The Learjet landed at Philadelphia International Airport and taxied to a private terminal. They wouldn't need to deal with security there, and could have some privacy. It was also the only way they were ever going to get all their weaponry to travel with them wherever they flew. It was so convenient to own your own air transportation! Try explaining to the TSA why it's imperative for you to carry twin Samurai swords around, for after all don'tcha know, they
are
in checked luggage, not carry on. And multiple handguns and a sniper's rifle and case after case of extra ammo, etc. "No ma'am, we're not terrorists, because..."
Astrid and Hilde led Dante and Lily out of the gate, with Brynhild and Freydis guarding the rear. They entered a small reception area and were greeted by a small group of men and women, all dressed in fine Italian suits and dresses. There was a very tall and extremely fit, beautiful woman in a tight black dress standing at the front of the group, commanding all the attention. She was about 5'11" tall, clearly very strong and lethal, with black curly hair and sharp, unique blue eyes.
She marched up to Dante and Astrid and held out her hand.
"Alpha Heir Dante Silvrash and Madame Alpha Heir Lily Silvrash, welcome to Philadelphia and the King of Prussia Pack. I am Maria Valentini, Lead Beta and sister to our Alpha Giovanni Valentini. We welcome you to our Pack and to our city, and are here to escort you to the Villa."
Dante stepped forward and shook her hand, followed by Lily before he responded to her.
"Thank you Maria, it's nice to be in your fair city and meet with you. There is one correction to make, however. I am now Alpha King of the Order of Fenrir Pack, and Lily is Madame Alpha Queen of our Pack. A lot has changed very recently and there is no way you could have known before now."
Maria's blue eyes went wide as she showed her shock. "I've never heard of that Pack before..."
Lily smiled, interjecting, "Neither has anyone else for nearly a millennium. Don't worry, we have much to explain and discuss, but we'd prefer to do it once instead of several times. Would we be permitted to travel to your Pack's Villa and explain it to your brother and to you and anyone else he wishes all at once?"
Maria smiled and relaxed a bit, regaining her composure, looking every bit the beautiful Italian temptress that she was.
"Yes of course, and my apologies. You threw me for a loop and I was a bit shocked. Let's head out to our limos and head out. It's a bit of a drive to King of Prussia and the Villa; we required a place large enough and with a bit of land for a lot of the Pack, with the rest of the Pack living here and there all around us."
Everyone headed out of the reception area and ended up seated in the limos heading out of the airport. The drive was pleasant as they talked on the way, including about events and conversations from the Alpha Conclave a few months back. Dante got the sense that Maria was trying to feel them out for something. What, he didn't know, but it was there all the same. Regardless, she was a very friendly and positive conversationalist, and for considering that she hadn't had any prior interaction with Lily and Dante or the O'Connor Pack or even much knowledge about why they had contacted her Pack and asked for this meeting, it went well.
Eventually they pulled up to the massive Villa, which was an estate where Alpha Giovanni, his sister and family, as well as most of his Pack lived. It was a sprawling Tuscan-style Villa that could easily house fifty to seventy-five people; it was basically its own little community. The limos pulled up under a permanent overhang and reception area in front of the main building, and everyone disgorged to find a very large and handsome man in a perfectly tailored silver Italian suit with a good portion of his Pack arrayed behind him. Dante and Lily walked up to him, while Maria went to stand at his side. Giovanni was a very big man, standing 6'7", powerfully built, with dark hair and the same piercing blue eyes as his sister. His mate was a tall olive-skinned woman with rich red hair and classic Italian beauty; she had warm chocolate eyes and stood beside him in a provocatively cut royal purple silk dress with ultra-tall heels, perhaps five or even six inches.
Giovanni addressed Dante and Lily, "Good afternoon and welcome to my home and my Pack. I am Alpha Giovanni Leone Valentini, and this is my beautiful mate and Madame Alpha Sophia Antonia Valentini. We have looked forward to your visit as well as our upcoming discussions."
He paused before adding, "My sister tells me through our bond that you've had a recent change of status and are now Alpha of your own Pack, is that correct?"
