I slam the kitchen door behind me. What is wrong with him?!
No, what's wrong with me? I should have known better. I should have known he'd… I lean my back on the door and bang my head against the pigeon-grey wood.
The kitchen is empty, thank goodness. I need somewhere to process what's just happened.
The black granite countertops shine like they're brand new. The last time I was in here I was with Jasper and his little sister eating a sandwich.
The counters were covered in grated cheddar and Monterey Jack.
We were able to talk then. It was almost friendly.
Until his father intervened. And then something snapped.
But I don't care how tough his dad is and I don't care how hard his life is. Nothing gives him an excuse to hurt people. Not like he's hurt me.
I splay my fingers out and press my hands against the cool surface behind me.
Every wolf who's anyone is at this stink of a party. I need to calm down.
I should find Katie and tell her we need to go. From the way Todd and Simon were looking at her I'm sure she'll be happy for an escape plan.
That's what I'm going to do.
Screw Jasper, let him choose another mate.
And screw mates! I knew this whole mating bullshit was more trouble than it's worth.
I sigh and run a hand over my face.
"Rough night?"
Who said that?
I scan the room again. I could have sworn there was no one here. I spot a breakfast nook in the corner, Eleanor is poking her head around the corner of a booth seat.
Gosh, was anyone NOT invited to this dumb party?
"What are you doing here?" I ask.
"I told you, my dad works for the alpha," Eleanor says. "We're always invited. You look like you're having a nice time."
Was that sarcasm from the treasurer of the yearbook committee?
I wander over and slide into the booth opposite her. "Let's just say this isn't my night."
"Tell me about it," she scoffs.
"Wait a minute, why are you in here and not out there?"
Eleanor sighs and for the first time I notice how bloodshot her eyes are.
"Have you...have you been crying?"
Her eyes dart up, locking with mine. She glares at me for a second and then looks at the phone in her hands.
"It's so unfair," she says. "Some people have it so easy."
Obsessively, she turns the phone over and over. Her hands are shaking.
"Some people even get to choose who they're mated to."
"Eleanor, what's going on? You want to talk about it."
"Why does it have to be my responsibility to find someone? Why do I…" "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Max," she snaps. She glares at me for another second, her lip twitches, but then she softens. "I just majorly embarrassed myself."
"I know the feeling." I slope down in my seat. "What did you do?"
Maybe I shouldn't pry but Eleanor is pretty embarrassing at the best of times, I can't imagine what she could have done to make her feel like this.
"I...asked Jasper if he wanted to be my mate."
A shiver runs down my spine and a growl rumbles in the pit of my stomach. I know Jasper is going to reject me but my wolfy side can't help being territorial.
I lean forward. "How did that go?"
"Horribly." Eleanor crosses her arms. "He looked at me like he'd never seen before. Do you know what that feels like?" She starts to tear up, twisting the corners of her mouth. "To be rejected?"
"I have some idea," I mutter.
"He just shrugged me off like our families haven't worked together for generations."
"You never told me what your dad does for the alpha," I say, trying to change the subject. Happy Eleanor is enough of a handful, I'm not sure I can cope with emotionally distraught Eleanor.
"When you told me he wasn't mated to Aisha I thought I still had a chance," she continues, ignoring me completely.
"I figured maybe we just never got close enough at the festival, maybe I could...I could…be his true mate."
I grind my teeth. The territorial part of me is starting to get worked up.
She's acting like Jasper is completely unspoken for, as if he isn't already mine!
"If I was his mate that would show everyone," Eleanor goes on, wiping a glob of snot from her nose. "Maybe then I wouldn't be ignored.
And my family would finally be proud of me."
She doesn't even know him, she's just interested because of his status. I don't give a crap about his status.
"That's why it's unfair," she says. "All of us have to suffer by ourselves. He gets to choose a mate and he doesn't even have one!"
"Yes, he does!"
My hands are gripping the edge of the table. I have to fight the urge to pounce across out of my seat and tackle Eleanor to the ground.
I didn't mean to spill the beans. But after the way Jasper's treated me and hearing Eleanor talk about him like he's some prize in a funfair–up for grabs!–I lost control.
Comprehension washes over Eleanor's face. She lifts her head and stares at me.
"Is it…?" she asks, then suddenly sure of herself. "It's you."
I force myself to let go of the table, shaking my head.
"No, that's not what I meant, I'm not…" "You're Jasper's mate."
