Page 12 of Henri's Little One
“Really?” Vitas giggled.
“Really, Armand approves what he writes, but Armand goofed with the last series. He had Colin write about the tether and Richard, and I guessed right away.”
“Was The Alpha angry? Alpha Chernof was always angry. Poor Anatoly and Maxim were constantly giving out beatings.” Vitas shuddered.
“Armand doesn’t get angry. He disapproves.” Julio put his nose up in the air, imitating The Alpha. “He says, ‘I am not pleased.’ Then everyone runs around to mollify him.”
“He doesn’t have his Betas beat the pack?”
“If something like that needs doing, the council Alphas do it themselves. I’ve only heard about Armand in the pit once, and that was because a rotten wolf kidnapped Sean. He gets angry if someone hurts The Alpha Mate or any of the other Mates for that matter. When he’s angry, he gets real quiet. Rémy growls but Rémy is always growling, so no one pays him much attention. Ian yells back at him. His Betas are horrified.” Julio chuckled.
“What about Alpha Giraud? Does he beat people when he’s angry?” Vitas scrunched up his face, and his voice became small.
“Henri is always quiet, but when he’s angry, his growl can shake down the house. I’ve only seen him growl once. Murphy, a loup garou police detective, directed a corrupt cop to Julien’s home by mistake. The cop tried to shoot Richard. Henri had Murphy quaking in his boots, but he didn’t hit him. He told Rémy that Rémy knew how to growl, but he knewwhento growl. I can guarantee he’ll be growling at Chernof.”
“Why?” Vitas felt genuinely puzzled.
“Because Chernof ordered his Betas to hurt you. You can’t think that he would let that go.”
“But Chernof is dangerous…”
“All of our Alphas train every day. From what I understand, Alexei’s sources tell him that Chernof has let himself get fat and happy. Complacency is not a good thing for a loup garou Alpha. Etienne had to go into the pit against some upstart Alpha who thought he could take advantage of him because my Etienne dislikes violence. My Etienne hoped the gods would stop the fight.”
“Why would they? They never stopped a fight in Russia.”
“They stopped Armand from killing La Farge, the Alpha who had Sean kidnapped.”
“They did? Why?”
“I think it was because Armand had nothing to prove. Everyone knew he was a badass, so no one provoked him.” Julio began to nonchalantly dress Vitas. Vitas, confused and docile, didn’t notice until Julio was almost done.
“They didn’t stop Etienne from killing Maurice. He had to kill him. Then Etienne was afraid I wouldn’t love him anymore, stupid wolf. I embraced him with that bastard’s blood still running down my Etienne’s chest. He’s not a violent person. None of them are unless someone pushes them too far or tries to hurt a Mate. Then watch out. They come out with guns blazing. Even if it’s a human, they find a way to ruin them. I’ll have Donal tell you what Alexei did to his parents, but we’ve got to get moving. I have only a half hour to make you appear presentable in an off-the-rack suit.”
“Off-the-rack?”
“I’ll explain later.” He continued, “The Mates rarely get in any real trouble, just mischief. The only thing the Alphas frown upon is us putting ourselves in danger. Then, we’re in trouble. Our husbands are fierce in our defense.”
“You say husbands…are you really all actually married?” Vitas drew his brows together.
“Yes, in the United States, the Supreme Court declared gay marriage legal. See my wedding ring?” Julio wiggled his ring finger to show Vitas his two carat, emerald-cut diamond, set in a wide white-gold band.
“That’s magnificent.” Vitas smiled. “I know Alpha Giraud is my Mate and that I love him, but do you think he loves me…enough to marry me I mean?”
“Of course, silly, you’ll mate in Anchorage tonight at midnight and get married tomorrow in New York. Every minute Henri wasn’t with you, he was planning for the mating. Now, let me put on the finishing touches. We have to hurry because I’m the best man.”
Vitas regarded Julio with an open mouth. “You should have told me. I’m keeping you from Richard.”
Vitas began to knot his tie. Julio pushed his hands away. “Let me do it. You’re not keeping me from Richard, not at all. Richard needed me for the mating, the wedding is just for show, a ceremony we have so that all the Mates are protected under human law. Now let me finish knotting your tie, a full Windsor, I think.” Julio’s hands flew over the tie. “Look in the mirror.”
“I’m stylish. You create miracles. Alpha Giraud might actually think I’m passable.” Vitas kept gazing in the mirror.
“Come on. We need to escort Richard up the aisle. Let me pin on your boutonniere.” Julio pinned on the white rose. “We’re ready. Let’s go.”
Vitas, still in shock, met his Alpha at the bottom of the stairs.
“You are so handsome, little one. Good enough to eat.” Henri’s dark brown eyes alighted with desire.
Vitas giggled again.
