The albino was not far off from where his wife stopped, traversing the territory and checking on various points. So long had passed since he’d last spotted a fox that he’d become incredibly satisfied with his ability to get points across; truth be told, he was likely the worst possible candidate when it came to doing so but, hey, he thought otherwise. He’d stopped searching for the scents of the lesser canines, convinced they’d stay away, but was unpleasantly surprised when he saw a blur of red cross through his peripheral. In a matter of seconds, the boy was after it, running it right towards Reigi—yet, before it could reach her, he’d gotten a hold on the tail and yanked it back towards him, jaws soon clamped down around its throat. With a few wild shakes of his head the vermin was rendered lifeless, whilst his eyes found their way to the dark mass just a few yards in front of him.

Alexander did not know of the ailments accompanying pregnancy. He’d never experienced them, nor would he ever, and had never spent enough time with a pregnant female to observe them. So when he saw the expression of Reigi’s face his body stiffened and he strode towards her, concerned for her well-being. The fox was discarded as he approached, nose pushing against her shoulder—are you okay?

Alexander’s mind was soon put at ease as she reacted to him, tail swaying and muzzle tilting downwards to get in a few licks across her muzzle. He followed her first with his eyes, but his head turned as soon as she ran her body along his own, maw parting with a smile—which faltered, briefly, as she flopped over. With her stomach fully exposed he almost felt bad; there was so much there and he was the cause. Closing his mouth, he closed what little space was between them as he, too, plopped down at her side. “You’re huge,” he noted rather bluntly, gaze running the length of her underside before settling back on her face. “Does it hurt?” It didn’t seem like it did, but what did he know? It wasn’t something that he’d ever experience, which he was actually rather thankful for, yet he was still curious.

And those curiosities spawned several realisations; they’d always been present, lingering in the back of his head, but only just then acquired the strength to cross to the front of his mind.

This was his wife lying beside him, and the soon-to-be mother of their children. Did that not mean she was supposed to be beside him, even in the hierarchy? His mother and father had led together prior to their problems, and then so had Burke and Meldresi—did that mean she was meant to lead beside him? It seemed likely and, surprisingly, he wasn’t entirely against the idea of offering her some power over the pack; the thought of having her at his side did not bother him, nor did he feel threatened by the idea of no longer being the sole leader—

—but how he would convey that to her, he wasn’t entirely sure. So, for now, he settled instead for being the cause of history repeating itself, telling her, “Nalligivagit.”