Quinn Loftis

“You are my everything, the very breath Ibreathe, the water I drink, the food I eat; you are all that I need, all that I wantand all that I am is yours.”

“Change is inevitable and life changes as swiftly as the wind blows. It’s which direction that you let the wind blow you that matters.”

“I can admit when I'm wrong Decebel, geez. It just happens so rarely that it kind of catches me by surprise.”

“Don't mind her; she's missing that part in her brain that tells her to shut up.”

“All I got to say is if she said no, shemight not want to go to sleep tonight'cause I'm going to dye her hair blonde to compliment her being a dumb ass," Jen told them. "Uh, Jen, you're a blonde," Jacque pointed out."No, not really, God just got it wrong and it was too late to change it once He noticed.”

“Love isn't suppose to be easy, I know that. Nothing worth having is ever easy. But it is supposed to be honest; it is supposed to be true and unconditional. Love is messy and painful and joyous and not without sacrifice. Love is supposed to conquer all. Is it enough if the love only comes from one side? Is the love of one person enough to conquer the hurt of two?”

“Give 'em hell babe.”

“Listen carefully, Lucas Steele, because I will only say this once. I am NOT your mate, I will never be your mate, and if you ever put your hands on me again I will cut them off along with other body parts you might want to use one day. Got it?" Jacque told him with as much force as she could put behind her words.”

“Fane's wolf must have been in control of the wheel because he leaned down over Jacque and growled low. He placed his face against her neck, breathing deep, and his voice was guttural when he spoke. "Mine." Jacque turned her head slightly and did what no other would ever be able to do when this alpha was at this point, she looked him in the eyes. "Yes, I am yours.”

“I'll see you there little Red.' Fane’s voice faded out of her mind and she could feel his humor. Oh, wasn't he just too cute, picking up on her two best friends' idea of a sick joke - to turn her into the little girl who almost wound up as the wolf's dinner."My, what big eyes you have, wolf-man," Jacque said out loud, unable to stop her sarcasm from boiling up.“The better to see you with love,” Jen chimed in.“What big ears you have!” Sally continued their comic relief.“The better to hear you with my love,” Jen followed.“What big teeth you have!” Sally mocked, her hands on either side of her face.“The better to eat you with my love,” Jen cackled, but she wasn’t finished. True to Jen form she added her own twisted sense of humour. “My, what a big-“Sally slapped a hand over her mouth, quickly realising where Jen was going with that statement.”

“A huge smile spread across Jen's face."Ahh that was a good one." She turned back to the crowed and yelled again."Rewind. We're going to party like it's 2009, New Year’s Eve. If you're curious as to how awesome a party that was, please see me, Jacque or Sally. Sally's version will be much more accurate, and also free of any important inappropriate details." Before she could say anything else, a large hand wrapped around the microphone and pulled it from Jen's grasp. Decebel handed it to Jacque as he growled at his mate and pulled her away.All the while Jen was telling him exactly how much she didn't appreciate him getting all up in her kool aide. She finished by telling him that, once again, she was going to shove her foot where an ‘Exit Only’ sign should be.”

“Costin's contagious, dimpled smile was positively breath taking on his handsome face. She took in his appearance quickly and liked how he hadn't changed who he was for her party. He didn't try to look fancy or be something he wasn't. His un-tucked dress shirt and jeans fit him perfectly and a little voice inside her whispered that he was freaking hot. She called that voice her inner Jen. Jacque and Jen did not know about her inner Jen. It was her little secret when she needed a boost of confidence.”

“In the event of some sort of gathering, if one of the bossy, over bearing, possessive, fur balls has not flipped his switch and attacked some poor young pup in some misguided attempt to protect his woman's virtue, then the night is not yet over.”

