she paced around for what seemed like days after her meeting Avalon. the elder had been the one to tell her she was expecting children. it had been a shock to the system but not an unwelcomed one. Heloise always assumed she'd be middle-aged by the time she found a man she trusted enough to have children with. though her and Acere were not mates for long, the news would only bring them closer together as parents. there was a small, nagging fear that the king would be worried or even upset but that was just it; nagging and unreasonable. the sad fact was that Acere had no other children outside of Altair; and he had adopted her. Heloise chose to believe that Acere would be happy to have his own children. he was a good man and kind to her. there was no reason he would reject her at this moment in their relationship. nor reject their children. he would be overjoyed, surely. walking toward his den now, the woman called softly for her mate to come out and join her. they needed to talk about this, and she needed to tell him. it would be unfair to keep it from him until she started to show. her insides did an embarrassed squirm, knowing that the birth of a king's children would have to be shared with not just him but all of Winterfell. she hadn't exactly told anyone they were mates yet. "SPEECH"

art + code by Kara

The alabaster King had uncharacteristically decided to sleep in for once, knowing the pack was in good hands without his needing to patrol so early. His companions of course, were early rises and had gone out to hunt down some breakfast as usual. He rolled over onto his side, legs stretching towards one side of his den as the grip of sleep still had its hold. It wasn't until he heard Heloise's soft call, however, that he slowly started to wake. With a big yawn, Acere blinked his eyes open and swiped his tongue over his nose before slowly rolling onto his side and stretching out his limbs before getting to his feet. He hadn't noticed when she left the den, and wondered how long ago she had woken up. The thought of seeing her sparked him to hurry his ass up despite being able to spend time with her whenever he wished and sleeping by her side, he simply couldn't get enough of her. He felt like a young kid with a silly crush, only...this was more then a crush. She was his and he was hers.

Exiting the den, he spotted her just several feet away and immediately he went over to her and brushed his muzzle against hers in a warm and affectionate greeting. "Good morning, Heloise." He swiped his tongue affectionately against her muzzle, breathing in her sweet scent before standing back to look at her. Taking her all in like she was the grand prize he had won. A trophy he had earned. "Are you alright?" She seemed to have something on her mind, and for a brief moment he wondered if it had something to do with their relationship. Maybe...they had moved too fast? No...that couldn't be it, could it? He shook that thought free, figuring it had to be something else...right?

"Acere"||Winter

as she waited, formulating what to say to him, Acere appeared from his den. he looked a bit sleepy still but greeted her warmly all the same. she felt a warm sensation as he rubbed his muzzle against her own, and she closed her eyes to breathe him in without distraction. "good morning" she breathed against him. as he stepped away, she'd recline on the earth and patted the area next to her with her tail. he'd want to be sitting for this. he also seemed to notice her discomfort. she sighed softly. "I'm fine, Acere" Heloise began with a soft smile as she shook her head. aside from her tiredness, she was raring to get involved with Winterfell after her injuries healed. "I just felt we should talk about something." she'd drop her gaze to the ground briefly before raising her eyes to look him square in the face. "Acere... I... I have no way to say this delicately so I will just come out with it. I'm expecting. no - we're expecting. I am pregnant." "SPEECH"

art + code by Kara

She returned his affection as he expected she would, and she sat down moments after while prompting him to join her. He did as he was bid, the alabaster king reclining to his haunches beside her and leaning slightly into her shoulder. It was...strange, how things turned out. One day they were nothing but comrades in arms. Friends. Simple pack mates. And the next...they were mates. He had fallen in love with her so hard and so fast, but he hadn't quite realized it until she had to practically hold up a sign over her head for him. But now that he had her, that they had each other, he hated the idea of being apart. That wasn't to say he was jealous or possessive over her, no. He was not that kind of man. She had the freedom to do and go where she pleased. And nearly every moment he had was spent with her when he wasn't tending to his duties as an alpha. She said she was fine, however, and he wondered why she appeared distraught if she was indeed fine. "I just felt we should talk about something," "Hm?" His ears perked forward as he studied her. Whatever it was, it seemed important. After all, she was often a straightforward woman who said what was on her mind, especially if it was important. He remained quiet and waited for her to speak...He was puzzled to say the least, when she looked at the ground before looking back to him. "Acere... I... I have no way to say this delicately so I will just come out with it. I'm expecting. no - we're expecting. I am pregnant." He couldn't help the small smile that slipped from him, "I'm sure it's no-" Wait. What did she just say!? The smile dropped off his face like a rock. Crimson gaze staring at her in surprised shock. She...she was joking, right? No... She wasn't. He knew she wasn't. At first, he supposed he had been too wrapped up in looking at her that he thought he hadn't heard right and assumed she was going to say something else or...something. But...he did hear that right. She did say she was pregnant. That they were expecting. His mouth dropped open a few times as he fumbled to find his voice. And finally when he did, it was a low, shocked whisper. "Y-you're sure? After...after we...? So soon? But you weren't in season..." Had their intimate moment together resulted in this? Of course. He had no reason to doubt it. He just hadn't expected it to happen outside of her heat season... "Speech"

she couldn't help the amused grin that came after his shock. leaning more into his shoulder, she'd chuckle fondly. "while I have no experience with these things, I am quite sure a woman can still become pregnant out of her season" Heloise teased him lightly, for it had happened. she had been prepared for spring, for Acere asking her to mother his children during that time but ah, things did happen. even after one intimate moment, it had been blissful and blessed enough to conceive children together. though how many... she was not sure yet. but she had heard about unfortunate flings that resulted in pups out of heat season, and was just thankful that she had him by her side. she could be doing this alone. "you are going to be a father, Acere" her voice became thick with emotion as she turned to look at him again. she felt like crying, now that it was out in the open. a wave of feelings threatened her very essence right now. would his shock turn to disappointment? would he tell her this was a bad time, with winter coming up and hardly any room in the pack? Heloise made it simple for him; simple sentences with simple replies. she knew he must be happy, but part of her was still hesitant. perhaps it was her own misgivings she'd not be a wonderful mother. or perhaps it was her own fears of failure clouding her vision. "SPEECH"

art + code by Kara