The Selkie's Alpha

Chapter 20

Jasper picked at the omelet on his plate, mechanically chewing forkfuls of ham and cheese. With his stomach tossing and turning like the ocean, he had about as much interest in eating as stepping on a stingray, but he'd promised his father he'd spend the morning with Gwen. All the better to do it on the Cowrie Cabana's patio, in full view of numerous other diners.

After all the stress Jasper had caused everyone, the least he could do was look like he was happy with his upcoming marriage. And in all honesty, the possibility didn't bother him as much as it used to. Gwen was as kind and clever as her letters had made her sound, and while he couldn't say he loved her yet, he could see them having a happy future together. There was just one problem.

He missed Brooke.

"I can't believe we only have a few weeks until the Blue Moon Ball." Gwen cut into her eggs Benedict, sending golden yolks running into the bed of greens below. "I hope I won't embarrass myself. I haven't had much practice dancing."

"Don't worry, with me as your partner you'll look as graceful as a swan. Not that you won't do well," Jasper rushed to add. Between his bruised leg and the way he kept tripping over his own tongue, he was sure he'd be far clumsier than anyone else in attendance. "I've had a lot on my mind, too. My mother arrived yesterday, and I didn't even know I had a half-brother until Steven tackled me."

"Aw, if I knew there was a pup in your family, I would have had us visit Periwinkle Port together." She took a sip of her orange juice. "I bet he'd get a kick out of that ice cream place we saw the other day. Rocky Reef, was it?"

"Caramel Cove." And under no circumstances could he take Gwen there, not when she'd see the photo of him and Brooke eating ice cream together. "Actually, I was hoping to take Steven there today, but I've been feeling like shit since yesterday. I said some horrible things and hurt Br—" He cleared his throat, redness creeping into his cheeks. "Someone I care about a lot."

"Does this someone happen to have a sweet tooth, too?" Gwen asked. "Maybe you could take them out with your family so you can make it up to her and give her the chance to get to know your family, too."

Jasper froze. Had Gwen realized he felt something for Brooke? Her demure expression gave nothing away, and her tone was as light as if she was asking him whether he thought it might rain tomorrow.

She knew as well as he did that he was well within his right to seek his soulmate, but even if she was alright with it, other packs might not look on him so favorably. "Maybe I'll see if she can tell us about a couple places Steven might like, but I don't want to take up too much of her time," he said slowly. "Besides, I really should follow up with Juniper Pack. My father's been trying to negotiate with them so they'll let us use their software, but we've been having trouble ironing out the licensing agreement."

"Relationships with other packs are important, but we can't maintain healthy ones if we don't take care of ourselves, too." Gwen gave him a meaningful look. "Whoever this person is, avoiding her is going to hurt her feelings."

"I do need to have a word with her sooner rather than later," Jasper admitted. Even if Brooke wasn't his soulmate, he needed to clear the air with her. He owed her that much.

"Would you two like more coffee?" asked a waitress carrying a steaming pot. Her eyes watched Jasper's every move as if she could drink every last drop of gossip from their conversation.

All around him, other staff members and diners made no effort to hide their eavesdropping. Busboys took their time cleaning the table next to theirs, and a pair of vampires hid their wandering eyes with their menus. Some of the onlookers were even less subtle, with a family of werewolves flicking their fluffy ears toward him.