Chapter 2
The crisp, late autumn air rippled through Fane’s fur as he ran. The forest around their pack mansion had become a place of refuge for him. Though nothing could take the place of Jacquelyn’s presence and comfort, the forest was a place for him to go when he wanted to give his mate a break from having to put up with his ever changing moods.
The trees surrounding him were tall, creating a fortress of enveloping protection. The bushes, limbs, and leaves were like fingers combing through his fur, welcoming him back as he ran through and around them. The dirt beneath his paws was cool and rich giving him good traction. He was made to be a part of the nature around him. His wolf craved the call of the wild, and Fane allowed him to answer it as often as he could. The only thing that would have made it better was having their mate running beside them.
She should be by our side always, his wolf growled at him. Fane understood the desire to have her with them all the time, but the man in him knew it simply wasn’t feasible. His wolf grumbled at this but said no more on the matter.
“Decebel asked me to tell you that when you are ready he would like to speak to you.” Jacque’s voice invaded his mind and warmth flooded him as it always did when she used their bond.
“I’m out running now and close to their territory. I’ll just go see him now.” He paused before adding. “Unless you need me.”
“I always need you, wolf-man, but I can spare you for a little while.”
He chuckled at her playfulness. It was one of the things his wolf loved most about her. “How is our child?”
“At the moment, asleep. Which is a nice break from the kicks to the ribs I’ve been getting,” she told him. He could feel her anxiety as she thought about their coming baby. They had talked a little about the fears that she had, but because of what Fane was dealing with, it hadn’t been enough. He should be making sure that she was happy, healthy, and excited about their pup. But instead, he’d been a lousy mate only able to focus on his own fears.
“I love you, Jacquelyn. I’ll be home soon.”
“Love you back, wolf-man.”
He felt her pull away from him and was surprised when she shut her end of the bond down tight. Fane came to a sudden stop as his wolf briefly took control. His beast didn’t like it when their mate shut down the bond. He struggled not to turn around and race back to her. He knew she was fine. Maybe she just needed an emotional break from all of his turmoil. The thought constricted his lungs making it difficult to breathe. Was he ever going to be the mate she needed him to be?
Fane regained control and forced his wolf to once again head toward the Serbia pack mansion. As he ran and the bond continued to stay closed, Fane vowed then that he would change things. Whatever he had to do in order to heal whatever it was that was broken inside of him, he would do it.
***
“What are you going to say to Fane?” Jen asked Decebel as she lay in their bed with her head resting against his warm chest as his hand stroked her back lazily. As she had planned, nap time for Thia had turned into mama and daddy time for them. Jen knew that Decebel had other things he needed to be doing, pack management things, but he always put her first. If she said she needed time with him, then he made it happen and for that she loved him even more than she had the day she married him.
He was quiet for a few minutes but she didn’t ask again. She knew he would answer when he had decided how to word his response. Decebel was anything but hasty when it came to words, which of course was the complete opposite of Jen. Another thing she appreciated and loved about him, even if it did annoy the crap out of her when they were arguing.
“I’m going to make a suggestion,” Decebel finally spoke. “One of the hardest things for us dominant males to do is ask for help. We feel as though we should be capable to handle anything and everything because that capability is what makes us dominant. In the wild, our cousins live and die by the survival of the fittest. Females pick their mates based on who the strongest male is. Pack Alphas are chosen by battles between wolves that are determined to show that they are the one dominant, strong enough and powerful enough to lead. Though we are more civilized than our cousins, we still feel those drives to a certain extent.”
“Really?” Jen asked with wide eyes and then lifted a brow at him. “I never would have guessed that,” she said dryly.
Decebel smacked her on the behind as he huffed. “Behave female.”
Her lips quirked up in a small smile and she would have retorted, but she decided to let it go because of the worry she could see in his eyes. “What has you so worried, Dec?” she asked in a voice she only used with him or Thia. They were the only two who brought out the gentler side that hid beneath the shield she kept in place for the rest of the world.
“Fane is still so very young. He’s mated and been through much that has caused him to have to mature quickly, but he hasn’t yet reached that place of confidence that comes with age.” His fingers began brushing through her blonde locks as she lay her head back on his chest and waited for him to continue. “There are some experiences that can break a person, Jennifer. There are some things that happen to a person that they just can’t come back from.”
The ominous sound in his voice had her pushing up on her forearms to look at him. “You think that’s what’s happened to Fane?” She knew that her question held serious doubt because she couldn’t believe that Fane could ever be broken; just like the idea of Decebel ever being broken was laughable to her. They were male Canis lupus―strong, powerful, dominant, Alpha―and they kicked butts while taking names. How could any of them possibly be broken?
Decebel held her gaze as he answered her. “I don’t know. After the fight he and Costin had, he seemed to get better and I thought he had finally made it through the darkness to the other side, but something has pulled him back in.”
Jen was about to say something in response but there was a knock at their door that had her snapping her mouth closed.
