Wolf Ways (The Madison Wolves Book 9) (49 page)

“Yes,” she said. She grinned when she said it, then handed me into the car. As we left the parking lot, she said, “It is time for you to close your eyes again.”

* * * *

“This is a lovely spot, don’t you think, Zoe?”

“I do,” I said. Again, she had possession of my arm, her blankets thrown over her opposite shoulder. I had changed shoes, so walking across the grass was easy. Prudence released me, laid out one of the blankets, then gallantly handed me down. Then she placed another blanket about my shoulders before sitting down next to me.

“You did not honor my request for a more decorous driving style,” I observed, “and so I wish to make a different request.”

“Oh?”

“Perhaps you would like to sit under this blanket with me.”

“Why Zoe Young, are you getting fresh?”

I laughed. “A little.”

“Well, let boldness be rewarded.” She removed her jacket and then adjusted the blankets so we were sharing one behind us and one over us, giving me a bare arm to touch. Then she took my hand in hers and began caressing my own arm.

“Thank you,” I said.

“I have not frightened you.”

“No.” I laid my head on her shoulder. She grew still for a moment, then laid hers against mine. We sat quietly for several minutes, looking up at the stars.

“You have learned,” she said eventually, “that wolves enjoy their games.”

“I have indeed.”

“Then I wish to propose a game. I will think of three things I enjoy about you, and you shall do the same, but of course, about me. And then we shall share them.”

I laughed. “A lovely game.”

“Let me know when you are ready.”

“I am ready now.”

“Well then, I find it delightful that you allow me to take the lead, but you nudge me when you wish. It is refreshing. A wolf would do one or the other.”

I thought about that. I didn’t understand the significance, but I decided to take it as a compliment.

“I do not know the proper reaction to that,” I said.

“It is sufficient to accept,” she replied.

“Well then. I like that, while you are a werewolf, and I can tell you are strong and powerful, you have a gentleness, both physical and spiritual. I have felt safe with you since the moment we met, not just physically but I feel my soul is safe with you.”

“Why Zoe,” she said, “that is perhaps the kindest thing said to me in some time. You have distilled down what I wish to be, but what wolves cannot typically understand.” She tightened her clasp of my hand for a moment, then resumed caressing. “Now it is your turn again.”

“I like that you make me think,” I said.

“Ah, and as a scientist, you like to think. But I challenge your beliefs. Do you not find that stressful?”

“No. If my beliefs are challenged, then it may be my beliefs should be modified.”

“Well then,” Prudence said. “I like that you have a care for the world. You and I are alike in that, but our care manifests itself differently. You have said I am gentle, but you are also gentle. And while you are not physically fierce, I detect that you are fierce in your words and in defense of your friends and your ideals.”

I snuggled against her a little more, absorbing her words. Again, I didn’t know what to say.

“And for our last,” she said after a minute, “it is again my turn to go first. I find you physically beautiful, Zoe Young. You have an attractive body, lovely features, and while you doubt me, a beautiful aura that surrounds you.”

“No one has ever said any of that to me,” I said, “well, except for women in a bar, and we both know what they wanted.”

“And you do not believe I want the same thing?”

“You might but you know you won’t win me through flattery.”

She laughed. “No. And so you are able to believe my words?”

“I believe that you believe them. Perhaps another may not see the same things you do.”

“As it should be,” she replied.

“My last one is simple,” I said. “You feel good. I like looking at you; you feel good to look at. Perhaps in a way, you are like your crystals. And it feels good to sit here with you. What you are doing to my arm feels good. Being here with you feels good.”

With that, I turned to her, lifting my face towards her and closed my eyes. I let her decide from there. A moment later, she shifted position, then one hand caressed my cheek, and then her mouth was over mine, not quite touching. She breathed in, and I thought she was savoring my scent, almost like she was tasting me.

And that was when our lips met.

There weren’t fireworks. It wasn’t a hungry, press me to the ground and take me right now type of kiss. It was sweet and lovely.

She had a taste of her own. I couldn’t describe it. It was warm and cold, of the earth and of the air, and if there were such a thing as souls, I knew then and there that hers was old, very, very old, and exceedingly kind and caring.

I knew with her I would always be safe, that she would never hurt me, not even in the little ways that lovers hurt each other through a careless word or forgotten commitment.

I knew with her, I would certainly be content and, much of the time, happy. She would expose me to wonders only imagined, but at the same time, we would be grounded with the earth.

And then the kiss ended, and the noises of the world returned. I curled against her, pressing myself as close to her as I could.

“I have not kissed a woman in that way for a great many years,” she said quietly. “You have given me a gift, Zoe.”

“I believe it was a gift shared, Prudence, and I hope there will be perhaps a few more such gifts tonight.”

