The raid was over and they had been all about demolished by the raiders. Though it was a friendly affair with plenty of drinks shared afterward to keep the cold of winter at bay, Delphi couldn't help but worry about her Strai. The one who had fought better than anyone else in the pack, including herself. It caused many things to run through her head that she didn't even know where to start. Her expression was obvious. Pinched, concerned, and overwhelmed.

Maybe if she helped Strai bandage his wounds, she could forget about being Curator for a minute.

Sending her companions to fetch him wherever he was, Delphi gathered supplies from the stores. Once her basket was full, she made her way to their den with a fire already flickering warmly in the hearth. Releasing whatever tension she can with a shake of her coat, Delphi sets the basket of supplies by their more than comfy bed and sits. Waiting impatiently for the titan of a boy to enter, Delphi tries not to worry.

Delphi && Strai

When Delphi called, Strai came. Of course he did, he was trying his absolute best to be supportive of her. Even if these changes scared the shit out of him.


Delphis companions led him towards their shared den. He glanced at thr entryway and planned mischief.  he teasingly knocked before he entered. “Can I come in, Oh Gracious Queen?” He called out, entering without waiting for an answer. He found her sitting on their bed and he trotted over, hoping up beside her. “Is everything alright?” He asked. He felt like he hadn't seen her much of late. Her duties were immense, and the responsibility had been pretty sudden.

Moments pass into minutes until finally a knock sounds outside the door. Both ears perk up, eyes squinting for a moment. Who was here? She almost stands, half positioned when Strai peeks his head in. His silly words leave her sighing and rolling her eyes, her body visibly relaxing. "Oh, you buffoon," Delphi sputters, her head shaking as she tries not so hard to hide her smile. It was easy for her to be in a better mood with him around. As soon as he's on the bed beside her, she turns to look him over. "How're your wounds from the raid?" Delphi questions, eyes still roving over his frame in a not so ashamed way. Honestly, it was nice having something to worry about other than the pack and its duties. "I need to make sure you're alright then everything will be fine," she tries to smile, but it falters as her paws reach out to assess his injuries. "Delphi" & "Strai"

He could see the smile she lightly hid. “That's Sir Buffoon. I'm a respectable wolf now, don't you know?” a part of him would rather be Thrall than in charge of the lives of the wolves in this pack. But he kept that thought locked down. He settled beside her, and then flopped down, lying on the bed.


 The wolf he'd fought had gotten a good bite on his foreleg, but other than that he was unharmed. “I'm not sure.” He told Delphi. Innocence riding his voice where it didn't belong. “You might have to inspect me to make sure I'm not dying of a mortal wound.” He challenged her.

She can't help but giggle at his question. "Respectable? Sir Buffoon, that is not a word I would describe you," Delphi teases, the light slowly returning to her gaze as she watches him flop down onto the bed beside her. With him close by her side, she can't deny how her stress easily begins to melt away. Even the days that he frustrates her or downright pisses her off, by the end of the day, all she wants is him.

Surprise quickly fades into something more... alluring as his challenge reaches her ears. Her lips slide into a flirtatious smirk as she raises a brow at him, a light hum leaving her throat. "Inspect you, hm?" Delphi questions, her eyes moving from his face toward his body. The bite to his foreleg is obvious, but after a question inspection, she can't see anything that's in dire need of attention.

"I suppose I should ensure you're not going to die on my watch," she teases, scooting closer as she places her front paws in between his own, reaching up to plant a kiss beneath his chin. It is then that she goes to work looking over his fur. Starting with his chin and moving down toward his throat, Delphi gently and playfully runs her tongue over his fur and occasionally allows her teeth to nip here and there. "So far so good," she murmurs as she reaches his chest, pausing for a moment. "Is there anywhere in particular that you believe is sooooo mortally wounded?" Delphi asks, turning her face slightly to look up at Strai, her smirk obvious as she continues to lick and kiss across his scruff.

