Despite knowing that this season was too come and for once clearly looking forward to it there was nothing Aponi could do to really prepare. Instead she could only allow the waves of her heat to wash over her, rolling emotions of irritability, playfulness, anger, a solemn need to be alone. The females she bullied into submission, to a point where some had taken to avoiding her completely, the alpha didn't mind. The males she warned off with barred teeth and aggressive vocals, all except for Serach. He instead was treated to a special cocktail all his own, some days she avoided him or warned him away with cold eyes, other days she sought him out to wrestle and play, running her snout all through his ruff and breathing in his intoxicating scent.

Aponi's own scent had changed dramatically in the last couple of weeks, from her usual to a sickly sweet smell that she knew made it dangerous for her to leave the territory. Instead she spent most of her time alone when she wasn't torturing her mate with her play fighting or spending time with Lila who as a juvenile female was safe. Today though, today it had reached an all time high and it was like small bugs danced on her spine, leaving behind footsteps burned into her skin. No matter how often she dragged her teeth and nails through her fur it could not alleviate the feeling and that's how she knew it was time to seek out her husband.

The moon left the fog a milky colour within the boughs of the trees, blending into the silver pelted woman as she paced within the territory. She hadn't called for him yet but she knew that he would come. Just the smell of her alone would be enough to draw him near, that mixed with the trail she had marked with her urine to bring him to her. It was the first time she had marked since her heat started, and it was purposely meant to send him into a frenzy.

Aponi had seen the way that Serach's face had swam with confusion and hurt when she snapped at him the first few times and while at the time she felt no remorse once her heat was over she would. Now though her mood swings left her head swimming, quickly irritated with everyone as her body surged with hormones. Different than any other year before though was impatience mixed into the typical emotions, impatience to really consummate the life that she and her mate had been building. This spring when her sides became swollen and she brought life into the world it wouldn't be with confusion but with pride, the children of leaders.

The male alpha was never far behind her, even when he was out of sight the silver woman could still smell him nearby. Possessive in a way that would have normally infuriated her but in her current state became like a game of cat and mouse. He would come too near and she would warn him away or invite him in to wrestle before scolding him off. Then the cycle would start all over, Serach would fall back into the shadows until enough time passed for him to approach again.

It had been odd sleeping away from him, something she hadn't done since even before she had become the alpha. Aponi had removed herself from the communal den and chose instead to retire at night in the den she had birthed Lila in. Even then though the woman knew her suitor was not far off, his scent still teasing her senses in her dreams. Oh and the dreams, vivid enough she awoke with a start every morning sure that there would be wriggling bundles of pups at her belly and Serach at her side.

Now though, within the murk of the fog their game of cat and mouse was coming to an end and they both knew it. His whine caused her muzzle to raise in silent acceptance of his approach, the soft touch into her cheek met with a soft sigh, "Serach, my love." Turning to meet his gaze Aponi's blue eyes burned intensely, she wasn't ready to give in and declare him the winner of their game right this moment. Growling playfully at him the mother's tail beat wide arcs into the air behind her, her body tensed and ready for the wrestling match that was sure to come.

The smell of Serach near her was intoxicating, as he buried his nose into her scruff the blue eyes closed for a moment. Breathing deeply her whole body felt as if it had been ignited with anticipation, all of her impatience coming to a crescendo that practically left her quivering. Laughing gently at his quiet words she murmured in response, "I'll make it worth the wait my dear," The tone she used was light but it was clear that the words themselves were a promise for what was to come. Not only tonight but in the coming months, and finally at the end of it all a family all their own.

As he pulled on her scruff a grin adorned her muzzle, silver paws batted playfully at her mate and her banner beat with ferocity in the air. It was like being a child again but with a much more mature undertone. As leaders they didn't often get to enjoy moments of pure playfulness as they had a pack to run and manage and Aponi would relish every second that they had now. Suddenly Serach's weight was upon her and the mother giggled like a school girl, already knowing what her next move would be. Her mate would expect her to pushback and so instead she dropped her weight down, waiting until they hit the snowy earth before rolling.

With any luck she would have surprised him, giving her enough advantage to half-lay her body across the man's. Face to face like this with their bellies pressed together Aponi reached out to lick Serach's chin her eyes alight, "You'll have to try harder than that Serach" Again the trees around them lit up with her laughter, never before had the spring been this much fun.

Though the night itself was clear, flurries fell around them as they tumbled down into the snow; their own personal blizzard. It held for only a second as they laughed, tongues sweeping against each other's muzzles in affection and then the snow had resettled upon the earth. Laughing in response to his remark she settled her head in the dip underneath his chin for a moment, "Perhaps it would have been if you had taken a different mate." Aponi had meant to say it teasingly and yet when the words left her mouth they had sounded serious, too serious for the mood they had just been in.

It was an odd feeling that over took her now, the trembles that threatened to shake her body had nothing to do with her heat. Suddenly she was so unsure of what she had built with Serach, he knew so little about her and her past, would he still be here if he knew about Aesire? About that white bitch on the mountain? She had no regret about either encounter and yet she still felt that she needed to keep what happened a secret. Aponi wasn't an idiot, the Donata loved the woman who was fierce, but he probably didn't love the one vindictive enough to kill.

Ripping her from the insecurity she had hidden behind her mask, one buried in his ruff for good measure she toppled to the snow once more. Silver head whipped around in surprise as Serach touched her, sending a chill down her spine. The two words were enough for her to come undone, ready to tie herself to him forever with this simple act. She stood, tail already raising.

Aponi awoke with a start to the nuzzle into her ear and the quiet words, her heart racing as her mind tried to configure where she was. Never before had she laid with a male and woken the next day with him still at her side, let alone cuddling along her shoulder and neck. It was different and for a moment the woman had to fight to slow her heart beat from the surprise of it all, but she could not deny that this was preferable. This wasn't the one night stands that Phineas or Samu- Skoll had been, this was Serach.

Sighing in content the blue eyes fluttered close, adrenaline replaced with the warm feeling of loose muscles and satisfaction. The woman knew that in the next few days the smell of her heat would return and with it so would the itch, but soon it would be replaced with the scent of their growing family. Still, even with closed eyes she chuckled at the feeling of Serach's breath blowing hot on her ear, "I love you too my dear, but soon you'll have to compete with a child on who will be the one to pull on my ears and wake me up." It had never occurred to the woman that she may have more than one pup this year as she never had in the past. She was certainly in for a shock.