After doing some searching, Vasile found Decebel sitting on a bench across the road from the tavern. Vasile walked toward him, looking up and down the road. There weren't any cars to disturb the silent night. The crunching of the snow under his shoes seemed to echo loudly.

  The village was small, and very primitive in some ways. Though there was indoor plumbing, there was no electricity. Oil lamps lit the buildings and fires heated the homes. Vasile smiled to himself at the simplicity of life here. But even here, complexity and trouble found its way to his pack.

  Decebel looked up as Vasile sat down next to him.

  "How could I forget my mate, Vasile? What kind of man does that make me?"

  Vasile wrapped an arm around him, briefly giving him the comfort of touch and letting him know he wasn't alone.

  "It makes you like the rest of us—vulnerable. No matter what we do, no matter how hard we try, we can't protect our mates from everything. We aren't omniscient or omnipresent.” Vasile sat back, contemplating. “I think part of the reason that she has been wiped completely from your memory is that you haven't yet completed the bonding ceremony or the Blood Rites."

  Decebel snapped his head around. "What was I waiting for, an engraved invitation?"

  Vasile chuckled. "It wasn't that simple."

  "Is it ever with women?"

  "Don't let my mate hear you say that," Vasile teased.

  "So why had I not bonded with my mate?"

  "You were drawn to one another from day one. The intensity of your relationship is one of the strongest I've ever seen. That said, there were no mating signs."

  Decebel took in a sharp breath. "None?"

  Vasile shook his head.

  "And yet I was sure she was my mate?" Decebel asked in disbelief.

  "We all were. It was confirmed just before the mansion went up in flames."

  "How?" Decebel felt hopeful. Why? He wasn't sure. He didn't even remember the girl Vasile spoke of.

  "Your bond finally connected. You were able to hear each other's thoughts." Vasile watched as his Beta processed that news.

  Decebel felt like he had been punched in the gut. He had a mate—a mate! His head cocked to the side as a thought hit him. "If I have a mate, where the hell is she?"

  "The Alpha of the Serbian pack tried to have her killed."

  Decebel stood up abruptly, outraged, but then a key word hit him. "Tried to have her killed? So, she isn't dead?"

  Vasile shook his head.

  "Tell me," Decebel said simply.

  "Marianna, one of our younger unmated females was fooled by Thad into agreeing to kill your mate. It was assumed this would take you out of the picture and leave me without your protection."

  Decebel squeezed his eyes shut. "I remember that. I remember killing a girl, but I don’t recognize her. She was pack? I killed one of ours?" His voice shook with horror.

  "Be still, Decebel. She betrayed our pack. She tried to kill your mate. You were justified in your judgment and sentence." Vasile paused, narrowing his eyes as he continued to remember the events of that night. "When your bond connected, Jen was able to tell you what she remembered. You shared your memories with me. She was pushed into a cavern and had been severely injured."

  "Why have I not been searching for her?" Decebel interrupted.

  "She made you promise to get her friends to safety first."

  "And I listened to her? I put her friends before my own mate?!"

  Vasile laughed.

  "Why are you laughing?" Decebel's brow furrowed as he watched his Alpha in confusion.

  "You're mate can be quite convincing when she needs to be. She pretty much told you that if you came for her without taking care of her friends first that she would never forgive you. And you knew that she spoke the truth. If there is one thing Jen is, it's loyal, fiercely loyal to those she loves."

  "So, she's out there, hurt and alone in this freezing cold?" Decebel realized that even though he didn't know this girl, didn't know what he was supposed to feel for her, he still wanted to save her—he wanted a chance to meet her.

  "We will find her." Vasile's words were absolute. He would accept nothing less than Jen's safe return and his Beta's memory restored. And the witch who dared touch what was his, well, he wanted her head on a stick. Violent? Definitely. But then, he was Alpha and nobody hurt what was his.

  "So, what's the plan?" Decebel asked. He refused to sit idly by just because he couldn't remember things. She was pack. He would do whatever he needed to protect that pack.

