Werewolves of Manhattan Box Set

Chapter 10

Wednesday

Sean opened his eyes. He heard the dissonance of the sound of the security shutters opening for the day. The bedroom filled with light. Sean had spent the night in Armand’s arms. It was becoming more difficult to lay with him without making love. Since he woke up early, Sean watched his soon-to-be husband in his sleep. He decided that even if they couldn’t complete the act, he would make his partner happy this morning. He crept out from under Armand’s right arm being very careful not to wake him. Moving down the bed, he reached his goal.

Armand’s beautiful c**k lay half hard with morning wood between his balls. Sean stuck out his tongue and began to circle the head. His lover’s c**k was big, bigger than anything Sean had ever taken in his mouth much less his ass. Sean began to suck gently. Armand’s c**k rose up to its full length. Sean sucked harder, moving his tongue around the front and down the sensitive underside. He wasn’t giving his partner a blowjob, he was making love to his c**k.

He felt Armand’s hands grab his shoulders and tighten their grip. Armand ran his fingers through the silk of Sean’s hair. His lover’s moans filled his ears.

“Baby, oh gods, how you make me feel.”

Sean brought his hands into play and grabbed onto Armand with his fingers, kneading his sac, moving in conjunction with his mouth. His lover began to leak fountains of pre-c*m.

“Yeah…right there…”

Sean lapped it up with greed, loving Armand’s taste and smell. He nuzzled into the nest around Armand’s c**k. He smelled of the forest and sweat. He smelled like heaven. Sean picked up the pace. Soon Armand was thrashing on the bed.

“Sean…baby…”

He kept sucking, licking; manipulating his lover’s c**k and balls. Sean felt Armand’s spine stiffen as his lover prepared to shoot.

“I’m going to come…”

Armand’s balls drew up tight to his body then his c**k spurt copious amounts of c*m into Sean’s waiting mouth. Sean licked around Armand’s spent c**k until he was clean. Armand pulled Sean up into his arms and kissed him sharing his own taste with his lover.

“I thank the day the gods saw fit to put you in my path.” Armand licked the shell of his ear.

“It’s been only a few days and I can’t imagine my life without you in it.” Sean placed a trail of kisses along his lover’s shoulder.

It took another half hour for the two to stop touching. Armand moved to go down the bed and service Sean, but Sean shook his head. “I’ve already come. You do that to me. You make me so hot that I can come from the feel of you in my mouth.”

“I hope it will always be that way between us, baby.” The two lay beside each other in silence. Sean placed his head on Armand’s wide chest and sighed in contentment.

* * * *

Fifteen minutes later there was a light tap on the door and Pierre arrived with breakfast. Armand threw on a robe and let Pierre into the suite. On the tray were scrambled eggs, pancakes, a rasher of bacon, sausage, toast, hash browns, and fruit.

“Baby, why don’t you put on your robe?” Sean got up and slipped his arms into the sleeves. To his surprise, he cleaned his plate again, and listened to Armand as he explained the intricacies of shifter politics.

Today was the meeting with the council. Due to security restrictions, the council was meeting here at the townhouse. Sean was worried about this all being too much work for Meg but Armand assured him that she would have extra help.

“I don’t know how to live like this, Armand.”

“This is a business meeting. Because of who and what we are, we can’t take it out to a restaurant banquet room.”

“Well then we should make it simple, sandwiches and salads. That won’t cost much but still fill their stomachs.” Sean set his chin in a stubborn line.

“I can see we’re going to fight about money. I want to spoil you and you’re going to fight me.”

“I took the clothes because I can see that I can’t be a poor reflection on you, but I’d rather at least try to make my own way.” Sean walked over to the dresser Armand gave him to pick out some clothes. “I don’t want to fight you but I don’t know how to deal with all of this.”

“Baby, if you accepted all of this as your due, you wouldn’t be a good Alpha Mate. Part of your duty as my mate is to see to the needs of the pack. They need to be able to come to you with their problems because I’m too much of an authority figure. That is why Omegas have a gift. By being an Omega, you are automatically empathetic and that along with any gifts the gods dispense make you an asset to me.”

“Are you sure making such a display of introducing me to the council is the right thing to do? If you have enemies, won’t that just piss them off?”

“We can’t skimp on the meal for the council. It would give the wrong message. They need to know that I am prosperous and able to keep them prosperous. If we skimped, our financial position would be in doubt, leaving me vulnerable to a challenge. As far as my enemies, they won’t hate me more or less because I spend funds on a luncheon. A display solidifies my position as Alpha. I would normally have a huge wedding with guests from all the packs as well as representatives from Russia and Europe but the danger of exposure to Petrovich makes that impossible. So, hence the luncheon.”

“If it’s anything like human politics, I won’t like it.” Sean’s brow furrowed.

“There are fifteen packs on the North American continent. Each pack is headed by an Alpha with two Beta lieutenants. There are a number of enforcers in each pack, our pack has twelve plus two from each of the other fourteen because of my status as head of the council. Some packs have Omegas with gifts but it is a rare instance when the Omega is actually mated to his Alpha. As I said to you earlier, your Talent will be very rare, the last time an Omega mated with an Alpha was five hundred years ago during the Inquisition. We were disorganized, frightened, and our leadership was decimated. The Omega and the Alpha led the migration to North America.

“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 b***h 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 which 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*****e 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.