Chapter 72
“As much as I hate to admit it, I was harsh. They responded well to my apology and to our gift. I’m glad I told them it was your idea, but I can’t let you pay the cost of construction. As I’ve told you before, I have more than IBM.”
“Okay, since you’re bragging, you can pay.” In a rapid change of focus, Donal asked, “When is the mating? I’m afraid I’m hungry again.”
“We mate at midnight. That is what’s traditional. It’s six now. You need to eat at least two more snacks before midnight. I’ll call Katya.”
“No, you’ll call Angelique, who will ask Katya. Angelique is the Alpha Bitch of this pack. Colin explained pack politics to me. Here, among the she-wolves, Angelique holds the authority. To circumvent her is disrespectful because of the circumstances. If we were just hanging out here for the summer, then it would be proper to go to Katya. However, because of the ceremony of the occasion…”
“I should go to Angelique first. There are certain niceties of behavior observed here that in Russia are widely ignored. She’s downstairs. I’ll go and politely ask Angelique for another three meals, one now and the others spaced an hour and a half apart.”
Donal gave Alexei a lingering kiss. “Thank you for listening to me and making amends.” Donal ducked his head.
“Don’t be embarrassed. You were right. I was a boor and behaved badly. Things will be better now with you to curb my more imperialistic tendencies. I’ll go see about your meal.” Alexei left the room.
Maybe I do have a purpose…
* * * *
Colorado, kitchen
Afternoon
Alexei had to leave the room. When his mouse leaned in to warm his hands over the fire, Alexei almost went insane. The shape of Donal’s delectable ass called to him. His erection tented his suit pants. He was glad he listened when they told him to leave extra room in the crotch.
Alexei descended the stairs and walked into the kitchen. All work stopped. It seemed the she-wolves were using both the well-equipped kitchen in the house, the industrial kitchen in the lodge, in addition to their own kitchens to prepare the mating feast. It was organized chaos. He spotted Angelique giving directions to Bethanne, one of the human Mates.
“Angelique,” Alexei called.
Angelique frowned. “Is there something wrong, Alpha?”
“Not at all, Donal needs another three meals before the mating. I’d be grateful if you could arrange for something he can eat now, he’s ravenous. He was very ill when I met him and malnourished. It was only just over a week ago. His body is burning more calories than he can afford to lose.”
“That poor baby. He was that badly neglected? He’s so nice. How could anyone be mean to him? I’ll get the Alpha Mate something right away. He may need more than three meals. Let me check and see if Katya has something prepared. I’m sure she anticipated this.”
This is going much better than I expected. Donal’s sweet nature has won them over to my side. I may not have trouble here after all.
Aloud he said, “Thank you, Angelique. If you could send something upstairs as soon as possible, I’m sure Donal would appreciate it.”
“Don’t worry, Alpha, we’ll have a meal upstairs within the next twenty minutes. Katya…”
Alexei headed back upstairs. He walked into the master bedroom as Donal was putting on a heavier sweater. A bit of creamy white skin showed between his belt and T-shirt. Alexei salivated. It was at that moment he realized that he’d better seek out the other Alphas or he was going to ravish his mouse before the mating.
Alexei walked out of the master suite, turned, and stuck his head back in the door. “Katya is bringing you food, and Angelique is going to keep the food coming until eleven thirty. Why don’t you invite the Mates to sit with you? I can’t be in the same room with you right now without taking you. I love you, mouse.”
“I love you too. I’ll call Kane.”
Alexei regretfully turned around, thumped his cock, and went downstairs seeking one of the four mated Alphas, figuring that they would understand what he was going through.
* * * *
Colorado, master suite
Good God, this was hard. Hard was most of his problem. He had been hard most of today. Just the smell of Alexei at the door sent him into spontaneous erection. Donal didn’t want to take matters into his own hands so to speak because he felt that doing so would betray Alexei.