Jasmine
I drop my bag onto a break room chair, heading for the hot water dispenser.
Tea. Tea sounded like absolute heaven.
I throw a bag of Earl Gray into an empty styrofoam cup and pump hot water into the dispenser. The smell of my brew shot swiftly through the room. I happily inhaled and sipped, despite the searing heat spilling down my throat.
It had been a long 24 hours, but I was thrilled with what I had been able to accomplish. I had checked in with Naineeve periodically throughout the evening for some healer-to-healer advice, wanting to impress Danielle and Irene, the Ascended who had been monitoring us yellows all evening. Overall I think I had done pretty well. I touch the teacup to my lips, testing the temperature of my tea.
P
Kira I crawl into my uber shortly before midnight. Well, stumbled. Whatever. The doorman helps me into the back of the car. “To the packhouse?” Inquires the driver. “Yuppersss.” Shit. My speech is a lot more slurred than I thought. How many drinks had I actually had? ** Five hours earlier “What a beautiful suite…” “My father wanted nothing but the best.” “Looks like he got it.” My heels click softly on the marble rug. “Would you like a drink?” Justin’s piercing gaze warms my skin, even though I’m still flush from our encounter in the ele
PerrinI was thrilled to just get back to the Lodge and keep up training.It was only 6:00am but I felt good. I was ready to go. Throwing on my workout gear, I laced my shoes and tied them three times over. One of the first times Ethan had ever beat me in the Lodge was when we were eleven. And it was mostly because I had tripped over my own shoelace.Well, that’s my version. Ethan will tell you it’s because his hit on my flank threw me off balance.Ethan’s beaten me since then, but I couldn’t offer excuses for why in any of those instances. Not since I started triple-lacing my shoes.I headed downstairs, grabbing a quick cup of coffee from Dina before I set out back to jog the few miles to the Lodge.
LeilaNothing was going to stop me from telling Jaz the truth. She needed to know. And I wanted to be honest with her. I needed to be honest with her. About all of this. The confusion, the fake-dating… I had to make her understand that I was on her side, not some threat. Not some blonde who cheated on her with Perrin. Not someone who made up excuses for his mistake and got tangled up in pack business. I needed her as a friend and to know that I was doing this for her. And that I was who I was. And I prayed to the Goddess that she wouldn’t hate me or think I was hiding my identity.Goddess, these mix-ups needed to stop.I got a ride early from Charlie to the Lodge. I had planned to go with Perrin but I think he had left hours before and I h
PerrinMy blood turned cold. “Mistra, this isn’t what it looks like.”Mistra’s dark hair fans out behind her as she strides into the room.“And what exactly does it look like, Perrin?” Her voice is dangerously calm. She eyes me coldly. She’s tall--very tall for a she-wolf, and looks me dead in the eye. Normally a wolf wouldn’t do that to the Alpha Dauphin, but under the circumstances….“I had a rough night, mom.” Kira is straining to keep her own voice calm and strong. She remains huddled in her towel on the bed, but her bare shoulders can be seen. The implications don’t look good.“As if I didn’t know? Stumbling into our quarters reeking of vodka and
PerrinI had returned to the Lodge after dealing with Kira earlier, thoughts filled with her and alcohol and Ethan and Jasmine.Ugh. I didn’t want to think anymore. I just needed to punch something.Beta Mark greeted me as I exited the locker room.“Ready for some sparring?”“Damn straight.”I spent two rounds with Beta and Alpha Challengers of the Ididorahd pack. As our neighbors, they were well trained and eager to see what we were made of. The recent permissions between our Alphas caused a healthy sense of competition and rivalry. Only one gave me a serious run for my money, but I blame the cramp in my leg for my loss of speed that round.
PerrinAfter my third shower of the day, I made my way back to the packhouse. It was a little after 5:00. I had time to try and find my father, then pick up Lo for our “date.”PERRIN: You’ll be ready by 6:00?LO: Um, sure. Can you drop me off at the library?PERRIN: We’re supposed to be on a date.LO: I thought you were supposed to be going out with Jaz?PERRIN: Change of plans. I’ll explain later.LO: Fine. Where are we going?PERRIN: Have you been to the pie
Perrin“Right on time!”“As duty calls.”Lo strode across the packhouse lobby in jeans and a light jacket. She had an effortless way of looking chic and casual at the same time. I wondered vaguely if she’d eventually rub off on Kira, who preferred tight, black, and ripped everything. It drives Ethan--who’s usually preppy despite his motorcycle--quite crazy. Sometimes it’s amazing to think that they’re twins.“Ready to roll?”“We aren’t taking the motorcycle again, are we?”“Nah, I actually thought we’d walk.”“Walk?”
KiraMy head is still pounding and it had already started to get dark out. Shit. How much had I really drank? How much had I slept? I was starving. My mother had no sympathy for me and before I could even tell her about Jason, had left to head to the infirmary to see Ethan. I hadn’t had the energy to call for room service. That wasn’t a regular privilege at the pack house, but occasionally Dina would take pity on me and entertain the notion.I slid into a pair of yoga pants and a hoodie, donning sunglasses despite being indoors. The fluorescent lights of our hallways could be a real bitch.I contemplated the elevator but the speed and lift of the motion made my stomach turn just thinking about it. Maybe I’d have greasy pizza. Or break