Across from the Alphas sat Fane and Jacque. Sorin was propped against the far right wall,  Crina was folded onto the floor in front of the fireplace. The fire crackled and the wind made the fragile glass windows shudder. The silence was deafening as the Alphas waited.

Jacque stared at the phone she had laid in the middle of their circle, as if she could see Sally if she stared long enough.

Finally, Jacque spoke. "Love." She shook her head. "Love is what breaks the curse."

The group heard Cynthia groan loudly from somewhere close to Sally. "Are you kidding me?"

"That's what I said," Jacque agreed.

Suddenly Vasile spoke up. "Sally before we get into this please give me an update. I assume since your phone is working that you found Peri?"

"Hi, Vasile, my old friend," they heard a musical voice chime through the speaker.

Vasile smiled. "Hello, Perizada. You are well?"

Peri chuckled. "As well as can be expected in such times."

"Fair enough. Sally, how is Decebel?"

"Not good. His wolf is struggling to be free." Sally began to explain everything from the time they'd left until the current moment.

"So we're waiting on Gavril and Costin to return with Jen," she finished.

Jacque realized Sally must have put her phone on speaker as well when they heard Cynthia's voice loud and clear. "How is the curse going to be broken when Decebel doesn't know his mate and therefore doesn't feel love for her?"

There was quiet across the line.

"Sally, you said his wolf recognized her scent on Gavril?" Vasile broke the silence.

"Yes."

"That may be enough to help pull Decebel's emotions to the surface. His love for her isn't gone, it's just buried under that curse."

"What about blood?" Jacque asked. "What if they exchanged their blood? Would that maybe bring the bond back together, and in turn trigger Decebel's feelings toward Jen?"

"It's a possibility, and it probably wouldn't be difficult since his wolf still claims Jen," Vasile agreed.

"We also found out the witch's name. It's -"

"DO NOT SPEAK HER NAME!" Perizada's voice broke through the phone and filled the room as if she stood before them.

"You mustn't speak her name where it can be heard out here," she spoke calmly. "Vasile, surely you have explained the power in a name. We mustn't put her name on the wind and draw her attention."

"What do you mean put her name on the wind?" Crina asked, speaking up for the first time.

"A witch practices dark magic and calls on the elements to do so – earth, water, wind, and fire. She can use the wind to send out her will and call on others. If hername is spoken in the open, you can bet she will hear it."

"My bad," Jacque muttered, then added, "So, wait. Peri, you know who she is?"

"Of course I know who she is. I have been seeking her out for centuries. Her power grows and her evil knows no bounds. She must be destroyed, but there is only one way that can happen."

"How?" Jacque asked.

"The time for that revelation has not come."

While they waited for Gavril and Costin to return, Jacque told the others about the tables Wadim had shown her and the story behind them. Crina brought up the fire and how the witch – name not spoken – had somehow gotten to Wadim. They continued to talk long into the night, finding comfort in finally being reunited with their pack.

Chapter 14

After several hours and still no Costin and Gavril, Vasile ordered everyone to get some sleep and for Sally to call them as soon as the others returned. Jacque wiped tears away as she said goodbye to her friend, then let Fane pull her into the shelter of his arms.

"They are safe, Luna," he whispered.

"They won't be safe until they're back here with their pack." Jacque followed Fane to their bedroom, and with no more words crawled into bed, curling up in his arms. Sleep was a long time in coming as they both waited for the phone to ring.

(Eleven days from day of departure)

Sometime in the early morning of the next day, Decebel let out a low growl from his place against the tree. Cynthia jumped up and Peri stood looking into the early morning haze. Sally sat up from her makeshift bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Suddenly Gavril and Costin emerged from the forest, a battered and weary Jen in Costin's arms. Decebel jumped to his feet, lunging toward Costin. His eyes were glowing and the growl coming from him was all wolf. Costin looked at his Beta and realized the wolf had finally won.

"Sally, back away," Costin told her. Sally had begun to move toward Decebel as he surged forward, stumbling from his weakness.

"His wolf is in control. Decebel has left for the holidays," Costin told her firmly. "Cynthia, pull Sally back."

Cynthia obeyed without question, keeping a cautious eye on Decebel.

Decebel growled at Costin, his lip lifted and his sharp, long canines showing as he spoke. "Mine."

Costin nodded. "Yes, she is yours, but she is hurt. You have to be gentle with her."

Decebel tried to take Jen from Costin but he would not relent. Costin lowered his eyes in submission but spoke firmly. "Let me lay her down, Beta. You would not forgive yourself if you dropped her."

Costin moved slowly to the pallet where Sally had been laying and gently laid Jen's limp body down and covered her with a heavy blanket.