8

Fane watched as Jacquelyn sat fidgeting in her hospital bed. On top of being nervous about meeting her father in just a matter of minutes, her skin was healing fast, and he could tell she was itching like she had a severe case of fleas.
“Are you okay, Jacquelyn?” Fane asked her.
Jacquelyn looked at him sheepishly. “Just nervous and itching. My skin is healing so fast and the scabs are driving me crazy.”
“Do you want me to see if they can give you something for the itching?” he asked her.
“No wolf-man, anything they give me will probably make me sleepy. I will just have to deal.”
Fane and Jacque turned their heads at the sound of a growl from a human throat. The sound was coming from Jen. She was rubbing her back vigorously against the wall. She looked like a horse scratching itself against a tree. Jacque thought about pointing this out but held her tongue when Jen started spewing expletives.
“I feel like my skin is crawling with little ants it itches soooooo bad!” Jen ground out as she continued to assuage the itching by rubbing her back against the wall. Sally opened her mouth to say something, but promptly shut it when Jen’s head whipped around. “One word, one word, Sally Michelle and so help me you will have to sleep with one eye open for the rest of your life for fear that I will steal all your dolls and make them do unholy things, take pictures, and then put them on your Facebook page with the caption ‘I still play with dolls’.” Jen was breathing hard.
“Jacque, I think we should tie her up when she spends the night with us, just to be on the safe side,” Sally told Jacque dryly.
“Word,” Jacque answered, using the slang she and her two best friends were so fond of.
“I think I would have to agree with your sentiment, Sally,” Fane added.
“Watch it, Cujo. Just because you’re hot doesn’t mean I won’t retaliate,” Jen said, still trying to allay the itching of her healing skin.
“Wolf,” Fane muttered, as Jacque patted his hand, “I’m a bloody wolf.”
The door to the room swung open and Decebel walked in and froze. He stopped cold at the sight of Jen growling and rubbing against the wall. She looked at him and nearly snarled. “Do you not know how to knock? And what the hell are you staring at? Haven’t you ever seen a girl being groped by a wall before?”
“Not one who was so obviously enjoying it,” Decebel answered without inflection.
Sally looked at Decebel, shaking her head from side to side. “The safest road at this point is to maintain neutral, in a non-threatening stance, and for the love of all humanity, do not engage the beast. Just keep your mouth closed.”
“Right, well, I just came to get you and Jen and take you to another room so that Jacque can visit with her father,” he told Sally.
“He’s here?” Jacque squeaked.
Decebel looked at her and nodded. “He is on his way up now.” He turned back to Jen and Sally and simply said, “Come.”
Sally followed. Jen, of course, could not be that cooperative. “Oh, I’m sorry, did I miss something? Am I wearing a dog tag that shows I should walk on all fours and respond when a big, grumpy-ass werewolf tells me to come?”
Decebel turned and growled, “One of these days, your mouth is going to write a check that your cute little ass can’t cash.” Decebel thought this would render her speechless, but he should have known better.
“Oh, don’t worry fur ball, I plan to be writing that check out in your name.” With that she winked at him and hobbled past a dumbfounded Decebel, IV pole and all.
Sally turned and patted Decebel on the arm. “Good try, chief, but you are sparring with a master in her craft, and didn’t we just discuss not provoking the beast? Geeze, try to save someone’s life and they just throw it out the window.” Sally continued to mutter as she walked past Decebel, her hands in the air as if to show her surrender to another’s stupidity. “I’m done, finished, and if you hairy, testosterone filled, egotistical, snarling, drooling, flea infested werewolves want Jen to neuter you in your sleep, then far be it from me to stand in your way.”
Decebel turned and looked at Jacque. “Your friends have issues. Serious issues.”
“You have no idea,” Jacque said, shaking her head as Decebel turned to follow her two best friends out. “Good luck with that,” she hollered before the door closed.
“Well, that was interesting,” Jacque told Fane.
“Interesting definitely, but something is up with Decebel and he isn’t exactly the most forthcoming wolf. Figuring it out is going to be like trying to figure out who shot Kennedy.”
Jacque looked at Fane and grinned, “You know about Kennedy?”
