18

Jen sat in the gym with the rest of the TFF – she had to admit she loved Crina's designation of their little group. Dorin and Cami were on one side of the room and Anton and Delia were on the other. Their eyes roamed the gym constantly, waiting to see if any of the wolves would become a problem.
Jen had the feeling some of the mated males were itching for a fight and wouldn't mind taking down a wolf or two. To the far right sat another group of unmated females. Some looked eager, eyes wide, scoping out the males on the floor. Others looked as if they'd just found out they were headed to the taxidermist.
Decebel and Fane were sitting a couple rows behind the TFF on the bleachers, scanning the crowd with equal concentration. Even with his eyes roaming over the room, Jen knew Decebel was acutely aware of her. He would know if she moved an inch from where she sat now. He would know if her breathing changed at all, or her heart rate increased. She smiled to herself, thinking how nice it was to have the one she had been pining for, how nice it was to have accepted this thing between them.
Marianna, who sat on Jen's left, nudged her and nodded in the direction of the doors. They watched as a man, a very large man, walked into the gym. He stopped in the very center and his presence immediately brought the room to silence. Jen looked closer and realized it was Skender. It was then that she realized she hadn't seen him or Boian since arriving at The Gathering.
That's odd, she thought.
"Did you notice Skender and Boian have been MIA since we arrived?" she asked, leaning over to Jacque.
Jacque nodded. "I hadn't thought about it 'til seeing him just now."
Jen watched as Jacque's face took on that weirdness it got when she talked to Fane through their bond. She thought, note to self: practice using bond while looking in the mirror. That way she could make sure she kept a normal face when and if Decebel and she ever got to that.
"Fane says that Vasile has both of them leading a couple of the activities to help minimize the risk of Decebel getting in a situation where he could offend the other pack females."
"How could he offend them?" Jen asked.
"If he flat out refuses to participate with a female in a solo or group activity, it's considered a slap in the face."
Jen nodded as she turned and glanced up at the one who occupied her every thought. He was looking at her, as he often was when she looked at him. She smiled and the slight upward curve of his lips would not have been caught by just anybody. But Jen was learning his subtle expressions. In their current situation, he was trying to keep from holding up a sign that said: “I'm after Jennifer Adams,” but at the same time he didn't want her to forget what he'd said.
He wanted her.
"Welcome Serbia pack," Skender announced. "My name is Skender and I'm a member of the Romanian pack. I will be leading today's lessons." Then, turning to the bleachers where the two female groups sat, he pointed to the right. "We welcome the females from the Bulgaria pack."
All of the guys clapped respectfully but their eyes were wild and eager.
"We also welcome the females from the Romanian pack."
Again, the males clapped.
"That would have been the perfect entrance," Crina muttered, referring to the cheer that had been thoroughly shut down by Decebel.
Spoil sport, Jen growled inwardly at him.
"Today the males will be teaching self-defense and some combat moves. The Alphas feel it is important that all members of the pack know how to defend themselves. Those of you who have already been training will be paired up with an advanced instructor." Skender looked past the TFFs and pointed again. "Decebel, why don't you and Crina come down and demonstrate some of the moves we will learn today."
As Decebel made his way down the bleachers, he walked right behind Jen and the other girls. As he passed her, he ran a finger lightly on the nape of her neck, so quickly that nobody picked up on it. She smiled.
I want you. She heard his voice in her mind and wished it wasn't just a memory.
It was then that Jen really understood why Skender had been made leader. He knew that Jen would feel less threatened if Decebel sparred with one of the females from their pack. She was thankful for that, but knew it was only a brief reprieve because he was majorly advanced at fighting. He would be placed with a non-pack member at some point, but definitely never with Jen as she had as much self-defense skill as she did in basket weaving. That would be a gigantic none.
The girls watched as Decebel and Crina made some impressive combat moves and then demonstrated some basic – what Jen considered “get the hell out of dodge” – moves. These were moves designed to disable an attacker long enough to book it to safety.

When the demonstration was done Skender started calling out names, announcing the pairs. He explained that every twenty minutes the females would rotate clockwise to spar with a different male.
Great, Jen thought. It’s Karate Kid speed dating.
She heard Decebel's and some girl's names called. She didn't even look to see who it was. She couldn't. Instead she started muttering, "I want you. I want you. I want you."
Jacque looked at Jen, shaking her head at her best friend's weird tactics. "Well, if you insist," Jacque responded. "Although, Fane might get a little jealous."
Jen shot her the finger.
"Why are you muttering that? You've gone from 'not an option' to 'I want you.' What gives?"
Jen looked at Jacque and Sally, who watched her questioningly. "He told me to remember, when he has to be with the other girls, that he wants me. I can't look at him with another girl. I wish it wasn't such a big deal but I've never been so screwed up over a guy."
"He's not just any guy," Jacque told her.
"Maybe," Jen said softly.
Sally smacked her leg. "Don't talk like that. It's obvious he's crazy about you, like certifiably. Trust him, Jen."
Jen nodded and her head snapped up as her name was called. She looked over to the mat Skender had indicated, where a tall guy was standing. He grinned at her and the look in his eyes made her feel like he was trying to see her soul. It made her feel naked and vulnerable, and there was only one wolf she was okay with making her feel like that.
She started down the bleachers. "This is going to suck."
Marianna gave her an encouraging smile. "Hang in there, dormant."
"Thanks, she-wolf." Jen tried to smile back, but it didn't reach her eyes.

