Blacktail Deer Plateau Take some Time for me

"You look like shit," he answered her, albeit with a soft smile and a glimmer in his eye to show he was mostly joking and, in any case, he meant no offense. "I appreciate you taking care of my sister and helping us as our secondhand man—woman, rather—but if you don't look after yourself, you won't be any good to us, Willow," he chastised her softly. "I'm glad you were taking a nap, at least," he continued in a teasing tone.

He stretched and stood, the his pelt catching the sunlight and gleaming with a healthy luster. Although feeding a large family was definitely trying—especially in addition to leading a pack and raising his pups in general—Peregrine was a picture of good health. Having three adults around to raise the kids certainly helped and he thought he'd done a pretty damn good job of striking a balance with everything, if he said so himself.

A though struck him and he asked, "I haven't heaped too much on your plate with making you Beta, have I?" His swarthy head cocked, his blue-green eyes shrewd as they studied her face.