His fatigue was obvious, so Ylva knew he would probably need rest.  Truly, she might as well, but only after she managed to eat.  In all her life, she had never really felt this sort of ache when it came to hunger.  It was dull but persistent, as if her body had adjusted to the lack of food.  He mentioned a cabin they could find, but if it had his scent, the wolves on the ground above them might find it at some point during the night.  It was best to just remain where they were, to regain their strength and figure out something in the morning.<br/><br/>She should have expected the kiss, but it still came as a surprise when his lips met hers.  Ylva would not have blamed him if he harbored some anger or animosity for the fact that she had chosen her duty to her pack over the yearnings of her heart.	The kiss sent a rush through her, feelings that she had buried long ago bubbled to the surface, as if no time had passed at all.  It was clear he had not let go of the possibility of something between them, by the desire she felt in the kiss.  Ylva watched as he fell back against the furs, the last of his energy exhausted and for a moment she allowed herself to bask in the feeling of safety she had with him there.<br/><br/>The feeling did not last as long as she hoped, because though she was painfully glad to be with him now, she also knew that her situation was not that different from what it had been years ago.  If anything, her duty was more important now.  And yet, her people believed strongly in fate and she could not ignore the fact that she should have died tonight, but destiny had put the wizard back in her path to ensure she survived.<br/><br/>That had to mean something.<br/><br/>She turned her attention to the fish, pulling it free of the fire, she allowed it to cool for a few moments before she ate whatever flesh she could consume off the thing.  Sleep took her shortly thereafter, though she made the choice to rest right next to wear Adam laid.<br/><br/>At some point in the night, she had rolled over and laid her head on his shoulder.   Werewolves were a rather cuddly bunch by default, and she could have tried to attribute it to that or the need for warmth, but it would have been a lie.  She had simply wanted to be close to him.  Ylva stayed where she was for a moment, enjoying the steady rhythm of his heart beneath her ear and the heat from his skin, but eventually she forced herself to sit up and she made sure she was loud enough to pull him from his sleep as well.  They could not remain here indefinitely and she had to find a way to get control of her pack back from Antony.<br/><br/>She gathered her clothes from where they hung and pulled them back on.   They would get wet again as soon as they exited the cave, but she preferred the cloth over the rougher leather of the skins.<br/><br/>"I have a friend who is the Alpha of a pack just Northeast of here, if I'm right about where we are.  Gunter.  His pack is small, not enough to really help us, but we would probably safe there, for a time.  Antony is power hungry, but not stupid.  Going after another pack would be seen as an act of war, so he would not do that."  He was a coward, but he was not dumb.  If they could make it to the lands of the Silver Peak pack, they could probably remain there for at least a few weeks without trouble.<br/><br/>"It's possible the men pursuing me abandoned their quest, but I doubt it.   Antony might kill them for their failure and I am certain he offered them incentives. "  Her brow furrowed and she turned away slightly.  "I was not the only woman in a cage after he took over.  I am sure he intended to barter others as he did me, but I would not put it past him to 'give' those women to his betas."  The Evergreen pack had never wanted for strong women and often times it was the women who dictated the mating relationship.  They chose their mate based on his ability to lead and provide...The hapless fools that Antony had convinced to be his brute's lacked those qualities, but Antony had already abandoned their ways so Ylva was sure he just intended to give those men what they wanted.<br/><br/>"I do not know what state most of my pack is in, I was kept in that cage and saw very little.  I do not know if he murdered those who would have rebelled, but I would not put it past him..."