Decebel watched as Jennifer walked over to the wolf she'd been paired with. He nearly snarled when he realized it was the guy he had taken the phone from last night. That pup had been recording the girls' dance. He ripped his eyes away, trying to get his wolf under control.
It didn't escape his notice that Jennifer hadn't looked at him a single time since he'd been paired with the short brunette in front of him. The girl smiled tentatively and Decebel had to force his lips to turn up. By the look on her face it didn't quite make it to a smile.
"Let's get this over with," he muttered as he stepped towards her. She looked ready to run, and as Decebel began to walk her through basic self-defense moves he could feel her trembling. He wished he could bring himself to care enough to at least try to put her at ease, but it was taking every ounce of willpower for him to not go throw Jennifer over his shoulder and carry her off to perform the Bonding Ceremony.
His eyes kept straying towards her, and when Skender finally announced it was time to switch, he let out a slow breath. At least she was getting away from the wolf who'd been drooling over her last night. But as Decebel looked to see who was next in Jennifer's row, he realized they had almost all been there last night. They'd watched his mate sway her hips suggestively, things moving that would only lead a guy's mind in the wrong direction. The flirty, come hither look that had been plastered on her beautiful face... Bloody hell, it's going to be a long day, he thought as he turned to face the next female he didn't want to be near.

An hour and a half into the self-defense training, Jen was feeling slightly encouraged. She'd finally allowed her eyes to land on Decebel. Each time he had been working with a girl it was painfully obvious he was trying to touch her as little as possible.
Jen wished she could say the same about the guys she had been working with. She felt like she was constantly having to steer clear of an accidental – yeah, right – grope or grab. She was just glad Decebel hadn't seen.
The guy she was now training with turned her around to teach a move that would disable an attacker pinning her from behind. Jen stood still as he wrapped an arm around what she thought was going to be her neck. He stepped even closer so that their bodies touched from his chest to her calves. But instead of her neck his arm wrapped over her chest, his hand not quite making under her arm. He basically had a handful of boob. So not good.
Jen would've overlooked it if the idiot hadn't squeezed. She gasped in shock and instantly heard a growl somewhere beyond her. She knew that growl.
The wolf who held her tightened his grip painfully and Jen tried pulling away from him, which only caused what felt like his claws to descend.
That’s going to leave a mark, she thought.
The growl, Decebel's growl, turned into a snarl. Her head snapped up as she tried desperately to get out of the wolf's groping hands. She saw Decebel look at her, then at the hand that was planted on her chest.
Decebel phased, faster than she had ever seen a wolf phase, and launched himself across the room. Suddenly everything a flurry of movement. Jen was pulled from the offending wolf's arms and into Dorin's.
"Get her out of here now.," he told Cami. "And get the Alpha. He's the only one who can call Decebel down.”
Cami nodded and turned to Delia. "Go get Sally and Jacque. Fane and the other guys are going to have to try to pull Decebel off the idiot."
Jen and Cami turned when she heard bodies slamming together. They froze. To their horror, the other guy had phased into a motley grey wolf and he and Decebel were circling each other. Decebel was much, much larger with a shiny grey pelt and four white paws.
They watched as Decebel snarled and snapped at the other wolf, trying to slip him up. Decebel got his chance when the wolf stumbled back just a little. Decebel took advantage of the mistake and launched himself forward. His teeth sunk into the smaller wolf's neck and in an amazing show of strength, Decebel raised the wolf upward and slammed him onto his side.
The other wolf struggled briefly before submitting. Decebel stepped back, releasing him. Had Jen not been scared witless, she would have laughed when he slapped the other wolf across the head, effectively knocking him unconscious.
Decebel raised his head and howled, and as if beyond their control, the other Romanian pack males howled with him.
Suddenly Jen felt a pressure fill the air that nearly drove her to her knees. The howls cut off. She watched as the full-blooded wolves all knelt and a very, very pissed off Vasile thundered through the gym doors.
When Jen looked back at Decebel, she could see him struggling under the weight of his Alpha's power. A couple of times he stumbled, but continued. Stupid barbarian. She rolled her eyes and closed the rest of the distance between them.
She shook her head. "What were you thinking?" Jen snarled, "Do you want them to separate us? Because that's what they're going to do if you can't keep it together."
She stopped talking when Vasile came up beside her. His eyes were glowing a deep blue. He snapped a hand out and someone placed a pair of sweat pants in it.
"Phase back." His voice was low, but no less commanding than a shout would have been. Decebel phased back and Jen quickly turned. When she no longer heard the ruffle of clothes, she turned back around to see Decebel's eyes on her, not Vasile.
"Are you all right?" he asked her.
Jen hesitated as she thought about how the wolf had grabbed her – violated her, even. She'd felt his claws pierce her skin... Deciding it was probably best for every person in the vicinity if she didn't mention that little tidbit, she lied – only a little. "I'm fine."
Vasile turned to Skender. "Please give the Alphas my apologies and let them know I will discipline my pack accordingly. We will take our leave until tonight's events."
Skender nodded
Vasile looked at the other members of his pack. One by one they dropped their eyes, baring their necks.
"Pack, meet me in the room we had breakfast in. Now."
Marianna came up beside Jen. Sally and Jacque had already appeared at her side.
"You okay?" Marianna asked.
"I'm not really sure how I am at the moment," Jen admitted.
She could feel Decebel's eyes on her as he walked behind them.
"What happened, Beta?" Fane asked.
"Not now," Decebel answered gruffly.

