Background

After 2 months in the 10^th Kingdom, Wolf and Virginia decide to return to the 4^th. Central Park was not enough for Wolf to run in and due to his special circumstances he was unable to work and he wanted to provide for Virginia and the cub. After resolving the first small crisis that had arisen, Virginia and Wolf, using the home and land given to them by Wendell as a wedding gift, opened a Restaurant and Inn, "10^th Kingdom Faire." Almost overnight, it was a success, despite Wolf's unbelievable appetite. Known for serving all regardless of race; travelers from all 9 kingdoms frequented them. Two months after opening Wolf hired a young lady, Reilly, originally from Beantown. She escaped to the 4^th Kingdom during the Troll occupation where her parents, fiancé and older sister were killed; she helps Virginia with serving and cleaning in the Restaurant. Wolf is the chef. Tony and Wendell are also frequent guests, much to the chagrin of Wendell's own kitchen staff. Shortly after starting with the restaurant Reilly and Virginia become fast friends and Tony "adopted" her as his second daughter.

Chapter 1 The story begins:

It was late evening, all of the guests had left, Tony and Wendell were sitting in the family booth talking about the Industrial Revolution that is happening in the 9 Kingdoms, Reilly was pestering Virginia to sit down and relax. Wendell's guards are in the booths on either side of Tony and Wendell.

"Virginia, I can handle the rest of the mess," Reilly said for the fourth time. "Go sit down before Wolf has a fit." Reilly took the rag from Virginia.

"Yeah, what she said," Wolf replied coming into the room from the kitchen. He was about to say something else when he turned, scratched his head, and looked toward the door. He sniffed the air and bounded toward the front. The door opened and in entered a tall silver-blond stranger, Wolf howled, and jumped at him, Virginia and Reilly were worried until they realized that the two men were hugging and smiling. "Cripes, is it really you?" Wolf exclaimed.

"Huff Puff it is," the tall stranger replied.

Virginia cautiously moved closer to them, "Wolf who is this?" she asked.

"This is Channon, my older brother," Wolf said ecstatically. "I have not seen him in 14 years, however I would recognize his scent anywhere." The two men hugged again. Tony, Wendell, and Reilly came over to where they were to meet the older wolf. Wolf grabbed Virginia and motioned to her stomach, "This is my creamy, dreamy Virginia and cub."

"Pleased to meet you" Channon replied taking Virginia's hand and kissing it softly.

"This is her sister, Reilly." Wolf said pointed toward the assembled crowd. "Their father Anthony, maker of Bouncy Castles, and of course, Prince…I mean King Wendell."

Channon moved closer to Reilly, "A pleasure to meet you miss." He kissed her hand taking in her scent, "really a pleasure." He mumbled to himself. He shook Tony's hand and then knelt in front of Wendell "Your majesty."

"Thank you, please do get up. Here I am family, not the Ruler of the 4^th Kingdom." Wendell smiled. "So what brings you to your brothers humble abode?" Wendell asked.

"I am weary from traveling and HUNGRY! What does one have to do to get some meat?" Channon asked smiling at his older brother as he sat at the nearest table. "Once I have eaten we can talk. Talking can wait, food cannot."

"Sit down, food is my specialty." Wolf replied, "Reilly please get a place setting for Channon, and a glass of warm milk. Virginia, please sit and keep my brother company while I cook."

"Yes, Wolf," Virginia replied, she sat next to Channon. Reilly went to the back looking for a place setting and a glass of milk. Tony and Wendell excused themselves back to the family booth to continue their discussion.

When Reilly returned and placed the glass on the table, Channon grabbed her hand, "Please sit awhile, I am sure my brother will not mind, neither will Virginia, I hope." He smiled at her again, Virginia noticed he had the same dark green eyes as Wolf and the same perpetual 5'oclock shadow though his hair was much longer. Like many wolves and half-wolves he kept his tail tucked into his trousers. Channon turned quickly to Reilly, Virginia noticed his nostrils flare as he inhaled Reilly's scent quietly. Reilly smiled but did not sit.

"No, please sit Reilly, we can clean the rest later." Virginia replied. Reilly sat on the other side of Channon. Virginia noticed Channon had not released Reilly's hand and was smiling, quite a bit like Wolf did the first time they met. Virginia smiled thinking to herself she should say something to Wolf about this later. They did not have long to wait before Wolf appeared with two plates of food. He placed one in front of his brother and the other in front of himself as he sat next to Virginia. Channon dropped Reilly's hand and picked up a chop.

