Chapter 4
Lucie elbowed Jasper in the stomach, making him make an ‘oof’ sound, and then she stomped on Aedan’s foot right in front of her.
“What is wrong with you?” Lucie growled lowly.
“What is wrong with me?” Aedan rose to his feet and faced Lucie. “What is wrong with you? What are you doing?”
The flames danced in Lucie’s eyes as an inferno raged inside of her.
“What is WRONG with ME?! What am I doing?” She scoffed and stepped closer to her brother, pointing her finger at his chest. “How dare you? Where is your faith and trust in me? And my choices are just that. MY choices. You don’t see me over there protecting you from playing ‘guess my STD,’ do you?
No. Because it’s your life, Aedan. And your mistakes to make.
And your crabs you’ll have to take care of later.
” She then looked past him at Justice. “And why are you so concerned about me?” She whipped her head back to look at Jasper, who was still glaring at Kyle.
“Why are you watching me as if I am some weak-hearted, fragile girl who needs protection?”
She gritted her teeth and pinned her icy gaze on her brother.
“You guys wanted to go and mingle with the ladies, so why are you watching me? What, I can’t talk to anyone else?
I’m supposed to just sit down and stare at the campfire alone like I normally do, right?
Or stay close to Mom and Dad’s side, joining them in their political talks because you’re out enjoying yourself. ”
“Lucie, I didn’t mean—” Aedan started.
“What, Aedan? What didn’t you mean? You didn’t mean not to trust me?
You didn’t mean not to let me make my own decisions?
Or you thought that your weak little sister was getting taken advantage of, is that it?
” Lucie furrowed her brow, challenging her brother, who growled at her.
She was provoking his alpha blood, and this was only going to end badly.
“It’s my job to look out for you,” Aedan growled, baring his teeth slightly.
“Oh? It is? That’s what your job is? I guess Mom and Dad will be thrilled if you actually take on the responsibilities of a job,” Lucie said in a condescending tone as she poked her finger into his chest.
The party went silent as the yells of the prince and princess carried in the air. But Aedan surprised everyone. He lowered his shoulders and placed his hand on Lucie’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I was wrong. I wasn’t used to seeing someone else close to you.”
Lucie took in a deep breath and lowered her hand.
She looked up at her brother sadly. “I’m sorry, too.
I didn’t mean what I said.” The truth was that she and her brother rarely fought.
They were more like best friends, so this was very uncharacteristic of them.
“It’s just that, if you really think I have a choice, then let me make my choices. All of them.”
“You do have a choice, Lucie.” Aedan looked over at Kyle with a low growl. “But find another one, someone other than him. His reputation precedes him, even here. We overheard the girls talking about him, so we were immediately alert and watching his every move.”
Lucie giggled and looked at her brother like he was crazy.
“I know what type of person Kyle is. Do you really think I’m that na?ve?
He tried to come on to me at first with his usual game.
” She looked over at Kyle, who gave her a sheepish grin.
“But we got past that point real quick, and he has been nice to talk to.”
“Um, he was getting ready to do more than talk to you.” Jasper shot daggers at Kyle.
Lucie turned and looked at Jasper. “But he was about to strike out again. I was about to stop it myself, except some puffed-up macho men decided to strip my honor away.”
Kyle chuckled. “I figured you would probably reject me again. That’s okay. You deserve better than me. But I also think you deserve better than the vampire prince.” He locked eyes with Jasper, his stare cold.
“What do you even know about my prince? He’s a great guy!” Jasper growled lowly.
“He might be a great guy. But it doesn’t sound like he’s being a good mate.”
Jasper looked down at the ground angrily.
Lucie could see he was struggling, deciding what to say.
He met Kyle’s eyes again, his gaze intimidating.
“You don’t know ANYTHING!” He shook his head and pursed his lips together tightly.
“He’s really busy …” He looked at Lucie.
“He’s one of the best guys I know. He really is, Luce. You’ll see.”
Aedan snorted and crossed his arms over his chest. “I still say she would be better off with you than him.”
Jasper looked up at Aedan with amusement and chuckled. “Taking the prince’s mate would be a crime. You must want me dead.”
“I’m serious. Why can’t the treaty work if you take Lucie? It’s almost the same thing.” Aedan shrugged and looked between Lucie and Jasper.
Lucie looked at her brother, mortified.
“It isn’t the same thing. I’m not the prince.” Jasper shrugged.
“And let’s not forget the fact that Jasper is like a brother to me.” Lucie shook her head, exasperated. How could her brother say something like that in front of Jasper? Not to mention she was not interested in Jasper in that way at all. And she knew he wasn’t interested in her that way either.
“I promise I’ll always be there for her, though.
You can rest easy knowing I’ll be watching out for her.
” Jasper nudged Lucie playfully. “I really need one of those child leashes for her.” Then he started laughing.
“Get it? You’re a werewolf, so if I put a leash on you, it will be like you’re my pet dog. ”
Jasper laughed at his own joke, and Lucie looked back at Aedan. “Really? Him?”
Aedan shook his head and grinned. “We can only work with what we’ve got.”
Lucie looked at Jasper. “Go ahead and put a leash on me, Jasper. Let’s see how it turns out for you.”
Jasper grinned widely. “See, that’s why Luce and I can’t be mates. She isn’t into bondage and the fun stuff.” He winked at her, and she rolled her eyes.
“The thing is, Jasper, if there’s going to be tying up involved, it won’t be my arms being tied down.”
“La la la la. Don’t need to hear about your closet dominatrix personality,” Aedan said, holding his hands up to his ears.
“I wouldn’t mind hearing about it,” Kyle said with a smirk, which caused the three other men to glare at him again.