I slip my legs out from under the table and stand.
"You're crazy, that's not possible." I back away. "It's like you said.
He doesn't have a mate."
"Max, wait…" "I need to use the bathroom, sorry." I turn and scamper.
The second I'm out of there I realize what an idiot I've been. Why couldn't I control myself?
If it gets out that Jasper and I are mates it's over for him...and me.
Society would never accept an alpha who was...who didn't have a luna.
I need a minute alone so I sneak past the overdressed crowds, creeping along the edges of the room, until I find the stairs.
The upstairs hallway is empty. With a sigh, I slump down against the wall, letting my butt sink into the plush carpet.
Of course, Jasper can't choose me. As much as it hurts, as much as I wish it could be any other way––I know that he's only doing what he has to.
It's what's best for the pack. In the grand scheme of things, I don't matter.
Suddenly, I'm not angry anymore. I feel sorry for him. This whole time he's known how this was going to end. Maybe that's why he's tried so hard to push me away.
I let my head drop.
Maybe I need to let him go as well.
"Why do you look sad?" Down the hall, Jodie is leaning out of her bedroom door.
I try to give her my best grown-up smile but my jaw starts quivering.
She wanders over and plonks herself down next to me, slipping her little hand into mine.
"I like your dress," I say, sniffing back tears. Jodie is wearing a yellow gown, it's totally Belle, from 'Beauty and the Beast,' inspired.
"Thanks, Melissa chose it for me."
"I like the color."
She shrugs. "I asked for green."
I guess no one in this house is getting the thing they want tonight.
"How come you're up here and not down at the party?"
"Everyone is boring," she says and I laugh. She's hit the stuffy nail on the head.
"Are you sad because Jasper has to choose a mate?"
"What?" I feel my face flush. "Why would you say that?"
Jodie rests her head on my arm.
"Because Jasper is sad too. He's been boring and mopey for weeks and not fun."
"Jasper...has been sad?"
"Yeah." She sighs, a cute little exhale. "He's sad because he doesn't want to choose a mate."
I swallow. I hope I'm not about to overstep with a ten-year-old.
"Do you...do you know why he doesn't want to choose a mate?"
"You're silly." Jodie gives my leg a gentle slap. "It's because he likes you."
"He––what? Did he say––?"
"There you are," Melissa says, appearing at the end of the hall. "I've been looking for you." Then spotting me, "Oh, hi again."
"Hey." I nod. Melissa squints at me then Jodie, putting her hands on her hips.
"What are you doing up here, sweetie?"
"I was in my room playing Raya," Jodie says.
Melissa looks at me and rolls her eyes.
"Well, your brother is about to make his big announcement. Would you like to come back downstairs?"
"Not really."
I can't help but chuckle.
"Max doesn't want to either."
"Is that right?" Melissa asks, shooting me a quizzical look. "Well, he can stay up here if he likes. You, little miss, need to come with me, now."
Melissa puts out a hand and Jodie sighs, she stands reluctantly.
"You okay?" Melissa asks.
I scrunch up my mouth and give her a little nod.
"Don't be sad, Max," Jodie says, swishing her hips from side to side. "My brother is a big dummy sometimes."
Melissa does an exacerbated head roll and then ushers Jodie down the hall. "Why would you say that? Come on, you." Then turning back one last time, "Enjoy the party, Max. Don't stay up here too long."
As soon as they're gone, I press my hands into the wall behind me and stand. The announcement is happening now. If I'm going to be rejected in front of the pack's best and brightest I should at least be there when it happens.
Downstairs the house is empty. The living room has been vacated and a crowd has formed outside, facing the stage.
Feeling numb and empty and suddenly hopeful and completely sad and wrecked and tired and more awake than ever I make my way to the garden.
I stand on my toes to peer over the tops of people's heads. Jericho is on the stage behind a microphone. Melissa is standing off to the side, holding hands with Jodie.
Jasper is standing behind his father, his head hanging low.
Jericho is talking but I can't hear anything. Sounds are muffled like I'm underwater.
To my left, Katie is standing between Todd and Simon with her arms crossed. They all look miserable.
Suddenly, everyone is applauding and Jasper steps up to the microphone. The world comes rushing back, too loud and too real.
"Hello, everyone," Jasper begins. Reverb from the sound system echoes across the crowd. He takes a moment to clear his throat. "Thank you all for coming this evening. The Harvest Moon is a special time in our society."
