by Robin Roseau
Michaela bent down and pulled a knife from her ankle. "This is silver," she said. "Watch what it does to me." She pressed the blade against her arm and gritted her teeth. She held it there for fifteen seconds, and when she pulled it away, there was an angry mark, at least a first, possibly a second-degree burn.
"That's a real burn," Michele said. "Just like if it were red hot."
"And hurts as much," Michaela said tightly. "Now watch the burn."
It took her thirty seconds, but the burn faded.
"I heal broken bones the same way," she said, "although it takes a little longer, and I need to eat quite a bit afterwards." She got up and went to the storage chest, coming back with a couple of towels. She put one over her knees when she sat down, then rested her hand over the towels. "Observe." And then she slammed the knife through her hand.
I gasped with the sudden ferocity; I made more noise than Michaela did. She pulled the knife out, and the wound was bleeding severely. Then, as I watched in horror, it healed.
"Damn, that hurts," she said. She flexed her hand at me. "The wolves can't do that. They have to shift. But I'm going to have to eat something. Hopefully the girls are bringing food."
"Zoe, we're done bluffing," Hadley said. "In fifteen seconds, I am snapping both fingers."
"You won't heal," Michaela said.
"You probably won't get full motion back," Michele said.
"Your hand will still hurt by the wedding," Hadley said.
"You won't be able to help Portia with the last few things on the house," Michaela said. "And you won't wear your rings at the wedding."
Then Hadley began to bend my fingers.
"Bluffing," I said between gasps. "Bluff-ing." I dragged the word out.
"Damn it," Michaela said. "Just. Damn it."
Hadley released my hand.
"That's a dangerous game, Zoe," Michaela said.
"You wouldn't go that far, Michaela," I said.
"You don't know that."
"Yes," I said. "I do. I trust you. I trust all of you. You're willing to do a lot to me, but you wouldn't cripple me. Nice try though." I smiled. "I wouldn't suppose you would clean me up and let me pick our next game."
Michaela sighed.
"That sounds like a favor," Hadley said.
"It certainly does," Michaela said. "Hadley, I believe you wanted the next price."
"Zoe, the price for this favor is to serve as my personal assistant for two days."
"Who picks the days?"
"I do, but it will be subject to your schedule. It will be in September."
"Agreed."
I actually couldn't care less about getting cleaned up or picking the next game. I just wanted to give Hadley whatever it was she wanted. I think they knew that.
"What game?" Michaela asked.
"A memory game."
* * * *
The timer on Michaela's phone went off.
I sighed. "Game over?"
"Angel and Scarlett, please bring the table back. Monique, go get the breathing tube from the box."
While they were doing that, Michaela busied herself at the bar. She came back with a funnel and a large measuring cup full of water. I stared at them for a moment, trying to decide what she intended to do. Everyone returned from her assigned duties, and a minute later, I found myself lying on the table, facing up this time. They didn't clamp me down, which puzzled me.
Michaela moved to my side. "You're going back in the box," Michaela said. "Yes, I was bluffing last time, but this isn't a bluff. But I am going to let you practice."
"Practice?"
"You may ask for the opportunity to beg Portia at any time," she said. "Monique, hold the tube for her."
Monique held the abbreviated snorkel over my mouth and inserted the mouthpiece.
"Your practice stops if you spit out the tube," Michaela said tightly. Then she inserted the funnel into the top of the snorkel and lifted the measuring cup. Just before she poured, I took a deep breath, and then I did something we had learned in scuba class.
I plugged the mouthpiece with my tongue.
Michaela poured a small amount of water into the tube. As soon as she lifted the water and funnel away, I exhaled heavily, ejecting the water from the tube.
Then I went back to breathing through my nose.
"All right. This is too easy if you can breathe that way," she said. "Monique, pinch her nose closed."
Monique pinched my nose, but she also wrapped a hand over my mouth, making sure I couldn't breathe around the mouthpiece and was forced to breathe through it.
