<span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="font-family:Open Sans">“That I would keep you from having a life outside of me?” Eivind clarified, watching all the surprise on Blue's face. It was clear he'd already come to terms with never seeing his family again, and Eivind had to guess that some part of that had to do with likely thinking he was going to die under Lofgren's control. He frowned. No, he had no intention of it ever being that way between them. He didn't plan on governing Blue in any such way. It would be too exhausting to try, and he certainly wasn't a patient enough man to even start that fight. Some things maybe, he might put his foot down, but like the instance with the pills, he wasn't going to be forceful if he didn't have to be. <br/>
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Eivind went on talking about his parents, and Blue reflected how their fathers seemed similar. He didn't know why the notion surprised him, but even some things were relatable between wolves and humans. Regardless of species, they could still be similar, prone to over-expectation and unwilling to hear what they didn't want to. In Eivind's case, his lack of desire to become alpha, and for Blue, his desire to want to be with another man. <br/>
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“I'm glad you think so,” Eivind responded in regards to Blue wanting them to be together a long time, if they were to get things sorted out between them. “It's safer in a pack. More protection. A single wolf usually is at most risk. I could have taken that moose down, no problems with the pack, because we're in tune with one another.”<br/>
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When Eivind asked a little more about Blue's home-life, he didn't hesitate for very long, though he didn't seem particular keen on explaining the circumstances. Eivind frowned at the thought of anyone hitting Blue, parent or not. <br/>
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“I wish that she hadn't gotten in the way of it – stopping you from retaliating, I mean,” Eivind answered. “Maybe it's different for human and wolf though. My father provoked me in a lot of ways. Some of my worst scars are from him, but he never set me up to fail. Always, he wanted me to defend myself. He was teaching me. Fighting is a must for an alpha, and even though I don't want it, he made me good at it. He never tried to hurt me because of a preference of mine, but sexuality is fluid for a lot of us.” The pack was absent a lot of the social perimeters humans created amongst themselves. <br/>
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“Most wolves don't have much care for the mainstream religions. We focus more on the history of our ancestors,” he explained. “They were wise, and fucked who they pleased. No need in overthinking it. It's not smart to go against instinct, like you humans seem inclined to do.” That, or they were lacking in a lot of instinct, or didn't know how to find it. <br/>
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Eivind smiled at the way Blue described his sisters, then thought about anger his parents might have for him, not entirely unwarranted. <br/>
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“It won't be untrue, I suppose. Not for too much longer, any way.” <br/>
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Eivind thought a little more about their age difference. <br/>
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“You're old enough to make your own decisions. I probably wouldn't have touched you at all if you were any younger, though.” Not until he had matured a little. Eivind liked Blue as he was now, but even the age difference was pushing it for what he thought was morally right. <br/>
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“As the older man, and in the position of most power, it would be my duty to my mate to not take advantage.” He would never have crossed so many lines if Blue had been younger. He almost wished again that they had met when Blue was just on the cusp of manhood. He could have done things right, then. <br/>
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Eivind watched Blue get up to retrieve the skillet, then stared at him when he said he wasn't hungry. <br/>
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“That isn't acceptable,” he told him simply, as if he didn't expect an argument. <br/>
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“You need to keep up with yourself. You cannot afford to miss any meals. We cannot afford that. Your body is healing, and I need you strong. Today has been exhausting. You <i>will</i> eat.” That Blue wasn't starving seemed a little strange to him, but then again, Eivind was perpetually hungry. <br/>
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“We can go to the river, and I'll clean off. I don't want you getting wet though,” he told him, if he preferred that. The cold wouldn't bother him so badly, and the fire gave off a lot of heat since they'd build it up so high. <br/>
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“We can go now, but when we get back, you need to fill your stomach. Why wouldn't you possibly be hungry?” It was clear the concept of someone refusing food was a little foreign to him.</span></span>