by Robin Roseau
"How do you feel about me?"
"I love you, Lara."
"And I love you. And respect you deeply. Nothing has changed. Your only flaw, as far as I am concerned, is your lack of self-esteem."
"How about my ability to fly off the handle?"
"If the situation had been different, do you think I would have been calmer?"
I laughed. "Maybe not."
"Are we okay?" she asked me again.
"Yeah. We're okay."
"Good."
Dinner was ready shortly after, our usual huge platters of food. Sophia and Ava brought plates to Lara and me. Mine was wolf sized. I ate what I wanted, and Lara took care of the rest for me.
We lit a bonfire. The pack loved its bonfires. Lara spent some time talking to Benny. I edged away and people watched for a while, then Lara caught my eye, and I saw June disappearing into one of the cabins. I walked over to Lara, suddenly nervous, and sat down on the ground in front of them.
"Little fox," Lara said. "Benny and I were having the most interesting conversation. We were talking about secrets."
"Secrets. That can be complicated."
"Yes. He said some things that suggest he is amazingly good at keeping secrets."
"Benny's a good man," I said. "I'd trust him with my secrets."
Lara nodded to me, and I turned to address Benny directly. "So, want to see a really big secret?"
He laughed. "I imagine it's not that big a secret if you're going to show it to me while everyone is watching so intently."
"Oh, I think you might be surprised. You're a good man, Benny. I am going to show you something. Do you promise to never talk about it to anyone else without my permission?"
"What's going on, Michaela?"
I took a deep breath. "Just promise. It's nothing illegal or immoral."
"All right, Michaela. Sure."
I was already wearing loose clothing, so I didn't bother undressing. I simply shifted, making it take a few seconds, and then when I was done, I stepped daintily out of my clothing and sat back down in front of him.
Benny stared at me. And stared. And stared. Then he said, "That is so cool!" He looked at Lara. "Is that really Michaela?"
"Want to pet her?" she asked. "Her fur is really soft." I stood up and jumped into Lara's lap, then stretched across both their laps. I startled Benny a little, but then he reached out and ran his fingers through my fur. I shifted around until he found the right spots, then closed my eyes in bliss.
"She likes this, too," Lara said, then showed him how I licked my ears scratched.
"A tame fox," Benny said.
"No. Michaela. Were fox."
I opened my eyes and looked over my shoulder, then leaned up and licked Benny's face real quick before settling back down.
"Were fox. Like, werewolf."
"Yes, but a fox. Isn't she glorious?"
I preened. My fox loved being complimented.
"Yes," Benny agreed. "She seems big for a female fox."
"She is," Lara agreed. "Weres are usually bigger than their natural counterparts."
Benny looked around. "Are you all were foxes?" he asked.
"Oh no," Lara said. "Michaela is quite unique. How are you doing with this, Benny?"
"Does it hurt?"
"Not for Michaela," Lara said. "Would you like to see her do it again?"
"Could I?" The anticipation in his voice was obvious. I slithered off his lap. Elisabeth was waiting nearby with a blanket, and she stepped forward. I turned sideways to Benny, then shifted and Elisabeth wrapped the blanket around me.
"Am I a pretty fox, Benny?" I asked him.
"It's real." He said, dumbfounded. "Really?"
"Yes," I said. "Want to see again?"
"Yes."
"Don't blink." I crouched down, wrapped in the towel, and then said, "One, two..." And on three, I shifted.
"She's really a fox," Benny said.
"Were fox," Lara said. "Yes."
Benny looked around. "June disappeared. Does she know?"
"She knows," Lara said. "Benny, you understand the significance of this secret, don't you?"
"Yes. No. I don't know."
"Can you imagine what would happen to Michaela if the wrong people found out about her?"
"Ohh," he said. "I would never tell. But where is June? She should see this!"
"Benny, are you sure you're okay with this?" Lara asked. "Are you sure you can keep Michaela's secret?"
"Yes," he said. Then he addressed me. "Will you do it again?"
I grinned a fox grin and shifted to human, then immediately back to fox.
"Where is June?" Benny asked again.
"She's coming," Lara said. Lara yipped twice, and I turned around to see June in full fur step around the corner of the cabin.
"Oh shit!" Benny said. "That's a wolf! Oh my god, get those kids out of there!"
"She won't hurt anyone, Benny," Lara said calmly. "She won't hurt the kids. She won't hurt you."
I got up and bounded over to June, who gave me a quick lick before turning her eyes back to Benny. I ran back, then turned and waited for her. Slowly, June walked towards Benny, approaching him at a small angle.
"She's huge!" Benny said.
"Yes," Lara said. "She is."
June came within three paces of Benny, then turned around in a circle so he could see all of her. She was a glorious wolf. She finished by sitting down, panting lightly.
"She's tame?"
"Benny, she's June."
"She's- June is a werewolf?"
"Yes."
"Oh my god! She's been... when we make love."
"Biting you a little?"
"Yes! Is she trying to turn me into a werewolf, too?"
"No, Benny. You're safe. It doesn't work that way. You are either born a were, or you are not. Ignore Hollywood."
"That's really June?"
"Yes."
