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Why? It was a question that Kiara found herself asking far to often, and one that never had any answers. Why did Tharin try to mate with Adonia? Perhaps the answer to that one was obvious: because Adonia had been in heat. If a male didn't try to mount a female in heat, there was probably something wrong with him. Mating was the most basic urge, and Tharin could not be faulted for his actions. Yet, Kiara couldn't help but feel betrayed. Why?

Kiara had been avoiding Tharin ever since she had smelled Adonia's scent on his coat. She couldn't look Tharin in the eye without feeling her chest contract painfully. Too keep away from him, the snowy female traveled to places that Tharin couldn't go, not with Saki at his heels. With the salmon run starting, Kiara had managed to kill plenty of time by finding streams that breached the ocean. The very first of the salmon had started their annual trek upriver, and it made of a clean distraction from Tharin and the rest of the bad things in her life.

Soaking wet and with a rather large fish dangling from her mouth, Kiara returned to the pack lands happy and pleasantly unaware of her problems. She had intended on bringing the fish back to Lucia as a present, and perhaps even take her daughter out fishing once the fish became more numerous. Prancing, the lithe female returned to the den, her catch flopping in her jaws as she bounced slightly.

Unfortunately, Kiara's good mood flew away like a flock of frightened crows. She froze, seeing Tharin's familiar form stretched out along the ground. His amber eyes watched Saki halfheartedly as she chewed on a stick. Shuffling nervously, Kiara moved a few more steps until she was almost beside Tharin. Sapphire eyes drifted towards him, anxiety clear in her blue orbs.

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Anxiety welled up like a lump in her chest, hard and determined to stay. The feeling was curious and its origins were unknown, but Kiara couldn't help but feel that way. Her entire body was stiff as she moved, until her muscles were so ridged that she felt like it would be impossible to take even one step further. Finally, Kiara stopped, much to her own bewilderment and surprise. Every part of her brain screamed at her to keep going, to find Lucia and stop being so overly sensitive. Yet, something made her stay, something made her freeze. One snowy ear was stretched towards Tharin as she eyed him cautiously, the same way she would eye a cougar or bear.

Without a word, the giant silver male stood, his hulking form looming over her like a great shadow. Kiara lowered her ears and looked away, trying to be as respectful and submissive as she always was. For a brief moment, the she-wolf had almost forgotten about her fishy prize, until Tharin reached over to grab it. Kiara balked, her head rearing back as she danced a wolf length away. The fur on her tail bristled as she shook her head, trying to communicate that the fish was not for him. It took everything the arctic female had to keep the rest of her fur smooth along her back. Her problem wasn't only that he tried to take the fish, it was more, He had tried to mate with another, and even though the heat scent had long since faded, Kiara still couldn't forgive him.

The young mother turned around and jogged over to a patch of grass where she placed her fish down. Without the strong scent in her nose, the rest of the world seemed to flood her every sense. Fall had begun, its soft, dewy scent promised change and snow. Tharin's own musk seemed to catch her attention though, and she turned to look at him. Just seeing him hurt and made her ears drop and her chest tighten.

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The whole situation was awkward and Kiara felt angry for some unknown reason. As the arctic female danced away, she could see the hurt in Tharin's eyes. His large amber orbs stared at her, begging her forgiveness. Their eyes locked for a moment, until both turned to take care of things. They needed to talk, needed to work things out between them. It hurt her not to be around Tharin and she hated feeling like he had betrayed her. They were more than friends, they were packmates and Tharin had been there for Kiara when she needed him.

The circumstances in which they had meet were strange, two natural wolves meeting and hunting together. It was like something had clicked. Since then, Tharin had helped Kaira raise her pups and had been a companion for her when she had no one else to rely on. Tharin was the one who had helped Kiara into the pack, and had been by her side and protected her at night. He wasn't her mate, but he was an irreplaceable existence in her life.

With Saki gone, Kaira and Tharin were virtually alone. They stared at each other for a bit, neither one speaking or moving. It was the silver male who broke the standstill, his steps cautious and slow. Blue orbs watched him move, her muscles tense as if she might bolt at any second. A whine drifted towards her and Tharin dipped into a playful bow, causing a smile to tug at the corner of her lips. The arctic female's tail began to wag, low and slow. At last they were side by side, and Tharin gave her a little shove. His body was massive and easily outweighed her own, so the tiny bump made Kiara take a step to the side as she regained her balance.

Slowly, black lips pulled back and her jaws parted into a toothy smile. Kiara rose up on her hind legs as she tried to climb on top of Tharin, her massive head twisting so that she could gnaw on the back of his neck.