Page 88 of Victoria's Discovery

When she peeked at him, he averted his gaze and seemed to deliberately relax his pose, like a predator pretending nonchalance to disarm their prey.

Clearing his throat, he continued, “The Gaulik must’ve taken them from Kardesh when they took me. Some of these are mine, some wild, others taken from some other breeder.”

Snitch flew off her shoulder, making a beeline for the alpha. Gasping, Victoria started to go after him before he got himself eaten.

“It’s alright. They know each other.”

Sure enough, Snitch circled her head once, twice, before landing on her upturned snout. Pushing up to stand on his hind legs, he waddle walked up her face then turned and sat like a tiny king on her head, holding on to her pointed ears like they were reins. For her part, the alpha didn’t seem surprised or all that bothered by it, appearing indulgent, if a bit long-suffering, like this was something Snitch did often.

Huffing a relieved laugh, she relaxed. Seeing Snitch so at ease and learning they were tame-ish was all it took for her focus to zero back in on the lupka at the back of the pack.

Change of plans. Pet the giant wolf firstthenconfront Vi’kail. And not because I’m a chicken.

Still cautious but determined to pet the fluffy beast, she began making her way around the pack.

“Vee, where are you going?” The way he drew her name out told her he knew she was about to do something he wouldn’t like.

“Hmm? Oh, nowhere. I’m just, uh, moving so I can see them better.”

Ha. See ‘em better with my hands in their floof.

It only took four steps for the straggler she’d set dibs on to realize she was headed right for her. She turned to pin Victoria with glowing eyes and stiffened warily.

Vi’kail seemed to realize her destination at the same time because his voice was sharp when he said her name.

“That one’s not tame, Vee. She’s a wildling. Don’—”

Too late. Victoria heard him curse and begin to make his way through the pack toward her, but she was already there. She stopped less than two feet away from the horse-sized creature, gazing up into her bright turquoise eyes, noting the sharp intelligence there.

“Hello, beautiful,” she breathed.

To an outsider, Victoria probably looked like she either had a death-wish, zero sense of self-preservation, or was just an idiot. Maybe they were right. But they wouldn’t know she’d worked at the wildlife refuge just outside her town all four years of high school and had experience working with wild animals.

Was she still taking a risk? Definitely. And, yet, there was a pull, a tug drawing her closer, one that washed away the fear she probably should’ve felt.

Something told her this creature wasn’t going to hurt her unless she scared her or did something to piss her off. Victoria had no intention of doing either.

She held out a hand to Vi’kail, both relieved and pleased when he stopped, and focused completely on the creature in front of her.

For her part, the lupka was tense but not scared, curious and wary but looked to be intensely interested to see what the odd creature in front of her was going to do.

When Victoria just stood there, waiting, the lupka slowly, haltingly, lowered her head, coming within petting distance. Movement slow, giving the animal plenty of time to withdraw, Victoria raised a hand and lightly stroked her fingertips down her snout.

Vi’kail made a sound halfway between a grunt and a gasp, muttering something under his breath, but she ignored him in favor of keeping her eyes on…

“Does she have a name?”

“Ah, I’ve been callin’ herRatesha’lonix.‘No translation.’”

“That’s a mouthful. What does it mean?” It definitely meant something, judging from the sarcastic, almost accusatory way he said it, despite what the translator thought.

He snorted softly. “Roughly translates to, ‘have caution lest she cure your breathing.’ A phrase used for a female with a notably quick temper and a willingness to show her displeasure by use of fang or claw.”

That surprised a short laugh out of her. Meeting the lupka’s eyes, she teased, “Have you been giving Vi’kail a hard time, beautiful?”

“Too mild, that. Prickly lupka has nipped me beyond countin’. Good thing the RegenBands don’ wear out or I’d’ve gone through a score. And it’s Tesha for short.”

Taking exception to that, Tesha cut her gaze to Vi’kail and bared a whole hell of a lot of sharp teeth then, like she wanted to prove him wrong, hesitantly stepped into Victoria and bent to nudge her chest with her muzzle, making a low sound like a purr.

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