I wonder how Sherry reacted when she heard this news.
Since we were small, Sherry has taken immense joy in rubbing my nose in the fact that Jase would never, ever look at me that way.
Who knew that when he finally did, I would want nothing to do with him?
14
JASE
Her scent invades my system the instant Joel and me hit the four corners. Strangely, I also smell someone else almost as strong as I smell Bailey.
“Cicely?” I ask.
“Weird, right? Jared has no scent so it’s her scent in the area.”
“Stop, I need out.”
My wolf is chomping at the bit. My mate’s here. It’s time. Fucking finally…
He says, “Your girl’s probably at her parents. You’ll get to her faster if I drop you at the house.”
A responding grunt from me, realizing Bailey’s scent isn’t close enough to mean she’s in the library, means Joel continues through the intersection and thankfully he correctly reads the situation and speeds up.
I don’t think I’ve voiced much more than a couple grunts since he picked me up from the airport.
He already knew, from Grey, and didn’t ask about that when I got into his ride. First, he congratulated me, but correctly read my reaction and launched into an immediate update on what’s happening with Jared and Cicely. The rest of the council is focused on that at the moment. I wasn’t surprised there was something up with Jared’s wolf. Linc did a good job of deflecting all that shit.
He vouched for Jared, and I can’t help but feel annoyed that he didn’t level with us. Joel says nobody is as pissed off as Linc is. He’s beating himself up that shit could’ve gone even worse than it did, that Cicely could’ve been killed.
Joel told me he got the call on the way to get me that some of the Young sisters are already out there trying to get a read on that situation but that they dropped Bailey off first, which is a relief.
I’m also glad I won’t have to deal with those Young sisters when I pick her up. That’s what I need right now. To pick Bailey up, bring her home, and work this shit out.
Joel stops in the Blackwood driveway and Graydon has his eyes pointed at me from the open garage where he’s polishing his sweet fire engine red convertible muscle car.
“Thanks, bro,” I say as I open the door.
“Congrats again. Want me to drop your bag on your front step on my way past?”
“Yeah. Thanks, Joel.”
“Best of luck, my man,” Joel says and pulls away immediately, which is good, because an unmated alpha near my mate? No. Not all right.
It dawns all I know means Jared has a gaggle of pack members out there and frankly I have no clue how that’d make me feel right now. Not good, that’s for sure. He already claimed Cicely, and now it’s my time to claim Bailey, so we’ll see if it settles me. Because I’ve been amped for days, more amped than I can remember feeling.
“Graydon,” I greet.
He stuffs the polishing cloth into his back pocket and extends his hand as I approach.
We shake hands and his free hand lands on my shoulder.
“Congratulations, Jase. Glad it’s you.”
I blow out a hard exhale, letting that settle in my bones. “Thank you, sir,” I say. “That means a lot.”
Concern etches his features. “Always wanted her claimed by someone that can look after her, keep her safe and make her happy. Even better that she won’t have to move away. Gotta say though, she’s not too happy with you, but I’m shocked as shit she left you behind. That’s not Bailey.”
“No sir. It’s not.” Shocked the shit out of me that she did it, too.