Swift strides carried the determined male back to his pack lands. His encounter with a ghost from his past had rattled him beyond belief, though he would never show it outwardly. Should he tell Nnlya of the events that had taken place today? Did he dare burden her with what could very well be empty threats? But what if they weren't simply words? What if Magnus truthfully intended to do as he had said? Would he dare risk coming into Helidos simply to spite him? Of this it was hard to say, but he could not risk it. He needed to keep Nnlya close, to protect her from him. He knew she was capable of taking care of herself, but he loved her, and he wished nothing more than the best for her, and would protect her with his life.

He knew what he needed to do. It was something he should have done long ago, but now he had more reason than ever. He needed to seek out the Alpha's and ask for their blessing to take Nnlya as his mate. He knew he loved her, but as her mate, he could protect her fully. The scent of Helidos filled his nose as his paws carried him over the boarder. His hard work to get his body back in shape was proving to be successful as he pushed himself faster, and harder, his heart rate remaining steady, his lungs showing no sign of exhaustion. Muscles rippled with every stride beneath his charcoal stained rusted copper coat.

Drogo slowed his pace to a brisk trot as he entered the camp clearing. Like a moth drawn to a flame, he made straight for his beloved. Upon reaching her den, or rather their den, though for the time since he had been back he had spent so little time sleeping beside her, he called out to her, "Nnlya my love, if you will, there is something we must see Alphess Quinn, and Alpha Fenris about. It is high time that  I showed this pack what you mean to me and make it official in the eyes of our Alpha's." he barked, his deep voice laced with an uncanny softness that only emerged when speaking with her. But along with that softness was a hint of urgency, a glimmer of panic. He had never done this, never even known himself capable of these emotions, and yet here he was.

She'd been running borders the previous night, just in case another traveller decided to make a crossing. They seemed to be at the precipice of a major influx of wolves and she wanted to be sure that their calls did not go unanswered. It had been a long night for her with no one to talk to. The ground was soft and muddy from the recent rains, meaning that upon her return early in the morning she's found herself in need of a thorough cleaning. A quick dip in the river cleared that right up. She enjoyed the time to herself to swim, it made her smile. She was reminded of the day she first met Drogo. It had been a warm spring day out at the Serenity Falls. Nnlya was just a Warrior back then, over a year and a half ago. So excited for the chance to relax she'd been unaware that anyone else was present when she launched into the water.

She smiled at the memory. That day she'd broken her own rule and told Drogo everything about herself. Despite hardly knowing the male she felt she could trust him. And after he'd shared so much of himself with her, she felt it only fair. That moment was followed by a number of other beautiful ones between the two. A relationship of common soldiers that blossomed into something more. They had been torn apart by circumstance, unsure of the others wellbeing - Nnlya believed the brute she loved to be dead. But he had returned to her, but she still couldn't believe it was true sometimes

Everywhere she looked on the walk home she still saw apparitions of her beloved. Her brain was somehow convinced that Drogo's return was just a dream she'd had. Understandable as they'd spent so little time together since. He'd only recently been discharged from the Healers Den and to her knowledge had moved straight back into training. She believed he felt guilty for disappearing for so long and wanted to earn his place once more in the pack. So still she slept alone in her den. This day was no exception. She crawled into her den and curled up to sleep the day away. If she kept up like this her sleep pattern would be all out of whack.

Nnlya woke to a grumbling voice calling to her from outside. She woke quickly, dipping her body in a bow to quickly stretch her spine. She emerged reasonably refreshed and rejuvenated, a bright grin breaking through when she saw her beloved. She truly did love him, far more than she believed he could ever love her. She approached on soft paws, licking his cheek affectionately, delighted to find it was him and not a disappearing apparition. "If we have business with the Alphas then we shouldn't keep them waiting." She pressed her cheek into his. Closing her eyes and sighing for a moment. She still couldn't believe they were together again, alive and well.

