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“I’m goingto be chaperoning our cousins,remember?”

“Yeah?Some people are into that. You know, mature authority figure? They’ll see you’re good withkids.”

Isighed.

“So,”Arthur pressed. “Females? Or males? Betas oromegas?”

Ireally wasn’tin the mood for this kind of conversation. “Don’t worry about me, Arthur,” I said. “Really.Please.”

Ian skiddedover and bumped into my leg. “Careful,” I said to him, sternly. “You’ll get hurt before yourparty.”

“Sorry, Uncle Christophe,”he said, his ears drooping slightly, and he scamperedaway.

“Hey, slow down, kid,”Loch said, laughing as he came over to greet us. “Good to see youguys.”

Loch and Arthur hugged,slapping each other on the back. When he moved to me, our embrace was stiff and a little awkward. I loved my brother dearly, but he and I had never seen eye to eye. Being the third alpha, he’d never been the responsible type, and I’d always had to clean up after his messes. It was still hard for me to relate tohim.

“Christophe,”Mother called, waving meover.

“Yes, Mother?”

“Perennia and PoltonWhitefang of the White Tree Clan will be arriving shortly, they’re one of the ones who’ve arranged to stay with us for thenight.”

“Yes.”Inodded.

“They’ll be goingon to their vacation property up in Diamond Dust afterwards, and Perennia has informed me that she and her husband are transporting some precious and very valuable items. She been very insistent that we allow her to store themsecurely.”

“Okay,”I said. “The coat room has a locked door, and we’ll have two of our staff manning it the whole night,so…”

Mother shook her head.“She’s insisting we let her use the electronicsafe.”

Isighed.“If she uses it, all the guests are going to demand access toit.”

“Iknow,I know. Can you help her store her things there,quietly?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Thank you, Christophe,”she said, and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Well, I’d better go get ready before everyone startsarriving.”

Mrs. Perennia Whitefangwas a massive woman, at least three times wider than her balding husband and about three heads taller. When their car pulled up to the front of the house, I was impressed that she was even able to fit into the back of it. The driver hurried around and pulled open the door and she stepped out, dabbing sweat off her forehead despite the car’s air conditioning and the day’s cool weather. Her husband followed after her, cradling a polished wooden box in his stubbyarms.

“Be careful, Polton,”she said, looking irritated. “I know how clumsy you can be. Maybe the driver should carryit…”

“I’ll be careful,”her husband replied in a squeaky voice. “Benjamin is handling theluggage.”

The driver hauledout several huge suitcases from the car’strunk.

“Give him a hand?”I whispered to Stephen, our head of housestaff.

“Yes, sir,”Stephen replied and rolled out a cart to help the driver with the bags while I went to greet theWhitefangs.

“Mr. and Mrs. Whitefang,welcome to the Luna household. I’m Christophe Luna. How was your drivehere?”

“Oh,dreadful,”Perennia said. She thrust her handbag into my arms and fanned her face. “Have this taken to my room,please.”

Ihelda pleasant smile on my face and showed theminside.

“My parents are just finishingup with some things and will be down to greet you shortly. I’d be happy to give you a quick tour of the house? Mr. Whitefang, my father has told me that you’re quite interested in history andgenealogy.”