  "We do need to make a plan. Meet me in the back room of the tavern. I will go and get the others."

  The Alpha and his Beta began to walk back towards the tavern.

  Decebel continued on when Vasile stopped to talk with the tavern's owner.

  "I will compensate you well for the time you allow us to stay," he told Nicolae, a short, middle-aged man with a round belly and five o'clock shadow. Nicolae had an easy smile and, from what Vasile could see, he was a gentle soul. Vasile spoke in their native tongue, wanting to befriend the gentleman and create a comradeship with him.

  "I have heard you have a member of your family missing?" Nicolae asked.

  "Yes. We were having a family gathering and the girl got lost in the woods. We will be here until she is found."

  "Anything that I can do, I will. For now, I'll have meals readied for your family."

  Vasile nodded. "That would be great. I will send some of my people to help you prepare and gather whatever you need. Thank you."

  Chapter 5

  Decebel watched as Vasile and Alina came into the back room. Following them was Sorin, Skender, and then others that smelled like pack, but that he had no memory of.

  He noticed that the healer and the redhead kept sneaking glances at him. It was obvious that they knew him, but no matter how hard he tried, they remained black voids in his mind.

  "Alright, daddy-o. Let's get this party started." Jacque clapped her hands together, punctuating her obvious eagerness.

  "Fane." Vasile's voice was a warning.

  "Luna, sit," Fane growled at Jacque.

  Jacque glared at her mate, but acquiesced while murmuring, "You are so going to pay for that later."

  Fane groaned. "As my bonded mate you have way too much power over me."

  Jacque laughed out loud. "That, my love, is because you are male and therefore easily distracted by all things female. Which works to my advantage when you are being a butt head."

  Fane chuckled as he tugged a strand of her hair in mock retaliation.

  Meanwhile, a semi-circle formed around Vasile and Alina at the front of the room. As everyone settled in, Costin took the wall directly behind Sally, looking every bit the role of a sentinel. A fire burned directly behind the group in a large stone hearth casting shadows over the room adding to the mystery that held them all captive.

  As the room quieted, the popping of burning wood and crackling flames filled the heavy silence. Vasile stood, but remained silent as he looked at each member of his pack, each member that he had chosen because of their fierce love and loyalty for one another. Not that others in the pack wouldn't give their all, but Vasile knew this group had grown close. That's what happens when people go through the fire together. Like heated metal, they began to soften, and when pushed together, their emotions and loyalty became soldered, no longer separate pieces. As they left the fire, cooling, that joining was permanent and unbreakable.

  That was the kind of bond that it was going to take to get through this. Vasile was under no illusions that before the end, tears would be shed, pain would threaten to tear them apart, and blood would coat the walls. Yes, it would take the bond forged in fire to walk through the hell they were going to soon face.

  Very soon.

  "I've been thinking over the situation,” Vasile began. “I'm going to explain this and then we will decide how to divide our resources." Vasile paused to see if anyone had anything to add. No one spoke, but every eye fixated on him.

  "We have three dilemmas,” Vasile continued. We have a missing pack member and mate to our Beta. All we currently know is that she is lost on this mountain somewhere. Second, Decebel's been cursed, twice. Thanks to Sally we understand the nature of these curses; however, we don't know how to break them or who performed them. Which leads me to our third dilemma: there is a witch, a very powerful witch, assisting the Serbian pack. We need to know her identity. There is power in possessing the name of an evil being, drawing it into the light, exposing it. That is when weaknesses are found."

  Vasile began to walk around the room. The movement helped his wolf settle, allowing him to better work through the problems.

  "Fane, Jacque, Costin, and Sorin. You will be returning to the pack mansion." He turned and addressed Sorin. "You are to seek out Wadim. It's time that we looked into our pack's history, which we have too long neglected. I think if you dig deep enough you will be able to uncover something about the witch or why the Serbian pack has attacked us."

  "Who is Wadim?" Jacque asked.

  Sorin answered, "Our pack historian."

