Morningside Cuesta it's time for a new beginning

His leg wouldn't stop aching. Neither would all his joints. It seemed that the worst of the snake bite had already passed - there was now a grapefruit-sized wound on his left flank, still weeping and bleeding, whenever the scab cracked - but the venom was not finished with him, yet. He felt as though it had dispersed, and a little pocket had found its way into every single one of his joints. Any time he moved, one or another would flare up and make him limp, until - instead of favoring his injured leg - he was walking as gingerly as a toothless elder.

And his chest ached, too. But he wasn't going to kid himself - that was another thing entirely.

Khoe's scent had been drifting toward him all day, teasing and beckoning. Begging, at times. Grayday had done his best to ignore it, but it was difficult, being at odds with himself. For the first time, he was in a position where breeding was his right. Heartha had said it, Sylvas recognized it... he was an alpha. And even though he had another male as alpha by his side, that didn't mean he couldn't - that they couldn't both - carry on their bloodlines.

It's what she wants, a voice whispered in his ear. His heart thurum-thrummed in his chest, and his stomach twisted uncomfortably. Unable to be still any longer, the male turned his nose in Khoe's direction and began to amble toward her. He did not hurry - part of him hoped she would move along, and that he would never find her. But before long, he could see her, and soon enough, he'd drawn close enough to lower himself to the ground, his side pressed against hers.

"It's so quiet, here," he said, his voice thin and hoarse. It seemed a crime to break the sleepy peace that surrounded this part of the territory.

Lemme know if I should change anything!