9

Jen and Sally walked together to a large meeting room. The pack was meeting in five minutes for the announcement of The Gathering.
They had essentially done nothing all day. It was Saturday – so no lessons. Jen had been forced to endure Sally's endless reassurances that she wouldn't leave her side at the event they'd deemed Mate Fest 2010. They had also opted not to venture out after Jen told them about Decebel's declaration to always be with her when she left the mansion.
Sally had asked, "And how did you respond?"
"I told him the only place I would go with him was to the vet," Jen said innocently.
"We all know that there was more to your comment than that, Virginia. So, go on, share the rest of what I'm sure was a most enlightening statement for Decebel," Jacque prodded.
"Fine. I added that he would be going to the vet to have my foot pulled from his ass. I didn't see his face but I'm sure he felt, as you said, enlightened."
Sally had been taking a sip of water at that exact moment and spewed it everywhere.

"I'm interested to meet these other unmated females," Jen told Sally. "I'm hoping they're cool. Ya know what I mean?"
"If in 'cool' you mean non-psycho, jealous, female dogs – then yes, I know what you mean," Sally retorted.
"Man, Sal. I have seriously rubbed off on your once sweet, innocent disposition." Jen chuckled. "And by design, Sally dearest, they are female dogs, they can't help it."
Sally looked at Jen out of the corner of her eye. "You really crack yourself up. And by the way, maybe the real Sally is finally surfacing after years of repression."
"Yeah, you just keep telling yourself that, Sigmund. While you're at it why don't you explain to us the theory of conditioning," Jen teased her best friend.
"I'm just saying."
"Once again you prove that I have clearly influenced you." Jen's eyebrows rose as she glanced at Sally. "I'm not saying that's a bad thing. I mean, truthfully, most people would seriously benefit from a personality adjustment compliments of Jen Adams."
Sally snorted. "Does it get heavy?"
"Does what get heavy?"
"That big head you lug around 24/7, 365." Sally patted Jen on the back. "It just seems like maybe your neck or back would begin to hurt at some point."
"Wow, Sally. I'm impressed you aren't just going for a psychology degree! Right now, you seem to be running for mayor of 'I think I'm funny' town."
Sally laughed at Jen but quickly stopped as they walked into the meeting room. Chairs lined the walls and were also lined up in rows in the middle of the room. The room wasn't full yet but it was quickly becoming so as people filed past them.
"Guess we should snag some chairs," Jen muttered as she walked into the room, heading for the far-right corner.
"Why are we sitting way back here?"
"This way we can see the whole room and do some recon."
"Great, here we go with the black op lingo. Were you a Navy SEAL or some special forces officer in a past life?" Sally asked.
"It's a gift. It comes so naturally that you think I've had formal training." Jen winked.
"Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking. And, by the way, Hogwarts accepted you and is awaiting your arrival."
"Ha, ha, good one," Jen said dryly. "You have my vote – you'll be mayor in no time."
Sally rolled her eyes as they both continued to watch people enter and sit in the large room.
"Ooo, ooo!" Sally smacked Jen's leg as she spotted Jacque and Fane. "There's Simba and Nala."
"Nice," Jen laughed, then hollered to get their attention. "Hey, princess! Over here."
Jacque spotted them and pulled Fane in their direction.
"Hey, why are you guys sitting way back here?" Jacque asked.
"Here we go," Sally murmured.
"We're doing recon," Jen explained.
"Recoooon, riiiiight," Jacque repeated, one eyebrow raised dubiously.
"Oh, shut up and sit down."
Fane chuckled and sat down next to Sally, pulling Jacque onto his lap. Jacque looked back at him and smiled.
"This way we are sure to have enough chairs for everyone," he explained with a grin.
"Oh, right. We definitely want to make sure there are plenty of seats." Jacque smirked.
"Well, as long as we are being so conscientious," Jen cut in. "Sally, why don't you go climb up in Sorin's lap and I'll," she pointed as a guy walked past her, "grab that hottie and pull up a lap as well."
Jen felt a hand rest at the nape of her neck as a voice spoke softly next to her ear. "If you need a lap to sit on, ţinere de meu inimă (holder of my heart), mine will be the only available to you."
She watched as Decebel sat in the chair next to her and felt her stomach drop as he winked at her.
