168 Little vixen

Greg came out of the veranda in high spirits, there was still one unresolved affair. But as soon as he took only a few steps along the corridor, a faint noise came from the stairs. It seems the little curious pupper could not resist, eavesdropping on their conversation with Nicky.

Greg grinned and headed upstairs. The door to Vicky's room was ajar, and the girl herself was right there at the table. Vicky diligently pretended to do her homework. So diligently that she ignored Greg even when he stopped in the middle of the room, folding his arms across his chest.

"Oh. You are here?!" - pretending to be surprised exclaimed a little vixen, raising her face from notebooks.

"What are you reading?" - As if casually asked Greg, looking over her shoulder.

" Uh ..." - the girl mumbled, trying to catch the name of the subject in the text out of the corner of her eye.

"Chemistry." - She fired up, stumbled upon some strange symbols on the page.

Greg laughed and patted her on the head.

"These are Greek numbers, dummy. And you have a textbook on history. If you're lying, then at least prepare a cover in advance."

"Who knew that you'll decide to make serious conversations today?!" - the girl pouted and immediately covered her mouth with her palm, realizing what she said too much.

Greg just shook his head and sat down opposite her. Vicky squinted, seeing that the man was not going to leave.

"You want to talk to me too?" - She asked, peering carefully into Greg's face.

" Do you want to?" - He asked, in turn, trying to read the truth on the always lively little face. With those who didn't know how to express their emotions well, it was surprisingly much easier to read what they were thinking about. But those who, like Vicky or Tony, always smile and joke, can hide their pain and insecurity much deeper covering it in layers of fake joy and carelessness.

Vicky shrugged, looking away.

"I have nothing against you, Greg. I am glad that now you and mom will be together. She deserves happiness. And Nicky really needs a man who can pull him out of his shell. My mother and I are unlikely to succeed in this thing. You men have your own trinkets. You speak the same language."

" And what about you?" - Greg asked cautiously, trying to catch her gaze.

"What about me? I am happy too. I now have a wonderful room and a lot of things." - She said, nodding toward the cabinet, which was full of new fashionable things. Apparently, while the children stayed with Greg's mother, that woman went in full blast, finally getting at least one girl who could appreciate some fashion, unlike all three of her daughters.

"Mrs. Wells was very kind to me and even insisted that Nicky and I call her grandmother. Even Aunty Becky eventually allowed me to visit her farm with llamas and alpacas. She also said that I could spend the summer there if I promised not to eat anyone. And girls at school say..."

With each word, Greg began to realize that she was again going into the woods. Her talkativeness was like a smokescreen, which she skillfully used to confuse the other person and make him quickly cut off the conversation. But this time, Greg decided to be firm and didn't interrupt her, listening to every word. Less than five minutes later, Vicky began to talk more slowly, trying to find a new topic for conversation and started to fidget in her chair, looking questingly at Greg. But he still listened attentively and even asked questions about all the silly nothings Vicky spouted.

"What?" - Finally, unable to stand it, blurted out Vicky. - "What do you want from me?"

Greg shrugged, leaning back in his chair.

" I want to hear what you really think?" - He replied, feeling that now he is looking at the real Vicky. Confused, frightened girl, in whose life everything is changing too quickly.

"I don't know, Greg!" - Vicky blurted out in the hearts. - "I don't know, OK? Nicky knew you in childhood. He remembers this year. You already share some special bond with him. But not me. All I remember is a constant, never-ending nightmare. The children see bad dreams at night, but I always tried to fall asleep as soon as possible and was afraid to wake up. Because my nightmare was real. And they all had roles in it, except for me. Mother protected us, Nicky defended mother, and father was the monster with whom they fought. And I was a stupid princess who only knew how to cry. I always hated fairy tales about princesses. They are weak and useless. Just like me! And now everything ends, happy ending. I now have a bunch of dresses and a beautiful castle. And you can even give me a beautiful carriage. But for some reason, I still feel that all this does not belong to me. I am still a stupid, cowardly princess who is not worthy of all this. I don't know how to live after a happy ending, they don't write books about it."

Tears suddenly appeared in her eyes. Greg did not expect such a turn. As if Vicki had broken a dam and all her feelings suddenly burst out. She kept so much inside that now she didn't even know how to stop.

Greg got up and walked over to the girl, tenderly embraced her by the trembling shoulders.

" In fact, you are saying some bullshit again." - he suddenly declared, looking down at her. - "You were never stupid or useless. And without you, there won't be any happy ending. You think I don't know that you sent Nicky's applications to college? Nicky is undoubtedly smart, but he would never have been able to write such a colorful essay with all the sentimental details on why he should get a scholarship. Plus, I am more than confident that renting an apartment in this godforsaken hole was also your idea. And all these strange accidents and the tearjerking story of Nicky, about how hard you live ... "

Vicky immediately turned away, trying to hide a sly smile. But Greg didn't even need to see anything, he knew it.

" Besides, that night at the club I somehow got on the floor only for shifters without much difficulties. And the guards did not find us in the National park right away ..."

" I didn't know that they would attack us!" - Vicky was outraged, immediately laying out all the cards.- "Kiki and I agreed on completely different plan!"

Greg laughed, realizing that his guesses were correct, and this little vixen was wrapping him around her little finger all this time.

"Thank you!" - He said, leaning down and kissing her on the top of the head. - "But in that case, you owe me, and this time you must use your amazing strategic abilities in my favor."

Greg let go and rummaged in his pocket, fishing out a corduroy box. As soon as he opened it, the girl's eyes shone.

"Mom gave me this ring. It has been in our family for centuries. I understand that the werewolves do not have the concept of marriage and all that. But I want everything to be right. Will you help me come up with something interesting to make my proposal unforgettable?"

" OMG! OMG!" - The girl squealed, bouncing in one place and clapping her hands. - " I have so many ideas. I do not even know what to choose! What if…? No, it's too easy! Maybe…? Not this one either. God, you have so much money that now we can even rant an island!"

"No, Vicky, please let's do it without any islands!" - Greg pleaded, then smiled, handing the box to the girl. Vicki's eyes were already out of focus. It seems she was entirely absorbed by the new plans, so Greg decided to leave her alone with her grand strategies. Patting the girl on the cheek, he turned and headed for the door, but at the very threshold, he was caught up by her soft voice.

"Thanks, dad."

She threw it automatically, without even thinking. But immediately froze, realizing what she blurted out, looking at Greg with frightened eyes, blushing furiously.

Greg also halted for a second. His heart began to pound furiously, and his eyes started to sting for some reason.

"No. Thank you, sweetie." - he squeezed out in a suddenly hoarse voice and hurried out of the room.

"Probably an allergy!" - He thought, wiping the moisture from the eyes that appeared there out of nowhere. But a happy smile still played on his lips.

Greg stopped in the hallway, trying to recover from the unexpected emotional turmoil. At that moment, the phone suddenly rang. At first, he didn't even want to pick up the phone, but some inner voice suggested that the call was very important. Tapping the button, Greg brought the phone to his ear.

"Greg?" - Brian's agitated voice sounded in the receiver. - "I don't know what is happening, but I received an order to bring you and your entire pack to the National park."

"Mmmm ... Ok. What's the problem?" - Greg asked, not understanding why Brian is so concerned.

"I don't know Greg. But this is strange ... The order came from the Head of the Council. No one has seen him for many years. And ... There it was indicated that Lana would be waiting for you there. Is she with you?"

"No." - Greg gasped out, straightening. - "Tell me all the details!"