Every guy in the room cringed at Jen's words except Decebel. He was unmovable at this point.
"He was just being a guy? He was just BEING A GUY?" Decebel roared. "He touched you! He had his hands on you, on your -"
"Girly bits?" Jen offered oh so helpfully.
Decebel's mouth tightened. "Yes, Jennifer. He had his hand on your girly bits. That is not 'just being a guy,' that's being an ass."
Jen should have just shut up and cut her losses, but backing down had never been her strong suit.
Jacque watched, fascinated by the argument ensuing in front of her. She didn't think either of them truly realized how passionate they were about each other. Though, she wasn't sure they were going to survive their mating without one of them strangling the other. The words that Jen was spewing at the moment were seriously taking the odds of survival out of her corner.
"Are you mad because he got there first, wolf? 'Cause if that's the case I feel it necessary to remind you that your opportunity is coming."
The sputters, coughs, and curses that rippled through the room were punctuated by Sally surprising everyone with a loud, "What the HELL, JEN? Shut up."
Jen didn't take her eyes off of Decebel as she answered what was certainly rhetorical. "What? I'm just reminding him that, ultimately, I'm his."
"Yeah, well, emphasizing that another wolf had his hands on you at all, not just that it happened in front of your mate, is not really helping matters," Sally shot back.
Decebel's hand came up as he squeezed his eyes closed. He pinched the bridge of his nose, holding on by a thread.
"Alpha." The word was a plea.
"Mated pairs, please take the girls back to their rooms. The rest of you head back to your rooms."
Everyone was in motion except Jen and Decebel. Vasile was the last to leave the room. Before he closed the door he looked back at Decebel, who didn't look away from Jen. "I understand why you did it, Beta. It may be that because he left marks on her skin you won't be punished for your impudence."
Decebel watched Jennifer return his stare without flinching. He couldn't remember a time in his long life that he had been this angry. He started to shake with the urge to phase, remembering the wolf's hand on his mate.
Jennifer took a step towards him, completely undaunted by his lack of control. She placed her hands on either side of his face and before he even realized it, stood up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his.
Decebel wished he could say that he hesitated to consider the consequences of their actions, but in that moment nothing could have calmed his wolf the way that intimate touch did. His arms went around her small waist, pulling her closer. As her body met his Decebel tilted his head to deepen the kiss. He heard her moan and growled in response. When their tongues met he nearly smiled. She hadn't hesitantly tried to slip it in his mouth, not his woman. She plunged confidently, daring him to respond.
He felt her wince when he pulled her closer, her chest tightly pressed to him. That brought his thoughts back to her injury. Possessiveness surged forward, muddling his brain, and his kiss turned desperate. He lifted her by the waist and pressed her against a wall, never once taking his lips from hers.
Jen wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself up, then wrapped her legs around his waist. This bold move allowed him to push through the fog. He gentled the kiss and after a few small lingering ones, pulled back.
Decebel noticed how beautiful she looked, her lips red and swollen from his kiss, her eyes half closed as she tried to catch her breath. Slowly she unwrapped her legs and lowered herself to the ground. He couldn’t deny the attraction he felt at her confidence. She didn't blush or apologize for having become so passionate, she didn't try to hide the desire that filled her eyes, and she didn't drop her arms to grant them some space. She held on tight and sultrily smiled.
"That was yummy."
Decebel chuckled. "Of all the things you could say: passionate, amazing, incredible, unbelievable, and you come up with yummy?"
"It was all of those things," she agreed. "But none of those describe how you taste."
"Jennifer." Her name was a groan pulled from his chest.
"How would you describe it then?" she challenged.
"Which part? Your taste? The feel of your lips on mine? Having your body pressed so close to me? What would you have me describe, baby?"
"The look in your eyes says enough," she answered gently.
Jen dropped her arms and Decebel immediately felt cold and empty.
"Are you better," she asked hesitantly.
Decebel thought about it for a moment. "Yes. Thank you. I just couldn't calm my wolf," he paused, "or myself.”
"So you're calm now?"
"Somewhat." His smile faded, replaced by a clenched jaw and furrowed brow. "I just need some time with you. Just you."
Jen watched as Decebel allowed the wall he always erected in front of others to come down. She took his hand and led him over to one of the love seats. Kicking off her shoes, she pulled her legs up on the couch and leaned into his side as his arms came around her. She closed her eyes and she felt him lay his cheek against her hair. There was a low rumble in his chest as she snuggled closer.
Decebel closed his eyes as he held Jennifer. This was what his wolf needed. He was beginning to realize why Fane touched Jacque all the time. It was like he couldn't not touch her. The reassurance, comfort, and peace that came from Jennifer's touch was a drug. A drug that he was fast becoming addicted to.
Gladly, he thought.
"Let's just stay here for a little while, okay?" Jen asked him sleepily.
"Ten thousand could not pull you from my side."
Chapter 19
"You are asking me to allow you to retaliate against the Romanian Beta?" Thad asked the wolf who stood before him, the same wolf who had grabbed Jen.
