"For the sake of my sanity and future friendship with that nympho, do not tell her that. Can you imagine how she would take that and run a stinking marathon with it?"

Fane chuckled. "We will be delicate on how we broach the subject."

"Of course, she may be too preoccupied with the whole unmated males checking her out thing to really care about having a servant," Jacque added. "Man, if Decebel wasn't in the picture she would be in her idea of heaven – a bunch of hot werewolves checking her out."

"Love, you forget I'm the only wolf you are supposed to refer to as hot," Fane teased.

Jacque snuggled closer. "It goes without saying, wolf-man, you are the hottest of them all."

Fane growled. "Prove it," he challenged.

Jacque leaned back to look into his eyes and saw the desire that filled them.

"Now?" she asked, surprised by the abrupt change in subject.

"We can't solve Jen and Decebel's problem tonight, love, nor can we change whether or not The Gathering will take place. What we can do is love one another. What I plan to do is forget about all others but you, Luna. For the rest of the night you will forget all others but me."

Jacque smiled slyly at her mate. "Bossy much?" she teased.

"I want you," he said simply, not attempting to gloss over his demand.

"And so you shall have me," Jacque whispered as she clicked the bedside lamp off, leaving only the moon to light their room.

"So, for clarification purposes..." Jen sat in the media room on one of the overstuffed couches the following morning. Jacque sat on the floor, leaning against a chair that Sally occupied. Vasile and Alina sat opposite Jen on another couch while Sorin and Decebel both stood on either side of the room, propped against the wall. "Because I have a teeny, tiny amount of werewolf blood in me I have to go to what essentially amounts to a mating dance and let other unmated wolves sniff me?"

Sally snorted with laughter. "Sorry, got a visual."

"Nice." Jacque high fived her.

Jen glared at her two best friends. "If you two are done with your little moment could we please focus on this upcoming disaster?"

"Sorry, Jen. Don't mind us. By all means, continue freaking out." Sally waved Jen on.

"Thank you," Jen said matter of factly. "Okay." She looked back at Alina and Vasile. "So have I covered the basics?"

"It's really not as uncivilized as you are picturing it, Jen," Alina told her gently. "It's like a social gathering. They will divide you into groups, as there are quite a large number of people. In the evenings everyone will gather in the great hall for dinner and dancing. But during the day you will be told where you are to be. A group of unmated females will be meeting in various locations on the estate with unmated males. There will be Alphas and mated pairs presentat all times. You will never be alone with an unmated male unless you find your true mate. From Jacque and what you have been learning about the pack in tutoring, you know that there are distinct signs when you find your true mate."

Jen couldn't help her gaze drifting over to where Decebel stood. When their eyes met, Jen felt chills run over her body at the intensity of his stare. Alina's voice drew her attention back.

"You will receive an itinerary once we arrive."

"Tonight at the pack meeting," Vasile continued for Alina, "you will meet some other unmated females who will be attending as well. I think you, Jacque, and Sally should spend some time with them and get to know them. We want you to feel safe, Jen. No one will force you to do anything, and if you happen to meet your mate don't panic, okay?"

"Alpha," Jen smiled ruefully, "when have you ever known me to panic around yummy werewolves?"

A growl resonated through the room.

"Oh, stick a cork in it, B," Jen snarled at Decebel.

Vasile cocked his head to the side as he looked at Jen. "B?"

"Yeah. Ya know, for Beta. Although, I like it because I could also be calling him the technical term for a female dog and he wouldn't know it. So really, calling him B totally works to my advantage," Jen explained in all seriousness.

Everyone turned when a quick burst of laughter came from the right side of the room. When Sorin saw everyone turn their eyes on him, he quickly began coughing. Holding up his hands, he finally composed himself. "Pardon me, Alpha. I seemed to have swallowed wrong."

"You have to be careful while swallowing smart ass comments, Sorin," Jen teased. "They tend to have a choking effect."

Sorin winked at Jen, who refused to look at the ominous wolf in the room currently staring a hole in her head.

Jen looked back to Vasile. "Okay, so the moral of the story is find a mate, don't panic, and try to avoid any male pissing contests…literally." Jen winked at Decebel as she said this and he lifted his lip in a snarl.

"That sounds about right," Vasile agreed. "I think today you should just go about the rest of your day as usual. Try not to worry about The Gathering."

Jen snorted. "Yeah, I'll get right on that."

Thad, the Alpha of the Serbia pack, held a cell phone to his ear as he listened to his contact.

"There is to be a pack meeting tonight announcing The Gathering," the voice on the other end told him.

"Will the three Americans be in attendance?" Thad asked.

"Yes."

"I expect you to befriend them, earn their trust." Thad paused. "I'm still working out the details of the plan, but as soon as I have figured it out I will be in contact. Remember, don't contact me. I will be in touch with you."