It was Fane who answered her. "Jacque is alive but in severe pain. Please tell me how to heal her."

"She needs blood," Cynthia told him.

"She has already had blood." Fane's voice was deadly. "Logan forced his blood on her, she is not better."

"Not just anyone's blood, Fane. She needs your blood, the blood of her mate."

Fane stepped towards the bed as hope began to inch its way into his heart.

"You're sure?" he asked.

"Scientifically, no, I'm not. But Fane, we are werewolves, science cannot explain us. In my gut I know it is your blood she needs. I don’t think one bite will do it since she has gone so long and her body has slowly been attacking itself. She will probably have to bite you several times over the period of a few days."

Fane turned to his mother. "Get her some clothes, please."

Alina brought Cynthia some sweatpants and a shirt and all the males stepped out of the room. Lilly and Alina helped Cynthia dress. Although her broken bones had mended when she phased, her body was still very stiff and sore. Nobody spoke as Cynthia dressed. Alina opened the doors and let the wolves back in. Fane walked over to Jacquelyn's side and stared down at her in silence. Everybody in the room waited, watching to see what he would do. Fane made a decision.

"Everyone, please leave," he requested without ever taking his eyes off of his mate. "She wouldn't want anyone to watch this."

Without a word, the room emptied and as soon as Fane heard the click of the door he sat down next to Jacquelyn on the bed.

"Luna, can you wake for me?"

Jacquelyn turned her head in the direction of Fane's voice. Her eyes opened. "Am I really here? Are you really with me?"

"Yes and yes," he answered as he lay on his side next to her.

She reached her hand to touch his face but pulled back in pain. Fane gently caressed her face as he turned her face to look at him.

"Dr. Steele says you need my blood, that you will have to bite me several times in order to fully heal." Fane paused before he continued. "Do you think you can handle biting me or would it be too much since you were forced before?" His voice got softer and softer as he spoke, his eye lids shadowed his eyes and his lips were held in a tight line.

"Fane, I didn't bite Logan. He bit himself and poured his blood into my mouth. Biting you will be weird but not because of Logan." Her mouth turned upwards as she tried to reassure him but she must not have succeeded because he still looked stricken.

"Fane, tell me what to do. Unless," she said, looking away from him as her voice quivered, "unless you don't want me to bite you."

Fane growled. "Why would I not want my mate to bite me, to take my blood?"

Jacque shivered at the angershe heard in his voice. "Because I've had his blood, because he tainted me," she sobbed out.

Fane began to wrap his arms around her but as his hands touched her back she cried out in pain.

Fanes eyebrows rose as he jerked his arms away. "What is it? Where are you hurt, love?"

Jacquelyn's eyes fell as her lips trembled. "He clawed my back when he saw my markings," she whispered.

Fane gently tugged her forward so that she was lying on her stomach. He began to raise the hem of her shirt. "I will be gentle," he told her, his voice tight and strained. As he continued to pull her shirt up, revealing more and more of her skin, he finally saw the angry red slashes that marred her beautiful body. They sliced from her neck to below her bra. Fane couldn't stop the low growl that rumbled in his chest at the sight of his beautiful mate's precious skin so angrily torn.

"His death was too merciful for the pain he caused you." His voice trembled, exposing the depth of his hurt for her. Fane leaned forward and gently kissed her injured back and neck. Pulling back and lowering her, shirt he helped her lay back on her side.

"I want you to take my blood. I am your mate. You will take my blood so you can get better and then you will take it so we can complete the Blood Rites."

Fane tilted his head back, bearing his neck to Jacque. "Your instincts should help you out, love. Just close your eyes and bite."

Jacque looked at Fane's neck, his beautiful smooth skin and the markings that ran across it. She couldn't believe she was going to do this, but she was in so much pain that she no longer cared. She did as Fane told her and closed her eyes. She scooted closer to him, leaning forward and gently touching her lips to Fane's neck. She kissed him once before parting her lips and pressing her mouth down. As her teeth began to apply pressure to his skin, to her surprise, she felt her incisors lengthen and then she was able to pierce his skin with almost no resistance.

She squeezed her eyes tight as the taste of Fane's blood hit her tongue. Instead of thr metallic taste she had been expecting there was almost a spicy quality to Fane's blood. She felt him pull her tighter against him and she tightened her mouth as she continued to swallow his blood. It should have grossed and freaked her out, but instead it felt right.

Fane closed his eyes as he felt Jacquelyn's mouth on his neck. His body stiffened briefly as he felt her teeth sink into his flesh. He couldn't describe the feelings stirring inside at the pull of her mouth if he wanted to do. It was something so private and special between mates. He let her continue to take in his blood for several minutes. When he thought she had gotten enough for this time he reached into her mind. The thoughts he found there gave him pause before he finally spoke to her.