“I believe there shall be,” she said.

We sat together like that for a long time, no longer talking. She held me, and I pressed against her, happy for her warmth, happy for her protection, happy for her silent company.

It was some time later, much later, that she said, “There is something I must tell you, and then it is time to leave, before you grow chilled.”

I moved more tightly against her and nodded.

“I know you have reason to fear the wolves. I know you have had nightmares. I wish to tell you that the pack is here to protect you. Discounting the bumps and bruises of life, no wolf of this pack will hurt you, not the ways you fear.”

She couldn’t possibly know that, not with such surety.

“I know you doubt me.”

That wouldn’t be hard to guess.

“But your nightmares are over. You may have others, but your recent nightmares are over. They shall trouble you no further. And when the days and the weeks and the months pass, and the nightmares do not return, remember what I told you.”

“Do you know this, Prudence?”

“I am not a charlatan, Zoe. Yes, I know this.”

I took a breath, and somehow I believed her, at least partly.

“Ah,” she said. “Growing acceptance of my words.”

“Will you kiss me again?”

“I believe I shall.” And she did. This kiss was different, full of other promises I couldn’t describe. She was offering something, but I wasn’t sure what it was.

Still, it was a long kiss, and even then, it left me wanting more.

But I would have to wait.

Prudence stood, then she helped me to my feet and collected her blankets. She draped one around me, donned her coat, and then, my arm in her grasp, she led the way from the park.

* * * *

She drove sanely. When I looked at her, she said only, “I do not wish to damage your serenity. It is hard won for you, and so we will cherish the gains you have made tonight.”

I had no answer to that.

I paid little attention to the route, and she took me to the main parking area in front of the school. “I do not know where Portia’s house is, but this gives us a chance for one more walk. I hope you do not mind.”

“No, I do not.”

“Remember your shoes.” And it was a good thing, as I was about to forget them.

We walked slowly, me leaning against her and her arm around me. Far too soon, we reached Portia’s front steps.

“Will you come in?”

“I wish to speak to you out here.” She took my things from me and set them on the steps, and then she turned me to her and pulled me into a hug. She was strong and warm, and even her hugs held a promise. Then she lifted my chin, and we kissed, we kissed deeply.

She broke the kiss, but she didn’t release me. I stared up into her eyes.

“You are a lovely woman,” she said.

“As are you. I have had a wonderful evening.”

“I have, too. Zoe, you are not for me. You are for someone else.”

My heart fell, and I looked away, but she pulled my gaze back to hers.

“No, do not be saddened. Can you feel your soul? It is perhaps elusive to you. But can you feel? You are healing, and tonight, you healed more than you realize. And I have also healed.”

“Prudence…”

“We are to be friends,” she said. “There will come a time when you need me, and you will call. And I think there will come a time I will need you, and I will call. We have shared gifts tonight, and I feel you would offer your whole self to me. But there is something here you must do. It is not fate, but it is, perhaps, a need, and you must not be tied to me when the need becomes evident to you.”

“Do you know all this, Prudence?”

“I do. And I know this as well. If you allow yourself to be happy, you will be.”

I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her. She returned the hug, and then she asked, “Could we share one more gift?”

I lifted my lips, and she pulled them to hers.

And in that kiss, I believed every single thing she had said to me.

“Thank you, Zoe,” she said. “You have filled my heart with joy.”

And then she released me and began to walk away. I stared after her, but I was suddenly struck with something.

“Prudence!” I ran after her, and she turned, pulling me into another hug. “I must ask. I don’t know why, but I must ask. How old are you?”

She chuckled. “The last time I kissed a woman like I kissed you tonight was when I was your age, a great many years ago.”

“Not so many,” I said.

“Perhaps not, if fifty-one is not so many.”

I pulled away and looked at her. She was smiling, and there wasn’t an ounce of guile in her gaze.

“Impossible.”

“There you go again,” she said. “Insisting science explains everything.”

“But… Monique says you are her aunt, and she said you are only eleven years older than her mother. But you are her father’s sister, so that was an odd way to put it.”

“Zoe, I am not her father’s sister. I am not Monique’s aunt. I am her great, great aunt.”

“I-” I licked my lips. “Are wolves immortal?”

“No, Zoe. But we are magical, some of us more than others.”

“Is that why we are not to be together?”

“No. If we were meant for each other, I would not let a number grow between us. Would you, after the kisses we have shared.”

“No,” I said. “I would not. But Monique said-”

“Monique may have fibbed a tiny fib or two, but do not blame her. I told her I must meet you. I did not understand why. This is what she arranged. I could not be more pleased.”

“You know? Neither could I. But I find myself feeling greedy.”

“For one more gift?”

“Yes.”

I didn’t wait. This time, I initiated the kiss, and I gave it everything I had. And she returned it.

