CHAPTER NINETEEN
DiscoveryNight noises made her jumpy and Leilah needed the torchlight as soon as the canopy blocked out the moon. The dogs bounced ahead, stopping at intervals to wait for her to catch up. Moss mounted Patch at every opportunity and Leilah cringed, hoping against an outcome and imagining Hector’s anger. Pups took time and effort he didn’t have and denied him his best working dog for weeks he couldn’t spare. Patch growled and turned to bite Moss, indicating the early stages of her heat and obvious reluctance. Inexperience made him hasty and he didn’t manage to lock properly. Leilah crossed her fingers behind her back and hoped his feeble slip mating released her from blame and Patch from consequences.
The torch light bounced along the ground and night creatures skittered
