Chapter 3: Evie Hemming

Evie Blake Hemming was sitting in the reading room of the family estate, her eyes scanning over the words in one of the many volumes of classical literature that lined the shelves, when a well-dressed, well-groomed, tuxedo wearing wolf wandered in holding a phone.

"Beggin' yer pardon, madam," the other canine started to say as he pushed the cordless phone towards the female wolf, "But Master Hubert is on the line. He wishes to speak with you."

The alpha female slowly closed her book as her golden eyes gradually wandered away from the old, faded brown book cover and up to the head butler. "I'll take th'call, Atkins," Evie replied in a cool voice that would make a glacier shiver.

One dainty hand reached out to swipe the phone from the gamma wolf's hand. The gray furred male nodded his head and slowly slipped out of the room as the alpha pressed the receiver to her ear. Oddly enough, her mood did a complete one-eighty when she started to speak. "Hubert! How is my baby boy? Y'ain't gettin' in no trouble, is ya?"

"Naw mama. I ain't in no trouble," a happy voice cried out over the phone, "Iz sorry I ain't called you, mama. Iz jist been s'busy."

"Oh Hubert! I'm sorry I ain't called ya. Iz s'happy to hear you," Evie almost howled back, her tail wagging against the back of the large leather chair she was sitting in.

"It's okay, mama," Hubert replied, though, there was a strange pause on the phone, something that Evie picked up on. "Is you sure you'z all right? Ya needs me'n'paw t'cum over'n straighten thing out?"

"No mama. Iz fine."

"Then why ain'tcha talkin' as much as ya usually do?"

"Well, mama. Ya knows how I told ya I gots me a girlfriend," Hubert started out slowly.

"Course I do. I ain't seen ya that happy since ya gots that Universe Conflict toy when ya was ten," Evie mused, "What abouts'er?"

"Well," the younger beta wolf paused, "Ya promise y'ain't gonna be upset?"

"Y'ain't put a litter in her, didja?"

"No mama, it ain't like that," he said defensively.

"Why not? Ya knows I wants sum granpup! Specially since yer brothers cain't seem t'find theyselves a gal. I ain't sure if they's queer er if theys just nachurly repel any gals they see. And yer lil sister ain't found n'one yet."

There was a huge pause on the phone as Huber attempted to figure out what to say next. Luckily for him, his mother managed to break the silence, "Is she over in Bunnyburrah? Is that why y'ain'ts brought her t'visit?"

"Yes, mama. She lives over in Bunnyburrah."

"Is she a pretty wolf? She ain't no alpha, is she? I member when ya brought home that Per-nelope. I knews she was trouble first time I dun set my eyes on'er."

"No, mama. She ain't no alpha."

Evie let out a deep sigh of relief, "Oh that's wonderful, Hubert. Takes such a load of m'mind. I don't wants ya t'go through that again. I jist bout ripped her throat out."

"She ain't no wolf either, mama."

His mother just about dropped the phone. "Please tell me yain't datin' no prey gals."

"No mama. She ain't no prey gal neither."

There was another sigh of relief, that was quickly replaced with a gasp when her son added, "She's a vixen."

"Vixen," Evie howled out, "Yain't been foolin' round with the bosses daughter, has ya?"

There was a pause before Hubert let out a goofy a-hyuck over the phone. The alpha female just about fell out of her chair. Not only a vixen but the boss's daughter.

"Iz you all right, mama," her son asked in genuine concern.

"I… Iz fine, Hubert. But I don't thinks ya should continue with this vixen. It ain't right and it ain't nachral."

"But I likes Jo-sef-een, mama. She's jist so sweet'n'soft'n'purdy. I thinks y'll likes her too, mama. Especially her lil kit."

"Lil kit," the alpha howled out, something that echoed through the halls of the two-story plantation house.

"Yes, mama. She's gots a kit. He's a might scurred round strangers, but I thinks you'n'pa will likes him. Jo-sef-een'n'Iz been talkin' bout visitin'. Is that okay with ya, mama?"

Evie wasn't exactly sure what to think. She wanted her son to be happy, but at the same time the thought of him marrying a vixen had almost given her a stroke and a heart attack simultaneously. She wanted her son to marry a nice beta wolf, settle down on the family plantation, and produce the next generation of the Hemming family. Him settling down with a vixen, especially one that already had a kit, went against every wish. She would of course, have to discuss this new development with her husband, George, but having them over wouldn't be a bad idea. Evie could evaluate this vixen for herself to see if she was worthy of becoming part of the Hemming pack.

"Mama?"

"That's okay with me, Hubert. Your father and I will look forward to it."

"Thanks mama," her son replied before adding, "I loves you, mama."

"I loves you too, Hubert," Evie said, hearing her boy hang up the phone. She waited a few seconds before howling out, "GEORGE!"