The Selkie's Alpha

Chapter 8

Jasper limped into his suite feeling as if the elk had invited its entire herd to trample him. His head pounded, his muscles ached, and his pride was bruised. Some Alpha he was. One moment's distraction, and he'd forced the rest of the hunting party to leap to his aid to keep the bull from goring him.

The simple act of pulling his shirt over his head made him wince, and his legs quivered from the effort of dragging himself to the bathroom. Peeling off his pants revealed the source of the agony radiating through his lower body. A dark purple bruise dominated his right hip, with the slightest brush of fabric against his skin making him whimper.

After waiting entirely too long for the water to heat up, Jasper stepped into the shower with a groan. Warmth spread through his muscles, easing their tension as dried blood and dirt swirled down the drain. The shampoo the resort provided—eucalyptus with a hint of papaya—smelled so divine Jasper wondered if he should contact the manufacturer so they could help Uncommon Scents create a similarly delightful perfume.

But as quickly as relief filled his aching muscles, so too did shame settle in his stomach. He'd let everyone down. Again. After the elk had slammed its antlers into him, Jasper could only watch as members of the two packs argued over who was to blame. If Gwen hadn't killed their prey, the hunting party could have easily sustained more injuries.

Goddess, he wished he could simply rinse himself down the drain. At least then he wouldn't have to face his packmates' simpering smiles, their assurances that they didn't think any less of him despite his failure. Despite their faults, Waylon and many of Kudzu Pack's other wolves were honest. No matter how badly he let them down, his own pack never treated him with anything less than unquestioning respect.

At least, they treated his position with nothing but respect. He was an Alpha. Their future leader. Would they truly be so patient with him if he lacked that title, or would they speak of him as poorly as he knew he deserved?

Only when the water ran cold did Jasper shamble out of the shower. He shrugged on a bathrobe, grateful for the loose fabric since it required far less painful maneuvering than his ordinary clothes.

With no events to attend today since his father had ordered him to rest and tend to his injuries, Jasper pulled out his laptop and started answering work emails. Perhaps this wasn't what his father had in mind, but how else was he supposed to relieve his stress? The shower had barely helped, and frittering away the afternoon while the rest of his pack networked with what were in all likelihood their future coworkers would only make him feel worse.

He'd just started answering an inquiry about Uncommon Scents's plans for next summer's perfume lineup when someone knocked on the door. Just his luck. It wasn't as if he'd be able to get much done with his mind constantly drifting back to his aching muscles. "Come in!"

"I could use a little help." A familiar laugh bubbled through the door. "I kind of have my arms full."

He'd know that voice anywhere.

Jasper leaped out of his chair, wincing as the sudden movement sent pain shooting through his leg. After a great deal of swearing, he managed to limp to the entryway. "Sorry to keep you waiting," he said breathlessly. "I'm still sore from today's hunt."

Instead of bombarding him with a million questions or explaining the large plastic capsules in her arms, Brooke stared at him with her face reddening to match her hair. "Your robe is...um..." She tried to point, only for one of the capsules to fall from her grasp. Lunging forward in an attempt to catch it only made her drop the rest and stumble forward.

His arms wrapped around her, holding her tight to keep her from falling. Only when he felt her face pressed against his chest did Jasper realize his robe had flown open in his haste to answer the door. With his heart thundering in his ears and warmth spreading through his entire body, he found himself enjoying the feeling of her skin on his too much to care.