Overture Downs You should go and love yourself*

Saena breathes heavily in the aftermath of their hasty fling, and only then does a little guilt worm its way into her gut. Yet she pushes it away, reluctant to allow her relationship with Reek to encroach on her time with Luke. Her mate doesn't need to know about this; she knows Luke will never tell. Perhaps he would ache to know he is a secret, but Saena had no qualms with it. She believed he friend would want to keep things between them from her vengeful mate, too. She remembered keenly how Reek had treated her blue-nosed pal the last time they had met.

"I'm going to Redtail Rise," she breathlessly told Luke, as if to assure him that she would not be returning home for their sin to be discovered. "After that, when I return, I will try to find some time to steal away." Would she really? Even Saena wasn't sure. Guilt and desire warred in her. Would she risk harming Reek for more of Luke's ruthless brand of lovemaking? Probably. She had never had perfectly straight morals.

With a wink, the female tucked her snout under his, relishing the contact momentarily before tearing herself away. "Bye, Luke," she breathes, forcing herself to head off for the deep taiga, lest she lose herself and thoughts of her mate in him again.