Fox Revenge (Madison Wolves #5) (21 page)

"When we do it," Elisabeth said. "We do it my way. Do you understand, Michaela?"

"Yes, Elisabeth. But I need to know."

"Yes, I agree. What else?"

I looked around the room. "What is the plan to send the message: do not mess with the Madison wolves?"

Elisabeth sighed. She slid a piece of paper to me. It was in two columns. On the left was the list of things the Iowa pack had paid. On the right was our cost. Their cost was simple: one female pack member, three male enforcers, seven students expelled from Wisconsin. Five expelled from Colorado. Two from Chicago. I didn't understand that part.

Our losses were stress to the pack, trauma to me, and trauma to
Kimber.

"We came out ahead," Lara said simply.

"I don't understand this part about students."

"We expelled from Wisconsin every member of the Iowa pack. At the time, that was seven students attending college or university in Wisconsin. Our friends have taken similar steps. The students were given six hours warning to exit Wisconsin."

I looked at both lists. "And what did Brody and Johnny pay?"

No one said anything.

"And that's it?" I asked. "You expect me to do nothing?"

"Yes," said Lara. "I promised no retribution."

"You did. I didn't."

"I am still your alpha," she said. "Aren't I?"

I felt the tears start to slide down my cheeks. "Yes, Lara."

"They are both going to be dead within a year," Elisabeth said gently. "Let it go, Michaela."

I stared at my hands resting on the table. "I don't know if I can."

"Try," she replied.

I looked at her, pushing the tears away. "They made me into a victim," I said. "And I am supposed to let them?"

"I'm sorry. Yes."

"Why? Why! They are disorganized. No one is going to fight for Brody. Everyone is afraid of Johnny. If we show up in force, their defenses will melt away from us. We can put together a hundred wolves and roll right over them. Why aren't we?"

"For three reasons," Lara said. "First, I promised."

"They broke faith first, and I do not consider that promise binding," I replied.

"I do," she said. "Just because they are animals doesn't mean we are."

"We can agree to disagree."

Lara nodded and went on. "Second, I can not send anyone to fight for me, and I can't do it myself."

"Then I will go in your stead."

"She can't take the stress," Elisabeth said. "Michaela, she can't."

"Three," Lara said calmly. "While we would accomplish exactly what you said we would, what would the cost be to us? The enforcers would be at the front. Your friends would be at the front. And we would not walk away without our own deaths. Which of your friends' lives are you willing to pay for your vengeance?"

"We got you back," Elisabeth said quietly. "You had a terrible time, and we're very sorry. But we got you back, and you already made them pay heavily. If you think we have a problem with enforcers, how do you think they're doing?"

"The worst of them died," Lara said. "She died by your hand. And she died knowing she was a traitor to her best friend. And her friend knows that and spit on her body."

"She died, but she was not the worst. Brody is the worst, with Johnny a close second. They must die."

"They will," Lara said. "Kimber is going to kill Johnny, and Brody won't last a week after that. And even if Kimber fails, they are imploding. Neither of them will be alive two years from now."

"I want to speak to Greg Freund," I said.

Elisabeth made a call then slid the phone across the table to me.

"Greg," I said. "It's Michaela."

"I'm so sorry," he said. "I'm glad you're okay."

"It wasn't your fault. I didn't take your advice seriously enough."

"You're home now. That's what is important. And perhaps you have learned something."

"Yes, I have," I said. "Greg, is it safe to ask you about something illegal over this call?"

"Yes."

"This is hypothetical. If I wanted two wolves to die-"

"Stop." He said. "I won't go against Lara, Michaela."

"All right. If Lara wanted two wolves to die."

"It would take time."

"You could do it?"

"Yes. And I would. But it would take time. I can't do it right now."

"That's all I needed to know, Greg. Thank you." I slid the phone back to Elisabeth. She thanked him and hung up.

"I am not hiring a hit man, Michaela," Lara said.

I turned to Elisabeth. "I want to know what your assault plans were."

"No," she said. "We won't tell you. Ever."

"I want to know where I was held."

"We won't tell you."

"Michaela," Lara asked. "You never answered. Which of your friends should pay for your vengeance?"

"None," I said quietly. "None."

And then I began to sob. Sobbing, I slid from my chair. I crawled to Lara and laid my head in her lap.

She stroked my hair and said over and over, "I'm so sorry, Michaela. I'm so sorry."

I eventually asked Elisabeth to help me to my feet. Someone had tissues for me. I cleaned up and said, "I will try to let this go." I turned to Serena. "If I am unable to do so, I will ask for another meeting. I will not slip your security. I promise."

She eyed me carefully.

"I promise, Serena."

"All right," she said.

Lara looked tired. "Do you need a nap?" I asked her.

"Yes."

"Do you want company?"

"Yes."

"I won't nap," I said. "But I'd like to hold you for a while."

I noticed that Elisabeth had a hand on Lara's shoulder. Serena and Karen were both hovering near me. I turned to them. "What are you doing?"

