This winter seemed different. Snow blanketed the land, cold winds created drifts, the occasionally visible sun made ice crystals dance - sure there was nothing visibly unusual, but things just felt unlike they ever had before. There was a stirring in me, a desire and need that I'd never experienced. All of the emotions that had been building up in me about Vortigern seemed to surface at once. More than once I had recalled the unwarranted jealousy I'd felt when he'd embraced Zelda, and the concern for his safety when he'd fallen from that tree. Not to mention seeing him in such emotional pain when his father had told him about the death of his sister; it had torn me up inside. They were things that any friend would feel for someone they cared about, though. Things that a future Alpha would feel for her pack mates.

But then there were the much more frequent occasions this winter of recalling how impressive Vortigern had looked climbing up into that tree, the way his muscles had rippled beneath his long white fur. Or how strong he'd been when we first met, fighting off that cougar at my side without even knowing my name. Bravely aiding me in the endeavor and earning a few handsome scars in the process.

Those were not thoughts that a future Alpha had about her pack mates.

More than once I had gone to my mother with every intention of asking he about it. But each time I promptly chickened out and just asked her about one pack matter or another, and she definitely had no idea that I was struggling with something else. Definitely not. Nope. Master of disguise, all good, keeping it cool and under the radar.

Except today I was nearly bursting with the need to talk to someone about it. Normally if something was bugging me I would just talk to Vortigern about it, but I couldn't very well do that when it was about him, could I? So I jogged along the familiar trails of Spirane, a singular destination in mind. When I came into the area, my tail waved out behind me and I barked once, glancing around as if she would just materialize before me. "Visenya? You around?" Hopefully my sister would have the answers I needed. Or some kind of distraction, at the very least.