Cedarwood Forest anything less than 'I love you' is lying

Even Veho was not flawless – even Veho was prone to emotion and fault. It had been a very long time since he let himself feel any of these things, he realized distantly, as if he were watching a pair of wolves cuddling, and had no part in it himself. The warmth against his own felt good; perhaps he hadn’t needed to be the perfect pillar he was trying to hold himself up to be. Perhaps… Perhaps…

Oh, but really, Rook was right. There was time for talk later, wasn’t there?

The gentle nudge brought the alpha back to reality, earning Rook a fond hum as his ears laid back. True affection returned this time, colored only by the depth of love found in his heart, and not the sadness or exhaustion that had taken on many tones in the Macieo’s life lately. He lifted himself upwards, pausing only long enough to nibble on his partner’s ruff. “Lead the way,” he murmured, ignoring how rusty his voice sounded. It was okay. It was okay to be tired, it was okay to be uncertain. To be anything less than perfect. He had forgotten and it was -- it was good to be reminded again. Perhaps, after a rest, he and Rook could begin to sort things out again, but this? This was good.

He would let the good linger a little longer.

Fade.