Costin leaned down and kissed her soundly on the lips for all to see. He looked back up at the other males smugly. Sally looked over at Jen who had crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.

“Men,” she mouthed at Sally in exasperation.

“How do you know this?” Costin asked the males, now that he felt he had made it perfectly clear to whom Sally belonged.

Creed answered, “Our pack had a healer, a very long time ago. We have records on her. We are very good about keeping our pack educated on these things. It will not do good to forget our history.”

Decebel nodded.  “It seems that we have spent much time looking forward and not much looking back.”

Josef nodded. “It’s important to remember where we come from, and what we've been through.”

Jen stepped up next to her mate and smiled sweetly. “Not to interrupt up this little meeting of the Confucius -” Jen waved them off.  “Who am I kidding? I totally mean to interrupt. What you guys are saying, just for clarification purposes, is that Sally is like a wolf magnet?”

Creed and Josef looked at Jen and then at Decebel. Decebel let out an exasperated breath.

“Gentlemen, this is my mate Jennifer. She is a force to be reckoned with, and I usually do not try. Do not flirt with her and you will live to see tomorrow.” He added that last bit with a low growl.

Creed and Josef nodded toward Jen but didn’t make eye contact or speak to her.

Jen slapped Decebel’s arm. “How am I going to make friends if you are always scaring them?”

Decebel gave her a wolfish grin. “You won't.”

Jen rolled her eyes.

Creed cleared his throat. “Um. Basically, yes, she is a wolf magnet. The healing spirit, the purity and light calls us to her. It’s part of the reason she can work with injured werewolves and not risk getting her arm torn off.”

Costin pulled Sally tightly to him and glared at the two wolves. “Mine,” he growled.

“Easy.” Decebel’s eyes met Costin’s. Costin held them for a heartbeat, then dropped his gaze.

“It would be wise of him to complete the blood rites with her as soon as possible,” Creed told Decebel.

“Thank you, Creed, Josef. I appreciate your help, as does Costin.”

Costin had begun to lead Sally away when she called back over her shoulder.

“Wait,” she said urgently. “Tell Dec what you guys were saying about the pixies and the witch and stuff.”

Costin froze and turned slowly to pin the two wolves with his hazel eyes.

“I was telling Josef that I usually hunt in the Carpathian Mountains this time of year, but the forest is a mess with spells and magic right now,” Creed explained.

“What do you mean 'a mess'?” Decebel askedcarefully.

“The pixies are casting magic on anything and everything that comes through there. The witch has promised them something, something that is significant enough for them to choose a side.”

Decebel murmured his thanks to the two wolves again and pulled Costin aside.

“I will see if I can get in touch with Vasile. You need to finish out the night here, then you need to deal with your mate.” Decebel met Costin’s eyes. “Are we clear?”

Costin nodded. “Yes, Alpha.”

Sally let Costin tug her back toward the bar.

Jen was glaring at her mate.

“Did you just tell him to deal with his mate?” she growled.

“Jennifer, not now.” Decebel took her hand and led her to the door of the bar. Jen turned and looked at Sally and smiled in encouragement.

“I got this, Sal. Don’t worry, okay?” she hollered to her best friend above the noise.

Sally gave a short nod.

Decebel was growling as he pulled Jen behind him.

“How could you tell him to deal with her, like the blood rites isn’t important and intimate as hell?” Jen was angry. Decebel had made it seem like Sally was a problem to be dealt with.

Decebel didn’t answer.

Once in their room Jen slammed the door behind them and stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at her mate. He ignored her as he pulled out his phone to call Vasile.

Jen lunged forward and grabbed his phone.

“NO!” she yelled. “I am your mate and I am speaking to you. Everything else can wait.”

Decebel let out an exasperated breath.

“Jennifer,” he began.

“Just tell me why you had to say it like that? Sally is being cheated out of her special day and you cheapened what she will have by saying she needed to be dealt with. I am so freaking mad at you. She is my best friend. There are only a few people in this world I will kill for and she is one of them. How could you act like that? How could you?”

“STOP!”

Jen jumped and her words froze in her mouth at the snarl from her mate.

“I didn’t mean it like it sounded. I’m sorry, Jennifer.” Decebel took a step toward her, only to have her take a step back. He had scared her. He hated it when he put that look in Jennifer’s eyes.

“Baby,” he cooed softly. “Please, come here.” He held out his hand and after several moments, Jen finally took it. He pulled her into his arms and tilted her face up to his, then leaned down and kissed her gently.

“I’m sorry. You are right.”

Jen reached up and placed a finger over his lips, halting any further words.

“That is all you have to say,” she said seriously.