“How’s Clayton—”
We speak at the same time and then fall awkwardly quiet. Jasper looks around, probably taking in my scent. His eyes linger on my sketchbook, open on the reading chair, then land on the pile of clothes spilling messily out of my duffel.
“I spoke to Clayton,” he says finally. “He won’t say anything.”
“How did you manage that?”
Jasper grins a little. “Clayton’s family holds a lot of influence. But I’m still the alpha’s son.”
“Right, so you commanded him to keep quiet.”
Jasper rolls his eyes ever so subtly.
“Max, I can admit that keeping you at a distance wasn’t the right thing to do. But that doesn’t change the fundamental reason for that decision. If people knew about our connection, our”—he swallows—“relationship, it could endanger the pack and us. No one can know.”
He reaches for my hand and I pull it away.
“So…what do you want then?”
“I don’t know,” he says, taking a step toward me. “All I know is that when we’re alone, it’s all I can do to control myself.”
I stare at him and once again he steps to me and kisses me, taking my face in his sturdy hands. It feels as good as ever. I love the way his scent emanates off him, mixing with mine and changing the chemical makeup of the air. But something is off this time. I pull back and he gives me the cutest damn look of confusion.
“What is it?” he asks.
“I guess, I just don’t know where I stand. Are we…like…together?”
“We can be,” he says, nodding as if he’s confirming something to himself. “But it would be better if no one knew. Can you do that?”
“Be your secret”—gulp—“boyfriend?”
“I know it’s not fair to you but—”
I press my thumb to his lips to stop him talking.
“I can do that.”
There’s something sort of exhilarating about having a secret—the thrill of knowing something other people don’t. And for the first time I actually feel like Jasper and I are sort of on the same page. He’s not just my mate, as declared by the Moon Gods, he’s my boyfriend. My little secret. This advancement is enough that I’m positively giddy as I make my way down to dinner.
Jasper didn’t stay long in my room; in fact he seemed pretty keen to be on his way. I guess he was just worried someone might hear us. So even though it’s totally cringe, I’m excited to see him again.
Every person I pass, I glance at and smile. Being in a covert relationship has put me in a really good mood and for once I’m actually feeling outgoing.
Just about everyone is in the dining room when I arrive. Katie is there already, sitting between her mates, who are hunched over silently while she leans back in her chair, arms crossed, an expression that can only be described asfed upon her face.
“What’s up?” I ask when I arrive, but I’m only half-present.
The rest of my attention is on Jasper, who’s sitting to the right of Morven’s empty chair. He nods ever so subtly in my direction and I just about pass out. But the jelly-wobbles in my legs stop the instant I spot Clayton, one seat to the right, staring daggers in my direction.
“These two,” Katie begins, and I seize the opportunity to break eye contact, slipping into my seat and hiding behind Todd, “who were being so nice earlier, brought Christmas presents for me, but because they’re being dumb and jealous, they both thought it would be funny to steal what the other person brought and destroy it.”
“Oh,” I say.
“I’ll buy you a new plushie,” Todd says.
“He destroyed the necklace I bought first,” Simon replies.
“Enough,” Katie says, shuddering with rage.