"I better stay in this chair. It has a tendency to walk off if left on its own." Jen hated how breathless her voice sounded and was mentally kicking herself for letting him see how he affected her. By the smug look that slid across his face he was indeed well aware of it. Damn werewolf, she thought to herself.
Sally looked over at Jacque and grinned, obviously loving the play between Decebel and Jen.
Jacque leaned over and whispered in Sally's ear, "I give it two days before he lays one on her."
"You're being generous. I say less than twenty-four hours."
"Is that a bet?" Jacque asked, eyebrows raised.
"Better believe it," Sally answered. Her lips eased into a crooked smile.
Jen leaned around Sally and glared at her two best friends. "What are you two betting on?"
"Good grief. What, does she have eagle ears or something?"
"No, you dork. Your whisper is just you talking in normal volume but making your voice raspy. Really, you sound more like a chick who's been smoking for thirty years." Jen shrugged. "I'm just throwing that out there. You can take it and apply it at your leisure."
Fane was chuckling at Jen's words when Jacque elbowed him, causing him to cough.
"You don't get to laugh, wolf-man." Jacque turned back to Jen. "Thank you for that observation, Sherlock."
"Always glad to help a friend in need, Watson." Jen grinned at Jacque's irritated look.
Sally rolled her eyes. "Will there ever be a time that I don't have to send you two to opposite corners?"
"When hell freezes."
"And the people there finally get that glass of ice water they've been waiting on," Jen added.
Jacque reached around Sally, her fist balled. "I like that one."
Jen bumped Jacque's fist and winked. "I know, right? I came up with that one just now."
"Ooo, pretty and quick witted."
"What can I say, wolf princess? I'm the total package."
Decebel looked over at Fane. "A face tu fiecare a lua ce ei say?(Do you ever get what they say?)"
Fane smiled at his Beta. "Nu mai incerce sa, (No longer try)."
"Good call." Decebel nodded.
Jen looked over at Decebel, her eyes narrowing. "No talking in foreign tongue when around the Americans."
Decebel leaned towards her, the gleam in his eyes causing Jen to tremble. "But Jennifer, I thought you spoke Romanian." He looked around at Sally and Jacque. "Weren't you two under the impression that she spoke Romanian?"
Jacque and Sally nodded despite the daggers Jen was staring their way.
"That was thoroughly impressed upon us, wouldn't you say, Sally?" Jacque turned to look at her.
"Wait. Uh yeah, I distinctly remember a bar...vodka...and I'm almost positive Jen speaking in Romanian to the hot bartender." Sally was grinning from ear to ear as Jen's face grew red.
"I hope you two aren't attached to your undergarments because I just got the sudden urge to have a bonfire," Jen growled out.
"Note to self: hide underwear."
"Or you could just solve that problem by not wearing any." Jacque heard Fane's voice through their bond. Her jaw dropped open and her face turned bright red as she turned to look at her mate.
Jen looked at Sally. "Looks like Fane had a suggestion about the princess' undergarments. If I had my guess, I'd say he told her I couldn't burn them if she didn't own any."
If Jacque could've turned any redder, she would have. "How? What..." Jacque stuttered as she looked at her blonde friend, trying to figure out how she knew what Fane had been thinking.
"It's a gift, Watson. But really what it boils down to is when it comes to chicks and underwear, guys will always say they don't mix."
Decebel coughed as he choked on his laughter while Fane had buried his face in Jacque's back, his shoulders shaking. Jacque and Sally both looked at their friend with open mouths.
"Another tidbit you might be interested in is when it comes to chicks and open mouths, guys -" Decebel leaned over and covered Jen's mouth with his hand and warned her with a glare to swallow her words.
"Thanks, Dec. That's usually my job," Sally told him. "But I was in such shock that I couldn't get my limbs to move."
Decebel inclined his head. "Is that why you always seem to stand so close to her?"
"It's of utmost importance that whoever is within her reach be ready at any and all moments to intercept what might come from that wicked tongue."
Jen was frantically trying to talk around Decebel's hand at Sally's comment. Decebel was quickly learning how Jennifer's brain worked, and could only imagine what she wanted to voice in regards to Sally's wicked tongue comment. He leaned forward to whisper in her ear. "I'm going to uncover your mouth. It would be wise of you to just let the wicked tongue comment slide."
