Chapter 2
“Theo, please just sit still,” Benedict said in exasperation.
His brother snorted, but stopped squirming on the hard plastic chair. “I’m bored,” he drawled, folding his arms mutinously over his chest.
Benedict sighed. “It’s only been an hour,” he chided. “You have to be patient. Our flight was delayed, that’s all. Why don’t you read a book or something?”
Theodore gave him an incredulous look over this suggestion, as though questioning his sanity. Benedict held onto his patience as best as he could. “Well, then, watch one of the tellys,” he pointed at the television sets mounted here and there around the lounge. “Surely you can find something to watch on one of them.”
“I suppose,” Theodore said restlessly, jumping to his feet and departing.
Benedict watched him go, shaking his head a bit. His brother often acted like a spoiled child, not a twenty-two year old man. Perhaps his parents had indulged their youngest too much. But whatever the case, he wasn’t looking forward to sheparding his younger brother around San Francisco for the next few weeks while the Gathering was going on. And he really saw no reason for them to be going anyway - he was a confirmed homosexual, and Theodore simply wasn’t adult enough to take on the responsibilities of a mate and children. But their father wanted them to go to represent the family in the clan, and he’d honor that wish no matter how hard it was on him.
Theodore had picked up a magazine and was shredding it. Benedict grimaced. His brother was bad enough normally, but boredom made it even worse. “Theo, stop that,” he called aloud.
His brother tossed the mangled magazine down on the table that he’d originally picked it up from, and sauntered back toward him. His lip lifted in a sneer. “Always the good boy, eh, Benny?” he said sardonically. “Never get the urge to cause any trouble? You’re so boring.”
“Well, I’m sorry to be such a disappointment for you, Theo,” Benedict remarked. “But we only have to rub along together for a fortnight or so. Then we can fly home and you can go back to your usual habits, and I can return to university. And the only times that we’ll have to see each other is at Christmas and other family gatherings. So could you please just try to behave yourself, even if just for a short time? I’d appreciate it.”
A scowl moved over Theodore’s(admittedly well-shaped) mouth. “If it isn’t Mr. Self-Righteous talking. You know, Benny, for a bum-fucker you’re not very much fun at all. More like a total prig, actually. As though butter wouldn’t melt in your mouth. That’s how you managed to turn our parents up sweet, isn’t it? They think that the world revolves around you, not the sun.”
Benedict gritted his teeth together to keep in the reply he actually wanted to make. Theodore’s sullen moodiness and open jealousy of him were going to make this trip very hard to bear. But fortunately for him, the electronic board mounted on one wall flickered and changed just then, declaring in glowing letters that their flight from Heathrow to San Francisco International, with stops in New York and Chicago, was finally boarding.
He leapt to his feet and grabbed his carry-on bag, slinging it over his shoulder. “It’s time to go, Theo,” he told his brother. “Grab your bag.”
His brother carelessly scooped up his rucksack and followed after Benedict as they headed for the boarding gate. He said nothing else as they walked along, for which fact Benedict was grateful. He was already tired of dealing with Theodore’s temper tantrums, and their journey had barely begun yet!
Kane Haley considered the large clearing thoughtfully, measuring it with his eyes. “I’m not sure it’s big enough,” he remarked doubtfully to his assistant. “There are going to be a lot of people here. And you know how bad an idea it is anyway to have a bunch of those with a wolf’s nature crowded together in a too small space. We’ll have people attacking each other if we aren’t careful. And that’s not the idea of this gathering at all - the opposite, in fact. We need to find someplace bigger.”
Angie nodded. “I figured that’s what you’d say,” she replied. “But it’s not going to be easy to find a big open space that’s isolated and secure. This could be our biggest obstacle. Although…maybe I could check with the few in our clan who are local farmers. They might have an open field or two that could do the trick.”
“Excellent idea as always, Angie,” Kane remarked, patting her arm. “I knew there was a reason that I hired you as my assistant.”
“There are many reasons that you hired me,” she said dryly, “My logistical skills being only one of them. Another big one being the fact that you can’t find your way around a computer to save yourself, which is hilarious considering the fact that you made most of your money bankrolling a computer technology business...”
He looked sheepish, an odd expression on such a big man. “Hey, what can I say? Technology and I aren’t friends. I guess I’m just an old-fashioned sort of wolf.”
“A throwback,” she agreed with a grin. “To the time of the Vikings when they still feared our progenitor Fenrir. I could see you aboard some dragon-headed ship, sailing south to rape and pillage at your leisure…”
“Well, the raping part not so much,” Kane said with a chuckle. “Unless I came across some pretty boys. Although that would have been possible - have you SEEN some of those Irish boys? Gorgeous. I could definitely see myself taking advantage of some of them…”
Angie laughed. “As if. You’re too much of a gentleman in your own way to ever take someone against their will, Kane. Not that you’d ever have to, you handsome thing you,” she eyed his broad shoulders and sculpted features, and shook her head. “It was a sad day for females everywhere when you realized that you liked other guys,” she added.
