Page 15 of Henri's Little One
“Outside of your recent troubles, you’ve led a pretty sheltered life. You, you’re an innocent. You won’t always be, so be careful. Listen to their stories and learn. You’ll find you’ll be every bit as loyal to them as they are to each other and will be to you.” Julio handed the drink to Vitas.
Vitas sniffed. It smelled like strawberry candy with a hint of peach, sour apples, and some other things he couldn’t name. He tentatively took a sip. “This is good. Thank you.”
Henri came up behind Vitas and kissed him on the neck. “Corrupting my Mate already, Julio.”
Julio put up his hands. “Hey, Vitas is a wolf. He can’t get drunk. I just introduced him to something new to drink.” He gave air kisses to Vitas, waved at Henri, and went back to the Mates.
Vitas took another sip and wrinkled his nose. “I think I like Julio. I’ve never met anyone like him before.”
“Julio is special. You’ll probably never meet anyone like him again. He kept Donal alive to Alexei’s everlasting gratitude and brought Richard to Julien’s attention. He’s the fashion coordinator and arbiter of good taste for the rest of the Mates. Since he joined them, Ian no longer dresses solely in graphic T-shirts, and holey jeans and Sean can get out of a suit and into conservative, though comfortable leisure wear. He doesn’t let Armand overdress the Mates when he takes them shopping and has introduced Etienne to shopping in boutiques instead of Bloomingdale’s.”
“Boutiques? Bloomingdale’s?”
“Don’t worry, he’ll show you and make it his life’s mission for you to learn. Ian’s jeans are now fashionably torn instead of worn out at the knees.” Henri laughed and took a sip of the Coke Sean had given Vitas that he left on the tray table.
“He’ll make an excellent hair stylist when he finishes school. I, personally, think he should be going to the Fashion Institute of Technology instead of a hair academy, but hair is what Julio wants so hair is what he gets.”
“Maybe he’ll change his mind.” He moved over as his Alpha sat down on his berth. Vitas snuggled up against him.
“Julio is nothing if not stubborn. He’ll finish the hair academy before he decides to do something else. He can thank the gods that he has so much time to change his mind.” Henri paused, staring at Vitas’ drink. “Let me try some of that.”
“Okay.” Vitas handed the glass to his Mate.
Henri sipped Vitas’ love potion. “Too sweet for me. You’re all the sweetness I need. I love you, my little one.” Henri put Vitas’ drink on the tray table. He pulled Vitas into his arms.
“Do you really feel that way?” Vitas’ voice came out shy and unsure.
“Yes, I do. The gods made us for one another. I’ve loved you before in all our past lives. Somehow, we always find one another. No matter how discouraged I become that I won’t locate you in whatever turn of the wheel in which we find ourselves. We always end up together.”
“I’m so scared he’ll get me.” Big tears leaked from Vitas’ eyes. He brushed at his cheeks with the back of his hand. Henri took out his handkerchief and wiped Vitas’ tears away.
“Take my heart, my Vitas, it’s yours, no one else has ever had it and no one else ever will. This I pledge to you in the name of the gods. You are my Mate, not Chernof’s, and I swear to you I’ll find a way so that he can never threaten you again. Dry your eyes, pet. We’re about to land. Let me fasten you in next to me, and after we disembark, I’ll show you our home.”
His Alpha secured the seat belt with his big, strong hands. Vitas felt safe for the first time in a long time.
The plane landed and taxied from the runway, stopping just outside a private hangar. Attendants pulled up the stairs.
Henri unbuckled their seat belt, and Vitas stared out the window. There were eight limousines and fourteen big black cars on the ground ready to receive them. He turned to his Alpha. “Is that all for us?”
“Each Alpha has his own limousine. His Mate, their Betas, his housekeeper, and factotum travel with him. You’re lucky you found Boris and Katya at home. They usually travel with Alexei. They stayed home this trip because it was their turn to mind the cats.”
“The cats? Small felines, with a house full of wolves?”
“The boys like their cats, so the Alphas indulge them. The cats don’t seem to mind. The Alpha also travels with Elena—his and Sean’s adopted daughter, her governess, Miss Beaumont, Dr. Artis, and his Beta, Martin’s Mate—Garou’s corporate attorney, Edward Kellerman. That is why his limousine is the largest, but then again, he is The Alpha.”
“The Betas have Mates?” Vitas’ mouth dropped open. “In Russia, the Betas are forbidden to mate even if the Mates find each other.”
“In North America, all of the Betas who find their Mates are encouraged to mate. Strong bonds make strong packs. You’ll see. Our Alpha is The Alpha. Russia and Europe have been left to go their own way, but that is going to change. First, Armand had to get our house in order, now it’s time to straighten out the rest of them. The Chief Alphas in Russia and Europe are supposed to be subordinate to our Alpha. The Alpha is Armand La Marche, a direct descendent through the matriarchal line of Count Guy La Marche. The loup garou who led our race out of France to North America after the Inquisition killed so many loup garou during the burning times.”
Vitas whispered, “I had no idea.”
“Well, the other councils are going to find out very soon exactly who is in charge.” Henri lifted his shoulders and appeared to be confident in his ability to protect Vitas, and very satisfied with the way the recent current of events was flowing.
§ § §
Anchorage, Alaska
Henri’s Home
