Greetings

Carissa stepped from the aircraft first, standing at the top of the stairs and looking around for a moment. There was a significant welcoming party.

It was cold, and the cold air snaked into the aircraft. Anika squeaked and withdrew, and I suppressed a chuckle as she and Joanna pulled their coats on hurriedly. They looked like new coats, and I thought perhaps Carissa had purchased them for the two women.

I had my own coat, which hadn't seen much wear since I returned from Harvard some years ago. I'd survived Boston winters; I could survive a Wisconsin Thanksgiving.

But I buttoned the coat anyway and pulled on a pair of soft leather gloves, lined with cashmere. I flexed my hands for a moment and smiled, remembering the last time I’d worn these.

I made it into the aircraft doorway in time to see Carissa approach the Madison alpha pair, Lara and Michaela. Lara looked tense, but Michaela was smiling. Then her gaze shifted to me, and her smile broadened.

That felt nice.

I stood in the doorway waiting, and I could tell when the enforcers saw me. It was funny, really, watching them. There was a vampire in their midst, a truly ancient vampire, and if Carissa wished them ill, there was nothing they could do about it. But they were arrayed about anyway.

But I was a new threat, a cat in wolf territory, and it was clear they didn't know what to do.

And so, I waited.

Michaela, beaming, nodded once to me before returning her attention to Carissa. Lara's focus was on the vampire, but I watched Elisabeth whisper something to her, and Lara's eyes snapped up. She looked over Carissa's shoulder at me, and her tight features grew tighter. But we caught each other's gaze, and she also nodded to me. And so, I judged myself as welcome, a nod from each of the alphas. I descended the stairs, and I could hear Anika and Joanna behind me.

Carissa would have heard me, of course, and the wolves divided their attention between the two threats, Carissa and me. It said something about Lara's self-control that she was able to focus on the vampire.

But the fox, well. I had the distinct impression she was paying attention to everything, to Carissa, to me, to the humans walking behind me, to the wolves around her, and I didn't know what else. She was never still for long, even with her eyes on the vampire. She cocked her head, infinitesimally small changes, and I immediately wondered.

Natural foxes hunt by sound, and Michaela was a werefox. I was sure she was using her ears to track events around her.

And so I approached, and it was as I came to stand just behind Carissa's right shoulder that Michaela said, her eyes twinkling, "Carissa. You have been quite naughty. You did not tell us Annabelle was coming."

"I thought she might be more welcome than an unfamiliar wolf," Carissa said. "Was I mistaken?"

"Absolutely not," Michaela said. Then she stepped away from her mate and stepped right into me, wrapping arms around me.

She was so small!

I wrapped my own arms around her but was exceedingly careful. In response, the tiny woman pulled on me, inviting me closer, and then whispered into my ear, "You are most welcome, but please ignore any bristling wolves."

I chuckled. "I understand entirely."

Then she released me, but she took my hand and pulled me closer to her mate. "Lara. You remember Annabelle Delacroix."

"Of course," Lara said. She didn't offer a hug but instead we clasped hands for a moment. "Be welcome, Anna."

"Thank you, Alpha," I replied.

But Lara shook her head. "We are friends here."

"Of course. Thank you, Lara."

At that, she nodded.

Michaela then greeted Anika and Joanna in turn, hugging them as she had me before presenting them to her mate. I thought it was interesting, the tiny fox acting as diplomat and leader.

There were more greetings to make. Michaela handled them. She must have already introduced Carissa to everyone, and so she began with me. "Annabelle, you remember Elisabeth, Lara's sister and our head enforcer."

"Of course." Elisabeth and I exchanged head nods. And then I was re-introduced to Karen, Serena, Portia, Eric, and Angel, the remaining enforcers who had come to New Orleans a month previously.

But then I also met several more enforcers, including a female I thought was quite young to be an enforcer. Michaela explained simply. "Monique is the most promising of our student enforcers."

"Where are the little darlings?" Carissa asked.

"Back at the house," Lara answered. "We thought this would be hectic, and they're young."

"And impatient?"

"Yes," Lara said. "We do not own the airport. You understand."

"Of course."

"Elisabeth?" Michaela asked.

"Carissa," said Elisabeth, "What species is your flight crew?"

"Two humans," Carissa replied. "They are flight crew only. Must they vacate your territory?"

"No," Elisabeth replied. "Unless you need them nearby, we can loan them a home in Bayfield for their stay, or they may take one of the vehicles and fend for themselves."

"They'll appreciate the vehicle," Carissa said. "If you don't mind."

"That's why we brought it," Elisabeth said. "With your permission, Angel and Eric can see to your luggage."

"Of course," Carissa replied. "That is most kind. Anika and Joanna can help."

"I would prefer to keep my laptop with me," I said over my shoulder. Anika nodded, and I didn't worry about it. But a minute later, the young enforcer stepped to my side.

"Ms. Delacroix?" she said. "I believe this is yours."

I turned to her and smiled. She was holding my laptop case, and I accepted it from her. "Thank you, Monique."

"You're welcome."

The dynamics remained interesting. By and large, I stood back and watched the interactions. They were... confusing.

Excepting the humans, Michaela was clearly physically the weakest person here. But she seemed to be so in charge of events.

But then she deferred to her enforcers, and at least for a time, Elisabeth was in charge. She directed where she wanted everyone to sit, but then it was clear there was a point of contention.

Me.

I could practically see the gears whirring in the wolf's head. She was clearly counting, and she didn't like the total.

There were plenty of vehicles, and I didn't see the problem. But then she began dispatching wolves to the cars, each to be driven by one of the enforcers. And I looked at how the remaining enforcers were clustered around the werefox.

I sidled to Elisabeth. "I'm causing difficulty for you."

"Of course not."

"Is it a long ride?"

"Fifteen minutes or so."

"Then place me where you must, Head Enforcer. I will not be offended."

"You're at least as big as I am," Elisabeth said. "I can't imagine you want to ride in back of one of the SUVs."

I laughed. "I'm bigger."

She shook her head. "Michaela did this to me on purpose. I can't ask either alpha to ride in the rear seat. I certainly can't put Carissa back there. And I can't put an enforcer back there and expect her to do her job, but I don't know how to put Lara, Michaela, and Carissa in one car without one of them taking the front seat and Serena in the back."

I chuckled.

We'd both turned to watch Lara and Michaela talking with Carissa, and it was obvious when Michaela cocked her head. I was sure she'd heard Elisabeth say her name.

"She heard everything you just said, didn't she?"

And then darned, but if Michaela didn't look directly at me and nod.

"That little shit," Elisabeth said. "She's laughing at me."

"I believe she is," I observed. "And I believe Carissa may be as well. Look. Lara doesn't have a clue why they're laughing."

Elisabeth growled and stared at Michaela, but the little fox simply returned her attention to her conversation, leaving Elisabeth to deal with security.

"She never leaves this crap to me," Elisabeth said. "She fights me on everything. And she picks today to leave it to me?"

I laughed again. "Would you care for a suggestion?"

"I would love one."

"Let the fox drive one of the cars and put Carissa in the front passenger seat."

"You're not serious."

"Can't she drive?"

"Of course she can. It's just that we haven't let her drive in, oh, two years or so."

"She flew one of the aircraft to New Orleans, I believe someone said. Why is this any different?"

"She flew the Bonanza."

"Yes?"

"Lara flew the Seneca."

I laughed. "And flying the Seneca carries more prestige than the lowly Bonanza."

"Frankly, yes," Elisabeth said. "What the hell? It will do Lara good to let her wife drive her around. I don't think it has ever happened."

"Never?"

"Not in a car, no," she said. "I think we'll do just that." And then she stepped forward to direct everyone where she wanted them. Michaela smirked and then walked around one of the cars and bumped Karen from the driver's seat. I could tell the dour enforcer was surprised, but she didn't say a word.

I found myself riding in a car driven by, to my surprise, the young enforcer with Portia in the passenger seat. Elisabeth and I rode in the second seat. A minute or two later, we were rolling forward.

