This place, in one word, was disgusting. The hollow entrance appeared larger than it truly was, reminding someone of open gates into the unknown abyss, challenging the onlooker to gain the guts to enter. Emerald hues narrowed at this entrance, not impressed at the den's aura. To say the very lest, the fae expected more from the brute who spoke so highly of his worthless hide. Above, the crescent moon hid cautiously behind the moving midnight blankets, peering down at her as if saying, 'Are you going inside...?' Smirking, the ashen fur rippled as the muscles constricted and released, abandoning all doubt and possible worry. Going into a male's den was not foreign though these circumstances were different, or so the fae hoped, for the Beta's sake. Cautious was her approach, though confident reminded her posture. As of then, she concluded not a soul was inside, not that anyone but the den's main inhabitant would dare waltz in without invitation. Invitation Esmeralda so hauntingly received earlier that day.

"At least I can get used to this wicked den on my own for a little while, before that cretin arrives." The snake's venomous hiss came from beneath her breath, emerald eyes scanning the area. It was, expectantly, larger than Marrok's den, a den she had assumed she would b returning to that night, but held no such comfort. Stepping deeper inside, Esmeralda continued to walk inside until her ebony nose ran into the den's back wall. Now knowing how larger the den was, still using her senses to gather information with the lack of light at such a late hour, Esmeralda searched for a place to lie. Lying against the wall closest to her ashen pelt, Esmeralda's stretched her forelegs out leisurely in an attempt to get comfortable, grudgingly awaiting her sleeping companion.

This was it. The first night that the ashen fae would be sleeping with him, in his den, by his side, fur smashed against fur, sharing body heat. The thought filtered through his mind, rushing over his body. Pushing the thoughts to the side, he began to stalk his prey. His silver hues watched as the small doe moved about the land. Her legs were thin, and her movements were slow. He watched closely, hoping the moment to strike would be soon. Licking his lips, he kept focus. Finally it was time, he lunged towards the female. With a flick of her ears, she turned her head towards him and she was off. She dashed through the grass, hoping to get away with her life. But this hunter was keen and ready to strike. The doe rushed past a tree, trying to dodge and skip away from him. Steele grunted and pushed his legs faster, forcing them to run harder than before. Grunts and growls forced themselves from his maw, but he drew closer, smelling her ripe scent from her rear. Within moments, his teeth sank deeply into her rump. The doe flailed her legs, turning to snap at him. Releasing her to the floor, he lunged at her neck once more. With the quick snap of his head, he heard the glorious pop he loved. Lying lifeless on the floor, Steele smiled, relishing in the victory of his catch. Eating a small portion for now, regaining his strength, before picking the doe up by her neck and carrying her to the den.

As he approached the pack lands, he continued to carry the large herbivore. Only now, he puffed up his chest, curled his tail over his spine, and glowered with the pride he contained within. Making his way through the pack, he dropped the doe at the entrance of his den. He entered, seeing the fae within his walls. He said nothing, instead brought the doe into the den. "I have brought food. Eat up." He walked over to his favorite spot, in prefect view of the fae and the kill. In the closed den, he could smell her scent. It was strong, clinging to the walls, working towards his nostrils.

Sleep had nearly taken her, enclosing around her fallen body like a trap, but then commotion from outside made the darkness flee, emerald eyes fluttering open to see what haunting beast lay outside, awaiting to be entertained by the serpent. Getting up without any hesitation, emerald hues glowered with intensity as the meal was drug inside as she had not exited soon enough to meet the male's taste. As the black beast lie in the corner comfortably, the fallen prey glistened invitingly. Licking her chops, Esmeralda towered over the meal, ripping into the flesh like a savage. Blood seeped into the ground around, as she lifted a foreleg to dig at the meat beyond her jaws reach, she could feel the bodily fluids intermixing with her paw. Instead of being disgusted, the serpent let out an amused chuckle as the organs spilled out, though not overly so to create a disastrous mess. "You expect something for this dinner treat?" The trickster prodded, jaws grasping what she was truly after. As the liver was forcefully taken from the doe, a pain it could no longer feel, to Esmeralda's disappointment, Esmeralda went back to her previous spot, jaws dripping with the blood that remained on the organ, paws seeping into the dirt and taking the smell of death with her.

"Does this please you, my being in your filthy chamber?" As the nutrients were ripped, chewed and swallowed for processing, the ashen queen eyed the brute from across the den, little space between them though it was enough for Esmeralda. She would earn little sleep that night, for sure, but until then, she'd play into the cretin's games.

