The Tavern

Gonzalo felt overwhelmed with shame. He closed his eyes as the memories ran through his mind in quick succession. Then, he only wanted to keep River from her fairytale and had declared his intention to mate with Echo. It was but a lie fueled by fear and desperation.

“Our agreement,” he said, shaking his head, “was for me to use it to wake her up. That was it, so don't use that against me now, Echo.”

Echo’s fingers dug into his arm as she leaned completely into him. “Either way,” she hissed, “we are meant to be. Think of your pack.”

Gonzalo yearned to agree. It was logical and practical. Merging their packs would create a formidable force, capable of better defending their territory. Yet, a part of him, the part that was still mourning River, the part that was overwhelmed with the possibility of her death, quivered at the thought.

“I– I need time,” he mumbled. “I’m just getting over the loss of my pack," he finished with a strained voice. "I can't think about… uniting anything right no