Ylva's gentle voice seemed to float on air, caressing his ears with the gentlest touch as she spoke. Truthfully, Valko had not considered what it would look like to his pack for him to mate freely with a foreign she-wolf at the edge of the river so soon after the melodramatic display Antony had gifted them. He nodded slowly in understanding, realizing his comments were perhaps overeager and shortsighted, though Ylva didn't seem to take any grave offense. "I did not consider such implications," he admitted, a small grin tiptoeing across his face while his brows stayed furrowed in thought. "I wouldn't want the pack to think less of you. We have made the best decision to come here together, privately. You'll be safe with me, and the pack can adjust to your presence. They are kind, so I do not think it'll take them long."<br/><br/>He had thought the conversation over, that the two would separate and he would spend the night tossing and turning among the furs without fully knowing why. His face softened as Ylva continued to speak, and then approached, her hands caressing the rough stubble along his cheeks. Valko knew little about mating bonds, certainly not as much as Ylva, but as she spoke her words bequeathed to him a clarity he would not have been able to achieve on his own. He remembered being an adolescent wolf, itching to run through the woods on all fours while the elders tried to teach him of history, lore, and tradition. He had often been called an unfocused youth, driven more by instinct than reason. But that felt like a lifetime ago, long before his father had passed and left to him acres of forest and an entire community of wolves. Valko had been forced to grow, to maintain a sense of dignity and function with thought and intention. And yet... Ylva spoke, and her words made sense to the creature inside of him howling its need. Logic and reason had no place here.<br/><br/>She kissed him then, pressing her lithe body against his and allowing him to taste. She tasted better than she smelled; like honey and rain, like fresh berries and sweet cream. He closed his eyes and felt his tongue dance along the curve of her lips before delving inside her mouth, addicted, craving more of her with each passing second.<i>Is this what she meant? </i>he wondered. This feeling of<i>needing </i>her. His hands settled on her hips; he could feel the bones poke out where a thin layer of fat should be, and his inner wolf snarled at the thought of anyone mistreating such a stunning woman. She was beautiful, and sweet despite this strange experience, bravely marching forward and taking a chance on a wolf she had met only a few hours ago, trusting her instincts.<br/><br/>Though she pulled away slowly, gently, Valko felt as if his heart had been wrenched from his chest at her separation. Never before had a she-wolf affected him so thoroughly, inspired in him a feeling of insatiable want. Her hands settled on his bare chest, and he wondered if she was feeling his racing heart, pounding like hammers on wood. He listened to her offering, staring hard, a frown on his face. He was not displeased with her, only confused. The idea of sleeping elsewhere now sounded ludicrous to him and he had no desire for her to go.<br/><br/>He huffed, reaching down with both hands to grab her ass and lift her up. Quick fingers wrapped her legs around his waist, carrying her from the fire and toward his bed, shifting aside a pile of skins as he lay her down on her back. She was light, easy to maneuver, and he liked the warmth emanating from her as he climbed on top of her and situated himself between her legs.<br/><br/>"This bed is much comfier," he growled playfully, looking into her bright eyes as his fingers stroked the smooth skin of her thigh. Between his legs, his arousal grew. The light of the fire spilled flickering shadows across her face, and he found her even more beautiful here with her long damp hair splayed out on the pillows. He pushed up the hem of her shift, not taking his eyes away from hers. It was almost torturous to ignore the desire to sheath himself inside of her, but he resisted, somehow knowing it was better this way.<br/><br/>His lips met her throat, where he kissed and affectionately nipped at her skin, fingers all the while continuing to push up the thin fabric separating their bodies until it had reached her armpits. Moving slowly, he pulled the damned shift up over her head and tossed it carelessly onto the floor, disposed and forgotten. The first time Valko had seen her body, he had maintained a respectful disinterest, not wanting her to feel uncomfortable beneath his curious eye. The alpha exercised no such restraint now, drinking up her body and letting the sight of it quench the thirst inside of him.<br/><br/><i>Not yet</i>, he reminded himself, though his cock ached desperately, wanting to feel the warmth between her thighs. His breathing was just short of a longing snarl, silenced only when his lips returned to press worshipful kisses along her hallowed form. He painted a trail down her neck and chest, settling at the nipple of her right breast and taking it gingerly into his mouth, sucking lightly, hoping to elicit small sounds of encouraging pleasure from her supple lips. Perhaps Ylva would decide she didn't want to do this, and he would acquiesce to her wishes despite the disappointment he would feel. Perhaps she wanted it just as much as he did, and she would find comfort in knowing he was not the type of wolf to immediately ravish her body, preferring to draw out the pleasure and build it to an explosive crescendo. Regardless, Valko was confident Ylva would tell him what she wanted, and he would listen.