"Yes, Alpha. She does not belong to him. He had no right to attack."
"Maybe she isn't his mate, Dragos, but she is a pack mate," Thad reminded him.
"He still could have handled it differently, he didn't have to draw blood."
Thad was quiet for a few moments while he considered his options. This situation could actually work in his favor – if he played it just right. He turned back to Dragos. "Why not attack the one who allows Decebel such liberties?” The other wolf peered up at him, betraying his interest. Thad went on, “Why not take out the one who controls Decebel?"
Dragos couldn't deny that taking out the most powerful Alpha in a century appealed to him. "How could I take him out? He's too strong and protected."
Dragos watched Thad pull a small vial from the obviously expensive blazer he wore.
"Two drops of this in his drink and the big, bad wolf crumbles."
It was then that Dragos realized what was in the vial. "Menispermum," he whispered.
"Otherwise known as Moonseed," Thad concurred. "Well done. You must know, then, that the juice that comes from it is fatal."
Dragos nodded.
"So your task is to get this into his drink. I have simplified this by inviting the Alphas to dine with me privately. They will each have their own place setting with their names. You will be one of the wolf caterers that night and you will make sure Vasile gets the special drink. Then you can watch in satisfaction as the great Alpha withers away slowly. You see, unlike Kamalah, Moonseed kills slowly, makes the victim suffer."
Dragos smiled at the idea of bringing one so great to his knees.
"When is this dinner?"
"In three days' time. Be here at 5.30 p.m."
Thad dismissed the wolf. He then sent a text on his phone: "Have orders for you."
A few minutes later his contact from the Romanian pack entered the room.
"I have a plan set for Vasile's death. Your job will be to lead Jen off on a wild goose chase to find the antidote for Moonseed. While you are out searching, somehow Jen will fall into one of those pesky cracks in the mountain."
"The antidote for Moonseed
is Wolfsbane." The contact's brow furrowed. "It grows all over. How will I lure her so far away?"
"I will make sure to have all the Wolfsbane closest to the estate destroyed, thereby forcing you to wander out to find more. The reality is, I don't really want the Wolfsbane, but I will need some of the plant to fool them when we administer the so-called antidote. You see, when in their liquid form they are nearly impossible to tell apart. In fact, the only person I know that can tell them apart are gypsy healers. But, conveniently, there isn't a gypsy healer around," Thad explained with a satisfied smirk.
He watched as his contact thought about the plan, then nodded. "Okay. When?"
"Vasile will be poisoned in three days. Jen strikes me as the hero type. You will be able to convince her to go with you, no problem."
The contact said nothing more and left.
Thad smiled. His plan was coming together quite nicely. It was pure dumb luck that Dragos had come to him seeking revenge. Now the blame for the poison would fall on his shoulders. Thad would be left in the clear and even be able to act like he was helping. In three days' time he would watch the Romanian Alpha brought to his knees and, ultimately, his demise.
Vasile and Alina sat in a small gathering room with the other Alphas and their mates, the exception being Dillon, who was spending time with Jacque. Vasile had been the one to call the meeting, feeling like it would be best to meet the consequences of his Beta's actions head on.
"Did you find out exactly what provoked your Beta?" Victor, Alpha of the Bulgaria pack asked.
"The wolf training Jen was touching her inappropriately. Apparently Decebel saw the wolf touching her before Jen could handle it on her own." Vasile waited to see if any would contradict him. No one spoke so he continued. "As you know, Decebel is Beta of my pack. Jen is an unmated female, making it is his job to protect her since she has no mate to do so."
"I agree that he should protect her," Dragomir spoke up. "The question is, did he go too far?"
"I don't think her unmated status should decide the amount of defense she is allowed," Alina addressed Dragomir. "If any mated female had been grabbed so hard that bruises and claw marks became visible, her mate would kill the offender. There would be no fight to submission as Decebel did. The wolf who would touch a mate in that way would be signing his death warrant. Are our unmated females worth so much less?"
"No. No, Alina. I didn't mean that at all," Dragomir backtracked, clearly uncomfortable with the picture Alina painted.
"If they are not worth less then Decebel was lenient. Do you agree?"
Vasile tried to hide the smile that threatened to spread across his face as he watched his mate bring the Alphas to heel.
"I have to agree with you, Alina," Victor stepped in. "I don't think any disciplinary action is necessary. It's been dealt with. Decebel put the pup in his place, and I'm sure the young wolf has learned his lesson about what happens when one touches a female inappropriately."
Vasile stood, pulling Alina up along with him. "I appreciate you all discussing the matter. If we are done..." He left the sentence hanging.
"Vasile, you are still planning on joining us for the dinner for the Alphas, yes?" Thad asked as Vasile and Alina headed for the door.
"Yes, thank you. We will be in attendance."
"So how are you liking pack life, Jacque?" Tanya asked as she, Jacque, Dillon, and Fane sat together in one of the many small sitting rooms in the mansion.
