Julio's Wolf

Chapter 1

Chapter 1Alexei and Donal’s townhouse

Late tea, family dining room

Friday, first week of April

Julio sat across from Alexei and Donal. They had high tea late, at five, and Donal ate an astounding number of sandwiches and cream cakes. “You’re going to turn into a cream cake,” Julio told him.

Donal giggled and picked up another one. “I can’t wait for tomorrow. I want you to meet Etienne, Alexei’s single friend.”

“Don’t go and try to fix me up. I have places to go, things I want to do. I’m about to attend school and with Alexei’s help, I’m going to open my salon. By the way, Alexei, I’ll pay you back, every dime, because I intend to be a success.”

“I believe you.” The doorbell rang. Alexei frowned. “I wasn’t expecting anyone else today.”

Boris came down to the family dining room. “Mr. Daurensbourg is here to see you.”

“I didn’t expect Etienne until tomorrow. Send him down, Boris.”

Etienne stepped out of the elevator into the family dining room.

“What can I do for you?” Alexei turned toward the kitchen. “Katya, set another place for tea.”

Donal gave Julio a mysterious smile. “Etienne Daurensbourg, this is my friend, Julio Reyes.”

Etienne put out his hand and shook Julio’s. His eyes widened.

A spark ran from Julio’s hand to that of Alexei’s friend, and he saw a golden thread, thin as fishing line running from his heart to Etienne’s chest. He rubbed his eyes. The spark wasn’t static electricity; there was no rug and the thread, well, he was seeing things. He probably didn’t get enough sleep last night. When he went out for groceries yesterday, something gave him the creeps. It had felt like someone was dogging his steps, but when he’d looked around, no one was there.

Everyone’s face glowed, bathed in smiles, like he just ran a one-minute mile or high jumped over the Empire State Building; and Etienne—he held on to his hand a little too long for a casual handshake. Alexei’s smile took over his whole face. What in the devil’s name is going on here? Donal was doing coy, Donal didn’t do coy. And Etienne’s face shone like someone had plugged his legs into a wall socket.

* * * *

I have a Mate, a Mate. Thank the gods. I thought they’d passed me by. He has beautiful jade green eyes, like a stormy sea, thick honey-blond hair, clear olive-toned skin——olive-toned skin? He isn’t a Celt. No, they’re all Celts. Wait, I’ll ask, “So Julio, do you happen to be a Celt?” His Mate gaped at him, eyes narrowed. Smooth Etienne, smooth, you’re an i***t.

“If you mean am I Irish, yes, three-quarters. My father was half Irish and half Puerto Rican, that’s where I get my name Julio Manuel Reyes, Jr. It was his name, and my skin tone is from him; but the hair and eyes are my Irish mother’s. Why do you ask?”

Etienne glanced over at Alexei, who smiled smugly as he watched Etienne squirm. “I couldn’t put the name and skin with the hair and eyes. I’m of French extraction, no unusual combination, plain black hair and blue eyes.”

Julio emitted a small sniff. His sniff was such as if to indicate he was stuck crushing a strange bug.

That went over like a lead basketball.

Julio shrugged. “Sometimes I dye my hair pink or blue, depending on my mood. I thought I’d go conservative for tomorrow’s reception because Alexei’s business associates will be there.”

“Do you like doing hair?” Etienne wanted to keep the conversation going.

“Alexei is sending me to a stylist academy and setting me up in a high-end salon.”

“Will your clientele be women or men?” he choked out.

“Both,” Julio answered. “I intend to cater to both men and women like Zachary’s on Fifth Avenue and its sister salon, Allison’s, around the corner. However, I want to find a bigger space and put it all under one roof. That way I can keep an eye on all of my employees. I’ll separate the salon services by s*x, but the whole operation will be in one building.”

Etienne emitted a low growl. Donal giggled. Alexei smiled, and his Mate regarded him with narrowed eyes for the second time in the few minutes since they met.

Oh s**t, I’ll have to leave my jealousy at home. This Mate doesn’t seem like the type to take kindly to being told what he can do or who he can see. By the gods, he’s a High Beta. This is going to be a hard sell.

“What kind of services do you intend to offer?” Here’s where I could get growly. Get growly! I’m already growly, and he doesn’t like it.

