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One of the stronger and more senior pack ’s place?"

"Given that the regi officer"

Professor Lyal had to one, this could prove difficult Major Channing ht be a pain in the proverbial posterior as a pack mate, but he was an excel ent officer with a reputation as a fire-eater, and he had the respect of both soldiers and fel ow officers Without hi as second, Lyal needed another officer to act the part so that the pack was seen as united with the regi soldiers in to support Woolsey as a last resort It was a truly horrible idea, using Her Majesty’s army to prevent an Alpha coup Werewolves had served their military contracts with dedication since Queen Elizabeth first integrated them, but they had always strived to keep pack protocol separate Nevertheless, Lyal was a enuity, and he would cal up the Coldstea was no Beta, so he objected further "Yes, but--"

"My decision is final" Professor Lyal finished his tea in one gulp, stood, summoned Adelphus to fol ow hientle wool cloaks before exiting through the front door, where an excited ers and Woolsey staff waited in the cold evening air

Professor Lyal could smel the loner even before he saw him His scent was not that of the Woolsey Pack, nor of any distant association The bloodline was off, reet him "Mr Ulf? How do you do?"

The olf looked at Lyal suspiciously "Lord Maccon?"

"Professor Lyal ," said Professor LyalAnd then to make matters clear to this upstart,

"And this is my second, Lieutenant Bluebutton"

The loner looked offended Lyal could tel from the man’s scent that this was for show He was neither upset nor nervous at seeing Lyal instead of Lord Maccon He had not expected the earl to e He had heard the rumors

Professor Lyal ’s lip curled He loathed lawyers

"The Alpha wil not even acknowledge e?" Mr Ulf’s question was a sly one "I know of you by reputation, of course, Professor, but why is Lord Maccon hinify that with an answer "Shal we proceed?"

He led the chal enger around the back of the castle, to the wide stone porch where the pack foughtsloping green of Woolsey’s well -tended lawn, a vast number of military-issue white canvas tents had sprouted, clearly visible under the aliment usual y camped around the front of Woolsey, but Alexia had had kittens over their presence and insisted they remove themselves to the back They were scheduled to depart for winter quarters in a week or so, having squatted at Woolsey merely for the sake of unity with the pack

Conventional niceties having been observed, pretty much everyone was now ready toafter the three ers Rafe and Phelan were looking rather haggard Lyal suspected he would have to insist they confine theht of mooncarabbed lanterns, andup to

Lyal and Mr Ulf both stripped and stood naked for al the world to see No one commented beyond a hoot and a whistle or two Military es and the indecency that preceded the affair

Professor Lyal was older than he cared to ade, at least enough in control of his own finer feelings not to shofroflesh, and, unfortunately, that was also what it felt like Werewolves cal ed their particular brand of immortality a curse Every time he shifted, Lyal wondered if this weren’t true and if the vaht not have made a better choice Certainly they could be kil ed by the sunlight, and they had to run around drinking people’s blood, but they could do both in co a olf, ith the nudity and the tyranny of the nified

And Professor Lyal was rather fond of his dignity

If asked, the surrounding e fronity, it was Professor LyalHe did the regiment proud and they al knew it They had seen their attache both on and off the battlefield, but none were as fast and quiet about it as Lyal

Spontaneously, they gave him a round of polite applause when he had finished

The s where Professor Lyal had been gave a little nod of ee was not nearly so elegant It was acco and whimpers of pain, but when coer than Professor LyalThe Woolsey Pack Beta was not perturbed by this discrepancy in size Most olves were a good deal larger than he

The chal enger attacked, but Lyal was already inin for the other’s throat There was so much to do back at BUR and he wanted to end the bout quickly

But the loner was a crafty fighter, nimble and adept He avoided Lyal ’s counterattack, and the two circled each other warily, both coht have underesti a circle of bodies around the pair The soldiers cal ed insults at the chal enger, the officers catcal ed, and the pack stood in silent wide-eyed attention

The loner charged at Professor Lyal , snapping Lyal dodged The chal enger skidded slightly on the s noise as he scrabbled for purchase Taking advantage of the skid, Lyal dove at hih force to knock hiether, buoaded them on Professor Lyal could feel the claws of the other wolf tearing against his soft underbel y as he bit viciously into the creature’s neck

This hat he disliked ly untidy He didn’tal over his own pristine coat, and blood fro the fur of his white ruff Even as a wolf, Professor Lyal did not like to be unkempt