Jaguar (The Madison Wolves Book 12) Read online

  “It’s a good place to sit,” I said carefully.

  She looked around briefly then relaxed again. “I like to sit here. But if I come alone, the wolves get upset.”

  “Why?”

  “Well, because it means I ditched my security guards.”

  I laughed.

  “If I come here with someone else, but then don’t talk, they wonder if I’m moping.”

  “Ah. So I’m your beard.”

  “Right,” she said. “And I like your company.”

  “I enjoy yours as well, and I’m happy to sit as long as you like.”

  “Lara and Elisabeth are wondering what we’re talking about,” she said. Then she looked up at me and grinned. “Carissa is offering the most amusing suggestions.”

  “To them?”

  “No. To me.”

  I looked over my shoulder. Carissa was standing with the alpha and her enforcer.

  “And they can’t hear her?”

  “No. But the wind is in this direction today, and I have to work for it.” She paused. “I wish the enforcers would relax once in a while.”

  “They’re very watchful,” I said.

  “Karen, Elisabeth, and Rory could all use a social life away from other enforcers,” she continued. “Everyone else is either in a committed relationship or far too young for you.”

  I turned my head and stared at her. “Alpha, did you just pimp out your enforcers to me?”

  “No,” she said. “I pimped you out to them.”

  I stared at her for a good thirty seconds before I began laughing. Michaela waited before adding, “I have no idea what it would take to lure Karen to a bed. Rory wouldn’t be a challenge. And Elisabeth?” She shrugged.

  “I can’t believe you just told me all that,” I said.

  “Are you offended?”

  “No. Shocked, but not offended.”

  “I’ve grown accustomed to the wolves. They prefer direct. If you’d been another fox, I wouldn’t have said more than the part about fitting in. But I could tell you hadn’t gotten the hint.”

  “That was a hint?”

  She grinned then turned. “That’s Madeline Island. There’s another airport there. That’s the one we usually use, but your jet wanted a longer runway.”

  “Um. It’s an island. How would we get back here?”

  “There’s a ferry,” she explained. “It’ll head back this way in another half hour or so. We just missed it leaving when we got down here.” She paused. “We should get going. I think everyone wants a game this afternoon before dinner.” She stood then took my arm. We began walking back towards the shore.

  “You’re fitting in quite nicely, Annabelle Delacroix.”

  “I believe I heard your first hint, Alpha,” I said with a grin.

  “And maybe this time you recognize a second hint,” she said. “Or maybe you don’t.”

  We got another dozen steps before I sighed.

  “You’re welcome with or without Carissa,” she explained.

  “Thank you, Alpha,” I said. “I may take you up on that.”

  “Come summer?”

  I laughed. “I think I might like kayaking.”

  “I think you might,” she agreed. “And the lake trout are tasty.”

  “I imagine they are.”

  * * * *

  Ten minutes later, Elisabeth edged me from the crowd. Inwardly I smiled. I’d never been pulled aside by so many different people so often as I found myself today. Elisabeth actually pulled me into one of the shops, making sure the door was closed, then led me to the back. “If you keep your voice down, we might get some privacy.”

  “Will we?” I asked. “What can I do for you, Elisabeth?”

  “What did Michaela want?”

  “I believe, Head Enforcer, that you should ask your alpha that question.”

  “I’m asking you.”

  “Head Enforcer, please do not pull me into the middle of your pack politics.”

  She froze for a moment, even to the point of holding her breath. Then she let it out all at once. “Fuck. You’re right. I’m sorry.”

  “Why did you ask me instead of her?”

  “Because she would find it amusing to refuse to tell me.”

  “She is your pack alpha. Surely that is her choice.”

  “That woman is driving me to an early grave,” Elisabeth complained.

  “Because she had a quiet conversation at the end of the dock?”

  “No.” She offered a huff. “I wouldn’t suppose you could forget we had this conversation?”

