Jasper's pulse thundered in his ears as loudly as his footsteps as he ran across the resort. Guests turned to stare at him as he tore down yet another pathway. Yet, neither their disapproving looks nor his too-tight shoes could slow him down.

Air conditioning blasted frigid air into Jasper's face as he barreled into the conference center. Goddess, why did all the rooms have to look identical? Nostrils flared in search of familiar scents. For once, Kudzu Pack's penchant for potent perfumes proved useful, guiding him with their nose-burning stench.

Once he reached the source of the overpowering odor, he entered the conference room to find the most important wolves from both his pack and Gwen's already seated. A dozen suit-clad businesspeople turned to face him with expressions ranging from relief to irritation.

"Nice of you to join us," Mr. Evergreen said. His sharp smile hurt almost as much as the disappointment in his father's eyes. "We were beginning to think you weren't going to show up."

"Sorry." Jasper bowed deeply before sinking into the sole open seat beside Gwen. His overly large suit hung around his shoulders as if he were a pup who was playing with his father's clothes, and he ached to pry his shoes off and check his feet for blisters.

"Now that everyone is here, we can return our attention to how we'll combine our production processes." Jasper's father pressed the remote in his hand, making the room's projector display a map on the wall. "With some careful adjustments, we should be able to come to an arrangement that benefits both of our packs."

"Forgive me for the assumption, but it doesn't look like your pack values mine as much as it should." Mr. Evergreen's tone was anything but apologetic as he gestured toward Jasper. "You had ample time to prepare for this meeting, yet your son showed up with hair that looks like a bird's nest and ill-fitting clothes."

Jasper grimaced as the air conditioning blew a flower petal off his head. He'd been so focused on trying to make it to the meeting on time that he hadn't been able to tidy himself up.

"What was so important that you couldn't be bothered to honor your commitment to our packs, pup?" Mr. Evergreen said, his voice dripping with condescension.

"I was researching new scent combinations in the gardens, and I lost track of time." The only combination he'd truly been concerned with was his lips on Brooke's, but they didn't need to know that.

"That's not what my Beta told me."

Jasper's stomach sank to his toes as all eyes turned to Waylon. Kudzu Pack's Alpha was unpleasant enough, but their Beta relished in making people miserable.

"We're all aware of Jasper's... deviance." Waylon spat out the word as if he'd tasted rotten meat. "But as you can all smell, it's worse than any of us could have imagined. He's been spending more time with a selkie than his future mate."

Sniffs peppered the air as the rest of the wolves inhaled Jasper's scent. He sank deeper into his chair, wishing the floor would swallow him whole.

"Of course he smells like a selkie." Gwen interlaced her fingers with Jasper's on top of the conference table, in plain view of the other attendees. "Most of the people who work here are selkies. Goddess knows we'd never be able to put the Blue Moon Ball together without Brooke's invaluable assistance."

Jasper gave Gwen's hand a gentle squeeze, silently thanking her for covering for him. "She's been working tirelessly to give us the best possible experience ever since we came here. Just the other day, she prepared half a dozen games to keep the pups happy while their parents mingled with their friends from other packs."

"She sure loves to socialize, doesn't she?" Waylon examined his nails. "Is that why she took you to the wildlife rehabilitation center?"

"He went there to take photos for an upcoming ad campaign," Jasper's father said. His gaze traveled to his son's face. "How did those turn out, Jasper?"

"I haven't had a chance to look at them yet." Because he hadn't taken a single one, but he'd sooner eat his own tail than admit that.

"Yet you still had plenty of time to take that selkie out for ice cream." Waylon gave Jasper's father a mocking bow. "May I use the projector for a moment, Alpha?"

"You might as well considering it doesn't look like we'll be discussing anything productive anytime soon," Jasper's father growled.

"Excellent. Without further ado..." Waylon connected his phone to the projector. Though he'd taken the picture from outside, there was no mistaking the photo of Jasper and Brooke smiling at each other with half-melted ice cream all over their lips. "This is how the future Alpha of Cedar Pack would rather spend his time instead of fulfilling his duties to his fellow wolves."

"Father told me to rest after I got hurt during our inter-pack hunt." As soon as the words left his mouth, Jasper wished he could shove them back down his throat. Agitated whispers spread through the room as his father shot him a surprised look.

"Thank you for bringing this to everyone's attention, Waylon." Mr. Evergreen's jaw twitched. "Such a pity Jasper doesn't honor our packs' agreement. He must have learned that lack of integrity from his mother."

Jasper forced himself to swallow the growl rumbling in his throat. Getting angry on his mother's behalf would only make Cedar Pack look worse.

"I wouldn't call enjoying himself on a vacation lacking integrity." As Cedar Pack's future Beta, Carlos had largely stayed quiet in the far corner of the conference room. Now, he faced the older, higher-ranking wolves with his head held high. "Just because he needs to get to know Gwen doesn't mean he needs to spend all of his time at the resort."

A wave of murmurs rippled through the room as the other wolves discussed what Carlos had said. For every wolf that nodded their acceptance, two more grumbled their disagreement.

Jasper's father held up his hand to halt the discussion. "I'm sure we can all agree Jasper didn't mean any harm by spending time with this selkie," he said, "and I can guarantee he will honor our arrangement."

"I've been meaning to talk to you about that." Jasper's throat tightened around the words as if his own body was trying to keep him quiet, but the longer he kept what was going on a secret, the more it would hurt both packs. "I think Brooke is my soulmate."

"You think?" His father's eyes flashed amber. "How can you not be certain?"

