Day 2, cont’d:
After a long and luxurious shower in a huge bathroom made for two, Byron and Gev returned downstairs, wearing shorts and t-shirts. Only Nico remained of the managers, and he waited in a study where Gev brought Byron.
“Alpha,” said Nico, “We think Vic should remain in place as the manager of China. He knows his place now.”
Gev rubbed his chin. “And it would be a constant reminder of his place.” Gev looked steadily at Nico. “You’re right, and Luciano would have told me the same thing.”
“I called him,” Nico said with a smile. “He suggested it.”
Gev laughed. “All right, then. Nothing will change. Except Vic is to report to Tiernon until Luciano gets back. I want nothing to do with him directly right now.”
“Of course, Alpha.”
Gev walked over to Byron, who was looking among the books – all in Italian. He slipped his arm around Byron’s waist. “In the meantime, we are going to the den.”
“And I just got dressed,” Byron said.
Gev got undressed as soon as Nico left, and Byron did the same. They both changed to their wolf form. Byron was learning how to do it more faster, now that he had gotten it down pretty much. They both padded out of the study, past the butler, who called, “Good hunting, sirs!” after them.
The den was located inside a hill, a hard place to get to for wolves and men. One had to be a wolf in order to get in, as Byron watched Gev’s broad shoulders barely clear the entrance. When he went in, it was claustrophobic for a few minutes as he crawled inside, the walls of the hill pressing down on him.
Then, at the end of the tunnel, the den opened up into a large cavern, complete with ponds of clean spring water. Wolves, men and women in various states of undress were lounged around a couple of groups of fires, some asleep, some talking quietly. It was calm, serene.
“Vicenzo!” called a wolfman, coming up to him. Gev changed to his half-wolf form and shook large paws with him. He spoke in Italian, and Byron caught his name. Byron forced himself to change back to human, and he stood before the man, naked. The man appraised him, found him good enough, and pulled him into a bear hug. Then the man announced Byron to the assembly.
What followed next was the normal greeting of a large Italian family to a newcomer. Kisses and hugs were given to Byron all around, so much so that he felt dizzy. Some spoke English to him, how happy they were to meet him, how they were happy for their Alpha to finally find a mate “to tame him” was used more than once. They shared a meal of a deer freshly killed, and told stories, sang songs in Italian. They stayed the night among the wolves, curled up next to each other in wolf form.
Day 3: A ry fy hycv.
(I go to work)
At sunrise, Byron and Gev went out for a run together in wolf form. They cleared more ground, but they also had to be careful of traps and hunters in the area. Some didn’t know that the wolves that hounded the area were beneficial, and some had laid bear traps in the woods to catch unwary wolves. Gev uncovered a few and snapped them by taking a twig between his teeth and pressing the center of the trap so it sprung.
Back home, they showered and Gev laid out a business casual suit for Byron. “I need to go into the city,” said Gev by way of explanation. “I want you to come with me.”
Byron got dressed, and Gev nodded his approval. The two men went back down the hill, to the waiting limo. Gev held Byron’s hand the whole way. “I’ll be in meetings most of the day. Nico will show you around, if that is all right?”
“Is it all right with him?” Byron asked. “I can keep myself busy doing something.”
Gev smiled, “I want you to see what I do.”
“I already heard half of it at breakfast yesterday.”
“And it bored you to tears, all the corporate talk?”
“I plead the 5th.”
Gev laughed, kissed his lover’s hand. “I don’t want you to be bored.” He sighed, and looked ahead. “I have to delegate matters to people, and I have to do it face-to-face as best I can.” He looked directly at Byron. “It’s so I can spend more time with you.”
“You don’t have to give up what you do –”
“I have given my life for this pack for 185 years. It’s time to take some time for myself.”
Byron smiled, kissed Gev on the lips. “I love you, you know.”
“Yes, I know,” Gev laughed. “And I love you.”
Rome was chaotic, probably like New York, but more ancient. The limo driver was deft, however, weaving in and out of traffic expertly to bring his charges to the door of a large glass building. Then, he sped off, leaving Byron to look up at the glass-enclosed skyscraper. “Please don’t tell me you own this building.”
Gev laughed. “No, just the 16th and 17th floors.”
Gev went to the front desk, and the woman behind it looked up. She said something in Italian, then in English, “May I help you?”
“You’re new, I see,” Gev said, pulling out his wallet and showing her an ID badge. She nodded, then turned to Byron. “He is my guest,” Gev continued. “I will need a visitor’s pass.”
“Of course, Mr. Romano. If you would sign the guest book, sir?”
Byron looked for a guestbook, but the receptionist patted a small screen embedded in the counter of the lobby. Byron picked up the stylus attached and signed his name on the screen. “Thank you, sir – ” And a card-stock visitor pass printed out with his name on it. She slipped it into a laminated pocket, attached it to a red lanyard and handed it to him.
“Will the wonders of technology never cease,” Byron said, as he slipped the pass around his neck.
“Please return it when you’re done. We recycle.” She smiled sweetly.
“You got it,” Byron said.