Page 45 of The Betas: Rene
“We’ll muddle through.” Frankie grabbed René’s arm. “Let’s get going, I’m hungry!”
René laughed, and followed Frankie to The Alpha’s house and the pack wing. The buffet was beautiful. A wedding cake with two grooms on the top held a place of prominence just by the stage.
The Enforcers escorted René and Frankie to the front of the room to join The Alpha and The Alpha Mate. The Alpha called the room to order. “Line up in order, for the showing of the mark.”
Frankie and René stood on a small stage at one end of the room flanked by Enforcers.
The Alpha and The Alpha mate stepped up. They lightly touched the mark and nodded. They were followed by Miss Elena, The Alpha’s daughter and her governess, Miss Beaumont. “I’m Elena.” The little girl made a perfect curtsey. “Congratulations Uncle ’né, and you must be my new Uncle Frankie. I can’t wait for cake. I watched Marie’s mommy make it. The outside has vanilla frosting, but on the inside is chocolate and chocolate cake.”
Frankie leaned over so Elena could touch the mark. “Nice to meet you, Elena, and you, Miss Beaumont. The cake sounds delicious.” Frankie faced Miss Beaumont. “Your charge is a cutie.” Miss Beaumont gave him an enigmatic smile as she ushered Elena along.
René whispered, “What Miss Elena is, is a handful. The Alpha and The Alpha Mate have outrageously spoiled her. Alpha Mate Kane has warned them, and they’re trying to do better. But now it’s up to Miss Beaumont to rein her in. She’s become almost as imperious as her Papa.”
“I wish Miss Beaumont luck. Remember, I dealt with Junior. My mother thought she couldn’t have any more kids, at least that’s what the doctors told her after she had me. I think that’s why Dante did the adoption. Junior was a complete surprise. They were overjoyed. Uncle ’né, huh?”
“I used to spend time with Elena when she was little. Bernard and Adele pretty much ignored her. When she was four, she couldn’t pronounceR’s. I’ve been Uncle ’né ever since.” Frankie moved his gaze up to the line before him.
Martin was the next in line. He slapped René on the back and made a great show of verifying that the mark was there until he was pulled back by a smiling Edward. Edward gave the mark a cursory examination. He was followed by the Alpha Bitch, Lillian, and her Mate, Henri. After Lillian and Henri, came the pack Betas, with their Mates and pups. Each carefully examined the mark, touching the raised surface. An hour later the last of the pack, the youngest wolf that had reached his majority, verified the mark.
Lillian called out. “I proclaim that the entire Sandoval Pack has verified the mark placed on Frankie Ferone’s neck by our Second Beta during the mating. Frankie Ferone is now Beta René DuBois’s Beta Mate.” The pack applauded. The lined up at the buffet.
Frankie turned to René. “Food…now.”
“As soon as The Alpha, The Alpha Mate, Martin, and Edward have taken food, we may eat. Be sure to eat something from every dish as the whole pack contributed. I think Lillian went all out because we’ve been good friends for years. There’s nothing you’re allergic to, is there?”
“No, I can eat pretty much what I want, and I’ve never been picky.”
René grinned. “Good, let’s eat.”
§ § §
The plane ride home was uneventful. They got back to the house from the airport at around eleven. René told Annie and Alphonse to go to bed and deal with the unpacking in the morning. His only request was that Annie had breakfast ready at seven.
They climbed the stairs to the bedroom. Frankie and René got undressed. René lay down on the bed and opened his arms. “Come here, Ma Vie. We need to get to sleep. The gym is waiting for us in the morning at six and so is work.”
Frankie groaned. “I’m not used to early mornings. Dante spent the mornings with my mother, so I didn’t have to get up to be at work until nine.”
“Yes, tomorrow is your first day. Since The Alpha didn’t say otherwise, you should come in with Martin and me. If he wants you to come in later, he’ll tell you. I have no idea what The Alpha is going to have you tackle, but everything is a mess since Hughes left us.” René put his hand over his mouth, stifling a yawn.
“You already told me how Hughes left—in a pine box.”
“No, not quite. The Enforcers took Chernof downstairs to the subterranean tunnels under the Garou Industries building and disposed of the body there.”
“How did he die?”
“I don’t know. I only know that The Alpha promised him a merciful death. I think the gods put him to sleep. I’m not sure. If a death sentence is given, and The Alpha almost never gives out that punishment, the gods carry out the execution. The Alpha promised Hughes a merciful death.”
“How?”
“I don’t know. Personally, I think in that case death was a mercy. He’d have no chance of beating The Alpha in the pit and winning exile, and all he’d get for his trouble is having the Alpha rip him apart. Death is preferable.” René shrugged. “If you are executed, you get another turn on the wheel, another chance to get it right. Come on, Ma Vie, sleep.”
“You said taking another’s Mate is punishable by death.”
“Yes, if The Alpha so decrees. He takes the circumstances into consideration. For instance, La Farge was attempting to challenge The Alpha and wanted to even the odds, he didn’t want to ravish The Alpha Mate. He got exile and a life of scrubbing Siberian toilets, which, personally, I think is worse than death. He has no chance of his life ever being any different. At least with death, you have another turn on the wheel. Loup garou don’t believe in parole,” René added dryly.
“The loup garou believe in reincarnation?”
“You’ll read about it in the histories. You’ll be in them often enough to do research. Sleep.” René turned out the light and settled Frankie into his arms.
