She hurried toward the pack, her daughter in her mouth. Rue whimpered, half-asleep, and Natalya grumbled to herself. She loosened her grip on the child, and moved more carefully. Natalya stepped into the clearing, freezing at the sight of the three new wolves. 

Queen Themis, King Mabbit, she gasped out. She set Rue down. I found this little one in the forest, all by herself. . . . The poor thing didn't have anyone around her. Might I have the pleasure of adopting her? She saw then Elara's evil scowl. Mother, don't even say it. Natalya drew herself up. Hello, all. Who might you be? she asked the new male, waiting for an answer from one of the alphas. Maybe when Natalya was younger, somebody might have seen through her lie, but now that she was older and cleverer, she told it with the right tone and expression. It was a clean lie; nobody would know otherwise. 

She scooped the pup inward to her. Rue had been trying to drag her little body toward Vaughn. Natalya smiled and looked back to the king, awaiting his reply.