“I’ll be back. You can’t get rid of me this easily,” he tried to tease, but the effect was lost in the pain that filled his voice.

  “I’m coming for you, Costin,” she told him with conviction. She gathered herself and straightened her spine.

  Costin shook his head. “Don’t. I need to know you are safe.”

  “Too damn bad,” she snarled. “You are mine and no damn crazy ass pixie is taking what’s mine without a fight.”

  Sally heard Jen’s weak voice from behind her saying, “I second that motion.”

  Costin smiled at his mate and closed his eyes, letting out an exasperated sigh.

  “I love you, Sally Morgan.”

  “Bet your hot butt you do.” Sally tried to keep the catch from her voice.

  Costin and she stood, and then he wrapped her in his arms.

  Decebel pulled Jennifer to her feet and placed his hand gently on her stomach.

  “Are you alright?” he whispered.

  Jen looked up into his too-handsome face.

  “She’s fine,” she answered his real question, covering his hand with her own, speaking of their unborn child.

  “We will find you, Decebel.” She held up her hand before he could argue with her, “I don’t want to hear it. You are my mate. I’m carrying your child and I’ll be damned if I’m going to go through this pregnancy without having you around to make miserable as I get fat. So, get used to the idea. I’m going to find you and when I get my hands on that witch, I’m going to gut her.”

  Decebel’s eyes were glowing when he leaned down and kissed her. “You’re really sexy when you’re blood thirsty.”

  Jen snorted as he pulled her close.

  “Stay safe, please. Be careful, and do whatever it takes to keep our baby safe.”

  Jen nodded and smiled up into her mate's face.

  “Give 'em hell, babe.”

  Adam kissed Crina passionately.

  “That’s for you to think about while you’re missing me.” He winked at her as he pulled back.

  “Adam, don’t do anything stupid,” Crina growled at him.

  “Dec is right, you females are hot when you’re snarling. I’ll be back before you know it, and then, my sweet she-wolf, we have business to take care of.” He looked at her pointedly and Crina blushed.

  Sorin held Elle closely as he watched his pack mates and his Alpha tell their females goodbye. He had never felt so helpless in his long life.

  “You need to go to the Fae,” he told Elle solemnly. “You can’t do this without them. You need to petition them, threaten them, do whatever you have to – but get their help.”

  Elle nodded. “Okay.” She was looking at him intently, memorizing every feature.

  “Hey.” Sorin spoke softly. “This isn’t goodbye, my love. I’ve only just found you.” He held her face in his hands and kissed her, a deep and slow kiss that spoke passion. When he pulled back, he smiled sweetly. “That’s just a glimpse of the plans I have for you, my beautiful mate. This is no goodbye.”

  “ENOUGH! It’s time to go!” the pixie King yelled again.

  Jen’s head whipped around and she snarled, “Enough my ass!” Then she took menacing steps toward the small King, Decebel by her side the whole way.

  “Hear me now, little King.” Jen began to shake with anger as she spoke. “The next time I see you, I’m going to stuff you and turn you into a Harry Potter prop. You have messed with the wrong pregnant Alpha female. Prepare yourself because you are on my list.”

  Sally clucked her tongue and, in her best Filch voice from Harry Potter, said, “Oh dear, we are in trouble.”

  The pixie King turned his attention to her. Sally shrugged.

  “I’m just saying, you do not ever want to be on Jen’s list. You are so screwed.”

  Jen gave the King one more snarl for good measure before turning back to her mate.

  “You take care of yourself.”

  Decebel kissed her quickly, and then walked to the portal the pixies had opened. The other males, minus Vasile, followed suit.

  Vasile looked at his mate and kissed her in an intense way.

  “You know where they are taking you?” Alina whispered as she pulled back.

  Vasile nodded once.

  Alina closed her eyes as a lone tear escaped. “Remember, it’s not real,” she told him.

  “I will try, Mina. I will try.” He kissed her one more time and joined the other males in front of the portal.

