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packpackpackpackPACKPACKPACKPACK
Izzie joined in with the howls before she was fully awake. Then, she launched herself up in bed. Who was that? She cocked her head, even though it wouldn’t help. Howl’s weren’t heard.
No…maybe…. Yes!
A voice she’d never heard. Intermingling with the rest.
packpackpack
Tires scrunched the gravel out front. Vicky’s car, Alpha’s van, and a new one. She looked at the bed next to hers. Empty. Grandma Elma and Grandma Addie must have gone with Alpha.
Izzie dropped out of bed and grabbed her new tutu. Blue, like her pajamas. She had not won the argument that because they matched she could wear them both to bed. Well, she was awake now and perfectly ca-pa-ble of getting dressed all by herself, Thank You Very Much.
Outside the bedroom, she followed the rumble of Alpha’s voice to the kitchen.
“…overwhelmed on the way here. Just needed a few minutes.”
“Getting them out in the rain won’t help!” Minjo’s exasperated voice answered.
Izzie pushed open the door to the trailer and there, by the fire, was the stray. Lank hair, worn jeans, soaked jacket, and eyes red like they’d been crying. Marco was with them. They moved their hands as they spoke.“…they’re, like, peak apple.”
Marco rose a brow. “Peak apple?”
The stray nodded. “Peak apple.”
Marco laughed. Then, his gaze slid past the stray. “Izzie? What are you doing up?”
“Not my fault! You woke me!”
“I didn’t—!” Marco started, then stopped. “Oh. Yeah, we were pretty loud, weren’t we?”
“Very loud!” Izzie put a hand on her hip. “So loud!”
“Super loud?” The stray asked. There was a smile on their face when they said it; but, they leaned forward when they did, and a dirty mass of hair fell across their face. Then they made the same face JiAn did when he ate something yucky.
Marco patted their shoulder. “We’ll get the shower going for you.”
“Don’t suppose one of you has a pair of trimmers?”
“You could use your claws. Marco does.”
“Hey!”
The stray laughed. Izzie liked how it sounded. She grabbed her tutu and lifted it to show them. “Did you see the new tutu Grandma Elma got me?”
“Mhm,” Marco answered. “I did. That’s a lot of sparkles you’re gonna be dropping everywhere.”
“I know.” Izzie turned to the stray. “What do you think?”
In full seriousness, the stray said, “It’s very beautiful, Your Highness.”
Izzie went back inside to tell Alpha he should let the stray stay.