Chapter 161: Jasper Is Sick

"I saw you yesterday." I said.

"That doesn't count."

Kimberly appeared behind her and immediately rolled her eyes.

"Excuse me. Am I invisible?"

Roanna laughed.

"Come here!"

We ended up hugging again, all three of us squeezed together in the middle of the walkway.

For a few seconds, everything felt normal.

Just us. My girls. No packs. No curses. No strange powers. No people trying to kill me.

Just school.

Kimberly finally pulled away and looked between Roanna and me.

"So...." She narrowed her eyes. "How was everyone's night?"

Roanna immediately became suspicious.

"Why are you asking like that?"

"Because both of you disappeared yesterday."

I laughed.

"You disappeared too."

"Yes, but I had an excuse."

Roanna folded her arms. "What excuse?"

Kimberly smiled innocently. "None of your business."

Roanna gasped.

"Oh, she's hiding something. We'll talk about that later. For now, let's not kill the vibe. Iris, you're hiding something."

I laughed and said. "So are you."

And for half a second, Roanna's smile faltered. I noticed. But before I could ask, Kimberly grabbed my arm.

"Wait." She looked at me. "How was Alexander?"

My cheeks instantly warmed and Roanna's eyes widened.

"Girl! Why are you blushing?"

"I'm not."

"You absolutely are."

Kimberly burst out laughing.

"Girl, your face is telling on you."

I covered my cheeks. "Nothing happened."

"Nothing?" Roanna leaned closer. "Absolutely nothing?"

I shook my head, laughing. Then the memory of last night returned.

The monitor.

My smile faded.

"Actually...." Both girls looked at me. "Did either of you put something in my bag yesterday?"

Roanna froze and Kimberly frowned.

"What?"

"A monitor."

Roanna's eyes widened. "A what?"

"A monitor." I looked between them. "Alexander heard it beeping."

Kimberly's expression immediately changed.

"Someone put a monitor in your bag?"

"Yes."

Roanna grabbed my arm.

"Oh my god. Where is it?"

Kimberly stepped closer.

"Did you destroy it? Who put it there?"

Their questions came so quickly that I almost laughed.

"I don't know." Then I shook my head.

"Alexander has it."

Roanna went still.

"Alexander has it?"

"Yes."

"Does he know what to do with it?"

"He told me everything was fine."

Kimberly exhaled. "Okay. That's much better."

Roanna pressed a hand against her chest.

"God." She shook her head. "I thought someone was tracking you."

"They probably were."

Her face tightened. "That's not funny."

"I'm not joking."

The three of us fell silent. Then I looked directly at Roanna.

"Did you put it there?"

Her eyes met mine. For a fraction of a second, something unreadable crossed her face. Then she shook her head.

"Come on. No."

The answer was quick and firm and Kimberly immediately looked at her.

"You?"

Roanna shook her head again.

"No."

I studied her for a moment. Then smiled.

"Okay. Sorry."

She gave me a strange look. "Sorry for what?"

"For asking."

She waved it away. "It's fine."

Kimberly sighed. "Whoever did it is seriously creepy."

Roanna nodded. "Very creepy."

Her fingers curled around the strap of her bag. I didn't notice how tightly she was holding it.

Next thing, I squeezed both their hands and said.

"Anyway, Alexander said everything is fine."

Kimberly smiled.

"Good."

Roanna smiled too. Then she quickly changed the subject.

"So, are we going to class or are we standing here all morning?"

We laughed and started walking. Roanna slipped her hand into mine. Kimberly took my other hand and the three of us walked toward class together.

It felt good and so normal.

For a few precious minutes, I allowed myself to enjoy it. Then we reached the open-air football field.

The school's main scrimmage was already underway.

Students crowded around the field, cheering as the players chased the ball across the grass. The noise was enormous and I looked around.

Then my eyes drifted across the crowd. And stopped.

Armari.

He was sitting several rows away from the field with some of his pack members.

He wasn't talking. He wasn't cheering. He was simply watching. Watching everything, I could say.

Then his eyes found mine and Our gazes locked.

My chest tightened and began to throb wildly. And for one brief second, guilt washed over me.

I remembered his face. His confession. His body. His eyes and his hands on me.

I almost stopped walking and a rush of warmth ran through my face.

Then I remembered Alexander. His trembling voice. His promise. I'll fight for you to be free.

My heart twisted.

I couldn't keep carrying everyone's emotions as if they were mine to fix. So I looked away.

"Come on."

Kimberly said and glanced at me.

"Where?"

"Let's go get a seat." I forced a small smile. "Before we're late."

