Chapter 178

THE RETREAT, EARLY THURSDAY MORNING

Selina awakened an hour later. Sitting up on the weight bench and swinging around to put her feet on the floor, she paused to take stock of herself. No wonder Billy remained in bed when I arose. Quite conceivably, he is as fatigued as I am as the result of our escapades. I should return to my bed. She thought of her bedroom and opened the mental door to her ability to teleport. It was like pulling the scab off a partially healed wound. I misjudged that, she thought as she, with a shiver, quickly slammed the mental door closed.

Coming cautiously to her feet, she decided she could walk, but when she reached the basement stairs, she used the handrail to help pull her tired body up the steps. At the top, she was out of breath and wanted badly to sit down. I'm ravenous. I shall stop by the kitchen and assuage my hunger.

As she made the turn where Arlene had killed the mercenary, Selina stopped to lean against the wall for a moment. After a bit, she continued on. It seemed to take forever to reach the kitchen. She had never been this tired in her short life. Inside, she pushed a chair over to stand on to reach the cup rack. The glasses were higher, so she just took the first thing she could reach, which happened to be a large coffee mug. Putting the mug on the table, she went to get milk from one of the refrigerators. Thankful that a jug was only half full, she lugged it back to the table, then went to get two chicken breasts that had been left over from dinner. Shortly, she was seated on her chair with the cushion to make her tall enough to eat comfortably at the table.

Two chicken breasts and two cups of milk later, she pushed her empty plate aside and put her head down on the table. I shall rest for a moment, then return to my suite.

At 5:30, Diana and the rest of Jeff's wives walked into the kitchen to find Selina sitting face down on the table, deeply asleep. "Looks like somebody got really, really sleepy after a snack," the Queen said with a chuckle.

Diana slid Selina's chair out a little, then stood back up with the child in her arms. The six-year-old awakened enough to mumble something. "Shhhh," Diana cooed as she kissed the child's face, "just go back to sleep. I'll put you in your bed."

"But I do not..." Selina mumbled.

"Shhhh," the Queen repeated as she turned toward the kitchen door that Arlene was already holding open for her. "You'll be in your bed in no time. Just go back to sleep," she whispered.

Van and Adriana began the climb up the driveway, both focusing on the roadway in front of them, neither of them admitting they didn't want to look toward the outside of the drive and the drop just beyond the railing.

Van broke the silence inside the pickup with, "That guard was sharp – really sharp. Something is going on we don't know about."

"You mean his knowing our names? I'm sure the Matthews..."

" ... told him we were coming," he finished for her. "But I ... just think there's more to it than that. He was standing there waiting for us. He knew we were coming."

"You mean, other than hearing us? I'm sure the sounds of our truck climbing this mountain carried very well up here in all this isolation."

"Look," Van said, pointing as they glimpsed the still-lit Retreat from one of the switchbacks, the dawn just barely beginning. "Jeremy says they're wealthy. Judging from the building there, that might be an understatement. And that just goes along with the feeling I have about the guard. That man is sharp. He isn't just a status symbol of wealth. He's there for a reason, and, unless I miss my guess, he's... very capable. I get the feeling there's a lot more to the Matthews' security than a simple guard station at the bottom of this ... driveway."

"But he barely glanced in our truck."

"Yeah, but did you see the new asphalt where we stopped? You can bet there are sensors in that. Also, did you notice that his helmet visor was down when we turned into the drive? I've never seen a visor like that. It retracted into the helmet just as we stopped, and it did it without his having touched it. I bet that helmet contains some fancy electronics."

Adriana chuckled. "Is my husband nervous? You seem to be concentrating on something that..."

"I'm not nervous. I guess it's just the whole thing. A rich family's gate guard would be expected to look sharp, but ... I don't know. I just had a feeling that we were being scrutinized way beyond what I could have foreseen, plus I've never seen a rifle like that. I didn't want to stare, so I didn't get a really good look at it, but the magazine doesn't seem right, somehow. It's positioned a little bit wrong. Come to think about it, it really doesn't look much like a magazine at all, but I can just about guarantee that's a military rifle. It goes along with what I'm saying. And another thing, where's the guard's personal vehicle? He's not here by himself. Someone dropped him off at the gate."