"So brother, what brings you our way?" Wolf asked between chops.

"I have decided to begin anew in the 4^th Kingdom, if you will have me, you may not have heard but until recently I was detained in Queen Hood's jail, failure to carry my permit." He looked at his brother again, "Since your pardon, those wolves in jail on minor charges were released on the condition that we leave the 2^nd kingdom never to return." He stopped eating, "Wolf… you and I are all that is left of our pack."

Wolf dropped the chop he was gnawing on and blinked his eyes trying to hold back the tears. "Huff Puff, what happened?"

"It was the same mob that killed our parents, they tracked us down shortly after you left. I was the only one able to avoid them. I searched everywhere for you. I went to all of the kingdoms." He took a drink of milk, "I was returning to the 2^nd Kingdom when I was detained for failing to carry my permit." I was sentenced to life but once you were pardoned, Queen Hood felt it would look bad if I was kept in prison, as I am your cub-brother." Channon picked up another chop, he looked at Virginia and smiled. "Now that there is a cub on the way I am here to protect and serve."

"Of course, you will stay in the main house with us." Wolf leapt from his chair, knocking over the plate of food left at his place. "Cripes," he exclaimed. Reilly silently got up from her chair and began to clean away the mess. Virginia noticed Channon following her every move with his eyes. His nostrils flared as she returned with a fresh glass of milk. Channon downed the whole glass in one swallow. He placed the cup on the table and stood up.

"If it would be allowable, I will assist Reilly in the cleaning to compensate for my meal." Channon said to Wolf.

"Huff Puff, no, pl…" Wolf started to reply, Virginia grabbed his arm and pulled him into the chair next to her.

"Thank you Channon, please help if you would like, I need to rest," she glared at Wolf "and I am sure Wolf does too." Wolf looked at her about to say something, however, when he saw Virginia's face he stopped. Wolf drank some milk and watched his brother. He was oblivious to the fact that Channon was following Reilly around and actually doing most of the work.

Later that evening after Tony and Wendell returned to the castle, Channon was given the guest room and Reilly return to her suite at the Inn next door to the house. While they were preparing for bed Wolf began to pester Virginia, "Why did you let Channon help with the cleaning, he is a guest?"

"Are you that blind, he wasn't helping to compensate for his meal, he was helping to spend time with Reilly." She removed her dress and was slipping into her nightclothes, "I saw his nostrils flare when he kissed her hand." She smiled, when Wolf cocked his head trying to understand. "I notice these things now." She snuggled into the covers, Wolf pulled on his pajamas and let his tail loose, wagging it to give it a stretch before climbing in next to her. "Let's just go to sleep, this cub is making me more tired than I thought."

"Just don't sleep for 2 days, I couldn't go that long again without eating…" Wolf replied wrapping his arms around her growling seductively, "food that is, my creamy, dreamy Virginia."

Chapter 2

Channon glanced around the room, he removed his trousers first and gave his tail a good wag. It was always so painful to keep it tucked in but he did not feel safe with it out all the time. He pulled his shirt over his head and let it fall into a heap on the floor. Soon he was nude and heading for the bathroom, he washed quickly. When he was cleaned up, he climbed into his nightclothes and snuggled into the bed, Reilly's face and scent lingering in his thoughts. As he fell asleep, his tail thumped lightly on the feather bed. He had never had this feeling about any female before, human or wolf.

Chapter 3

Reilly smiled to herself as she undressed, she was remembering how Channon held her hand and helped her clean up. As she climbed into bed, she noticed the picture of Thelen, her late fiancé, who had been killed while trying to protect her and her family from the Trolls. She never thought once she lost Thelen she would ever find another who she could become interested in

Reilly had come to the "Faire" as most people called it, tired and half starved, when Virginia saw her sitting outside she came out with a piece of bread and began to talk with her. Reilly opened up to Virginia and told her the whole story through tears. Soon Wolf had joined them and asked if she would like employment, he and Virginia were talking of hiring someone to help Virginia as her pregnancy progressed and to be in charge while Virginia was off on maternity leave. She confessed that she had never worked in a restaurant but was willing to try. Soon she was part of the restaurant and part of the family. Tony was enamored as soon as he saw her, her vulnerable side brought out the protector in him. It gave him purpose now that Virginia was happily married and not relying on him as she had in the past. Soon he had "adopted" her as his younger daughter.