And somehow again, I believed her. I could taste the last woman she had kissed, so long ago, and I could taste the years in between. One would have thought they would taste like dust, but they were like flowers, fresh from the field.

And then Prudence set me back on my feet. “I believe we are to share another gift, but it is not to be tonight.” She looked away and began to smile. “Yes. Another gift. When you need me, you must call.”

“I will. But we will be friends, yes?”

“I believe we shall,” she said. “But you have things to do.” She looked away. “Yes, you have things to do. Here, and elsewhere.”

She slipped away from me, walking backwards. “Thank you, Zoe. Thank you for the joy. It shall keep me warm.”

I watched her walk away. I brushed a tear from my eye. A short while later, I heard a tinny car door, and then she roared away, the little gerbil of an engine screaming in protest.

I stood there for a long time, but eventually I turned around and walked to the house. I collected my things then stepped into the house. I leaned against the door for a minute.

“Zoe?” I heard Portia call from the living room. I pushed away from the door and followed the sound, finding both her and Monique waiting for me. There was a pot of tea on the table between them with one spare cup. Without a word, Monique leaned forward and filled the cup, then set it in a fashion that encouraged me to sit on the sofa next to Portia.

Without my own words, I took the seat and sipped from the cup. No one said anything until I set the cup down and looked at Monique.

“Your great-great-aunt tells me you fib.”

“Um.”

I held up a hand.

“She’s… I don’t have the words.”

“She said she wanted to meet you.”

“Thank you,” I told her. “And thank you for not telling me any more than you did.”

Monique grinned. “You liked her.”

“I adore her,” I said. “Even if she says I am not for her.”

“You don’t look upset,” Portia said. “You look stunned.”

“I am,” I said. “I thought she was a charlatan. She’s not.”

“No,” said Portia. “She’s not.”

Monique was still grinning. “You were kind to her.”

“Kind to her? How could anyone be anything but kind to her?” I asked incredulously.

“You would be surprised,” Monique said. “Aunt Prudence said some people aren’t ready to believe, and so they belittle.”

“Even wolves?”

“They can be the worst,” Monique said. “Most people think she’s a crackpot.”

“I did. I was wrong.”

I turned to Portia. “What did she mean about a decision you have to make?”

“Nothing,” she said quickly.

“Fine,” I said. “Don’t tell me. But I saw your face, so at least don’t lie.”

She nodded. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ll tell you when I’m ready. Okay?”

“Okay,” I said. “That’s better.”

I picked up my tea and finished it, then set the cup down.

“I am going to bed,” I announced.

* * * *

With Portia’s roof finished, we returned to the alphas’ house, painting the last few rooms over the course of two more days. Then we moved around the outside, fixing the caulk around the windows and doors and handling other maintenance tasks that Francesca outlined.

Portia did every task right alongside me.

We ran out of things there, so we moved to the gym. We organized the equipment room, fixed a few little things, and serviced some of the equipment.

Portia did those tasks with me, too.

Saturday arrived, she announced, “You’ve fulfilled your pack hours, but you have fourteen more hours for the enforcers, but I’m out of things I want us to do. Tonight is pack play night, so we can do whatever you like until it’s time to join everyone.”

“I need to finish though.”

“It’s Saturday,” she said. “And it’s a nice day. Let’s enjoy it.”

“All right,” I said. “But you pick.”

“All right. I want a picnic. I should ask you to dress in jeans, but do you have a warm skirt or dress?”

“I can wear tights under it.”

I changed clothes and then, together, we packed a picnic basket, making sure there was food for both of us. She carried the basket with one hand and, as she nearly always did, she guided me with her other hand.

It was a short drive, but I didn’t know where she was taking me until we pulled into the pack’s flying field.

“I had forgotten you’re a pilot.”

“We won’t go far,” she said. “Just for a ride, then come back and have the picnic here. But it will feel like we went somewhere, and we’ll still be back in plenty of time.”

Ten minutes later we were in the air. “Look down,” she said. And below us, I saw the compound. She did a few circles, then I saw people waving at us. Portia rocked the wings then flew us away.

It was a beautiful day for an airplane ride. We flew around some lakes and found a pumpkin patch from the air. They looked so cute.

“Did you want to fly?” she asked.

“I couldn’t.”

“Sure you could.” And then she showed me how.

I loved it.

* * * *

We sat in the grass alongside the runway, eating our lunch, neither of us talking. Then she invited me to lie with my head in her lap. I closed my eyes, and then she began massaging my scalp. She had brought the little nubby brush.

It felt wonderful.

“Portia, I’m glad Michaela and Lara sentenced me to my time.”

She chuckled. “Oh?”

“If I knew the following two weeks would have turned out like this, I’d do it all over again.”

