if you need to be held up. You are never alone in this. Always look to the truth when you are bombarded by discouraging thoughts. Tell me a truth, Jacquelyn.”
“Fane loves me,” she said immediately.
Vasile smiled. “That he does. Another.”
“I’m supposed to be in this pack.”
“Without a doubt. Another.”
Jacque stared into the eyes of the Romania alpha and felt the pack cord that connected her to him and Alina. It was as if Vasile was magnifying it, drawing her attention to it. “You and Alina love me, very much.”
His eyes were glassy with unshed tears as he gently patted her cheek. “As if you were our own, and not just because you’re the true mate to our son. You are pack, Jacquelyn. You are mine and Alina’s daughter, and you will always have us to give you anything you need.”
Jacque sucked in a breath as she pulled away from the memory, realizing she hadn’t been breathing, and she was very close to passing out. It was a precious memory she’d held close to her heart. No matter what any girl without a father says, there is a part of her that longs for the love of a father. And Vasile had given it to her with such openness.
“Luna.” Fane’s voice filled her mind. “It’s okay, beloved. It’s okay to hurt. I’ve got you, just like you’ve got me, I’ve got you.”
“I’m not okay, wolf-man,” she whispered through their bond. “I’m not okay.”
“You don’t have to be.” She felt his lips against her forehead. His voice sounded calm, but he couldn’t keep his true emotions hidden. He was holding it together for her.
“Tell me it’s going to be fine. Even if it’s a bloody lie, just tell me everything will be fine,” Jacque begged as she held Slate tighter.
“I will never lie to you, Jacquelyn. I love you too much.”
“Damn you and your love,” she said with half a sob and half a laugh.
“Don’t try to hide from me.” His voice turned stern. “You don’t bear this pain by yourself, understand?”
She nodded. “I’m sorry. I just didn't want to make things harder for you.”
“Ce am făcut vreodată ca să te merit,” he said.
“Translate please.”
“I said, what have I ever done to deserve you,” Fane answered.
“I’m noth—”
“You’re everything. And as wonderful a woman as my mother was, you are every bit as wonderful. You will be an amazing alpha female.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because my mother told me,” he said gently but firmly through their bond. “She said she knew the first time she saw you stand up to me that you would be a strong alpha female. She said that she knew you could lead because you didn’t see others as less than yourself. My mother loved you, Jacquelyn, and she would not have told me those things if she did not believe them completely.”
“How are you okay right now?” Jacque didn’t want to focus on the things he’d just told her because she knew she’d only sob harder if she truly considered the previous alpha female’s words.
“I’m not okay. Like you, beloved, I feel as though I’m dying. But if I let go and lose it, I’ll wind up hurting someone, and that would not bring any honor to my parents. At the moment, I’m just going to focus on how we can get you all out of the Order’s hands. When I have you and Slate back, then we will deal with our loss.” His tone was resolved, as if he’d just decided that he wasn’t going to lay down and die, and for that, she admired him. Because she was seriously having a lay-down-and-die moment.
Jacque felt his arms come around her. Though it was only the sensation from their bond, it still felt so good.
“Just let me hold you, even if it’s like this. Let’s just be here together, you, me, and Slate for a moment,” Fane said.
Jacque allowed herself to sink into the feeling of her mate. She held Slate close and began to hum the lullaby, and Fane hummed along with her. She had no idea how they were going to get through their loss. But for now, she was going to do as her mate asked and just be with him. Everything else could wait for a little while. It’s not like she had anywhere to go anyway.
“Soon, Luna,” Fane whispered. “Soon, you and my pup will be back where you belong.”
Chapter 16
“A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn