Costin grinned. “Those things are all true, but you are still young, and I am still the first guy you have ever been intimate with. I will completely understand if you want to move slowly.”

  Sally tapped her lips with her finger and Costin could see the mischief dancing in her eyes. “Slow is good I’m sure, but according to Jen sometimes a little rough is just as necessary.”

  Costin coughed, trying to swallow. Sally’s face turned bright red and she laughed. She couldn’t believe she had just said that. Well, that wasn’t entirely true, it didn’t totally surprise her. She had lived through a hellish evil spell, helped kill a witch, and fought an evil hoard of demons, saved a Warlock King, and brought a powerful Alpha back to life, so joking about sex with her mate and husband really was a piece of cake at this point.

  “Sally mine,” Costin’s voice dropped low and caressed her skin. She shivered as she felt his fingers begin to skim across her calf and up to her thigh. He tapped her hip playfully as he grinned wickedly, “rough you say?” She squealed as he flipped her on her back. One second his hand was on her hip, teasing, and the next he was over her. Sally’s breathing increased, as she stared up into glowing, hazel eyes. Costin’s unique scent wrapped around her drawing, her closer to him. She growled at him and nipped his shoulder. He chuckled at the surprise and longing he saw on her face.

  He kissed her deeply pulling her tight against him and when she shuddered, he tugged her bottom lip with his teeth. “Rough it is,” he whispered, hoarsely against her lips.

  The End

  Epilogue

  “Every man makes mistakes. Every man faces times in their life when they would give anything for a do-over. Unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way. Once the mistake is made, the only thing left to do is deal with the consequences. That is when the measure of a man is made … when his character is revealed.” ~Cypher

  Vasile sat in his office facing a group of solemn faces. He had called this meeting of his closest men and of Decebel and his top four to discuss the new enemy that had risen, just as Mona had fallen.

  “Has anyone ever heard of this man cloaked in smoke with yellow eyes?” Decebel looked over at Wadim.

  “I know you might think that I know it all, because I’m the historian, but I got nothing on this one.” He threw his hands up in the air and let them fall to his thighs.

  Vasile let out an exasperated breath. He had been wracking his brain, trying to remember where he had seen those yellow eyes. It had been a very long time, but he was sure that he had met the man at one point in his long life.

  “Whoever he is, he is deadly,” Costin said, from where he leaned against the wall, his bartending towel tossed casually over his shoulder. He had been at the bar working when Vasile had called and hadn’t bothered to set it down.

  “He is deadlier and more dangerous than you can possibly know.” A deep voice rumbled from behind them. They all turned to see Cypher standing in the door. He still looked weak. He was, however, finally walking on his own strength.

  “Please, come in Cypher,” Vasile motioned for him to take a seat among them.

  “You know him?” Sorin spoke up.

  Cypher nodded. “He is Reyaz, my brother.”

  ***

  Decebel lay next to his mate, watching her sleep. Her face was relaxed and peaceful. There were no lines of worry. No pain danced in her eyes. He gently rubbed her stomach where their baby was nestled safe and growing. Every day was one day closer to her birth, one day closer to the promise the Fates had made to take her from them. In all the chaos of the past weeks, they had not had much time to think about the impending birth. In the few quiet moments they'd had, they spent them talking of a future that might never come, but they refused to acknowledge that possibility.

  Decebel had made a decision that he knew Jennifer would not like, but he did not know what other options he had. He kissed her gently on the forehead and then quietly rose from their bed.

  Once in the quiet garden he closed his eyes and knelt to the ground.

  “I request an audience with you, Great Luna. It is of great importance and I beg of your help.”

  “You need not beg child,” her voice spread warmth into the cool room and Decebel felt a hand urge him to stand. “I have told you that all you need do is ask and I will answer.”

  Decebel met her eyes and he clenched his jaw, determined to get the words out without breaking down. “My mate is with child and the Fates have determined that her life is the debt that will be paid for Jennifer’s life being spared.”

  He watched as she took his words in. She had known what the Fates had decreed and she had chosen to wait to see how Decebel and Jennifer would respond.

  “What is it you ask of me?”

  “I want to take her place. She is an innocent, her life is not supposed to end. I have lived for a very long time. I have been blessed to have found my true mate and it is only right that I should die before my child.”

  The Great Luna’s eyes softened, “And, what would your mate say about this?”

  “Jennifer will survive losing me if you will break the bond between us. I do not believe she could survive losing our child.” Decebel told her, honestly.

  “Don’t you think it should be her choice?”

  “I cannot ask her to choose between me and our child; that isn’t fair. I have always told her I would protect her from anything, even herself.”

  “This is truly what you want?” She stepped towards him and placed a hand over his heart.

  “Yes, if it is the only way to save her life, it is what I want.”

  The Great Luna nodded. “So be it.”

  And, then she was gone.

