Porcupine Ridge For a mother, a brother and me

The pack surged forward as one with the blinding speed that characterized their species. Farstep's attack missed its mark as the youth twisted away from him, surprisingly fast on its feet. The mercenary's paw skidded on the wet snow below him, the miss unexpected, and he corrected himself with a half-bound. Leo was given almost no time to put distance between himself and his assailant. Farstep pressed the assault too quickly, rushing forward as soon as he found his footing, and he snapped for the boy's face once more.

His teeth caught on flesh and he reared back his head, dragging his upper jaw along the youth's snout and leaving angry red welts to bubble slowly with blood. He felt a sharp pinch somewhere in the region of the side of his neck, causing him to snarl painfully and pull back before either of them could get a good grip on the other. The guardian didn't get a third opportunity. As he arranged his paws for another lunge, Taggarik stole his attention with a sharp woof and the beta male rallied to his leader's side.

Only then did he realize that the mountain clan was defeated. Their alpha female submitted, and by her actions, so did the rest of the pack fall. He pulled long breaths through his nose, noting a dampness on the side of his neck where either Leo or someone else had got a decent bite in, and awaited further action from his alphas. When none was taken and the mountain wolves left with their pride in shambles, the beta finally stood down, allowing himself to sink to the snow and roll across it, leaving a pinkish smear from the wound in the crook of his neck and shoulder.