Dawnlark Plains then they called me, too

He nodded, rising to his feet with more than some intrigue. The plains and the maplewood? It was quite a stretch of land they had claimed, and while he did worry a little about defending such a big territory, if their pack was to thrive with the numbers they had, they needed every inch.

Shale chuckled at Grayday's question, shaking his head. "A gentleman wouldn't tell," he said teasingly, a smile sliding onto his muzzle in response. "In any case, no. She's young; she doesn't need my baggage."

He did wonder if she fancied him. She had never given him any explicit signs, but there was hope when you read between the lines. As much as he wanted it to happen, though, he respected Pema too much to force her hand in this arena. Let her find a nice, young boy to love. Sunny, perhaps, or the handsome Kieran Adrien.