Fox Revenge (Madison Wolves #5) (22 page)

I had lost track of Scarlett, so I listened for her. With all the other wolves, I couldn't find her. I cut left and practically ran right into Serena. She turned with me, and then I came to a stop, looking around. I ducked
around Elisabeth's lunge and dashed underneath Serena.

Where was Scarlett?

I yipped.

I looked around. Angel, Emanuel and Rory were all holding a guard position. I saw and heard other wolves, but I couldn't find Scarlett.

I slipped out from underneath Serena and shifted to human. "Where is Scarlett?" I asked.

The enforcers all chuffed and yawned.

"I'm worried, where is she?"

Angel shifted to human and grinned. "I love doing that. Honey, she's hunting you. She's trying to do it your way. Keep playing with Elisabeth."

I looked at Elisabeth. "Are you two helping each other?"

Elisabeth chuffed. I laughed. "All right," I said. "If I win, you have to tell me everything you can about the Iowa pack."

Elisabeth growled, and it was a serious growl.

"Okay, can't blame me for trying. If I win, Lara gets a backrub a day from one or the other of you from now until she gives birth."

Elisabeth chuffed.

"If you win, and if I can't let this thing with Iowa go, I promise to give you twelve hours of warning before I ditch my security detail."

Serena whined. Elisabeth growled, but finally she chuffed.

"I win if I make it back to the porch without Scarlett tagging me. You aren't allowed to pin me, but you can herd me.
I promise to try to avoid you. Serena, I won't try to lose you."

Elisabeth
chuffed. I shifted to fox and made a wild dash in the opposite direction from the compound. Five wolves set off in pursuit of me, my security detail giving me a little more room so Elisabeth could play.

She cut me off, bounding ahead and growling at me. I made a dash like I was going to cut in front of her, but then as she dashed to cut me off, I jumped over her then turned hard towards the west.

After that, Elisabeth got serious. I was trying to pull Scarlett out of position. I had no idea where she was, and I needed her to move, but she was being decidedly quiet. I wondered if Elisabeth knew where she was. I was afraid if I made a dash for the compound, I would run directly into her.

I was willing to let them win, but I really wanted those backrubs for Lara.

Elisabeth kept cutting me off, and little by little, she pushed me back towards the compound and the path she was choosing. I finally decided I was going to have to head for the compound, but on a path of my choosing. I managed to pull Elisabeth out of position, then dashed underneath Angel and began running full out for the southwest, well off the path Elisabeth had been pushing me into.

I got thirty yards before Elisabeth cut me off. I cut south, but she stayed alongside me, pushing me back to the east, then she cut me off from the south as well and tried to herd me due east.

Slowly I was forced to back away from her. Every time I tried to dash west or south, Elisabeth was there. Once I ran straight to her and she batted me over and threw herself on top of me, taking my throat, then she dragged me twenty yards east as punishment before releasing me.

I nipped at her when she let me up, then we both chuffed good-naturedly at each other and I tried running south.

Somehow Elisabeth knew exactly where Scarlett was waiting, I was sure of it, and bit by bit, I got pushed where Elisabeth wanted me. Finally I turned tail and ran. Elisabeth was surprised but quickly bounded after me. I ducked under a fallen log, cutting for the compound.

I ran right into Scarlett. She didn't even have to move, I ran right into her and bounced off. She threw herself on me, rolled me onto my back, and settled down on top of me, pinning me.

Elisabeth sauntered up while Scarlett held me pinned. Elisabeth was chuffing happily. I chuffed back at her then tried to wriggle out from under Scarlett.

She settled her weight a little more, letting me know I wasn't going anywhere, then began licking me. Elisabeth licked me, then all my enforcers did before Scarlett finally let me up.

I batted all of them on the nose and began an easy trot towards the compound, the six of them surrounding me.

Vivian was waiting when we got back. I shifted human and pulled my clothes on with my entourage seconds behind me except for poor Rory, who was left to shift the slow way.

"That was fun, Elisabeth. Thank you."

She laughed. "You made me work for it."

I turned to Scarlett. "I never knew where you were. I kept hoping you would break cover so I could pinpoint you."

"I've never tried to be so silent before," she said. "You make it look so easy. It's not!"

I looked at Elisabeth. "You won. I'll keep my promise."

Elisabeth nodded then gestured me towards the side, putting her arm around me. "Please let it go. If you let it go, we'll get Lara her backrubs. You can't do this to her, Michaela. You have to let it go."

"I'm trying, Elisabeth."

"What else can I do?"

"I don't know. I'm going to go talk to Vivian now."

"It will kill Lara, Michaela. If you go off half-cocked, it will kill her."

"I won't go off half-cocked. Revenge is a dish best serve cold, Elisabeth, and they have never seen someone like me before."

"You can't do it alone."

"Then help me."

"I can't, Michaela. You know that."

I sighed. "I'm trying, Elisabeth."

I shrugged out from under her arm, but I squeezed her hand before walking to Vivian. "May I offer you anything?"

"I'm quite fine," she said. "Where would you like to talk?"

"Your office,
I guess." I helped her to her feet, and together we turned towards the school, Serena and Angel flanking us.

Several minutes later found us staring at each other. "They made me a victim, Vivian."

"I know."

"They need to pay."

She was silent at that. I thought perhaps she would ask me why, and then I could have told her, but she didn't. She didn't argue with me at all.

I told her everything that had happened. She knew most of it.

"It's all my fault. I know you'll say it's not," I said. "But it is. And I don't know how to fix it."

