Ravensblood Forest Trees of Crimson

Well, I wouldn't want to insult you, she teased, brushing back against him with her own playful smile lifting one side of her lips. 

She faltered a little when she heard the surprise in his voice, turning her head and to look at him with a hint of indignation in her expression. I'm the beta, she answered first. That surprises you? She picked up her pace again, obviously a little miffed even if she was trying to hide it. What was so surprising about her being a leader? She was young, but she was capable and had worked hard to train as a warrior. Mal knew all of that, and that was why he had offered her the position. 

His next question was met with maybe a little smile, but she definitely also offered him the full brunt of her attitude. That's to be determined, she told him, brushing against him but not looking at him. She didn't want to get rid of him, quite the opposite actually, but he didn't need to know that yet. He would probably just be smug about it.