“But you won’t, will you?” she asked, the brush stilling.

“No, Portia. I’ll have to find other excuses to make you spend time with me.”

She didn’t respond to that.

* * * *

Later, the wolves took turns running me through the woods. Michaela’s students seem to take great joy from my laughter. I could be in the middle of a conversation with this person or that one, but suddenly two wolves would appear by my sides, grab my arms, and off we would go before they deposited me, giggling, back with the person I’d been talking to.

And then the conversation would continue as if it hadn’t been interrupted.

After dinner, they described the game for the evening. Lara asked if I wished to play; they could make adjustments for me.

“I think this time I’ll sit out, if that’s okay,” I said. I was assured it was.

I knew it would be a long game. The bonfires were already waiting, so I collected my laptop, grabbed a chair, lit one of the fires, and then got comfortable, working on nothing of consequence.

Of course, the game eventually ended, and soon I found myself surrounded by wolves in two feet and four, all in good spirits. Michaela shifted to skin, wrapped in a waiting blanket, then told Monique, “Take that machine from her and put it away.”

Monique knew how to take care of it.

They lit the other two fires, and then Lara called for stories. I sat back and listened to their antics.

Finally Michaela asked if she could be allowed to talk. She paced back and forth for a minute before turning to me. “Zoe Young, please stand up and come here.”

Puzzled, I stood. When I reached Michaela, she turned me so I was facing the wolves. I looked out, my eyes searching for and finding Portia. She looked upset.

“Michaela?”

She leaned close to me. “No fears, Zoe. You’re not in trouble.” Then she raised her voice. “Zoe, two weeks ago, and a few days, you were found guilty of several crimes against the pack.”

“I know,” I said. “I’m so sorry.”

“I know you are. But worse, during the resulting discussions, you stated over and over that you didn’t belong here, that you didn’t belong in the pack.”

I didn’t say anything.

“I would like to know: do you still believe that is true?”

I raised my eyes to look at her. Then I looked around. Portia still looked upset, but Lara was smiling.

“No, Michaela. I was wrong.”

“No. At the time, you were not wrong. You weren’t fitting in. You were troubled, and we were troubled. Something changed. Do you know what?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “Please don’t tell me you’re kicking me out. I want to stay.”

“We’re not kicking you out,” she said. “No, we are not kicking you out. But we must be formal about this. Zoe Young, do you belong as a member of the Madison weres?”

“Yes, Alpha. I do.”

And as if it were a signal, the assembled wolves lifted their noses and howled. Michaela covered her ears. They howled for a minute or two before Lara held up her hand, and they faded off. But she’d been one of the howling wolves.

“Those assembled agree with you,” Michaela said. “In the two weeks, we have watched you. You have been under observation from many angles: mine, Lara’s, Elisabeth’s, and even many of my students. But most closely, Portia has spent nearly every minute with you. And she has nothing but the best things to say about you. She tells us that you performed every task assigned, cheerfully, even exuberantly.”

I looked over to Portia, but she didn’t look pleased. I didn’t understand what was going on.

“I concur with her observation. My students have taken a shine to you, as we all saw earlier when they continually stole you away.”

There was laughter at that.

“Lara, our alpha, and Elisabeth, our head enforcer, also agree. Portia, has this member completed her sentence?”

Portia stood up. “She was assigned fifty hours of pack service and an additional fifty of service to the enforcers. She has completed her pack service hours with a few to spare but lacks another fourteen hours of service to the enforcers. We ran out of tasks I was willing to let her do.”

“What tasks did you deny?”

“In short? Rory’s laundry.”

“Eww,” Michaela said. “A wise decision, enforcer. What is your impression of this pack member?”

“My impression, Alpha?” Portia asked. “The pack is lucky to have her.”

“Succinctly said,” Michaela said. “You may sit.”

Portia still looked unhappy, but Michaela gathered my attention. “Zoe Young, Lara, Elisabeth, Portia and I have discussed your service for us, as well as the other aspects of your position in the pack. We feel that the original reason for your sentence has been addressed. We are gratified at how you have become a vital member of this pack. And so, we pardon your remaining sentence. Your driving privileges are reinstated, and you are free to return to your normal life and standard obligations to the pack.”

I stared at her.

“Portia will drive you home tonight, or if it is too late tonight, perhaps in the morning. Now give me a hug.”

I hugged her, but I felt a little sick inside.

She was sending me home.

And I didn’t want to go!

Michaela kept me with her for the next hour as the stories and skits continued. When she finally released me, I looked for Portia, but I couldn’t find her.

* * * *

Portia came home very late that night. I thought she would come to check on me, but she went straight to her own room. In the morning, she drove me home.

Neither of us seemed to have anything to say to each other.