  I smiled and said nothing. Once we exited the shop, Elisabeth stepped away, and a minute later, Michaela freed herself from Carissa and took my arm again.

  “Seriously?” I asked her.

  She smiled up at me. “Did you answer her questions?”

  “You couldn’t hear?”

  “Maybe I could and this is misdirection. Did you?”

  “Are you using me in a game with your head enforcer, Alpha?”

  “Not intentionally,” she said. She huffed, just like the wolves did when expressing displeasure. “They assume that because I am Fox, everything I do is part of some complicated game. And when I think about that, it can be difficult to not drive them a little crazy, trying to outguess me. So sometimes I am left questioning my own motives. I wanted to sit on that bench, and I thought sitting beside you would be pleasant. Was I aware it would drive Elisabeth nuts? Of course I was. But should I allow that to decide for me? Because it might be seen as a game, I shouldn’t do it?” She shook her head. “If that’s the worse issue I face, I think I’m doing darned well, don’t you?”

  “I suppose so.”

  “Did you answer her?”

  “No.”

  “You could have.”

  “And then if ever there is a time I cannot, she will know we discussed something important.”

  “But you answered me.”

  “True, but you already know what she asked, and you are the alpha.”

  She hugged my arm a little, and then we walked in silence for another minute, working our way back to the cars. “I’m glad you’re here,” she said finally.

  Fur

  It was at the end of dinner that Lara stood and said, “I could use a run in a half hour.” She turned to look at me. “Will you join us?”

  “I would love to,” I said. “Do you mind if I shift in my room. I’ll be careful of the floor.”

  “Feel free,” Lara said. “All our doors are were-friendly, so you shouldn’t have any troubles.”

  “I noticed that,” I said. “Thank you.”

  Fifteen minutes later found my in my room. I was just undressing when there was a knock. Carissa slipped in, closing the door and setting her back to it.

  I inclined my head to her. “Your Majesty.”

  “Cut the crap, Anna,” she said. It amused me whenever Carissa did that. She wasn’t typically given to course, colloquial speech. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

  “Did I do something wrong?”

  “No. Of course not. Are you glad you came?”

  “Yes,” I said. “Carissa, other packs could learn a lot from this one.”

  “They could, but you know wolves. Please don’t mention that anywhere another wolf might hear you.”

  “I know better,” I said. I gestured to my clothes. “Do you mind?”

  “No,” she said. “Go ahead.”

  I began undressing, but I studied the vampire as I did so. “You look worried about something.”

  “Nothing beyond the usual,” she replied. “To be honest, I’m not really sure why I’m here.”

  I’d never heard Carissa use that phrase before: to be honest. I raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you?”

  “All right. I do. I wanted to tell you how pleased I am you’re here.”

  I considered carefully before I said my next words. “Are you sure that’s all?”

  “You are too perceptive.”

  I wai
ted, and she didn’t say anything, so finally I asked, “Are you going to tell me?”

  “It’s embarrassing.”

  “Somehow I doubt that.”

  “I’m hungry.”

  “Oh,” I said. “Oh. Of course. Let me tell them I’m staying in so they don’t wait.”

  “No,” she said. “I’ll take a little sip from Anika and Joanna while you’re out running.”

  Naked now, I stepped over to her, standing square to her. She looked me up and down slowly then raised her eyes back to mine. “You’re a tease,” she said.

  “I’m not teasing, and you know it.”

  “I need you doing what you’re doing here, not distracted by me. I shouldn’t have even come.”

  “And yet, you did.”

  “I did,” she agreed. Then she took a step directly towards me, moving into my personal space, then setting a hand on my arm. She was a small woman, and her eyes were on a level with my chest, but she looked up at me. “You’re magnificent.”

  “Thank you,” I said. Her words warmed me. “Carissa?”

  “I’m jealous.”

  “What?”

  “You have a casual relationship with half the people here, it seems, and with me, they are all stiff and formal, except Michaela.”

  “Do you want me to back off?”

