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83
“We know that,” Stan said, “But right now you’re not even wearing a ring. Don’t worry, John is having the same fun right now. He’s picking up a ring now and we will formally announce your engagement in Moscow when he meets us there. You can get married over there, or when we return.”
Such romance…. Not. As a girl, I used to dream of the moment when their love gets on their knees and asks her to marry him, the big wedding I might have with the fairytale dress and the packed church. Instead, I got bitten on the neck while he was banging me into a puddle of quivering limbs underneath him. I reach up and feel the mating scar, smiling to myself. I wouldn’t change a thing, and a wedding will only be for the humans since we are already tied together for life.
The doors open, and I am escorted to the manager. “Good morning, Miss Donato. My name is Natalie, and I will be helping you with my assistant Mary. If you would?” A short ride later and we were in a well-appointed room with a couch, bar and an elevated carpet platform surrounded by mirrors on three sides. The ladies were very efficient, taking measurements and then bringing in carts with clothes I’d never dreamed about owning. Dresses I’d only seen in magazines. Lingerie that made me blush but feel so beautiful. An hour later, bags of clothes and shoes were being packed into leather suitcases. I was dressed in a skirt, white blouse and jacket with a pair of Jimmy Choo heels and Agent Provocateur hose and lingerie. “You look amazing, Miss Donato. You make anything I hand you look like it was made just to show you off.”
“Thank you, you’ve been wonderful.” She let Stan and Charles in, and I smiled when I saw their jaws drop. We were escorted back to the cars and driven directly to a private jet for our flight to Washington. Along the way, I was briefed by Charles on what to expect at the Embassy.
A limousine with Russian diplomatic plates picked us up and drove us to the Embassy. The door is opened, and a handsome man in his forties, dressed in an immaculate suit, extends his hand to me. “Welcome to the Russian Embassy! I am Cultural Attaché Boris Levtovsky, and I will be your guide tonight Miss Donato, or would you prefer Klishnina?”
I smiled, his English was perfect. “Jessie, please. I haven’t known my birth name long enough to respond to Natalya. Спасибо, что встретили меня (Thank you for meeting me.)”
“Я рад приветствовать вас в вашем доме (It is my pleasure to welcome you to your home). You are learning the language, excellent!”
Charles and Stan had come up next to me. “Yes, but I’m not that good yet. May I introduce my foster father, Stan Larsen, and my lawyer, Charles Thompson.” They shook hands and he led us inside.
“We will be dining with the Ambassador and some invited guests tonight,” he said as we walked into the beautiful building. “Your bags are being brought to the guest rooms, but we have some business to attend to first. If you’ll step in here, we will get the photograph and paperwork done for your passport.” We stepped into a small office and the clerk greeted us with a smile. I took a photo, and he made copies of my Russian birth certificate and adoption papers. “Your passport will be ready before the dinner. You have dual citizenship now, we would never turn away one born in our country. I would hope you grow to love it as much as I do.”
“That’s very kind,” I said. “I certainly enjoyed visiting my mother’s home and town, and I would love to see more of the Embassy if there is time.”
“Of course, Jessie. Stan, Charles, would you like to join us?” They did, and Boris was an amazing guide; introducing us to people, showing us the antiques and history of the Embassy, and making us feel at home. All too soon, I had a Russian passport in hand and we were back in our room to dress for dinner.
All eyes turned to me as I entered the ballroom, Charles and Stan at my sides in their tuxedoes. I was wearing a formal ball gown I had fallen in love with at Macy’s. It was a coral color gown with a wide fake-diamond band just below my breasts, falling into a mermaid shape to the floor. The top was strapless, the built-in support enhancing my breasts. Paired with matching heels, I felt like a princess as I looked down at the room where the guests were waiting. “Announcing the arrival of Miss Jessie Donato, formerly Natalya Klishnina, and her escorts Mr. Stan Larsen and Charles Thompson, Esquire, of Minnesota.”
The guests applauded as we walked down the stairs into the room, and Boris brought us to the reception line. We met the senior staff, finally the Ambassador. “Welcome home, Jessie,” he said with a smile.
“Thank you, Ambassador Mendev,” I said as I came up from my curtsy. “Boris has been very helpful to me, and I am very happy to have a chance to meet you all and learn more about my original home.” The three of us circulated and drank champagne, meeting Ambassadors and VIP’s from other countries. It was only a the end that he pulled me aside.
