Swiftcurrent Creek I'm at a party I don't wanna be at

They're not here. That was troubling news, but it wasn't all that long ago that Lucas had left them here. He was willing to bet they just hadn't crossed paths yet. Oh, they haven't been here very long, he said with a quick side-to-side flick of his tail. You probably just haven't seen 'em yet! That seemed far more likely than them not being here. How often was it, he wondered, that packs turned away those in need?

He was naive enough to think it was a rare occurrence.

The arrival of Kavik signalled a shift in the conversation. Lucas rivaled the man in size, but there was a plush softness to the boy that the Alpha lacked. He lowered his head and shoulders in deference as he said, I've come to join your pack if you'll have me. I'm a good counselor and a better dancer. My mom Laurel and my aunt Indra would have joined you less than a week or so ago with Marten.