I imagined the sorts of things going through Benny's mind, disbelief being first and foremost, wondering how we were doing such an elaborate trick, wondering why we would, wondering if we were going to eat him in his sleep. He was taking it all far more calmly than I may have in his situation. I was proud of him.
"June?" She gazed straight into his eyes. "May I touch you, June?"
She chuffed.
"That sound is agreement," Lara said.
June stood up and stepped closer to Benny, then turned sideways. Slowly, he reached out and put his hand on her neck.
His fingers explored, and she stood there quietly.
"She's amazing," Benny said. "June, you're amazing." He looked at Lara. "Has she eaten?"
Lara laughed lightly. "Yes, but you wouldn't need to worry if she hadn't. It's still June, the June you know. Just wearing different clothes."
"So she knows who I am?"
"Of course. Our brains process things a little differently when we're wolves. It can be hard to read, for instance, but you wouldn't believe the sense of smell. But it's still June, with all of June's memories and June's personality."
Benny turned back to her. "All right. But I think I need to see it. June, can you shift back?"
"She can," Lara said. "But it takes her several minutes. Michaela's speed is somewhat unusual."
I fox-smiled at Lara.
"Although not unique," Lara added. "Michaela, please shift back."
I shifted immediately and pulled the blanket around me.
"How are you doing, Benny?" I asked. "I know this is a shock."
"Yes. Why are you telling me?"
"Because June wants a complete relationship with you," Lara said. "And she can't go forward any more than you have while keeping this part hidden."
"Oohhh," he said. "That's why she's been reluctant."
"Yes," I said. "Are you okay, Benny?" I asked.
"Yes, I guess," I said. He bent down and pulled June's face towards his.
"Careful," Lara said. "She's a dominant wolf."
He leaned back. "I d
on't know what that means."
"That means she isn't going to let you push her around too much without asserting her dominance."
"Would she hurt me?"
"Lara never hurts me," I said. "And I am pretty fragile."
He turned to look at Lara. "You're-" He paused. "Of course you are. Is anyone here not a were-something, other than me?"
"Yes. Michele is." Lara indicated Michele, sitting on the other side of the fire, watching. "That's her husband, Donald." Lara nodded, and Michele got up and walked over, bringing her chair with her.
"It can be a shock," Michele said after she sat down.
"How do you handle it?" he asked.
"Oh, I just smack him around and he does what I tell him," she said with a laugh. "But that won't work for you. If you try that with her, she'll give you hell on four paws."
"Would she hurt me?" Benny asked.
"She'd knock you down. You might get bruises."
Benny looked down at June. "June?"
She looked up at him.
"I've always know there was something special about you, from that first day in the boathouse. Does this mean I can come down to Madison with you now?"
She jumped up, chuffed, then put her paws on his shoulders, startling the heck out of him. He fell backwards off the chair with a yelp, June following, standing over him.
"She won't hurt you" Lara said quickly.
And then June was licking Benny's face while he tried to fend her off. Instead she settled her weight on him, and he began laughing.
"June, stop!" he said. "Okay, okay. Stop!"
She chuffed and stopped licking, but then she slowly lowered her jaws to his neck.
"She won't hurt you, Benny," Lara said. "But she needs to be dominant. You are safe."
He grew very still, and then she opened her jaws and wrapped them around his neck.
"Oh my god," Benny said.
"She won't hurt you," Lara repeated again.
"I surrender, June," he said. She immediately let him go and licked his face once more before climbing off of him. Lara helped him disentangle himself from the chair, and then he crouched down in front of June. Slowly he reached forward and hugged her. She leaned into him and chuffed.
"That means she's happy," Lara said. "Or agreement. Or any of a number of similar things. It's not a precise language."
Benny looked over at Lara. "Now what?"
"You have to decide. You can't tell anyone. You understand that. I cannot stress this enough. You don't want to think about what would happen if you tried to tell anyone."
"I wouldn't. I wouldn't." He looked at June. "She's magnificent."
"All right, Benny," Lara said. "I believe you. I think June would love to take you to her cabin here and spend the night with you, but if you aren't ready for that, then we'll put you up in your own room."
"With her. As a wolf?"
"Not for sex," Lara said, smiling. "She can stay wolf if you like, but she probably would rather shift back so you can see for yourself, then talk. After that, it's not our business. But I must insist you remain on the island tonight, and you and I will talk in the morning."
"She understands everything I say?"
"Well, you are a man, she is a woman. I wouldn't say she understands everything. But yes, she understands you perfectly."
"Oh this could be a great party game!" he said.
June began growling.
"That means-" Lara started to say.
"No, I think I got that one." He laughed.
Benny stood up suddenly. "Thank you for telling me. I know it will take time for you to fully trust me, but I have no intention of telling anyone." He turned to June. "June, if I am invited, I would love to spend the night. We should. Um. Talk."
June nudged him with a shoulder then began walking to her cabin Benny walking beside her.
I moved over next to Lara and cuddled against her.
"Are you going to get dressed again?"
"Won't that just slow you down in a little while?"
She laughed. "I suppose it would. Are you up for it after last night?"
"I need to feel you on top of me, Lara," I said. "And other things."
