by Robin Roseau
"Why such a large contingent?" I asked. "We are in an isolated location. Surely we are safe here."
Brooke frowned. "You know about my mother."
"Yes. Ysabella's brother killed her."
"My mother had four enforcers with her that day. They were also killed. It wasn't only Ysabella's brother, but he was the ringleader. Father will not allow something like that to occur again. Also, remember that people must sleep. Ysabella is always in the company of four enforcers. Each of the children has two each. Father will keep two with him. That is ten. The remaining six allow for shift changes and overall security not tied to a specific individual."
She addressed Lara. "We were shocked you were willing to travel with such a small contingent."
"We couldn't be seen as invading," Lara said. "We couldn't possibly bring enough wolves to counter any threat you might represent, and you insured our safety. I decided to trust you."
"I need to tell father tonight whether he is welcome," Brooke said. "If there aren't further questions, I can leave you to discuss it."
I leaned into Lara's ear. "I vote yes," I told her. It wasn't a democracy, but I thought she could do with my judgment.
"Elisabeth," Lara said. "I am sorry. You're going to hate this. Brooke, we would love for the rest of your family to join us for the weekend. I presume Glenn will not be coming."
"No," Brooke said. "My brother will be handling important duties of his own, I am sure." She turned to Elisabeth. "I imagine this complicates your situation."
"The alpha is right," Elisabeth said. "If you meant trouble for us, there is nothing we could do about it."
"You could take me hostage," Brooke said.
"Can we talk about how we're going to work together rather than how we wouldn't?" I suggested.
Brooke smiled. "My family will take residence in the cabins on the other side of the lodge. The line of demarcation will be the lodge and the boathouse, which will be the demilitarized zone."
I chuckled at the term.
"I will remain in my current cabin, and none of the other wolves will come closer to your cabins than the boathouse. It is assumed you will not travel past the boathouse and lodge except under invitation. If you wish to run, stay to the east, unless you are with me."
"I am confused," I said. "If we theoretically are expressing mutual trust, why are we acting like we don't trust each other?"
"Because," Elisabeth said. "I don't want to worry every time a wolf comes along that it's a wolf we can trust. The assumption is everyone coming with Daniel is trustworthy, but they are all going to feel like foreign wolves, and we would need to be on high alert, checking every wolf out. This way, we only need to be on medium-high alert."
"Exactly," said Brooke. "There may be visiting back and forth by invitation, but at other times, a little separation will reduce overall anxiety."
We discussed a few other items, and then Brooke said, "If everything seems fine, I'll call father."
"Do that," Lara said. "Perhaps a run would be good once you're done."
"I'll stop back once I'm done talking to father and my enforcers."
* * * *
It was early afternoon on Friday that four large SUVs pulled into the resort. We had spent the morning climbing, but Lara, Serena and I were out in the kayaks. I was fishing but hadn't caught anything yet. Serena took a radio call from Elisabeth, then told us, "Alphas, the Boulder Alpha will be arriving shortly."
I reeled in my line and grabbed my paddle. "Shall we, Lara?"
We paddled cleanly back to the boat landing. The other three enforcers were waiting for us. We barely stepped out of the water when my kayak was taken from me and carried to the rack. Lara's and Serena's were handled equally efficiently. Gia put the fishing gear away, looking disappointed there wasn't a stringer of fish.
"We normally count on you to feed us, Alpha Fox," she told me with a snicker.
"Bite me, Enforcer," I told her, laughing.
"She better not," said Lara.
The enforcers set up their standard box coverage around Lara and me, and we walked up to the lodge. I heard the cars approaching. "Four cars, probably SUVs, just pulling in," I reported.
We stepped around the lodge and found Brooke facing the cars as they parked. Wolves piled out and set up a defensive perimeter. Two stepped forward to address Brooke. I listened in as she told them to search the lodge and the unavailable cabins, but declared our side to be off limits.
The wolves noticed us approaching, and suddenly everyone shifted, things become more tense. Karen and Gia stepped forward so they were even with Lara and me rather than behind us. The opposing enforcers took an equally defensive posture, and suddenly we were facing eight enforcers.