"His wife could have brought him to work, Van. Surely..." She was quiet for a moment, then quickly went on, "Oh, you're having one of your feelings, aren't you? Do you think we're in danger?"

"Uh, I guess I am having one," he said with a chuckle. "But danger? Unh uh. I think the exact opposite is true. That guard is a pro. His demeanor, the way he carries himself, all of it speaks of military. His weapon is a serious one, whatever it is, and I'll bet my hat he knew who we were long before we turned into this driveway. And when did you ever see a private gate guard carrying a rifle? And ... I don't think he was just expecting us from a guest list. He didn't just assume who we were; he knew who we were. I'm really looking forward to meeting this Matthews guy. He's certainly impressed our son and his women, and I'm damn sure impressed with what I've seen of his security."

"You're implying there's more than just the gate guard, aren't you?"

"Can't you feel it? We're being watched."

The pickup climbed on for a moment, and Adriana, instead of answering him, shifted back to Van's previous comment. "Speaking of women, Husband, don't get any ideas about extra women just because your son has decided to have two."

"Two?" Van said, his voice a little grimmer than he meant it to be.

"Yeah, three with Paulette," Adriana sighed. Then reaching over to squeeze her husband's thigh for a second, "I'm all the woman you need, Mr. Carter. I've never turned you down – not even once – and a heck of a lot of the time, I instigate our lovemaking."

Van didn't say anything, and Adriana had a sudden thought that she may have somehow hurt his feelings with what started out to be a little teasing. "If I ever think you need another woman, I'll pick one for you myself," she finished, trying to moderate her comment a little.

Van just looked over at her for a second and grinned. "Honey, you know how much I love you and our marriage. I'm not going to do anything that would jeopardize that."

As they drove on past the circular drive in front of the Retreat, Adriana continued with, "Aren't we going to turn in?"

"Sorry, I should have told you. Jeremy said we should drive on around to the back. He said that the Matthews had joked about the front entrance being too prestigious for people like them, the Matthews I mean. He said that everyone uses the back entrance."

Van had barely brought their pickup to a stop in the rear parking lot when the back door of the Retreat opened and Paulette hurried out while shrugging into her coat. She hugged her mother, then when Van came around the vehicle, she hugged him just as hard. "The Matthews have an intelligent computer that allowed us to watch you all the way up the drive. Mr. Matthews told the computer, uh, the AI, your names. He said it would recognize you from now on. It already knows me," she finished, her words almost stacked one upon the other in her exuberance. "Oh, this place is so beautiful, and everyone is sooo nice."

Before Van or Adriana could comment, "Welcome to our home," Diana said as she, Helen and Laura hurriedly walked up. "I'm Diana," the Queen said.

Shortly, everyone was introduced and Helen and Laura reached in the pickup to get the Carter's luggage. "Wait," Van said, managing to at least hang onto his case. "I can't have you ladies carrying our bags for us."

But the women would not be dissuaded, and headed for the steps before he could say anything else. Diana had begun talking to Adriana as if they had known each other all their lives. Just as everyone stepped into the mudroom, Jeff hurried in from the hall to meet their visitors. "Sorry, I got tied up for a moment."

Diana quickly introduced Van and Adriana as Laura and Helen went on in with the luggage. Jeff shook Adriana's hand, then put his hand out to Van. As their hands touched, there was a second of silence, before, "Well, I'll be..." the Prime quietly said. Grinning from ear to ear, he glanced at Diana, "Guess who's an Alpha?"

Diana smiled back at him, "I told you I liked Adriana, even just talking to her on the phone." The Queen smiled as she returned her focus to Adriana while continuing to speak to Jeff. "I'm not a bit surprised that she's an Alpha's mate."

Adriana blushed, somehow flattered, even though she wasn't sure what Diana was talking about.

"What..." Van started.

"You felt it as we shook, didn't you?" Jeff asked.

"Well, I ... Uh, yeah, I guess I did feel something," Van replied, mystified and wondering.

"Alpha?" Adriana asked barely above a whisper, realizing something important had happened between the men, but not sure what it was.

Then with what almost sounded like ritual formality, Jeff said, "Welcome home, Brother." Slapping Van on the shoulder, "Now let's go get some breakfast and meet the rest of the family. We have a lot to talk about."

