“Fucking foxes.” Sakura glowered down at the open chest, her and her parents’ old clothes staring back at her. She glanced up at the sheathed katana strapped to the inside of the lid.

Her fathers.

“It’s not so bad.” Ren said, sitting closely beside her. “You look good in dresses.”

“I don’t really give a shit how I look,” she grumbled. “But they do.” The disgust sat heavy with her. She wasn’t one to cater herself to the judgment of men, molding and altering herself to fit the vision that they so desired of her. She had fervently rebelled against such views ever since she could remember, with the two most influential men in her life never standing in her way, encouraging her to veer away from the arbitrary standards that had been set for women of the den and beyond.

And yet, here she was, picking out a pretty dress to look like a pretty girl in order to ask a man for his permission to do something that had nothing to do with him in the first place.

How infuriating.

The man could feel her contempt and tugged at her ear, bringing her out of the swirling anger of her thoughts. “Just play the good little fox girl for a minute. It won’t kill you. Sometimes we have to suck it up and do things we don’t like in order to get what we want.”

Sakura looked up at his encouraging grin and nodded. The opinions of men may not have mattered to her, but that didn’t apply to Ren. “You’re right. I can play the part… for a minute.”

“That’s the spirit.” He dug around the chest and held up a small, purple dress, the corners of his lips curving higher. “Look how little you were. Ours will be this little one day.”

The demon sighed. Sometimes, it was better to just stay silent and not encourage the man. One by one, she began going through her mother’s old dresses. She couldn’t remember her in any of them.

Only the blue dress.

She wouldn’t wear that one.

“A longer dress would be best,” Akiko informed from behind the pair as her eyes focused on the section of the young demon’s exposed back. “Something that appropriately covers you. It may be acceptable to run around in those… small clothes elsewhere, but here it will not go over well. And you should braid your hair. Women don’t typically wear their hair down. You’ll be more presentable.”

With a raised brow and a knowing chuckle, the man looked the woman’s offending outfit over, his fingers sneaking to dig their way into the naked curve of her waist. “I don’t think it’s acceptable anywhere, but please don’t ever let that stop you.”

Sakura smacked the intruding hand away as she mocked the old woman with a scowl, her mouth moving but no words coming out. Ivy knelled behind her, untangling the strands with her fingers before separating the hair and crossing them one over the other.

“You don’t have to do this,” the girl offered quietly, the guilt growing. When Sakura had brought up the idea that morning of Ivy furthering her knowledge under a highly experienced healer, the girl couldn’t contain her excitement and instant enthusiastic approval. But just as quickly, it had been smothered by the remembrance of just where they were, and how it had affected the vixen the day before. She had tried to go back on her agreement, but her initial reaction had solidified Sakura’s stance to stay. And once the woman set her mind to something, there was never any chance of turning back. “We can go, just like we had planned in the beginning.”

“The plan has changed,” the fox stated. She turned and looked back at the troubled girl. With an adoring smile, she cupped Ivy’s cheek and kissed her forehead. “Don’t look like that. There’s no need for you to feel bad. It’s not your job to worry about me. It’s my job to worry about you, and I want you to have this opportunity. It’ll be good for you. The more you know the better off we’ll all be. But we won’t be here long, so make sure to learn everything you can.”

She hesitantly returned the smile. “I will.”

Ren held up a tiny, soft pink dress fit for an infant, and examined it. He set it in his lap and folded it into a small square before getting up and going for his bag.

“What are you doing with that?” the fox asked, exasperated, wondering why she was even bothering. “Don’t put that in there. You’re wasting room in your bag.”

“Hush, woman! You have no authority over me here, and I’d appreciate you not talking about our daughter’s things like that.” He placed the small article of clothing into his bag and returned to clean up the clutter he had made.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

She rolled her eyes, lifting another dress. Maybe it had been a terrible idea to stay?

“Oh!” the old woman exclaimed. “Are you actually with child?”

“Not even close,” Sakura grumbled as Ivy tied off her hair and gave it a loving tug. She stood up, the dress of her choosing in hand. “Out.”

Ren placed the last outfit in its place, and looked up at the woman, pure joy on his face. “But we’re mates! Besides, you never care. I just watched you change this morning.”

“I care now. I’m not in the mood to listen to your constant commentary again. Now get out.”

He reached up, grabbing the hem of her shorts and tugged lightly. “Oh, come on, you know you like when I do that. It’s helpful. And what about Zero? Why does he get to stay? He’s not your mate.” They both turned and looked at the devil who hadn’t so much as moved a muscle all morning.

The demon glared at the angel, her patience quickly fading. “Out!”

