“I love you, Luna. More than I ever thought possible, I love you,” Jacque heard him tell her through his thoughts. A single tear ran down her face and she hastily wiped it away. She was not going to be weak. Jen and Sally had moved beside her and were looking out the window as well.

“That is one fine specimen,” Jen said with a sly grin plastered on her face.

“Why am I not surprised that is what you're thinking about at a time like this?” Sally asked her.

“Hey, there is never a time to not appreciate a fine looking man. Am I right, Jacque? You know I am.”

“Well, when it’s one as fine as Fane, then you are right,” Jacque said with a smile. She knew that Jen was trying to lighten the mood and she was grateful.

The next hour seem to drag. Jacque spent most of it pacing the Henrys' living room and mumbling things under her breath. She so desperately wanted to seek out Fane’s thoughts, but his father had made it very clear that Fane needed to concentrate on the challenge only, so Jacque refrained from it.

Jacque jumped when she heard a knock on the Henrys' front door. Jen went and looked out the front window to check if it was friend or foe.

“It’s Fane’s mom. Guess it’s that time,” Jen told them.

Jen opened the door and Alina stepped in. She was dressed in black cargo, military-style pants, a black t-shirt, black boots, and her long hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She looked so bad ass.

“You look like you are planning on doing more than just watching,” Sally told her.

“It’s always best to be prepared. I’m trained in all sorts of fighting styles, so if a full-out battle ensues, someone will have to stay in human form to take care of Jacque, and that is me,” Alina explained.

“Is there any way that we could maybe take a vehicle and just be parked close to the field as backup? Like if ya’ll need a quick get away? What do ya think?” Sally asked this and it took everyone by surprise.

“Who are you and where is my little safe Sally who won’t even go over the speed limit?” Jacque teased her.

Alina hadn’t said anything yet, and when Jacque looked at her she could tell she was actually considering Sally’s plan.

“You do realize that if I allow this I will be disobeying my husband’s orders?” Alina asked them.

“Don’t you have to do what he orders, like the other wolves? When he gives them an order sometimes they have to obey whether they want to or not.” Jen asked her.

“No, I am Alpha female and I am his mate. He cannot really give me orders. I like to think of them as firm suggestions,” Alina told them with a wink.

“Nice.” Jen gave Sally and Jacque fist bumps. “So what do you say?” she asked Alina.

“I think it is a good idea. However, you must be surreptitious. If the other wolves smell you, there will be an all out war. Do you understand?” Alina asked sternly.

“Wehear you loud and clear. We're good at sneaking. We aren’t going to go into how we got so good at it, but rest assured it’s almost a specialty of ours,” Jen told her.

Jacque was shaking her head, clearly not in agreement with the things that were transpiring.

“Wait just one darn minute! I can’t let you guys do this. Don’t you realize how dangerous this is? If anything happened to ya’ll because of me I would never be able to live with myself.” Jacque was on the verge of having one of her two year old moments.

Sally and Jen both wrapped their arms around her and squeezed her tight.

“I hate to break it to you, Watson, but Jen and I tend to do what we want even when you tell us not to. Usually we just agree with you and then do what we want. Surely you know this?” Sally told her in a sweet tone of voice.

“You two drive me crazy!” Jacque exclaimed.

“Whoa, back up wolf chick. What would you do if you were in our shoes? You cannot tell me for a minute you would sit at home and wait for us. So you just take your little safety speech and shove it,” Jen said as she let go of Jacque and backed up, putting her hands on her hips.

“Well, Jen, how 'bout you tell me how you really feel?” Jacque said sarcastically.

Jacque knew they were right. There was no way she would let them go off to something so dangerous and sit at home. How could she possibly ask them to do the same?

“You’re right, I wouldn’t sit at home. Please promise me you will be careful!”

“Sweet!” Jen said, giving Sally a high five. “We are so going on a stakeout, this rocks.”

Jacque took a deep breath and tried not give into the panic that was threatening to overtake her.

“Jacque, it’s time,” Alina told her gently.

Alina turned, and once more told Jen and Sally to make sure they were not seen and to stay downwind so their scent would not reach the wolves. She then walked out the front door without a glance. Jacque knew that Alina trusted she would follow, but she was also giving her a moment in private with her friends.

“I love you two. Please be careful,” Jacque said as she hugged them both.

“Don’t worry ‘bout us, Sherlock. You focus on your task, and we'll focus on ours,” Sally told her.

Jacque didn’t linger, she didn’t want to turn on the water works and knew they would come if she didn’t leave quickly. She waved one last time and rushed out the front door. She saw that Alina had pulled the rental car to the curb. She climbed into the passenger seat and they started off on what proved to be the longest ride of her life, even though the field of dreams was only fifteen minutes from her house. They were both silent on the way there, absorbed in their thoughts, coming to the realization that the man they both loved was going to be in the fight of his life tonight and they would be watching, whatever the outcome.