Wolf Women (The Madison Wolves Book 10) by Robin Roseau Page A

laughing.
    "Knock it off, you two," Michaela said.
    "Add a second freezer," Lara said. "The other two team captains to pick someone. So Nick and Michele would pick someone on Zoe's team, etc."
    "But freezers can't help unfreeze," Angel said.
    We played that way for a while, and that worked better. Soon, most people were frozen. All four opposing freezers tried to catch Michaela, and I was sure it was a matter of time, but so far, she'd been avoiding them. Ember was my co-freezer, and we kept chasing Lara and Valeria from Nick's team and Dawson from Michele's. We hadn't caught any of them yet, but we kept Lara from freeing anyone.
    But then we managed to chase Lara into Serena, and she was frozen. We focused on Dawson, and he got tagged by Lara.
    "Michele's team is all captured!" we called out. "Michele and Cornelius, you have to sit down."
    Nick and Kimbriella couldn't catch Michaela, and finally Ember and I caught Valeria.
    Everyone enjoyed the game.
    * * * *
    We collapsed into a big pile of people for a while. My head was in Portia's lap, but I had Monique's in mine, and I was surprised when Ember curled up and laid her head on my shoulder. There were more wolves touching my feet, and when I looked around, everyone was casually touching several other people.
    "Michaela," I called out. "Good games tonight. Thank you."
    "You are welcome, Zoe."
    I looked down at Ember, then wrapped an arm around her and hugged her. She grabbed my arm and held on. I looked up at Portia, and she leaned to whisper into my ear, "She misses her mom."
    "All right," Lara said. "Those who want can begin to shift for a run, or you can stay here and enjoy the shared comfort. But I have one more thing I wish to discuss first. Portia, where are you?"
    "Here, Alpha."
    "No, no," Lara said. "Don't get up yet. Everyone looks comfortable. When you joined our pack, you were single, and I believe you expected to remain that way."
    "I did, Alpha."
    "And you bought your house with that belief."
    "I did."
    "You are not single anymore, and while you have hardly had time to talk about any of this, I wonder if there will be pups in your future."
    "Oh god," I said. "Already? It starts already?"
    There was laughter.
    "We haven't discussed it," Portia said. "Without discussing this with my mate, and only judging by her behavior with some of Michaela's students, I believe she wishes at the very least for our home to be an extended home to younger members of the pack."
    I realized she was right.
    "I also think, but we would need to discuss it, that she would like to foster some of Michaela's students."
    I looked over my head and nodded. Portia caressed my face.
    "That has been one of the limiting factors to the number of students we take," Lara said. "For now, I ask these questions to give you and your mate opportunities for discussion, and I will offer one more. Your house is too small for what we just discussed. What would you like to do?"
    "In the spring," Portia said, "I would like to break ground on building a new home. Is there a place we may do this, Alpha?"
    "Yes," Lara said.
    "Scarlett, wherever you are," Portia said. "I wish to hire you to help us design the house."
    "Really?" she said. I looked over in time to see her head pop up from another pile, and I realized Angel's head was in Michaela's lap and Scarlett's had been in Angel's. "I'd love to."
    I was a little surprised she made these decisions without consulting me. She bent over and whispered, "We will design and build it together with our own hands."
    "I will only support this plan," Michaela called out, "If I am allowed to help."
    There was laughter.
    "We would love any available help," Portia replied.
    "Then we will discuss this option in the coming weeks," Lara said. "I will require a reasonable plan for the cost of this home, but so far, I fully endorse what you have decided, Portia."
    "Thank you, Alpha," Portia said.
    "All right. If you want to run, get shifting," Lara said. "There won't be a hunt