by Alex Jane
When they got back to the house, it appeared Nathaniel and Abraham had taken to sitting out on the terrace, a bowl of fruit on the table along with glasses of wine. Nathaniel had a notebook and pencil on his knee, with Abraham nodding along to whatever his host was saying. They looked a picture of civility and friendship, until Nathaniel spotted Gabriel, or more specifically Gabriel and Frank, coming to join them. His scowl could have peeled potatoes and Gabriel had half a mind to tell him his face would get stuck that way if the wind changed direction, even if they did have company.
"This looks more like a business meeting than after dinner conversation," Gabriel said, trying to keep his tone light as he ascended the steps that came up from the lawn.
"It is, in a manner of speaking," his father replied. "We're talking over the logistics of moving the entire pack here."
Gabriel's heart seemed to hiccough in his chest. "Really? And what of the house?"
"Sell it," Nathaniel said. "Unless you have any objections?"
Gabriel didn't. The pack had moved there after his mother had died so it wouldn't be as if he was giving up his childhood home. That certainly had been a wrench. He'd cried an ocean of tears as they had disposed of half their belongings, packed up what had remained, and left his home empty and grieving, bidding a tender farewell to each room holding the echoes of his mother and brother and his whole childhood. To sell the current house was more of an inconvenience. In truth, he had considered if things became intolerable with Nathaniel, he would at least have a place to escape to. By moving the pack to Nathaniel's home, he would have nowhere to hide.
"Not that I can think of." He lied but did it convincingly enough that no one raised an eyebrow. "It just feels a bit…sudden."
Nathaniel hmmed under his breath. "There's no rush. Those who wish to come now may do just that. If any choose to remain at the old house a while longer, I have no objection. "
Gabriel wondered if Nathaniel would mind awfully putting him in that last category.
"Well, we have one volunteer." Gabriel forced a smile and looked at Frank who was cradling the glass of wine Abraham had poured him and looking as if he would much rather be back at the glasshouse.
"Really." Nathaniel's tone was guarded and cold. Regarding Frank curiously, and after a deep breath, he asked, "What's the verdict on Gabriel's project?"
Gabriel appreciated the gesture even if the delivery of the question was made through gritted teeth.
"The structure is in a sad state," Frank said quietly, as if afraid to speak at all. "And the planting sorely needs attention but with some hard work, I think we can return it to its former glory."
"We?"
Gabriel almost wanted to laugh; of all things, that was what Nathaniel picked up on. Taking up his own drink, he smiled at his husband. "Apparently, I'm somewhat lacking in the skills required. At best, I'll be allowed to assist."
"I see," Nathaniel said, regarding his glass. "And this is why you think…he should move into the house?"
The question seemed loaded somehow but for the life of him, Gabriel couldn't understand why, or what could possibly be bothering Nathaniel to warrant such rudeness. "Yes," he said slowly. "He'll be moving here at some point anyway if your plan is to gather the pack in its entirety under your roof. And from all he said, the garden will be a full-time occupation. There's much to do. Would you rather we wait?"
Nathaniel didn't reply, only shook his head and looked sourly at the notes in his book before changing the subject. He appeared happier to make a census of Abraham's household than argue any further. Not that he needed to waste much paper on it.
When Gabriel's mother had been alive, the pack had been a fairly medium size, with no more than forty people living under one roof. Since her death the number had dwindled to twelve, including himself and his father. Elon was a cousin on his mother's side who came to live with them before Gabriel was born. He'd stayed on and brought his wife, Claudia, into the pack where they remained with their son, Jokim. Dinah, from his father's side, had come in similar circumstances along with a husband, Gad, after Reuben had died. Now they had two children, one a new addition of only six months and the other a mischievous eight years old. To be fair, he shared most of the mischief with Isaac, Frank's younger brother, who had come along with their grandmother, Orpah, after they had lost their parents. There was less a familial connection between them than one born out of love, as their great uncle had been a close friend of Abraham in their youth. When he'd heard about their difficulties, Gabriel's parents had welcomed them with open arms. Their arrival had made the heartache of losing his brother a little easier to bear—having a companion of similar age who could understand grief—and he hoped he had done the same for Frank.