Michaela gave me a second to hold my breath, and then she poured more water into the tube. I gave a big blow, splashing water on her and Monique, then breathed through the tube. We did that several times.
"Do you understand?" Michaela asked.
I released the snorkel, and Monique released me.
I sighed. "Eventually you'll pour water into my throat."
She nodded. "Beg, Zoe."
"No."
She shook her head. "Foolish woman. You should beg."
"Maybe I should, but I'm not going to."
"Go get her ready," Michaela said. "I'm going to try to talk sense into Portia."
She lifted her phone, and four of the wolves lifted me.
By the time Michaela appeared, I'd been in the frigid water for several minutes. It was horribly, horribly cold, and a part of me, a very big part of me, hoped she won this time. I was ready to be done.
But I wanted Portia to be proud.
Michaela knelt down and shook her head. She looked at me sadly.
She plugged the tube a few times, getting me into a real panic, and then while I was still panting, she poured water into the tube.
It wasn't a lot, but I wasn't ready, and I breathed it right in.
I immediately began coughing. Coughing out my lungs while underwater on my back, breathing through a snorkel tube, is not easy, and I coughed for a long time. Michaela didn't interfere, but when finally I was breathing normally, she held up a sign.
"Please beg, Zoe."
I shook my head.
She went back to plugging the tube, but each time she released it, I watched her hands while panting for air. I was right on the edge of complete, utter panic. She timed plugging it, sometimes letting me have a full breath, sometimes catching me in between breaths.
And then she lifted the water, and I got a fast breath, held it, and plugged the mouthpiece with my tongue. Michaela added the water, I waited until she was done, and then I blew it out.
Slowly, she got sneakier, and she managed to fool me twice more. In between, she plugged the tube for a long, long time, and I was frantic with panic, banging my feet and my knees in a vain attempt to escape.
I didn't beg.
I didn't get another hot shower. They tried me in towels, wrapped me back in the plastic to serve as insulation, and then we were back in the living room.
Ember
The timer went off.
Michaela didn't even hesitate. "Strap her to the table." They hadn't put it away, so I had been sure I'd be visiting it again. "Face up."
It took them a few minutes, and they had me incredibly secure.
"Blindfold her. Tape it carefully."
Then Michaela stood over me. "Zoe, it's time. You know it's time. Ask Portia to pay your ransom. She knows it's time. You won't have to beg."
"I don't think so." I really wanted her to convince me. I was long past ready to be done, but pride stopped me.
Stupid pride.
She leaned down and whispered into my ear. "Zoe, I know you're done in, aren't you?" I nodded. "You're ready for me to win." I nodded again. "Please ask Portia to pay." I shook my head.
"No," I said in a small voice.
She sighed. "I didn't want it to come to this. She doesn't deserve to suffer for your stubborn pride." She straightened up. "Angel, Scarlett, go collect our guest. Make sure she's quite secure."
"Guest?"
>
Michaela ignored my question.
Everyone was quiet. I heard Angel and Scarlett on the stairs and then walking on the floor above me.
"What guest?"
"This is your fault, Zoe," Michaela said. "You should surrender. You're right. I can't treat you like a wolf."
Then I heard Angel and Scarlett returning.
"Zoe, when you talk to Portia, if you tell her why you're begging, we'll take up where we left off. Do I make myself clear?"
"I'm not begging, Michaela."
"Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes."
Then I heard her voice.
"Mom?"
"Ember?"
I heard struggling.
"Let me go to her!" Ember said. "Angel! Let me go!"
"What are you doing?" I screamed. "Leave her alone."
"Mom!"
"Tape her to that chair," Michaela said. "It's sturdy enough."
"Mom!"
"Leave her alone!" I screamed again.
I heard the sound of duct tape coming off a roll mixed with more struggles.
"Damn it," Angel said. She growled, and it was a serious, serious growl
Ember whimpered. My daughter whimpered.