  Decebel fell to his knees as he felt his heart tear in two. His body shook with his grief and his wolf cried out for their mate. He kept the bond closed, not wanting to wake her. And, in the quiet of the garden he reached for the darkness that had tormented him for so long, for it was only in the darkness that he would be able to hide his shattered soul. He cried out for his love, for the woman who had saved him and brought meaning to his life once again. He prayed that she would be able to forgive him and that one day they might be united once again. He vowed that until the moment that the Fates sucked the life from his body, he would treasure every second he had with her.

  He stood and shook off as much of the pain as he could. And, with final resolve, he turned and went back to his love, enveloped her in his arms and whispered three words in her ear.

  “Please forgive me.”

  ***

  Sally lay contentedly in Costin’s arms hours later. She could hear his heart beating where her head was pressed against his chest and she found comfort in the steady rhythm. After so many dangers they had faced, so many ugly things that had been thrown at them, now she lay in the arms of her mate and it was beautiful.

  “You are beautiful,” he whispered.

  “Are you listening to my thoughts?” She asked with a grin.

  “Always,” Costin squeezed her affectionately. “Are you alright?” His words were soft and she heard the apprehension in his voice.

  She pushed herself up on her arm so she could look him in the eyes.

  “I’m better than alright, Costin.”

  “I love you,” he told her as he reached up his hand and caressed her face.

  “Thank you.” Sally’s head tilted to the side as she looked down at him, her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “Hey, we never said our vows.”

  Costin grinned mischievously, he kissed her neck and then looked back up at her.

  “Do you remember me whispering in your ear tonight or the words I sent you through our bond?” He asked her.

  Sally nodded.

  “You are the air I breathe, the food I eat, the water that quenches my thirst, Sally mine. You are what I have waited for, what I have so desperately needed and what I could never deserve. Every whispered promise, every confession, every longing, hope and dream I have shared with you this night, those are my vows to you, my love. All you need know is that I am yours, unequivocally and you are mine.”

  Sally stared into the eyes of the man she loved, the man who was more than a man and more than anything she ever imagined she could have. She saw every thought that coincided with his words, felt every emotion as intensely as he did and she found joy in the love that he held for her. She was his, no matter what new evil they would face, no matter the trials, the triumphs or the fury that would come knocking at their door. She was his and he was hers, fate had destined them and loved had bonded them.

  Keep reading for a sneak peek of the next book in the Grey Wolves Series, Sacrifice of Love.

  “When I look in the mirror, I see my face, my blue eyes, black hair, and strong jaw. But I don’t recognize the figure staring back at me. Something inside me has changed, grown darker, and colder. My wolf rages inside, constantly fighting me for control. I know I mustn’t give in. For if I do, chaos will come crashing down around us, along with lifeless bodies.” ~Fane

  Fane felt sweat dripping from his brow as he ran. His lungs burned with effort as he tried to suck in more air. He could see her just up ahead. She was crying and screaming for him to help her.

  "I'm coming!" he yelled.

  His footfalls pounded against the earth, seeming to fall in time with the beating of his heart. Every time he got close to catching up, she would be ripped from his grasp. He was losing her. He felt his wolf clawing to get out, raging, howling inside of him. Yet no matter how he tried, he couldn't phase. He felt helpless, and that feeling only fueled the burning anger deep inside of him. She was his. His to protect and over and over he failed her.

  Fane sat up suddenly, gasping for breath. He blinked several times and looked around in the darkness of the room he shared with his mate. Another dream, he thought. Sleep continued to elude him. Along with it, the peace he so desperately wanted. He glanced over to where Jacquelyn lay, or should be laying, he thought with a frown. He closed his eyes and reached out to her through their bond. He found her sitting with Jen and Sally by the large stone fireplace in one of the sitting rooms in the Romanian mansion, a place at which she seemed to take refuge more and more lately. No fire burned. The hearth, like his heart, was cold.

  Fane bit back the anger he felt at her for leaving him alone in their bed—again. But he knew he couldn’t blame her. He knew he had been distant from her, knew that she ached for him to talk to her, to touch her, and yet still he held himself back.

  Utter fury boiled inside of him; he needed to destroy an enemy that was not flesh and blood. But he feared that she would see this and he didn’t know how he could explain that to her. How did he fight a memory? How did he defeat something that was no longer happening, but wouldn’t let go of him? He was at a loss and so he kept her at arm’s length to protect her from what he had become.

  It had been two weeks since they had defeated Desdemona and yet it felt as though it was only yesterday. Vasile and the other Alphas were doing their best to work together in a peaceful manner attempting to formulate a course of action. A new enemy had arisen just as the old one had fallen and the supernatural world now waited with bated breath to see what this new evil would bring.

  Fane knew he should be helping his father and the others. He knew that it was his duty to lead and to set an example for others, but knowing and doing are two very different things. The cold truth was that his control was gone. Something in his wolf had snapped after seeing their mate trapped in her own mind. She had been experiencing the worst kinds of violation and abuse and he had only been able to stand by and watch. Now it took every ounce of strength he had just to let her out of his sight. For the first few days after the battle, he hadn't left her side. It was only after she threatened to have Peri put a binding curse on him that he relented to her demand to have time with her two best friends. But he was always in her mind, always attuned to her whereabouts and safety. It angered her more that, though he demanded she stay near him, he would not let her in. The bond was open, but not where she could see into his heart. He remembered her exact words when he had finally relented to her pleas.

