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muzzle grew. Their mate.
    Their girl.
    She was unbearably beautiful—gray and strong, small but muscled. Kody was more wolf
    now than Mesa had ever seen him be, pale and lean and lovely but so male, almost glowing with
    power, and it made him proud, all the way to the tip of his tail. Kody nosed their girl to her feet, licking her chin, her face. Trembling and as shaky as a newborn, Sammy stood, panting
    furiously.
    Making soothing noises, Mesa licked her, too. He put a shoulder against her ribs, helping
    her get used to four legs.
    Mates. Sweet girl. We have you.
    She barked once, sharply, and Mesa wanted to howl with victory, so proud of his Kody
    that he couldn’t bear it. He nudged them out the flap of the tent, knowing she would run with
    them now, not away from them. As a wolf, at least.
    Sammy headed out, tentative, nostrils flaring.
    It had to be overwhelming. Mesa couldn’t remember not having his senses, his wolf.
    It was Kody that was murmuring, growling, singing, calling to him. To her. Rejoicing.
    His Kody was rejoicing. It made him bark his joy, to know that Kody was happy he was there,
    that he hadn’t ruined Kody’s life.
    Kody pounced him, licked his muzzle, then bounced back to Sammy, eager and playful.
    She growled, obviously surprised by Kody’s movement, teeth bared, backed away, so
    Kody dropped his head, submissive, that song sounding again.
    Mesa went to her, though, standing high above her shoulder as he forced her to stop, his
    teeth closing on the back of her neck. Her scream was wild, fierce, her teeth snapping at the air as she fought him.
    No. No, he was the Alpha. It had to work that way. He snapped at her, pushing her.
    He could hear Kody, trying to ease her, trying to help, but she struggled, shoulders
    heaving under him. Mesa got her to the ground, trying not to bite down too hard. He put his chest ridge on her, pressing. She went down, she had to, whining and barking the entire way. Kody
    danced, crooning softly, worried. There. There, now he could praise her, let her know how
    beautiful she was. He shook her ruff a tiny bit, making a play noise.
    Her scent filled his nose, rich and female. Right. She whimpered softly, her fear evident,
    but Kody relaxed and a sense of ease and well being poured over him.
    Licking her whiskers, he let her up. She just had to know the food chain.
    She scrambled away from him, from Kody, her hackles raised. Then her nostrils flared,
    her attention caught by something in the trees.
    Mesa tipped his head up, testing the air.
    Squirrel. Such a good nose on his girl. How had she never known, or changed?
    Nudging her, he pushed her toward the scent. Hunt. They should hunt. She snapped at
    him, then sniffed, caught by her nose, heading straight for the trees. Kody chuffed, tongue
    lolling, before taking off after her. Mesa checked for danger before following. Kody didn’t
    interfere with the hunt, didn’t help, but Sammy didn’t need help. At all.
    She tracked the squirrels to the roots of the tree, paws scrabbling furiously.
    Kody nuzzled her, and Mesa could hear the words in his head. Yes. Good hunt.
    Sammy stopped, stared at Kody, then she nudged him with her head, rubbing him.
    Mesa pushed up, not between them, but imposing his presence. His sweet Beta backed
    away, but his girl, her eyes snapped, teeth bared. If he could have rolled his eyes, he would have.
    Damn it, why was this hard? He bit her ear, just hard enough to sting. Her yelp was furious, but it was Kody’s laughter he heard.
    He wanted to bite Kody, too, but for different reasons. Mesa whirled, running, calling for
    his mates. Kody nudged her, called to her, gave her that bushy tail to follow.
    He would hunt now, give Sammy something to see, something to understand. He’d share
    his kill with them.
    Maybe.
    If Kody would stop crashing through the damned leaves.
    Mesa dove to the right, pushing through underbrush. He startled out two birds and a
    rabbit. Kody went for the rabbit, but Sammy