"How you hanging in there, Alpha mine?" Tanya asked him.

"I'm just ready for this week to be done. Preferably without loss of limbs or life."

Tanya smiled. "Such an optimist. Is Jacque just the same?"

"Sickeningly so." Dillon chuckled. "She really is a positive person. You're going to like her."

Tanya sighed. "The pertinent question is, will she like me?"

"Mate, what's not to like?"

Tanya laughed at her mate's teasing, thankful that he was beginning to loosen up a bit. She suddenly stiffened in his arms and Dillon turned his head to see what had caught her attention. The Romanian Pack had arrived and Jacque had just spotted them. He watched as she smiled and waved. He read her lips as she mouthed, "I'll come visit shortly." Dillon nodded and turned back to his mate.

"She said she will be over shortly, so you have a small reprieve to fret and worry some more, my love." Dillon grunted when Tanya retaliated by poking him in his ribs.

He saw the three other Alphas who had been involved with organizing The Gathering and decided it was time to take their seats.

He indicated towards the table that had been assigned to them. "Shall we?"

"Don't suppose we can bail out now?" Tanya asked, only half joking.

"Nope, I'm afraid we have dug our graves and now must get coffins measured for us."

"There you go again, ever the optimist." Tanya took the seat he pulled out for her and watched as the rest of their pack followed suit, ready to hear what the night's activities would be.

Chapter 14

Victor, Alpha of the Bulgaria pack, stood at the front of the room. Raising his voice so everyone could hear, he announced, "If everyone would please take their seats so we can get started. The quicker we get the business over with the sooner we eat."

A group of males at a table to his left all beat on the table and gave loud whoops at the mention of food.

Victor motioned for them to quiet down and waited a few more moments to allow everyone to get seated.

Jen went to reach for her chair at the table that had a sign in the center with elegant script that said Romanian Grey Wolves Pack. Before she could pull it, another hand reached past her and quickly slid the chair out.

"Allow me."

Jen turned abruptly, caught off guard by Damion's sudden appearance.

"I'm sorry, Jen. I did not mean to start you."

Jen couldn't help the grin. "You mean startle me."

"Oh. Um, yes. Startle you," Damion repeated. He backed up just a step and, without shame, looked her up and down.

Well, Jen thought, let's not be shy then. She knew what he saw. The black top she picked out was off the shoulder on one side, so one arm and half her back was left completely bare. It was encrusted with crystal rhinestones, which began at the top andcontinued on down, growing sparser as they went. The other arm was sleeved and came to her hand at a point and had a loophole for her middle finger to slip in. Her hair was up in a twist, beset by crystal rhinestone dangly earrings. She wore her, and her best friends', signature low-rise Lucky Brand jeans and there was a hint of flesh revealed when she moved. Black, high heel boots completed her ensemble.

"You look stunning," he told her as he took her by the hand and lifted it to turn her in a circle. "Let me get the whole effect."

Jen couldn't stop the blush that she knew was rising clear from her bare shoulder to the tips of her ears. When she was facing him again Damion grinned, and it was one of those easygoing grins that you can't help but smile back at. So she did.

Then, as if just remembering what he was doing, he motioned to her chair,."Please, have a seat. I just wanted to come by and make sure you were okay after this afternoon's -" he paused, and Jen beat him to it.

"Disaster?" she offered.

"Exactly. Your Beta was very upset."

Jen snorted. "Understatement. I'm fine. No matter his temper, B would never hurt me."

"B?"

"Yeah. It's not for what you might think, although I am tempted at times. B for Beta," Jen told him with a wink.

Damion grinned and pushed her chair in as she sat down. He leaned over her shoulder, too close for her comfort. "Save me a dance tonight, won't you?"

Jen was so tense at his nearness that she finally just nodded to get him to move back. He straightened up and walked away just as Decebel arrived.

"What did he want?" he asked Jen, then looked at her for the first time. His eyes glowed immediately. Score one for the little man, Jen thought. Decebel recovered quickly. "What are you wearing?"

"Let's deal with both of these absurd questions one at a time, fur ball, because they each deserve equal amounts of grief. First, Damion asked me to marry him and have his babies. Lots and lots of babies," Jen told him with a completely straight face.

Sally nearly choked on the gum she'd been chewing and Costin, who was standing next to Decebel, began to cough.

Decebel growled.

"I'm considering it," Jen addressed Sally. "I mean, what do you think, Sal? It's not like I've had any other offers and who knows if I will ever find my true mate. Gosh, if I can even have a true mate, that is."

Sally was trying desperately to keep a straight face. "Well, you don't want to rush these things, Jen. After all, you are only eighteen."

Jen tapped her chin as if to really think about it. "That is true. But if I hook up with Damion now, just think of all the little flea catchers we could make together. Think about how some would have my blonde hair and his – OWWWW!" Jen yelled.