don't turn away now

"I will rest, but I must speak first." She would say, causing him to turn and look at her. Crimson gaze watched her steadily for once since that day instead of turning away this time. He didn't want her to think he was angry or upset with her, and as her own ears folded back against her head, he couldn't help but want to tell her that she had no fault in how she felt. She spoke then, telling him that it had not been fair to tell him what she had because of their lack of interaction beyond pack business. She admitted she had some form of attraction to him since the day they first met, and that it had insulted their friendship. That it was her fault she wanted to leave, and not his. He suppressed a sigh as he closed his eyes for a moment, allowing himself a moment to think clearly.

"perhaps it is best I leave soon, after I have recovered"

"No," He said simply. He opened his eyes and sought her gaze this time, "It is no fault of yours for telling me how you felt. If anything, I admire you even more for it. I was the fool for not saying anything before. I was afraid...I am afraid. I just...didn't know what to say then, but..." Did he even now? Not really. Winter's words echoed in his head again. And he could feel the rolling emotion that threatened to take him under. Whether in a good way or a bad way, he wasn't sure. All he knew was that he was afraid, and he would be whichever direction he decided to take. "Remember when I said I valued you? I didn't mean it in a way that I valued you simply as a pack member...I...I genuinely and truly care about you, Heloise."

He took a deep, shaky breath as the image of the bear standing over her filled his mind. Had he not made it in time...well...he didn't want to think about that. "When I saw the bear standing over you, I feared I wouldn't make it in time. I feared I would have been too late to save you...I didn't want our last words, your last moments...to be full of regret and confusion. I didn't say anything then because I was afraid to love...I...I lost someone I loved once before...I have been afraid of losing someone like that again..." Would she understand? That had been his main fear this entire time. He was deathly afraid of losing someone he loved that was more than just a family kind of love. Of course, she wouldn't have known that before. He didn't want to let go of his beloved Winter, feeling like it would be a betrayal to her memory if he allowed himself to love someone else. But...she had encouraged him to live and find someone to love again. She had forgiven him long ago for something he always felt like he was at fault for. But she had never blamed him.

If Heloise still wished to leave to find her own place in the world, he of course, wouldn't stop her.