He laughed, “Why wouldn’t I?”
“You’re from Romania,” Jacque said with a ‘duh’ look.
“Like I told you, I studied American history. My parents wanted me to know more than just Romanian history.”
“I guess that once we are in Romania and start school, I will learn all about Romanian history?” Jacque asked him.
“You will learn a lot about Romanian history as it pertains to the pack. It is a lot of information, but important since you will one day be the Alpha female.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me, it really freaks me out,” she whined.
“My silly Luna, you are going to make an amazing Alpha. Don’t doubt that.” Fane leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips.
“Mmm, there is not enough of that going on lately.”
“Yes, well, I didn’t think you wanted to give Jen free entertainment.”
“How right you are, wolf-man.” Jacque laughed.
There was a knock at the door, causing Jacque to sit up straighter. Fane stood up and walked to the door to open it. Before he did, he turned and looked at Jacquelyn. “You ready, love?”
“You are with me, so yeah, I’m ready.”
“Always, meu inimă (my heart).”
“Oh, and Fane?” Jacque started.
“Yes?”
“Try not to kill my father, okay?”
Fane’s eyes glowed blue, and he growled low.
“Stop it, wolf-man, answer the door.”
Fane opened the door, and a man stepped in. He wasn’t nearly as tall as Fane, but he had broad shoulders, red, wavy hair the same color as Jacque’s, and the same piercing green eyes as his daughter.
The man held out a hand to Fane. “You must be Fane Lupei. I’m Dillon Jacobs, Jacque’s father.”
Fane took Dillon’s hand and shook it. “I am Fane, Jacquelyn’s mate,” Fane told him without looking away from the Alpha wolf’s eyes.
Jacque realized neither of them was going to relinquish before the other, so she had to step in before one of them did something stupid. She cleared her throat. Okay, it wasn’t much, but she figured telling the two Alphas to get their heads out of their butts wouldn’t go over too well.
“You’re right, love,” Fane told her, obviously listening to her inner dialogue. Probably best to keep that comment to yourself. Fane had told her once that her thoughts fascinated him. Her response had been that she was glad she could entertain him.
Dillon turned his head in response to Jacque. “You must be my daughter.”
“In the flesh. Well, at least what’s left of it,” she answered.
Dillon let out a soft growl but caught himself quickly. “Yes, we will get to that shortly. First, I just want you to know that had I known you existed, I would not have stayed away from you. You don’t have to believe me, but I at least want you to know that I would have been here and a part of your life.”
“I believe you,” Jacque told him, tears gathering in her eyes, and before she could stop them, they were pouring down her cheeks.
“Oh, little one, I’m sorry.” Dillon hurried to her side. He felt awkward for a moment until Jacque made the first move. She reached out to him and, just like that, Dillon was holding the little girl he’d always wanted. He pulled her close, and she cried harder. He rocked her and whispered over and over, “I’m so sorry, little one, so, so sorry.”
Jacque couldn’t believe she was blubbering like a baby, but crap, he was here. The one man she had always wondered about, where he was, what was he doing. A thousand questions assaulted her mind. If he had been around, would he have taught her to climb trees, or change a tire? Would he have taken her to the movies the way Jen’s dad did or taken her fishing? It just all sort of hit at one time and she couldn’t hold it back any longer. It was pure instinct that had her reaching for a complete stranger, but a stranger that was still her dad.

***

Fane stood back, his wolf restless as he watched a stranger hold his mate, his mate who was obviously in pain. He hated she was hurting and that he couldn’t be the one to comfort her. Call him selfish, so be it, but she was his, his alone.
“I’m sorry, wolf-man. Please don’t take it personally,” Jacquelyn told him.
“I know, love, don’t worry about me. Spend time with Dillon. I will be fine.” He sent the thought to her as well as a picture in his mind of brushing his fingertips across her neck where his mark should be by now. That just made him growl again.
Jacque finally composed herself and pulled back from Dillon. He gently brushed her hair out of her face.
“I know I wasn’t there for a long time, but I’m here now. I want to be a part of your life if you are okay with that.”
“I would like that,” Jacque said.
