Blue couldn't help but notice the way Sieger referred to him as Eivind's "human" instead of his "mate," as if the older wolf still couldn't manage to wrap his head around the fact that Blue and Eivind were more to one another than just casual fuck buddies. The young man huffed and listened reluctantly as Sieger gave him a lecture, telling him he needed to find a way to be a part of a pack that didn't want him (although from what Alaric had said, it seemed like only Sieger and a few others were truly opposed to Blue and Eivind's pairing), reminding him that Eivind wasn't one to put his trust in, a sad excuse of a wolf to fall in love with. Blue didn't care. His muscles stayed tense as Sieger's words hovered over him like heavy, dark clouds. Why couldn't the alpha just leave it alone and let them be? He smirked when the alpha mockingly opened his arms to him, welcoming him.<br/><br/>"You're too kind, Sieger," Blue snapped back, placing his empty beer bottle on the porch with a punctuating slam. He was finished with the conversation, finished with Sieger. All he wanted to do was retreat into Eivind's cabin--their cabin--and shut him and his mate off to the rest of the world. Was it too much to ask to just be left alone so he could sketch, or paint, or fuck his mate? The bitterness he felt at the alpha's presence was painfully familiar, an emotion he had experienced many times during his adolescence, when every voice of every one of his peers did nothing but irritate him to his core. Sieger was reminding him of the era of willing isolation, bottomless resentment, and a desire to run into the wilderness and never return. Only this time, he didn't wish to disappear alone.<br/><br/>The rigidity in his frame began to fade the moment Sieger stalked off. Alaric seemed ready to leave as well, though his movements were slow and lazy. The wolf was in no rush to return to his sister, it seemed. "Thanks for dropping by, Alaric," Blue chimed, smiling at him as Eivind ushered him into their home. His new home. "Next time you visit, bring more alcohol."<br/><br/>Under the impression that Eivind truly just wanted to poke around the kitchen for whatever dried goods they might have left in the cupboards, Blue grunted in surprise when the wolf pressed him up against the counter. He licked his lips in response, pressing his hips back and grinding his backside against his lover's crotch where he could feel a familiar bulge forming against him. "I know you like my mouth," Blue teased, closing his eyes and allowing his body to settle. He was home. He was safe. He was with Eivind.<br/><br/>"Yes, I want you to show me your knot again. But not here." The young human eased himself away from the older male and began moving toward the stairs, disrobing himself and tossing his clothes around carelessly as he went, as if he were leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for Eivind to follow. A sweater here, a pair of jeans there, and at the base of the stairs a translucent pair of small, tight briefs. Standing naked on the staircase, his lean body looked healthy, happy. Blue's skin was rich with color--as much color as the boy could get without burning, anyway--and the places where his ribs used to stick out aggressively didn't seem so noticeable anymore.<br/><br/>"There will be plenty of opportunities to fuck like rabbits on every surface of the cabin, Vin," he promised, smiling at his paramour. "But I want the first time we fuck in our house to be in bed. Our bed. Come on. Don't forget to grab the lube."<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center">★ ★ ★ ★ ★<br/>​</div>The first week spent together as an official "member" of the pack was unusual for Blue, though he did his best to take the alien experience in stride, to show his mate he was willing to do whatever it took to make things work. The two spent most of their time in the cabin either eating, sleeping, or having loud and unapologetic sex. Blue had kept his word when he told Eivind they would fuck on every surface in the cabin, allowing the wolf to take him whenever and wherever he pleased. They fucked against the kitchen counter, on the dining table, on the couch, in the shower, on the staircase, against practically every wall. Instead of tiring and losing momentum, it felt as if each time they fucked, the wolf was going harder, longer, Blue was sure his knot even seemed<i>bigger</i>, though he wasn't sure if that was even possible or if he was just imagining it. More than a few times the wolf had fucked Blue into a state of semi-consciousness, unable to form coherent words as he lay wherever they were when locked together, waiting for the wolf's knot to subside.<br/><br/>When they did decide to leave the cabin, they never lingered among the rest of the pack for long, preferring to venture out into the woods were they could play one of their games (Blue was getting better at hiding, and Eivind was more comfortable increasing the distance between the two during the day, though he still never allowed Blue to wander too far). Sometimes Blue would carry his easel outside and sketch or paint while Eivind sawed, sanded or carved something or other, and the two found they enjoyed their silences together just as much as they cherished the moments flowing with flirtatious, and sometimes deep, conversation.<br/><br/>Despite the sour taste Sieger had left in Blue's mouth, as the couple took to occasionally venturing outside among the rest of the wolves, Blue found that many didn't share the same bitter sentiments of the alpha. Oftentimes, the wolves were simply curious, especially the pups, who didn't seem to have had many interactions with humans. Blue was happy to answer any questions thrown his way, even the not so appropriate ones--<i>How long do humans live? Do humans live in packs, too? You smell like Eivind, are you the submissive mate? Do you have a knot? </i><br/><br/>On the fifth day, Blue sat on the back porch, his shirt off and a towel around his waist as he let the sun dry the remaining droplets of water from his body after his long shower. He had been paying more and more attention to the woods at the back of the cabin lately, hoping he would see a familiar face appear between tree trunks, but so far he hadn't been so lucky. He sighed as Eivind came out to join him.<br/><br/>"I'm worried about Sig."