“I—uh—”
“Come on, they’re cutting the cake.” Confidently, she slips her hand into mine and together we make our way outside.
Jodie pulls me through the crowd, unbashful about simply moving people out of her way, and before I know it we’ve emerged through the front line, met by a three-tiered cake, with royal-blue icing and gold details, so tall it might as well be a wedding cake. Jasper and Jericho are already there, framing the towering confection.
Jasper smiles apologetically.
“Hey,” I say, moving to stand next to him, while Jodie moves to stand with her father, who welcomes her in with a hand on her arm.
“Hi,” Jasper says. “Sorry about all this, it’ll be over quickly.”
“It’s fine.”
I glance up for the first time at the wall of faces looking back at me. Katie is there, looking less than happy, with her arms crossed and her mates on either side of her looking like they’ve been going at it on the dance floor, their shirts untucked, their top buttons undone, Simon’s tie askew. My parents shuffle sideways until they come into view, Mom raising her eyebrows at me and Dad giving me a proud little wave. Olivia is off to the side looking unimpressed. The Lykoses are smiling like they’re celebrating their own child’s birthday, and a step behind them is Walter. His head is lowered, casting a shadow over his eyes, which are leveled squarely at me. I clear my throat and look away as Jericho clears his throat.
“Tonight we are here to celebrate the birth of my son,” Jericho booms. “And while each year is an auspicious occasion, tonight is an especially important milestone in Jasper’s life. For the first time Jasper’s mate is with us to join the celebration.”
Excuse me?
Every eye turns to me, and the noise of their thoughts is a freight train coming at me. I squint, placing one foot slightly behind the other to brace myself against the impact.
“Maximilian is a courageous and determined young man. His spirit and vitality will be a welcome addition to the leadership of this pack.” Jasper slides an arm behind my back, maybe to show how proud he is as well, or maybe because he can sense my urgent need to retreat and is holding me in place. “So tonight let’s raise a glass to Jasper and his new mate. A welcome addition to my family!”
The crowd before me lift their drinks—everyone except Walter—and hold them there as Jericho reaches his crescendo. “Happy birthday, Jasper. Here’s to you and your mate!”
A cry of “Cheers!” erupts and I take the opportunity to wipe a bead of sweat from my forehead. In the third row Mom is wiping away a tear and Dad’s eyes have gone all red and sore looking. Olivia tips her glass in my direction with a raised brow. Katie applauds wholeheartedly, like she’s trying to prove a point.
“And now,” Tobias says, slipping through a gap in the front row, “cake!”
Jasper takes up a large knife and slices into the mammoth tower. The crowd applauds and a pair of servers emerge with plates. Jasper hands off the knife and they go to work carving up the frosted beast.
When the mass of wolves finally disperses I inhale like I’ve been holding my breath for hours and let my torso fall forward.
“Max?” Jasper rubs my back and leans closer so I can see him.
“I’m fine,” I say. “It was just like all the thoughts were concentrated for a moment.”
“You need to sit.” Jasper is looking around for a chair, but I have something more pressing to address.
“Why is Walter here?” I ask.
Jasper exhales, pouting like a model, and rubs his eyes. “I wish he wasn’t.”
“So? It’s your party. Don’t you get to choose who’s invited?”
“It doesn’t really work like that. This”—he swings his hand in a semicircle toward the party—“is more for the pack than for me.”
“I don’t understand. After what his son did, why does Walter still have a seat at the table?”
Jasper takes my elbow and leads me a little farther toward the railing.
“Walter holds the keys to the Elite Pack’s treasury. He controls the purse strings. That makes him incredibly influential. If my father has any hope of bringing the pack back together he needs Walter’s support. As much as I wish his whole family were sent to live with the rogues, it’s not an option. He has too much power.”
I scoff and look out across the water at Manhattan, at the shimmering towers lit up against the increasingly dark sky, twinkling like jewels. “I wouldn’t wish that upon the rogues.”
A tiny growl rolls in Jasper’s throat. “Rogues are still rogues.”
“You still believe that? After what we’ve seen? The people we’ve met?”
