Porcupine Ridge carrie [m]

He awoke to find that his subordinate had run off. She had not been content to be in his company, and he could understand. Her body was starving to be mounted, her instinct demanding she find herself a mate. Yet it incensed him to know that she would go against his wishes and try to seek out another male, when he had not granted her permission to do so. She could not speak well, but he believed her to be sound of enough of mind to know these rules, and to expect her to fight biology.

He ran, and as his steps drummed across the ridge he chided himself for falling asleep; but how could he not? It was not within his power to deny eternally his need for rest, and it had claimed him despite his efforts to remain awake.

For all his speed, he was too late. He arrived only in time to see his beta atop his delta, and he knew that to charge in there would do nothing, despite the righteous fury that burned in his breast. The deed was done, and while he would be sure to reprimand the she-wolf later, the beta male did not understand the cultural rules. He was a creature of instinct, of the old ways, and he knew only that she was there and he had the chance to breed, and he took it. Taggarik had failed in his role to guard her, and to stop him, and so, he shouldered his blame and turned his back on them.

Bristling, scowling, he stormed off.