Chapter 304

Virgil chooses a fallen log for them to sit on when they get deep enough, holding Hayden's hand tight to help him get over the fallen and rotting branches.

"I'm sorry I kept something so important to you." Virgil begins when they were both seated, voice ringing with sincerity. "You had every right to snap at me…"

Hayden grabs his face at this, expression upset. "Maybe but I had no right to take the decision out of your hands…" he moves away at this, retracting his hands. "We should have talked it out…"

Virgil shrugs. "I was a scaredy cat who refused to face the issue, you're taking all the blame again, it's as much of my fault as well."

Hayden moves closer and drops his head on his mate's shoulder, taking a deep breath. "Baby?" He calls softly, watching the sunlight play in the quiet forest, his sharp ears picking out the tinkling creek in the distance.

"Hmm?"

"Will you at least consider having a child?" He asks hopefully, angling his head to look Virgil straight in the eye.

"I'm not unaware of how dangerous it will be, not to mention that I'm probably not ready for the responsibility of another life just yet." He spills out the contents of his heart, staring into the distance again. "But perhaps sometime in the future?"

Virgil does actually consider it, pushing past the ice cold weight settling in his chest, focusing instead on the warm weight of his mate leaning into him.

Just because his mom had died while giving birth to him didn't mean that the same would happen to his mate but there was still the slightest possibility and his phobia was playing on that little slip up.

But sitting here, in the woods of their childhood, memories swirling around him and his precious love staring up at him with stars in his eyes, he could almost see himself getting through with it.

"Just o-one baby?" He stutters slightly, wincing at how he made it sound so crude.

Hayden laughs at this, seeing slightly at how cute his mate was being. "Of course, one is terrifying enough, I don't know how people manage more."

Virgil studies Hayden closely at this, he could scent the spike in his scent so that meant he wasn't just going along when he said he was terrified, he actually was.

"If it's so scary, why do you want a baby anyway?" Virgil asks, he couldn't wrap his head around it.

"Because…" Hayden begins, going misty-eyed as a hand drifts absently to his flat stomach. "I want a part of you…" he glances at Virgil. "...to cherish."

"Am I not enough for you?" Virgil says, in a tone that sounded awfully serious to Hayden.

It only makes the Omega burst out laughing, throwing his body on Virgil's in his show of hilarity. "Don't hog all the attention, babe, it's not cute."

Virgil half-pouts at this, looking disgruntled which only makes Hayden laugh harder.

Virgil just leans forward and claims his fiance's lips, slipping a hand into the locks of his hair.

"It's time to run baby." Virgil gives him a gummy smile, his eyes a soft gold as his wolf jumps around in circles in the anticipation of finally getting to run with his mate.

A small pout grows on Hayden's slightly kiss-bruised lips as he lets Virgil pull him up and away from the log.

•~•

"Baby, you have to stop flinching each time your wolf reaches out." Virgil complains for what seems to be the umpteenth time.

They are both shirtless and Hayden looks just done with the entire thing.

"It feels weird, okay!" He throws his hands up. "You said this would be a walk in the park, instead, it feels like I'm climbing uphill at ninety degrees."

Virgil just barely stops himself from laughing, softening his tactics for the sake of Hayden who looks downright miserable.

"How about you walk me through it again." Hayden requests. "I'm pretty sure I was getting really close just now." He says earnestly.

Virgil nods vigorously, he wasn't telling Hayden that the last time had been no different from the others, not when he looked so absorbed in trying to get it right.

Most pups shifted unconsciously, instinct driving them, although that meant shifting on purpose took a lot more time to perfect.

He mulled over this thought, maybe there was a way he could push Hayden to shift, after the first time, it should come easily enough.

If it didn't work this time he would try a different approach or the Luna wouldn't be able to join the Pack to run.

"You just concentrate then you let it happen." He explains distractedly, thinking of ways he could possibly make Hayden shift instinctively.

Hayden crosses his arms in a peeve to glare at his mate. "That's the worst advice you have given all afternoon and the others weren't stellar either."

Virgil winces at this. "Okay, ouch, babe, didn't have to come for me like that." Although he knew Hayden was grounded in his opinions, as a matter of fact, Hayden was being nice with his review was trust me, yeah?" He holds Hayden's arms who looks a little off put by this but nods grumpily.

"Try again, alright."

"Fine." Hayden agrees with narrowed eyes, taking in a deep breath like Virgil had directed him to, just as he started to concentrate on his inner energy - it sounded like a load of fancy words to him…

A flash of light and a low snarl catches him off guard making him yelp in shock and jump backwards a bit.

Virgil just follows after him, eyes a distant gold, a snarl on his face.

Hayden's stumbles back a couple steps more, confused. "V-V? Baby what are you… ah!" He exclaims when a soft nudge of Virgil's nose makes him lose his balance and topple over to the grassy ground eyes wide.

Which only grow bigger when Virgil starts to growl, waves of dominance pouring out.

Unconsciously, Hayden's starts to whimper, curling into himself to get away from the force of it

Virgil almost stops when he sees this but he knows he has to see it through, this was the best chance they had, there wasn't much time left.