“For the men, haircuts, shaves, massage, depilatory services, manicures, pedicures, scrubs, facials, a sauna, a steam room, mud baths, seaweed wraps, and hydrotherapy. For the ladies, all of the above plus makeup. I’d also like to have an on-site dermatologist to do Botox and Juvederm for both the men and women. Maybe I’ll have a full coffee and tea service that would be free. For smoothies and juice, we’d charge.” He paused, his beautiful eyes growing dreamy “…and someday a swanky café added to the salon for those who lunch.” Julio made air quotes.

Julio had his legs crossed at the knee and swung one leg as if he was nervous.

Maybe I am having an effect on him.

Julio continued, with emphasis, “I still have two years of beauty school and some business management courses to take at City College. I studied and earned a GED by myself with Donal quizzing me on the questions.”

“How did you meet Donal?”

Julio turned to Donal, who silently mouthed, “Tell him the truth.”

“We worked the same corner as prostitutes and became friends. Donal was in the stable. I was a freelancer,” Julio announced with pride.

“Julio helped to keep me alive,” Donal added. “He used to feed me and give me money if I didn’t make enough. If it weren’t for him, I would have given up long before I did.”

Julio gave Donal a sidelong glance. It seemed his Julio wasn’t comfortable with praise.

From the manner in which Julio referred to his independence, he was proud to have never been in a stable, but now Etienne wanted to choke the whole gay population of the city.

“I was scrawny and an addict. I couldn’t have made the money Julio did the last few years,” Donal added. “I was addicted to heroin, always coughing, not very attractive to a john.”

“You weren’t scrawny, you were always beautiful, just so badly treated that it didn’t shine through.” Alexei immediately jumped to his Mate’s defense.

Etienne agreed with Donal. Even though Donal had his charms, there was no way a man could see Julio and not want him. Julio was a stunner. Rich, thick, honey-blond hair and big jade green eyes, Etienne knew he was sappy. For the first time in over one-hundred and thirty-nine years, he was glad of the loup garou proscription on s*x. If it weren’t for that law, he would be maiming the entire unmated population of gay wolves in all five boroughs of the city.

“Now, Donal, don’t put yourself down. You’re gaining weight, and you appear healthy now. A few weeks of good food and a warm, safe place to sleep has done wonders. A few more and you’ll be a rock star. Thank you for saving my friend, Alexei,” Julio said quietly.

“Do you still work?” Etienne asked with some trepidation.

“Oh no, I thought it would be a year or so until I could stop working and afford school. Alexei made it possible for me to quit, study, and he paid for a decent apartment in the Village near the academy. He even gave me money for expenses.”

“When do you start your training?” Etienne prayed it wasn’t too soon. This Mate was a Human Beta and needed a courtship.

“Not until late August…”

Etienne glanced over and caught Alexei’s gaze. I’ll pay you back, was Etienne unspoken message.

“Julio holds a special place in this household. He helped Donal survive and warned us twice of possible trouble.” Alexei smiled warmly at Julio who smiled back.

Now I want to choke Alexei. Get it under control!

Julio passed him a plate. “Cream cakes? I can see why Donal loves them, although from the way he eats them, Katya is probably making them six times a day.”

Alexei laughed, and Donal protested while giggling. “I still have to gain more weight. My doctor wants me to put on at least fifteen to twenty more pounds. Alexei is getting us a personal trainer, so we don’t end up fat.”

Donal’s tone turned serious. “Alexei had some serious health problems too from the time he spent imprisoned in Russia. Unfortunately, we share some horrible experiences.”

Julio’s eyes softened. “I didn’t know you were in a Russian prison. Was it because you’re gay? I’ve read what the government is doing to the gay population in Russia.”

“Yes, I led a demonstration against the government and got picked up by the FSB, that’s the Russian secret police, but there were other factors in play. Normally I would have been exiled, but instead, I received a prison sentence. Etienne and Armand, who you’ve already met, were responsible for getting me out of Russia with my household intact after three years of rape, torture, and forced labor.”

Julio’s eyes grew wide. He leaned over and murmured to Etienne, “Thank God you did, for both their sakes. Donal wouldn’t have survived if Alexei hadn’t found him. It was a close call.”

“It was for Alexei, too,” Etienne whispered back. “Obviously, they belong together.”

Julio nodded. “I had my doubts at first. It happened so quickly, but Alexei is taking good care of Donal, and Donal is apparently happy, so it turned into a good thing all around.”

