by Robin Roseau
She frowned, and then her features turned to even greater annoyance. I kept my mouth closed and turned away again.
“All right,” she said finally. “I don’t think the uncertainty is your fault. I never sought for this position, for authority over anyone else. That’s not the nature of a fox. We don’t covet power.”
“You wield it well,” I inserted.
“Thank you,” she replied. “It’s been a learning experience primarily born from knowing what I want and being willing to push people around to get it. But that’s not the same thing as wanting the power to push people around.”
“You just know what you want.”
“Right.” She paused, and I glanced at her. “I want another chance.”
“I already gave you two.”
“I want a third. And if I grow heavy handed again, I want you to tell me.”
“Oh, I don’t think so.”
“I don’t make promises I don’t keep,” she said. “I promise I won’t punish you for telling me if I’m being heavy handed. I won’t ask you to promise, but if I am heavy handed, please tell me.”
“I’ll think about it,” I said.
“I release you from your obligation to Lara and me for that wager. I would like you to pay Portia though, as a sort of thank you for watching over you.”
“I pay my debts, Alpha.”
“I know you do. I still release you of that obligation.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
“Did you have more you wanted to say on this topic?”
“No. I didn’t want to talk about this in the first place.”
She smiled. “I’m not sure that’s entirely true, but I understand. So. My friend…”
She paused, and I nodded. “Your friend,” I agreed. I didn’t really believe it, but I wasn’t willing to fight with her. Her smile grew.
“I would like to ask a favor,” she said. “I could use your help.”
“I owe you pack service, anyway.”
“I was hoping you would become a permanent assistant, and I hold more outings than your service would call for. I’d pay you, but we’re out of money in the budget, and I don’t want to ask the council for more money. But at least we would cover your expenses, and maybe that’s worth something.”
I thought about it. I actually had enjoyed helping her with her classes, and it gave me opportunities I couldn’t afford myself. I nodded. “You don’t have to pay me,” I said. “Do you mind if I talk about GreEN?”
“No, I don’t, and I don’t mind if you find opportunity for nature photos. In fact, I encourage it. How would you feel about teaching a class on nature photography? I bet I could get the council to pay for that.”
“You want me to train my competition? I bet wolves could get really good photos. They can get places I can’t. Hell, they can take photos of each other and pass them off as wild wolf photos. They could get the best wolf photos on the planet.”
I could tell she wasn’t sure if I was teasing.
“They wouldn’t dare. Do you know how much trouble they’d be in?”
I smiled. “I’m teasing. Mostly. I wouldn’t suppose you would pose for fox photos?”
“No, I will not,” she said, but she smiled. “About the class?”
“Are you talking an hour class during the field trip, or a real class?”
“A real class. Maybe two classes a week for a term, plus time during outings.”
I didn’t want to get sucked into her plans. My entire plan was to fade into obscurity, and being under Michaela’s thumb would make that more difficult.
“I’m not qualified to teach formally,” I said slowly.
“You’re a natural educator,” she replied. “You would be perfect.”
“It’s an hour round trip to teach a one-hour class,” I observed. Maybe I could make it took expensive for her budget. “And they would need proper equipment.”
“We would make it worth your trouble,” she assured me. “How proper of equipment?”
Inwardly I sighed. “Digital SLR for sure. Lens choice would be based on what you want them to learn to photograph. If you want close up work like flowers and insects, that means a macro lens and maybe a small tripod. If you want them to photograph wild animals, that means a telephoto lens. My best telephoto lens cost me sixteen hundred dollars, although the one I really want is nearly six grand. They wouldn’t need that much, but you get what you pay for.”
“I would want a comprehensive course. Can you do a proposal? Explain what you would teach and what equipment you would recommend, maybe as a minimum, desired, and premium.”
“These kids can come up with a thousand dollars, maybe fifteen hundred worth of photo equipment?”
“Most of them. Not all the kids will be interested.
“Do you want me to recommend professional level equipment?”
“I think you should explain what you have and why you picked it, and what you would buy if money weren’t an object. Then make recommendations that make sense.”
“All right. I can do that.”
“When can you get it to me?”
“When do you want it?”
“First draft for us to discuss before your sentence is over? Can you do that?”
“Are you going to judge the proposal based on a first draft?”
“No, I already know I want to do this. I don’t want you to spend too much time on it. I want to see what you produce and then guide you towards the final proposal.”
“Then yes, I can have it done in that timeframe, perhaps sooner. I don’t know how hard Portia intends to work me, but I presume I’ll have time. It might be a little rough.”
“Rough is fine. Can you do a very introductory, informal class next weekend with whatever equipment the kids have? That might mean cell phones.”
“Cell phones have very good cameras,” I said. “Yes. I can talk about lighting and composition, and then we can take a walk and see what they find interesting.”
“Good. We leave Thursday. If you have photos to ship, plan accordingly.”
Then she smiled. “Lara’s going to have words for me.”
“Oh?”
