Grouse Thicket all we know

She did not speak, and as he turned, forcing himself to meet her cool silver gaze, he felt his chest constrict tightly around the ache in his heart. Nicolas swallowed thickly, unsure of what to do next. Usually, after such a display, the woman would reject him and kick him away, unwilling to live and love someone as broken as himself, and he accepted that; he understood. In the wild, only the strongest survived, and Nico was anything but strong, so, why would anyone stick with him? It was the truth, however bitter it was, and the deWinter had long accepted it. So, he stood there and waited for her to say those biting words and kick him away.

She didn't say those words, but neither did she say anything, and while a flicker of hope returned, the soldier squashed it and simply kept his gaze on her, quietly expecting something, anything. Nico watched as she relaxed, and the iciness fell from her gaze. She did not speak, but walked forward, and as fear gripped him, he tensed and stiffened, ready to flee at a moment's notice. But Aeronwyn did not attack him, rather, she rested her muzzle on his forehead and after a moment, he too, relaxed into her hold. 

"I'm sorry," he muttered, hatred seeping into his voice - hatred for himself, for his broken nature. "I..I understand if you don't want to stay with me anymore," Nico forced the words out, choking down the pain that threatened to overwhelm him. "I-I get it." he breathed softly, "No one wants to be with a broken wolf."