“I would expect nothing less.”Larissa’s eyes glinted.
At a sudden commotion down the street, both their heads whipped around, their wolf-sharp senses instantly alert.
A group of teenagers had gathered in front of an empty storefront, their voices raised in anger.
Without a word, Malcolm and Larissa moved in unison toward the disturbance.As they approached, Malcolm recognized one of the boys as Owen.He was facing off against three human boys, his fists clenched at his sides.
“What’s going on here?”Malcolm demanded, the unmistakable tone of authority in his voice.
The boys, pack and human alike, immediately straightened up, recognizing the presence of adults.Owen’s eyes widened as he caught sight of Malcolm and Larissa.
“Nothing,” one of the human boys mumbled, not meeting Malcolm’s eyes.
“Didn’t sound like nothing,” Larissa said, her voice firm but not unkind.“Owen?Care to explain?”
Owen shifted uncomfortably, glancing between Malcolm and Larissa.“They were… They were saying things.About my family.About us being weird and secretive.”
A rumble built in Malcolm’s chest.The secrecy of the pack was paramount, but so was protecting their younger members from bullying.He opened his mouth to speak, but Larissa beat him to it.
“I see,” she said calmly.“And you thought the best way to handle that was to get into a fight in the middle of town?”
Owen hung his head.“No, ma’am.”
Larissa turned to the human boys.“And you three.I know your parents.Do you think they’d be proud to hear about you ganging up on someone and spreading rumors?”
The boys shuffled their feet, looking properly chastised.
“I think it’s time you all headed home,” Malcolm added, his tone brooking no argument.“Owen, we’ll talk about this later.”
As the boys dispersed, Malcolm turned to Larissa.“Nice work,” he said grudgingly.“You handled that well.You defused the tension without giving away anything about the pack.”
Larissa shrugged, but she had a pleased glint in her eye.“Sometimes a softer touch is as effective as—or more effective than—arm-twisting.”
Her words triggered another memory, this one from their late teens.It had been a hunting competition, meant to test their tracking skills.Malcolm had been so sure he’d win—he was the stronger wolf, after all.But Larissa had outperformed him, tracking their prey through difficult terrain with a patience and attention to detail that had left him in awe.
“How did you do it?”he asked her afterward.
Larissa smiled, a rare moment of openness between them.“I listened,” she said simply.“Not just with my ears, but with all my senses.The land speaks, if you know how to hear it.”
Standing in the middle of town now, years later, Malcolm realized Larissa was still teaching him that same lesson.There was more than one way to lead, more than one kind of strength.
“We make a good team,” he said, surprising them both.
Larissa glanced up at him sharply, as if trying to detect any hint of sarcasm.When she found none, her expression softened.“We do,” she agreed.“When we’re not at each other’s throats, that is.”
A comfortable silence fell between them, broken only by the ambient sounds of the town—distant car engines, the faint tinkling of wind chimes from a nearby porch.
What would it be like if they were always in accord like this?
But reality intruded quickly.They were rivals for the position of alpha.
Malcolm pushed away the moment of weakness, straightening his shoulders.
“I should get going,” he said, his voice gruffer than he intended.“Pack business to attend to.”
Larissa nodded, her own demeanor cooling slightly.“Of course.I’m sure we’ll see each other soon enough.”
As she turned to leave, Malcolm caught himself watching her go.
