Fox Lost (The Madison Wolves)

by Robin Roseau

  Karen smiled. I looked at her for a moment, then turned to Lara. "I heard the conversation before we left New Orleans."

  "I thought you might," she replied.

  "It is possible our chances of success go up if we finish that conversation right now."

  Lara didn't answer, so I added, "If that is too much for you, then we'll deal with it in the future."

  "My jealousy will need to a take back seat to your safety, and I think you're right."

  "Is that permission?" I asked.

  "Yes."

  "What will we tell the council?"

  "Expediency." She turned to Karen. "Please tell me you do not intend to challenge anyone on the council."

  "I hate politics," Karen said. "I don't want those headaches. If you ever ask me to join the council and tell me who you want me to remove, I will do so, but I hope you never ask."

  "Karen, this is a pack secret," Lara said. "Even if you leave the pack, you can never tell anyone how we taught you."

  "I promise."

  "If you are ever in a position where you are forced to tell, the answer is that Lara taught you," Elisabeth said. "She figured it out after seeing Michaela do it, and it took two years before she figured out how to teach the rest of us. But the better answer is to never get asked and to refuse to answer if asked."

  "I understand," Karen said. "Thank you for trusting me."

  "All right," I said. "Karen, strip."

  She didn't even wait. She slipped out of her clothes, laying them out on the bed. I stripped with her then told her to kneel on the floor. I placed myself over her, my front against her back, making as much skin contact as possible.

  "All right," I said. "Relax and let whatever happens happen." I felt for Karen's wolf. It was elusive, very elusive, but I tried to pull her into a shift with me. Soon, I was a fox, lying across her back, but she was still human. I shifted back to human instantly. "Did you feel anything?"

  "I felt you turn into a fox," she said. She paused. "It felt weird."

  It took me four more tries, but then I had a firm hold of her wolf, and I drew her into her fur. It took another two tries before I brought her back to human.

  "That is so weird!" she said. "Is that it?"

  "A few more times," I said. "I'll go faster once I can draw you with me reliably."

  I took her slowly back and forth a few times, then sped it up, with the last few shifts instant. We ended as human, and I pulled myself away from her.

  "Could you feel it?" I asked.

  She shimmered, and then she was a wolf. She looked up at me and offered a wolfy grin, then shifted back into human.

  "Oh wow," she said. She began to grin.

  "Do it a few more times," I suggested.

  "I really need to eat," she said. "How do you do that so many times? Aren't you starving?"

  I shrugged. "I don't seem to be able to teach that," I said. "Everyone says it takes just as much energy, but for me, shifting takes very little energy. But I admit, I'm hungry."

  Lara hadn't said anything, but when I looked over at her, I could see the tension in her face. Still naked, I crossed the room and pulled her arms around me.

  "I am yours, Lara," I said. "Entirely yours and no one else's."

  "That's not entirely true right now," she said, "and it won't be entirely true for a few months."

  "Please kiss me, my wife," I said. "I am yours."

  And she did, but it was reserved, and I sighed afterwards. I whispered into her ear, "I love you, and we're going to be fine. Promise me you won't let this fester and hurt us."

  "I promise, Little Fox."

  "Good. Now, let's get moving."

  * * * *

  We spent much of the morning in the car. We ate a snack then drove west into the mountains. In the car, Lara said, "Carissa gave us information, but I want to see if your little compass points to the same location."

  "Then do not let us approach within five miles of where she said this other vampire lives," I said. "I am given to believe the vampire can detect wolves."

  We drive into the mountains, and I could tell Deirdre was to the south. I continued to give rough directions and a sense of distance. The wolves exchanged looks, but were careful to give little away to me.

  Which was exactly how we agreed it should be.

  We found a roadside dinner. Everyone was hungry, and Lara asked if we could be served "family style" and ordered what we wanted. Ten minutes later, the waitress began setting down platters of eggs, pancakes, sausage, bacon, hash browns, toast, and, just for me, a bowl of fruit. I asked for a little bit of everything and ate more than the wolves had ever seen me eat.

