Page 12 of Running with the Alpha’s Son (The Alpha’s Son #3)

When I wake up it’s dark. I lift my bleary head, my mind still swirling in a fog, and something pointy sticks into my back. Leaves crunch under me as I shift my weight and try to sit up. I’m lying on the ground among the moss and fallen branches. One leg is still draped over the rock where I sit and draw.

I must have passed out after…

The vision I experienced comes back to me in a flash. At the waterfall. Jasper’s limp body in my arms, his broken face, his lifeless eyes. My breaths become short, and I grope around in the brush for my phone.

“Max!” In the distance I hear my name. Someone is calling for me, shouting my name over and over: “Maaaaaaaaax!” It’s Mom.

“Over here,” I mutter as loudly as I can, my chest aching with the effort.

It’s a struggle but I manage to haul myself back up onto the rock. My phone is on the ground a couple of feet away, where I must have dropped it. Looks like it slid a little ways down the riverbank.

“Max?” Mom and Dad explode from the nearby trees, Mom coming straight for me. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I think I must have passed out. I was on the phone to Jasper.”

“We know,” Dad says. “He called us. Said you stopped responding. But we didn’t know where you were. What happened?”

I stare at my parents’ faces, concern, worry, confusion etched into their features, and I don’t know how to respond. What did happen? I’ve only ever been able to see memories before: Jasper in the car with his mom the day she…and Clayton when Aisha rejected him. But this—this couldn’t be a memory, because Jasper was—he was—I can’t even think it.

A bewildered shake of the head is all my parents need to know that now’s not the right time to get into it. Mom grabs my phone while Dad helps me up, and together we make our way back to the house.

“So, kiddo,” Mom says, handing me a steaming cup of chamomile tea with organic honey, then moving to sit on the armrest of the chair where Dad is situated. “You want to tell us what’s going on?”

I pull my feet a little farther under me on the sofa, hold my favorite cozy blanket tighter around myself. A plate of chocolate chip cookies is balanced on the armrest.

“Jasper and I have been trying to mind-link,” I say.

They glance at each other, communicating something I can’t comprehend. I wonder if they’ve ever tried it, ever been able to speak without words. Could they be doing it now?

“Mind-linking is a pretty tough thing to accomplish,” Dad says. “Your mother and I have never been able to.”

“Not that we’ve tried all that hard,” Mom says, nudging Dad semiplayfully.

“We know,” I continue. “But we figured since Jasper has all that alpha training and I’m the blood wolf or whatever…”

Another unreadable look is shared between them.

“Max, we don’t know much about your—I can’t believe I’m about to use these words—blood-wolf powers.” She shakes her head like she just said the most fanciful thing imaginable. “Maybe it’s best not to push yourself. Until we know more.”

“But how am I supposed to learn more?” I set my tea down on the side table and edge forward on the sofa. “No one seems to know much of anything about it and I’m so tired from keeping everyone’s brain noise at bay, even if I wanted to experiment, I’m not sure I could figure out how before something like today happens.”

Mom leans forward, her hand inching out from her body like she wants to reach for mine.

“And I just thought if I could mind-link with Jasper it would make this whole long-distance thing easier.”

“You haven’t had a lot of time together, have you?” Mom asks.

I shake my head.“And there’s also…” I trail off. I don’t know how to tell them I had a vision, if that’s what that was.

“What is it?” Dad leans forward so both my folks are bent awkwardly toward me.

“A few times now when we’ve tried to mind-link I’ve heard this howl and I dunno, it’s hard to explain. I feel like I’m being called, like someone’s trying to tell me something. Then today I saw—” I can’t say it out loud, the words catch in my throat. “I saw something awful and I feel like I need to figure out what’s going on. But with all the stuff with the pack and with school and everything else going on I…”

I can’t explain why but suddenly I’m tearing up. My eyes sting and my head wants to flop all the way back. Mom jumps up and comes to join me on the sofa.

“You must be exhausted,” she says.

I rest my head on her shoulder and realize she’s right. I am so, so freaking tired. Keeping everyone’s voices out of my mind is a twenty-four-seven job. I’ve become so used to it I don’t really register how much energy I’m expending keeping my walls up. That, coupled with my regular teenager duties—homework, school, friend drama—and my directive to be a good leader for the pack, AND missing my boyfriend, is a lot for this little wolf.

“School will be done for the year soon,” Dad says, doing his best to be comforting. “And we can look into finding someone to help with the whole blood-wolf thing. How does that sound?”

I nod as Mom brushes my hair back from my forehead. “Your birthday is coming up too,” she says. “Have you given any thought to what you might like to do?”

“Probably just something small,” I say. Planning a birthday party is the least of my worries. “I dunno.”

“Don’t think about it now then,” Mom says. “And maybe it’s best not to try and mind-link for now.”

“Yeah,” Dad joins in. “And you can forget about the pack for a while. There are plenty of people whose job it is to take care of that stuff. You just concentrate on getting through the school year.”

“Okay,” I say, sniffing.

“You want to go to bed?” Mom asks.

“Uh-huh.”

