New Terms of Engagement

Malcolm wouldn’t take the hint that she’d pushed him out of her life because she wasn’t delusional. Reality and practicality were hallmarks of her life. They always had been.

“I hoped he’d be a fox like me and we could just go on in quiet unanimity, but he’s a pup, not a kit. The Den Elders, of course, only cared that he wasn’t a kit, and they banished us. Nothing Ellie and I didn’t plan for. As for telling you of your hybrid pup? Really Malcolm. Why would I do that? So you can try to take him from me so that my existence doesn’t harm his chances for a future in your pack or some other pack? Or we become some dirty secret that you send a cheque to each month to stay away from your carefully cultivated family? How do you think your legitimate pups will treat David the half-breed? Tell me that.”

Melody pushed the soap forms toward the back of the counter by the stove and cleaned up. It was all she could do not to cry. These weren’t imaginings, but life experie