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“Have you found yourvera amoris, Alpha?” Gambon asked.
“I have found her.”
“And will you name her before all?”
“She is Miss Felicity Templeton.” He paused. “And she ishomo plenus. It is deemed in the old ways that I should reject her.”
A rousing chorus of “noooooooooo” rang out. Gambon waited until the dissension died down. “We all know this, the greatest of our laws,” he said. “Do you seek to contravene this, Alpha?”
“Versipelleswere forbidden to reveal their true natures under any circumstances to those unlike ourselves. We observed this law to preserve our myriad species. And yet…” Silence reigned, breath was held, hands were wrung. “We have chosen to adapt to modern times. Our species will die out unless we continue to join with humans. Our friends in France fell due to prejudice and too strong an adherence to such laws.” Alfred saw someone clap Louveteau on the shoulder. “Our friends in America are prospering because they are taking human mates. I will not reject my bond with Miss Templeton because of her status, merely because we have never known a human to suit the role of Alpha female. If we allow prejudice and hatred to prevent us growing and thriving, then we are no better than the humans.”
Alfred took a breath, one that was echoed by O’Mara. “And so I ask you, humbly, if you will trust my judgment and allow Miss Templeton into our fold.” He looked around the circle and spoke from his heart. “I would tell her of us, my friends. I cannot do so if you do not wish it. There is a grace period of a turn of the moon for all of you to think upon it—”
A wave of denial rocked the clearing, and yet several voices aired their concerns.
“What if she fears us?”
“What if she cannot love us as we are?”
“Will she flee?”
“What will happen if she rejectsus?”
Alfred raised his hands, and all quieted. “I acknowledge your worries. I have them as well.” A communal gasp answered their leader’s honesty. “I would call upon one of you who is perhaps the best fixed of us all to tell us what Miss Templeton might do. Mary Mossett? If you please?”
Someone shoved the little maid forward. She sent a glare over her shoulder, and on tiny feet, crept into the center of the circle. She made a full reverence, shaking like a leaf, baring her neck, and taking both knees.
“Here.” Alfred sat down on the stone and helped her stand.
“Oh, Alpha,” Mary gasped, “that’s the holy stone, that is, it’s not for sitting on like it was nothing special.”
“But it is nothing special, my girl,” he said, “until Miss Templeton stands before it with me.” Alfred leaned his elbows on his knees. “Our pack is afraid that she won’t be able to accept her role.”
“Oh, never. Her Grace, even when she didn’t want to be called that, she was like, the lady of the house soon as she set foot in the Hall. Well, you carried her in, ’cos she was sleeping and that was only like right out of a fairy tale. But she knows how a big house works, and she’s making little changes without rufflin’ Mr. Coburn’s feathers or rubbin’ Mrs. Birks the wrong way.”
“Then Miss Templeton is a natural in the role.”
“And she always knows the right way to say something, even something that might be a scoldin’. And the way she says it, it makes you feel good about yourself and how you want to be better, because of the feelin’ that lands up in your heart.”
“She is nurturing, and kind to all.”
“And”—Mary cast aside her shyness—“she says she don’t know what she’s doing, but she does, Alpha, she does. She’s got all the furniture in the right rooms and the vegetables at the meal, which I think are delicious even if the cats don’t like ’em.” A jeer from the back of the crowd greeted this, and she lifted her chin, Alfred noticed, as Felicity herself did. “And even though that terrible thing happened, about her money and all, she isn’t after taking it out on anyone who may be lower than her.”
“She possesses good instincts and is conscientious.”
“She does, and she is.” Mary nodded again. “I don’t think anybody needs to be worryin’ about Her Grace not loving us. She already does.”
“You sound very sure of that, Mary Mossett.” Alfred reached out and tapped her on the chin.
“Well, I am.” She smiled. “And she loves you, too, I am sure of it,” she whispered, which made no difference, as all had the acute hearing that came with their animal natures. “So don’t you be worrying either.”
Alfred leaned his forehead against hers and let her inhale his essence to her heart’s content. And then he hugged her gently, mindful of her delicate bones, and she hugged him back as hard as she was able. When he released her, Mary blushed a deep scarlet and ran back into the crowd, and a scatter of applause made her squeak with mortified joy.
Alfred stood. “I invoke thecognominatio. My mate is found.” His voice rang out, amplified by his power as Alpha. “We shall celebrate the feast as it was set down, those many generations ago. And by this joining, we all shall be one.”
“Hope there’s to be a proper wedding,” Marshall called out over the general mayhem.
“The human ceremonies will be observed as well, a small affair,” Alfred said and ignored Marshall’s dubious expression.
