The Alpha addressed Fane and Costin. "Sorin and Skender are to help you organize room assignments. I believe there are six rooms in the building attached to this one. Cynthia and Crina, show them where to go. Make it work."

Before they could respond, Vasile left the room.

Vasile decided to seek out the three Alphas before he went to Decebel. He figured his Beta needed to be alone to sort out the information Sally had explained.

He climbed the stairs and found them standing by the railing, deep in conversation.

"I'm sorry to interrupt," Vasile politely said as they all turned to face him.

"Vasile, we offer our condolences for what has happened to your pack," Victor told him quietly.

"Thank you. We all appreciate your support. At this time there really isn't anything you or your packs can do." Vasile held up his hand to preemptively placate the Alphas." I don't mean that as an insult. Sometimes a lot of help winds up being a hindrance."

"Understood," Victor acknowledged. "We can arrange for some pack mates to take the vehicles back as we prepare to depart. We should be on our way by this evening."

Vasile looked at his watch. "With all that has gone on I hadn't realized it was four in the morning. If you and yours need rest, please take it."

All three Alphas shook their heads.

"We are doing well," Victor promised.

Vasile thanked them again and gave his goodbye. That done, he felt it was time to seek out his Beta and try to patch him up as much as possible. Vasile's blood boiled that someone – and not just someone, but a witch – had hurt one of his. There would be hell to pay.

After doing some searching, Vasile found Decebel sitting on a bench across the road from the tavern. Vasile walked toward him, looking up and down the road. There weren't any cars to disturb the silent night. The crunching of the snow under his shoes seemed to echo loudly.

The village was small, and very primitive in some ways. Though there was indoor plumbing, there was no electricity. Oil lamps lit the buildings and fires heated the homes. Vasile smiled to himself at the simplicity of life here. But even here, complexity and trouble found its way in.

Decebel looked up as Vasile sat down next to him.

"How could I forget my mate, Vasile? What kind of man does that make me?"            

Vasile wrapped an arm around him, briefly giving him the comfort of touch and letting him know he wasn't alone.

"It makes you like the rest of us – vulnerable. No matter what we do, no matter how hard we try, we can't protect our mates from everything. We aren't omniscient or omnipresent.” Vasile sat back, contemplating. “I think part of the reason that she has been wiped completely from your memory is that you haven't yet completed the bonding ceremony or the Blood Rites."

Decebel snapped his head around. "What was I waiting for, an engraved invitation?"

Vasile chuckled. "It wasn't that simple."

"Is it ever with women?"

"Don't let my mate hear you say that," Vasile teased.

"So why had I not bonded my mate?"

"You were drawn to one another from day one. The intensity of your relationship is one of the strongest I've ever seen. That said, there were no mating signs."

Decebel took in a sharp breath. "None?"

Vasile shook his head.

"And yet I was sure she was my mate?" Decebel asked in disbelief.

"We all were. It was confirmed just before the mansion went up in flames."

"How?" Decebel felt hopeful. Why? He wasn't sure.  He didn't even remember the girl Vasile spoke of.

"Your bond finally connected. You were able to hear each other's thoughts." Vasile watched as his Beta processed that news.

Decebel felt like he had been punched in the gut. He had a mate – a mate! His head cocked to the side as a thought hit him. "If I have a mate, where the hell is she?"

"The Alpha of the Serbian pack tried to have her killed."

Decebel stood up abruptly, outraged, but then a key word hit him. "Tried to have her killed? So she isn't dead?"

Vasile shook his head.

"Tell me," Decebel said simply.

"Marianna, one of our younger unmated females was fooled by Thad into agreeing to kill your mate. It was assumed this would take you out of the picture and leave me without your protection."

Decebel squeezed his eyes shut. "I remember that. I remember killing a girl, but I don’t recognize her. She was pack? I killed one of ours?" His voice shook with horror.

"Be still, Decebel. She betrayed our pack. She tried to kill your mate. You were justified in your judgment and sentence." Vasile paused, narrowing his eyes as he continued to remember the events of that night. "When your bond connected, Jen was able to tell you what she remembered. You shared your memories with me. She was pushed into a cavern and had been severely injured."

"Why have I not been searching for her?" Decebel interrupted.

"She made you promise to get her friends to safety first."

"And I listened to her? I put her friends before my own mate?!"

Vasile laughed.

"Why are you laughing?" Decebel's brow furrowed as he watched his Alpha in confusion.

"You're mate can be quite convincing when she needs to be. She pretty much told you that if you came for her without taking care of her friends first that she would never forgive you. And you knew that she spoke the truth. If there is one thing Jen is, it's loyal, fiercely loyal to those she loves."