“You okay?” Jasper asks, carefully placing a hand on my knee.
I nod and force a smile.
“I know it’s a lot, but you get used to it.”
I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to this,I want to say, but I don’t want to come off as too negative. Jasper has been dealing with this sort of thing his entire life, going to big events, hobnobbing, putting on a brave and charming front. I can manage to act like a normal, well-adjusted wolf for all of four hours.Can’t I?Plus, it’s Jasper’s birthday. I’m sure he isn’t exactly thrilled to be spending it with his dad’s colleagues and the wealthy blob. I’m sure he’d rather be hanging out with me and Aisha and Jodie at home. But he’s here, looking debonair in his suit, and trying to be encouraging to me, when I should be the one making sure he has a good night.
“It’ll be fun,” I squeak, and he slips out of the car. Before he can zip around to my side to open the door for me I check my messages. I’d texted Aisha on the way over to see what time she’d be arriving and all she said was “Be there in a bit.”I was hoping for something more concrete so I knew exactly when backup would arrive to rescue me. My door clicks and swings open and suddenly there is Jasper reaching out his hand for mine, to help me from the car.
Music is pumping from inside and a trickle of smartly dressed wolves are lingering by the entrance—girls in sleek satin dresses with spaghetti straps and guys in suits who stop laughing and turn to greet us as we step toward the door.
Shoulders back, head high, I take a breath, and as Jasper slips his hand into mine, we make our way inside.
Walking into the party feels distinctly different than the handful of other times I’ve arrived at pack events. Usually I wander into these completely unnoticed, like a shadow or the invisible man. This time, all eyes turn to Jasper and me. Jasper, while not entirely comfortable—his back is unnaturally straight, his chin raised, an easy but performative smile has appeared on his face—is clearly used to this. He nods in greeting as we pass partygoers standing along the concrete bar, grins at the guests on the other side of the room in the velvet banquettes beneath the large warehouse-style windows, seemingly unfazed by just how many people are staring at him, waving as if they’re close friends, leaning in as if he might stop and talk to them.
Meanwhile the noise of this many wolves is making it hard to keep my expression neutral. I grit my teeth and press my lips together, trying not to screw up my face like I’ve been stabbed and someone is twisting the knife. I must let out a small groan because Jasper squeezes my hand and glances in my direction. He shoots me a look of concern and I do my best to shake off the darkening clouds compressing my brain and smile.
We’re about halfway into the large room, crowds of polished, well-dressed wolves surrounding us on all sides, when a couple approaches us. The woman looks to be in her twenties, blond hair, a black cocktail dress that hugs all of her ample curves, and the man has to be somewhere in the region of fifty, his salt-and-pepper hair gelled smartly to one side, his wide shoulders filling out his suit, the crinkles around his eyes betraying him.
“Jasper,” the man croons. “It’s good to see you.”
“You too, Cyrus. And you as well Jessica.” Jasper shakes Cyrus’s hand and goes full European as he air-kisses the sides of Jessica’s face. “Allow me to introduce my mate—”
“Max!” Cyrus erupts before Jasper can get my name out. “Yes, we’ve been so eager to meet you since that little show at New Year’s.”
I can’t tell if this guy means to patronize or if he just talks like a game-show host. Either way, his smarmy, amused tone is setting me on edge.
“It’s nice to meet you too,” I say.
“Cyrus is my father’s head of PR,” Jasper says.
“Oh, cool.”
“Yes and I’ve been trying to nail the two of you down for a while now,” Cyrus says.
He has? I shoot a questioning glance at Jasper. Has he been dodging Cyrus all this time on my behalf?
“I’d love to set up some interviews with the both of you so the pack can get to know you better.” He literally runs his gaze up and down the length of my body, as if appraising me. “I’m sure there are some fascinating stories about how you met and I’d love to know about your upbringing, Max. Where on earth did you come from?”
I fight with every fiber of my being not to rub the back of my neck and give away how awkward I feel. “My upbringing?” I ask. “It was pretty normal.”
Cyrus shakes his head like I’ve just made the most beguiling statement. “I can’t begin to imagine.”
“We’d love to help,” Jasper says, maybe coming to my rescue, maybe jumping in before I explode. “Let’s set something up. I’ll give your people a call in the morning.”
“Perfect,” Cyrus basically purrs.
“If you’ll excuse us,” Jasper says, placing a hand on the small of my back and leading me away.
“Does she not get to speak?” I whisper once we’re out of earshot.
“Cyrus loves the sound of his own voice,” Jasper whispers back.
We make our way through the party and I search the crowded room for familiar faces but come up short. Where is everyone? Jasper stops to say hello to a few more people, shaking hands and introducing me. Everyone shakes my hand and smiles welcomingly but I can’t help noticing the curious glint in people’s eyes, like I’m some strange amusement. The smirk playing at the corner of people’s lips. It’s like they can smell how out of place I am, and I can’t help feeling a little judged. Although, of course, that’s what this night is all about, right? Letting the pack judge me and me proving to them I’m worthy of being Jasper’s mate.
Before I know it we’re approached by another couple. This time both the guy and the woman look like they’re in their sixties. Her silver hair is piled in an intricate updo, while he’s red in the face and almost bald.
“This is Stefan and Maria Lykos,” Jasper says. “They belong to one of the oldest families in the pack.”
