by Robin Roseau
"I'll ride up front," Eric said gently, and then he slipped back out of the car. The door closed. But David was still there, and the car reeked of wolf. I continued to tremble, hiding against Lara.
"I don't know what to do," Lara said to David. "I am so angry! I promised her she was safe."
I whimpered.
"She knew what she was doing," David said. "Even if you didn't. She was terrified of five of us, but she walked into an entire building full of wolves. She did it with her head held high, and she kept her cool right up until she was about to die."
I made myself even smaller in Lara's arms.
"I have never seen anyone braver," David added.
I pulled my face out of Lara's neck and looked over my shoulder at David, shrinking away from him.
"I will never hurt you, little fox," he said. I didn't believe him. Hurting foxes is what wolves do. I knew it. He knew it. And now Lara finally understood it, too.
I buried my face against Lara again and tried to push the panic away. She pet my hair soothingly, holding me tightly against her.
"Take us to the compound," Lara said eventually. "Have someone bring her overnight bag. She should feel safer there than the house."
"Take me home," I said. "Let me go home."
We rode in relative silence, punctuated by soothing words from Lara. I slowly calmed down, my panic replacing itself with embarrassment. I was clinging to her like a kit to her mother. The only reason I didn't retreat is that it felt so good.
From time to time I glanced at David. He was looking at me with something that might have been concern. Or was it pity? I couldn't tell.
Eventually, I pushed away from Lara. She resisted for a moment, then released her hold. I moved away from her, and she looked disappointed. "I liked holding you," she said quietly.
"I stink of fear," I said. "How can you stand me so close?"
"In your fear, it was me you clung to for safety, Michaela."
"Better the wolf you know, I guess."
She looked away. I had hurt her.
I looked out the window, wondering where we were. It was dark and the windows were deeply tinted. Even with my sharp fox eyes, I couldn't make out any features.
"I shouldn't have said that," I said after a time. "I'm embarrassed and was lashing out. I'm sorry."
"You shouldn't be embarrassed," David said. "You aren't a wolf. You are a fine fox, and you should be proud of who you are."
"A fine fox wouldn't have stepped into a wolf den."
"A fine fox needed to teach truth to the alpha wolf," Lara said.
I turned to look at her. "I liked it when you held me." Then I turned to look out the window again. But Lara took my hint and moved closer, touching me gently. I leaned away from the window and let myself lean against her. She wrapped an arm around me, and we rode together like that.
"I'm not flying home?" I asked. "We're driving all the way to Bayfield?"
"We're not going to Bayfield," Lara said. "We're going to the compound."
I didn't say anything. I wasn't any safer at her compound, undoubtedly filled with wolves, than I was in Madison.
But she felt good.
I glanced over at David. He looked relaxed. "Does this bother you?" I asked him.
"That you got roughed up at the bar? Yes."
"Not that," I said. I shrugged under Lara's arm. "This."
He laughed. "No."
"I suppose the alpha can have her playthings."
"You're not a plaything," Lara said.
I didn't respond to that. If not a plaything, what was I? Certainly I wasn't a viable mate or partner. She needed someone big and strong to help her lead her pack, not someone weak, someone frightened all the time.
No, I was her plaything, or that's what she intended anyway, and when she was done, then what? Then what of my safety?
I decided I didn't have any answers or very many choices.
We slowed down, taking a turn off the highway, and I could tell immediately we were on a dirt road. Then we took another turn and drove slowly along a narrow track, and it was clear the trees were just barely outside the car. We passed through a gate and drove for another three minutes before we pulled into the courtyard of a cluster of buildings.
David climbed out of the car first. As soon as the door opened, I could smell the other wolves, so many wolves.
"Lara," I said, glancing nervously at the door.
"We're going to get out together, Michaela," Lara said. "And everyone will see you are mine. You will be safe."
"That is awfully presumptive, Alpha," I told her. "Do the foxes belong to the wolves now?"
She sighed. "No, Michaela. But you are here with me as my guest. And are under my protection." She was looking away, so I reached up with one hand and pulled her chin towards me.
"Do you intend to bed me, Alpha?"
"If you will allow me to, little fox. It will be your choice."
I looked into her face. She returned my gaze with affection. She was very attractive, and it had been a long time for me.
"Will you hurt me?"
She looked away, and I could tell by the set of her jaw she was angry again. "No," she said.
I leaned up and kissed her jawline. She stiffened, then relaxed, and I kissed her there again. "I do not want our first real kiss to be while I smell of so much fear, Alpha."
She looked back at me, her face full of hope. I let her pull me into her arms, and we held each other. "Will you run with me, little fox?"
"I won't keep up."
"I don't mind," she said.
"I would like to run, but I would like to not smell so foul first."
She kissed me on the top of the head. "Well, let us see what we can do about that. She untangled herself from me and slipped from the car, then reached a hand in for me. I took it, following after her, slipping back under her arm. She held me possessively, and I wrapped an arm around her waist. The message was clear to anyone looking.
I looked around. There were nine other wolves standing around. Eric was talking to one group and David to another. I saw curious looks, some distrustful, but none were outwardly threatening.
