Borlla was due any day now, and despite his best intentions, his discontent within his own home and led him further astray than he normally would have gone at such a time. His lope was consistent as he had treaded the mountain -- a place he had never truly bothered to explore before now. There was no rhyme or reason to leaving the Glen for a few days, spare the simple fact he needed to clear his mind. The past winter had been harsh upon them, and Kyros' death and Borlla's poor decisions still haunted him day to day -- seemingly impossible to forget or forgive.

The sun felt good upon his back. The warmth of it spread across his large figure, enveloping him to the welcoming arms of spring. Finally the chill of winter had slipped away from Relic Lore, and his own bright eyes would drift between the plants that were now beginning to grow in their own homage to the season.

Despite the heady scents of flowers and brush, there was one particular scent that caused him to stop abruptly, his chest squeezing as a flash of ebony came to his mind, and even more importantly, inf ront of him. The lake had beckoned him only as a source of food, and yet before him now, seemingly lost to his presence still, was Elettra.

The one that had gotten away.

His eyes took in the rounding of her own belly, noting that this year, once more she carried a litter. Having never thought to see her again after forsaking Willow Ridge as his home and leaving to establish his own roots with Borlla, the wave of jealousy that quickened his pulse was completely unwelcome, and unwarranted. Borlla deserved far better than that.

She seemed struck by his appearance – his eyes rounded the she-wolf, not out of desire (though the flutter in his chest that lingered dangerously lower indicated that indeed was still there) but testing to see how bristled she was in his presence – by word he had gained from Ace, she had given Shade Slayer a taste of what it was to abandon ones family.. would she reserve the same hatred for him?

It was with this he took a tentative step, his ears slicking back to his skull as his fiery eyes regarded her wearily. Swallowing the jealousy that surged through him, he buried it in the depths of his soul where none would ever hear about it.. for if Elettra Archer did not seek a vengeance on him, Borlla Tainn would have certainly castrated him if she had heard word of the emotions that filled him just then.

Elettra, he greeted with a quiet rumble, his stance remaining neutral – long gone were the days he bowed and called her his queen. You look well. But what brings you up to the mountains? It was an attempt to keep the conversation light.. casual, even, as his eyes looked anywhere but at the swell of her stomach and the notion another man had once given her children. Borlla was beginning to show now as well, and the two were as different as light was to darkness.

Shifting himself then, Phineas made no more movement to close the distance between them. After nearly a year from looking upon her, it seemed almost as if nothing had changed.

As he took steps to close the distance between them, the swarthy female’s ears fell back and he instantly stopped – apparently, he was as close as she would like. His wolfish brows would have arched at her tone had he not held his emotions so carefully, and so his heated stare lingered upon her features for only a moment before his tail gave an idle flick, realizing that whatever friendship or trust that had been between them was now long forgotten. It was not surprising – he had, after all, swept away from her lands any had barely looked back. Her choice to mate with the omega had offered him perfect clarity to where he had stood in her eyes – her insistence she had no idea had done little to soothe him. She had still chosen the lowest over him.

But that was in the past, and as his eyes swept over her warrior-like form, he found he felt no regret for his decision.. though now, with he and Borlla at odds, it had become rather obvious that his choice in a partner had been sporadic at best. But he was an honorable man, or he liked to consider himself so at times. He would not ripple the water around his children, and he would keep his tongue and work towards the relationship he once had with his hot-headed and childish mate.

He gave a nod to her words – Borlla herself did little traveling when pregnant, and given the long trek when they had first claimed Magnolia Glen and the mishap of Kyros’ missing limb, he found it best to be so. Her question was what drew a response, his muzzle giving a brief nod in the direction of the east side. Yes, we settled across the mountain on the opposite end, he confirmed, offering no insight exactly to where. Given Shade Slayer’s fate, one could never be too careful.

She spoke – cutting her words off as he looked to her. The ‘if’ hung thick in the air, the possibilities practically swallowing him over as he recalled his rash decision to turn his back on Willow Ridge and Elettra, seeking solace in the arms of another. One who had been incredibly younger than him – her maturity showing harshly through this past winter. Borlla and he had a whirlwind romance, they had settled for one another as they had wanted the same things.. but had that ever stemmed to love? Or had he simply been content at having a prize like the ivory female by his side?

Her words, despite the simplicity of them, meant a lot, though he practically cringed. Only moments passed and he found himself unable to respond, and as she turned to flee, he now found himself desperate to close the distance between them, his strong figure loping forward with quick strides that covered an impressive amount of distance. El, wait, he managed, clearing his throat from the emotion that threatened to swallow him. I want to.. He paused, hesitating as his eyes fell upon her pregnant belly once more – would any good come from this? Would he find the closure he required.. and did she even need it? Both of them had moved on from what could have been, and now they were simply strangers, standing before one another in an awkward mess.

I want to explain, he responded once more, firmly, as his pumpkin eyes shifted back up to her features. Why I left. Why it mattered so much. He had never told her the entirety of his past – Desdemona had come to the borders once upon a time, and had he been smart.. he would have shared with her then.

The view would have been comical at any other time to the ivory regal, had it not completely jeered his heart and fray his nerves. The wobble of her rounded body as she attempted to skirt quickly away.. it would be as much of a waddle Elettra Archer would ever give from her usual grace, and had he not been so worried she would actually fall and hurt herself, he might have been more amused.

She finally stopped, earning a scowl on his features as he had finally caught up, his eyes roving her to reassure she was fine. Sweet hell, she shouldn’t have even been out here. Kyros’ birth had been unexpected with defect, and the only reasoning the parents could come to conclude was the stress and pressure of Borlla’s travels – but they were not medics, and Elettra was well renowned for her skill – surely she would not endanger the lives of her future children.

He refrained from lecturing her – a reaction to the concern that had ripped through him. He knew it would be unwelcomed.. nor was it his place. Her sides were not swollen with his young – she had made it very clear long before that he had not been her choice.

Now, as he stood before her, he felt deflated. The sudden desire to explain to her seemed a moot point now, and he gave a quick shake of his muzzle. Do you remember the she-wolf that came by the Ridge that day? She was my ex-mate. He began slowly, his voice trailing as he watched her carefully.