Jen glared at him from the corner of her eye, and after a tense moment finally nodded once in submission. Decebel slowly uncovered her mouth, ready if need be to slap it right back over her lips.
The room began to get quiet and they all directed their attention to the front of the room. As Vasile welcomed everyone for coming and began to explain about the meeting he had with the other Alphas, Jen leaned over to Decebel. "You owe me. Sally walked right into it with that whole wicked tongue thing."
Decebel chuckled and whispered back, "For some reason, ţinere de meu inimă (one who holds my heart), I have a feeling there will be plenty of opportunities for you to embarrass your friends for questionable comments they innocently walk into."
Jen shrugged. "True enough, but you still owe me. And what are you calling me when you speak Romanian? You've said the same phrase to me twice now."
Decebel patted her leg, causing all sorts of tingling sensations. "Dar tu romaneste, Micul meu lup. (but you speak Romanian, my little wolf)"
"I know what lup is and I am not a wolf. Whatever else you said I'm sure is a load of crap as well."
"My sweet, Jennifer." It was his turn to lean in close. He drew in a deep breath, taking in her scent. His eyes closed as a new smell hit his nose. It was subtle, but it was most definitely there. "I didn't notice it before but I assure you, your scent says you are most definitely wolf." My wolf, he heard his own wolf growl, but he kept those words to himself.
Decebel leaned back in his chair. He couldn't focus on what Vasile was saying, not after catching this new scent on Jennifer. He tried really hard to hide his surprise, but he was almost positive this new scent was the mate scent. There were several things that identified a female as a true mate to a male: the ability to hear each other's thoughts, the markings on the male changing, new markings appearing on the female – ones that matched the male's like a puzzle piece – and a scent that only the true mate would recognize.
The first two had definitely not happened between Jennifer and Decebel, but the scent, her scent had changed. It was very, very subtle and it was taking everything in him not to pull her into his lap and bury his nose in her neck. Yeah, he thought, that wouldn't freak her out. Decebel shook his head and tried to set aside this new development so he could listen to his Alpha.
"The Gathering is to take place in a month," Vasile was saying as Decebel tried to catch up. "I want every unmated female to choose one or two mated females from the pairs I have chosen to attend to act as their companions. These females will help the unmated prepare for the evening dances and should she meet her true mate they will also stand as witnesses."
"Do we have to go, Alpha?" Jen heard a pouty voice on the far-left side of the room and craned her neck to see who had spoken. Vasile motioned for the wolf to stand and Jen watched as a petite girl rose from her chair. Her hair was cut short in a pixie style. She had big, expressive brown eyes and a small mouth. Her olive skin tone only added to her exotic look.
Vasile's eyes softened and he smiled gently. "Unfortunately, Crina, this is out of my hands. We have been invited and if I refuse it would be considered an act against our species."
The she-wolf named Crina huffed and sat down. "Well, that's a bitch." The room vibrated with low chuckles at her words.
Jen grinned and turned to Sally and Jacque, who were grinning as well. "I like her," she told them.
Decebel overheard Jen's words and looked at her. "I don't think you and Crina should hang out, Jennifer."
Jen cocked her head to the side, her lips pursed. A wave of jealousy rushed over her. "She an old flame, Decebel?"
Decebel sat up straight, clearly caught off guard by the question. "No," he answered flatly.
Jen's eyes narrowed dangerously. "A current flame?" She didn't even recognize her voice as she growled at the thought of Decebel with another woman.
Decebel watched as Jennifer bristled while waiting for his answer. Then it dawned on him – she was jealous. He couldn't stop the chuckle that slipped past his lips. He saw her body tense and realized that laughing wasn't the smartest move he could have made.
"Jealous, Jennifer?"
"Of course not," she spat at him. "I just think with as much as you flirt with me, if you are involved," the word came out like it was repugnant to her, "then you need to take your flea-infested self elsewhere."
"And if I'm not involved? What then?" he asked softly, almost a challenge as he looked into her eyes.
Jen stopped breathing at the heat in his look. She was mesmerized as she watched his eyes begin to glow. Amber met her blue ones and she felt herself being drawn closer to him.
"Jennifer," Decebel whispered her name. "What if I'm not involved?"
His hand on her leg finally brought her out of her trance. She took a gulp of air as she realized she was getting light headed from lack of oxygen. She shook her head and looked at Decebel in shock. "Bloody Hell!"
