In the most recent days, Ali had been busy. Busy tending to Chimera and Viper's home, busy doing her best to help cultivate her own herb garden, busy maintaining the island's upkeep while Chimera and Viper had ventured north for business with a rival pack. But lately, Aliana had been busy preparing for the arrival of new puppies on the island. Not long after Chimera and Viper had returned from the raid in the north, Ali began to notice the changes in Viper. They were subtle at first; nausea in the morning, mood swings (which she honestly couldn't tell apart from her usual volatile mood), and a gradual but noticeable swell to her stomach. Although her medical knowledge was limited to what she had learned during her time as merchandise in a window for the slavers, Ali didn't need to be a renowned doctor to know the diagnosis, and even though neither Chimera nor Viper had outwardly confirmed it, she was one step ahead in preparations. Viper was pregnant, and unless she had some secondary lover, Chimera was the father.

Aliana had prepared extra furs for bedding, making sure the bed in the couple's shared bed chamber was extra plush and comfortable for the mother-to-be. Her herb garden, which she'd started simply with Queen Anne's lace and silphium to use as contraceptives given Chimera's proclivities towards faes, she'd supplemented with alfalfa, motherwort, and trillium that she'd gathered when she'd ventured off the island, all in preparation for Viper's delivery. She knew the abrasive woman didn't like her, probably wished she was dead, but Aliana was bound to Chimera, and Chimera had tasked her with tending to Viper as well, and so she would until directed otherwise. It was so strange to her to see Chimera and Viper going about their daily lives as if nothing had changed, however. Chimera continued his work and Viper kept up her routine of morning runs and afternoon hunts and patrols, though many of those involved much more vomit now.

Humming a soft tune to herself, Aliana pruned away some budding weeds from around the herbs she was growing near her beehive, checking on the progress of the plants. They had all taken root and were growing nicely, some of the Queen Anne's lace even budding with little white flowers already! Good, they would be ready in time for the puppies' arrival—and for her first heat season, which she was acutely aware and anxious of was drawing closer and closer by the day.

"Aliana"

Though the food stores were full, everyone that had any scrap of brain had considered that the coming winter might very well be as rough as the last. And so, Chimera would continue filling the stores until they were full to bursting. If there was too much, then the wolves of Ashen proper would receive the run-off. Today, Chimera had added a fat sow to the stores. He'd washed the stink of pig from his fur in the sea before making his way to the den. After a long days hunt, he was tired. Stepping down into the den, Chimera allowed a moment for his pallid pink eye to adjust to the change in lighting. He noted that the slave woman was tidying up, as always. They'd all fallen into a sort of pattern. The slave woman cleaned. Chimera hunted. Viper... What did Viper do lately? She ate a good deal, he noted. She'd been getting a little rounder. The big brute didn't mind a plump woman as long as she wasn't lazy. Viper wasn't lazy, so he didn't mind that she was putting on the pounds. The dogs were out doing whatever they wanted, leaving just Chimera and Aliana alone in the den together. He said nothing to her, as usual. He didn't speak to anyone unless there was something that needed to be said. The brute's fur brushed that of the silvered woman as he passed her and folded himself onto the thick pile of furs in his sleeping chamber. A soft groan pulled from him as his muscles began to loosen in relaxation. Sprawled on his stomach, Chimera pulled one of the many cushions forward, using it as a pillow for his chin. He didn't fall asleep immediately. Instead, he listened to the woman as she worked. The sound was... soothing. "Speech"

Aliana heard the heavy footfalls of her master enter the den, turning to greet him with a sweet smile and bow of her head as she had grown accustomed to doing. He looked tired, no doubt having continued to hunt to fill their larders with rations for the approaching winter. It seemed everyone had begun the preparations for the coming winter early, no doubt a response to the awfulness of last year. Though she'd had the slavers to care for her through the rough months, she had not been oblivious to the harshness of the ice and cold that seeped through the caves. She silently prayed that this year would be kinder to all of them, perhaps a little more normalcy, especially given the little vulnerable lives that were about to be brought into the world.

A brush of luxurious fur and taut muscle against her side broke her attention from her work, bright aquamarine eyes catching Chimera as he moved past her. That little contact made her pulse race, her tail giving a gentle sway of subdued delight while memories of Chimera wrapping her up in his arms while he slept coming back to her mind. She gave him a small smile with his back turned to her while he went to bed. Even though he was aggressive and short-tempered, she was happy to have the life he'd given her, and was happy for him becoming a father.

