but why doesn't she trust me?"
"Oh, little fox, she does. Perhaps you should consider reasons why she wouldn't tell you something."
"A surprise, like a present."
"That's one. Do you think that's what is happening this time?"
"No. She may have promised someone else she wouldn't tell me."
"She may have. And if that's the case, she is probably very sad about that. She probably wants to tell you desperately, but told someone she wouldn't. If that's what happened, there are probably politics involved as well."
"I hate politics."
"I know. But you would be exceedingly good at them."
"No one would trust me. Wolves are too direct, and would hate being on the opposite side from a fox. They would be tempted to bite first and ask questions later."
"Which may be why the alpha keeps you away from the politics."
I leaned away from her to look into her eyes. "Lara, do you think I make things difficult for the alpha sometimes?"
"I think when you don't let her protect you, that you do. But I do not believe the alpha would want you to change a single thing about yourself. I think she finds your spirited disobedience refreshing, if frustrating. And she loves you from the bottom of her heart."
We lay together, still, my fingers tracing patterns in her skin. She caught my hand eventually, stilling me, and said, "The alpha won't let me tell you what is going on, little fox, but she said I could tell you a few things that are not going on."
"All right," I said.
"You are not in any trouble. Tomorrow, you may feel like you are, or that you are being put on the spot, but you aren't. You need to remember that."
"Lara, I'm not sure that is reassuring."
"I bought you some new clothes."
"Is that a change of topic?"
"No. I bought you a business suit and everything to go with it."
"You don't have my sizes."
"This suit will fit. I was going to get it tailored, but then this came up on short notice and you'll have to wear it the way it is. The alpha will be in meetings all day beginning at nine. You will be invited to the meeting on short notice, perhaps ten minutes. You should dress and then perhaps Francesca could use your help in the school."
"Trying to keep me busy?"
"I need you ready, so you can't be outside in grubby clothing, and you'll sit here and fret if you don't have something to do."
"You know me too well." I reached up and pulled her mouth to mine for a kiss. It was a sweet, gentle kiss. "I only have one question. I understand if you don't answer. Should I be worried?"
"No."
"All right, then I won't."
After that, she pet me gently until I fell asleep in her arms.
Right where I was supposed to be.
* * * *
We got up together. Lara wore her own business suit, tailored and expensive. The one she had bought me was nearly as expensive. There was a silk blouse, fine nylons, and stylish but practical shoes to go with it. I put it on and it fit well, but she looked at it and said, "We'll have to make minor adjustments, but it's close."
At 8:30, after we had eaten, Lara chased me out of the house. I walked over to the school and found Francesca teaching the students. When I arrived, she asked Scarlett to take over for a few minutes and pulled me out into the hallway, carrying a clipboard with her.
"The alpha asked me to help out today, but she made me put these on," I said, gesturing to the clothes. "I can't teach a lab like this, so I don't know what either of you expect."
She handed me the clipboard and she had a schedule for me. They were all with the older kids and were all things I could do without getting dirty. The first item was, "a history of conservation in the United States".
"I have notes if you need them," she said. "You can use this class room, I'll take the little kids across the hall."
"Do you know what is going on?"
"I have hints, but please don't ask me."
I sighed. "I don't like being in the dark."
"I don't like the alpha putting me in this position," she said. "But I am sure she has reasons. If you
"Oh, little fox, she does. Perhaps you should consider reasons why she wouldn't tell you something."
"A surprise, like a present."
"That's one. Do you think that's what is happening this time?"
"No. She may have promised someone else she wouldn't tell me."
"She may have. And if that's the case, she is probably very sad about that. She probably wants to tell you desperately, but told someone she wouldn't. If that's what happened, there are probably politics involved as well."
"I hate politics."
"I know. But you would be exceedingly good at them."
"No one would trust me. Wolves are too direct, and would hate being on the opposite side from a fox. They would be tempted to bite first and ask questions later."
"Which may be why the alpha keeps you away from the politics."
I leaned away from her to look into her eyes. "Lara, do you think I make things difficult for the alpha sometimes?"
"I think when you don't let her protect you, that you do. But I do not believe the alpha would want you to change a single thing about yourself. I think she finds your spirited disobedience refreshing, if frustrating. And she loves you from the bottom of her heart."
We lay together, still, my fingers tracing patterns in her skin. She caught my hand eventually, stilling me, and said, "The alpha won't let me tell you what is going on, little fox, but she said I could tell you a few things that are not going on."
"All right," I said.
"You are not in any trouble. Tomorrow, you may feel like you are, or that you are being put on the spot, but you aren't. You need to remember that."
"Lara, I'm not sure that is reassuring."
"I bought you some new clothes."
"Is that a change of topic?"
"No. I bought you a business suit and everything to go with it."
"You don't have my sizes."
"This suit will fit. I was going to get it tailored, but then this came up on short notice and you'll have to wear it the way it is. The alpha will be in meetings all day beginning at nine. You will be invited to the meeting on short notice, perhaps ten minutes. You should dress and then perhaps Francesca could use your help in the school."
"Trying to keep me busy?"
"I need you ready, so you can't be outside in grubby clothing, and you'll sit here and fret if you don't have something to do."
"You know me too well." I reached up and pulled her mouth to mine for a kiss. It was a sweet, gentle kiss. "I only have one question. I understand if you don't answer. Should I be worried?"
"No."
"All right, then I won't."
After that, she pet me gently until I fell asleep in her arms.
Right where I was supposed to be.
* * * *
We got up together. Lara wore her own business suit, tailored and expensive. The one she had bought me was nearly as expensive. There was a silk blouse, fine nylons, and stylish but practical shoes to go with it. I put it on and it fit well, but she looked at it and said, "We'll have to make minor adjustments, but it's close."
At 8:30, after we had eaten, Lara chased me out of the house. I walked over to the school and found Francesca teaching the students. When I arrived, she asked Scarlett to take over for a few minutes and pulled me out into the hallway, carrying a clipboard with her.
"The alpha asked me to help out today, but she made me put these on," I said, gesturing to the clothes. "I can't teach a lab like this, so I don't know what either of you expect."
She handed me the clipboard and she had a schedule for me. They were all with the older kids and were all things I could do without getting dirty. The first item was, "a history of conservation in the United States".
"I have notes if you need them," she said. "You can use this class room, I'll take the little kids across the hall."
"Do you know what is going on?"
"I have hints, but please don't ask me."
I sighed. "I don't like being in the dark."
"I don't like the alpha putting me in this position," she said. "But I am sure she has reasons. If you
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