“Speak,” Decebel growled. Jen grinned. He hated having his time with her interrupted.
“Fane Lupei is here to see you, Alpha,” the wolf on the other side of their door answered.
“Well, that didn’t take long,” Jen mumbled as her mate climbed out of their bed, giving her one of her favorite shows—the Decebel getting dressed show. She liked the Decebel getting undressed show better, but she’d take what she could get.
He glanced at her as he pulled on his pants. “You have no shame, woman.”
A wicked grin spread across her face as she propped her chin up on her hand. “And you hate that you love that about me.”
He chuckled and slipped on a shirt. “As long as your lack of shame only extends to me, I’m more than happy to endure it. It’s when you decide to share that particular quality with others that I am annoyed.”
“Annoyed? Seriously, what are you the king of understatement-ville? Annoyed is not even close to what you become.”
He shrugged, something he’d picked up from her. “I say annoyed; you say ready to rip someone apart limb from limb.”
She shook her head at him and shooed him away. “Go do what you gotta do, Alpha. I’ll be patiently awaiting your return.”
He gave her a crooked smile as he opened their door. “Baby, you don’t do anything patiently.”
Jen rolled her eyes and threw a pillow at the closing door. “I put up with you, you butthead. That’s the ultimate act of patience,” she called out and despite the shut door she knew he had heard her.
“I swear if he wasn’t so yummy I’d push him out a window,” she grumbled to the empty room.
Chapter 3
Jacque knew that Fane was going to be upset with her because she’d closed her end of the bond, but it was necessary. If Fane knew what she was about to do, he would be beyond livid―not that she would blame him.
Jacque slipped the book she’d been reading back onto the shelf in the library. She had to do some research before she could put her plan into
action. Thankfully, she’d become very familiar with pack history after doing so much research searching for information about the dark forest. She’d reviewed many of the ancient books in the pack archives that had been long forgotten. One of those books just happened to be about the Fates.
She grabbed a jacket and her small bag packed with supplies and headed for the back door hoping that she wouldn’t run into Vasile or Alina. Jacque hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath until she was outside in the cool air. Fall was quickly turning into winter and it wouldn’t be long until the mountains around them would be blanketed in glistening snow. A shiver crawled down her spine as she remembered the times in the past year that they had to trek through the snow. There had been so much that she’d done since meeting Fane―things that she would never have done had she not been his mate.
Her heart took a nose dive for her toes as she thought about all that she would be giving up if she was allowed to follow through with her plan. Jacque shook her head, unwilling to dwell on the negative. She was doing this for Fane, regardless of what it meant for her.
She moved as quickly and as quietly as she could with her six month protruding belly. Jacque was glad Jen was not with her because she would no doubt be giving her a play-by-play commentary on how hilarious Jacque’s pregnant butt looked tromping through the forest. Then again, Jen would be ripping her a new one for even considering what she had in mind, not that Jen could talk. With all the half cocked, hair brained ideas she’d come up with over the years, she really shouldn’t be able to judge Jacque. When the frustration of an argument that hadn’t happened began to bubble up inside of her, Jacque realized what she was doing. “Holy crap, I’ve resorted to imaginary fighting with Jen in order to justify my actions,” she muttered as she stepped over a fallen tree. She felt her baby kick her as though agreeing with her ridiculousness. Okay, so maybe she had fallen off the deep end, it wouldn’t be the first time.
As the climb began to steepen, she crested a hill and looked around her. The air felt as if it was being sucked from her lungs against her will. Jacque’s head turned slowly as she took in the forest around her. It was not the familiar forest that surrounded her Romanian pack mansion. The forest where she currently found herself was miles away. She turned to the right and saw the pond that she had walked into while under the trance Desdemona had placed on her. The same pond in which Fane had dove into in an attempt to save her. How had she gotten that far from the mansion in a matter of minutes? Peri had told them many times during their journeys into the forest that the forest had eyes and ears. Even though this was the human realm, there was still a certain amount of magic present because of all the supernatural beings that chose to dwell here. It shouldn’t have surprised her that the forest had influenced her trek, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t disconcerting.
In all honesty, she had no idea where she was going. The book she’d been reading in the pack library had given specific details on how to contact the Fates, but not a precise location. The paragraph in question had read:
There is a way to contact the Fates, but you do so at your own peril. The Fates are not to be trifled with and do not like being summoned by mortals. But they occasionally choose to answer if they feel the reason for contact is one that is worthy of their attention. If you do decide to pursue them, then these are the things you must know. First, you must be far from civilization. The Fates typically choose to cross over from their own realm into areas of our realm that are unspoiled by humans and their industrialization. It is best to attempt to contact them near dusk when the sun is departing to make way for its sister to take up residence in her place in the sky. As with most requests made to supernatural beings, an offering is required. A blood offering is the most respected but be careful where you let your blood fall. There are beings that will be attracted to the power the Fates radiate and might come seeking out the source. You do not want your blood to fall into the care of any who could use it against you. Once you have picked a destination, you will make your offering and then speak the following words:
I have come to request an audience with those who know past, present, and future.
