The alpha’s brow rose in demand for an answer. Jen shifted, no doubt feeling the weight of her alpha’s expectations pressing down on her. This wasn’t a game; there was real danger out there, and Jacque needed to trust the beta to be able to do her job. Jacque’s tough questions weren’t out of judgment but out of concern for everyone’s safety—even Jen’s. The alpha wouldn’t give her any slack just because they were friends. “Do you think you’re ready to go back out there and face our enemy without acting rashly?”
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Jen released a breath. Her shoulders fell, but her chin remained stubbornly raised. “I cannot say that with a hundred-percent certainty.”
Jacque nodded.
“To be fair,” Jen continued, “I can never tell you with a hundred-percent certainty that I wouldn’t get stabby while near one of our enemies.”
“That’s true.” Sally nodded and pointed at Jen. “We’ve known for a long time how unstable she is.”
Jacque crossed her arms and pressed closer to Fane. As bad as she hated to admit it, Jacque knew she’d been acting needy lately. And her insecurity was irritating. She could only imagine that it must be driving Fane crazy.
“You know better than that, beloved.” His voice filled her mind. “You could climb me like a tree all day long, and I wouldn’t complain.”
Jacque fought back the smile that attempted to stretch across her face while she continued to look at Jen. Eventually Jen dropped her eyes in submission.
“What would you have me do?” Jen’s voice was tight.
“Help Rachel in the nursery,” Jacque ordered. Jacque hoped Jen would see that task as equally important as going out on a hunt, because it was. “Help Gavril train Titus. You should enjoy that, considering how often you criticize his tactics.”
“Umm…” Sally started to speak, but Jacque shook her head. Her brunette friend’s mouth snapped closed.
“Sally will join you, and Bethany is already there,” Jacque said. “Our children need to be guided. They need to be trained because the number of our enemies grows by the day. It’s unlikely they will be vanquished any time soon. We will blink and our kids will be adults fighting at our sides.”
“Over my dead body,” Decebel muttered.
Jacque’s eyes snapped to the beta. “You don’t have to like it. But you know I’m right. Or perhaps you would have your daughter weak, unable to defend herself?” She raised her eyebrows and waited to see if he would answer, but his glowing amber eyes just stared back at her. He didn’t drop his gaze, but Jacque didn’t force the issue. “I didn’t think so.”
“Thia’s only two,” Jen said.
Jacque slashed a hand through the air. “It doesn’t matter. These children raise questions the pack has never had to face. We’ve never talked about when Thia will begin phasing. She could turn furry tomorrow for all we know. Titus is a dormant, but so am I and so are you. Yet we phase. So will he be able to? These are important matters, Jen. Just as important as beheading vampires, maybe more so. Swallow your damn pride and do what needs to be done. You don’t have to like it, but you will do it. And you will do it better than anyone else because mediocre isn’t in your vocabulary. Am I clear?”
“Whoa.” Zara breathed out.
“Chick is totally embracing her alpha status,” Crina added.
Jen gave a sharp nod. “Crystal clear.” This time her voice held less irritation and more resolution.
“Please understand I’m not benching you,” Jacque said through her bond with Jen. “I’m asking you to do something very hard. In your mind, this probably feels like some sort of demotion. But that is not the case. This job is more important than anything we will do.”
“I know, Red.” Jen’s lips turned up slightly. “I agree. And you’re not wrong. I’m not fit to be out there. My head isn’t quite right yet. I want it to be. Damn it all, do I want it to be, but it’s not. And I don’t want others to see that. Maybe that makes me a coward.”
Jacque shook her head. “It makes you human. You don’t enjoy feeling vulnerable, and let’s be real. Who does? I’m taking the decision out of your hands. You don’t have to look tough. I’m giving you an order as your alpha, and you will obey it. At the same time, you’ll give your heart, mind, and body time to heal. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Jacque finally let her eyes leave Jen’s and looked back at Fane. “It’s all you, babe.”
He took her hand and lifted it to his lips, pressing a kiss to her palm. Then he closed it into a fist. Fane turned back to the room full of their warriors, who were watching him, waiting to receive their orders. Each of them was ready and willing to lay down their lives for the cause. “While we wait on the information we need from the healers and their mates, I’ve decided it’s time to hunt.”
“Hell yes!” Adam, who’d been leaning back in a chair as if they weren’t dealing with an infestation of bloodsuckers, jumped to his feet. He rubbed his hands together and licked his lips. “Where are we headed, alpha man?”
Fane looked at the male fae. “Don’t call me that.” His voice sounded bored, but the sharp glint in his eyes spoke clearly what his tone did not.
“Got it.” Adam snapped his fingers and pointed a finger at him. “No nicknames.”
Crina snorted. “Anyone want to take bets on how long that will last?”
A collective chuckle ran through the room, but Adam didn’t look bothered in the least. He reached out and gave his mate’s pixie-cut hair a gentle tug and winked at her.