He grudgingly obeyed, getting to his feet and dragging his body heavily outside as slowly as possible. “Fine,” he groaned. “I’ll allow it this time.”

Sakura changed into the long, teal dress, leaving on her shorts and holster in a slight show of disobedience. The skirt was airy, and the sleeves fluttered around her elbows lightly. She pulled at the bodice. “Kind of tight.”

Akiko laughed as she went behind the girl, attempting to help stretch the taut fabric. “You got that chest and those hips from Haru’s mother. They were the only good things about that woman. She was terrible, but she had the perfect figure for carrying children.”

The young fox chewed her cheek, completely fed up with the conversation of babies and her lack thereof. She glanced towards the corner and stared longingly at her weapon that leaned against the wall next to Ren’s. “I assume I have to leave my glaive?”

“You assumed correctly.”

She pouted as she walked around Ivy, braiding the girl’s hair as well. “So stupid.”

“It’s just for a little bit,” Ivy encouraged. “And you still have your daggers.”

The fox huffed. She knew the men would have their weapons. Why couldn’t she have hers? She finished the braid. “Let’s go then. We’re wasting the day sitting around here.”

Ivy nodded before going to the futon and crouching down next to Zero, running her fingers through his hair. “He’ll be up soon,” she said softly, smiling down at the sleeping boy.

Sakura opened the door and stepped out, followed by Akiko. Ren sat on the edge of the veranda, looking the woman up and down.

“It looks tight,” he pointed out.

She gasped dramatically while pinching and pulling at the dress. “That’s because it is.”

“I like it.” The angel grinned. “I wouldn’t tell you no.”

“Of course you wouldn’t.” The young fox hopped to the ground, ready to go.

“Come here.” He held his hand out to her.

“Why?”

“Come here.”

The demon walked to the angel and slapped her hand in his, looking down at him impatiently.

“Remember, no matter what happens. No matter what challenges you may face. You just need to remember one thing. The most important thing.” Deep azure eyes gazed up at her tenderly, radiating admiration and love, as he brought the top of her hand to press against his lips. “Don’t destroy the village.”

Sakura ripped her hand from his and spun away. “I won’t,” she snapped.

Ren snatched her wrist, pulling her back as his other hand grasped her chin firmly and brought her face close to his. “Hey, listen, I’m serious,” he spoke calmly but sternly, his expression free of all humor. “You can’t burn it all down. It’s not nice. It’s not what good little fox girls do. You need to remember that your behavior is a direct reflection on me, your mate. Don’t embarrass me, your mate, in front of the alpha. I don’t want to have to punish you…” He glanced from side to side in consideration. “Or maybe I do. Let me think about it, and I’ll get back to you on that one.”

“Oh, shut the fuck up!” The woman pulled free, kicking the angel’s shin, and stomped off as he cackled behind her. “Let’s go!”

Ivy stepped from the house, sliding the door closed behind her. “Will you know how to find us?” she asked the jovial man.

“Go towards the smoke and flames!”

She sighed, that outcome looking more and more likely with the angel not helping the situation at all. “Probably. See you soon.”

“Keep your head up, Little One. Remember, you’re vicious and take shit from no one!” Ren reassured the girl before calling out to the woman. “Love you! Make your mate proud! Or else!”

Sakura was definitely not going to respond to that. “How long has Yuki been alpha?” she asked the old woman as they made the short trek to the alpha’s home.

“Only four years,” Akiko told her. “But he’s done very well. I’m sure he has many more to come. He defeated his father, and no one has been able to take the honor from him, though they’ve tried.”

“Do you think he’ll allow Ivy to study under you?”

“The hearts of men are unpredictable. He’s not as traditional as my husband or son. I’ve had more freedom under his leadership, but this is a very unconventional request. I’m not sure how he’ll respond. I’m going to be honest, he’s likely to say no. It’s what his father and grandfather would decide, and Yuki tends to not divert from the decisions they would make too much.”

Sakura began to second guess her choice. “I don’t want to make things difficult for you. If I’m asking too much then I would prefer you tell me now. As much as I want for Ivy to learn from you, I don’t want to do it at your expense.”

The woman patted the girl’s arm. “I have spent years making my place in this den. I may not be alpha, and I may be a woman but I have earned the right to have my voice heard and considered. I wasn’t able to help you then, but I will do everything in my power to help you now.”

The young fox smiled at the older. “You’ve helped me more than anyone else here. I will always be grateful for what you did for me.” She turned and looked at the large, alpha’s home looming ahead.

She was never one to back down. She wasn’t going to start now.

Hopefully, Ren would show up before she tore it all down.

Because she wasn’t going to take no for an answer.