Romance Leads to Broken Hearts |:|Denali|:|

[silver]

Once upon a time it took a lot for the Salen Alpha to become excited, but that isn’t the case now. Or, at least it’s not most of the time. Especially now that Exodus has pups to call his own, the world has gone from grey to chromatic in one large swoop. The world is such a brighter and more cheerful place. Exodus even ventures far enough into this new colorful world to smile occasionally. This was one of those moments for Exodus. A smile seemed to be plastered to his muzzle as he strode through the lightly misty woods. Every so often, the brute stopped and turned back to glance and make sure that Denali was following. He had asked her to come out to the woods, that he had something to show her. Indeed he did.

Exodus, not exactly smart when it came to charming your lady, was trying his best to please Denali. Pausing once more to ensure she still followed, the dark alpha caught a glimpse of his mate. The way the moonlight glistened off her brilliantly colored fur sent a shiver up his spine. Grinning, Exodus paused for a moment to allow her to catch up, “Not further now, dear,” he murmured sweetly in her ear giving it a loving lick.

Eventually the two reached a medium sized clearing. The snow covered ground crunched as his paw struck. Snow hadn’t been in the plan, but it wouldn’t damper his plans or his mood. There in the middle of the clearing stood a mighty rock. It was Exodus’ rock and the very rock that he had claimed Acerbus from. “The other day, I had been lying in the sun to warm up a bit when I happened across something.” Grinning, Exodus’ tail waved from side to side lightly as a small breeze picked up. “Come, come see.” The excitement was evident within his voice. If Denali had been bored this entire time, Exodus would have totally missed it.

Traveling forth into the pristine snow, Exodus went around to the back of the large rock. His eyes fell upon a void at the base of the stone. “In here. Remember, I'll be by you the entire time.” It was a small hole, but big enough for both of their frames to move easily through. The edges and sides had obviously been dug out to accommodate a large bulk such as Exodus’ frame. The hole lead to a short pitch black tunnel. Exodus hoped desperately that Denali wouldn’t freak out about this. It wasn’t the best of situations, and her mind was fragile, but the ending was worth it, or so he hoped. The tunnel soon led into a chamber that gave both plenty of room to freely stand up. Exodus waited for Denali to enter before he showed her what it was that he had found.

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[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,false][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=background,http://i37.tinypic.com/2efs55l.jpg,true] The clouds seemed to be holding their breath as Denali trotted after her mate. Mate... The word still felt so foreign to her despite the status being hers for almost a year. She just could not adjust to being loved nor did she want to admit that there was a small chance she loved him in return. Exodus had always been so good to her. She didn't deserve it, didn't deserve him, especially after everything she'd been through and the horrors she knew lurked on the horizon. His bliss would not last forever. One day he would see how wretched a creature she actually was. Maybe then she could get on with her life instead of trying to hold up a facade that would not hurt him as much as she knew she was eventually going to. At least right now he had the seasons in his favor. The Tundra female had always been more strongly driven by instinct than by reason. With her body coming into heat she'd lately realized that being away from the big black male only added to her anxieties. She was craving his reassurance and tender caress. That was why she was playing along with this harebrained scheme of his. His hot breath on her good ear made her whimper. Snow threatened to fall at any minute, but still they pressed on through the mists. "Exodus?" Her voice was soft as he lead her to the large rock in the center of the clearing. It was also ignored as he launched into a vague explanation of why they were here. He'd been so mysterious about all this that she was starting to grow exasperated. But his insistence was endearing, and with a hidden roll of her eyes she continued after him to the base of the stone. The sooner this was over with the sooner she could use him as her blanket and pillow back at the dens. The increasing breeze was starting to make her body shiver. But when she saw the hole beneath the slate that familiar panicking feeling began to craw up the back of her neck. The space was small and dark, something she strongly associated with being trapped. If there was one thing Denali hated, it was being trapped. She rarely stayed in the dens for long periods of time because of how confining they were. And now Exodus, her mate, was expecting her to crawl through that little hole? He was lucky the excited expression on his face was irresistible else she would have put up a fight. Nervously she approached the hole, staring into it for a few minutes while she tried to find her courage. The fact that the Mack. Valley male was standing right behind her was indeed reassuring, and when she finally pushed her way through the entrance she made sure to whip him in the face with her tail. Scared was by far an understatement for what she was doing right now. The female must have barely been breathing by the time she reached the hidden cavern. As she stood and shook out her coat, she turned expectantly to the male who was with her and fixed him with cold eyes. So far she wasn't enjoying this little surprise.

