Chapter 4: Chapter 3~ Can we have a slumber party?

Renata moved into the dining room with two bottles of wine…and pointed at the wine glasses on the sideboard…and pointed at Brian. He grinned and asked..”Are we playing charades?” At her look, he held his hands up in front of himself…and said “joking!!” Everyone laughed.

Once everyone was seated..she stated “There’s a whole lot of whatever you might want..alfredo, tetrazzini… and fricassee…all chicken.. Wellington braised and stroganoff..all beef..spare ribs and brisket..pork. There’s garlic roasted potatoes and candied carrots…as well as cheesy cauliflower… help yourselves! And please introduce the ones I haven’t met?”

Abraham says “I apologize. I didn’t give you my name earlier…I am Abraham…my rank is on par with Aaron’s but I am called the lieutenant…mostly because I handle all legalities our pack deals with!”

Brian grins ear to ear and says “I’m Brian…and I’m gamma! That means I’m going to be your best friend!” And he watches surprise…then joy..skitter across her face and she whispers “You’re gamma and my best friend? Why?”

“Because you are my Luna…and gamma’s job is to protect Luna. So he will be spending a lot of time with you!” Orion tells her. Her full lips make an “O” and she asks..”Can’t you all be my friend? I really like Aaron and Abraham seems so nice. And I have never had 3 whole friends before!” Orion chuckles and says absolutely!

Renata watched as most of food was eaten. Her heart felt so happy! They liked it…right? They must have. There’s hardly anything left. Should she make some more? She better make some more..She stood to head to the kitchen and Aaron says “Sit down. Little fairy, we have had more than enough dinner. Get outta your head” and everyone laughs..and Aaron tells them..”she does that a lot! It’s fun!” And everyone laughed.

“After we’re done here..and Aaron and Brian have cleaned up…we would like to sit and talk with you, if we may. I would like you to know all about us…is that all right?” Orion asks… She nods and looks down. Then she speaks in a small voice “I told Aaron some about me..and if you are going to share with me…then I will tell you about me..you aren’t going to beat me, are you?” Orion reached for her hand and told her “A true mate is incapable of harming each other. And Heracles would find a way to bite me, if I tried!” She giggled and said okay then!

Orion sat beside her on the sofa and began telling her about himself…” I was born to an Alpha..a man who fathered 9 sons by 4 different women…I was his only son by him, with my mother. My mother was what is known as a demon wolf. So, I am a hybrid. My wolf is the strongest wolf on the planet. He is larger..stronger..faster..and meaner than any other. When I shifted at 6 years old…my scent was different and my father recognized me for what I am. He and my brothers nearly beat me to death and threw my body off packlands. Two teenage boys from a neighboring pack found me..and convinced their father to help me. And he took me to their hospital where I recovered…my dad…Charles..adopted me. I was blessed with a family who loves me! Do you have any questions so far?”

“Why did he not like you after you shifted! Are you ugly? I have heard about demon wolves and they are supposed to be mean..but I don’t like rumors. And I never think bad of anybody…until I know them. And what was wrong with your scent? I’m so confused. You smell like pinenuts and fresh snow to me..they all smell like a piney campfire in winter! Aghh…are you all demon wolves then? Sooo cool! Can I see? Can I see your wolves? Oh please?” She begged.

We aren’t exactly demon wolves.. we are something…..more” Orion said. “And because of what we are..we have been told we would never have mates. That we would have to fall in love like humans…and never feel the soul connection wolves have.” She huffs “That isn’t fair! It isn’t true! You have me!! And I will help everyone else find their mates! I know.. I can have a big party.. can I invite anyone or only wolves…No..no.. that can’t be right.. I can invite anyone..because you have me and I’m not a wolf…right? Maybe you aren’t supposed to be mated to wolves.. but other beings..like me! Why would someone tell you that!!? That’s mean! I can have it in the banquet rooms at the restaurant..I will call Barney! I will be right back..wait here!” And she stood up to get a phone…Aaron says “sit down little fairy..we still have more to tell you “ He looks at the guys and smiles great big.. saying “See? That’s fun…right? I think her brain overloads and it all pours out her mouth at once” and they all laugh!