  "Ooh, the pack historian. Do you keep him in a dungeon or something? I've never seen him."

  "Something like that." Sorin smiled.

  Vasile continued. "Sally, Cynthia, Crina, and Decebel, I am going to send you to visit a friend of the pack. She is not a healer, but she has lived among them and kept records of their history. I normally avoid seeking her out. Few know of her connection to the gypsies, and I don’t want to expose her. If Thad knew of the knowledge she possesses, he would do anything to get his hands on it." His eyes crinkled in the corners as he looked at Sally and smiled. "I think you will be pleasantly surprised."

  Sally returned his smile, although she was wary of the look in her Alpha's eyes.

  "Alpha," Costin cleared his throat as he spoke. "I would like to go with Cynthia and Sally." He gave no reason for his request, just waited to see what Vasile's response would be.

  Vasile looked over to Alina, who gave a nearly imperceptible nod.

  "Don't meddle," she told him through their bond.

  "Mina." His voice was a teasing reprimand. "You hurt me to say such things."

  "Let fate take its course, Alpha. If he's requesting to be with her maybe his wolf knows something the rest of us don't. I don't know that Costin is completely aware of the possessive and protective behavior that he has been exhibiting. Grant his request, my love."

  "You make me a better man, a better Alpha, Alina mine." Vasile caressed her face through their bond.

  "Don't you forget it," she teased.

  Vasile groaned aloud. "Bloody Americans rubbing off on my woman," he grumbled.

  Alina winked at the confused-looking Sally and Jacque.

  Vasile conceded, "Alright. Costin, you and Crina switch places. You may go with Sally." He heard his mate growl at him for adding that last little bit. After all, he didn't have to point out that Sally was the reason for Costin's request, but then sometimes deliberateness was the best course of action…especially for an Alpha.

  Costin didn't respond to Vasile's jab; he simply nodded and returned to his sentry position.

  Vasile turned to Sally. "Her name is Perizada but she prefers Peri." He watched Sally's face because he knew that her gypsy blood would intuitively understand the meaning behind the name.

  Sally gasped. "Oh, they can’t be real?"

  Vasile smiled again. "Werewolves exist, don’t they" he said in answer.

  "Yeah, but that just seems normal now."

  "Is who real?" Jacque asked puzzled, cocking her head and looking at her best friend.

  "Perizada means fairy-born." Sally grinned at Jacque. "I'm going to meet a Fae."

  “You mean with little wings and pixy dust?” Jacque asked.

  “Something tells me that there won’t be any pixie dust,” responded Sally gleefully.

  "Ah, man," Jacque whined. "She gets to meet the Fae and I have to go to a dungeon to talk to some old, reclusive werewolf scribe who's probably as worn and dusty as the records we'll have to sift through."

  Sally looked at Vasile and then back to Jacque. "That about sums it up, Red." Her grin remained in place.

  "That is so not cool, V. Not cool at all." Jacque glared at her father-in-law.

  "Still with the V?" Vasile asked.

  "Yeah, well, just because you're Alpha doesn’t mean you are exempt from nicknames. Although, I could call you A, but it would be too tempting to add the word hole behind it."

  The room erupted in much needed laughter.

  Sally fist bumped Jacque. "Score."

  Vasile growled at the two girls, but softened it with a wink. "I suppose I prefer V."

  Jacque gave him a nod. "Good choice."

  "Thank you, Luna," Fane whispered in her mind.

  "For what?"

  "Bringing laughter. There will be little joy in the coming days and we must grab it when it comes. You gave us a gift." He was absently tracing the markings underneath her red curls.

  "Thanks, wolf-man. But you're not out of the doghouse yet. Don't think your sweet words will sway me."

  Fane chuckled. "I can think of several things that could sway you."

  Fane sent her images to punctuate his words. Jacque gasped and slapped his chest.

  "Fane, quit flirting with your mate. Pay attention," Vasile growled, though he was trying not to laugh.

  Decebel watched from across the semi-circle. The easy way in which Fane and his mate interacted, the obvious love and affection they shared... I had that, he thought.

