RETH
He could feel her breasts pressed against his back, and desire rose in him like a fire in his belly. As soon as he had her secure and began to move, the crowd turned to face them.
The fight to leave the ceremony was traditional—and supposed to be little more than play. But Reth noticed more than one face set in disapproval, or anger—and more than one wolf snuck an elbow or fist to his ribs hard enough to leave a bruise.
Elia buried her face in his neck and just held on.
It only took a couple minutes for him to break through the circling mass and reach the edge of the fire's light, and the smoke. When he did, he turned and roared and his people answered—mostly with genuine excitement. Then he turned for the path to his cave, made eye-contact with Behryn as he stepped out of the smoke, and started to jog through the trees.
