The Burgess alphas fell back a step, giving them space, and I reluctantly did the same. Owen, Killian, and Jace hovered nearby. It wasn’t that we saw Penny as a threat, but her mates, on the other hand…
Well, I didn’t think they’d do anything. It was just the fact that they could if they wanted to.
“I’m doing alright,” Jasmine said slowly. “Worried, of course. And I think Alpha Julian might be right. I’ve been so caught up with trying to figure myself out that I’ve forgotten that I should be looking into my heritage.”
Penny shook her head. “Don’t let him get under your skin. This is still new for you. I’ll share with you the resources I found during my research. And I would be more than happy if you wanted to send me materials from your history to look for something that might help.”
My wolf huffed lightly. It didn’t like the idea of giving outsiders potentially sensitive information.
“Besides that,” Penny continued, “we should meet up more. It’s tough going from omega to alpha’s wife. Let me give you my number, in case you want to talk. Especially about things that alphas, being alphas, won’t understand.”
“Like what?” I yelped, offended.
Penny gave me a cool look. “Like what it’s like to be married to alphas.”
That brought me up short, then I snorted. “Fair point.”
Jasmine handed her phone over.
“That’s a good idea,” Owen agreed. “I’ll start compiling information on our past omegas and send it over, too. In the meantime, do you have any idea how we might bring back possessed pack members?”
Penny nodded as she typed her number into Jasmine’s phone. “In fact, I do.”
“And I have an idea, too,” Franco said. “One that might help Jasmine be integrated more into your pack.”
Penny gave her husband a suspicious look and put her hands on her hips. “It’s a party, isn’t it? You want them to throw a party and invite us and the other packs.”
Franco grinned. “Not at all. I wantusto throw a party.”
Chapter 15 - Killian
Despite being comfortable with people and enjoying social gatherings, parties had never been my scene. Jace and Renz were much more comfortable with the music and dancing and all that, while Owen tended to stick to the sidelines, and I did what I needed to keep my sanity, dignity, and public image intact.
The good news was that we were in neutral territory, a large ballroom space in a hotel, rather than anybody’s pack town. It was a lovely space, and being in the city meant that we had a lot of options for getting out if we decided we didn’t want to stay. It was also good that other packs hadn’t been invited—it was just Burgess and Tyrell, since the point of it was to show our pack how their pack had integrated their omegas.
With the music playing and the refreshments laid out on the table, the atmosphere was relaxed and festive. What I liked best was that, at a glance, it was impossible to tell their omegas from their higher-ranking orders.
“Oh, I love foraging,” Penny was gushing to Jasmine nearby. She bounced on her toes, her eyes bright as she clung to Jasmine’s hands. “There are all sorts of things that you can find! I’ll make a copy of my family foraging book if you send me a copy of your grandmother’s herb book.”
“If there are as many medicinal plants in the forest as you’ve mentioned, I can’t wait,” Jasmine replied, just as enthusiastically. “I’ve never enjoyed being in the forest that much, but with one of my alphas, it’s way better. I actually like being in the forest, as long as I’m not alone.”
“We should do a foraging camping trip, the eleven of us!” Penny bounced even more.
Mads was standing close by and cleared his throat then. “Eleven, Penny?”
She nodded. “Jasmine and her four alphas, the five of us, and the baby. I’m not going to go on an overnight trip and leave her behind! It’s hard enough going a few hours.”
“I’m not sure the baby is old enough to do a foraging trip,” Mads said carefully.
His gaze shot toward me, not suspicious, but wary. I could imagine that the other four alphas were especially protective of their daughter.
The ten of us had more or less spent the whole day together. Jasmine and Penny had gone over tons of notes, sharing documents, making theories. It had been strange, spending so much time away from town. It was all for the best, as we now had some more avenues to check out.
Penny had also shared with Jasmine the ‘hugging ritual’ that had worked to cleanse Burgess of the dark energy. I didn’t fully understand how it was meant to work, but Jasmine had tried it out with the two omegas who had been possessed. The result wasn’t what Penny had described. There was no bright light, no sense of connection that came out of it.
They had, however, snapped out of the possession. We’d decided to keep them under observation, for their protection as well as a precaution against any further possession.
“By the way, recognize the dress?” Penny asked Jasmine. She spread her arms and spun in a circle.