I shuffle off to my room thinking they’re right. Screw worrying about the fate of our pack. I’m a sixteen- (nearly seventeen-) year-old kid, not a diplomat with a degree in international relations. And Jasper and I have plenty of time to figure out this mind-link thing. Maybe we’re just putting too much pressure on it. Maybe it would be easier to back off for a while.

Once I’m tucked under my covers, I give Jasper a quick call.

“Max!” He answers on the second ring.

“I’m fine,” I say before he can ask. “Just a bit of a headache. Pretty standard.”

“I didn’t see what happened, I had my eyes closed.”

“Hard to say, really. Think I blacked out.”

“Was it the same as last time? That wolf call?”

I take a beat before responding. Should I tell him the truth? Tell him what I saw? Or is that a little preemptive? Would it be just another thing to worry about? I don’t want to place any more pressure on Jasper, so I decide not to tell him about the vision.

“Yeah, just the same thing.”

“You’ve never lost consciousness before,” he says. “I was worried.”

“I know. I appreciate that.” I snuggle back into my pillow. “What were you doing before I called?”

“Packing,” he says.

“Where you off to this time?”

“Philadelphia.”

That must be the farthest he’s gone on these diplomatic trips. Jericho really has him shipping out all over the country at this point.

“I wish we could go somewhere,” I say. “Just run off for a bit.”

“That would be nice.”

“Somewhere quiet,” I say, noticing my eyelids getting heavy.

“Perfect,” Jasper says quietly.

A yawn erupts from my mouth, breaking our peaceful moment. “I should go,” I say. “So sleepy.”

“Okay, Max. Sleep well. I’ll—I’ll speak to you tomorrow if I can.”

“Good night.”

“Night.”

My eyes are shut before Jasper has time to hang up the phone.

“Happy birthday, Max!” Katie screams, dropping her two bags overladen with picnic supplies and balancing a sheet cake in a plastic container as she leaps into my arms.

My birthday always lands in the last week of school—a fact that has plagued me my entire life. It’s almost impossible to plan a birthday party when everyone is already planning their summer vacations, their end-of-year parties, distracted thinking about ice cream and beaches and leaving school behind. This year is no different. But for the first time I’m actually happy about it.

After my little tumble off the rock in the woods, I decided to take my parents’ advice and chill out on the whole future-leader-of-the-pack front. Jasper and I have put a temporary hold on trying to mind-link. And luckily Katie and her mates seem to have come to something of a stalemate, so there hasn’t been too much extracurricular drama. I was able to finish my junior year, get through my exams, without too many distractions.

Jasper has been busy as well, wrapping up his freshman year at Harvard (for Selene’s sake!) and continuing to extend his father’s advocacy program to farther reaches. I swear he’s covered almost the entire northeast corner of the country at this point. If the Elite Pack was looking for friends, we must have found them by now. We’ve still managed to speak every other day or so—although that still doesn’t feel like enough.

So instead of planning a big blowout birthday bash, I’ve invited a small group of close friends to Central Park for a picnic with a view to finding some place to sing karaoke later if we’re still in the mood and haven’t maxed ourselves out on sausages, burgers, and cupcakes. Katie agreed to meet me a little early at a cozy spot near Bethesda Fountain to string ribbons between trees and set up the picnic. My parents are also buzzing around somewhere, getting the barbecue going (Dad’s job) and scoping out the nearest public toilet (Mom’s job).

“Oh my god,” Katie says, finally releasing me from her death hug. “We’re so old!”

Katie’s birthday was a couple of weeks ago and she’s obviously still adjusting.

“Absolutely decrepit,” I say.

She surveys the area. “This is a cute spot.”

We’ve planted ourselves between a number of trees—aspen or oak, I’m not sure. Through a copse it’s possible to see the lake, and there’s enough shade without blocking out the fresh summer sun altogether. The grass is green and lush and dotted with daisies.

“Who’s coming again?”

I smile at her and start unpacking one of her bags—piling bags of potato chips, queso dip, donuts, plastic cups, and paper plates onto the rug I previously laid down.

“You, Todd, Simon,” I say. “Aisha and Troy. My parents. Your mom.”

“She’s on her way,” Katie says.

“And that’s it.”

“No Jasper?”

I take a breath. “He said he’d try and make it but he’s coming back from visiting a pack in Atlantic City.”

“Oh,” she says, glancing up from where she’s peeling the foil off a platter of chicken wings. “I’m sorry. I’m sure he’s called though.”

My face screws itself up into a weird formation.

“What’s that face about?”

“Jasper’s been really great at communication this last month—all year, even. But the last week or so…he’s been sorta hard to get in touch with. He hasn’t even messaged me today.”

“Not even to wish you happy birthday?”

“Nope.”

Katie shuffles over on her knees and gives me a best-friend hug. “I’m sorry. I’m sure he’s just been busy.”

“Yeah,” I say with a quick sigh. “You’re probably right.”

“What’s up, party people?” Katie and I look up to where Troy, in loud Bermuda shorts and an open shirt with a bucket hat and large sunglasses, is heading across the grass, waving. Aisha is beside him looking super freaking chic in a tank top and denim shorts, also with massive sunglasses and a very wide-brimmed sun hat.

