The Burning Claw
Page 105

“She can’t play with dolls or doll house stuff yet. She’d wind up eating the tiny lamp or plastic people,” Decebel argued.
“Dec?”
“Yes, baby?”
“Build the doll houses.”
“And if I decline?”
“The mailman gave me his number, like a month ago.”
He scoffed.
“It’s in the top drawer of my dresser.” She pointed as if he didn’t know where her dresser was.
He looked at her and she could tell he was trying to gauge whether or not she was telling the truth. Finally, he snarled and threw the covers back as he climbed out of bed. He pulled open the drawer she indicated and removed a piece of paper with the Serbian postal service logo on it, a name, and a number.
Decebel’s eyes turned a dangerous shade of amber. “You were telling the truth?”
“About which part?” Jen asked innocently.
“What time does the mail run?”
She rolled her eyes. “Quit being dramatic. I’m hot. Do you really expect guys not to hit on me?”
“Jennifer, the mail?” He wasn’t being dissuaded.
“Hey, wait,” she said with a wicked grin. “Isn’t today Sunday? Great day Sunday. You know why it’s a great day, B?” She winked at him as she climbed out of bed. “There’s no post on Sundays.”
 
 
Epilogue
 
“Defeat is never truly realized unless you lay down and refuse to fight. The Order of the Burning Claw does not lie down. We do not cower before those who are weaker than us. We do not accept the perverse order of the world because of tradition. We stand for change and change is coming. We will burn through your cities and towns, bringing everyone to their knees. And we will not stop until we have absolute dominion.” ~Member of the Order of the Burning Claw
 
 
Peri stood in the corner of Vasile’s office as a number of supernatural beings entered the room. The usual crew was there, though Sally did not hold her head up or meet anyone’s gaze— which pissed Peri off. Jen and Decebel were there, as well as Fane and Jacque, Cypher and Lilly, Cyn and Thalion, and Vasile and Alina. Rachel and Gavril had baby duty and wait—what? Peri thought to herself as she watched history boy walk in holding the hand of the dormant, Zara.
“Did not see that coming,” Peri muttered. “Well played, Great Luna, well played.” It was about time Wadim got himself a mate.
“I’m sorry,” Jen stood up suddenly.
“No you’re not,” Jacque said dryly.
“Not the point,” Jen snapped. “The point is why does Wadim have his paws on Zara?”
All heads turned to the couple. Zara gave a wave and a smile but didn’t say anything, leaving it to her mate to speak up.
“Turns out I have a mate,” Wadim said with a huge smile. “And it happens to be this beautiful creature right here.” He motioned toward Zara.
Jen looked at Zara and narrowed her eyes. “You okay with this? Because if you’re not I totally know some people, who know some people, that can take him out.”
“No you don’t,” Decebel growled and grabbed the back pocket of her jeans and pulled her into his lap.
“Whoa, who spit in his kibble?” Jacque asked.
Jen shrugged “He’s mad because the mailman gave me his number.”
Sally’s head popped up. “No way,” she said and for a moment the old light was there.
“Way,” Jen confirmed. “And so my threats of having the mailman’s babies don’t seem so unrealistic to him anymore.”
“Zara,” Peri spoke up. “If you’re looking for someone who can help you cope with the whole true mate, furry guy, thing, Jen is your absolute last resort.”
Zara laughed. “I don’t know, Peri, I’ve heard her and Alpha Decebel volley and she’s got a wicked tongue.”
“That she does,” Decebel said under his breath.
Jen’s mouth dropped open. “Did you just make a sexual innuendo joke?” She clapped her hands like a proud parent. “I knew I could draw out your inner pervert one day.”
Vasile took that moment to clear his throat. The room grew quiet as everyone turned to face him.
“First, congratulations, Wadim and Zara. When you are ready to do the Bonding Ceremony, let me know and we will celebrate your union as a pack. In the meantime, Zara, if you do indeed have questions, Alina will be happy to answer any of them. Second, Sally dear,” Vasile said, his voice becoming soft as he looked at her like a loving father, “we are so thankful to have you home. There was a big hole in all of our lives without you. You belong with us.”
“Thank you, Vasile,” she said as she wiped a tear away.
“Vasile,” Decebel spoke up. “Today is as good a day as any.”
Vasile nodded. “Very well. Decebel and I have been discussing the possibility of blending our two packs into one.” Before everyone could start throwing out questions, he held up his hands. “There is strength in numbers. If we were one pack, we would be even stronger than we already are. Decebel has agreed to step down as Alpha and return to his Beta position.
“Awe, that means B, has to go back to meaning Beta,” Jen pouted.
“What did it mean if it wasn’t for Beta?” Zara asked.
The whole room groaned.
“What?” Zara asked.
“We tried to avoid encouraging her quirks,” Peri told her. “It’s just better to treat her like you would a fungus. Spray something on her and hope she goes away. Otherwise, she infects everything around her.”
Jen was unable to respond because her mate had, oh so helpfully, placed his hand over her mouth.
“We will talk to all the pack members in both packs, obviously, before making a final decision,” Vasile continued. “But the choice will ultimately rest with Decebel and myself. This is not a democracy, as you know, because such arraignments do not work with wolves. So whatever we decide will be obeyed by all. However, rest assured, any decision we make will be for the good of both packs.”
Everyone in the room, except Peri, Alina and Decebel, tilted their heads back bearing their necks. Though Jen didn’t have to as an Alpha female, she did it out of respect for Alina.
“Moving on. As you all know, Bethany and Drake have been spending time together as a newly mated pair. They are doing well. I’ve called and spoken to Drake a few times and they are making a lot of progress. Eventually, they will join our group.” He took a step forward and Peri noticed how tired he looked.