I said at least. The way you’re about to bust, might be six, for all I know. Like I said, I haven’t spent much time around pregnant wolves except recently. Though I could actually get used to the hormones. You’re kinda psychotic, but there’s an up-side to that equation.
She nipped at his side and then growled playfully. I am not psychotic!
Yes you are. He actually bit back that time, and though he wasn’t as strong as she was, he didn’t actually fight back very often. Miss ‘I want chipmunk for dinner, but that one’s too fat,’ if you please?
They’re good! She pinned him down and growled a little louder. What are you gonna do when you’ve got six puppies all clamoring for dinner?
Send ‘em your direction so you can feed ‘em. I’m not equipped for that.
I wonder what that’s going to feel like. She didn’t think it would be a particularly pleasant feeling. Though in my human form, my boobs were getting pretty big.
They were never lacking in the first place. He licked the underside of her neck, but she could feel his thoughts darkening somewhat. I don’t think hunting is going to be a problem, I’m fine at that. But everything else…I hope I do a good enough job.
You’re here. That’s amazing in and of itself. She looked into his eyes again. I just hope that you can love them like they were yours.
I’ve spent more Fulness days and nights with you than either of their candidates for dads did. Anything coming outta you, I’ve got dibs.
She barked loudly a few times in laughter and she nuzzled the side of his face afterwards. I love you. And you’ll be great. It’s not like I have any experience with this either.
I love you too. But if you’re not gonna eat the rest of that fox, then get off me. I’m starving.
Aura leapt up off of him and picked up the fox, growling with a challenge for him to come take it from her. Guess you’ll be starving even longer.
He got up with a growl, and scratched at the ground a few times as if he was a bull about to charge, leaving deep gouges in the metal with his claws before he leapt at her, wrestling with her more roughly than any pregnant wolf probably ought to be wrestled with. He knew Aura was nothing if not tough. Even while pregnant.
* * * * *
After hours of being with Nick at the height of his strength, Zara was exhausted as she stumbled through the woods. She’d told Nick that she needed to go check on some families that she promised she would return to, and she did, but only briefly. By the time she got to the river, she lazily kicked off her shoes and walked in up to her ankles before she sat on a small stone to wait.
She waited there for an hour for Coren to come, but he didn’t appear, even when she moved to take an impromptu kind of bath in the shallow stream.
Zara stayed in the deeper waters for a long time, absolutely confused that Coren still hadn’t arrived. Her thoughts flicked back to Nick, and while she told him that she would be gone until dark, she knew he was waiting for her. The rest of the day was to be spent with loved ones before they really dove into war preparation. It amazed her how much she cared about Nick. Her love for Coren was still there, and they were mated after all, but the more time she spent with Nick, the more she realized everything that she missed out on with Coren.
Coren had never gone public with any part of their relationship. Ever. She was hidden from the world with him, and while it wasn’t Nick’s fault that she had insecurities, Nick had suffered the arguments she would have had with Coren.
Yet, it was clear that he wasn’t ashamed of her. Everyone knew that they were serious with each other. They weren’t hidden at all. It made the connection between her and Nick powerful in ways she never imagined possible. The more people knew, the stronger their relationship became because of all the little connections it made with other people. It was the reason why Heartborn were rarely exclusive and why they took so long to mate under normal circumstances. They thrived on a crowd, and being in a relationship with someone so much in the public eye was the best thing she could ever ask for. Coren had saved her from her horrible life before. He loved her and she loved him, but she had always wished for a relationship like the one she had with Nick. She wanted more.
She felt Coren before she saw him, as the current of the river flowing past her began to slow and turn into something different, a more deliberate caress across her skin than just the cool simplicity of the stream. It began to dance with her, holding her up and spinning her around a few times as it played with her.
Zara smiled, but weakly, hardly able to respond to the caress and the playfulness of it. She looked around for him, since she hoped that seeing him would ease her doubts.
He appeared not long after she could feel his power through the waves, walking alone as he always was with her. He was walking almost on top of the water, submerged up to his ankles in a stream that should have come up past his knees. “Zara.” She could feel his voice through every drop of water on her body as he slid further down into the water beside her.
Once he was close enough, he could see the scars that his guards had left all over her body. The ones on her face, beneath her eyes, on her neck and just