Elisabeth looked amazingly tense, her back straight and lips tight.

"May I ask a question?"

"Of course."

"Why are you so uptight?"

"Are you seriously asking that?"

"Carissa told me what you did for her." Elisabeth didn't say anything, but she nodded her nose to our driver, and I in turn nodded understanding. Monique must not know. "Your petite alpha walks on water, as far as Carissa is concerned." Elisabeth said nothing. "If Carissa intended ill to your pack, there is little you could do to stop her. You know that, don't you?"

"I know," Elisabeth said, her tone crisp.

"I'll tell you something else. She told me if I were ever in a position of choosing loyalty between her or Michaela, I should pick Michaela."

At that, Elisabeth's head snapped left to face me.

"In reality, I don't know if I could do that, but I wouldn't want to return to her and tell her I had acted against your pack, either. And so I rest comfortable knowing I'll never need to make such a decision."

Elisabeth said nothing for a moment, then without removing her gaze from me, she said, "Monique, are you listening to the conversation?"

"I'm trying not to," said the young enforcer.

"What would you say to our guest, if you were prompted to speak plainly."

"Head enforcer," the girl began.

"Speak plainly, Monique," Elisabeth repeated, and I detected warmth in her voice.

"Ms. Delacroix, we are forever vigilant," said the girl. "The vampire may not be the threat. But she brings attention. I do not know how to separate fact from fiction regarding vampires, but I wonder if she is vulnerable outside her territory. I wonder if she has enemies. I wonder if she is too strong to attack while in New Orleans, but perhaps not quite so strong while here."

No one said anything, but Monique continued after a moment. "And two years ago, I know Michaela was kidnapped. I didn't know whom, but suddenly the alpha and half the enforcers were gone, and when they came back, Michaela was with them. But everyone was weird for a few months after that. Something big happened."

She glanced over her shoulder at me for only a moment then resumed speaking. "And now I have at least an idea of what was going on. One of Carissa's enemies kidnapped our alpha. I don't understand why, and I don't know why Carissa would feel indebted. Guilty, perhaps, if Michaela came between her and her enemies, but that's not the same, is it?"

I turned back to Elisabeth. I had the full truth. Clearly most of the pack did not, although I presumed the older enforcers all did.

"Monique," Elisabeth said. "Do the enforcer students talk about this?"

"You told us not to," Monique said. Then she looked over her shoulder again, just an instant.

"You can talk and keep your eyes on the road, Monique," Elisabeth said.

"I'm sorry, Head Enforcer."

"No one in this vehicle would be hurt in an accident, but deer can surprise anyone. Do you want to pay the insurance deductible if that happens?"

"No, Head Enforcer."

"Good. You were going to say something else?"

"If anyone is talking about it, they don't do it with me. They think I'm a goody two shoes."

Elisabeth laughed, and I smiled. "There are reasons you are the one who learned what you learned, Monique. You know what I'm talking about."

"Yes, Head Enforcer."

"And there are reasons I'm willing to allow you to overhear this conversation."

"I won't let you down, Elisabeth."

"I know you won't. Monique, I can't explain more than I have, but regardless of whatever conclusions you reach this weekend, you absolutely will not talk about them with anyone."

"Of course not, Head Enforcer."

"Michaela was not kidnapped by one of Carissa's enemies, but she did perform an important service for the vampire. If it is deemed you should know more than that, Lara or Michaela will tell you themselves."

"Of course, Head Enforcer. You told me to speak plainly."

"So I did. Anna, what do you think of our most promising student?"

"I think you wish you had ten more of her."

"Oh that is absolutely true," Elisabeth said.

Seated in front of me, I watched Monique squirm in her seat and sit just a little straighter.

"Monique, I am changing your assignment for this weekend. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not, Head Enforcer."

"Anna, our property here is confusing. We're buying more as we can, but the borders are not clear. While with the rest of us, at the lodge, or immediately in sight of the lodge, you are free to roam. If you wish to roam more widely than that, please take Monique with you. She knows the borders. I don't do this to watch you, and I hope you aren't offended."

"Of course not." She had assigned a youngster to me, one who would be no threat at all if I had nefarious plans, and I wondered if that was part of a message. I decided to take her words at face value. "Did you just invite me to shift into fur?"

"If you wish. I am fairly certain the alphas will invite a run. I do not know how often you prefer to feel your fur."

"I would like that. I admit: I am glad there is no snow."

"You do not care for snow?"

"I am unaccustomed. It has been several years, and I would prefer growing acclimatized before enjoying the full experience." I laughed. "Carissa implied Michaela might invite me swimming."

"In the lake?" asked Monique. Elisabeth shifted in her seat, and I think perhaps she had assumed the young enforcer should have realized she was no longer a participant in the conversation. "Oh, it's really, really cold. It's cold to us. It's cold in the summer. I can't imagine how someone from New Orleans would view it in November."

"We put the kayaks away for the season," Elisabeth said. "Michaela goes into a funk for two weeks every year, although there will still be icebergs floating in the bay when she takes her kayak out of storage."

"Perhaps we will receive an invitation for the summer," I said. "I've never been kayaking. Do they make them to my size?"

Elisabeth eyed me carefully. "You would want to bring your own wet suit. I think you're even bigger than Eric. But yes, we have a few kayaks to your size."

"I'm sure I don't need a wet suit."

"Michaela won't let you go without one," Monique said. "Even in the summer, it's really cold. Rory almost died."

"What?"

"He flipped," Elisabeth said. "He and my predecessor. It was years ago, our first outing up here with Michaela, long before she became an official member of the pack." Elisabeth shook her head. "Michaela was amazing. She saved both their lives."

"That little thing."

"That little thing," Elisabeth said. "I was the second most experienced kayaker on that trip, and in spite of our differences, I couldn't have helped. Anna, there are reasons this pack treats that little fox the way we do."

"I know about some of those reasons," I said. I flicked my eyes to Monique and raised an eyebrow.

Elisabeth turned her head back and forth, just once, a very small gesture, and so I nodded just as fractionally. "The truth is, before Michaela, Lara was a good alpha, but she was walking a balance, and not everyone was satisfied. Michaela makes Lara a better alpha, and Michaela directly adds a spirit to the pack that wouldn't exist without her. There are still holdouts who would prefer a male alpha."

"Assholes," Monique muttered from the front seat.

"Enforcer!" Elisabeth said firmly. "Unless drawn into the conversation, this is your opportunity to listen and learn."

"I'm sorry, Head Enforcer," Monique replied contritely. "I hope I didn't offend you, Ms. Delacroix."

"While I appreciate the sentiment you just relayed," Elisabeth continued, "one or two of those 'assholes', as you say, are on the council. Comments like that from such a young enforcer could easily result in political problems for your alpha."

"I'm sorry, Head Enforcer."

"Listen and learn, Monique. You could easily be the one sitting where I am someday, holding a discussion with a guest to the pack. Now, we're almost there. Be prepared for the convoy to stop. Michaela likes to show off the sign Lara built for her."

"Yes, Head Enforcer."

"Anna, what do you think about our young driver's comment?"

"I don't think she got it right," I said. Elisabeth flashed a ghost of a smile to me. "If I were to make such a comment, which I couldn't possibly, I believe a far more accurate comment would have been along the way of 'misogynistic assholes'."

"Quite so," said Elisabeth. "Did you hear that, Monique?"

"What was that word?"

"Misogynistic," I repeated. "A misogynist is someone who believes a woman's place is in the kitchen."

Monique repeated the word a couple of times. "Am I saying it correctly?"

"You are," I replied. "Young enforcer, I would counsel caution in the use of that word for the sort of reasons your head enforcer has already stated. I can get away with use of that word, but in the wrong ears, it can engender a harsh response. Enforcers, especially young enforcers, must tread carefully where politics are involved."

Monique nodded. "Thank you, Ms. Delacroix," she said. "You were right, Elisabeth." We turned a corner, and then as predicted, our convoy came to a stop.