One by one the pack members filed into the breakfast room. The tables and chairs had been put away. In their place were lounging chairs. Vasile didn't sit. Alina joined him and looked just as angry. Jen watched as all the males eyeballed each other. None would concede and sit until Vasile commanded it. Once everyone was inside, Dorin pulled the door closed with an ominous click.
To Jen's surprise it was her that Vasile addressed first.
"Jen, please explain to me in as much detail as possible what happened."
She took a deep breath before she began.
"The last wolf I was training with felt me up," Jen said frankly.
Decebel snarled, even Fane and Costin snarled at her words.
Vasile took a deep breath. "That's as detailed as you can be?"
"At first his hand just landed on my chest, that I would've overlooked. The clincher was that he squeezed and didn't let go.” She shrugged uncomfortably. “So, it wasn't an 'oops, my bad' or a passing 'hello,' it was more like 'I'd like a room for the night, please,' kind of gesture."
Decebel was visibly shuddering in the corner as he attempted to keep his wolf under control.
"Decebel, calm yourself." Vasile commanded.
"Did he leave any marks on you?" Vasile turned back to Jen.
Inwardly, Jen cussed because she'd really been hoping to avoid this part.
"When you say marks..." Jen started vaguely.
Before Vasile could comment Decebel was at her side, turning her to face him. Although he was very gentle with her, his touch was firm, determined.
His hand, now steady, came up and stroked her face.
"The truth, Jennifer. Did that mongrel leave any marks on you?" Decebel's words were so soft. She could tell he didn't want to have this conversation in front of everyone.
"I'm not sure. I haven't really had the opportunity to check."
"Check," Decebel said simply.
Jen's jaw dropped open. "W-what, here? Now?"
Alina walked over to Jen and pulled her to the side. Decebel looked back at every male in the room and growled. They instantly all turned their backs. He glanced back at Jen. Alina was helping her lift her shirt. When Jen noticed him, she stopped her shirt from going any higher.
She cleared her throat. "Wolf, you haven't earned any special privileges. So, unless you're handing out Benjamins, you don't get to watch the show."
At the moment his thoughts about her were far from inappropriate, no matter what part he saw. But he understood she didn't feel comfortable with him seeing her unclothed. He relented and turned around.
The other girls walked over to form a semi-circle around her while he waited impatiently. He nearly spun when he heard Sally's gasp.
"Damn," Sally murmured.
Alina looked up at her mate; she was growling. "She's bruised and she has claw marks."
"Bloody hell," Jacque gasped as she leaned around Alina.
Crina covered her mouth to keep from blurting out the f -bomb.
Marianna shook. "That's going to be there for a while, Jen."
Jen rolled her eyes as she watched Decebel twitch as he tried to keep from looking.
"Your play by play is really helping keep everyone calm, guys," Jen said sarcastically. "Just chill out. It's not like I'll have his marks on me forever."
She realized the mistake of her words a second after they were out of her mouth. Decebel's wolf would consider that as the other wolf marking her, claiming her. Jen knew he hadn't been – he was just a perverted guy.
Decebel pushed all the girls out of his way and was standing in front of her faster than Jen could blink. She froze as she looked up at his face, his dark features accentuated by anger. She felt him pull her shirt down to cover her. She still couldn't move.
"Once again, Jennifer, you make light of something that is serious." Decebel's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Why?"
"I'm not saying what he did was okay, but I could have handled it. He was just being a guy. He saw an opportunity to get some free action and took it. I'm perfectly capable of kicking a guy in the balls, B. I didn't need you to go all fangs and claws on him."
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. An ass who touched what is mine!"
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."