Just One Drop by Quinn Loftis
"All of you?"
"You're pack." Marianna answered as if that was all that needed to be said.
Decebel's phone rang and Jen climbed up so he could reach his pocket. Since they were all super unnosy, they made sure to be as quiet as possible while he answered the call.
"They didn't?" Decebel asked.
The room was silent as he listened.
"Okay. Yeah, I got it. Thanks, Vasile." He closed his phone and looked up to find six sets of eyes glued to him.
"So is there a plan for this evening?" he asked casually.
Jen rolled her eyes. "Spill it, wolf."
Decebel grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward. She fell against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, enjoying the freedom to touch her.
"That was Vasile," he said finally.
"Yeah, we sort of got that when you thanked him and used his name." Jen's eyes narrowed. "Try again."
"Testy tonight, aren't we?" Decebel teased.
"I think I liked it better when you were broody," Jen muttered, which only made him chuckle and squeeze her closer.
"Vasile informed me that the Alphas have decided to not subject me to any punishment for my actions against the mongrel who touched you." Decebel's words became rougher as he spoke.
"It would have made no sense for them to punish you," Fane told him.
"Why do you say that?" Jacque asked her mate.
Fane took her hand and tugged him to her, tucking her under his arm. "Any mated female who had been touched that way would have watched as her mate tore the offender limb from limb."
Jacque shivered at the menace in his voice.
Jen cocked her head at Decebel. "Aw, would the little furry wolf make a chew toy of the pervert for me?" she teased, squeezing Decebel's cheeks like she would a baby's.
Decebel gently removed her hands and took her face in both of his. "I will kill the next male who touches you. I'm done playing nice," he said, snapping his teeth together as his canines descended.
"Sally, get a hose." Jen grinned wickedly. "Because that was so freaking hot and I'm on fire."
Decebel rolled his eyes, but softened it with a smile.
“Ohhh nooo," Sally groaned. "I thought it was bad before the nympho had an outlet. Now she has her very own boy toy."
Decebel growled. "I'm not a boy toy," he said, clearly offended.
"Don't mind her, B. She's just sexually frustrated," Jen placated.
Decebel shocked the room into silence when he looked at Sally and dryly quipped, "Join the club."
Jen's face turned eight shades of red.
Jacque recovered first. "Bloody hell, I didn't know Jen had that color in her skin repertoire."
Crina and Marianna snickered while Jen tried to recover herself. She hid her flaming hot face in Decebel's neck. He rubbed her back soothingly and murmured to her in Romanian.
Note to self, Jen thought. Find out what he's saying… Correction, throttle wolf for joking about his needs in front of my friends, then find out what he's saying.
"So what are we going to do tonight?" Fane asked.
Jen sat up, having finally composed herself. "Isn't there some sort of something going on tonight?"
"Yes, but my father thinks it best that we lie low. Just until things simmer down."
"Well, my vote is that we hit up the mess hall first and foremost," Jen announced.
Sally rolled her eyes. "Here we go with the military lingo."
"Where does she get that?" Jacque asked, shaking her head.
"I can't decide if she was in special forces in a past life or if she was dropped on her head as a child." Sally shrugged.
"I definitely wasn't dropped on my head, Sally dear. My head is perfectly rounded, free of any discombobulation," Jen said haughtily.
Marianna, who usually stood quietly and observed, chuckled. "Only an American would describe the shape of her head as if it were some sort of special art form to be prized."
Jen stood up from the couch, straightening her clothes and tugging at her ponytail. She smiled brightly at Marianna. "Seriously, she-wolf. Are you looking at the same head I see in the mirror?" she asked as she made a circular motion around her head. "This is God's way of showing that he is indeed capable of creating perfection."
Jacque and Sally snorted as Fane and Decebel chuckled.
Jen looked down at Decebel as she heard him mutter, "Niciodata nu inceteaza sa el (she will never cease to amaze)."
"Have something to tell me, B?" Jen asked sweetly.
"Just that I have never beheld a head possessing such utter flawlessness, baby," he told her, dramatically bowing at the waist.
Jen narrowed her eyes. "Definitely liked you better as an ominous, brooding, fur ball."
His response was a wicked grin and a wink.
Chapter 20
"Ugh, if I eat another bite I'm going to be sick," Jacque groaned as she looked at the feast they'd all heartily dug into.
" I have to agree, Thelma." Jen leaned back in her chair, rubbing her belly. "I'm as full as a tick stuck to the flesh of a bull mastiff on a hot summer day."
Jacque shook her head. "I swear, Louise, you really know how to ruin a good carb-induced buzz."
"I aim to please, wolf-princess."
Crina stood and stretched as she looked around the room. "What do you guys say to a swim? There's bound to be a pool in this breeding facility."
"Good one, C. 'Breeding facility,' like it." Jen grinned.
Jacque sat up and looked at Fane, "What do ya say, wolf-man. Up for a swim?"
Fane nodded but didn't answer out loud. "You in a bathing suit – like I could ever turn that down."
