Page 81 of Chasing The Alpha's Son
And there are more wolves like us out there—who knows how many? Wolves who don’t fit into this mold we’re supposed to.
Would Morven have included us in his definition? If people knew, would they still want us in their pack? Maybe, maybe not. But that’s why the connections we’ve made have to mean something. That’s why I’m so happy to have met Mason and why I can’t give up on Jasper just yet. Because he doesn’t know, that we’re part of this amazing undefined pack—he doesn’t know that he’s not alone.
“Mind if I join you?”
I look up and there is Jasper. His jacket is unzipped and his scarf is fluttering in the wind.
“You’re not scared someone will see?”
“It’s just sitting; we’re not going to make out.”
I laugh, but just a little.
“Anyway, I realized on the walk up here everyone who knows us, kind of knows already.” Jasper takes a seat next to me.
Oh yeah… Katie, her mates, and Olivia know, plus Mia and Mason. And the Rocky Pack wolves don’t know Jasper and I aren’t friends. With Clayton gone, the only person who might have a problem with us is Alpha Morven.
I mean of course I’d prefer it if Jasper would want to sit with me even if some people who might care didn’t know about us, but this is new for him, so I’ll allow it.
“You’re wearing it,” he says, looking at my hand.
“Yeah, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“The scarf looks good.”
“Max, I—”
“It’s starting!” someone yells, and suddenly everyone is moving to the edge of the cliff. Jasper and I glance at each other, knowing there’s more to be said, but it’ll have to wait. The crowd gathers behind us as the clouds begin to roll away. Patches of onyx sky have appeared in the gaps, and at last, the bank blocking the moon is shifting. A ruby-red glow emanates in beams like a religious painting, as a swollen, dusty-red moon is revealed.
My chest becomes tight and my lips quiver. It’s beautiful and potent—full of meaning, even if I don’t know what that meaning is. My heart and soul feel full with purpose.
Blood-red light spills across the stone circle, turning every face crimson. Each wolf here is watching, transfixed, connected in our shared experience.
Morven was right, though he didn’t go far enough. We areallconnected, to whatever energy, whatever life force we receive from the moon. Whether alpha or rogue, we are valid and whole—siblings, family. One pack under the moon.
And from somewhere in the sky, I feel like I can hear the voices of this all-encompassing pack. Every wolf on Earth whispering in the clouds. Some are singing in Lupine, some are telling secrets, some are reaching out with a greeting, some are howling in pain.
Tears spring to my eyes and I feel as if my feet could lift from the ground. My body has become weightless, my chin rises, my shoulders pull back. Blood is pumping through me a mile a minute. I rise onto my toes, pulled closer; I could take off right now and fly into space.
Then a hand slips into mine and squeezes tight.
Jasper is still at my side, and almost like he knew I was about to take off, he’s taken my hand, tethering me to Earth.
His face is glowing this rusty-orange color that brings out his freckles and contrasts with his eyes.
Our gazes are locked, but the moon is reflecting in his irises—Jasper and the blood moon combined. My jaw trembles and Jasper’s lips move, forming the shapes of words. But I can’t tell what he’s saying because the symphony of voices has risen to a roar. The shade of red cast across the mountains intensifies and my skin graduates from tingling to burning. My muscles begin to spasm as the world turns the color of blood.
“Max,” Jasper’s voice breaks through, louder and sharper than the others. “Are you okay?”
I pull away from him as my arms and hands tense. A flash of light blinds me and sends a searing pain to my brain. I stagger backward, my leg muscles cramping and my shoulder blades feeling like they’re about to explode out of my back.
The crowd turns to face me, horrified expressions pulling on their faces. Why do they look scared—like the terrified villagers in an old-school monster movie? Behind them the blood moon is humongous, overbearing, it’s taking up too much space.
I slam my eyes shut and all I can see is red, like I’m looking at the inside of my eyelids, only it’s a whole universe. Sparks of yellow energy are fizzing and zapping from a central point, jittering outward in crackling lines.
A ripple runs down my spine and suddenly I know what’s happening. My claws elongate, fangs tear from my gums. I grow, expanding so quickly I explode through the back of my jacket. Before it can slice through my finger, I pull off Jasper’s ring and toss it into the snow.
