He does not understand the confusion that exiss within her own mind nor that tainted shreds of hesitation that bleed their insecurity to her thoughts. He does not, cannot, perceive the thoughts that roll with troublesome ease within the mind of his first and long lost mate. For to his mind the world has not changed, for time does not take hold upon him and all such days are merely one long period that changes from light to dark, over and over in a pattern he cannot predict- ever changing and yet never changing all at once. To his mind Aaliyah has not aged, their relationship has not changed for even despite what exists before him he cannot see it nor perceive it with a mind that knows only possession. This lack of her, his Aaliyah, had resulted in only that which is natural and which is right. She of Red and White had come, she had learned to walk beside him, she had carried his pups time and again and she had become a shadow to himself, his Flare, his mate- for she had done what Aaliyah had not been here to do, his mind forming its fixation for red and white upon another in the absence of his Angel.

Though his mind, it would seem, does not appreciate how fully such time had separated him from the first of his lovers- just as he does not understand nor perceive any discomfort she may hold in these moments as he summons forward his Flare. Her words see those darkened ears twist atop his head in response to the lyrics that had soothed him so long though no answer is offered, such words already faded from meaning within the confines of his dark mind. He cannot see beauty, cannot understand it or acknowledge even his own perfection. He is aged perhaps- yet despite the misfortune of his own birth he has become as no other, a near faultless specimen of wolf. A beacon of perfection though he cannot see it as others have, litters sired upon three females- three whom had come to him year after year and all whom will gather now. He is content, though he holds no pride or satisfaction in such a feat, his wretched mind is simply soothed at the knowledge that they are his own and they are here. Not for eating. No. Like him. Yes.

She of Red and White is first to come, heckles lifted upon his spine for he will not allow fangs to fall upon his Aaliyah, lips parted in warning until it is so She of Red and White allows her own defences to fall and his darkened form approaches to extended his ebony muzzle towards the white of her own, jaws parted to grip his muzzle between his teeth in a gesture of domination and affection all in one. Within the winter snows he is driven more deeply to seek their affection and touch- though he understands not why- each of his three females gathered beholding the scent of winter and yet each of them is aged, the scent weak upon them, not near potent enough to drive the instinct of his mind to snap at them in the frenzied desire of the season. His jaws release Flare’s own, content at her position beside him as a rumble of satisfaction rises within his chest at her closeness. She does not utter words and his mind is pleased. Flare is his own- always and he will not relinquish her. That handsome head of carved obsidian lifts once more as eyes of emerald deadened and cold fixate upon Tick Tock as she comes, his own tail lifted now in the dominance they share of Alpha and Alpha, lips pulled back from teeth once more in the warning he had offered Flare that he will not tolerate aggression in these moments- his stance demanding before a rumbling growl dies within his throat and he permits the approach of imprint and what fractured shred of his soul remains is given to embrace itself about her, shoulder leaning into her own as she brushes against him and those bonds are fortified only further.

They are strange perhaps, mate and imprint- content, each of them given to share as no others seem capable and yet there is order between them, understanding, many times they have hunted- these three, of dark and flame and shadow- for one cannot exist without the other, for they alone have achieved what no others can for each is free of jealousy. A feeling that does not exist within Tobias nor Flare in the least and perhaps it is this reason alone that allows the formulation of family so bizarre that they seek to add to once more. For there is place for Aaliyah within the embrace of Asteraia and perhaps always so- for Tobias desires it, seeks it, his obsessive mind curled about her once more with the dangers of his possession. Tick Tock speaks and his ears twist and turn once more upon his skull to listen though it cannot be said if such words are understand or merely heard just as it cannot be said if his Aaliyah will understand that which he has become, that and who which he owns and will not cast aside. Her absence had allowed his mind to possess others, his very soul entwined around another and his affection shared- and they are content. His fractured mind incapable, it would seem, of understanding why it might be so Aaliyah too would seek to turn from them even if it is so she is welcomed, his head turned to nip and tease at the fur of Aaliyahs ear in the manner she had taught to him so many years ago. He remembers, seeks now to keep her once more, to have her walk beside him still and amongst Flare and Tick Tock- the highly ranked within this Kingdom he has made and defended, Ally another to be added to this, another to stand highly atop the throne of Asteraia as they do. For there is power in their unity, rare as it is.

“Aaliyah.”

It is a single, uttered word, though whether he seeks her attention or offers her name to Tick Tock and She of Red and White cannot be said, the word spoken upon a murmur from within the confines of his ravaged throat from so long ago at the jaws of Heyel. He steps again now, brushing against his mate as he does, head turned, angled back with darkened beauty and towards Aaliyah now- waiting for her to follow him within the depths of the land itself, a rumble rising once more within his chest, calling her to come and accept her place within these lands…..