He didn't think twice about what he felt for Belhara. There were so many aspects of it that had only warped and grown as he himself grew bigger and older. As a pup, she was someone to impress, a witty challenge that kept him on his toes so he kept coming back for more. As he grew older and distance separated them, she grew to become more of an obsession, a weakness even in some terms because he would grow distracted if he even had a fleeting thought of her. Her beauty was unmatched to him and he knew that some might see their relationship as dysfunctional but he saw it as a beginning to something untouchable. They could be anything they wanted to be. Conquerors, royalty...the world was theirs for the taking. He would do anything for her; she just didn't see that side of him because he kept it well hidden. Sure he wanted to taste her flesh and even savor a bit of her blood but he saw that as perfectly natural. After all, Seline and Eric had taken enough chunks out of each other over the years that it seemed only natural to him to want to be so rough with the one you love.

He didn't think twice about the whole history of angels and demons. In his mind, they were just two groups of wolves looking for fame and attention by calling themselves mystical creatures. There were predators in this world and there were prey, end of story. You were either strong enough to survive or too weak to last a day longer. He would weed out the weak ones when he was hungry enough. Her markings meant nothing more to him than an addition to her beauty. He knew not how angels felt about darker wolves and how demons once felt about white markings. He would shrug it off even if someone told him.

Her tone turned sharp as he accused her of hugging trees, his lips only quirking more at this success at getting under her skin if even a little. He snorted and shook his head.

"Not possible. Their roots get water from the ground, love, not from the sky. It would take a lot more than a lack of rain to kill these giants."

He looked around at the trees, almost admiring them. At her raised brow, he glanced at her again. He chuckled and stepped closer, bumping her playfully with his shoulder.

"Touche, Bel. Though I try to dominate more than I try to hug. My affection for them lasts only so long as they keep aiding me in getting my next meal."

He gave her a teasing wink. Then he asked what she would give him if he taught her how to climb and at her teasing response, he snapped toward her ear as if in challenge, his voice low and threatening.

"Only a little less fun than if you don't."

His gaze darkened, so close in toeing the line of whether he wanted to protect her, hurt her or possibly a mixture of both. After all, affection meant tasting her blood in his experience. Even when she snapped at him, he could tell her whole heart wasn't in it. He knew even though she played tough sometimes, there was more good to her and yet he was drawn to her all the same. He wouldn't change a thing, except maybe to add more scars. When he pointed out the tree, he waited patiently as she eyed it, shifting his own weight as his patience ran out rather quickly. He bumped her shoulder.

"Taking your sweet time? Waiting on the bark to dry?"

He whispered, trying to pester her and throw off her concentration. When she finally moved, he stood up and watched with a hungry look in his eyes. Now he would get to see her showing off a little for him and it felt good. She wasn't too graceful with her first attempt but it would do. She made it onto the first branch anyway. He grinned at her as she asked if he was joining and he bowed his head and braced his front legs as if getting ready to attack, his voice a deep growl.

"With pleasure. The fun is only beginning."

He charged the tree, launching himself at it when he was a stride or so away. His feet hit the side of the trunk with a whap and it was like he was running vertical for a moment as he used the momentum of his charge to boost his back feet off of the trunk as he pushed off and turned his body in mid air, his front paws reaching the branch right above her and scrabbling on the bark for a moment until he got his purchase. He pulled himself up with a grunt and then stood triumphantly on the slightly more narrow branch above her, glowering down at her as he licked his lips.

"My, my, you do look mighty tasty from where I'm standing, sweetheart. Care to join me?"

He smirked at her teasingly.