Daniel didn't have far to go. He walked onto the Lakota reservation, but he did not walk as a man. He moved through the trees as the Great Storm—a massive, terrifying wolf, his paws silent on the earth.

  ?He padded toward the campfire, the light reflecting in his eyes.

  ?Waglú?e, in human form, approached the massive beast as sooner as he sensed him. "Great Wolf!" he said, greeting the animal with a wide smile. He immediately barked an order to one of the young men standing nearby. "Go get him pants."

  ?Daniel’s form blurred, bones shifting and fur receding, until he stood there as a man, naked and unbothered by the cool air.

  ?"Don't refer to me that way, Waglú?e," Daniel told him as he accepted the leather pants from the young wolf. They bumped shoulders, greeting each other with a heavy familiarity. "Unless we are no longer friends."

  ?"Of course not, Daniel."

  ?Waglú?e had the body of a young man—fit and strong—but like Daniel, his eyes were ancient. Most wolves of Native descent viewed him as another leader, a peer to the Great Storm. Daniel thought him the better man.

  ?"Here you go, Daniel," the young man said, handing over the pants with a tremble in his hand.

  ?Waglú?e growled at the boy.

  ?"I'm sorry, Grandfather," the boy corrected quickly, bowing his head.”I mean Great Wolf.”

  ?Daniel pulled the pants on. "I've never been much for titles, old friend," he said when the boy scuttled away.

  ?"I know, Brother. But I don't possess your power. So titles and discipline are more important for me."

  Waglú?e watched Daniel survey the young wolves with a dangerous glint in his eye. "You always have access to whatever authority my power affords."

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  ?"Of course. But let's not pretend you don't get my meaning."

  ?Daniel nodded, and the two men touched foreheads in a sign of deep respect. He followed Waglú?e to the fire and they sat. It was a mixed group: humans and male werewolves living together in peace.

  ?"Your pack never ceases to amaze me, Waglú?e," Daniel said. "Even my daughter doesn't possess the self-control for a human mate."

  ?Waglú?e laughed softly. "My people have lived with Tonweya for thousands of years. You Europeans are the ones who divide everything up."

  ?"I'm glad Kim is near you."

  ?"I'm glad she is, too. We should have her come to the fire some night."

  ?"We've taught her to fear the males of our species. But the other night did her good.”

  ?"Perhaps rightly so. But my hounds won't force themselves on her," Waglú?e promised.

  ?"I heard she was attacked defending the Grey wolves. I'm sorry."

  ?"An example has to be made," Daniel growled, the fire reflecting in his eyes.

  ?"You've always let me manage the Hidden Tribe. Do you not trust me now?"

  ?Daniel’s face couldn't help but soften as he looked around the circle. He saw werewolves sitting with their human spouses, children playing nearby. "If they hurt one of yours, I would have come myself and ripped them from their sacred lands." He could feel his anger mounting, the air around him growing heavy. Two other wolves stopped sparring near the fire and backed away. The humans quietly left the circle.

  ?"If you want to, I won't stop you."

  ?Daniel shook his head, forcing the rage down. "No. I'm trying to be better."

  ?Waglú?e put a hand on his shoulder. "I have known, and known of, many Alphas in my time, Brother. None have tried harder."

  ?"If they hurt my girls ever again, I will kill every last one," Daniel warned. "I don't respect your treaty. I respect you."

  ?"Respectfully, Brother, she's our girl too. If they come at her again, there will be no peace."

  ?Daniel nodded gravely.

  ?Waglú?e gently changed the topic. "It has been very long since there have been any other female werewolves besides Mary."

  ?Daniel took a while to answer. He knew his friend was struggling. Waglú?e’s people viewed Sasquatch as brothers; Daniel viewed them as pests. He knew the attempt to change the topic was his way of asking him to let him deal with it.

  ?"I want my daughters to spend more time with you and your pack." He looked at the families again. "They deserve mates that can be gentle." Waglú?e knew this wasn't just idle chatter. It was a clause in any treaty the Great Wolf would respect.

  ?Waglú?e patted him on the shoulder. "You may not be gentle, Brother. But you are good. Which allows for a world where others to be gentle."

  ?They waited in silence for a while, Daniel watching the humans slowly return to the fire. Some even approached him to offer respect, sensing his bond with their Elder.

  ?"Does she know Sekwan is a Skinwalker?" Waglú?e asked quietly.

  ?Daniel shook his head. "No.”