My Happily Ever After

The heavy footfalls of approaching paws alerted Aliana that her mate was approaching even before he pushed open the door, carrying in a sizable meal for her in his jaws. The ash and snow queen gave her love a warm smile and greeted him with eyes sparkling with love and mirth as he came closer with the food for her. Her stomach growled appreciatively just from the smell of the fresh meat. Chimera was doing such a good job caring for her, now more than ever—making sure she had plenty to eat, plenty to drink, enough furs and blankets to keep her and their babies warm and dry during the rainy season of Auster. While Chimera got situated alongside her to create a corral with their bodies around their pups, Aliana gratefully devoured the meat, chewing away with gusto, hungrier than she'd realized she'd been. The recovery process had been gradual, but sure; an expected outcome from birthing a half dozen strong, healthy boys, two of which were notably larger than their siblings and no doubt carried their sire's dire genetics.

While the tired queen ate her meal, she felt Chimera's larger paw envelop her own, drawing her eyes to his, glistening brightly like the gemstones they shared their color with. He asked how she was and Ali paused her meal to lick her lips clean of the blood before craning her neck in to nuzzle the side of his jaw with tender affection. "Still very tired, but I'm feeling better every day," she admitted in hushed tones. She would never lie to her king, he deserved to know everything that was going on with her. "I'd be more surprised if I wasn't tired after birthing these six. Can you believe we made such beautiful angels?" With a beaming smile, Ali glanced down at their snoozing sons, her heart leaping at the sight of them every time she looked at them. "Siren and Dalila have been keeping me in alfalfa, and you've been keeping me fed. I have the best aftercare any wolf could ever have." She knew her mate would never stop worrying about her, nor would she try to convince him his fears were unfounded, but she would do all she could to prove she was okay to him.

Aliana finished eating, reveling in the simple delight of having a full stomach and already feeling infinitely better for it. After a moment to wash her paws and muzzle, she turned all of her attention to her mate. He looked tired as well, but he was healthy once more, no longer plagued by illness. "How are you feeling? Ready to resume your reign, my king?" she asked in exchange, lifting her other paw to rest on top of his that was on top of hers, stacking their paws together. Chimera would be assuming his duties ruling again and she wanted to make sure he was equally as tended to as she was.

"Chimera & Aliana"