by A. C. Katt
“An Omega was found much the same way you were found, by an Alpha longing for his mate.” There was a folder lying on the table next to Armand’s plate. “According to what Dr. Artis found, you are a direct ancestor of that Omega. His was the gift of la voix, it may be yours. You have no idea how proud I am to be both your Alpha and your mate.”
“What is la voix?” Sean asked.
“The closest to an English translation is the voice, someone who speaks.”
“Speaks what?” Armand kissed the top of Sean’s head.
“Peace, my love, peace.”
* * * *
The council arrived at one. Rene stood behind Sean giving him a rundown of the council members as they arrived. “Alpha Belaire represents the Pacific Northwest. That pack is large but the Alpha is more interested in governing his pack than council politics.”
The Alpha who followed Belaire was huge; football lineman huge. Rene continued, “The next in line is Alpha Thierry, his territory includes Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota and the adjoining Canadian territory.”
Alpha Giraud followed Alpha Thierry, and was tall and muscular. Sean wondered if there was a bad looking Alpha. “Giraud commands most of Northern Canada. Alpha Clavier, the northeastern United States, Canada, Pennsylvania and New York.”
Rene had a comment on each man’s idiosyncrasies, vanities, and place in the hierarchy. The last Alpha to arrive was Alpha La Farge. “His pack is small and situated next to ours. We cover Mexico, the southwest, and California. Our lands are adjacent in northern New Mexico. His territory is Colorado. He has been making inroads on our northern border. This is the reason the council was in session this late in the season.”
Rene said in a sotto voice, “I believe that La Farge is a dangerous Alpha and should be replaced, but we have had no complaints from the pack so we must deal with him as he is. Alpha Daurensbourg, the Alpha of the Central United States is also experiencing border problems with Alpha La Farge. I’m afraid the announcement of your arrival is not going to go over well in Colorado.”
Meg with Pierre’s help served a luncheon of Caesar salad, salmon with béarnaise, Duchess potatoes, and sweet carrots with onions. After a dessert of chocolate crème brûlée and espresso coffee, Armand stood and called the meeting to order.
“By now you have all received invitations sent by courier for my wedding to my mate. You may also have heard that he witnessed Dimitri Petrovich, the rouge from Russia, murder a human. Sean is under Enforcer and civil protection until Petrovich is apprehended and meted out the justice of our people.”
The various Alphas talked among themselves as Armand circled the table.
Alpha Daurensbourg asked, “How do we know it was Dimitri?”
“My Omega is a talented artist and drew this sketch from his memory of the crime the morning after it was committed. He had no contact with anyone in the house besides me and was unsupervised until the sketch was drawn. He drew it in front of Detective Murphy of the NYPD whom as you all know, is one of our own.
“I have taken the liberty of contacting the Russian Council and they agree he should be terminated without prejudice. Detective Murphy as well as my Betas and Enforcers are working at finding his whereabouts. Any pack or pack member found to be willingly harboring this wolf will face sanctions…”
A low murmur spread like a wave across the room. Sean was listening carefully to what was said. He had excellent hearing. “It’s not often that the Head of the Council exerts his authority without a discussion among the other Alphas,” Alpha Thierry whispered to Alpha Daurensbourg, “but in this case it’s understandable.”
“Our Alpha is no coward, frankly, I would have taken my mate and run to pack lands,” Daurensbourg replied.
“…from the invitations to the wedding you received, you will also note that the Omega in question is my predestined mate. What it doesn’t say is that he was raised outside of pack by a partial wolf mother and a stepfather. Sean knew nothing of his heritage until he ran into my car after witnessing the murder. Sean’s gift will be rare since he is the first Omega mated to his Alpha in all the generations since the Inquisition back in France. Sean father was Lucien Chavelier, a direct descendant of Emile Chavelier, the last Omega mated to an Alpha back in those dark days.”
