by Robin Roseau
But Lara turned to me and held out her hand. I stepped to her, and she introduced me to Dominick. "We met earlier," he said.
"Ah," I said. "Of course. Charcoal suit, you sat on my left towards the middle of the table."
"Yes," he said. "Good memory."
"I only remember because you seemed distracted."
"My apologies," he said. "I was listening intently, but I trust the alpha's judgment, so the meeting was simply a formality for me. Please fetch me a chair, though. I see a collection of them there. I hate to admit it, but I have a difficult hip."
"Of course," I said. "Alpha, I need a short moment of your time when you can spare it." I didn't wait for her to respond but found one of the chairs lined up on the edge of the field and fetched it for Dominick. When I provided it, he took it gracefully and settled in, then waved us off. Lara took my arm and pulled me away.
"What's up?"
Scarlett and Angel were talking animatedly to themselves, and I simply looked in that direction until Lara's gaze followed mine.
"Ah," she said. "It's about damned time."
"You knew?"
"Yes. I know all, little fox. Haven't you figured that out yet?"
"Of course, Alpha."
"What are they talking about?"
I found myself immediately listening to their conversation. "Kayaking," I said.
Lara stared at me intently. "I got you."
"What?"
"How good is your hearing, Michaela?"
"I don't know," I said. "Pretty good, I guess. Why do you ask?"
"So you can hear them talking from here?"
I glanced at her. "I told Angel to invite Scarlett kayaking next weekend. Look at their body language. What else could they be talking about?"
Lara frowned at me before watching the girls. "Oh, I see," she said. There was a commotion, and platters of food began appearing on the serving tables, Jeremy and Alan assisting Gia, Serena and Francesca. Francesca caught Angel talking to Scarlett then searched the field until she saw me with Lara.
"Why did you invite Angel down? We're going to be even further behind."
"She deserves to be here for this."
"Who knows what's going on?"
"Just the council. Everyone else knows something is up, and people are guessing, but no one is even close. The enforcers started a pool. Elisabeth is keeping me posted."
I laughed. "What are the choices?"
"Wedding announcement; Adjustments to the council; A change in the tithing percentages; An announcement we're annexing one of the neighboring packs, the Michigan Upper Peninsula being the most popular choice. Someone made a completely wild guess that I am abdicating as alpha to move to Bayfield."
"Are you?" I said it with a grin. "I know a fox with a nice home she would share."
"You'll have to wait for everyone else, if that's what you think the announcement is," she said, laughing. "There are others. Hmm. You're being banished. You're being made into an enforcer. I'm not sure what else. Not a single one is right."
I laughed. "An enforcer. Funny. Is there money involved?"
"Yes. Quite a bit now. Don't even think of getting involved."
"I could drop a hint to Angel."
She laughed. "And I could paddle your naked bottom in front of the rest of the pack."
"I haven't said a thing to anyone!" I said, rubbing my bottom worriedly. Lara smiled at me as if she was anticipating the moment.
Scarlett and Angel came up with plates of food for Lara and me. Angel had another glass of lemonade for me. "Angel, hang onto that," Lara said. "Michaela is going to fetch chairs."
She grinned at me. "Yes, alpha," I told her and retrieved four of the folding chairs, spreading them about.
Angel watched me dubiously for a minute, then I heard her ask Scarlett, "Does anyone know what the announcement is? And if not, is there a pool running?"
I set the chairs up and Lara sat in one. I took another and Angel handed me my plate. She and Scarlett scampered off. "Lara, I did not tell her. I absolutely did not tell her. Who is managing the pool?"
"Elisabeth," Lara said. "And if Angel guessed right, she won't want anyone else to hear."
Elisabeth wandered past, carrying a plate, and took one of the open chairs. "Lara, your little fox is in trouble."
"Angel is going to win the pool?"
"And Scarlett. They're both over themselves with the idea." Elisabeth glared at me.
