She has no power over me, I remind myself with a chesty growl that is doused when I take a hefty sip of espresso.

“Don’t worry about it, Cyrus,” Jarrod assures me with a wink. “I told him that the hacker was already working on it. Threw some tech jargon at him, and he was convinced that we’re doing all we can to find Dorian’s whereabouts.”

“So there’s no problem, then?”

“Nah,” he shrugs dismissively. “I’ve bought us some time. All we can do is wait for Asuka now.”

Biting my inner lip, I stare at the Beta for the longest time, feeling regretful for the way I’d been acting lately. Apart from being my best friend, he’s my assistant at work and the Beta of my work. Both are jobs he takes equally seriously, fulfilling his duties and often going above and beyond to ensure the smooth running of the company and the pack.

Even if he was into Cassandra, I had no right to interfere or feel jealous about it.

Still, I need to put my mind at ease.

I’m part human, after all.

“How have patrols been going?” I ask casually, sipping on my coffee as I head to the window overlooking the bustling city streets.

“Things have been quiet,” he informs me, joining me in watching the city slickers passing the sidewalk. “Though everyone’s been wondering why you haven’t been around.”

My heart skips a beat, leaving behind a fragment of excitement that has me asking, “Everyone…?”

“Uh-huh,” he hums over a sip of his coffee. “The other patrollers have been asking. Told them you’ve just been busy at work and will join again.”

“Just…” I pause to gulp. “... just the patrollers?”

Keeping my eyes fixed on the passersby, I wait with bated breath for the confirmation I sought with that question.

“Cassie, too,” Jarrod confirms with amusement, which is evident in his tone. When I flick my eyes over at him, I notice the knowing smirk on his lips.

“Has she said anything?”

“No,” he shakes his head, the smirk unwavering. “She didn’t need to.”

“Out with it, Jarrod,” I command, prompting him to turn to face me.

“How much longer are you two gonna keep this up, huh?”

“Keep what up?” I ask, taking a deliberate sip of coffee.

Jarrod snorts, shaking his head. “It’s so obvious that you have the hots for each other. Even Dakota seems to think so. She says—”

“Wait…” I raise a brow. “... Dakota? Cassie’s friend?”

Jarrod purses his lips as he turns back to the window, his ear turning red as if he’s stifling the need to blush right now.

“Dude!” I slap his shoulder, my jaw dropping as realization dawns on me. Jarrod wasn’t trying to hook up with Cassandra.

He was trying to get with her friend.

It all makes sense now, the floodgates of relief parting and soothing the bruises to my ego.

“You and Dakota?!”

Jarrod nods slowly. “I thought you’d figure it out by now. You’ve been so preoccupied; I guess it flew past your head.”

I sniffle as I flick my gaze to the ground. Now, I feel even worse than I did before. I was preoccupied, but not with the things Jarrod thinks have been keeping me blind to what’s been going on in my own pack.

“Yeah… I’ve had a lot on my mind.”