Blood Rites (23 page)

Vasile didn't say anything right away, but seemed to
be weighing the truth in his words. Finally he nodded. "I believe
you." Then he turned to Lilly. "Lilly, how are you?"

"Well, if you want the truth, I'm straddling the
fence. One side being-what the hell and the other side- are you
freaking serious. I just don't understand why we can't keep her
safe. What are we doing wrong?" Lilly asked, on the verge of
tears.

Fane walked over to her and wrapped his arms around
her. "Îmi pare aşa de rău (I'm so sorry)," he whispered. "I should
have demanded to stay with her."

"Fane, it's not your fault. You may be a prince in
your world but in mine you're just a teenage boy. Here they don't
give special treatment to teenage boys no matter how good
looking."

"Regardless, I could have forced Dr. Steele, but I
was trying not to disrespect her in her territory. I won't make
that mistake again," Fane promised.

Lilly looked at Vasile. "So what do we do now?"

"We need to narrow down the possibilities," Vasile
told her. "First, Dillon, did you get a hold of your Beta?"

"No, I've left him several messages but he's not
answering nor has he called me back."

"Has he been acting strange lately?" Decebel asked
him.

"Not really. I mean, I kind of thought he seemed a
little off but I just brushed it off. Logan is my most faithful
wolf. I can't imagine him betraying me."

"We've been trying to get in touch with Dr. Steele
but she isn't answering her phone either, and none of the doctors
or nurses know where she is." Vasile's voice betrayed the
frustration that he was trying desperately to keep in check.

"Okay, so what I hear you all saying is that we
really don't know jack crap and have no place to start. Am I
getting it right?" Jen asked.

"Jennifer." Decebel gave a warning growl.

"Do not growl at me, fur ball," she snarled at him.
"I just want to make sure we are all on the same page." She turned
and looked at Fane and asked, "Have you not been able to speak to
her through your freaky mind voodoo?"

"No, my father and I think Dr. Steele sedated her
because of the pain. If I could just get through to her..." Fane
didn't finish as emotion washed over him. He closed his eyes,
bowing his head and shut the world out as he pictured his mate's
face in his mind.
"Jacquelyn, can you hear me my love?"
He
waited, but still there was no response. For the second time since
he met her she was beyond his reach, beyond his protection. The
hole that was left in her place threatened to drag him into the
darkness. He vowed then and there that whoever had taken her would
die by his jaws.

Chapter 26

Logan
rubbed his eyes as he tried to push
away the sleep that threatened to take over. He looked at the clock
and saw that they had been only been driving for 2 hours. His phone
had started ringing about an hour after they left the hospital and
continued to ring on and off for an hour. He knew who it was
without checking the caller I.D. By now, Dillon and Vasile, along
with the others, were probably trying to piece together the events
of the night that lead to the disappearance of Fane's mate. They
might be a little confused by Dr. Steele's absence and he wondered
how long it would be before Vasile decided to question her
pack.

"We need to stop soon so I can check Jacque's IV. she
probably needs another dose of sedative," Cynthia told him.

Just then, Jacque began to stir, letting out a
painful sounding moan. Logan pulled the SUV over immediately, he
couldn't risk Jacque reaching out to Fane. He had heard from Dillon
that she and Fane were able to share their thoughts and although
that might have deterred another wolf, Logan knew if he completed
the Blood Rites with Jacque that bond with Fane would be broken. Or
at least that's what he believed.

He watched as Dr. Steele got out of the vehicle and
opened the back door where Jacque lay. While she administered more
of the sedative, Logan was weighing his options on whether they
should continue traveling by car, or if he should charter a small
plane once they got to Dallas. He had his pilot's license and as
long as he could find a plane to rent he would be able to get them
to Colorado much faster.

Cynthia checked Jacque's pulse and respirations,
making sure everything was within normal limits. Once she was
satisfied that Jacque was settled and the sedative was working, she
shut the door and climbed back into the passenger seat.

"So, do you have a plan for between here and Denver?"
she asked Logan.