We continued walking. But I could still feel Armari's eyes following me. I didn't turn around. I didn't know that he was watching Roanna too after using his alpha abilities to helplessly eavesdropping.

His gaze moved briefly from me.... to Kimberly then settled on Roanna. Something about her expression bothered him.

She looked happy. Almost too happy. And when she'd answered my question about the monitor, she had looked frightened.

Armari's eyes narrowed.

He said nothing. He simply watched, quiet and aloof. Exactly as he had promised himself he would be. But his instincts remained wide awake.

The game continued, but my attention had slowly drifted away from the field.

I kept thinking about Jasper. He was supposed to be on the field. I also hadn't heard from him. Not once.

I pulled out my phone and checked again.

Nothing.

I opened our messages. My last message was still sitting there unanswered.

Where are you?

I stared at it. No reply.

I tried calling. The phone rang. And rang. Then went to voicemail.

My stomach tightened.

I tried again. Still, nothing.

"Jasper..." I whispered his name.

Something about the silence bothered me. I stood, told my friends I needed to use the restroom and stepped away from the crowd, moving toward a quieter corner far behind the bleachers and among the far trees.

The cheers became distant and I called him again.

Nothing.

I sent another message.

Jasper, please answer me.

I waited. His status remained offline. I sighed and lowered my phone.

"Where the hell are you?"

I looked up and immediately froze, startled.

Jackson was standing several feet away and he was staring directly at me.

My heart jumped. For a moment, I simply watched him.

There was something strange about the way he looked at me. Not with anger exactly. Something colder. I swallowed and carefully approached him.

"Hello, Jackson?"

He didn't answer. I stopped in front of him and looked him in his cold, dead eyes.

"I'm looking for Jasper."

His expression hardened.

"Why?"

"Because I can't reach him."

"And?"

I frowned. "And I want to know if he's okay."

Jackson gave a dry laugh. "Hm. So, now you care?"

My eyebrows pulled together. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, you've been busy, haven't you?" He looked me up and down. "Very busy."

I stared at him.

"What's your problem now?"

"You tell me." His voice was sharp which was so unlike him.

"You ditch Jasper and run off with Alexander, and now you're suddenly worried about where Jasper is?"

"I didn't know I was supposed to choose one person and never speak to anyone else."

Jackson's jaw tightened.

"You knew exactly what you were doing."

"No, I didn't." I shook my head. "That's the whole problem. Nobody tells me anything! So, you have no right to tell me who to choose."

His eyes narrowed and I stepped closer.

"Why are you so bothered?"

"I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"I'm telling you Jasper doesn't need you." He snarled.

My heart sank.

"Why?"

Jackson looked away. "He's not feeling well."

My heart kicked.

Jasper was sick? All of a sudden?

"How unwell?"

"He's sick."

"Can I see him?"

"No."

I blinked.

"What?"

"You're not invited."

I stared at him. "Jackson, please. Let's be serious...."

"I said NO."

"Why?"

"Because he doesn't deserve to have you appear whenever you feel guilty."

My mouth fell open.

"I don't feel guilty. I don't even know what you're getting at."

"Then why are you here?"

"Because I'm worried about him!"

I lowered my voice. "I don't know what's happening anymore."

I swallowed hard.

"Nobody tells me the truth."

Jackson stared at me.

"I don't care what you think about me." I said. "But I'm having a swell time with Alexander."

His eyebrows lifted.

"I never said you weren't."

"Your face says otherwise."

He gave a humorless smile. "Then maybe you should stop looking at my face."

I sighed.

"Can I just see Jasper?"

"No."

"Please."

He remained silent. I clasped my hands together.

"Jackson, please. I don't care if you think I made a mistake. I don't care if you think I chose the wrong person. I just want to know that he's okay and know what's going on."

Something flickered briefly in his eyes. Then disappeared.

"He'll be fine."

"You're sure?"

"It's usually like this."

"What does that mean?"

"He gets sick." Jackson shrugged. "He'll recover."

I frowned.

"You sound too casual."

"Because there's nothing to panic about."

He stepped past me.

"If he doesn't get better, I'll tell you...." He glanced over his shoulder. "...then you can come."

I stared after him.

"If he doesn't get better?"

He stopped and I opened my mouth to ask another question.

But before I could, a low growl rolled across the space between us and Jackson froze.

My heart skipped and I turned around. Armari stood several feet away and his eyes were fixed on Jackson in a deadly glare. His expression was cold. Very cold I stiffened as if caught in a shameful act.

Jackson's shoulders stiffened. Then his lips curled and a deep growl rumbled from his chest.

"Armari."

Armari didn't answer. His gaze shifted briefly toward me. Then returned to Jackson.

"What are you doing with her?" He asked.