"She didn't tell," Lara said. "Angel figured it out. The little fox was too quick to acquiesce to a demand from the alpha. No back talk or anything. Couple that with her being invited down separately from Michaela and it wasn't a stretch."
"They won't tell anyone else," Elisabeth said. "They won't want to share the pool."
"What's the most ridiculous guess?" I asked Elisabeth.
"That the entire pack is relocating to Bayfield," Elisabeth said. "Who could believe that one?" She said it lightly, but she was smirking at me when she said it.
"Some of us might want to believe it," I suggested. "But I know it's a dream that isn't going to happen." I turned to Lara. "How soon are you going to insist I move down here?"
"I'm not," she said. "It will be your decision. I felt out a few people about moving the pack, and there were a few who loved the idea, but we're just too heavily invested down here. I'm sorry. To be quite honest, I like it up there, too."
The woman Angel had said was Vivian Chandress walked across the field to us, taking the last free chair. Lara introduced us. She said something kind, I said I'd heard good things about her. She asked me what. I told her, "I believe the word used was 'brilliant'." She seemed to appreciate that.
Three move wolves joined us. I was introduced to Violet, Sexton and Wanda. Sexton and Wanda appeared to be married. They sat down in the grass, forming a rough circle with the chairs already here. Violet remained standing but was looking at me pointedly. I wondered if I had something in my teeth.
"You met Violet earlier," Vivian told me. "This afternoon, I believe."
I stared at Vivian for a moment. Vivian dropped her eyes to my chair. If I'd met Violet this afternoon, that must be she was council. I stood up and said, "Of course. My apologies. Violet, would you care for a seat? I was done eating but would be happy to retrieve drinks if anyone would like anything?"
Violet took my seat and asked for a soft drink. "No caffeine," she said. I got a chorus of requests, but none from Sexton and Wanda, and ran off to fill the order. When I got back I passed out the drinks then sat in the grass next to Lara.
"You know, I wonder if I could talk the council members into wearing a little pin or something so I can recognize you. Or maybe a little bell on your ankles."
Violet frowned at the suggestion. She snapped her fingers at me and said, "Fox. I would like more venison."
"Yes, ma'am," I said. I gave Lara a look though. They were treating me like a servant. She shrugged, and I put up with it, putting on a sweet face.
Mr. Berg caught me at the serving table. "They will push you harder before they back off."
"And you?"
"I do not play petty games. If I order you about, it will be for something more important than a slice of venison."
"Will she be happy with one slice?"
"I'd make it three."
"Thank you."
I returned with the plate of venison for Violet. She took it haughtily, and I decided I didn't like her.
"Little fox," Lara said. "Sit here, please." She pointed to the space in front of her. So I sat on the ground at her feet, and she possessively put her hand on my shoulder. I glanced up at her and smiled, leaning against her legs.
I paid attention to the conversation around us. Eric came up and whispered in Elisabeth's ear. I listened in. "Fifty bucks?" He asked. Paper exchanged hands. "You're challenging Lara so she can move to Bayfield," was his prediction.
"All right," she said. "You're in. That's very specific. If anyone got it half right, you'll have to sha
re a portion."
"You're not going to write it down?"
"I only need to remember the winners, Eric. If you're right, I'll remember."
Around me, I saw the wolves were starting to finish eating, at about the same rate the pile of food became depleted. Angel and Scarlett wandered around, collecting plates from everyone. Scarlett crouched down next to me and whispered in my ear, "Did you tell her?"
"I wouldn't do that," I told her quietly. "I can't tell you what she told me any more than I can tell her what you told me. You should ask her. Are you coming kayaking?"
She hugged me. "Yes. And thank you."
"Don't go overboard. Make sure you both know what you're doing before you lose your heart more than you have. And the alpha already knew, by the way."
"She sees everything."
A male, his face vaguely familiar from the council meeting, stopped by. He complained about his beer being empty while looking pointedly at me. I started to get up, but Lara clamped a hand on my shoulder and asked Scarlett to make sure everyone had the drinks they wanted.