[silver]

The excitement pinned up within Exodus caused the brute to hardly notice his mate’s reaction to his antics. He missed the boredom clearly shown within her expression. He missed the nervousness she displayed when crawling through the hole. Exodus knew full well that Denali did not care much for the Kiaou Mines. Why would she ever wish to go in here? Instead, however, Exodus continued with his happy ways. The tail flew happily behind him as he made his way through the tunnel with Denali at his side. The brute was so eager to show her what he had found.

Once inside the vast cavern, the alpha looked around for a moment allowing her time to take in the area. Soon, the brute padded to a spot on the right side wall. From the pile of dirt lying on the floor, one could surmise that someone had been digging at the cavern’s wall. “Alright, Denali. This is my surprise.” She could probably hear the smile upon his muzzle as he jumped against the wall and raked his claws over the area that he had been digging at. The wall was giving away easily. Exodus had made sure not to dig away too much or the surprise would have been given away upon entrance. With a few moment’s work, the wall completely fell away leaving a right sized hole that was partially blocked by some rubble. Exodus nudged that away now allowing fresh air to wisp into the cavern.

Slowly, Exodus pulled himself away from the hole. The cavern was instantly flooded with moonlight. The preparations were not done, yet, though. Exodus padded softly to an area darkened out by the absence of light. There was no way for Denali to see what was hidden there. With a shuffle of his paw, Exodus knocked over something and caused it to shift so that the moonlight’s beam hit it directly. In a bright flash, the cavern was soon illuminated by dazzling lights of all colors. The moonlight reflected into the face of a crystal which reflected into the faces of many other crystals. The walls were alive with dancing colors as the moon hit several different faces.

Exodus peered over at Denali with a proud smile. When he saw her, his breathe was almost taken away. “You look beautiful,” he breathed in awe. She was. The colors that joyfully flitted around the cave shimmered into her fur. Denali went from her plain Jane white self to a majestic, lively colored rainbow. Exodus’ smile was large and pleased. “What do you think?” He asked eager to hear her thoughts. Would she like it? Or would she just think it stupid? Suddenly, Exodus’ mind was filled with doubt and fears. He had over looked the fact that Denali might not like his little surprise at all. If it was one thing Exodus hated most, it was displeasing his mate.

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[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,false][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=background,http://i37.tinypic.com/2efs55l.jpg,true] Take My Breath Away Sitting back on her haunches, Denali waited with measured patience as Exodus made short work of the wall. His excitement did manage to force a small smile onto her lips. She was still uncomfortable with the setting though, which is why the unexpected breath of chilly nighttime air caught her off guard. Apparently her mate had dug right through to the outside. This small comfort did wonders for the female. She could breath a little easier, knowing they wouldn't be trapped completely within this wretched little hole. Every breath of fresh air calmed her nerves a bit further. She was even beginning to feel her fear being replaced with a bit of curiosity. Soft moonlight filtered in as the male bustled about, continuing to set up whatever it was he had planned. Denali couldn't help but admire his strong physique in the soft glow. He was handsome and strong, a wall of protection that wanted to take care of her when she needed it most. The fact that he looked so much like that bastard was both a blessing and a curse. Exodus's happy exuberance was enough to reassure her that he wasn't the monster that plagued her dreams, and the fact that he had gone out of his way to plan all of this just for her reminded her of exactly why she'd run to him in the first place. He was a good man. It killed her inside to know that she would do nothing but hurt him. But here, in this moment, that thankfully wasn't on her mind. Instead, a soft, needy whimper left her maw as she watched him, a sign that somewhere, buried beneath all the crazy, was a heart that loved and wanted him. And then he knocked something over and the chamber was lit in a million sparkling, dancing lights. Denali gasped, eyes wide in awe at the beauty of it all. She was entranced by the surreal magic, the small smile on her muzzle morphing into a dazzling one of joy. "Exodus..." His name was breathier than she'd intended, but it still conveyed her appreciation. Shuffling a little closer to him, she nuzzled against him for a moment before lifting her head to tenderly lick his face and chin. She then buried her face in his thick neck, breathing in the scent of him as she finally relaxed fully. "It's amazing."