  How could I forget having that? Did she tease me? Did I look at her in adoration as Fane does at Jacque?

  Decebel's mind wandered. He puzzled through the idea that if he did indeed have a mate, he'd more than just forgotten her—her face, the color of her eyes or her hair. He hadn't just forgotten the feel of her skin or the feel of her body against his. He had forgotten all that they had shared. He felt a sharp pain rip through his chest. Did I hold her? Kiss her? He closed his eyes, squeezing them tight, trying so hard to find something, anything that would confirm that she did exist. Jen, his mate. But there was nothing.

  He growled as he felt his wolf stir. His wolf knew something that he didn't. Maybe his wolf remembered her—or maybe he just remembered having her and now knew there was something lost. He looked across at Fane and made eye contact, a silent request to talk later. Fane nodded, his lips tightened in something that looked like sadness.

  Vasile cleared his throat, bringing everyone back on task. "Alright, those are the plans. I chose you all because you have been through much already and triumphed. Make no mistake, this will not be easy. Dealing with a witch is dangerous, especially one that we know nothing about. Rely on each other's strength. Protect one another. Pay attention to any emotions or actions that seem out of character for yourself or another in your group. If you notice someone acting odd, it could be dark magic. You must fight it."

  The group was quiet as they thought on Vasile's words. Then Sally broke the silence with a giggle.

  "What's tickled your fancy?" Jacque asked her dryly.

  "I feel like we should all stand together in a bunch and Vasile should announce -"

  Jacque caught onto Sally's train of thought and they both said at the same time: "We'll call you the Fellowship of the Ring."

  Both girls began laughing and high fiving each other.

  Decebel looked over at Alina.

  "Yes, they are always like this," she answered his unspoken question.

  Decebel let out a deep breath, shaking his head at the giggling pair.

  "Man, Jen would have so rocked that." Jacque laughed.

  "We should record this stuff so when she's back we can play it for her."

  "Sally, I think Jen would tell you that your recording privileges were revoked at the hospital," Jacque teased.

  Sally looked over at Decebel and Jacque saw her wheels turning.

  "No." Jacque shook her head emphatically.

  "It might spark something. I mean, she was butt freaking naked," Sally reasoned.

  "Okay, so let me get this straight. You want to show Dec pictures of his mate butt naked, pawing all over him, while he looked like he wanted to crawl under the bed? Do you not remember when the cheerleaders made fun of her Beauty and the Beast backpack last year? She put K-Y Jelly all over their cars, put condoms over their antennas, and then wrote 'cheerleaders got rhythm' on their windows. This, the same Jen who broke into the field house, got the field chalk, and drew a picture of boobs and put 'nice rack' underneath it just because the team's mascot we were playing was a Buck?"

  Sally snorted. "That was freaking hilarious."

  "The point is, Sally, do you really want to provoke the wrath of Jen?"

  "Fine," Sally whined. "You have to admit, though, that it would be funny as hell to see his face when he saw the pictures."

  Jacque chuckled. "It's almost worth her wrath…almost."

  The girls realized that the room had gotten quiet during their discussion. They both looked around to find everyone looking at them, mouths dropped open, eyes wide.

  "Oh. Um, I guess ya’ll didn't know Jen could be a little revenge happy. And usually that revenge takes the form of some sexual reference."

  Everyone nodded and grumbled their agreement that Jen liked to joke about all things sexual.

  Decebel stood up, arms crossed over his broad chest, his six foot four inches seeming to fill the room. "This is my mate you are talking about?"

  "Not what you were expecting was it?" Jacque questioned with a broad grin.

  "She openly jokes about sex?" he asked, disbelieving any mate of his would be so crass.

  "Jokes about it, talks about it, makes reference to it in everyday conversation. Yep, that's your mate." Jacque laughed at the worried look on Decebel's handsome face.

  "Jacque quit scaring Decebel about his mate," Vasile reprimanded. "Decebel, she is a remarkable woman. You both complement each other well."