Chapter Nineteen
“I always doubted those people who said that they’d done something in a rage and couldn’t remember a second of what they’d done. After today, I wouldn’t doubt them again.” ~Jen
The bitch hadTitus by his throat.Wrong move,Jen thought as she stepped further into the room. As soon as she’d reached the bottom of the stairs, the smell of fear and rage assaulted her. All her packmates were lined up against the back wall where the hallways to the rest of the archives were located. Zara was holding Thia and Rachel was holding Slate. Gavril looked as though he was seconds away from killing something, and Stephanie, AKA dead-she-wolf-walking, was standing across from all of them with an arm wrapped around Titus and her hand clasped on his throat. Jen was happy to see Stephanie wasn’t shirtless. She was wearing a black tank top that must have been under the shirt Decebel had found.
“Come with me of your own free will, and I won’t hurt the boy,” Stephanie said, looking at Sally.
At first, Jen wondered how the woman even knew who Sally was, but, in the current era of information, the Order no doubt had a picture of her. Hell, they probably had a file on all of them.
Jen glanced at Alina who was snarling and practically foaming at the mouth.Crap,Jen thought.Note to self, don’t piss off Alina. She will gut you.
“You know you won’t make it out of Romania alive,” Wadim said.
Jen cringed. “Wadim, maybe don’t point that out to the dog who has a pup in her clutches?”
“Who you calling a dog?” Stephanie snarled as she turned her glowing gaze on Jen.
Jen grinned to herself. Apparently, this she-wolf had an ego problem. Good to know. “Well, if you smell like one and bark like one,” she said with a shrug, “it’s pretty safe to say you are one. Now give Titus back to his mom and let’s settle this like wolves do.”
She heard Sally gasp and Zara ask what that meant, but Jen didn’t take her eyes off Stephanie.
“You honestly think you have a chance against me? You aren’t even a full wolf. I can smell the human in you. And you’re young. Do you have any idea how old I am?” the she-wolf asked.
“Judging by those crow’s feet around your eyes and the creases on your neck, you aren’t a spring chicken, that’s obvious. Crap, you’re not even a middle-age cow. Pretty sure you passed that up a few decades ago,” Jen said, sounding bored, though inside she was itching to rip out the woman’s throat.
The woman laughed. “Trying to goad me, pup? It won’t work. If I fight you, there will be no submission,” Stephanie said.
“Works for me,” said Jen.
“You want the boy back? Fine, we fight. When I win, your healer comes with me, and I am granted safe passage out of here.”
Jen hesitated.
“Deal,” said Sally, quickly stepping forward. “If you win, I go with you. I am a healer of this pack. They will abide by my wishes.”
“Sally…” Jen growled.
“You’ve got this,” said Sally.
Stephanie tilted her head to the side and pursed her lips. “How sweet. The big, bad dormant is protecting her little healer-wheeler.”
“This dormant is about to end you. Now”—Jen’s eyes narrowed on her prey—“give the boy back to his mother and let’s get on with it. I have things to do, other supernatural beings to kill, and my toenails could use a new coat of polish.” She paused and tapped her chin. “And I’m hungry. Had to think about it a minute, but yep, I’m definitely hungry.”
Stephanie was looking at Jen like she was a complete nut job, which is exactly what Jen wanted her to think. People who were nut jobs didn’t get taken seriously, and Jen wanted this flea bag to underestimate her.
Stephanie released Titus and pushed him toward Sally, who rushed forward and grabbed him. The healer gave the she-wolf a scathing look and a snarl worthy of a mama bear. Jen smiled. Sally snarling was really more like a mouse spreading its lips, but her brown eyes were shooting daggers.
Jen started stripping off her clothes and nearly laughed when Stephanie’s eye began to widen.
“Jen, do you really think this is a good time to strip?” Jacque asked.
She heard Wadim mutter something along the lines of ‘I’m going to die’ under his breath and Zara whisper, “Just cover your eyes for a second.”
“What are you doing?” Stephanie asked.
“I’m a wolf,” Jen said as she felt the beast inside of her practically dancing with joy to be set free. “I fight in my fur.” As the other female’s eyes widened, Jen realized that Stephanie hadn’t expected Jen to be able to phase because she wasn’t full blooded. “You can fight in your human form if you wish, but don’t expect me to go easy on you if you do.” Just as Jen’s last article of clothing hit the floor, she heard her mate’s voice.
“Why is she always taking her bloody clothes off?”
