Fox Run (37 page)
Authors: Robin Roseau
"That was fun," I said.
"Yes, it was," she agreed.
"Did you pick this game with me in mind?"
"Yes, but as you can see, it's popular. Most of our other games would have left you at a distinct disadvantage, and I didn't want that for your first pack game night. You will not perform well most nights, but I'll want you to participate and be cheerful about it."
"Of course."
"There are some games that are unhealthy for you. We won't play those when you're here."
Once Janice had shifted, I said, "Janice, you said something about a prize for the winner."
"Favor from the alpha," she said.
"Really?" I asked. "How large a favor?"
"Sometimes people ask for big favors. Wasn't it Bernie who asked for help starting his car dealership, Lara?"
"Yes," she said. "But he had a solid business plan, so it wasn't unreasonable. If it had been a poor business plan, I would have told him 'no' and explained why."
"Would you have granted it without the favor?" I asked.
"I don't know. I didn't know him well. I think I would have referred to it as pack business, but I financed him personally."
"What would be the smallest prize someone has asked for?"
Angel had shifted by now and heard my question. "I asked for a bowl of ice cream."
I laughed. "Did she give it to me?"
"She asked Mom first, but yes."
"How old were you?"
"Eight," she said. "It was hide and seek, and I had found a really good hiding place. I used it three times and no one ever found me."
"Do I hang onto this favor or am I obligated to ask right away?"
"It is customary to ask right away, although sometimes people ask if they can present their request tomorrow," said Lara.
"All right," I said. "Alpha, as my favor, will you take me to dinner at the Rittenhouse tomorrow evening?"
She stared at me, then smiled. "Little fox, I can't think of a favor I would more rather deliver."
Courting
"I want a second favor, Alpha."
"Oh? You only won a single favor."
"We both stink. Do you think we could take a bath together?"
She laughed. "Yes, I think that is an excellent idea."
"You'll have to wash my hair."
"I can do that."
"The hair on my head."
She pouted and went into the bathroom to begin drawing a bath for us.
Once we were in the bath, I told her, "The game tonight seemed a little-"
"Immature?"
"Yes."
"Did you have fun?"
"Yes." I laughed. "But I won. That makes it easier to have fun."
"Did it look like I had fun?"
"You were frustrated you couldn't find me."
"A little, but pride was a much bigger emotion than frustration. We were on top of you, I knew we were, and we couldn't find you. Turn around, I want to wash your hair."
I spun around and leaned against her while she washed. Her hands felt amazing. "Lara, I could get used to this."
"Good. So could I. How attached are you to your house in Bayfield?"
"It's too early in our relationship to talk about that."
"Please just answer."
"I like it. If I had occasion to move, I would be fine with that, too, but I will not be kept."
"Fair enough. Why else do you think we wolves play the games we play?"
"To teach the kids and to bind as a pack."
"What you did for Kaylee tonight, she will remember for the rest of her life."
"It was a small thing."
"Not to such a young child. It was the world. And she's special to you now, too, isn't she?"
I thought about it. "So are Angel, Gia and Francesca."
"Scarlett worships you now, little fox. And you and Janice are getting along, too," Lara pointed out.
"She impressed me tonight. I thought she was a bitch."
"She was. She can be. But she's not a bad person."
"A lot of binding going on tonight," I said.
"Afraid of us anymore?"
"No, but that's not entirely a good thing. Fear of wolves is a healthy instinct."
She finished with my hair. I leaned back and let her wrap her arms around me. I should have turned around and offered to wash her hair, but it felt so nice to let her hold me. We cuddled in the water, then I knew I had to take care of her before I could continue to relax.
"Switch," I said, spinning around and moving towards the other end of the tub. "I want to wash your hair."
She slid a foot between my legs. "I have something else in mind."
I grabbed the foot and put my fingernails over it. "Turn around, Lara, so I can wash your hair."
She laughed and spun around, backing up to me. I washed her hair slowly, massaging the scalp, her neck, and her shoulders. I leaned forward and kissed her shoulders, wrapping my arms around her for a moment, then began rinsing her hair for her. When I was done, I slid closer to her and leaned against her back, biting casually at a shoulder.
"Lara?"