I wave back and run to meet them. Troy gives me one of his signature confusing handshakes and I hug Aisha. We haven’t spoken much since the day we hung out on the High Line.

“How are you?” I ask.

“Right as rain,” she says, a touch of steel in her voice. “Happy birthday, dude.”

“Yeah, happy birthday, man.” Troy slaps me on the back, making me splutter. His eyes lift over my shoulder to where Katie has ripped the Saran Wrap off a large plastic bowl. “No way. Is that potato salad? This picnic is about to be lit!”

Troy heads over to, I guess, ogle the potato salad, and Katie enlists his assistance hanging paper ribbons.

“How is everything?” I ask when Aisha and I are alone.

She lowers her sunglasses just enough so I can see her eyes. “Things are great, Max. I’m hella focused on my dancing, things with Troy are great. Forgetting about the pack was the best decision I ever made.”

“I’m glad. Hey, um, have you…?”

“Heard from Jasper?” she asks, finishing my question.

“Yeah.”

“No, sorry.” She brushes past me before I can ask any follow-ups, which I think is sort of cold, but I try not to dwell on it.

I follow her back to where Katie and Troy have started blowing up balloons.

“I love this song,” Troy says, jumping up from the rug to dance along to the music blaring from Simon’s portable speaker.

Evening is settling in, the sky turning pale, orange and pink at the edges. Other people are packing up, leaving the park, but my party is still in full swing. My parents are sitting on a separate rug from the rest of us, Katie’s mom having come and gone already to a previous engagement, leaving Mom and Dad as the sole adults present. From the way they’re canoodling I don’t think they mind. Happy birthday to me!

Aisha jumps up to join Troy, and Katie, Todd, Simon, and I watch on, laughing and picking at the remaining corn chips and gummy bears.

My phone buzzes on the rug nearby and I snatch it up. I hate that I’m just a little disappointed.

Mason: Hey birthday boy! Don’t have too much fun without me.

Mason: But actually have the BEST day you sexy beast!

Mason: xxx

I fire back a couple of super witty thank-you texts and finish up with “Wish you were here!”

Then I click through to my thread with Jasper. His last message was sent yesterday. Nothing at all today.

“We might have to make a move soon,” Katie says, leaning in so only I can hear her. She glances up through the trees to where the sun has pretty much all the way set. The sky is darkening, the stars popping into existence like faraway lights being switched on one at a time. “Still up for karaoke?”

With a sigh I drop my phone, which lands dangerously close to the almost-scraped-clean potato salad bowl.

“He hasn’t said anything yet?” she asks.

“Nope.”

“I’m sorry.”

I lift my head. Aisha smiles at me as she and Troy continue dancing, Todd and Simon are fighting over the last Cheeto, my parents are laughing at some private joke, and Katie is here, and it feels like things between us are back on level ground. This would be the perfect birthday, except for one glaring absence.

“Okay,” I say, rising to my knees. “Better warm up those vocal cords.”

Todd loses the Cheeto battle and looks over.

“What’s that?”

“Time to go,” Katie says, slapping his shoulder.

“Sick,” he says. “Time to show off my amazing voice.”

Simon cracks up. “Time for us to invest in earplugs.”

Todd shoves him in response and the two of them topple over, wrestling on the rug.

“Are we heading off?” Aisha asks.

I glance across the grass one more time, then with a breath I say, “Yep, let’s go.”

As I say those words, however, a warm familiar presence emerges from the deepening shadows, and I spin hopefully, not quite believing my eyes as they find Jasper, wandering across the grass, waving, looking fresh as hell in black jeans and a white tee. He smiles and waves, and the grin stretching across my face is so wide it might break my face.

Instantly I’m on my feet running toward him.

“Oomf!” He grunts as I crash into him, but his strong arms hold me as we kiss hello.

“Where have you been?”

He grins mischievously. “I wanted to surprise you.” He lifts his eyebrows. “Surprise.”

I press my lips together trying to act unimpressed but too happy to stop the grin.

“You bonehead,” I say.

He licks his lips and says, “Happy birthday,” then plants a serious kiss on mine.

When he’s done wishing me happy birthday in a physical sense, I take his hand and make to head over to the group. “Come on, we were just about to pack up and head downtown.”

“Wait up.” He pulls me back to him with one hand while the other retrieves an envelope from his back pocket. “This is for you.”

He hands me the blank envelope. I glance up at him questioningly, then pull out two airline tickets.

“What is this?” I ask, studying the destination. Jasper has given me two tickets for a flight departing from JFK and landing at LAX. “California?”

“My family has a house out in Joshua Tree. The nearest neighbor is miles away. I thought we could take a couple of weeks to hang out there, just us—away from everything else, like you said. We could go camping, hike, sleep out under the stars.”

“That sounds…” I’m too bewildered to finish my sentence.

“What?” he asks, looking suddenly worried. “Is it okay? If you don’t like it we can go somewhere else. This is just the most peaceful place I know.”

“No,” I say. “I—I love it. This is perfect.”

“It is?” When did he get so adorably unsure?

“It is,” I say. “Let’s run away.”