"Finally," I said, stepping back onto the platform. "The integration of Moonshadow Pack."

My eight wolves moved forward.

Ariana in the lead, Shane anchoring the rear, the others in the formation they'd drilled a hundred times.

They stood beside me, battle-ready, professional, radiating the quiet confidence of wolves who'd been forged in a warehouse compound, tempered in combat.

"These wolves were cast out by their former packs. Called too weak. Too difficult. Too old. Too female."

I let the irony hang.

"Under my training, every single one of them exceeded the combat standards of their former ranks. Several exceeded the standards of this pack's current warriors."

Uncomfortable shifting in the...