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"This was not part of the wedding plan," she said in annoyance "Biffy, what is happening here?" she yelled

Froed and shook his head

The clavigers were causing the disturbance They had arranged thee circle about Lord Maccon and Alexia and were slowly pushing everyone else away Alexia noticed that Ivy, little traitor, was helping them

Lord Maccon slapped his forehead with his hand "God’s truth, they aren’t really? That old tradition?" He trailed off as the howling began "Aye, they are Well, "

The wolves burst into the open circle like a river of fur Under the quarter er or bloodlust in their movements Instead it was like a dance, liquid and beautiful The fuzzy throng was co olves Almost thirty of them jumped and pranced and yipped as they coiled around the newly married couple

Alexia held very still and relaxed into the dizzying movement The wolves circled closer and closer until they pressed against her skirts, all hot predator breath and soft fur Then one wolf stopped directly next to Lord Maccon--a thin, sandy, vulpinelike creature--Professor Lyall

With a wink at Alexia, the Beta threw his head back and barked, once, sharply

The wolves stopped stock-still and then did theThey lined up in a neat circle all about and one by one came forward As each wolf stood before the newly s, showing the back of his neck in a funny little bow

"Are they paying hohed "Lord, no Why would they bother withit was ?"

Conall kissed her cheek "You are wonderful as you are"

The last to coant and more restrained than anyone else’s

Once coain, and they all leaped into action: running three tiht

After that, everything else was anticlimactic, and as soon as civility allowed, Alexia’s new husband hustled her into the waiting carriage and on the road out of London toward Woolsey Castle

A few of the olves returned then, still in wolf fore

Just outside of town, Lord Maccon stuck his head out the coachand told theave the pack the evening out," he infor theHis wife issued him an arch look

"Oh, very well I told them if they showed their furry faces round Woolsey Castle for the next three days, I would personally eviscerate theracious, where will they all stay?"

"LyallLord Akeldaly ahed "Would I were a fly on that wall!"

Her husband turned about and without further ado began unclasping the brooch that held the neck of her beautiful gown together

"Intriguing design, this dress," he con," replied his lady as the neck fell away to show a neat pattern of tiny love bites all about her throat Lord Maccon traced them with proprietary pride

"What are you up to?" Alexia asked as he gently kissed the tiny bruises She was distracted by the delicious tingly sensation this caused, but not enough to forgo noticing his hands were round the back of the bodice of her dress, sliding open the row of buttons there

"I should think that would be obvious by now," he replied with a grin He pushed back the top of her dress and beca her corset His lips ion of her décolletage

"Conall," Alexiaher objections as new and delicious sensation extended fro carriage Why this constant preference for inappropriate locations for amorous activities?"

"Mmm, not to worry," he purposefully ave the coach way round" He helped her to stand and shucked her out of her dress, skirts, and corset with consus, and shoes, crossed her arms over her breasts self-consciously

Her new husband ran large calloused hands around the hehs Then he lifted thethat last bastion of her ad it

Until that er in his eyes They were in physical contact, supernatural and preternatural, but nevertheless, his eyes had turned to pure wolf yellow He looked at her, clad in nothing but stockings and ivory button boots, as though he wanted to eat her alive