A Love Like War

Although Alastor wished he had some grand answer to solve all of their problems, the truth of the matter was that he simply didn't. There was no perfect solution to Manea's conundrum, and concessions had to be made somewhere. He knew she recognized it, even if she wasn't pleased by the circumstances or willing to admit it yet. Manea confided that she wanted him to be able to spend their newest child's earliest moments with him as well and not just her, and the massive wolf's heart ached to consider missing out on any part of his own son or daughter's life. Things had been so much easier with Avacyn and Saracyn, back before the pack and the responsibilities, when they could just live their lives as they pleased. A part of him missed that freedom—but he wouldn't trade his mate's dream for it. Perhaps they could have Avacyn and Saracyn take on a little more of the duties, like they had when he and Manea had gone on vacation to Auster. It would be a bit of a test for them, all while they remained close by in case they needed support.

Before Alastor could voice the suggestion to Manea, his violet queen was huffing and scowling, irritation painted across her face at the mere mention of Relm. She launched into a tirade against the pink Abraxas girl, listing out every flaw and trespass she had perceived. Alastor couldn't disagree that Relm had endangered herself by testing him in his rage state, but he also couldn't rightly blame her. A lot had happened in the chaos of that day, and as far as he could remember, she was just trying to check on him and make sure he was okay. He couldn't recall any sort of lascivious intention the fae had toward him in his moment of clarity. It wasn't as if she threw herself to the ground, legs splayed for him as some sort of trophy for murdering her sire. Manea stormed off towards the entrance of the den, putting some distance between them while she then turned her venom towards him, pressing him for why he cared.

"Why do you not?" retorted Alastor, his voice calm yet resolute, following her movements with inscrutable black eyes. "You don't know Relm like I do. She doesn't open up to others because she can't. Not even to Kichi, and he's her closest friend." He gave a pause, then continued on. "Relm was neglected and manipulated from birth, Manea. Her father was an incestuous sociopathic narcissist. He saw Relm as an accessory to his life and not his own child. I knew her as a little thing when he brought her to come join Lurid. She wasn't permitted to ever leave his side, wasn't allowed to make friends or go exploring. She was more akin to his pet than his daughter. He didn't love her, he owned her. He was trying to rape her the day I killed him, no doubt looking to impregnate his own child. She was neglected and abused, just like I was. That's why I understand her and connect with her—and it's why you never can." Though not directly accusatory or aggressive, his final sentence did possess an edge to it intended to deliver a point. Manea had grown up privileged, born to a noble family, a whole family that loved her. She knew nothing of trauma or abuse or neglect or damage. She would never understand Relm, nor would she ever understand him, it seemed. Sometimes he wondered if Manea knew just how good she actually had it in life.

But Manea had made a comment, insightful or just off-hand, and it wasn't something he was willing to hide from her. "She hasn't tried to suck my dick," he said, shaking his head, but then added after a pause, "...not yet, at least." Alastor released a slow sigh and lifted heavy eyes to Manea's backside. He couldn't feel remorse for the connection he and Relm had built, but he could feel some for having acted behind Manea's back, even if it was only an hour or two earlier and it wasn't something he was trying to hide from her. "We have had sex. Just a little while earlier." There really wasn't any more to say about it. He'd intended to tell Manea as soon as he could, and now he had. Alastor wanted to get ahead of that and be honest with his mate. Not only because she deserved honesty, but because he'd promised to protect Relm from any backlash, and he couldn't do that if they were sneaking around fucking one another behind Manea's back. Now Alastor waited, watching for Manea's response and reactions. Whatever came next, he was prepared to take.

"Alastor Mendacium"