"Delphi" & "Strai"

“I suppose if I was respectable, I wouldn’t be hanging around the riff-raff.” He sighed, glancing over at her with a grin just barely contained, twitching at his lips. Calling the alpha disreputable. Was that a punishable offence?

His thoughts fled him at the look Delphi gave him. The lingering sort, that slid across his body. “Mmmm.. what was I saying?” he said lazily as she leaned over him and kissed his chin. So little, so fierce. Her teeth in his coat did all sorts of things to him, and his breathing was husky when he answered her last question. “My heart, it’s definitely damaged. You should check it out.”


"Delphi" & "Strai"

Delphi uses her paws to knead at his body, gently massaging the muscles beneath his skin that surely must be sore from the raid. “You were saying how much you adore me and want to be my Thrall forever and ever,” she murmurs, a giggle lacing her words as she moves to push him so that he rolls over onto his back.

“You mean this heart?” Delphi climbs her way up onto his chest, her paws pressing down on his chest as she leans over closer to his face. “I might have the cure for that,” she whispers, muzzle finding his chin once more to nip and then plant a kiss on his lower lip before moving away.

Running a paw over his chest, she looks up at Strai to watch his reaction. “Oh dear, it does appear to be sooooo broken,” Delphi teases, turning her face to place an ear over his rib cage, listening to the thump of his heart. Snuggling herself a bit closer to his chest and stomach, she can feel her own heart begin to race.

“Definitely needs to be fixed,” her voice is mumbld and probably incoherent with how she continues to lick and kiss at him.

The white wolf let out a breathy sigh as she kneaded his aching muscles with well placed paws. “Yeah, that.” He agreed, not really paying attention to her words. Her movements were far too distracting. His eyes slid closed, and he leaned into her touch. Enjoying every minute of it.

He moved easily when she pushed him, despite the size difference. His eyes fluttered open as she crawled onto his stomach to reach his chest. His heartbeat picked up, as if in time to her words as she leaned forward to kiss him. When she snuggled into his chest, he wrapped a paw around her. “I don’t think it’s broken. I think it’s missing. Someone stole it.” He confided in her.


"Delphi" & "Strai"

The comforting paw around her back has her curling up tight against his chest. While she wants to succumb to the affections and tender feelings of an intimate moment with Strai, the stark harshness of being Curator continues to stab at the back of her mind. Even as he murmurs that someone stole his heart and she can't help but smile back, its strained and doesn't meet her eyes.

A defeated sigh leaves her as she slumps against him. "Oh Strai, I feel like I never see you anymore until we come to bed for the night. We're too exhausted to even spend time together. I haven't even told you anything that's been happening lately," her voice is exhausted, eyes looking up toward his face as she lays straddled over his chest. "I've met with more Alphas in the past few weeks than I ever thought would be necessary," Delphi admits, her brows knitting together as she runs her paws over the fur on his chest and scruff.

Delphi && Strai

Strai stilled when he saw the seriousness that came over Delphi. He thought they were putting aside their worries for the night, but he could see that his Alpha wasn’t able to. When she slumped against him, he pulled her a little tighter to him. She was so small and fragile, easy to forget when her big personality was in play. But in times like this, when she let her guard down… it was easy to see.

“The Alphas? Cementing your place, or are pieces moving on the field?” He asked her, needing to know where the pack stood. He was, and always would be, her biggest defender.


"Delphi" & "Strai"

His concern is palpable and understandable. What did it mean? Were the alphas just testing the waters? Wanting alliances? Friends? Enemies? At least one thing she knew was true. Trusting the Synicate was out of the question. Releasing a sigh, Delphi shrugs, uncertain.

“I think both. Most appear to just be friendly, but a few I feel are feeling the pressure from this new pack that popped up,” she lifts a paw to rub at her eyes. “The one that just moved in north of us, The Syndicate. They aren’t good folks and we need to stay on guard,” her tone shifts to something serious as she looks at Strai. “It worries me enough that I wonder if we should move,” her lips turn down into a frown, ears flicking backward. She loves the steppe, their work on the crypt was improving, but with an enemy that close? Was it worth it?

