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Peri watched in part horror and part awe as the Alpha fe The one, they hadn’t made it in time, and if they continued on this path, their wolves would take over Words would no longer penetrate the darkness to the ht ould be to take action that the ould understand Though Peri wasn’t a wolf, she had learned so about them as she had been around them for more centuries than she could count She had come to realize that the man was protective, possessive, and utterly devoted to his truewould result in one of two things, thetheir females to be what they were meant to be or the darkness would consuht She stood a little straighter as she watched as unfolding before her and herthat it was a big possibility that she was going to have to use it

Sally was the first to move after the shock of Alina’s words had frozen them all She looked at Costin and searched for any indication that he would deny Rachel or Alina’s words She saw and felt his sha her, but she also felt his resolve that it was the only way to protect her That was enough for her to h it nearly made her knees buckle as she turned and walked away froh her chest as it pounded inside her Despite the cold air, her hands were sweating and she felt sweat trickle down her back She sed against the pain of her choice, but knew deep inside of her that it was the only option The thought of not touching Costin, of not feeling his touch, took her breath away and as she reached Alina’s side the Alpha wrapped an arrowled "Coer and pain in his words and she nearly ran back to him She didn’t want him to hurt but she wanted her mate back more than she worried about the temporary pain that the separation would cause

"No," she answered defiantly, not even giving hiht the subtle defiance in refusing him access to her mind "Your touch is uninvited," she told him with eyes full of unshed tears Sally finally looked away, not down, as she would not show sube was tooas she walked away froed her arave her the strength to pull her ar Alina just said," she snarled, "but it’s just too damn much So, I’ll just say the parts I do re me, and frankly, that makes me want to stab you with a spoon, and still you just continue on your path to self-destruction, uncaring of how it’s affecting h all this crap and yet, you deny ht to meet YOUR NEEDS! As a self-declared nyly endure," she took a deep breath and let it out just as Decebel whispered, "Don’t" She ignored him "Your touch is"

"Don’t do this, Jennifer," Decebel interrupted and though his words were controlled and quiet, it was scarier than if he had been screarowl as she started again "Your touch"

Again, he interrupted, louder this time "DO NOT"

Jen threw her arms up in the air in exasperation "Bloody hell, would you shut up! I a this Dec, you are This is all you babe, so suck it up and deal" Jen knew there must be some formal reason that Alina had been so formal with her words, and so she squared her shoulders and looked into his narrowed, glowing eyes- and spoke quickly "Yourtouchisuninvited" The words ran together as she tried to get theain Decebel took a step back as if he had been slapped Jen’s eyes widened slightly at the action and sloalked backwards keeping her eyes on his shocked face

Decebel’s face suddenly iped clean of emotion, his stone mask in place His jaw tensed as he spoke "I warned you froo I will not allow even you to keep yourself froerously "I consider your actions a direct challenge to me I will only say this one more time Don’t do this" When she didn’t nation "So be it," he growled, softly

Fane hadn’t realized that Jacquelyn had left his side while everyone’s attention was riveted on Jen and Decebel When Jen finally arrived at Alina’s other side, he turned back only to realize Jacquelyn was half way across the path that was quickly becorab her, but was stopped by an invisible wall His head jerked over to the only one he kneerful enough to conjure such a thing Peri stood looking innocently at him, but he saw the twinkle in her eyes

He tried to reach Jacque’shi to do hat Rachel had revealed about the their mates out It was instinctive to protect them, to not want them to be tainted by their darkness

"Jacquelyn," his voice was barely above a whisper as he clenched his jaw She turned to look at hireen eyes He had caused that and he had pushed her to take this desperate measure as his mother had said

Jacque sed hard before she finally spoke "Your touch is uninvited" Sally and Jen wrapped Jacque in their arive her what she truly needed Only Fane could do that

So in Fane snapped as his wolf realized that their et to her He pounded his fist on the invisible barrier as his claws eirls holding her, and he snarled jealously It was his right to touch her; she was his

"You are rowled

Jacque pulled away from her best friends and looked at Fane "Yes, I a you" She turned andto leave any of you"