"He's here?" Jacque squeaked.

Decebel looked at her and nodded. "He is on his way up now." He turned back to Jen and Sally and simply said, "Come."

Sally began to follow. Jen, of course, could not be that cooperative. "Oh, I'm sorry, did I miss something? Am I wearing a dog tag that indicates I should be walking on all fours and responding when a big grumpy ass werewolf tells me to come?"

Decebel turned and growled, "One of these days your mouth is going to write a check that your cute little ass can't cash." Decebel thought this would render her speechless but he should have known better.

"Oh, don't worry fur ball, I plan to be writing that check out in your name." With that she winked at him and hobbled past a dumbfounded Decebel, IV pole and all.

Sally turned and patted Decebel on the arm. "Good try, chief, but you are sparring with a master in her craft, and didn't we just discuss not provoking the beast? Geeze, try to save someone's life and they just throw it out the window," Sally continued to mutter as she walked past Decebel, her hands in the air as if to show her surrender to another's stupidity. "I'm done, finished, and if you hairy, testosterone filled, egotistical, snarling, drooling, flea infested werewolves want Jen to neuter you in your sleep than far be it from me to stand in your way."

Decebel turned and looked at Jacque. "Your friends have issues. Serious issues."

"You have no idea," Jacque said, shaking her head as Decebel turned to follow her two best friends out. "Good luck with that," she hollered before the door closed.

"Well, that was interesting," Jacque told Fane.

"Interesting definitely, but something is up with Decebel and he isn't exactly the most forthcoming wolf. Figuring it out is going to be like trying to figure out who shot Kennedy."

Jacque looked at Fane and grinned, "You know about Kennedy?"

He laughed, "Why wouldn't I?"

"You're from Romania," Jacque said with a 'duh' look.

"Like I told you, I studied American history. My parents wanted me to know more than just Romanian history."

"I guess that once we are in Romania and start school, I will learn all about Romanian history?" Jacque asked him.

"You will learn a lot about Romanian history as it pertains to the pack. It is a lot of information, but important since you will one day be the Alpha female."

"Ugh, don't remind me, it really freaks me out," she whined.

"My silly Luna, you are going to make an amazing Alpha. Don’t doubt that." Fane leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips.

"Mmm, there is not enough of that going on lately," she teased him.

"Yes, well, I didn't think you wanted to give Jen free entertainment."

"How right you are wolf-man," Jacque joked.

There was a knock at the door causing Jacque to sit up straighter. Fane stood up and walked to the door to open it.Before he did he turned and looked at Jacquelyn. "You ready, love?"

"You are with me, so yeah, I'm ready."

"Always, meu inimă (my heart)."

"Oh, and Fane?" Jacque started.

"Yes?"

"Try not to kill my father, okay?"

Fane's eyes glowed blue and he growled low.

"Stop it, wolf-man, answer the door." She laughed at him, thankful for the brief distraction.

Fane opened the door and a man stepped in. He wasn't nearly as tall as Fane, but he had broad shoulders, red, wavy hair the same color as Jacque's, and he had the same piercing green eyes. Fane felt like he was looking at the male version of his mate, he had to admit it was a little creepy.

The man held out a hand to Fane politely. "You must be Fane Lupei. I'm Dillon Jacobs, Jacque's father."

Fane took Dillon's hand and shook it. "I am Fane, Jacquelyn's mate," Fane told him without looking away from the Alpha wolf's eyes.

Jacque realized that neither of them was going to relinquish before the other, she had to step in before one of them did something stupid. So she cleared her throat. Okay, it wasn't much but she figured telling the two Alphas to get their heads out of their butts wouldn't go over real well.

"It's probably best that you did not say that, you are right, my love," Fane told her, obviously listening to her inner dialogue. He had told her once that her thoughts fascinated him. Her response had been that she was glad she could entertain him.

Dillon turned his head in response to Jacque. "You must be Jacque."

"In the flesh. Well, at least what's left of it," she answered.

Dillon let out a soft growl but caught himself quickly. "Yes, we will get to that shortly. First I just want you to know that had I known about you, I would not have stayed away. You don’t have to believe me, but I at least want you to know that I would have been here and a part of your life."

"I believe you," Jacque told him, tears gathering in her eyes, and before she could stop them they were pouring down her cheeks.

"Oh, little one, I'm sorry." Dillon walked quickly to her side, he felt awkward for a moment until Jacque made the first move, she reached out to him and just like that Dillon was holding the little girl he'd always wanted. He pulled her close and she cried harder. He rocked her and whispered over and over, "I'm so sorry little one, so, so sorry."

Jacque couldn't believe she was blubbering like a baby, but crap, he was here. The one man she had always wondered about, where he was, what was he doing. If he had been around would he have taught her to climb trees, or change a tire? Would he have taken her to the movies the way Jen's dad did with her or taken her fishing? It just all sort of hit at one time and she couldn't hold it back any longer. It was pure instinct that had her reaching for a complete stranger, a stranger, but still her dad.