He watched her tired movements, and leaned forward to kiss her nose. Things were a little odd between them with the shift in power, and Strai’s turn about. He was attempting to be less of a jackass, and the both of them were still finding their paws. But there was one thing he knew with certainty. He loved Delphi, and he would fight for her.

“Move?” He echoed in surprise at her words, furrowing his own brow in thought. ‘Do you want me to do some recon of this pack?” he asked her. He could stalk it and see what information he could bring back for her.


"Delphi" & "Strai"

Delphi smiles, though it doesn't reach her eyes as Strai plants a kiss upon her nose. Though they struggle, their love with true and nothing would change that. Gods, Delphi wouldn't know what to do if anything did come between them. She couldn't imagine losing him now.

His surprise is not surprising to her as she nods slowly in acknowledgment. Then it is her turn to widen her eyes, quickly shaking her head and leaning forward to place her paws upon his cheeks. "Do not go asking for trouble with them," Delphi warns, her eyes solid upon Strai's, her tone serious as she brings her nose to gently place it upon his forehead. "They will slit throats of anyone they catch trespassing. They are the type of wolves that gloat about murder while their victim's hearts still beat in their chests," she whispers, eyes closing now as she kisses his forehead and the bridge of his nose.

"I can't lose you, my Thrall," tears wet her eyes as she continues to kiss his muzzle, his lips, his cheeks. "I would rather lose it all before losing you," she whispers softly, a quiet whine escaping her as she presses close to him.

"Delphi & Strai"

Him? Make trouble? He hadn’t caused a lick of trouble in his life. He gave her a look that he hoped conveyed his innocence. Through by now she must realise the effort he put into keeping on the right paw with Hemlock. This was her pack, and he was trying his best. Even if that went against his nature sometimes.

Strai grimaced as she continued on, describing this pack. They sounded like they would have gotten on well with his mum. Before her bloodthirsty past had gotten the better of her. Her devotion was… unexpected, and he cautiously wrapped a paw around her. Their start had been a rocky one, but perhaps their relationship was all the stronger for it. “I’m not going to go get my throat slip.” He promised in a throaty growl.


"Delphi" & "Strai"

The feigned innocence on his face forces a dry chuckle from her. She can't help but give her head a little shake, eyes closing once more as she goes back to placing kisses all over his muzzle and cheeks.

"Mmm, am I to believe you?" Delphi teases as he give her a growling promise. Her eyes peek open, looking at his expression as she holds his face still between her tiny paws. Deep down, she knows she can. That he'll do his best to keep the promise, but she and Strai were cut from the same cloth. As much as he wants to run free and cause trouble, she wishes to do the same. Was her being head of the pack the best for the both of them?

"Delphi & Strai"

He let his eyes flutter closed as she pressed kisses against his muzzle. He had shifted much of his adolescent frustration into loyalty to Delphi. He was determined to protect her, no matter how difficult the role she held was for him.

“I wouldn’t get myself killed and leave you to shoulder all this alone.” He said, raising a paw to indicate the pack. Sounding a little more sure of himself, a little less teasing. This was a promise he held close to his heart. The world and is people was a fucked up place. But Delphi? She was the good in his life. Even if she was insufferable at times.


"Delphi" & "Strai"

Something in the way he says the words allows a wave of relief to rush through her. For as much as he found her insufferable, she found him much the same. Perhaps it was them spending more time apart that made their time together more enjoyable, but she almost missed the fighting, the angst, the everything that made them... Them. Why had Vidarr gone and let his wife die? "Well, then we can die together, shoulder to shoulder, until the world falls around us," Delphi teases, a smile more reminisce of her true self appearing. Relaxing against Strai, she takes a moment to just breathe. To just be. Listening to his heartbeat, feeling his warmth, wishing everything within herself to just melt into him. "Are we making a mistake?" She whispers into his fur, hoping he maybe didn't hear her. "Delphi" & "Strai"