by Alex Jane
"Do we really have to get up?"
Nathaniel snorted and patted Gabriel on the backside before sitting up and throwing his legs over the side of the bed. "Being that this day was your idea, yes."
"Priscilla started it," Gabriel grumbled but still rolled out from under the covers with a skip in his step.
They washed and dressed, falling into the easy dance they had developed, moving around the room and each other, helping with buttons and snatching quick kisses as they went about their morning ritual.
Their first morning together hadn't been so easy. When they had woken up in each other's arms, it had been a mixture of exhilaration at sensing the bond between them strengthening and expanding, and pure terror at what might come next, both of them awkward and embarrassed.
In the end, Gabriel had dragged him back under the covers and kissed him breathless. Then, Nathaniel had taken him in hand and stroked him into oblivion. He'd blushed afterward at the noises his husband—his mate—had coaxed from him. And was still blushing when they had gone down to breakfast. The others hadn't waited for them and it had been a blessing so many of their mouths had been filled with toasted muffins that they couldn't all laugh or give congratulations all at once when they'd seen Gabriel's red cheeks and his bite so prominent on Nathaniel's neck.
This morning was quite a contrast with the whole house bustling as soon as they walked out their door. Eating in the kitchen was no longer an option, not after Gabriel's pack had moved into the house, and their number doubling from six to twelve practically overnight. Food was served in the dining room with breakfast presented in the English style, with the dishes laid out on the sideboard and everyone free to help themselves. Nobody stood on ceremony or waited for Nathaniel to start. They were somewhat more formal in the evenings but on a busy day like this, everyone had too much to do to worry about the trappings of civility.
That morning, breakfast was simple and sparse, the kitchen being tied up with far more important matters. Ruth, Gad, and Orpah had been cooking, baking, and making all manner of things for more than two days, so the rest of the pack were relegated to toast and eggs on which to fill up so they could spend their time with other duties.
In fact, it looked as if Abel and Solomon had already made a start in that matter given their state of dress when Gabriel breezed in the door.
"Everything all right in the stable?" Gabriel frowned over at Abel, who looked harried, while they both piled their plates with eggs and shuffled down toward the coffee pot.
"Fine. Missy was being her usual self. Hard to explain to a horse that they'll be back in their own stall before bed, but you know how she is."
"Got bit again, huh?"
Abel looked over at him and smirked. "No worse than you," he teased, nodding toward Gabriel's open collar.
Gabriel couldn't help smiling. "Gave as good as I got."
"You definitely did," Nathaniel said softly behind him, making him jump.
Abel chuckled at the arm that slid around Gabriel's waist as Nathaniel held out his cup and waited for it to be filled, and the loving look Gabriel gave him over his shoulder. "You two are disgusting," he muttered, before adding, "Solomon wanted to see you as soon as possible. Something about the guide ropes on one of the marquees being loose?"
Nathaniel rolled his eyes and started to pull away, darting back to give Gabriel a peck on the lips. Gabriel didn't let him go until he'd forced Nathaniel to take a slice of toast between his teeth, knowing full well his husband would skip breakfast entirely if he wasn't reminded to eat. As he opened the door to leave, Abraham was just coming in.
As always, Gabriel's father gave Nathaniel a wry look and cuff on the shoulder as he passed him. The two of them had become close since the family had moved under one roof, and their friendship made Gabriel feel a burst of happiness whenever he caught a glimpse of it. Nathaniel's parents could never be replaced, but having a fatherly figure to go to for advice and encouragement had done more for him than any of the other changes in his life. And Abraham was profoundly happy with the arrangement. Gabriel had thought it might be too painful for him to be reminded of Reuben every day, but it actually appeared to comfort him. If anything, his health had improved and he seemed eminently content with his life in a way that he hadn't been since before his wife had passed. Indeed, the first time Abraham had called Nathaniel son Gabriel wasn't sure, between the two of them, who had been more emotional over it.
"Ready for your big day?" Abraham asked as he took his seat next to Gabriel to eat.
