Porcupine Ridge cowboy guilt

He was a respectful young thing, Taggarik would give him that. In acknowledgement, the black wolf's tail dropped to a neutral sway and he slackened the stiffness in his shoulders and stood at ease. "Yeah, I suppose you are," he replied, his jaw shifting as he contemplated the boy in front of him.

His age was against him; the alpha male had been disappointed several times over by yearlings in his pack, and this one was not yet even fully grown. More than anything, he needed dependable wolves in his ranks, or his own litter would suffer. He shook his head. "I'm sorry," he said. "I'm assuming you're looking to join, but I'm not really able to take you in right now. There is another pack across the river valley, directly west of here, that may be open to you. I suggest you try there." He dipped his head apologetically, and walked away.

He would no go too far, and would check back later to see if the boy had left.