Page 7 of Cats and Dogs

Chapter 4

Evaluation

“Hey.”

Hunter sighed as he turned to the kid.

He didn’t speak to children as a rule; especially not to those who were too young to have gone through their evaluation, but Anna was an exception. It had to do with her eyes, or maybe her hair. Blonde hair, blue eyes, just like his sister. It wasn’t common in the pack. She didn’t look like Gwen at all, but that was enough.

“What now?” He growled grumpily.

Growling was kinda his thing these days.

“Mama says you went to college. Is that true?”

“So what?”

“So, maybe I can go to college someday, too, I guess.”

He kicked a rock in the road. “Sure you can, if you’re good enough.”

“Nice one. Thank you, Hunter. Gotta go! Your daddy said we all have to get dressed nice and come in.”

He stiffened. Today? This year’s evaluation was today. How come he hadn’t heard of it?

Hunter's nose caught something in the distance, and he turned to find his father walking towards him, Jason by his side.

"Hunter. With me."

The three words were infused with all the weight of his dominance, making them an Alpha's command. Hunter was moving before he'd made any conscious decision; he didn't have any choice in the matter. His steps followed one step behind Arthur, to his left. He didn't even bother to ask where they were going.

It soon became obvious. They were in front of his father's cabin, where most of the pack was gathered.

Hunter knew why.

"Most of the enforcers working right now are here," he said, his tone carefully indifferent, slightly bored. "Which means we only have three guys on the borders. I should return to my post."

"You will stay with me," was Arthur's response. He sat down on the step of his porch, and got his pocketknife out, twirling it around his hand. "You're never around for pack gatherings. It has been noted and brought to my attention."

Shit.

"I'm not comfortable leaving the territory so unmanned, Dad."

"I sent Brian and Trent. Now shut up. It's almost time."

Hunter's chest rose and fell as seconds passed. The crowd thickened, and soon there were a dozen kids in front of the Alpha, surrounded by ten enforcers.

At six o'clock exactly, Arthur's mobile phone alarm rang. He got to his feet and directed his eyes to the kids.

"Hey, guys. You know why you're here. You know why I've never said your names before this day. You were your parents’ charges. Now you become part of my pack, kiddos. I'm gonna need you to stand in line."

The twelve children were messy about it, elbowing each other to get to the place they wanted to take, but, after a minute, they'd obeyed.

"Good, good," Arthur drawled. "You're all little fighters. That's what we like here. Now, you're going to step in front of me one by one. I'm gonna speak to you for a minute. Ready?"

Hunter recalled his own evaluation. It had been nothing more than a formality; everyone had known he was a dominant long before. But he'd stressed out all the same, and he could feel fear radiating from the kids.

Anna was the third in line. She'd gotten changed into a clean pair of jeans and a black blouse. Catching her eyes, Hunter had a hard time remaining where he stood.

---