Lucien steps out of his carriage pouting, arms crossed, and rounds on Val the moment his boots hit the dirt.
"That's the second dramatic entrance you've made this week, and I've had none. None at all." He points a finger squarely at him. "I call dibs on the next village. Non-negotiable."
Val just chuckles, entirely unbothered by the demand.
Kamiko steps forward toward the assembled wolves, hands raised, tone gone smooth and diplomatic. "We haven't come to bring trouble. Just to talk. I'd like a moment with your chief, if he's willing."
Draven barely registers a word of it. He's already circled around behind Lucien and started sniffing at him with real intensity, nose practically pressed to his shoulder blade.
Lucien doesn't flinch.
"I'm flattered," he says, "but I'm strictly a ladies' man."
Draven balks, jumping back a full step.
"I'm a ladies' man too. Very much! Mated just last week. Twice!"
"That's cute." Lucien chuckles.
