She nodded slowly. “Okay,” her voice was soft as she reached up her hand and placed it over his. “I’m fine.” She paused and then shook her head. “That’s a lie. I’m not fine, but there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“We can go to your mother, Jacquelyn,” he told her for no less than the hundredth time.
“No,” Jacque answered the same way she’d answered every one of those times. “I don’t want to use your position—”
“Our position,” he corrected. “You are my equal, my Luna.”
Her lips turned up slightly. “Okay, I don’t want to use our position as an excuse to do whatever we want simply because I’m worried about my mom. She’s a grown woman. I have to let her have the time she needs. She’ll contact me when she’s able.” The words tasted like sawdust in her mouth. They were true, but that didn’t mean Jacque had to like them.
Her statement seemed to ease some of Fane’s emotions because the crushing power dissipated.
“Bloody hell, Alpha.” Jen coughed. “No offense, but you’ve got to learn to lock that shit down.”
“Language,” Decebel growled, his own voice sounding as though he was in pain.
“My apologies,” Fane said as his thumb ran across Jacque’s cheek. His eyes were still on hers. “You’re truly okay with this? It wouldn’t be wrong for you to check on her,” he said through their bond.
“I will be. And it would be wrong. She is a queen. I can’t go in there and make it look like she’s not powerful enough to keep people out during her time of mourning, even her own daughter.”
“You are so wise, my Luna. I love you.”
“And I you.”
She held his hand to her face for a moment longer, enjoying having his attention. She’d worried that when things calmed down, he might emotionally withdraw from her. It was something he’d done in the past because he didn’t want to hurt her with his own emotional pain. Thankfully, he’d done the opposite. At night, when they were alone and Slate was in bed, Fane poured his heart out to her. Sometimes it was the only time of day that he was able to say more than a couple of sentences to her, but it was her favorite part of the day.
Fane took a deep breath and let it whoosh out of him. His wolf had been on edge since he’d felt his mate’s anxiety and fear. He’d been trying to give his mate space, but his wolf wasn’t having it. Jaquelyn thought she was in his way when he was working with the pack or dealing with other packs that were continually contacting him. But nothing could be further from the truth. He was going to have to make her understand that she could never be in his way because he needed her like a fish gasping for air, regardless of what else might be going on.
Her eyes softened as she looked at him. She must have picked up on some of those thoughts. She started to say something, no doubt to apologize, but Fane shook his head. “There’s nothing for you to say. We will work it out.”
She gave a small nod. Fane stood and stepped around the love seat, taking Jacquelyn’s hand and pulling her up to follow him. When he was facing everyone, he tucked her into his side, then met the gaze of each person in the room. Eyes dropped one by one.
“Thank you for being such great friends to Jacquelyn,” he said. “I know it’s not something I should have to thank you for because you all love her as you do one another, but I am thankful nonetheless.” He paused and considered his next words. Fane could feel the unrest in their group. But the Great Luna had declared a time of mourning for a reason, even if he wasn’t fully sure what the reason was. Fane almost felt as if he could heal better if he were doing something more than just reassuring other packs that everything was going to be all right. “I realize this is frustrating,” he said finally. “Sitting still is not something any of us do well. But the Great Luna doesn’t give a decree without reason, and we need to trust her.
“Jacquelyn, Jen, and Sally, you three continue working on your fighting skills with the other females and trying to determine whether Jacque has any sprite abilities. Those things may seem trivial, but they’re vital.” He turned to Decebel and then Costin. “And you both continue to train our males and listen for anything more on the ones who wish to challenge me when the time comes.” Fane felt his mate tense. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and pushed his reassurance through the bond. The alpha wasn’t worried. The Great Luna had put him in the position he currently held, and she would keep him there until it was no longer his privilege to serve her.
Jen started to say something, the irritation clear on her face, but he cut her off before she could form any words. “I know you’re frustrated, Jen,” he said. “But there is still much healing to be done. And I understand that some people may need action in order to properly grieve. Please be patient. All too soon, there will be more action than you can handle … even more than you and Decebel in the bedroom.”
For a moment everyone was frozen, as if they weren’t sure they’d heard him right. Then they all were bent over laughing. Fane kept a straight face. “What? Was it something I said?”
Chapter 6
“New life is supposed to be celebrated by more than just one person. Friends and family should gather round, giving their praise of the beautiful child. Or, at the very least, two parents welcoming the perfect little being into the world.” ~Lilly
December 1992
Lilly’s stomach roiled as she hurried to the trash can in the
