His breathing was ragged by the time they reached the water. It was not exhaustion that clung to the wolf's bulky shoulders, but instead a nigh uncontrollable sense of wildness. Blood pumped through the werewolf's heaving body, each limb felt as if it were on fire. Senses heightened, Stellan could smell the excitement in the pack and the wariness from other wolves unnerved by his ferocity in protecting what he had claimed as his own. They stayed away for a time, and Stellan found comfort in this. Sig had proven himself to be no simple dog ready to just roll over on his back at the slightest threat, and Stellan had displayed his impatience. He would only tolerate so much.<br/><br/>Following Sig into the water was easy. He paddled in as wolf first, washing the small bit of blood from his fur where Garlan had nipped him. The dirt and blood seeped from him in an inky spread of reddish brown. He let himself sink, shifting beneath the water and rising as man from the ripples where wolf had descended. Stellan welcomed Sig with open arms, growling appreciatively as the little wolf nipped and licked at his skin. Beneath the water, Stellan's arousal was evident, pressing against Sig's wet body. Though able to rinse away the scent of blood and grim, Stellan's interest leaked from his pores. Putting Garlan in his place had awakened the beast inside of him, and all he could think about was how much he craved either a good kill or a good fuck.<br/><br/>The rest of the pack was nearly forgotten until Lofgren made his way to them, obviously bored by the antics of his other wolves. Stellan imagined he had always held a particular allure for Lofgren in a way the other wolves couldn't, and knowing Stellan would bend to him when requested had always seemed to please the large alpha. Stellan stiffened as Lofgren approached, subtly twisting his body to put himself between the alpha and Sig.<br/><br/>“Your permission?” Stellan repeated, momentarily perplexed. Stellan couldn't remember a time when he had asked Lofgren permission for<i>anything</i>, yet it all became clear as Lof barked at him. Stellan stared at Lofgren in silence, his jaw clenching so tightly he could feel his teeth begin to ache.<br/><br/>Though Stellan had been serious when he casually threw out his intention to eventually mate Sig, he had never asked the little wolf if he were interested in such a thing. Doing it to him now, without his consent, was akin to marriage via rape in the language of wolves, and the idea disgusted him. They weren't like Blue and Eivind, traditionally mated by instinct and need. Sig and Stellan had chosen one another, albeit quietly, and Lofgren was demanding Stellan take away Sig's choice, lest<i>he</i>do it for him.<br/><br/>Stellan turned to Sig, breathing between his teeth. Mating him would award Sig protection from the pack, and though Lofgren could never be considered a good alpha, he at least was one who wouldn't touch the mate of a valuable packmate. “Sig...” he began, though he realized at once he didn't know what to say. He couldn't ask this of him. Not like this.<br/><br/>Stellan turned back to Lof, squaring his shoulders. He couldn't rape Sig, but he couldn't allow Lofgren to do so, either. Initiating a fight with Lofgren wouldn't end well for him, but maybe it would at least give Sig a chance to run. Lofgren wouldn't kill him; hell, he still let the old wolf hobble around, a symbol of what happened when you crossed the alpha.