Fane had his hand across the back of the couch he and Jacque were sitting on. He worked his hand underneath her hair and his fingers traced the markings on her skin – he knew them by memory. Jacque tried not to shiver at her mate's touch.
"Could you please behave?" Jacque asked, using their bond.
"I'm only rubbing your neck, love. It's not like I'm touching -"
"Fane, don't you dare," Jacque threatened before he could finish his sentence. It didn't help that he pictured what he'd been about to say. Jacque just knew her face was beet red.
"Are you taking notes when you're around Jen?"
Fane sent her another picture and Jacque about jumped up and left the room at that.
"If you could only see the beautiful shade of red your skin is glowing with right now. You look quite luscious."
"I've really been enjoying it. I'm learning a lot about pack history, which I find really interesting," Jacque answered, more tersely than she intended. Fane was going to pay for his fool's play.
Jacque spent the next hour talking with her dad and Tanya, all the while trying hard to ignore her mate's words and images, ones that would've made even Jen blush.
"I want you to know that this means war," Jacque promised as they were saying their goodbyes.
Fane chuckled as he placed his hand on the small of her back. "Do you want to go check on Jen?" he asked her.
"That's probably a good idea. Do you think Decebel is allowing her to have visitors?"
Fane laughed. "Are you saying he's going to be a little overprotective now?"
"No." Jacque looked at him from the corner of her eye. "I'm saying he's going to be completely unreasonable and we'll be lucky if he doesn't make her wear sack cloths when she's out in public."
"Was I that bad?"
"Uh, Fane, you didn't let me leave your sight except to take care of personal stuff for over a month. So, yes. Yes you were that bad and then some." Jacque bumped him with her shoulder.
"It appears we weren't the only ones concerned about her," Fane said as they joined Sally, Crina, and Marianna at Jen's door.
"We've been knocking for about five minutes. Either Decebel has her tied up and won't answer the door, or she isn't here," Sally told them.
"You think they're still in the meeting room?" Jacque asked.
"Worth a try," Crina piped in.
"Ten bucks says they made up and are smooching," Jacque announced.
"I'll take your bet and raise you five. I say they made up but smooching has come and gone on the agenda." Crina winked at them.
"You're wicked bad." Jacque grinned. "Jen would love it."
Decebel awoke when he felt Jennifer moving. At some point she'd taken a pillow and laid her head in his lap. He had stroked her hair until he himself had finally fallen asleep. He couldn't remember a time he had slept so well – even sitting upright on a love seat.
Jennifer had his wolf practically purring. He was so content at having her so close, so relaxed in his presence. He glanced down and could tell she was beginning to wake. He ran the back of his fingers across her check and her eyes fluttered open. She looked up at him and smiled. At that moment she could have asked him for anything and he would have toppled empires to make it happen.
"Hey," he murmured.
"Hey yourself."
She stretched her arms up and arched her back like a cat waking from a long nap in the sun. Decebel made sure to keep his eyes plastered to her face and off her beautiful form. When she looked at him again, he brushed the hair away from her face and leaned down to capture her lips with his. When he moved back, she was grinning like the Cheshire cat.
"More," she ordered.
Decebel chuckled as she wrapped her hand around the nape of his neck and pulled him back to her. He placed his hands on her hips and was fixing to drag her onto his lap when the door behind them flew open.
"I win!" Jacque hollered.
"No you don't," Crina countered. "Look at his hands. They were absolutely not just smooching. There was some definite hand action."
"Oh, I wouldn't say definite," Marianna piped in. "More like the possibility of hand action.''
Sally turned. "My respect for you is growing in leaps and bounds."
Marianna grinned and winked.
Jen's head snapped up to look over Decebel's shoulder.
"What the hell are y'all yapping about?" she growled, clearly not happy about the interruption.
"They had a bet," Sally offered.
"A bet? A bet on what?"
"Your virtue
," she answered dryly.
Jen's mouth dropped open. "I've already been felt up once today and look what that got me. You really think I'm up to more?"
Decebel growled. He pulled her closer so he could whisper in her ear. "Not a good subject to bring up, baby."
Jen kissed him on the cheek. "Sorry, B."
Jacque looked at Sally, who was as dumbfounded as her.
"She has a gentle side?" Jacque muttered.
"Did she just use the word 'sorry' and 'B' in the same sentence?" Sally countered.
"I guess every creature has their weakness. Hers is similar to mine." Jacque smiled. “Hot, sexy, furry men."
Crina and Marianna laughed.
"I like mine with whipped cream," Jen said conspiratorially to the two she-wolves. Then she looked at Jacque. "What do you like yours with, Red?"
Fane spoke up quickly. "Don't answer that, Luna."
Decebel busted out with a loud laugh at the firmness in Fane's voice, and the girls all fell in line behind him. Fane didn't even crack a smile.
"So what brings the motley crew to see us?" Jen asked once the laughing was under control.
"We went to your room to check on you, but you weren't there," Sally told her.