He was truly frightening in his wolf persona.
"Wolves apart!" a tall, slender woman said in a French accent as she came between them. "Or else I shall throw water on you both."
Remi appeared by her side. "Do you need help, maman?"
"Not from you, cher," she said, patting him kindly on the arm. "Go and help Jose in the kitchen."
Remi gave the wolves a warning glare before he obeyed his mother.
Once Sasha and Fury had some distance between them, the woman came over to her and Vane.
"There you are at last." She kissed Vane on his cheek, then turned to Bride.
"I am Nicolette, but most people call me Mama."
"Bride," she said, shaking the bear's hand.
Nicolette smiled up at Vane. "She is beautiful, mon petit loup. You have done well for yourself."
"Merci, Nicolette."
"Come," she said, gesturing them further into the room. "Vane, introduce your mate to our people while I make sure my sons do not fight. And have no fear if you can't remember our names, Bride. There is but one of you while we are many.
You will learn them all in time."
Bride thanked her, then Vane took her around the room and introduced her to lions, tigers, bears, hawks, jackals, and leopards. Even a couple of humans were there.
Nicolette was right. She couldn't keep straight who was who or what. Since there were only a handful of women, most of them mates for the men, they were easier to remember. But the men it was enough to make her head spin.
"Where's Fang?" she asked as Vane finished introducing her to the people in the kitchen.
"He's upstairs. C'mon and I'll introduce you to him next."
Vane led her through a door that opened out into a grand Victorian parlor.
Bride paused at the sight of it. Plush and decorated with antiques, the house was stunning.
"This is Peltier House," Vane explained. "The Were-Hunters live on this side of things where we're safe from discovery."
"It's beautiful."
"Merci," Nicolette said from behind them. "It has been our home for more than a century now. It is our goal to keep it so."
"How can you do that without anyone finding out who and what you are?"
"We have our ways, chirie," she said with a wink. "Magic does have its benefits." She handed Vane a small votive candle.
Vane saw that the glass container had the name "Anya" engraved on it. His heart ached at the sight of it.
"We always remember our loved ones who are gone," Nicolette explained.
"Since Fang cannot honor Anya, I thought you might want to."
Vane couldn't speak past the sad lump in his throat as Nicolette led him and Bride into a side room where four candle stands were set. The light from the candles flickered like diamonds against the dark green walls.
"There are so many," Bride said, awed by the number of names.
"We live a long time," Nicolette said. "And we are at war. The Katagaria against