Despite his companion's efforts, a tightness lingered in Stellan's chest as they approached the congregation of wolves, circled around a large fire with flames licking at the dark sky. Unlike Sig, Stellan was completely naked, exposed to his brothers, natural. It was how Lofgren liked his wolves best: removed from the fabricated confines connecting them to humanity, their feet touching grass and dirt, their bodies free. Stellan tried to remember what Sig had said as their hands explored one another's bodies. The little wolf had assured everything would be all right, he just needed Stellan to fall into place and not let the animal inside of him take offense.<br/><br/>He watched Lofgren stand, towering over the rest of the pack crouched by the fire. The man's height and bulk always took Stellan by surprise. He inhaled, a bitter smirk on his face that he tried to dress up as just a bashful aloofness. “How could I forget someone like you?” he replied, looking up to his alpha. Stellan's high position in the pack awarded him some benefits. He wasn't immediately expected to bend his head in subservience, and Lofgren seemed to enjoy the way Stellan stood tall as long as he ultimately remembered his place.<br/><br/>Lofgren's attention was quickly drawn to Sig, much to Stellan's dismay. He took measured breaths as his alpha's hands touched, as he smelled the musk left on Sig's skin. It took every ounce of willpower to keep his lip uncurled, to not show his teeth. As alpha, Lofgren had every right to investigate this new wolf. He nodded as Lofgren turned back to him, scoffing. If Sig could play at Lofgren's game, quietly manipulate by taking on the role of an uninteresting, yielding wolf, then Stellan could, too. For Sig.<br/><br/>“You're not wrong,” Stellan replied, grinning. “I like this one. He's pretty. I plan on makin' him my mate. Too distracting to mount with the stink of lesser wolves on 'im,” His eyes quickly looked to Sig, a quiet promise he didn't mean his words. Lofgren was never one for humility, always enjoying the rare moments he got to witness Stellan exerting his dominance over wolves smaller than himself.<br/><br/>“I figured, if I'm going to mate 'im, then he needs to know the pack,” Stellan explained. “If the boys get grumpy, I'm sure we can figure out another solution.”<i>Anything. Just not Sig.</i><br/><br/>He shook the tension from his shoulders, loosening his body as much as he was able. “What you got planned for everyone tonight?” he asked, standing on the balls of his feet as if ready to spring at any moment. “I hope you weren't just sitting around waitin' for me?”