After spending the rest of the afternoon relaxing in Periwinkle Port with Brooke, Jasper returned to the Cowrie Cabana feeling as if he was actually on vacation for the first time since he'd arrived. Although his bruised hip still ached with every step he took, the time away from all the fuss over the Blue Moon Ball had allowed him to forget everything that had been troubling him, if only for a while.

Now, his only worries were how much he already missed Brooke and how he needed to find a way to spend more time with her. While his fellow wolves filled him with stress over the upcoming ball, something about this selkie who was in charge of planning the whole event banished his worries. Just thinking about her filled his chest with a gentle warmth.

As he limped to the tower his pack shared with many other werewolves, Jasper noticed more than a few heads turning to stare at him, whispering amongst themselves. That much hadn't changed since he'd arrived at the resort. He was already the focus of far too much gossip well before he'd returned from Periwinkle Port with a massive chocolate stain right in the middle of his suit. Thank the Goddess that was easy to fix.

At least, it would have been if Carlos hadn't intercepted him on his way to his suite.

The future Beta ushered Jasper into a side room with no company save a pair of vending machines. "Man, where have you been?" Carlos said in a hushed whisper. "Super glad to see you feeling well enough to get out of your room, but why didn't you tell someone where you were going?"

"I thought it would just be a quick walk." As much as Jasper hated lying to Carlos, he doubted even his best friend would react well to him sneaking away from all his responsibilities.

Judging from the way Carlos fidgeted with his tie, that lie worked about as well as trying to mask skunk spray with perfume. "Trust me, I get not wanting to be around all this shit, but..." He grimaced. "Our Alpha wants to talk to you."

Shit, people only ever called his father that when he was in an especially bad mood. "Is Kudzu Pack trying to stir up trouble? If that Beta of theirs is picking fights—"

"They've been fine. At least, I'm pretty sure Waylon's attitude wasn't worse than usual. I swear that guy could out-growl a wolverine." Carlos cleared his throat. "Anyway, I don't know what your dad wants to talk to you about, but he said I should take you to him right away once I found you."

"Can't I at least change into something else?" Jasper gestured at the dark brown stain smeared across his suit. "This isn't exactly the best outfit for conducting Alpha business."

"Sorry, we've gotta go right away. Alpha's orders." Carlos lowered his voice to a whisper. "I don't think he's in the mood to be kept waiting."

Damn it, so much for his relaxing afternoon. "Lead the way."

The ride in the elevator was mercifully brief. With only Alphas allowed to book the penthouse suites and most of the high-ranking wolves still busy with the day's events, the top floor was so quiet Jasper could only hear his heart thundering in his ears.

Coming to a stop outside of the largest suite, Carlos gave Jasper's shoulder a squeeze. "Good luck, man. Hope your dad's not too pissed."

Jasper snorted. "Thanks for the reassurance."

Once the faint ding of the elevator signaled Carlos had left, Jasper took a deep breath and knocked. "You wanted to see me, Father?"

"Yes, as have many other wolves." His father motioned for him to come inside. "We have much to discuss."

Much like Jasper's suite, his father's was the epitome of luxury. Boxes of artisan chocolates topped the pillows, and a custom monogrammed robe hung outside the bathroom. To top it all off, a floor-to-ceiling window provided the perfect view of the ocean.

But Jasper couldn't enjoy any of it. Instead, he sank into one of the chairs beside the window wishing he could bury himself in the sand below.

"Can I get you a drink?" his father asked. "The mini bar's complimentary."

"I wouldn't mind one." Something told Jasper he'd want it by the time his father was done with him.

"Goddess knows I need one." His father poured each of them a glass of whiskey before settling himself across from Jasper.

For a long moment, the only sound in the suite was the soft clink of the ice cubes in their glasses. Jasper dared not drink, not when his stomach seethed at the thought of whatever his father would say to him next.

"So," his father said at last, taking a sip of his whisky, "How are you feeling? I hear that elk gave your hunting party a difficult time."

"A bit better." Jasper fidgeted in his seat, struggling to get his leg into a comfortable position. "I'll need to be careful for a while, but I should still be able to dance at the ball, I think."

"I should hope so." His father adjusted his grip on his glass, watching the alcohol swirl the bottom. "You weren't in your room when I went to check on you earlier."

"I went out with Brooke for a while," Jasper said. "She thought it might do me good to get some fresh air."

"Ah."

That was his father's only response. No questions about where they'd gone. No gentle but firm rebuke admonishing him for not inviting anyone else to come with him. No orders to rest until tomorrow. Nothing.

Jasper hated when his father went quiet. Usually he would discuss any concerns with unwavering composure, only pulling rank if that was the only way to keep things civil. Sure his father wasn't the most talkative man out there, but even when he let others steer the conversation, he'd respond to them often enough to make sure they knew he was listening.

He'd only ever seen his father get this quiet when he was fighting with his mother.

"I'm sorry I haven't been fully focused on the Blue Moon Ball since we got here," Jasper said, desperate for his father to say something, anything. "I'll spend more time mingling with the other packs and make sure Mr. Evergreen knows I appreciate what he's doing for us. I won't waste another minute—"

His father held up his hand. Jasper snapped his mouth shut as abruptly as if he'd been muzzled.

"At first no one thought much of you not being at the caviar tasting since, well, who wouldn't need to rest after getting injured by an elk?" His father's face darkened. "Then Evergreen started talking about how strongly you smelled of a particular selkie."

