I just wanna be by your side

These feelings were becoming too much to bear. They were growing stronger with every passing day, overwhelming Solveiga with all kinds of daydreams and desires that she'd never had before. She'd been alive for five whole years now, of course she'd experienced the sensations brought on by the coming of her season. But never before had she had someone—a mate of her own—to physically and emotionally long for. It was a little humiliating, honestly. Regulus was almost always in the public eye, meaning she was too, whenever she was around him. And when she was around him, her hormones tried to take over her and turn her into something she wasn't. So the last couple of days, she had avoided him whenever possible. But she just couldn't do it anymore.

Solveiga padded her way from the alcoves one night, when most of the pack had already settled in to get some sleep. Normally, she would be doing the same. But she couldn't sleep. Not when she felt like this. She tried to keep her tail tucked to avoid spreading her scent around as she headed for the plains. Maybe out here she could clear her mind, or at the very least find some flowers to roll around in to mask her annoyingly intoxicating scent. Once she was alone, in a secluded corner of the plains, she rolled onto her back with her pale belly facing the sky as she tried to lose herself in the stars.

Could she call for Regulus? Would that be too obvious? The two of them had spoken about starting a family, and he had seemed to be all for it. The thought of being intimate with the man she loved had butterflies flooding her insides, but she knew it was something she wanted. She wanted to be with Regulus, that way. Now more than ever. And she wanted to carry his pups. He knew that, didn't he?

Solveiga let out a heavy sigh as she turned to rest on her belly in the soft spring grasses. Hopefully he would pick up on her scent and follow her here. She didn't want to call for him like some wanton woman, but she wanted him to know that she was here, waiting for him to join her.

Regulus Anatolii Adravendi

He was finding it difficult to resist being near the lady he had taken as his mate and consort. It was her season, and whenever he was near her and the wind was in the right direction, he had to admit, it made him dizzy with pleasure. A smile crossed his features as he thought of her, pride filling him at her well done Healing lesson the other day, and he still wore the smile as he finished his patrol for the night and turned inward to the territory, trotting languidly through the tall grasses. He paused as he ran across a fresh trail of that very scent he’d been thinking about, and the beauty that was the source. He grinned, turning to follow her trail, falling easily into the lightfooted silent passage he enjoyed using. When he gauged he was close enough, he took a playful leap forward out of the last stand of grass with a bark of “Boo!” and sought to bounce at the tiny healer with a chuckle, tail waving gaily behind him.

I just wanna be by your side

Several minutes passed in silence, but it was a peaceful kind of silence. Tonight was a quiet one, with clear skies that allowed the stars to twinkle in all their brilliance overhead. Despite the restlessness she was feeling, Solveiga was able to let a content sigh fall from her lips. She was happier than she'd ever been. She had a pack that was her family and her home. She had someone to love her, someone who had vowed to always be by her side. And in the future, there was even more happiness to come. She could feel it. What more could anyone ever ask for?

The peaceful silence persisted, even as Regulus snuck through the grasses toward her. Seriously, how did he always manage to be so sneaky? Solveiga rested on her belly, her eyes following the lines of constellations in the stars above, when suddenly she heard a "Boo!" and turned to see Regulus pouncing toward her.

"Regulus!" she squealed, falling into a fit of giggles as she rolled onto her back to evade his playful attack. But then she just stayed there with her belly turned upward, showing her vulnerability to him as her tail thumped happily against the grass. "I was hoping you'd find me here, I didn't want to embarrass myself by calling for you," she said with a smile.

She hoped it was clear why she wanted his company tonight. But what if it wasn't? What if he asked, and she felt compelled to say it out loud? Solveiga was still a very pure and innocent woman, despite her age. She wasn't sure she would be able to articulate it to him without becoming completely flustered and giggly. But she could certainly give it a try. This was Regulus, after all. He wouldn't laugh at her or make her feel foolish. "Um..." the little healer began, moving to sit up and bring herself closer to her mate. "I'm sorry for avoiding you lately, it's just hard to be around you when..." When her body was doing exactly what it was doing right now. Making her feel desperate to be close to him, close to his warmth and his strength and everything else that made him masculine. Everything that made him Regulus.

"My heart is racing like crazy," Solveiga admitted, her voice a little breathless as she shifted even closer, humming softly as she pressed her nose into the thick crimson fur around his chest and neck. "Regulus... I want you." It was barely even a whisper, but there. She had finally said it.

Regulus Anatolii Adravendi

His training paid off as yet again, he caught Solveiga unawares. Laughter rumbled in his chest at the squeal, tail waving his amusement in the air as his head cocked, jaws grinning and his eyes twinkling down at the little healer. “Why ever would it be embarrassing to call for your own mate?” He savored the flavors of the word on his tongue, dipping his head to brush a gentle lick along the side of her muzzle. He chuckled at her apology, letting himself lower to lay half over her, hip to hip on the ground, chest to chest, front legs supporting his front end to avoid squashing the air out of her. By now, he was far more aware of his weight and size than he had been as a rambunctious puppy rough housing with his sisters in a life that seemed so long ago. He could feel her heart, thundering like a herd of elk against his brisket, and he smiled, feeling the response in himself as she announced her wants. “And I you.” His words were soft, barely above a soft rumble, and he left his head lower to settle on the grass beside her ear, smiling at the pressure of her nuzzle. He tipped his head enough to murmur into her ear, the smile in his voice, “And we have all night.”