Drogo could not believe, even to this day, that he was fortunate enough to be given the chance to love such a wolf as Nnlya, let alone have that love returned. What would the coming seasons bring for the pair? He knew that Nnlya wished for a litter of her own some day, but was he ready for that? She had assured him that she would show him how to play with pups, to be gentle with them, and what playing truly was, but he still worried that he was not something that a pup need have exposure too. He had seen a dark past, and while he now travelled on a far brighter path, that shadow would always follow him, but never mind that. Right now he needed to worry about making a good impression on his new Alphas, and prove to them that he loved Nnlya with all his heart, and show to them why they ought to be mates.

Hearing her say that they should not keep the Alphas waiting, he smiled and nuzzled into the nape of her neck one last time, "I love you" he whispered as he withdrew his head. Taking one last deep breath, he turned towards the Alpha's den and set out towards it. He hoped they were not busy, though he presumed the life of an Alpha was always a busy one. Upon arriving at the entrance to their den, Nnlya right by his side, he cleared his throat and stretched out his right foreleg, letting his head slip to the ground in a deep bow, "Alpha Fenris, Alphess Quinn, I beg your pardon, and hope I am not interrupting, but I, Warrior Drogo and Elite Nnlya wish to speak with you about a matter of great importance." he said, his voice deep and formal. He could feel his heart beat quicken as he awaited them to emerge and pass their judgement on the pair.

She held her position, cheek to cheek with the brute she loved. It still seemed some sort of fairytale in which they were the hero and heroine. Her breath hitched in her throat hearing those words from her beloved. They sent a shudder down her spine and set her stomach aflutter. It made her exceedingly happy to hear the words he never thought himself capable of saying. She was proud to know that it was at her urging he discovered this side of himself. The Elite enjoyed his loving embrace while it lasted, then made it last a little longer by giving him an affectionate lick on the cheek when he pulled away. "As I love you."

She followed him dutifully on the familiar to the Alphas den. It was her duty as Elite to know the quickest way to get to the Alpha pair in order to protect them in the event of an emergency. Autumn leaves crunched beneath her paws, making her smile. If this were not such a serious moment, she might have bounded on ahead, diving into a pile of leaves. It was childish to gallavant about in such a manner, but this was her favourite season. There were so many colours and the weather was mild. The season of change was certainly full of change this year. If all went well today, she would be mated to Drogo. Nnlya wondered if they did a mating ceremony here like they did in her home pack? She would yet find out.

The charcoal fae stood beside Drogo outside the Alpha den. She let him speak for the both of them, knowing he wanted this form of control to set his nerves at ease.. Despite her superior rank over his, he was the stronger, more dominant one in their relationship. He surprised her by lowering himself into a deep, respectful bow. But he did not know the Alphas, not as well as she did. For all he knew they could be strict and terrifying, though she remembered his homeland was one of formality and strict adherence to the chain of command. This was normal for him. Nonetheless, she showed her support for him in her own way, by mirroring his movements to extend into an almost identical bow. And now they wait.

Helidos was growing by the day. Wolves seemed to be flooding to their borders in numbers that Fenris was having a hard time fathoming. The pack he had been born into was small, never seeing more than 10 wolves at their largest. This was of course attributed to the harsh environment they lived in, not many wolves could stand those harsh winters. Even their summers were far crueler than most ever saw in the dead of winter. But life on the mountain peak had been simple, and that was something that Fenris often found himself dreaming about. How his mother and dear sisters would have adored Quinn, but alas, those were just dreams, and that was all they ever could be. Rest in peace he thought to himself, hoping that all of those who were lost to him, from his first home, and then his second would have found peace in crossing to the other forest.

But here and now was where the massive brute needed to focus his full attention. He had yet to discuss with Quinn whether or not she wished to try for another litter. The pain may still be too fresh at the unknown fate of their three darling pups. He scorned himself for not having taken the time to discuss these matters with her sooner, but he hoped she understood that he was busy, trying his best to get to know the wolves of Helidos, and making preparations for the coming winter. But, as a voice called out from the entrance of their den, Fen put the notion of having any such discussions with his beloved on hold. Letting a big yawn escape his lips, he slowly rose to his paws, stretching out his forelegs hearing the crack of his spine as he did so. "My love our presence is required once more." he said softly and licked her muzzle affectionately before slipping out of their den to be greeted by two faces, Elite Nnlya and the Warrior Drogo. "Good morrow Elite Nnlya, Warrior Drogo. How fair thee both on this fine morn'?" he asked simply, giving them both a courteous dip of his maw.

