Granger gathered up the practice weapons when he heard a voice call out.

“Granger,”

Granger turned to see Saul. He was surprised and a little confused. They had met a few times, rode back to Winter together two weeks before, but beyond that, there was no real reason for them to socialize.

“Aren’t you taking time off with your family? Didn’t your mate just have a baby?” Granger asked, turning to give his full attention.

“Yes,” Saul said, holding up a bag, “oatmeal cookies, kale, broccoli, hummus. Foods that encourage lactation.”

Granger looked at the bag and back at Saul.

“There was no reason for me to know that,” Granger replied, feeling awkward. “You could have just said you made a grocery run.”

Saul grunted in response.

“What did you need?” Granger asked with an irritated sigh.

Saul took a step closer.

“When I was at the store, I heard something. One of the scouts was chatting with a few of the younger warriors,” Saul said, looking carefully at Granger as he spoke. “He was speaking ill of the Summer wolves.”

Granger did not react. No surprise, no confusion, nothing at all._.

“You seem aware of this already,” Saul commented.

“It’s not unheard of. It’s a well-known fact that Summer and Winter are not friends. So why should I be surprised that some of the wolves are expressing their opinions?” Granger answered uninterestedly.

“This wolf mentioned that Beta Galen and Alpha Caleb specifically were of questionable character,” Saul stated.

“Oh?” Granger said, raising his eyebrows in feigned shock.

Saul simply nodded in response.

“Saul is there a reason you are talking to me about this in particular.”

“He said that Alpha Caleb behaved inappropriately toward Ashleigh,” Saul replied.

“Really? Well, I’m sure you know by now that he did argue with her before the birthday party.” Granger answered.

Saul took a step closer, again looking over Granger carefully.

Granger stood up straight, feeling irritated by how the other man was looking him over.

“The boy claimed that Beta Galen threatened one of our wolves,” Saul said calmly.

“I hadn’t heard about that. Strange.” Granger replied, “Again, is there a reason you are sharing this with me? Or is gossip a secret passion of yours?”

“The scout I spoke with is a member of your team,” Saul answered, “as a leader, you are just as responsible for their behavior as they are. I have informed you of their poor conduct. What you do with that is up to you.”

Saul turned to leave.

Granger felt that simmering rage in him, the one that had been slowly boiling for weeks. Saul turning his back on him, telling him what to do. Who did he think he was?

“How is telling the truth poor conduct?” Granger asked arrogantly.

Saul turned back, his expression unchanged.

“From what I can tell, nothing my scout said is wrong,” Granger smiled, “I see no reason to speak well of the Summer wolves. They are arrogant bastards that think they are better than us. So why should I care if someone voices their opinion?”

“Is that your opinion?” Saul asked.

“My opinion is that Caleb is a good for nothing piece of shit! And his lapdog is nothing more than an errand boy chasing after broken dolls.”

“You have no respect,” Saul said, a low growl barely audible in his voice.

“You mean the ‘alpha’ title?” Granger laughed bitterly, “Why should I respect him? He is not my alpha. He’s just another wolf that needs to learn not to touch what doesn’t belong to him!”

He finished his words with a low growl.

Saul shook his head in disapproval.

“You show no respect for anyone,” Saul replied.

Granger’s only response was to scoff.

“Keep on the training grounds, and I will not be forced to interfere,” Saul sighed, “I need to get back to my mate and my daughter. Do not take it too far.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Granger snarled.

“Your training in respect,” Saul answered, turning and walking away.

Granger watched him walk away without another word.

‘Old fool,’ he thought to himself. He shook his head before turning his attention back to what he had been doing before Saul’s arrival. He bent to pick up the discarded training bow when he noticed an extra shadow.

He followed the shadow with his eye, landing on the man attached to the shadow. He looked down at Granger, with eyes aglow and a brazen fury. Before Granger could react, he was lifted off the ground and held in the air. Now looking down, rather than up, Granger could clearly identify the frighteningly familiar man.

“You made her cry!” Galen snarled before throwing Granger roughly back down to the ground.

He fell with a heavy thud and a burst of white hot pain in his shoulder as he hit the ground. Galen moved to slam his fist down against Granger’s chest, but Granger rolled away just in time.

He quickly moved, jumping to one of the discarded bows and the training arrows beside it. Then, without taking the time to think, he began firing at Galen immediately.

Galen dodged, being hit only twice. The pain registered, but not enough to stop him. They were training arrows and blunted tips, but they could do some light damage at this range. He threw himself at Granger, tackling him at the waist, both men slamming into the ground once more.

They tumbled, rolling around the training grounds, kicking and punching each other repeatedly. Finally, Galen took a knee to his jaw, and Granger managed to scramble away from Galen’s grasp. He crawled just far enough to notice another arrow on the grounds.

Galen reached for him, grabbing his ankle and pulling roughly back. Granger kicked and turned over onto his knees, almost getting away, but Galen slammed his fist into Granger’s side. The loud howl of pain pulled from Granger’s lips was like music to Galen’s ear.

Granger turned his body suddenly, lifting his foot into the air and catching Galen’s chin, sending him crashing to the ground. Granger took that moment to run to where he had seen the discarded arrow.

He heard the sound of footsteps running towards him, swiftly he jumped and rolled to the side. Galen missed him by centimeters. Granger grabbed the arrow and then hurried to get away from Galen.

Galen tackled his legs, once again taking both men down hard against the tarred flooring. Granger dropped the arrow just above his head before being flipped over onto his back by Galen.

Granger tried his best to kick Galen off him, but he couldn’t. Instead, Galen had positioned himself on top of Granger’s leg, holding them steady with the well-formed muscles of his thighs.

“What did you say to her?” Galen demanded, pinning Granger’s shoulders to the ground.

“What?” Granger asked, completely surprised by the question.

“You made her cry,” Galen snarled, “what the hell did you do!”

Galen reared up, bringing both fists into the air and back down against Granger’s stomach. Making a satisfying thudding squish and a painful howl from the pathetic creature below him.

Granger coughed painfully; his entire body was screaming in agony. He couldn’t move his legs to try and to get away. Galen raised up once more, and Granger knew it was the only opportunity he would get.

He smiled, then reached his hand back above his head where he knew the arrow had fallen. He grabbed it and slammed his arm forward, stabbing the arrow into Galen’s gut, blood oozing from the wound immediately.

Granger heard the sickening sound of the flesh tearing and swallowing the arrow into Galen’s body, followed by the gasp that came from Galen’s mouth.

Galen looked down at the wound, confusion and disbelief on his face.

“It wasn’t a practice arrow,” Granger smiled again, his teeth bloody. “I win.”

“Cheated,” Galen growled, “pathetic.”

Granger clenched his jaw and shoved the arrow deeper into Galen’s gut, drawing a howl from him.

“Whatever it takes.” Granger snarled as Galen went limp and fell to the ground beside him.