Jaguar (The Madison Wolves Book 12)
Page 43
Then she crossed to me, and I stood as she drew close.“Annabelle Delacroix. I don’t know what to say about your contribution. We relied on you heavily, and all I am able to offer is my thanks.” She wrapped around me, and I held her delicately as the wolves applauded.
Then I sat as she crossed back to Carissa.“When this pack needed help, you were here. Thank you.” That was another hug and applause, although not as loudly as for some of the others.
But then Lara stood and said firmly.“This pack welcomes a close friendship with Carissa, Queen of New Orleans.Carissa, you are forever welcome.”
Michaela stepped away.“Everyone helped. We met a challenge, and we stood firm. It is good to be pack!”
And that resulted in howls. I stayed silent, deciding my roar wasn’t appropriate. But Michaela turned to me and offered a little bow, which I returned.
Then she held up her hand, and they quieted.“All right. Kids, did you have a good summer?”
“Yes, Michaela!” they yelled together.
“Did you learn anything?”
“Yes, Michaela!”
“Are you coming back next summer?”
“Yes, Michaela!”
She turned a slow circle, her eyes settling on Lindsey for a moment, and then Iris.“And the two of you?”
“Yes, Michaela!” they yelled together.
“Good.” She spent a minute thanking the adults. Then she used perhaps five minutes explaining how the kids had spent thesummer. She talked about the activities we had done, and the things the kids had learned. She told a few short stories. And then she said,“I am proud of each and every single one of you.”
“You’re a great teacher, Michaela!” Ember yelled.
“Thank you, Ember.” Then she gestured to the table of trophies.“Where are my assistants? Lindsey. Iris.”
The two girls sprang to their feet and hurried forward.
“Excellent,” Michaela said.“Shall we get started?”
* * * *
Michaela didn’t give participation trophies. Each one was well earned, and the kids seemed pleased to receive them.
Soon all the trophies were passed out, and I saw Parker was especially beaming to be holding not one, but two.
“We have games tonight,” Michaela said.“But someone else is organizing them. I don’t know whom, but they need to be fox, human, and vampire friendly.”
There were laughs at that. Then Deirdre stepped forward and said,“And fae.”
There was a gasp, and then I heard from here and there,“Fae?”
And before us, she did something I had never seen before, although I long suspected her human form wasn’t her natural appearance. She took on her fae form, which wasn’t at all human in nature. Then she turned slowly, finally coming to a stop facing Michaela.
The fox stepped forward and hugged her friend, delivering a kiss on her cheek as they parted.
“You perhaps understand why we didn’t advertise this,” Michaela said.“But Deirdre didn’t want to return to New Orleans with this secret betweenus. And so this is now a pack secret, one we will share with no one not here tonight.”
I’d never seen Deirdre like this, and I found myself moving closer. She turned to face me. I came to a stop, looking at her.“Youare beautiful, Deirdre,” I said finally.“Thank you for sharing this with me.”
She reached out with one spindly arm, touching my cheek. And then she shimmered, and the more familiar Deirdre stood before me. She turned and ran to Carissa, who opened her arms.
Michaela stepped into the space in front of me, and in doing so, pulled the attention.“The games will be fox, pup, human, vampire, cat, wolf, and fae friendly.” She counted on her fingers as she said the words, excepting for pup. Then she held up her hands.“We have six species here tonight. Six species bound in friendship. It is good to be pack!”
This time, I roared as the wolves howled, and if I were louder than an individual wolf, I wasn’t louder than the whole.
Michaela waited, and then she said,“We haveone more order of business, and then I cede the floor, my duties done until tomorrow.”
“Two more orders of business,” Lara called out.“What is the plan tomorrow?”
Michaela laughed, but it was Angel who answered.“Kayaking! What else?”
“Perhaps some fishing?” Rory added.
“Kayak racing!” some of the kids yelled.
“Well, there you have it,” Michaela said.“Now, as I was saying, my last order of business tonight. Parker Paine, please step forward.”
Slowly, with a puzzled expression, Parker stood and approached the fox.
“Alexia Waters, front and center, please.”
With a look to mirror Parker’s, Alexia stood and came to a stop beside the other teenager.
“The two of you arrived for the summer program,” Michaela said.“Did you have a good time?”
“Yes, Michaela,” they both said.“It was the coolest summer ever,” Alexia added.
“I’m glad you think so, Alexia,” Michaela said.“I wonder what my full time program would be like. What do you think?”
Her eyes grew wide, and then she said,“Ms. Redfur?”
“I have already talked to both your parents,” Michaela said.“I would like to invite you both to remain in my program. You would go home with your parents, but you would be back with us, living on the compound, two days before the start of classes. What do you both say?”
What did they say? They both began jumping up and down. And then Alexia lifted her nose and began to howl, Parker only an instant behind her. The pack let them howl for perhaps five seconds before the remaining students joined them.
“I’ll consider that a‘yes’,” Michaela said when finally they quieted.“Congratulations, girls. I hope you appreciate how hard I’m going to make you work.”
