I Love You, Flaws and All

She appreciated his assurances that the band didn’t expect the bold show of strength from her, that what they really wanted was a stable home. It reminded her of how they all came together the days following the loss in the north. She had been worried to meet their gazes that day, worried that they wouldn’t respect her. That hadn’t been the case and truly she should have known better than to doubt her own flesh and blood, but it was a blow to her ego that she hadn’t been prepared for. In the end they had all rallied behind her and followed her on this journey and now it was time for her to give up the pomp and circumstance to give them what they really needed.

One uncertainty was relieved and her decision about the pack they would create was cemented in her mind, but another uncertainty rose back to the surface in its place. Alastor’s reaction to her mention of their next litter caught her off guard and her ears folded back as a frown tugged at her lips while he scowled and looked away, questioning whether she’d want to raise a child with an adulterer and with someone who had broken their vow. As hurt as she had been, as furious as she had been with him in that moment, seeing him like this hurt her more. She wanted him to learn his lesson and she wanted him to be more cautious, but she also needed him to understand that she was devoted to him for the entirety of their lives no matter what.

Her paw on his leg tightened while her other paw lifted to cup his cheek, making him turn his head toward her so she could see his endless onyx gaze again. “I understand now why you did what you did,” she told him quietly, her brow furrowed. “Yes, I was hurt. Yes, I was angry. But I know you and I know you would never do it intentionally. I know now that you had good intentions when you went into that fight.” She sighed and let her paw slip away from his cheek, the paw around his foreleg tracing along the inside of the limb again. “I am yours and you are mine. We’re not perfect and I wouldn’t expect you to be. The intent matters to me and even if the feelings are still raw right now I would still never want anyone else as my soul mate.”

"Manea Mendacium"