The room erupted into chaos. La Farge stood up and shouted, “By what right do you claim him, La Marche?”
“By the right of our mate bond. He is my predestined mate and I dare anyone, including you, to challenge my claim. His scent is bonded with mine and we can speak through the mate link. In a week I will take him to New Mexico where my pack can witness that Sean has received my mating bite according to our laws. I will marry him civilly by human law so that he gets all he is due should something happen to me. I want to reiterate that my arrangements for his welfare are airtight and he does not have to serve another Alpha if something happens to me.” Edward Keller passed a document to each Alpha.
Armand looked particularly at Alpha La Farge. “This document allows Sean to choose to go to another pack or stay with his own in the event of my demise. It has been witnessed and signed by all of the council enforcers, who if they break their word, will face extermination.” Armand moved to sit at the head of the table, Sean at his side with his Betas, Martin, and Rene flanking them and Pierre behind his chair.
Rene whispered to Sean, “The will is on file with both loup-garou and New York civil authorities. It is unbreakable.”
La Farge was the first to speak. “A toast to the Alpha and his Alpha Mate, may they live long and happy lives together.”
Rene stood behind Sean and murmured, “Right.”
Alpha Thierry stood up. “With all respect, Alpha La Marche, as you know, our numbers are decreasing. Legend tells us that an Omega with great gifts can help our bitches deliver pups without difficulty. Would he be willing to travel to see to our pregnant bitches to help them safely deliver pups and increase our depleting numbers?”
“That would, of course, be up to Sean.”
Sean stood. “With your permission, Armand, if I can help in any way, I would be happy to use whatever Talent I have for the good of all of the loup-garou. I am studying for a graduate degree in Native American Pottery and it would give me a chance to study the pottery of all of the regions as well as help, if that is desired.”
“The New Mexico pack has a pregnant bitch that is due in early November. If the Alpha Mate is successful in helping her whelp her pup, I would be happy to barter his services to the other members of the council as long as he travels with me and my enforcers to avoid any ugly incidents. I believe our business is finished. I hope to see you all at the wedding. Enjoy your dessert. The Alpha Mate needs his rest for the coming change.” The room began to clear. Armand left the room for his study, his Betas followed.
“Alpha, I do not trust La Farge, he has fought his way up the council ranks and I think he has you next in his sights,” Rene said.
“That may be true but we can do nothing until he breaks the peace. Guard the Alpha Mate zealously. He is the weakest link until he shifts and carries my mating mark.”
* * * *
The twelve days were passing swiftly. Sean learned more about pack life. There were only two children in the New Mexico pack and both of them were little girls. One lived with her Aunt Adele and an uncle by marriage, Bernard, an artist who had a painting in the Museum of Modern Art. Unfortunately, since they were house bound, he was unable to study it.
Rene told him that there was a problem with Bernard which the Alpha needed to resolve when they went back to New Mexico. Sean complained to Armand one evening after dinner, “I don’t get to see you very much.”
“That will change when we get back to pack land in New Mexico. In the mean time I have to wrap things up here quicker than I ordinarily would. Please be patient with me, baby. I miss you too.”
Sean helped Meg with wedding preparations. He picked white lilies as the flowers that would decorate the ballroom whic
h would also be festooned with white silk. He had several fittings with the tailor and felt like a sewing mannequin. It seemed as if he gained bulk every day and the tailor had to keep letting out Sean’s clothing. Sean finally began to see the reason Armand insisted on custom-made suits.
Sean and Meg became fast friends. She was like the mother he lost and Pierre acted as a father. Sean learned how the back of the house operated.
They spent one evening with Martin and Edward in the townhouse next door. As Armand’s, it was beautifully decorated although with a more art deco feel. They were there to sign all of the legal documents necessary to transfer half ownership of Armand’s assets over to Sean.
“You know I don’t think this is a good idea.” Sean signed the final document. “I don’t know what to do with all of this. It might as well have remained in Armand’s hands as he is going to oversee it anyway.”
