Chapter 163

Downstairs, where we all gather by the door and wait for the cars to come around to the front of the palace, is the best kind of chaos. I’m beaming ear-to-ear, a cheeseburger in one hand and a glass of champagne in the other, as I chat with my family, greeting everyone and exchanging compliments.

None of the compliments are false, actually, because everyone looks amazing. All the men are in tuxes, and while my dad and Rafe wear tuxedos like they were born for them, nobody outdoes Uncle Roger and Jesse for flare. Jesse’s suitcoat tonight is made out of an incredibly gorgeous wine-colored velvet with black lapels. It would swallow anyone else, but Jesse’s personality can handle it.

“Hello, gorgeous cousin,” he murmurs, pulling me close to give me a kiss on the cheek as he smirks at my cropped fur jacket. “What are you hiding under there?”

“Oh, weapons,” I say, grinning and taking a big bite of my cheeseburger. “Vials of poison, a very small sniper rifle.” I put my fingers up close to my face, pinched together, indicating the rifle’s approximate size.

“Not a crossbow?” he asks, raising an eyebrow, his hands slipped into his pockets.

“No, I’m kind of over those at the moment,” I say with a sigh, tilting my head to the side. “Though I can’t imagine why.” Jesse laughs and pats me on the shoulder before moving over to the little buffet mom had set up by the door – she always does this, wanting us to each have a bunch of greasy food before we go out to a party or an event so no one’s drinking on an empty stomach. And, despite being practical, it’s delicious.

I continue to eat my burger and sip my champagne, letting my eyes drift over my family. I grin to see Markie standing with my dad and Rafe, pleased as hell to finally be allowed to come along to a big grown-up event like this. Ben and Daphne are raiding the buffet, I think a little shocked by it but enjoying it nonetheless. Juniper, meanwhile, is being extravagantly admired by Aunt Cora, who is stunning in an elegant navy-blue jumpsuit with wide-flared legs that almost give the impression of a dress until you see her move.

I’m suffused with happiness, thrilled to be here with everyone, except…

Well, except my eyes keep moving to the door. Because there’s one person missing, and he’s precisely the one I’m waiting for.

A bell rings by the palace’s main doors, letting us know that the cars are here, and my dad looks over at me with his mouth drawn into a thin line, a little worried. Because it’s time to go, and he’s well aware that Jackson’s missing.

I wave to my dad, swallowing my last bite of cheeseburger, and head immediately for the door to the hall, intending to check Jackson’s guest suite to see if he’s ready –

But there’s no need, because before I’ve even taken three steps, Jackson appears.

And, as it so frequently does these days when I see him, my mouth drops open.

But this time, it’s not a good thing.

“Jacks!” I gasp, quickly closing the distance between un and looking worriedly over his jeans, his casual flannel button-down, the brown jacket draped over his arms. I mean, he looks good, but… “Why – where’s your tux!? Didn’t mom get you one!?” I look anxiously over my shoulder at the waiting crowd, some of whom have noticed Jackson’s appearance and look worriedly over at us, and some of whom are still oblivious.

“Ariel,” Jackson says, putting a hand out on my shoulder and smiling down at me. “No, she did, I just –“

“Well, why aren’t you wearing it!?”

Jackson sighs, and holds my gaze, but he doesn’t say anything. It only takes me half a second to figure out the answer to my own question.

“You’re not coming?” I whisper, stepping closer to him so that the fur of my coat brushes against his chest, so that I’m staring up into his sapphire eyes.

“Ariel,” he murmurs, raising a hand to tuck my hair back behind my ears, gazing down at me, his expression sorry to see me so dismayed. “I’ll just be a distraction –“

“No, you won’t!” I insist, meaning it and shaking my head. Anger starts to roll in me, a bit, because Jackson – he always thinks he’s an imposition, but I always want him by my side. Why does he keep insisting he’ll be a bother? “Jacks, I want you to come! We all want you to come!” I gesture vehemently back towards my family, nearly spilling what’s left of the champagne from the glass still in my hand.

Jacks sighs and deftly takes the glass from me, setting it on a table by his side as he speaks. “Luca doesn’t want me to come,” he murmurs, raising an eyebrow at me.

“Oh, Luca won’t even know you’re there,” I say, waving a hand to dismiss the idea. “Seriously, Jacks –“

“No, seriously, Ariel,” he says, his tone a little sharper than I’ve heard from him before. I go still, looking up into his face, realizing that Jackson is asserting himself. Which I certainly want him to do – I just…am not used to it. He sighs and takes my face between his palms, stepping close, speaking more softly now. “I’m fine with it, okay? This is Luca’s big night, he’s worked hard for it, he deserves the spotlight. And he deserves your full attention. And beyond that, you deserve to have a night where you just get to concentrate on him – I know that if I’m there you’ll check yourself, always looking over your shoulder to make sure that I’m okay.”

I sigh too, my expression falling as I gaze up at my sweet, thoughtful mate. “I just…always want you to be okay.”

“I know,” he murmurs, slipping his hand around to the back of my head and wrapping his other arm around me, pulling me close, bringing my head to his chest so I can hear his words rumbling as he speaks them. “Take the night, Ariel. Feel what it’s like to be Luca’s mate, to give him your full attention. I think that’s…important.”

“Why is it important?” I murmur, hating the idea of Jackson not being there, of him missing it.

“Because,” he says, and I turn my head up to look into his face again when I hear the smirk in his voice. “When you pick me, Ariel, I want it to be with the full knowledge of what life would be like as Luca’s mate – all the highs and lows. I’m not going to be accepting any accusations that I sabotaged his chances by always hanging around you, spoiling your good time.”

“I would never accuse you of that!” I gasp.

“Yeah,” he says, smirking and laughing a little. “But he would.”

And I can’t help it – I grin, and stare up at him. “I think you’re too good, McClintock,” I whisper, shaking my head a little. “That maybe you should play dirty, every once in awhile.”

“Oh, I’ve got plenty of time to play dirty with you, Clark,” he murmurs, his voice hitting that low register that makes my eyes flutter half shut. He takes my chin in his hands, then, sharp, and pulls me up onto my toes as he dips his head to kiss me. His movements are rougher than usual, his lips hard on mine in a way that lets me know precisely what he’s got in store for me in the future.

My wolf responds with a panting little howl, frantically turning in circles, urging me to try to find a way to stay in his arms. To make him come with us, or stay here, or run away to Aunt Cora’s beach cottage with him and just live on whatever canned food they’ve got stocked up there for as long as it lasts –

Because I never, ever want to not feel precisely like this – pressed warm against Jackson’s body, tight in his arms.

I have to admit, I’m a little dazed when he pulls away, but his arm tight around me stops me from stumbling.

“Have fun, enjoy yourself,” he murmurs, smiling down at me. And his eyes twinkle a bit, like he’s daring me to have more fun than I could with him. Because he kind of…knows that it’s impossible.

“Ariel?” my mom calls, worried. I glance over my shoulder and see that my family is starting to head out the door. Jackson raises a hand to her, letting her know she’s been heard, asking for another moment.

“Jacks,” I say, pouting pathetically, a little whine in my voice.

He just laughs and shakes his head at me, moving to step away. But I move with him, not ready to part.

“What will you do tonight?” I ask, really wanting to know.

Because Jackson, alone in the palace, or the city?

What on earth will he get up to?