I just wanna be by your side

There was a strange thrill that rushed through her when Regulus referred to himself as her mate. She felt proud to call him that. Any one would be proud to have a partner as strong and kind as Regulus at their side. Solveiga counted herself lucky to be his, and to have him be hers. Which was, of course, what tonight was all about.

The little healer felt her heart do a funny sort of flip as Regulus lay down on top of her, chest to chest, while still holding up the majority of his weight to keep from squishing her. He was so much bigger than she was, and this was a fact made all the more evident by their proximity. Since declaring their love, the two had been quite affectionate with one another. Little kisses, embracing one another as they slept, that sort of thing. But this was a whole new level of affection, because in the end they were working up to something much greater and much more meaningful. Regulus wanted her too, and Solveiga already knew they both shared the dream of starting a family together. Tonight could be the night to begin all of that. But she was so nervous. Why was she so nervous?

The petite woman let loose a bit of a shiver as her mate murmured in her ear. She should have known how tender, romantic, and even playful Regulus would be. But nothing could have ever prepared her for it. And in the onslaught of emotion and desire, she was unable to hold her tongue. Simple truth poured out: "I'm nervous, Regulus," she whispered, keeping her face pressed securely against the thickness and warmth of his fur. "I don't even know how we're going to do this... you're nearly twice my size," at this, Solveiga couldn't help laughing. Perhaps her mate would have an idea in that head of his.

Regulus Anatolii Adravendi

These were the moments he was finding that he cherished. Tenderness and closeness. The little touches and thrills of loving and being loved. His own heart was beating just as hard as her own, and he felt certain she could feel it. But the easy grin never left his features, nor the bright warmth in his eyes. Nervous? So was he. Not exactly about the size difference, but the small worry that he’d disappoint her in some way on their first night. A rueful chuckle escaped him, mixing with her laugh. “Well,” he murmured, nosing her ear and swiping a playful lick over the edge. “We could always find a rock…” His tone was teasing, a rumbling laugh shaking free. And then he way on his feet again, prancing away, tail waving high over his back as he dropped into a playful bow, his hind end giving a ridiculous wigwag in the air. “Why don’t we play those nerves away?”

I just wanna be by your side

The worries that the two seemed to share hung uneasily in the night air. But that isn't the way either of them wanted to feel tonight. It was a lovely, quiet, and sweet-smelling night here on the plains. And they were alone, with the whole night to themselves, as Regulus had said. Solveiga took a deep breath, her lungs full of the smell of the night and the smell of Regulus as she pulled away from the warm embrace of his fur. She let out a laugh at his joke. Honestly, though, a rock might be required. Solveiga giggled again, watching as her mate pulled away and went romping through the grasses.

She rolled onto her belly and pushed herself up into a seated position, baby blue eyes alight with amusement as he shook his massive red rump in the air. Another giggle escaped, and instead of answering, she jumped up and chased after him. Playing was good. It was innocent, full of joy and mischeif. It was exactly what she needed.

The little healer bounced toward her mate and dropped into a bow that mirrored his, tail flipping to and fro until suddenly (and hopefully unexpectedly) she pounced at him. If she was successful in surprising Regulus, she would try to wrap her forelegs around his neck and find something to playfully nip at. His cheek, his ear. Maybe both! Already her worries were dissipating like smoke in the wind.

Regulus Anatolii Adravendi

He could see the anxiety melting away from her and grinned as she joined him in their little dance. He feigned shock and surprise as she leapt at him, though his trained eyes easily caught the tensing of her muscles and the slightest pause in breath before she pounced at him, laughing and stumbling back, hips whomping to the ground in a heavy flop as though struck down and dumb by her ‘attack.’ He gave a groan that was only half feigned as she nipped him, slumping to the earth, though his eyes twinkled with love and heat, tail slapping the ground as he returned the assault with teasing nips of his front teeth along her jawline and a laughing snort in the thicker fur of her cheek. “You’ve wounded me, Lady!” He laughed, proffering his nipped cheek, and the dampened fur mussed there, tongue lolling in a big grin as he flopped dramatically back to the ground, rolling onto his back, and kicking his legs in the air. “How can I ever survive, now?!”

I just wanna be by your side

Solveiga was so glad her mate decided to turn tonight into a game. It made her feel much more calm and at ease. Laughter escaped her as Regulus dramatically fell to the ground, legs in the air. He looked ridiculous, a giant crimson pup, of course she couldn't help but laugh. The little healer took the opportunity to pounce again, her body on top of his as she continued to shower him in playful little nips and kisses. Already she was imagining him as the father of her pups, playing with them and teaching them, raising them to be good and strong and wise. And it was those thoughts that reawakened the desire inside her. Her kisses became less playful and more seductive in nature, a quiet hum in her throat as she pressed herself even closer to her mate.

The worries were gone. She was ready to give in to her desires, and let Regulus give in to his. Her blue eyes met his and she nodded a bit, smiling softly as she moved away to let him get to his feet.

-fade to black-

Regulus Anatolii Adravendi

He knew the moment her mood changed when her playful nipping gained a more seductive edge, and his heart beat all the harder for it. The little nod she gave as she moved away brought a slow grin to his jaws, and a slight lowering of his lids as he shifted to his paws and pursued, gentle as ever. He didn’t leap right to it, instead taking his time to move around her, nipping and lightly brushing his nose along her fur with slow exhalations of heat he knew would seep in to reach her skin below. From hip to side to her neck and her jaw, he didn’t spare an inch of her from his teasing caresses, only moving when he felt she was truly ready before he moved in. What would their children look like? They would just have to see. -Fade to black-