Jaguar (The Madison Wolves Book 12) Read online

  Michaela stood, laughing, and moved closer. “Good point,” she said. “And I bet you grasp your prey just fine with those claws, don’t you?” Then she laughed again. “But can you climb back down the way you went up?”

  I couldn’t, not easily, but it wasn’t that far. I jumped -- away from Michaela, then turned around and moved closer. Again we nuzzled, and then I sat down.

  Michaela cocked her head, then turned around and walked to the edge of the overlook. “Oh, Lara,” she said. “Your cousins.”

  I cocked my own head, and in the distance, I could hear wolves calling to each other, natural wolves. Around me, the werewolves also clearly heard them, and we all listened for a moment.

  Then Michaela said, “Lara, sing back to them, will you?”

  Lara stood, walked to her mate, and sat back down. Then she lifted her nose and began to howl.

  I was a cat. Werewolves were not natural friends. But I was also a curious cat, and an accepting person besides. Lara’s wolf call was beautiful.

  Her pack let her sing alone for a moment. Then she grew still and listened, and we all heard the other wolves call back. Lara lifted her nose again, and this time when she began to howl, her pack howled with her.

  From my vantage point, I watched. Monique moved beside me, but Elisabeth moved away, coming up on Michaela’s other side. Lara and Elisabeth pressed against her, still howling, and then the two pups were there, too, crowding their mother, currently naked and furless.

  The wolves howled for several long minutes. It was loud, of course, as they had so many voices, but it was beautiful. Here and there I could hear individual voices, too, but mostly it was one loud pack.

  But then Lara lowered her nose, and the pack grew still, first just a few, then more, then the last growing quiet. Michaela gave a quick kiss to her mate and another to her sister-in-law, and then she turned around to face me.

  “Anna, I would ask you not to sing quite so long as they did. A wolf call isn’t so uncommon here, but I imagine no one here has ever heard a jaguar. But we would love to hear your voice.”

  I looked at her for a moment, then I lowered myself into a crouch and very deliberately placed my paws over my ears, all the while watching Michaela.

  She watched me for a moment, then she nodded. Then she whispered to Lara and then to Elisabeth. The two of them turned around to face me, standing beside Michaela. Then the fox crouched down and wrapped one arm under and around each wolf. And I saw them lean into her.

  I stood and opened my mouth. Then I began with a barking growl. I didn’t growl like a wolf does. It wasn’t a long, low rumble. Instead, it was like very low bark-growls, and my entire chest moved with it. It wasn’t loud and sharp like a dog bark but was definitely a growl, but quick. Growl-growl-growl. And loud. Not hurting your ears loud, and not even as loud as a dog’s bark, but it was far louder than a wolf growl.

  But then I opened my mouth more widely and roared.

  Everyone has heard a lion’s roar. Oh, probably not in person, but in the movies. A jaguar roar is similar, but of course, different. And a natural jaguar’s roar isn’t as loud as a lion’s roar.

  But I was a were jaguar. My roar was about as loud as the front row seats in a rock concert.

  The wolves stared at me, some of them leaning away, some of them ruffling their fur.

  And then, casually, I closed my mouth and sank back down onto my stomach and began casually licking one paw.

  Beat that, Elisabeth!

  Slowly, once they were sure I was done, Elisabeth and Lara leaned away from Michaela. She tipped her head sideways one direction for a moment, then the other. Then she slowly walked over to me and crouched down.

  “Anna,” she said quietly. “If we’re ever facing a fight together, don’t roar, okay?” Then she leaned closer. “In a fight, my ears are my most important weapons.”

  I flicked an ear at her, then nudged her gently.

  She leaned back, blurred into her fur, and gave three quick yips. It took moments for the pack to flow around me, following the fox as she raced away. Monique waited with me, although she was standing erect, watching after them. I stood, paused another moment, and then bounded after.

  Thanksgiving

  The ceremony for Portia, Zoe, and Ember was in the late morning. Elisabeth gave us keys to one of the cars, and Michaela walked out with us.