  “No. I just don’t know what I’m doing wrong.”

  “They’re not treating you any differently than the pack at home,” I said.

  “Do you know you’re one of the few people who is able to treat me the way you treat me.”

  “Your humans all love you,” I pointed out.

  “They love the thrall.”

  “They would be hopelessly devoted to you without the thrall,” I said.

  “Most of them, maybe, but not all of them.”

  I wasn’t going to argue with her about that. She knew better than I did.

  “The thing is,” she continued. “I understand why they are nervous with me. But all the reasons to be afraid of me should apply to you, too.”

  “Cats and wolves have a difficult time sharing territory,” I said. “And as two species, we’ve had our difficulties. But Carissa, as they see it, you eat them. And Michaela is the only one who knows what that really means, which is probably why she is able to be so casual with you.”

  “That’s lingering thrall.”

  “I don’t think it is,” I said. “Now, I don’t want to envision the politics if you should ask for a meal. You know I stay out of wolf and vampire politics.”

  She shook her head. “I couldn’t. If they offered, that’s one thing. But I could never ask.” Then she reached up and caressed my cheek. “Are we friends?”

  “Well, isn’t that a question?” I said. “I don’t know, Carissa. Are we?”

  “I think I’d like us to be,” she said.

  “So you don’t think we already are?”

  “You’ve been around the fox too much already,” she said with a snort. Her hand moved to my arm, clasping tightly, and she shook me slightly. “Yes, we’re friends.”

  “Yes,” I said. “We are. But right now, you are the queen, and what is happening here is your business, not mine. What do you want me to do?”

  “I want you to make friends as you’ve been doing. Or more than you’ve been doing, if you so choose. And don’t worry about me.” Then she smiled, and her clasp on my arm turned into a long, slow caress. “Take a lover, if you like.”

  “You’re sending mixed signals.”

  “I’m sending complicated signals. I think I could use a little fling in a week or two.”

  I laughed. “I think I’d like that, too.”

  “If you don’t get a better offer,” she said, stepping away.

  “I couldn’t possibly get a better offer, Carissa.”

  “Perhaps someone delectable will snare you, and you’ll decide to stay.”

  “I might decide someone looks tasty,” I said. “But I’m going home with you.”

  “You wouldn’t have to, you know. If you found someone here you liked.”

  “Is that the real reason you’re here? To tell me that?”

  “No.” But she backed away from me.

  “Do you want me to talk to Michaela about you?” I asked.

  “No,” she said again. She turned to the door but then froze with her hand on the handle. “Yes,” she said, barely loud enough for me to hear. And then she fled the room, the door opening and closing more quickly than I could even see.

  Well, well.

  * * * *

  I love my fur. I had shifted on the bed, but I’d had to climb off before I could properly stretch. The bed wasn’t remotely big enough for a full size were jaguar in her fur.

  I was careful when I stretched. The very act tended to extend my claws, and I promised I wouldn’t damage the floor. And so it wasn’t remotely a proper stretch, but I could have a better once we were outside.

  I knew I cut an image. Even amongst other were jaguars, I was impressive. Oh, we were all impressive, or so I thought. But vainly I knew I was more impressive than most, long and sinuous, with powerful, rippling muscles and thick, black fur, head to tail.

  And in fur, my eyes glowed, although I could control it if I wished. It wouldn’t do during a hunt if my eyes were to shine like lanterns, after all. But I understood why some humans, upon seeing us, thought we were demons come to rend their souls.

  I took a second stretch then moved to the door. I lifted a paw then extended my claws to hook the handle. It took only a moment to have the door open, and then I slipped out and turned down the hallway.

  I’m sure Michaela heard me coming, and I suspect the wolves all smelled me. They weren’t all done shifting by the time I arrived. Perhaps half were done, and a few were nearly done. And several of them hadn’t even begun to shift, including Lara, Michaela, and half the enforcers.

  But as I stepped into the room, everyone fully in fur or still in skin turned to face me, every single one. I came to a stop and waited.

