The wolf relaxed slowly as he stood there.  He leaned down and picked her up then, carrying her as if she weighed nothing as he took her into the bedroom, pausing only slightly at the sight of the gun on the night stand.  He would ask later, when the wolf wasn't so close to the surface.  For now he simply put her in the bed and leaned down to rest his forehead against hers, taking a deep breath as if he was memorizing her scent.<br/><br/>He leaned over her like that, not quite daring to sit down on the bed as a war took place inside of him.  He wanted to stay.  He was human enough to know that he risked hurting her if he left, but his duty called him back to the den.  There were things to see to, things that needed his attention instead of his second.  Reluctance was written in the line of his body as he made his decision, for the first time since he'd taken over as Alpha of his pack he regretted his position.<br/><br/>"I cannot stay, not tonight.   Forgive me," he murmured, brushing a surprisingly tender kiss across her forehead before he pulled the blanket up and turned to leave, making sure that the door was closed behind him.<br/>