  "Lara," I said, "May I make a phone call?"

  "To Carissa?"

  "Angel."

  "Oh honey," she said, "of course." She speed-dialed Angel then handed me her phone. The one thing they had forgotten to bring was my phone, although I had all my weapons, and Karen even told me she had a cache of guns in case we needed them.

  "Alpha?" Angel said.

  "It's me."

  "Michaela!" she said. "I'm so sorry!"

  "It wasn't your fault, honey. How are things there?"

  "Good," she said. "Do you know when you'll be home?"

  "No." I muted the phone. "Do they know what's going on?"

  "Only that we're helping Carissa. No details."

  "Angel," I said. "It might be a few days. It depends on how it goes. Don't worry about us. We have things well in hand."

  "Scarlett wants to hear your voice," she said, "and there are two little children that would like to say hello."

  I talked to Scarlett for a minute, then she handed me first to Celeste and then Rebecca. Then I handed the phone back to Lara, and she talked to our daughters for a minute before saying, "Give the phone back to Angel now, Darling." There was a pause, then she said, "Take care of things there, Angel. Do not neglect your studies."

  "No, Alpha," she said.

  "Hang on one moment," Lara said. She muted the call and turned to me. "Do you need me to order you to believe her?"

  I smiled. "No, but thank you."

  "Angel, we'll talk again in a day or two. I'm sure Serena will keep Emanuel up to date as well."

  "Take care of her, Alpha," Angel said.

  "Of course. Don't I always?"

  "Don't be too angry at her. She always makes the best decisions she can."

  "I'm not angry with her," Lara replied. "And I know she does." She hung up.

  "I heard what she said."

  "We all heard what she said," Serena countered. "Alpha, when this is over, I would like you to interview my daughter for early admission into your science program."

  "Oh Serena, I don't need to interview her."

  "It will be good practice for her, and I don't want anyone to believe she is getting a free ride with you. It should be a tough interview. Really grill her."

  "All right," I said.

  "She wants to be a science teacher, just like you," Serena said. "I want you to nudge her to think for herself."

  "Well then," I said, "I will have to point out that first and foremost, if she wants to emulate me, she must think for herself and make the best choices that way."

  We finished breakfast, and ten minutes later we were back on the road.

  * * * *

  "Well," said Karen. "The Appalachian Trail. I've never hiked it."

  We were parked in a small parking lot where the trail crossed the highway. We stared at the sign marking the trail.

  "Who has a map?" I asked.

  "I do," said Karen. She pulled it out and we turned back to the SUV, spreading the map out. "We're here." She pointed.

  I rotated the map until I thought it was oriented properly towards north. I concentrated for a moment then gestured. "That direction. We've been closer."

  No one commented. I looked at the map, then circled an area to the northeast. "Here."

  I looked at the map. "I can't judge how close the trail goes to her.
I think it goes too close."

  "If we remain on the trail," Lara said, "Then we are doing exactly what we said we would be doing. We are hiking the trail."

  "I believe from here if we hike north along the trail until it feels like she is due east, we'll be sure."

  "Michaela, we're already sure," Lara said. "Carissa's information appears accurate."

  "Where?" I asked. Lara pointed, and I studied the map.

  "The trail passes within a mile."

  "Yes, but a pretty rough mile."

  "Natural foxes are most active at dusk," I said. I looked between them. "I think we should return to Asheville. I think this evening, we should return here. You will let me out in fur." Then I pointed to the map. "You will pick me up here two hours later."

  "What are you going to do?"

  "Skulk."

  I could tell Lara didn't want to allow it.

  "Alpha," said Karen quietly. "We need our own intel. I'd rather get it myself, but I believe the fox is more capable than I am. If we're not going to let her go, why did we come here at all?"

  "Michaela," Lara said, "You'll be going with some pretty strict orders."