“Have you wondered what our babies would have looked like?" Jen asked absently as she frowned inwardly trying to picture the future she might have had with her wolf."Baby this isn't really the time to discuss our babies. Let's focus on who is carrying you so that I can get you back so that we can make babies."Jen groaned and felt the arms around her tighten which brought a gasp from her. Decebel must have sensed her pain as she felt his worry."I'm okay, just hurts." Jen actually felt a smile spread across her face, "So you want to make babies with me?"This time when Decebel laughed she swore she could feel his hands run down her sides to her waist."Only you would want to discuss making babies at a time like this.""Well you have to admit that it's a better topic than my nearly being killed and now being kidnapped. Seriously Dec, I'd much rather think about us making babies.”

“He put his shirt on my head.”

“Sally did the mature thing and stuck her tongue out at her best friend.”

“Take notes my love,” Trik pointed at Syndra’s retreating form. “That is why she is Queen."Cassie nodded. “Got it. Note to self: Successful Queen equals bitch.” “I heard that,” Syndra yelled.Cassie gave Trik a high five. “You’re well on your way, beautiful,” he told her with a wink.”

“Keep calm and don't forget the whipped cream.”

“Jen smiled at them, a wicked gleam in her eyes."Do you hear that, Desdemona, last of the witches? I have so named you! Hear me now," Jen yelled into the dark forest, the wind and thunder still rolling around her. "Your time is drawing near! We are coming. Throw back your head in your tiny victory, laugh at our short-lived defeat, but we are coming. The night will be filled with our howls, the ground will shake with the stomping of our feet! We are coming. We are coming for you, Desdemona, and death follows!"Jen lifted her head and let out a howl worthy of an Alpha female. The others joined. And as their howls died down, for a brief moment before the silence took over, they heard howls beyond the earthly realm, howls filled with grief and triumph, pain and fear, anger and love-howls from those caught in the jaws of the In Between. They had heard their females' cries and they had answered.”

“The old adage "If you can't beat them, join them", to me is just a way of saying that you're weak. My motto is : "If you can't beat them, then you aren't fighting dirty enough.”

“Romance is a lie that gives people an excuse to act like fools and later blame it on the one whom they had bestowed their supposed love upon.”

“Ok, let me just write that down for you since you seem to think I'm you personal assistant," Sally responded, her tone clipped."You ever noticed how assistant starts with ass? Do you think that's a coincidence?" Jen shrugged her shoulders as she raised her eyebrows at Sally.”

“Death was in his eyes and hell would follow.”

“Fine, but if you get yourself killed I reserve the right to flush your ashes down the toilet while I sing the theme from Titanic.”

“Ugh, I swear I'd rather stab myself in the eye with a spoon repeatedly than be nice to some idiot, which means pretty much anyone I come in contact with. Damn, I'd be stabbing my eye a lot.”

“Lay it on me" "I was trying to. Geez, woman, make up your mind," Fane hold her, eyes glowing. She threw one hand up to hold him off. "I meant your idea, fur ball, not your delectable body.”

“No darkness can conquer the light love sheds.”

“There is nothing simple about something (love) that can fill you with the greatest joy you have ever known. It can make men build cities, crush enemies, seek out ways to move mountains, and bring even the greatest to his knees. There is nothing simple about something that can rip the very seams of your soul in half, shred every amount of dignity you've ever had, and strip every inhibition from who you are.”

“He was just being a guy. He saw an opportunity to get some free action and took it. I'm perfectly capable of kicking a guy in the balls, B. I didn't need you to go all fangs and claws on him."Every guy in the room cringed at Jen's words except Decebel. He was unmovable at this point."He was just being a guy? He was just BEING A GUY?" Decebel roared. "He touched you! He had his hands on you, on your -""Girly bits?" Jen offered oh so helpfully.Decebel's mouth tightened. "Yes, Jennifer. He had his hand on your girly bits. That is not 'just being a guy,' that's being an ass.”

“Jen watched as Sally and Jacque's eyes got wider and wider."Damn," Jen muttered under her breath just as strong arms came around her and she felt warm breath against her neck."I believe this is our song," Decebel purred in her ear. Jen swore at any moment she was going to be a puddle on the floor and Jacque would have to sop her up with some Bounty paper towels. Why she thought specifically of Bounty paper towels, she had no idea. She was trying really hard to focus on anything but Decebel's warmth against her.To her complete mortification he began to move…with the beat. Sally and Jacque's jaws dropped.Jen mouthed, "Save me," to her two best friends, but evil traitors that they were, they both started dancing and completely ignored her plea. Oh, those two heifers are going down, she promised herself.After a few moments, Jen decided she could either look goofy standing stiff while Decebel danced or she could throw caution to the wind and bring it.”

