<span style="font-family:Carme">As Okomi told his piece, Claire’s eyes could only narrow upon him because his explanation created more questions than it did answers. If he was trying to prove his innocence, he certainly wasn’t doing a very good job of it because everything he said created more of an attachment between him and the pack that now threatened her own home. A ferocity that did not suit her personality came into existence then and it wasn’t going to leave. Claire did care about her pack and she would do anything to keep them safe. She truly was the alpha of the pack. <br/>
<br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:lightsteelblue"><b>“<i>No longer</i> affiliated? As in, you were at one point?”</b></span> There was anger in her voice but it was carefully restrained because she knew better than to unleash all of it at once. It had to be controlled and it needed a purpose. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:lightsteelblue"><b>“Beyond that, but you come in here, knowing that we’re under threat from <i>your</i> family, and you’re questioning my pack’s abilities? Any wolf who cannot defend themselves has no right to territory. And we have a <i>right</i> to this territory.”</b></span> <br/>
<br/>
A few things were quite clear. Claire felt disrespected. Yes, she’d been through quite a few situations where someone had questioned or doubted her authority, but they always had good reasons to think that way. Right now, though, in her mind, Okomi had no reason to. He certainly had no reason to when he was here as a guest with strong associations with people who now sought to invade her home. <br/>
<br/>
Her teeth gritted and her fingernails phased… claws… nails… claws… nails. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:lightsteelblue"><b>“I ask the questions here. Not. You.”</b></span> That much she wanted to make sure he understood. <br/>
<br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:lightsteelblue"><b>“Now, I do not have time for a long discussion. You have two minutes to tell me why I should trust you and if you don’t manage to convince me, I’m afraid you’ll be off our territory.”</b></span></span>