29

Two hours into dinner, Thad was finally ready to pass out the drinks. The attendees brought out two trays. He walked over and began handing them out. The last glass, he handed to Vasile.
Thad raised his drink. "I want to toast to a new era for our species. Our time is now. Hopefully many of our pack members will find their mates and we will be able to bear pups once again. To each of you."
A ripple of agreement flowed through the room as they each took a drink from their glasses. Thad kept an eye on Vasile to make sure the Alpha drank enough of the wine to be effective. When he saw him drain it, he had to school the smile that flashed across his face.

Vasile looked over at his mate and smiled. "You look beautiful, Mina."
Alina blushed. "Still the charmer, my Alpha."
"Alw -" Vasile tried to finish the sentence, but he suddenly felt a tightening in his chest and was finding it difficult to breathe.
"Vasile." Alina's voice was worried as she pulled her mate's face up to look at her. She gasped when she saw the wolf staring back at her.
"Poison," the wolf told her, and his eyes rolled back in his head as he collapsed.
Alina only had a moment to realize what had just happened before she herself couldn't breathe. It was like something was crushing her chest, bearing down on her. Everything went dark and she, too, fell to the floor.
Gasps and hollers broke throughout the room as Victor hurried to the fallen Alpha's side.
"There is a pulse but it's weak." Victor looked at Thad. "Quick, find the doctor Vasile brought with his pack."
Thad nodded once and turned to whisper in his pack member's ear, who then hurried out of the room.
Thad looked back to where Vasile and Alina lay motionless. He had to force himself into action so as to appear to care. He helped Victor and Dillon lift the Alpha and carry him into the adjoining suite. Dragomir picked up Alina's limp form and laid her gently beside her mate.
Agnes and Adrianna both had tears running down their cheeks as they looked on. The group watched as Vasile and Alina's forms began to convulse.
"Somebody help them," Agnes sobbed. Dragomir wrapped his mate in his arms and whispered gently to her.
Dillon, who had backed up to the door, was nearly knocked over when Fane, Decebel, Sorin, Cynthia, and a slew of females came rushing into the room.

Jen came to an abrupt stop when she saw Vasile and Alina lying on the large bed, their bodies convulsing. Her hand covered her mouth as her eyes filled with tears. Sally pulled away from Marianna – some invisible force pulled her towards the bed.
As Sally got closer, Fane turned and snarled, but Cynthia pushed him out of the way.
"Let her through," Cynthia growled.
The entire room plunged into silence as Sally, in a trance-like state, approached the bed. She climbed up beside Vasile and placed her hand over his heart. His body calmed immediately.
"What the..." Murmurs wound through the room as mouths dropped open and eyebrows rose.
Sally leaned over Vasile and placed her forehead against his. She closed her eyes and her breathing became deep and slow, as if she had fallen into a deep sleep.
“I guess we have confirmation,” Jen whispered in Cynthia's direction.

"What is she doing?" Fane growled at the doctor as he watched Sally.
"She's a healer," Cynthia said in awe. "The first gypsy healer in over a century. In our pack."
Those old enough to understand the significance of her words lowered themselves to one knee.
Jen tugged on Decebel's sleeve. His eyes were glowing and she could see sweat had broken across his brow. "Why are they kneeling?"
"It is a great honor to be in the presence of a healer. Other packs will kneel out of respect."
After what felt like forever, Sally finally sat up. She turned to Decebel.
"His body has been poisoned with an herb. It's common in these parts. Moonseed." Her eyes were unfocused as she spoke.
"How? Who would do this?" Decebel snarled as he looked around the room. He wondered if he looked hard enough, he'd be able to see their guilt.
"That doesn't matter right now," Sally continued in a low voice. "He needs the antidote. He is fading fast, and Alina even faster. He needs Wolfsbane. It will counteract the poison."
Marianna stepped forward. "I know what Wolfsbane looks like. I can go get some, it grows on the mountainside."
Jen looked at Jacque and Fane, saw the horror and fear in their eyes. She was so sick of people hurting those she loved. Decebel walked up to the bed as Sally climbed down to allow him closer. While he was distracted, Jen slid over to Marianna.
"Come on, I'll go with you," she whispered in her ear.
Marianna looked at her and a small smile appeared. "Okay." She nodded and they both backed slowly and quietly towards the door. Not one person glanced their way. All eyes were riveted on the fallen Alpha and his mate.

