The doorbell rung as we were walking down the stairs but Mr. B and Julian beat us to the door. I took a deep breath because we weren’t expecting anyone and one more surprise was going to be one too many. I didn’t care how good it was. Josette had to fight to the death tomorrow and even knowing with all certainty she would come out the victor, it still rubbed me raw to think of her in harm’s way. We took the last step when I heard Thomas shout, “Wesley, Lawrence!”
We rounded the staircase and found the big man hugging two equally big men who were his sons. Had to be, or uncanny likeness ran in his family like Josette’s.
“We brought back-up,” one of the men said.
“Do I hear my boys,” Lillian said. Okay she may have screamed it.
If I had to guess, the Wolfe’s were in their fifties but when Lillian came barreling through the great room she moved more like a woman of twenty. Her son caught his mother in strong arms and hugged her tight. She held his head and covered his face with kisses. He put her down and his brother took position to get the same welcome.
“It’s so good to see you,” she said stepping back.
Neither man was embarrassed by their mother show of affection. They smiled down at her with big dopey smiles. I felt sorry for anyone who even thought about causing her harm. None of the smiling men looked the least bit threatening, but there was no doubting all could open up a can of whoop-ass at the drop of a hat.
“We brought a few friends,” one of them said.
At Lillian’s screamed announcement of their arrival everyone had come from bedrooms or other rooms in the house and we all watched as a small army of men and a few women paraded through the front door. Wolfe Hunters.
Two of the five women were Wesley and Lawrence’s wives. Wesley was an inch or so taller than his brother, his wife was the tallest woman I’d ever seen. Six-three and as heavily muscled as her husband. Her hair was in a ponytail high on the top of her head but it fell to her waist. Lawrence wife was also a hunter but built more like his mother and sister. The tiny woman looked like a strong gust of wind would take her away but I didn’t miss that she was carrying at least one gun, on her back, under her shirt like Virginia. How Lawrence and Constantine let the tiny human women go up against werewolves were anybody’s guess. The thought of it made me half insane.
While Mrs. B was calling for support, Lillian had called in the troops. Wolfe Hunters still existed, but they were now so secret that even werewolves didn’t know they were still around in the States. Thomas and Lillian’s sons and their wives would be going to the estate with us tonight. The rest would join the supporters that Mrs. B had raised.
We crowded into the kitchen and the party overflowed into the backyard to accommodate our numbers. It was a beautiful sight but a hard one. To see these people, this family in my home, laughing, joking, picking up each other’s sentences and playing around. I wanted this for our wolves in America. We were going to have it too. I looked at Josette across the room and we were on the same page. It had nothing to do with a bond or shared emotions. It was just two people coming to the same conclusion.
Three thirty came too fast. It was time for us to leave. Everyone made their way to the front door. The Wolfe Hunters staying behind would be staying in my house. With us all on the front porch we saw the first of the red wolves as they broke the tree line on the edge of the property. They kept coming until they were a sea of red fur.
Josette walked passed us and went to her wolves, leaving behind the silent mass of people, most of which had never seen her in action. She was a sight. White capped sleeved shirt, white short pants, white tennis shoes, her hair wild around her head liked I loved, surrounded by more than a hundred wolves. All flowing around her like water and all stopping at the same time and sitting, hearing an unspoken command. All eyes were on Josette, human and animal, as she told gave her instructions. All left but one, the one that had stood with her yesterday.
“That’s pretty damn impressive,” Wesley said.
Wallace laugh broke through the air like a great ringing bell. “You’ve yet to see the true power of our little queen,” he said.
We rolled onto the estate eighteen deep—oh sorry—twenty one counting the three wolves. Ronin came out all smiles and arms spread wide until he saw Julian. The one hesitated step made me smile.
“An unexpected surprise,” Ronin said.
“I would think so,” Julian said.
“Will you challenge me in your daughter’s stead?”
“No, I acknowledge Josette as the queen,” her father said. Was it me or did he puff up his chest a little?
Ronin nodded once. “Welcome, welcome, honored guest. You’ll be shown to your rooms and then we will have refreshments before the hunt.”
Lupa (Second Edition) Page 35
