One by one, they took a knee and bowed their heads, joining Vasile.

“My children,” warmth spread across them as they all looked up at the sound of the powerful voice—the Great Luna stood before them in all her glory. “Today, I am pleased with the leader who has risen among you, who sees himself not as the greatest, but as a servant. Today, I am pleased with you all, those who belong to me and those who do not. Today, you have exercised your free will and chosen the harder path. For it is easier to give in to the darkness that dwells in each of your hearts, but much more difficult to go against your nature and take the path of righteousness. Listen to Vasile. His heart is pure and he desires nothing more than to see each of the races prosper and flourish. Go with my blessing. Know that I am and will give you strength; all you need is to ask.” And, as quietly as she had appeared, she was gone.

Across the field, surrounded by the guards that Vasile and Decebel had assigned to them, the females all stood up together and Jen stepped forward. “You heard the woman people, let’s bring the rain!”

Chuckles rippled across the group as they all stood and began to join with their packs.

“That is your mate, no?” Gustavo, Alpha to the pack of Spain, asked Decebel.

Decebel looked across the field to his mate who was giving him thumbs up.

“Yes, yes she is,” Decebel, said with a small laugh.

“She is strange,” Gustavo admitted.

“Yes, she is definitely that as well.”

“But hot,” Costin piped in as he came up behind Decebel.

“I’ll tell your mate you said that,” Decebel threatened, as the other Alphas watched Decebel warily, having seen firsthand how protective he was of his mate.

“I’ll just point out that she’s hotter, she’ll forgive me.”

Decebel rolled his eyes. “You are the only wolf whose mate wouldn’t castrate you for calling another woman hot.”

“Oooh, who are we castrating?” Jen asked as she wrapped her arms around Decebel who had seen her coming and held them open for her.

“Costin,” Decebel told her.

“Sally won’t be happy with you B,” Jen looked up at her mate, grinning.

“It doesn’t appear that he ever plans to need them, as slow as those two are moving, so I honestly don’t think she’ll mind.”

Jen laughed and gave her mate a high five. “Good one babe.”

Costin frowned at the pair. “Jen that was so not cool.”

Jen laughed. She stood on her tip toes and kissed Decebel. The others left the couple, giving them a semblance of privacy.

“You stay safe,” Decebel told her.

“I will only be as safe as you are B,” Jen told him, honestly.

“I know,” Decebel’s voice was soft and she heard the regret in it.

“Hey,” she nudged him.“Would you want to exist in a world where I was not?”

“You know I wouldn’t,” Decebel frowned.

“Then do not be sad that we fall together, because I would not want to exist without you.”

“We have a child to think of now Jennifer.”

“All the more reason for you to prove that you are the badass you claim to be and come back to me.”

“Language,” he growled.

“Babe, it’s the end of the world as we know it. As such, I reserve the right to indulge in the pottying of the mouth.” Jen smiled.

Decebel shook his head and rolled his eyes as he leaned down and kissed his mate passionately. His lips parted and Jen boldly explored his mouth. He smiled against her lips.

“What?” she asked him, breathlessly.

“I have always loved that you are not shy with me.” He tucked her long, blonde hair behind her ear.

“Why would I need to be shy? Have you seen all this?” She motioned up and down her body with her hands.

Decebel grinned as his eyes began to glow. “Why, yes mate, yes I have.”

Jen laughed. She took his face in her hands and all humor fled.

“You live so that we can live, do you hear me?”

Decebel nodded, and fell to his knees before her. He pressed his lips to her stomach, and then looked up at her.

“I love you.”

She ran her fingers through his thick hair. “And, I’m one lucky woman because of it.”

She backed up from him and blew him a kiss. As she turned to go, she looked back over his shoulder and grinned at her still kneeling mate. “Oh by the way, I love you too.”

Decebel winked at her as he stood up.

“And, I am the luckiest man because of it,” he whispered to himself as he watched her walk back to the group of females.

“When we get back, we are getting married,” Costin told Sally, as he held her close.

Sally smiled. “You’ve been around Decebel too much, you’re getting bossy.”

Costin laughed, “No, I’m getting desperate.”

Sally pulled him down to kiss her. She pressed her body tight to his and drew strength from his confident hold.

“I am yours, every square inch of me.”

Costin raised a brow at her. “I’ll hold you to those words Sally mine.”

“I love you, I want you, and I need you,” She told him, as her lips brushed against his.

Costin closed his eyes and used the intimacy of their bond.

“The time I’ve had with you has been the best in my sixty years. And, I want many more. You are precious to me. Please be careful out there.” Costin kissed her forehead and held his lips against her. “I love you. I want you more than you could possibly understand and I need you even more than that.”