  With one last look behind them, they walked through the shimmering door, disappearing as if they had never been there at all.

  When they were all gone, Jen looked around, realizing they were alone. All of the pixies, including their King, had vanished.

  “Alina,” Jen turned to the Alpha, “where are they taking them?”

  “The In Between,” Alina answered flatly.

  “Damn,” Sally growled.

  “Understatement,” Jen added solemnly.

  Peri was brushing her clothes off. She grinned as her hands slipped into the pockets of her cloak.

  “Look what we have here.” She pulled her hands from her pockets and held up the Fae stones for the others to see.

  Rachel and Sally both took a step toward her.

  Sally smiled. “It’s so on.”

  Rachel returned the smile and nodded her agreement.

  Alina was kneeling next to Jacque as she spoke her next words. “Peri, it’s time to go to your people.”

  The women watched the Alpha female brush Jacque’s hair back away from her face as she continued to speak. Her voice grew stronger and they each began to see the Alpha she truly was.

  “It’s time for the Fae to get off their butts and get their heads in this game. Too much is at stake. I refuse to leave my mate to the fate of the In Between – it is a fate worse than death.” Alina lifted her face and met the eyes of each of the women. “Desdemona wants a war? Well, she’s got one. And when I stand over her and watch the life drain from her eyes, I will explain to her the folly in taking a female Canis lupus’ mate from her side.”

  “I can’t feel Costin,” Sally gasped as her hand pressed to her heart.

  Alina nodded her head. “The bond doesn’t work in the In Between; the fear and pain are too much. The wolf will take over their minds once their human minds can no longer stand what is happening. What they are seeing isn’t real, but to their minds it’s as real as the blood flowing through their veins.”

  Each of the females reached for their mates through their mental bonds and one by one their shoulders slumped as the pain of that reality hit.

  “Alina, what are we going to do?” Jen asked matter-of-factly.

  Alina pulled a blanket up around Jacque’s neck and then stood. She looked at Peri as she spoke. “Can your people help my son’s mate?”

  “We can try, Alina. We will take her across the Veil. The magic there is stronger.”

  “Good,” Alina stated and looked at Jen. “We’re going to get Jacque help, then we’re going to petition the Fae council, and then we’re going to gather the packs. It’s time we joined together as a race and stood by one another. Then we’re going to kick that evil witch’s ass.”

  “That’s what I’m talking about,” Jen whooped as she threw a fist into the air.

  They began packing up their camp in a rush. Once they were all standing with packs on their backs, Peri used her magic to make Jacque a floating gurney.

  “The closest crossing to the Fae realm is deeper into the mountains,” Peri told them as she began to walk, and beckoned them to follow.

  “What is with these Veils being so deep in the bloody mountains all the time?” Sally muttered.

  “Seriously,” Jen agreed and winked at Sally. “You can’t expect me to be trekking my pregnant butt all over this forest.”

  The group let out a collective groan.

  “Here we go,” Sally murmured under her breath.

  “What?” Jen asked. “I’m just saying.”

  “I vote we knock out the pregnant chick when it comes down to that or strangling her,” Peri called over her shoulder.

  “Good thing this isn’t a democracy,” Jen hollered back.

  “Jen, behave so that the nice fairy won’t want to strangle you.” Cynthia grinned at Jen.

  Jen laughed. “Aw, sweet Peri Fairy wouldn’t strangle wittle ol' me.”

  Peri began to walk more quickly and the others followed suit.

  “Why are we moving faster?” Crina immediately asked.

  “Because we need to save those blasted males quickly so that Decebel can keep his mate in line.” Peri looked over her shoulder at Jen. “She’s not even got a small bump in her flat little belly. Can you imagine when she’s big enough to have 'wide load' plastered across her butt? She’s going to be a bloody nightmare.”

  “I heard that,” Jen growled.

  Alina chuckled, thankful for the distraction.

