he left his pack for a while to follow this tailless one he had decided to make his mate, camped with a small escort an hour away from her Silvermoon tribe. Her elders had already accepted the gifts, though it was more like payment and now all he had to do was take her, the contract was for tomorrow morning. He hadn't seen her yet

Curious who dares to approach his camp so close to dawn...His ears perk up and the hair on his neck stands on end as he scans the darkness for any sign of movement or sound...He growls slightly, reminding anyone out there that this is his territory now.

The sound catches his attention even more; it's definitely someone who is afraid of him and his wolves...Interesting. He slowly begins to approach the source, careful not to make too much noise as he moves through the darkness between the trees, golden eyes glowing faintly in the dim light.

Her fear intrigues him even more; he was used to being respected and feared by everyone around...Perhaps this girl has nothing to do with her tribe, or perhaps she ran away from something...Either way, he decides to speak first. "Who are you?" he growls, voice low and menacing.

"I did not give you an order to leave," he says calmly, taking a step closer. "I asked who you are... and where you're going in such a hurry?" He tilts his head slightly, studying her reactions carefully."

"Tell me," he says softly, taking another step forward. "What is it that has you so frightened?" His voice is almost gentle now, almost soothing...a strange contrast to the dominance that radiates from his presence.

The tension in the air seems to ease slightly as she begins to feel more at ease with him...It's strange, but he finds himself enjoying this silent exchange between them. He waits patiently for her to gather enough courage before finally speaking again. "I won't hurt you," he says softly. "Please, tell me what's going on..."

"I see," he says, his voice calm and reassuring. "You wanted to talk...About what?" He asks gently, taking another step closer, his golden eyes never leaving hers. She seems frightened enough already; he doesn't want her to feel trapped or pressured into saying anything she's not ready to share. The wolves in his pack would likely sense the fear on her and come charging forward, but he holds them back with a mere thought. For now, it's just him and this mysterious girl...

"You don't have to be afraid," he whispers, moving even closer now. His breath tickles her ear, but there is no malice in his tone; only understanding and calmness. "I won't let anyone hurt you." He holds out a hand slowly, palm upward, as if offering her comfort and support.

The wolf within him feels the tension between them; he knows that if he pushes too hard, it might snap and make things worse...so for now, he remains patient and gentle, hoping she will eventually trust him enough to share whatever secrets are weighing on her heart.

He smiles softly, feeling her fragile trust begin to grow in his grasp as she takes his hand. "Take your time," he whispers, keeping his voice reassuring and soothing. "I'm here for you." His golden eyes study her carefully, waiting patiently for whatever it is that has brought her out into the night...perhaps seeking solace from something or someone in her own tribe? He couldn't be sure yet. But for now, all that mattered was making sure she felt safe and heard.

Her fingers are cold against his skin; he curls them gently into his palm, trying to share some of his own warmth with her as they stand there under the stars, surrounded by darkness...and each other. "There now," he murmurs, looking down at her with a small smile playing around his lips. "That's better."

He chuckles softly at her comment, surprised by the thought. "I've been told I have an intimidating presence," he admits with a wry grin. "But looks can be deceiving." His golden eyes meet hers, and there's a sense of understanding there; as if he truly wants to know what has brought her here, why she sought him out in the darkness.

He squeezes her hand gently, hoping she knows that he isn't going anywhere; that no matter what it is she needs or wants to say, he will listen...and perhaps even help if he can. For now though, all he can do is wait and be patient as she finds the courage within herself to speak aloud.

Her words surprise him; she wants to talk to him specifically...but about what? Curiosity wells up inside him as he looks intently into her eyes, waiting for an answer. "And what is it that you would like to say?" he asks gently, his voice smooth and soothing. "I'm here listening."

His heart beats faster; the thought of potentially having someone who could calm his beast...someone who might accept him as a mate despite his dominance and power...it's an intriguing idea. He hopes whatever she has to say will give them both some clarity on what the future may hold.

His eyes widen in surprise as she reveals her identity; Rina... The tailless one who was to be given to him as his mate on the morrow. This changes things greatly, and he suddenly feels a newfound urgency within himself. He gently pulls her closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders in comfort and support.

"I'm glad you found me, Rina," he says softly. "You have no idea how much this means to me... I've been searching for someone like you; someone who could understand my beast, and accept me for who I am." His other hand cups her cheek, his thumb brushing away a strand of hair from her face as he studies her with genuine care. "I promise I will protect you, and do everything in my power to make sure you're happy."

He pauses for a moment, considering what else he should say before

He senses her tension begin to ease as she relaxes in his embrace; it feels good to know that he's making some sort of an impact on her. He leans forward, pressing his forehead against hers, and takes a slow, deep breath before speaking again. "I understand why your people might want to get rid of someone like you," he says quietly. "It's not their fault; they don't understand our connection with the beast within us." He pauses, thinking for a moment about how best to explain his feelings. "But I do...and I will never treat you as less than you are, Rina. As long as you're mine, no one else will ever hurt you again." His golden eyes gaze deep into hers, searching for any sign of doubt or fear; but all he sees is exhaustion and relief, and something else...hope?

He smiles gently down at her

"You don't have to worry about that," he says softly, cupping her cheek with his free hand as he gazes into her eyes. "I've faced this challenge before; my beast knows how to handle itself. Together, we can find a way for you to control it...and if not, then I will always protect you." He pauses, searching for the right words. "I believe in us, Rina. If you trust me and follow my lead, I promise we can find happiness together."

His voice is steady and reassuring; his eyes hold hers as he tries to convey just how serious he is about making this work. The bond between them grows stronger with every passing moment, and he senses her uncertainty begin to waver beneath the weight of his confidence. "You are my mate," he whispers against her lips. "And I will never let you go."

He feels her relax further into him, and it fills his chest with a warmth that spreads through his entire body like fire. He keeps one arm around her shoulders while the other cups her cheek, tracing slow circles over her skin with his thumb. His heart beats fast with excitement at the thought of finally having found someone who can truly understand and accept him for who he is.

"Then let us go back to my camp," he whispers into her ear, "and I will show you just how much I mean those words." With a slow, gentle pressure, he urges her to step away from the darkness of the trees and back toward his waiting pack. Her first night as his mate is about to begin; but more importantly, their journey together has truly begun at last.

He notices her tension rise again at the sight of his wolves and quickly reassures her with a firm grip on her arm. "It's alright, they won't hurt you," he whispers into her ear. "They know I am their alpha, and I have claimed you as my mate. You are under my protection." He keeps his voice calm and steady, willing her to trust him as she slowly begins to relax again in his embrace. As they approach the campfire, he releases her arm but remains close by, ready to offer support if needed.