I glanced at Lara and she nodded to me.
"I am stepping through, Elisabeth," I said. I stepped right past her and walked directly to Brooke.
Brooke smiled. "The most harmless-looking one steps forth in an act of diplomacy?"
I returned her smile. "Your fathers guards seem rather twitchy."
"It was a long ride. They need a run."
"Shall we retreat?"
"No." She turned to the closest enforcers. "I have the situation here under control. You may search the lodge and cabins."
"Of course." The male turned around, gestured to three other enforcers, and the four of them moved into the lodge. The other enforcers adjusted positions to fill the resulting gap.
"Is it always like this?"
"Yes," Brooke replied.
"No one was this twitchy towards us the day we arrived."
"We had already secured the area," Brooke explained. "Surely you're used to this."
"Not really," I said. "You've already secured the area, haven't you?"
"Yes. And they'll do it again."
I cocked my head, listening. I heard indistinct noises from inside the lodge; the walls were thick, only allowing louder noises to penetrate. Then the four wolves searching the lodge exited the front and began sweeping through the cabins, moving away from us. They moved through all the cabins then the boathouse.
Two minutes later, the enforcers returned, taking a wide path around the Madison wolves.
"The area is secure," one of the wolves reported to Brooke.
"Very good," Brooke said. She nodded to someone, and two enforcers jumped to the cars, opening doors to allow Daniel to exit, then Ysabella and the two kids.
"Michaela," Lara said quietly. I nodded to Brooke and retreated to Lara's side.
Brooke's family stepped up next to her. She greeted her father with a kiss on the cheek, a polite hug of Ysabella, shook Cory's hand, then lifted Casey in her arms. Casey hugged and kissed her, then as a family they all turned to us.
Lara stepped forward with me on her heels. Hands were shaken, greetings were exchanged, and Daniel asked how we had enjoyed our time so far.
"Brooke has been an outstanding host," Lara declared. "The fox grew up in mountains, but even she has been awed by the sights."
"May I see your fox?" Casey interjected into the conversation. "You said you would let me see your fox."
Lara turned to me, allowing me to answer for myself.
"Now Casey," Ysabella said. "She's not a trained pet to perform for you on command."
"Perhaps we should discuss the afternoon's plans," I suggested. "And if there are a few minutes, I could perhaps satisfy some curiosity."
Daniel smiled. "Were there plans?"
"Nothing specific," Brooke answered. "We weren't sure when to expect you."
"May we go climbing?" Cory asked. "Please?"
"He's been talking about nothing else since we announced we were coming," Ysabella said. "But perhaps it is too late in the afternoon."
"The beginner's climbs are a little too far away," Daniel said to Cory. "We would run out of daylight before everyone had their chance to climb."
"There's Wolf Point," Brooke said.
"That's not exactly a beginner's climb," Daniel pointed o
ut. "Our guests-"
"Are ready. At least the alphas are." Brooke turned to us. "It would be a challenge, and you'll both fall once or twice. You might not make the last part. Or we can go to the easier climbs in the morning."
I whispered to Lara, "You know me and a challenge."
Lara grinned. "We're up for it if you are, Daniel."
"Well then," he said. "Shall we settle in and depart in, say, fifteen minutes?"
"Yes!" said Cory. "Wolf's Point!"
"You!" Daniel said. "Will do what your big sister says. Or you are grounded from climbing through the remainder of the season. Do you hear me?"
"Yes, Father," he said immediately. "Brooke, may I go first?"
"No," she said. "But you'll get your turn. If you are a gracious host."
"Yes, Brooke," he said.
"May we see your fox now, Michaela?" Casey asked. "Before we go climbing?"
"Are you going to climb, Casey?"
She looked at Brooke. "Maybe halfway, then you can ride down, but you can go twice."
"Woo hoo!" Casey said. "Thank you, Brooke." She turned to me. "Please, Michaela?"
I smiled at her, then reached out and ruffled her hair. "I need a moment," I told her.
I turned to Elisabeth. "Shield me," I said. "I need to disarm."