  "Of course," I said. "But Lara, I intend to be seen."

  "No!"

  "Wait!" I said. "Listen. I want to establish myself. If they see me a few evenings, then I won't be such a surprise. I'm just a neighborhood fox, perhaps dislodged from another location."

  Lara studied me for a while before she said, "Comments?"

  "I'd rather we went home," Serena said. "But if we're going to do it, we should do it right. I trust Michaela's judgment."

  "I agree," said Elisabeth. "But I believe we should order her to play the part of a very timid fox. Do you have a problem with that, Michaela?"

  "No."

  "Karen?" Lara asked.

  "Don't second guess her. She knows what she can do. Order her to take care for her safety and let her decide for herself what that means." She paused. "Michaela, it will be fishy if we hang around where you indicated, and it may not be safe for you to dilly dally. I would like a solution."

  "Bring a case of beer," I said. "Make it look like you're having a little party. If you get chased away, I'll find my way here." I pointed to another location.

  "I would rather check out these sites in daylight," Karen said. "All we've got is a map. But I do not want to risk driving by them too many times."

  "Can you bring a phone?" Elisabeth asked.

  "No. We don't know how well I'll be seen. And Lara, I need to remove all my jewelry. I'm sorry."

  She huffed. "I don't like it."

  "We can put them back in when this is over."

  "That's not what I meant," she said. "Can you stay safe?"

  "Yes."

  "Karen?"

  "It's not perfect, but no plan ever is. Trust her."

  She looked at Elisabeth and Serena, who said nothing.

  "I guess we have a plan," said Lara.

  "At least the start of one," I agreed.

  Skulking

  We left the hotel at five. Karen had gone out for supplies, which were waiting in the back of our SUV. I asked if I could sit between Lara and Elisabeth during the drive, and I begged for attention from both of them. We had an early dinner in Asheville, and it was over dinner I had a thought. I waited until we were in the car before I said, "Lara, I am going to try to make your phone ring."

  "Oh?"

  I smiled.

  Then I concentrated on Carissa in the back of my mind. Her presence had been fading. I could feel where she was, but I didn't seem to be able to 'talk' to her like I had even that morning.

  Ten minutes into the drive, Lara's phone rang. She glanced over at me before answering it.

  "Hello, Alpha," Carissa said to her.

  "It worked," I whispered.

  "It's for you," Lara said, suppressing a snarl. She handed me the phone.

  "Hello, Mistress," I said, and suddenly she was all I could think about.

  "I believe you asked me to call you," Carissa said, her voice like soft bells in my ear.

  "Yes," I said. But I couldn't engage my brain.

  "Oh dear," she said. "Listen to me, Michaela. I need you to think. Why did you want me to call you?"

  "Um."

  "Michaela, let me speak with your mate."

  I handed the phone to her, but I listened intently.

  "We just got her thinking this morning," Lara snarled. "What did you do?"

  "Nothing," she said. "It's the thrall. I believe you know how to get her thinking again. Why did she want me to call?"

  "I don't know. She said she was going to make my phone ring. Ten minutes, it rang."

  Carissa laughed, and I smiled with pleasure.

  "I was distracted," she said. "Michaela, can you hear me?"

  "Yes," I said.

  "She can," Lara said.

  "I heard you the entire time, Michaela," Carissa said. "Why did you want me to call? Tell me."

  "Signal flare," I managed to say.

  Karen figured it out. "Alpha, she won't have a phone, but if she can signal Carissa when she is ready for extraction, Carissa can call us."

  "Yes," I said. I held out my hand for the phone. Lara handed it to me. "Mistress?"

  "Listen to me, Michaela. My voice triggers the thrall. You should be able to think clearly, but it might take a little time. You will abort tonight's mission if you are not thinking clearly."

  "Yes, Mistress."

  "You will do nothing foolish."

  "No, Mistress."

  "Do you have questions for me?"

  "No, Mistress."

  "Let me speak to Lara again."

