34

At his side was a man around his age, only his hair was gray, wavy, and gathered over his shoulder in several braids. His beard was an even darker shade of gray and reached his chest. He was Birchen, Oakley’s beta.

“It’s a pleasure to see you, Alpha Shepherd,” Oakley said, bowing his head slightly. “I wish we were receiving you under better circumstances.”

Night nodded. “Tell us what’s happened, Alpha.”

Oakley and Birchen glanced at me, Tavi, and a few of the other women we’d brought along. Neither of them answered for a few seconds, as if they were waiting for us to do something. What the hell was up with that?

“We were attacked by ferals,” Oakley said finally. “They came for us while we slept and nearly destroyed our buildings.”

“Is this all your injured?” I asked, gesturing toward the groups of people huddled together.

Neither Oakley nor Birchen looked at me. They shifted from foot to foot. That was when I understood their hesitance. The Camas Pack was traditional to a fault. They