The four enforcers clustered around me, using their bodies to hide me from the Boulder wolves. I disarmed, handing everything to Serena. Once done, I loosened my clothing, stepped away from the enforcers, took a leap, and shifted to fox in the air. I slithered out of my clothes, then stood still, posing.
Casey went crazy. "Wow! She's as fast as you, Brooke! She's beautiful!"
"Yes," Daniel said. "She certainly is."
"I am particularly envious of her ability to shift right out of her clothes," Brooke said. I yipped up at her.
"Put me down, Brooke!" Casey demanded.
"I don't think so," Brooke said. "She might bite."
I huffed. Bite a child? The suggestion.
Lara laughed and nodded to Brooke. Brooke lowered her sister but held onto her shoulders.
"She's so small," Casey said. "She's not any bigger than a wolf baby."
"A little bigger than that, I think," Daniel said. "But yes, she is rather petite."
I pranced around a little, making sure they got a good look at me.
"Yes, Michaela," Ysabella said. "You are very pretty."
I chuffed agreement then walked up to Casey slowly. I nuzzled at her, and she knelt down to bury her fingers in my fur.
"Be very gentle," Lara said. "She is delicate."
Casey pet my fur. I turned sideways to give her better access.
"May I pet her, too?" Cory asked.
I chuffed, and Cory came forward to stand next to his sister. He knelt down and stroked my fur.
"It's not like wolf fur," Cory said. "It's softer." He looked up at Lara. "Can she hunt?"
I growled lightly at him and he pulled away. Brooke laughed. "She is a very, very good hunter, Cory. You would not want her hunting you."
"Ha!" he said. "I'd hunt her!"
I immediately bounded away, turning midair on the last bound, facing the threat and growling furiously. I immediately found myself surrounded, somewhat loosely, by all four of my enforcers, close enough to protect me, but not close enough to hinder any moment I chose to make. Lara had also taken a step directly backwards.
There wasn't a real threat, except to the diplomacy we had been establishing, but I wasn't going to let a threat go by.
"That," Daniel said to his son, "was not the right thing to say to our guest, Cory. Apologize."
"I didn't say it to our guest," Cory said defiantly. "I said it to Brooke."
"Do not play word games with me," Daniel said.
"Talk to her, Elisabeth," Lara said, still watching the Boulder wolves carefully.
Elisabeth knelt down. "Calm down," she said very quietly. "No one is going to hunt you."
Damned right no one was going to hunt me. I continued to growl.
"Calm down, Michaela," Elisabeth said. "Stop growling. Look at me."
I kept my eyes on the threat, but I lowered the intensity of my growl.
"He's just a boy," Elisabeth said. "It wasn't a real threat, Michaela. Look at Daniel. And Brooke couldn't be more embarrassed. Calm down."
I whimpered once, but never took my eyes off the boy. My ears swiveled wildly, listening for other threats.
"Apologize," Daniel said to Cory. "Now."
Cory looked at me. "Michaela," he said. "I'm sorry. It wouldn't be a real hunt."
I began growling again. It wouldn't be a pretend hunt, either!
"I just meant- um. You're so small. I-"
"Cory," Lara said. "Tell Michaela you're sorry and you would never dream of hunting her. Tell her she's far too pretty to hunt."
I heard snickers from the enforcers. I leaned over and bit Serena's ankle.
"Damn it!" she said. "That hurt! Little ankle biter."
"Michaela," Cory said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. Your alpha is right. You are way too pretty to hunt. Well, except with a camera. Would you let me take pictures?"
"We'll talk to him, Michaela," Daniel said softly. "He didn't understand."
I looked between them. Elisabeth reached over to me and buried her fingers in my fur, stroking gently. I looked over at her.
"Go on," she said only loudly enough for me to hear. "He didn't understand. Be gracious."
I chuffed very quietly then, very low to the ground, I crept a little closer, stopping just behind Lara, my shoulder against her leg.
"I'm sorry, Michaela," Cory said again. "May I take pictures?"