"Leave her alone! Don't you dare hurt her!"
Michaela leaned down and whispered into my ear. "You're right. I was bluffing earlier. I can't treat you like a wolf. I can, however, treat your daughter like one."
"No!" I struggled with the bonds. "Leave her alone! She's too young for this."
"Mom! Help me!" Ember said.
I started hyperventilating.
"Start with her hands," Michaela said. "Left one first. Don't bother taking your time. She can heal five as easily as one."
"No!" I screamed. "Don't do it!"
Then there was a clear "crack". Ember didn't scream, but I did. But I heard her whimper. It took two more "cracks" before I was screaming, "I'll beg! I'll beg! I'll beg!"
"Stop," Michaela said. She paused just a moment. "Remember what I told you, Zoe. If you tell Portia what we just did, we'll finish what we started."
"I'll beg," I said, sobbing. "Just don't hurt her anymore. Oh god. Ember, I'm so sorry."
"Enough," Michaela said. "I'm dialing." A moment later she was pressing the phone to my ear, and then I heard Portia's voice.
"Alpha?"
I started sobbing. "Please pay," I told her. "Please pay. Please pay. Please pay."
And then Michaela took the phone away, and I sobbed uncontrollably.
But then someone kissed my cheek. "I love you, Mom," said Ember. I felt her hands on my face, and then she began pulling at the tape holding the blindfold.
"Ember?" I sobbed. "But-"
It took her a moment, and then Michaela was there with scissors, and they freed my eyes. I stared up at my daughter.
"I'm fine," she whispered. She waved her fingers at me. "Everything is whole." She kissed my forehead and my cheek and my nose. "Shh. Shh. You protected me. I love you." Over and over, she soothed me.
I didn't even notice they were unstrapping me from the table but then Ember pulled me into a sitting position on the table and wrapped her arms around me. I stared over her shoulder. Michaela moved into my field of vision.
"You tricked me," I said.
"We tricked you," she replied.
"Don't be angry," Ember said. "I couldn't let them hurt you any more. I didn't help them, Mom. I helped you."
* * * *
I sat on the sofa, numb. The tape was gone. They had dried me completely, buffing my skin thoroughly, then dressed me in a teddy and robe. The slippers were back on my feet.
Ember sat next to me.
I finally turned to her. "You helped them trick me."
"You protected me," she replied.
From my other side, Hadley said, "It is our responsibility to protect our young. You showed your strength and devotion to duty."
I turned to look at her. "You are an asset to the pack, Zoe, and I am proud to call you a member."
Michaela moved closer, kneeling in front of me. She took my hands. "Zoe, look at me."
I turned to face her.
"Portia needed to see your strength."
"And the pack as well," Hadley added.
"But you needed to see your strength, too," Michaela went on.
"You keep thinking you're not worthy," Ember said. "It's not as bad as when we first met, but you still keep saying things like, 'just a human'. You're not 'just' anything. You're my mom! I'm so proud of you. And so is Portia Mom."
Michaela was smiling as well. "Lara and I are very proud of you, Zoe. We didn't know what we were getting when you joined us last summer, but we couldn't be more pleased."
"We're proud too," said the teenagers together. "You're a lot more fun than most adults," Iris added. She got some chuckles for that.
"It was time," Michaela said. "And we showed your strength, even in your surrender."
I reached out an arm and wrapped it around Ember, then pulled her sideways until she was leaning across my lap. She curled up her legs and settled in. I bent over and kissed her cheek. "I love you, Ember," I whispered into her ear. "I will forever cherish the day you came into my life."
I stroked her hair. A moment later, the other wolves crowded around me, some resting their hands on my shoulders. Monique settled to the floor but twisted so she was resting her hands across my lap just in front of Ember, and then lowered her head to rest on the hands. She looked up at me. I accepted the comfort and stroking, finally closing my eyes and just absorbing the kind attention.
"I think it's time to go home," Michaela said.
