The silence was both a blessing and a curse – despite their talk, Veho felt as nervous now as he did when his partner had summoned him from his sleep.  It was not the woman herself that put him ill at ease, but rather, what they had discussed doing.  What they planned to do.  It was not as if he had second thoughts – for there was little more in the world that Veho desired more than a family, but rather, how a wolf must go about getting one.

The medicine man had a great deal of worldly experience, but his travels had left his knowledge in this particular act deficient beyond the academic knowledge about how this was supposed to work.

Chuffing softly, he drew to a halt as they reached a secluded area several lengths away from their borders.  He had no interest in tempting trouble in, especially when his mind was elsewhere.  The alpha drew close to Oula, reaching out to nibble at her shoulder, then her side, and then reaching for her tail as he grew bolder.  Her scent was heady, bolstering his courage with each inhale.  “It was the Ancestors’ will,” he answered simply.  “They offered me a path – I could care for you, or not.  They offered you a path – you could accept assistance, or go your own way.  Now, we will be rewarded for our good deeds, and our faith in others.”

His faith in those who came before, he thought, had never been so well deserved.

Veho bumped into Oula gently. “…are you ready?”