Chapter 151

The apartment door opened, and Diana walked in with Alesha following. Diana was pushing the cart bearing the blocking equipment. Jeff raised an eyebrow, as she pushed the cart into Dave and Evie's kitchen, but smiled as he was doing so. "Yeah, I agree," he told his wife, "It's time."

"I mentioned the block to Alesha and she agreed to it. I need to go and talk with Virginia and the others."

"Block?" Jesse and Alesha asked as one.

"We have some things that we need to tell you guys," the Prime replied, "but we can't do it unless you accept a block that will keep you from discussing our secrets."

Diana kissed her husband, said, "Have fun. I'll brief the others and send them down for the blocks. We'll call you when the food is ready." With that, she was out the door.

Jesse shifted to look at Jeff. "Do those secrets include the security people at the bottom of the drive? I came in behind an UPS truck a week or so ago. Your security person just stepped into the back of the UPS truck for a few seconds and sent the truck on. I know you would never accept that if they were truly sloppy. How could he check that truck so quickly? How can they always know me by name, even though there is frequently a different person on duty? It's as though they're well aware that I'm coming. They all seem to be smart, and ... disciplined. Plus, those helmets have a faceplate that slides out of the top of the helmet. I've never seen a helmet that looks like those. The security officer always talks to me with the faceplate retracted, yet he or she invariably has it in place before he seems to just glance into the cab and bed of my pickup. They're either terribly sloppy about their searches, or they have technology that I wish we had at the Sheriff's department. And ... I vote for the technology angle."

Alesha motioned for Jesse to move his chair back from the table a bit, then sat in his lap as Jesse continued. "There are other things. Things seemingly almost said, when the person speaking suddenly stops, then abruptly changes the subject. Oh, everyone has been subtle about it, but ... hell, I'm a cop. Curiosity is my business. Something..."

Quinton remained silent, his face introspective.

"Coffee or a soft drink?" Dave asked Alesha as he put down a cup for Jesse and Quinton, knowing they would drink coffee.

"Coke," Alesha said.

When Bill had poured the coffee and Dave had gotten Alesha her coke, Jeff spoke up. "This is long overdue, but you guys haven't been around much lately. The two of you saved Joyce's life, and for that I'll be forever in your debt. All I can do is ask you to trust me. This block will make certain you never let any of our affairs slip to the wrong person. If you try to, you'll receive a warning with a flash of nausea. If you persist in trying, the nausea will worsen. Trust me on this; it is not pleasant, otherwise, you'll never notice the block. I swear to you that this will not harm you in any way, other than what I've just mentioned."

Art caught their attention. "Sandra, Bobby and I have just had it done to us. I certainly haven't tried to tell anyone any of the family's secrets, so I can't speak to the nausea, but neither of us can detect that we even have a block."

"Doesn't matter," Alesha spoke up. "After what the Matthews have done for me, I don't need any encouragement other than Diana wanting me to do it. I'm ready."

"Same here," Jesse said.

"Who's first?" Jeff asked.

"I am," Alesha said.

"I thought that the man was supposed to go into danger first," Jesse teased.

"They just told us there is no danger," she replied with a smirk. "So I'm first."

"Oops, forgot. We have two helmets," Jeff said, holding them up.

"Then we'll go together," Alesha laughed.

"Let's get this moved into the living room where we can all be comfortable."

A few minutes later, only seconds apart, Alesha and Jesse opened their eyes. "Did..."

"Yep."

"Diana told me I wouldn't feel anything, and I don't." Alesha looked at her watch. "Di also told me to note the time before and after. It's been ten minutes, I guess, but it surely doesn't feel like it."

"Never does," the Prime answered.

Jesse sat quietly.

"Now, do I get to hear some secrets?" Alesha asked. Before Jeff could answer, she went on, "Just teasing. Di said she would talk to me while we're fixing the meal." After touching her lips to Jesse's for a second, she was out the door.

I wonder if those two are making love yet, Jeff thought. I know they said they were going to wait until they got married, but Alesha has spent several nights with him at his house. She still doesn't have an engagement ring on her finger. Jesse needs to make her his before she gets away. She's a darn good looking woman. Suddenly Jeff's thought processes took another turn as he focused on Jesse. That block did something to him.

Shit. How could I have missed it? I knew he had to be an Alpha, but somehow I couldn't read him before. "Jesse, you're an Alpha," Jeff blurted in his enthusiasm. "You've been hiding it, somehow. But now I can see it, uh, feel it, I guess you could say. How can you hide it? No wonder you're a good cop."

Jesse sat up straighter, but didn't say anything for a moment, then, "What's an Alpha? I've heard you guys use the term, but I didn't really know what you were talking about."

"We have a lot to tell you, and the few minutes we have now isn't nearly enough time."

