Page 32 of The Alpha Option
“You plan to teach it to Stacy’s kids?”
Damn. “Point taken.” Jace twisted his head to get a better view of Blue. “Where do you get these clothes? Gaudy-AF Outfitters?”
Blue glanced down at his neon-yellow shorts and pale purple T-shirt. “These are school team colours.”
“For Puke Academy?” Jace grimaced. “You and I went to the same school, and we did not have those as our school colours.”
Blue lifted his nose in the air. “I never saidwhichschool colours. Anyway, onto a far more important topic than where I find my breathtakingly wonderful apparel—what the fuck are you doing?”
Taken aback, Jace opened both eyes and gave his cousin his full attention. “Did you swear at me?”
“Probably. Most likely. Definitely.”
“Death wish?”
Blue snorted. “As if. No, I’m truly curious. Because I understand that I’m following a very particular slow boat to romance and a happily ever after with my mate because that is what the situation calls for. Because I’m insightful and uber-sensitive.”
“A real peach.” God, his cousin was a kick.
“You, on the other hand,” Blue continued, “are not known for great feats of patience, yet you’re sitting on your ass and twiddling your thumbs instead of getting on with mating. Which makes me ask, what the ever-loving hell is going on?”
“Patience is a virtue.”
“Procrastinationis a five-syllable word,” Blue volleyed back.
Jace caught himself counting then cursed. “Such an ass.”
His cousin grinned as he leaned forward in his chair. “I think you should do something about your level of frustration. Because sharing a cabin with you is like being roommates with a honey badger. You suck. You toss, you turn, you stay up all hours of the night.”
“You really think I should make a move?” Jace held up a hand. “And not because I’m disrupting your beauty sleep.”
“Yes,” Blue snapped in a rare show of impatience. The next moment, he leaned back and returned to his carefree slouching. “Not that I’ve had any ominous premonitions or specific insights, but I think acting sooner than later is going to help you. Can’t say exactly why, but please. Go on. Release the Kraken.”
Jace kept his expression poker straight. “I had no idea you knew what I’d named my cock.”
Water flew from Blue’s glass directly into Jace’s face as his cousin rose to his feet, shaking his head in amused disgust. “And on that note, I’m headed back to the house. Stephanie and I are removing wallpaper from guest rooms two and three. Won’t be around until dinner. Six o’clock in the main house. You’re expected. There’s stew in the Instant Pot, and Steph made bread this morning.”
As his cousin walked away, Jace flashed back to his conversation with Cassidy days earlier when he’d explained that when an Omega told you to jump, you should get both feet in the air as quickly as possible.
Jace went looking for his mate.
12
Cranky beyond belief, Cassidy shoved the pitchfork into the ground and loosened another section of weeds. “Sure. Tell me your wolf is all Alpha powerful and then go off and hide for a bloody week.”
She snatched up the nearest weed and hurled it into her bucket with far too much vigour. Grumbly thoughts continued to roll through her brain as she slammed the pitchfork into the ground over and over.
Her phone pinged in her back pocket. Blue had gotten an internet connection organized for the entire lodge area, which was a blessing and a curse. She hated being constantly on call, but still, Cassidy pulled it out to make sure it wasn’t Stacy needing something as she did her final preparations back in Toronto.
Email from the Jasper pack.
Cassidy Rundle, Stephanie Nix.
Considering the history between the Jasper pack and the previous owners of Timberwolf Lodge, I felt it best to do this officially.
You are invited to join the pack for the upcoming Sunday picnic. We’ll be gathering at the Ridge Fairgrounds starting at two p.m. This is a family-friendly gathering until approximately eight p.m. when it becomes adult only. As our guests you are not expected to bring anything, but the event is a potluck.
We do expect you to honour our no-camera rule. If you need to bring your phone in case of emergency, I will be available to hold it in trust.