"Not yet," replied Ember. "I haven't seen the tattoo yet."
"I think Portia gets to see it first," I said.
"No way! They all got to see it. I want to see it."
"Oh, and do we always get what we want?" I asked her.
"No," she said. She rolled onto her back, and I opened my eyes to look at her. "But I'm going to this time, aren't I?"
"Fine," I said, "but then we're going home."
Celebration
The day finally came. Everyone descended on our little house by noon. The enforcers took Portia away, and I wouldn't see her for several hours.
It had been raining for two days. Portia and I had wanted an outdoor wedding, but it wasn't to be. Everyone else was worried I would be upset, but I didn't much care. I was getting married, and that was what mattered. I didn't think I'd see anything beyond my mate, anyway.
As soon as the house was clear of enforcers, Michaela handed me a glass of champagne. Michele and Hadley passed out more glasses. Angel and Scarlett were with Portia, or so I presumed, but I had Ember and everyone else from my ransom night with me. Once the glasses were handed out, Michaela proposed a toast.
"To love," she said.
"To romance," Michele added.
"To a shared life," Hadley said.
"To my moms," Ember said.
And at that, we sipped.
"So fifteen-year-old wolves get champagne, Alpha?"
"They do at a wedding," she said. "One glass now and one with dinner. Unless their mothers say 'no'."
Ember pouted, and I said, "I'm happy to let Michaela be in charge."
"Darned right," Michaela replied.
I did my own makeup, but I let the girls play with my hair. They couldn't decide what they wanted to do, and they tried different things for a while. Ember sat back and watched, and then said, "If you're done playing with her like a doll, it's my turn."
"Oh?" Iris said, turning to face her. "What would you do?"
"I'd weave these flowers into her hair." She gestured to one of the displays.
"I'm a little old for flowers in the hair," I said.
"That's not what Portia Mom said," Ember replied.
"Portia wants flowers in my hair?"
"That's what she told me."
"Why didn't she tell me?"
"You can ask her that sometime," Ember
said. She got up from her chair, bringing the flowers over. And then the gang of them set to my hair again.
When they were done, I had to admit it was pretty.
"She does know how old I am, doesn't she?"
"Flowers are ageless," Hadley said. "They look nice."
"Wolves don't quite understand," Michele said. "They can't pull this off, so when they see someone who can, they go a little nuts."
"That's why Elisabeth keeps trying to get me into the most ridiculous outfits," Michaela added.
"You looked real cute that one day," I said.
Michaela pointed a finger at me. "We are not discussing that."
"Yes, Alpha," I said meekly.
She stepped closer and played with the flowers for a minute. She cocked her head. "It's raining again. We're going to cover you up and get you to the gym before you change clothes." She pursed her lips. "We need a better place for formal events."
"It's fine, Michaela," I assured her.
"I think I want a dance hall," she said. "Something we can open up in nice weather." She pulled out her phone. "Scarlett," she said after a moment. "I want a rough estimate for the cost of a dance hall, something we can use in weather like today, but that can be opened up on nice days." Pause. "No rush, it's probably too late in the year to start on it. Um. Don't tell Lara yet." Pause. "Thanks. I love you. See you in a while."
She put her phone away and looked at us. "Not a word," she said. "If Lara gets wind of this before I prepare her, I will not be happy."
"Of course, Alpha."
"It happens, just like that?" I asked.
She laughed. "After a fashion, yes." She laughed again. "Free labor helps a great deal."
"And having Lara wrapped around your dainty little finger doesn't hurt, either," Michele added.
"What free labor?"
Michaela looked at me and smiled. "Well, you, of course. The entire reason Lara let you build that house was so that Portia and I could teach you how to build something."
"I think you're going to need more than just me."
"I don't quite understand it," Michaela said with a tone that suggested she understood it very well. "But somehow there are always plenty of people willing to dive in on my pet projects. If I were more cynical, I would accuse all of you of sucking up to me."
