Redtail Rise champagne

Her discontentment remained, though she lightly pressed her head to his chest and allowed the attention to soothe her.  She could feel the parental affection behind it and knew this sense was shared.  When the time came she would rely on them both to show her what needed to be done.

She had hoped to strengthen the pack this year.  She feared she would not.  This felt like the first true failure as Wealda.

She felt the instinct to submit rise within her but quelled it, allowing the discomfort to settle instead into acceptance of what would come.  She would lead until others refused to follow, just as she’d always intended.  It was a success to have even found a mate this year.  She had thought even this to be a lost cause.

Wealda huffed appreciatively, nosing at his ear with affectionate thanks.  She would not let him down in all of the ways she could control.