  “Oh, Anna,” said Michaela after a moment. I settled my gaze on her. “You are glorious.”

  Of course I was.

  “Everyone wants to see you,” she added. “I imagine you’re easier to see in this light. Would you indulge us?”

  I looked around again, trying to judge the mood of the rest of the room. No one had taken a single step towards me, and I realized those nearest me were all adults, and presumably enforcers. It was hard to tell in their fur.

  After all, if you’ve seen one werewolf, you’ve seen them all, right?

  Their body posture was wary, but no one was growling, and I didn’t detect any raised hackles. So, cautiously, I stepped forward, emerging fully, the tip of my tail flicking back and forth.

  I hadn’t realized I’d be nervous, although I didn’t imagine anyone in the room would recognize it for what it was.

  I wasn’t surprised by the dynamics that came next. I took several steps towards Michaela, and about a third of the wolves in the room moved closer. Several others shifted, and when I glanced, I realized they were shielding the pups from me.

  So much for friendship, I thought. They’re at least as afraid of me as they should be, or that I should be of them.

  I came to a stop and sat. That may have been a mistake, as doing so lifted my head. On four feet, I tended to carry my head in line with my body, only slightly elevated, with my shoulders just about 42 inches from the ground, and the top of my head another few inches. But when seated, that lifted my head significantly higher. I was already taller than the wolves, but seated, my head was higher than that of anyone else in fur, and I realized I was now even slightly taller than Michaela, standing on two feet in human form.

  With the exception of those still shifting, the room grew still again, everyone watching me carefully. Michaela looked at me then let her eyes roam the room. Then she set her hands on her hips. “Anna is our friend. I am going to walk over there and get a good look. Is anyone
here going to stop me?”

  “No,” said Lara firmly, standing beside her. Then she turned back to me. “Anna, I don’t imagine you make the same sounds a wolf does, and I don’t imagine your body language matches ours. I am every bit as curious as my mate. Do you mind?”

  I didn’t mind at all, but I wasn’t sure how to answer her. But then I turned my head and began to lick a spot on my leg.

  Michaela chuckled. “I’m not sure if that’s an itch or an answer, Lara, but I chose to believe it’s an answer.” Then she reached for her mate’s hand, and the two approached cautiously.

  They didn’t approach directly, and they didn’t look into my eyes as they drew closer. But then, I knew better than to stare into Lara’s for too long, either. But then Michaela stepped sideways, coming to a stop nearly directly in front of me.

  “Well, I’m embarrassed,” Michaela said. “There’s actually something I didn’t think of. I didn’t ask how to tell your yes from a no. Anna, how do you say ‘yes’ in this form?”

  I opened my mouth, not widely, only a little, and gave three low coughs. In a way, they might sound a little like a dog bark, if the dog had a frog in his throat. But I knew no one would have realized that was ‘yes’ if Michaela hadn’t asked.

  “And no?” Michaela prompted.

  I curled a lip. I was pretty sure that was clear.

  “Right,” she said after a moment. “Very subtle.”

  It wasn’t at all subtle, but it was pretty universal. The wolves did it, too.

  “Anna, may we touch?” Lara asked. I offered the little barks, and for the next minute or so, the two moved around me. Michaela touched far more than Lara did, but from time to time, Michaela said something like, “Lara, oh my god. Feel here.”

  Finally they came to a stop, again not quite directly in front of me.

  I hadn’t noticed her moving through the wolves, but then Zoe was there, her mate hovering protectively. “Anna,” Zoe said. “May I?”

  I gave the little barks. Zoe moved up beside Michaela, and then Michaela dropped Lara’s hand and moved closer again. “Isn’t she magnificent, Zoe?”

  “Stunning.” Then Zoe lowered her voice. “I’d love to see her teeth, but I’m afraid the wolves will freak out.”

  “Probably,” Michaela said. “You can see the power in her jaw.”