Chapter 24

Cynthia yawned as she sat at the table with her pack, eating breakfast. She'd been out searching until two in the morning. She had phased when she went out looking for it, knowing her wolf could move much faster. Finally, over ten miles away from the estate, she found the Nepeta, a.k.a. catnip. She was still working on perfecting it in liquid form – the hardest part was that it needed to be potent enough, but also dissolved so the plant's little particles weren't visible. People tend to get suspicious when there's stuff floating in their drinks.

Cynthia caught Jen's eye across the table and nodded, a subtle motion for her to follow her out of the room.

Cynthia was waiting in the hall when the five girls came out, Costin at their heels. Yeah, this doesn't look suspicious, she thought.

"Whatchya got, doc?" Jen asked.

"I found the Nepeta ten miles out. I've been working on it all morning, and the only thing I'm not sure about is its potency while making it undetectable in the drink."

"You found something that will keep the guys from being able to phase?" Costin spoke low, so as not to be overheard.

Cynthia, Jen, and Sally all nodded but didn't elaborate.

He lifted his eyebrows. "Ooookay, how did you find out about it?"

Sally looked over at Cynthia who gave a nearly imperceptible shake of her head.

"We just did some digging and it sort of fell in our laps," Jen told him vaguely.

"Uh-huh, just fell in your laps." Costin eyed them suspiciously. "Well, if that's your story..."

"Finalized, illustrated, and edited." Jen gave him a sharp nod. "Alright. Moving along, people. Doc, we need test subjects for your mojo."

"That would be the most accurate way to determine if it's effective," Cynthia agreed.

Jen smiled sweetly at Costin.

Costin watched the gleam in Jen's eyes as she smiled at him. Realizing what she was thinking, he put his hands up. "No way, Jen. Come on, you can't ask me to do that. I can't protect you guys if I can't phase. No. I'm putting my foot down."

Jen didn't argue, realizing that no amount of flirting, groveling, pushing, or bribing was going to work on Costin. She watched each member of their group, all trying to think of a wolf to test this concoction on.

Finally, Cynthia spoke up. "I'll do it. It's my creation, I should be the one to test it."

"Are you sure you want to do that, Cynthia?" Sally asked.

"Yes, definitely. I'll take Jacque, Sally, and Costin with me while you three go bait your prey."

Jen held out her fist to Cynthia's. Cynthia picked up on what Jen was after and balled her fist and bumped it to Jen's.

"Let's get this party started, ladies."

Costin cleared his throat and look pointedly at the evil schemer.

"Oh, forcrying out loud. Let's get this party started, ladies and hot werewolf. Happy?" Jen asked.

"You think I'm hot?" Costin grinned and winked.

"You don't hold a candle to B, so don't get too excited."

"Ouch. I'm hurt, Jen." Costin smiled, placing his hand over his heart.

Jen shook her head and turned to Marianna and Crina, "You two ready?"

"Totally." Crina smiled.

Marianna gave a weak, "Yipee," her eyebrows raised as she made pom-pom motions with her hands.

"That's the spirit." Jen laughed. "Let's go find the rat pack."

Damion looked up from his table to see the blonde American and the two female Romanian wolves coming towards him. "This day is looking up boys."

The other four turned in their seats to watch as the girls walked confidently to their table.

They stopped a foot away and looked each of them over.

"I hear you boys are the ones who put that wicked cool video together." Jen smirked as she folded her arms across her chest – not by accident.

Damion's eyes wandered south of her neck before returning to her face.

"That was us." Damion winked. "We wanted to share all that beauty with everyone."

"Aw, that's sweet." Jen glanced back at Crina and Marianna. "Isn't that sweet, girls?"

"Very sweet." Crina raised an eyebrow at the wolves.

Marianna silently nodded with a sweet smile.

"Is there something we can do for you, ladies?" Adrian spoke up, drawing their attention.

"Actually, we came over to invite you guys to a friendly game of cards tomorrow night. There will be refreshments."

Damion leaned back in his seat and folded his arms. He unabashedly eyed Jen, starting at her feet, going all the way to the top of her blonde head.

"Who else will be there, beautiful?"

"You five studs and us." Jen indicated herself and the two girls with her.

He raised his eyebrows as a smile slid across his face. "And what kind of cards will be played?"

Jen leaned forward, resting her hand on the table so she could whisper closely, "The kind that rhymes with lip stroker." She winked and then stood as she watched Damion's brain deduce what she had just told him. "If you wanna play be in the gym tomorrow night at ten o'clock. It's our little secret, if you get my drift."

Damion watched as she walked away with a very appealing swing in her hips. He heard several of his pack mates give low whistles.

"So are we in?" Adrian asked his Beta.

"Like I would ever pass up playing strip poker with some fine women." Damion rolled his eyes. "Yes, we're in," he reiterated when Vilim and Josif looked at him blankly.