Page 39 of Jasper

“Do I have your attention?” Ludo demanded.

Jasper growled. “Yes.”

Ludo nodded. Whoever was holding Melody dropped her like a sack of potatoes and she fell to the ground in a heap.

“I assume you’re on the way to save your mate. In order to do that, however, I need your father-in-law to do something for me.”

“What?” Jasper asked when there was a long pause.

“Sacrifice himself and his mate.”

Melody frowned. What the hell did that mean?

“How is he supposed to do that?”

“By surrendering himself, and his mate, to me. There will be a public execution, which will prove to the pack that I’m the rightful alpha and no one who comes against me will be allowed to continue to breathe.” Ludo’s gaze dropped to Melody, and she saw in the dark depths that he was going to kill her too.

And Jasper.

“It’s a trap!” she yelled. “Jasper!”

Someone hit her and her vision went dark as pain engulfed her. Slumping against the tree, she heard Jasper call for her and then a high-pitched ringing.

And then everything went dark.

Jasper roared as he heard Melody’s cry for help get cut off by a loud sound like someone punching her. Finn grabbed the phone from his hand.

“Don’t hurt her, Ludo,” he said. “I’ll come, I swear. Just don’t hurt her.”

“Don’t keep me waiting,” Ludo said. “She’s a pretty thing, and my males have been alone a long time.”

The call ended and Finn handed the phone back to Jasper as Viola started to cry.

He quickly texted an update to Joss. Then he turned in the seat and stared at Finn. “Change of plans.”

“What did you have in mind?” Finn asked. He put his arm around Viola and hugged her.

“Some of my friends will go with you to set the high-ranked males free. I’m going to get Melody.”

“You need my help,” Finn said.

“No,youneed the help of your people to take on Ludo, I only care about Melody. But Joss agreed that you can’t do it alone, and we can’t allow Ludo to continue to be a threat. We’ll park on the east side of the territory, closer to the prison.”

He changed the coordinates on the GPS screen and the new arrival time was a mere seventeen minutes away.

“Thank you, Jasper,” Finn said.

“Don’t thank me until Melody is free and that male is put down.”

Turning back in the seat, he glanced at Lucius, who gave him an encouraging nod. “I’ve got your back, man.”

“Thanks.”

Jasper focused on the task ahead. He and a few of his friends were going to head to the alpha’s home, where he was certain Melody was being held. There was a clearing near the house that was used for ceremonies and pack gatherings, and it would make sense that she’d be held there, and that a public execution would be as well.

I’m coming for you, Mellie-mine. Just hold on.

Melody woke a second time with a groan. She couldn’t believe she’d been unconscious. Again!

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