“My bet is we'll find trouble down that way." He indicated the direction the giggles were coming from."Are we going to survive this week?" Fane asked Decebel wearily."What's this we crap? You're mated, you can go hole up with your woman. I, on the other hand, get to be smack in the middle of the festivities," Decebel said the word as if it were a disease.”

“I know why she stormed out of here."Decebel's and Jacque's heads both whipped around. "You do?" they both asked at the same time.Fane raised an eyebrow at Sally's words.Sally in turn eyeballed Decebel. "Jen never really learned how to use an inside voice. So, Decebel, why don't you share how she asked you if you were involved with Crina, and how you never really gave her an answer but instead taunted her, and then nearly made her hyperventilate with desire."Decebel's head cocked to the side, his eyebrows drawn together. "How -""I would say it's a gift, but really I'm just nosy as hell. And damn, boy, the look you were giving her nearly had me in a puddle.""Shut up!" Jacque squealed. "Are you telling me Jen stormed out of here because he got her all hot and bothered?"Sally was grinning from ear to ear. Decebel looked like he would be perfectly happy if the universe would just swallow him whole."She was angry when she left," Decebel defended. "She left because she was mad.""Yeah, mad because she's got it bad for you, Sherlock," Sally told him, rolling her eyes."Really? She likes me?"Jacque laughed at Decebel's cocky smile."Um, if you aren't her mate that's not a good thing, Casanova," Jacque reminded him.Sally nodded in agreement, scrutinizing Decebel. "Let's just hope that she finds her mate at Mate Fest so she can get over you."Decebel took a step towards Sally. Fane stepped around Jacque and laid a hand on Decebel's chest, stopping him. "Easy, Beta."Decebel closed his eyes taking slow breaths, leashing his wolf. Then Sally's words worked past the jealous fog. "Mate Fest?" he questioned.Sally grinned. "Jen deemed it.""Naturally," Decebel muttered with a slight smile.”

“Fane lightly slapped her thigh. "Luna, behave.""Make me," she challenged as she leaned back, causing him to growl low in his chest.”

“Another tidbit you might be interested in is when it comes to chicks and open mouths, guys -" Decebel leaned over and covered Jen's mouth with his hand and warned her with a glare to swallow her words."Thanks, Dec. That's usually my job,"Sally told him. "But I was in such shock that I couldn't get my limbs to move."Decebel inclined his head. "Is that why you always seem to stand so close to her?""It's of utmost importance that whoever is within her reach be ready at any and all moments to intercept what might come from that wicked tongue."en was frantically trying to talk around Decebel's hand at Sally's comment. Decebel was quickly learning how Jennifer's brain worked, and could only imagine what she wanted to voice in regards to Sally's wicked tongue comment. He leaned forward to whisper in her ear. "I'm going to uncover your mouth. It would be wise of you to just let the wicked tongue comment slide."Jen glared at him from the corner of her eye, and after a tense moment finally nodded once in submission. Decebel slowly uncovered her mouth, ready if need be to slap it right back over her lips.The room began to get quiet and they all directed their attention to the front of the room. As Vasile welcomed everyone for coming and began to explain about the meeting he had with the other Alphas, Jen leaned over to Decebel. "You owe me. Sally walked right into it with that whole wicked tongue thing."Decebel chuckled and whispered back,"For some reason, ţinere de meu inimă (one who holds my heart), I have a feeling there will be plenty of opportunities for you to embarrass your friends for questionable comments they innocently walk into."Jen shrugged. "True enough, but you still owe me. And what are you calling me when you speak Romanian? You've said the same phrase to me twice now."Decebel patted her leg, causing all sorts of tingling sensations. "Dar tu romaneste, Micul meu lup. (but you speak Romanian, my little wolf)""I know what lup is and I am not a wolf.Whatever else you said I'm sure is a load of crap as well.”

