Jake (Immortals of New Orleans #8)(10)

"And if it isn't?" Jake turned to his Alpha, who locked his eyes on his.

"We'll cross that bridge when the time comes." Logan went to the door and wrapped his fingers around the brass knob. "I want you to hear me on this, Jake."

"Yeah?"

"Acadian Wolves has been and always will be your home."

"I have no intention of challenging you," Jake interrupted.

"Good, because one of us would end up dead." Silence filled the room as both men let the statement settle. They both knew what would happen if they fought.

"I can't promise I can always run with the pack. My beast. The urge grows within me. Here and now, as me, with my humanity, I make the choices. But when I'm wolf? The best I can do is run on my own when I need to. I don't want you to be pissed when it happens."

"I get it, man. Look, this situation. It is what it is, but sometimes we have to go with what destiny wants. Y'all know she's a bitch, but in the end, we often end up better than we were before."

"Change is hard."

"And Jake?"

"Yeah?"

"Quintus is coming."

"I take it you've been talking to Jax?" Jake asked, curious as to what his Alpha had been told.

"Yeah." Logan nodded. "I heard you two aren't exactly best buddies."

"That's one way of putting it. You know he had something with Kat, don't ya?" Jake asked, still irritated that Quintus had bitten her.



       
         
       
        

"No I didn't, but it doesn't matter. What matters is that this charity ball doesn't turn into a shit show. There's some humans coming too, and we can't let things get ugly."

"Hey." Jake held his hands up in the air, surrendering to the situation, and gave a broad smile. "Best behavior. I won't start anything."

"Good."

"Now that being said, if that vamp starts shit with me, I'm tellin' you right now we're taking it outside. I won't fuck with your party, but he gets under my skin. And I'm starting to think he enjoys it."

"You've seen him lately?" Logan raised a questioning eyebrow at him.

"I'll tell you about it later." Jake wasn't up for disclosing what had happened by the cabin. He and Quintus were going to have a conversation tonight about what in the hell had happened to the creature who'd come to see him.

"Good enough. Let's get this started. If I don't get out there soon, Wynter is goin' to kick my ass. As it is now, she wasn't crazy 'bout having the witches here. After all the shit that went down with Ilsbeth, she's not a fan."

"Can't say I blame her, but it's all for a good cause. And hey … no worries, I won't start any fights, Dad," Jake joked, not sure he could keep his promise.

"Not having it," Logan warned as he opened the door.

Jake shrugged, and straightened his shoulders. He shook off thoughts of Anzober Wolves as he stepped into the party. Tonight was a night for answers, and Quintus Tullius was in for a world of hurt if he didn't tell him the location of the mysterious female.





Zydeco music blared as Jake scanned the ballroom. Nearly a hundred people, dressed in tuxedos and gowns, gracefully buzzed the event. A gorgeous redhead wearing a feathered peacock mask winked at him as she walked by, flashing a flirtatious smile. Vampire. Move along, honey. No love bites for me tonight. Jake nodded and turned his attention away.

Logan had brought the supernatural community together for the exclusive charity gala. The five-thousand-dollar-a-head event raised money for the restoration of homes, providing low income housing for the elderly and disabled. There was always someone looking to bring evil to the streets. Witches. Rogue vamps. Demons. But for a few peaceful hours, they'd all play nice, tame their wild souls and give back to the city within the confines of the historic ballroom.

Jake glanced to the two-story-high ceiling. Twinkling chandeliers reflected onto the hundreds of dangling strings of blood-red irises that streamed down above the partygoers. Guests congregated around tables draped in emerald velvet. Black forest calla lilies sat center, their twisting metallic vases reaching into the air. The music switched to a Cajun waltz and Jake's attention was drawn to the dance floor. A wide smile broke across his face as he caught sight of a man in a leather mask with perky furry ears approaching. 

"What the hell, man? Did Logan see you? I pegged you for a tiger, maybe, but a bear? Are you serious?" Jake laughed out loud.

"Oh yeah, I'm rockin' it. Mama likey." Dimitri nodded and waved to his mate, Gillian, who smiled at him from across the room.