Blue wouldn't understand the danger involved in directly insulting an alpha male like Lofgren. He took those things personally, and it would never serve ones purpose to be disrespectful right to his face. These were all things Blue would need to learn, but for a moment Lofgren kept his face blank. The pack watched the exchange, frozen, half expecting their alpha to pounce, and ready to get out of the way if it turned ugly.<br/><br/>Blue changed his tone of voice some, switching to obeisance. It sounded like he picked his words carefully. Obviously he preferred the known horror to the unknown. He knew Lofgren could<i>play</i>at civilized, and maybe he was hoping for it would occur again, and last night could be forgotten. At least Blue wasn't so stubborn that it got in the way of his survival. Too much more disrespect, especially in front of the pack, and Blue might find himself gravely injured. Even now, this needed addressing. Blue walked a few steps to him, and Lofgren met him partway, and reached to touch the back of his hand to his forehead, gentle, to check for fever. He ran his hand down Blue's face after, in almost a caress. It was only to lure him into a false sense of security to that he didn't see the blow coming, when Lofgren knocked him on his ass and backhanded him across the mouth with his free hand.<br/><br/>“Watch your fucking mouth,” Lofgren warned. “If one of them had spoken to me that way, they would be missing strips of skin. You think I'm going to allow it from you?” He hadn't forgotten the 'fuck you' that had been thrown his way, but it was more the look Blue had given him than it was the actual words. That look was all hate and challenge, and Blue didn't seem to realize he was doing it, at least not until he made the effort to correct it and wipe the look off his face. It had been too late at that point, and no amount of pretty words were going to satisfy Lofgren. He needed to make an example out of. He didn't want Blue's submission when he felt it was necessary. He wanted it all the time, and if he had to use fear tactics to get that, he had no issue doing so.<br/><br/>Lofgren reached for Blue and pulled him up by the hair, dragging him to the stream at such a rate that the boy could hardly get his feet back underneath himself. The alpha waded in and pulled Blue along with him, eventually pushing his head underneath the water even as he struggled. When he let him up, he held Blue close, as if he'd not just been drowning him.<br/><br/>“He likes it when he can't breath,” Lofgren informed those that remained. “I don't know if this counts as his sort of foreplay, but the human body is a marvel.” He snorted derisively and forced Blue back underneath the water. He repeated this process a few times, each time pulling Blue close and petting him almost tenderly afterwords, saying that he wouldn't do it again if Blue would just be good. Lofgren did it again anyway, of course, regardless of Blue's behavior and when he tired of that, he dropped Blue where he was in the river and waded out.<br/><br/>“You wanted me to take me with you?” Lofgren questioned, standing on the bank. “Maybe you'll learn to appreciate my hospitality a little bit more after this. He's all yours, boys. Just don't kill him, and I want him mostly intact if I decide I want him later.”<br/><br/>He stopped then, turned back around as if he'd changed his mind. Lofgren made eye contact with another of his pack, one who'd transformed to his human form, standing a few feet away to watch if his alpha was going to drown the boy. He was shorter than Lofgren, but still broad shouldered, with black hair graying at the temples, perhaps a little older than the alpha. Tried and true, experienced. Lofgren made sure he had Blue's attention, and then he pointed to him.<br/><br/>“Blue, go to him. He's my second, and I think he deserves a reward for keeping an eye on you all night. He protected you after all, from the scary things in the woods.” Lofgren was smiling again, knowing really that they were the<i>only</i>scary things in the woods. “He's probably easier to get along with than I am, but I suppose that's arguable.” He shrugged. “His name is Jamsen and I suggest you show him the respect he deserves.” Lofgren set his jaw impatiently. “Now!” he snarled.