There had been half a dozen others who had drifted away over time. An Alpha-less pack was unstable at best, prone to infighting and disorganization. Abraham had done his best, particularly when it came to fending off some undesirable attentions from predatory relatives who'd seen only the assets and not the people left behind after his mother's death. But families change regardless of circumstances, and while some of the younger ones found marriage in other packs, others opted to leave for relatives with better prospects and a more stable income.
There had been other changes, such as moving from his mother's expansive packhouse to a more modest place. Of course, his father had distributed most of the money from the sale between the pack members, whether they were staying or not. Gabriel understood the act of generosity was exactly what his mother would have done, but he couldn't help feel a sense of betrayal from those who had moved on. He'd lost enough, and yet, people still seemed intent on leaving him.
He felt somewhat selfish for feeling so aggrieved when Nathaniel had suffered a far greater abandonment. His pack had been of equal size and for all he knew they remained in the home he'd been dismissed from. All but Ruth and Solomon by the sound of it. At least his sister had not been so badly influenced by their parents that she had shunned him too.
Gabriel had a momentary thought that perhaps it might be an idea to wait for Priscilla's return before they made such sweeping changes, when Nathaniel started to suggest which rooms could be opened up for the pack and what new provisions might have to be made to accommodate everyone. He didn't feel it was his place to bring up such a thing in front of his father, especially as he hadn't even mentioned Priscilla to Nathaniel yet and wasn't wholly sure what his reaction might be to having his authority or judgment questioned publicly.
Instead, he waited until their evening was concluded and he'd sent his father and Frank home, with the promise he would see them again before the week was out. When he caught up with Nathaniel, he was on the landing on his way to bed.
"I wanted to ask you," he started, waiting until Nathaniel had slowed and turned to face him before continuing, "Will Priscilla want some say in how the household is arranged? I understand she lives here."
It was too late to stop the flow of his sentence when he caught the thunderous look on Nathaniel's face. Gabriel wasn't convinced his fury had much to do with what he had asked, but he was certainly glad he hadn't said anything earlier when they'd had company.
"Priscilla will do exactly what I tell her to do," Nathaniel growled.
The tone of his voice was so shocking, Gabriel took a step back before remembering he wasn't someone to be cowed. "Does she even know you've married? Or are you planning to spring that on her too?"
The question appeared to stun Nathaniel momentarily and his furious expression wavered for a moment. "I-I sent a telegram."
"Before or after?"
Nathaniel pressed his lips together tightly and his palm squeaked against the handle of his cane as he adjusted his grip. "What does it matter?"
"I suppose it doesn't," Gabriel answered, even though he felt in his heart that it mattered quite a bit, hoping his move toward his bedroom door obfuscated his anxiety. "If she's so under your thumb to follow your every word without question, she won't da
re comment on coming home to find her house overrun by strangers."
"You seem awfully concerned for Priscilla's feelings suddenly," Nathaniel said, taking a step closer.
His tone was strange and Gabriel didn't know quite what to make of it. "She is my relation now, I suppose. And I remember her well enough from when we were children. Why? Is there something wrong with that?"
Nathaniel shrugged and walked away, mumbling, "No. I guess I should have expected nothing less." It might have been a compliment if not for the tone.
"Is that it, then?" Gabriel said loudly, even though Nathaniel hadn't moved more than a few feet from where he'd left Gabriel at his bedroom door. Gabriel thought the question rhetorical and started to move into his room when Nathaniel appeared at the threshold.
"What exactly is it you expect me to say in the face of…"
Nathaniel sounded so angry that his words burned up in his throat. Gabriel couldn't fathom why he was so affected, but his own irritation at his husband's bad temper started to turn into something more like rage.
