The tide of bitter jealousy that raced through his blood receded, leaving a small seed of hope in his gut.

“Sweet. You said partner.”

“Yes?”

“Partner. Not mate.”

There was an expression in her dark eyes that he couldn’t read at all. Lucky’s fur prickled under her intense gaze.

“That’s right,” she said at last. “Partner.”

“So it’s strictly a Pack rank thing? It’s your place in the hierarchy, not—”

“Exactly.” She shook herself and turned back to her study of the lake.

“Sweet . . .” He paused, thumping his tail nervously. “I’ve wanted to ask you for a while. How did you rise so fast in the Pack?”

She sighed and splashed a paw in the shallow waves, scattering shards of light. “I don’t really want to talk about it, Lucky. There was . . . well, there was another Beta before I arrived. We didn’t . . . get along. She isn’t around anymore.”

The hair stood up on the back of Lucky’s neck. To fill the awkward silence, he stood up on all four paws and lapped at the water. Presumably he could drink freely so long as he wasn’t on patrol; it was deliciously cool against his tongue and throat.

“Alpha and I are a team.” Sweet’s voice broke the silence. “We work together, run the Pack, keep discipline, and keep it strong. Maybe we’ll become mates someday; that’s what usually happens. But there’s no hurry.”

Lucky forced himself to keep drinking, and to focus on that one part: There’s no hurry.

“I like my place in the Pack,” she went on stubbornly. “I’ve never been a Beta before. I didn’t know I could do it. It makes me feel . . . I don’t know. Stronger. Confident. It’s not easy to keep a position like this, but I’ve done it.”

“I understand, Sweet,” Lucky said slowly. “I truly do.” Still, the constant striving, the shoving for power and position made his head spin. It had been bad enough taking Snap’s place. How could Sweet bear the tension: always fighting to keep her status, always having to prove herself, day after day? He didn’t let her see his shudder.

At least in Bella’s Pack they were all equal. They might not be as efficient at survival as Sweet’s Pack, but if he had to be in a Pack at all, Lucky thought Bella’s way was the better one.

“I’m glad we met up again,” he told Sweet awkwardly.

“So am I.” She pricked an ear and watched him curiously.

Lucky scraped at the pebbles with his claws. “I think I’d like to go for a walk on my own now. Is that all right? If Alpha can do it . . .”

Sweet’s eyes widened. “You can’t do everything Alpha can do.”

“A walk alone can’t hurt the Pack.”

“No.” Her voice had grown harder and cooler again. “But just because you beat Snap, don’t start thinking you can challenge Alpha’s authority. That would be a different game altogether. Even Fiery couldn’t defeat Alpha, if he was stupid enough to try.”