"It's not that big of a day, Father. It's only a garden party."
Abraham scoffed. "Yes, but a garden party where you'll be renewing your vows so it's a little more than that, isn't it?"
Gabriel hmmed and blushed at his breakfast. "I suppose. I just want things to go well for Nate's sake. This is his first big event after all."
"It'll go swimmingly," his father reassured him through sips of coffee. "You've everything arranged and you've kept things simple. The weather looks set to hold and there's enough food to satisfy the entire eastern seaboard—oh, don't worry so. Everything is under control."
"I hope so."
"No need to hope when you have Solomon and Pris in charge of things. Nothing will go wrong. Unless you've changed your mind about the match, because if you have, I'm sorry to say it might be too late given the way your neck is spotting your collar."
"Oh, damn, is it?" Gabriel jerked his head around to check, pulling his shirt open farther only to see nothing and hear his father chuckle.
Things were certainly more interesting with his father around. And the rest of the pack for that matter. Gabriel had feared there would be tension and some unavoidable rivalry, but truth be told, the merging of the two packs couldn't have gone smoother.
Nathaniel had remembered Elon well and the two of them had taken no time in catching up. It wasn't unusual for Gabriel to come downstairs bleary eyed and in his nightshirt, wondering why one side of his bed was still empty despite Nathaniel promising he'd be up directly, only to find his husband, Elon, and Solomon deep in their cups, smoking cigars and reminiscing about the old days.
Elon's wife, Claudia, was a lovely woman and easy to get along with so she had no trouble adjusting. She'd been a seamstress before coming to the pack and had taken Eunice under her wing in that regard, telling her tales of her wild youth as they sat together darning or hemming. Needless to say, Eunice had developed a little hero worship as she hung on every word and followed her around like a duckling.
Their son, Jokim, had been wary at first. At fifteen, he was still fiercely attached to Gabriel's mother, so the idea of accepting a new Alpha had seemed like a betrayal to him. But after few weeks of Jokim brooding with Abel and his father in the stables and garden, watching Nathaniel cautiously from a distance, Gabriel had caught him coming from Nathaniel's study, red-eyed and smiling shyly. Gabriel had asked what had happened but Nathaniel had only shrugged and said they had talked things over. Jokim had appeared more settled after that and called Nathaniel "Alpha" at every given opportunity.
None of the other children seemed much affected by the change. It helped that Nathaniel's house gave many more opportunities for banister sliding, generally racing around the lawns, and catching frogs than the old place, at least for the older boys. Jethro, who was only just eighteen months old, didn't care much where he was as long as there was a plentiful supply of food and cuddles, which with five more sets of willing arms about the place, he was never left wanting.
It was interesting how Priscilla, who had always been not so much a fly-by-night but someone who hadn't found their calling yet, had changed with the youngsters' arrival. With little prompting, she had settled into the role of caretaker and teacher for the four younger members of the new pack and seamlessly managed to balance changing diapers with teaching algebra and keeping the rambunctious children under control when their mothers had other duties to attend to.
Dinah was more than happy to let Prisci
lla fuss the children. Having boundless energy herself, she seemed never happier than when she was polishing or scrubbing or putting the cushions just so. Solomon happily shared many of his duties with her, especially when he saw her standards often surpassed his. Gabriel had a sneaking suspicion that he was simply tired of reminding Nathaniel to clean up after himself and quite frankly, when Dinah spoke, everyone was inclined to listen.
Her husband on the other hand, used to being ordered around, found himself safely ensconced in the kitchen along with Ruth. Even with the increase in numbers and the amount of food needed, she might have managed alone, but with a little persuasion, and a taste of Gad's flummery and his mother's recipe for sweet rolls, she had welcomed him in and they were happy enough to provide for everybody.
Orpah and Gabriel's father pitched in where they were needed, not so able to help with hard labor at their advanced age but more than willing to do whatever was asked of them.
