Page 87 of Campfires & Canines
“You won’t overdose them or anything?”
“Nah, might make them puke at the worst,” he says shrugging, “I’m off to go poison the beer!”
“Be careful.”
He smirks. “It almost sounds like you care about me.”
While he’s gone, I poke through his drawers and closet. The man has a lot of knives. I want to peer out the window and watch hispackmates, but I’m too worried about them seeing me. Nerves escalating, I end up pacing from the kitchen to the living space and back, over and over. It’s going to be fine. I’m going to make it through this. Slate will be fine, Jasper will be okay, and Onyx is probably healing. I’m not going to break down again.
“Baby, I’m home!” Jasper hollers.
He leans around the doorframe and holds out another black dress. It looks shorter, maybe above the knee, and is thankfully closer to my size.
“Looks great,” I say, taking it from him.
“And you’ll need this.” He holds out a knife in a strappy sheath. The blade is short but wicked looking. “It should fit under your skirt without showing.”
“Thanks.” I take the weapon and test out the strap around my thigh. It’s perfect.
“You can keep that. Consider it a mating present.” He winks at me and I shove him, rolling my eyes.
“One more thing,” he says, holding out my cell phone. “I nicked this for you. If she notices, I’ll just tell her I wanted to go through your messages.”
“Oh my gosh!” I press the power button, but only a red empty-battery icon flashes.
“Sorry, I don’t have that kind of charger,” he says.
Swallowing back my disappointment, I say, “Let me change. You need to make yourself look decent too.”
“You know I already look incredible,” he replies with a cheeky grin. I respond by shutting the door in his laughing face.
15. Flights & Foes
Hazel
The party is in full swing by the time we arrive, intentionally late. Sienna and Ferris stand on a small platform in the center of the road, between the cafeteria and the training facility. Folding tables and chairs outline the space with the center left empty.
Beer is flowing, and several pack members seem pretty drunk already.
I smooth down my skirt and tuck my hair behind my ears.
“You look fine,” Jasper murmurs. I scowl at him. “Sorry,” he amends. My nerves have nothing to do with my appearance.
Taking my hand, he leads me towards his parents. We step onto the platform, our steps making a hollow sound. Jasper kisses his mother’s cheek. His father grips his shoulder andnods stonily.
Someone shoves mugs of beer into our hands. I wrinkle my nose at the smell.
Ferris raises his mug, and the shifters around him fall silent. The quiet ripples out until every mouth is shut and all eyes are on him.
His deep voice carries, but he makes no effort to raise his voice. The entire pack listens intently, worshiping every word.
“My pack, we are here to celebrate a mating bond between our heir and the heir of another alpha line. Their offspring will lead Granite Ridge forward. Some day we will not only be the biggest pack in the state, we will be the most powerful pack on the continent!”
The crowd roars, but it cuts off the second Ferris opens his mouth again.
“To my son and his new mate!” He raises his mug and takes a swig. The entire crowd echoes their alpha, everyone chugging their beer. Jasper takes a drink too, but I guess he has to if he wants to avoid suspicion. The fact he is now hobbled too makes my stomach churn.
Now the real party begins. Music pumps through old speakers. There are only a handful of female shifters in the pack, and the men shove each other and jostle for a chance to dance with them. Most of the women have two men grinding up on them.