“Every time she turns around, I’m doing something new with the school.” She paused. “I want an email from you before you go to bed tonight. Send me the list of lenses I might want for my camera with an explanation of why.”
“You’re going to attend my class?”
“I am,” she said with a smile.
I sighed. “There goes my best customer.”
She laughed. “Naw. You’ll always be better than I am. I’m pulled in forty-seven different directions. But I want to know enough to talk intelligently to you about it, and I think I want to go on some of your photo outings.”
We smiled at each other for a moment or two before she said, “That’s all I had. We’ll coordinate a little more next week. Did you have anything else?”
I thought about it then nodded. “You don’t have to answer this, but in your opinion, was I wrong to break up with Elisabeth.”
She frowned and shifted in her seat, then stilled. “You know, I wish I could say yes, you were wrong. But no. She seemed quite taken with you, and I think she was. But she’s conflicted about what she wants.”
“Portia said that about Eric.”
“Oh?”
“He wants a strong wolf who will let him be dominant.”
Michaela smiled. “I suppose so. Elisabeth wants someone very feminine who can run with her. According to Lara, she used to date guys, but when she became head enforcer, something changed. I think she’s still figuring things out. Maybe if she’d dated a few more humans — or a few more anyones — she would have had better perspective.”
“She thought she was settling.”
“Not shifting to fur was a litmus test she couldn’t get past,” Michaela said. “She was more than satisfied in every other way.”
“My being vegan?”
Michaela waved th
at away. “That’s minor. It adds amusing character to the relationship. Yeah, it might be a pain in the ass for both of you from time to time, but she wasn’t going to let that get in the way. Were you?”
“No, as long as she wouldn’t make me cook the flesh of dead animals.”
“Elisabeth may think about what she’s lost and ask for another chance. If she does, I hope you’ll consider it. Not that I think she’s going to, so don’t plan your life around it. But she might.”
I didn’t answer that, as I no longer wanted anything to do with Elisabeth anymore, not after her behavior towards me yesterday. I wasn’t even sure why I’d asked my question. “Thank you for answering, Michaela. I wouldn’t suppose you’ve stopped meddling?”
She smiled. “Don’t hold your breath. Feeling better?”
“Let me rephrase myself,” I said. “I would rather you stop meddling in my love life, Michaela.”
“I’ll think about it,” she replied. “Feeling better?” she repeated.
I thought about it and nodded.
“Good.”
“I don’t know if Monique waited. Am I allowed to find Portia without an escort?”
“Go see if she’s waiting. If not, I’ll call her and find out where she is.”
I rose from the chair, poked my nose out, and found Monique had indeed waited. “Ready?” she asked.
“She’s here,” I said to Michaela.
“Then you’re all set.”
Games
“Wake up, sleepyhead.”
“Mmmm. It’s Sunday, Portia!”
“I know,” she said. “And it’s going to be a beautiful day. Now, do you want a repeat from yesterday?”
I sat bolt upright. “I’m up! I’m up!” Yesterday I had fallen back asleep, and she made good on her threat to return with ice, and not just a couple of cubes, either.
“That’s better. We’ve been invited on an outing. You may come with, or you may spend the day in the cell.”
“Oh there’s a choice for you,” I said. I opened my eyes to see she was grinning. “Would you really make me spend the day in the cell if I didn’t want to go?”
“Yep, but it’s not my fault. There’s no one to leave you with, and I have some leeway with you, but not that much.”
I rolled away from her, my mood growing sour.
“Where are we going?” I asked quietly.
“I’m not sure I should tell you.”
I didn’t respond.
“It’s something humans do,” Portia added. “It’s outdoors. It’s a beautiful day. We’re going to have a barbeque. And I think there are plans for a movie this evening.”
“Am I going to wish I picked the cell?”
“I think you’re going to have fun,” she said. “I’ll pick your clothes while you’re showering. Please hurry.”
I rolled to face her and narrowed my eyes. “Barbeque. That means burnt flesh.”
“I wouldn’t let you starve,” she replied. “Francesca is going, and she is already assuming everyone on the compound is going. Well, except the pups. They’re too young.”
“All right,” I said. “Fine. It’s not like I have a choice.”
She helped me from bed then said, “Zoe, have the last few days been as bad as you thought they would be?”
I looked down. “No.”
“Why is that?”
“You know why.”
“Tell me anyway.”
“Because you’ve been with me.”
“Would you really rather stay here than spend a glorious day outdoors with me?” she asked. “Monique will be there, too, and she’s looking forward to you coming.”
“No,” I admitted. “I’m not upset about that. I’m upset you think you have to put me in the cell if you can’t keep an eye on me.”
“I don’t,” she said. “And Lara hasn’t flat out said anything to me about it, but I think she wishes she hadn’t added that stipulation to your sentence. But it’s hard to take things like that back. Zoe, I’m sorry about that. But I’ll do what I can to make sure you have a nice time today. We all will.”
I nodded and hugged her briefly before heading to the shower.