The world was getting colder, but Quinn did not mind. This only meant that she and her mate would be nestled together in their den, sharing the warmth of each other's bodies, even though they didn't really need it. Quinn loved to be so close to her mate. It was the favorite part of her day. As he slept, she would groom him to perfection, and though he did not care for his appearance as she did, she would do it anyway. He never scolded her or even raised his voice to her. They were at peace with each other, like one being sharing hearts in separate bodies. With her time in Helidos, she had seen so many wolves falling for one another and it reminded her of her time in Maple Woods. She thought of her mate, and the way they fell in love. Fenris had been the perfect mate for her and she was so blessed to call him so. The small Alphess slept peacefully, again being woken by the sounds of wolves outside her den. Fenris was first to approach them, while Quinn hung back to the rear of their den, cleaning and perfecting her fur. As she did this, she took extra care in her tail. It was so fluffy and gorgeous this time of year, more so than in the hotter months. When she was to her standards of apparel, she moved to see the pair before her. One was Nnlya, the Elite she had spoken with when she first arrived to Helidos. The second was a male she had seen around the pack, but never really spoke to him. She had heard at one point he was a Delta, but after a long absence, the rank was taken from him. Quinn stood as tall as she could, though she was not taller than any of them. The Alphess looked to the pair as she took a seat beside her mate, pulling her fluffy tail to rest on her paws, allowing the others to see how gorgeous it actually was. "Greetings Elite Nnlya, and Warrior Drogo. It is a pleasure to see you both on this fine morning. How can we assist you?"

The new Alpha male was the first to emerge from the den, followed shortly thereafter by the Alphess, and while the position was not so much, "new" to her, she was still a new Alphess to him. He had not yet spoken with her since his return to the pack, though such was simply due to the time he dedicated to ensuring he was in full health before returning to his duties. He was now well, back to his former glory, and standing before the Alpha pair, ready to confess his undying love for the beautiful fea who stood by his side. He prayed that their own love for one another would be reason enough for them to see that he too was capable of such affections towards another. Both Fenris and Quinn addressed them upon exiting their den. Drogo held his position in a bow for a moment while they spoke to show his respect, but was quick to rise, holding his head high, not in any sort of offence to their positions, but proudly and confidently, similar to the way he felt for Nnlya. He was proud that he had come so far as to be able to love, but to love so deeply was something he had never thought possible, and yet here he was.

"Alpha Fenris, Alphess Quinn, thank you for seeing us. I hope you are both well on this fine day, for I know that Elite Nnlya and I are quite well indeed, though our day could only be made better should you grant us something that you two have found in each other." Turning his focus towards Nnlya, he smiled as he gazed upon her, taking in her beautiful features, her eyes that he found himself lost in, and a smile that could take his breath away. "For you see, I have found something I thought not possible for a brute such as myself. I have found love in this beautiful fea before us. She has stolen my heart, and refused to release it. The love I feel for her is immeasurable. A love that dare I say could rival your own. It would bring me no greater pleasure for your blessing so that I may take Nnlya as my mate, in the eyes of yourselves, in the eyes of the pack, and in the eyes of all wolves of past." he said with a softness in his voice uncommon to him.

The Elite held her deep bow alongside her beloved. She enjoyed her rank, enjoyed her power, enjoyed the respect she had worked so hard to earn. But she would lose it all for the chance to be mated with her Drogo. If it meant returning to the rank of Warrior, if it meant being lowered to the status of Omega. Even if it meant Exile. No one treated her so well, no one knew her better. He knew her every secret, every dark corner of her mind. He could dive into those places of horror, so thinly veiled by smiles and optimism, and he could drag her out. He could survive the storm. He could survive her. Eyes downcast, all she could see was dirt. She could see it clearly. Every tiny particle, the way they held together in the shape of a paw print yet were so easily scattered by the wind. Much like ones sanity. It was held together in the larger form for the majority of time, but so easily could the slightest upset send pieces flying away. Without Drogo, Nnlya feared that the next upset in her life would push her over the edge. She had lost him once, to do so twice would be cruel beyond reason.