Marianna and Jen hurried through the mansion.
"We're going to need a flashlight for you," Marianna told her and made a quick detour.
"Where are we going to find flashlights?"
"There's a shed just out the far west doors. I'm crossing my fingers that there's one in there."
"Good call."
Marianna kept glancing at Jen from the corner of her eye, sure that she'd be able to pick up on her guilt. They made it out the door and headed straight for the shed, which had light glowing on the front of it, illuminating the entrance. They both hurried in and began rummaging through shelves.
"Gotcha." Jen grinned, holding up a large industrial flashlight. She flicked it on and shined it around the room.
"Perfect," Marianna agreed. "Okay, let's go before Decebel realizes you're gone."
They left the shed and headed to the front of the estate, hurrying to make it out of the gates and onto the dark mountainside. Both girls shivered as the cold hit them – neither had thought to grab a coat in their haste. Marianna knew that Thad made sure to have all the Wolfsbane close to the mansion destroyed, so they would have to walk a good way out to find it.
"HEY! Wait up."
Jen's and Marianna's heads turned to find Sally running after them, her own flashlight in hand. Of course, Sally would think to get a flash light – she was always prepared.
"Sally, what are you doing?" Jen asked in a rush.
"I saw you sneak out. I can help. I know what to do once we find the herb. It has to be ground up in a certain way."
Marianna squinted at her. "What do you mean?"
"The small leaves have to be separated and soaked in warm salt water to draw the healing properties out. If you just crush the plant and mix it in water it won't be worth anything."
"Fine, but be careful," Jen growled.
"Oh, you're one to talk about being careful," Sally snapped back.
Marianna started walking more quickly and Jen and Sally had to lengthen their strides to keep up.
"We're probably going to have to walk quite a way. I'm thinking if we split up then we'll probably find it more quickly."
"Divide and conquer, sounds like a plan."
"Sally, you go far left," Marianna told her and pointed in the direction she meant. "Jen, you go far right, and I will go straight. You're looking for a plant with dusky green leaves and a purple bloom."
"Dusky and purple. Okay, let's do this." Jen headed in the direction Marianna had instructed.
She shined her flashlight across the ground, side to side, sweeping across the shrubbery. All the while muttering, "purple, purple, dusky, dusky," under her breath.
Jen had been walking for a half hour when she felt a shiver go down her spine. She stopped mid-stride and slowly turned in a circle. Looking into the trees, she shined the light into the foliage. Someone was following her. No, someone was stalking her.
"Who's there?" Jen continued to shine the light and she strained her eyes, trying to pierce the darkness.
Suddenly a dark form lunged at her. She dropped the flashlight to put her hands up and protect her face. She was hit roughly, knocking the breath from her lungs. Her head snapped back and she heard a crack as her skull struck something hard. The last thing she saw before blackness consumed her was sharp teeth and glowing eyes.


The wolf that was Marianna grabbed Jen's pant leg and began pulling her deeper into the mountains. She dragged her steadily for several miles to the deep cavern she had found. The wolf set Jen's supine form right at the edge of the cavern. Marianna then phased back to her human form.
Marianna shivered at the loss of her fur, but quickly shook it off and grabbed the buckets of wolf urine that Thad insisted she take, the ones she'd hidden the day before. She made it back to Jen's side just as Jen was beginning to moan and come to.
"Bloody hell," Jen groaned.
"I'm sorry, Jen. I'm sorry, but I have to do this." Marianna pushed Jen's legs over the edge of the cavern.
Jen gasped and her arms came flailing out as she reached to grab something, anything. Marianna gave another shove and Jen slid over the edge. Her stomach scraped against the stone as her shirt slid up; her nails tore as she scrambled to grab anything to keep her from falling.
Jen slid further and further, her feet pushing into any rock that might give her a foothold. Eventually she felt a protruding root and grabbed it, holding desperately onto the lifeline. She looked up and could just barely see Marianna in the darkness, leaning over the edge, a bucket of something in hand.
"Why are you doing this?" Jen asked, her voice tight with fear and the strain of holding on.
"You wouldn't understand." Marianna had tears streaming down her cheeks. "You have your mate. How could you possibly understand?"
"Try me," Jen snarled.
Marianna wiped her tears away. "I was in love. He was human."
Jen's mouth dropped open. "But what about your mate?"
"What about him," Marianna spat. "I don't see him. Do you, Jen? Who knows how long until I find him? It could take centuries, yet Vasile expects me to live alone, empty."
"He knows that only your mate will make the emptiness go away, Marianna," Jen said gently, trying to reason with the enraged she-wolf.
"I was happy with Drey. He made me laugh." Marianna's eyes clouded over as memories filled her mind. Then her face darkened. "Vasile found out and had Drey shipped off to the U.S. I was forbidden to see him, or any other human. The only way I can be with Drey is to no longer be under Vasile."
"Did you poison him?" Jen's eyes widened as her breath quickened.
"No. Thad did. Thad agreed to let me join his pack, and if I didn't find my mate among them, he agreed to let me go to the U.S. to find Drey. He told me I had to get rid of you. He figures getting rid of you will take care of the Beta as well. Decebel will either be killed by fighting Thad's pack or he will die searching for your body. He has plans for Fane, as well – they will be implemented in time."
Jen couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her arms were getting tired and beginning to shake. She had to try to get Marianna to change her mind somehow.
"Marianna, you don't have to do this. You could let me go and just leave. I won't tell anyone."
Marianna laughed. "Thad would kill me if I didn't finish the task he has given me. I'm sorry, Jen. I really liked you, but I love Drey and I won't spend my life hoping for a mate that I may never find."
She began to tip the bucket of liquid and Jen gagged as the stench hit her nose a second before the cold fluid drenched her. Jen sputtered and coughed, trying to keep it from her mouth.
"I am sorry about the urine, but Thad insisted," Marianna told her as she picked up another bucket and poured it. "He said it would cover your scent and it would take longer for them to find you."
Jen's hands began to slide as the root she was holding onto became slick from the urine. She tried to muffle the cry that came out when she slipped, only gaining her grasp at the last second.
"You would do anything to be with Decebel, Jen. That's what I have to do to be with Drey."
"Decebel is my mate, Marianna. It's not the same. You won't be satisfied with the human," Jen tried again, but knew it was hopeless as Marianna stood.
"I have to go, I don’t want them to come looking for me. I pray your death will be quick so you won't suffer." And then she was gone.
Jen stared up into the darkness, realizing just before her hands slipped free that she was going to die. A tear slipped down her cheek as her grip loosened against her will. She cried out hoarsely as she fell. It wasn't as deep as she thought, the fall didn't last long, but it didn't soften the landing. She hit the ground hard and once again, darkness took over.