"Yes, little fox?"
"We have a lot to work out between us."
"Not so much."
"You're going to wear me down. Is that your plan?"
She laughed. "Yes."
"Could you move to Bayfield? Honey, I really like Bayfield."
"Tomorrow?"
I laughed. "I want to know what's possible. Is that on the table?"
"I don't know. I can't even promise to give it serious consideration, mostly because I can't be alpha from up there for a pack that is primarily located down here."
"I don't want you to stop being alpha for it. So does that mean no?"
"We could see if the pack wants to move."
"For one little fox and her passion for the lake?" I laughed. "Even if they were willing to do it for me, that's too much to ask."
"If you haven't noticed, the pack likes it up there. They might want to go for themselves."
"Mmm," I said, wrapping my arms around her.
"Little fox?"
"Yes."
"Turn around. I like to do the holding."
"All right."
We switched again, and I settled in with my head resting between her breasts, the water to my chin.
"Lara?"
"Yes, little fox?"
"I want courting."
"I know you do. How am I doing so far?"
"Pretty good. I want you to remember that, tomorrow and next week and next month. I want courting."
"I won't forget."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure." She hugged me. "Forever and ever."
"Okay. You remember what I said about waiting, to, well, you know."
"Yes, I think I might know."
"I am done waiting."
"Little fox, I thought you would never ask."
About the Cover
The Red Fox photograph is attributed to
Peter Trimming
. It is licensed under the Creative Commons
Attribution 2.0 Generic
license. Thank you to Mr. Trimming for sharing his work.
About Specific Locations
All cities and towns discussed in this novel are real. The very excellent Rittenhouse Inn is located in Bayfield, Wisconsin and is referenced without permission. The author has fond memories. There is a ferry service running between Bayfield and Madeline Island and an airport on the island. Once upon a time, one could rent kayaks at the Bayfield waterfront, but similarities to any existing operation are coincidental. If presented with the opportunity, sea kayaking around Bayfield and the Apostle Islands is a worthwhile adventure.
To the best of the author's knowledge, there is no bar or nightclub located anywhere in Wisconsin called the Iron Dog, but if there is, this is purely coincidental.
Also to the best of the author's knowledge, there is no large compound northeast of Madison where one may find a werewolf pack.
The US Fish and Wildlife Department exists. The author does not know if they have a presence in Ashland, Wisconsin or what their duties might be if they do. The author is reasonably certain there are no were foxes employed by the US Government.
About the Author
A writer by avocation, Robin has a renaissance interest in many areas. A bit of a gypsy, Robin has called a few places home and has traveled widely. A love of the outdoors, animals in general and experimenting with world cuisines, Robin and partner share their home with a menagerie of pets and guests, although sometimes it is difficult to discern who is whom.
Robin can be reached via email as [email protected]
Other Works by Robin Roseau
All titles available on Amazon
Novellas
Stark's Dell
Relocated to the isolated farmhouse of her stern grandmother at age 5, Emily struggles to find friends...until she meets Dee Dee. Older and wiser, Dee Dee guides Emily through childhood and adolescence, sharing Emily's deepest secrets.
But Dee Dee has secrets of her own, and it isn't until it is nearly too late that the two friends discover that what they feel runs deeper and lasts longer than even they can imagine.
Stark's Dell is a long novella of 50,000 words.
Short Stories
Cooking for Love
Jocelyn saw herself as short, dumpy, plain, and boring, a former housewife and repressed lesbian who had tried to fit into the expected norm. Her husband had left her three years ago, and in spite of her best friends' efforts, she hadn't had a date since.
Deb was a gorgeous woman with cropped but stylish blonde hair, sharp features, and an athletic build. In other words, the perfect woman in Jocelyn's eyes, and the last woman Jocelyn would expect to want her.
Cooking for Love is an 8000-word short story.
Southern Night
Vacationing in Australia, Amber meets Jackie, several years Amber's senior. Amber finds Jackie commanding and alluring and instigates a meeting.
Southern Night is a short story of 5,000 words.
Fox Run
Copyright 2013 by Robin Roseau
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, copied in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise transmitted without written permission from the publisher. You must not circulate this book in any format.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.
* * *
License Notes
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