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“You won’t talk to them for us? If you and Alpha Jack talk to them, they will listen. That’s what the alpha consort is for.”

We’d circle back on that whole alpha consort thing. I had too many questions and I really wanted Jack to explain it to me, not a few random teenagers. I shook my head. “You have to be able to talk with them about what you’d like to do. I’ll be there for moral support. Jack too, if you want.”

Amanda sighed. “We just really want to go.”

“I know,” I said. “I can definitely understand that. There have been a lot of times in my life I wanted to do things that my parents weren’t willing to let me. I can tell you that not going home after school, and not letting anyone know where you’re at, is really the best place to start to get permission to go somewhere, though.”

They both have the decency to look sheepish.

“It’s not like you’re dangerous. You’re the alpha’s mate. you’re not going to hurt us.”

“Right,” I said.

I was the alpha’s mate.

Good to know.

Chapter 19

Connor

The drive to the pack house wouldn’t take long. It was crazy how close I’d been living to a werewolf pack without even realizing it. Jack assured me that the parents of the two kids currently in the backseat of my car would meet us there.

“You two want ice cream?” I asked.

They exchanged a look. “We aren’t five.”

I shrugged. “Pretty sure ice cream isn’t age dependent.” I swung into the local ice cream place and parked. The two followed me when I got out, and we each ordered a small cone, with sprinkles.

Not five indeed. Sprinkles were my favorite also. A classic choice for any age.

“Are our parents going to be mad?” Benjamin asked.

Now that we were on our way to the pack house, their attitudes had shifted from defiance to apprehension. Their shoulders had slumped, and they eyed me wearily.

“I’m sure they aren’t going to be thrilled that you left without telling anyone, went to a strangers house, talked to them about pack business, and didn’t tell anyone where you were going.” I felt the need to reiterate that last point.

The anticipated consequences of their actions seemed to hit them both like a ton of bricks.

Amanda groaned dramatically. “We just want to be like the normal kids and travel! Our parents are way too protective.”

That wasn’t for me to decide.

“They are never going to let us go anywhere now,” Benjamin said as if that was a death sentence. I was surprised they didn’t flop on the floor and clutch their hearts in a mock death.

“Let’s not put the cart before the horse. We haven’t talked to your parents or Jack yet.”

Not that I thought Jack would have much say. Then again, everyone seemed to look to him for advice and guidance. These kids seemed to think I had some sort of sway as Jack’s... boyfriend?

Alpha consort.

The name made me shiver and a sense of calm came over me. I didn’t hate it. It felt right.

If I was Jack’s mate, and he knew it, wouldn’t he have told me before now? It wasn’t like this werewolf thing was a secret.

If Jack was the alpha of the pack, did he get final say in whether or not these kids got to go on their trip? Knowing him, he would hear them out and give them a fair judgment. If it truly was too unsafe for young werewolf kids to travel overseas, then he would explain it to them. He would be fair and just.

Once the two of them finished their ice cream, we continued our trek to the pack house. There were three cars parked in the drive when we arrived; Jack’s was one of them. The other two must’ve belonged to the parents.