will I really learn

He’s watching Vesper, taking notice of how well she’s receiving his teaching. Inside, it delights him that she’s willing to listen. That he’s doing some sort of good. When had he become such a wolf? Ugh. Maybe he did have a good heart after all.

About to move on to the next lesson, he is surprised when she pauses. Her paw lifts to her scar, face welling with emotion, voice soft and uncertain. She wasn’t supposed to be here? His brow scrunches for a moment, taking a step closer to her, but is quickly interrupted.

The clearing of a throat, a paw stepping out into the arena. Wilder spins on his paws, fur instinctually bristling until he notices that it’s just Oleander. His body smooths, relaxing his muscles and fur as the boy speaks. Oleander urges them to continue, but instead of leaving, he moves over to a rack of weapons to begin cleaning them. With his brow still furrowed, Wilder nods silently to the healer before turning back to Vesper.

Words don’t come yet. Frustration seeps through his veins as he stares at Vesper. He knows she won’t listen now. Not with Oleander watching over them. It hadn’t taken long for him to understand that their… relationship was at odds. How could he blame her? Had what he just taught her been tossed down the drain over some stupid ideal that another wolf should be kept as a toy against their own will?

Wilder battles with that fight or flight within him. That feral piece that still rears its ugly head. He’s still new to pack life too, but in a much different way. Alone, out there, only his logic needed to be sound. Now that he had to understand and accept the logic of others, he struggled. Flexing and relaxing his toes against the packed dirt, it takes a long pause before he settles, jaw unclamping and breath exhaling through his nostrils.

“Ready for the next lesson?” Wilder questions, not wanting to push her.