Page 66 of Wolf's Whistle
“My whistling wolf, I’ll always want you. You’re the love of my life.”
§ § §
Isabel fed them eggs at six and knocked on the door again at nine. “They’re all waiting downstairs, you better get moving. I’ve brought up coffee and some coffee cake to tide you over.”
“Thank you, Isabel. We’ll be down as soon as we shower.” Julien sat up.
Richard pulled him back down into the bed. “You can’t get up until I get my morning kisses.”
“If kisses are what you want, kisses are what you get. However, we’re going to have to be extra quick in the shower. Armand doesn’t like to wait.” Julien covered Richard’s face and neck with kisses, and Richard responded with enthusiasm. Fifteen minutes later, they rushed in to take a five-minute shower. They were dressed in their suits and downstairs only five minutes late, because Richard had to stop to put something in his pocket.
Epilogue
Oregon
Lodge Gathering Room
Friday Morning
Richard and Julien stood at the head of a long line with Armand, Sean, and Elena in the front and all of the council Alphas in order of precedence. They were followed by Julien’s pack Alphas, then his Betas, and the other Betas in the packs. Next came the Enforcers and the members of Julien’s household and finally, his mother, father, and the home pack.
Elena came over to see Richard with Miss Beaumont. She curtsied in front of Richard. “Hello, I’m Elena and this is my governess, Miss Beaumont. My papa is The Alpha and my daddy is the Alpha Mate. Congratulations on marrying Uncle Julien. I like Uncle Julien, he brings me big lollipops with stripes in circles.” The little girl waited expectantly.
“I’m Richard Kerrigan Bellaire. I like Uncle Julien, too,” he confided with a smile.
“Miss Beaumont is teaching me how to talk to people that I don’t know very well.”
Richard choked out a laugh. “You’re doing very well, but I think we better let the next person in line see my mark.”
Elena turned around and looked at the line. “Oops.”
“Come along, Elena. You did very well. Mr. Kerrigan, a pleasure.” Miss Beaumont shook his hand and then the real work began.
Each pack member carefully examined Richard’s mark without touching his skin. By the time they were finished, it was noon and Richard was starving. He sat down at one of the scattered tables and winced.
Sean came over and called Isabel. “He needs a cushion.”
Isabel laughed. “Overdid it a bit?”
Richard blushed.
Ian came up behind him. “Don’t be embarrassed. We all overdid it the first night. You wait so long to be with them that you can’t let go once you’re joined.”
Julio slapped him on the back. “Now you’re truly one of us. Let’s get you to the buffet. Remember…”
“I know I have to take a bit of everything. Although with all the delicious smells in the air, that shouldn’t be a problem.” Richard got up slowly and grabbed a very large plate. There was a wide variety of food, some of it strange to Richard, but he wasn’t a fussy eater and the she-wolves went all out, so it wasn’t difficult to try something from every dish. There was every kind of fish and some he didn’t know about. They made pheasant, bison steaks, venison stew, and a roasted wild pig which tasted a little more gamey then the supermarket variety. He dutifully took something from each platter and was able to tell the she-wolves that he enjoyed everything he ate.
§ § §
Julien came up behind him and kissed him on the neck. He took Richard’s hand and dragged him to the alcove under the stairs, covering his face with kisses. “Do I get my wedding present now?”
“Are we married yet?” Richard’s eyes sparkled.
“No, not according to state law, but we are mated according to loup garou law and that’s what counts.”
“You are so spoiled. Look, you’re actually pouting. All right, my love, I’ll let you get away with it this time, but next time you have to wait.”
Julien took a small box out of his pocket. “I didn’t want to see mine as much as I wanted to give you yours. This is for you.”
