"I never had any interest in being a soldier," Biffy said. His words were a bit guilty and also a bit sad. "Another reason I didn't fit in with my pack."

He carefully and studiously applied a bit of gold braid trim to the hat and then removed it, thinking that the effect was a bit much, especially now that its intended recipient was a teenage girl. She would do better with something simple, fresh.

"Military service is compulsory for Britain's packs."