[silver]

The moment of reveal was upon them both. Exodus turned to watch Denali’s reaction, his silver optics twinkling with anticipation. She had no idea what he had planned for her. The feeling of this good welled up inside him. He felt like it might accidently burst out at any second. If only he knew. If only he had knowledge of her ‘betrayal’ his feelings might have been different toward her. Exodus was beside himself when Denali came to him that night. It never escaped him that something terrible had happened, but he was overcome by his need to love her that it was all pushed to the back of his mind to be forgotten. When she announced his pups growing within her belly, well, Exodus was too rapturous with delight to think of anything else. It was the life he dreamed of. Exodus was the alpha of beautiful lands, blissful mate to a gorgeous femme, and now the proud father of three wonderful pups. It was everything he ever wanted. All Exodus needed in his life was his family and a way to support them. Nothing else mattered.

Seeing the smile upon Denali’s muzzle, Exodus swallowed with difficulty. A charmed smile of his own responded to her’s. When his name echoed in the cavern, the male growled lightly in reply, his fur bristling of possible events to come. To say that he was happy she enjoyed the site was an understatement. His fluffy tail wagged happily from side to side thankful to have pleased his beloved. Her form moved closer to his. The moment her muzzle nuzzled into his fur, Exodus felt a shiver run down the length of his spine. Passion, lust, love – whatever it was, he didn’t want it to go away.

Exodus nuzzled Denali back allowing his sensitive nose to take in her thick scent. It was a scent he would never forget. For better or worse, it would haunt him for the rest of his days. Smiling, he licked her muzzle and pressed his body close to hers feeding off her warmth. He could feel her typically taunt muscles relaxing, finally. Exodus was pleased with his work. “I am glad you like them, Denali,” he whispered in turn gazing at the dancing colors. “They reminded me of you, when I first saw them. A hidden treasure buried deep in a dark cavern. They only needed someone to find them and help them shine. With a little light, they illuminate the darkness and dance lively around displaying their color with pride and delight. Yes, Denali, they reminded me of you.”

A warm, soft smile crossed the brute’s lips as he gazed down at her with devoted eyes. He may have been oblivious to other things, but his love for Denali was real. At this point, almost nothing could change that. “I caught us dinner, too, if you are hungry,” he said gesturing to the deer meat in a back corner. “But, I understand if you would prefer to eat outside. Despite the cold, it is rather nice up top.” Nuzzling into her fur, he paused a moment before an uncharacteristically devious smile played into his expression, “Then perhaps later…” he trailed of leaving the rest up to her imagination.

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[atrb=background,http://i52.tinypic.com/2qi2p7o.jpg] A contented sigh left her as her mate pressed closer, returning the affectionate gesture. The rest of the world seemed to fade away, taking with it all of her troubles. Right now it was just two of them, this secluded little bubble sheltering them from the horrors of reality. As his warm breath tickled her fur, she realized she never wanted this moment to end. The moment they left this little cavern, the weight of the world would come crashing down on her. She would be a mother again, trapped within the cage that was keeping her safe from the monster that haunted her every dream. But right now... Right now she was simply Denali, mate to this wonderful male that simply wanted to love her. Nothing more, nothing less. She was his and he was hers, and the atmosphere had calmed her down enough to completely detach from the situation. Her mind surrendered to her instincts, body following her heart. These moments of such raw clarity were rare in her life. Even as her skin heated in blush at Exodus's words, she was powerless to resist her own need to have him closer. "I think we should skip straight to dessert," she practically purred, enjoying the feel of his body. Her voice had been a sultry whisper, ending in a needy moan as she pushed herself closer to him. Her pink tongue peppered gentle kisses along his face and neck. Behind her, her fluffy tail wagged happily. In this moment she could not be more blissful. Her entire being was at peace for once; temporarily healed by the emotions she was often too scared to ever let blossom. For the second time in her life Exodus was her savior, rescuing her from the depths of her mind and showing her what it truly meant to be loved and cared for by another.