"Her name is Brooke." A growl rumbled in Jasper's throat, silenced only when he took a long sip of his whisky. The burn of the alcohol running down his throat did little to cool his indignation. Brooke wasn't some random selkie. She was a ray of sunshine who always went out of her way to cheer him up.

"Yes, her. She's a lovely young woman, but..." His father pinched the bridge of his nose. "People are starting to talk, Jasper. Even now, I can smell her on you as strongly as if she was standing right next to me. That on its own wouldn't be a bad thing, but with how little time you've spent around Gwen and how distracted you've been when you are together, it's hard for people not to gossip."

A heavy weight settled in Jasper's stomach. While he didn't feel anything for Gwen romantically, the last thing he wanted was for her to feel hurt because he was spending time with someone else. Goddess, at this rate, maybe she wouldn't even want to marry him. If she decided she didn't want such a disinterested mate, what would happen to his pack?

"Before I say anything else, I need to ask you something," his father said.

Jasper stared at his hands. Whatever question his father had in mind, he was sure it would be far from pleasant.

"When you're away from Brooke, does your skin burn like you just rolled in poison ivy? Like there's an itch in your soul that only she can scratch?"

"Not particularly. Why do you ask?"

But Jasper knew exactly why. He'd heard his father recount how he'd felt after he and his mother forged their mate bond enough times to see what he was getting at.

"The Moon Goddess may not have chosen a mate for me, but She might have someone in mind for you." His father rubbed the pale skin where his wedding ring used to be. "Have you felt Her pulling you toward Brooke, making you feel things you can't explain?"

He certainly felt something for her. Simply thinking about her smile was enough to warm his chest as if he'd been struck by a sunbeam. He couldn't deny that despite her constant rambling and overwhelming energy, he longed to listen to her gush about Periwinkle Port and laugh that beautifully infectious laugh whenever she got flustered.

But what if the Goddess hadn't chosen her as his soulmate? What if whatever fondness they felt for each other faded until they were left with nothing but bitterness and silent arguments? How would he know if whatever he felt for her would last?

"I don't know," Jasper said softly. He kept his gaze firmly fixed to his hands, not daring to meet his father's eyes. What kind of Alpha couldn't tell whether he'd found his soulmate? "I really like her, but I just don't know."

His father sighed. "Look at me."

Feeling like a pup who'd been caught leaving a trail of muddy pawprints, Jasper raised his eyes to meet him. He found no anger or disappointment in his father's gaze, only something quiet and pensive.

"I know love has always been a bit different for you, Jasper. You've never been one to feel the more physical side of it, or at least not..." His father cleared his throat and tugged at the collar of his suit. "Not what most wolves get overwhelmed by when they find their soulmate."

Heat rose to Jasper's face. "You can just say I'm asexual, Father."

"Right. That." A sip of whisky followed by a grimace. "What I'm trying to say is only you will know when you've found your soulmate. I can't tell you who they are."

Jasper swallowed a sigh. He should have known better than to expect his father to understand. Soulmates were supposed to recognize each other instantly. Everyone knew that. But for those who didn't, there was another option.

"I think Brooke and I should visit a Luna, Father." Jasper's fingers traced his moonstone pendant. The coolness against his skin was a welcome distraction from the lump forming in his throat. "I don't know that I would be able to recognize my soulmate, and I don't want to risk ending up..."

The rest of that sentence died before it reached his lips. He wouldn't voice that thought out loud. He couldn't. Not after how much his mother abandoning them had hurt them both.

"You can't."

"There must be some Lunas staying here," Jasper said. "We'd just need to make one sign an NDA and—"

"And risk insulting the pack that has been generous enough to offer their heir's hand in marriage despite everything?" His father gestured toward him before downing the rest of his whisky. Glass struck the coaster so hard Jasper cringed. "I have done everything for you, pup. Raised you, given you a job most wolves could only dream of having, secured you a future mate. Is this how you repay me? Our pack?"

"I just want—"

His father raised his hand to silence him, a growl underlining his words. "Are you going to put your pack first like a proper Alpha, or not?"

"I will," Jasper said hoarsely. He always had.

"Good." His father nodded. "If you actually find your soulmate, we can put all this behind us, but for now, we need to do everything we can to avoid offending Kudzu Pack. Mr. Evergreen may be allowing you to search for your soulmate, but you would be wise not to take advantage of his courtesy."

Jasper bowed his head. "Yes, Father."

If his father couldn't tell him if what he was feeling was truly a mate bond and he wouldn't allow him to visit a Luna, Jasper had no choice but to figure out his feelings for Brooke on his own terms. His father had said it himself: he experienced love differently than other wolves. Who was to say finding his soulmate wouldn't feel different for him, too?

But before he could even consider exploring what exactly he felt for Brooke, he had to fulfill his duty to his father. To his pack. To Gwen.

"In light of how much the other packs have been gossiping about us, I think it would be best for me to spend more time with Gwen," Jasper said. "Would it be alright for me to take her out to dinner at The Silver Scallop?"

"I'm sure Gwendolyn would appreciate that, as would I." His father curled his lip and gestured toward his suit. "Now, go get changed. Goddess knows enough wolves have seen that stain as it is."

Jasper excused himself with a mumbled apology. Only once he was safely back in his own suite did he dare to release the breath he'd been holding.

As much of a relief as it was to finally be able to return to his suite and change into something that wasn't covered in melted ice cream and chocolate sauce, Jasper couldn't resist inhaling the sweet scent one last time. Beneath the remnants of the dessert, Brooke's tropical scent filled him with determination. His father was right. Only he could determine whether he'd found his soulmate. He just had to figure out how.