"Please be seated." Jeff took a seat first, willing to submit to Vasile's dominance over him. All the other wolves took various seats and Vasile was last to finally relinquish.

"We come to you with grave news regarding my son's mate," Vasile announced to the Alpha. "I need to know if you or any members of your pack are involved."

Jeff moved forward in his seat, straightening his back, indicating to Vasile he had his full attention.

Vasile continued, "Jacque was taken from the hospital last night where she had been recovering from a car accident. It appears that one of Dillon's wolves, he is Jacque's father and Alpha of the Denver pack, is involved."

"I'm sorry to hear this, but why would you think my pack would be involved?" Jeff asked.

"Dr. Steele was the physician treating Jacque."

Jeff's eyes widened at the news and it was apparent to Vasile that he had not been aware of this information.

"Cynthia has not been around the pack since Lucas fell. Do you think she is involved in Jacque's disappearance?"

"I think there are members of your pack who harbor anger towards Fane for taking their Alpha and I can only imagine the hurt that Dr. Steele must be enduring at the loss of her brother. It would make sense for Logan, Dillon's wolf, to seek out help from wolves that would do anything to take from Fane what their Alpha had failed to do."

Jeff didn't respond for several minutes, the lack of focus in his eyes making it evident he was lost in thought. Finally he spoke, but not to Vasile. His eyes settled on Fane. "I know of four wolves that are loyal to Lucas even now. I have had to force their obedience on more than one occasion."

Fane didn't hesitate. "Call them now. I will not wait any longer to get the information I need to find my mate."

"Give me five minutes."

Fane nodded, acknowledging the Alpha's request. The fact that Jeff would even seek Fane's approval revealed who the dominant wolf was between the two.

True to his word, Jeff returned five minutes later. "They are on their way. I told them it was a pack meeting. They do not know of your presence."

"That was wise," Vasile agreed.

Twenty minutes later the four wolves Jeff had called sat before Vasile, unable to move before the Alpha's power. Fane's growl as he stood beside his father had the wolves baring their necks in submission, although it was evident they did not want to.

"You will answer Vasile's questions honestly, be advised he will know if you lie." Jeff growled low at the four seated before him.

"Are any of you acquainted with a wolf named Logan?" Vasile asked.

At first the wolves did not answer but as Vasile's power began to squeeze their throats, cutting off their air, finally one relented.

"No, we don't know a wolf by that name."

"Truth," Vasile acknowledged.

"It would make sense, Alpha, for Logan not to reveal himself to them." Decebel spoke low, not affected by his Alpha's power flowing throughthe room.

"Did any of you aide a wolf in the abduction of Fane's mate?"

Again, the wolves did not answer right away. Vasile growled a warning promising discipline at their lack of obedience.

"We don't know what you are talking about." This time a different wolf spoke up.

Fane lunged forward, grabbing the wolf by the throat. "You lie," he growled, allowing his wolf to show. His eyes glowed a deadly blue, his canines lengthened, and his claws dug into the wolf's neck. For the first time, Vasile did not try to stop Fane.

"It is obvious that none of you learned your lesson about harming an Alpha's mate when Fane killed Lucas." Vasile's voice was sharp as a knife. "You will answer with truth or I will allow Fane to glean the information from you however he deems necessary."

The four wolves looked to their Alpha, pleading with their eyes for him to intervene. His response showed the ultimate disrespect as he turned his back, essentially saying he was turning a blind eye to the Romanian Alpha's actions.

Finally the wolf sitting farthest from Fane broke. "We gave him a car. He said he needed transportation that could not be linked to him in order to take Fane's mate." The wolf dared to snarl at Fane when he told him, "It's no less than what you deserve for taking one of ours."

Fane dropped the wolf he had been holding and to his father's surprise he stepped back. His gaze swept over each of them, and a power Vasile knew matched his own caused the wolves to fall to their knees in submission.

"Where did he take her?" he asked, his voice had gone low, the calm before the storm.

"That we don’t know. He didn't say and we didn't ask."

"Truth." Vasile nodded.

"You will hear my Alpha's judgment for your actions and you will thank whatever god you serve that it is not me dealing out your fate." Fane once again pushed his power out and the four wolves grabbed their throats, trying in vain to breathe. Finally, after they began to turn blue Fane relented.

Vasile turned to Jeff. "Alpha of the Coldspring pack, this is my decision for these four wolves who are under your rule. I expect you to make sure it is carried out. If you do not you will share in their fate."

"So as you say, it shall be done," Jeff told Vasile as he bared his throat in submission.

Turning back to the condemned wolves, he told them, "You will be forced into your wolf forms by your Alpha. While in this state you will be declawed and your fangs pulled from your mouths. Your pelts will be shaved from your bodies." The wolves whined in fear and anger but Vasile was not done. "Once back in your human forms, the markings on your backs shall be distorted to show you have been stripped of your place in the pack. You will then be turned out to be lone wolves in your vulnerable states, without a pack to protect you. Do you understand that this is the price you will pay for your treachery and crime against Fane, the prince of the Romanian Canis Lupis?"