Wolf Ways (The Madison Wolves Book 9) Read Free Page A

she didn’t lie to you when she expressed her feelings.”
    “I’m just a human. What could she see in me?”
    “Passion. Intelligence. Wit. Strength.”
    I scoffed.
    “Zoe, you went on a date to a secluded location on the night of a full moon with a woman you knew was a werewolf.”
    “And I was scared out of my mind.” I looked straight into her eyes when I said it.
    “For part of it,” she agreed. “But you did it. You did it because you trusted her when she said you were safe. How could you do that, but not trust her when she said she likes you? How could you do that but not trust me when I tell you that she likes you?”
    I stared at her. She was right. She began to smile. “Got you on that, did I?” and I nodded, returning the smile. “Good. If you don’t expect to loosen up and start accepting her invitations, tell her to stop asking. Otherwise start accepting. Anything else isn’t fair to either of you.”
    I nodded. “I have to think about it.”
    Michaela returned the nod. “I wasn’t expecting this part of the conversation to last this long. I’m also surprised no one has tried to break down the door. We’re going to be interrupted, but let’s keep going. This part of the conversation will be more fun.”
    Then Michaela drank more of her water, smiled again, and asked cheerfully, “So, do you know how to scuba dive?”
    “No. I’m afraid not.”
    “Can you swim?”
    “Very well.”
    “Do you have an interest in learning to scuba dive?”
    I frowned.
    “Does that mean ‘no’?”
    “It means it’s an expensive hobby I can ill afford, one that is best enjoyed in more tropical climates than Wisconsin. I know people dive the lakes here, but that only holds the most mild of interests to me.”
    “So there are impediments. So let’s say you could afford it, and furthermore let’s say you won an all-expenses-paid tropical vacation, and the others on the trip were going diving. Would you want to dive with them?”
    “Of course,” I said. “That would be fabulous.”
    She smiled. “Are you able to check your photograph sales immediately, or is there a delay?”
    “I can check immediately,” I said. “I get email.”
    “Perhaps you should check.”
    “Right now?”
    She nodded.
    I climbed to my feet and retrieved my laptop. I’d been ignoring my email earlier while working on the letters for GreEN, so I fired up the mail program. A moment later, I saw I had email from my sales web site. I opened it and stared.
    “I believe that takes care of whether you can afford it,” she said.
    “Alpha?”
    Michaela smiled.
    “Why did you do this?”
    “More matchmaking,” she said, and the smile extended into her eyes. “And because I truly do like you and enjoy your company. Now, I am inviting you as a friend, not your alpha. According to your schedule, you’re free this weekend.”
    I nodded.
    “Are you telling me ‘no’?”
    I shook my head.
    “Can you tolerate Karen’s company?”
    I thought about it and didn’t answer her.
    “She’s our dive instructor. You can learn from one of the human dive schools if you just can’t be around Karen, but I’d rather you learned from her. She’ll keep you very safe, Zoe.”
    So I nodded.
    “Good. Your diving lessons begin Friday afternoon at the compound and extend through the weekend. There’s a lot of bookwork, which is what you’ll do Friday. You’ll start doing pool activities on Saturday and Sunday, so bring a suit and towel those days. And you’ll need a checkbook Friday to pay for the materials. You can afford it.”
    “I’ll be there.”
    “Excellent. There are things you need to buy that are fitted for you. Karen will call you. You’ll need to go this evening or tomorrow. You can afford them, too.”
    “I thought scuba gear was very expensive.”
    “It is. You don’t need all the gear. Just a few things. The rest can be rented or borrowed. If you like it, and if it looks like you’ll be going with us on a regular