"As a matter of fact I've just decided that it would
be better for us to fly rather than drive all the way to
Colorado."

"Fly?" Cynthia asked.

"Yeah, I have my pilot's license, so once we get to
Dallas we are nearly there already, just another hour and a half.
I'll just rent a plane and we will fly the rest of the way. Is
there any open land where your cabin is where I could land a small
plane?" he asked her.

"There actually is an open field near the cabin."

"Excellent." Logan once again felt like things were
working in his favor. He couldn't help but think that maybe this
was fate because of how well things were going for him.

Cynthia sat back in her seat and closed her eyes, not
wanting to encourage Logan to engage her in conversation. She was
here for Jacque and that was all. Once Jacque was well she was
getting the heck out of dodge.

"Vasile I'm ready to get out of this joint," Jen told
him as she sat on her bed. "I mean, seriously, my skin is just
really pink, no more blisters. I've already called my parents and
told them that they are releasing me and Jacque, so now I just need
you to work your werewolf mojo and get me released."

Decebel coughed, attempting to cover a laugh. Jen
glared at him. "What are you laughing at, exactly?"

"I just don't understand where you learned to talk
like that," Decebel told her honestly.

"It's a gift. Now quit laughing at me."

"As you say, Jennifer, so shall it be," Decebel told
her, his eyes never wavering from hers.

Jen's breath caught as she noticed his gold eyes
begin to glow. She turned away abruptly, needing to put distance
between her and the wolf who was constantly ruffling her
feathers.

"I will see what I can do about getting you released,
Jen, if you think you are ready," Vasile told her.

"I'm sure. We've got plans to make. We can't be just
sitting up here twiddling our-"

"JEN!" Sally abruptly cut her off.

"What? Twiddling our thumbs. Thumbs, Sally. Where is
your mind?"Jen asked her with a wicked twinkle in her eyes. Much to
Jen's delight, Sally's face turned bright red.

"You might not want to mess with me, Jen. I've got
the goods on you. So go on and rub me the wrong way, I dare you,
and we all get to be serenaded by a highly inebriated Jennifer
Adams," Sally threatened.

"What are you talking about, Sally?" Jen asked and
there was actually worry etched across her face.

"Sally, maybe this isn't the best time," Decebel
started but was quickly cut off by Jen.

"This doesn't concern you, Cujo," she snapped.

Decebel growled.

"Actually, it kind of does concern him since he was
the object of your affection during your little performance."

Jen's face was beginning to turn a shade of red that
Sally swore she'd never seen on her best friend, ever. She decided
maybe Decebel was right and that she needed to save this ammunition
for another time. "Jen, let's just call a truce, okay?"

"Fine, I'll let it go. For now," Jen relented.

Sally let out a deep breath, thankful to dodge that
bullet.

Several hours later, they were all walking into Lilly
Pierce's house, each looking thoroughly defeated.

"I can't believe how long it takes to get discharged
from the hospital. I was beginning to think that at any moment they
were going to tell each of you that you had to cough up a kidney
before they would let me leave. I mean, seriously," Jen
complained.

Everyone automatically made their way to the living
room, all taking seats wherever they landed. Lilly looked at
Vasile. "What now? I just feel like we should be
doing
something."

Vasile acknowledged Lilly's comment with a nod and
then turned to the Denver pack Alpha. "Dillon, at this point is it
safe to say that there is a possibility that your Beta is
involved?"

"As much as I don't want that to be the case, the
fact that he disappeared at the same time as Jacque and won't
answer my calls is not boding well for his innocence," Dillon
admitted.

"What about Dr. Steele?" Fane's voice was no longer
his own as his wolf pushed for dominance.

"I think it's time to pay the Coldspring pack a visit
and see if they know anything." Vasile looked at Fane,
understanding filled his eyes. "Dillon, Decebel, and Fane will go
with me to meet with them. I'll call the Alpha and arrange it.
Skender, Boain and Sorin, you will stay here."