  “Dinner is early,” she said to us at the side of the car. “3:30. If you’re back around 2:00, that would be good. I’m sorry about this.”

  “Don’t be,” Carissa said. “This is a private time for the closest of friends and family.”

  “Nothing will be open,” Michaela replied. “But you could drive along the coast. It’s pretty, even in November.”

  “Then that is what we’ll do. Do not worry about us, Michaela. This is an important celebration, and they deserve your full attention.”

  “You are very gracious, Carissa. Thank you for understanding.”

  We all climbed into the car, Carissa in the driver’s seat. She got the car started, set the heater, and then slowly and carefully backed us from the parking spot and headed for the highway.

  At the sign announcing the pack property, she pulled over and put the SUV into park. Then she turned around. “Are both of you all right?”

  I turned. Anika and Joanna glanced at each other, and then Anika said, “Of course, Carissa. Is something wrong?”

  “No. I do not care to drive. I am afraid I drank too much from each of you to ask one of you to drive.”

  Anika leaned forward and set a hand on Carissa’s arm. “You didn’t.” She smiled, and Joanna beside her. “You are always so careful. I wouldn’t have driven last night, but I ate well this morning, and I can drive now, if Joanna doesn’t want to.”

  “Maybe we can switch later,” Joanna said.

  “Are you sure, Anika?”

  “I’m sure, Carissa,” Anika replied.

  “Then, Anna, shall we trade seats?” Carissa suggested. And so, four car doors opened. Carissa and I moved into the back; Anika and Joanna moved into the front. Anika adjusted the seat and mirrors, and then asked, “Are we going anywhere in particular?”

  “No,” Carissa replied. “Up the coast?”

  “Right. Joanna, do you want to navigate?”

  “Take a left here,” she said. “We can drive into Bayfield first, then take the highway north.”

  Anika put the car into gear.

  She drove carefully. Carissa was always clear with her humans. They must drive carefully, and to obey the traffic laws besides. And so, from time to time, another car might come up behind us, hoping to drive faster than the speed limit. If the car remained behind us for any difference, Anika would find a place to pull to the side, allowing the car to pass, before continuing on.

  This was always the pattern, and so it wasn’t remarkable. But we weren’t in any particular hurry.

  Now, if I’d been driving, we’d have gone faster, although with the humans along, perhaps not as fast as I might choose if it were only Carissa and I. We wouldn’t be seriously hurt in an accident, and if humans were involved, I could always steer to avoid them, even if it meant damaging the car more completely.

  Maybe that was why Carissa had asked the humans to drive instead of me. I didn’t ask.

  We reached Bayfield and turned north. A few miles later, Carissa asked, loudly enough for all of us to hear, “What are your impressions? Joanna, will you go first?”

  Joanna turned in her seat. “I like them, Carissa.” That received three agreements. “They’re far more relaxed than they were at Halloween, and the stress between Michaela and Lara seems to be resolved. I haven’t learned what happened.”

  “What stress?” I asked.

  Carissa turned to me and looked at me for a good five seconds. Finally she said, “The little fox resents her alpha’s preoccupation with personal safety.”

  “They don’t seem particularly smothering,” I said cautiously.

&
nbsp; “Compared to other packs, perhaps not. But Michaela spent many, many years entirely on her own. She is accustomed to seeing to her own needs, and to coming and going as she pleases. And did you hear what she said about my lack of a heartbeat?”

  “Yes, but I didn’t understand it.”

  “Imagine all those surrounding heartbeats, hearing them all day long.”

  “Oh,” I said. “That would be hard.”

  Carissa nodded. “I am better at tuning it out than she is, and I believe she hears better than I do besides.”

  “They don’t seem to treat her differently than they did,” Anika observed. “If one discounts the extra precautions for being away from home. But she seems quite happy.”

  “Yes,” agreed Carissa. “She does. Joanna, you didn’t spend the night with Eric.”