  “Peri, be nice to the pregnant werewolf. Jen, stop antagonizing the fairy.”

  The entire group laughed at Alina and laughed even harder as Peri muttered under her breath, “Fairy, my ass. You’ll all be thinking fairy when you’re farting out of your mouths.”

  Sally marched behind the group, listening to the banter. She closed her eyes, once again trying to reach Costin, and felt their bond open briefly. What came through nearly caused her to crumble. All-consuming fear poured over her. She stumbled but caught herself before she fell.

  Her breathing became erratic as she tried to collect herself. She looked up and saw that the others were still walking. No one had noticed her reaction. Good. Calming herself, she bit her lip, trying not to think about the image that had flashed briefly in her mind, an image from Costin. It was her, lying on the ground, blood pooling around her body. Her face was contorted in intense pain. She felt the fear and panic in Costin. They had to get their mates out of there. No one could stand that for long. Not even men as strong as theirs.

  Chapter 21

  “In my heart I know it’s not real. I know she is safe. But my mind does not believe my heart. My mind sees her lifeless body before me and my wolf rages. Kill, maim, and destroy, he snarls in my head. I feel my humanity slipping away as I watch unspeakable things happen to my mate. My wolf only believes what is before him and the emotions of the man are stopping him from being what he needs to keep her safe. I don’t know how long I can stay me. I don’t know how long until the wolf takes over for good.” ~Costin

  Costin closes his eyes against the scene before him. If he has to watch another man put his hands on her, or hear her cries for his help again, he’s going to go crazy. She begs for him to save her. She asks why he won’t stop them from hurting her, why he is letting them touch her.

  Costin is on his knees as he looks up at her tear-streaked face.

  “It’s not real, baby,” he whispers through tears. “It’s not real.”

  “Costin, please stop him, please don’t let him touch me again.”

  Costin watches her struggle against the male’s hold. She reaches out to him and Costin tries to get to her, but it is all in vain.

  He closes his eyes as the screams began anew. The sounds are enough to make him vomit and even the smells are real. His precious Sally’s scent, wrapped in fear, anger, lust and pain.

  “ARRGGGG!”

  He screams into nothingness, his cries smothering out that of his mate's.

  ***

  Decebel felt the world crash in on him as he watched Jennifer give birth to their baby girl. Blood was everywhere and the echoes of his mate's cries bounced off the walls. Just as the baby was born, a huge owl swooped down and clutched the screaming babe in its claws. The owl flew off into the night with a loud screech. Decebel lunged for the animal, the cries of his baby – his and Jennifer’s little girl – deafening in the night.

  “Why didn’t you save her, Dec?” Jennifer asked him through tears and moans of pain. “Why didn’t you save our baby? You promised to save her.”

  Decebel closed his eyes and when he opened them Jennifer sat before him, whole, and glowing with pregnancy. He wanted to enjoy the brief moment of peace, but couldn’t, knowing that it was only beginning again. His fears would once again be fulfilled before his eyes. And it would happen over and over and over.

  Jen climbed into his lap and it was so real he could feel her breath on his neck. Her scent wrapped around him and he clung to her.

  “Shh, baby,” she cooed to him. “It will be alright.”

  “No, it won’t, Jennifer. It will never be alright.” Decebel’s voice shook with pain and his shoulders shuddered as sobs wracked his body.

  Then Jennifer was ripped from his grasp, a formless shape her captor. She screamed in pain clutched her swollen abdomen.

  Decebel reached for her, begged the form to let her go.

  Blood poured from between her legs, splashing to the ground with water mixed in. Jennifer fell and rolled onto her side. He watched helplessly as the form hovered over his mate and pushed on her stomach.

  “DECEBEL!” Jennifer screamed. “Make it stop, make it stop! Don’t let them take her from me, from us.”

  “Shh, my love, please, it’s going to be alright.” Decebel crawled on his stomach to her, his body covered in her blood. His hands slipped in the sticky substance as he got closer to her. He cradled her face in his hands and tried to wipe away the blood he got on her pale skin.

