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Damian looks up at me. What kind of classes?

Grown male wolf classes.

Can I go?

No.

Why?

“Because you’re six. You know like how you can’t say certain words that adults say.”

“Yes.”

“It’s the same concept.”

“You have to teach that to Darlene too. She’s learning new words.”

He frowns. I have a feeling one day Rylan will be in trouble with Selena for what he says around pups. I hope I can at least hear it when it happens.

Rylan continues. “The point would be helping each other become better mates. Male wolves talking honestly to other male wolves and holding each other accountable.”

A younger wolf raises his hand. “You really think male wolves would come?”

“Put food in the room,” someone calls.

“And beer.”

Rylan points toward the second wolf. “Food. We’ll discuss the beer.”

Laughter rolls through us again.

Then Rylan grows thoughtful. “But think bigger than yourselves for a minute. What if Silver Moon became known as the pack where shewolves found their mates and actually wanted to stay?”

The laughter disappears.

“You think male wolves are the only ones who talk? Shewolves talk to other shewolves. Sisters talk. Friends talk. Cousins talk. Pack reputations travel.”

An older warrior nods.

“So do individual reputations. If you spend years treating shewolves badly, don’t assume your fated mate is going to arrive knowing nothing about you. She may have already heard your name.”

Several male wolves groan.

“Don’t groan at me. You created the damn reputation.”

A few laughs follow.

“Imagine finding your fated mate in another pack and discovering she’s heard enough about Silver Moon, or about you, that she doesn’t want to live here. Now you’re trying to convince her this is a good place to raise your pups while she’s telling you she’d feel safer if you moved to her pack.”

Joshua nods beside him. “It happens.”

Rylan glances toward him.

“My brother Elias left Silver Moon for his mate.”

A few male wolves turn toward Joshua.

“He loved this pack. His family was here. His friends were here. His life was here. But his mate belonged to another pack, and when it came time to decide where they were going to build their life together, Elias went with her.”