Sleeping Dragon Nothing but space

The idea of missing a chance and waiting for another did not sit well with Wildfire—it made her ache all over, actually—but she didn't say anything. She pressed her tongue to the roof of her mouth as Thuringwethil calmly tried to explain that Gavriel's rejection was more about her than Wildfire. That didn't make her feel much better. The commander was the commander. If she wanted to have a family or change all the rules, that was her prerogative. Regardless of the pack's subculture, there were baser instincts at play here. She was the Alpha and it was her right to breed, even if it was done via unconventional measures. Nobody should get to deny the Heda that.

Wildfire felt her flesh prickling with heat the more she thought about it. Then her mind switched gears slightly, thinking back to her mention of Gyda. She had been considered an equal to Thuringwethil once. But she wasn't now. She had voluntarily given up her throne. She had faded into the background of pack life until recently. Now she was back. Was she going to resume her place at the helm? Wildfire's hackles actually visibly rose at the thought. There was Freyja to consider now too. She was making a naked grab for power and though the Bandrona knew the girl would make an absolutely brilliant leader, all of it was snowballing to make Wildfire feel like she was unworthy and losing her footing, her chance at motherhood. She rankled with insecurity.

"You are the Heda, the Alpha," she said, unable to stop the tears from brimming and spilling down her cheeks. They were more angry than sad. And I should be your partner, she thought wildly but was able to bite her tongue on that for the moment. "It should be an honor to help us bear children. You deserve them more than Gyda, more than me, more than anyone..." She hiccuped and fell quiet, realizing she might have inadvertently offended Thuringwethil and looking up at her, expression falling into one of subdued apology.