The Grey Wolves Series Books 1-6

Chapter 2-3

“We come bearing a home-cooked Southern meal for the newcomer,” Lilly responded.

“Come in. Let me introduce you to Fane. He is from Rom—well, here, I’ll let him tell you. He can speak for himself, after all,” Mrs. Henry said as they filed into the entryway.

“Sara, why don’t we set this food in the kitchen and then sit in the living room to make our introductions, if that suits you okay?” Lilly asked.

“Oh, of course. You all can’t stand here in the front door holding all that food. You would think I’ve never had company before. Come on, girls, let’s set it on the counter in the kitchen,”

“Sara.” So that was Mrs. Henry’s first name. He hadn’t thought to ask when he met them last night, though it might have been on his paperwork for the exchange program and he just hadn’t paid attention.

When the food was deposited on the counter in the kitchen, they filed into the living room, each taking a seat. Lilly sat on the rocking chair by the fireplace, while the three girls sat on the couch to the left of the rocking chair. Mrs. Henry and Fane both sat on the loveseat across from the couch.

Fane realized the five ladies were all silently looking directly at him. Jacquelyn’s gaze lingered on the markings on his neck. His wolf liked that she noticed, even though she had no idea they might have something to do with her. Once again, he found himself wanting to strut around in front of her like a proud peacock. Good grief. He growled inwardly.

He cleared his throat and started speaking. “Good morning, doamnelor. My name is Fane Lupei. I am from Romania, I am seventeen, and I will be a senior this year.” Fane looked at each of the women, pausing briefly on Jacquelyn. “Should I say more?” he asked.

Lilly looked at him quizzically and asked, “What does dome-na-ler mean exactly?”

Fane tried not to grin too much at her poor pronunciation. Romanian, after all, was a very difficult language to learn.

“It means ladies. I was saying ‘Good morning, ladies.’ I have a bad habit of mixing my native language with English. I beg your pardon,” Fane said to Lilly.

“I don’t mind. It’s actually pretty neat to hear you speak Romanian. It’s not a language one hears very often, if ever,” Lilly assured him.

“And by pretty neat she means it was hot.” The blonde girl sitting next to Jacquelyn spoke up. Fane nearly laughed when his redheaded mate stomped on her friend’s toe.

There was an awkward pause for a moment, and then the blonde-haired friend spoke up again. “So, why Coldspring, Texas?”

Fane c****d his head to the side. He could feel his wolf just beneath his skin itching to get out because of the nearness of their mate. “Scuzaţi-mă?” he asked. “I do not understand the question.”

“Why did you choose to come to our little blink-of-an-eye town?” she reiterated, speaking slowly as if Fane was a child.

Jacquelyn elbowed her. Fane bit back the laugh that nearly erupted out of him at his mate’s audacity.

“Oh, I see. Well, honestly, I’m not sure. When I applied for the exchange program, they sent me several candidates for my host family. I read about them, and something about the Henrys felt right. Perhaps that doesn’t make much sense, but that is only how I know to say it,” Fane answered.

“Your English is very good,” Jacquelyn’s other friend, the brunette, stated.

“My parents have always spoken both Romanian and English to me. They thought it foolish to think I would only need to know the Romanian language and culture,” Fane explained to her.

“So, you have studied American culture as well?” Mrs. Henry asked.

“Yes, American culture is quite different from mine. What I have been taught by teachers has not always stood true in real life.”

“Okay,” Lilly said, “enough of the Spanish inquisition. Girls, let’s briefly introduce ourselves, and then we will be on our way so Fane can get settled.”

Fane wanted to tell her that the only place he wanted to get settled was next to her daughter’s side, but he imagined that might come across as a little strange and a lot stalker-ish.

Making no move to stand up, Lilly simply introduced herself from where she sat. “Fane, my name is Lilly Pierce, and I’m Jacque’s mom. I own a bookstore on the square downtown to which you are most welcome any time to study or chat. Please call me Lilly. It makes me feel less old. I am so glad to know you.”

“Doamna mea, este o onoare,” Fane said, bowing ever so slightly. “In your language, I said, ‘My lady, it is an honor.’”

“So hot,” the blonde muttered as she stood up and held out her hand. “I’m Jennifer Adams, AKA Jen. I am also seventeen and a senior. By all means, please speak in your native tongue all you’d like. We don’t care if we can understand you or not,” she said as he took her hand. There were groans from the other girls, but Jen ignored them.

By the wide eyes that met his, Fane knew he surprised her when he did not shake it. He simply brought the back of her hand to his lips, just barely laying them against it.

Fane looked up at Jen after lightly kissing her hand and said, “Este o placere sa te intalnesc.”

Jen looked slightly dazed and confused.

“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Fane translated.

The brunette stood up, gently pushing the hazy-looking Jen back down to the couch, and also held out her hand. “I’m Sally Morgan, seventeen, senior, and it’s nice to meet you. Let me be the first to apologize for Jen. She lacks any sort of social couth,” the girl said with natural cheeriness. Fane liked her immediately. It was obvious to him she was the levelheaded one of the trio.

Again, Fane took her hand and lifted it to his lips, placing a feather-soft kiss on the top of it, repeating what he had said to Jen, “Este o placere sa te intalnesc.”

Sally sat down next to Jen, and when Jacquelyn made no move to stand up, Jen reached over and pinched the back of her arm.

“Oww,” Jacque yelped.

She shot Jen a reproving glare as she rubbed the offended arm and finally caught on to what the blonde was trying to silently tell her. Standing up to introduce herself, Jacque began to speak but she stumbled over her words. She grimaced and looked to Fane as if she were in pain. “Oh, um, I, um, I’m Jacque, seventeen, and a senior as well. Lilly is my mom.” Jacque made no move to give Fane her hand.

But he took it regardless. Fane loved the way her breath caught as his skin touched hers. He bowed over it as he brought it to his lips, and this time they lingered. Her flesh was warm against his and as soft as silk. As he held her hand to his mouth, he took in her scent and found, to his delight, she smelled of cotton candy and fresh snow, an odd but strangely comforting combination. He tried not to growl possessively, but he didn’t quite suppress the urge completely and knew Jacquelyn had heard him because she tensed even more.

He lifted his eyes to look at her, and just as he had to Sally and Jen, he said, “Este o placere sa te intalnesc.”

But unlike with the other two, Fane sent her a message with his thoughts as he spoke to her with his mouth.

“I am so honored to finally meet you my Luna. We have much to learn about each other.”