We appeared to be in what could be considered the middle of nowhere. Outside our windows, the world was grey and dreary. There were trees not far from the road, but they were bare of all but a few brown leaves. The grasses in the ditch were brown and withered. I didn't see a single home. The paved road we had just left looked like the sort that saw little traffic, and the gravel road far less.

"All right, Monique," Elisabeth said. "From past experience, I suspect you know what is happening in the vehicle immediately in front of us. Why don't you explain to our guest?"

Monique paused then said, "Michaela likes to stop here. This represents the edge of our land." She pointed to the right. "Bayfield is five miles that way." She paused. "Normally, Michaela and Lara sit where you and Elisabeth are sitting, and she would hold Lara's hand while explaining how this land represents a sort of pre-wedding present. Lara loved Michaela so much, and Michaela's heart was breaking when she had to leave Bayfield to live with us near Madison, and so Lara bought this land so we could come here." Monique pointed. "The first time they came, that sign was the only indicator this was now our land."

"So this is Michaela's land?" I asked.

"It's pack land," Elisabeth said. "Lara bought it and donated it to the pack, but she did it for Michaela. And now it's Michaela's word that is law here."

"She built the lodge and all the houses," said Monique.

"Lara?"

"Michaela," Monique said. "But she lets all of us help. Scarlett designed them though."

"Who is Scarlett?"

"You've met Angel," Elisabeth said. "Scarlett is her mate. She is a gifted architect, although for the larger structures, she works with her employer."

"But they're her designs," Monique said, and I could hear the pride.

"She's a friend?" I asked.

"Yeah. She's older than me, of course, but yes. We've become friends. She's helped me a lot."

"Will I meet her this weekend?" I asked.

"Yes," Elisabeth said. "Probably in about five minutes.

I took another look at the sign. It was a good, wooden sign, and it glistened. "It looks new."

"Michaela's students give it a fresh coat of paint every summer," Elisabeth explained. "Monique, I've never asked. Do you know whose idea that was? I presume Angel's."

Monique didn't answer immediately.

"Oh," Elisabeth said gently. "It was yours." Monique nodded fractionally.

"Please don't tell," Monique said, turning around to look at Elisabeth. "We all do it together."

"Monique," Elisabeth said. "Maybe I didn't know. But do you really think Michaela doesn't know?"

"She knows everything."

Elisabeth laughed. "That's right. But there's something I do know. Michaela is deeply touched by the gesture."

Monique didn't respond to that, but a moment later, the convoy began moving again. "Conduct the tour, Monique," Elisabeth said. "You may be brief and leave details to the alpha."

It was a short drive from the entrance. We drove past several picturesque buildings. "Those are bunkhouses," Monique explained. "It's where the students stay when we come up, but this weekend, some of the enforcers are out here."

A moment later, she said, "This is one of our picnic areas." That was a gesture to the left. "This is our primary classroom when we're up here; we do a lot of field work. And it's also a good place for athletic games."

I looked. It was just a field, but there was a cluster of picnic tables and a large, open shelter.

"The tables are easy to build," Monique added. "But I had fun helping to roof the shelter."

The girl's pride was evident.

"You're learning more reasons why the pack treats Michaela the way we do," Elisabeth said in a low tone. At that, I nodded.

"And this is the lodge," Monique said as we came to a stop.

"There isn't much parking," I observed.

"There's more parking near the bunkhouses," Monique said. "And a large field closer to the entrance. Michaela says we don't come up here to look at an army of cars."

"I suppose you don't." I looked at the lodge. "It's beautiful and fits the setting perfectly."

Around us, people were getting out of their cars, but Elisabeth said, "Monique, please gather Ember and Cassie, if they look free, and see to the luggage. Work with the humans to place everything in the right rooms."

"Yes, Head Enforcer. Will you tell Serena I've been reassigned, or should I?"

"I'll do it," Elisabeth said.

At that, we climbed from the cars. I kept my laptop, but I didn't worry about the other things.

The enforcers had loosely dispersed around us, remaining vigilant, but somewhat more relaxed than they had been. But I could see the dynamics this weekend were going to be interesting. Carissa had claimed Michaela's arm, and Lara didn't seem happy about it. I moved closer to Elisabeth.

"Does Lara know Carissa wants a friendship to work?"

Elisabeth set a hand on my arm, drawing us to a stop. Then she leaned close. "She treats Michaela like a possession."

"She doesn't intend it that way," I countered. "But if Lara hates her so much, why were we invited?"

"Lara doesn't hate her. Lara is also trying to make the friendship work. But Michaela's greatest asset is her brain, and it goes to mush when she hears Carissa's voice."

"I had words with Carissa about that," I said. "She was self-effacing about it."

"She should be," Elisabeth replied. Then she sighed. "If she hadn't made the choices she made, we wouldn't have made all the choices we made, and I believe Deirdre would be dead now. Michaela would say it was worth the cost."

"Is that leftover thrall talking?"

"I don't believe so."

"What do you say about it? Or what does Lara say?"

"I say we all nearly died saving Deirdre's life. Michaela's life was in the balance." She shook her head. "It was the thrall that saved her."

"I don't understand."

"She was ready to give up, but Carissa had ordered her to obey my orders, and I ordered her to fight for her life and to heal her legs."

"It was that close?"

"At the end it was," Elisabeth said. "Her legs were ravaged from the knees down, her feet barely still attached."

"Oh, good lord," I said. I looked at the fox, laughing at something Carissa had said, then turned back to Elisabeth. The fierce wolf brushed a tear from her eyes.

"We nearly lost her," Elisabeth said, her voice rough. "Serena was bad, too, but not as bad as Michaela. If Michaela had died, Lara would have declared war on Carissa."

"She would have destroyed you."

"I know. So does Lara, but her grief would have been boundless. Our pack would have been destroyed, Anna." She gestured. "Watch how everyone treats Michaela this weekend. Not everyone in the pack would have supported a war, but nearly everyone who knows Michaela would have." She huffed once, then again. "It didn't happen that way."

"Do I need to suggest to Carissa she tone down her affection for Michaela?"

"Watch the fox."

And darned if Michaela didn't shake her head slightly.

"Oh hell, she's listening to us."

"I suspect Carissa heard every word as well," Elisabeth said. "If you want a conversation the fox can't hear, you don't have it within a half mile of her."

I laughed. "Got it."

"I mean that literally, by the way," Elisabeth said.

"Got it," I repeated.

Elisabeth stepped forward again, and I moved alongside her. We'd closed half the distance to Carissa and the alphas when the door of the lodge opened and two wolf children burst through the door.

"Mommy Wolf! Mommy Fox!"

Carissa dropped Michaela's arm. The fox didn't need to bend down to greet her incoming daughter, although Lara did. But I saw Serena step forward, closer to the fox. I wondered if it was to intercept the child. But when the young girl launched herself at her mother, Serena simply provided additional support to prevent the fox from tumbling end over end.

"How long were you gone?"

"Oh, a little over an hour. They're just excited."

We closed the distance, coming to a stop beside Carissa. The vampire was smiling as she watched the family greeting. Lara held her daughter easily. Michaela spun hers around in her arms before setting her down, delivering a kiss before trading daughters. The second daughter received a spin and a kiss, and then both alphas turned their daughters towards the vampire.

"Darlings," Michaela began in introduction. But the girl whose hands she was holding pulled away. She stepped right up to Carissa and looked up at her.

"Are you a vampire?" she asked in a little girl voice.

"Yes, young wolf," Carissa said. "I am. My name is Carissa." She held out her hand. The girl looked at it for a moment before accepting a perfunctory shake.

"I'm Celeste," said the girl. "That's Rebecca."

"I can introduce myself," said Rebecca, pulling away from Lara. She stepped up beside her sister. "I'm Rebecca." She held out her hand, and Carissa shook it briefly. "I want to see your fangs."

"Rebecca," said Michaela. "We do not make demands of our guests."

