Blood Rites (34 page)

"Fine. Strip poker is out, go fish is in."
Jen glared at Decebel. "Who invited you to this party, anyways?
Can't your invitation be revoked?"

"That only works with vampires, Jennifer."
His eyes narrowed.

"Well, it would be a little more convenient
if some things were universal in the supernatural world," she
snapped.

"Some things are universal. For instance,
there isn't a being in existence that couldn't possibly want to
take a bite out of your mouthy hide." Decebel winked at her as she
sat in mid-shuffle, her mouth dropped open. Sally reached over and
pushed Jen's chin up, effectively snapping her mouth closed.

"Jen, how 'bout I just take over the
shuffling, k?" Sally cautiously took the deck of cards from her
while Jen continued to glare at Decebel.

Fane lay next to a sleeping Jacquelyn as the
quiet hum of the plane engine hummed like a lullaby and noticed how
much she seemed to have improved after taking his blood twice. The
bruise on her cheek had faded to the soft green color they get just
before they disappear. He hadn't looked at her back again to see if
the claw marks had begun to heal. Fane didn't know if she would
have scars or not since she was only half Canis Lupis.

She looked beautiful lying next to him. He
gently picked up a lock of her hair and brought it to his face. The
soft strands against his skin were like silk and the scent he
breathed in from them was like little piece of heaven to him. He
couldn't begin to express his thankfulness and joy at having her
back with him.

The plane gave a jerk as it ran into
turbulence, the disturbance causing Jacquelyn to stir. Fane watched
as her eyes fluttered open and then collided with his own. His
breath was drawn from his lungs at the softness and love that he
saw reflected in Jacquelyn's beautiful emerald eyes. He saw her
eyebrows draw together as a questioned formed on her pink lips.

"Why did your parents only have one child?"
she asked him.

Fane took a deep breath as he thought about
her question. "They tried to have more but my mother kept losing
the pregnancies."

"Oh, Fane, I'm sorry. That must have been
hard for her." Jacquelyn took his hand and brought it to her lips
as she gently kissed his palm.

"You should know, just in case in the future
you want to try, it is difficult for our kind to conceive. We don't
know why, but it's not common for mates to have more than one or
two children."

"Maybe Cynthia could help," she told him as
her eyes brightened.

Fane smiled at her forever optimism, but then
his eyes narrowed. "Cynthia has a lot to answer for."

"Oh, Fane." Fane watched as Jacquelyn's face
softened. "I know what she did was wrong but I understand that she
was hurt and angry. She got me out of there and she could have died
fighting Logan so that I could get away. Please don't hurt
her."

He tilted her chin up so he could look into
her eyes. "You really forgive her, even after all you endured?"

Jacquelyn nodded as she searched his face."I
forgive her," she said simply.

Fane closed his eyes briefly and pressed his
lips gently to hers. "I will discuss it with my father."

He watched her lips turn up and her eyes
lighten. "Thank you, wolf-man."

He inclined his head to her, never taking his
eyes from hers.

"Jacquelyn, how did things go with your
father? I didn't listen in on your conversation with him when you
parted ways." Fane's eyes softened and his mouth turned up in a
reassuring smile.

"It was okay. He really felt like he needed
to get home and talk to his mate about everything. Apparently she
doesn't know a thing about me. I'm glad I got to meet him. I'm glad
that I know he cares about me but he isn't who I need right now.
The time for me to have a father has passed, Fane, and Dillon
understands that. He is happy for us and that means a lot to me,
but it's my mate that I need now."

Fane leaned forward and kissed her forehead
gently as her words seeped into his heart.

"Can I ask you a question?" she asked when he
pulled back.

"I could deny you nothing, Luna. Perhaps you
will allow me to look at the marks on your back to see if they are
healing as quickly as the bruise on your face while you satisfy
your curiosity," he bartered.

She rolled onto her stomach and let him pull
her shirt up so he could examine her skin.

"Do you ever wonder if the Canis Lupis want a
king or Alpha? Do you think that they have ever wanted to be, like,
a democracy?"

Fane chuckled as he ran his fingers lightly
across the claw marks that were now red slashes, the skin already
closed.

