Wolf Women (The Madison Wolves Book 10) (7 page)

"I don't know, Ember. Michaela told me some of the things they did to her, but they were things Lara wanted, not things Michaela wanted done."

"Oh, I suppose. Well, what if Portia has a ransom night? Do you want them to give her a tattoo?"

"No. If Portia gets a tattoo, I want to be there."

She huffed. "You're not very good at this game."

"I'm sorry. This isn't the sort of tradition that humans would look forward to."

"But-" She paused. "I suppose not. Some brides try to get out of it. Are you going to do that?"

I thought about it. "No. Michaela said it's important."

We grew quiet again. I closed my eyes. It was getting chilly, and I wouldn't last much longer, but I was hoping the wolves would get back so Ember wouldn't be alone.

"Zoe?"

"Ember?"

"How do you get someone to ask you out?"

"You could ask him. Or her."

"No I can't."

"Why not?"

"Um. Because the people I want to ask me out are dominant wolves, and I'm not. I try flirting with them, but they still don't ask. Maybe I don't flirt very well."

"I don't believe in playing games to get asked out," I said. "I ask. Who did you want to ask you?"

"Anyone," she said. "Maybe Monique, but anyone. I've never gone on a date. No one asks me."

What was with teenagers coming to me for dating advice?

"Boys or only girls?"

"I don't know, Zoe."

How could she not know? I always knew.

"So if one of the girls asked you, you'd go?"

"Yes."

"Anyone you wouldn't go out with?"

"Kaylee's a little young."

"How about the boys?"

"They can be immature."

"Boys are like that."

"But they're cute. Sure. But not Shelton or Nash."

"Why not?"

"They're bossy. I mean, they're going to be enforcers, but they're bossy about stuff they shouldn't be. They're not supposed to do that."

I made a mental note to tell Portia about that.

"Well, I don't know how you get someone to ask you out. I never waited. If I wanted to go out, I asked. Let me think about it."

"Okay. Thanks."

I was getting really cold on from the ground.

"Ember, I'm really sorry, but the ground is cold. I'm freezing."

"Oh. Oh. I'm sorry. It feels good to me." She sat up. "You have to go in."

"Yes, I'm sorry. I'm having a nice time here with you."

She turned and pulled me upright, which was sweet.

"Are you going to bed? Or something? Could I hang out with you, just until Portia comes home?"

"I'd like that, honey."

* * * *

Later, much later, Portia and I lay together in bed, sweaty and spent. "You need more practice," I said.

"I do not."

"Oh yes," I said. "Lots and lots and lots of practice."

She laughed and kissed my head.

"Did you have a nice time with Ember?"

"Do you know her story?"

"Not really. Just that her mom took off."

"It's a horrible story!" I sighed. "It's been a very strange 24 hours."

Shortly after, I was asleep.

Monday we woke, made love, worked out, then made love again while showing. At the gym. I was quite scandalized, but Portia was very determined.

I discovered I couldn't say 'no' to her. Well, I could, for a few minutes, but she could turn my 'no' into a 'yes'. And I would learn over the next few weeks that she would get better and better at turning my 'no' around.

"Time to decorate," she said after. "What color do you want?"

"If we're moving in the spring, does it matter?"

"Yes. That's six months away, and then we have to build the house. So yes, it matters. The room downstairs is too small for both of us for a home office, so we'll convert the second bedroom."

And so we picked some gentle colors, bought paint, and spent the day painting. We started in my new home office. Then we did our bedroom and started on the living room, but Portia said, "Monique will be here in a little while. We'll finish tomorrow."

She arrived at 3:30. We had changed out of our paint clothes and were cuddling on the couch when the bell rang, then a moment later, the door opened. "Zoe? Portia?"

"Come in, Monique."

She appeared a moment later carrying a computer bag. It was exactly the one I had recommended. She was lugging her tripod, too. It was also from amongst the ones I had recommended.

"Am I interrupting?"

"Nope," I said.

"I smell fresh paint!" She glared. "You didn't let me help."

"Sorry," Portia said. "It's just a few rooms. You can help when we build the house."

"Okay," she said, easily mollified. She sat down in one of the chairs.

"Well, what did she buy you?"

She opened the bag and showed me her equipment. Faith had gotten everything on the list under the 'basic kit'. It was perfect for what we would do.

"Okay, good. We'll use the tripod for some advanced techniques and when I let you borrow my really long lenses. I'll let you know. You can leave it home otherwise."

