in your darkest hour

Koontz was in the middle of a conversation with her brother and most trusted Leviathorgan, Ray, when a howl rose into the sky. "That's Yildun," she said. The call didn't sound urgent, per se, but the Alpha knew he wouldn't call her for no reason. "I'd better respond. See you for dinner?" she said, touching her muzzle to the side of her litter mate's neck and then turning to lope in the direction of her Delta's call.

En route, she yipped to him to let him know she was coming. When she reached the border, she discovered that her blind pack mate wasn't alone. If it was just Yildun, she wouldn't have bothered, but with the stranger present—and so near the territory—she put on what Ray had once jokingly called the Alpha suit: head and tail held high, shoulders thrown back and braced, ears pricked and sharp eyes alert.

"Hi, Yildun," she said, speaking clearly as she slid up alongside him. Although she still didn't know him too well, Koontz fondly recalled their lovely meeting not long ago and she still felt just as at ease with him as before. Accordingly, she touched her nose to his cheek before turning to regard the unfamiliar she-wolf. "Who's this?" she asked lightly, only the slightest brisk, businesslike edge to her voice.