“We can’t help it if you’re so blinded by desire that you can’t stay mad, beloved,”Fane murmured through their bond. His voice slid over her like silk, kissing her skin much like his lips often did when they were in bed.
“Damn fur butts,” she bit out.
Bethany crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Drake. “I’m waiting for an answer,mate.” The last word was so sharp that he flinched, making Jacque wonder if the ire Bethany was sending him through their bond was strong enough for Drake to feel a physical slap.
“You weren’t being reasonable,” he finally answered. “We have a baby, Bethy.” Drake’s voice softened. “She needs her mother. Who is going to feed her?” He pointed at his mate’s chest, which elicited a chorus of chuckles and snorts from everyone else in the room. Drake’s eyes widened when he realized what he’d done. He glanced around, glowering at every one of them. The other males were smart enough to look at their own mates and pretend they hadn’t heard.
“Phst.” Bethany blew out. “You know I can pump milk for Hope, so don’t you dare try to use that excuse. What else have you got?” She made a motion with her hand, encouraging him to continue. There was a part of Jacque that wanted to shake her head at him and mouth ”don’t do it.” But she wasn’t about to help him weasel out of this. He deserved a thorough ass-chewing, and Jacque wanted to see him get it. The rest of the males deserved to be chastised as well, but they would have to wait their turns.
Drake stood up, towering over his smaller mate, but she didn’t step back. Bethany knew, just like Jacque and the other females, that their mates would never hurt them. “I love you more than anything on this earth,” he said. “Just the thought of you being injured because of me drove me crazy. I know you’re strong. I have no doubt you are brave. And I consider you my equal.” He pinched the bridge of his nose as he shook his head. “But you are not a warrior, Bethy. You’re young, not only as a human, but as a wolf as well. You haven’t been trained to fight.” She opened her mouth, presumably to argue, but Drake kept going. “And I realize you survived the vampires, which proves how resilient you are, but that’s not the same as physically fighting someone. I would be a foolish mate if I let you run off into a battle that could cause you to lose your life or be captured again.”
Jacque’s mind immediately jumped to Sally and Kara. Both of them had endured horrific experiences at the hands of the Order. And as Drake pointed out, Bethany had already endured captivity by possibly the most vile of the supernaturals—the vamps. The alpha swallowed down the guilt she suddenly felt because of how she had acted toward her mate. She knew Fane always had her best interest at heart. She understood he wasn’t trying to clip her wings. But knowing it and being okay with it were two different things.
Drake cupped Bethany’s face in his hands and leaned down so that their lips nearly touched. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was leaving. That was inconsiderate of me. I won’t ever do that to you again. But I cannot allow you to go with me to Alston’s stronghold, especially not after what we faced today. Please don’t ask it of me.”
Bethany seemed to deflate against him, resting her forehead on his chest. Her body shook gently, and Jacque understood the female’s pain and frustration. “You’re right.” Bethany breathed out. “I just hate being separated from you. This is the second time you’ve been injured, Drake.” Her body trembled as if her own words caused her physical pain.
Drake sat back down and pulled his mate with him until she sat across his lap with her feet resting on the couch cushion. Bethany stayed pressed against him with her head down. Drake lowered his own head until his lips were near her ear. Jacque watched as he spoke to her so softly that the rest of the room, even with their superior wolf hearing, couldn’t decipher it. Bethany’s hand fisted in his shirt, and she nodded. Drake pressed his lips tenderly to her temple and briefly closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath.
“Alston’s stronghold is built into the mountains.” Fane spoke up when it appeared Drake and Bethany were done. “We were engaged by his elves and fae while scouting it. Drake and Sorin, as you know, suffered minor wounds.”
“We are quite aware, Alpha,” Elle snapped.
Sorin moved so quickly that Elle didn’t have time to evade his hands as he wrapped them around her waist and pulled her to him. He turned her to face him. Sorin’s usually impassive face was anything but. His eyes, like many of the other males, glowed with his wolf. Sorin’s mouth was pulled back, and his sharp canines were on display. His body seemed to vibrate with emotion, and Jacque wasn’t sure if it was rage or desperation.
“We will discuss this in private,” he whispered, his voice incongruent with the fierce look on his handsome face.
“I’ve got stuff to do after this meeting,” Elle said. “Fane isn’t the only leader I answer to.”
Sorin snarled. “Peri can wait.”
Elle lifted her hand, but Sorin shook his head. “Don’t.”
The female fae froze, seeming to consider his command. Several tense seconds passed before she dropped her hand and then pushed at his arms so that she could turn and face the room.
“My apologies, Fane,” Elle said, though the tone of her voice held no contrition.
Jacque’s mate didn’t acknowledge the irritation in the fae’s voice. Instead, Fane simply nodded and continued addressing the group. “Some of our allies, including the sprites, djinn, and fae, will join our attack tomorrow.” Then his eyes moved around the room, meeting the gaze of each of the women, including Jacque’s. “The decision of whether the females will join the battle will be up to each individual mated pair. But as for your female alpha…” He paused, turned to look at her, then sighed. ”Jacquelyn will accompany me.”
Her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. Fane reached up and pushed at her chin to close it. She didn’t miss the humor that lit up his eyes.What a punk.
“Bloody hell, Alpha,” Decebel muttered.
Jacque looked back at the rest of the room. Costin rubbed his forehead as if he’d suddenly been stricken with a terrible headache. Wadim stared daggers at his alpha. Adam, of course, smirked like a deranged maniac. Drake closed his eyes as if he was sending up a prayer to the Great Luna. Jacque wondered if he was praying for the goddess to strike his alpha with lightning. Sorin dropped his arms from around Elle and headed for the door, his back ramrod straight. Before he opened it, Fane said, “We will meet in the morning to discuss our strategy, and we will leave at dusk.”
One by one, the couples filed from the room. Costin paused at the door and looked over his shoulder at Fane. “Do you know what you’re doing?”
Fane’s answer to his third came with a rumble of authority. “I know how to choose my battles. This one would drive a wedge between me and my female, and it wouldn’t be worth it. I cannot tell you what is right for you and Sally.”
“But youcankeep them from coming with us.” Costin growled. “Youhave the right as alpha to do that. Why would you put us in this situation?”
Fane shook his head. “Just because I have the power to do something doesn’t mean I should. My authority does not supersede your mate bond. Perhaps instead of ordering the females to stay, I order them to fight. I certainly have the power to do it. I can even provide justifications. I could claim we needed every able-bodied warrior for battle. But that would be tantamount to disrespecting your mate bond. That would mean overruling your authority over your family. No, Costin, you are the head of your household. Ultimately, you will be the one that answers to the Great Luna for the decisions you make for your mate and children.”
Costin snarled, snapping his teeth together. Jacque saw Sally’s hand reach back through the door and grab the front of Costin’s shirt. “Let’s go, dimple-boy.” Her voice was surprisingly gentle, considering how annoyed she’d been earlier. “We have things to discuss.”
“I’d rather do other things,” he mumbled.
“And I’d like to not have morning sickness that refuses to confine itself to only morning hours, but we don’t always get what we want.”
