I skid to a stop when I realize Jasper is no longer beside me. He’s frozen in place, watching me with dark, stern eyes.
“What are you doing?” I ask.“We need to get to the clearing, the boost of energy there should be enough to help me find—”
Jasper snaps at me to shut me up or to get my attention. I walk back a little ways till I’m only a few feet from him.
“What is it?”
“I promise, Max. That was the last time I ever keep the truth from you, whether the pack depends on it or not. I’m sorry.”
My body deflates, letting go of all the annoyance and frustration and fear I was feeling. Because of course Jasper was only doing what was right, what was best for everyone.
“Really,” I say.“It’s fine, I understand. But for whatever reason it hasn’t worked, Walter knew, and now the only thing that matters is—”
Jasper’s ears prick up at the sound of a snapping twig nearby and three wolves emerge from the tree line. They’re familiar looking, but it takes me a second to realize who they are in their wolf forms.
One has a scar running down the side of his face, the eye underneath white.Scarface.The other two are muscular, their scents taking me back in time, and suddenly I know who they are.
Scarface, Tattoo, and Peanut, or whatever their real names are. The three rogues who kidnapped Aisha, the same guys who kidnapped Jasper and me and took us to that boat, who we thought were working for Mr. Peng and Eleanor, but who were actually being bankrolled by Walter.
“They’re supposed to be locked up,”I say to Jasper.
“Walter must have got them out somehow.”
“Damn that guy is tricky.”
The rogues proceed to close in on us, moving slowly, knowing when it comes to brute strength, they have us beat.
“What’s up, guys?”I say, penetrating their minds.“Long time no see.”
My teasing only elicits growls and snarls from them.
“Okay, guess you’re not in the mood to catch up.”
“Max,” Jasper says, maneuvering closer to my side to protect me.“You have to get to the clearing.”
“What? No, I can take them out.”
“We don’t have time. Please, get to the clearing, save my father.”
They inch ever closer.
“You can’t take all three,”I say.
“Go!”Jasper says, and I’m about to clap back when a new voice drifts into my mind.
“Go, Blood Wolf,”Mitsuha urges in a gentle whisper.“You must go.”
So this is it, the moment where I need to leave Jasper no matter the cost.
Tears spring to my wolf eyes.No matter the cost.
But would Mitsuha want me to leave her son to save her husband? Or is there something bigger at play here?
“Go!”Jasper commands again, leaping at Scarface, teeth bared. He lands and they topple over, which makes Tattoo jump to help his fellow rogue out, which leaves only me and Peanut.
I could stay and take them out but Jasper’s and Mitsuha’s voices echo in my mind.
Whatever is about to happen, I’m supposed to go, I’m supposed to leave Jasper. Now.
