Louise shifted her weight restlessly on the wooden bench. The meeting had been going on for hours now without getting anywhere. She understood about the traditions that demanded strangers on another pack’s territory must approach them and ask for permission to stay – hell, you couldn’t live in a small island like Britain without honouring the traditions on a regular basis – but this alpha’s delicate verbal dancing was rapidly going from boring to annoying. She dropped her gaze to the toe of her boot, digging it into the earth, releasing the faintest hint of the scent of cut grass as stalks broke under her foot, biting down on her irritation. She shifted again on the bench. [i]My arse has gone to sleep,[/i] she thought. It didn't help.

She almost grinned with relief as Tyra finally got to ask a simple yes or no question and ducked her head so the shadow of the baseball cap she’d started wearing concealed her face. Louise had only joined Tyra’s pack ten days ago; the alpha’s no-nonsense attitude and fierce determination had impressed her (and she had to admit, after spending far too long alone in a strange land, having others that she could depend upon around her was a comfort; [i]a lone wolf is an unhappy wolf,[/i] her father had always said).

And then  - the other’s answer, given in silence and the craven stink of fear. Her grin turned into a grimace of disgust. [i]More sheep in wolf’s clothing,[/i] she thought. 

“Fucking dogs,” she muttered, almost loudly enough for the other pack to hear as she swung one leg over the bench she’d been straddling and stood up, rubbing her lower back. She wondered if they’d understand the insult – a wolf that was afraid of humans and ran to keep on their good side was a dog, a mutt. Her temper was rising, but Tyra was alpha, and when she gestured for them to leave Louise turned, shoving her hands in the pockets of her jacket.

And then, the fear thickened to something far more dangerous. Louise jerked back and saw the alpha’s hand clamped around Tyra’s arm. [i]Oh man; you don’t do that,[/i] she thought. She shifted her weight into a fighting stance without thought, lifting her gaze to study the other pack’s members.  Her lips twitched at the corners, wanting to instinctively peel away from teeth that felt larger and sharper in her mouth than they had a moment ago.  If Tyra had to fight this craven alpha, Louise would follow her without hesitation.