  I handed the phone back.

  "Alpha," she said, "I ordered her to abort if she is not thinking clearly."

  "I heard."

  "Please call me when tonight is done. If I hear her calling for me, I will call you immediately, but I would like to know when I am free to stop listening so intently."

  "Will do," Lara said. "Carissa, thank you for being concerned for her safety."

  "How could I not?" she replied. "Stay safe, Alpha."

  "Wait," Lara said.

  "Yes?"

  "Do you believe a sightseeing airplane trip would raise alarms?"

  "Not if you practice discretion. Do you believe we both know what I mean?"

  "Yes. Thank you, Carissa."

  We rode quietly for a few minutes. I stared ahead dully, my thoughts filled with images of the vampire. But I was surrounded by the smell of wolves, each of them distinct.

  "Lara," I said quietly, "What am I smelling?"

  I leaned to Elisabeth. She smelled rich and healthy. I leaned forward and sniffed at Karen and Serena. Serena was worried again. Karen smelled like, well, Karen. But when I sniffed Lara, something was wrong.

  "It's you," I said.

  "Michaela," Elisabeth said quietly. "That's grief."

  "No!" I said firmly. I unbuckled my belt and seatbelt and moved into Lara's lap, straddling her. "No. You stop it!"

  Lara wrapped her arms around me and didn't say anything.

  "Hold me tighter," I ordered. "Tighter."

  And she did.

  "I am here, Lara," I said. "I am yours. I will be yours forever. Stop it!" I pressed myself more tightly against her, clutching my arms around her neck.

  We held each other that way for the rest of the ride, but then Karen said, "Five minutes."

  I slowly released my clutch around Lara's neck and sat back onto her knees.

  "Listen to me, Little Fox," Lara ordered. "You will see to your safety. You will abort this mission if it starts to feel wrong."

  I felt the orders settle in and waited for the rest.

  "Kiss me," she ordered, and I was happy to oblige. Finally she released me. "Karen, make sure her head is in the game."

  "Michaela, what are you going to do?" Karen asked.

  "Shift to fox here in the car. Bite Lara's neck so she will do what she always does whe
n I bite her neck-"

  That earned quite a few chuckles and a small growl from Lara.

  "Then after she has finished reasserting her dominance and releases me, I am going to run north along the trail until it is time to cut east. I will find the compound, make sure I feel Deirdre is there, then let myself be seen chasing small prey for thirty minutes or until I get nervous, whichever comes first. I will then disappear towards the north, use foxy tricks to lose anyone following me, and then head to the initial rendezvous point. When I feel I am five minutes away, I will call Carissa."

  "She's in the game, Alpha," Karen said.

  "I want you guys to be noisy," I said. "You're a group of wolves whooping it up. I may not be on the trail, but if you're at all loud, I'll hear you for at least a mile."

  "If we have to move," Elisabeth said, "We'll try to signal you. If it's me, we're at the second point. If it's Serena, we're at the third."

  I stripped out of my clothes, not leaving Lara's lap.

  "One minute," Karen said.

  I shifted into fur and pressed my body into her. She cradled me carefully. I licked her face, slowly moving down to her neck, and she didn't stop me.

  "We're here," Karen said, pulling to the side of the road and coming to a stop.

  I wrapped my mouth around Lara's throat. She was slow to respond, and I was actually able to tighten before she threw the door open, carried me out of the car, and bore me to the ground at the side of the road. I lay on my back, and she shifted into her fur before wrapping her mouth over my throat. She settled on top of me, pinning me to the ground, and took a very long time making me submit.

  Eventually I whimpered. She tightened further, and I whimpered more loudly. And then she released my neck but bathed my fox face before slowly climbing from me.

  She looked silly still wearing all her clothes. She shifted back into her human form and sat down on the ground. When she opened her arms, I stepped into them, and she hugged me tightly.

  "I love you," she whispered. "You are mine!"

  I licked her.

  "If you're ready," she said, "Go."