"How many more?"
"Twenty, sometimes twenty-five total, including some pups and five very willful teenagers."
"Do they all know my name is not Snack?"
Lara laughed. "Yes. David and Eric are seeing to it."
"All right then. What are these buildings?"
"That one," Lara said, pointing straight ahead, "Is mine." I was looking at a modern, two-story house. It was large, but not overly ostentatious, not like the house in town had been.
"Does anyone else live there?"
"No, but people are in and out all the time. They don't knock except for my bedroom door."
"And these other buildings?"
"School," Lara said, pointing to our left. "And medical center." Then she pointed to the right. "That one is sort of a barracks. There are other houses on the compound as well. David has a house, it's a two-minute run that way." She pointed towards a path to the right of her house, passing between her house and the barracks.
"We are staying here tonight?" I asked.
"Yes. And tomorrow night, if you stay."
I nodded. "We'll see. Do I have my own room?"
"Yes."
"But you're hoping I'll share yours?"
She smiled. "Yes. I need to say hello to people, and introduce you." I nodded to her. She made a gesture, and the other wolves began moving towards us. Lara stepped out in front of me, and I moved up behind her, pressing against her back, as the large wolves moved closer.
"Are you really that nervous, Michaela?"
"I'm sorry," I said, forcing myself to step away from her, straight backwards. I put my back against the car instead and watched warily.
Lara greeted her wolves. They all wanted to touch her, although most of them split their attention between their alpha and me. Finally Lara turned to me and held out a hand. Th
e other wolves were clustered around her. I took a deep breath, which may have been a mistake, as I pulled in a full lungful of wolf. But I stepped forward, stepping through the massed wolves, and took Lara's hand.
"Everyone," Lara said. "This is Michaela. She is alpha of the Wisconsin foxes."
There were scoffs at that. I was the only Wisconsin fox. Lara turned to the loudest scoff. "Elisabeth," she said. "Did you care to comment?"
"Alpha? She's an alpha? Of what foxes? She's practically trembling in fear."
"You walk into a tiger pride, Elisabeth, and see how you do," Lara replied. "Michaela may not command other foxes, but she is to be treated as a visiting alpha, and she is under my protection."
"If she were another alpha," said Elisabeth. "She would neither need nor accept your protection."
"Alpha," I said quietly. "If I may?"
She turned to me, offering a look as to say, "Are you sure?" I nodded, and she said, "Of course, Alpha."
I smiled then turned to Elisabeth, walking through the other wolves to stand in front of her. I had to slip between them, and none of them moved for me, but still I slipped between them.
Compared to me, Elisabeth was practically a monster. She was tall and powerful, and I barely came up to her chest. I crowded well into her personal space, making sure our differences were as evident as I could make them. I looked up into her face.
"Do you find me threatening, Elisabeth?" I asked her.
She laughed. "No."
"Do you want to challenge me? Do you feel a need to put me in my place?"
"I would snap you like a twig," she told me.
"Are you so insecure that you need to prove yourself by showing everyone you can hurt me? You are a tall, powerful wolf. I am one little fox. Would you feel more powerful if you crushed me?"
Elisabeth looked down into my eyes, then began to smile. She cuffed me on the side of the head. I'm sure it was meant to be gentle, but it hurt. I rolled with it, then stood up straight again, staring up into her eyes. Behind me, Lara started to intervene, but she let me handle it.
"I like you," Elisabeth said. "You have guts." Then she looked over my head. "And you make the alpha smile."
I cuffed her back. "I like you, too, Elisabeth. I could hide two of me behind you."
She lifted her head to the sky and laughed. "Yes, you could. Perhaps three." But then she lowered her gaze back to the alpha. "But guts isn't going to be enough to protect her, Alpha. She shouldn't be here. She's going to get hurt."
"By whom?" Lara asked tightly.
"Accidentally. Not a fake accident," Elisabeth said. "But an honest one. Everyone can walk on eggshells for a few days, but eventually we'll let our guard down, and she'll get caught in the middle of something. Or someone is going to have a bad day and look for anyone to take it out on. Or one of the adolescents will be looking for a fight. The only way she doesn't get hurt is if we treat her like a pup. I just cuffed her like I would a pup, and it was all she could take."
Elisabeth looked down into my eyes again. "I like you, fox, but you don't belong here."
I agreed with her, but I didn't think Lara would appreciate if I said so.
Lara stepped forward and put her hands on my shoulders. She looked around. "Michaela is mine," Lara said clearly. "Is that clear?"
"Yes, Alpha," came the replies.
"Does anyone have a problem with that?"
No one spoke up.
"All right, I am going to show Michaela to her room." Lara directed me towards the house.
We had just arrived at the steps when I heard Elisabeth's voice, very low. "Good luck, little fox. You're going to need it." Lara didn't hear her, but I turned around and nodded. She was right.
Prey Big and Small
The house was comfortable, built to be lived in, open, with sturdy furniture and lots of windows. I received the basic tour, ending with, "My room. And yours across the hall. You may use this bathroom." She gestured to a third door in the hallway. "There are fresh towels and everything else you may need.