Etienne glanced over to Alexei. “I came because I had some business to discuss with you. I thought to do it today rather than disrupt the party tomorrow.” Etienne gave Julio a furtive glance.

“Come upstairs to my study.” Etienne got up from his chair and followed Alexei.

Alexei leaned over Donal, kissed him and said, “Please excuse us.”

Etienne nodded to Julio.

* * * *

Family dining room

Alexei’s townhouse

“Well, he’s yummy. All of your husband’s friends are fine, but this one is particularly attractive. For that matter, so are all of your friends, and you appear better looking every time I see you.” Julio took a sip of tea.

“I think Etienne likes you.” Donal poured himself more tea.

Julio shook his head. “I’m not gettable at the moment, too much to do.”

“He’s a good person. Etienne didn’t stop bribing and lobbying the Russians until they released Alexei. Opportunities to date men like him don’t roll around to people like us every day. I thank the gods every night for Alexei.”

“As well you should thank Him. You fell into a golden pile. You have a harder row to hoe to get to your dream of being a musician than I do to own a salon. You have to get your High School Equivalency, a four-year degree from Juilliard, and special tutors for voice, piano, and guitar. With the help of your husband, both of us are going to succeed. Thanks to him, I have the money I need for two years of training, some business courses, and a stake to start an upscale salon instead of taking a chair in someone else’s beauty parlor.”

“You’ve always been creative, reinventing yourself as you chose.” Donal smiled.

“I always knew I had the talent for hair design and makeup, just like you do for music. We both need training. I was initially going to start small, but with Alexei’s help, I can afford to go big. I want the patronage of all the hotshots in the city.”

“You can’t open your salon for two years, and you won’t go to school until the end of August. It’s not even the beginning of April. No rule says you can’t have fun until then, and as you said, he is yummy.” Donal leaned forward. “He’s a member of Alexei’s family, and they won’t do the deed until they’re mat…married so you wouldn’t have to worry about that.”

“I don’t remember you being this coy. So, since when has f**k turned into doing the deed?” Not appreciating Donal’s pretension, Julio’s tone changed to sarcasm.

“I’m not coy. I’m telling the truth. They don’t f**k until they’re married, and he does like you. I’m trying to clean up my act. I have to be around Alexei’s business associates, and I’ll be going to a school where you can’t use that kind of language.”

Donal’s mouth formed a stubborn line. Julio had seen that expression many a night when he wanted to buy him a burger and a cup of hot chocolate.

Julio shifted in his chair. “I suppose I should wash my mouth out with soap too.” Donal was right on both fronts. He needed to clean up his act and give Mr. Yummy a chance. “Okay, you say he likes me, how do you know?” Julio pushed his chair away from the table.

“From the way he shook your hand.”

There was that strange spark. He peered at Donal. “Come on, he held it a little longer than someone normally would, but other than that, his behavior was impeccable, very attentive.”

Donal raised a brow. “Impeccable?”

“I learned that word for the GED. Anyway, he wasn’t overly friendly or cold and dismissive of me because I was a pro until recently. He is nice, and he is definitely yummy.” Julio paused and stared into his cup. “Okay, if he asks me out, I’ll go, but I’m not getting involved. It would just be for fun.”

Maybe I could see the inside of some of the nicer clubs. There really is no downside. I’ll warn Etienne up front that I only want to have fun. That’s only fair, but if he accepts my conditions, we could have a good time through the spring and summer.

It felt as if a weight had been lifted off Julio’s chest. They had definitely struck a spark when they shook hands. Maybe that secret place he kept locked in his heart had a key, and it just made a quarter-turn.

* * * *

Upstairs in Alexei’s study

Friday, late afternoon

“He’s my Mate.” Etienne sat down on the chair and put his head in his hands. “I have never been so inept at communication in all of my hundred and thirty-nine years. I’m the Chief of Advertising and Public Relations, I don’t get tongue-tied.”

Alexi clapped Etienne on the back. “I knew it. Once I found out he was Irish, I figured he was for you because he saved Donal and you saved me, but why so glum? He’s your Mate, you found your Mate.” Alexei called Katya for some coffee for Etienne.

“He may not take me.” Sighing, Etienne looked up, stricken with grief at his own stupidity, had a hard time holding back tears. He was a Chicago loup garou. His packs didn’t do tears. “I behaved like an utter ass. I asked intrusive questions and stumbled over my own words. He won’t want me.”

