Page 41 of The Betas: Rene
Chapter Fifteen
Alpha’s House
Pack Meeting Room
The Enforcers escorted Frankie into the Pack Meeting Room, two in front of him, two behind. Seven people gathered at the front of the room. The Enforcers stopped in front of The Alpha and The Alpha Mate. Didier, the Enforcer who’d sat in the front seat of the limousine when they went shopping, spoke.
“Alpha, Alpha Mate, I bring to you Beta Mate, Frank Ferone.” The Enforcers bowed from the waist to The Alpha and stepped aside to flank him and the Alpha Mate. Martin stood at The Alpha’s left shoulder.
The Alpha spoke to the room. “Before us is the man Beta René DuBois claims as his True Mate. I have four questions.” Everyone remained silent as The Alpha began.
“Frank Ferone, do you believe, as Beta René DuBois believes, that you are his True Mate?” The Alpha stared at Frankie, steely-eyed.
“Yes, Alpha, I do,” Frankie replied, irrevocably committing himself to René.
The Alpha continued, “Have you ever been willingly or unwillingly marked by another wolf?” The Alpha’s gaze focused on Frankie’s neck.
“No, Alpha, I have not,” Frankie answered in a steady voice.
The Alpha’s spine straightened. “Are you willing to join the pack and answer to me, your Alpha?”Given my previous affiliation, this question takes on an added significance.
Frankie looked The Alpha straight in the eye. “Yes, Alpha, I am.” He had not only pledged himself to a man, but he also pledged himself to a way of life.
“Are you willing to be marked by Beta René DuBois and to be his for this cycle as you have been for previous cycles and will be in future cycles, from now until eternity?”
“Yes, Alpha, I am.” He’d done it. He relaxed a bit. There was only one step left in the process before René could receive him at the door.
“Bare your shoulder to your Alpha.” The Alpha did a cursory inspection of his shoulder, followed by The Alpha Mate. The Alpha announced, “We see no mark.”
“Dr. Artis, please come up and examine the Beta Mate for a preexisting mark.”
Dr. Artis examined Frankie’s shoulder closely, taking the tip of his finger and running it over the line from his shoulder to his collarbone. “There is no mark and no evidence of a mark in the past that has been removed by any means,” the doctor intoned.
The Alpha called out again. “I call up Lillian Barre, the Alpha Bitch of the Sandoval Pack, and her Mate, Henri, to witness.”
Lillian smiled at Frankie, inspected his shoulder, followed in quick succession by her Mate and husband, Henri. After briefly consulting with Henri, Lillian spoke, “There is no mark and no evidence of one ever existing.”
Two more members of the pack came up and did an inspection, each touching his skin. The Alpha asked the question, “Is there evidence of a mark?”
“We find no evidence of a mark, Alpha.”
Lillian stepped up. “It is time for Beta Mate Ferone to be taken to his Beta.”
The Alpha turned to the table behind him and picked up a white shirt. “Wear this tomorrow as a symbol of your commitment to your Beta and your loyalty to me.” Martin walked from behind his Alpha and accepted the shirt from his Alpha’s hands and gave it to Frankie.
The two Enforcers stepped away from The Alpha and The Alpha Mate and marched up to Frankie and took their places, two at his front and two at his rear. They bowed to The Alpha, and Didier spoke again, “We will guard him well until we reach his Beta.” The party stepped out to the courtyard.
They marched the two hundred feet to René’s door. Frankie felt a little silly but remembered that this ceremony meant something to René. Didier knocked at the front door, and René answered, barefoot, wearing a white cotton robe.
“We bring you Beta Mate Frank Ferone.” Didier and his fellow Enforcers stepped aside.
René took Frankie’s hand. “Have they guarded you well? Do you remain unbitten?”
“Yes, baby, they guarded me well, and I have not been bitten.” Frankie turned to the Enforcers and bowed, adding his own little flourish. “Thank you for escorting me to my Mate in safety.”
Didier bowed. “Beta, Beta Mate.” The Enforcers turned and strode away from the house.
With a lustful grin, René pulled him inside the door. Still holding Frankie’s hand, René slowly walked to the back of the house toward what Frankie assumed was the bedroom.
