"I was just teasing, Fane. I know you aren't scared of him. Don't do anything stupid."
She watched as Fane cocked his head to the side, a motion Jacque had seen him make in his wolf form.
"Now you think that it would be stupid of me to attempt to prove I am not scared of him because why? Because you don't think I could hold my own against him?" Fane's voice was thick with accusation.
Jacque stomped her foot, something that she hated doing, but somehow Fane managed to elicit the reaction on a regular basis. "Fane, stop. I know you are brave and can take on any wolf who challenges you. I know that you can go all 'I can kick your butt with one paw tied behind my flanks' on your enemy. You've already proved it many times over." She was pleading with him, and through their bond she let him feel the truth in her words.
Jacque watched as Fane's grim face turned into a brilliant smile.
"A paw tied behind my flanks?" he asked incredulously."I don't know whether to be flattered that you think I am so capable or laugh at the imagery your words evoke. In any case, I think they are done here. You ready to go to bed?"
Jacque watched her mate walk toward her. Her jaw dropped open at his playfulness.
When he got close she crossed her arms across her chest and glared.
"You were playing me, weren't you? You were never going to challenge Decebel," she accused.
Fane laughed. "I may be paw-tying awesome love, but he just became pack Alpha and is mated. I'm not stupid."
Jacque huffed.
Fane took her hand and began to lead her from the room. They stopped abruptly when they heard a low snarl and then a loud howl. Decebel had phased right there in the gathering room. Jacque looked over her shoulder at the massive grey wolf with his four white paws. She felt the pull in her as her wolf responded to the Alpha. As the howl died, Decebel's head snapped down and his gaze landed right where Fane and Jacque were standing. Decebel began to move toward them at a fast pace. Fane quickly pulled Jacque to the side just as Decebel passed them. They heard another snarl as Decebel pushed open the mansion doors and took off into the night.
"He must get exhausted being mated to Jen." Jacque chuckled.
"Decebel was a stone before Jen came along. No life was in his eyes. She has brought that back to him. Everything about her is exactly what he needs. Just as everything you are is exactly what I need."
Jacque stopped and pulled Fane's head down to kiss him passionately.
When she pulled back she looked deeply into his eyes. "I don't know how you do it, wolf-man, but you always manage to say what I need to hear."
Fane winked and tugged her to keep moving. "I have a book."
Jacque laughed. "Naturally," she said, and rolled her eyes.
~
Sally stepped aside and Costin walked into her room. Her nervousness was obvious, but he didn't sense any fear of him. Nerves he could deal with; he didn't think he could handle her being afraid of him. He moved slowly, not wanting to upset her more.
Costin looked around for a place to sit. The queen size bed had a simple wooden headboard and a silver bedspread on it. It was against the wall in the middle of the room. There was a tall chest of drawers opposite the bed and on the wall to the left was a roll top desk and chair. He made his way to that chair and took a seat facing Sally.
She stood there looking at him, not with accusation, but with simple curiosity.
"I feel like there's something you want to talk with me about," Costin prompted.
Sally let out a breath and her shoulders slumped. She walked over to her bed and climbed up, sitting Indian style facing him. Her elbows were propped on her knees and her chin rested in her hands.
She drummed her fingers lightly against her cheeks as she considered how to begin. Then everything just came pouring out.
"I'm just not ready. I mean, I understand that we are connected by this whole mate thing, with the mate signs and what not. But I'm not – I just can't..." She was flustered, but paused as she watched a enthralling grin spread across Costin's face, revealing the cute dimple. That smile was disarming.
"Why are grinning at me?" she asked as she let her hands drop from her face and fall helplessly onto her lap.
"Are you scared of me?" he asked her gently.
Sally shook her head.
"Do you think I would ever hurt you intentionally?"