Page 14 of Running with the Alpha’s Son (The Alpha’s Son #3)

“You’re so lucky,” Katie says, spinning in a circle on my desk chair. I drop a sweater in my duffel bag and shoot her a smile. “I wish one of my mates had a holiday house in California.”

I laugh a little and consider the pile of clothes I pulled from my wardrobe, wondering what else I should pack.

“Do you think I need to take more than one pair of pants or just shorts? Does it get cold at night?”

“I don’t know,” Katie says, stopping her spin to face me, a devilish grin slapped across her face. “Do you think you’ll be wearing clothes at all?”

I toss a pair of balled-up socks in her direction. “ Staaaaahp. ”

“What?” She shrugs, acting all innocent. “It’s romantic. You and Jasper alone in the desert. No one around but coyotes and cacti.”

My face is burning up so I turn away from Katie, grab a handful of T-shirts and shove them into my duffel.

“What’s up?” she asks. “Are you nervous?”

I take a large breath. “I dunno. Maybe. I haven’t—I’ve never—what if I’m…?”

“What, Max?”

“What if I’m bad at it?” Once the first question is out the rest seem to follow of their own accord. “What if he doesn’t want to? What if we’re not a good fit? Like incompatible or something? What if he’s done it a bunch of times with other people and they’re, I dunno, better? What if I don’t like it? What if he doesn’t?”

“Max, Max, Max,” Katie says, jumping up and coming to stand at my shoulder. “Stop. It’s okay. It’s natural to be nervous.”

Something about the way she says that last part, as if she knows what she’s talking about, clues me into something I’d been wondering about. “Wait, have you…?”

Katie shoves the pile of unpacked clothes across my bed and sits. She glances up at me through her eyelashes, her cheeks turning pink.

“You have!”

She covers her face with her hands.

“Katie!” I take her hands, pull them away from her face, and hold them. “You didn’t tell me. When? With…with which one?”

“After my birthday,” she says. “With both.”

My mouth drops open and my eyes shoot wide. Katie sees my expression and matches it.

“Not at the same time!” she shouts, toppling backward in an embarrassed pile.

I move my bag and flop down next to her.“Katie, that’s so…I mean…how was it? Tell me everything.”

We both turn onto our sides. “I was really scared. Simon came to my house the day after my party while my mom was out and one thing just sort of turned into another and he was really careful, he kept making sure I felt okay and wanted to…you know”—she blushes a deeper shade—“keep going.”

“Sounds nice.”

“It was. He was. It was all really nice. I mean it sort of hurt at first but after a while it was…” Her smile spreads and her eyes sort of glaze over as if she’s lost in the memory of it.

“And Todd, how did that happen?”

“The day after,” she says. “I went over to his house and he’d made this whole sort of setup in his room with fairy lights and music.”

“Mmm, romantic.”

“It really was,” she says.

“And was it the same? Better?” She doesn’t answer right away. “Worse?”

Eventually she exhales. “It was different. Still good. The thing is it just felt so right with both of them. Because they’re my mates and we love each other I stopped being nervous and it just felt good, like it was meant to happen.”

“That’s really sweet.” I slip my hand between hers. “I’m proud of you.”

She looks deeply into my eyes and I realize we haven’t hung out like this in a while.

“It’ll be like that with you and Jasper too,” she says. “I just know it.”

I blow air out between my puckered lips, my heart rate picking up speed. “You think?”

“I know.”

“And has anything changed? Since you…?”

“Yes,” she says, her smile softening. “It’s better between us—all three of us. It’s like we’ve figured out that we’re the only people for each other. There’s less jealousy between them, less fighting. They haven’t been flirting with other girls either.”

“Good,” I say with a snort.

“I was scared of how I would feel after, how things could change for the worse. But now that we’ve done it I—I never felt closer to them. I hope that’s how you feel as well.”

She squeezes my hand and I squeeze back.

“I’m glad you told me,” I say.

“MAAAAAAAX!” Mom calls up the stairs, breaking the quiet of our best-friend moment. “Are you ready? Jasper will be here soon!”

“I should probably finish packing,” I say to Katie, then plant a soft little kiss on her forehead.

“He’s here,” Mom says as I lug my overstuffed duffel bag down the stairs, Katie following behind me.

“Stop peering through the blinds like some creepy stalker,” I say when I spot Mom kneeling on the sofa so she can lean over the headrest to spy through the window.

She jumps up and smooths out her shirt. “He’s here,” she repeats. “You all set?”

I take a little breath and try to pull my shoulders back. The truth is…I’m a little nervous—not just about sleeping in the same bed as Jasper, but about leaving my life, my friends, and my parents behind for two whole weeks, about flying across the country. Suddenly this whole escape plan feels too big, the destination too unknown. And I can’t help wondering whether it’s too late to turn back.

“Uh…” I say. “I think so.”

Mom comes over and puts her hands on my shoulders, instantly making me feel more settled. “You’ll have a great time,” she says. She places one hand on the side of my face. “You deserve this. Your dad and I are really proud of you, kiddo.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I mumble back.

“Now have you got enough underwear? Bug spray?”

My head falls backward as I groan. “Yeeeees.”

“Okay,” she says, grinning at me. “Have an amazing time.” Mom kisses my forehead then pulls me in for a hug. “Dad said to squeeze you extra hard since he couldn’t be here to see you off.”

Her arms are wrapped so tightly around me I’m worried she’ll break a rib. “Did he say to crush your only child?”

I take in a deep gulp of air when she lets me go and turn as Katie opens the front door. The sun is bright and warm and floods through the door, blinding me, but I know out there Jasper’s car is parked at the end of our drive, and he’s waiting for me. I step to Katie and she gives me another too-firm hug.

“I’m really happy for you,” she whispers in my ear. “Enjoy it.”

I’m not sure whether she’s talking about the trip or…something else. But either way I say, “Thanks. You too. Don’t get too experienced while I’m gone.”

I lean back, smiling smugly with a suggestive raised brow. She grins back. Since when did we get so adult?

I shield my eyes from the light and step outside. As my sight adjusts, Jasper comes into focus. He’s leaning against his car, looking too cool and carefree in a pair of sunglasses, a fitted black tee, and a pair of cargo pants. When he sees me his face lights up and I almost have to shield my eyes again.

“You ready?” he asks, taking a few steps toward me.

I glance back at the doorway where Mom and Katie are waiting. Katie shoots me a wave and Mom—is she wiping away a tear? It’s not like I’m leaving for good.

“You take good care of him,” Mom shouts to Jasper.

He salutes her with two fingers. “You have my word.”

“Don’t have too much fun,” Katie says.

Jasper reaches out to take my bag, his fingers grazing mine as they linger on the handle.

“Hey,” he says, smiling.

I bite my lip. “Hi.”

“All set?”

One more breath to settle my racing heart, then I say, “Yep. Let’s go.”

He takes my bag and moves to the back of the car, opening the trunk and placing it inside, before continuing to the driver’s side. At the car I pull the door handle and take one last look back at the house. Mom and Katie both wave this time, and I wave back before opening the door and jumping in.

On our way to the airport I watch the traffic around us and can’t help noticing a pair of black SUVs that seem to be heading the same way as us.

“Is that…?” I ask, nodding toward what looks like an armored car in front of us.

“Security,” Jasper says. “They’ve been with me since before I arrived at yours. They’ll be tailing us until we arrive at the house.” He reaches over and places a hand on my knee. “We’ll be safe.”

I shoot him a reassuring smile, grateful that he cares so much and a little thankful to have the extra protection. But part of me is also a little put off. This is supposed to be our first big trip away by ourselves. Are we going to be sharing our holiday with a fist of beefy security guards? What are they going to do? Come hiking with us? Swim in the pool? (I’m assuming there’s a pool.) Sit one table away if we go out to eat?

A small but sharp pain slices behind my eyes, making me rub my temple.

“Still hurts?” Jasper asks.

I grimace and nod.

“Not long and we’ll be the only wolves for miles.”

Except them , I think, glaring at the SUV up ahead.

As we pull up outside the terminal at JFK I notice a woman in a business suit waiting by the doors. Jasper stops the car and jumps out without even switching off the engine.

“Madeline!” he says, his tone rich with familiarity.

“A pleasure as always, Jasper,” the lady in the expensive-looking blazer says, tipping her head to greet us. “You’ve nearly racked up enough frequent-flier miles to buy the airline.”

“Almost,” Jasper croons. He shakes Madeline’s hand and she glances over her shoulder. “And this must be Max.”

“Yeah, hi!” I step forward to shake her hand also.

“A pleasure,” she says. “And welcome, it’s an honor to have you flying with us today.”

“Uh, pleasure’s all mine,” I stammer.

A guy in a red vest appears from inside. “Sup, Jasp.”

“Hey Antonio,” Jasper says. Does he know everyone who works at the airport? As casually as anything, Jasper tosses his car keys at Antonio, who catches them like this is some well-rehearsed routine.

“How was traffic today?” Antonio asks, pulling open the driver’s side door of Jasper’s car.

“Not so bad,” Jasper says.

“Ay, you royal wolves have all the luck. Catch you round.”