The girl lowered her head immediately. "I'm sorry, Mommy Fox."

"Did you come to bite us?" Celeste asked.

"Did you come to suck our blood?" Rebecca added. "That's what vampires do."

"No," Carissa said. "I came as a friend, and to meet the two of you. I only accept blood that is freely offered."

"All right, you two," said Lara in what was clearly a mother voice. "What do we say to guests who come to visit?"

Both girls looked over their shoulders at their mother then turned back to Carissa. "Welcome to our home," they said together.

"Thank you," Carissa said.

Then both girls looked around. They spied Anika and Joanna, hanging behind Carissa. They cocked their heads, and it looked almost exactly like Michaela when she cocked hers. What was cutest was they each had done it in opposite directions, Rebecca to the left and Celeste to the right. And I don't know how it worked, but I would see over the course of the weekend they did that a lot, but it wasn't always the same direction. It was, however, always opposite, and I had no idea how they managed that.

But then they both turned and spotted me. And together, they moved past Michaela to come to a stop in front of me. I smiled at them.

"You smell funny," Rebecca said. "You're not a wolf."

"You smell..." Celeste took a big whiff. And then Rebecca leaned closer and took her own.

Then, together, they both began growling, low in their throats.

"No!" Michaela said firmly. She stepped up between them, and then Lara was there, too. I saw several enforcers in motion, and suddenly we were surrounded.

Michaela turned her back to me, interposing herself between me and the growling girls. "I said no!"

Both girls immediately grew quiet. By then, Lara had a hand on each shoulder. And then there was another wolf, female, perhaps mid-twenties. She wasn't an enforcer. But she stepped up beside Lara and set a hand on Rebecca's other shoulder. Another wolf, and I couldn't tell if she was an enforcer or not, stepped to the other side and had a hand on Celeste's shoulder.

Neither girl looked away. They'd been glaring at me, but they had adjusted their attention to their Mother Fox.

"Girls," Michaela said firmly, "This is Annabelle Delacroix. I know she smells... unusual. But she is a guest this weekend, and our friend besides. I want you to apologize to her. We do not growl at our guests."

"She smells like..." began Rebecca.

"A cat," Celeste finished.

"She's not human," Rebecca continued.

"She's really not a wolf," Celeste declared.

"What is she?" they asked together.

"Apologize for growling," Michaela said firmly. "Now."

Neither of them looked remotely apologetic, but they glanced up at me and then down to their mother. "We're sorry," they said in small voices. I wasn't sure they were, but they were young, and I wasn't going to take offense.

"I know I smell odd to you," I said. "But I am a friend. Michaela?" I asked permission to say more. She nodded, and so I continued. "Tell me, young wolves. If a human knew you were a werewolf, she might be afraid of you."

"Zoe is human, and she's not afraid of us!"

"All right," I said. I had no idea who Zoe was. "But a lot of humans would be. You are a werewolf and so you are different from a human. Is that a reason for her to growl at you, or for you to growl at her?"

The two exchanged a look, but they didn't say anything.

"I am different from everyone else here," I said. "Carissa is also different from everyone else here. Your Mommy Fox is different from everyone else here. It is possible to be different but to still be a friend."

They were young, and perhaps that was too advanced for them. But I stepped forward and then knelt down beside Michaela, putting my eyes closer to a level with the girls. "It is good to be cautious around strangers," I said. "You would be cautious around a wolf that wasn't a member of the pack. And you should be cautious around people who smell like me. But I am not an enemy to your pack, and I'd like us all to be friends. How do you feel about being friends?"

They cocked their heads again, this time the opposite direction. "What are you?" Rebecca asked.

"I am a jaguar," I answered. "Do you know what that is?"

They each shook their heads.

"Well, in my fur, I am all black and about the size of a large tiger."

Their eyes got wide. "Are you bigger than a wolf?"

"Yes," she said. "If your mothers give permission, then maybe you'll get to see this weekend." I smiled again and held out my hand. "Do you think we can be friends?"

They both looked at my hand for a moment, but then Rebecca shrugged away from her keepers and stepped forward. She shook my hand before retreating to Lara. Celeste did the same.

"Please call me Anna," I said. "And I am sorry, but I do not know if I can tell you apart, so if I call you by the wrong name, I hope you won't hold it against me."

"I'm Celeste," one of them reminded me. "I'm slightly bigger."

"I'm Rebecca," said the other. "I'm older."

"By three minutes," Celeste clarified.

I looked between them critically. If Celeste was bigger, I couldn't tell.

"Well," I said. "I'm not sure I'll be very good at telling you apart, but I'll do my best."

"That's okay," Rebecca said.

"Even Nora gets us wrong sometimes."

"Who is Nora?"

Both girls looked over their shoulder and pointed to one of the wolves, the smaller one who had helped Lara. "That's Nora. She's our nanny."

"Ah. Well, I am pleased to meet you."

At that, they retreated to safety, and I stepped back to let Michaela resume control of the situation. She introduced the girls to Anika and Joanna.

And then there were fresh introductions of all the other wolves in attendance. I learned the other wolf who had helped Lara was Scarlett, the architect. And I saw Monique with two other girls her age named Cassie and Ember. And there was a petite human woman named Zoe. She was Portia's mate and Ember's mother.

I decided to do my best to remember names but was sure I'd make mistakes.

Finally we turned to the lodge. It truly was beautiful. We received a tour, ending in the three rooms assigned to our group. It would be a mistake to call the rooms identical. They were decorated differently, after all. But they were of a similar size and quality. And so Carissa took the center of the three rooms. Joanna and Anika took the room to the right, and I received the room to the left.

I was pretty sure we were displacing people. Michaela introduced the rooms as "guest rooms", but it was clear not all the enforcers would stay in the main lodge. I hoped they were comfortable in the bunkhouses.

I dropped off my computer, and as a group we headed towards the front room. It was on the way that Michaela cut Carissa and me from the crowd, pulling us towards a set of windows. It was clearly premeditated, as Lara moved everyone else towards a large seating area in the middle of the room.

Of course, the enforcers took up different positions, but they were far more relaxed than they had been.

But then I turned my attention to Michaela. She spoke quietly. "We have a few things planned this weekend, but we haven't filled it with activities. We're between seasons. It's a poor time of the year to enjoy the lake, I'm afraid. Today is informal. There is Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow, and we have reservations in town for dinner on Saturday. There is a small ceremony scheduled for tomorrow." She paused. "It wasn't scheduled at the time we invited you here." She paused.

"What is it, Michaela?" Carissa asked. "Is our presence awkward?"

"It's a private, intimate ceremony," she explained. "You briefly met Ember. She is the adoptive daughter to Portia and Zoe."

"She seems like a lovely girl," Carissa said.

"She is. There is a formal adoption ceremony."

"Oh," Carissa said. "I see. Michaela, this is already an intimate holiday, and you have invited us for it. I am deeply touched. But this ceremony is for only the closest friends and family, and while we wish us all to be friends, it is not appropriate for us to be in attendance. How long would you like us to wander the town?"

"The town will be shut down," Michaela said.

"Perhaps you would loan us a car, and we can tour the countryside for an hour or two."

"Thank you for understanding, Carissa."

"Of course, Michaela. We are all being careful with our diplomacy. Perhaps we could relax just a little?"

Michaela nodded. "Lara-"

"Lara is protective of her mate, her family, and her pack," Carissa said. "But her smiles are not false, and the invitation was not false, and the hospitality is not false." She paused. "Michaela, we have not brought trouble to your doorstep. I have adversaries, but they will not trouble your pack."

"That is a conversation for Lara and Elisabeth," Michaela said. "But I don't think the enforcers will relax for some time."

"No," Carissa said somewhat sadly. "I suppose they won't."

Michaela offered a smile. "Other than meals, there is no particular agenda today. If no one attempts to organize something, we'll fall into patterns. But if there are things you would like to do, feel free to suggest them."

"Perhaps we'll see what emerges," Carissa replied.

