Lilly chuckled, "My forever optimist," Jacque could hear her mother's smile through the phone.

"I'll let you go, I just wanted to let you know I'm thinking about you and miss you so much," Lilly choked back tears.

"I miss you too. I'm happy, I want you to know that," Jacque reassured her.

"I know, and that's what I want for you. Be happy, live a wonderful life with Fane."

"Will you come see me soon?" Jacque asked hopefully.

"We'll see about this summer maybe."

"Okay, love you."

"Love you too Jacque, very much. Bye," Jacque hit the end button on her phone and closed her eyes briefly. She loved talking to her mom but sometimes it made her heart feel so heavy.

"I love you Jacquelyn. I know it was a lot to ask you to come here," Fane told her gently.

" I don't regret coming Fane," Jacque turned to look into his eyes, "I want to be with you. I just miss her, and that's okay."

He kissed her forehead gently and breathed her scent deep into his lungs.

"What do you think is going on with Decebel?"

Fane was quiet for a moment. "I don't really understand it, but he treats Jen as if she's his mate. All the signs are there. I think he's probably worse because he doesn't understand it either."

Jacque thought about that. She felt bad for both Jen and Decebel. She knew that Jen was head over heels for the wolf, and couldn't imagine what it would be like to love Fane but not be able to be with him. Jacque prayed for both their sakes' that whatever it was that was going on would work itself out quickly.

"Are you okay, love?" Fane asked her gently.

Jacque turned so she could look into Fane's eyes. "I just hate seeing Jen hurt. And Decebel, for that matter," she told him honestly.

"You're a good friend, Luna, but this is something that they are going to have to work out on their own."

"If they don't kill each other first," Jacque added, only half joking.

Fane chuckled. "There is that possibility. And its chances have actually greatly increased."

Jacque watched his eyes as they clouded over in thought.

"Hey, wolf-man." She traced his lips with the tip of her finger, drawing his attention. "What is it? What's going on?"

Fane leaned down and kissed her gently before he answered.

"In the meeting I attended with the other Alphas, we learned they have decided it's in the best interest of our species that we bring back an old tradition," he explained.

Jacque pushed herself up into a sitting position, turning so she could see Fane's face clearly. "Why am I getting 'this sucks' vibes from you, babe?"

"Well, love, essentially becausealthough it could be beneficial, in light of the situation between Jen and Decebel it is more likely to be detrimental…to one of them. I'm taking bets on Decebel since Jen seems to have quite the mean streak."

Jacque grinned briefly at that.

"So what's this tradition?" she asked.

"Over a century ago several packs used to have an event called The Gathering,"

"Ooo, sounds very Stephen King-ish," Jacque interrupted.

Fane smiled at his mate and her never ending commentary.

"The Gathering was brought about for unmated pack members to come and meet in hopes of finding their true mate. It was written into pack law that if a pack was invited the Alpha could not decline or it would be considered an act against the species."

"Bloody hell," Jacque muttered, staring off into nothing as she thought about how this would affect her best friend.

"Does Jen have to go even though she isn't full blooded?"

"Unfortunately, the four Alphas involved have decided that since my mate isn't full blooded it proves that any person with any wolf blood in their genetics must attend because they are possible true mates." Fane took a deep breath and let it out before he continued. "The good news is my parents have to go, and you and Sally can go and act as Jen's help. Naturally, where you go I go, so I will attend as well. There will also be some other mated pack members that will help with security."

"Security?" Jacque asked, confused.

"It's not really the best idea to put a bunch of unmated males together, particularly when there will be unmated females up for grabs," Fane explained.

"Ahh, that's a valid point. So why are they thinking this is a good idea?"

"They feel it's worth the risk since so many Canis lupis aren't finding their mates." Fane wrapped his hand around Jacquelyn's wrist and tugged her to him, pulling her into the curve of his body. She laid her head on his chest as she continued to think about this new development. Fane continued, "The mated pairs will help keep the unmated in line. There will be a pack meeting tomorrow night,"

"What exactly did you mean by Sally and I being Jen's help?" Jacque interrupted.

"Well, a century ago they called them ladies in waiting. They were basically there to help prepare the unmated female for the event by helping her dress, fixing her hair. That was when clothes for women were a little more elaborate. But the Alphas figure it would help the unmated females be at ease if they had a few friends with them."

"So you're telling me that, essentially, we are going to be Jen's servants?" Jen asked dubiously.

"For lack of a better term," Fane agreed reluctantly.