UNIMPRESSED

CHARLES FOX

My mother had summoned me to her garden, insisting that I spend time with the breeders. I tried every excuse to avoid them, but she was relentless, even going so far as to say I would be the death of her if I didn’t comply. So, here I was, gathered with them in the garden, but my eyes kept scanning the area, noticing that Ruby was nowhere in sight.

“Do you like the wine, Alpha?” Zoey asked, her eyes shining with a mix of hope and nervousness.

I forced a polite smile. “Yes, it’s one of the best I’ve had,” I replied, though the wine was far from remarkable. But I wasn’t about to crush her enthusiasm.

Zoey’s smile widened, almost painfully bright. “I’m glad you like it! It was made from one of my dad’s farms. If we get married and I become your Luna, I’ll make sure you never ru……