"Alpha." Decebel bared his neck as he trembled for control.
"Open yourself to me," Vasile instructed.
Vasile and Decebel had done this only one other time. It was an ability only an Alpha and Beta shared, a way to pass on the memories if the other should fall. Decebel closed his eyes and forced his breathing to calm. Vasile placed his hand on Decebel's forehead and watched the images and sounds the poured from his Beta's mind into his own.
The room was silent as the rest of the pack looked on, frozen by the events that had just unfolded, that they didn’t yet understand.
When it was done, Vasile opened his eyes and met Decebel's.
"She is alive."
"Only just." Decebel's voice was barely above a whisper.
"You can hear her thoughts?" Vasile's lips curved ever so slightly, happy that his Beta's bond with his mate had finally formed.
"I did. But now it's silent, dark."
"That could mean she is unconscious."
Decebel nodded, unable to even consider the alternative.
"We will find her, Beta," Vasile told him firmly.
Decebel stood. His wolf was still at the forefront, unable to rest, unable to think about anything but finding their mate.
"If..." Decebel had to clear his throat before he could continue. "If she dies, you will have to kill me."
Vasile nodded once, then added, "She will not die."
Decebel closed his eyes. "How can you be so sure?"
Vasile chuckled lightly. "No one as fierce as Jennifer Adams will go quietly into the night."
Epilogue
Decebel gathered rope, flashlights, and water. Costin was waiting along with Fane, Skender, and Sorin.
"Thad's pack bailed with him," Fane announced.
Decebel growled. "We will deal with him once Jennifer is safe."
"Vasile and Alina are under guard. They should be safe enough here, for now." Sorin's words were torn apart as screams erupted from down the hall.
The five males took off at a run towards the shouts and screams. Crina was running towards them.
"FIRE! They've set the mansion on fire."
Decebel kept moving toward the rooms that now had smoke billowing from them.
"Crina make sure Sally and Cynthia get out." Decebel told still running. Then turned to the males running alongside him. "Go through the rooms make sure everyone is out," he yelled over the roar of the flames. The fire was engulfing everything in its path quickly, too quickly, as if something gave it power.
More screams filled the mansion and, once the upper rooms had been checked, they tore through the rest of the house.
"Get everyone out now! Fane, you come with me. We'll get Vasile and Alina."
Decebel was running while shouting his commands. He snarled as flames crawled like demons from hell up the walls.
"Something about this is wrong, Beta," Fane spoke Decebel's thoughts aloud.
"Magic," Decebel muttered. "Dark magic."
Jen struggled to breathe, fading in and out of consciousness. She tried moving at one point, but the pain was so great that she had passed out. Something had just awoken her – a noise, maybe. It was dark, and so cold.
She heard scuffling far above her. An animal? A person?
"Hello?" Her voice was hoarse. "Please help me."
"What is your name?"
Jen heard the female voice some from somewhere up above and nearly sobbed at the sound.
"I'm Jen."
"Hello, Jen." The voice was so soothing and comforting – it made her want to curl up in a ball and sleep. "My name is Rachel…"