With that Antonio ducks into the car and zooms away. I guess Jasper has been traveling a lot. I just assumed he was flying private this whole time. Maybe not.

“Would you like to follow me?” Madeline asks, gesturing to the doors.

“Uh, sure,” I say.

We’re whisked through the airport, slipping through a door into a private section and avoiding the usual queues at security, barely pausing as they pass our bags through an X-ray machine, and then we’re led to a private lounge. Gentle music plays from unseen speakers, elegant yet comfortable-looking sofas warm the space, crystal light fixtures glint overhead. So this is how the other half lives.

“Whoa,” I say as my gaze lands on the free buffet.

Before us is an open-salad-bar-style spread. Piles of cantaloupe and watermelon catch my eye first, but also pastries, bagels, lox, bacon, eggs. I already ate breakfast but that doesn’t matter because right next door is another spread, this time sandwich meats, crusty-looking bread, salads, cheeses, and next to that a full-on dinner selection with pastas, roast meats and potatoes, grilled veggies, and then…then I spot the dessert cart. My mouth is salivating so bad.

“Can we just stay here for two weeks?”

Jasper laughs. “You hungry?”

I grin and shrug. “I could eat.”

Once we’ve piled a couple of plates high with free food we find a spot to sit and dig in. Not only is the spread extensive, it’s also freaking delicious. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted lamb so moist and tender, a Caesar salad popping with salty anchovy goodness, peaches and apricots so ripe and juicy, soft serve as smooth as silk.

“This is so good,” I say, mouth full, head down. When Jasper doesn’t reply I look up and he’s barely touched his plate. “You don’t like it?”

“Huh?” He glances up, looking distracted, which, considering my extreme level of gluttony right now, is maybe not the worst thing. But I can tell something is up.

“Everything all right?”

He actively twists his lips into a smile. “Yes, everything’s fine,” he says, a wistful lilt to his voice. “I just—haven’t been back to the house for a while.”

“When was the last time?”

He pauses for a long time, his eyes not moving from a Tater Tot that’s fallen off my plate and onto the table. “Since my mother…”

Jasper trails off but he doesn’t need to say anything else.

“Oh.” He hasn’t been back to the house in Joshua Tree since before his mom died. It must have taken a lot for him to decide he wanted to go there, to take me there. “You’re sure you want to—?”

“Yes.” His eyes shoot up to meet mine and he nods. “I’m sure. I want to see it.”

“I’ll be there…” Obviously. I shake my head. “I mean if you want to talk about it or her at any point…”

He smiles, genuinely this time. “Thank you.”

When it’s time to board, Madeline appears again to escort us to our seats. I could get used to this level of service, for sure. We’re sitting in first class and Jasper has booked a pair of seats in the middle of the plane. I say seats , but actually they’re more like pods—whole rooms even, complete with a chair that converts into a bed, a TV screen bigger than the one back at my parents’ house, a table, and a minibar. The whole thing is sleek and clean, with marble-effect surfaces, polished wood detailing, and gold trim. They’ve converted our two separate pods into one large suite. Already laid out on my chair are pajamas, slippers, and a toiletry bag full of products I couldn’t afford samples of.

“Mamma mia,” I say, motionless in the aisle staring at this ridiculous setup.

“What did you say?” Jasper asks, storing his small suitcase in the overhead compartment and tossing his black backpack into his side of the joint pod.

“I said…holy freaking smokes.”

Jasper is staring at me with an amused smirk, but he turns from me to scan the pods with his hands on his hips. “It’s pretty nice, right?”

“Yeah, I mean…I get that you’re used to it, but I never thought I’d be flying first class.”

“I get it. We flew coach once when I was about seven and there is no denying this is pretty special.”

“You flew coach once?” I ask indignantly, verbally rolling my eyes. “That must have really sucked.”

“It did—oh, you’re making fun of me.”

I feign shock. “Me? Never!”

We settle in and it isn’t long before we’re taxiing out to the runway.

As the plane speeds up, the tarmac slipping beneath us as we surge forward, I reach over and take Jasper’s hand.

“Thanks,” I say. “For planning this.”

He holds my hand up to his face and kisses my knuckles. “I can’t wait to show you the house.”

An hour into the flight, we’ve eaten more amazing food and had our seats converted into the equivalent of a double bed. Jasper, the consummate traveler, is out in a second, breathing lightly. He must be exhausted.

I watch him sleep for a while, distracted from some rom-com I’ve got playing on my TV. And as my eyes begin to close as well I realize for the first time in months, my head isn’t aching. The dull throb is gone, left behind with the wolves back on the ground, the troubles of our pack and the thoughts of our kind forgotten, unable to reach me up here.

I just hope when we land my mind stays as clear.