Skjor paused just long enough to make sure Aela shifted, before relaxing into the change himself. For awhile, he was content to rejoice in the hunt, chasing elk with the smaller female. But even in wolf form, he hadn't forgotten his intent to copulate with her. He cautiously approached her, seeking approval. She growled a warning towards him, the fur on her body standing up. He paused sniffing the air. She was not receptive. It seemed almost as if she had been marked!.

An intense feeling of dejection fell over him. He let out a heartrending howl that echoed across the plains, before shifting into human form. He stared at Aela with a look of disbelief. She also shifted and approached him cautiously "Skjor what was that?" she inquired. He reined in his emotions, he had to keep a clear head. "Aela we have to return to Jorrvaskr we need to talk" he answered. They walked in silence until they approached Whiterun. Skjor couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.

When Reljir left Jorrvaskr intending to invite Aela on a hunt, he had traced her scent to a hidden sealed entryway in the rock under the skyforge. His instincts said this was a sacred place for the wolves. Not wanting to intrude on her privacy, he decided to go hunting.

However, he had caught her scent again once he left the city. But, it mingled with Skjors discouraging him from approaching her. At this stage of the pair bond, the beast spirit became territorial. Another male was unlikely to be tolerated. He would have preferred her company. But the traces of her scent was enough for now.

Reljir was careful to stay up wind of them while seeking an area for his own hunt. He found a suitable stream and quickly stashed his gear and shifted. He had intended to run the plains for a bit before swimming. But the lure of the water was too much for the bear. He reveled in it, splashing, swimming and chasing fish. The salmon was tasty, the water refreshing and Aela's scent was drifting in the breeze soothing his overloaded senses. Except for her physical presence, what more could a bear want?

A soulful howling rolled over him. He stilled, his intelligent warm brown eyes becoming watchful. He felt uneasy. Aela and Skjor were nearby hunting. The howling was troubling; it encompassed such turmoil, almost to the point of despair. Reljir left the stream making his way to his armor before shifting into human form. He was tracking them even as he finished dressing and securing his weapons.

He caught sight of them near Whiterun. Aela appeared fine. Reljir wondered what all that howling had been about. He had initially believed it was a response to danger but apparently not. Skjors posture suggested he was in alpha mode; Aela was displaying the posture of a suppliant. Apparently their pair bonding rituals were very different from the Shadiing. Newly mated bears spent the first few hours if not days alone together.

He wondered if the lycanthrope hierarchy required mated wolves to affirm their loyalty to the alpha. Or maybe they had spiritual rituals to complete. Whatever it was, the wolves would have to work it out among themselves. Reljir was not a member of the pack, but he would respect their values. When she initiated the pair bond with that kiss, Aela had publicly declared she was his. For now that was enough for him. He returned to his hunt.

Skjor and Aela entered the main gate of Whiterun, before she noticed a wiff of regret tinged with grief coming from him. She came to an abrupt halt nearly causing him to run into her. Confused she sniffed the air, not sure what to make of the emotions she was inhaling. Aela realized her senses in human form seemed more enhanced than usual.

Normally the heightened senses of the werewolf could detect strong feelings such as fear, domination, submission, and even illnesses. But regret?, that was a human emotion, of no concern to her beast spirit. For the first time in hours she feared her greatest nightmare was coming true. "Skjor I'm turning feral" she said in a hushed tone.

His hand came to rest on her shoulder. "Lets talk in private." he suggested. Once they neared Jorrvaskr, he asked her to go on ahead and wait for him in the underforge.

Aela felt a slight relief when the stone door of the underforge closed behind her. She wished for a totem of Hircine so she could meditate. Hopefully Skjor would decide her fate quickly. There was no need to drag it out. Of all Hircines children living in Jorrvaskr, she had not foreseen herself becoming feral. She was afraid to think of the future, would she lose her humanity?

She took comfort in the underforge. It felt safe and familiar. She heard the door slide open. The members of the circle except for Kodlak entered. After a long silence, Farkas asked "Aela what happened? Shifting at the party would have ruined everything". She was hurt to hear the resentment in his voice.

But then she realized he was using it to cover his fear. Even so, was he seriously suggesting she had wanted this to happen?. "I lost control ice brain" she snapped. "So you were too drunk to control your beast?" Vilkas asked. She could smell his sense of desperation, he realized something had gone horribly wrong. Aela just looked at him.

" Enough you three!" Skjors voice rang out, "Aela lost control because her beast spirit tried to form a pair bond". A collective sigh of relief came from the younger wolves. Skjor didn't say another word. He simply crossed his arms and waited for his pack to realize the ramifications.
Vilkas caught on first. "Reljir is not a lycanthrope, what you're suggesting is impossible" he stated flatly. Aela slid down the wall to sit on the floor. She leaned forward allowing her hair to hide her face as everything clicked into place. She wondered why she hadn't put it together herself.

Obviously shaken she asked "How Skjor? How did this happen? There is no wolf spirit for me to bond with!". Farkas interrupted "So offer him the blood, I'll be his forbearer. Even Kodlak would agree in this case ." Vilkas protested "It wouldn't work. Aela's beast has mated with a human. If he took the blood she would not recognize him".

Farkas rubbed his forehead before opening his mouth to ask "Why does it matter? Ria is not a werewolf and you two are mates.". Vilkas sighed " mated yes, pair bonded no" he said tiredly. Skjor said "If we offer him the gift there's no guarantee they will stay together. Either way it's still risky for them to even try. We don't know what effect a successful one-sided pair bond would have on either of them".

Aela was aware Skjor had come and sat near her offering silent support. She wanted to lean into him and soak up his strength and protection. However, her beast spirit objected, rejecting any alleviation he could give. The beast wanted the solace of he she considered her true mate Reljir.

It was quiet in the underforge. Jorrvaskr's wolf pack sat huddled together, each lost in their own thoughts. They had been through many crisis before. But, this one seemed overwhelming even for the circle. Skjor noticed how Aela accepted physical comfort from the twins. She sat between them, her head resting on Vilkas shoulder, while she held hands with Farkas.

He admitted to himself, she probably felt safer with them. Vilkas was married and Farkas loved Lydia. Neither of them would try to mount her. He didn't have time to indulge petty jealousies, even his own. He needed some air, so he admonished the others not to stay up to late and slipped into the night.

Aela was unsure if her irresistible attraction to Reljir was real; or influenced by her wolf spirit, who was adamant Reljir was the mate for them! She faced a dilemma. She could take a risk and ask Skjor to offer him the blood; Or she could wait and see how things developed.

But how safe was it? Would her wolf spirit try to shift every time she experienced strong emotions with him? For the first time that night she paused to wonder at Reljirs reaction to all of this. How had he felt when she ran off? Was he angry, sad, confused? She would find out sooner than later. There was no way to avoid this.