Blue did his best to weave through the trees at a casual pace, knowing he wasn't going to confuse Eivind's powerful nose but doing his best to make their little game at least somewhat interesting for the wolf. Blue would have been willing to go farther and give Eivind a greater challenge if the sun was still shining brightly in the sky and his vision wasn't handicapped. Although he knew Eivind would never let anything harm him, he still didn't feel completely safe in the darkness, and opted to stay relatively close. Perhaps, if their game tonight went well, they could play more during the day, with Eivind giving him a healthy head start. As long as they stayed in the pack's territory, he figured he'd be relatively safe from stray werewolves or any angry moose. He hoped no other werewolf would even consider touching him now that he was covered with an alpha wolf's scent.<br/><br/>The trees were clumped more closely together as Blue went deeper into the forest, and after counting for a bit he stopped and leaned against the trunk of a towering redwood, wrapping his skinny arms around himself to help keep warm until Eivind found him. He did his best to keep as quiet as he could, steadying his breathing and calming his pounding heart, focusing only on the soft, gentle sounds of the forest. He still wasn't sure what Eivind could hear in his wolf form, but the beast had large, wide ears made for listening for prey. Though Eivind's wolf form was impossibly large and intimidating, the squishy pads on the bottom of his paws, bigger than Blue's own fist, made it easy for the wolf to remain silent as he stalked his lover. Blue listened, hearing only the sound of the leaves rustling in the gentle night wind and singing crickets. The night was calm, and for the first time in a while Blue felt as if he and his lover were free; they could do anything here without feeling constrained, confined, cooped up. They were home out in the middle of nowhere together.<br/><br/>As he suspected, it didn't take Eivind long to find him. The wolf pattered up to him silently, pressing his large head into Blue's body. The boy jumped momentarily, but smiled when he saw that familiar glint. "That wasn't hard at all for you, was it?" Blue whispered, kneeling slightly to hug around the wolf's neck when Eivind kept leaning into him. Blue buried his face in Eivind's fur, wishing it was daylight so he could admire the red undercoat that shined beautifully beneath the sun's rays. More pushing, but it was gentle. Trusting his mate, Blue got down on the ground and slowly eased himself back until he was lying down against the forest floor, grass and dirt serving as his mattress. Eivind's body covered his completely, and he could see nothing save the soft outline of the wolf's fur. His mate didn't stand on top of him for long, shifting over to the side and plopping his hefty body down on the ground. The wolf placed his head on Blue's naked abdomen and the human began gently stroking Eivind's head in response, letting his own skull fall back until he was staring up between the trees, enjoying the way the stars dotted the blanketed sky.<br/><br/>"You don't wanna play anymore?" Blue asked softly, rubbing Eivind's ears. "That's okay, I don't mind lying here with you. This is nice." Blue thought Eivind would be content to simply rest together, but then the beast was shifting, his body transforming fluidly into the man he was so familiar with. He gasped, feeling Eivind's human form against him again, warm and inviting. The older man said his name, then pressed his lips against Blue's before he could respond. The young male didn't mind, wrapping his arms around Eivind's shoulders as his mate kissed him.<br/><br/>He was surprised when his lover pulled away and whined his disapproval, but Eivind seemed content to stare for a moment before speaking again. The man's question set Blue's face on fire, and he tensed his muscles in response. "Of course I meant it," Blue whispered shyly, biting his lower lip as he spoke. "That isn't exactly how I wanted to tell you, though." He sighed, wiggling underneath Eivind to shake off the anxious vibrations building in his limbs. A small chuckle escaped his lips at Eivind's second question, and the boy ran his fingers through Eivind's thick, wavy hair. "Of course this works for me. I wouldn't let any man just take me out into the woods in the middle of the night."<br/><br/>The wolf's next admission left Blue speechless. The cave? It felt so long ago now. Eivind had loved him all that time? Perhaps it was an instinctual thing. The moment they mated, something must have clicked in the wolf's brain, solidifying the connection for him. Blue wasn't sure there was an official "moment" for him. He just knew. But when? When did he know? He tried to think back to all hours they had spent together, mentally sifting through affectionate looks and gentle caresses. Perhaps it had been the dinner. Their first official date. Eivind doing something he wasn't used to, stepping out of his comfort zone just for him. At the very least, that moment had proved to Blue how serious Eivind was. And that night, they mated, and a drunken Blue had begged Eivind to tell him he was his, and the wolf did, over and over and over. Blue remembered only bits and pieces, the wine having made his memories of their coupling a little foggy, but he remembered the hunt, and he remembered being in Eivind's arms and feeling warm, safe, and yes,<i>loved</i>.<br/><br/>"Eivind..." What was he supposed to say? No one had ever expressed such a powerful sentiment to him before. The wolf hadn't used the same phrasing Blue had, but he said he would follow him anywhere. A wandering wolf, one who clutched obstinately to his independence and solitude, was verbally committing himself to him, pledging to trot by Blue's side for as long as he wished. If anything equated to werewolf love, it had to be that. Instead of wishing Eivind said things his way, Blue was doing his best to interpret the wolf's meaning. He hoped he was understanding it correctly.<br/><br/>"I love you, Eivind." The words were sweet on his tongue and slipped into the night easily. His face was hot and probably bright red, but he hoped the night masked the rosy color of his skin. He tugged Eivind down, hoping to avoid any awkward silences, not wanting Eivind to feel like he had to say anything in response. Their lips met, and Blue could feel his entire body be enveloped by warmth. The growth on Eivind's face was scratchy, not soft like his beard before, but Blue didn't mind. He knew it would grow back and soften eventually, and Eivind's lips tasted just as good either way.<br/><br/>After indulging himself, Blue tore his face away, gasping for air. "There's something in my pocket, if you're interested," he murmured, running his hands up along his mate's back.