"We-"

"We know you don't like being touched," Karen said.

"That is no longer true," I said.

Serena reached out tentatively, touching my arm. I smiled at her, and then Karen had a hand on my shoulder.

"Touch to a wolf is comfort," Elisabeth said. "It is important to us. Especially after a conversation like this."

I nodded. "Thank you," I said. I reached for Lara's hands and pulled her to her feet. She smiled. I think it amused her how much body weight I had to put into it.

"I'm not that fat," she said.

"No. I'm that small."

Together, we all returned to the house, and Lara and I cuddled together.

We both slept.

* * * *

I spent the next few days physically
and emotionally recuperating. I tried to focus on what was important, having mixed success.

I think a large part of my reaction was my extreme embarrassment. Everyone had told me over and over what would happen if I left my security detail behind. But I
had known better. Kimberlee had come to us for help, and we had failed her. And it was my fault.

Everyone else seemed to have moved past it. Lara was tired but accepting of my affection. Scarlett and
Angel were excited about school. Angel was equally excited to begin her enforcer experience at the same time. And the entire pack was exceedingly excited about the new pups that were on their way.

I tried to focus on all of that.

I didn't restart my flying lessons right away. I told June to give me some time, but that I would call her. I had already soloed, and she gave me permission to continue to solo, but to stay near the airport. On Sunday, I asked permission to go flying.

Lara and Elisabeth wer
en't sure they wanted to let me go.

"I'll stay in the pattern," I said. "Promise. But if it makes you nervous, I'll stay home."

"No," Lara said. "Of course. Have fun."

"Thank you."

"We can be ready in ten minutes," Serena said, and I thanked her as well.

The field was a ten-
minute car ride from the house along gravel roads. I considered walking but decided to drive. Emanuel was going to drive, but I asked if they would let me; I almost never got to drive. "Or does my driving scare everyone?" He laughed and handed me the keys.

I actually wasn't used to driving the SUVs, and I drove cautiously. "Grandma," I heard from the back seat.

"I heard that, Angel."

"You were supposed to, Alpha."

I reached back and clasped hands with her briefly, then returned to driving. I didn't let her impatience speed me up.

At the airport, the wolves wanted to do
everything, but I told them, "This is something I should do for myself. But thank you."

I opened the hangar, pulled the plane out, and did my preflight. I think it was hard for them to watch me pull the airplane out of the hangar by myself, but while I am small, I am still strong. Angel was antsy to help preflight, but I waved her off.

Serena separated herself from the rest and talked to me quietly when I was about ready to get into the airplane.

"Are you going to make me regret this?"

"No, Serena. I promised."

"You're still struggling."

"Yes, I am. While I'm flying, can you make me an appointment with Vivian?"

"Yes," she said. "Today?"

"Whenever is convenient for her, but not during school hours. I need to get back to a normal schedule."

"I'll arrange it," she said. "Let me come with you."

"I can't," I said. "Ask Angel. If you have a real problem with this, we can skip it, or you can call June. But I can only fly by myself or with June."

"June is in Bayfield," she said. She looked into t
he hangar at the other airplane. "We can chase you if you fly away."

"You can't,
Serena. Lara is in no condition to fly. And Angel can't fly that plane yet. I could, but it would be illegal."

"I don't like this, Michaela," she said. Pain filled her eyes. "Please don't do this to me."

I sighed. "I'm not going anywhere, but if this is going to torture you, you can be the one to push the airplane back into the hangar. I'll wait and fly with June next weekend."

Angel wandered over. "Everything okay?" she asked.

"Serena thinks I'm going to fly away."

"Are you?" she asked.

"No, but I understand why she is worried."

Angel pulled out her phone and made a call. I couldn't tell who answered, but she explained the problem. "Could I ride in the right seat?"

"You can't," I told her. "You're not an instructor."

"I'd be the pilot," she said. "Just in the wrong seat."

It was then I recognized June's voice. "Legally," she said. "Yes. But you're a new pilot and you have no training flying the airplane from that seat."

"There's almost no wind and it's a nice day," Angel said. "Michaela is perfectly able to fly and doesn't need an instructor. I wouldn't have to touch the controls."

I held out my hand, and she gave me the phone. "June, Serena doesn't trust me. Angel is offering an alternative. But you think it's a bad idea, don't you?"

"You can't log the time if she's officially the pilot," June said. "But no, I don't think it's a good idea. Tell her I am going to start giving her lessons flying from that seat."

I hung up. "She said no. Let's push the plane back." I started to do just that, but Serena put her hand on my arm.

"Go on," she said. "Please just promise me you're coming right back."

"An hour flying around in circles," I said. "Lots of landings. That's all."

"Go on," she said.

"Thank you, Serena." I waved them away, smiling at them, and climbed into the airplane.

Then
, for a long time, I stared at the controls and cried. I climbed back out and told Angel to get into the pilot's seat. "Take me for a ride, Angel."

She nodded, did her own quick preflight, and climbed in. I sat in the passenger seat with my headsets on, drying my tears.