“Why don’t you tell me about yourself: favorites, dislikes, and all the stuff a father should know.”
“Well, where to begin?” Jacque said. For the next few hours, Jacque and Dillon talked about anything and everything. Fane could tell they had very similar personalities. Their likes and dislikes, even their sense of humor, were alike. He was happy for her, he really was, but his wolf still did not trust Dillon Jacobs.
Finally, Dillon stood up. He looked at his watch, realizing they had been talking for four and a half hours. Lunch had come and gone, and the entire time Fane had stood against the wall opposite Jacque’s bed, never moving, just standing and watching her. Jacque looked up at him and smiled, that smile was worth every minute he had stood there keeping her safe.
“I’m all yours as soon as he leaves,” she told him through their bond.
“I’m going to hold you to that, Luna.” He winked at her and saw her cheeks turn pink. He loved it when she blushed, loved that he caused that blush.
“I’m going to let you get some rest. I will be back later, though, if that’s ok?” Dillon asked her.
“Yea, I’m good with that,” Jacque answered.
“Okay, great.” He turned to Fane and once again held out his hand, “Fane, thank you for your patience and letting me spend some time with Jacque.”
“If it makes her happy, and she is safe, I will always be okay with you spending time with her,” Fane told him, letting his wolf show through his eyes just a little.
Dillon took a step back before he could catch himself. Interesting, Fane’s wolf thought, Alpha, but not more dominant than Fane. Good to know.
Fane was on his way over to Jacque before the door clicked closed. He sat down on the edge of the bed next to her. “How are you, really?” she asked him.
Fane leaned forward and placed his lips on her neck and breathed her scent in deep. His wolf growled in contentment. “I’m better now,” he admitted.
Jacque laughed and brought his lips to hers and kissed him gently. Fane deepened the kiss, enjoying the way she tasted, reminding him she was safe, and she was his. Jacque moaned as he pulled back. “Will it ever be enough?” she asked him with a grin.
“I hope not. I hope you always want more of me. I must prepare you now, I will never get enough of you,” Fane told her without shame at his need of her.
“Duly noted, wolf-man,” she teased him.

***

Dillon stepped out into the hall after having spent the morning and part of the afternoon with Jacque. He could tell that Fane really cared for her and he was rethinking invoking his Alpha rights. If he didn’t, Dillon would lose her again. She would bond with Fane and then go off to Romania, just when he had found her. Maybe it was selfish, but he didn’t want to let her go. Not yet.
He hadn’t taken but a few steps when Lilly, Vasile, his mate, his Beta, and Logan walked up to him. This would not be pretty.
“How did it go?” Lilly asked him.
“Really well, she told me all about herself. She wasn’t shy at all.”
“What now?” It was Lilly who asked again.
“I think we need to talk.” Dillon looked her in the eyes. “All of us.” He addressed everyone standing in front of him.
Vasile lead the way to a private family area. Nobody sat, not wanting to put themselves in a vulnerable or submissive position.
“Speak,” Vasile ordered. This was the Alpha talking, not Fane’s father.
“I’m invoking Alpha rights regarding my daughter, who is a minor,” Dillon announced with complete confidence.
Vasile growled, causing Dillon’s confidence to waver momentarily, but then he remembered he had every right to step forward. It was pack law.
“You know I have every right, Vasile. She is still a minor, she is my daughter, and it has been made apparent that Fane is not ready to protect her the way a mate should.” At that last part, Decebel lunged forward. Vasile caught him before Logan could intercept him.
“How dare you speak about our prince with such disrespect,” Decebel said.
“Decebel, stand down.” Vasile spoke calmly, but there was a pulse of power in his words that poured over the room, pushing everyone to their knees, including Dillon.
Dillon fought the command and managed to get to his feet.
“I will ignore the disrespect you have just shown my family, Jacobs, and only address the pack law that you have brought to our attention,” Vasile told him.
“What is he talking about, Alina?” Lilly whispered.
“Just listen Lilly, and whatever you do, stay calm,” Alina told her firmly.
“Calm, okay, got it,” Lilly responded.
“You are correct. It is pack law that you may invoke Alpha rights, but you need to be sure that this is really what you want to do. You realize that having a pissed off teenage daughter will make your life difficult, to say the least?” Dillon didn’t respond.
