Page 115 of Chasing The Alpha's Son
Back inside, I scan the bar areas and wonder if I can use my blood wolf senses to reach out to him. I close my eyes and let down just a sliver of the barrier I’ve been maintain. A trickle of sweat drips down my forehead as I content with my new power. My mind reaches out across the dancefloor, the tables surrounding it, to the upper level and the shadowy booths toward the back.Nothing.Is he blocking me out?
A warm, familiar presence materializes toward the elevators, and as the delicate ping of its arrival sounds, the doors open and Aisha wanders in. I put my barriers back in place and take a moment to catch my breath. Aisha is looking insanely gorgeous in a navy gown that drapes over one shoulder and flows in cascading layers to the floor. She spots me almost instantly, and for some reason she looks about as serious as I probably do.
“We need to talk,” she says the second I’m within earshot.
“Yeah we do.”
“This way.”
She takes me by the arm and leads me past a bar and a blossoming cherry tree in a large planter—because, of course—to a small seating area off to the side. Black leather sofas surround an oversized, ornate copper vase, and mirrors reflect our faces back in all directions. The music and the lighting are lower back here making it the perfect chill-out area.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
Aisha pushes a loose strand of hair behind her ear and puffs out her cheeks in preparation.
“Remember what I said about Clayton and those rumors?”
“That his family are planning to overthrow the alpha?”
“Turns out, they’re not just rumors.”
My head feels light and I have to prop myself up with one hand to keep from toppling over.
“What?!”
“Apparently, Clayton’s dad has been positioning himself to take over the mantle for a while now—hoarding funds, gathering support from the gammas and high-ranking officers. I asked my father about it and he confirmed it. Walter has even been speaking with other packs.”
“Crap,” I say, wiping my forehead. “And he’s planning on making his move soon?”
“Very,” she says. “I heard Clayton has some information about the alpha that could be used as the final blow.”
My eyes pop open. There’s only one piece of information that Clayton could use to discredit the alpha, and that’s…
“It’s me and Jasper,” I say. “That’s the info Clayton has.”
Aisha sighs and takes my hand. “I really hoped that wasn’t the case.”
“So what? You think he’s planning on outing Jasper, and that will convince the other packs to help Walter with his mutiny?”
She shrugs heavily.
“That’s disgusting. Do you really think the officers and the other alphas would be that narrow-minded?”
Aisha twists her lips, and all I can think of is Mia, crying in the stairwell. Her father is willing to marry her off to prevent her being with another girl. Maybe Jasper and I really are a danger to the pack.
“Morven is here,” I say. “He found out about Mia and Olivia, and he’s trying to convince Jericho to arrange a mate bond between Jasper and Mia.”
“Jesus!” Aisha says, rolling her eyes. “Have you spoken to Jasper?”
“Nope, I’ve been looking for him but I can’t find him. I don’t know if he’s ignoring me or avoiding me or what. I feel like I’ve been chasing him all over this stupid party.”
“We really need to find him now,” she says, standing up and smoothing out her dress. “Come on, I’ll help you look.”
Together we head back into the party. Thinking I’ve covered most of the downstairs area, we head up the illuminated glass staircase to explore the upper level. It’s a little more subdued up here, and yet the air feels more pressurized. The guests are more smartly dressed, less flamboyant. They aren’t drinking or dancing. Instead they’re standing in small circles, discussing important matters, presumably, in hushed and serious tones. This must be where the dignitaries and officers come to talk shop? A cool draft pulls my attention further in, and I notice there’s a set of doors toward the back of this level, leading out onto another, smaller patio.
“That’s the VIP balcony,” Aisha says. “They reserve it at functions for the highest-ranking wolves.”
That’s when I spot the beefy wolf to the side of the door, dressed all in black, sporting sunglasses and an earpiece.
