Chapter 32
“I need to be alone with Alexei. The rope is the mating tether isn’t it? Mine just became very large. It was only a ribbon before you came. If I call him in my mind, will he come?”
“He’ll come,” Colin said. “Try.”
* * * *
The boys didn’t even have time to ring for the elevator. Before Donal had half a chance to form the words in his mind, he heard its whirl.
It stopped and Alexei stepped out, his face full of wonder. “You called me. You used the mate link and called me. Do you want me, Donal?”
Donal ran to Alexei, burying his face in Alexei’s chest. “It was never that I didn’t want you. It was that I thought I’d hurt you. They,” Donal’s hand gesture encompassed all the Mates, “convinced me that I’d do more damage by leaving.”
Sean ushered the others into the elevator presumably to join their Mates. Alexei turned his head toward Sean. “They’re in the family dining room. Katya is making breakfast.”
His arm draped over Donal’s shoulder as if he couldn’t bear to let go. They got into the elevator with the others. When the elevator door closed, he whispered, “My little mouse, yes, if you left, my heart would break.” Alexei engulfed Donal in his strong arms.
Sean pushed the button.
Donal started to sniffle.
“Don’t cry, my mouse. Everything will be fine from now on. Let’s go down and tell the Alphas.”
The elevator doors opened to the formal dining room. “Wrong floor. We’re in the family eating area off the great room, downstairs.” Alexei pushed the button for the next floor down.
“Did all the furniture come from Russia?” Donal peeked out of the elevator door at the overly ornate silk covered chairs and delicately inlaid wooden table.
“Yes, it did,” Alexei answered.
“It’s a bit over the top.” Donal giggled.
“You’re right, it is. I need to make some changes, in more things than my dining suite. Come, the others are hungry. It’s good to hear you laugh. We’re going down one more level.”
“It’s good to be able to laugh.” Donal giggled again. The elevator took them down to the family dining room off the great room on the first floor.
* * * *
Alexei’s townhouse
Wednesday morning, breakfast
Grigory, Vasily, Martin and Rene stood near the sideboard ready to serve their Alphas.
Armand looked up from his coffee. “It’s about time. The boys must be losing their touch.”
“I beg your pardon, Alpha,” Donal said as he bowed his head. “I am very stubborn. If he were alive, you could ask Apuso. I don’t go blindly to my fate. I didn’t want to harm Alexei. They convinced me that I would do more harm by refusing him than by going to him. It wasn’t easy. I’m still a former addict and prostitute and I’m not sure how this will affect my Mate. But the gods decided and I acquiesced.”
Sean’s eyes turned glassy and he spoke with The Voice, “You will be a beacon to the homeless and abused of the loup garou, both human and wolfen. You will work among them to help them recover their faith, hope, and dignity with Alexei at your side. Because of your pain, you will be able to identify with theirs. So say the four of us. Donal, because you tried to put our Alpha first, we will remove all physical evidence of your abuse. As of this moment, you may walk normally again. But you must remember how it felt, so you can help the others who will come to you.” Sean slumped in his seat, and Ian went upstairs to get him an afghan.
Without even thinking about what he heard, Donal ran to the kitchen to get more hot tea for Sean. Within minutes, he was back with Katya in tow carrying a tray with a teapot, cups, and linzer torte cookies. Katya set the tray on the table. Donal poured Sean some tea then put the cup near his lips so he could drink.
Sean began to drink his tea, and Ian wrapped the afghan around his shoulders
Armand came over. “Are you okay, baby?”
Sean nodded. “Yes, I’m okay. I was a little chilled but now I’m fine. I’m hungry.”
Donal handed Sean a cookie. “What did they have to say this time?” Sean asked as he took a huge bite of the cookie and got confectionary sugar and a bit of jam on his upper lip.