"Where did this question come from?" he asked
as he pulled her shirt back down.

She rolled back onto her side, her eyes down
cast sheepishly. "I'm just really scared that your pack isn't going
to want me as their female Alpha. What if they would rather be a
democracy than have a half-breed as a leader?"

"There are flaws in your logic, my love."
Fane relaxed on his back, his arms folded behind his head. "First,
Canis Lupis, like our cousins the natural wolves, thrive under the
leadership of an Alpha. Because of our violent and dominating
nature we need the leadership and direction of one that is stronger
and more in control than each of us. Without an Alpha there would
be chaos and anarchy. We aren't human, Jacquelyn, not even you. We
would not survive if we tried to live as humans do. The pack will
respect you and follow your leadership. You are strong and that is
what they look for in a leader. This also explains why a democracy
wouldn't work, why Canis Lupis could not elect a leader. Wolves
only follow the strong; the leader has to prove he can lead. His
strength cannot be based on others' opinions. He has to be able to
demonstrate that he is the most dominant and most capable to care
for the pack. The female Alpha, by nature's design, comes into this
position naturally because she is mated to the Alpha. You were
chosen by fate to be my Luna and because of that it proves you are
strong enough to lead, strong enough to take control when others
would try to bring disarray into the pack."

Jacque was quiet for a few minutes after Fane
had finished talking. She thought about what she had gone through
since meeting Fane and wondered if it was fate's way of showing her
that she was indeed strong enough to lead, to take control. After
all, she had survived two psychotic Alphas and although she hadn't
walked away unscathed, she remained whole. She was still Fane's
mate, she was still strong. She looked down at Fane who was
patiently waiting for her response. His eyes softened as they met
hers and she couldn't help but let her eyes wander on his beautiful
face. They traced over the markings that flowed across his neck and
disappeared under his shirt and then met his eyes once again.

"I can do this. I'm not saying that I'm not
scared, but I got this. As long as you are by my side, wolf-man,
I'm game."

Jacque curled up next to Fane, content to be
in his arms and continued to think about her future, about their
future. She wasn't going to worry, she was going to trust Fane and
herself and she would give it her all and be the best mate and
Alpha female when her time came.

"You will be amazing, Luna, never doubt
that."
She heard Fane's voice and the love he poured into his
words in her mind.

"I wouldn't dare," s
he replied
confidently. His response was a gentle squeeze and low chuckle
under his breath.

Chapter 35

Jacque
stood in the room that she was sharing
with Jen and Sally in the mansion where Fane and his family lived.
It had been a week since they landed in Romania and the whirlwind
of preparing for the bonding ceremony had begun. Tonight, in a
matter of less than an hour, those preparations would finally bear
the fruit of their purpose. Tonight Jacque would tie herself to
Fane for all eternity. Needless to say she was a little anxious,
and it would be a lie if she didn't admit that she was a bit jumpy
feeling that at any moment some crazy wolf would jump out of the
woodwork to steal her away in some freakish attempt to make her his
mate. Okay, if she took a minute to really think about those fears
she just might break down into hysterical laughter knowing that
three months ago she didn't even know werewolves existed. She
looked in the mirror at the simple, green gown adorned with
embroidered flowers stitched in a darker green thread, with gold
thread mingled in working its way up from the hem of the dress up
and growing sparser the higher up the dress it went. It was cut low
in the front but had a high back that would cover her markings.
Alina chose this dress as the replacement for the original one
ruined in the accident. The green accented her eyes and
complimented her red hair and although it wasn't the first dress,
it was still just as stunning in its own way.

Today was not only the Blood Rites ceremony,
it was also her eighteenth birthday. Who would have thought that on
her eighteenth birthday she would be in Romania getting ready to
bond with a werewolf? Ya, her either.

"How you doing of there, wolf princess?"
Jacque heard Jen ask from the bed she was lounging on while Sally
finished painting her toenails.

Jacque turned to face her two best friends,
thankful beyond words that they were here to support her and if
nothing else, give her sarcastic remarks to help keep her nerves
under control.

"I'm nervous, but honestly I'm so beyond
ready to be bonded to Fane."

"Well, believe us when we say we wish you
would hurry up already because the whole 'crazy Alphas knocking
down your door to get in your pants' is getting old," Jen told her
dryly.

