Page 48 of Jasper

“About how to celebrate us building a life in New Jersey.”

“Do the ideas involve a lack of clothes and every flat surface in the house?”

“Yep.”

His eyes darkened and he growled softly. “I’ll drive fast.”

“You better.”

He shut the door with a laugh and walked around the front of the SUV. In moments, he was behind the wheel and they were on the way back to New Jersey, where a home decorated with stones to look like a den waited for them.

She couldn’t wait to get her things moved in and get settled.

And she couldn’t wait for the full moon, when Joss said they could have a mating ceremony and she would become an official pack member.

“It’s really weird to think that the best thing that ever happened to me was Ludo killing Grimes and imprisoning the high-ranked males,” she said.

He snorted. “It’s a strange silver lining, but I’m thankful for it too.”

“Drive a little faster, Jasper,” she said, leaning on his shoulder. “I’m ready to be home.”

The engine accelerated as he pressed on the gas. “Whatever you want, Mellie-mine.”

“Just you. And all the flat surfaces.”

The days leadingup to the full moon were filled with so many activities. From unpacking and organizing their home to taking a job in the park with the safari tour, where she and Jasper worked side by side at the ticket booth, to spending time with the pack females, who’d accepted her easily as one of their own.

She loved that she wasn’t the only one in the pack who couldn’t shift. Not only was Alpha Joss’s mate Jeanie human, but so was Evan’s mate Lark. While Anke, who ran the market’s store with her mate Zeger, could shift into her wolf form, as could Sarah, who was mated to wolf Requiem, Auden’s mate Jess was an owl shifter, which Melody thought was cool as hell.

“I’ve got a reservation for the three-thirty tour,” a female said as she turned her phone around to show Melody that she’d received one of the park’s targeted marketing emails for unmated human males and females in the tri-state area.

Melody smiled and lifted the scanner. The tablet on the counter of the tiki hut, which was at the entrance of the VIP tour staging area, beeped and shared the female’s information.

“You’re all set, Mina,” Melody said. “Come with me.”

She smiled at Jasper and stepped from behind the counter, walking Mina to the end of the waiting line for the tours. “There are a few people waiting ahead of you as you can see, but we havefour Jeeps running tours at the moment, so you should be good to go for your three-thirty time. Can I get you a bottle of water?”

“I’m fine, thanks. I was really surprised to get the free ticket in my email. It’s so awesome.”

“I’m glad you received it. Have fun!”

Melody walked back to the tiki hut where Jasper was waiting.

Jasper pressed a kiss to her temple. “I wish it was quitting time.”

“You always say that,” she said with a chuckle.

“Come on, don’t you? It’s criminal to work when we’ve only been back together for two weeks.”

“I like working here, though,” she said. “Because I get to spend time with you.”

He grunted. “I’d rather stay home.”

“I’m sure you would, you horn dog.”

He grinned with a wink. “You love it.”

“Help me, I do.” She laughed as another female showed up for a tour. After getting her checked in and settled in the line, Melody returned to her place at Jasper’s side and leaned against him. “I can’t wait for tomorrow night.”

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