Michaela nodded and then offered a gesture. Carissa took her arm again, and we rejoined everyone else, coming to a stop on the edge of the circle they had formed.

"Have y'all determined how we are to spend the time until lunch?"

"Francesca grabbed some help," replied Lara. "And said lunch will be about forty minutes." She redirected her gaze to Carissa. "Lunch today is casual."

"That sounds lovely," Carissa said. "Don't worry about anything special for us. We'll fit in."

"Other than that," Lara said, "We were waiting for you, Michaela."

"Yeah," said Michaela. "That's what I thought." Her gaze shifted. "Head Enforcer, we are all friends here. Are the enforcers able to relax?"

Elisabeth turned to her alpha, but Lara said nothing, and so Elisabeth looked around for a moment before answering. "Yes, although I want adult eyes on the twins and two enforcers on the fox."

Michaela nodded, looking around briefly, then tugged on Carissa and pulled her to a pair of open seats. I found my own seat, and then Michaela said, "Perhaps we can use this time to get to know each other a little better. Rebecca. Celeste. This is going to be an adult conversation. If you stay, you will learn something, but you might get bored."

The twins exchanged a look then one of them asked, "May we go play?"

They stood up and turned to Nora, their nanny, who took one hand each. She led them from the room, Emanuel and -- I wracked my brain to remember his name -- Rory following them.

"We can go into town this afternoon," Michaela said, "Unless someone has a better plan. Carissa, Anna, everyone is curious about the two of you."

"Anna, perhaps you'd like to go first," Carissa suggested.

"I don't know what anyone wants to know," I said.

"You told the twins you were all black and the size of a tiger," said one of the teenage girls. I thought for a moment and remembered this was Ember, the adopted daughter of Portia and the human, Zoe, the one who would be the center of tomorrow's celebration. "But I thought jaguars were spotted, like a leopard, and significantly smaller than a tiger."

"Ah," I replied. "You have heard of black panthers. I am still spotted, but in most light, it can be hard to see. At night, even to were eyes, I appear entirely black."

"And even to my eyes," Carissa inserted.

"And you're right. The largest natural male jaguar might come close to the weight of lion or small tiger. But in my fur, I am somewhat larger than expected." I smiled sweetly.

"How much larger?" That was from the other teenage girl -- Cassie, I think was her name.

"I am about the size of an average Siberian or Bengal tiger," I said. "Ten feet tip to tail and 460 pounds."

There was an intake of air and a few exclamations at that. Once everyone settled, Lara said, "There are reasons wolves and the cats tend to avoid each other, but Anna is our friend."

"And I'd like to point out," said Michaela with a glint in her eye, "Anna in fur is about twice the size of any of you in fur. However, the smallest of you are five times my size in fur. If she seems big to you, imagine how all of you seem to me." She grinned. "Anna, I am looking forward to seeing you in your fur later."

"I would like that," I replied, offering a small bow to her.

The girl had her hand back up. "Another question, Cassie?" Michaela prompted.

"I'm not sure," said the girl. "It's just..." She bit her lip.

"Are you about to ask something insulting?" Michaela asked.

"What?" Cassie said. "No, Alpha. Well..."

"Are you about to comment on my size?" There was an amused lilt in Michaela's voice. "Go ahead. I'm proud of who I am. You should know that."

"You're just so small," Cassie said.

"And you're wondering if I see all of you like you probably see your alpha fox?" I asked.

"Yeah, I guess."

I turned to Michaela. "You shrink in your fur?"

"I'm about 30 pounds," she said. "Big for an American red fox, but not notably so."

My respect for her rose. She was so small and delicate, but she held her own amongst these wolves. Their respect -- and love -- was clear. "I can't imagine being so small," I said slowly. I turned back to the girl. "Cassie, is it?"

"Yes, ma'am," she said.

I shook my head. "Anna."

"Yes, Anna."

"I imagine all of you are deeply aware of the petite nature of your alpha." At that there were numerous heads nodding around the room. "I wouldn't see any of you the same way. I don't spend much time with the wolves in Louisiana. As Lara said, wolves and cats don't typically get along." I paused, not sure of the diplomacy involved, but then I decided to go ahead. "I suspect you will find my size intimidating. At the same time, you have numbers." I turned to Lara and Michaela. "Alphas, there are elephants in this room."

It was Lara that spoke. "This pack does not hide from elephants."

And so I nodded then turned back to Cassie. "A cat pays little attention to wolf politics, but I suspect inviting Carissa to visit was a difficult decision. Allowing me in your territory is also difficult, especially as I do not belong to Carissa the way one of the wolves might."

"Why did you come then?"

"Because Carissa asked me," I said.

The girl glanced at the vampire then back to me. "You mean she ordered you."

"No. Carissa doesn't order me. Carissa makes a rare request of me, and when she does, I grant her wish. For this weekend, she invited me, and I was happy to accept. But if I had told her I wasn't comfortable, she would have accepted that."

I actually wasn't sure she would have, but I was glad we hadn't a need to test how hard she would have pushed me.

The room was silent for a moment, and then Portia said, "If we're discussing elephants, should we discuss them all?"

"Perhaps so," Lara said. "Which elephant interests you, Portia?"

"Why you, Anna? Why didn't she bring a wolf or two?"

"Carissa's reasons aren't always obvious," I replied. "Do you want me to offer my guess, or do you wish to see what the vampire will answer?"

"Start with your guesses," Carissa said before Portia could reply. There were a few snickers at that.

"I was a better choice," I explained. "For several reasons. First, we spent a day together when some of you were in Louisiana. We became friends, or at least tentative friends. Carissa kept the wolves away from you, and so I was the obvious choice for that reason alone. But I also do not represent a threat."

"At twice our size?" Portia asked.

"Like wolves, cats are territorial. We don't share well. We are not the social creatures wolves are. I would never seek to challenge your alpha for leadership of this pack. Only a submissive wolf would say the same, but if Carissa were going to bring a submissive wolf, she may as well have brought no wolf at all."

I opened my arms, palms up, a gesture of friendship. "I am, in a way, harmless."

"Not so harmless," Lara said.

"No. If my fierce nature is required, it is at hand. But Carissa does not require protection from the Madison wolves, and the Madison wolves require no protection from her. If my fierce nature is required, it would be alongside you and your enforcers, Lara. And I think you know that."

She inclined her head. I turned back to Portia. "You could ask Carissa if there were other reasons."

"There are two others," Carissa said. "I enjoy Anna's company. I wish honest friendship between us, and Anna can help while securing her own, distinct friendship. There is only one other in my domain who would serve better, and she could not tolerate a Wisconsin winter."

"Perhaps she'll come during our warmer months," Michaela suggested.

"I believe that is her hope," Carissa said. "She can't come alone, however."

And every pair of eyes in the room turned to me.

"Ah," Carissa added. "My final reason."

"We would keep her safe," Lara said. I wondered if she were insulted.

"Yes," Carissa said. "But would you turn down Anna's assistance in that regard? After all, it is not your enemies I fear, but my own."

"No," Lara said. "Anna is always welcome."

I inclined my head. "Thank you, Alpha."

* * * *

After that, we chatted as a group for a while longer, eventually breaking up into smaller conversations. I could tell some of the teenagers were interested in talking to me, but Elisabeth intervened and pulled me to the side.

"Do we need to worry?"

"This weekend?" I asked. "Unlikely."

"If there were an emergency, can I count on you?"

"Of course," I said. "But I do not fight well as part of a team."

"I don't even know how to respond to that."

"Carissa won't need my protection," I explained. "You can assume, if there is that sort of emergency, she and I would both fight independently."

"What are your orders?"

"Friendship, Elisabeth. Carissa doesn't expect any problems of this nature. We haven't talked about any of this."

"So you don't have orders to protect her?" I scoffed. "Or the humans?"

"Elisabeth, you are the head enforcer here, and we are your guests. We both know this conversation isn't necessary, but in case we are both wrong, what would you want me to do? Before you answer, will you listen to my advice?"

