give my heart a place to rest

She watched and waited to see what the newcomer would do, watched him silently, almost visibly debate what he would do. She watched as his eyes moved away from her to Tonravik and then as his posture deferred to the Alpha alone, his eyes only for the similarly dark creature. Kroc's own narrowed as he further ignored her, tail lashing once or twice behind the bulk of her body. The only reason she did not immediately attack and dominate him was that he was greeting Tonravik; still, he would get but a single warning.

The pregnant leader moved away from them, settling in some shade and the Beta continued to observe his actions. She was yet silent, her irritable attitude hovering just below the surface as it always did. His presence changed nothing except her in the moment actions. With a steadfast confidence, she swept closer, circling the Zeta much as Tonravik had once done her. Sniffing, learning, the pale creature ended the interaction with a firm nip aimed at his rump, not to bleed but to goad. 

She would test his reactions and personality in such a headstrong, bull-in-a-china-shop manner that in the same breath, she would exert her dominance as well. He would learn their ways, and would learn that if he was found insubordinate, she would not be one to go soft on him because he was new. No, they were gonna play hardball, and they were gonna play it right fucking now.