Chapter 51 To Jasper about Elias

(Iris)

We were ordered to leave at midnight. The hours ticked by slowly, each one marked by the oppressive silence of pack house. Despite the agreement we’d reached, the door remained locked, a constant reminder that we were still their prisoners.

The thought gnawed at me, but neither Jasper nor I had any desire to explore this creepy place. Jasper was still on his bed, staring out the window with a hurt look in his eyes.

His expression was distant, lost in some interval struggle that he refused to share. I watched him for a moment, feeling a mix of frustration and concern. What was the matter with him this time?

I approached him cautiously. “Jasper, what’s wrong?”

Without warning, he grabbed my forearm and dragged me down to the floor with him. We both landed in a tangled heap.

“What is wrong with you?” I yelled, pushing against his chest to gain some distance.

His response was to put his other hand behind my neck and kiss me, hard. This was very much our old routine, a p