Marianna, who usually stood quietly and observed, chuckled. "Only an American would describe the shape of her head as if it were some sort of special art form to be prized."

Jen stood up from the couch, straightening her clothes and tugging at her ponytail. She smiled brightly at Marianna. "Seriously, she-wolf. Are you looking at the same head I see in the mirror?" she asked as she made a circular motion around her head. "This is God's way of showing that he is indeed capable of creating perfection."

Jacque and Sally snorted as Fane and Decebel chuckled.

Jen looked down at Decebel as she heard him mutter, "Niciodata nu inceteaza sa el (she will never cease to amaze)."

"Have something to tell me, B?" Jen asked sweetly.

"Just that I have never beheld a head possessing such utter flawlessness, baby," he told her, dramatically bowing at the waist.

Jen narrowed her eyes. "Definitely liked you better as an ominous, brooding, fur ball."

His response was a wicked grin and a wink.

Chapter 20

"Ugh, if I eat another bite I'm going to be sick," Jacque groaned as she looked at the feast they'd all heartily dug into.

" I have to agree, Thelma." Jen leaned back in her chair, rubbing her belly. "I'm as full as a tick stuck to the flesh of a bull mastiff on a hot summer day."

Jacque shook her head. "I swear, Louise, you really know how to ruin a good carb-induced buzz."

"I aim to please, wolf-princess."

Crina stood and stretched as she looked around the room. "What do you guys say to a swim? There's bound to be a pool in this breeding facility."

"Good one, C. 'Breeding facility,' like it." Jen grinned.

Jacque sat up and looked at Fane, "What do ya say, wolf-man. Up for a swim?"

Fane nodded but didn't answer out loud. "You in a bathing suit – like I could ever turn that down."

Jen watched the play between Jacque and Fane and knew they were using their bond. Something in her heart tugged. She wanted that intimacy, longed for it with Decebel. She turned to look at him and found him watching Fane and Jacque as well. He must have felt her eyes on him because he turned and met her gaze. Something unspoken flowed between them. Almost as if she could hear him say not to worry, their time would come. Her response was, “are you so sure?” at which he growled, this time out loud. Jen shook her head, amazed at how in tune they were with each other, and yet there seemed to be a vast chasm between them.

"I could go for a swim," Marianna spoke up.

"Yeah, I'm in." Jen stood up, stretching her stagnate form.

As they made their way out into the hall, Fane and Decebel both perked up.

"What do you hear?" Jacque asked just as Costin came around the corner, nearly plowing into Marianna.

"Oh. Sorry,Marianna," he told her as he caught himself. He looked nervous and he wouldn’t meet Fane's or Decebel's gazes.

Decebel stepped forward. "What's all the noise about?"

Costin shook his head as he looked at the floor. "Why do I always have to be the one to find things out," he muttered.

"Costin," Decebel warned.

Finally Costin looked up. He didn't address his Beta, instead he spoke to Fane. "I think we should get your father and a few other males."

Fane nodded. Costin took off at a run while Fane turned to Jen.

"Distract him."

Jen looked confused for a second, but quickly caught on as soon as Decebel moved in the direction of Costin, the direction of the noise.

Jen didn't know what to do to distract a six foot four inch male wolf that was ten times stronger than her. She wracked her brain as Decebel continued to move forward – he did so slowly, as if he were afraid of what he'd find. Fane was standing in front of him, trying to coax him to stay.

Then inspiration hit. He's male, Jen thought. She grinned.

"Hey, fur ball!" Jen hollered. There was a wicked gleam in her eye as she grabbed the hem of her shirt and tugged it over her head, leaving her in a sports bra.

"This is so not good," Sally muttered to Jacque.

Jacque shook her head as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "I swear we're going to have to duct tape her mouth and put her in a straight jacket."

Jen mock-sighed. "The sacrifices we make for our men."

Decebel turned at the sound of Jen's voice and she winked.

"Don't you want to hang around?"

Then she flashed him.

Costin was banging on Skender's door when Vasile stepped out of his room.

"What's going on?" Vasile asked.

Costin met his Alpha's eyes briefly. "We need all our males. Now."

Alina heard the wolf's worried voice and followed Vasile out. "What happened?"

"Decebel is going to go on a killing spree if he sees what I just saw without us to stop him."

"What have you seen?" Vasile took a step forward.

Costin quickly explained about Jen, Crina, and Marianna dancing while the males of the other packs videoed them.

"Alpha, it was not an innocent little dance. But our females didn't know they were being watched so they definitely weren't tempering their moods, if you know what I mean."

Alina was shaking her head in frustration. "So even though Decebel ordered them to delete the video, someone did not?"

"Correct. They are showing it in one of the movie rooms at this moment. It's packed with males. I think their thoughts are 'strength in numbers.' They figure Decebel cannot retaliate with so many of them present."