Porcupine Ridge the shining [m]

He yelped and whined as Taggarik's teeth thrashed against his snout, leaving angry welts. He half expected to be chased out of the pack completely, although this was all just ritual behaviour at its heart and it was the job of the pack alpha to secure breeding rights rather than the duty of subordinates to freely give it to him, if only because the pinch of teeth was more than expected. Then again, the beta wolf had been more than brazen and deserved such treatment, and even as Taggarik prowled toward Vuk, he knew in his heart of hearts he intended to do so again.

Capriccio's intervention was noted but not responded to. While he would ache to know he had not only disobeyed the alpha female but also disregarded her in spite of his respect for her, this too was a natural behaviour. The males contended with the males, and the females with the females, and in breeding season there was almost no crossover between the two, so his eyes were only for Taggarik. And Vuk. It was with a desperate want to continue his bloodline that he took dogged steps forward, head lowered and abused muzzle thrust down and ears plastered to his head, in another brazen attempt at Vuk.