“Decebel looked over at Fane. "A face tu fiecare a lua ce ei say?(Do you ever get what they say?)"Fane smiled at his Beta. "Nu mai incerce sa, (No longer try).""Good call." Decebel nodded.Jen looked over at Decebel, her eyes narrowing. "No talking in foreign tongue when around the Americans."Decebel leaned towards her, the gleam in his eyes causing Jen to tremble. "But Jennifer, I thought you spoke Romanian." He looked around at Sally and Jacque. "Weren't you two under the impression that she spoke Romanian?"Jacque and Sally nodded despite the daggers Jen was staring their way."That was thoroughly impressed upon us, wouldn't you say, Sally?" Jacque turned to look at her."Wait. Uh yeah, I distinctly remember a bar...vodka...and I'm almost positive Jen speaking in Romanian to the hot bartender."Sally was grinning from ear to ear as Jen's face grew red."I hope you two aren't attached to your undergarments because I just got the sudden urge to have a bonfire," Jen growled out."Note to self: hide underwear.""Or you could just solve that problem by not wearing any." Jacque heard Fane's voice through their bond. Her jaw dropped open and her face turned bright red as she turned to look at her mate.Jen looked at Sally. "Looks like Fane had a suggestion about the princess' undergarments. If I had my guess, I'd say he told her I couldn't burn them if she didn't own any."If Jacque could've turned any redder she would have. "How? What..." Jacque stuttered as she looked at her blonde friend, trying to figure out how she knew what Fane had been thinking."It's a gift, Watson. But really what it boils down to is when it comes to chicks and underwear, guys will always say they don't mix."Decebel coughed as he choked on his laughter while Fane had buried his face in Jacque's back, his shoulders shaking. Jacque and Sally both looked at their friend with open mouths.”

“Sally rolled her eyes. "Will there ever be a time that I don't have to send you two to opposite corners?""When hell freezes.""And the people there finally get that glass of ice water they've been waiting on," Jen added.Jacque reached around Sally, her fist balled. "I like that one."Jen bumped Jacque's fist and winked. "I know, right? I came up with that one just now.""Oooh, pretty and quick witted.""What can I say, wolf princess? I'm the total package.”

“Jacque leaned over and whispered in Sally's ear, "I give it two days before he lays one on her.""You're being generous. I say less than twenty four hours.""Is that a bet?" Jacque asked, eyebrows raised."Better believe it," Sally answered. Her lips eased into a crooked smile.Jen leaned around Sally and glared at her two best friends. "What are you two betting on?""Good grief. What, does she have eagle ears or something?""No, you dork. Your whisper is just you talking in normal volume but making your voice raspy. Really, you sound more like a chick who's been smoking for thirty years."Jen shrugged. "I'm just throwing that out there. You can take it and apply it at your leisure."Fane was chuckling at Jen's words when Jacque elbowed him, causing him to cough."You don't get to laugh, wolf-man."Jacque turned back to Jen. "Thank you for that observation, Sherlock.""Always glad to help a friend in need, Watson." Jen grinned at Jacque's irritated look.”

“Why are we sitting way back here?""This way we can see the whole room and do some recon.""Great, here we go with the black op lingo. Were you a Navy SEAL or some special forces officer in a past life?" Sally asked."It's a gift. It comes so naturally that you think I've had formal training." Jen winked."Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking. And, by the way, Hogwarts accepted you and is awaiting your arrival.""Ha ha, good one," Jen said dryly. "You have my vote – you'll be mayor in no time.”

“Does it get heavy?""Does what get heavy?""That big head you lug around 24/7, 365." Sally patted Jen on the back. "It just seems like maybe your neck or back would begin to hurt at some point.""Wow, Sally. I'm impressed you aren't just going for a psychology degree! Right now you seem to be running for mayor of 'I think I'm funny' town.”

“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.”

“The only place you'll be escorting me is to the vet so you can have the foot I'm going to shove up your behind removed!”

