Page 29 of Wolf's Whistle
“Since I was in Henri’s position less than three days ago, I understand that he wants information and I have no objection to his presence. I’m happy you thought about it, Alpha. If you follow me, breakfast will be served for the Mates in the breakfast room and for us in the formal dining room.” Julien led the Alphas up to the stairs.
§ § §
Richard directed the Mates to the breakfast room. “I actually had to ask Julien where this room was. Things happened so fast, I haven’t met the whole household nor have I seen the rest of the house.”
“I really like you.” Sean chuckled. “You didn’t make us get out of our beds in the middle of the night like the rest of them.” Sean gave the others the stink eye.
“Why would I do that?” Richard asked reasonably.
“The others got angry or didn’t believe their Mates could love them so quickly.”
“I read Colin’s last series…”
“In one sitting,” Julio punctuated Richard’s statement.
“I’m a speed reader and since it logically followed that Colin was a Mate, what I read had to be true.”
“Richard is very bright. I had the style, he had the brains.” Julio puffed out his chest.
Richard’s face heated at Julio’s praise, and he quickly changed the subject by motioning for the Mates to sit down. “I don’t know what Isabel made, but I’m sure it will be good.”
Isabel came up with all kinds of coffee cake, rolls, muffins and pastries, eggs and breakfast meats. She poured fresh squeezed orange juice and put out bowls of fruit with a selection of breakfast teas and good Columbian coffee.
Julio had made sure Richard seated the Mates in order of precedence.
Sean turned to Richard. “Isabel has entered the competition with a vengeance. I wonder if they’re eating as well upstairs.”
“Competition?” Richard cocked his head.
“Let’s eat and we’ll tell you everything.” Sean served himself as much as his plate would hold and the other Mates followed.
“I understand why the Alphas do things in order of precedence, but why do we?” While Richard spoke, he shoveled food into his mouth. He finally figured out he was so hungry because he’d missed the snack Isabel made last night.
“Because protocol provides structure and order in a wolf’s violent world. It wasn’t always as it is now. In the seventeenth century when the loup garou were being persecuted in France, the secret son of Count Guy La Marche took his people to North America. He formed the council and made rules so that wolves could live in peace with humans, but the wolves still challenged each other. Just after Armand found me his former second, La Farge, kidnapped me and challenged Armand. Armand had to accept the challenge not knowing if I was alive or dead. I had escaped before they reached the pit, and the gods stopped the fight using my gift. La Farge is now scrubbing Siberian toilets and serves the Russian pack as a proscribed Omega.” Sean paused to drink some of his juice, and took some fruit.
“What is a proscribed Omega and what gift?”
“Born Omegas are given gifts, so they are much prized. Proscribed Omegas are made Omegas because of a heinous offense. Kidnapping the Mate of The Alpha or, for that matter, any Mate is a heinous offense.”
“I can see that.” Richard grabbed another piece of cheese Danish. “But you said you used your gift…what is your gift?”
“I have a gift calledThe Voice. When I speak in a certain tone, all wolves have to listen. My Voice also fosters healing.” Sean puffed up with pride. “My Voice and Etienne’s pheromones saved Julio’s life.”
“Julien can explain the rules to you,” Ian said. “They are really very simple for the loup garou. Do not harm a human under pain of death. The only exceptions to this rule are loup garou soldiers and peace officers. A loup garou peace officer who wounds or gods forbid, kills a human, undergoes two hearings, one from their department and one from the council which is much more intense and thorough.” He slapped Sean on the back. “And you talk about how much I eat.”
“Only two things you have to remember is to call Sean’s husband Alpha and the others Alpha with their last name on loup garou formal occasions, and know the order of precedence.” Ian ate one Danish pastry.
“What is the order of precedence?” Richard leaned forward, eyes narrowed.
“Armand and Sean, Rémy and me, Marc and Colin, Gabriel and Kane, Alexei and Donal, Etienne and Julio, Julien and you, then Henri and his Mate when he finds one.”
“Is everyone who works at Garou a werewolf?” Richard raised an eyebrow.
“Gods no.” Ian shuddered. “That’s the other rule, tell no one of the existence of the loup garou. Not everyone would believe that they are a force for good. It would be the Inquisition all over again.”
“Another thing, werewolves are very jealous. Do not flirt or cause Julien to think you’re flirting. You may greet us with kisses but the other Alphas, handshakes only. You don’t want to be the cause of challenges.” Colin took a sip of his tea.
“Challenges? You said little about challenges. Only about an Alpha named LaFarge.” Richard glared at Julio.