Because even if Brooke loved him as much as he loved her, he couldn't imagine asking her to trade her family's paradise for the cold, sterile world of his pack's offices. Because she'd be miserable away from the ocean, her family, and her friends. Because the longer he stayed here, the less he wanted to go home to the pack that depended on him. 

Because Brooke made him question everything he wanted for himself, and that scared him more than anything else.

"I don't know." Jasper couldn't meet that burning amber gaze. He'd disappointed his father, his Alpha, and his entire pack all at once.

"I think we've heard enough," Waylon scoffed, turning to Mr. Evergreen. "In light of Jasper's untrustworthiness, I think it would be wise for us to terminate our contract with Cedar Pack."

Fear sank into Jasper's heart like fangs of ice. "I haven't done anything against your terms," he said. "We agreed that I could look for my soulmate while we prepare for the Blue Moon Ball, and Brooke—"

"Quiet," his father hissed. "You've said more than enough."

Jasper snapped his mouth shut. Though his father did not speak to him using an Alpha's command, his immense disappointment silenced him all the same.

"Glad to see he still listens to you, Simon," Mr. Evergreen said. "However, I must admit that your pup's behavior doesn't inspire much confidence in the idea of our packs sharing a future. How can I trust him to look after my wolves someday when he's so willing to put himself above his own pack?"

Jasper cast his gaze to the floor. This was all his fault. He'd done everything he could for his pack, yet the one time he tried to do something just for himself, he'd ruined their only chance to save Uncommon Scents.

"He was too worried about our arrangement to let himself get to know Brooke until I told him I was alright with it," Gwen said. For the first time since Jasper had met her, she carried herself with all the firm authority of a true Alpha. She met her father's eyes with an unwavering stare, her chin tilted upward and her lips pressed into a firm line. "Our packs agreed Jasper would be free to search for whoever the Goddess chose for him before our wedding, so that's exactly what I let him do."

"I never intended to dishonor our arrangement, Alpha." Jasper bowed deeply. "As Gwen said, I was just trying to determine if Brooke is my soulmate. We care for each other very deeply."

"That's plain to see." Mr. Evergreen put his hand to his chin in mock consideration. "For someone with your condition, you certainly have no issues expressing your feelings physically. At least, I'm assuming that's why you're dressed like someone who had to run from his lover with his tail between his legs."

Snarls echoed through the room as Cedar Pack's wolves bared their fangs. Jasper's jaw ached from suppressing the sharp canines that itched to defend his honor.

For all their anger, none growled as loudly as Jasper's father. "I will not allow you to speak of my son that way," he said. "He is as the Moon Goddess made him."

A knot formed in Jasper's throat. As upset as his father was about what he'd done, he still protected him as fiercely as he had when he was nothing but a defenseless pup.

"Never in all my years have I met someone who couldn't recognize their own soulmate." Mr. Evergreen clasped his hands together. "Seeing as Jasper clearly can't identify his own feelings, I will label them for him. They are nothing but the shameful pining of a wolf who is desperate to shirk his responsibilities to his pack and break his promise."

"You know as well as I do it is not an Alpha's job to interpret the Goddess's will," Jasper's father snapped. "Only a Luna can tell us if Jasper's soul has begun forging a mate bond, fated by the Goddess or otherwise."

Mr. Evergreen snorted. "You expect me to waste more of my pack's time waiting for a Luna to determine whether your son has betrayed our trust and violated our contract?"

"No, I expect you to allow Jasper and Brooke the courtesy of visiting a Luna to test for the presence of a mate bond," Jasper's father said firmly. "If Brooke isn't his soulmate, I will forfeit an additional ten percent stake in Uncommon Scents."

Jasper inhaled sharply. That would give Kudzu Pack the majority share in the company. "You can't—"

"I absolutely can. Do not interrupt me when I am speaking to another Alpha." His father refused to look at him, keeping his gaze firmly fixed on Kudzu Pack's leader.

"He is as much a part of this arrangement as you are. As am I." Though Gwen was easily the shortest wolf present, her firm assertion rang with such finality that all those of lower rank cast their eyes to their shoes. "I am not opposed to Jasper and Brooke visiting a Luna, but I am opposed to us making a rash decision that will impact both our packs. Before we adjust the terms of our arrangement, I propose hosting a feast to remind everyone that our goal is to unite our packs, not to create tension between them."

Not for the first time, Jasper found himself immensely glad to have Gwen by his side. While he could barely speak without embarrassing himself, she commanded the room like a true Alpha.

"Excellent idea, Gwendolyn," her father said, her full name slithering off his tongue like a snake poised to strike. "That would certainly improve morale. If Simon agrees, I'd be glad to postpone adjusting our arrangement for a few days so we can focus on the feast. Jasper and his selkie ought to visit a Luna the week before the Blue Moon Ball so he can have ample time to put all this nonsense behind him."

"Or to plan a proper celebration for their mate bond," Jasper's father said firmly. "I will only agree to it if he does."

"I do, Father." Of course he did. The choice, if it could even be called that, was as hollow as a bird's bones. It would be utterly disgraceful to put himself before the pack any more than he already had.

"Good." Mr. Evergreen nodded. "We will discuss the finer details later, but for now let's return our attention to the original subject of our meeting."

As the other wolves discussed their perfume companies' upcoming merger, Jasper's mind wandered to how he would break the news to Brooke. After everything they'd done to avoid attracting unwanted attention, she'd be thrust into the limelight with only a few days' warning, possibly even pressured into marrying him if she really was his soulmate.

There had to be a way for him to make sure she was happy no matter what the Luna said.