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leapt, body twisting as her sharp teeth snapped
    down on a bird. Good girl. Good girl. She had to offer him some. He’d let Kody show her.
    She shook the bird hard, feathers flying. Kody came padding up with the rabbit in his
    jaws, offering it to him easily, tail wagging.
    Snapping it out of Kody’s jaws, he took his share, then gave it back. Good. Hot.
    Then Kody took the rabbit to Sammy, nudging it over to her. Sammy chirruped softly,
    backed away. Kody nudged the rabbit closer, vocalizing happily.
    Mesa willed her to cooperate. Come on, girl, you can do it.
    Her nose wrinkled, her head tilted, and she dropped the bird in front of Kody, who
    danced uncomfortably.
    He barked, issuing her an order.
    She met his eyes, challenging, and barked back.
    Mesa let his lips slide back over his teeth, growling low. No more challenges. Not today.
    Kody rumbled softly, brought him the bird, took her the squirrel, waves of peace pouring
    from their Beta. That was his job, Mesa knew, but it still made him want to bite something. He snapped his teeth before tearing the bird in half.
    Kody watched them eat, dancing restlessly, paws bouncing on the dried leaves.
    He gave Kody the rest of the bird, licking the soft muzzle. Sweet boy.
    Kody ate happily, then came to him, grooming him, the song of praise and pleasure like a
    drug.
    Mesa could have curled up right there, nose to tail with his Beta, but Sammy was still
    staring, vibrating. So he called to her. She took a step forward, ears swiveling, nostrils flaring.
    She wanted to come, wanted to be praised and scented, made pack. Mesa called to her again, a
    song of happiness, of need. He let Kody call to her, too. Carefully, softly, she called back,
    coming closer, one step at a time. She was lovely—pale and well-formed, limber. Lovely.
    He stretched his neck out, blowing out a breath, letting her scent him. Feel him. She
    stretched out, hind quarters up, not bowing to him, but obviously intrigued, interested. He
    breathed out again, giving her something to sniff, a reason to come closer.
    Soon she was there, nose-to-nose with him, breathing him in, vocalizing her fear, her
    interest. So brave, so lovely. His Kody had done so well. Mesa slid forward one step, his muzzle sliding along hers. Soft. Sweet.
    She was still, shivering, sniffing hard, but Kody eased down beside them, watching and
    relaxed, and she let him scent her again. Mesa moved closer, just a tiny bit. She had to accept him, but he was willing to ease into it. Soft little sounds left her, his lady trying to communicate.
    She would learn. Her instincts were fantastic. Damned near perfect.
    Sammy began to relax, began to lean into him, panting, so he vocalized, low and easy, his
    tail thumping when she nuzzled him, took a deep breath. Better. Sweet lady.
    Kody rolled over, showed his white belly, paws in the air.
    Fucking A. Mesa showed her how to nuzzle, how to accept Kody’s gift. Sweet wolf.
    She buried her muzzle in Kody’s fur, breathing deep, posture relaxing even more.
    Mesa lay down with them, pushing in, protecting them from the undefended side of the
    clearing. That was his job. Kody rumbled happily, nose pushing into his fur as his mate breathed deep. Happiness poured over him.
    They would rest. Help Sammy start to understand her wolf.
    And when they changed back, well, they would start arguing about going home. Mesa
    had no doubt that would be entertaining.

Chapter Five

    Kody woke up to whimpers, his lady’s paws scrabbling at the leaves. Dreaming. She was
    dreaming. He crawled over, vocalizing, pouring himself into her dream, into her heart. My Lady.
    Her mind was dark, frightening, and her dream-self turned, snapping at him, and he
    bowed. She stopped moving, whining, staring at him with scared eyes. Her tail was curled over
    her back, not a happy thing, not a submissive one, either.
    Poor baby, so brave. He let himself be proud of her, let her feel it, let her hear him. Her
    head dipped, her sides heaving.