She's like "oh my god"

“I am the sole one in the state to give commands,” Ptarmigan retorted, waving the tip of her tail rigidly above her hinds as though to remind him who was in charge here. Intimidation tactics weren't Ptarmigan's strong suit—it was a miracle she had won her challenge at all—but she kept her eyes firm on him nonetheless. A keen observer might see the hairline fractures forming in her composure in the way her lip trembled and her ears slightly faltered, but she did a fair job of holding it.

Then she replied with, “Alpha.” He needn't know her name just yet, or anythin, not until the attitude changed. In the meantime, the Endore would be difficult and defiant, even if he asked five or six times.