“Have you thought about what she wants, that she wants to be with Fane? And you will take that from her?” Alina asked him gently.
“I have, but then, children do not always know what is best for them. If she comes with me, I will get to spend time with her. Time that was taken from me I need to get back.” He cast a glance at Lilly. “Jacque can use the time away from Fane to figure out if he really is the best thing for her.”
“Go with you? What the hell are you talking about, Dillon?” Lilly’s jaw clenched in anger.
“Calm, remember,” Alina told Lilly.
“He just said he wants to take my daughter.”
“OUR daughter.” Dillon interrupted.
“No, that is not how it works, Dillon. You don’t get to come and say you’re her parent and that she should come with you when she doesn’t even freaking know you!”
“Lilly, she is half wolf. You can’t possibly know everything that is best for her.”
“Everyone out.” Lilly’s voice was like a whip. “Out! Everyone!”
Vasile nodded to Decebel and his Mate.
“Logan, go,” Dillon told his Beta.
Once the door closed and Dillon and Lilly were the only two in the room, Lilly straightened her spine and looked Dillon dead in the face.
“I don’t know who you think you are, Alpha or not. If you try to take her, she will hate you. She loves Fane, they are mates. You, of all people, know what that means. If you try to keep them apart, you will rip their souls in two.”
Dillon took a deep breath. “I’m not taking her from him indefinitely. She’s only seventeen, Lilly, she isn’t even an adult.”
“She will be eighteen in two months, Dillon, which you might know had you been around when she was born.”
“Fine then, I will have her for two months. Once he bonds with her, she will be gone, Lilly, and I just found her.” Dillon’s voice was soft, and Lilly could hear the pain in it.
“Why do you even want her so bad? Surely you have full-blooded werewolf children with your mate, which I do not begrudge you, by the way.”
Dillon looked at the ground when he spoke. “We were never able to conceive.”
The words hit Lilly like a punch to the gut, pushing all the breath out of her.
“Jacque, is your only child?” she asked.
“Yes.”
Neither of them spoke for several minutes. It was Dillon who broke the silence.
“Lilly, I’m not trying to be the bad guy. I could have lost her in that wreck. She should have been protected, and I’m not blaming you. Fane is responsible for her. He just isn’t ready. They need time to mature. If all I can get is two months with her, then so be it. But maybe if they step back for a bit, they will see that it would be good to wait to bond.”
“You’re trying to intervene in what fate has ordained. It’s going to backfire on you, Dillon. If Jacque doesn’t want to go with you, I swear to you I will do everything in my power to keep it from happening. God help you when Fane finds out.” Lilly pivoted and fled the room, slamming the door behind her.
Logan walked in just after Lilly’s departure.
“Looks like that went well,” Logan said.
Dillon grunted.
“Vasile wants to speak with you,” Logan told him.
Dillon nodded. Logan walked out to get Vasile. The Alpha came into the room and his power followed him. Dillon could feel it and it grated on his wolf as if he was being petted against the grain of his fur.
“What are you going to do?” Vasile asked.
“Just what I said. Jacque is coming home with me, at least until she turns eighteen. If she wants to be with Fane after that, then I can’t stop her. From now until she leaves, my wolves will guard her. You will pull your wolves back. Fane can be here during the day, but I don’t want him sleeping up here.”
“So be it. You had better keep her safe, Dillon. If anything happens to my son’s mate while in your care, I will take it out of your flesh.” Vasile’s voice was that same deadly calm, but Dillon’s wolf had no choice but to submit.
Vasile turned to Logan. “You need to come introduce yourself to Jacque. While you are doing that, I will get Fane.” Vasile turned and looked back at Dillon. “Hold your wolves back until I get Fane away from the hospital. You do not understand what you have provoked. You will be lucky if my wolf can make him submit.”
“Logan, go with Vasile and meet Jacque. I will call the rest of the pack and tell them to wait until I say to come in,” Dillon ordered his Beta.
Vasile left the room with Logan behind him. Dillon took a deep breath, wondering for the hundredth time if he was doing the right thing.