed in his eyes. “I can’t wait to tell him you said that.” He wiped the corners of his eyes dramatically.
They heard an ear-piercing scream coming from near the packhouse. Lucie’s eyes widened and her feet moved on their own. Aedan was racing in front of her while Jasper was staying right at her side. When they got near the packhouse, there was a large crowd surrounding a woman that was covered in blood.
Lucie listened to the people murmuring and overheard one of the alphas talking.
“It’s another one. Another attack just like before. They’re becoming more frequent. Is it vampires?”
Lucie felt a strong arm pull her tightly into his side. She looked up to see Jasper staring angrily. She turned her head away slightly and toward Jasper to shield her face. The scene in front of them was stomach-turning. Whatever had attacked the woman had been vicious in its assault.
“Alright everyone, back up.” Lucie heard her father’s commanding tone.
She looked back to see her mother, Freja, examining the woman and the wounds. Freja looked back at Hunter and shook her head slightly. “We lost her.”
“Great. So now she can’t even tell us which bloodsucker attacked her.” One of the alphas growled.
“ENOUGH.” Hunter roared, quieting the murmuring voices instantly. “We’re going to get to the bottom of this. My queen and I will look over the body and determine the cause of these wounds. In the meantime, I think it would be best to put the packs on alert. After years of peace, we seem to have an enemy emerging. Could be a disgruntled demon from the past. But untilwe know who our target is, it’s best to be cautious. No one leaves their pack territories by themselves. And double your guards on patrol.”
Lucie felt Jasper tighten his grip on her and pull her deeper in his chest. His fun nature was gone, and he had the eyes of a killer. She could not only feel his tension but everyone else’s. She looked at her parents, who were staring at one another quietly, having their own silent conversation about this.
Jasper’s parents Jester and Irene came closer to also examine the body. Lucie could tell they were worried about who might be responsible. She felt her breath being squeezed from her lungs. Did they suspect a vampire?
Jasper walked a few steps forward, keeping Lucie tucked into his side. He looked at both of their parents. “I think we should take Lucie with us now.”
CHAPTER 5
Lucie looked up at Jasper in shock, then back at her parents. She could tell by her father’s eyes that wasn’t going to happen, but she wasn’t the only one who noticed.
“Lucie will be joining us at the end of the summer. These next couple of months will be her last months in her pack. Not only does she need this time, but her parents do too. Don’t worry, Jasper. She is well protected here. You think that overgrown pup she has for a father will let anyone touch her? And her mother is even scarier.” Jester winked at Freja and Hunter.