Fane watched his father step out of the room to make
the call to the Coldspring Alpha. For what felt like the thousandth
time he reached out to Jacquelyn and still there was nothing. He
felt like his skin was too tight, and that at any moment his wolf
was going to take over. He knew he could keep his wolf under
control if he could just do something, take some sort of action to
find their mate. This sitting and waiting the wolf didn't
understand. He wanted to hunt the one who would dare to take what
belonged to them. Vasile came back into the room, bringing Fane
back to the present.

"We will meet them in twenty minutes at their pack
head quarters," Vasile announced.

Alina met Vasile at the door as the wolves began to
file out. "Please be careful."

"I will, Mina. I will also do whatever I need to get
any information that will help us find Jacque."

"I would expect nothing less, Alpha." She leaned into
his embrace and found comfort in his strength.

Jen and Sally stood at the door, watching as the men
piled into Vasile's SUV. Jen was startled when Decebel appeared at
her side, she didn't realize he hadn't left the house yet. As he
passed her he paused briefly and leaned close to her ear, "We have
much to discuss about your little escapade, Jennifer."

Jen's jaw dropped open but she quickly caught herself
and shouted after him, "A lady never kisses and tells,
Decebel."

That earned her a glare from him and a high five from
Sally. "Nice one, Jen."

"I know, right?" Jen winked at Decebel as he
continued to glare at her while getting into the vehicle.

"Sally, please tell me I didn't say the things I'm
beginning to remember saying to him when I was tipsy."

"Okay, you didn't say those things," Sally
obliged.

"I said them
and
I walked out of the bathroom
naked in front of him, didn't I?" Jen's face was full of the
mortification that she knew would be even worse when she had to
face Decebel again.

"Butt freaking naked," Sally confirmed.

"Shit."

"I would say you're in deep," Sally agreed.

As Vasile pulled out of the driveway, Jen and Sally
turned, closing the door behind them and Jen pointed a finger at
Sorin. "Sorin! Where have you been, my man?"

"I've been around. You might say I've been working
behind the scenes."

"Oooh, covert ops, sweet." Sally rolled her eyes at
her best friend. Jen never could stay down for long.

Vasile pulled into the driveway of the Coldspring
pack's head quarters. He had explained on the way that he would be
the one to ask the questions and he wanted everyone else to remain
silent. Well, his exact words were 'keep your damn muzzles shut',
but who's being technical. They all exited the SUV and followed
Vasile to the door. It opened before they could knock and Vasile
recognized the wolf as the new Alpha he had appointed after Fane
had won the challenge between him and their former Alpha.

"Vasile, I invite you and yours to come in. Be
welcome." The Coldspring Alpha's words were a formal greeting that
promised Vasile's pack's safety while in their territory.

"Jeff Stone, Alpha of the Coldspring pack, we accept
your invitation and acknowledge your promise of peace, matching it
with our own," Vasile responded just as formally.

Jeff stepped aside to allow the wolves to enter, then
shut the door behind them. Vasile noted the sparseness of
decoration and the lack of warmth that he had grown accustomed to
in his own pack headquarters. They followed as Jeff led them down a
hall. No pictures adorned the walls, which where a pale gray in
color. He opened a door and ushered them into a room that appeared
to be a meeting place. There were two couches arranged across from
one another and several wing back chairs set on either side of the
couches, forming a circle.

"Please be seated." Jeff took a seat first, willing
to submit to Vasile's dominance over him. All the other wolves took
various seats and Vasile was last to finally relinquish.

"We come to you with grave news regarding my son's
mate," Vasile announced to the Alpha. "I need to know if you or any
members of your pack are involved."

Jeff moved forward in his seat, straightening his
back, indicating to Vasile he had his full attention.

Vasile continued, "Jacque was taken from the hospital
last night where she had been recovering from a car accident. It
appears that one of Dillon's wolves, he is Jacque's father and
Alpha of the Denver pack, is involved."

"I'm sorry to hear this, but why would you think my
pack would be involved?" Jeff asked.

"Dr. Steele was the physician treating Jacque."