Of course, with all the extra help, Gabriel had more time to bother Nathaniel and, eventually, his husband had relented in his resistance to having a secretary. It transpired his reluctance was more down to his imagining he should be able to manage all the aspects himself rather than a lack of trust in other people's ability. But having a full household and under Gabriel's watchful tutelage, Nathaniel had come to appreciate the art of delegation.
It was particularly useful when it came to organizing such a party as they were having that day. The previous year they had hosted a picnic to welcome the members of Gabriel's pack as Priscilla had suggested. It had been a stilted affair for about a quarter of one hour and then Frank had put a piece of salmon down the back of Abel's shirt and the subsequent ruckus had everybody laughing enough to burst. By the end of the afternoon, Priscilla had decided it should become an annual event, no doubt with it becoming a fixture on the social calendar in her sights.
Indeed, she'd gone all out, hiring several local tradesmen and a small orchestra, if the number of musical instruments that arrived that morning were anything to go by. Gabriel still wasn't entirely sure where all the chairs had come from, and the ferocity with which she had badgered Solomon and Frank into making sure the gardens were perfect was something to behold. Even his lowly private domain wasn't immune, as he discovered when he approached the glasshouse later that morning.
The building was a stark contrast to how he had found it all those months before. Both he and Frank had worked tirelessly to repair the structure, with no small amount of help from Solomon—and Nathaniel too, when he had time to roll up his sleeves. In fact, it gleamed in the sunlight like the jewel Gabriel had suspected it could be all along. The planting inside was now lush and healthy, with plants cascading from hanging baskets and towering up from the beds. The small fountain in the center gave a hint of whimsy as well as a pleasant sound to work to.
When he approached the building, he saw, as always, another reason to smile. It appeared all the inane questions Nathaniel would bother Frank with—which had seemed only as if he was trying to get to know Gabriel when he first arrived—had a practical purpose after all. On the first anniversary of their marriage—a date that Gabriel could have never imagined he'd be celebrating with such warm feeling the day he'd pulled up to the Fletcher house under that miserable sky—Nathaniel had presented Gabriel with a gift of two new stained glass panels for the doors to the glasshouse. They were matching rectangles depicting a sumptuous display of entwined peonies, a favorite of Gabriel's mother. Gabriel had tried to keep his composure but had wept openly in front of everyone and then again when his father had embraced Nathaniel and called him son. It had been an emotional day. Weeks later, he still felt the prickle of tears when he looked at them, not only for all the things they represented of his loving husband but also that his mother wasn't there to see them so happy. She had always loved Nathaniel so, he could only imagine she would have cried too.
Gabriel certainly felt like weeping when he walked in and saw Abel on a ladder, hanging bunting from the rafters. "What in hell are you doing?"
"Orders from Pris," Frank said, holding the bottom of the ladder and feeding the decorations up from a bag on the floor. "Once we've done this, I have about a thousand candles to put about the place. Any chance you or that husband of yours could give us a hand?"
Gabriel shook his head, resting his hands on his hips as he looked about. "No, Nate had to go to town."
"Today?" Abel squawked, almost toppling into the fountain.
"He won't be long," Gabriel reassured him. "He had to see the bank about something. You know how it is."
"Thankfully, I do not," Abel said with a groan as he stepped down. He brushed his hands on his trousers and looked back up at his handiwork. "As long as he's not late to marry you again."
Frank snorted. "I don't think he'd survive the wrath of Pris if he did."
"What about my wrath?" Gabriel asked, his voice climbing a little too high.
"Oh, we've all heard your wrath. I've had to sweep up the broken pieces often enough." Abel chuckled.
"Oh, come on," Gabriel whined. "I haven't broken a vase in, what, six months—?"
"Two," came the tandem reply.
It was hard to dispute that. It wasn't as if he purposely went out of his way to argue with Nathaniel, but they did have a way of getting into tremendous fights once in a while. Mostly, they put it down to Nathaniel's natural Alpha inclination to boss Gabriel around, and Gabriel's natural inclination to not put up with it for one moment. They would yell and there would be the occasional harsh word, Gabriel would throw something, Nathaniel would growl and show his teeth. Then there would be kisses and apologies and before anyone knew it the whole thing would blow over. Or rather, Nathaniel would blow Gabriel and then it would be all over.
