CHAPTER 275: CHAPTER 275 - INTENSE? THAT SWEET WOLF?

Her voice was ice-cold authority. Nothing like the gentle and patient tone she used with me. Fingers had lengthened into claws, the skin on them growing the sheening beginnings of white fur.

She flexed those clawed fingers deliberately as she slicked her hair back, the gesture somehow making her look even more predatory. When she finally spoke again - I assume because of her earpiece - her voice carried a distinct rumble to it.

More werewolf than human. It may have made my hand squeeze harder on Zoé shoulder. And a strange hum come out of my throat.

"Your children just harassed a young woman in public while misrepresenting my pack. If you aren’t going to discipline your children properly... I’ll discipline you."

She paused, those orange eyes burning as she listened to whatever protests came through the phone. That audio wasn’t included, so all I we got instead was a snarling scoff from the white haired woman.

"Suspended. Without pay. Indefinitely. With review of this at my leisure. And I’m not exactly in the mood to hurry to amend the punishment if I am pushed to roll it out in the first place."

My breath caught as I realized she went straight to hitting the livelihood of their families. Jobs offered by her company probably had many of her pack as personnel.

"The standard of behavior I expect from my Rimecoat is no less than any prior Alpha. In fact, it is more. Adjust yourselves accordingly."

Kyrie ended the call, I assume, with a tap against her ear. Which is when Claire’s voice came from behind and over the camera...

"So, can I send what you just did about all this in a response to Ms. Lomdi?"

The transformation at the question was instant and startling. Her eyes snapped toward the camera as if realizing she’d been filmed, the glow fading as her brown eyes gained something like panic.

Her clawed hand quickly shifted back to its normal human looks under her blazer sleeve before she frantically smoothed the hair she’d mussed up herself. All the power turned into the femininity of potentially being seen by someone... that you care ’how’ they see you.

"She hasn’t asked to meet with me again, yet, so I’m not actually sure. Do you think asking her out for a da-"

I slammed the stop button and darted away from the teen. My cheeks were burning as I realized Zoé had seen every second of her... about to ask a question that others shouldn’t be hearing.

Since when is she asking her assistant about *dates*. Urk... you’re right, it’s probably my fault. I told her that the Alpha trusts her and she should talk to her more about things.

As my wolf whimpered in solidarity against the well meaning advice that bit me... the teenager was staring at the side of my face. With wide eyes, clearly processing all of what she’d just witnessed.

"That was... wow."

"Look, I can explain. Just... lets find somewhere more comfortable to talk?"

The weight of it hung between us - I could practically see the questions forming behind her brown eyes. Pocketing the device and gently steering Zoé away, she didn’t resist as I guided her toward the small park across the street running along the backside of the library.

We found an empty bench to have some privacy. It sat beneath a lone black cottonwood, far enough from the main walkway lined with red alder that others may not be so bold to approach us.

The teenager clutched her rescued textbooks in her lap, fingers fidgeting with the worn spine of the calculus book in particular. I don’t know if that’s because she’s most comfortable with it, or because it’s the one she currently needs to study most.

Either way, my condolences...

"She was... intense."

I winced at that assessment - because it was quite true. I guess it’s not really my job or purpose to make others see her more ’lightly’ than all that, but for some reason part of me wants to explain how... gentle she is.

And then I’m reminded that she is only that way with me because she has a goal in mind. But the girl here does not care about my mental ’minefield’.

"Does it usually go like that?"

"Bullying? Yes, that kind of behavior is unacceptable anywhere. But it is often countered by-"

"No."

She shook her head and turned to look at me directly. Setting the book in her hand down on the pile of the others, the dark skinned girl struck her knuckles twice on them.

"I mean the video I just watched. The Alpha responded to... you sending her what you recorded, right? In like a minute."

"Kyrie takes pack discipline seriously. I don’t think that’s news to anyone."

I said this while aiming for casual knowledge and probably missing by miles. Or perhaps striking far *too* casual - because I just used her name like it was nothing again.

Really have to stop doing that. Am I bragging for knowing her personally?!

"Sure. But..."

Zoé seemed to find her courage after hesitating only a moment. Her finger pointed towards me and my immediate instinct was to tell her not to do something so rude.

"That’s not normal response time or consequences for random harassment complaints from just anyone. I know because... well, I know. Though I admit I couldn’t give mine directly to her..."

Smart girl. Too smart for my comfort, honestly. I was not really looking to have the ’women with women’ talk to a teen I just saved.

"Maybe she was having a slow day?"

But my brain is just scrambling for any other excuse and coming up short. The look I received clearly said she thought I was being too ridiculous with my weak response. But she didn’t say anything back to it... at first.

"I don’t really understand the politics of it all anyway. Not being part of a pack and all. I mean, it was explained to me as much as possible. The programs that the Stonewater run for other tribal rogues integrating into the city are... helpful."

Well, I guess this is a her opening up conversation and not a me one. Great!