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“Alfred.” Bates lost his decorum to the degree he spoke to his Alpha casually in front of a stranger.
“Matthias.” Lowell looked at his Gamma. “Sebastian. You know this is the only way many in our pack have a hope of finding theirvera amoris. The curse my parents brought upon us held sway for too long, and as quickly as I can see to my people’s happiness, I will do so. Am doing so.”
He turned his attention to Alwyn. “My parents lied about being fated mates, and due to this, the Goddess Diana called a curse upon the wolves and those in our care—”
“Yes, yes,” Alwyn cut across him. “It is famous, the Lowell fertility curse.”
“I will see every soul under my care mated, if that is their wish, and none will naysay me.” Lowell sent a pointed look Bates’s way.
“I am not a horse,” mumbled the Beta.
“Let them not take you as an example of how to conduct an admirable courtship, Alpha,” Gambon teased, leavening the atmosphere with far less portent than that Omega of theirs did.
“I have heard of this also,” Alwyn said.
“If His Highness had anything to say about that—” Lowell snarled.
“It is a favorite topic of gossip among the tweenies in Carlton House.” The howls of laughter from Bates and Gambon were gratifying, though Lowell’s mawkishly optimistic expression at his joke, that he’d even made a joke, threatened to lower the tone.
“Your lady apothecary is being courted, although she does not think so,” Alwyn said.
“Notmylady apothecary,” Lowell teased as Bates led them back into the main body of the building; he produced brooms and handed them around.
Alwyn was not certain he could wield one and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Is it thathomo plenumdo not court as we do?” he asked.
“It is that they do not have our instincts for a fated bond, and thus we must work harder. I found encouraging Her Grace’s talents worked greatly in my favor.” Lowell’s Second simultaneously mouthed the words behind his Alpha’s back; this was a familiar refrain, then. “I genuinely do encourage them, and I believe it came as a surprise to her. One wonders what human men get up to.”
“One wonders that you wish to bring them into our circle.” Bates was like a dog with a bone. Alwyn sighed to himself:Ha, ha. Dog.
“It will increase my people’s chances to have families, if that is their wish, and thus increase the pack. And if any new members are human, so be it.” Lowell glanced over at Alwyn. “Do you recall the Osborn sleuth? Arthur Humphries’s wife is human,” he said.
“I was there. At the vows.” Alwyn looked at Bates, who shrugged. Had he said nothing about it?
“If you wish to pursue the topic of courting a human woman,” Lowell said, far too casually, “I suggest you write to Osborn and ask him.”
Bates looked at Alwyn, dubious. “I can write,” Alwyn said. In theory: Whether he was able to hold a pen in practice was another story. Much of human life, in practice, was returning to him: he would remember how to court, how to write, how to use a bloody fork. “I forgot nothing, trapped in my Shape. It was not forgetting that nearly sent me—”
“Sent you…” Bates urged, unexpectedly gentle.
Alwyn took a step back. “I have forgotten nothing. I am capable of being human. I am human. And human I shall remain.”
Lowell’s fists flexed on the handle of his broom, but his voice was calm. “I believe if you asked Osborn, he would agree with what I will tell you now: ignoring my essential self ensured my courtship went poorly.”
“Arguably, if at all,” Bates said.
“Yes, thank you, we wait with bated breath until it is your turn.”
“What had your wolf to do with it?” Had Alwyn heard of this, known this?
“He knew, better than I, what was required to woo a female, even one who was human.” Lowell brushed at the floor ineffectually; he had likely never held a broom in his life. “Only when I heeded his advice did I succeed.”
“Did you allow yourself to be courted?” The men looked at him, dumbfounded; that was all the answer he required. They had no idea it was wanted or necessary. Alwyn had almost all the answers he had come for. “Will thecursionot reveal who is fated for whom?”
Lowell and Bates were not subtle in the look of hope they exchanged. “It can, of course,” the Alpha wolf replied. “We would be pleased if you joined us—you are welcome in your manskin.”
“Where is it to be run? Will I be kept up at all hours with you lot tramping about, hither and yon?”