Dante nodded his head and responded:
"It's good to meet you and your lovely mate, Alpha Giovanni, thank you for agreeing to meet with us. I am Alpha King Dante Silvrash, the Silver King and Luna's Silver Guardian. My mate is Madame Alpha Queen Lily Silvrash, the Emerald Queen and my Great Love. We are Alpha King and Alpha Queen of the Order of Fenrir, also known as the lost Royal Bloodline and Pack. These four ladies are our personal guard and members of our Pack, our Hellhounds; Astrid, Brynhild, Hilde and Freydis."
Giovanni's eyes narrowed at Dante's proclamation, noting something in his mind. He extended his hand as did his mate Sophia, and shook Dante and Lily's hands. He stepped back and responded to Dante.
"It's a pleasure to meet you both, and congratulations on both of your recent ascensions. There is much for us to discuss; let's retire to a more comfortable setting and begin. I will lead you to my office where we can relax."
With that, their luggage was taken to a different area of the Villa while Dante and Lily and the Hellhounds followed Giovanni, Sophia and Maria, as well as several other King of Prussia wolves to his office.
They walked into the large room to see it done up elegantly in dark woods and rich reds and creams, with several sofas set up around a large low table. Everyone sat, while several people scurried around offering everyone drinks of wine, whiskey, soda, tea and water, before departing. Alpha Giovanni was sipping on a tumbler of scotch while his mate sat next to him, drinking a rich red wine.
"My family can trace its roots back to one of the original twenty Pack members of the First Pack. Down through time we have stayed true to this heritage and followed the old ways, remembering both who we are now and who we once were. Since the beginning, my family always stood beside the bloodline of the First Champion and his Great Love. We had been consistent supporters and warriors with the Royal Bloodline up until the very end, when our own brothers and sisters from rival Packs fractured our race by murdering our leaders and their own family. Therefore if what you claim is true, then our Packs have a long history together and should remain allies to this day. We remember the ancient Prophesy foretelling that the Silver Guardian is to be marked by Luna. Can you back up your words and prove this claim with certainty? Can you prove to us you are King and your mate Queen?"
At that Giovanni, his sister and his mate rose slowly and stood in front of Dante and Lily, respectfully yet challengingly.
Dante also stood. He had been wearing a black and red tailored suit over a silk shirt, and he slowly unbuttoned his jacket and shirt and removed them. Lily stood beside Dante, wearing a sensuous red silk dress with a deep sweetheart neckline adorned by her mating necklace and other jewelry Dante had given her. When Dante had disrobed down to his slacks, everyone could clearly see the seal scorched into his breast that Luna herself had placed there.
Lily said gravely to Giovanni and Sophia and Maria, "I beg you my friends, please remain very calm and don't move a muscle until we return to you; your very lives depend on it."
At that, Dante and Lily turned to face each other and their powers exploded out of them. Dante's eyes, mouth and chest radiated with a brilliant blue-white glow, and Lily's eyes, mouth and hands shone forth with a brilliant emerald green. Dante then slammed his palms together and pulled them apart to reveal a huge crackling bolt of lightning running between them. He fired it directly at Lily who was only a couple of feet away, while she raised her hands, palms together, high above her head before sweeping them away from each other in twin downward arcs, scattering the bolt as a tremendous crack of thunder exploded through the air, causing everyone to jump. Dante was breathing heavily, emitting an eerie mist from all parts of his body, and a blue-white glow emerged from his mouth as Lily stepped close to him and kissed him deeply, pulling him back from the edge. Her hands traced themselves down his cheeks, across his shoulders to his chest, then down his arms as they both returned to normal.
When they were fully back, they turned and looked at Giovanni and his mate and sister to see them and everyone else present, including even the Hellhounds, kneeling and baring their necks in submission. The power and spectacle radiating off the Royal Couple was too much for everyone to endure, and forced their submission even though they weren't intending it.
Dante and Lily spoke in unison together, "We accept your submission. Rise and be at peace."
Everyone was a bit shaken, as nothing of the sort had ever been done on this earth in many hundreds of years. Giovanni and the rest took several moments to compose themselves before he responded strongly and respectfully.
"Alpha King and Alpha Queen, we see you and recognize your authority from Luna Herself, and we thank you for your presence with us. May we now discuss what brings you here?"
For several hours they spoke, as Dante and Lily explained how their calling had come to be and why they were here. By the end, everyone was smiling. Gio (as he asked to be called, as a friend) addressed them.