  “It hurts,” she whispered.

  “I know. I know, baby. I’m so sorry.” Decebel leaned down and kissed her lips gently. He gathered her to him and watched helplessly as she writhed in pain and finally gave birth to their child. He laid Jennifer back and reached for the still, little form.

  Decebel looked into the beautiful face of their baby and wept at the lack of life. No crying, no breath, no movement. Nothing.

  “Let me see her,” Jennifer whispered to him weakly as she reached for the child.

  ***

  Vasile reached for Alina but she backed away from his grasp.

  “How could you let this happen, Vasile?” she asked him through tears. “How could you not protect your own?”

  Vasile closed his eyes, searching for the truth in his mind, remembering his mate telling him this wasn’t real. He needed her strength, especially now as he stood before a version of his mate who looked upon him with such disappointment that even as an Alpha, he felt small. Alina was his heart. Everything good in his life came from her and the idea of disappointing her, of not being what she needed, paralyzed him. He had let her down. He had let his son be taken, along with his pack and the Alpha of another. He hadn’t fought hard enough, or done everything he should have.

  “How can you stand before your pack as Alpha?” Alina spat at him.

  “Mina.” Vasile’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “I’m sorry, Mina. I failed you.” He knelt before her and waited for the words he had always feared, words he knew would cause him to destroy the world.

  “I can’t love a man who can’t take care of his own, Vasile.” This version of Alina glared down at him with such vitriol it made him sick.

  Vasile’s wolf howled and clawed at his insides, trying to get free. He refused to lose his mate. Nothing – heaven, hell, or anything in between – would take her from him, not even by her choice.

  “You are mine!” he snarled. Of course, this Alina didn’t respond. She wasn’t real.

  Suddenly she was gone and his Alina stood before him. “Vasile...” Her voice was tentative and lost.

  Vasile stumbled toward her as he stood. He took her in his arms and held her close, breathing in her scent.

  “You left me. Why did you leave me?”

  “Shh, Mina,” Vasile soothed. “I’m here, I didn’t leave. I’m here.”

  Alina fell apart in his arms; the wetness from her tears caused his shirt to stick to his skin. She pleads for him to come for her, to bring Fane with him and never leave her again.

  Vasile, Alpha of the Romanian Grey Wolves, begged his mate's forgiveness, forgiveness that he knew would not come from this Alina. For every tear she cried he cried more. For every broken sob she emitted his heart tore in two. Everything in him knew this wasn’t really his mate, but everything told him it was. He had to fight it. He couldn’t give into the wolf, he couldn’t give into the horrifying possibility that he and his would be doomed to suffer their fears for eternity.

  He had to remember his mate, his true mate, and know that she was waiting on him, was expecting him to come through this a whole man, not a broken wolf.

  ***

  Adam, Sorin, Gavril, and Drake were also going through their own personal hells in the In Between, each man suffering over and over their deepest, darkest fears. And as they endured in what they felt was solitude, little did they know they were mere feet from each other.

  A devastated Sorin watched as the mate he had just found turned her back on him.

  Adam stood before an enraged Crina, cringing as she told him just what she thought about being mated to a Fae.

  Gavril sobbed as Desdemona cut his mate's still-beating heart from her chest. Her screams pierced his heart.

  Drake stared into the darkness, darkness so bleak and alone that the arms of death called lovingly to him.

  So, on and on they endured. They seethed, they howled, they wept and cried out at things that weren’t really before them. Their wolves raged inside of them, seeking a way out of the man, but they held on.

  ***

  Mona opened her eyes after seeking out the In Between in her mind. The pixie King had contacted her when he captured the males and she had been nearly as excited as a kid on Christmas morning. She wanted to see the great Vasile broken, the mighty Decebel a blubbering idiot, and stared in satisfaction as she watched them. She couldn’t see what they were seeing, that was their reality, but she could see their reactions to it.