  “I’m tired of being in this room, Fane,” she had told him. She had been standing by the window gazing out longingly. She kept her back to him as she spoke. “I love you, you know this, but I need more than just this.”

  “I just want you safe,” Fane had told her through gritted teeth.

  She had laughed bitterly, “Safe and caged are two very different things. You have got to get over whatever obsession it is you have with protecting me. We are in your father’s freaking house; I couldn’t be safer.”

  “Too many wolves.”

  She laughed again and turned to face him. “I’m done. I’ve tried to be patient and understanding. I’ve tried to talk to you, to get you to help me understand what’s going on with you, but you won’t let me in. I’m your damn mate, your wife, and you won’t talk to me. You can either get your crap together and respect me the way I deserve to be respected…or I will drag Peri into this mess and bind you. You won’t be able to touch me, not like you normally do anyway,” she spat out and Fane had felt as if she had slapped him.

  “Jacquelyn,” his chest ached as he spoke her name and he took a step towards her.

  “Don’t,” she snarled as she held up her hand. “You are going to fix this, Fane Lupei, and it better be sooner than later because I’m this close,” she’d held up her hand pinching her fingers together with no space in-between, “to packing my crap and finding a different room.”

  Fane would like to say that he didn’t lose his cool. He’d like to say he didn’t shred the sheets on the bed or throw the TV across the room, but he’d be lying. Her declaration brought out his wolf. The idea of her leaving him, of not being in their room where she belonged, was more than his wolf or he could take. Jacquelyn’s eyes had widened, but there was more anger than fear in them when she had stormed from the room. That had been two days ago.

  He hadn’t known if she would come back that night or not. She had briefly spoken to him through their bond to let him know where she was but then she had shut him out cold. She barely spoke to him when she chose to be around him and what little she did was short and to the point.

  Coming back to the present, Fane climbed out of bed and staggered a bit. His limbs felt stiff and tight from the intensity of the dream and it took a few steps before he felt them loosen. He went into the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face but avoided looking in the mirror. He didn’t want to see what stared back at him.

  When he came back into the bedroom, he stopped abruptly in mid-step when he saw Sally sitting in one of the chairs that were in the small sitting area.

  “Does your mate know you are in another man’s room?” he asked dryly as he altered his course to the closet and grabbed a shirt. He slipped it over his head and then rejoined Sally though he did not take a seat.

  “He does, though he is not happy that I did not allow him to come with me.” Sally stared at him as if he were a new species of bug that needed examining. He stared right back. He felt his wolf stir and had to push him down. Sally stood and walked over to him. He tensed but didn’t move. She slowly lifted her hand and placed it on his chest and he watched as she closed her eyes. He wanted to push her away and growl at her for thinking she had a right to touch him, but then, she was a healer and it was, therefore, her right.

  He tried to keep the walls in his mind up but Sally was strong and she pushed through with little effort. He waited for her to see what he had become and then run screaming from the room. He felt her presence, but it wasn’t the same as the mate bond. There was no intimacy involved, and yet, at the same time, he felt very vulnerable. She stepped back as her hand dropped and her eyes opened. She met his gaze and her face became stern.

  “She could help,” she told him firmly, but her words were gentle.

  “At what cost to herself?” he asked.

  “It is her right to sacrifice for you. Just as much as it is your right,” she continued before he could speak. “It’s spreading inside of you like a disease and eventually your wolf will take over. The wolf taking over, all instinct, without any of the reasoning of the man would be a very, very bad thing. Though, the fact that you are not in control might actually be worse. You know this and still, you hold back. She is aching and empty because of your refusal to allow her to be what you need.”

  “You saw what happened?” he asked, knowing she would understand that he was asking her about his memories.

  She nodded.

  “You saw who touched her, who she willingly allowed, and yet that doesn’t anger you?” his voice dropped to a growl.

  “It wasn’t real, Fane. It was a curse that fed our deepest fears. She has suffered enough and you are causing her more pain than the curse did. You have to find a way to let it go. You need her and she needs you. If you can’t talk to her right now, then talk to someone because you are on a warpath to self-destruction, and if you lose this battle, it won’t only be Jacque who suffers.”

  He watched as Sally walked from his room closing the door gently behind her. He knew what she said was true. He had to fix this mess he had created. He needed his mate, needed her like a drowning man needed air. Sally spoke of Jacquelyn aching and his gut plunged to the ground. He knew that ache. It was his constant companion as well. His arms longed to hold her. His wolf needed to possess her, and he needed to love her—to show her how desperately he loved her.

  He didn’t know if he had pushed her too far or if she would forgive him. He didn’t know how to tell her about the madness inside of him. He didn’t know how to bear his weaknesses and shame to her, but he knew that if he didn’t he would destroy them both.