Was there no fault to her? Her words were like music to his ears; she didn't show off the skills that any normal wolf could do. Yeah sure, he sold himself as a guardian but hell, a hunter and a fighter were part of being a wolf, why did they think their skills were anything more grand? She was no fool, she spoke with certainty, she spoke with clear direction and cut out all of the chit chat crap that he loathed so very much. That is what he told himself at least, for at that very moment in time he did not want to think about leaving her here whilst he ventured home alone. He didn't want to leave her out here in the cold. Life as a loner was tough, he knew it better than most and was perhaps the only wolf in these lands to remain along as long as he did... it was cruel, but he was used to cruel, but he did not wish the same fate upon her. She deserved an easier life than the one she was living.


"Come home with me." he breathed, before he dropping his muzzle to reach her throat, planting his icy, leather tip against her jugular with care and ease, before he inhaled deeply and drowned himself in her scent. The world had melted away. Leaving only the sound of their breath and the inner thump of he heart. He felt on edge, but not in a bad way, like he had an itch to scratch and when he did it was going to be so satisfying, that he wanted to hold off until he could really savour it. He wanted to savour her... Shit. Had he really just thought that? What the fuck was he doing?
Excuse me, reality check?

The moment of clarity became clear on his face and surged through out his body. He was close, too close to an utter stranger and even her sultry tones were not enough to pull him back into whatever moment they just had. He suddenly felt gripped with panic, that whatever it was that just passed between them was not just bad, but could tear apart his very existance.

Quickly, he moved away. Stepping over her without further touch before he paced backwards, trying to contain the hammering in his chest whilst his brain whirled a million miles an hour to drag him back into reality, yet he was still unable to tear his eyes away from her. What could he say to her at that point? "Sorry, I'm fucked up in all sorts of ways, including being this close to you with my mate waiting." No, that wouldn't really cut it, but he couldn't deny the sudden churning in his stomach of being caught out here with her. It was innocent... sure... maybe, but he couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that crept over him. He hated feeling guilty. Like a statue, he remained rigid and gave her space to respond to both his offer and his actions, however she chose.

He was literally the worst, evil wolf he knew. Who listened to their conscience anyway. What sort of evil genius would stand there, feeling guilty as he watched a near stranger shivering upon the floor as he took his heat away. He was such an asshole and he knew it. Normally he didn't care, but looking at her therehe couldn't help but feel like a complete jerk. How could he have let himself crumble like that, have let his guard drop completely to bare himself to her. His fighting with Naira must have hurt him more than he had ever thought- He loved her, her loved her with all his soul but they had been so strained of late. It was no excuse and it was not fair to let this female take any fault in whatever moment he thought they had just shared. Of course, he could have been reading too deep into the situation. Maybe for her, it had just been about finding a home and showing him how tough she was... but deep down, he thought, no, believed it was something more than just a chance greeting. This had been something more... for both of them.

He hesitated where he stood to head back over and check on her, but she rose of her own accord. She no longer coward at his feet and he got the chance to take her in. Her legs were slender, graceful. Her body far shorter then his in both height and length. Her fur ruffled in the icy breeze which wipped around them, reminding him how real this moment was compared to whatever freak of nature had just occured between them. To him, she was beautiful and as soon as he grabbed that thought, he made sure to take a shotgun to it. He couldn't do this... he couldn't be that guy... no matter how tempting the grass looked on the other side. He might be an arrogant prick who had lost his way... his home... his family... but he still had some morals, right? Then why was it he just wanted to walk over there and bury his muzzle back into the soft fur of her neck.

He felt as if he were choking, like he was being constructed by an invisible hand for his ill thoughts, though he did briefly wander if this is how Naira had felt when she believed him lost and she had found comfort in Tenzin... or perhaps she shared the same feelings when she used to sneak off to find Triell. He had never questioned her loyalty to him before, but with the buzzing in blood, he couldn't help but question it now. If she had ever felt like he did now in his females presence... he probably had a right to be concearned about her fidelity.

He was a bad man.

She sauntered towards him. Hesitant it seemed and he hated himself for making her feel so uncomfortable. She stopped too far away from him, but it was probably the best idea. At least she was thinking clearly... though knowing his luck, whatever it was they had shared was no doubt one sided and something that would trouble him forever. All the what ifs would circle around in his head until his death, mixing with all of the other terrible choices he had made in his life. This was no doubt going to be one of the moments. Not that he wanted to forget. No, he wanted to think about the smell of her, the heat from her body forever more, but he just couldn't do it to his female... could he?

"Alright." she said, her voice like music to his ears. She still wanted to come with him. He wanted to smile about it, but how could he? "I'm..." he began, but how exactly would he finished that sentence? I'm smitten with you. Hmm, no. I'm so glad you're coming so I get to see you again. Er, no. "I'm sure you will fit right in." he sighed, defeated by his own cruel brain which was currently battling with his want to reach out and tough her fur once more and close the distance between them.
He was an ass.

The silence between them felt wrong. It wasn't a comfortable hush. No, it made his skin itch and not in a good way. The gust blowing around them did nothing to ease the tension, the noise it made could not fill the stillness between them, though the snow it kicked up from the ground was something else to look at, rather than what he could only read as hurt in her eyes.
He didn't know what felt worse in that moment... the way he felt when he stood so close to her or the way he was going to feel each time they met. They wre pack mates now. Family. Maybe it had been a bad idea- he worried he would feel guilt each time he saw her, but he could not have just left her up here of her own accord. She had asked him for a home and without hesitation he had given her one. He was sure it would not be the last thing that he would give her. Something quietly whispered in his mind that he would likely give her anything she asked for if he got much closer.

"We should get going... the sun will be up soon." he said, his voice not quiet but the demand within it had all but gone. He might still look a figure of power, but inside his walls had crumbled a little.
It would have been nice to watch the sun rise with her. He wished he could stay but he already felt like he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. To the outside world, they were just two strangers and nothing more. There was nothing obvious about the way they looked at each other, but inside he felt like he was a real tyrant. Despite his reluctance, he turned his back on her and followed the path he had set behind him on what would no doubt be a rather uncomfortable journey home.