Jesse looked at Jeff. "I thought you said I wouldn't feel any different, but I do. It's like ... something opened up inside me. I..."

Jeff stuck out his hand. "Welcome home — Brother."

Diana came in with the other women. "Fresh meat," she said, smiling.

Tate stood and went over to talk to his women. Shortly, the others took their turns under the helmet.

The women were back in the kitchen, and the men were relaxing in Dave's living room. Art was back to discussing Sandra and Bobby as Jesse sat quietly after asking and receiving answers to a number of questions, his mind awhirl.

"I don't want to appear henpecked," Art said. "But I let them choose my tuxedo for the wedding and I agreed to wear anything they wished for Halloween. I haven't known them long, and a good portion of that time I was in the hospital more or less blown away on pain meds. But I swear I love them — both."

"I know they love you, Art. I can ... feel their love for you, just as I can feel your love for them when they walk up to you," Jeff quietly said. "Don't ask me how; I just do."

Art hesitated, then, "Oh, hell. I'm not really worried about what they're going to wear, but I am not going to go around in that painted-on outfit in front of all of you guys."

"Painted on?" Jesse said, beginning to worry. Tate had a bemused look on his face. Jesse went on, "Diana and Alesha talked on the phone a couple of days ago, but Alesha wouldn't tell me what they discussed. She just smiled at me when I asked."

Frank sat up straighter. "You don't suppose all the women bought paint ... No, Margaret and Tina would never do that to me ... If they wanted to wear it to the party, I wouldn't be pleased, but I would allow it, I guess. But surely they don't expect ... No way am I going to parade around practically nude in front of you guys. Oh, crap..."

Dave slowly set his cup on the coffee table. "They could have a regular party while Selina was up, then send her off to bed. That's when the adult costumes will probably come out. But surely Evie would have told me ... Oh, fuck. I'm with Frank. I guess I wouldn't be too upset if my women decided to wear painted-on costumes. I mean, I'm proud of the way they look, but you said there was a male version of the costume, right?" he finished, looking at Art who nodded his agreement.

Bill began to look worried, too.

Tate, knowing his women hadn't been involved in any painted on costumes, sat relieved, then the thought struck him. They haven't mentioned anything like that, but...

Thirty minutes later, all having convinced themselves that they were totally relaxed and in control, Jeff, Dave, Frank and Bill were laughing and teasing Art about what was going to happen to him on his wedding night. Jesse just sipped his coffee and listened to the banter. The phone rang, causing those supposedly perfectly calm men to jump, then look guiltily at each other.

Dave answered. After listening for a moment, "Thanks. We're on the way."

The men handed Dave their cups as he stood at the sink to rinse them. None of the Alphas voiced what they were all thinking. All but Jesse. He wasn't worried about nude costumes, but he was still wondering what an Alpha was, or what the big secrets were that the Matthews had.

"We'll talk when we have more time," Jeff said while putting a hand on Jesse's shoulder. "We'll have a long talk first thing in the morning."

The men walked down the hall expecting to go to the living room, but Selina was standing by the door to the smaller dining room. With a perfect curtsy, she said, "Enter, please, gentlemen," and opened the door.

Wondering, the men stepped into the dining room where the steam table was set up. The tables were adorned with Halloween tablecloths, and a couple of the Jack O'Lanterns were nearby, but otherwise, it was a normal supper. Jeff looked a question at Diana.

"We decided those hot dogs would never hold our Alphas tonight. We'll have finger food at the party, but we thought you guys might appreciate a steak. I strongly suspect you're going to need it before the night is out."

There was a titter of laughter from the women, and an eye roll from Selina. Sex, she thought as she shuddered. Icky subject.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Jeff asked Diana.

"The finger food at the party will be plenty for us, but we knew a couple of hot dogs and what we have for the party would never keep an Alpha, so we decided to cook up some steaks for you guys. Besides, we want you to keep your strength up."

What's she talking about? Jeff thought. I make love to them every night. Is she planning an all-nighter or something?

But Diana proved to be right, nonetheless. The Alphas had only eaten a couple of hotdogs apiece, worried there would not be enough for everyone at the trunk or treat if they pigged out. Jeff was ready for a steak, and from the looks of the other men gathering around the steam table, they weren't averse to the idea, either.

While the men were eating their steaks, Diana and the other women and girls were making last-minute preparations and transferring the Halloween food to the living room.

Arlene removed a large tray of monster toes from the oven and put the tray on the counter to be finished. Hope transferred the toes to platters and squeezed on the mustard for the toenails, while Nat, Nicki and Whitney put catsup on the "severed" end of the toes and spread some around the platter to look like puddles of blood. As Diana stopped to watch, "The men won't be hungry after eating a steak, will they?" Hope asked, worried.