Edward looked at Sean with disbelief in his eyes. “You really don’t want all of this, do you? Both Rene and Martin told me this, but I was reluctant to believe them.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint, Edward, but all I’ve ever wanted is a studio for my art and enough money to live on with a degree of comfort. All of this is overwhelming and way out of my league.”
“I do have news for you about your legacy from your aunt, Ellen O’Shea. Your father was supposed to turn it over to you when you turned twenty-one. He was using it for his expenses. It seems he was seeing a widow and keeping her in style in Hazlet. I suppose he thought you would never find out.”
“Nellie made so much on Wall Street, and she assured me that it would be enough to see me through graduate school without having to work. According to that man, it wasn’t enough to pay the fees.”
“He still has most of it, about seventy-five thousand dollars and I have the funds frozen pending an investigation into his management of the trust. You should have your money in hand by the end of this month.”
“You can get it done that quickly?”
Edward smiled. “Your father’s lawyer is no match for my expertise. He was being paid to be quiet. He will be disbarred and he and your father will have to return the trust to the original amount minus your expenses for undergraduate and graduate school. Did you keep receipts?”
“As a matter-of-fact, I did. I kept everything in a safe-deposit box. I managed to pay the fee for the year the month before my father cut me off. I’ve always taken care of my income to make it stretch to meet my expenses. Art supplies are not cheap and I wanted enough to eventually build a studio with a potter’s wheel and kiln of my own to maybe teach ceramics while I waited for my own work to be recognized.”
“Do you have any of your work?” Armand was curious. This was a very important part of his mate’s life with which he was unfamiliar.
“Some of my things were on exhibition at NYU Institute of Fine Arts. I imagine my professor has all of the work I have done. I was working on the piece to obtain my Master’s Degree when the world fell in on my head.” Sean shrugged. “Maybe it was all for the best, if it wasn’t for my troubles, I would never have met Armand.”
“I rather doubt that.” Martin poured more coffee. “When the gods have something planned, there are many roads to the desired outcome.”
“Martin’s right. I attend shows at NYU Institute of Fine Arts on a regular basis when I’m in town and have an interest in pottery. I may have found you there. Why don’t you call your professor and have him crate your work for transportation to New Mexico?”
“It would be expensive to pack all of my pottery and have it sent. The pieces are fragile.” It was easy to see that Sean hoped it could be done but was afraid to ask for such an expensive boon.
“My poor baby, I don’t think you will ever get used to having the money to do as you wish.”
“I don’t object to having money. I just object to the constraints it puts on your life. We seem to live under a microscope. We can’t just go out to a store and look around or buy groceries, get to know the dry cleaner and the barber. It seems that the money keeps you isolated from the real world.”
Edward overheard his last statement as he brought some chocolate crème brûlée from the kitchen after caramelizing the top. “Don’t worry about that Sean. In New Mexico we can mingle with pack members and the humans aren’t as interested in our activities are they are in New York.”
“Edward’s right,” Martin said. “In New Mexico, we don’t do the social scene. We try to blend right in with the locals. In New York we’re in the society pages, in New Mexico they aren’t as in to that nonsense.”
“Speaking of society nonsense; the puff piece with the NBC affiliate for their television magazine will be filmed tomorrow. Are the two of you prepared? If we do it right, they should stop nosing around our business.”
Armand poured himself another cup of coffee. “I suppose we’re as prepared as we can be considering the circumstances. I am already aware that some of the questions are going to annoy the hell out of me.”
“Yeah, homeless rent boy marries billionaire industrialist. I’m going to love it.” Sean grimaced. “However, it was my suggestion and it will move them on to the next scandal.”
“Don’t worry, baby, I intend to shut down any questions of that kind. They are intrusive and not news but rather titillation. I have no intention of letting our private life become fodder for the rags. I want to head off further publicity, not generate more.”
