Page 38 of Chasing The Alpha's Son
Heat rises in my cheeks but I don’t deny it. Mason clicks his tongue and leans back to get a better view of me.
“Well, he’s a lucky wolf. Sucks for me though. You’re cute.”
More heat, more heat, more heat.
“Thanks.”
“So why didn’t he come with?”
My mind stalls, turning over, trying to come up with an answer that isn’t “He’s here!”
“The whole not being out yet thing; if we came together we’d have to tell people.” It’s only half a lie.
“Right, fair enough.”
Thinking about all this has my mind well and truly back to obsessing over Jasper, so I decide to change the subject. I catch Mia laughing at something Clayton has said.
“Looks like someone else might be finding their mate on this trip.”
Mason follows my eyeline.
“Not a chance,” he says. “Mia’s dad is hell-bent on her becoming Jasper’s mate.”
I spit out the alcohol-laced coffee.
“What?”
“Whoa, take it slow, that stuff is strong.”
“What did you say about Mia and Jasper?”
He purses his lips and thinks for a second. “I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone; Mia told me in confidence. Her dad wants her to try and seduce Jasper so that he’ll choose her as his mate. Something about strengthening the bridge between the two packs. That’s basically the reason he invited you all here. She’s not super happy about it, but he’s the alpha so she doesn’t have much choice.”
I stare at Mia, feeling all sorts of confused feelings. My wolf-self wants to shift and tear her apart or find Jasper and sink my teeth into his neck so that everyone will know he’s mine. But on the other hand I feel sorry for her. She’s just as trapped as Jasper was when his dad tried to force him to pick a mate.
Still, as long as she’s trying to steal mine, I’m going to have to be on my guard. Screw the bridge between our packs and screw Alpha Morven. I came here to convince Jasper to be with me. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
GOING OFF PISTE
I stomp through the halls of the packhouse, only a little tipsy and only a little lost. But feeling a steely sense of determination. For some reason—most likely whatever Mia had in that hip flask—I’m certain the best thing to do right now is find Jasper’s room.
Just like in a hotel, there are dim lights keeping the halls illuminated, so at least I’m not stumbling around in the dark. But all I have to go on is the vague idea of where Jasper’s room is based on the relation of our balconies—and the feeling in my gut, telling me he’s getting close.
Slipping out of the party in the den was pretty easy. I told Mason I needed to use the restroom, and everyone else was preoccupied in some way.
I follow the tingling sensation in my gut down a series of long hallways, catching glimpses of the mountains as I pass the occasional window. Thankfully they’re still on the left side of me, which means I’m heading in the right direction. The ceilings are taller in this part of the lodge, the carpets a little more plush, and the halls a little wider. Must be heading in the right direction because things are getting fancy up in here.
Finally, I find a door and know without a doubt that Jasper is behind it. I can smell his cherry blossom aroma wafting out from inside.
Without thinking about his neighbors, I knock three times. There’s no answer, so I knock again and finally, the door swings open.
Jasper is in a navy toweling robe like the kind you get at exclusive spas. His hair is sticking up, and a yawn is escaping his mouth. He must have been asleep before I got here. No wonder he looks so grumpy, all squinty and scowly.
“What are you doing here?”
“It’s not okay, you know,” I say. “Saying you don’t have a mate to everyone.”
He rubs his forehead.
