Adam turned his head and swore.   It was little more than a petty power play...   But to stoop to such levels?  Poison?<br/><br/>It was almost cheating by wolf logic.  The strongest and most able were always the dominant parties, and made the decisions for the good of the tribe.	Adam knew that the Alpha male and Female had been good and honorable people, that made equitable decisions.  A few years ago, when he had attended the celebration, even though he was human, he was well received by man and wolf alike.  He had always kept his promises, performed any jobs given to him, and collected his pay.  Never once had they gone back on a deal like a few of his other temporary employers.  Such was the life of a mercenary however.<br/><br/>He had then thought of that same night, He and Ylva had stolen away  into the forest for a late night meeting to discuss something trivial.   One thing had led to another, and soon, the two had came together for a few brief moments of comfort.<br/>Adam looked over at her, as she sat near the fire, turning her stick over slowly, cooking the fat bodied trout she had caught bare handed.<br/><br/>A raw talent he could never hope to match by his physical prowess alone.   Werewolves were just that agile...  Even slightly emaciated, with no makeup, and clad in little more that a rough elk skin, Ylva still looked beautiful to him...<br/>He thought of that night they had spent together, having drank too much of that Spiced meade that Yvard makes, with the juniper berries mixed into it.  Adam had been relaxed, and had gotten caught up in the excitement.<br/><br/>Werewolves were creatures of terrible power, and the females were known to be equally wild and passionate.  He had not known she was the Alpha's daughter, all he knew was that a gorgeous woman had locked eyes with him, that predatory look that females sometimes get when they see a man they like, and then walked off into the woods.  Like any man with any sense would have done, Adam had went after her.<br/><br/>He remembered that her body had felt hot against his flesh in the cold air that night...   Only for her to leave to take care of the obligations of her pack.  For Adam though it was too late, he had been smitten.  It was only after the fact he had found out who she was, and why she could not stay with him.<br/><br/>Adam had been heartbroken, but he accepted it as the way of things...  And so he had parted ways with the wolves amicably, and had made his way North to seek work in the Northern Kingdoms.   There was always a need for a powerful wizard, and in a few short years time, Adam had been granted a sizeable homestead of three hundred acres on the southern tip of the kingdom.   It was more or less an extended job rather than a reward, as he lands were right on the border.  He was tasked with keeping any unauthorized trespasses from happening...<br/><br/>But four werewolves at once.  They had caught him off guard, effectively with his pants down.  And now his old flame was involved.<br/><br/>Adam tried to stand, but his legs buckled, and his veins had burned like they were filled with caustic resin.   He swore as the burning traveled up his legs to his spine.   This was the price once paid when he used magic to enhance the abilities of the body, without the proper magical foci and power shunts.   The body fights back, having accumulated the fatigue, and then hitting the limb that was used all at once.<br/><br/>Soon, he would lose consciousness for several hours while his body recovered...  He had little time.   Adam grunted, and crawled over to the fire, and to Ylva, the skin tied at his waist holding tight thus far.<br/>"....In the morning, we will go back to my camp on the surface..."  He grunted as he drug his lifeless legs, elbow over elbow, closer and closer to the inheritor maiden.  "...We will gather my tools and other things, and then make a decision on what to do next.   I do have a cabin I started building about a quarter of a mile from here..."  he then murmured.  Adam considered going north to the King, but if Ylva had been en route to him...  The pain in his legs grew, and his vision grew darker.<br/><br/>He was now within arms reach of her.  "Words cannot do any justice to how glad I am to see you, so I hereby offer the following gesture..."<br/><br/>With the last of his strength, he sat up, and gently placed his palm on the side of Ylva's head, with his other hand at the back of her neck.  He then pressed his lips to her, kissing her full on the mouth.  He was gentle at first, exploring with his tongue softly, but then turning things a little more savage, biting her bottom lip firmly.  Not hard enough to draw blood or hurt her, but enough to cause that delicious feeling where pain and pleasure come together to form that perfect mix.<br/><br/>Something a little hungry, and full of promise.  The same exact kiss that he had given her a few years ago when they parted ways...	Adam then withdrew from her, and his eyes rolled back into his head.  The wizard collapsed upon his elk skin, unconscious, breathing deeply...   The fire continued to crackle and fizz, with the smoke making the algae above glow many magnitudes brighter, as it consumed the carbon monoxide from it, and releasing clean, breathable air...