“Seems positive at least. All hope is not lost,” Jack replied.
“Ok, that’s enough,” Blake said, a smile now on his face.
“I agree. I was hoping to get to know my sister before this hot man crashed our party and distracted me.” Tyler grinned. “So, Jasmine, besides Blake, what else do you like to do for fun?”
I almost spit my water out at the question. “I’m pretty boring,” I replied. “I mostly just go to school and work.”
“She’s also really good in the gym,” Blake added. “She can squat 320 and bench 180.”
“Wow, that’s impressive!” Tyler exclaimed.
“You should also see her in sparring practice. Her technique’s excellent.”
“Is she a warrior?” Tyler asked.
“Not yet, but I’m working on it.” Blake beamed with pride, then added, “She also makes a great picnic lunch.”
“It seems you really like Jasmine.”
“Jasmine’s amazing.” Blake put his arm on the back of my chair. “Pretty, smart, and a badass.”
“I’m surprised he’s not your boyfriend, Jasmine.” Tyler looked my way.
“Well, it’s my fault. I’m a ‘hit it and quit it’ kind of guy and Jasmine’s too good for that,” Blake responded before I could say anything.
I looked at him, feeling my heart swell at how he had just talked me up to Tyler, hopeful that maybe I’d been wrong about his intentions this whole time. But I was still wary, especially after what had happened with Luke, and after all of Blake’s friends had warned me about him. I couldn’t bring myself to believe that he could actually want something more than a friends-with-benefits situation. I didn’t want to get my hopes up only for them to be crushed later.
“Maybe for the right girl, you could change that about yourself.”
“I like you, Tyler. Jasmine has a good brother. I hope you decide to join our pack.”
“I hope so too.” Jack smiled, putting his arm on the back of Tyler’s chair.
After lunch, things seemed to be back to normal with Blake again. Once the sun started to set, we all took the gondola back to the parking lot and got into our individual cars. After we said goodbye to everyone, Blake drove me home.
On our way back to the pack, Blake asked, “So, what’s the whole story of what happened with your family? Why did Tyler end up in a different pack?” I told him the whole story as he listened intently. When I was done, he asked, “What was the name of Katie’s mate? He was from our pack?”
“I think so, Carl Miller? Do you know him?” I looked over to see that Blake’s knuckles were white clutching the steering wheel.
“I know that name.”
“Who is he?”
“It’s the first man my father ever tortured in front of me when I was ten years old. I’ll never forget him.”
I looked at him, shocked. “Why did your father torture him?”
“He was a high school teacher and got caught sexually assaulting his students. I think I’ve told you before that rape is punishable by death in our pack. But I left out the part where my father also enjoys torturing anyone that does. That’s one thing my father and I have in common. Anyway, it sounds like it worked out for the best for Katie. If she had stayed with her mate, she would have been mated to a piece of shit and would have had to live with the aftermath of her mate being put to death.”
“Wow,” I replied.
“See? Sometimes mate bonds are just not meant to be. Yours is not the only one.” I nodded.
When Blake pulled up in front of my house, he put his hand on my chest to stop me from getting out. He leaned over and kissed me, brushing my hair back with his hand as he did. After he pulled away, he got out of the car and came around to open my door. Then he went to the trunk to grab my duffel bag and ski boots. I pulled out my skis and ski poles. I unlocked the door to my house and my dad came to the front hall to greet us.
“How was your trip?” he asked as Blake walked in and deposited my things inside.
“Good,” I replied.