Somehow I've managed to get lost. The alpha's lodge is bigger than it seems, like once you're inside time and space have no meaning.
Every corner I turn I feel like I'm getting more and more disoriented.
I'm not a hundred percent sure if I'm allowed back here beyond the dining hall, but so far the only person I've crossed paths with is an older lady pushing a trolley stacked high with clean towels. She barely seemed to notice me as I passed. Teenagers probably all look the same to her anyway.
I turn another corner and stare down yet another long hallway. The floor is carpeted in a rich red and gold pattern, the walls are papered in a canary yellow print, with pictures hanging every few yards or so.
My ear perks up at the sound of someone's voice.
I sneak down the hall in the direction of the sound. As I grow nearer I begin to make out the odd word here and there and realize I recognize the speaker. It's Jasper. I'd know his annoyingly monotone voice anywhere.
I come to a door and stop.
Maybe this is a bad idea. What if he just gets angry?
I'm starting to think I should turn around when Jasper raises his voice.
"I told you, Alpha. I handled everything!"
He must be on the phone with his dad. His dad, who he calls 'Alpha!' And I thought my family was weird.
"I already explained to you what happened…" Jasper sounds frustrated like he's about ready to go ballistic but he can't. This is too good. I lean my ear against the door to hear better.
"No one got hurt, Dad!"
Jasper just about loses his cool but the room suddenly goes quiet. I hear Jasper take a few steps and wonder if I'm about to be sprung. I think about leaving as silently as possible when he speaks again.
"I don't know how the rogue managed to get past border security...they're your soldiers, why don't you ask them...I am taking this seriously, Alpha."
Man, I'm starting to feel sorry for the poor guy. His dad sounds like he's riding him pretty hard and it's sort of my fault.
Jasper might have acted like a jerk. But I'm the reason he's getting his ass whooped by his dad.
"I promise you, father," Jasper says. "The problem has been dealt with. The rogue was apprehended and questioned and there is no evidence of any other unregistered wolves in the vicinity. He is being transported to the pack's holding facility right now...Yes, father, I mean, Alpha, the Mating Run will go ahead as planned. There won't be any more problems...I take full responsibility...I'm...I'm sorry, Alpha. I know you're counting on me."
There's so much anguish in Jasper's voice as he's forced to apologize. Part of me wants to burst into the room and tell him to stop. He doesn't need to be sorry. He rescued me, he fought to fend off my attacker.
But most of me knows that I'm the last person Jasper will want to see.
"Hold on, Alpha, I think someone is outside…" Oh, crap!
Jasper's footsteps grow louder as he approaches the door. If he catches me out here he'll think I was listening in to his private conversation, which I totally was. But I can't let him know that. I run back down the hall but there's no way I'll make it round the corner before he opens the door and spots me.
The door handle rattles and just as I think I'm about to be caught someone grabs my arm and pulls me into another room.
"Is someone there?" Jasper calls. I look at Aisha who has her finger pressed against her lips and a seriously confused expression on her face. We remain frozen until we hear the click of Jasper's door closing.
"Not yet," Aisha whispers in a hurry, preemptively stopping me from exploding.
She takes me by the hand and pulls into her room shutting the door behind her. I glance around at her fancy furniture and ridiculous four poster bed. I feel like I'm in a First Class suite on the Titanic.
"Do you want to tell me what you were doing listening in on Jasper's private conversation?" Aisha asks.
Iceberg, right ahead!
"I just came to apologize for earlier, for running off and nearly getting mauled by that rogue."
Aisha pops a hip and studies my face.
"I heard about that," she says. "You're lucky Jasper is a good fighter."
"I know," I say. "That's why I wanted to...you know… tell him thanks and sorry for making his life such a nightmare."
"Well, okay," she says, softening. "I believe you. But you shouldn't have been eavesdropping."
"I know, I'm an asshole."
"Nah, you just don't know how to stay out of trouble, do you?"
Aisha smiles and gestures to one of the sofas, she sits and I do the same.
"Jasper's dad sounds like a real hardass."
"He's the alpha," she snaps.
I clutch onto a sofa cushion for comfort and she exhales.
"Sorry, it's this dumb blue moon. My emotions are all over the place."
"You're not the only one," I say.
"But you need to stop being so hard on Jasper and his daddy. It's a big deal leading a pack, making sure everyone is safe. Jericho is hard on Jasper because he needs to be."
"You're right, I guess. I can barely get up in the morning let alone fight off a rogue. I can't imagine taking care of a whole pack."
"Exactly."
"You care about him a lot don't you?"
Aisha smiles and it reminds me of the kind of smile I get when I think about Katie.
"He's my best friend."
"He can still be a jerk sometimes," I say, grinning my best mischievous grin.
Aisha grabs a cushion and tosses it at me. "Okay, bonehead…" I deflect her projectile, laughing. "No, don't you start calling me that too!"
"Why not, booooonehead?" she teases, elongating the 'o' sound for dramatic emphasis.
I huff and toss a cushion back at her. She dodges the attack, gracefully.
"Don't you have a Mating Run to get ready for?" she asks, sitting back up.
I look out the window, the sun has nearly set completely.
Soon they'll be lighting the bonfire and starting the ritual.
My body suddenly feels light, like I'm no longer holding up my own weight. But not because I feel relieved. There is a distinct chill running up and down my spine. Because I know the inevitable is upon me.
Once again, Aisha is right...time is up. There's nothing between me and the night's events now. No more apologies, or rogue attacks, no more silly camp activities… It's time for the event everyone has been waiting for. Everyone except me.
I set my jaw and nod.
"Good luck, Max. May the Moon Gods light the path between souls." I force a smile and stand, but Aisha takes my hand, holding me in place. "If that's what you want."
She gives me a pointed look and I nod. She understands my hesitance to take part in the ritual, but she also understands the pressures of being a wolf. Maybe that's why she's able to look past all of Jasper's faults and see the good in him.
Aisha walks me to an exit and hugs me before leaving me in the cool evening air.
In just a few short hours everything could be different. My path in life might be altered, set before me in a way I can't prepare for. I'm scared and anxious but there's no avoiding it. I need to meet fate head-on.
It's time...for the Mating Run.