24

Cynthia yawned as she sat at the table with her pack, eating breakfast. She'd been out searching until two in the morning. She had phased when she went out looking for it, knowing her wolf could move much faster. Finally, over ten miles away from the estate, she found the Nepeta, a.k.a. catnip. She was still working on perfecting it in liquid form – the hardest part was that it needed to be potent enough, but also dissolved so the plant's little particles weren't visible. People tend to get suspicious when there's stuff floating in their drinks.
Cynthia caught Jen's eye across the table and nodded, a subtle motion for her to follow her out of the room.

Cynthia was waiting in the hall when the five girls came out, Costin at their heels. Yeah, this doesn't look suspicious, she thought.
"Whatchya got, doc?" Jen asked.
"I found the Nepeta ten miles out. I've been working on it all morning, and the only thing I'm not sure about is its potency while making it undetectable in the drink."
"You found something that will keep the guys from being able to phase?" Costin spoke low, so as not to be overheard.
Cynthia, Jen, and Sally all nodded but didn't elaborate.
He lifted his eyebrows. "Ooookay, how did you find out about it?"
Sally looked over at Cynthia who gave a nearly imperceptible shake of her head.
"We just did some digging and it sort of fell in our laps," Jen told him vaguely.
"Uh-huh, just fell in your laps." Costin eyed them suspiciously. "Well, if that's your story..."
"Finalized, illustrated, and edited." Jen gave him a sharp nod. "Alright. Moving along, people. Doc, we need test subjects for your mojo."
"That would be the most accurate way to determine if it's effective," Cynthia agreed.
Jen smiled sweetly at Costin.
Costin watched the gleam in Jen's eyes as she smiled at him. Realizing what she was thinking, he put his hands up. "No way, Jen. Come on, you can't ask me to do that. I can't protect you guys if I can't phase. No. I'm putting my foot down."
Jen didn't argue, realizing that no amount of flirting, groveling, pushing, or bribing was going to work on Costin. She watched each member of their group, all trying to think of a wolf to test this concoction on.
Finally, Cynthia spoke up. "I'll do it. It's my creation, I should be the one to test it."
"Are you sure you want to do that, Cynthia?" Sally asked.
"Yes, definitely. I'll take Jacque, Sally, and Costin with me while you three go bait your prey."
Jen held out her fist to Cynthia's. Cynthia picked up on what Jen was after and balled her fist and bumped it to Jen's.
"Let's get this party started, ladies."
Costin cleared his throat and look pointedly at the evil schemer.
"Oh, for crying out loud. Let's get this party started, ladies and hot werewolf. Happy?" Jen asked.
"You think I'm hot?" Costin grinned and winked.
"You don't hold a candle to B, so don't get too excited."
"Ouch. I'm hurt, Jen." Costin smiled, placing his hand over his heart.
Jen shook her head and turned to Marianna and Crina, "You two ready?"
"Totally." Crina smiled.
Marianna gave a weak, "Yippee," her eyebrows raised as she made pom-pom motions with her hands.
"That's the spirit." Jen laughed. "Let's go find the rat pack."

Damion looked up from his table to see the blonde American and the two female Romanian wolves coming towards him. "This day is looking up boys."
The other four turned in their seats to watch as the girls walked confidently to their table.
They stopped a foot away and looked each of them over.
"I hear you boys are the ones who put that wicked cool video together." Jen smirked as she folded her arms across her chest – not by accident.
Damion's eyes wandered south of her neck before returning to her face.
"That was us." Damion winked. "We wanted to share all that beauty with everyone."
"Aw, that's sweet." Jen glanced back at Crina and Marianna. "Isn't that sweet, girls?"
"Very sweet." Crina raised an eyebrow at the wolves.
Marianna silently nodded with a sweet smile.
"Is there something we can do for you, ladies?" Adrian spoke up, drawing their attention.
"Actually, we came over to invite you guys to a friendly game of cards tomorrow night. There will be refreshments."
Damion leaned back in his seat and folded his arms. He unabashedly eyed Jen, starting at her feet, going all the way to the top of her blonde head.
"Who else will be there, beautiful?"
"You five studs and us." Jen indicated herself and the two girls with her.
He raised his eyebrows as a smile slid across his face. "And what kind of cards will be played?"
Jen leaned forward, resting her hand on the table so she could whisper closely, "The kind that rhymes with lip stroker." She winked and then stood as she watched Damion's brain deduce what she had just told him. "If you wanna play be in the gym tomorrow night at ten o'clock. It's our little secret, if you get my drift."
Damion watched as she walked away with a very appealing swing in her hips. He heard several of his pack mates give low whistles.
"So, are we in?" Adrian asked his Beta.
"Like I would ever pass up playing strip poker with some fine women." Damion rolled his eyes. "Yes, we're in," he reiterated when Vilim and Josif looked at him blankly.
"Strip poker!" Vilim suddenly announced.
"Shhh."
"Shut up, you idiot." Damion and Adrian waved him off.
"I didn't realize that was what she was talking about," Vilim continued.
"What else would rhyme with lip stroker?" Damion asked his pack mate, voice filled with exasperation.
"You four keep your traps shut," Damion warned. "I don't want any other males catching whiff of this. Those she-wolves are ours."