Gracious only went so far. I huffed, but I crept closer to him, watching him warily. He knelt back down, and I licked his face once, accepting the apology. Then Casey got a couple of licks. I turned towards Lara, yipped twice, then leapt at her. She caught me in her arms and held me.
"Crisis averted," Ysabella said. "We'll explain to him during the drive, if Casey could ride with you."
"Certainly," Lara said.
Ysabella stepped closer. "Michaela, may I?"
I looked at her, then chuffed. She reached out and stroked my fur. "The guard hairs are rough," she said. But she buried her fingers in my fur. "But so soft underneath. Brooke, have you felt this?"
"Yes, Ysabella," she said. "I have. Isn't she magnificent?"
I preened a little under their attention. I knew they were stroking my ego as much as my fur, but I was perfectly fine with that. I was, after all, magnificent.
"Do foxes run?" Casey asked.
"Yes," Lara said. "Although not as fast as a wolf."
"If she's not as fast as a wolf," Cory said, "and so small, how does she catch a deer."
"She doesn't," Lara said. "She finds the deer and I catch them for her. But she finds smaller animals. She couldn't eat a whole deer, anyway."
"So she couldn't hunt a wolf!" Cory declared.
"We'll talk about it later," Daniel said firmly. "All right. Before this degrades any further, I think we'll settle in. Meet back here in fifteen minutes?"
"Perfect," Lara said.
She stepped away, still carrying me. I glanced at the ground, but someone had picked up my clothing. I saw Serena carrying my clothing and weapons.
Lara whispered in my ear, "Did you want me to put you down?" In response, I laid my head on her shoulder and grunted contentedly.
"I love you, too," she said. She carried me to our cabin, all four enforcers following. Serena and Karen stepped ahead of us, searching the cabin, then held the door for us, stepping out. I jumped out of Lara's arms, rolled once, and ended as human, crouching on my feet.
"I love watching you do that," Lara said, laughing. "Are you all right?"
I turned to her. "I'm sorry. I overreacted."
"No, you didn't. He didn't know what he was suggesting, but you most certainly did not overreact."
"All right," I said. I found my clothes wait
ing for me along with all my weapons. I got dressed, rearming myself. I turned back to Lara. "I can't believe you told him to appeal to my vanity!"
"I needed to make sure he offered enough you could accept his apology," she replied.
I nodded and moved into her arms. She enveloped me, and we held each other for a few minutes.
"Are you sure you're all right?" she asked. "We can stay here."
"I'm fine," I said. "I wish we had a little more time though." I grinned up at her. "We could play a little game of catch the fox."
"And what would I do with the fox once I caught her?" Lara asked.
"Make her beg... for release."
Lara laughed. "For release, hmm?"
"Uh huh." I kissed her jaw. "She's a very stubborn fox, though. It might take you a long, long time before she begged."
"I don't know," Lara said. "I can be very, very determined."
* * * *
Brooke drove our SUV. It was Brooke and Elisabeth in the front, Lara and me in the middle, and Casey in the back. Serena and Gia along with one of Brooke's enforcers rode in our second SUV. Soon six SUVs pulled into a parking lot about five minutes away. Moments later, the parking lot was full of enforcers, and finally the rest of us were allowed to climb out of the cars.
Simone was there with duffle bags filled with gear. She handed it out and led us on a short hike.
Cory looked sullen and refused to look at me. Ysabella took a chance to step over to Lara and me. "We explained about fox hunts, Michaela," she said. "He had no idea."
"I know," I said. "I don't hold it against him."
"You've been hunted, haven't you?" she asked gently.
"Yes."
"May I ask what happened?"
"I'm still alive," I said.
"You got away," she said.
"Sometimes," I said. "Sometimes they did."
"Brooke has the gist of it," Lara said. "Will you be climbing today, Ysabella?"
"Oh heavens, no," she said. "Daniel would never allow it."
"But he lets his children climb?" I said. "I don't understand."
She shrugged. "The alpha's children have somewhat more freedom than the alpha's mate," Ysabella explained. "You'll see."
I looked at Lara. "I better not see," I told her.
Ysabella looked back and forth between us but didn't comment. Lara wisely didn't comment, either.