home inspection

Immediately Tyrian knew he'd made the right call with this punishment. He watched the horror spread over her features and was somewhat pacified. They could have stood here all day; him yelling and threatening and her apologizing, and it wouldn't have given him as much retribution as the simple ranch tasks he now charged her with. She wouldn't forget this lesson. He could see it on her face. Knowing he now had complete control of the scene leveled off his temper; she was clay in his paws. "I can," he said calmly. And he would. He was now convinced he knew just what to say to get her to do anything.

She looked like she was about to run so he slipped into a crouch. Every step she crept backwards he took back with the slow, slinking steps of a big cat on the prowl. "You're going to do exactly what I say because if you fight me on this, I'll add to your slaughtering list." He dropped his head so their eyes were level. "How many would you rather kill? One lamb or five?"

"You're a wolf, Aryn, you can handle this." If she ran he was going to tackle her and drag her to the barn. Tyrian had made up his mind. This was a fitting punishment. If, later her dear ole dad had a problem with it, he was fairly certain he could explain himself and get away with it. These were harmless ranch chores and she was a naughty trespasser who'd expressed her desire to steal from him. No other wolf would be fighting tears over a year old lamb. He'd picked his punishment well.