* * * *
A half hour later, it was clear everyone else knew where we were going, and they all seemed excited. There was a fair amount of trash talk going on, some of it directed at me. It was hard to fight back when I had no idea what we would be doing.
Everyone seemed to know I didn’t have a clue what we were doing and seemed amused by it. I tried to get Monique to tell me, but she simply locked her lips and threw away the key.
In the end, it was a forty-minute drive. I rode with Portia, Monique, and three of Michaela’s students. The kids were ribbing each other and trying to tease me. It was clear there was to be some sort of competition, so I didn’t understand why Portia thought I’d have fun. Whatever it was, I couldn’t compete with the wolves.
As we drew closer to our destination, Portia said, “Monique, it’s time.”
I was in the passenger seat of Portia’s SUV. Monique leaned forward and said, “Don’t struggle.” And then she wrapped a blindfold over my eyes.
“Seriously?” I asked.
“Everyone wants to see your reaction,” Portia explained. “Let them have their fun.”
“Be honest, Zoe,” Monique said. “Can you see?”
“A little light out the bottom,” I said. “That’s all.”
“That’s fine,” Portia said. “Please don’t try to peak, Zoe.”
“I don’t believe I’m going to have the fun you promised, Portia.”
“I didn’t promise fun; I predicted it and promised to do my best to ensure it. I hope you’ll give it a fair chance.”
“You’re having far too much fun with this,” I said. I raised my voice. “You all are.”
They just laughed.
I laid my head against the back of the seat and turned to “look” out the window, although I couldn’t see anything. I didn’t like being the brunt of their humor. They weren’t picking on me any more than they were each other, but I still didn’t like it. I felt like they were ganging up on me, the token human.
I didn’t say anything else, and I stopped asking questions.
I realized I was nervous and it was making me crabby.
From behind me, Monique leaned forward and whispered into my ear, “We’re going to have fun, Zoe. Maybe Portia won’t promise, but I will.”
What did she know? She was only fifteen and a big strong wolf. She didn’t know what it was like being small, weak, and afraid.
Was I afraid? Not for my life, or even of getting hurt. But I was afraid of being the fool. I realized I was quite afraid of that. I’d been that plenty in school, and I suppose often enough since.
I turned my head towards Monique. “Is everyone going to pick on me?”
“Everyone is going to pick on everyone,” she replied. “But if anyone gets singled out, it will be the alphas and the enforcers.”
“And the token human?”
“You’re not the only one,” she replied. “Scarlett’s father is here.”
“How about your mom?”
“No. Everyone on the compound, basically. Even Francesca will play.”
Five minutes later, we left the highway and were bouncing along a rough dirt track. Then we came to a stop, and I could hear the sounds of the other cars’ doors opening and closing.
“Monique, take care of Zoe at least until we let her take off the blindfold,” Portia directed.
“Wait there,” Monique said. I listened as everyone climbed from the car. Then my door opened, and Monique helped me out. I took her arm.
“The ground is uneven,” she warned me. “Lift your feet; don’t shuffle.”
I nodded and let her lead me. I heard the other wolves all around me, and then Elisabeth said, “Okay, I think we’re all here. Everyone remember: there are humans here. Limit yourselves to human abilities.”
“Is th
at rule for me?” I whispered to Monique.
“No.”
Elisabeth continued to talk. “I want to see good sportsmanship.”
“Does that mean no ganging up on the head enforcer?” someone asked.
“Yes,” she said. “That’s exactly what that means.”
“As if,” I heard from several voices, and there was general laughter.
“We should have time for several games before lunch and then even more this afternoon. We’re going out for pizza afterwards. Zoe, we called ahead, and they know how to make vegan pizza.”
“Not just vegetarian?”
“Vegan. They promised.”
“Thank you,” I said. “That is very thoughtful. I know I’m a pain in the ass.”
“Yeah,” someone said. I thought it might be Rory. “But you’re our pain in the ass.”
That produced laughter, including from me.
“All right,” Elisabeth said. “We’re going to move inside. There’s a viewing area. We’ll let Zoe take her blindfold off there, then we’ll get signed in and grab our gear.”
Around me, the wolves teased each other. Monique kept me steady, even catching me once when I stumbled. We moved inside.
“Put her here, Monique,” Michaela said. We took a few steps, and then Monique turned me to face a particular direction. I heard milling around me, then Michaela said, “Remove her blindfold.”
I let Monique do it. I blinked a few times, then looked around.
We were in a rustic building with tall ceilings. I couldn’t see much of the building, as the big, tall wolves were crowded around me. But there was a large, panoramic window in front of me. Beyond the window was some sort of weird obstacle course.
I looked at the wolves. Most of them were watching my reaction.
“I have no idea where we are,” I said.
“Just watch,” Michaela said. “You’ll figure it out. There’s a game in progress.”
So from perhaps five feet away, I watched out the window. After a minute, a group of four people moved into view. They were carrying some odd sort of gun and wearing camouflage clothing, complete with some sort of face shield. They ducked behind two of the obstacles and then began firing over and around them.