“I don’t know if better is the term I would use, but being able to release some of the pent up energy has brought me a sliver of peace.” His voice was slightly more emotional than the monotone he had exhibited as of late and that too gave her hope. Maybe he could just fight anyone and begin to heal; maybe it didn’t have to be Costin.

She felt the growl from across the room before she heard it. And when her eyes met Fane’s they werewolf blue.

“Why is his name in your thoughts, Jacquelyn?” Fane’s voice was now laced with a totally different kind of emotion. She hadn’t realized he was listening in. She would need to be careful to keep her mind separate from his when she was talking about his problems to others, but the small amount of joy she had experienced at seeing her mate’s smile had caused her to let her guard down.

“Fane,” she said as she stood slowly from the bed. She took cautious steps toward him and kept her eyes from meeting his own. “I was not thinking of him in a romantic way. You know better. You feel what I feel and see what I see. There is no room for doubt in our relationship.”

She continued forward until she was standing mere inches from him. Her hand reached up and, just as it would have made contact, she began to drop it.

“Don’t stop.”

Her hand froze in midair at his desperate plea.

She finally met his eyes and sucked in a sharp breath at the change she saw. They still glowed, but no longer with anger. Now it was something much more intimate. She felt his hands on her waist as he pulled her closer until her body was flush with his. He leaned his head to the side until her hand was cupping his cheek and he let out a shaky breath.

“I need you like I need my next breath. The way I want you is like a dying man in a desert wanting even the smallest drop of water,” he whispered and she felt his warm breath against her face.

“I have felt like you needed space from me, Fane.” Jacque tried not to sound upset or hurt, but when she saw his jaw clench, she knew she had not succeeded.

“That is my fault. I have been too proud to ask you and too arrogant to think that I could handle this alone. Even after we talked I still tried to keep it from you.”

Jacque reached up with both arms and wrapped them around his neck. Her fingers wove into his dark hair as she pulled his head down until their foreheads were touching.

“Are you ready to let me help? Are you ready to deal with your anger at Costin?” she asked gently.

He growled again. “Please don’t say his name, not right now. The only name I want coming from your lips is mine. For the rest of the night, it is just you and me.”

Jacque trembled under his possessive tone, and as his hands slipped under the hem of her shirt and moved tenderly up her back, all thoughts of anything but Fane fled.

“Jacquelyn,” his lips grazed her skin as he lowered his head to her neck and breathed deeply. A soft moan slipped through her lips and she heard him chuckle. It had been so long since she had heard that sound and her desire for him soared.

She pulled him towards their bed and as she laid back, she tugged on his hand until his body blanketed her.

“So all it takes is my laugh to get you in bed?” he smiled at her and nipped at her lips with his teeth.

“All it takes is you,” she told him with a sincerity that took Fane’s breath away. When she pulled his head down for his mouth to merge with hers, he gave no resistance.

Fane felt his mate’s relief at having him touch her. He felt her complete and total trust that he would show her only love and care with that touch. With every graze of his fingers, each touch of his lips, she seemed to glow brighter and brighter. He watched in awe as she gave herself to him absolutely without reservation and it humbled him.

She whispered to him as he loved her and her words began to mend the brokenness inside.

“I love you Fane,” and then she kissed his shoulder.

“I need you,” a kiss to his chest.

“I’m yours alone,” he kissed her deeply at that last declaration and he took everything she gave him, soaking her up greedily.

“Mine,” The word rumbled from his chest as he watched his wife, his mate, bask in their shared passion.

“Vasile,” Adam bowed his head slightly to the alpha as he grabbed his shirt from a chair in the gym.

“Adam, how did things go with my son this evening?”

Adam could tell there was something very different about Fane. He had become very distant and the easy demeanor that he once carried had been replaced with a stony wall.

“He did well. He is very powerful and worked very hard,” Adam answered.

Vasile’s eyes narrowed. “What was his temperament?”

“He remained detached throughout the training, but as we sparred his focus increased and he seemed to let go of whatever burden is weighing him down. He would be a dangerous wolf to fight. He is extremely powerful, but it is not a desire to learn or gain skill that is motivating him.”

“His wolf is out of control,” Vasile said calmly.

Adam shook his head. “No, not his wolf, Vasile. It’s the man that is out of control.”

Vasile had no words for Adam’s statement. He just stood there watching as the fae left the gym.

If Adam was right and it was the man who was out of control, then things were worse than Vasile had realized. When the wolf was in control, it was pure instinct. The wolf would be dangerous until his mate was safe. Once the threat was neutralized, he would once again be able to be calmed by his mate’s light and goodness. When the man was out of control, it wasn’t only instinct that was driving him; it was also emotion. Emotions could make people do irrational things. When the man was out of control, it made the wolf in him restless because he would be trying to figure out where the threat is that is causing the man to have such rage sweltering inside of him. Fane’s emotions were keeping him from acting rational, from seeing true reality. He won’t allow his mate or his wolf to help him gain control.

Fane was a ticking time bomb and Vasile was going to have to step in if he wanted to protect the pack and Jacque.

Chapter 4

“People seem to believe that when you find your soul mate, the one person who completes you, that things will just be lollipops and sunshine. I hate to stomp on your tootsie rolls, but being the right person for your mate does not suddenly turn you into this giving, selfless, loving, gentle, and all that other crap person. You are still the person you were without them; the difference is now when you aren’t any of those good things, you have someone who will love you anyway.” ~ Jen