Kyle chuckled. “I guess I’m not making friends here.
” He rose to his feet and winked over at Lucie.
“It was great getting to know you a little bit. Maybe I’ll see you around sometime. ”
Lucie watched as he walked away and was immediately attacked by a horde of girls who surrounded him, giggling. “It looks like you guys lost your harem.”
“That’s alright with me. I’m sticking by your side for the rest of the night.” Jasper patted Lucie’s head and grinned at her.
Lucie swatted his hand away and listened to his chuckle. “You three boys, get. You’re cramping my style.”
Jasper looked at Aedan and Justice, giving them a small nod of acknowledgment. “Go enjoy your party, Justice.”
“Wait, I don’t need to be watched over,” Lucie said as Aedan and Justice chuckled while walking away. She looked at Jasper, who grinned at her.
“I came here to hang out with you anyway. And I’m not interested in any of the ladies.”
“Are you spying on me for your prince?” Lucie raised a brow and watched a crooked grin spread over his face.
“I wouldn’t call it spying. And I won’t tell you that he asked me to check on you to see how you were doing.” Jasper winked at Lucie, who looked at him in confusion.
Derrick asked him to come and check on her?
But he always acted like he couldn’t be bothered with her lately.
She remembered the change soon after he hit puberty.
They used to play together all the time.
Then, when she was ten and he was fifteen, he was different.
Everything about him was different. His voice was deeper, and he’d grown so much.
That was when he started distancing himself from her.
When her brother turned fifteen, he also went through growing changes. He shot up and filled out. His voice grew deeper. But his personality was still fun and goofy. She thought at first that Derrick just didn’t want to hang out with a ten-year-old, that he would change as she aged as well.
She was nineteen now, and he was twenty-four.
Yet, when they last met, he was still fairly distant with her.
He was considerate, but it was like he wasn’t trying to be friends with her at all, like he felt bothered having to be friends with her.
She wanted to blame it on him being a vampire, except Jasper was never like that.
There was only one logical conclusion … he didn’t want her.
Yet now she learned that he was having Jasper check in on her, which made her wonder …
“Are you always reporting back to Derrick about me?” Lucie could see the guilt in his eyes and her mouth dropped. “So, are you actually my friend, or are you Derrick’s spy?”
Jasper chuckled. “You aren’t doubting my friendship, are you? Come on. I can hardly refuse my prince and future king now, can I? That doesn’t mean I’m any less your friend. I’m friends with both of you.” He smiled softly. “He just likes to hear how you’re doing and what you’ve been up to.”
“Then why doesn’t he ever ask me himself? Why doesn’t he ever visit me? He stopped visiting me here when he was a kid. Then he acts like it’s a chore to have lunch with me when I visit. If he cares, then why doesn’t he show it?”
Jasper’s eyes were heavy with sadness. “He has his reasons, Lucie, and that’s all I can really say. Trust me … he’s a great guy.”
“Well, I guess all I can do is trust you on that, since he doesn’t talk to me.
” Lucie looked down at her feet and frowned.
Jasper was certainly singing Derrick’s praises.
At least Derrick seemed to be good to Jasper.
But she honestly didn’t really know who Derrick was.
“I take it you’ve told him I have a very outgoing personality, right? ”
“I think I’ve used the term ‘passionate personality.’” Jasper chuckled. “Yes, I have told him how spirited you can be. I think your personality excites him.”
Lucie shook her head and laughed. “Now I know you’re lying. Derrick doesn’t get excited about anything. I think watching paint dry is his idea of a good time.”
Jasper laughed so hard that tears formed in his eyes. “I can’t wait to tell him you said that.” He wiped the corners of his eyes dramatically.
They heard an ear-piercing scream coming from near the packhouse.
Lucie’s eyes widened and her feet moved on their own.
Aedan was racing in front of her while Jasper was staying right at her side.
When they got near the packhouse, there was a large crowd surrounding a woman that was covered in blood.
Lucie listened to the people murmuring and overheard one of the alphas talking.
“It’s another one. Another attack just like before. They’re becoming more frequent. Is it vampires?”
Lucie felt a strong arm pull her tightly into his side. She looked up to see Jasper staring angrily. She turned her head away slightly and toward Jasper to shield her face. The scene in front of them was stomach-turning. Whatever had attacked the woman had been vicious in its assault.
“Alright everyone, back up.” Lucie heard her father’s commanding tone.
She looked back to see her mother, Freja, examining the woman and the wounds. Freja looked back at Hunter and shook her head slightly. “We lost her.”
“Great. So now she can’t even tell us which bloodsucker attacked her.” One of the alphas growled.
“ENOUGH.” Hunter roared, quieting the murmuring voices instantly.
“We’re going to get to the bottom of this.
My queen and I will look over the body and determine the cause of these wounds.
In the meantime, I think it would be best to put the packs on alert.
After years of peace, we seem to have an enemy emerging.
Could be a disgruntled demon from the past. But until we know who our target is, it’s best to be cautious.
No one leaves their pack territories by themselves. And double your guards on patrol.”
Lucie felt Jasper tighten his grip on her and pull her deeper in his chest. His fun nature was gone, and he had the eyes of a killer.
She could not only feel his tension but everyone else’s.
She looked at her parents, who were staring at one another quietly, having their own silent conversation about this.
Jasper’s parents Jester and Irene came closer to also examine the body. Lucie could tell they were worried about who might be responsible. She felt her breath being squeezed from her lungs. Did they suspect a vampire?
Jasper walked a few steps forward, keeping Lucie tucked into his side. He looked at both of their parents. “I think we should take Lucie with us now.”