"Classy, Jen, real classy." Sally rolled her
eyes.

"Well, better Jac than me, that's all I've
got to say."

"Wait a minute," Sally began. "If I do
recall, inebriated Jen was all about some wolf to be her man. What
happened?"

Jen rolled her eyes, her mouth going tight.
"We all know that's never going to happen. Besides, I'm beginning
to think I wouldn't look good in fur anyways." Jen snorted at her
own comment. "Get it? Fur? Wouldn't look good in fur? No, no
takers, huh? Ok then, tough crowd."

Jacque walked over to Jen and knelt down in
front of her, her eyebrows raised. "Jen, um, about that. I need to
tell-" Just then the door to their room opened and Decebel stepped
in.

Jen jumped up off the bed, causing Sally to
fling nail polish all over. "Decebel, how good of you to join us in
our private room, where we could be naked at any given moment. I
was just saying to my two friends here how badly I wished that a
grumpy, cocky, condescending, conceited werewolf would barge in
uninvited. So thanks for that. Really, thanks."

Decebel just stared at Jen amd his eyes took
her in from head to toe. Jen felt heat rise in her face under his
scrutiny. "What, have you never seen a girl in a dress?" she
snapped.

Decebel growled low. "Not a dress like that.
Is it missing a jacket or some material?"

Jen's jaw dropped open, her eyes going wide.
Sally coughed into her hand and Jacque just flat slapped her hand
over her mouth.

Jen looked Decebel straight in the eyes as
she pulled her already low cut dress just a tad lower, daring him
with her lethal glare to make another comment.

Decebel walked over to her, standing directly
in front of her. Jen had to lean her head back to look up at his
towering form. "This conversation isn't over, Jennifer, and you
aren't leaving this room until you put on a sweater or robe, or a
parka for all I care. But you are not going out there like that."
He then turned to Jacque. "It's time. He is waiting for you. Once
Jennifer adds some material to her body I am to lead you and your
friends to the gathering hall." Without another word he turned and
walked back into the hall, waiting for them to follow.

Sally was already pulling out a soft cream
short waist sweater that would go with Jen's navy blue dress. "Just
put this on and lets go. It's Jacque's day, okay?" Sally whispered
to her fuming friend.

Jen snatched the sweater from Sally and
jerked it on, never taking her eyes from Decebel's stiff form.
Finally she wrenched her eyes away and looked at Jacque. Her face
immediately softened. "Okay Jac, let's do this. I've got your
speech thingy so we're good. And you look amazing!"

Jacque beamed at the compliment. She nodded
her head, taking a deep breath, and turned to follow Decebel out to
where Fane waited for her.

As they approached the gathering room Jen and
Sally both gave Jacque a hug. Neither spoke as they had already
said all that needed to be said. Jen handed Jacque the sheet of
paper that had her vows and gave her a quick wink. Decebel escorted
Jen and Sally into their places in the hall, leaving Jacque
standing there alone.

As Jacque stepped up to the entryway and
looked into the hall, she saw that it was dark. As she continued to
watch, one by one small lights lit up on the floor. She realized it
was candles being lit and they created a circle. All around the
circle were people. She could see the first couple of rows but then
the rest of the faces faded into the darkness that the light of the
candles didn't reach. She also saw that in the center of the circle
was a chair, a basin of water, and towels. But the most important
thing standing amidst the soft candle light was Fane.

He was wearing relaxed jeans and a white
button down shirt untucked, the long sleeves rolled up, showing off
his strong forearms. And he was barefoot. She could see his tattoos
like a vine crawling up from beneath the collar of the shirt,
hugging his neck and face in a loving caress. Jacque took a deep
breath and then walked into the hall. With every step she took a
candle was lit on either side of her on the floor, creating a
lighted path. It was quiet, unlike a wedding there was no music for
her to enter in to. But that didn't matter because all she could
hear was her heartbeat getting harder and harder until she was
standing in front of Fane. She looked at his handsome face and a
big grin broke across it. Jacque giggled, remembering how he had
told her he would be the one with the big goofy grin. Only he
didn’t look goofy, he was breathtaking.