Alastor could give her enough silent reassurance that everything was fine. She didn't screw up anything, she wasn't weird. Just as she took him for who he was, he did the same for her. She took a deep breath as his forehead connected with hers, and she didn't move as she savored the moment just as he had. She could have every experience with Alastor, not just the good fuck but emotions that followed. She wouldn't go as far to say she loved him, but she did feel drastically different towards him even compared to Kichi. It wasn't just that he had eternally saved her Kefka, it was so much more than that. She couldn't even fathom what she felt for him, and she would keep it just the way it was.

Her paws too flexed gently over his rib cage before he placed a careful lick over her head. She was so much different than she was even just a season ago. There was still a part of her that was tense and unsure about the way his body was wrapped around her. But she also knew she wanted it more than anything. She didn't want to let go, she wanted him to stay. She knew that once he left she would be left lonely and empty. But he didn't belong to her. She would never want to replace Manea in his life, no matter how much more her care could grow for him. She couldn't do it to Manea, and she couldn't ask it of him. She would always be content with just what they had, she could live with it.

She had completely shut herself down because she didn't want to feel anything, only the remnants of what they had shared together prior. Just for the moment. She was no different now than any normal day in the pack, a completely different Relm than the way she looked at and saw Alastor just moments before. She let them lay close like this for some time, but eventually her paws withdrew from him, allowing him the opportunity to leave. She didn't say anything more, and her gaze was still diverted below him. She was ready for him to go home.

"Relm"
F2U base by AshKatu

Relm was right: she could experience everything with Alastor, and he allowed her all the freedom and support she needed to grow and have those experiences. Perhaps it was that fatherly nature Alastor had found hidden deep within himself that made him desire to see Relm grow as she had. Maybe it was just his affinity for puppies, having known the girl since she was just a wee thing barely coming up to his knees. Or maybe Relm was just special for being Relm. Alastor couldn't place a name to what they had, but labels didn't matter. Whatever it was, the young woman mattered to the alpha male and would only continue to grow the intensity of that relationship the more time they spent together and the more learning they shared.

As he held and stroked her, so too did she flex her paws over his broad chest. Alastor gazed down at Relm, watching her quietly for some time, from every little subtle move she made to the way she breathed and how their bodies met in all the right ways. The soft blending of ebony black and vivid pink fur left little tickling tingles on his skin wherever she touched him. Although he couldn't see her expression with the way she was looking down at their bodies, Alastor could feel some of that tension coming back to her as she lay in his arms. The moment was passing, and Relm was retreating back into her shell. Alastor breathed a heavy sigh. No matter how much he wished this could last an eternity, both wolves knew it could not. And while Manea had his heart and soul forever, there would be no denying nor diminishing what he felt for Relm. He would always keep her close to his fucked up black heart, cherished, treasured, and protected—about as close as they could get without crossing that line. Just as Relm couldn't say she loved him, Alastor wouldn't have gone that far either. But Relm was irrevocably much more special to him than any other wolf could ever hope to be outside of his little family, and Alastor would protect that relationship and her with his life.

After some time of silent snuggling in the aftermath of their passionate sex, Alastor felt Relm's paws release the flowing fur on his chest as she reluctantly let him go. He was loathe to do the same, but he knew the reality of their situation. No matter how badly he wanted to remain like this with her, wrapped up in her, they both had to return to the world outside these den walls. But Alastor didn't let her go just yet. Instead, the dire brute squeezed the pink fae in his tight embrace, nuzzling at her forehead and ears again in one more gesture of affection. He drew in her scent, letting her flood his senses like one last hit of a drug for the road, and then he gradually relaxed his forearms. "I'll find you again as soon as I can." His promise whispered for her to hear alone, Alastor unraveled himself from Relm with great reluctance, rising to his paws and giving his flowing coat a tousle to even it out from their romp. He knew he was covered in Relm's scent and the smell of sex, and while a part of him wanted to wear the scents like a badge of honor, he knew he'd have to get cleaned up before going back to Manea.

The massive black-furred brute gave a small yet highly satisfied smile to the fae that had just changed his life immeasurably before turning to head to the exit. He reached the mouth of the den—and then paused on the threshold. A glance back at the young woman still in her bed where he had been with her just moments before, and Alastor was instantly conflicted between what he knew he needed to do and what he wanted to do. There would be many other opportunities for him to stay with Relm afterward though, and already he was mentally preparing for that next time and how he'd make up his expedited exit to her then. But before he left, he needed to be sure Relm knew how much she mattered to him. She'd conveyed just how important he was to her in numerous ways today, and while he hoped he had done the same, there was one last thing he wanted to tell her. The same vow he'd told to Lurid when he'd loved her, the same vow he'd said to Manea when she asked him to be her mate. "I'd burn this whole world down for you if you asked." Alastor was a wild beast inside. Borderline feral at times and unhinged on his worst days, he was a force of violence and danger nobody could control. Nobody—except for two wolves now.

"I'll see you again very soon, Relm." Alastor managed one last parting smile to Relm, unabashedly letting his eyes roam over her one more time to really drink in the aftermath of what they'd done to one another, then departed. The giant wolf headed for Alias Lake first; he was in dire needs of a bath. Not because he was ashamed or felt he had to hide what they'd done together, but because he had more respect for Manea than showing up back home covered in another woman's scent. He just prayed to whatever sick gods still listened to him that she would be in a good mood when he got there.

- exit Alastor -

"Alastor"

Alastor was giving her everything she needed to feel valuable, but because she shut herself down she couldn't truly admire as he held her close and took in her scent and savored. She believed what he told her, there was no doubt about that. But she was starting to see that she would want more. It was too early for her to understand, and it's why she was okay with everything just the way it was. Alastor could love Manea and spend time with her like this, and there was no part of him that was showing that his feelings were a lie. She knew Alastor cared for her just as she did for him, she didn't believe that would change.

As he left her, she rolled more back on her stomach, her gaze remained so she could see him just out of the corner of her eye. She would hear him, she would believe him. She took his promises to heart. But it may not have seemed that way. Finally before his leave to the last promise he made, she looked up at him softly. She was able to muster a small forced smile at least. All she could do was hope for the next time they ran in to each other. She wouldn't go avoiding him like she had before, but she wouldn't go seeking him out either. She'd let him come to her on his own time. Her mind turned to going to Kichi's den later, that way she wouldn't have to be alone.

"Relm"