“Shut. Up.”

Decebel stood in shocked silence.

“The Great Luna made this possible?” Sorin asked in awe.

“She has seen how you have struggled as a species, how you have fought amongst yourselves, and now how Vasile and Decebel are trying to unite the packs again. She knows that her wolves are stronger with mates; she knows my people are at the best of times selfish, and at the worst of times complete asses. The Fae have grown complacent in their world behind the veil, uncaring for the needs of other supernaturals. She has created a way to help both species.

“Even though we Fae can tend to be reluctant to assist others' battles, we will not leave one of our own to fend for themselves. Hence, if a Fae is mated to a Canis lupis and that Fae comes under attack, then the entire Fae race will step up to aid the Canis lupis.”

Sorin walked over to the window of the hotel room. He stared out into the darkness, darkness that he had related to for so long. Now, for the first time in his life, he felt a small sliver of light breaking through, just from seeing her face. In her presence he had felt some relief from the struggle that life had become. His wolf was constantly restless, looking forward to the next hunt, the next battle.

“Where is she?” he asked Peri without turning around.

“At the veil that passes into our realm.”

Sorin closed his eyes, reaching out with his mind, searching for the mental bond. Nothing. Turning back around, he pinned Peri with eyes so light brown they looked like glass. They glowed as he spoke and the intensity in his voice seemed to make the temperature in the room drop.

“I need to see her. I need to know she is safe. I need her by my side.” Sorin’s voice was becoming more of a growl as he spoke.

Decebel stepped forward.“We will get her back, Sorin. I need you to stay calm and keep a clear head.”

Jen had never seen Sorin so out of sorts.  It was very disconcerting to see someone who was usually so calm and collected begin to unravel. It just proved again how important a male’s mate was to him.

“Give me some time, Sorin,” said Peri. “I will go speak with her. But you need to be patient. This is not the way of our people. She will not understand the intensity of your feelings, nor will she understand your possessive nature. Please understand.”

Sorin interrupted her, and though Jen had never heard Sorin yell, she knew she never wanted to hear it again.

“STOP!” The tension in the room was unbelievable. “Bring her back, Perizada. Just bring her back.”

Jen was impressed that Peri didn’t flinch under Sorin’s unwavering glare.

Peri nodded once and then she was gone.

“What the…” Jen muttered. “That’s just weird,” she said, referring to Peri’s sudden disappearance.

“Are you going to beokay in here, Sorin?” Decebel asked, sincerely concerned for his old friend.

Sorin nodded. “I just need to be alone, please.”

The steadiness of his voice scared Jen almost more than the outburst. She took a step forward, needing to let him know that it would be okay, but she didn’t make it half a step before Decebel once again had a large arm wrapped around her waist.

“Never approach a male who is in that state of mind.”

Jen let out a huff. “Is there a freaking instruction manual or something?”

Decebel chuckled softly as he pushed her out of Sorin’s room, closing the door softly behind them.

~

Elle didn’t jump when Peri was suddenly sitting next to her on the cold ground in front of the veil.

“Planning on visiting family?” Peri asked.

Elle didn’t respond right away and appeared to be gathering her thoughts. Her mind was scattered and she was unsure of how she should feel.

“I know you told us that it was a possibility that Adam and I could be mated to one of the Canis lupis, but it didn’t really sink in until Sorin was standing there calling me his mate.”

Peri chuckled. “They’re intense.”

“That’s really putting it mildly, Peri. I can’t even describe to you how I felt when he looked at me, when he got close to me.”

“Did you feel complete for the first time?” Peri asked knowingly.

Elle nodded. “Complete.  And even though I was terrified out of my mind, I wanted him to wrap me in his arms. Even now I’m fighting the urge to return to him. I can feel him. I think if I unblocked my mind, I could even speak to him.”

“Why are you fighting it? You have been around long enough to know that this is not something you can walk away from. He will not give you up.”

“How is he?” Elle asked, genuinely concerned for him, knowing he must be frantic to find her and hurting as badly as or worse than she was.

“He is struggling to keep his calm. Sorin is unusually controlled for an unmated male, but you leaving him high and dry like that has seriously tested that famous resolve.”

“What should I do?” Elle looked at her leader and longtime friend, searching for something in Peri’s eyes, something that would tell her everything was going to be all right.

“Go back to him. Listen to what he has to say and try and realize what a blessing this is, to both of our races.”

Before Elle could second guess her decision, she closed her eyes and told Peri, “Show me.” She was asking Peri to show her where Sorin was.. As soon as she saw it in her mind, she was gone.

Peri looked up into the sky and pushed out her thoughts. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Great Luna.”