“Fine. Usually, starting with the more important members of the pack an going through to the lesser members people approach the two of you, after he’s come inside you and smell and or taste the two of you together. They acknowledge that you’ve mated and you’re a pair. You’re scents as one so to speak. That will go on for the rest of the evening. You have sex then people get to ‘acknowledge’ the alpha pair. Repeatedly. If the two of you separate for any reason that doesn’t stop that part of the ceremony. You become pack property. Actually, any member of the pack at any time can attempt to show you respect in that way. Even after the ceremony. It doesn’t usually happen because most of the pack knows what most everyone else smells like. But you are one great big curiosity and I wouldn’t be surprised if that particular aspect of pack life were exploited.”
Aislinn sat silently. She knew about all the open sex. She’d seen it. Every day she was here she’d seen something. “So when Rissa told me a while back that if Cullen had ever come inside any of the others then she’d rub it in people’s faces, Rissa really meant…”
Saran nodded. The room was quiet for a long time before Aislinn spoke again. “So what am I supposed to do? How should I behave?”
“Cullen’s the only one allowed to do anything non-oral to you. But if all they want to do involves noses or mouths then you let them. I would suggest that you attempt to enjoy it, but I’m guessing that might be tough for you.”
“I’ll see if I can wrap my brain around it before it happens. I need to figure out how to be the alpha’s mate right?” Aislinn sat ther thinking about how much she loved him. She took a deep breath. “He’s worth it. I’ll survive.”
Sarah smiled at her. “Give it a few years and you won’t know why it ever bothered you.”
***
Cadifor’s Harley pulled in next to Cullen’s SUV. Makeda got off the back of the bike and handed her helmet to Cadifor as she ran her hands through her hair. Cullen waited for them to get their stuff from the bike and led the way to the elevator.
Cullen had spent the trip feeling his sense of Aislinn growing stronger in his mind mile by mile. As night fell he could tell she had gone to sleep and he wished that he was in bed with her. He was tempted to try and call out to her and wake her up the minute he knew he was close enough to speak with her. But he managed to restrain himself and let her sleep.
He was only a day late getting back. But he hadn’t managed to call and talk to her. Things had gotten too complex. Nora’s list that she’d given Malik of druids to invite had been problematic. She didn’t want to explain what any of them were capable of. He was going to have to just ask the pack to deal with it. The only good point being that Aislinn should be a walk in the park for the Arnauk after having to deal with the entire muin Senach Circle. Either that or they were going to have problems with the fact that Cullen was mating himself to the druids. He growled even thinking about it.
“Hey,” Cadifor said. “I thought you’d be happy getting back here.”
“We’ll see if Aislinn’s willing to speak to me. Then I’ll determine whether I’m happy to be back or not.” Cullen inserted his key in the elevator panel and hit the button for the beta’s floor. He wasn’t going to put Cadifor and Makeda on the main floor.
“Ooo,” Makeda cooed. Her African accent coming through even in just that simple sound. “Look an elevator,” she teased Cadifor. It was all stairs at his place.
“Get over it. I’m just not interested in that particular piece of technology. Stairs are better for you and more reliable.” He pulled her against him and the two of them kissed roughly.
Cullen rubbed his face. It had been a long couple days. He was the only one in the pack to have ever actually met Cadifor. He figured that Keith and Sarah were in for a shock. The man was an imposing, dominating figure. When that was the impression he chose to give. But put him in a friendly situation and he wasn’t any different from Cullen. “I’ll have someone bring you keys to the elevator. You can’t get off on pack floors without one. It keeps the guests from getting up here.” Cullen led the way to the guest rooms on the floor. He kicked loudly at Keith’s door as he passed it.
“What about the stairs?” Cadifor asked and Makeda made an annoyed click with her tongue.
Cullen pointed. “That way. But you need keys for those doors too.”
“Don’t you find it a pain to live so close to the human population?” Cadifor said with disgust.
“When we’re sick of it there’s the reservation. But mostly it’s more convenient. Honestly it’s easier to hide in plain sight. We did the little town in the middle of nowhere thing for a while. But scaring off the random tourist was too much of a pain. You never know what they get pictures of. There isn’t a human in this town who looks twice at this place. I like it that way.” Cadifor could see some of his point.
Cullen opened a door and ushered the two of them inside. Keith appeared groggily at his side. “What the hell? You get to deal with Jay. She pissed and pregnant. Not a good combo. I have half a mind to send you back to my bed and I’ll go bunk with Ais for tonight.”
“Think again,” Cullen said in a far more serious tone than he intended.
Keith threw his hands in the air to say that he was just kidding and then his eyes fell on Cadifor and Makeda. Especially Makeda. He bowed his head to both of them but his eyes never left her. She smiled back at him considering.
Cullen had to laugh. The man was impossible. “Keith is my second.” He said to Cadifor and Makeda. “I tend to trust him. Though at times I’m not sure why. You can tell him anything you’d tell me. He probably knows more than I do at any random point in time.” Cadifor nodded and then turned to check out the rest of the room. Cullen looked at Keith who was still making eyes at Makeda. “Keith, this is Makeda. And the man she’s with is Cadifor.”
Keith’s eye just about fell out of his head. He looked at Cullen and Makeda laughed. “I never do grow tired of the looks on men’s faces when they hear your name,” she said as she turned to go after her lover. “I may keep you around for that entertainment factor alone.” She kissed him on the cheek.
Cadifor patted her on the ass and headed for the bathroom. Cullen pulled Keith along with him as he left the room. “Get a grip. Make sure they get keys in the morning. They’re gonna be around until after the ceremony.”
Keith stared at Cullen. “When you said that some important people would be around for the mating you didn’t say Pack Council.”
“He’s the only one. Don’t be so dramatic.” Cullen stopped at Keith’s room and stepped inside. “Jay?”
“What in the name of the Gods do you want Cullen? Can’t you ever leave him be for just one night?”
“I’m sorry Jay. How you feeling,” he asked.
“Pregnant,” she complained.
Cullen smiled. “I’m done with him. Don’t be too mean to him.”
“Fine. But make him bring me some strawberry ice cream before he comes back in here,” she said and pulled the blankets around her shoulders.