She inclined her head, so I continued. "Don't pin me down. I am not a bodyguard. If I were in your position, I would shove the humans in with the fox-"

"The fox won't listen to my orders and will fight."

"Beside her mate?"

"She has a unique style," Elisabeth said. "I'll have to talk to the alphas, but if there is trouble, we'll shove the humans with the pups."

"Then I am best along the edges," I explained. "One on one, I can handle anything that could come after us short of another master vampire. But you are better asking me to use my judgment than asking me to fill a particular role."

"And if Deirdre were here?"

"Then I would directly protect Deidre and trust she would also protect me at the same time. But Deirdre is not here."

"You do not offer to protect the humans?"

"The humans are worthless in a fight. Deirdre is not."

"No," Elisabeth said. "She is decidedly not worthless."

"If there is a need for this conversation, you need more from me than a last line of defense, and I'd make everyone nervous if that's where you put me. It's too close to the pups."

At that she nodded. "In a fight, would you follow my orders?"

"In a fight, will you have a voice to give them?"

"If I do?"

"I will listen to Carissa, you, and the alphas. No others. But I do not have the same sort of blind discipline a wolf might have."

She snorted. "You haven't been around many wolves. But I understand your point."

"You need to know this, Elisabeth: if necessary, I would do what was necessary to protect Michaela and her family."

"Why would you say that?"

"There are simple reasons. First, because Carissa asked me to. Second, because I like Deirdre, too, and I heard what Michaela did. And third, because foxes are rare, and I could not stand by and watch them become more rare." Elisabeth nodded at that. "We are on the same side, Elisabeth."

She nodded again then took a deep breath and held it for a moment before letting it out slowly. "There are days I wish a return to simpler times."

"Were they ever simple?"

"They seemed simpler to me."

"I wouldn't want your job, Elisabeth," I said. "I'm sorry I can't give you simple answers."

"Well, none of this is necessary, and you gave me one simple answer. Trust you. That I can do."

"Good."

"The teenagers are hovering. Do you mind?"

I smiled. "No. I imagine they're curious. To be honest, they impress me."

"Why is that?"

"They seem somewhat calmer than I might expect."

"They're the cream of our pack," Elisabeth explained. "And Michaela's students. She only takes the best and brightest."

"Monique seems..." I thought for a moment before finishing with, "Mature and earnest."

Elisabeth smiled at that, the nicest smile I'd ever seen from her. "It was Angel first, but that was sort of a given."

"I don't understand."

"Angel is my cousin," she explained. "I wasn't surprised when she approached me to become an enforcer. I can't tell you how pleased I am to have added her mate."

"Scarlett. I thought she was an architect."

"Part time enforcer as needed," Elisabeth explained. "It just sort of happened. But Monique." Elisabeth's smile returned. "Michaela found her. She's the little sister of one of Michaela's earliest students. She's young, but she's going to be an amazing enforcer, the sort we can trust completely. We have other student enforcers, but the alpha likes Monique, so that makes it a lot easier."

"Lara doesn't care for the others?"

"I meant Michaela. And it's not that, but she doesn't look at them the same way. And they don't look at her the same way, either. Oh, we all love both alphas, but Monique loves her for more reasons, if that makes sense."

"I suppose it does."

"Oh, oh," Elisabeth said. "You're losing their interest."

I turned to look. Two of the girls had peeled away from the group clearly waiting for Elisabeth to release me. They had the human's arm -- Portia's mate. My eyes searched for Portia. She glanced at the girls with her mate but then turned back to her conversation.

"What are they doing?"

"Taking Zoe for a ride."

"A ride?"

"You might find this interesting. Are you afraid of stepping outside?"

"Not at all."

It turned into a half exodus. The two girls took the human outside; she didn't seem to be fighting them. Elisabeth and I followed, and then my admirers followed us. But then, as we watched, the two wolves began running, the human between them. It took no time for them to disappear into the trees.

"What are they doing?"

"Taking her for a run," Elisabeth explained. "Zoe is our pet human."

"She can't be the only human pack member."

"She's not. She's one of two living on our compound, but she's the only one who has a real relationship with the teenagers, and she's the only one who tries to actually play with us."

"That sounds... dangerous?"

"She gets hurt sometimes, but so far, nothing broken."

Then I heard a scream, clearly coming from a human voice deep in the woods. I startled and was about to run to investigate, but Elisabeth put a hand on my arm. "That was Zoe."

"She got hurt?"

"Maybe bruises," Elisabeth said. "They're scaring her."

"Excuse me?"

Elisabeth looked over her shoulder at the teenagers. They were watching us, but Elisabeth was the head enforcer, and so they were being polite. "Do you girls want to explain about roller coaster rides?"

"Sure." One of the girls stepped forward, the rest following. "I'm Ember. Zoe is my mom."

"I remember," I said. "Roller coaster rides?"

She came to a stop at my side. "That's what Zoe started calling them. Two of us help her run fast. She loves it. But then Iris and Lindsey figured out we could scare her without hurting her, like a really good ride at an amusement park. She loves it. We ask her what level she wants."

There was another scream, a good, long one. Ember just grinned. "It sounds like she asked for a 9."

"A nine?"

"On a scale of 1 to 10. They just dropped her off a cliff."

"What?"

"Don't worry. Monique caught her."

"Monique wasn't with them." But I looked around, and she wasn't with us, either. "She went out first."

"Zoe-mom is a little predictable." Ember grinned. "Portia-mom and I give her rides, too, but we don't scare her. Cassie and I can take her out, but we keep it pretty tame, too. Mrs. Lassiter lets us take her sometimes, but not very often." Then she looked over her shoulder back towards the lodge. "Do you think Carissa's humans would like a ride?" She paused. "I suppose if they wanted to go fast, Carissa could do it."

"I doubt it would even occur to her, and it definitely wouldn't occur to someone to ask Carissa for a ride."

"Oh," said Ember. "I suppose not. I think of her like your alpha, but she's not."

"In a way, she is, but she holds herself somewhat more aloof than a wolf alpha," I explained. "You could explain these rides and offer." Just then there was another good scream, although shorter than the last one. "But perhaps without the screaming the first time."

"Would Carissa get mad?"

"If the human screamed?" I clarified.

"You may offer them a one, Ember," Elisabeth said before Ember could answer. "Nothing above that. If they come for another visit, perhaps a four." She turned to me. "Zoe will come back from this ride with bruises. We would not want Carissa to believe we mistreated her humans."

There was another scream, much closer than the previous ones.

"Your mother asks for this?"

"She loves it," Ember said. "Watch her face when they get back. They're almost here."

Ember was true to her word. It was perhaps fifteen seconds before four people appeared from the trees, moving very quickly. There were three teenage wolves and one human. Two of the wolves each had an arm, and Monique was in back. Together, they held her high in the air, Monique clasping the human by her knees.

They ran in unison. I expected them to come straight to us, but they veered towards the parking lot, running straight for one of the cars. I expected them to veer off, but as a unit they leapt, clearing the car.

I expected the human to scream, but she barely grunted, and that was on the landing. If she didn't scream from that, I wondered what they'd been doing to her out in the woods.

The wolves ran away with her but then circled back, again running for the car. This time they didn't jump with her. They threw her. And this time, Zoe screamed.

Oh, they caught her of course, splitting up to run around the car and barely snagging her, but letting her fall nearly all the way to the ground, her face nearly -- but not quite -- plowing into the ground. She let out another small scream.

But she didn't fight them.

The four ran around all of us once then deposited Zoe on her feet immediately in front of Elisabeth. All four of them were panting heavily, and the human was deeply flushed. She bent down, her hands on her knees, gasping for air.

"Oh. My. God." She finally said. Then she straightened and hugged the wolves in turn. "I can't believe I asked for a nine."

Everyone chuckled. "Yeah, right, Mom," said Ember. "You always ask for a nine."