“Why wouldn’t he take you? You’re rich, you’re handsome and built. You’ll convince him you love him, and because you’re Mates, he’ll be drawn to you.”

“Alexei, things are not as simple here as they were in Russia. He has a means of support, you, and because of Donal, you can’t break that promise. Julio is ambitious. I’m afraid Mr. Reyes isn’t searching for a relationship. I was obviously interested and yet got no response.”

Alexei nodded slowly and rubbed his chin. “You have until September to change his mind.”

“I’ve got to get him to change his mind. He may be a human High Beta and stubborn, but he’s still my Mate.” Etienne roughly ran his hand through his hair. “I already know through the nascent Mate link that he has locked up his heart. I suppose that was his mental defense against having strangers use his body.”

“That could be true. From what Donal said, Julio tried to view prostituting himself as a business. Perhaps that was the only way he could do it. He called his johns customers or clients. He saw it as a job. Donal said Julio was severely burned, once. That could be why he doesn’t trust easily and safeguards his heart.”

Katya brought Etienne some coffee and Alexei a small pot of tea.

“Do you know his story?” Etienne colored his coffee with half and half and put in one lump of sugar.

“Donal hasn’t told me, and I don’t think he would if I asked. He’d consider it betraying a friend.” Alexei put a sugar cube in his glass of hot tea.

“You still drink your tea in a glass?”

“Russians have done this for centuries. Who am I to buck tradition? Besides, Donal likes the glasses. He doesn’t like the baroque dishes or furniture, but he loves the ornate tea set, samovar, and the bed curtains. He really loves the bed curtains.” Alexei chuckled.

Etienne sobered. “After the life Donal was forced to lead, of course he values his privacy.”

“What brought you here today? You said it was business related.”

“There was no business outside of a public relations press release on you joining Garou as the Chief of R&D. As the Director of Advertising and PR, I could have taken a few hours off from work and come over anytime during the week to work on the press release. However, I had an overwhelming compulsion to visit you today. It must have come from the gods because I can’t explain how I felt. I had to walk out the door. It seemed as if someone else controlled my feet. I barely took the time to get my jacket and call Théo.”

“Did you bring Gilbert and Adrien?”

“Yes, they’re with Vasily and Grigory in the kitchen,”

“Donal and I planned for you, Julien, and Henri to meet Julio tomorrow. I hoped he was for you but felt I had to give the others a chance. The gods saw it differently.”

Etienne growled. “He’s mine.”

“I’m not disputing that. I applaud that outcome. But in Russia, had I not invited the other two, there would have been challenges.”

“They don’t respect the concept of Mates in Russia?” Etienne lifted one eyebrow.

“Under Fyodor Leonovich Chernof, nothing is sacred.” Alexei sighed.

“We must bring this atrocity in front of the entire council.” Etienne’s neck heated at the outrage.

“Armand already knows. This will be discussed at the next meeting when everyone comes back from the packs. In Russia, they wouldn’t accept Donal and Julio as Mates because of their former profession. They would have beaten them to death and made their loup garou Mates watch.” Alexei picked up his glass of tea then got up and paced.

“Why?” Etienne frowned.

“Chernof would say that they pollute loup garou blood with their loose morals. However, I suspect the pros in Russia have as little choice as most of them do here.” Alexei’s expression turned grim.

“You’re probably right, especially the young ones. But how does he get away with it? Some of the Mates are human.” Etienne pressed his lips together.

“In Russia, the First has the power of life or death over anyone in the packs. The Russian First considers a Mate a loup garou, so proscriptions against killing humans do not apply.” Alexei sat down, slamming his glass down on the table.

“Why haven’t any of the other members of the council done something?”

“I had a few allies who knew he was a disgrace to our people, but most of them benefit from his policy of sending no money to the packs and keeping it for the council.”

Etienne pounded his fist on the table. “What about the others? Are they all cowards?”

“The others couldn’t take him. I could. That’s why he arranged my imprisonment by using my love of my household against me. That was my one vulnerability.”

“It would have been mine, too.” Etienne sighed.

“After three years of that kind of torture, I may never regain my former strength. I’d have to make the change a thousand times, but I was still going to challenge him, until Donal. I won’t put Donal at risk.”

“Though he’s not mine yet, I wouldn’t risk Julio either. Can Armand best him?” Etienne leaned over, his head resting on his hands.

“I don’t know.”