The male looked annoyed then turned away. I looked over my shoulder at Lara, and she said quietly, "Mine."
I laid my head on her leg. "Yours."
She felt nice.
Dusk began to settle in. Lara caressed my head. "We seem to have some pack business to conduct. Little fox, as you have so forcefully declared yourself as not pack, perhaps you can wait in our bedroom."
"All right," I said. "How long should I remain there?"
"When it is proper for you to return, someone will retrieve you. No eavesdropping, Michaela."
I got up, using her leg as a lever, and she squeezed my hand. I walked behind her, brushing my fingers through her hair, and headed straight for the house.
Rory stopped me. "I know you know what's going on," he said. "Tell me and I'll share the pot with you."
"Sorry, Rory. I may know, I may not. But if I know and told you, Lara would be very unhappy with me."
Scarlett and Angel were just finishing in the kitchen. "Angel, do you have your iPod? May I borrow it during the pack meeting they're having?"
"Sure." She pulled it out of her pocket and handed it over. "You know how to use it?"
"Yes. I'm not that old."
She laughed.
"You two better get outside.
"Is it true?" Angel asked. "It's just us, you can tell us."
"Angel, you are very clever, and I'm sure you understand when I tell you, I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh my god, it's true!" She ran around the room, jumping in the air and pumping her fist, and I laughed watching her. She hugged Scarlett then they both hugged me.
"Angel," I said. "If Lara thinks I have confirmed or denied any rumors, it will go very, very badly for me. Now please get out there. I did NOT confirm nor deny whatever it is you are so excited about."
"But you know," she said.
"Know what?" I asked.
"What's going on?"
"What is going on is that I am not invited to pack business, so I am going to go upstairs and relax until someone tells me it's over and I can come back outside. So please go outside looking vexed that I wouldn't tell you anything."
"Yes, Michaela," she said. "See you later."
They headed outside, and I plugged the ear buds in and searched for some palatable music. It was quite the search, then I found her section titled "retro" and was shocked it was music from when I was her age. Retro? I was not retro! Still, it was good music.
I played the music loudly enough that I couldn't hear anything from outside the house. Lara had ordered me not to eavesdrop. She might some day learn how good my hearing was, and I wanted to be able to honestly tell her I hadn't listened in.
I also didn't hear when a four-footed wolf entered the house and climbed the stairs. I had left the door partly ajar but had my eyes closed and was somewhat startled when I felt a cold wolf nose against my neck. I almost startled out of my skin, opening my eyes and leaping away from a grinning Gia in fur.
"You startled me!" I told her. "Am I being summoned?"
She chuffed and turned towards the door.
"Feet or fur?" I asked her.
She didn't answer.
"Gia, please. Feet or fur?"
She turned around, returned to my side, and gently took my hand, pulling me towards the door.
"Feet it is," I told her.
It was somewhat intimidating when I stepped out of the house and saw the assembled wolves, every single one in fur except for Lara. The bonfire was going, and she was standing before it, backlit. I stopped and stared at the assembled wolves, all of them looking at me expectantly. There was a clear path to Lara, and there was a circle of wolves flanking her to either side, Elisabeth to her immediate left, and a gap to her right.
Gia had paused briefly, allowing me a moment to take it all in, then she led the way through the assembled wolves, me following behind her.
I followed Gia right to the edge of the circle, perhaps four paces short of Lara. Gia turned to me for a moment, offered a wolfy smile, and stepped to the side, joining the other wolves. I turned back to face Lara.
"Alpha," I said. "I believe you requested my presence."
"Michaela Redfur, alpha fox of the Bayfield foxes, dearest friend of the Madison wolves, close personal friend to many wolves gathered here today, and rescuer of our young, I greet you."
The wolves howled a greeting. I hadn't been near that many howling wolves, and I was forced to cover my ears.
"All right, settle down," Lara said, grinning at them. "Our little fox is so delicate she seems to be damageable simply from our combined voice." There was chuffing at that.