"Your bunting is crooked," he said, pointing up. When the two men groaned and both squinted up at the ceiling, Gabriel couldn't help but laugh, even when Abel threatened to dunk him in the fountain.
He was still laughing sometime later when he looked about to see Solomon coming in the door. However, the expression on the man's face had his smile falling away.
"What's wrong?"
"Can you come? I don't know what to—" Solomon glanced at the others, clearly less than happy to say whatever he needed to in front of them.
"Yes, of course," Gabriel said as he wiped off his hands. He shot a concerned look to Frank before straightening up and following Solomon out. Once they were a few paces away, he asked, "Is it Nate?"
Solomon shook his head, his expression hard and serious. "No. Not exactly. Alpha Hayward is here."
It took Gabriel a moment to grasp what Solomon was saying. "Nathaniel's father is here?" Solomon only nodded, keeping up the brisk pace across the lawn. "What does he want?"
Solomon shrugged. "I have no idea. He just said he wanted to see Nate. I wasn't sure what to do. I don't exactly have the authority to throw him out on his ear."
"And you think I do?"
A smile quirked Solomon's lips up at the edges. "Would it be very wrong of me to say I would happily pay to see you try?"
Some of the tension left Gabriel with that and he managed a chuckle. "Yes. Unless you want to see my head removed from my shoulders."
"He wouldn't do that. He may be old-fashioned and a stubborn old mule but he wouldn't do that. Besides, he was always rather fond of you as a boy."
"Well, let's hope he remembers."
"Might help if you buttoned your collar so he doesn't see your…" Solomon gestured at Gabriel's neck unnecessarily as Gabriel was already doing so. "I put him in the parlor."
"All right," Gabriel said as they reached the steps to the terrace. "Look, you have a lot to do. Why don't you let me handle this? No need for us both to get an earful."
"Are you sure? Nate should be home soon but—"
"I'm sure," Gabriel lied. "He's probably only here to offer his congratulations. But if you see Priscilla, could you let her know?"
Solomon snorted, then looked a bit sh
amefaced before he nodded and scuttled off to attend to his duties.
Gabriel jogged up the steps, taking two at a time. There was no use in prolonging the agony. He hoped he didn't look too disheveled and brushed himself down as he walked, rolling down his sleeves and carding his fingers through his hair. He'd left his jacket on the hook in the hall and dragged it on at the last moment so he could at least appear respectable. He was a bundle of nerves when he reached the parlor door, but as he stepped over the threshold, all his tension quickly morphed into confusion. The room was empty.
Wondering for a moment if the old man had evaporated somehow, he was somewhat stuck at how to proceed. At least, until he stepped back into the hall and noticed out of the corner of his eye that the door to Nathaniel's study was ajar.
"Do you make a habit of going through other people's personal papers?" Gabriel was slightly in awe at himself for managing to hold in the bulk of his anger, but also that he was able to say such a thing to such a man.
Alpha Hayward Sr. stood at Nathaniel's side of the desk reading a document Nathaniel had been working on the previous evening. He didn't look much different than how Gabriel remembered him—tall, dark, not unlike Nathaniel, but with squared features and a hard glint to his eye. The years had shrunk him a little—or rather Gabriel had grown taller, no longer only coming up to the Alpha's elbow—his hair was almost entirely grayed and the lines on his face were a little more plentiful. It took no time for Gabriel to realize for the first time why Nathaniel had been so keen to spend all his free time away from the man as a youth, given his cold stare and harsh demeanor.
The Alpha didn't appear startled by Gabriel's appearance at the door, even taking the time to finish what he was reading before he lowered the paper and turned. He did look a little surprised then, perhaps as it had been so long since he'd seen Gabriel that he still had in mind he was a boy, or perhaps it was the scent of his son being so strongly embedded in Gabriel's skin that it disturbed his composure somehow.