Fox Afield (Madison Wolves) Read Online Free

I wondered if perhaps this was Glenn.
    The other group, further away, included a female wolf and two teenage wolves I guessed t o be around twelve. They were well guarded by four enforcers, all of whom were eying us warily.
    We came to a stop, and the elderly male stepped forward, the female alongside him. Greg made introductions.
    "Lara Burns," Greg said. "Daniel Bancroft. His daughter and head enforcer, Brooke. His son, Glenn. Daniel, with Lara is her mate, Michaela Redfur."
    "Now Michaela Burns," I said .
    "Of course," Greg said. Lara and Daniel shook hands, exchanging cautious pleasantries, then Lara shook hands with Brooke and Glenn. It was immediately clear that Glenn was one of those assholes who thinks squashing a hand during a handshake is required to show off how manly you are. I saw the muscles in Lara's shoulders tense as she shook hands with him, and in an instant I had my hands in the sleeves of my blouse, ready to pull out my daggers.
    But then it was Glenn who winced and pulled away.
    "I love you," I told Lara quietly.
    I palmed one of my daggers with my left hand, hiding it behind my arm. I think Greg noticed. He spoke quietly in Daniel's ear, quietly enough all I heard was, "Asshole." Daniel nodded once.
    Then Daniel turned warmly to me. "A fox," he said. He held out his hand, and I extended mine cautiously. He was gentle, offering the pressure a human female might accept. His smile extended into his eyes. "I do hope we can all be friends," he said, and he sounded like he meant it. I detected not the slightest bit of malice.
    "Michaela," said Brooke, offering her hand as well. "I echo my father's sentiments. You are the first fox I have met. I do hope we can get to know each other." She pulled me closer into a hug, which surprised me, but she was exceedingly gentle. Still, she almost got a knife in the ribs. "Just nod to him," she said. "If he makes you stab him, it might ruin our diplomacy."
    I guessed Brooke had seen the knife as well. She released me, but she did so in a fashion that put herself and her father between Glenn and me.
    "Nice to meet you," I said, nodding to Glenn, then offered a look of relief to Brooke. She smiled warmly and nodded once.
    When no one was looking, I put my dagger back where it belonged.
    Daniel gestured, and the second group approached. "I would present my mate and my two youngest," he said. Surrounded by enforcers, the second group halved the distance before the smallest child broke away from her mother and ran straight at me. It was then I realized she was closer to Kaylee's age, perhaps nine or ten.
    The commotion confused everyone. Karen stepped up behind me, ready to pull me from danger. Lara stepped partially in front of me. Elisabeth drew closer. Two of the Boulder enforcers closed on the child. And we had an incident in the making.
    Brooke handled it quite simply. "Stand down!" she ordered firmly, then she swept her little sister up in her arms, spinning her around and hanging on to the squirming child. "Not so fast, Casey," she said.
    "I want to see the fox!" the girl said.
    "And so you shall," Brooke said. "But perhaps from a small distance."
    I could tell the child was about to throw a fit. Her mother was hurrying to close the distance, but it was time for diplomacy. I stepped past Elisabeth and straight up to Brooke.
    "Hello, Casey," I said, holding out my hand. "My name is Michaela. We can shake hands, but you must be very gentle. Can you do that?"
    Brooke continued to hold her little sister, so I had to look up into her face. The girl reached out and took my hand, and she held it like she would an egg. We shook twice, the girl grinning broadly.
    "You're my size!" she said. She frowned. "Are you a pup?"
    "No," I said. "I am full grown, although I am considered of moderate size, even for a fox. If you promise to be very gentle and not startle all the enforcers, maybe your sister will put you down and we can see which of us is taller."
    Brooke looked at me as if