Humbly I ask to present my request to you.
I give an offering, a sacrifice of blood.
And I kneel awaiting your answer.
Jacque didn’t particularly look forward to the whole sacrificing her blood part, but she would do what was necessary. After another half hour of walking, she came to an area where several large boulders protruded from the mountainside. Several of them looked perfect to use as a table to set out the bowl, towel, and knife she’d brought to perform the ritual. She set down her bag and stretched her tired muscles, tilting her head back and gazing up at the tree tops that towered above her. She’d spent most of the day doing research, which had eaten up a lot of her daylight, but she’d still made it in time to begin at dusk. The sun was already commencing its slow decent and less light was filtering through the branches to the forest floor. The forest was still and an eerie silence surrounded her. Jacque rubbed her arms absently as the hair seemed to stand on end.
She shook off the creepy sensation and turned back to her backpack and began unpacking the things she’d need. The book hadn’t said to bring a candle, but it hadn’t said not to either. The woods would grow dark quickly and, though she had her wolf to assist with seeing in the dark, the human part of her felt safer with some sort of light to break through the darkness.
Once everything was laid out on the improvised table, Jacque took several deep breaths and shook out her hands, attempting to rid herself of the jitters that had suddenly began to infect her limbs. She knew the minute that Fane had felt her nerves because she felt his push against the closed bond. Picturing a solid brick wall in her mind, she fortified the barricade between them. It sickened her wolf to cause such separation between them and their mate, but she couldn’t risk him breaking through. Part of her wanted to ask for his forgiveness, but if everything worked out, he wouldn’t even remember her so the request would be futile.
With one final glance up at the sky beyond the trees, she confirmed that it was time to begin. Jacque lit the candle. She’d even remembered a lighter, which was impressive given her forgetful pregnant mindset lately, and then she picked up the knife.
As she pressed the blade to the palm of her hand and held it over the bowl to catch the falling flow of blood, the words she’d memorized flew from her lips, filling up the silence that had suddenly descended around her. Jacque felt as if all of nature was holding its breath―watching, waiting, and wondering―just as she was to see if the Fates would make an appearance. And if they did, would they grant her request? Once the words were spoken and her blood coated the bottom of the bowl, she wrapped the towel tightly around her palm. From the kneeling position Jacque had taken during the invocation, she bowed her head and waited to see if her world would be changed forever.
Chapter 4
Fane was attempting to focus on Decebel’s words but his wolf kept pulling his attention back to their mate. Sweat broke out across his forehead as feelings of sorrow, fear, and apprehension swept through him. He also felt a rush of adrenaline that had his hands twitching just a little, which meant it wasn’t his own adrenaline he was feeling―it was Jacquelyn’s. Fane reached for her again by mentally pushing against the wall between them, and―to his utter shock―he felt his mate making it stronger, putting all of her will into keeping him from getting through.
Something is wrong, his wolf growled to him.
“What was your first clue?” Fane snapped, not realizing he’d spoken out loud until Decebel questioned him. Fane looked up, his unfocused eyes clearing and seeing the Alpha’s concerned gaze roving over his face.
“Are you alright?” Decebel asked.
Fane nearly choked on a laugh. Was he alright? No, he wasn’t. He was as far from alright in that moment as he had been since the first time he’d let the memories break him. But now he knew it was not simply his
own problems that were troubling him.
“Something is wrong with Jacquelyn,” he growled, unable to hide his frustration.
“Is she hurt? Is the baby okay?” The Alpha took a step toward him, his natural instinct to protect kicking in full force.
“She’s blocking me. I can’t feel her; I only know she is alive.”
Decebel’s frown grew even darker. “If she’s blocking you, then she’s up to something. Our mates are notorious for digging themselves into graves while making sure we remain ignorant to their exploits.”
Fane’s gut told him that Decebel was right. Whatever was causing the strong emotions in his mate, it was of her own making. That didn’t, in any way, reassure him that she was safe and okay.
“Why do the two of you look like you’ve sucked on a pound of lemon wedges?” Jen asked as she sauntered into the room with Thia on her hip. “Seriously dudes, the ‘I might have a grape in my butt I’m squeezing’ look just does nothing for you two no matter how hot you are.”
“Jacque is blocking Fane from her mind,” Decebel answered, sounding every bit as irritated as Fane felt. He didn't bother to respond to her snark.
“Oh dear,” Jen crooned. “What is my redheaded girl up to, I wonder?”
“Jennifer, if you know something it wouldn’t be smart to keep it from her mate.”
Jen eyed her mate and Fane knew it was a look that behooved Dec to shut his mouth. Fane had been on the receiving end of that look many times from his own mate. Too bad male werewolves were too hardheaded to learn.