Unwavering. Persistent. Resolute. My gaze was steadfast; I did not so much as blink. I would not give him that satisfaction of breaking the contact of our stare for even a fraction of a second. My brows furrowed and my nostrils flared with determination. No wolf would ever demand me to stand down to them; whether they were male or female, omega or alpha. I was born of a blood that ran thick with the power of many alphas. Alcide and MoonGlow, Thunderbone and Boneclaw, Jackson and Grace. And with that strength born into me, a stare down should seem like a simple concept, an easy feat to overcome. Some part of me wanted only for Leonidas to look away from me, and yet another nearly caused me to lower my eyes from his. Perhaps my inclinations towards him were molded from his constant presence in my life. On one side I was prone to dislike him for his constant hostility towards me. On the other, I felt drawn to him, as if we belonged in one another’s lives. Not the way it was with Meryl. Different. Both caused me great confusion.

Firefly? My nose wrinkled at the nickname. A nickname? What games was he playing at now? His words were gravely, and I sensed how upset he was becoming. But still, I stared straight back at him. My ears pulled back against my skull momentarily, a show of aggression, before they pointed straight at him again, listening to his words. They taunted me, begged of me to react, to strike out at him with words or teeth. I inhaled deeply through my nostrils and exhaled through my mouth, restraining the urges I felt. Narrowing my eyes, my lids pulled a fraction of a centimeter closed, my gaze turning to a glare as he moved away from me again. But still our eyes remained locked. And then he came closer, his nose so closer to mine that I felt his breath hot upon my cold snout.

“So you are broken, my painted warrior?” I said; I could play this nickname game as well. “You refuse to show the gaps this breakage has caused; but if you would reveal them, perhaps someone could help fill these voids that consume you.” Still I held his eyes, my glare firm and brave. I do not miss the hurt and sadness that so briefly pass through his eyes. How could I? “Think before you speak! Do you even listen to the things that come out of your mouth?” His spat words were met with a growled statement. He dared call me stupid? I was to be his Queen one day! My place among the pack was wherever I wanted it to be, and right now, “I want to be here, so this is where I am. What is so stupid about that?” And still, I looked fiercely upon him, even as my innate gentleness softened the edge of my eyes.