“He just went to call his father. I think they’re getting ready to take us all back early.”
As if on cue there’s a knock at the door, and without waiting for an invite, Jasper pokes his head in.
“You’re awake.”
Katie is right: he looks rough—ruffled hair, bags under his eyes, T-shirt wrinkled, collar askew. But his expression is pure relief. Then he steps into the room.
I clutch my head as an agonizing explosion erupts in my brain.
“What’s wrong?” Jasper says, coming to my side. The pain, which would only flash before, remains, throbbing. “Max?”
Through gritted teeth and squinted eyes I can tell just how worried he is. But the pain is only getting worse.
“Need…space,” I choke out.
“Give him some room,” Katie says, and Jasper looks between us like he’s going mad. But he moves away from the bed, and as he does the pain decreases.
“Is that better?”
“A little. What’s going on?”
“We don’t know. I’ve spoken with Morven’s healers and they’ve prescribed a sedative and painkillers.” It’s only then I notice the paper bag scrunched in Jasper’s hand. “I want to get you home so our healers can take a proper look at you. But…”
I glance at Katie and she looks to Jasper.But what?
“But there’s a snowstorm expected later today, and we won’t be able to fly out until tomorrow.”
I grunt and grimace. “I can’t wait until tomorrow.”
“Here, take some of these.” Jasper fishes out a sheet of painkillers. It might as well be normal aspirin, and he sees me eyeing it dubiously.
“It’s wolf strength,” he says.
There’s no way painkillers will be enough. Whatever is happening, it’s in me. Somehow I know this isn’t a normal headache.
“They won’t work and I can’t wait until tomorrow.”
“Just try them,” Jasper says, holding out the painkillers. He takes a step forward and the pain intensifies.
“Stay back.”
He tosses the painkillers onto the mattress, and even though I know they won’t be enough, I chuck two in my mouth, washing them down with the glass of water on my nightstand.
“It won’t be enough,” I say.
Jasper runs a hand through his hair, he doesn’t know what to do and he’s panicking.
“Tomorrow, we’ll be back in the Elite Pack and then…” He trails off as our eyes meet and he takes in the gentle shake of my head, because the truth is nothing will change at home. Morven is just as rich and well connected as Jericho—maybe richer. If his healers don’t know what’s going on, why would ours?
“I’m so sorry, Max,” Jasper says, his eyes dropping to the floor.
Another knock at the door interrupts the growing tension. The door swings open halfway and Mia leans in.
“Sorry,” she says, “I don’t mean to interrupt but…” She stops.Can anyone finish a sentence right now?
“What is it?” Jasper asks, a tinge of hope in his voice.
“I just spoke with Father and he told me what the healers said.”