Portia had her camera, too, and so I had both of them take similar photographs. Then we moved to Portia's little office. We loaded her photos into her computer, and I went through basic editing.

"What about those videos where they totally Photoshop someone?"

"I don't do that much," I said. "But I can show you what I do. Let's start with some photos. Lets go back outside." I grabbed some of my special equipment, and we assembled with their cameras. "We need a subject. We'll start with Monique. Portia can photograph her, then we'll switch. Then I'll let the two of you work with me."

I had Portia take a bunch of photos. Then I pulled out some of my light reflectors.

"Portia, zoom out and photograph us both so you can see what I'm using and doing, then zoom in and take another dozen photos of Monique." I used the reflectors to fill in her face and add some gold tone. Portia took the photos.

"What does that do?" Monique said.

"Easier to show you," I said. "Okay, you two switch." I helped Monique. After she had taken a bunch of photos, I handed her my reflector and said, "Now you two take turns with me."

Ten minutes later, we were inside. We had to use my computer, as Portia didn't have all the right software yet. I loaded Monique's pictures. Then I put several of them on the screen.

"Okay, which one do you like the most?"

"This one," they both said.

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"This is one with the gold reflector. Does that help?"

"It feels warmer, and you can see more details here." Portia gestured.

"Understand? You can also use the reflectors for shade when it's too bright. After that, it's art, and you have to experiment."

I loaded Portia's pictures, picked my favorite of Monique, and then spent just ten minutes, doing the things I might normally do. When I was done, I showed the picture of her full screen.

"I'm... I'm...."

"A hottie." I said.

"That's not really me."

So I showed her the before picture. "You're still a hottie here. You are still you when I'm done, but I fixed a few specs of dust on the lens, adjusted the lighting a little, things like that. Want to see what you would look like with long hair?"

"Yes!"

That took longer. I had to play for a while. I didn't go for long, long, but I brought it down past her shoulders. Finally I was really pleased.

The two of them sat there quietly the entire time, not saying a word. But when I was done, Monique said, "I don't know what to say."

"Monique," Portia said. "You are a wonderful woman any way you look. The alphas and all the enforcers have nothing but the best impression of you. You're diligent in your studies and will be a very good enforcer. You are bright and inquisitive. Furthermore, you are kind, generous, and fun to have around. But you have a confidence problem with your appearance, which is both a little shallow and, as you can see, unjustified besides."

"Everyone wants to be attractive though," she said. "Don't they?"

"Yes," Portia said. "Most people want to be attractive."

"Well, I didn't do this to make any points about your appearance, Monique. I was showing some of the things you can do."

"Still..." She stared at the screen. "I've always worn my hair short, because that's how enforcers wear it. Portia, is it required to be short?"

"No, Monique. If it's too long, it gets in your way. And if you're in a hurry, which we often are, then it slows you down in the morning. But I know of female enforcers in other packs with long hair. Wear your hair how you want, but keep it out of your face when you're on duty. Braiding it is best, if it's long enough to interfere. If it becomes problematic, one of us will tell you."

She nodded.

"Well," I said. "I've given both of you things to get started. So I have assignments for both of you."

"Homework?"

"Fieldwork," I said. "I want you to find a model and practice photographing people. Present me with your ten best shots. You may borrow my reflectors, if you want, but it might be more fun to find other things that work instead. You can use poster board or almost anything. That's assignment one. Assignment two is to go on a nature shoot. I want to see ten good, interesting photos. You both have Macs, so you can do basic editing in iPhoto. Our next class is next Monday afternoon unless either of you have to move it for something. Class dismissed."

* * * *

For the three days of Portia's mini-vacation, we set our patterns. She got us up early each morning for a trip to the gym, and that was a pattern we would maintain moving forward. I had never been afraid of exercise, but it had never been a main factor in my life, either; what exercise I got in the past was ancillary to the other activities I did. I knew Portia would be getting me into better shape.

After our showers was breakfast. Some mornings we ate at the alphas', and there always seemed to be plenty of food, although I would bring my own with me. Other mornings we ate at Portia's house.

We then spent our time on the house, turning it into a shared home. I had, from time to time in the past, moved in with a girlfriend or had a few move into my small apartments. But I'd never had someone make such changes to her own home for me.

We set up the spare bedroom as an office for both of us, Portia requiring far less space than I did. I really liked sharing the space with her. The main floor room she'd turned into an office became the spare bedroom. It was small, but it would work for the occasional guest.