"Has my bag arrived?"
"No. Are you still up for a run?"
"Yes, I'd like that."
"Your bag should arrive before we get back."
"All right," I replied. "I'll turn furry after my shower and be ready to go."
I slipped into the bathroom, stripping out of my clothes and starting the water. I made sure I would have all the supplies I would need before stepping into the shower.
It felt good to clean off my stench of fear. I wondered how long before it would be replaced. Once out of the shower, I dried off and brushed my hair. Then I cracked the bathroom door open. I could open a door in my fox form, but it was awkward, and I didn't like to do it.
Then I made my shift. As usual, it took only a few seconds. When I was done, I scratched open the door and went to find Lara.
She wasn't in her room or waiting for me in mine. I offered a quick yip.
"Downstairs, Michaela," came her voice. I padded silently down the stairs and cocked my head listening. I heard voices. I listened further.
A standard fox has very fine hearing, able to hear such things as a mouse up to a hundred yards away. I was a were; all my senses were enhanced over those of a standard fox.
I heard a faucet dripping. It sounded like it was coming from the basement. I heard someone walking slowly around a room towards the back of the house. I thought perhaps it was David. I heard Lara's voice from the same room. And I heard countless noises coming from outside.
I slinked towards the voices, poking my nose around the corner and verifying with my eyes what my ears had told me.
Lara was sitting in a chair with David walking back and forth in front of her. They had been talking about me but changed the subject when I appeared. I slipped into the room, hiding behind some of the furniture. Lara saw me, of course. I wasn't really hiding, but it was my nature to stay in cover whenever possible.
Lara smiled at me. "You look so much better when you aren't dangling from your neck."
I offered a small growl and yip.
Lara frowned. "I have no idea what you just said, Michaela, so I choose to believe you just asked me to pick you up."
She rose from her chair and began stalking towards me. I backed away from her, then dashed around the exterior of the room, finding better cover behind another chair. I poked my nose out to watch her.
She chased me around the room for several minutes, David laughing at our antics. I yipped every time she got close. She managed to brush my fur once when she lunged at me, but otherwise I was able to keep at least one piece of furniture between us at all times.
Finally she sat down on the floor, laughing herself, still watching me.
"If I promise not to pick you up, will you come out here so I can see you?"
I crouched down in play posture. Foxes are also in the same family as dogs and wolves, so I knew she'd recognize the posture.
"You want to keep playing?" she asked.
I stood up and yawned. A yawn from a canine is a calming signal, not a sign of boredom. I took two fox-sized steps out into the room, keeping a close eye on both David and Lara.
"I promise not to pick you up, Michaela," she said. "Come out. I want to smell you before I turn furry."
I stepped out two more steps and looked pointedly at David. He laughed. "I won't try to pick you up either."
I stepped fully into the clear, then turned sideways to them.
As a fox, I am a beautiful animal. I am also very vain. I love to show off, even though I find little opportunity. I stretched myself so that I looked long and sleek.
"Posing, Michaela?" David asked. "Really?"
"Oh, tell her she's beautiful," Lara said, staring at me.
"She knows she's beautiful," David said. "Look at her. She doesn't need me to tell her."
I turned my back on him, pouting.
David laughed. "Michaela, you are the most beautiful fox I have ever seen."
I looked ov
er my shoulder at him. I didn't think that meant much. I was likely the only fox he had ever seen.
"I don't think she's impressed with your compliments, David," Lara said.
Suddenly I had an itch, right in the center of my back. I rolled over onto my back and wriggled around, trying to satisfy it. The two of them broke into gales of laughter at my antics. Offended I climbed to my feet, walked straight to Lara, and bit her hand.
Gently.
"I think someone doesn't like being laughed at," David said.
"Do you have an itch?" Lara asked. I turned my back to her, and her fingers began digging through my fur. I shifted around until she found the right spot, then closed my eyes and moaned in pleasure. With the itch satisfied, I turned around and licked her hand, then walked halfway to the door. I turned around to watch her.
She had promised me a run, after all.
Lara bounced to her feet. "Oh, a run is going to feel good."
I couldn't have agreed more.
* * * *
Lara stayed on two feet as we went outside. She held the front door, and I peered around it, then backed away, growling.
The courtyard was filled with wolves. Furry wolves.
"Michaela," Lara said. "Knock it off."
I flattened my ears and backed away several more steps.
"Oh for heaven's sake," she said. And with no warning at all, she scooped me up into her arms and carried me outside.
At least she wasn't holding me by my scruff.
I growled at her and bit her hand. Gently, but I let my displeasure be known.
"Behave," she said.
I squirmed, but she tightened her hold.
So I bit her hand. Hard.
"Damn it," she said, dropping me. I landed on my feet, tumbled slightly, and took off around the side of the house, skidding to a stop and pressing my side against the foundation before turning around to peer around the corner.
I eyed the door behind her, but David had closed it behind him. I was stuck out here with all these wolves, most of whom were shifting their attention back and forth between the alpha and me. Lara turned to face me.