I pull my head back, super confused. “See what?”
“Someone within our pack has turned on us. Someone on the inside has been in touch with the southern packs. It’s the only reason I can think of.”
“Who do you think?” Immediately, one name comes to mind, but it’s not the one that comes out of Jasper’s mouth.
“Salazar, maybe. You saw how he acted at the Rogue Sanctuary. I’ve never seen him like this. What if he’s turned on us? On my father?”
“Do you really think he would betray your dad like that?”
Jasper turns again, pulling away from me and holding his forehead in both palms.“I don’t know! I don’t know what to think. But I can’t help feeling I’m the one who has to fix things. It’s all on me to make things right, and before things get any worse, before anyone gets hurt—anyoneelse.”
I wrap my arms around his waist and squeeze gently, just enough so he knows I’m there for him.
“It’s not all on you,” I say. “It’s not. You’re not the alpha yet, your dad is in charge. He knows what to do. And even if he doesn’t, you have me. I won’t let you go through this alone.”
Jasper spins around and returns my embrace, his eyes lit up with some notion.
“I have you,” he says.
“Yeah, you do.”
“Do you think…? Are you able to reach out and see what might be affecting the other alphas?”
“What do you mean?”
“Like use your blood-wolf powers to see what they’re thinking?”
I pause for a while, staring into Jasper’s face. He looks so hopeful, like he’s found the solution he’s been looking for.
“I don’t know,” I say. “I’m not sure I’m that good at using my powers yet, even after my moonwalk, and besides…I…I don’t know if that’s what they’re for.”
“What do you mean?” He pulls away and puts a couple of steps between us.
“I mean, I’m not a spy, Jasper. I haven’t been given this gift so I can sneak around surveilling foreign alphas.”
“I’m not asking you to become a spy. But we could stop a war, Max. Isn’t that a good thing?”
For a moment I don’t know how to answer. I rub the back of my neck and scrunch up my face.
“Isn’t it?” Jasper presses.
“Yeah, of course. I don’t want there to be a war but—”
“But what?”
“But my powers are supposed to help bring people together, not give one pack the upper hand over another.”
“It’s not just some pack,” he says, and I notice the dark circles under his eyes for the first time. “It’syourpack.”
I don’t say anything. Instead, I shoot him a look to let him know that he’s on the edge, one step away from crossing a boundary.
Finally, he drops onto the side of his bed, letting his head hang low. “I’m sorry,” he says. “I didn’t mean to imply…I didn’t mean anything.”
“It’s okay,” I say hesitantly.
“No, I shouldn’t have asked you to use your powers like that. I’m sorry. I’m just so…”
“Stressed?”
