“That was dumb,” Sally said. “He should have kept her around. Thia might have lessened the likelihood you would lose your temper.”
“Pfft.” Jen blew out. “As if. The girl needs to learn how to stand up to her future mate. Who better to teach her than me?”
“I could think of many—” Jacque began, but Jen cut her off.
“It was a rhetorical question, Red.”
“My mistake,” Jacque said over her shoulder. “I thought you wanted some alternatives in case you felt inadequate for the job.”
Jen scoffed. “I never feel inadequate.”
“Really? Because I remember you saying something after Thia was born. What was it? Oh yeah.I’m a crappy mom because my boobs don’t work right,” Sally mocked.
“It was my boobs that felt inadequate,” Jen argued. “I was just sympathizing with them.”
Sally laughed. “Just when I’m sure she can’t possibly get any weirder, she goes and says something to prove me wrong.”
As they entered the dining hall, Jen forced herself to keep from looking for her mate. “Glad to know that after all this time, I can still keep the mystery alive.”
* * *
Fane rubbeda hand over his face as he tried, and failed, to keep from feeling guilty over the words he’d said to Jacquelyn during their argument an hour ago. His need to protect her sometimes overrode his self-control. And when that happened, his emotions often hijacked his mouth, leading to hurtful words that, once spoken, couldn’t be taken back. Fane tried to consider what his father might have said to his mother in the same situation but found any meaningful comparison elusive. His mother was centuries older than his own mate. She’d faced many more battles and had years of experience leading a pack. That fact, he thought, should have swayed his Jacquelyn, until she’d promptly pointed out that his mother’s experience had to start somewhere.
“She will be safe with us.”Fane’s wolf tried to reassure him.“Wouldn’t you rather her be at our side where we can see her, instead of far away where we could not get to her quickly if she needed us?”
Fane mentally growled back at the beast in frustration. There was a time when Fane would have agreed with his wolf. But that was before his mother had died in battle. And that was before he’d watched his own mate taken away from him for a second time. Now he wanted her as far from danger as possible.
“You cannot cage her,”his wolf spoke again.“She will grow to resent you.”
“And if she is harmed or abducted again?”he challenged.“What then?”
“An acceptable risk. There are other types of harm besides physical. When she left us, her feelings were bruised. You refuse to see how strong and resilient she is.”The confidence in his beast’s voice was unmistakable.“She belongs at our side. Always.”
Fane didn’t disagree with his wolf. If it was up to him, Fane would never let his mate and Slate out of his sight. Not just because he wanted to keep them safe, but because he loved being with them. They were his favorite people. Jacquelyn never ceased to amaze him with her quick wit and sharp tongue. And with that same tongue she could wield like a sword, she also said the sweetest words to him.
“Curse it all. She will be the death of me.” He huffed. A moment later, there was a knock on the door. “Come in,” he snarled.
Decebel strode in, trailed by Costin and Lucian. Decebel and Costin wore expressions that mirrored what he felt—a mixture of frustration and helplessness. Decebel’s jaw was clenched, and the beta’s fists were balled so tightly his knuckles were white. Costin’s eyes glowed bright with his wolf, and his lengthened canines scraped over his bottom lip as if he was thinking about sinking them into his prey. Lucian looked as he usually did—slightly indifferent. But Fane wasn’t fooled. His uncle was always alert, ready for any sign of danger, even from within their own pack.
“Females?” Fane asked as each of them sat. After Jacquelyn had offhandedly mentioned missing their home, Peri had used her magic to enchant the space into appearing like his father’s office back at the Romania pack mansion. Fane had found himself instantly more at ease once surrounded by the familiar scenery.
“What are we going to do with them?” Decebel pinched the bridge of his nose. “I foolishly thought Jennifer was coming around. I thought she finally understood what it does to me when she is in danger. And then when I suggest she stay put, she throws one of her biggest fits to date.”
“Your mate is not trying to be difficult,” Lucian said. One of his legs lay across the top of his other knee, and his arm was thrown across the back of the couch where he sat. “None of them are. You are rightly focused on protecting them. But I think you forget they feel equally compelled to protectyou. They love just as fiercely. Their emotions run as deep as the deepest ocean and as wide as the largest valley. You cannot begrudge them that.”
Costin sighed and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. “I can feel Sally’s love through our bond, Lucian. I am aware of just how intense it is, but it doesn’t change the fact thatmymate is not aCanis lupus. She’s a healer. Gentle to her core, caring to a fault, and scarred to her very soul from what she has faced in her past. And she suffered that past because she was takenduring a fight.”
Lucian’s eyes met Costin’s. “She is who she isbecauseof what she has faced. Sally has survived what would have destroyed most others. It was horrible. But it was not without a purpose. Your mate is stronger for it. She will have the ability to relate to others who have endured similar things and help them through it. Sally isnota victim. She is a survivor.”
Costin snarled and then grasped his head with his hands. Fane walked over to him and laid his own hand on his friend’s shoulder. He squeezed it tightly. “We will figure this out. But first we need to find out what awaits us at Alston’s stronghold and get an idea of how many Order members remain alive.”
Fane released Costin and pulled his cell phone from his pocket. He sent a text to Drake, Wadim, Adam, and Sorin. After a few seconds, he said, “The other males are on their way,” then walked back over to the desk and rested against it.
“Do you think it was the right decision to send the other alphas back to their respective packs?” Decebel asked.
The beta’s question wasn’t a challenge to Fane’s authority. Fane could sense Decebel’s genuine concern. “We need to know what’s going on around the world with the other supernaturals,” Fane answered. “And their packs need leadership. A pack without a strong, dominant alpha will eventually succumb to dominance infighting.”
“Peri and Nissa helped the djinn, Jareth, strengthen the wards around their territories,” Lucian reminded them.