Realizing that they were alone in the den together, Ali decided to take full advantage of being able to cater to Chimera without the vicious glares being thrown by Viper while she did. She had heard the stress in his voice when he'd collapsed to his bed and quietly set down her work, stepping into his bed chambers with a soft clearing of her throat to announce her presence. "Welcome home, Sir," she greeted him in her typical dulcet tones. She didn't ask if he desired anything this time; instead, Ali decided to take the initiative. Anticipate his needs. Aliana sauntered over to her resting owner with a subtle feminine sway in her step, climbing over furs until she was seated beside him. She rested her dainty paws along his shoulders and began a slow, rolling press of massaging pads into his muscles, feeling the tension he carried in his neck and back. The silvered fae resumed her song, humming mellifluous and soft while she eased the tightness from his body.

He had caught something big, she surmised from the scent of saltwater on his fur the firmness of his taut muscles. He had washed, meaning a successful hunt, and he'd dragged a sizable carcass back to their home, resulting in his tense muscles. For a short while, Ali allowed Chimera to relax while she ran her paws over his shoulders, around the base of his neck and along his spine, then moving down the athletic sides of his body, humming the tune he seemed to be enjoying all the while. She marveled at the massive monochromatic brute, unable to help but feel somewhat envious of Viper. Chimera was a catch, and any fae would have fallen over themselves to be with this devilishly handsome brute, but Viper had that honor all to herself, and now had the puppies growing in her womb to represent that. "Oh, I meant to say it earlier, but congratulations, Sir! You and Lady Viper must be very excited." she said with a bright smile, her paws moving down over his lower back, following the ridge of his spine and the slope of his back.

"Aliana"

The slave girl moved into Chimera's sleeping chamber and pressed her body against his. The brute gave a low growl, but was soon silenced as her practiced paws pressed into his sore, tight muscles. She soothed him with her soft song and the rhythmic, methodic way that she worked the soreness from his giant frame. Chimera's eyes drifted closed once more and he was almost ready to give himself up to sleep a second time when the slave woman spoke. Congratulations? Chimera sat one, the motion pushing the slave woman away from him. His gaze narrowed dangerously as he stared daggers at her. "What are you talking about?" He demanded, another growl slipping into his words. He wasn't an idiot. Stupid women congratulated others when they were knocked up. He'd noticed Viper getting fatter and had been a little suspicious, but hadn't put the pieces together until the silver woman spoke. The brute's nose wrinkled as he flashed teeth at the fae beside him. "Do I seem like the type that would be excited about some useless spawn?" On his paws, he began moving out of the den, but stopped and stared at the woman once more. "If you ever get pregnant, you'll regret it." It was a promise. Only then did he turn back towards the mouth of the den, rushing out of it like a black and white bull. Viper's name escaped his name on a bellow. He was not happy. "Speech"

Chimera had been in such a good mood while she was massaging those sculpted muscles hidden beneath plus, luxurious fur, she had almost put him to sleep. That was all ruined the moment she congratulated him, her words barely leaving her lips before Chimera was rising to his full height and sending her sprawling across the den floor. She gasped and gazed in alarm up at her massive master when he growled out a demand to know what she was talking about. Her mouth opened as if to speak, but no words came out, she was too stunned speechless. He hadn't known. Somehow, he hadn't known his own mate was pregnant. She'd let slip the truth without even knowing what she'd done!

He bared his teeth as he snarled out that he didn't give a damn about "useless spawn" as he put them, heading for the door in a hurry. Ali watched him go, still belly up on the ground in submission, tail curled between her legs and ears flat to her skull. She didn't begin to move from that position until he was almost out—but then he stopped and rounded on her again, fixing her with a death glare. Ali's breathing stopped, Chimera's icy threat piercing her through the gut. She didn't even have the faculties to respond verbally, instead bowing her head and nodding quickly to his demand. She would not get pregnant, especially not after she'd seen the rage in his eyes. Viper may have had the balls to defy Chimera so blatantly like that, but she would not, could not risk it. Not that she desired to be a mother anyway. She would be the least qualified mother in the world, given her upbringing. Ali made a mental note to ensure she had plenty of contraceptive herbs growing, especially at the rate in which Chimera enjoyed her and with her first season fast approaching.

Only once he was gone did Ali breathe a sigh of relief, unfolding herself and rising to her paws, though it was difficult to do when she was still shaken from his sudden outburst. She'd never seen Chimera that angry before. Gods, did she pity Viper in this moment. So sorry, Lady Viper... I didn't mean to make your life more difficult...

"Aliana"