"Are you unharmed?" Fane asked her gently as he continued to eye the unknown male.
"I'm fine. Just tired. Adam is also fine. He's just a flirt."
"Well then, I shall teach him how not to be," Fane snarled.
Jacque rolled her eyes at her mate and tugged hard on his tail. Fane snapped his head around and growled at her. She raised her hands in surrender. "Behave if you don't want your tail pulled." She glared at him.
Jen sat down on the ground, her body aching all over. Decebel came over and sat down right in front of her. In his wolf form, with her seated, his head was taller than hers even with him sitting on his haunches. His eyes met hers and he lifted a lip in a snarl.
"You will never leave me again," he told her through their bond.
Jen leaned into him and wrapped her arms around him. Decebel let out a low grumble in his chest.
"I'm sorry, Dec, I really am. I'm so tired. Can you change so you can hold me?"
"There is nothing more that I would love to do than hold you, but I have no clothes to put on once I change. We need to discuss what Vasile has asked us to do."
Jen released his neck and sat back a little. She looked at each wolf and then the others.
"Okay, I understand that you guys will be naked when you change. So we girls will look the other way while we all talk because, frankly, I'm too tired to repeat everything Dec tells me and I'm sure Rachel and Jacque are just as exhausted. We all in agreement?"
Everyone nodded their heads and the wolves each let out subtle woof-like noises. Rachel, Jacque, Jen, and Elle all stood and faced the back of the cave while the men phased.
Jen nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt Decebel's lips on her neck and his arms come around her.
"Crap, man! I survived the stupid BAWBs and the bats and you're trying to scare me to death?"
"Sorry, baby. I couldn't just stand there looking at you and not touch you. You've been gone two days. I didn't know -" Decebel was growling again. "Never again.," was all he could finish with.
Jen turned and wrapped her arms around his neck. She looked into his glowing amber eyes. "I think we've established that I am never to pull this kind of stunt again. Anything else you want to say to me, babe?"
Decebel leaned down and kissed her gently. He nuzzled her nose with his and whispered, "I love you."
Jen smiled. "Much better."Adam cleared his throat and Jen looked around Decebel to see that Fane had Jacque in his arms and Gavril had Rachel in his. She winked at Decebel and then pushed him until his back was against the wall. Then she turned in his arms again so her back was against his chest.
"Now nobody can see your manly bits," she told him with a smile.
Decebel chuckled and shook his head. Each of the other couple assumed similar positions and finally everyone was facing each other, but all important body parts were covered.
"Now that the reunion s are done and everyone has so graciously clothed themselves with their mates -"
Adam was interrupted with three low growls. He held up his hands and smiled. "Kidding. Geez, I forgot how touchy Alpha males are," he said, looking at Elle.
"What's the plan, Dec?" Jen asked.
Decebel pressed his nose into her hair and took comfort in her scent before he spoke.
"Vasile has asked us to meet him in the village back at the Tavern. Before I left, he mentioned that he might call in the other packs for their aid against the witch and Thad."
Jacque stiffened. "Is he going to call my dad?"
Fane pulled her tight against him. "Probably, Luna."
Jacque nodded, knowing that if Vasile was willing to endanger the other packs, it was because there was no other way.
Elle stepped forward and kept her eyes averted from the males as a show of respect as she spoke. "I think the girls need to rest before we leave, even if just for a few hours. Adam and I can keep watch here at the entrance."
Decebel nodded his agreement. "We can spare a few hours for them to sleep."
Jen's head fell back against Decebel's chest as she let out a slow breath. "Thank goodness."
On that note the males phased back into their wolf forms. Jen curled up on her side, laying her head against Decebel's warm wolf body. Jacque and Rachel did the same and all were asleep in a matter of moments.
Half a world away, Dillon Jacobs kissed his mate before he boarded the chartered jet.
"I love you," Tanya told him firmly.
"I love you too, Luna. I know you want to come but I need you here with the pack." Dillon brushed her hair back from her face and placed another gentle kiss on her forehead.
"No, you just need me away from danger."
Dillon chuckled. "Well, that too. I will stay in touch," he told her as he tapped his forehead, indicating their bond.
"Just keep Jacque and her friends safe."