Jen watched the play between Jacque and Fane and knew they were using their bond. Something in her heart tugged. She wanted that intimacy, longed for it with Decebel. She turned to look at him and found him watching Fane and Jacque as well. He must have felt her eyes on him because he turned and met her gaze. Something unspoken flowed between them. Almost as if she could hear him say not to worry, their time would come. Her response was, “are you so sure?” at which he growled, this time out loud. Jen shook her head, amazed at how in tune they were with each other, and yet there seemed to be a vast chasm between them.
"I could go for a swim," Marianna spoke up.
"Yeah, I'm in." Jen stood up, stretching her stagnate form.
As they made their way out into the hall, Fane and Decebel both perked up.
"What do you hear?" Jacque asked just as Costin came around the corner, nearly plowing into Marianna.
"Oh. Sorry, Marianna," he told her as he caught himself. He looked nervous and he wouldn’t meet Fane's or Decebel's gazes.
Decebel stepped forward. "What's all the noise about?"
Costin shook his head as he looked at the floor. "Why do I always have to be the one to find things out," he muttered.
"Costin," Decebel warned.
Finally Costin looked up. He didn't address his Beta, instead he spoke to Fane. "I think we should get your father and a few other males."
Fane nodded. Costin took off at a run while Fane turned to Jen.
"Distract him."
Jen looked confused for a second, but quickly caught on as soon as Decebel moved in the direction of Costin, the direction of the noise.
Jen didn't know what to do to distract a six foot four inch male wolf that was ten times stronger than her. She wracked her brain as Decebel continued to move forward – he did so slowly, as if he were afraid of what he'd find. Fane was standing in front of him, trying to coax him to stay.
Then inspiration hit. He's male, Jen thought. She grinned.
"Hey, fur ball!" Jen hollered. There was a wicked gleam in her eye as she grabbed the hem of her shirt and tugged it over her head, leaving her in a sports bra.
"This is so not good," Sally muttered to Jacque.
Jacque shook her head as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "I swear we're going to have to duct tape her mouth and put her
Jen mock-sighed. "The sacrifices we make for our men."
Decebel turned at the sound of Jen's voice and she winked.
"Don't you want to hang around?"
Then she flashed him.
Costin was banging on Skender's door when Vasile stepped out of his room.
"What's going on?" Vasile asked.
Costin met his Alpha's eyes briefly. "We need all our males. Now."
Alina heard the wolf's worried voice and followed Vasile out. "What happened?"
"Decebel is going to go on a killing spree if he sees what I just saw without us to stop him."
"What have you seen?" Vasile took a step forward.
Costin quickly explained about Jen, Crina, and Marianna dancing while the males of the other packs videoed them.
"Alpha, it was not an innocent little dance. But our females didn't know they were being watched so they definitely weren't tempering their moods, if you know what I mean."
Alina was shaking her head in frustration. "So even though Decebel ordered them to delete the video, someone did not?"
"Correct. They are showing it in one of the movie rooms at this moment. It's packed with males. I think their thoughts are 'strength in numbers.' They figure Decebel cannot retaliate with so many of them present."
"They do not know he is an Alpha in his own right." Alina's voice was low.
"No, Luna. Decebel purposely allows others to underestimate him." Vasile's eyes snapped up as Skender, Boain, Dorin, Anton, and a couple other males ran up the stairs.
"You are aware of the situation?" Skender asked.
"Costin has just informed me. Since there hasn't been widespread panic, do I correctly surmise that Decebel hasn’t yet made it there?"
Skender and the males with him couldn't stop the chuckles. "He has been momentarily... distracted."
"Do I even want to know what with?" Vasile asked dryly.
"No, Alpha. You most definitely do not want to know," Skender replied.
"Fine," he snapped. "Let's go. Alina, please come and retrieve the females. And call Cynthia. We're probably going to have to tranq him."
It'd been a long time since Vasile had subdued one of his males in such a way, but Decebel was powerful, and he had found his mate and couldn’t bind her to him. That was a deadly combination even without adding unmated males to the mix. Vasile had underestimated Decebel's feelings towards Jen. That wouldn't happen again, if they all survived this.
The wolves followed their Alpha as he made his way down the stairs with a single, determined thought: he had to stop his Beta from destroying an entire pack…or two.
Jen's bra came up just as Skender and a slew of Romanian pack males rounded the now infamous corner. Fane cursed and turned away.
Skender and the other males' eyes hit the floor faster than humanly possible as they continued to run, but Jen heard Skender loud and clear as he passed by.
"Keep up the good work, dormant."
Decebel was so stunned that he hadn't moved. His eyes were glowing and he looked angrier than Jen had ever seen him. Okay, she thought. At least it's working.
"Um... Kinda getting cold here, Dec." Jen squirmed.
Decebel moved faster than her eyes could track. He grabbed her around the waist and hauled her into an empty room. He gently, but quickly set her down. Then he turned and stepped out.
Before he pulled the door closed, he growled, "Cover yourself, woman, and pray that I have regained control when I return for you." Then he slammed the door so hard it nearly came off the hinges.