"In the face of what? I do wish you'd speak, man. And I wish you would at least make some pretense of our interactions being more than simply painful for you. But if it is so and if you're so horrified by the thought of informing your only relative of it, or indeed, at having any of mine under your roof then, please, let us have the marriage annulled."
"I'm not…horrified—"
"Really? Because if this afternoon's performance is anything to go by then, I'm not sure I want my family here." Nathaniel looked more confused than anything and Gabriel found he was happy to expand on his comment. "You were more rude and unfriendly than I think I've ever seen a person in my life. I'm not surprised you have so few acquaintances if that's how you treat them. Poor Frank didn't know where to look."
The tirade appeared to get through to Nathaniel, who looked adequately admonished and nodded an apology as he muttered, "I'll try harder in future," and turned to leave.
Gabriel thought that was the end of it but Nathaniel paused and took a step back, coming to face him again.
"I would appreciate it, though, if you would at least be discreet."
"Excuse me?" Gabriel couldn't think what his husband was referring to.
"And quite frankly, I would have liked some warning before inviting your lover to my house."
"My…my what?" In the moments it took for Gabriel's brain to process that Nathaniel was not only referring to Frank, but that he was implying Gabriel was sleeping with him, somehow the glass vase that had been on the dressing table closest to his hand ended up flying across the room and smashing to pieces against the doorframe next to Nathaniel's astonished face. "How dare you!" Gabriel was almost too shocked to speak let alone yell but still the words left him with enough force there was no doubt he was furious.
"It's bad enough you insult my friend and sit through dinner as if you'd rather be anywhere else but then to accuse me of—" A thought came to him and he reeled back as if struck. "Oh my…is that what you thought we were doing when you sent us out to the garden? Fornicating in the bushes like animals?" Grabbing the next nearest object, which was a gauche figurine of a shepherdess, of all things, he hurled it across the room, unable to control his anger and barely flinching when it shattered, showering Nathaniel's jacket with porcelain. "How could you? How could you think I would—? I know this marriage is only a business arrangement to you, but I made vows, Nathaniel! Also, the thought of-of doing that with him…my god, he's like my brother. I could never think of him that way. Goddamn you!"
When Gabriel started scanning the vicinity for something else to use as a missile, Nathaniel clearly wasn't prepared to lose any more items to his temper and strode over the best he could, taking Gabriel roughly by the arm and pulling him close. "I'm—" Their proximity made Gabriel's breath hitch in his throat and appeared to have some effect on Nathaniel too as he scanned Gabriel's face, seemingly searching for the words. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—I just assumed. You looked so pleased to see him, I thought—"
"He's my pack, Nathaniel," Gabriel pleaded in a whisper. "And my friend. Of course I'd be pleased to see him." Belatedly, he remembered he was angry with his husband and wrenched his arm from his grip. "It doesn't give you the right to treat him or me that way. And for the record, I-I have no one. In that way. I would never have agreed to marry you if I had a-an intimate relationship."
Surprisingly, something softened in Nathaniel's expression at that, as if he'd been gripped with dread until that moment. Gabriel cleared his throat. "I'm assuming, given you think I share my body around so easily, that you must have a…that is to say—"
"No," Nathaniel said, his voice hard and a little earnest. "I have no lover. None now and none before."
"I see."
Gabriel didn't. He couldn't imagine that Nathaniel, with all his dark, alluring looks would have never been propositioned or enticed to someone's bed. Even with his afflictions he was beautiful, his broad chest and shoulders as much a temptation as his kissable mouth and dark features. That he stood before him as much a virgin as Gabriel seemed unthinkable.
His eyes must have lingered too long on the mouth in question as Nathaniel blushed and turned away, leaving the room with a barely audible, "Goodnight."
Gabriel stared after him, frozen for a moment before noticing the violence he'd inflicted on his room. There was a gouge in the doorframe, and broken glass and porcelain scattered around that needed cleaning before he went to bed. He did allow himself a chuckle as he was sweeping it up—that he should find himself on his knees, in his room, in the dead of night, without the pleasure of someone else's cock in his mouth.
