Page 47 of Wolf's Whistle
“Of course, you’ll wait until Thursday to leave. That will give the Oregon she-wolves time to prepare because they expected you in Redmond, not at the camp, and it will also give Frank Ferone time to test his theory about Stawski.”
“Frankie told us that he was sending his men to Queens to search under every rock for Stawski. Did you know that Frankie Ferone was adopted? His name was Francis Fitzgerald, and his father died on an Army Ranger mission in Serbia. He has green eyes, but I don’t think he’s for Henri.” Julien got up to pace.
“One of the Betas, maybe. After the wedding, you can have a party and invite all the Betas to meet him, maybe he’s someone’s Mate. Although having Don Ferone as a father-in-law to any one of us would be somewhat inconvenient.”
“Frankie and his stepdad don’t see eye-to-eye on a number of issues, including the family business. I think that Don Ferone would be relieved to have Frankie go somewhere else where his mother would still be able to see him, and Don Ferone wouldn’t have to. As you know from past experience, Ferone isn’t too fond of gay men.” Julien sat down on the edge of the desk.
“Did Don Ferone ever find out who Stawski was protecting by trying to railroad Richard?” Armand asked. “Did you ask Frankie to investigate Stawski’s motive? I have a feeling he would do a more thorough job of it than his stepfather.”
“I haven’t inquired, but I will over dinner.”
Armand let out a loud puff. “Do it now. It’s your Mate’s life at stake. Julien, you’re too passive. You have to become more proactive. That shouldn’t be a problem. You are proactive at Garou.”
“I’m new to love, and it’s knocked me silly. I promise to do better.” Julien hung his head. Armand could make a man feel like he was ten instead of one hundred and forty-nine.
“I promised Elena another trip to the botanical gardens, so I have to get ready. We’ll talk more tomorrow. I’ll call the others and tell them we leave on Thursday. You make the arrangements at the other end. We will need eight Navigators and eight limousines. I know you have them at Redmond, but they will be necessary for Eugene.”
“Yes, Alpha. Thank you for the exception.” Julien couldn’t wait to tell Richard.
“It isn’t an exception, that is one of your official residences. Have a good day, Julien.”
After hanging up, Julien pressed call on his phone to contact Etienne.
“Etienne, this is Julien.”
“What can I do for you? Are our Mates plotting something dangerous?” Julien could hear the alarm in Etienne’s voice and laughed silently. Julio was fully capable of rebellion.
“No,” he reassured his friend. “It’s me. I think I put my foot in my mouth with The Alpha.”
“What did you say?” Etienne sounded aghast.
“I said we didn’t have to dress for the mating if we held it in the logging camp in Oregon. He told me that we always wear suits when we represent the council. Do the Mates have to wear suits too?”
“For the mating and the wedding perhaps, but not for traveling. I’ll have Julio call Sean to make sure.”
“Thank you, Etienne. I’m glad we’ve all become friends.” Julien got up from the edge of the desk and began to pace again.
Etienne was still speaking, “… now if we could find someone for Henri.”
Julien lit up, maybe he could help one of the council. “I have the strangest story to tell you. Frankie Ferone…”
“Don’t invite Henri to dinner. If Frankie isn’t for him, he’ll be devastated. I have a feeling that Henri will be the catalyst for whatever is going to happen, and Ferone is not catalyst material. Save Frankie for when we return. Then we can introduce him to the Betas. You could have a party to celebrate the wedding, and he could meet all of them there.” Etienne was reasonable, but Julien felt he owed Frankie and wasn’t feeling too reasonable.
“I’m going to invite him to the wedding,” Julien said flatly.
“You can’t. Donal couldn’t even invite Julio to his. Remember, you have to show the pack your mating mark, and you can’t explain that away. Tell him it’s going to be a quick ceremony at your parents’ house, and you’re flying back to New York immediately after. The party will be the week after you return. That wouldn’t be a lie.” Etienne placated Julien, giving him a chance to see reason.
Julien sighed. “You’re right. I can’t. I wasn’t thinking about the mating mark. If it weren’t for having to be on pack lands, we would have been mated the second night he stayed with me.”
“Julio didn’t come to hand that easy, but he eventually saw it my way. Although he still is a mite too careless of his safety to suit me. But I can’t smother him.” This time, it was Etienne sighing.
“Thank you for your counsel. I best tell my household that we are going to Oregon and not Redmond. Please don’t tell Armand I called you. He said he would be calling the council himself. I don’t want to annoy him any further.”
“It will be fine. Armand is not as much of a hard ass as he wishes us to believe. He knows the mating imperative. I think that’s why the gods gave him a Mate first so that he would know how it felt and be sympathetic to the rest of us.”
Julien chuckled.
Etienne joined him. “Have a good afternoon. I wish Mr. Ferone success in his efforts to find Stawski.”