“Be careful of the tone you use with the reporter. You don’t want to antagonize them, you want them to get their story and determine that it is not one worth pursuing further. Any antagonism you show will determine the type of story they write.” Martin passed Armand the sugar.
“I’ll be careful but I don’t want Sean humiliated in the press and I won’t let them do that.”
“Armand, listen, what they say about me is basically unimportant and will blow over as long as we do nothing to generate further news. I can take what they dish out. I have my big boy pants.”
Armand gave Sean a swat on the arm. “This one will definitely keep me in my place.” The assembled company laughed. The evening ended well.
Chapter 7
Thursday, two days before the wedding
The days passed quickly, it was only two days before he married Armand. The place beside him was empty. He didn’t understand himself; he was drawn to this man like no one he ever met. He wanted to hold him, make love, have Armand kiss him until he was senseless, yet, despite Armand declaration of love, he kept his distance. Sean had doubts. He didn’t know if he could keep up with this man. Armand was urbane. Despite his education, Sean still felt like a kid from the Jersey Shore.
Intellectually, Sean understood that they had to wait for the claiming ceremony and that it was particularly important because Armand was the Alpha of all Alphas, but he was so aroused whenever Armand came near, he felt he as if he had to avoid him to stay sane. However, avoidance came with a price. When he stayed away from Armand; doubts crept into his head. Marrying such a prominent man came with its own set of difficulties. Although he could see and feel Armand beside him, he wondered if this was all a dream and expected to wake up on a park bench or in the homeless shelter. But the solid body next to Sean at night reassured him as nothing else could.
Wednesday they received their marriage license and Armand cried with joy. Although he held Sean all night long, and administered soul-searing kisses; he refused to touch him in a sexual way. Outside of the blowjob Sean had given Armand last week there had been no serious sexual contact. Thank God it was only two days until the wedding.
Armand joined Sean in the bedroom as if he could sense the doubt in his mind.
I will always be able to read you, my love. Be assured, there is nothing to fear. My love for you is solid and real, you can count on me to be here for you.
A tear traced down Sean cheek. For so long he went without someone to lean on. Armand would forever have his back. He had lacked that kind of support sin
ce his mom died and it felt good, soul deep. Tony tried to be there for him but once he met Nina, Sean came second to her, as it should be. Sean didn’t resent Nina, he was glad Tony found her and for their happiness but it had left a hole in his life, especially when they moved to Boston.
I have your back, baby. I have you and won’t let go.
“The reporter will be here soon.” Armand said aloud. “Let’s get some breakfast and get you ready.”
He dressed in one of his new suits, the sage green box plaid. Mr. Abbott needed to refit his tux again. Meg fed him too much. Mr. Abbott didn’t seem to mind all of the extra work. He told Sean that business was slow and every bit of work that Mr. La Marche gave him kept him going for a while longer.
“You have a knack for making friends. That will hold you in good stead with the pack. It will also help me manage the council without using your natural empathic Talent to influence anyone.”
Armand followed him down the stairs after a short stop in the office. “Baby, I brought you a yellow rose for your lapel and Pierre has folded a pair of handkerchiefs for your pocket.”
“Do you have a flower?” Sean asked as Armand pinned his to the lapel.
Armand smiled as he handed Sean the matching rose.
The television crew had been in the sitting room for three hours setting up for the interview. It took so much time because Martin and Rene insisted on searching every crew or cameraman that entered the house.
Instead of sending the local anchor, the network sent a national news anchor for the interview. It put additional pressure on security.
“Mr. Quinn, Mr. La Marche, we need you for makeup,” a member of the crew said somewhat politely.
“Do we really need makeup?” Sean asked.
“Yes, if we do if we don’t want to look like vampires,” Armand said. Sean shot him a look.
“No, they don’t.” Armand answered his unspoken question putting his arm around his mate.
“I wasn’t sure.” Sean laughed.