Joel came toward me and planted a kiss on my lips before striding out of the room. He still had much that needed looking after upstairs, so he didn't even glance back. I turned back to the female I had come from treating and started back cleaning her cuts and scratches.

"Madam Alpha," Rick said quietly from beside me, "should I go find the head of the kitchen now?"

"Yes," I answered picking dirt and rock out of the girl's cut in front of me. The wound needed to be flushed so it would close quickly.

"Who would I be looking for Madam?" Rick asked hesitantly.

I stilled my hands...