We moved my photos around the house until we were both pleased. That was actually fun, as Portia let me order her around. "No, not there. Up a little. Down a little. It's crooked." I teased her a great deal, and she knew I was doing it.

And then when I carried it too far, she set the piece down and chased me around the house until she caught me. I got tickled into complete submission.

I loved it.

She made me vow the most outrageous things before she stopped tickling.

During one of the painting sessions, I told her about my conversations with Monique and Ember. When I explained about movie night, I felt guilty.

"I should have asked you, but it sort of came up."

"I disagree," she said. "I love the idea, and I am very happy to let you manage our social life."

"So you like movie night? How do I know when you're going to be available?"

"There's a schedule," she said. "Things will come up, sometimes on short notice. A few times a month, I get a call to appear at the alphas' immediately or to meet with either Elisabeth or Serena. Sometimes I am needed for only a few minutes, perhaps to discuss something, perhaps to give the fox an escort across the compound."

"She needs a guard here?"

"The answer to that depends upon who you ask. If you ask her, the answer is, 'I rarely need any guards at all'. If you ask Lara or the enforcers, and we want two with her at all times."

"That would put a crimp in lovemaking."

She smiled briefly but didn't otherwise acknowledge my joke.

"My point is this: when I get those calls, I drop what I am doing and take care of it. You understand."

"Of course."

"This is something we don't complain about, Zoe. It is the role of the enforcer to disrupt her life so that our alpha and her family can have as normal a life as we can arrange. Michaela tends to feel guilty that her life requires us to sacrifice, and so she sacrifices to reduce the intrusion on our lives. None of us are happy when we find out she's been skipping things she wants to do, and if she ever heard any complaints, she'd do it even more."

"I'll never say a word, Portia."

"It can be hard not to mutter. I never admit to a bad night of sleep, and I make sure I never sound like I was sleeping when answering calls from her."

"I understand. So, about movie night. Friday?"

"This Friday is currently free," she said. "The alphas intend a quiet night at home. There's a Bayfield trip next weekend."

"Field trip for the kids?"

"No, just the family. To Michaela, that also means Angel and Scarlett. I'll be going; I don't know if you're invited. But if not, you can still have movie night."

"I want Monique to invite dates; it would be awkward if she had a date and you're not here."

"Well, I don't expect you to be a hermit when I'm not here, but the choices are yours." She paused. "However, I will want to know where you are, and I'm a little controlling about that. I'm sorry; I can't help it."

"It's fine," I said.

We discussed movies for a while, and we made arrangements. "What about food?" I asked.

"Make a vegan pasta dish, and I'll cook up some protein the wolves can add," she suggested. "Or we can order pizza. There's a wolf-owned place that delivers here."

"It won't be vegan. I can make something for me and you guys can order pizza or make something."

"Whatever you want, Zoe," she said. "I should warn you. Word about movie night will get around in about fifteen seconds."

"Would it bother you?"

"We're very, very social," she replied. "I don't know how I would feel if my house was a revolving door the way Lara's is. Maybe it would be okay, but I've lived alone for a long time. But having friends over is fine. However, I want you to make more friends than just the students."

"Well, we'll start small," I said. "Monique and a date, Friday."

"Right."

* * * *

It was during another break when I told her about Ember.

"That's a sad story," Portia said. "Michaela is her official guardian. That took legal wrangling, but Hadley Smith is exceedingly good."

"Do any of the kids have jobs?"

"No. Michaela works them too hard, and one of the requirements of her program is complete devotion to their studies, even during the summer."

"What do they do for pizza money?"

"Their parents fund them."

"Well, what does Ember do?"

"I presume Michaela gives her a little spending money. I don't know."

I hadn't told Portia about the camera conversation. I decided to sit on it, but if Ember wanted to join my photography class in January, I would find a way to include her.

* * * *

We rushed on Wednesday to finish everything we wanted to do on the house. I would spend some time moving things around and making little touches, but by late afternoon, the last of my photos was where I wanted them; the walls were all a different color. And those few things I had to make the space mine were spread around.

Portia and I stood in the office, looking around, our arms around each other. I laid my head on her shoulder. "Everything has been so fast," I said. "I'm still catching up."

"I know. Me too."

We shifted so she was behind me, her arms around me. I leaned backwards into her.

"I love your strength, Portia. I love knowing I can lean against you, and you'll always hold me."