"That went well," Jen grumbled as she pulled her sports bra back down. She stilled as the door opened, thinking that maybe Decebel had decided to punish her now – but Jacque, Sally, Crina, and Marianna walked in. Jacque tossed Jen the shirt she had discarded.
Marianna walked up to Jen and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I just wanted to touch the one who would purposely provoke the wrath of an Alpha," she told her, then stepped back with a shake of her head.
"He's Beta," Jen corrected as she pulled her shirt on.
"No," Crina disagreed. "He's an Alpha, he just chooses not to take that title. He definitely has all the power of one. Some wonder if he would be as powerful as Vasile if he decided that was his path."
Jen let out a deep breath. "Well, Fane said to distract him. What else would you suggest to stop an Alpha with deadly retribution on his mind?"
"We're not saying your method wasn't effective. We're just saying you are one brave she-wolf." Crina's voice actually held awe in it.
"So, do we know exactly what hell-like situation made it necessary for me to bring out the big guns? Pun naturally intended." Jen laughed.
Jacque snorted. "Only you, Jen. Only you."
After Decebel pulled the door shut, he closed his eyes and took a slow breath. I have got to get it under control¸ he told himself as he tried to pull his wolf back. His mate was going to get every male in her vicinity killed. How many of his pack mates had just witnessed her little stunt? He squeezed his eyes tightly, only to see the bruises and claw marks that marred her skin. His wolf snarled. Okay, that was not something he needed to think about. Finally, he opened his eyes and turned to Jacque.
"She is not to leave this room."
Without another word he began moving in the direction of the noise he'd heard earlier. Fane was trying to keep up and reason with him at the same time.
"Beta, don’t you think we should maybe heed Costin's advice and wait for our Alpha?"
Decebel didn't respond. The closer he got the clearer the noise became. Fane's head snapped up when he heard Jen's voice.
"We may be fine, and smokin' hot,
But gentle she-wolves we are not."
Decebel stopped dead in his tracks. The images of Jennifer and that dance flashed through his mind. Fane watched Decebel's canines descend – his claws grew, his eyes glowed feral. Fane moved quickly to get in front of his Beta, which was probably the dumbest thing he could have done.
Fane tried being forceful. "Decebel, stop."
Decebel batted him aside as if he were no more than an annoying fly. Fane wasn't using all his power – he didn't want to provoke the already enraged wolf. When Decebel reached the room where all the noise was coming from, Vasile was already there with the others.
Fane looked in horror as a room full of males whistled and hollered as his female pack mates danced oh so very suggestively on a huge cinema-sized screen.
Vasile turned to Fane. "Stop that from playing."
Fane didn't wait to see what would happen. He walked into the room, shoving other males out of his way in order to look for the source of the video feed.
Decebel growled so loudly the room silenced. Every head turned to watch as the Romanian Beta took on his full Alpha power, drawing it from his pack mates.
"DECEBEL!" Vasile roared. He might as well have been yelling at a wall.
Decebel lunged.
"Grab him," Vasile commanded his pack. Eight males descended on Decebel as he surged forward. The males grunted against his brute strength. It was taking all of Vasile's power to keep Decebel from phasing. If he phased, the only way Vasile would be able to stop him would be to phase as well and take him on in his wolf form. He didn't even want to consider the consequences.
They all struggled as Decebel pushed, slashed, and even bit to get free of their grasp. Vasile eyed Cynthia running through the hall towards them, Alina and the others behind her. The Americans' defiance was rubbing off on his mate, he thought dryly.
"Hold him still," Cynthia snarled as she lifted a very large syringe and grabbed Decebel's arm.
She sunk the needle into his arm. He didn't even flinch, if he even noticed. The plunger depressed, pushing the powerful sedative into his system.
Decebel continued to struggle – he was on the verge of getting free when he collapsed.
Jen watched as Decebel, struggled against his pack. She couldn't suppress a scr
"MOVE!"
Jen gently placed his head in her lap, placing two fingers against his neck. She let out a strangled breath – his pulse was strong.
"We have to move him now," Cynthia said firmly. "That won't last long."
"Jen," Vasile's voice was calm, gentle, "you have to let us take him."
Jen looked up at the man who had become her Alpha. "Where are you taking him?" Jen's voice was smaller than she had ever heard it.
"We are going to have to detain him until I can talk to the Alphas about your unique situation," Vasile quickly explained.
"Lock him up?" Jen's eyebrows nearly rose to her hair line. "Can I see him?"
Vasile shook his head. "Not until I talk to the Alphas. Jen, Decebel cannot control his wolf where you are concerned, and these unmated males will not relent as long as you appear available. I have to do this to protect him from himself, but also from them."
Jen finally relented. She leaned down and kissed his lips before letting Decebel go.
She watched as nine people carried the man she loved away to be locked up like some criminal. Jen's eyes narrowed as her lips thinned into a tight, straight line.
"Jacque," Sally nudged her friend, and nodded in Jen's direction, "look at that face."