Valko felt a rush of tingling pinpricks erupt along the sensitive skin of his arm where Ylva touched him, like a thousand pine needles dancing along the flesh. He looked at her, finding a moment of respite hidden inside the dark amber of her eyes. Antony's display had left Valko tense, muscles aching from a constant state of unease as Ylva was presented to him. Not something typically done among packs, not something Valko agreed with. Despite this, Ylva was receptive to him, leaning into him and accepting his offered hospitality. He would have understood if Ylva had reacted differently; it was disrespectful and cruel to treat her like a piece of property, exchanging hands with assumed promises of peace. He inhaled deeply, reminding himself of the honeyed scent of her skin and hair, dulled only by Antony's abuse.<br/><br/>“Antony's mistakes will undoubtedly be his undoing,” he agreed. If the faux-alpha was planning on trading away more wolves, he was bound to run into trouble sooner rather than later. Not all of the alphas were as accepting of his insults as Valko.<br/><br/>“Come. Let us not bother with this anymore tonight.” Firm fingers took Ylva's hand, standing and pulling her along with him. What Valko lacked in bulk he made up for in stature, standing almost six and a half feet tall with long, muscled limbs. Strong and taut, it wasn't difficult for Valko to force any wolf in his pack to do as he pleased, but rarely did he exercise such brutal methods of persuasion. He guided Ylva, his grip easy and encouraging. He imagined after Antony's coup Ylva had not been treated with much tenderness.<br/><br/>Valko led his new packmate out through the front doors of the hall, heavy beasts made of solid wood with intricate carvings depicting trees, simple lupine silhouettes, and runic symbols. They matched the etched markings on the humble throne Valko had been sitting in during Ylva's delivery, and the same symbols could be seen carved into the doors of the old houses they passed. Faces watched from open doorways, or from fire pits dug deep into the ground, wreaths of curious wolves surrounding the leaping flames.<br/><br/>Only a few hundred feet from the thickest cluster of homes ran a wide river where members of the Kriki pack preferred to bathe. The waters were cool and refreshing, revitalizing to any wolf with sore paws and tired limbs. Valko dropped Ylva's hand and nodded. “I hope it isn't too cold for you,” he said, the beginnings of a smile flirting with the corners of his mouth. Foregoing warning, Valko stripped himself of the simple clothes he wore, finding he much preferred skin to cloth. He let his discarded clothes fall together in a pile before moving toward the water, his feet silent as he moved through the grass.<br/><br/>He sighed as the water slowly devoured him, the brief chill enveloping his body before a more pleasurable numbness took over. Valko dunked his head beneath the surface, disappearing. He stayed there hidden beneath the river's glassy face until he felt his lungs began to burn. After cresting the surface, he squeezed the water from his hair as he looked to Ylva, smiling.<br/><br/>“It's wonderful, isn't it?”