Page 55 of The Wolf Professor

“Mom, the library is the most important place to stock books written by monsters,” Charlie said, leaning her palms on the desk. “You know that education changes attitudes quicker than anything.”

“Oh, Charlie, this isn’t the time to discuss such things,” her mom protested, sitting back down, tight lipped. Luckily, Charlieknew there was another side to Shirley. Her mom’s family were old Tween money, but Shirley had broken away from their conventions by marrying dad, a guy from the laid-back south. Her mother had a good heart, Charlie knew that. And Shirley had instilled in her a love of books and history, and Charlie would always be grateful to her for that.

The biggest problem was that Mom was afraid of the Council of Towns, who bullied everyone into submission behind a façade of gentility and white picket fences. And having had the conversation with Dad earlier, Charlie understood why. Shirley was just trying to protect the people she loved.

But she was still going to challenge her mom on her antiquated views.

“Please, Mom.” Charlie smiled sweetly. “Just book me a room and I’ll go and get on with my work.”

Her mom still hesitated.

“Fine,” Charlie said airily. “I’ll go and work in the café in the town square, and when people ask me what I’m doing, I’ll tell them I’m working on a book written by a wolf.”

Her mom pursed her lips. “Okay, you can have the room at the end.”

“Thanks, Mom.” She leaned in and gave her arm a squeeze. “Love you.”

Shirley gave her daughter a sad little smile. “I’ve got your favorite, lasagna tonight. I must have known you were coming home. And your bed is always made up, you know that darling.”

“I know, Mom.”

“So you’ll stay?”

“Yes, I’ll stay for the rest of the week.”

Her mom looked much happier as she went back to the book returns.

Charlie went into the study room and closed the door, then she got out all the pages of Max’s notes. Seeing his handwriting,her heart skipped a beat thinking of the other things those hands were capable of doing…

Enough of that.

The Tween Library wasn’t the best place to get all hot and bothered

She opened up her laptop and started to add notes.

She had to trust that Max would have sorted his head out by next week.

At least by then, she’d have all this in order for him to start on his first draft.

Head down, she got to work, deciphering his awful handwriting.

Charlie guessed that was what love was all about.

Max could barely get his jacket and scarf off as he arrived home and strode into his study. He grabbed the book about the Felcin mutiny and took it into the snug. Mrs. Bates had lit a fire before she left and laid out teacups and a barrel of biscuits.

It was kind of her, but he wasn’t hungry.

He had work to do.

The historical account of the wolf mutiny was not exactly light reading, but he forced himself to take it all in.

On the night of the mutiny, Felcin and his troops had surrounded Athelrose’s tent and, under cover of darkness, tied him up, killing many of his most trusted followers.

If it hadn’t been for the efforts of nearby orcs, Athelrose would have died out there that night, poisoned by a huge dose of blood ivy. The witch of Motham, Selina, had undone the effect, but Athelrose had been weakened and was on bed rest for many days, nursed by his beloved Amelia. It took weeks to overthrowthe Felcin troops who, headed by Oliver Felcin, retreated to the Wastelands, held in check by magic force fields applied by white witches and mages.

Some months later, Felcin escaped, using the help of a dark mage to weaken the force field, and tunneled under the Motham wall at night. Up in the mountains with his small pack of mutineers, his fur turned silver, and his pelt grew thick. His descendants would forever be recognized by their thick silver coats.

In the following years, the Felcins made a few attempts to return to Motham, but each time, they were chased out by Athelrose’s army.

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