Later, under the safety of darkness and the thick cotton sheets, he took himself in hand, thinking much the same thing, except in lurid detail. He wondered whether, if he'd had the courage to drop to his knees in front of his husband during the argument, if Nathaniel would have let him open his trousers, to taste him there in his most intimate of places. Not that Gabriel had ever experienced such a thing, but he'd heard talk, and may or may not have been introduced to a collection of erotic drawings, which he'd studied most earnestly.
The idea that Nathaniel would have welcomed his attentions, perhaps might have carded his fingers through Gabriel's hair, gripping him tightly and fucking his mouth, had Gabriel grunting as he spilled over his rapidly moving fist. Strangely, he felt more guilty about having Nathaniel in his sexual fantasies now they were married than he did all the years before. Mostly as now—being how Nathaniel could have him and chose not to—Gabriel's fantasy that Nathaniel might love him one day and take him as his mate was well and truly over.
The following morning, he rose late, having slept badly and not feeling much like he was willing to face the day. As he dawdled his way through washing and dressing, he girded his loins, knowing he would have to face his husband and apologize, if not directly after breakfast then at some point in the morning.
What he was not expecting was to arrive in the kitchen to find the rest of the household sitting around the table in silence, watching with rapt attention as Nathaniel stood at the stove, his shirt sleeves rolled to his elbows, holding a spatula in one hand and a skillet in the other.
All eyes turned to Gabriel when he walked in, all but Nathaniel's, who stayed fixed on his task, keeping his back to the room. Quickly, Gabriel moved across the floor and took his place at the table, trading questioning looks with Abel, who simply shrugged and looked as bewildered as the rest of them.
When Nathaniel was done, he brought a bowl of scrambled eggs to put next to the rather oversized stack of pancakes and plate of bacon, which were already there. Gabriel noted he wasn't using his stick and appeared to do quite well, moving the short distance around the kitchen without too much additional effort. Before taking his seat, Nathaniel proceeded to dish up a plate for Gabriel with a somber face and placed it in front of him before serving plates up to everyone else. Solomon looked somewhat uncomfortable and Eunice was
about ready to expire with embarrassment. Still, once all the plates were down, and Nathaniel had taken the first bite, breakfast seemed to go on as usual, with chatter and planning and Nathaniel apparently happy to eat quietly with the pack carrying on around him.
Once the food was consumed, the Alpha made his excuses and left. Almost as soon as the door closed, the five of them just about collapsed. Eunice and Gabriel were laughing and Solomon couldn't help chuckle too. Ruth and Abel clung to the table like they were on rough seas, which only made the others laugh harder.
"What on earth—?" Gabriel started, but was interrupted by Ruth, saying, "Good Lord, what did he do?"
"I don't…?"
The confusion must have shown on Gabriel's face as Abel laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "That, my friend, was an apology breakfast. We haven't had one of those in quite a while."
"Nate is a passable cook, but he doesn't enjoy it much," Solomon said. "That's why he leaves the bulk of it to Ruth. Generally, he only makes breakfast when he's feeling wretched and in the wrong but doesn't know how to apologize. I'm assuming the two of you had words last night?"
The question appeared to be a genuine inquiry. It wasn't beyond the realms of possibility—even though the household contained exclusively Weres who could hear much better than the average person—that the previous night's confrontation hadn't been overheard. It was usually deemed good manners not to focus one's senses too much on those they were sharing a home with. That and the fact the others occupied rooms quite far from Nathaniel and Gabriel meant they might have had some privacy.
"We did."
"Must have been something pretty bad to warrant quite that much bacon," Eunice muttered, although Ruth admonished her immediately.
Gabriel blushed. "It was…private," he mumbled, glad when Solomon held up his hand to stop him talking, despite having no intention of going on.
