Blacktail Deer Plateau having a wonderful time

She could feel the disappointment bleeding off of him in every direction. And, quite honestly, she hated it. None of this situation was fair at all, she decided. Not a single, goddamn part of it. If Atticus had been "awake," they wouldn't even be having this conversation. Because while Fox was loathe to have competition for her children, at least the offspring of Blue Willow and Atticus would be genuine, not bastards. Fox had even forced Jinx into killing her litter (or would have, if they had come to term). They were created out of lust and without thought for their future. And while the product of a coupling between Lasher and Blue Willow would be much different, they would still be bastards in the end. Fox simply couldn't, wouldn't have it.

“I won't have bastards born here,” she said stiffly. “If you wish to court Blue Willow, that is a different story.” Was that too little? Too much? Fox braced herself for his reaction, whatever it may be.