Otatso Wetlands Break free and leave us in ruins

Those two seconds that Mahler made quick work of him were brutally short — yet the humiliation Stag felt was enough to last a lifetime. 

Panting under Mahler’s grip, Stag heard rather than saw Wylla as she came forward to his aid — he winced, feeling shame sicken his gut. She was undeserving of him. He’d made a fool of himself in front of the two wolves he arguably cared most about. His heartbeat quickened while his rage seemed to beat to a smothered close: what was he thinking?

He was an idiot. A goddamned stupid idiot. And now Stag feared Wylla would only ever see him as the cub quickly bested by her ex-lover. 

The moment he felt Mahler’s release Stag leapt to his feet. Rather than run, he stood close to Wylla, unable to meet Mahler’s eyes. He wanted to put distance between them and his moment of burning shame — but he would not leave Wylla behind.