Northstar Vale friends in high places

Miyako had skidded to a halt after the deer clipped her in the chest, and watched the big male take down their prey, giving it a merciful killing blow with the snapping of its neck. Delighted, she trotted to meet him, relishing the scent of fresh spilled blood heavy in the air.

"Nonsense! You did great," she replied, shaking off his last statement. "She was very determined not to die." Ignoring the dull ache from the doe's blow, she gave him a curt nod toward the carcass. The light was quickly leaving her eyes as she bled out. "You can have first go." He was, she had deduced by scent and posture, just a step above her in rank, and thus deserved to eat before her.

There hadn't really been a strict hierarchy in her family's pack. Perhaps that was why they had been so dysfunctional. And perhaps that was why Ichiro had been so adamant on claiming the alpha title after their father's death and batting back all challengers toward said title. Maybe packs with set ranks just worked better. It would be a slow learning process for her to remember her place--she had been top dog for so long in her family--but she would figure it out in the long run. She had to, to survive.

Miyako sat and looked at Regan. She wondered where he came from. He hadn't answered her question earlier, and she hoped that wasn't a bad thing. God knows there were enough wolves in the Teekon Wilds with bloody and sordid pasts.