Duck Lake illusion; diverted

The boy's flanks billowed as he drew to a halt in the snow, measuring his sire in his silver eyes and then averting them respectfully. Although he was his full height now, and more wolf than his father, and possibly capable of testing him, that bone-deep fear of Ursus' patriarch remained intact. Astara arrived shortly thereafter; he turned his gaze upon his mother, softer, and parted his lips in an easy pant.

He didn't think he liked the way Merrick spoke about him like he wasn't there, but Aventus had nothing to add verbally. His eyes rested on his dam, curious how she might respond. In their absence he would be as their king and they would all answer to him, or at least that was the fanciful notion that blossomed sudden and greedy within him.