CARLA'S FARM

Fred had slept alone last night, the first time since before their RV vacation. He hadn't liked being alone again. The women had yelled bye to him as they had left for the Retreat a few minutes ago, without his even seeing them – which was the idea, he supposed.

It took me forever to get my dick to go down enough to piss this morning. Hell of a lot different than one of my women helping me with my morning wood before we get up in the mornings, he grumped to himself. Fuck this tradition shit. I'm used to loving four women every night. My balls need emptying. I could have, at least, jerked off to relieve some of the pressure, but nooo, they made me promise. They know I can't deny them anything. But dammit, it isn't fair. They don't have balls to fill up with sperm.

He snatched the barn door open with a lot more force than was required, then stomped down the hallway to check on the horses, since he had promised Jessica he would make sure they were all right before he left. The barn was a pleasant temperature. All the horses had fresh water and the automatic feeders had done their jobs. He spent a few moments petting Abby and Molly (Carla's and Jessica's horses) before going back to the house. The neighbors would check on the horses while Fred and his family were away.

On the porch, he changed from his boots to his shoes, then in the house, changed from his work coat to a nicer one. After locking up, he got into his truck and headed for Matthews Mountain. He and his women had been there every night this week for the weddings, but they wouldn't be coming home for a few days this time. When they did, he would be married to his women.

As he rode over the little hill in Carla's driveway, It's only been a short while since my first time trying to jog over this thing. Hell, I could barely walk up it. Now, I don't even notice it when I go for my morning run.

I'm glad I befriended Jeff way back when. I don't know how much he has gotten out of our friendship over the years, but in addition to the best friend I've ever had, I got my youth back, and four beautiful women who think I'm the cat's meow. And ... I have Brenda back, too. It's hard to not believe in God, with what's happened to me. A druggie who ran off the road and killed herself right in front of us, then her mind flatlined until Brenda got sucked into it. What else could it be?

With a sigh, his thoughts continued, Even though I'm thrilled to have my wife back, I ... kinda miss her being in my mind with me. But now she has a beautiful body to hug me with every day and that wonderful pussy of hers to accept me into her new body and take my sperm. Jeff says every enhanced Alpha's marriage will probably have a Queen, but I have no idea who mine is, or will be. Carla is accustomed to running the farm and consequently being boss, but Brenda was my longtime wife before she died and I came out here with Jeff. If it hadn't been for him, I would have eaten my gun like so many cops do.

I owe him my life, and I mean that in a literal sense. Now, he and Diana want to marry us, but there is already a bond between my women and me. Jeff thinks his and Diana's marrying us will strengthen that bond. I don't know. Maybe it will, and my women are adamant about the marriage, so I'll go along with it. But my dick is hard, and Diana has already told Carla they will fix me one of those shakes this afternoon. I don't need anything to make me horny; I just need my women.

"Tradition," he griped aloud. Tradition that the women don't sleep with their man the night before, or see him the day of the wedding. I thought that only applied to seeing the bride in her wedding dress prior to the wedding. But then again, I noticed the look on Tate's face when he saw his women coming down that staircase. I don't get a kick out of looking at men's crotches, but I'd bet my bottom dollar that Tate was fighting a hard on while he stood there waiting for his wives.

I have to admit that I had to choke back a snicker when I realized what was happening to Quinton. It was funny as long as it was him. Now, it's going to be me standing there trying to count backward by threes. Dammit Jeff, this better be worth it.

Fred parked in the back, got out and was reaching back into the truck for his suit when Arlene, Nat, Nicki and Whitney ran up. When he turned, Arlene pulled his head down to peck him on the lips as Whitney reached past them to get his case, handed it back to Nat, then took his suit out of his hand.

"Hey, Fred," the three chorused.

"Hi, Ladies. I'll get that..." he started, but he was talking to the backs of the giggling girls as they hurried toward the rear door of the Retreat.

Arlene pushed the truck door closed and slipped her arm in his as they started for the building. "Your women are already on the second floor. Jennie and Melissa took up a serving cart and they're all going to eat breakfast together. I'm supposed to make sure you stay out of trouble," she finished with a grin on her face.

He wasn't sure whether she was kidding or not, but before he could think much of it, she continued, "Daddy found another Alpha."