He cocked his head. “Oh, please. Like most of you twisted females don’t spend all of your time fantasizing what it must be like when two guys go at it,” he sneered genially. “And don’t try to tell me otherwise, I’ve seen those internet sites devoted almost solely to gay fiction written by women for women.”
She lifted her shoulders. “You’ve got me there,” she agreed. “We ladies - for the most part - just like men. Two men together…double the fun and hotness. Can you blame us?”
“Me? No,” he said with a wicked smile. “But then, I agree that two men are double the fun and hotness,” he went on with a devilish wink.
She chuckled. “You just wait until you get a mate, Kane. Half the clan’s females are going to be fantasizing about your sex life. You know that, don’t you?”
“I’ll survive. As long as that half doesn’t include my grandmother,” he said with a grimace. “I wouldn’t put it past her,” he added ruefully.
Angie smiled. “I wouldn’t, either,” she agreed merrily.
Benedict stared out the tiny oval window on the plane, glad that his brother had finally stopped bothering the flight attendants and had gone to sleep. They were over the ocean now, and he could see the water glinting down below them. He had a book open on his lap, but he was feeling too tired to concentrate on it. He sighed wearily. He was not looking forward to this gathering of the wolf clans at all. He should be back at university right now, studying hard for his exams. He would graduate this year, and he didn’t want his grades to slip when he was this close to his goal.
And there was…Danny. Danny Collins, a second-year Biology student. He and Danny had been on-again, off-again now since last year. They were off-again at the moment, but he’d hoped to mend the breach and get them back together once he returned to uni after the break. Now he wouldn’t get a chance, at least not for another two weeks.
Instead he’d be babysitting his irritating younger sibling, making sure that Theodore didn’t cause any trouble. If his father hadn’t asked him, he never would have even considered going to this Gathering. He saw no purpose in it for himself, since it wasn’t as though he could have cubs with another male. So it really didn’t matter if he ended up with a normal human male like Danny rather than someone from the clans. This trip was such a waste of time for him - and with Theodore in tow, it was going to be a major headache for him as well.
*****
Kane plopped down in his leather chair with a huff and stretched his feet out in front of him. “So everybody’s set to start arriving by tomorrow,” he said, and Angie nodded.
“Good. Frankly, I just want to get this over with. It’s a good idea in theory, but the execution…” he made a face. “I’m tired already. By the end of this two weeks, I’m just going to want to crawl into a den somewhere and sleep for a year or so.”
“But think of all the good you’ll have done,” Angie pointed out reasonably. “If we keep mating with regular humans, the wolf clans will disappear. But if we keep inbreeding within the clans, people will start to think that we’re from West Virginia.”
He chuckled. “I know that. Everybody has told me what a good idea it is. But since THEY don’t have to coordinate this thing, of course they think that it’s a good idea.”
Angie shrugged. “Nothing good ever came without work,” she noted. “It’s just that you have to be the one to do the work this time. Next time, make another clan host a Gathering. Then all you have to do is show up and make small talk.”
“Sounds goods to me. If we could have clans rotate through hosting these things, that won’t put undue burden on just one of them. I’ll suggest it at the next meeting of Alphas.”
“You do that. And stick to your guns. You deserve other people to take care of you too, Kane, even if you are an Alpha.”
He blew out a long breath. “If I had a mate, I’d have someone to take care of me,” he said, his voice rather melancholy.
She gave him a sympathetic glance. “I have faith that it’ll happen for you soon, Kane,” she said firmly.
“I hope so. I really do. Anyway, on with the endless task of playing matchmaker for over a hundred wolf clans. No rest for the wicked.”
“In that case, it’s a wonder you get any sleep at all,” she teased him gently.
*****
Benedict trailed after his brother out of the main terminal at San Francisco International Airport, feeling unbelievably tired and grimy. Many hours spent trapped on planes with his sibling had left his nerves on edge, and he was so glad to have finally arrived at their destination that he could have wept. He took a deep breath, rolling his shoulders to try to loosen the muscles. “So what now?” Theodore asked, looking around.
“We get a cab and go to our hotel,” Benedict replied. “Where I intend to shower, eat, and then sleep for fifteen hours straight.”
Theodore grimaced in disgust. “You really are no bloody fun, brother,” he complained. “Me, I’m going to go find a pub and have a drink. Or lots of drinks. Then I’m going to check out the night life around here.”
Benedict felt a chill run down his spine as he imagined Theodore let loose in San Francisco on his own. There was no telling what kind of trouble he’d get in, but one thing was certain - the host Alpha would NOT be happy with Theodore if he caused too much chaos and drew attention to this Gathering. “Theo, you can’t do that,” he said aloud.
His brother whirled on him. “Stop trying to tell me what I can and can’t do, Benny,” he snarled, his lip lifting slightly. “You’re not my father. I can do what I bloody well like!”
Benedict closed his eyes briefly, as though praying for patience. Then he let them slide open, and he heard Theodore gasp a little at the bright sheen moving over their surfaces. He stood still, caught in his brother’s gaze. “No, you cannot,” Benedict told him in a low, growling voice. “You WILL behave yourself, Theodore, at least for the time that we’re here. After that, you can go home and run riot for all that I care. But for now, you will do as I say. Is that clear?”