When finally they were approached, taking her lead from Drogo she held her bow. Perhaps one day she might find herself close friends with the Alpha and Alphess, but until they told her otherwise she would show them the utmost respect. She had watched and judged Quinns movements from afar and found her an able ruler. Exiling Fel for her crimes was the right choice, tough as it was. Accepting so many newcomers from her old lands, even those from packs who rivalled hers was a revelation of her true compassion. She was just but fair. Fenris she liked so far from the few meetings they'd had. He seemed quite involved with his pack, like he wanted to get to know those he was leading, he wanted to how all about his people and lands.

Hearing the rustle of fur beside her, she straightened up alongside her love. She sat before the Alpha pair, fluffy tail curled around her side. Seeing Quinn looking so illustrious with her perfectly cleaned coat made her wish she had put more effort into her appearance. When Drogo first spoke she felt the tension swell in her chest. How cryptic, yet obvious he was. Though maybe it was only obvious to her what he wished to discuss with the Alphas. His bright gaze upon her had the Elite ducking her head in modesty, smiling only for him to see. His words of love and adoration would have made her cry happy tears if she had the ability. She placed her muzzle under his chin, nuzzling him softly. She pulled away, speaking softly, "My Lady, Sir. I love this brute with all my heart. No one has made me happier nor feel safer than he has. If you would please, grant us this happiness, so we could be mates in the eyes of all wolves, past, present and future." She smiled. The only way she could possibly be happier was if they said yes.

Watching the pair carefully, he was quite certain he knew what the reason for their meeting was. He could see it in their eyes, in the way that they looked upon each other with a deep yearning, one he knew very well. Those were the same eyes he had gazed upon his own love for some time before confessing his true feelings to her. He had been so uncertain when he had spoken to her that day, for she was an Alphess, and he simply a Delta. But much to his surprise, and extreme delight, she had confessed to feeling the same way about him. He supposed he did have it easier in one aspect than these two. He had gotten to skip a step to the usual process, and hadn't had to enquire with the Alpha pair to receive a blessing to be mated with Quinn, though he could not imagine any would have denied them that pleasure. It was clear how he felt about her, and she him.

Having heard them both speak, he knew he would not deny them the thing they so wished for, though he did have questions and advice for them should they so wish to hear it. So long as Quinn saw no reason why they pair should not be given the chance for bliss and happiness as they themselves had found, then the two would have their wish, and they would be mated. Reclining onto his haunches, the massive brute let his tail lay carefully beside him and he smiled to the pair. "Elite Nnlya, Warrior Drogo. I woulds't like to thank thee for thy coming forth to discuss such a matter. Love is but a wondrous thing that shall bring untold happiness unto those who let it. It delights me to see such a burning love between thee, one that reminds me greatly of the love I hold for the Alphess. Tis clear to me that thy love reigns true, and should thou wish it, I have no quarrels with thy union. Lest Quinn has a reason to which thou shant be mated, then we shall proceed." he said, his ancient tongue adding a somewhat romanticized tone to his words

"That's quite a bold statement, Drogo." She did not say it in a manner that made it sound rude, just commenting on it, was all. She had loved Fenris far more than anything else in the world, even more than any pack she had ever been a part of. "It takes a wolf with a lot of courage to speak so boldly to his Alpha and Alphess. That is something I admire within our pack. And as Fenris said, I can tell you are in love with one another. It is quite clear. To go along with what he said, I will not deny your request. Finding true love is something every wolf should aspire for. There is no better feeling than finding the one who completes you, and makes you feel whole again. It is important for the rest of the pack to see this kind of love truly exists and within the next few days, we shall be having a mating ceremony for the rest of the pack to see how much you love each other. As we all know, Winter is coming soon and things will get pretty crazy around the pack. so at this time, yes, you may be known as mates. When it is time, you will know." she looked to Fenris, giving him a smile as she leaned and licked his muzzle once. "I think I shall be heading back inside. Good day to the both of you," she said as she looked to them both. She dipped her head in respect to the wolves before her and slipped back into their den.