  “He didn’t offer,” Joanna replied. “There were no expectations between us.” She blew out a little air, pushing a lock of hair from her eyes. “He’s actually acting like we barely met when they came to visit.”

  “Well,” Anika said. “To be fair, so are you.”

  “I am not!”

  “You are,” Anika said. “You’ve barely smiled at him, and you haven’t flirted at all. He’s a werewolf, Joanna.”

  “I know he’s a werewolf. What does that have to do with it?”

  “Dumb as bricks,” Anika said with a little laugh. “He’s not going to understand if you’re subtle.”

  “I’m pretty sure what we did back home wouldn’t qualify as subtle.”

  “That was a month ago. What have you done to him recently?”

  I snorted, but I thought she was right.

  “He told me something before though,” Joanna said. “He said being with human women is difficult for him. He might not be interested in a repeat.”

  “Are you?” Carissa asked.

  “I could be,” Joanna said slowly. “I, um. Enjoyed my time with him.”

  Carissa smiled. “So what are you going to do?”

  “I think I’ll see if he wants to sit next to me at dinner.”

  “And what about you, Anika?”

  I could see Anika frown. “I think I’m too small for them to notice me.”

  “Anika,” I said. “When you walk into a room, everyone notices. You know that.”

  “Well, I’ve caught that other one -- Rory -- looking at me. He doesn’t count.” Joanna was flexible in her orientation, but Anika was not. But then she grinned. “Maybe I should try to seduce Portia and her mate.”

  “Unless you’ve received some encouragement I haven’t noticed, I’d rather you didn’t,” Carissa said. “Wolves aren’t usually so open minded about such things.” She set a finger to her lips for a moment, tapping it once or twice. “I’ve kept you two sheltered from the New Orleans wolves. I have reasons for that.”

  “Because wolves are wolves?” I asked.

  “Just so,” Carissa agreed.

  “These wolves are different.”

  “They are. I’d trade packs in a heartbeat, if I had the opportunity.”

  “Well,” said Anika. “Karen and Elisabeth are my only other choices, and they don’t even seem to notice me.” She glanced in the mirror. “And it was cold last night.”

  Joanna snorted. “That was a hint, but I’m not sure who she was asking.”

  Anika didn’t answer, and Carissa seemed to ignore it. Then she turned to me. “Have you talked to Michaela?”

  “No. There wasn’t an opportunity. I’ll find one today.”

  She nodded and paused for a bit then nodded again. “We’re here for friendship. Make friends. Make lovers if you want. We want to be invited back, and we want them to visit again in the future.”

  “Michaela has been very welcoming,” I said. “We’ve talked about kayaking. It felt like I was receiving an open-ended invitation. I am almost sure Deirdre can secure an invitation any time we want one.”

  “I am certain Deirdre can secure an invitation, but I do not know if that invitation includes me,” Carissa said. “Now, there’s some tension. I don’t think it’s only because we’re here, and it doesn’t seem to be between Lara and Michaela. Does anyone have any clues?”

  “I’m sorry, Carissa. I haven’t wanted to pry too much.”

  “Don’t,” she said. “They’ll tell us, or they won’t.”

  “Carissa,” said Johanna. “Why are you being so careful?”

  “The two of you came to me willingly,” she said. “And I will forever cherish you for it. I do not give the wolves of Louisiana that choice. They are mine, because that is how I must keep the peace in my region. But these wolves are not mine, and I cannot take them that way. I wish friendship and trust.”

  “Trust takes time,” I said.

  “It does,” she agreed. “And I have time. But do they?”

  Conversation trailed off for a while. We had a nice drive, and it was comfortable with Anika driving for us. And so it was some time later than Anika said, “The pups are cute.”

  “They are,” Carissa agreed. “They are an interesting mix. They carry Lara’s DNA, but they have a fox for a mother. It shows in their behavior.”

  * * * *

  We pulled back into the wolf compound exactly at 2:00, Joanna now behind the wheel. She parked carefully, but then we all sat for a moment longer. Then, all at once, the three of us turned to look at Carissa.