Theodore’s shoulders hunched and his head bowed. There was hate in his eyes as he looked sideways and up at his brother through his lashes, but it was impotent hatred. “Yeah, it’s clear,” he rasped. “You’re in charge, Mussolini.”
“Please just remember that,” Benedict said flatly. “And we’ll get along just fine.”
****
Kane looked around. “This is perfect!” he enthused happily. “Big, open, and outdoors. Far enough away from other people that we shouldn’t disturb anybody, even if fights do break out. Great job, Angie.”
His assistant preened a little. “Glad you like it,” she said. “Garret here,” she waved a hand at the farmer standing nearby, practically doffing his cap to his Alpha, “Will move the cows out of it and into the barn today, then they’ll do a clean-up of the field so that we don’t have people stepping in little presents all night long.”
“Excellent. If only everything else goes as smoothly…” he crossed his fingers, “Then this Gathering should be a success. We can only hope. Anyway, what’s next on the agenda?”
“We’re due at the hotel to greet the incoming clans,” Angie said, consulting her clipboard.
“Then let’s get to it, then. Time to mingle and make nice.”
****
Benedict pursed his lips and silently whistled when he saw the hotel that the clans had been booked into. The Hyatt Regency San Francisco was an amazing building. His ears caught the sounds of water and seagulls from nearby, because the hotel was on the waterfront. He took his bags out of the back of the taxi, while a silent Theodore did the same. His brother had not said one word to him since the airport, which didn’t bother him much. There was a bar in the hotel where Theo could get a drink, and where he could be under the watchful eyes of many other of their people. His brother might be angry with him, but he was going to do his very best to see that Theodore didn’t end up shaming their family and clan and angering the host Alpha while he was here.
They entered the lobby, which was enormous and rose up many stories above their heads. The floor was white-on-black circular mosaics, which made him blink and look away as they made for the reception desks. If he stared at it too long he was going to have an attack of vertigo. He looked instead at the pretty girl behind one of the desks, as she smiled in greeting at them. “Welcome to the Hyatt Regency,” she said. Her name tag read ‘Carla’. “How can I help you?”
“We’re part of a larger party,” Benedict told her as Theodore leered at her openly. “We should have reservations.”
“What’s your name, sir?” she asked him, pointedly ignoring Theodore.
“Benedict and Theodore Cavanaugh,” he told her.
She checked her computer. “Ah, yes. You’re in rooms 212 and 213, second floor. Here’s your keys,” she handed both of them an electronic key card.
“Thank you,” Benedict replied politely.
“What time do you get off, love?” Theodore asked the desk clerk, which made Benedict wince.
“Theo,” he said sharply. His brother gave him a cold look, but subsided.
The desk clerk gave him a grateful glance. “Let’s go to our rooms,” Benedict said, hoisting his luggage in his hands.
“Whatever you say,” Theodore drawled, picking up his own rather tatty rucksack and scowling at his sibling as they made for one of the banks of elevators to go to the second floor.
Benedict noticed that most of the people in the lobby smelled of wolf, and that they were also mostly in their early to mid-twenties. These would be all of the unmated members of the Clans, with their Alphas(and one or two older family members) riding herd on them. The rest of the Clans hadn’t been able to come. Taking two weeks out of your life meant getting two weeks off of jobs and school, and many couldn’t afford that. He glanced around, not seeing any of the other members of their Clan at first. Then he spotted their Alpha, standing and talking with the Alpha of the Italian clan. She saw him at the same time, and raised her hand. Benedict stopped in his tracks, making Theodore curse as he almost ran into his brother from behind.
Monique Saxfield strolled over to them. She was a tall, rather thin woman with an aristocratic face and manner alike, both of which served her well as Alpha of a wolf clan. In a normal wolf pack, she would have been the Alpha female, but would have been mated to an Alpha male. But among their clans, it was a bit different. In their wolf forms, both males and females were about the same size and had about as much strength. So females were not hampered in dominance fights, which is how Monique had managed to become Alpha of the Black Cairn clan about ten years ago.
“Benedict, Theodore, how are you both?” she said as she approached them. “You’re some of the first of our clan to arrive. I take it your father couldn’t come with you? How is your mother?”
“Not well, I’m afraid, Monique,” Benedict replied. “She’s still in hospital. Father’s with her, that’s why he couldn’t come.”
“Oh, dear, I’m sorry to hear that,” she said sympathetically. “I quite like your mother. I hope that she gets well soon.”
“Thank you. We were just going up to our rooms,” Benedict informed her.
“Ah, don’t let me get in the way of you settling in, then. I’ll see you both later,” she walked back to where the Italian Alpha was standing, leaving them alone again.
“Bitch,” he heard Theodore mutter under his breath. His brother hated Monique even more than he hated Benedict, because she was even more dominant over him and she never stood for any of his nonsense.
He sighed. “Let’s go, Theo. I really want a shower,” he remarked, keeping his voice polite but toneless.
“Fuck off,” Theo snarled softly, but one look over his shoulder made his brother stiffen and trail mutinously after him toward the elevators.
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