“Sorin said they came to him and begged him to take them out for a girls' night. Something about getting Jen and Sally hooked up with – I think they used the words 'hot Romanian mojo', or some non-sense.” Vasile rolled his eyes. “You know how those three talk. It's like a foreign language all on its own.”

“Decebel could admit now that maybe he had slightly overreacted when he tore into the room and found two males rifling through her suit case. So maybe he didn't have to throw Dragos through a wall. And, yeah, he could've kept from tossing Dorian right on top of Dragos. But in that moment his wolf had taken over, and all he could think was that her scent was around unmated males, that they were touching her things – things only he should know about. Decebel had glossed over that little tidbit, about why on earth he thought he had a right to know about her underwear.He'd felt that if he didn't get her things and her scent from their room he was going to kill someone, no doubt about it. One of those pups would have died that night.”

“He told me to not let my friends throw my clothes out of the window," she paused and looked pointedly at Sally, who had the good sense to look sheepish, "because he had to get my clothes back – which he called souvenirs – from the wolves who apparently found them." She chuckled to herself, knowing she was once again the color of a beet."And from the tone in his voice, said souvenirs must've been my womanly garments."Jacque laughed. "Did you just call your bras and panties 'womanly garments'?""That is classic." Sally laughed along."Could you two Pollyannas focus, please?”

“Phase one, my dear, is find your inner hoochie mama.""Ahh, I get it." Sally nodded. "It's all about embracing your inner skank."Jen shook her head. "I think the air is thinner here because you two are clearly not getting enough oxygen to the brain.""Oh, come on. Give us a break. Out of all of us, you've got inner skank-embracing down to an art form," Sally told her."True, very true, Sally. I am expert on all things skank.”

“Operation 'forget bossy werewolf guy' has been green-lighted?" Sally asked.Jen covered her face and groaned at Sally's words. "Did you seriously just say that? Operation forget bossy werewolf guy? Really, Sally?"Sally nodded in all seriousness."Well, if you're going to call our night out an operation – and you know how I love ops– at least get it right. It's operation 'forget freaking fine, brooding, bossy werewolf guy'," Jen supplied."Good call.”

“Did you smoke something this morning and not share?"Jacque rolled her eyes. "Do you really think I have to smoke something to get happy when I wake up next to Fane every morning?""Okay, point to you," Jen said, waving Jacque off.”

“Um, what's cooking in that sadistic brain of yours?" Jen asked nervously.Sally's eyes snapped open. "I was just thinking that maybe if you met someone else then you could get past your furry problem.""My furry problem? Really? You make it sound like I have abnormal leg hair growth or something." Jen rolled her eyes."Look." Sally stopped Jen before she could walk out of the room. "Let's just give it a go. You, me, and Jacque – tonight. We'll get Sorin to take us somewhere where there are going to be guys. Then you can do your thing.""My thing?" Jen asked, raising her eyebrows."Yeah. You know, your thing. The hottie hunting thing."Jen laughed. "Man, it sounded like such a good idea at the time."Sally groaned. "Oh, come on, Jen."Jen interrupted her before Sally could continue. "Don’t. Don't do that whiny voice.""Then say you will go tonight," Sally challenged. "Or are you chicken?""You really like living on the edge, don't you, Thelma?""Hey, I'm just calling it how I see it.”

“Note to self, lock bedroom door at night to keep perky morning people out.”

“Didn't you just turn eighteen, Jen?" Vasile asked her.Jen looked a little confused at his choice of response. "Umm, yes. I believe that loud racket you heard a couple of weeks ago was Sally and Jacque's idea of a birthday party. What does that have to do with me leaving?""If you are eighteen, Jen, you are an adult. I can't make you stay here. If you want to leave, if you really think that is the best thing for you, then you can go. I will allow you to use the pack plane to get back to the U.S. if that is truly what you want," Vasile explained.Jen cocked her head to the side, eyes narrowed at the Alpha sitting calmly in front of her. "Just like that? No trying to convince me to stay, or telling me not to give up, or yada yada yada bull crap?""No 'yada yada yada bull crap'," he agreed."Huh, okay then.”