Page 30 of Wolf's Whistle
“Challenges are the downside of being a Mate. As a Mate, you live as long as they do which since Julien is about one hundred fifty and loup garou have a lifespan of about four hundred and fifty years, you will live three hundred more years.” Kane patted him on the back. “The corollary to that is you will not survive a year after his death.”
“You didn’t answer my question. What are challenges?” Richard’s face tightened, his stomach lurched.
“Challenges rarely happen anymore.” Sean waved his hand in a reassuring manner.
“Tell that to Etienne. The day of our mating Etienne had to go into the pit with an Alpha in Training who thought he could take the sixth strongest wolf in North America. Etienne ripped out his throat. My poor Etienne thought that I would be repulsed and that he would lose me. I embraced him with that no-good bastard’s blood still running down his chest.” Julio lifted his chin in defiance.
“That’s my Julio, fem but fierce.” Richard paused, growing serious. “Did he have to kill him?”
“Yes, he tried to get Maurice to yield, but the gods wouldn’t let Etienne save him. He was a cheat and a liar. He was going to try to cheat in the challenge. Armand was ready to go into the pit to stop him. I had my own plan. Even Armand admitted that mine was more efficient. I had a throwing knife, and I’m deadly accurate. Sometimes when I worked the street nights and couldn’t sleep in the daytime, I spent the whole day practicing. I would have got him in the heart.”
Richard stood, walked over to Julio and gave him a hug. “You were always my friend, and fierce in your defense of those you love. Thank you for finding me and giving me a chance with Julien. I am forever in your debt. As for the rest of you, I love you for accepting my friend and me. Anything I can ever do for any of you, consider it done.”
Sean rose from the table and walked over to Richard. “You’re one of us, now. Julien will coddle you to the point where you feel smothered. You are not a wolf and can’t change form to expel a bullet. We stick together because we can’t trust anyone else. We are vulnerable to kidnapping. Do not slip your guard. Julien would go nuts with worry. When you are having trouble adjusting, call us.”
“That’s why we lunch,” Donal said. “Our bonds are strong and because of those bonds, there are no challenges within the council. Our husbands like and trust one another now because of us. I might not be the brightest bulb in the room, but I know this, the men here are my brothers. We are the ones who stand between our husbands and foolish challenges over strength and prowess. Let’s finish eating and go upstairs. They’re going to want to discuss the wedding and the mating.” Donal finished his tea and stood. “Richard, you might want to bring the last few pastries with you, you’re going to be hungry.”
“All right, I’ll bite. I know I’m hungry because of the mating, but why?”
Sean chuckled. “Julien is putting out pheromones to prepare you for the mating. Because the mating pheromones speed up your metabolism, you need to eat more to maintain your weight. Poor Donal was emaciated when Alexei found him. We stuffed him until he gained fifteen pounds but in the end, he was still dangerously underweight. It’s only now that he’s getting to slender not starving. You’ll find that you are hungrier, and you will eat more at meals, but your new metabolism will burn the calories up.”
“Speaking of food, you never told me who is competing and for what?” Richard leaned back in his chair.
“The housekeepers compete to see who can put out the best and most elaborate lunch. Isabel is an excellent cook. The meals are going to get even better. With this breakfast, she upped the ante. We didn’t even notice there was a competition until Kane pointed it out to us.” Sean giggled.
“That must be the case. That is the only thing I can think of to account for the amount and variety of food Isabel served. What happens to the leftovers?” Richard was worried about the waste.
“You have sixteen Enforcers and sixteen Betas downstairs, that’s what happens.” Ian smirked. “Isabel fixed them their own breakfast and then they’ll fall on the remainder of ours. However, look at the table, there’s not much left, and you’re staring at that last piece of coffee cake longingly. Eat it and bring the pastries, you won’t gain weight. Believe me, I know, and everyone understands the imperative of the mating.”
“Let’s go upstairs and help them plan the wedding and the mating.” Everyone followed Sean in order of precedence. They ran into Isabel on the stairs with one of the kitchen maids.
Richard stopped. “Isabel, that was a wonderful meal. I haven’t met your assistant yet.”
Isabel beamed. “Richard Kerrigan, this is Marthe Fontaine. Marthe and Viviane Masson are the kitchen maids, and Roxane Jacques is our laundress. You’re a good boy. Now go with the others. We have to clear. You’ll be hungry again in an hour.” Smiling, Richard ran up the stairs to catch up with the others.
§ § §
Julien’s Townhouse
Formal Dining Room
Saturday Morning
“So, he accepted you right away. By the gods, that has only happened to Armand before this.” Rémy took a gulp of his coffee and held up his cup for more. “Good coffee.”
“To be fair, he read all three books of Colin’s last series in one evening, and Julio told Richard to call him as soon as he finished. Richard figured it out right away. He called me upstairs through the Mate link. Julio is Machiavellian. He stayed on the phone while I came upstairs. It was only when I noticed the phone on the bed that Richard admitted Julio was on the line and ended the call.” Julien frowned, shaking his head.
“Julio is intense in defense of his friends. It took me a while to win his trust. It wasn’t until I gave Donal’s parents what was coming to them that he finally gave his approval. That was the day he met Etienne.” Alexei shook his head. “And he was hurt that night. We almost lost him, a High Beta Human. If it wasn’t for Sean’s Voice; we would have.”
“Julio is special. He and Ian are ferocious in their defense of the others.” Etienne took a bite of a cheese Danish. “Gods forbid that Bianca should hear me, but these are better than hers.”
Henri had been quiet throughout the meal. Finally, he spoke up, “I agree with Armand that something is hurtling toward us, and we have to be prepared. I also agree with Alexei, that it has something to do with the Russians. I think whatever it is will begin when I find my Mate.”
The pondering, pursed-lipped expression on Rémy’s face showed him to be deep in thought. “We are all pulling in the same direction because of our Mates. All of us now share the bonds of friendship rather than the enmity of rivals. The gods were merciful and gave us Mates that can help us through our trials, whatever they may be.”
Armand lifted his coffee cup. “Julien, a little brandy for our coffee or tea would not go amiss.” Julien got up and poured everyone a brandy. Armand stood. “Here’s to our Mates, may the gods bless them and keep them safe.”
“From your mouth to the gods’ ears,” Henri said with fervor.
