Her smile fell away, and Viorel couldn’t help the shifting of his paws this time. The silence stretched on for what seemed like hours, although it was probably only a minute or so. The man would be happy with whatever answer she gave but waiting to see what it would be felt crushing somehow. His ears lifted at her sigh, and his eyes looked her over earnestly at her answer, it won’t be. It was a sharp reminder of what a mess he made last year, and guilt lurched in his belly.

Sitting down to stop his front paws from giving his discomfort away. ”I’m ready, but, more than that, I want you to be happy. I love our family, and I love the Backwater, but I love you more than any of that.” He wanted to be sure that she knew that, that she wasn’t just saying she was ready out of obligation or because she thought he had expectations.