Watching her rip into the flesh of the carcass was gorgeous, beautiful in it's own way. It was primal, instinct, and carnal. She ripped and tore at the flesh, making the blood drip from the body at a faster rate. Silently he watched her, lying on the ground ever so comfortably. His body was relaxed and spent his time enjoying the view. Graphic thoughts plagued his mind, bringing in the filth of spring with it. Her scent filled the tiny cavern, trapped among the walls and fur, clinging to his nose. The scent attacked him, flooding his body, making his inside ache and beg for her attention. For now he would stay to his side, trying to enjoy her presence. "Well princess, I was hoping this would cause your fiery tongue to simmer down and actually appreciate what I have provided for you." He chuckled as he looked to the meat, then looking to her. Once it appeared she was finished, he went and took a nice bite for himself. As he bit into the kill, he shook his head, ripping it from the bone. As he chewed the large portion, his eyes stared at the ashen fae, coat mixed with whites and blacks. When he continued to eat, the den was quiet, only the sounds of ripping and tearing could be heard. When he was finished, he let out a yawn, stretching his mouth open wide, exposing his fangs to her. When his mouth was closed, she spoke again. The poison dripped from her mouth as words were mixed with it.

"I must admit I have never seen anything as fickle as you in here. What is it you don't like about the place of living I have created? Sorry I don't have a flower patch, or little rabbits shitting rainbows." He chuckled and started cleaning his paws off the blood and debris. As he looked around his den, he felt pride from within.

His comment only made her eyes narrow with disgust, disgust which arose from her annoyance of his ignorance. Princess? Esmeralda only snarled, showing her contempt for him without words. His own eating was a rustic as hers, neither seeming to have manners or any respect for the meal, which was fine and dandy to the Beta. Beta, oh how lovely, though Esmeralda knew more was in her future, along with Steele's carcass being chewed on by rats, pelt hanging from her den. Stop it, she told her self, you can't mask the glee at such thoughts. Stopping the joyful events to come, keeping them to herself, Esmeralda simply bit her tongue. But, he had to speak again.

"It's not the den...but the company. And no, I did not expect that - this isn't Azul's den." A malevolent grin became the serpent, a hiss of laughter escaping her which even a true snake with find delightful. Though the beginning wasn't as humorous, sad with a harsher tone, she still found her words funny - as usual.

Chuckling at her little joke, it was rather enjoyable. "I figured all faes enjoyed the same thing in their dens. Cute little babies and stupid crap all over the walls. I think if my den were missing something, it would possibly be whimpers from the mouth of a fae, or blood stained on the walls. To be honest... Never mind." He looked to his pads, cleaning them over and over. "So miss newly appointed Beta, what are your plans within this pack? Find a little lame wolf and let him have his way with you? Or perhaps you are looking for something bigger and better?" He chuckled, thinking of what could happen between the two. What if they did become mates somehow? After thinking of it for a short while, he shook his head, shoving those thoughts to the back of his mind. No fae would want to be with such a vile creature as he was. He didn't even think he could ever fall in love, but looking at the fae across from him, he wouldn't mind seeing her hide daily.

"I am not all faes," Esmeralda retorted harshly, "but you already knew that." Spring was harsh on her as her mind became hazed at his suggestive tone; images, scenes, events, things Esmeralda was sickened yet sensationalized by. "It does not surprise me, you would be the one to have a whimpering bitch in here at your call, awaiting just a touch, some attention, like a servant dog." Her words were brutally honest, laced with contempt and hurled at him without hesitation.

Esmeralda distracted herself momentarily before he chose to speak again, her eyes raking across the den walls. When was the last time she had been in a brute's den? She couldn't reme-oh wait, yes she could. "I am looking for nothing; I've had enough brute intimacy in my life time to last beyond death. Mating is not of my interest nor is birthing pups, I have things to attend to before my passing, things to rule, kill, assassinate, destroy...tit-suckling whelps and foolish romantic brutes aren't going to be in the picture." Again her honesty was delivered unmatched, no precautions or censoring.

Listening to her, an evil smirk appeared across his maw. "I know you are not all faes. I have never met a fae who feared water." He chuckled to himself, his voice echoing within the small dwelling. The look on her face was one of disgust and what seemed to be horror. He was enjoying this very much. But when she spoke, it arose something within him, something he hadn't felt in a long time. He stood from where he lay and walked to her side, standing over her. "You don't wish to breed and make young ones, strong and powerful, hoping that someday they will up to something better than you have become, or to spread your lineage across the world and that every wolf will know that spawn was yours? To become a legend, teaching your young the proper ways a pack should be ran, the techniques of fighting, so that one day a wolf will say, 'that is Steele's son'." Steel lifted his head from her, thinking of his next words before continuing. As he lowered his head and snarled at her, his words stung like that of a hornet's stinger, "there comes a time in every wolf's life when he has these..." his eyes scaled down her body to her tail, "urges." Bringing his eyes back to meet her emerald hues, "there is only one fae who is strong enough for what I wish."

Esmeralda let the harsh growl be swallowed back in the depths of her hatred; must he mention her one flaw so freely? His chuckle only heightened the tension between them, a tension which was of mixed origin. When he stood, her fur prickled like an angered cat, emerald hues not leaving his form, not trusting the male's intentions. As he spoke, she could not help but be swooned, the heat of spring affecting her in such dramatic ways. Esmeralda fought the urges, dulling the sensation in an attempt to silence what he awoke in her. The serpent eyed the male as he bent to her eye level, eyes dancing with a clear objective, a want beyond comprehension, for who? For her.

