Redhawk Caldera trust issues

Fox assured him that she was all right. Over the next few minutes, her purpose for calling became clear. She wanted the pack to gather for a team-building exercise. He looked at his mate's face, feeling mildly guilty. He'd kept his lips zipped about his recent encounter with Magpie and Dove, yet he must not have done a good job of hiding his feelings otherwise. His mate had sensed the tension and that was why they were here. The Alpha male's lips pursed as he scanned the gathering crowd of pack mates around them, which included both of Fox's sisters.

If he was the culprit, Fox didn't seem interested in fingering him, nor anyone else specifically. Peregrine felt some measure of relief when she declared she wasn't interested in details. She just wanted to foster a sense of unity among the caldera's wolves. He bobbed his head in agreement, then swept their audience with his jade gaze, giving them all a meaningful look to punctuate his mate's subtle warning. Their pups deserved to be raised in a cohesive environment. They were all adults who needed to put their petty differences aside and settle the larger ones.

Peregrine laughed inwardly at Fox's decision to make them swap compliments. Elwood quickly began, talking to Magpie. Then Grimm interrupted the natural order, addressing both Elwood and Finley. The Alpha male jolted when he remembered what had happened between her and Elwood. His ears fell back. Was Grimm being intentionally awkward? Was she undermining Fox's effort to lessen tension? Peregrine glanced at his mate, then shot Grimm a shrewd look and shook his head. He enjoyed making people feel awkward sometimes but now was really not the time.

Magpie assumed her rightful turn to speak in the next moment and Peregrine's eyes only shifted to her when she said his name. He could have taken her words as brown nosing and, inwardly, Peregrine mentally corrected her: she'd had more like three or four chances by now. But a quick glance at Fox and her big, round belly made him decide to give the yearling the benefit of the doubt, in the name of the game. He accepted the compliment with a quick, firm smile and a nod.

It was his turn now, wasn't it? Most of the wolves here were easy. Magpie, Elwood and Finley had been taken. Complimenting Fox would be taking the easy way out. He could have complimented Dove, yet he couldn't come up with any redeeming qualities, so he passed over her. He considered complimenting Grimm on her ability to bring two wolves together, yet it still didn't seem the time or place for that. Besides, Finley must already be uncomfortable if not angry already.

"Som," he eventually said, "you're one of the highest-caliber wolves here. Even when things aren't going so hot for you, you're always there for your pack mates. You are the caldera's unsung hero. Thank you for everything you do... and for not immediately running off to make your own awesome pack, which you'd be fully capable of doing." He favored the Gamma with a crooked grin, then fell silent.