Jacque and Sally stood up and attempted to back away from Jen but she was on a mission. She herded them towards the door all the while glaring at them, daring them to defy her.
"Fine." Jacque finally threw her hands up in the air. "Have it your way. We'll go listen in. But after we find out what's going on, we won't barge in like rabid squirrels on crack." She pointed a finger at Jen. "We will step back and consider our options."
"Of course we will." Jen nodded.
"I don't believe her," Sally said with narrowed eyes.
"Not as far as I can throw her," Jacque agreed.
They followed Jen to Vasile's office and found a corner to hide around while they waited for the men to show up. It wasn't until they heard voices in the office that they realized Peri had flashed them all in.
"Sneaky, Peri fairy," Jen whispered. They tiptoed up to the door and pressed their ears to the wood. Jen and Jacque would have no problem hearing with their wolf senses. Sally would have to try a little harder.
Jen started to say something, but Vasile started speaking and she snapped her mouth shut.
"There's been another attack." Vasile’s usually calm voice seethed with barely contained rage as he spoke.
"We need to act now," Decebel growled.
"I agree," Peri spoke up. "But before we go in halfcocked with claws extended and teeth bared, we need to determine the most immediate threat. There's just too many covens to start a random attack. It needs to be systematic, controlled, and lethal. As soon as the other vampires realize they are being targeted, especially by wolves, they will go to ground and make it impossible to find them. Or worse, they will increase the amount of lives they are taking, daring us to confront them. I do not want whatever we do to result in more innocent lives being lost."
Jacque slammed her hand over Jen's mouth before the gasp could be released. Sally's eyes widened, but Jacque saw something that surprised her—knowledge. Sally had known about the vampires. Jacque gave her a questioning look. Sally gave her an apologetic shrug. She mouthed, "Peri made me swear."
Jacque cursed to herself. If everyone was going to keep secrets, how the heck were they supposed to trust each other?
"So what do you suggest?" Fane asked.
"Give me one more night."
All three males growled and then they heard Cypher's voice. "That means more children might die."
This time Jacque had to slam her hand over her own mouth. The vampires were killing children. She turned her glare on Sally but this time her healer friend shook her head. She hadn't known about the children. Well, that was something at least.
"It's a risk we have to take if we want to be successful in this mission. This is bigger than what we've faced with the old Serbia Alpha, Desdemona, or even Reyaz. I'm not going to say it's bigger than Volcan because, well, that’s a whole other can of worms." Peri paused and then said, "It's up to you, Vasile. I put you in charge of this mission so I will let you decide. You will have to deal with the consequences when I’m gone fighting Volcan.”
There was silence from the room and the girls seemed to hold their breath as they all waited for the Alpha to answer. It seemed like an hour had passed before he finally did. "We will give you the one night you request. It will give the males a chance to speak with their mates."Jacque tried as hard as she could to hold Jen back. She knew as soon as Vasile spoke those words that Jen would take it as her opening to barge in. Her friend was a tad predictable with her angry reactions.
Jen pushed the door open so hard that it slammed against the wall and bounced back. Jacque had to throw out her arm to keep it from smacking them in the face as the blonde tornado marched further into the room.
"No need to waste time informing us of this tiny, itty, bitty issue," Jen bit out as she glared at her mate. "It seems since you all seem to have your heads up your furry butts you need some brains for this mission. So isn't it fortunate that we happened by just as you all were having your secret little powwow?" Jen's head snapped around when she saw movement from the corner. Alina stood biting back a smile. They hadn't known the Alpha female was there since she hadn't spoken. "You!" Jen pointed at her and took a step toward her. Vasile took a step to the side and blocked Jen's path. She gave the Alpha a dismissing motion with her hand and continued to address Alina. "How could you know this and not tell us? I thought you had boobs and ovaries which would put you solidly on Team Female. Did you grow a pair and suddenly switch who you were batting for?"
Jacque and everyone else in the room coughed covering up shock and amusement.
"Man, I've missed you," Peri said beaming at Jen like a proud parent.
"Can it, Fairy," Jen huffed. "You're officially on my list."