"That went well," Jen said enthusiastically. She felt her phone vibrate and pulled it from the back pocket of her snug jeans.
Decebel txt: morning beautiful
Jen knew the grin that stretched across her face probably looked ridiculous, but she didn't care. Decebel thought she was beautiful, and was thinking about her. The only thing that could make it sweeter was if he were to tell her himself.
Jen txt: morning yourself

"You think they'll show up?" Crina's voice brought Jen back to the present.
"Honey, their eyes were roaming all over us. They'll be there." She looked at her phone as she said, "Let's head to Cynthia's office and see how things are going."
Decebel had texted her again.
Decebel txt: what r u do n 2day?
Jen knew that Decebel didn't want her participating in any more of the activities that were planned, but Vasile couldn't justify her not being there. She had to answer this carefully – if she couldn't be honest, she would just redirect his attention.
Jen txt: basket weaving
They reached Cynthia's office and opened the door without knocking. Costin, Jacque and Sally were already there, sitting and staring at the doctor.
"Sooo, how's it going, guys?" Jen asked carefully.
"We're waiting," Jacque whispered.
Jen looked at each of them and then at Crina and Marianna.
"Waiting for what?"
"To see if she phases," Sally answered her.
"Why are we whispering?" Crina asked.
"Don’t know. Just seems like we shouldn't be loud or make any sudden movements," Jacque replied absently.
Costin rolled his eyes and looked at Jen. "It's been fifteen minutes and so far, she can't phase." He spoke in a regular volume.
"How much did you drink, doc?" Jen asked.
"I put about one third of a cup in eight ounces of liquid. So far, I just feel stuck. Like my skin is just stuck. I don't really know how to describe it."
The other full-blooded wolves in the room all cringed at Cynthia's description.
"So, we just sit and wait?" Crina asked.
"Pretty much." Costin nodded.
"What time is the group activity we're supposed to be doing today?"
"Eleven," Jen answered, looking at her phone. It was nine now, and she had another text.
Decebel txt: why do I not like the sound of that
Jen grinned. Smart wolf.
Jen txt: basket weaving is perfectly safe
Decebel txt: so it's an all-girl class?
"Sneaky wolf," Jen snickered.
Jen txt: define all
Decebel txt: entire, every one, total, whole
Jen txt: cute
Decebel txt: answer
Jen txt: I gotta use the girls’ room, b back
Jen txt: fyi, the girls’ room is all, entirely, totally, wholly girls :)
Decebel txt: Jennifer!

Jen ignored the last text. She didn't want to flat out lie to him. He would just worry and probably tear something up. She leaned back against the wall and slid to the floor. Closing her eyes, she prepared to wait with the others to see how long it took until Cynthia could phase. Her phone vibrated several more times. She didn't look at the texts, but she knew they would probably be in all caps.
Bad Jen, she thought to herself.

Jacque walked into the dining room and straight into Fane's arms.
"That's better," Fane murmured in her mind.
"I missed you, too.” She snuggled into his chest and let out a deep breath. Dealing with all the drama of Jen's scheme and Cynthia's magic potion was wearing her out. Although, they were all a little less stressed on discovering it took Cynthia over three hours to phase after drinking her catnip concoction. At least they knew that part of the plan would work.
"I hope you don't mind, but your father asked if we would eat with them and I said we would."
Jacque smiled at the worried look on Fane's handsome face. "That's fine, wolf-man."
As they walked out, Jen passed by.
"I'll meet you in your room later, Jen," Jacque said with a calm demeanor.
"Okay, have fun." Jen winked at them and smiled at Fane. "Hey, hottie. Taking care of my girl?"
Fane chuckled. "Always."
"I mean that in many ways," Jen tossed at them as they continued out. "Just in case you didn't catch that."

"Where are they going?" Sally asked as she sat down next to Jen at the table.
"I'm assuming to eat with Dillon," Jen told her. "But I've been known to be wrong on rare occasions. There's the distinct possibility that this is one of those occasions."
Sally rolled her eyes. "It must be exhausting being you, Jennifer Adams."
"It's a big responsibility, no doubt," Jen said seriously. "I mean, the expectations would make a weaker woman falter."
"Oh, definitely.”
"I'm just saying, Sal, it ain't easy being green."
Sally snorted. "You're not green."
Jen waved her off. "It's all relative, Chica."
Crina and Marianna ambled in, then Costin. Cynthia trailed in last. They were trying to break up their “together time,” so that it didn't look suspicious. It probably wasn't working since they all looked as guilty as Professor Plumb in the conservatory with the candle stick.
They ate quickly, all of them eager to finalize the plans for the next night. Jen was ready to have some alone time. She used the word alone loosely – she would quasi-be with Decebel. He'd been texting her all day, most of them the equivalent of growling her name. She hated to leave him hanging, but she'd had to do the stupid pool lessons.
Yes, she thought. You heard right. We had pool lessons, as in billiard tables. The last thing she needed was Decebel imagining her leaning over a pool table with a bunch of unmated males surrounding her…which was exactly what had happened. She would conveniently leave that little bit out tonight when she texted him.
Before Jen could leave the table, Vasile spoke up. "You all remember that tonight is another pack gathering?"
"Crap," Jen muttered and was followed by several others in their little posse muttering similar expletives.
Vasile lifted an eyebrow. "Plans?"
Jen's eyes widened and she was frozen in the stare of the Alpha. Her brain just stopped, the only thing she could hear was a little voice screaming, Busted.
"Oh, um," Sally started. "I think Jen was wanting to sit this one out, with all that's happened."
Jen looked at Sally and willed her to see the gratitude in her eyes.
"Well, I suppose I could say that you aren't feeling well," Vasile said thoughtfully. He looked back at Sally, "Am I correct in assuming that there are several other females who are wanting to sit this one out with Jen?"
Sally nodded. "Yes, Alpha. Sir."
Alina smiled at Sally's nervousness.
"Fine, then. But you are not to leave Jen's room. For anything." Vasile stared pointedly at each of the girls.
"Yes, Alpha," they all said in unison.
As Jen stood to leave, she caught Costin's eye and mouthed, "Later."
He gave a slight nod.
Cynthia also nodded.
Disaster averted, Jen thought with a sigh.