“Well they’re up there and they’re…” Tears spring to her eyes.
“Hey.” I take her by the shoulders and turn her so she’s facing away from the throng. “I’m sure it’s just dancing.”
She crosses her arms with a huff and sticks out her bottom lip. “I wouldn’t be so sure.”
“Why? Did—did something happen?”
Before a tear can ruin her mascara Katie holds a finger up to her eyelid to wipe the errant betrayer away. “Todd told me he—he kissed some girl from his school.”
“Oh.”
“He said he thought he was allowed to because of the whole polyam thing.” Poor Katie. It seems her pups might need a little more training. “I told him that’s not how it works, that it’s not some free-for-all buffet, and he said I was being unreasonable.”
“I see.”
“And now they’re both up there dancing with different girls.”
I glance at the stairs, imagining the scene happening on the second floor. “They’re still your mates, that has to count for something.”
“Maybe.” Her anger turns to sulking.
I wish I knew how to help but her situation is more complicated than I have the bandwidth to comprehend. “You probably just need to talk to them and set some boundaries, no?”
She sniffs back her tears and shakes the pout from her face. “Ugh, you’re probably right. Would you come up with me?”
Over at the bar my parents have found another couple to talk to and they look happily engaged, chatting away like they’re with old friends. Socializing is just like riding a bike, I guess. “Sure,” I say.
On the second floor the party continues much the same, only a smaller bar is on the opposite side of the room, and tables have been pushed back against the exposed brick walls to make space for the crowd of dancing wolves. Glass doors lead onto a terrace with a view of the East River and Manhattan.
“See?” Katie says, death-staring at her mates, who are both manhandling a couple of wolfgirls. “Come on.”
Before I know what’s happening, Katie has taken me by the hand and led me into the middle of the dance floor. She wraps one arm around my neck and places her free hand on my waist and moves to the music, swaying her hips and spinning while I do my best to keep up with her. But I’m not much of a dancer, especially not when I know so many people are watching me, trying to get a sense of who Jasper’s mate is.
Her plan seems to be working, however, because very slowly her mates start to notice us. A glance over a shoulder at first. Then Simon is spinning his partner so he can face Katie for a better look. She leans her back against my chest, moving against me, and I play along as best I can.
Todd is the first to break away, abandoning his partner and coming to take Katie’s hand. Simon is quick to react—the second Todd moves on Katie he’s there as well. I quickly feel like the meat in a Max-and-Katie sandwich of which Todd and Simon are the bread, so I slip away, wondering how red in the face I am. Katie’s plan seems to have worked: her mates have forgotten all about the girls they were dancing with and instead have closed ranks on either side of her. It feels like a Band-Aid over a larger issue but I suppose it’ll do for now, and I’m glad I could be of service.
I search for any sign of Jasper but don’t see him so decide to head back downstairs. The fuzz surrounding my brain has started to feel firmer, the storm clouds full and ready to burst. Strikes of lightning erupt, causing sharp pricks of pain. With an inhale I try my best to hoist my mental guards back in place.
Back on the ground floor, I immediately run into Mom and Dad, who are dancing up a storm, looking like they’re having the time of their lives. They wave at me like a couple of teenagers as I approach, and I can’t help thinking it’s kind of adorable.
“Have you seen Jasper?” I ask and they both shake their heads.
“You tried upstairs?” Dad asks.
“Yeah, I thought he’d be down here.”
“I’m sure he’s somewhere,” Mom says, super helpful.
Just then both my parents stop dancing and the smiles drop from their faces. Even though we’re inside I feel as if a cloud has just blocked out the sun, and the noise in my head is overcome by one singular presence. I turn and come face-to-chest with Jericho.
“Alpha,” I say, bowing my head slightly.
“Hello, Max.” Jericho shifts his gaze to behind me. “These must be your parents.”
I spin back to find my parents standing completely still, arms pressed at their sides. They’re freaking.
“Alpha, sir, your honor,” Dad stammers and bows. “It’s such a pleasure.” He nudges Mom, who has yet to bow and is instead staring wide-eyed up at the alpha, gently in the ribs and she immediately curtsies.