"Have I ever not been on your list?"
Jen shrugged. "Good point."
Jacque felt her mate’s eyes on her but she refused to look at Fane. She was just as pissed as Jen but she was afraid if she went on a rampage she'd go into labor, and she really didn't feel like having everyone see her water break all over Vasile’s office floor.
"Luna," he said, attempting to use their bond.
Oh, now he opens it, the butthead, she thought to herself, keeping her attention on Jen.
"Don't blame your mate for keeping the information from you, Jennifer," Vasile said calmly. "I was the one who ordered them to keep silent."
Jen growled. "You know it only ticks me off more when someone attempts to be all calm and rational when I'm pissed, right?"
"I try to tell Lucian that all the time," Peri muttered. "Fleabag never listens."
Jen ignored her. "Calm and rational won't fix this and, yes, I will blame Decebel. He is a grown ass male. He's the Alpha of his own pack and two centuries old. If he can't think for himself and make his own decisions by now, then he deserves to be led around by his—"
"JENNIFER!" Decebel snarled.
Jacque took a step back. It had been awhile since she'd seen Jen's mate look that enraged. Then again, Jen had just majorly castrated her mate in front of everyone. Not. Good.
Jacque considered Decebel for a moment. "Hey, totally not on topic, I thought you were stuck in a doghouse?"
Decebel frowned and then his eyes narrowed on Jen. "You told them I was stuck in a doghouse?"
She tipped her head back slightly. "You looked stuck when I left you. How was I supposed to know you weren't really stuck and would wind up having another secret meeting where you would be ordered around like a freaking puppy instead of manning up and telling Vasile that you wouldn't be keeping things from your mate? I thought you grew a pair when you went through puberty but, perhaps, it takes wolves longer to mature."
"ENOUGH!" Decebel snarled.
Her head snapped back as though he'd slapped her but she stood her ground. Jacque could see that her friend knew she'd crossed a line. But there was no way she'd back down now. She might grovel later in private, maybe.
"I realize you are angry," Decebel said, but it was not calm by any means. "But disrespecting Vasile, or your mate, isn't the way to handle this situation. I love you. You mean more to me than anything on this earth, but I am the leader of our family and of our pack. The decision," he bit the word out with so much force that Jacque was surprised he didn't break some teeth, “is mine when it comes to the safety of our family and pack. You can question me in private, but I would appreciate it if you would not be so insolent toward me in public."
"Maybe we all just need to take a timeout," Sally said and Jacque felt soothing magic rush over her.
The faces on everyone in the room held surprise as they felt the magic as well. "What was that?" Jacque asked the healer.
Sally smiled at her. "I might have learned a few things while I've been away."
Jen was still seething but she seemed a tad more in control. She turned back to Vasile. "I'm sorry I was disrespectful. As Alpha female of the Serbia pack I think I deserve the respect," she practically spit the word out, "of being told when something so dangerous is happening. Especially since I have a child to protect. I'll be at the Serbia mansion taking care of my daughter. And I would also appreciate being apprised of the plan after Peri finishes gathering information tonight." Jen turned to Peri. "Could you take me home on your way out?"
Peri nodded. "I've been wanting to see your little poop machine anyway." Peri looked at Vasile. "I'll be back for anyone else that needs me to take them home."
She and Jen disappeared and Decebel didn't even try to stop her. Again. Not. Good.
Decebel closed his eyes and let out a long breath. "I'll be waiting to hear from you," he said to Vasile.
"Don't be too hard on her," Alina spoke up. "She's young and she has a lot on her shoulders."
"I understand that, but at some point she's going to have to accept my place in our pack and our relationship. You know I'm not trying to belittle her, Alina. She's my equal in every way, but I'm responsible for her, not the other way around. I will stand before the Great Luna one day and be questioned on how I led my family and how I loved my mate and those under my care. It won't be Jen's actions that are judged, but mine."
"You can't expect her to figure it all out in a year," Sally spoke up. "Jen is every bit as dominant as you. She's protective of those she cares about. She's determined and she needs to feel like you trust her. You guys have been through so much. I think you both have things to learn."