He knew the split second before the wolf's jaws clamped down on his wrist just how stupid his impulsive gesture had been, but he couldn't have helped it. It had been as automatic as catching something thrown at one's face the second after someone says, "Think fast!"
Alderic sucked a breath as the beast's teeth crushed down on his gauntlet. He felt immediately that if he moved, struggled to pull his arm free, it would probably only make the damage to both armor and arm worse- and, well, he'd look even more foolish than he already did, half-crouched with his arm inside an animal's mouth. He wanted to strike the feral thing down on the spot, but was painfully aware of the awkwardness of his current circumstances. Instead, Templar and wolf stood frozen in place, appraising one-another with gazes locked. It was a silent challenge; Alderic refused to back down or look away from those gold eyes, every bit as stubborn and indignant as his four-legged adversary. Although he waited only a handful of seconds in total for the wolf's hold to be released, the moment was a tense one, and when it let go and turned away Alderic got the impression that the beast thought it had gotten the last word. He glowered at it as it stalked back to Bethen's side, preoccupied by the wolf enough so that he never consciously noticed Thais' reaction and subsequent shamefaced posturing.
He agreed with the Enchanter about one thing- that damn wolf needed to be controlled. Put down, if you asked him. Hadn't he been saying so from the start? It was obviously dangerous, and if this didn't prove his point he didn't know what would! Pridefully he resisted the urge to pry off his gauntlet and inspect his wrist, although he really probably should. It felt like the limb might swell, and if he didn't do it soon it'd be hard to get the gauntlet off at all.
A minor injury could be easily forgotten, however, in the face of Bethen's simmering anger. Alderic grimaced as the withering stare she'd aimed at Thais raked across him as well. He'd really only intended to help, so how had everything gone so cockeyed so fast?
"Bethen, I'm just worried about..." about her, about her safety, about that ill-tempered wild animal eating someone's baby, about any number of things. But she was already walking away, and his attempt to protest trailed off to be punctuated by a worried sigh. Should he go after her? The impulse to apologize (which was mad; what would he be apologizing for exactly?) clashed with the desire to go make a new fur cloak out of a certain furry companion. He glanced to Thais after a spare moment's thought, absently rolling his stiffening wrist to test his range of movement with the damaged gauntlet.
"I wish I could say 'you're welcome,'" Alderic began, doing his best to keep his confusion and irritation out of his voice, "but I don't expect I've been much help." He frowned, watching Bethen and the wolf near the doors of the Chantry. "That animal is a menace. Thank the Maker someone agrees with me."
He shook his head, adding on a different note, "This was a poor time to pick a fight, I'm afraid. This village was Bethen's home, once. Perhaps it would be best not to, ah- burden her with concerns at the moment." It was an observation directed as much at the Enchanter as at himself. He found himself torn between following Bethen once more or turning back, worried both that she should have the company (and protection), and that she didn't want it.