Page 8 of Cats and Dogs

This was so fucking messed up.

"Right, you, come closer."

The first kid obeyed; a tall and skinny boy. "Hey, pup. You're Pete's boy, am I right?"

He nodded, and croaked, "Yes, sir."

"Hm. You shifted last year. How do you like it?"

The kid couldn't help himself, he smiled a little, thinking about his first shift, no doubt. "A lot, sir. My brother shifted before me and it was awesome to run with him. Play. Catch up with him."

"I bet, pup, I bet. Now come here. Look into my eyes."

Arthur bent forward to be at the boy's level. A second passed. Hunter wasn't breathing.

"Good, good. You go stand with my sons, Jack. Welcome to the pack."

The first had passed the test. The second dropped his eyes when the Alpha's glare was directed to him, but Arthur said his name and told him to go stand behind them, too. This wasn't a submissive reaction, as much as an acknowledgement of Arthur's dominance. It was then Anna's turn.

"The first girl. They tell me you're a good swimmer."

The kid grinned. "Yes, sir. I swam before shifting but my wolf just loves the water."

"I bet. It's hotter than Satan's butthole this summer. Y’all probably go to the river a lot, hey?"

"Hell, yes!" She thought better of it, and added a hesitant, "sir," as an afterthought.

The kid was doing just fine. Hunter was a little less agitated even before she passed the test.

"Anna, go hang out with my sons. And I'll be watching you, young lady."

Of course he would. Alphas watched the most dominant members of their prides, regardless of their age.

By the time they go to the ninth kid, Hunter had chilled. As the Vergas pack had culled their members from submissive lines for centuries, there weren't submissives at every evaluation. Looked like he'd gotten lucky. Three kids left.

The boy who stepped in next made Hunter pause. He made him feel something strange, primal, although Hunter didn't know him at all. A need to cast himself between him and danger. Protect him. He frowned, observing him closely.

He had dark messy hair and brown eyes, just like most people in the pack; nondescript. He wasn't small, nor very tall. Not too scrawny, certainly not beefy. There was very little to distinguish him from his peers.

He was sweating, more than the other kids. His eyes weren't directly fixed ahead; they jumped from his feet to the enforcers around him, caught a glance of the Alpha and returned to his feet.

He knew, immediately. So did his father.

"Well, well. What have we here."

Arthur's tone was different. Lower, slower. Amused, playful. Predatory.

The boy started to tremble and looked to the crowd, searching it frantically. Searching for help, or for an escape.

"Come here, boy."

He didn't.

The enforcers approached, closing in on him.

"I...I," said the boy, stammering.

"Speak louder, boy. I'm sure what you have to say is positively fascinating."

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