since shortly after she first moved into our territory, during the time of the previous alpha. She has lived near us but not amongst us for many years, offering respect during our encounters and displaying a care for our lands and waters like no other. We lived near each other, but we did not know each other, and we would not have called each other friends."
I nodded.
"That changed last summer," she said. "The pack requested your assistance, Michaela, and you offered your assistance along with the hand of friendship. I will never forget our first meeting in your home in Bayfield, and the immortal words."
She grinned. "Alpha, the dishes are in that cupboard."
The wolves chuffed in amusement.
"You were small, and frightened, and your history has taught you to be very wary around wolves, but you fed us a meal and you offered your hand, and that day was a turning point."
It was then I realized I was starting to cry, tears crawling slowly down my cheeks. I brushed them away.
"Since then, at significant risk to yourself, you have continued to help the pack, proving your loyalty and integrity far beyond any expectation. In spite of your diminutive size, you have been brave and strong, and I could not be more proud to have you in my life."
The pack began howling again, somewhat subdued from last time, but again I covered my ears. Whatever would it sound like if they were all here?
The howling turned into chuffing, which I could handle.
"Michaela, the Madison wolves wish to thank you for your friendship and loyalty." Then she stepped past me, and I turned to face her. "I ask you, my wolves, my pack, my friends, shall we set new history? Shall we invite this fox to our pack, to share both our responsibilities and our rewards? To hunt our lands, defend our young, and defeat our enemies? Who here would see this done?"
The wolves howled, and it was beyond deafening. I covered my ears, cringing, but Lara let them howl. She stepped to me and turned me, facing this way and that, and every wolf had nose to the air, howling in approval. She turned me to face the council, and they were also howling for me.
Then Lara held up a hand, and they quieted. I slowly lowered my hands from my ears. Lara walked around me, and I followed her with my head. "It appears, little fox, that the decision tonight is unanimous, or nearly so. One vote remains."
I looked around, wondering who hadn't voted, and Lara grinned. "We have not heard your vote, Michaela Redfur. What say you?"
I looked around, finding familiar wolf faces. I could barely see Angel and Scarlett. Janice was there, standing next to Francesca. Gia had melted into the crowd, and I didn't see her right away, but Eric and Rory were watching me. I turned to look at Elisabeth, and then finally to Lara.
"Yes, absolutely yes."
Again, the wolves went crazy with their howls, but Lara held up her hand immediately. "Let us save her ears for a moment or two, I think." She stepped up beside me. "Me first, then Elisabeth," she said quietly. I nodded understanding.
"Michaela Redfur, alpha fox of the Bayfield foxes, if you wish to henceforth be known as Michaela Redfur, omega fox of the Madison weres, show us your fox and your devotion."
"Omega?" I asked her quietly.
"Later," she said just as quietly.
I nodded, unbuttoning the top three buttons of my blouse. I stepped away from her, towards the right several paces, then in a blink I turned and dashed to her, leaping for her and shifting midair. My clothing fluttered off me, and Lara caught me in mid air, laughing. I had surprised her. She held me for a moment, showing me off. The pack chuffed their amusement. Lara set me down, and I immediately rolled onto my back, offering my neck.
Lara took her time, leaving me there at her feet, while she disrobed. Everyone was silent, and I waited patiently, looking up at her.
She was so beautiful.
Then she shifted, and her wolf stood over me, just as beautiful. She set a paw on my chest and slowly
I nodded.
"That changed last summer," she said. "The pack requested your assistance, Michaela, and you offered your assistance along with the hand of friendship. I will never forget our first meeting in your home in Bayfield, and the immortal words."
She grinned. "Alpha, the dishes are in that cupboard."
The wolves chuffed in amusement.
"You were small, and frightened, and your history has taught you to be very wary around wolves, but you fed us a meal and you offered your hand, and that day was a turning point."
It was then I realized I was starting to cry, tears crawling slowly down my cheeks. I brushed them away.
"Since then, at significant risk to yourself, you have continued to help the pack, proving your loyalty and integrity far beyond any expectation. In spite of your diminutive size, you have been brave and strong, and I could not be more proud to have you in my life."
The pack began howling again, somewhat subdued from last time, but again I covered my ears. Whatever would it sound like if they were all here?
The howling turned into chuffing, which I could handle.
"Michaela, the Madison wolves wish to thank you for your friendship and loyalty." Then she stepped past me, and I turned to face her. "I ask you, my wolves, my pack, my friends, shall we set new history? Shall we invite this fox to our pack, to share both our responsibilities and our rewards? To hunt our lands, defend our young, and defeat our enemies? Who here would see this done?"
The wolves howled, and it was beyond deafening. I covered my ears, cringing, but Lara let them howl. She stepped to me and turned me, facing this way and that, and every wolf had nose to the air, howling in approval. She turned me to face the council, and they were also howling for me.
Then Lara held up a hand, and they quieted. I slowly lowered my hands from my ears. Lara walked around me, and I followed her with my head. "It appears, little fox, that the decision tonight is unanimous, or nearly so. One vote remains."
I looked around, wondering who hadn't voted, and Lara grinned. "We have not heard your vote, Michaela Redfur. What say you?"
I looked around, finding familiar wolf faces. I could barely see Angel and Scarlett. Janice was there, standing next to Francesca. Gia had melted into the crowd, and I didn't see her right away, but Eric and Rory were watching me. I turned to look at Elisabeth, and then finally to Lara.
"Yes, absolutely yes."
Again, the wolves went crazy with their howls, but Lara held up her hand immediately. "Let us save her ears for a moment or two, I think." She stepped up beside me. "Me first, then Elisabeth," she said quietly. I nodded understanding.
"Michaela Redfur, alpha fox of the Bayfield foxes, if you wish to henceforth be known as Michaela Redfur, omega fox of the Madison weres, show us your fox and your devotion."
"Omega?" I asked her quietly.
"Later," she said just as quietly.
I nodded, unbuttoning the top three buttons of my blouse. I stepped away from her, towards the right several paces, then in a blink I turned and dashed to her, leaping for her and shifting midair. My clothing fluttered off me, and Lara caught me in mid air, laughing. I had surprised her. She held me for a moment, showing me off. The pack chuffed their amusement. Lara set me down, and I immediately rolled onto my back, offering my neck.
Lara took her time, leaving me there at her feet, while she disrobed. Everyone was silent, and I waited patiently, looking up at her.
She was so beautiful.
Then she shifted, and her wolf stood over me, just as beautiful. She set a paw on my chest and slowly
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