Free Wolf Women (The Madison Wolves Book 10) by Robin Roseau Page A

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