Rick didn't seem to know anybody. It struck me that was because, unlike his adopted brothers who had new friends, he stayed in the infirmary watching April all the time.

'You make a valid point,' Joel mused. 'Rick spends too much time in this infirmary doting on his mate. He has not taken the time to fully integrate with the pack.'

'I think it would be counterproductive to punish him for protecting April,' I said. 'You are right, he spends all his time with the humans. Rick doesn't know the pack at all.'

'He won't like it, but it is time we changed that,' Joel sent into my head.

"Rick,"...