Page 79 of Bewitching the Wolf

“Yes, Mom.”

“You’ve been soft on him for years—I guessed, you know. Did you realize back then that he was wolfen?”

“I didn’t. But it changes nothing. I loved him before, I love him now.”

“Dear, oh dear.” Mom wrings her hands. “I just don’t want your heart broken, my sweetling. Wolves… I mean, aren’t they worse parents than foxes?”

“That’s just not true, Mom. I’ve spent time down in Wolftown recently. They’re very family-minded, and the males are as active in raising their young as the females.”

“They are? You mean, they stick around?”

“Absolutely. It’s time to question your prejudices, Mom. Maybe it’s time vixen shifters got out and about a bit more, and saw what happens elsewhere.”

Mom sighs. “Sometimes I do wonder if we should…”

I grab the opportunity. “I need to tell you more about Jax, and what he’s doing for the Labyrinth right now. Can you please put your kind and loving vixen-shifter ears on and hear me out?”

“Okay. Okay, honey.” Mom sits back and crosses her hands. Her ears prick up. “See, I’m listening.”

I take a big breath. “As we speak, Jax is undertaking a very important mission, overseen by our sheriff.”

“Otis Cane? He’s such a lovely orc, and as good a sheriff as his father.” Mom has always respected the law.

“Well, I don’t want to scare you, but this mission is to save all of us from some seriously nasty plans the human authorities are hatching.”

“Plans that will hurt us?”

“If the humans put them into action, yes, Mom. All of us.”

Mom’s hand creeps to her mouth, her eyes wide. Vixen shifters are sheltered from the rest of the Labyrinth by their living arrangements, but she needs to know there is evil lurking outside of this small spot.

Trying not to alarm her too much, I tell her a sketchy version of what’s going on, and finish with Jax’s mission to spy on the human authorities.

“So you’re telling me he’s up in Sparkle right now?” Mom says. “Oh my, oh my. Tippy-Anna!”

“Yes, he’s very brave,” I say proudly.

“It does sound like it.” Mom looks at me, a frown still pleating her brows. “So what does this mean? That you won’t ever come home? That you’ll live with him in a wolf pack?” Mom’s lips quiver.

“Nothing’s decided yet. We’re very newly mated. But I was hoping Vixenville would be open to me bringing Jax here for a visit.”

Mom’s lips tighten. “I would have to discuss it with the committee.” Then her face softens. “We miss you, daughter of mine. And I’m not like your nan. I accept that times have changed. I guess we have to recognize that. Tell me, does he treat you well, this wolfman?”

“He treats me very well, Mom.”

Mom’s face relaxes. “I guess that’s a start. Now, I really have to clear up the breakfast things. Those younglings are such messy pups.”

“I’ll help you, and we can talk some more while we do it.”

“Thank you, my darling,” she says. She tries to stand up, then sits down with a wince. “Oh goddess, my knee’s locked up again.”

“Let me look at it,” I order, and when she dutifully obeys, I place my hands on her knee. It’s hot and swollen. I cup the joint between my palms for long moments and words come to me, words I don’t understand, but I recite them as I hear them. Suddenly there’s a vibration in my palms, heat flowing through my hands into the joint.

We both stare at my hands.

I close my eyes and focus on the words. “Gradat deg matata,” I repeat again.

“Goodness gracious,” Mom says. She flexes her knee. Extends her leg out in front of her, then stands up gingerly.