Page 23 of The Betas: Rene
“You’re probably right.”
René opened the fridge. He brought out a container and put it on the counter. “You like chicken rice soup? I made some Friday night.” René took out a pot and put it on the stove.
“That broth appears rich. I’d love some. Do you make your own stock?”
René laughed. “There was a time I did, but now, I cheat. I use boxed chicken stock, add a tablespoon ofBetter than Bouillon, and the meat of a whole roasted chicken I buy from the market. I simmer with sautéed celery, carrots, and onion and make a cup of rice and I’ve gothomemadechicken soup.” René heated the soup as he spoke and made a thick baked ham and Swiss cheese sandwich. He brought out a large bag of kettle chips and put them in a basket with a napkin and set the meal on the table for Frankie.
Frankie pulled René down to meet his lips and whispered, “I think I’ll keep you.” He kissed René’s lips using his tongue to open his wolf’s mouth. René took over the kiss, crushing his mouth with possession. He pillaged Frankie’s mouth, putting his stamp on his Mate. René continued to use his forceful lips and Frankie knew in no uncertain terms that he belonged to René.
René drew a breath and moved away. “You know we can’t make love until the mating…”
Frankie grasped his wolf’s hand. “Can we fool around?”
René frowned, then slowly smiled. “I think I can hold you while we sleep and not lose it. However, if we fool around, I’ll bite you, and if I bite you, the mating will not be recognized by the pack. I’ll be exiled and become a lone wolf because I won’t give you up, and The Alpha would be disgraced. I know some of the Alphas canfool around,but unfortunately, Betas don’t have the necessary fortitude.”
“Why is it so important that the pack witnesses the bite?” Frankie was truly puzzled. He wanted to understand why this was a problem.
“Every wolf’s bite is unique. When a loup garou makes love, two things happen at the moment of climax. The incisors lengthen so the loup garou can bite and claim his Mate and the knot forms.”
Frankie’s eyes went wide as realization washed over him. “I see, any wolf can bite you, but the knot can only be formed with a Mate. If you wanted to fake a mating, you could potentially bite any wolf you want. Once bitten, no one will deny he’s yours after seeing your Mate mark. But a mark can be faked by taking an unwilling wolf. If you go to the bedroom with witnesses who can verify you weren’t forced, there is little chance the mark isn’t valid. Once bitten, you can’t be marked by another wolf. I think I see how it works.”
“That’s what Chernof planned to do with Vitas. The knot is private and can’t be proved, even if someone watches the wolves make love. Skirting the rules was normal in Russia. Because there was no mating celebration, they wouldn’t have seen that Vitas was unwilling, only the mark afterward. Once given, the mark is visible proof that a mating has taken place. So, we take the mark seriously and go to great lengths to prove its authenticity.” René earnestly wanted him to understand that although he wanted to make love to Frankie, he couldn’t.
Frankie nodded. “Hmm, loup garou also transfer half of the funds to their Mate, that’s another consideration, another compelling reason to validate the mark. I think I’m beginning to comprehend the enormity of the validation the mark conveys. Would it be better for you, if I slept in another room?”
“I’ll be okay, as long as I can hold you through the night. That’s wolf instinct, no one can steal you before the mating if you sleep in my arms.”
“Makes sense. I’m glad it does. I don’t think I could adapt to a culture that had rules just for the sake of having rules.” René gave Frankie what could only be called a wolfen grin. Frankie chuckled and stroked his wolf’s cheek. He’d found his True Mate, but damn if it wasn’t going to be difficult to resist him until they were wed. If anything got in their way…
