Walk | Talk | Think
Rune was silent as Surreal began to tell him of the details that had surrounded the challenge where her family had been uprooted from their longtime home, unable to stop the sudden feeling of guilt that accompanied her words. His aunt, his own flesh and blood, had been the cause of their distress, the cause of their disbandment. He hated that he felt responsible somehow, as if he might have had some way in which to talk Viridiana out of her hopes for conquest even though deep down he knew her to be a determined woman when she set her mind to things. There was nothing he could have said, nothing he could have done short of causing a mutiny within the ranks, to alter the course of things, but by the time he had even realized what had happened it had all been too late. It was truly a shame; he had only wished for them to live comfortably, just as his mate had done when she had been part of their family.
But it seemed from the way Surreal went about telling her tale that her family was still together, or at least a part of it. He was glad of that, certain he would have been a mess if he had been separated from his own kin for any unwanted stretch of time, consumed by worry and thinking of all the worst case scenarios. "I'm glad to hear you're still together," he stated, and was surprised when she went on to speak of returning to the Plains. That was ambitious, but knowing what he did of the family, having witnessed their resilience first-hand, he knew it was going to take more than defeat to destroy the Adravendi line and keep their pack off the map.
It was still far too soon to start bargaining with the young woman, particularly since it was not guaranteed just yet when or even if she would get the pack that she so desired to have again, but respect and appreciation for what Valhalla and its wolves stood for pressed him to speak. "I wish you the best in regaining the pack that was taken from you," Rune promised, sincerity coloring his stoic words. "Viridiana, the woman who challenged your mother, is a relation of mine. My aunt." He paused, unhappy to have to speak of it but feeling it necessary all the same. "I'm sorry I didn't hear about it sooner. It was already over by the time I did." It was certainly a sore point for him, just as sure as the whole ordeal of living within the pack that had destroyed her old home had been for Alamea.
Knowing how much his little mate had enjoyed being a part of their pack, and appreciating everything they had done for him and his family, Rune continued, "We're far from impressive, but I can assure you that Secretua won't be any trouble to you. And, should you need it," he added, speaking as both an alpha and a friend, "you are welcome to stay there. For any length of time. I'm sure Alamea would enjoy seeing a couple familiar faces."
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