Stellan smirked as Lofgren led Sig closer to the fire, thick tree trunk of an arm wrapped around the Swedish wolf's narrow shoulders. He had known Lofgren for a long time, knew the alpha was just teasing him, testing him, making his hackles stand on end simply because it pleased him to see the normally stoic wolf with his fur ruffled. Despite this, Stellan couldn't stop himself from wanting to sink his teeth into the alpha's forearm.<i>He's alpha, </i>he reminded himself, but suddenly he was beginning to think that just because Lofgren was alpha that shouldn't afford him the right to touch. Sig was his own wolf, wild and independent. He shouldn't have to submit to anyone, especially a brute like Lofgren.<br/><br/>“Garlan likes running his mouth,” Stellan shot back, though he wasn't surprised. He had figured Garlan would share with Lofgren about what was keeping him so preoccupied. “I'll put down anyone who wants a fight,” Stellan proclaimed, and he meant it. Normally a calm and patient wolf, reluctant to gnash teeth with another, the situation was fraying his nerves. His desire to protect Sig was overwhelming all other instincts, and he was starting to comprehend why Eivind was so insane over Blue, a beautiful creature even weaker than Sig who couldn't protect himself at all. At the very least, Stellan knew Sig was fast.<br/><br/><i>Blue. </i>Stellan could hear the faint regret in Lofgren's voice, as if he longed to have his toy return to him. It wasn't normally like Lofgren to pine, but he had kept Blue around a long time. Perhaps that had been Alden's influence, or perhaps Lofgren had enjoyed terrorizing Blue more than he let on. Stellan didn't want to know either way and ignored the comment.<br/><br/>Eager fingers reached out and stroked Sig's cheek as the latter returned to him. He could smell the faint hint of irritation on Sig's skin beneath the thick musk, but the growling wolf inside of him told him it wasn't enough. The urge to mate with Sig and reestablish himself was growing, but not only would taking Sig violate the little wolf's agency, something he had promised he'd never do, mating with him in front of his brothers without provocation would reek of insecurity. If someone had the balls to challenge him, he'd deal with it then, but not before.<br/><br/>“You're right,” Stellan agreed in a whisper, watching as Sig shuffled. “He's no good.” He took the small wolf's face in his hands and kissed him deeply, trying to stifle his growing arousal. Testosterone was building inside of him. “Stay with me,” he instructed, stepping back so he could shift and follow his pack into the woods. He paused briefly, licking his lips. “But if somethin' happens to me, you run as fast as you fuckin' can and don't stop, got it?” It was rare for wolves to be fatally injured during these annual excursions—Lofgren<i>usually </i>stepped in before any serious damage was done—but it wasn't entirely unheard of, either.<br/><br/>Stellan shifted, a black shadow of a wolf with sprigs of silver in his coat and bright amber eyes. He licked at Sig's face before making a quick visit to an old male curled up by the fire, excluded from the festivities due to his permanently damaged body. The beast gently rubbed his head against the old man's chest, whining as aged fingers scratched behind his ears. Stellan hadn't forgotten his silent promise to Jamsen; eventually, he'd get the old man out of here. But for now he had to focus on just keeping his lover safe.<br/><br/>Stellan tossed a look back to Sig, making sure the golden-haired beauty followed him as he raced after his packmates. Keeping Lofgren waiting wouldn't sit well and Stellan didn't want to give the alpha any extra reasons to encourage the other wolves to challenge his claim.