Lara stood up. "Everyone. It's been a long day. Michele, thank you for your help. Little fox, shall we?"
Back in our room, Lara let me feel her on top of me. And other things. And I didn't embarrass myself too badly this time.
Telling the Story
I called my boss in the morning. We talked for a while. I thanked him for years of a good job and for his understanding of recent events. I told him what I would get done before my last day.
He sounded genuinely sad I was leaving. "You've always kept to yourself, Michaela, but everyone likes you, as much as you let them. We'll miss you. Is everything going to be all right?"
"Yes, Jim," I said. "I'm in love."
"And is he?"
"Yes, she is. It's amazing. But I am tired of long distance, and I've been offered a teaching position."
"That's fabulous."
We discussed arrangements. "If we can do things remotely, that would be best," I said. "I have a rather large security contingent right now, and I don't think you want us descending on the offices. My bodyguards are rather intimidating. You wouldn't see me around their bodies."
He laughed. "How is that investigation going?"
"Still going. It's a little scary right now, but it will be fine in the end."
"All right," he said. "You take care. If the teaching thing doesn't work out, you look me up."
"I will. Thanks, Jim."
And for all practical purposes, that was that. There was paperwork, but I was no longer an employee of the U.S. Government.
I was going to miss it.
* * * *
We ran into Benny and June at breakfast. They looked love struck. Lara let him eat then pulled him to the side and talked to him for a while. When they were done, she clapped him on the back and made sure he knew he was welcome any time. He walked over to me and stood next to the table while I looked up at him.
"A fox."
"Yes."
"I trust you, Michaela," he said. "Werewolves are supposed to be monsters."
"Some of them are. These ones aren't."
"I know. You wouldn't associate with monsters." He pulled up a chair and sat down.
I smiled. It made me feel good for him to say so. "No, I wouldn't."
"Your secret is safe with me, Michaela," he said.
"I know, Benny. You're one of the good ones. Benny, you're going to start to recognize wolves when you see them. Not every wolf that comes to Bayfield is part of the Madison pack. They won't bother you, but do not be too familiar with them."
"You mean, no 'Hey you are a werewolf!' looks?"
I laughed. "Exactly. How are you feeling about June now that you know?"
He smiled broadly, and I had my answer. "We're going kayaking today. She's going to kick my ass, isn't she?"
"Yep."
He laughed. "She's been holding back."
"Yep."
"This dominance thing -- June has, when we, you know."
"Yes, I know."
He started to blush. It was sweet. "Last night wasn't the first time she had her mouth on my throat. I didn't know what it meant before. It was different as a wolf mouth."
"Are you okay with it?"
"I've never been one of those guys who needs to, I don't know."
"Push women around?"
"Yeah. You know me pretty well, Michaela. I'm easy going. Out on the water, when I'm leading a group, that's different."
"Yeah," I said. "For me, too. Because of the responsibility."
"Right. But in my relationships, not so much. Most women I like have been frustrated by that, I think. The ones who haven't been have turned out to be sort of bitchy."
"I don't know many human women, Benny, not well enough to know what you mean, but I think I understand."
"Is June going to turn bi
tchy?"
"Has she been bitchy so far?"
"No, not at all."
"This isn't bait and switch, Benny. June is very nice. And as wolves go, not that dominant, but still, dominant."
"Not that dominant? It sure felt dominant when her jaws were on my throat last night."
I laughed. "You want dominant, you should try Lara. Take June times ten."
"Lara sort of scares me, Michaela."
"She used to scare me, too. We do story nights around the fire a lot. If you're around, she and I will tell the story of when we met."
"I'll be here," he said, grinning.
"Good.
He started to get up from his chair, then paused. "Benny, you can talk to me any time. Any time at all. And Michele Lassiter would be a good friend to make, too.
"She gave me her business card this morning," he said, patting his pocket. "And Lara told me to expect an upswing in business in the future from people who need very large wet suits."
I laughed. "Good advice. Benny, I know you're closed today-"
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his keys, then slid a key off and handed it to me. "You keep that. If you ever use it, leave a note and we'll settle up later."
"You don't have to do this, Benny."
"You're trusting me with something big, Michaela. I think I can trust you, too. You know where everything is. And you know me. I love watching people get out on the water."
"Thanks, Benny."
Benny walked away, collecting June. The look they gave each other was endearing. I decided we'd have a new pack member soon. Lara returned to my table.
"What was that last part?"
I showed her the key. "Could you and I go out alone today? Or do you have other things you need to do?"
"I'll do my things today while you're out and about, if you don't mind. I'd love to go out with you, but we'll take guards."
"All right." I looked across the table at her. "I'm going to miss Bayfield. I want to enjoy as much of it as we can while we're here this week. To me that means the water."
Lara smiled. "Does Benny sell kayaks?"
"We won't be here to use it, Lara, and I don't like paddling the little lakes half as much. There's something about Lake Superior that has a draw to me."
"Does he sell kayaks, or would you recommend I go somewhere else?"
"I had Angel buy hers from him."
Lara immediately pulled her phone out of her pocket and made a call. I heard June's voice, and Lara said, "June, may I speak with Benny?"