He's fiddling anxiously with a ring on his left index finger. He looks nervous. But even now I have to admit he looks handsome in his suit.
He's still my prince...for a couple minutes more.
"For me this time of year is particularly special," he continues.
"This was my mother's favorite season. She loved to see the leaves changing color."
I picture Jasper as a kid and can't help but grin. I bet he was adorably moody. "Every year on the eve of the Harvest Moon, we would light lanterns, make a wish, and send them into the sky. When I think back on those nights, they're some of my happiest memories."
The firelight sparkles in his eyes as he takes a breath. I know what's coming and I'm still not ready for it.
"It gives me great…"––he coughs––"...great pleasure to announce that this Harvest Moon all my wishes are coming true."
For the first time I notice Olivia waiting at the edge of the stage.
She's whispering to herself, as if she's ramping herself up for a big game.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this year I have found my mate. The person who will become the future Luna of our pack."
The crowd is silent, eagerly leaning forward.
They have no idea what's really going on.
"Please give a round of applause for my mate, Olivia Castillo!"
The future Mrs. Apollo takes a breath and walks up the few steps to the stage. Jasper holds out a hand for her as she joins him.
Everything begins to tilt. I feel as if the floor has gone out from under me. My knees buckle and I feel like I'm about to pass out.
"Olivia and I have been friends for many years. But it was only recently, at this year's Blue Moon Festival that we––" Jasper is cut off by a scream––a brain-splitting, blood-curdling wail.
Before I know what's happening a wolf has leaped into the center of the crowd.
The snarling beast is massive, thick saliva hangs from his curled-back lip. His fangs are yellow but sharp.
The party erupts into chaos.
People run past me screaming, flailing their arms. Women hitch up their dresses and struggle to flee in their heels.
I stand frozen as the wolf spins, snapping his jaws at the dispersing crowd. What is he doing here? Who is he?
Jericho's security forces are already shifting, approaching the intruder, when another scream tears through the commotion.
A second wolf comes hurtling out of the darkness, knocking over a table as it enters the fray.
"Rogues!" someone yells as they run past.
ROGUES?! What are rogues doing here? Why now?
A third rogue howls and barges into one of the fires. His shoulder collides with the brazier, toppling it over and sending sparks flying.
I don't know where to look when another two rogues come stalking out of the shadows. There are at least five of them but who knows how many are still out there, waiting for their moment to strike.
Guests begin to shift, reducing their tuxedos and gowns to scraps, and join the security team who are already engaged with the invaders.
The party has become a war zone. Fire is spreading to the table clothes, sending thick black smoke into the air. Everywhere I look, wolves are fighting, snapping, and barking like mad.
I can't move. I'm in shock. One second I'm about to be rejected by my mate and the next the alpha's house has been overrun with rogues.
What is going on?
Up ahead, Jericho is shouting at Melissa, telling her to get Jodie somewhere safe. Olivia is pulling a knife from her heeled boot, ready to fight. Jasper is nowhere to be seen.
Where is he?
I can't move until I know where he is.
A table goes up in flames to my right and smoke blocks out the light of the moon.
Todd and Simon have shifted and are protecting Katie.
All around me fire and fighting rage. Wolves collide, tearing at each other's flesh. Blood spurts across the white flooring.
Am I dreaming? This was supposed to be a party, now it's an apocalyptic nightmare.
I stare at the frenzy, knowing I should shift or run or do something…and then...
"Max!"
I hear my name and spot Jasper running toward me.
What is he doing? Another fire topples, collateral damage, as two wolves grapple in my periphery. The explosion is too hot and too close.
"Maaaaax!" Jasper cries again.
Is he coming for me…?
Behind Jasper, the wildflower arch above the stage explodes into flames. It splits in two and collapses.
The alpha's garden is in complete chaos, but all I can focus on is Jasper, running in my direction.
He calls my name again.
I take a step toward him but rear back, crying out as a sharp pain stabs at the back of my skull. I've been hit. I clutch my head and stumble forward.
The world turns sideways as I crumble to the ground, hitting the dirt hard. Everything blurs and I begin to slip out of consciousness. Shadows close in around the edges of my vision.
I try to stay awake. I try to focus on Jasper. He's nearly here–– running with his hand outstretched and his mouth open calling my name.
I try to lift my hand and reach for his but the shadows close in.
take one last look at him... and plunge into darknes