*****
Joffrey’s family wasn’t poor. They were solidly middle class. Their single level, brink home was in a nice suburban neighborhood, where dad’s cut lawns on Saturday morning and washed cars that afternoon. Most of my happiest memories were at Joffrey’s. His mom was a born werewolf and his dad was human. He had the respect of all the male wolves in town. He was built like a tank and didn’t take shit off anyone, wolf or human.
I pulled into the driveway and didn’t have a chance to put the car in park before Joffrey came out of the house. He had preppy boy good looks, shaggy blond hair and green eyes. He wore khaki shorts and long sleeve polo shirts rolled up and boat shoes with no socks. He’d gone to college, but he was one hell of fighter too.
“Max, my man,” he said grinning at me and slapping my palm when I exited my car.
“Jof, how’s it been?” I said with the same dorky smile, the one reserved for your oldest and dearest friend.
“You know, same o’ same o’,” He threw his arm around my neck and we walked to his house.
The inside of Joffrey’s house always smelled like fresh baked goods. Today it was something sweet, a pie...or cookies maybe.
“How’s your folks,” I asked taking the soda offered. Joffrey sat down opposite me and leaned back in his chair.
“They’re good, real good. Mom is looking forward to seeing you. She wants you to stick around until she comes back,” he looked at the clock,” She should be coming home in about thirty minutes.
“I’m cool with that,” I said drinking half of my soda and putting the can on the table. I sat up and put my elbows on it next. “I have some news.” I was smiling like a damn idiot. Joffrey stayed in his same relaxed position, but he was smiling that contagious smile people get when happy oozes from the other person in the room, infecting everyone within a ten foot radius.
“I’m married.”
“Bullshit,” Joffrey said and laughed. The sound dried up like a puddle on a hot day, a little at a time. I held his gaze and nodded slowly.
“You’re shitting me...when...who?” He said sitting up, his elbows on the table.
“It’s a long story. A long unbelievable story, and I have a favor to ask. Hell, not even a favor. What’s bigger than a favor?” I asked.
I was nervous. Not about telling him the story or whether or not he’d believe it; not about Josette and all that had happened to her and me. I was nervous because I was about to ask him to put his life on the line, to put the needs of a woman he’d never met before his own. I was about to ask him to be my brother in arms, my second in command, to take a position where safety was not only, not guaranteed, but bodily harm was almost a given. Did I think he’d turn me down? No. Did that make it any easier? No.
We sat at the table with me giving him the condense version of what had been going on with me in the year that he’d been off learning how to build stuff. He was studying to be a mechanical engineer. Halfway through we’d upgraded from soda to beer, and would have taken something a little stronger, but his dad didn’t allow hard liquor in the house and he didn’t have a stash in his bedroom. I was finishing up with the story, but hadn’t asked the important question, when we heard the sound of a car pulling up in the driveway.
“That’s mom,” he said.
He ran his hands through his shaggy hair, blew out a breath and stood up. He looked at me. There was no doubt in his eyes, only concern. Yeah, I’d told him about the Wolfe Hunters and told him about big bear Wallace and serial killer Rob. I told him about the legendary Jean Rene and Diana, even told him my mate and wife could turn werewolf into their wolf before time. But my friend wasn’t sweating the small stuff. He was worried about an upcoming war, the safety of his friend and that of the great love of his friend’s life. Yeah, Joffrey was the one. He was the man for the job.
“Listen, I want to go and meet with everyone,” he looked at his watch, “We still have several hours before sundown and it won’t take long for us to get to the royal estate. I don’t have time to explain everything to Mom and Dad we’ll do it when we get back.”
Sometime you didn’t even have to ask.
He was finishing his sentence when the door opened and Mrs. Bishop came in the door.
“Max,” she said and put her purse and the few bags she had in her hand down before opening her arms.
I walked over to her and gave her a big bear hug. “Mrs. B.”
“I swear you’ve grown since the last time I saw you.”
She was giving me that proud momma smile. It was almost enough for me to tell Joffrey never mind. I changed my mind, stay here with Mrs. B. I couldn’t stand the thought of having to tell her something bad had happened to her son. She’d become everything Marilyn had not after my mother’s death.
“You looking good Mrs. B, spending all of Mr. B’s money I see,” I said nodding to the bags she dropped at the entrance.
“Hardly, and what money I did spend was on him and Joffrey,” she said.
“Unless there’s something you want to tell me about dad, I don’t wear anything from here,” Joffrey said holding up a pink and white, horizontal striped bag. Mrs. B took it in stride. “He may not wear it, but that’s for your father dear.”
Well didn’t that just shut Joffrey right the fuck up?
We pulled into the drive right ahead of my gang. Joffrey had drilled me the whole way home. We opened our doors at the same time and were standing at the back of the SUV when Wallace rolled the Hummer to a stop in front of us. Joffrey followed a step behind me as I walked to Josette’s door.