“Jessie, I know your life has changed greatly in these past few months, and it must be overwhelming at times.”Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!
“It has been a whirlwind,” I said.
“I saw what you said in Minneapolis. I just have to say, you are young, rich and free. Do not dismiss your heritage easily; you are a citizen of Russia as well, and Russia would like you to learn about her before you make decisions about where you will live for the rest of your life. There is so much to learn and experience, and Russia is a better place with you in it,” he said. “You have already done so much for us. If there is anything I can do to help you out, please ask.”
It wasn’t what he said that made me nervous, it was what he didn’t say. “Thank you, Ambassador. Your people have been so welcoming, and I’m looking forward to being in Moscow soon.”
“You will not regret it. The Moscow Pack will be better off with you at the helm, and your John is a good man. My parents are in that Pack, they have been praying for a leader like you to restore it to its former glory. I can feel your strength, you truly have the Alpha power to do the job. Only you have the heritage and strength to do this, to keep the evil men who rose to power in your father’s generation from taking over again. Please, Natalya… take the place you were born for.”
**********
John’s POV
I’ve spent a lot of sleepless nights in uncomfortable places before, but this was by far the worst.
The yappy dogs never stopped barking at each other.
The floor was uncomfortable and dirty.
I was out of communication with anyone, and away from my mate. It was the last part that really got me. I had planned to leave at sunrise with the others, taking a private jet to Moscow, and instead I was stuck here in puppy prison. Patrick, who was supposed to have taken care of all my paperwork, was going to get beaten black and blue the next time we sparred.
“Well, Beta, did you survive the night?” Larry sounded WAY too cheerful.
I growled, he probably enjoyed a huge feast and slept in a comfortable bed. “Barely. Tell me you’ve gotten everything straightened out and you’re coming to spring me from this place.” There was no answer. “You are getting me out, right?”
“We ran into a little roadblock, John. When we looked over your papers, we realized the veterinarian had signed your health certificate more than fourteen days before we arrived. It’s my fault, really; Patrick told me to make sure I had current papers, and I just brought a copy without checking the date.”
This was fixable. “So have Alpha Sven bring Doc along, he’s a registered veterinarian too. He signs the papers, and I’m gone.”
“Not happening. The only person here is a clerk who takes care of the dogs and answers the phone on weekends. Plus, it appears that now that you are in quarantine, only the Customs vet can allow you in. We even thought of flying you back, but your health certificate would be expired there, too. You’ll just have to wait until Monday morning.”
This CANNOT be happening. “What about Jessie? She’s flying in to Moscow and I’m not there to protect her!”
“She is leaving with Alpha Stan on a direct flight from Dulles to Moscow in a few hours. She’ll arrive there about midnight our time. I spoke with the Alpha, he has security arranged on both ends. She made quite an impression last night, I hear. The photos? Oh my Luna, you are a lucky man, but letting all those drunk Russians near her when she’s dressed like THAT, probably a good thing you weren’t there.”
Now I was really pissed. “What do you mean dressed like THAT? That’s my MATE you’re talking about!”
“Yep, and now you’re not so focused on the shitty living conditions you are in now, are you?” Fucker. “I’ll show you the pic on my phone when I get there. She went shopping back home, spent a whole bunch of money on a new wardrobe, and she looks like a movie star and she’s going to be almost as rich as Oprah. She must have been beating guys off with a stick.”
“You know, Larry, your counseling skills leave a lot to be desired.”
I felt his amusement. “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes or so. I had the chef box up some braised tri-tip, unless you’d rather have Purina One.” This went on, me getting more and more pissed, until finally I saw the door open and Larry came through with a stainless-steel bowl and a box. He dumped the food into the bowl and slid it through the opening. I was so hungry I ate it in about thirty seconds flat. “Good boy.” I growled at him, still mad at his teasing. “The lady said I could spend time with you, but she can’t unlock the gate. I saw a hose by the door, how about I give your palatial digs a cleaning?”
“Do that. While you’re at it, shoot some water at those yappy dogs, they kept me up all night.” I moved to the front left of the cage, and he mixed soap into a bucket and tossed that through the grates onto the walls. He then used the sprayer to clean as best he could from the outside.