unable to bind.mated to none.father to Eztli, Lixue, Petra, Citlalli, & Itzel.Taviora

He liked the way Talien's gaze never strayed from him for long. It gave him a giddy feeling in his stomach to know that he held her attention just as she held his. He had never been this enchanted by someone before. He knew that things were getting complicated. He had started flirting with Talien from the beginning. She was just so pretty and then when he started talking to her, it was easy to be himself with her and she was witty and smart and she laughed at his jokes. He wanted to see where it went. He never thought he would end up caring about two females but what happened with Tuari....well he never thought it would. She was his best friend. They grew up together and when they reunited, that was all it was. Just two good friends getting to see each other again. She was still heartbroken over losing her imprint and he was the shoulder to lean on. It was easy to fall back into his protective streak over her and wanting her to be happy, and over time, she was happy.

But when winter came, his hormones kicked in and instincts took over. Now he knew he was getting close to hurting someone and he hated to know he was responsible for letting this happen. But it did and it was his fault. He shouldn't have crossed that line. He should have fought his urges. But now he would have to deal with the consequences and he would man up and take full responsibility. He liked seeing the awe in Talien's eyes when he mentioned Zelda and all she had done in her short time as queen of Taviora. She needed to see the way she inspired others. She underestimated herself and as her uncle, he felt it only his right that he boost her confidence every chance he could. His lips quirked in amusement when Talien said that her actions were deserving of greatness. He nodded in agreement. Yes, they were. His eys practically glowed with pride when he looked at Zelda.

His smile only grew when Talien said that she hoped to be worthy to join the pack. He would like nothing more than to share his world with her permanently. He enjoyed having her around and the thought of not being able to see her was terrible. He knew there was a whole world out there and Talien could go anywhere she wanted and be with anyone she wanted but she chose to come here with him. He had thought she'd just ask for a tour then maybe wander off to go see some other packs before she decided but the idea that she had come here perhaps already deciding to stay was beyond his wildest dreams. His gaze was gentle when Talien turned a smile on him. She turned to Zelda, saying she didn't want to keep her and he followed her gaze to the rabbit pelt, wondering what Zelda was up to before she found them. She seemed to like gathering plants or something. Not sure how that was going to help her with fighting off challengers but at least she could help heal pack members if they got hurt in a hunt or something.

She said that he could answer any questions she might have and he gave her a knowing smirk as if to say "why, yes I can." She nudged his shoulder and he turned his head to nip teasingly at her ear. He didn't want to admit it but he was a little excited himself to get Talien all alone here in his home pack. He could see so much of Zeltzin and even his mother Moth in Zelda. She was kind and caring but also determined and pragmatic. He wondered if she ever took a break to just be a four year old sometimes. If she had any friends she could unwind with. Every leader needed some time to just be a wolf sometimes or the job could overwhelm them. That's what he figured, anyway. Not like he had any experience with being in a leadership position. It just seemed stressful. He was surprised to find out Zeltzin had went into healing. He remembered well when Moth would take time out of the day to take her out gathering herbs and showing her what to get and what not to get. She was so spry and spirited then, determined to get away and have an adventure and just be one of the boys.

He couldn't be more proud of her though. He saw the pouty look Zelda gave him as he talked her and he only responded with a sly chuckle and even a teasing wink thrown her way. She would have to get used to that if she was going to have him around. It would only get worse as she got older. He saw the glare and only grinned all the more. She was still being modest but he would let her get away with it this time, his eyes lighting up when she told Talien that if she wanted Taviora as her home then it was. He knew Zelda wouldn't turn her away. Why would she? There was nothing about Talien that wasn't perfect. He had his doubts when he first found out that the young Zelda has stepped up to take the throne but now that he had seen her in action, he had no worries about the alphess. She was meant for this job. He never considered that if he had been here when Amoxtli got poisoned, he might have been asked to step into the position. He probably would have turned it down though.

He didn't consider himself leadership material. Sure he was a charmer and good at making friends, but he had too much darkness in him to take responsibility for a pack. He never even thought he'd get so far as making acquaintances because he thought it best that he have no attachments. And look at him now, moving up in the pack and making friends of all kinds. And he had even opened up to his friend Tuari and told her what he did in the shadows. He would never let her near when he was hunting killers but it was a weight off his chest to know that he wasn't the only one carrying this secret. It had weighed on him for years. No one had known until now. Zelda told her that she could seek her out anytime then she turned her gaze on him. He tilted his head and pricked his ears, his grin only growing as she said that she would be keeping an eye on him. He didn't know who this Tepi was she was talking about but he would take what he could get. He chuckled.

"Sounds like a challenge."

He smirked teasingly and watched as she trotted off before side stepping into Talien playfully and then jumping away to play bow and wag his tail. He barked at her playfully.

"Now that I have you all to myself....come on, I want to show you something."

He smirked and jumped forward, brushing himself down her side before taking off further into the heart of Taviora, heading toward where the forest and meadows started to ramify and expand into different parts of the territory. He glanced back only once to make sure she was coming.