"Thank you, Lara, alpha of the Madison wolves, my protector, my safety, my lover and best friend ever, I am very pleased to greet you." If she was going to engage in flowery speech, I could at least attempt to match her.
Lara looked around before speaking. "The Madison wolves have known of this little fox for some time, since shortly after she first moved into our territory, during the time of the previous alpha. She has lived near us but not amongst us for many years, offering respect during our encounters and displaying a care for our lands and waters like no other. We lived near each other, but we did not know each other, and we would not have called each other friends."
I nodded.
"That changed last summer," she said. "The pack requested your assistance, Michaela, and you offered your assistance along with the hand of friendship. I will never forget our first meeting in your home in Bayfield, and the immortal words."
She grinned. "Alpha, the dishes are in that cupboard."
The wolves chuffed in amusement.
"You were small, and frightened, and your history has taught you to be very wary around wolves, but you fed us a meal and you offered your hand, and that day was a turning point."
It was then I realized I was starting to cry, tears crawling slowly down my cheeks. I brushed them away.
"Since then, at significant risk to yourself, you have continued to help the pack, proving your loyalty and integrity far beyond any expectation. In spite of your diminutive size, you have been brave and strong, and I could not be more proud to have you in my life."
The pack began howling again, somewhat subdued from last time, but again I covered my ears. Whatever would it sound like if they were all here?
The howling turned into chuffing, which I could handle.
"Michaela, the Madison wolves wish to thank you for your friendship and loyalty." Then she stepped past me, and I turned to face her. "I ask you, my wolves, my pack, my friends, shall we set new history? Shall we invite this fox to our pack, to share both our responsibilities and our rewards? To hunt our lands, defend our young, and defeat our enemies? Who here would see this done?"
The wolves howled, and it was beyond deafening. I covered my ears, cringing, but Lara let them howl. She stepped to me and turned me, facing this way and that, and e
very wolf had nose to the air, howling in approval. She turned me to face the council, and they were also howling for me.
Then Lara held up a hand, and they quieted. I slowly lowered my hands from my ears. Lara walked around me, and I followed her with my head. "It appears, little fox, that the decision tonight is unanimous, or nearly so. One vote remains."
I looked around, wondering who hadn't voted, and Lara grinned. "We have not heard your vote, Michaela Redfur. What say you?"
I looked around, finding familiar wolf faces. I could barely see Angel and Scarlett. Janice was there, standing next to Francesca. Gia had melted into the crowd, and I didn't see her right away, but Eric and Rory were watching me. I turned to look at Elisabeth, and then finally to Lara.
"Yes, absolutely yes."
Again, the wolves went crazy with their howls, but Lara held up her hand immediately. "Let us save her ears for a moment or two, I think." She stepped up beside me. "Me first, then Elisabeth," she said quietly. I nodded understanding.
"Michaela Redfur, alpha fox of the Bayfield foxes, if you wish to henceforth be known as Michaela Redfur, omega fox of the Madison weres, show us your fox and your devotion."
"Omega?" I asked her quietly.
"Later," she said just as quietly.
I nodded, unbuttoning the top three buttons of my blouse. I stepped away from her, towards the right several paces, then in a blink I turned and dashed to her, leaping for her and shifting midair. My clothing fluttered off me, and Lara caught me in mid air, laughing. I had surprised her. She held me for a moment, showing me off. The pack chuffed their amusement. Lara set me down, and I immediately rolled onto my back, offering my neck.
Lara took her time, leaving me there at her feet, while she disrobed. Everyone was silent, and I waited patiently, looking up at her.
She was so beautiful.
Then she shifted, and her wolf stood over me, just as beautiful. She set a paw on my chest and slowly lowered her mouth around my throat. She held me like that, and I waited. She began increasing the pressure on my chest and on my throat, and when it was on the edge of painful, much tighter than I usually allowed, I whimpered softly.