He walked to the kitchen and surveyed the remnants of Jamie's hurried meal. Typical.
He tossed the core of his apple into the bin, his golden eyes narrowing thoughtfully. So, Jamie had gone through with it. He'd gone to the library, actually talked to her, and invited her to the party. Jayden felt a grudging respect. Six months of silent observation, of circling their prey from a distance, and Jamie had finally made his move. The mate bond was a powerful thing, capable of driving even the most cautious of them to impulsive acts. Jayden was hoping his idiot brother wouldn't mess inviting her to the party up.
Jayden ran a hand through his dark hair, the tattoos on his forearm flexing under the skin. He could still smell Katy on Jamie, a faint, sweet overlay on his brother's wolf scent. It was potent, alluring, a scent that promised connection, promised home. He felt the familiar, deep thrum in his own chest, a shared resonance with Jamie's growing obsession. They were twins, after all, their instincts intertwined in ways others couldn't comprehend. If Jamie felt the mate bond this strongly, then Jayden felt it too, albeit a shade less intensely, less directly.
A party. Tonight. Jayden considered the plan. It was risky, bringing her into their territory so soon, so openly. But Jamie was right. The scent was getting stronger. The control was wearing thin. The human side of their existence, the careful facade they maintained in Haven wood, was becoming harder to uphold in the face of such a compelling, undeniable force.
He pictured Katy from Jamie's descriptions, and from the glimpses he himself had stolen. Quiet, observant, with a surprising spark of humor. Not the kind to be easily overwhelmed, but certainly not accustomed to their world. Would she come? Would the polite hesitation she'd offered Jamie turn into a firm refusal? He hoped not. Hope, for their kind, was a sharp, dangerous thing when it came to a mate.
The "wet dog" comment from Jamie still resonated, a typical brotherly jab. Jayden sniffed his arm. He probably did smell like wet dog. Jamie's run would have only intensified their shared scent in the house, a scent meant for their own kind, not for a human girl they intended to claim.
He needed to get things ready. Make sure the house is presentable. Discreetly inform the few other pack members who might show up tonight what was happening. Keep them in line. This wasn't just any party. This was the night they laid the groundwork for their future. Their mate was finally within reach. Jayden's golden eyes glinted, a mix of anticipation and the heavy burden of responsibility. The game had begun.