He loved their home. Taviora had always been good to him. He was born and grew up here with his father as the alpha and his mother as the lead healer. Things were peaceful then just as they are now. Then his brother took over and things were still going good when he left. When he came back, he found that tragedy had hit his family, poison weakening his brother so that he had to step down and let his neice, Zelda, take the throne. That guilt of not being here still tore at Dexter when he thought about it too long. He knew poison was not something he could have attacked and saved his brother from but at the same time, he should have been here to support Amoxtli. Instead he was gone. He would probably spend the rest of his life trying to make up for that simple mistake. Under Zelda's rule, everything was still peaceful. The bear had gotten over their boundaries but not for long. Dexter and Tuari had been a part of the force that took the great beast down. He could still remember it with pride.

Tuari still had the fur in her den from that bear. She was a force to be reckoned with in that hunt. And to think she was pregnant then with his girls. He didn't even know if she knew it then. She probably wouldn't have wanted to endanger them but at the same time, she was known for her stubborn streak and a hunt like that was something she would have been determined to be a part of for the sake of their children's futures. It would have been a real challenge to keep her away, even if they did know about her pregnancy. He remember the stab to his heart when the bear got her cheek and drew blood. It still left a line where fur wouldn't grow. He knew then that he wanted that bear dead. He still had a scar himself on his flank from the bear's oversized claws. He wore it with pride knowing that his pack won that battle.

He knew that Tuari might be anxious about Talien returning to Taviora. He didn't want to do anything that might give her doubts about what they had cause there were none in his mind. He loved Tuari and that would never change. He belonged to her just as she belonged to him. He wanted to know there was still a way to have friendship with Talien. He wanted her to be happy and he knew if he saw her with someone else, he wouldn't be hurt or jealous. He would wish them the best with a lighter heart, knowing that she was no longer hurting. Meanwhile Tuari was his and his alone. He wouldn't hesitate to show someone his other side if they even thought about touching her. The very thought made his skin prickle with dark promise. He knew that Tuari would never ask him not to speak to Talien or be around her. She wasn't like that, but it was natural for her to feel misgivings about it cause of their past. He couldn't erase what had happened. He could only live with it. Eztli and Nenetl were his and that would never change. They were his blood, just as Petra, Itzel, and Citlalli were. He would never turn on them.

Dexter sometimes wondered if the two females meeting each other face to face would cure some of that discomfort but at the same time, he dreaded what could happen if emotions got too wired. Tuari had a soft patient heart but she also had a temper on certain subjects. Try telling her she can't do something and see that temper turned on you in a heartbeat. Talien was also good and kind and gentle but she let her instincts take over when she was feeling vulnerable, like when he came to see her and she tried to act cold because she was guarding her broken heart the only way she saw how. He understood their reactions but he would never forgive himself if they turned on each other because of him. They were pack mates and both connected to him in a way that could never be changed. Mothers of his children, both keepers of a piece of his heart that he could never get back. Tuari had just taken a bigger piece and he would never ask for it back.

The fact that Tuari was mute had never bothered him. When he was younger, he was fascinated by the other ways she found to communicate with others. She was different, like him. His different was just hidden on the inside and she couldn't hide hers. He admired her strength when others couldn't understand her. She was so patient and good willed, even when she could have ended up like his son Eztli, resentful and violent. He was determined even as a pup to understand her better and to communicate with her and learn from her. He remembered their first tree climbing lesson and how terrible he was at it. He thought of that even as he snuck behind her and whispered in her ear. He braced himself, knowing she could be instinctive as well, especially if her hunter instincts kicked in so he was ready to dart back or dance away if needed but he was hoping the sound of his voice and his smell would alert her to just who it was before she did anything dramatic.

He felt her body tense but after a minute, she sighed and let her body relax, her tail already thumping in the snow so he knew he was in the clear, this time. He smiled, his eyes already softening in that gaze of adoration only reserved for her. She nuzzled her cheek to his and now it was his time to sigh in contentment at the touch. He would never know what it was like to touch your soul mate and feel yourself become whole but in a way, he felt he already knew what it was like because there was definitely a shifting within him every time he touched Tuari. When he gazed into her eyes, he could see she was thinking really hard about something. He tilted his head, curiosity sparking his own gaze. She knew she could talk to him about anything so why was she hesitating? Then she reached out to nip at his cheek and he smirked, feeling the tight pinch of his skin. He knew he could have danced back but in a way, he welcomed any contact with his mate.

She mouthed that he'd surprised her and he raised a brow. "You? Impossible. You were trying to stroke my ego a little and make me feel sneaky. Such a maliscious thing to do, my love." He winked to let her know he was only joking, his tail wagging behind him. He circled around her, sizing her up, checking her stomach size as sneakily as he could without being too obvious about it but again, nothing looked decidedly different and yet, he knew something was. He sat down in front of her, reaching his leg out to paw at her chest playfully before he collapsed to the snow and rolled on his back, batting at her with his front legs. "Is this your spa day and I missed my invite? You seem more relaxed than normal. You're not getting sick on me, are you? I'd hate to have to ground you to our den with such pretty weather." His gaze watched her intently now, looking for signs or signals. His brows furrowed in concern at the thought of her being sick but he would always be here to take care of her, no matter what.