"'Steele's son'? More like 'Esmeralda's'." Body heat between them was intensifying, her breath becoming deeper and more rapid. Steele's words did sound...intriguing, but Esmeralda had never considered a lineage worth her wild; there had never been a male who could father such a litter nor did she ever perceive pups able to match her own abilities. Tone now to a faint whisper, huskily delivered, the serpent continued hesitantly, "Though...what if...it were...'Steele and Esmeralda's'..."

Curling his tail over his spine was the only way he could hide his joy from the fae. His muzzle did not even twitch, fighting off the smile that even tried to attack his expressions. His face stayed stern and serious. Thoughts of being with Esmeralda ran rampant in his mind. What the hell was he thinking? She was the enemy. But as her scent continued to fill the room, thoughts of their joining flooded his mind. He tried to fight it, but it was too rough. Standing over her, he thought of coming even closer. He thought of forcing himself upon her, taking her here and now, but as she spoke, he froze. Esmeralda and Steele's pups? Is that even an option? It came from her lips, her own words. He looked at her, shocked. But soon his body took control. Leaning down, he nuzzled his cheek to hers and laid beside her. Laying down beside her, he nuzzled her fur, then placed his head over her nape. "You know that doesn't sound too bad, not bad at all." Then it clicked. Perhaps she was the right wolf. "When I become Alpha, would you be my Alphess? Think about it. We could rule the pack together. Just you and I." As he finished his words he moved to stand over her, bringing himself on her. He nuzzled her fur, pushing his nose deep into her neck, catching more of her scent and positioning himself for the act of mating.

Her mind was hazed at the next events. Her neck craned backwards, breath slipping breathly through her serpent fangs, as she welcomed the Beta's touch, slowly becoming, for the first time in her life, sensationalized by a brute. What are you doing...? logic whispered harshly, trying to force her out of spring's intense incantation. Hush... Esmeralda faintly fought back, too spellbound to even comply with her logic. When the brute spoke, his words only confused and enhanced her further; Steele was actually considering it? Releasing a growl which was similar to a purring feline, Esmeralda indulged in his next words - Alphess. His Alphess. Her Alpha. Ruling together side by side, leading their reign together and creating their own lineage for the world to grovel at. Was such a thing possible? Or was her mind, a mind influenced by spring, being tricke and fogged by simple urges? What did it matter...

"I..." Esmeralda, do not be corrupted by temptation. Don't let him win, not this brute, not any brute. Esmeralda's eyes latched open, emerald hues no longer glaceed with desire. He was on her, or nearly, and Esmeralda quickly went into action. Roughly the fae latched on his ear. She did not pull, despite the urge, and instead moved her jaws to his face. In one quick movement her canines tore at his muzzle, blood pouring into her mouth, ears awaiting a yell of indescribable pain. As the serpent drew back, canines dripping with venom and his blood, she roared in a, unmatched dominant tone, "You shall not win me, Steele! I will not fall victim to male's tricks nor give myself willingly. You will never earn me. This arrangement should be terminated but you, as the demon you are, hold blackmail so I will indulge in your foolish games. Stay to your side of the den, you ignorant brute, and simply gaze upon what shall never be under your command."

She was accepting this fate. Her fate. Their fate. As he moved down, she finally snapped. It came from nowhere. First she tagged his ear, catching a small portion of it, but then moved to his muzzle. As sharp dagger like teeth dug into his maw, he snarled, keeping the yelp of pain within him. Instead of whimpering like a coward, he barked and growled at her with more ferocity than he had shown any wolf in his entire life. He pulled away from her, ignoring her words for the time being. Blood dripped in a rhythmic pattern to the floor. He snarled in anger and pain in his side of the den. Spots of blood marked the floor and stuck to bit of his fur. Steele snarled and roared back at her with such fire in his words, "mark my words bitch, you will come to be mine in one way or another. I have been Beta for far longer than you, not only do I have numerous advantages over you, but I will use them and nobody will be able to stop me. Nobody!" With his words finishing, he stood from his place and walked out of the den. His tail curled over his spine, carrying his pride along his spine. Steele made his way to the closest spring, hoping to clean his fresh wound.

To the serpent's satisfaction the wound had done the desired damage, his threatening bark and growl expressing the pain she'd shot into him. Ever so slowly she watched the blood drip from the fresh wound, eyes fearsome and her intense words still remaining in the air. Then he replied, his words making her snarl in warning, the ashen fae standing up to confront him. "You wish! Try it, you coward, you shall never win!" The Beta yelled to the other as his figure dispersed out of the den, black fur blending with the night. Though he left presenting pride the act faltered in her eyes, for Esmeralda knew the wound would leave a mark, presenting her own power to all and reminding him of the moment. Cackling, the serpent curled up at the back of the den, nearer to one side, and attempted to sleep though now she was too wired to truly accomplish it.

[Gaah, so short, you wanna lock dis now? c:]