Zoe was still panting -- and grinning -- when she turned to me. "Did they explain?"

"They did," I replied. "Are you hurt?"

"Bruises," she said, rubbing her arms and chest. "Portia won't let them do anything above a four now until they heal." She sighed dramatically. "They dropped me from a cliff!"

"It's not a nine if you don't think you're going to die," one of the girls said.

"There wasn't anyone to catch me!"

"I caught you," Monique said.

"I didn't know you were waiting."

"Well, duh," said Monique.

Zoe thanked the three girls again but said, "I'm getting cold." We all filed back inside, and I let the teenagers surround me, but I watched Zoe. She made her way to her mate, Ember under her arm. The human came to a stop in front of Portia, who looked down at her. The wolf was clearly upset; her brow was furrowed and her back tight. But the human walked into her and set her head against the wolf's chest. Portia wrapped arms around her and held her for a minute.

"She's fine." I turned to my right. Cassie was watching me. "Zoe. She's fine."

"Ah, but does Portia believe that?"

Cassie glanced over. "Probably not. Could I ask a question?"

"Of course."

"Do you ever feed her?"

I should have anticipated the question. The other nearby teenagers had been acting a little nonchalant, but I thought perhaps they were listening intently. "Carissa?" As if she could mean anyone else.

"Yes."

"Every supernatural creature living in her domain donates to her," I said.

"Is it like they show in the movies?"

"You skipped a question."

"What question did I skip?"

"You didn't ask what it means to donate."

"Oh."

"Carissa is the queen. When she feeds, there is a moment of pain, but that is quickly smothered."

"By pleasure."

"Yes," I said.

"So it is like they show in the movies."

"Well, that depends on which movie," I said.

"I suppose," she said. "You said I should have asked what it means to donate."

"Carissa is the queen, and she drinks directly from her donors."

"I don't understand."

"For the other vampires, we donate blood, just like going to a blood bank."

"So how often do you have to feed Carissa?"

"First, it's not that we have to. It's an honor, one we perform once every year or so."

"That's all?"

"There are a lot of weres living in her territory," I pointed out. "Her immediate household feeds her far more often than that. She relies on the rest of us so she doesn't drain the people who live with her."

"Oh. I understand."

"She won't have to feed from anyone from your pack, Cassie," I said.

"Because she has you and the two humans here?"

"Right."

The other kids had questions, some about Carissa, some about me, some about New Orleans. I'd been talking to them for a while before a female adult wolf stepped up to my side. The teenagers all stopped talking and turned to the newcomer.

I turned as well. I didn't remember her name, but based on the behavior of the kids, I thought she was someone important.

"Anna," she said. "I realized I didn't inquire as to your dining preferences. I assumed you would eat the same foods as the wolves, but I should have asked."

"I am quite flexible," I said.

“Anna,” said Elisabeth. “This is my Aunt Francesca. In a way, she’s Aunt to the entire pack. She is both teacher and principal at our school and, well, in an earlier time, she might have been called the chatelaine for the alphas’ home.”

“Ah, of course,” I said. We nodded to each other. “You wear many hats. I can happily eat meat of all forms, however it is prepared. Are you familiar with Cajun cooking?”

“I’m afraid not,” Francesca said.

“Well, my family background is not Cajun, but our cooking habits have been heavily influenced, and one cannot live in New Orleans without an appreciation for gumbo.”

“That’s soup?” Francesca said.

I smiled. “It’s more of a spicy stew,” I replied. “Francesca, I would be quite pleased with whatever the wolves eat.”

Francesca frowned. “Before Halloween, Michaela was looking forward to the restaurants.”

Elisabeth put her hand on my arm, just for a moment, and I turned to her. “Francesca is going to fret.”

“There is no need.”

“What do you enjoy beside your meat delivered in every envisioned fashion?”

I smiled again. “Cajun food heavily relies on rice,” I said. “And whatever vegetables are readily available.”

“And spice?” Francesca asked.

“Yes, but I imagine the wolves aren’t as fond of that.”

“Do you like curry?”

“I love curry,” I said. “But you don’t need to fuss over me, Francesca. I am happy with whatever you make for the wolves.”

She nodded. “Do you know what the vampire will prefer?”

“She eats more befitting a human of her size. Do you do anything special for...” I searched for the name for just a moment. “Zoe?”

“Zoe is vegan,” Elisabeth said.

I turned to her. “Vegan? Are you serious?”

“She makes great food,” Cassie said from my other side. “She makes edamame for every pack event. And she makes popcorn with nooch. It’s really good.”

“I’ve had edamame,” I said. “But what is nooch?”

“She uses it instead of butter,” Cassie explained. “Butter isn’t vegan.”

“I imagine not,” I said. I turned back to Elisabeth.

“Don’t say it,” Elisabeth said. “Everyone is aware of the irony of a vegan human mated to one of our enforcers. Oddly, it works quite well.” She smiled. “Zoe is the driving force behind any curry you find at pack events. But it’s inspired by Indian cuisine, not Cajun.”

“Well, I like Indian food as well,” I said. I turned back to Francesca. “Do not fuss over me. I can be quite happy with whatever the wolves eat, and maybe a little from the other choices.”

Francesca nodded and excused herself. A moment later, most of the teenagers exchanged glances and said, “We should go help her.” I was left with Elisabeth and Monique. Elisabeth turned to the young enforcer and said, “You’re off duty until after lunch.”

“I’ll go help in the kitchen then,” she said.

“Well,” said Elisabeth to me. “I don’t know your status with Carissa.”

“Are you asking if we can invite ourselves to their conversation?” I gestured with my nose to where the vampire was seated, facing Lara and Michaela. “Where would you be if I weren’t here?”

“Probably with them,” she said.

“Then, shall we join them?”

I was actually somewhat surprised. Carissa had released Michaela back to her mate, and so the alpha pair was seated on a sofa, a comfortable easy chair pulled to face them. I collected a similar chair on our way, and soon I found myself beside Carissa, Elisabeth joining her alphas on their sofa. Michaela smiled warmly at me before reaching over to briefly clasp Elisabeth’s hand.

“Francesca rescued you,” Lara said with a smile of her own.

“It appears the pack youth is very diligent in their duties,” I replied. “They volunteered themselves.”

Michaela smiled again. “They’re good kids,” she declared.

“Did we interrupt a conversation?”

“We were making small talk,” Michaela said. “While dancing around some of the diplomacy.” She grinned and turned her attention to Elisabeth. “Carissa has given permission for her humans to receive roller coaster rides, if the kids want to offer.”

“They already asked,” Elisabeth replied. “I’ll let them know.”

Michaela turned to me. “They explained to you?” I nodded at that. I thought perhaps she had heard, but I wasn’t sure. “Anna, do you mind if I am curious?”

“You are a fox,” I replied with a smile. “I do not believe I could stop you.”

“No, but I would not invade your privacy.”

“Let us agree that if I am uncomfortable answering a question, I will tell you.”

“Well then. I wonder about your style, I suppose I might say.” She gestured to Lara and then Elisabeth. “Clearly these two are far faster than I am. We can all trot along for hours at a time, but my trot is barely a fast walk for them. What is a jaguar’s preference?”

“We are all weres,” I replied. That by itself implied many things everyone would understand. “But my hunting style is very different from a wolf’s.”

“As is mine,” Michaela said.

“Does yours mimic your natural cousin’s?”

“Yes,” she said. “And yours?”

“Yes.”

“So you are an ambush hunter.”

“Yes,” I agreed. “I am faster in a rush than even the fastest wolf, but that’s not something I can sustain for more than a mile or so, and when hunting, I have never rushed more than, oh, a hundred yards or so, and rarely is it that far.”

“And at a slower pace?”

“Such as that of one of these roller coaster rides?” She nodded. “They all returned quite winded, I noticed,” I said. “Was that due to the length of the run?”

“Partly,” Lara said. “But most of it is from the things they do to Zoe. From the screaming, I imagine they gave her quite a ride.”

“A nine,” Elisabeth said.

