“The mate bond should kick in the closer you get to her.” Fane stayed focused on the plan. “So you will basically have a radar that leads you straight to her.”
Maxim didn’t bother to mention to Fane that he’d already mentally connected with Alice briefly, reassuring her that he was coming for her. But the bond was weak, and she could not communicate back. Maxim clenched his fists, resolve steeling his nerves. Nothing would prevent him from his task.
Fane’s bright blue eyes were filled with understanding. “I know you burn to have her safe, but you must wait for my signal. Premature action could doom us all.”
Maxim exhaled heavily but inclined his head. His instincts railed against leaving Alice’s fate in another’s hands, but he recognized the wisdom in Fane’s command.
“Have faith in us and in her,” Jacque said gently. “Alice is stronger than she knows. The fact that she’s trusting our healers to keep her tethered to this life is huge. It means there’s hope that the sire bond isn’t as strong as we first thought.”
“You will be united,” Perizada added. “But only if your wolf behaves.” One silver brow arched at Maxim in challenge. “You cannot let your beast rule the hunt. His only objective will be to get to Alice and kill everything in your way, regardless of the consequences. The man must maintain control. If that’s a problem, I can bind your fur butt to this location, and you can wait on us.”
Maxim huffed a laugh despite himself. “I may be a maleCanis lupuson the verge of finding my mate, but that doesn’t make me an idiot.”
“Umm.” Jen tilted her head from side to side. “Pretty sure those are basically the same thing.”
Decebel sighed, wrapping an arm around his mate and then pulling her back to his chest. “Can you attempt to behave for a few minutes?” he asked her softly, but not so low that supernatural hearing wouldn’t pick it up.
“You like me untamed, B,” Jen teased him. “You’d be bored as hell if I was any other way.”
Decebel nuzzled her neck, and Maxim looked away, giving the couple some semblance of privacy, though they didn’t seem to mind the audience.
“I give you my word that I will maintain control.”
Satisfied, Perizada flashed a wicked grin at Maxim. “Excellent. I do so hate having to blast sense into thick skulls.”
“Liar,” Jacque spoke up. “You love zapping our males.”
Peri shrugged. “Do you blame me?”
“Not even a little.” Jacque winked.
Her mate’s stoic expression didn’t change, though Fane seemed to suppress a smile. Jacque just shook her head with fond exasperation.
Clearly, this group had weathered many trials together already. Maxim only hoped they would endure this one and emerge intact on the other side.
Sensing his thoughts, Fane gripped his shoulder firmly. “Have faith in our Creator. With her guidance, we will see this done.”
Maxim met the alpha’s intense gaze and saw the surety there. This male would walk through fire itself to protect those under his care. In that moment, Maximknewthey would prevail.
Come what may, Cain would fall. And Maxim would have Alice safe in his arms soon. Her captivity was coming to an end. The pack would make certain of it. Even with all the reassurances, the one thing he couldn’t shake was how he was going to feel once he met her, once their mental bond was complete. He hated that his jealousy was already rearing its ugly head. Just looking around the room at all the mated pairs in front of him was enough to make him envious. His jaw clenched as he thought abouthismate and how she’d chosen another before him. His wolf raged inside of him not because they didn’t want her, but because it had taken so long to find her and now, it might be too late. What if she chose the vampire over Maxim even after meeting him? He had to prepare himself for something that he wasn’t sure he was capable of accepting.
Suddenly, the door to the office swung open and in came a young boy of maybe six years. Behind him toddled a beautiful little blonde girl, holding a doll head by the hair in her chubby hand.
Jen groaned. “You have got to be kidding me.” The little girl’s face lit up when she saw everyone staring at her. She paused in the middle of the room and held up the head, very much reminiscent of a warrior declaring victory in battle.
“HELL,” the little warrior yelled, and Maxim couldn’t help but smile.
“Don’t encourage her.” Jen walked over and knelt down in front of the child. “Thia, what did Mommy and Daddy say about carrying around doll parts?”
Thia dropped her arm, the head still firmly in her grasp. “All be tattched,” Thia answered in the broken way of little ones.
“Yes.” Jen nodded. “They must all be attached to one another, and what else?”
Thia sighed. “Clothes.”
“Exactly,” Jen encouraged with a brilliant smile that matched her daughter’s. “The dolls must be clothed. Though that’s actually your daddy’s opinion.”
“Jennifer.” Decebel growled as he stepped around her and picked Thia up. She looked tiny against his large frame. “Clothes are not an opinion. They’re a necessity. Quit trying to teach our daughter otherwise.” Though his words were stern, there was a look of complete adoration in his eyes as he looked from his mate to his pup.
