Redhawk Caldera In a hospital

"You'd be welcome to maim her," Peregrine said in a chilling voice, "even break her legs or, hell, her neck, to get her back here." He left it at that. If Shrike needed to kill her in order to avoid injury to himself, of course the Alpha wouldn't hold that against him. But if there was any possibility she could be delivered to the Alphas so they could deal with her... the muscles in his jaw jumped and twitched as he imagined what he and Fox would do to her, given the chance. "Although I understand if you gotta do what you gotta do," he was sure to add, so that Shrike wasn't under any kind of illusion that he would be punished if he didn't deliver Peter's killer on a silver platter.

The conversation shifted to something much, much lighter. He almost laughed at Shrike's evident confusion, though the heaviness of the earlier subject matter still lingered. He did manage a tight smile as he replied, "Yes, six. Finley gave birth to a litter of three the other day. I'd tell you their names but the only one I can pronounce is Lucy. Two girls and a boy." The Blackthorns' newborns were a much-needed ray of sunshine after the bleakness of the past two months, of which Peter's death was just the horrible climax.

The Alpha paused for a moment, thinking, then said, "I'm sure you'll be welcome to meet them soon." He sought Shrike's gaze as he added, "You're an important part of this family now. Actually, I'd like to offer the Redhawk surname to you, if you'd like to take it. You're not obligated but it's yours if you want it." It was the least he could offer Shrike for his unwavering dedication to the caldera's leadership, for taking their yoke upon his shoulders and tirelessly seeking to settle a vendetta on their behalf.