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MALES WILL ESTABLISH THEIR ALPHA RANK THROUGH RITUAL COMBAT: ONE WOLF MAY CHALLENGE ANOTHER, RESULTING IN A FIGHT THAT DETERMINES WHICH WOLF IS SUPERIOR REPEATED VICTORIES WILL EARN RESPECT FOR THE MALE WOLF, AND ULTIMATELY DECIDE THE PACK LEADER
THE NEXT STEP IN THE PACK HIERARCHY ARE THE BETA WOLVES, WHO OFTEN HUNT AND PROVIDE PROTECTION TO THE CUBS
THE OMEGA WOLF IS THE LOWEST RANKING IN THE PACK OFTEN TREATED AS A SCAPEGOAT, THE OMEGAS ARE OCCASIONALLY PICKED ON BY THE REST OF THE PACK THIS CAN LEAD TO THE OMEGA DRIFTING TO THE EDGES OF THE PACK’S TERRITORY AND, ON OCCASION, LEAVING THE PACK ALTOGETHER
A flurry of clucking startled Scarlet
Setting the port on the counter, she peered out theHer stomach flipped
The shadow of aaway frolanced up and spotted Scarlet in the
She spun away Sing the rising panic, she ran into the foyer and snatched her grandun from its corner beneath the stairs
Wolf hadn’t moved by the time she’d thrown open the front door The chickens were already growing fa around his feet in search of falling seed
Scarlet settled the gun in her arms and released the safety
If he was surprised, he didn’t show it
"What do you want?" she yelled, startling the hens away froravel Her shadow shifted across the drive, alone, and the bruises on his face were nearly invisible He seeh he didn’tsilence, he raised both hands to either side of his head, open palain" As if to ift," she deadpanned "Keep your hands up"
His fingers twitched in acknowledgment
Scarlet paced out froravel bit into her bare feet Her senses prickled, waiting for Wolf to make any sudden movement, but he was as still as the stone house behind her
"I’ve already co back to the portscreen left on the kitchen counter
His eyes caught the light, and Scarlet suddenly re upstairs Was it too e hiet here?"
"Walked Well, ran,messy patterns in his hair "Would you like uard "I want you to tellhere If you think I’lare, she peered down the barrel to make sure she still had hiht About the tattoo … and what happened to your grandmother And your father"
Scarlet clenched her jaw "How did you find out where I live?"
His brow furrowed, as if in confusion "Your ship has the name of your farm on it, so I looked it up I don’t mean you any harm It just seemed like you needed help"
"Help?" Heat flared in her cheeks "Frorand "There are other tattoos like mine It was someone else"
"Oh, really? Like you’re part of so?" The feathered body of one of the chickens pressed against her leg and she started, barely ," he said with a flinching shrug One foot crunched against the gravel
"Don’t come any closer!" Scarlet yelled The chicken clucked and dawdled away "I will shoot, you know"
"I know" A flicker of kindness passed over him and he pointed at his temple "You’ll want to aim for the head That usuallyshaky, the torso It’s a larger target"
"Your head looks pretty big fro about hirowl vibrated in Scarlet’s throat This randmother was still out there
Wolf dropped his arms and folded theain, he was speaking "I’d been hoping to iht, but it seemed to backfire on erandrand the tirade out of Scarlet’s le of chickens as they tramped around the door "But if it really was soure out who did"