She abruptly stood as the whole room turned to look at her. Jen didn’t know what had just happened but she knew she had to get as far from Decebel as she could right at that moment. She couldn't think clearly when he was around, and she sure as hell couldn't think when he looked at her like that, and said her name in that voice, and touched her… Crap, she thought. I'm so screwed.
Decebel stood to follow her but Sally grabbed his arm. She didn't even flinch when he snarled at the one who would keep him from following Jennifer.
"Sit. Down," Sally said firmly to the furious Beta.
The room was deathly quiet when the door slammed shut behind Jen. All eyes were on the group in the corner. Decebel eased back into his chair and met the stares of the other wolves. One by one they submitted to their Beta and looked away.
"As I was saying," Vasile continued. "All unmated members will attend The Gathering. The mated pairs who will attend have already been informed."
"What about the dormant American?" a male wolf in the middle of the room asked.
Decebel snarled. "She is not your concern."
"Decebel!" Vasile growled.
Decebel bared his neck at his Alpha in submission. "My apologies, Alpha."
Vasile looked back at the other wolf. "The answer to your question, Stelian, is that any and all with wolf blood of any amount are required to attend. Jen is a dormant, but she is a member of this pack. An unmated member," he amended. Decebel growled at the words. "And as such, she will participate just like any pack member." Vasile nodded for the wolf to be seated.
The meeting continued on for another hour with questions and frustrations being voiced. Through the entire process Vasile was patient and answered each question, but was unbending and firm. He made it very clear that his pack would attend and that any males who found themselves in an altercation would be dealt with harshly. The room broke into laughter when he said that he wanted it clear that this was not an opportunity to hook up and scratch an itch.
"We are there to seek out true mates. Do not disrespect someone else's mate by putting your hands, mouth, or any other part near what does not belong to you just because you are attracted to them. I will not punish any wolf who challenges another male because he was stupid enough to touch another's mate, even if she hadn't been mated at the time. Do I make myself clear?"
"As you say, so shall it be," the room said in unison.
Jacque grinned at Sally. "Jen would have been all over that. 'Any other part near what does not belong to you'," she repeated Vasile's words. "She's going to be ticked off that she missed an opportunity to embarrass Decebel."
"Totally," Sally agreed.
Fane lightly slapped her thigh. "Luna, behave."
"Make me," she challenged as she leaned back, causing him to growl low in his chest.
Vasile finally dismissed the meeting. As Jacque stood, Fane whispered in her ear, "I suppose your challenge will have to wait since you want to find out what caused Jen to leave so abruptly?"
Jacque smiled at her mate, but before she could answer Sally spoke. "I know why she stormed out of here."
Decebel's and Jacque's heads both whipped around. "You do?" they both asked at the same time.
Fane raised an eyebrow at Sally's words.
Sally in turn eyeballed Decebel. "Jen never really learned how to use an inside voice. So, Decebel, why don't you share how she asked you if you were involved with Crina, and how you never really gave her an answer but instead taunted her, and then nearly made her hyperventilate with desire."
Decebel's head cocked to the side, his eyebrows drawn together. "How -"
"I would say it's a gift, but really I'm just nosy as hell. And damn, boy, the look you were giving her nearly had me in a puddle."
"Shut up!" Jacque squealed. "Are you telling me Jen stormed out of here because he got her all hot and bothered?"
Sally was grinning from ear to ear. Decebel looked like he would be perfectly happy if the universe would just swallow him whole.
"She was angry when she left," Decebel defended.
"Yeah, angry because she's got it bad for you, Sherlock," Sally told him, rolling her eyes.
"Really? She likes me?"
Jacque laughed at Decebel's cocky smile.
"Um, if you aren't her mate that's not a good thing, Casanova," Jacque reminded him.
Sally nodded in agreement, scrutinizing Decebel. "Let's just hope that she finds her mate at Mate Fest so she can get over you."
Decebel took a step towards Sally. Fane stepped around Jacque and laid a hand on Decebel's chest, stopping him. "Easy, Beta."
Decebel closed his eyes taking slow breaths, leashing his wolf. Then Sally's words worked past the jealous fog. "Mate Fest?" he questioned.
Sally grinned. "Jen deemed it."
"Naturally," Decebel muttered with a slight smile.