"She's not fertile, so no. We prefer our own kind for normal sex, but having a puppy or cub is rare enough that fertile breeders are valuable."

"Melinda won't be in danger if she's pregnant, will she?" Martin asked.

"No, but when she's prepared to give us our puppy, we would prefer she's here where she has the maximum protection of the pack. That's when she's most valuable and vulnerable. No one is interested in hurting her, but involuntary sex might become an issue."

"You mean rape, don't you?" Martin said.

"I mean rape. Not from our pack. Never from our pack, but the risk is out there from other...