"I have a feeling that if it's up to Fane and the other males in his pack, those girls will be in lock down as far from battle as possible."
"Yes...but, mate," Tanya purred, "how often do the males in our race win in a battle of will against a female?"
Dillon grunted, understanding Tanya's point. "You're right, those three will probably be leading the battle charge. I will do anything it takes to make sure no harm comes to them. Vasile explained to me what has been going on since we left." Dillon told Tanya what Vasile had told him and saw the sorrow in his mate's eyes as she heard of the struggles Jen had endured as well as the others. Now more than ever she wanted to go with him, but Dillon couldn't handle having all the women he loved in danger. If he could at least protect one, then he would do it.
"You stay safe, Dillon Jacobs," she told him firmly.
"Yes, ma'am." He winked at her and gave her one more fierce kiss before boarding the plane and joining a select few of his pack members inside.
Chapter 28
23 days post-curse
"Sally," Costin's warm breath caressed her face as her eyes blinked open, "you need to wake up, gypsy lady. We are leaving."
Sally's eyes popped open and she sat straight up. "Leaving? What about Jacque and Jen?"
"Vasile instructed Decebel and Fane to get the others to the Tavern. We are to meet them there."
Sally pushed Costin back so she could stand up. She had fallen asleep in the clothes she'd been wearing the day before. She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to untangle it, and blinked her eyes several times to get the sleep out of them.
"Okay, I'm good. Let's go." Sally headed for the door of the room she had been sleeping in. Costin chuckled as he followed her. He grabbed her around the waist before she could pull the door open and she let out a surprised squeal.
"Costin, what are you doing?"
Costin turned her in his arms and held her close, breathing in her scent. He thought maybe it was beginning to change, but worried that it was just wishful thinking.
"I want you to stay close to me. Do as I tell you and don't try to be a hero."
Sally snorted. "You do realize that I'm Sally not Jen, right?"
Costin looked down into her warm, honey colored eyes. "Yes, Sally mine. Believe me, I know the woman I hold in my arms. I also know that when it comes to your friends you will do anything. I'm simply asking you to think before you act, and by think I mean wait for me."
Sally smiled sweetly at Costin and patted his cheek. "I didn't realize it until now but I have to agree with Jen."
Costin cocked his head to the side. "About what?"
"It is cute when you bossy werewolves actually think you will get your way."
Costin let out a low growl that brought a giggle from Sally. Finally, she relented as she rolled her eyes. "Fine, I won't do anything rash. How's that?"
"Better," he told her as he released her, following her downstairs to where the others waited.
Vasile, Alina, Peri, Cynthia, Sorin, and Crina all stood in a circle in the large room. The fire still burned strong in the stone fireplace.
"Sally, Costin," Vasile acknowledged them. "It's time. Peri is going to cloak us. We must move quickly. There will be no time to stop and rest. Sally, if you get tired, I must insist that you allow one of us wolves to carry you on our back in our wolf form."
Sally's mouth dropped open. Costin used a finger to gently push her chin up as he chuckled. "I will carry her, Alpha," he told Vasile.
Vasile let out a knowing smile. "I figured as much." Costin looked up questioningly at his Alpha.
Before an exchange could take place, Peri interrupted. "Enough dillydallying. We need to go."Without another word, the group headed out of the Fae cottage and toward the veil.
As Vasile had ordered they moved quickly. No one spoke. The males were scanning the skies and the forest around them continually as they continued toward their destination.
Sally could feel the magic in the air. She could feel Peri's cloak, but underneath it there was something oily that tried to cling to her. Sally had mentioned it quietly to Peri and she explained that the witch was looking for a healer, so her magic was tuned to find the healer and link her to the witch. This was why Sally got the feeling that it was trying to cling to her. Peri had reassured her that the cloaking spell would keep the witch's magic from sticking.
After nearly eighteen hours on foot, Sally was growing very tired and very cold. Costin phased to his wolf form and knew that Sally must be more tired than she let on, because she did not argue with Vasile when he told her to get on Costin and hold tight. The other wolves phased as well and then their speed picked up. Peri didn't seem to have any trouble keeping up with the fast, nimble bodies of the wolves.