<blockquote>He simply listened as she talked, something about her voice being soothing despite how grumpy he had been about their previous conversation. She had that way about her. She always managed to sooth him, no matter how bristly he became.
He hadn’t realised her growing up had been so involved. He’d always assumed with her good nature she came from a stable family. Whilst fighting was part of everyday life, his pack had taken it to the extremes. He’d always believed that his had been the only pack to value it so highly but it appeared that her own family had taken it quite seriously too. He was glad of that; perhaps she would agree with him that their own offspring should learn to defend themselves. Whilst his upbringing hadn’t been a bundle of joy, he had learnt enough to venture out into the big wide world and survive, despite that he had been forced out as a very young yearling. Were it not the skills he had drilled into him from a young age, he certainly wouldn’t be here now.
<b>”They prepared you for life. They did their job well.”</b> he added with a shrug as he took a glance around them. Always watching. <b>”There is no harm in missing something. You are allowed to have a future alongside your memories. You don’t have to pick a side.”</b> he said, weighing up the logic. It was true. If he didn’t have the memories of his family, he wouldn’t have everything he currently had around him; from his female to their pack lands, this was all down to the memories of his childhood. His wanting of something he was always told was out of reach. Even as the heir to the throne, he doubted he’d ever wear the crown. How that golden circle was upon his head, he was grateful they had treated him as badly as they did, for it only made him more determined to have everything he now did.
<b>”How do you feel about having children?”</b> he then asked, surprising himself with the change in topic. Of course, he’d thought about it in depth but he didn’t know how she felt. Scared? Anxious? Excited? Did she hate them already for the life she now had to live? He doubted it, but their arrival had changed so much already. He could only guess how she was feeling.
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