[silver]

As the moments of sand slipped through the hourglass, the tension completely vanished from the room. It was replaced by a warm, passionate feeling. Exodus gazed lovingly into the eyes of his beloved, her beautiful amber eyes. Often, they seemed clouded or distant as if her mind was not really there. Now, however, they were clear and sparklingly vibrantly. They danced just like the lights that shimmered around the cave of wonders. It was romantic alright. It was everything that Exodus could hope for and more. Everything was just as beautiful as his Denali.

Hearing the seductive purr, Exodus’ body tingled in anticipation. Although he had not entirely planned on this happening, he sure as hell didn’t mind. It was defiantly an added bonus. Besides, it was mating season. Denali’s heavy scent was practically putting Exodus under a spell. He had been lucky once with a wonderful little of pups. What if he could do it again? What if his reproductive problems were gone now? IT seemed very twisted, but if he could produce one more little of offspring, Exodus figured he would be set. He was ecstatic to have done it once. Twice may be pushing it.

Excited by the thought of where this was going, Exodus leaned in close to Denali’s ear and licked behind it with a strong, playful stroke. He replied with a deep, pleased growl as he took in another, longing breath. It was full of her scent. Suddenly, the brute’s head began to swim as her intoxicating smell flared his nostrils. The pupils admit the silver optics dilated pleased with what they were seeing. A happy smile crossed Exodus’ muzzle as he whispered into her ear, “I hear you’re on the menu,” before licking her neck and snipping at her flank. By now, Exodus had maneuvered around to the rear end of Denali brushing up against her fur and rubbing himself along her side. Once at the back, the male took in another long breath. An impulsive instinct took over from there.

Giving another deep growl, Exodus nipped at her tail to get her to place it out of the way. Sometimes, it could just be downright irritating. Once it was moved, Exodus playfully bit at her back fur and licked the area. “Ready,” he murmured questioningly before gently heaving his massive weight onto the slender, fragile female. Exodus knew better. He took great care of her, even through his instinctively powerful need for reproduction. Denali was breakable in many senses of the word, so, Exodus took great care to adjust to comfort her. Being quite larger than her, Exodus understood how to carry his body weight so he didn’t crush her. That wouldn’t be very romantic, no would it? “How do you feel,” he asked with a growl nuzzling the fur along her spine.

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[atrb=background,http://i52.tinypic.com/2qi2p7o.jpg] His heated whisper tickled her ear, words drawing a giggle from her maw. Quiet moans and whimpers accompanied his every touch, signaling her want and content. Lazily she leaned into him as he made his way behind her. Every chance she got she placed light kisses and nips along the length of his back, stopping only when he was out of reach. Her body was more than ready for this, instinct practically shutting down the ever-spinning whirlwind of her mind. Her tail wavered off to the side at his request. Another moan, this one louder than the others, bubbled forth as he tasted sensitive flesh. Golden eyes clouded with desire, a shiver of anticipation running down her spine. A soft hum and a nod of her head was all she gave for consent, her ability to form coherent words lost to the slow churn of her thoughts. If only she had more tender moments like this one in her life... As carefully Exodus draped his body over her's, the muscles of her legs instantly tensed to help support the both of them. Their proportions were a bit at odds with each other, but somehow they oddly managed to fit. It was just too bad they were part of a puzzle riddled with missing pieces. Even with her sigh of contentment the male was cautious with his mate. Mate... Now there was a funny word. Never in her lifetime did Denali think she would take mate. Truth be told, having a family was something she'd been forced into unwillingly. The female was a lot stronger than many gave her credit for, though. Somehow, no matter how mixed up and fractured her life became, it still managed to hold together. She wasn't quite beyond repair just yet, and she was determined to make the most of what she still had left. "Exodus~!" she whined, pushing herself backwards into him. Sometimes he could be too cautious; she didn't want to wait any longer. Thankfully, the male caught on. And with much care and many tender caresses, the pair made love, completely unaware of how quickly their little sparkling nest of seclusion would crumble beneath the weight of the world. There were many horrors they would both face in due time, and rarely would it be together. But for now, in this one precious moment, all that mattered was the alpha couple and the fact that they were together.