“Renata…we are hellhounds. I am a direct descendant of the only hellhound who escaped from hell. We are not born a hellhound…and we aren’t sure how it happens…almost as if.. the Goddess or the Fates decide which wolves will be stronger and somehow our DNA changes us into what we are” Orion tells her! She sucks her breath in and asks “like Cerebus? OhMY Goddess! Does Heracles have three heads? Can I see him now?

🐺 You may wanna nip that in the bud before she takes off running with her thoughts! They all laugh and Orion tells her no..he only has one head! She claps her hands and says I can’t wait! Then she jumps up and runs out of the room..and they all look at each other. What the fuck just happened? Aaron shrugs “she’s in her head again. She’ll be back” and everyone laughs. “Does she do that often?” Brian asks and Aaron says “a bit…yeah..took me awhile to get used to it. And in the three hours I spent with her before dinner I think her brain ran away 4 times” and they all cracked up..

“You have to see this! I have had this book since my mother died! I knew I had read about hellhounds! I know how you were created.. there is hellhound DNA in every wolf! And each wolf that is born are watched over by the fates…the three sisters of the Moirai… if a wolf pup shows great strength in infancy..the fates activate their dormant hellhound DNA. They are the protectors of wolf kind. And because they are fated wolves..and practically immortal….ordinary wolf shifters fear them! How could they not know this ?? Why would they not teach this as regular curriculum? You are supposed to protect them from great evil and they treat you like shit? That has to stop! I have to look into getting high school curriculum changed. Who do I call? I’m going to google it!” Brian says “ Luna…want to see my wolf?” And she jumps up and down clapping her hands. The guys all look at him and Heracles says 🐺 I think he offered to shut her up! And he’s rolling around in Orion’s head laughing hysterically!

Orion takes her hand and they all go out back. “I want to see everyone! I want to know names! Please? Brian..what is your wolf’s name?” Orion looks at her smiling “You know mine is Heracles….Abraham’s is Artemis…Aaron’s is Achilles and Brian’s is Basil…now you know..so we will shift” And they all stripped and shifted before she even saw… She gasped…clapped her hands and said “Here boy..come here boy” and all the guys started laughing. 🐺 Be a good boy Heracles…she’s calling you 🐺 She knows I’m not a dog..right? 🐺 I think she just sees you as hers buddy!

Renata ran her hands over each of them.. telling them they are good boys! And cooing at them…and all four men were laughing hysterically at the grumbling of their hounds! She sat down on the ground and Heracles put his gigantic head in her tiny lap. She rubbed his ears…and his forehead…then she said “Is this paw print a birthmark? It’s so pretty.. It glows..mine only glows on full moons “ And she pulled her top over to the side to reveal the same mark he has…on her left side..just above her breast. Orion shifted back immediately. Staring at the mark…and she started giggling…she says “As pretty as you are..could you cover up?”

Orion looks over at Abraham and said “Find out what this means! I know it means she was always meant to be mine…but we need to know the symbolism!”

“Were you born with it?” Orion asks… She nods…then she says “But it only started glowing two years ago. Luke said it is a curse. That’s why he would beat me. Told me he had to beat the curse out of me. And I told him well, he was stark raving mad and I would rather be cursed than crazy” Aaron says “Yeah..it was crazy to taunt your captor..so I think that ship has sailed…just sayin’ Everyone laughed. That’s a fair point!

Okay men…we have kept my lady up long enough! May we see you for breakfast?” Orion asked. “Please…don’t go! I have six bedrooms. You can all have a room. I can fix us all breakfast! I grind my own coffee…you will all like it. Please?! I have new friends..please say you’ll stay?” Orion links 🐺 Votes? 🐺 🐺 🐺 absolutely! Fresh coffee? Homemade breakfast? 🐺 Okay then! Aaron you and Brian run to the hotel and grab our bags!

“We will stay, my sweet mate. The boys are running to the hotel and get our bags” Orion told her….Anddddd she’s off “Yayyyyyy!!!! I have to put clean sheets on the beds and get fresh linens for the bathrooms..and soap..and toothpaste and shampoo. I will be right back. I will get plates and we can all sit and have dessert and coffee before bed! It’s like a slumber party…can we have a slumber party? We can play 20 questions and tell ghost stories!” “Babe… Babe…How about we help with all that?” Orion asks and she nods and runs for the stairs. Abraham is cracking up…excitabe..isn’t she!!? And they both laugh!