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

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."
    "I like holding you." She bent forward and brushed her cheek along mine.
    "I like when you do that. Do I smell more like you afterwards?"
    She sniffed at me. "You smell like me all the time."
    "Do you smell like me?"
    "Yes, but not as much as the other way around. Um."
    "Oh, this is going to be good."
    "It's a wolf thing."
    I pretended to be upset. "Tell me. Right now."
    She chuckled. "Do you believe that tone is going to work for you?"
    "Yes, it is. Tell me. Or else."
    "Or else what?"
    "Or else I'll make you eat soy burgers."
    She laughed. "Care to attempt a threat you can actually enforce."
    "Um." I stamped my foot. "Tell me!"
    She laughed.
    "Please?"
    "Of course, Love. I am a dominant wolf. I don't have scent glands in the same way a cat does. But every time we touch, I mark you with my scent, anyway."
    "Intentionally?"
    "Well, I touch you intentionally. But it's a mating thing and just happens. Anyone who gets remotely near you will know you're scent-marked."
    "Did Elisabeth do that to me?"
    "You tended to smell like her, but not the same way. Her wolf didn't decide you were mated."
    "So Michaela smells like Lara?"
    "The pups, too. And Scarlett like Angel."
    "Well then." I stood up on my toes and brushed our cheeks together. Portia chuckled. "I wouldn't want it to wear off."
    "It's not going to wear off, but you may brush against me all you want."
    * * * *
    A while later, we headed to the alphas' for Wednesday dinner. Monique caught me the minute we walked in the door. "Portia, may I borrow your mate?"
    "Of course, Monique."
    The girl dragged me to her bedroom. Once we arrived, I asked her, "What's up?"
    "I want to show you the photos I took. I'm not satisfied for Monday, but I'm not sure what to do. My model said we could have another photo shoot."
    We sat down on the floor, our backs against her bed, and she flipped her laptop open. A moment later, she was showing me her photos.
    "You got Eric to model for you?"
    She grinned at me. "He was flustered. It was funny."
    We flipped through the photos. She had done well for a beginner, but