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“They looked sad.”

“They were manipulating you,” she said, but she was smiling now, and the tension drained out of the room like someone had pulled a plug. Amanda looked far too pleased with herself.

“This doesn’t mean yes,” Janet said firmly, pointing at her son.

“It means maybe,” Benjamin said.

“It means we’re going to talk about it at home. Which you’re grounded for, by the way. Both of you. I’m sure Madison agrees.”

“Two weeks,” Madison said. “No phones. And you’ll pick up a few extra shifts at the diner. If this trip happens, you are going to need money for it.”

The kids groaned in perfect harmony, and I caught Jack’s eye across the table. He looked as though he was trying very hard not to laugh.

The parents stood and gathered their things. Janet paused at my chair and rested a hand on my shoulder, a quick, warm squeeze. “Thank you for bringing them home safely. And for listening. They don’t always have anyone outside the family they feel they can talk to.”

“Anytime,” I said, and I meant it.

Madison lingered by the door while the kids shuffled out, glancing between Jack and me with an expression that was far too knowing. “We’re glad you’re here, Connor. The pack has been waiting a long time for an alpha consort.” She tilted her head. “It feels right, having you at the table.”

Heat crept up my neck. “I, um. Thank you.”

She gave Jack a small nod, and then she was gone, the door clicking shut behind her. Engines started in the drive, one, then two, then the crunch of gravel fading away as the cars pulled out.

The quiet that followed was almost startling. The carafe was still half full. Four mugs sat untouched, and one was mine, cooling beside Jack’s.

He let out a long breath and scrubbed a hand over his face. “That went better than I expected.”

“Did it?”

“They came in expecting a fight. You gave them a plan.” He reached over and covered my hand with his, thumb brushing my knuckles. “You’re good at this.”

I should have just enjoyed it. The warmth of his hand, the empty house, the fact that nobody was looking at me like I was a puzzle for the first time all day. But the words kept circling in my head, the same word Amanda had used, and Madison, and Janet’s near slip in the kitchen. Everyone said it as if it were obvious. As if I should know.

I turned my hand over and laced my fingers through his. “Jack.”

“Hm?”

“What is an alpha consort, and why do they keep calling me that?”

Chapter 20

Jack

His question swam round and round inside my head.

What is an alpha consort, and why do they keep calling me that?

It was a great question, and totally valid. All of it was valid. The man had two teenagers show up at his house, demanding that he listen to them, and he did. He listened. He was patient. He gave them guidance, got them ice cream, and got them home safely. And then continued to sit and talk with their parents until we all came up with a plan that we could all agree on. And if everything went well, these kids would actually get to go on the trip that they wanted, all because they put in the work for it and because Connor had sat and listened to them. The young wolves’ instinct had told them to go to the alpha consort, and they did.

Never mind the fact that he wasn’t officially the alpha consort. I wasn’t officially the alpha. And I hadn’t explained to Connor what any of those things were.

I should be thanking those kids for forcing my hand because I was not going to avoid this conversation now. We had to talk about it.

“That’s a really good question,” I said, and the room suddenly felt too small. My shoulders were too tight, like I’d spent the whole day on edge and never relaxed. I rolled them back, twisted my neck, trying to work out the tension that had settled over my body. Inside my wolf was like a caged animal, panic and anxiety influencing my every move. I didn’t know whether to scream or shift or remain totally silent.

Connor’s gaze grew concerned, and he put a hand over mine. “Hey, do you need the shift? We can go outside for a bit.”

I shook my head. “I do want to go outside. I just want to sit in the grass.” Sounded weird, but nature would make me feel better. These four walls were a little constricting. “This is all kind of hard to explain.” As I got up the chair slid back, scraping against the wood floor.