  “Yes,” she said after a moment. “That was a lovely drive indeed. Thank you, Anika and Joanna. Who is going to walk me in?”

  That honor fell to Anika, the two petite women of similar heights. So Joanna stepped to my side and took my arm, and we followed the vampire and human to the front door.

  I thought they’d been watching for us. It was Eric who opened the door for us, stepping aside for us to enter. We moved in, and I helped the others from their coats before looking around.

  There were more people here than there had been before, and they were all turned to face us. The ones we’d already met seemed welcoming, but the new expressions were a mix of curious but cold.

  I let my eyes roam the room. I saw Monique with people I thought might be family. There were two that might be parents, a possible grandparent, and a possible older sister. And as I looked further, I thought there were other families here. Scarlett, Angel, and Francesca stood with several other wolves, including a teenage boy. Iris and Lindsey appeared to have family, and I saw Serena and Emanuel with two males, perhaps late college age, and their daughter, Kaylee.

  Then Michaela stepped forward, tugging Lara along with her. “Perfect timing,” Michaela called out. “The party is complete.” She gestured. “Everyone, this is Carissa. The human on her arm is Anika. And behind them are Annabelle Delacroix and Joanna. They are guests of the pack, and I know everyone will make them feel quite welcome. Won’t you?” she asked at the end, her tone indicating there was only one possible answer.

  “Yes, Alpha,” they intoned together.

  Then Michaela stepped closer, dropping Lara’s hand, and moved into Carissa, clearly asking for a hug. They embraced briefly, and then she exchanged more hugs with Anika, Joanna, and me. When I had a chance, I whispered into her ear, “I’d like to speak with you when you have a chance.”

  “Let me introduce Carissa to someone, and we’ll steal away,” she replied.

  She stepped away from me and hooked her arm in Carissa’s. “There’s someone you need to meet.”

  Joanna moved away from me, and a moment later I saw her looking up at Eric. I didn’t overhear their conversation, but she must have knocked some sense into him, as they sat together over dinner later, and they were holding hands for much of the time.

  I followed along behind Michaela and Carissa, Lara stepping up beside me. “Have a nice drive?”

  “We did,” I said. “Thank you for the loan of a car.”

  “Of course,” she said. “Even on a dreary day in November, it is beautiful here, or at least, we think so.”

  “I would have to agre
e. I miss the green, but I can understand why you come here. I imagine it is magnificent in the summer.”

  “It is,” she agreed. “Could I speak with you for a few minutes?”

  “Certainly.”

  I let her lure me through the house, still holding my coat, and we stepped out the back. I pulled it on, and we moved to one of the waiting picnic tables. Lara gestured, and we both sat facing each other.

  “I typically leave the diplomacy to my wife,” Lara began.

  “She’s good at it.”

  “She has learned,” Lara said. “She knows how to use her small stature to disarm a situation.”

  “So she does,” I agreed. “And a force of will.”

  Lara smiled. “We both know there’s no shortage of will here today.”

  “I suppose that’s true. We’re friends here, Lara, or trying to be. What can I do for you?”

  “Nothing. Not exactly. I wanted to tell you something very simple. You are welcome here. I know Michaela has already said that, and I’ve said it in public. But I think there’s a difference between saying it publicly, and coming out here and saying it privately.”

  I inclined my head. “Thank you. I appreciate that. But I must ask. Was that a singular ‘you’ or a plural ‘you’?”

  Lara smiled, but it was somewhat tightly. “It was meant as a singular. You are welcome with or without Carissa.”

  “You invite a cat into your territory.”

  “Wisconsin welcomes all weres who follow our rules,” she said. “And the other supernatural creatures as well.” She smiled again. “Michaela is quite aggressive at dealing with the ones who don’t follow the rules.”

  “Michaela is. Not you?”

  “Well, Elisabeth tries to handle problems before they come to Michaela’s attention. But if they reach Michaela, they get handled.”

  “Herself?”

  “A few times. More than you’ve heard about. There’s a certain message sent when it’s a petite fox that handles the problem.”