[She huffs at him a little, a gentle sound of fond impatience as she presses her face against his shoulder, then lifts her head and nuzzled his cheek. The action is deliberate rather than affectionate, an animal mark of ownership in scenting him, breathing him in to learn his scent so she can find him anywhere on the ship.

The reality is dripping off of him, chemosignals thick with discomfort and confusion, with the pain of losing his mate. Making him part of her pack is the fastest way she knows of to fix it, to make herself less wrong to him.]

She's your mate...of course I do.

[Drawing back, she looks into his eyes with a gentle smile. Her own are glowing gold again, pupils ringed by a thin like of burning red.]

I'll take care of you for her...keep you safe until she comes back. There are others on the ship, people from my Barge...people who may not know you're not Lahey as fast as I did. I can protect you from them. I promise.