She didn't say anything, just handled the airplane. Once we were in the air, she turned northwest. "Were you going to run?"

"No," I said. "I stared at the controls and didn't know what to do."

We flew over a few lakes. Then she found a farmer's field that was filled with pumpkins. They looked so funny from the air. We did two circles around the field. We flew around for forty minutes before I told her to take us home. She banked the plane, turning us in the approximate direction, but then told me to navigate us there without use of the GPS.

I laughed, played with the radios for a minute, and told her what heading to take. She frowned, but didn't say anything. Ten minutes later, I said, "There it is."

"I don't think so," she said.

"Straight ahead, three miles."

"Nope."

"You'll see. Come right ten degrees." Two minutes later I told her to look straight down. We were directly over the compound. "I said home, didn't I?"

She laughed.

"Circle it once on your side and a couple of times on mine," I asked. "Then we'll go land."

She did, and once I was satisfied, I gave her the heading to the airport. We had an uneventful landing, not as good as Lara's, but still good. "Take us to the hangar," I said.

"We should fill it," she replied.

"I'm going to shoot landings, if you and Serena will allow it."

We powered off in front of the hangar and both climbed out of the aircraft. The enforcers clustered around and I asked permission to do landings now.

"Of course, Alpha," Serena said.

I caressed her cheek, promised she could see me the entire time, checked the fuel level visually, and climbed back in. Five minutes later I began my first takeoff roll.

I did five takeoffs and landings, then I circled the field a few times. The house was outside the normal pattern, and I was sorely tempted to do a flyover, but I thought Serena would have a cow. I did a few more landings then brought the plane to a full stop at the gas pumps.

I had filled the first tank by the time my security detail reached the pumps. Serena was frowning.

"I was good!" I said defensively.

"Yes," she said. "I wasn't. I was a hundred yards away when you climbed out of the airplane."

"Oh, right. Expect that I will always fill up after flying."

She nodded, and we were fine.

I let the wolves put the airplane away while I did all the paperwork. It had been a nice flight, and I felt better.

* * * *

Lara was livid when we got home.

"Your solo flying privileges are in the pattern only! You are grounded!"

"It's good to see you too," I said. "I wasn't the one flying." And I turned my back on her and walked right out the door, Serena and Angel scurrying to catch up.

I stood on the steps, calming myself.

"I'll go talk to her," Angel said.

"No," I said. "She'll figure it out. I'll cut her some slack. She's pregnant and tired, and she feels badly already. I just needed to calm down myself."

"Vivian will be here in another hour," Serena said.

"I am going to calm Lara down, have a bite to eat, and if you allow, go for a run before Vivian arrives. A long run afterwards, perhaps. Then I will be in for the night."

"All right," she said. "We'll be ready."

"That's easier to say lately, isn't it?"
I was thinking of the instant shift she could do now.

She grinned. "It sure is."

I went back in, and Lara was still upset. "If you weren't flying," she asked me. "Who was?"

I sat her down and told her what had happened. I didn't get very far before she started apologizing.

"It's all right," I told her. "It's my fault everyone is on edge around me. I'm sorry."

There wasn't any makeup sex, but there was a little kissing. "Up for a run?" I asked her.

"No, but you go ahead."

"Vivian is coming by," I told her. "She might stay for dinner after she and I talk."

* * * *

We had a nice run, if short. The word had gotten out I was going for a run, and about half the compound joined us. As soon as I stepped out onto the porch, they greeted me, most of them in fur already.

"No games today, at least none I am playing," I said. "It's a short run for me, but you all are welcome to run for as long as you desire."

I turned to Serena. "What are my rules?"

"You don't lose me," she said. "If I am not immediately next to you, you stop and begin yipping immediately. I will find you. Do not come to me. Otherwise run however you want."

"All right," I said.

I stepped down from the porch and was immediately surrounded by wolves, accepting their sniffs and nudges. Kaylee gave me a play bow, but I told her, "I'm sorry, Kaylee, not today. Your mom says I have to behave. You know what that is like."

She huffed once then offered a wolfy grin.

I heard Serena tell Scarlett, "Angel is on duty. Don't distract her."

"Can I help?" she asked.

"Play with the fox. Keep her company. She is really hurting right now." I looked over and stared at them. I wondered if I was supposed to hear that.

I loosened my clothes, dropped all my silver on the edge of the porch, pulled off my clothing, and shifted to fox. I waited for my guards to get into fur, then walked over to Scarlett. I gave her nose a lick, then batted her nose and ran.

She immediately chased after me.

Scarlett and I took turns chasing each other. I accidentally lost Serena a couple of times, but never for more than a second, and I always had several wolves around me. Every time I lost her, I
yipped twice, and she was immediately there. Each time, she gave me a lick or a nudge.

Then Elisabeth came bounding into the fray, chuffing, and I bowed to her. She bowed back, and soon she was chasing me all over, completely unable to catch me. I
yipped the entire time so Serena could keep track of me.