Obviously Nick knew he was an attention whore. Even in wolf form, when his consciousness sometimes felt a little clouded and he could almost forget that he was human most of the time, he tended to demand attention where he could get it. The problem was that, with most, he couldn't get it. Nick's place in the Pack meant he came last or close to it in most things.
When Kate came along to try to get in the way, he nipped in her direction, chastising her away and knowing full well it wouldn't work, that it was just as likely to start something as it was to be ignored.