"What are you trying to fix?"

"I don't know," I said. "But they made us weaker."

"That's what a feud does," she said. "It makes both parties weaker. The weakness you inflicted on them is greater than the weakness they inflicted on us. Now you have to decide: are you going to work to make them weaker, or are you going to work to make us stronger?"

I buried my face in my arms, hiding from her for a while.

"Are you having nightmares?" she asked.

"No," I said.

"Are you physically harmed?"

"I was weak. I'm fine now."

"How are Lara's babies?"

"She says they are good, but Elisabeth keeps hissing at me about stress."

"You should listen to her. Elisabeth has never been known for being dramatic."

"Vivian," I said. "Every wolf who has ever made me a victim in the past is dead. A few tried and lived, but the few that succeeded all died, every single one at my hand. And now I'm supposed to let these wolves get away with it?"

"Yes. I'm sorry, Michaela. But yes. The cost of vengeance is high."

"I don't know how to let go of this. It is poisoning me."

We talked for a while. Nothing was resolved.

Before we finished, I told her, "I don't want to feel this way. But I don't know how to stop."

* * * *

I taught classes on Monday. The students were happy to have me back. Physically I was fine, but Michele Lassiter seemed happy to stay and help. There were a few moments when it all caught up to me, and I would lose my thoughts for a minute or two. The kids were patient.

One time it went on for a few minutes. After a few seconds, Lily climbed from her seat and pulled me to look out the window, and Michele took over the class.

I didn't cry; I just was caught in a loop of horrible thoughts. I wanted to lash out, but there was no one to lash out at. My thoughts went around and around. Lily stood there quietly, an arm around my shoulder, a hand on my arm, and her body shielding me from any other eyes.

Finally I spoke. "How did you know what to do?"

"Ms. Lassiter told us you might have trouble for a while. We thought perhaps it would be easier to let the girls touch you, so whoever is closest will help. This time that was me."

"I am being silly," I told her.

"I don't know," she said. "I think I'd be a wreck for weeks. We're all proud of you."

I heard something Michele had said. I kissed Lily on the cheek. "Thank you." Then I turned around and tried to figure out how to correct Michele without embarrassing her.

She caught the movement from the corner of her eye.

"I thought my teaching would get your attention," she said with a grin. "I was just teaching the kids that sometimes adults don't know what they're talking about."

The kids laughed. I squeezed Lily's hand and took over the lecture again.

After that, I was able to hold it together until class was over, but as soon as the kids were gone, I began to tremble.

Michele was right there next to me. "Michaela?"

"I need to hurt someone, Michele," I said. "They did this to me. I need to hurt someone. I don't think I'm safe."

"Nonsense," she said. "And you're stronger than this. You aren't going to give them this power over you."

I took a breath, nodded, and thanked her, then I stormed out of the class and straight to Serena. "Twelve-hours-"

And her hand was over my mouth, her other hand at the back of my neck, holding me quiet. "No," she said. "Don't say it. Please, Micheala. Give us a few more days. Please."

I stared into her eyes and nodded.

"That nod means you didn't just give me warning, right?"

I nodded.

She withdrew her hand. "Promise me."

I stared at her. "I'm trying."

"Run or the gym?" she asked.

"Gym. Work me until I pass out."

She nodded and called Karen.

* * * *

I didn't pass out, but my brain had completely shut down long before Karen let my body collapse.

Tuesday was better. I
arose early and texted Serena. "I want a long run before breakfast. Please."

"OMW," was the response.

When I got downstairs, I found Karen and Elisabeth. "Are you running with us?"

They both looked confused, then Elisabeth said, "We were the night crew."

"Right, sorry. Serena is letting me have a run."

"Do you need someone to play with?" Elisabeth asked.

"No," I said. "I just want to run until I collapse."

Serena arrived with Emanuel. "Rory and Eric are shifting," she said. "We're ready as soon as they're done."

I nodded, dropped all my clothes on the coffee table, and shifted to fox. I prowled around the room until Serena said, "We can go, Michaela." She held the door for me, then I waited on the porch until she and Emanuel were ready. I took off for the woods, yipping twice, and simply ran.

I ran to the far north border of our property, paused a minute
to catch my breath, then began running for the compound. Twelve miles for a fox is a good run. I stood in the courtyard, panting. The wolves weren't even winded. I huffed at them and took off for the woods again. I only ran another six miles, but that was more than enough, and when we got back to the house I was done.

I chuffed at them and gave
each a single lick, thanking them for the run, then ran into the house. I stayed in fur until I was halfway up the stairs, then crept the rest of the way to the bedroom. Lara was awake when I got there, but she was still in bed.

"Hey, gorgeous," she told me.

"Hey, Mommy," I told her, still panting.

"Since when does a flight of stairs make you pant?"

"It's seeing you," I said. "With your mommy belly. So hot!"

"I bet."

"Eighteen miles is a long run for a fox," I said.

"Ah.
" She nodded. "Feel better?"

"Sure," I said. "Shower now."

I kissed her on the way past.

* * * *

I held it together during classes. When I got a break, I stepped into the hallway and found Serena. "After classes, I'd like to hit the gym then go flying."

"You won't be in any shape to fly."

"Light workout," I said. "Will you call June?"

"Yes."

"Thank you."

When I got back inside, I glanced at the board, and there was a fresh limerick at the top of the board. I read it then turned to class. "Francesca is going to be disappointed with one of you. Proud and crowed do not rhyme. Pop quiz."