I can tell from the look of surprise on Jasper’s face and the way his shoulders are up by his ears that he wasn’t expecting it. But he quickly softens into the hug and they stay that way until I can’t stand it any longer.
“Okay, bye!”
I take Jasper’s hand and pull him into the hall, grabbing my coat on the way out the front door.
“Thank the moon gods that’s over,” I say, slipping into the passenger seat of Jasper’s car. “I swear they’re not normally so weird and intense.”
He jumps in the driver’s side, smiling. “You have great parents,” he says. “They care about you, a lot.”
“Too much,” I say with a roll of my eyes. “But at least that’s out of the way. So, where are we going on our date?”
“I was going to tell you ahead of time,” he says, raising a cheeky eyebrow. “But after that jump scare I think it’s my turn to surprise you.”
“What? Come on, just tell me.”
“Uh-uh, you’ll just have to wait.”
I sigh dramatically as Jasper puts the car into gear and takes off in the direction of who knows where.
FIRST DATE, LAST NIGHT
The car is way too quiet. We’ve been driving for nearly twenty minutes and we’ve barely said two sentences to each other. The only sounds accompanying us are the smooth whirr of the tires and the gentle hum of the engine. I clear my throat too loudly.
“Music?” Jasper says, and flicks on the stereo. “What sort of thing do you like?”
“Pretty much anything.”
A screen in the center of the dash lights up with a selection of music, presumably connected to the music app on Jasper’s phone. He flicks through until I spot an artist I like.
“This is good,” I say.
He glances at me, then to the screen, then nods, as if he’s cataloging some piece of information away for later, then he places both hands back on the wheel and focuses on the road.
Why is this so bizarre?We’ve been in his car before and things have never felt this strained. Then again, we’ve always been driving to or from some major calamity or big pack event. There’s always been plenty to talk about. It occurs to me now that we’ve never just hung out, not really. We’ve always been consumed by the drama of our lives, the push and pull of our relationship. We’ve never just been cool with each other. It should be amazing, a weight off. So why is it so hard to think of anything to say?
“So, uh, what have you been up to since New Year’s?” I ask, cringing internally.
Jasper’s eye twitches almost imperceptibly. He flicks a thumb over the volume control on the wheel, turning the music down.
“Things were a little tense after the party,” he says. “After, well, you know.” He glances at me, blushing ever so slightly. He means since he kissed me in front of everyone. “My father and Alpha Morven have been in meetings all week. Morven wasn’t too happy, he thinks we lied to him.”
I’m not surprised Morven is pissed. Earlier that night Jasper and Jericho had given him the impression Jasper would be available to mate with Mia in the near future. It wasn’t an outright lie but it wasn’t the truth either. It was almost the last straw for Jasper and me. I wonder how many straws are left before Morven turns his back on the alliance between our packs completely.
“Is he still allied with your dad?”
“After four days of meetings he returned to the Rocky Pack to consult with his advisers. The last I heard he’d said he needed time to consider his position.”
“And Mia?”
Jasper’s throat bobs as he swallows. “He made her go back with him.”
My chest aches. “Is Olivia okay?”
“Hard to say. She’s not the most emotive. I think they’re just relieved Mia hasn’t been forced into an arranged mating, yet. I spoke with my father, implored him to help them. He said he would do what he could but things are tense. Morven is one of our strongest allies and without his support we’re vulnerable to attack along our northern and western borders.”
“Aren’t we allied with any of the packs between us and Colorado? We must have some friends.”
“A couple. But there are twelve packs between us and the Rocky Pack. Father sent me to speak with our current allies to firm up those connections while he’s been visiting alphas from the other packs. That’s why I didn’t call you back, I was a little occupied. I’m sorry.”
