Friday brought with it the relief that we might be able to return to our normal lives, even if normal had been completely destroyed for some members of the Trifecta.

Friday was not quite a normal Friday of the curse, however. The day started as usual with Serge and I spending the day at the pack office, but afterwards I had nothing to do. Jodi had cancelled our weekly television binge, because she had been invited for supper at my father's house.

I was not upset. I was glad that Sean had a distraction because there was no way that he was not reeling.

Tabitha did not cancel our plans, but I assumed they were off. Since Bobby was missing, she had other concerns. That left me sitting alone with Serge for the night, which in truth did not displease me.

The two month anniversary of my curse dawned gloomy and rainy. It was fitting. It was easier to drag myself from the covers when the sun was not streaming in, but it was simultaneously more difficult when I could feel the damp in the air.

I got up and went out to the kitchen in my bathrobe. Serge smiled at me and there was a little twinge of something good under the curse. I smiled back and it was not nearly so difficult as it once had been.

"What would you like?" he asked me, since he was just starting the coffee.

I really did not care. "Whatever y-you want," I said.

"Pancakes?"

"Sure," I agreed easily enough. "Do y-you want some help?"

He paused for a long moment. "If you want."

I waited while Serge gathered the ingredients. He measured stuff and dumped it in while I stirred the batter. Then I tried pouring the batter into the pan and I watched it carefully to ensure I did not burn anything.

"I can do that," he offered.

I shook my head and the curse complained loudly. I gritted my teeth. I was doing this and it was a victory.

I cooked the pancakes and the house remained nicely intact, and I did not even come close to burning the house down.

* * *  *  *  *  * * *

We went for our run and it felt like I was free again when I stayed near Serge. I let my tail wag without even trying to control it. What did it matter if I was happily undignified? We met up with a large wolf who I assumed was one of the warriors and he joined us for a while in our run.

When we parted ways we headed back to the house. I showered got ready in my room and Serge went off to his own room. Once dressed, I took my phone and my box of photos out into the living room, hoping that he would be out of his office.

I was disappointed that he was not, but I decided not to bother him. I sat on the couch in my usual spot and tapped my phone screen.

I had a text.

Dad: [I know it's short notice, but would you have time for a visit from me and Alexi this afternoon? - Moramay]

I paused. Matthias would not be coming this Saturday. My stomach felt tight with sadness and guilt. I had no plans. I doubted Serge would mind if I agreed.

The curse tried to crush me for that thought. I put down the phone and tiptoed down the hall to his office. His door was ajar, but he was so intent on what he was doing that he seemed not to have noticed me.

It was hard to knock on the door, but I made my reluctant hand form a fist and my stiff arm move mechanically against the door. It opened a bit further and Serge looked up at me.

"Elise?" he smiled.

I wanted to smile back at him, but I was too nervous. "Um, could Moramay and Alexi visit this afternoon?"

"Of course, if you want," he agreed. "Although I'm surprised Alexi did not simply come and batter down the door."

I chuckled. "It was Moramay who asked.

''I'm not surprised," he said with a little chuckle. "Well, they're both more than welcome."

"Even Alexi?" I thought of how she kept challenging him.

"She's direct and to the point. I find it refreshing."

Well, that was one way of looking at it. I slipped out of his office and returned to my spot. I picked up my phone again.

Me: [Sounds good]

Dad: [I think we'll be there about 1 if that works.]

Me: [k]

I began to look through my piles of photographs again.

* * *  *  *  *  * * *

I jumped at the sound of a knock on the door, even though I knew it was coming.

Denizen barked once as he came down the hall and looked at the door expectantly, as if deciding whether or not to be concerned about the visitors.

I was not sure why Moramay and Alexi were coming, but the curse was quite agitated. Honestly, in some ways it was better when Alexi just barged in and did not give the curse time to worry me about it.

Before I got up to get the door, Serge's footsteps sounded from down the hall so I slowed down and let him answer. The door opened and Alexi entered with Moramay trailing behind.

"Hello," Alexi said cheerfully.

"Good afternoon, Serge. How's the curse?" she asked by way of greeting.

"Good afternoon to you, too, Professor Alexi," he agreed. "It seems better, on the surface, but only Elise knows the reality of it."

Alexi's gaze swung towards me. "Indeed. Well, where should we sit?" she asked briskly.

"Anywhere you want," Serge said. "If you don't need me, I'll go and get back to work?"

Alexi swung her considering gaze back to him like a pendulum.

"I'll come find you after I'm finished with Elise."

"Sounds good."

Serge left me with my fairy step mother and the agitating doctor.

"Should we sit in the living room?

Denizen had trotted up to Alexi and Moramay and sniffed them critically, before following me to the couch. I sat down and he crawled up next to me and I buried myself in his fur. He was so perfectly warm I barely felt the curse nipping insistently at me.

"So, there's been a lot that has happened since I last saw you, Elise. I hear you came up with a curse removal theory and have already set it in motion."

I nodded. That was one way of stating it.

She glanced at Moramay. "So, as I said, I get her first, then you can have her, Moramay." Alexi turned her surprisingly predatory gaze on me and I swallowed hard. "Elise, tell me everything."

I told her how I had chosen Serge and the effect he had on me, although it was a bit embarrassing to say such things in front of my father's wife. I was pretty sure she would not tell my father the details though and I was even more sure he would be reluctant to listen if she tried. I told them about how hard it was to decide between Serge and Matthias and I also explained how hard it was still for me to make decisions. I talked about the funerals, too, and when I was finished I was terribly drained, although it was hardly any worse than it usually was.

The grey wolf pressed up against me took the edge off my fear. I leaned against his neck and let his warmth flow through me.

Alexi got up and marched down the hall, leaving me with Moramay.

"So it's going good, then?" she asked.

I nodded. "Compared to when it first happened, it's great," I said.

"So, you told your dad that you wanted my help with the wedding?"

"Yes. It's hard to make choices, so if someone else could arrange everything..." I trailed off. The curse was playing its usual tricks for when I tried to get out of line. Denizen shifted so his head was on my lap, as if he could sense the ravages of the magic inside me. "I know S-Serge could do it, but he's always so busy."

Moramay smiled. "I'd be honoured to do it, Elise. But I'm hoping you could give me ideas? Like what colours do you want, or what sort of food, or a theme?"

I tried to think of something. I still hated options. "Honestly I don't care. I saw what you did with yours and that was great. I know it's not much time, so whatever you manage is fine with me. I don't think S-Serge cares, either."

"If you're sure...  I suppose I'll talk to him, too..." she said hesitantly. "Okay, what if I give you final say?"

I could just agree to whatever she suggested. I nodded. "Thanks so much," I said.

She smiled. "Now, let me see your ring."

The next rest of the weekend went by with relative peaceful anxiety. It lulled me and gave me a feeling that things were going to keep getting better indefinitely.