The Wolf had arrived finally in Arbor. Alone and Unseen. But First, he came to Hillside. The conversation between Helena and Lycanthro had been terse. He could smell the presence of another wolf, and knew Helena was set to bear this new wolf’s child. “I do not understand why my choosing Ulrich bothers you so much. You chose another life, you chose to commit yourself to the mountain. I accepted that, begrudgingly. Why does this irk you now?” He didn’t want to reply and share his real thoughts, but he had no choice now, now that he could also see the ring of commitment on her finger. “I wanted this life with you, but you know how I felt about passing my...affliction on to a child. My wife and daughter before you suffered so because of it. I could never do that to you, and little Aviva and Aurora...the gods protect her soul. I still wanted you, I still wanted this life with you.” Helena looked away, bothered by what he was intending and not intending to say, “You still left, again and again, my children still think of you as their father, and I know they will not think otherwise. You could have stayed. I am a woman, yes, but our love was more than just lacking the physical between us. I could have been happy, but you took that chance from me, again.” And felt her voice crack, “You do not get to simply decide our fate, we do together.” Helena challenged. Lycanthro felt the corner of his lips twitch, “Little but fierce, did I ever call you that?” “You still will not change will you?” She said with a narrowing of her eyes, but a softening of her tone. “You can not keep changing the topic like that.” He nodded, “Are you sure about this baby?” “Stop that, I will not have you talk to me about my unborn child that way. This child is an innocent, Arendt is an innocent, Abelie is an innocent. I will not be made to think of the people that I loved as less, just because of you. I know how you felt about Eamonn, I know how you felt about Shadrian, and you were only half right. One is gone and one is dead.” And felt her anger flare and turned from him. “I do not want to upset myself.” and crossed her arms over the swell of her belly and shook her head. “I learned what you did with Alynne, secondhandedly. You are lucky I even allowed you entry to my home, my lands. You dared to fight for dominance over my daughter, who you chose to call your own.” She felt her head swim and knew she needed to be careful, but her anger would not be abated. “I will not forget your actions, and why suddenly two men in my life, and that one of them is you would move to challenge the legacy of my family here.” The fight continued on. Lycanthro would only then understand how his actions had sent his good standing spiraling down. None of the wolves that had once followed him would return to him; they remained loyal to Hillside, Helena and Ulrich. They would remain civil, though interested in the she-wolf Esme. But Lycanthro’s actions would in the end, send him away. “You can return Lycanthro, but you have to stay away....for now.” Helena said, softening her tone. She did not know why she continued to give him so many chances, and why he would even come back. “I will see Alden. Alone.” He confirmed with a sobering nod of his head. “Arbor will not be as welcoming of strangers. You should not go. They are all there. Alynne is there, along with Aviva, their children and their mates.” “The next generation....” he chuckled, “I never thought I would see the day.” Helena could not help herself, “You wanted it that way, do not forget that.” Lycanthro would leave, with a gift in hand for Alden, Alynne, Aviva and their offspring. The Snow would find him, slowing his trek, and this time, on steed, his old bones struggling, but as the flurries covered his cloak, he noticed the rope bridge and paused. His kind would not be welcomed so easily.