She’d gone to the mall for a ball gown but it was obvious she had bought a few other things. When I saw her own pink and white striped bags—three big ones—I almost swallowed my tongue.
She slid off of the vinyl seat, her already short skirt slid up further still, flashing me her beautiful legs, right into my arms. I pulled her close to my body, let the power that always surrounded her wash over my body, absorb into my skin.
“Hi.” I said because it was the most intelligent thing my foggy mind could come up with.
She laughed at me. “Hey.”
“Before the two of you make out I’d like to introduce myself,” my friend announced behind me, “I’m Joffrey Bishop.”
Josette looked around my body at Joffrey and took his outstretched hand. “I’m Josette.”
Joffrey took her hand. “I should hope so. I would hate to have to kick his ass for fooling around on his wife,” he said, “I heard she was lovely.”
Josette laughed and looked up at me. I shrugged my shoulders. You either loved Joffrey or hated him. I loved him. I hoped she would too.
“I think I like you Joffrey Bishop.”
Quick introductions were given right there in the front drive of my house. Joffrey charmed his way into the hearts of everyone before we’d even sat him down for a clearer picture of what to expect. Wallace was already calling him brother by the time we walked across the threshold of my house.
We got settled in the great room. A few chairs were pulled from the den and dining room and even then some people opted to sit on the floor.
“I’ve told Joffrey everything, and I’ve spoken to Josette, but haven’t asked Joffrey to be captain of my guard,” I said turning to my friend. “What do you say?”
“Why the hell do you think I’m here? I’ve been looking out for your ass since we were pups.”
“You were the cause of most of the trouble said ass got in,” I corrected him.
He waved his hand in the air. “Technicality,” he said. “Of course I’ll be the captain of your guard. I’d be honored.”
“Thank you so much Joffrey. It means a lot to Max and to me. A lot has happen in a very short amount of time. What we’re doing is not going to be easy and that you accepted so quickly makes me love you for the loyalty you have for my husband.”
It’s the first time she’s called me her husband. I want to tell her to say it again; to run
around the house and scream it at the top of her lungs, to create a chant or song and play it on a continuous loop.
“Thank you Josette, I’ve known Max my hold life and not once did he leave me hanging. He was right there with me, shoulder to shoulder, no matter how ridiculous the stunt I came up with, or the trouble that resulted from it. He’s a loyal and faithful friend. He calls me out when I need it, put me in my place and proved time and time again that there was nothing too great or too small that I could ask of him. I love him. He’s my brother. What else is family but someone to lean on when needed or help carry the load when the burden is too great?
“Little king if every decision you make is as wise, I’m not sure if we’ll be needed at all,” Wallace said.
“Agreed,” Jean Rene said.
“Joffrey I assume you will be accompanying your Ulric and Ulrich to tonight’s ball?” Diana said. Joffrey nodded. “Do you have something to wear or do we need to get you something. We plan on making a rather grand entrance.”
“Oh, I think I can come up with something,” he said. The smile on his face made me think of the many ass warmings and groundings I’d suffered because of him.
I won’t lie. I looked good. I checked myself out one last time in the mirror. Dusting off the shoulders of my custom, tailor made, black tuxedo. It fit like a dream. I hoped that asshole Thomas Ronin didn’t do anything to make me rip it to shreds.
The women were pulling the wedding day stunt. Josette had showered in our room and then gone to the master suite to get dressed. They were in there primping and doing whatever women did when they get together to dress for a party.
I took the stairs two at a time to the first floor and then slower when I reached the flight that took me to the basement where my father was locked up. I was not surprised to find Marilyn down there. I was suspicious when their conversation ended abruptly when they heard me coming. Marilyn took a step back from the square window set in the top of the steel door. She didn’t look me the eye, her head stayed downcast. Whatever.
I’d forgiven my father for a lot of things simple because he’d befriended Josette father while he was imprisoned. It was the thing that brought us together, two men in a house full of anger ready to boil over like a pot. There was a reason there was only one alpha in a pack.
I don’t know when I figured out I was stronger than my father, physically as a human and more powerful as a werewolf, but I do remember that it was only loyalty to my family and the memory of my mother, that kept me in her family estate, which was mine by the way. Not my father’s.
We’d thrown a couple pairs of pajama bottoms in the room with my father so when he changed back to his human form he wouldn’t be naked. Although naked wasn’t so bad, most werewolves didn’t mind it. Kept the clothing bill to a minimum.
My father had angry eyes for me. We got into a staring contest that I let him win by speaking first.
“You’ll be released and allowed to leave after the challenge. You won’t be allowed to take anything but a car, all your clothes, the jewelry mom bought you while you were married and thirty thousand dollars...cash.”
He gave me the look that had scared me—correction—terrified me as a kid. The one that told me my punishment would be slow and with much pain. You know, to toughen me up, make me a real man. It was always for my own good, because he loved me.
“Who are you to give me orders boy,” he spit at me. Really, spit was dripping down his chin. It was like he was foaming at the mouth he was so mad.
