The Kitsune and The Werewolf

A New Family

“My name’s Amalia. My father said you-”

“Amalia?” Her hands dropped the glass she was holding, shattering it in the sink. Covering her mouth briefly she hopped over the bar holding her hands out as she inspected me. “I just can’t believe this. It’s really you?” Pulling me close into a tight hug she was reluctant to let go, but after a few moments she finally decided I needed air again. 

“So I take it you know me then?”

“Of course I do!” Sighing again she smiled taking a seat and offering the one next to her to me, “What brought you here?”

Shrugging I didn’t really know what to say. Werewolves were close with their pack members, but he hadn’t seen them in years, did they know when he died, should I be the one to break it to her? “Well, my father told me to come see you.” 

“He stopped sending letters and pictures a few years ago. We were all worried something happened.” Claire held her hand over mine as the warmth of her wolf attempted to offer me comfort, but my fox wasn’t able to receive any. 

“That would probably be my fault. We started to get distant a few years ago, so we didn’t do stuff as much together.”

“Oh kiddo, we all heard about what happened with your mom, we just wished that we could have been there for him. He never told us where you were. Trust me, if we knew where you were they would not be a single thing on this earth that could have stopped us from bringing you both back to us.”

“I mean, I think my dad was pretty done with pack stuff.” This girl had a very strong personality and was starting to toddle on my personal boundaries. 

“I can’t blame him, that old alpha was a nut. Jackson was the reason your father left of course. I don’t know if he ever told you.”

I shook my head allowing her to continue.

“Well Jackson didn’t like that your mom wasn’t a wolf. No one knows how they met, but when he introduced her to everyone our family was supportive, can’t say the same for the pack. Jackson was a purest, he didn’t like mixing. Don’t you worry though, Isaac is much better, he won’t even care you’re a kit-suneh.”

I couldn’t help but crack a smile at her southern drawl trying to pronounce kitsune. “It’s kitsune, but I’m not staying. I’ve got something of a pack myself that I need to get back to.”

Cocking her head to the side she grabbed my forearm, “Then kiddo, why did you stop by?”

This next part was going to be hard to explain, but they needed to hear it and it needed to be from family, “Well, I don’t know how to explain it. My father sort of died a few months ago, and wanted me to see you. It was the least I could do for him, and I don’t know if you should hear it from me or not-”

“No kiddo, you’re fine. I’m glad you told me. I’m sorry for your loss.” Withdrawing her hand she held it to her chin tapping her finger rhythmically, “How’d it happen?”

Shrugging I didn’t know how to tell her, I settled on what I told everyone else I knew, “He was getting sick for a while. He saw a few doctors, but no one had any solutions.” 

“I wish he would have told us,” shaking her head Claire continued to sort through her thoughts. I could sense the sadness growing in her voice as she spoke, “It’s never easy when one of us dies, I’m just so sorry you went through it alone.” 

“Oh no!” I gave her the wrong impression, she was feeling sorry for me for no reason, “No no, please, I wasn’t alone. I have a skulk, they got me through it. We had been expecting it for a while, so I had time to process.”

“Skulk?” Her hand fell resting again on the bar, “What’s that kiddo?”

“It’s like a pack, but you know, for foxes.” I had to put it in as simple terms as possible. I couldn’t tell her exactly what we did, it wasn’t any werewolf’s business. 

“Oh, well, let’s catch up then! Tell me do you have anyone else? LIke a mate or you know company?” Winking she was wanting those juicy details.

Smiling I could at least tell her a few bits about me, “Well, I’m a secretary for a law firm. I’ve had a few suitors, but I guess I’m closest with my mentor. They are kind of like my family.”

“That’s nice darlin’, so big secretary at a law firm? Well, don’t forget your small town upbringing big city girl.” 

“Oh I’d love to keep in touch. Here,” digging in my bag I pulled out a business card handing it to her, “If you need anything at all just call me.”

“The Law Offices of Vixen and Leash?” judging me with sarcasm she tucked the card in her bra, “Kiddo you’re nothing like I thought you’d be.”

“Oh really?” curiously I pressed her further, “What did you think I’d be like?”

“Well, your dad was a great hunter. You might be some special fox girl, but deep down don’t forget you’ve got wolf blood in you too. You could still be a great part of this pack. I get this skulk thing is your own kind, but we’re family Amalia.” 

“I get it, look,” I touch her shoulder attempting to reach out to her, “I don’t have to be back for a few days, so how about I stay here with you for a while, meet my father’s side of the family, and get to know everyone better.” 

Claire lights up and I immediately see the eagerness in her eyes, “Oh of course kiddo! You can stay with me. It’ll be fun!”

“I’m going to head back to my hotel, I’ll be by tomorrow morning.” 

I must have offended Claire at that comment, because she interrupted me quickly, “Hotel? You can stay with me! I offered it!”

“Oh I know, but I really couldn’t. It’s just a kitsune thing, I kind of do better in my own space.” I was hoping throwing different species in her face would make her not ask. Clearly it worked she shrugged and dropped the discussion sighing.

“Well, okay, how about we meet back here in the morning and I’ll cook you a big breakfast. The pack will be by early too, but they won’t bother you. I just have to give them food after their busy night.”

“I thought that was the job for the alpha’s wife?” I knew a little bit about pack dynamics, but it was minute at best. 

“Normally it would be,” She tossed her hands in the air as she slid back over the counter behind the bar, “but Isaac, he’s a new alpha and hasn’t taken a wife yet.”

“Isaac?” Alphas were always something that the skulk told us to stay away from. They were brutish, dominating, and hated anything not wolf on their turf. It was the one thing I was worried about when deciding to come into werewolf territory, “He’s going to be there?”

“Well of course, but don’t worry, like I said he’s nothing like the old alpha. He won’t bother you. He’s a good guy.” 

I shrugged resigned to the fact that tomorrow I would be having breakfast with a pack of wolves. Fresh off the full moon, so they’d be hung over and in sour moods. I would need to take the night to gather my thoughts and prepare myself for the next morning. What was the worst that could happen?