Departures
We stayed through the weekend. As suggested, it was filled with kayaking and fishing and picnics and games in the woods.
And then Sunday morning arrived.
It had been a good summer, all things considered. I made the circles, talking to many of the wolves. Parker asked me if I thought I’d be back.
“If I’m invited, I’ll come,” I said.
“You were here for Deirdre, weren’t you?”
“And to build friendships,” I added.“Yes.”
“She’s an elf.”
“She prefers to be called fae.”
“But she’s an elf.”
“Yes. She’s an elf. I don’t recommend youcall her that to her face.”
“That is so cool!” Parker said.“I wish I had known.”
“I think she’ll be back,” I said.“I can’t imagine keeping her and Michaela apart.”
“How did they meet?”
“That is a story you should ask your alpha,” I said.
“Maybe I will.”
“Congratulations, by the way.”
She grinned.“Thank you.”
“If you ever want advice, and you can’t get it from someone here, you can call.” And then Islipped her a business card.“And I wouldn’t mind hearing how things are going. That has my email address, too. Please don’t share it.”
“I won’t,” she promised.“Thank you, Anna.”
* * * *
I looked down at the fox, she up at me.“It was a good summer,” I told her.
“You could stay,” she replied.“You’d be welcome.”
“I appreciate that. I’ll be back, but it’s your turn again.”
She smiled.“I wouldn’t mind seeing the alligators again. You need to spend more time with us if we visit again.”
“I will,” she said.“If you come for a longer visit, and the weather is nice, we can go out on the gulf and catch some real fish.”
“Yeah, because that trout you pulled in yesterday was only fifteen pounds.”
“Pshaw,” I said.“A baby.”
At that, she stepped into me, and we held each other a long ti
me.
* * * *
Elisabeth helped drive us to the airport. I knew when she got back, it would be time for the wolves to head back to Madison, but we were leaving from the airport here. Elisabeth hugged Deirdre and then turned to Carissa.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“I’m glad I could help,” Carissa said.“Keep her safe, Elisabeth.”
“I do my best.”
The two looked at each other awkwardly. Then Carissa reached up and caressed a cheek before offering a brief hug. She stepped away and said,“We’ll see you on the plane, Anna.”
Elisabeth and I watched Carissa and Deirdre turn and climb into the aircraft. Once they disappeared, I turned to the wolf and she to me.
“Well,” she said.“You’re always welcome.”
“Thank you,” I said.“Will you accept Carissa’s invitations?”
“I imagine some of them. Will you accept ours?”
“I imagine some of them.”
We looked at each other, and after a moment, we both nodded.
We didn’t hug. We didn’t touch. Instead, she took a step backwards, and with that, I turned to the waiting jet.
I had my hand on the railing before I stopped, froze, and then slowly turned around. Elisabeth was watching me. I set my bag down by the stairs, straightened, and then began walking straight for her, my stride sure and purposeful.
For her part, the wolf held her ground, and when I pulled her into my arms, she let me.
When I pulled her mouth to mine, she let me.
When my tongue demanded entrance, she let me.
When finally I released her, at first, she didn’t let me, but then she released slowly. We separated, a foot perhaps, the air hot between us, and we stared into each other’s eyes.
“I’ll be back,” I declared.
About the Author
A writer by avocation, Robin has a renaissance interest in many areas. A bit of a gypsy, Robin has called a few places home and has traveled widely. A love of the outdoors, animals in general and experimenting with world cuisines, Robin and partner share their home with a menagerie of pets and guests, although sometimes it is difficult to discern who is whom.
Robin can be reached via email as robin.roseau@gmail.com. Robin's web site is http://www.robin-roseau.com.
Works by Robin Roseau
The Madison Wolves Series
Fox Run
Fox Play
Fox Mate
Fox Afield
Fox Revenge
Fox Dish
Fox Lost
Wolf Watch
Wolf Ways
Wolf Women
Fox Fate
Jaguar
Omega (coming soon)
Fox Short Stories
Hunting Pups
Fox in the Water
Fox Rematch (set after Fox Mate and Fox Afield)
Fox Opponent
A Foxy Valentine
Other Books in the Madison Wolves Universe
Familiar
Kitty Cat
Poor Little Witch Girl
Seer
Seer: Thrall
The Selected Series
Collected
Taken
Volunteer
Candidate
Recruited
Galatea
Beginnings
The Games People Play Series
Stories that ask a simple question: do you want to play a game?
Do You Want to Play a Game?
My Soul to Play
Other Novels and Novellas
Anonymous Bidder
Blood Slave
A Charming Brew
Emergency Claus
Fitting In
Fluid
Free to Love
Galatzi Trade
Galatzi World
In Custody
Lost in the Words
Outside The Box
Privateer
Stark's Dell
Submission
Surprise
The Interrogation
Tresjolie
Trust
White
The Ski Bindings Shorts
Short stories of love and lust amongst the slopes.
Snow Fox
Short Stories
Cooking for Love
Southern Night
Captured by the Raptor (writing as Rosetta Robins)
Jaguar
Copyright 2017 by Robin Roseau
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This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.
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License Notes
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