“Not me, the Ulric,” I corrected him.
“This is my house. You can’t kick me out and expect me to walk away from it without a fight.”
“Is that a challenge,” I asked and raised my eyebrow.
“No,” he answered quickly.
Good to know with all the shit he was talking he was still afraid, if not of me, then of Josette. I took what I could get.
“Your mother would be so disappointed in you.”
Suit. Suit. Suit. Suit. I chanted in my head.
The words had me so angry I felt it tightened before I reeled in my change. I leaned in close to the window; put my hands on the sides of it.
“You know dad, I think you’re the one Mom would be disappointed in. But even if she wasn’t, even if she was old school enough to have stayed with your sorry ass. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, she would be nothing but proud of me. I know she would have stood with me and Josette tonight because she loved me. She loved and supported me in everything I did. I’ve not done a single thing that would make her hang her head in disgrace. Can you say the same?”
I looked at Marilyn. She must have felt my gaze on her because she folded her shoulders in a little bit more and tried to disappear into the wall she was pressed against.
“Marilyn was my nanny. You were fucking her before Mom’s body was cold in the ground.”
I pushed off the door and walked away from my father’s shouted angry words. The next time I saw him would be when he was pulling out of the drive. I wondered if he’d take Marilyn. I wondered why Marilyn was still there. Maybe I’d throw her ass out tomorrow. Tonight I had other fish to fry.
Joffrey was scheduled to be back by six. The Nonakris suggested that he go home and tell his parents everything. We didn’t know what to expect, but we certainly didn’t want to catch them by complete surprise if some bad shit went down. I was pulling at my sleeves when the doorbell rang. I smiled as I crossed the foyer wondering what Joffrey’s idea of appropriate was. My mouth dropped open when I opened the door.
Mr. Bishop was one big, boxy man. Even his head was an array of right angles. Fully clothed you knew that the six three, two hundred and fifty pound man was a force to be reckoned with. He stood in the door dressed to the nines. Mrs. B was a lovely vision in peach gauzy layers with gold accessories.
“Mr. B,” I said taking a step back to allow him in the house.
Joffrey followed behind him wearing clothes that Rob would be proud of. A pair of boot cut fitted leather pants, black crew neck t-shirt and a pair of thick soled black leather boots. On the wrong man it could have been a little Village People, on Jof it looked bad ass.
“Ulric, Joffrey’s told me what you’ve gotten yourself into. I’ve come to stand with you and the Black Warrior Clan.”
My vision blurred a little and I blinked fast...a lot, and looked down at the floor. Mrs. B raised my head by placing a finger beneath my chin.
“Your mother was one of my dearest friends. She made me promise to look after you before she died. I’ve done the best I could, although your father never made it very easy. Now’s my chance to keep my promise, I’m not your mother but, know that I’m proud of you and I know that she would be too. If there is a heaven, she’s looking down and smiling at what her wonderful boy has become.”
Shit. There’s nothing I could do about the tears rolling down my face. Mrs. B gave me a peck on my tear dampened cheek and patted me on the shoulder. I swiped my hands across my face to rid of all signs of my completely unking like tears and cleared my throat.
“Thank you Mr. and Mrs. B,” I croaked. We turned at the sound of people coming down the stairs.
I’m sure everyone looked nice, but they could have been naked for all I knew for the first minute or so after I saw Josette. The Nonakris asked what kind of reign she wanted. Old world or new school. Those weren’t the exact terms, but they get the job done. Josette was a perfect mix of the two.
Her dress was floor length, with a tight low cut bodice that showed off just enough cleavage to still be tasteful. The long, full shirt billowed around her when she moved. It was black and it was leather. Where the hell they found a leather ball gown was anyone’s guess but she looked regal and bad ass all at the same time. Her hair was down, all soft and wavy and touchable. I caught the reflection of something in her hair. They’d found my mother’s good jewelry and Josette had a necklace fashioned as a headband in her hair. The rope chain was platinum and
the small diamond incrusted wolf dangled near her left ear.
I went to her with tunnel vision and time stood still when I took her in my arms. “My God you’re beautiful Tehila,” I said in a low voice. I would have spoken louder, but that’s all the breath the sight of her left me.
“You look pretty good yourself,” she said rubbing her hand down the label of my jacket. “My sexy beast.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “God, can I love you more?” I yelled.
The answer was hell no. I’d reached the limit on the emotion and I was quite certain no one loved a person more than I loved my mate, my wife, my ulrich. She was the missing part of me that made me whole, my one true mate. I kissed her, because not to kiss her was not right in the eyes of God. She was my gift from him; to be worshiped, to be reveled.
After some throat clearing I tore myself off my wife and made introductions. There was bowing and curtseying, handshakes and hugs, and finally we were ready to make our move. We opened the door to a pack of red wolves sitting in a single file line blocking our way to the cars.
Cool.
Chapter Eighteen
Lupa (Second Edition) Page 32