“Ah.” Lara shook her head. “They can take her for much longer rides when they do not seek to scare her, but scaring her without breaking her is work.”

I nodded. “And so, what did you really wish to know, Michaela?”

“I guess I wondered what you would do, if you were offering such a ride to a human.”

“Ah. Are we talking to scare her?”

“No. Just a run.”

I cocked my head. “I do not believe I would offer. I imagine the two wolves must run in unison, or they risk detaching human limbs from a frail body. I do not know if I could match my pace with that of any wolf here.”

“Perhaps another jaguar?”

I shook my head. “We do not work in unison like that. We are quite independent. We might be able to offer a slow ride, but perhaps no faster than a human could run. Oh, we could keep that up much longer, but I do not believe that is the point.”

“When they give Zoe long rides,” Michaela said, “they trade off. But you’re right. It is to give her an experience she can’t have alone.”

“I might instead choose another way,” I said. “I might pick her up myself.”

Michaela’s lips tightened for a moment, then smoothed. I wondered what was wrong with what I’d said, but I decided to engage diplomacy rather than curiosity. But she nodded. She turned back to Carissa. “You are uncanny.”

“In what regard?”

“No heartbeat.”

“Does that disturb you?”

“No,” Michaela replied. “In a way, it’s refreshing.”

“There is something else that is uncanny,” I said.

“Oh?” Michaela said. “What is that?”

“This pack.” I looked around. “You all seem so at peace with each other.” Lara and Elisabeth chuckled lightly, and the three of them offered smiles. “I haven’t seen anyone jostling for supremacy or position. That could be from putting on a good impression for Carissa. But I don’t see anyone acting as if he or she is accustomed to frequently defending her position, either.” At that, I looked directly at Elisabeth. “But no one seems afraid of any of you, either. The other packs I’ve seen where the alpha and head enforcer are so comfortable, their wolves always show signs of abuse.”

No one responded immediately, but both Lara and Elisabeth looked at Michaela rather than me. In her turn, Michaela’s gaze was on Carissa, not me, and I could practically see her thinking. But then I realized her lips were moving, just slightly, like those of a poor reader, perhaps, but even more subtle than that.

Then, even more subtly, I saw Carissa take a small breath and release it.

The two of them were talking, and doing so too quietly for the rest of us to hear. Well, well.

But then Michaela nodded, also slightly, and turned back to me. “Anna, I do not wish to offer details, but in many ways, I have more experience dealing with wolves from outside this pack than anyone else in the pack. I have seen what you mean. I have seen the sort of wolves who rule through intimidation and fear.

“Iowa-“

“Not just Iowa,” she said. “Other places.” Something crossed her face for a moment, but it was subtle and disappeared quickly. “Part of the reason we are able to be so relaxed with each other is because the entire pack leadership stands not only behind Lara, but at times, beside her. There may be differences of opinion, but none of the enforcers and no one on the pack council wish any adjustments to the current organization.”

“Certainly there is controversy.”

“Of course there is,” she said. “There have been past struggles. They are in the past.”

“Michaela resolved them,” Elisabeth said.

“We resolved them,” Michaela said. “Elisabeth is able to relax because there isn’t an enforcer who wishes to replace her.”

“None of them want the responsibility,” Elisabeth said.

“None of them want to be the one to tell me ‘no’,” Michaela said with a grin. “Elisabeth, however, is a masochist and seems to enjoy my response.”

That confused me further. “You are alpha.”

“Lara is alpha,” Michaela said. “And on some issues, she has overruled me. And so on those issues, I answer not only to Lara, but also to Elisabeth and even Serena.”

“Clearly not all issues, from what I have seen.”

Michaela grinned. “They only respect my wisdom.”

“And your pointy little knives,” Elisabeth added. “Don’t forget the knives.”

“I don’t get my way because of my knives,” Michaela said.

“Knives?”

“I don’t fight in fur,” she explained. “In fur, I evade and I hide.”

“Wait,” I said, looking around to be sure we weren’t being overheard. “How plainly may I speak?”

Michaela cocked her head briefly then lowered her voice. “If I signal you, then grow silent.”

So I nodded. “You fought vampires in your skin?”

“Of course not,” she said with a grin. “I was dressed. And I had my knives. But it was the wolves who really fought them. I only helped. There’s no way I could stop a charging vampire.”

“As I said,” Elisabeth reminded me, “Michaela has an intriguing style. She is very... fluid.”

I shook my head. “Everyone knows about the two fights in Iowa,” I said. “And I also heard about two fights here.”

“Chicago?” Michaela asked, and I nodded. “Well, they were only wolves, and only one at a time besides.”

“Only wolves,” Carissa said, offering a snort.

“All this is off topic,” Michaela said. “You see us comfortable with ourselves because everyone agrees Lara runs the pack the way the pack should be run.”

“We run the pack the way it should be run,” Lara said pointedly. “We are doing much better now than before Michaela joined us. The pack as a whole is happier. Those living on the compound are significantly happier. I am happier, and not only in my family life. There are complications I would do without, but we make do.”

“By that Lara means she wishes I would finish my business degree and give up teaching,” Michaela said. “But that is yet another conversation.” But she turned to her mate. “I will finish my degree, and I will help you as much as I can, but I do not want to stop teaching, unless you really need me to.”

Lara leaned down and briefly kissed her mate. “I think you would be good at business, but I don’t believe it will ever be your passion. I won’t ever ask that of you. But I will value the help you are able to give me.”

The two stared into each other’s eyes for a moment, each of them smiling and holding hands, and I could feel the love wafting off them, it was so thick.

That may have been the first time I’d ever been jealous of another relationship. I’d been happy to keep my past relationships casual; I had never found someone intriguing enough to permanently hold my attention. But I looked at their obvious love, and I knew it was coupled with respect I didn’t yet fully appreciate, and I realized that I had hopes I’d one day have someone to look at me that way.

Oh, I suppose I could have had that, but I wanted us to both look that way, not just one of us.

I glanced at Elisabeth, watching her sister and sister-in-law. She turned to me. “They’ve been like this from nearly the beginning,” she said.

“It’s endearing,” I said.

Michaela and Lara nuzzled for only a moment, and then Michaela turned her attention back to me. “When you know the people around you are as capable as they are, and that they would do anything in their power to retain the current structure, it is easier to remain casual.”

“None of the enforcers wish a promotion?”

Lara and Michaela turned to Elisabeth. She gazed at both of them a moment then turned to me. “Most of the enforcers could give me a run for my money if they caught me unawares or in a weakened state. There are even a few other males in the pack who could, although I would have to be particularly weakened to actually lose to them.”

She paused a moment to let me consider that, then continued. “If Karen wished my position, she could take it from me.”

“At the risk of alienating both alphas,” Michaela pointed out. “But my mate tells me I must not interfere, if such a thing should occur, as long as the fight were fair.” She looked at her sister-in-law. “I’m not sure my mate could control me. I’m glad we’ll never find out.”

“And so, none wish a promotion?” I repeated my question.

At that, Elisabeth returned her gaze to Michaela, who shrugged. “Most wolf packs are led through strength. While we aren’t lacking in that regard, we lead, as best we can, through intelligence and wisdom. The strongest fighter isn’t necessarily the one who can make the pack prosper. Everyone in our pack knows that.”

“Not everyone,” Elisabeth clarified. “But everyone with the ability to truly challenge us.”

“And so,” said Michaela. “We are able to relax. We need the enforcers to deal with idiots, as every pack has those. And we are wary of outside threats. And so the enforcers must remain diligent, but that allows us to otherwise relax.”

I turned to Carissa. “Is this unique?”

“I wouldn’t not say unique,” Carissa said. “Rare. I have seen a few alpha pairs able to lead like Lara and Michaela do, but they have always been two very powerful wolves, one male, one female. The male alphas with a weak female mate, or no mate at all, are always under far more stress. And two female alphas? I’ve never seen that before.”

I nodded. And wondered.