Swiftcurrent Creek All I needed was the last thing I wanted.

Her cubs are mine, was Viinturuth's bold confession when he and @Akavir were alone, trailing the frosted edge of the creek. His dark eyes focused on the trail before them and tension worked its way into his shoulders. He exhaled a breath, then paused in his tracks to regard his brother for a long, silent moment. I know they are.

The proclamation was a surprise—Akavir was usually better trained at withholding emotion and surprise, but his stare was hard as his muzzle swung to his brother, his own stomach dropping. “You two…?”

Children were what he had wanted for his brother—for the man to settle, to see what it could be like…

Then his had all flown in various directions of chaos and mayhem—dying, losing eyes—being lippy and then attacked.

A paw lifted to wash over his own face, scrubbing hard at one of the scars on his cheek. “Viin” He couldn’t keep this a secret, right?

They had both slept with the same woman.

He had expected a different response from Akavir, but instead of opening his smart mouth the Alpha fixed his brother with a firm stare. Viinturuth splayed his pallid ears and swallowed, his brow tightening. A berating was the last thing he thought to receive, but regret for his confession began to nudge its way to the forefront of his mind.

A scolding did not come, however. Viinturuth's expression shifted to one of confusion; what, Akavir?

“You should know,” he began—and then paused—had it been pride in his brothers eyes, before? Now tampered by reality as the pale man’s ears slid back. He hated this.

“If you think they’re yours, I believe you. But you should know, I also happened upon her during her time…” He knew the other Mayfair would connect the dots. He could only hope that it wouldn’t sway Viinturuth’s sudden pride—nor his sudden claim.

Akavir certainly wasn’t rushing to do it, not the way the more nobler of the two before him was.