I liked your phrase 'gilding the lily.' :-)
This fabric seems to tie in with the little border hexies, because that's the fabric you used for them. For that reason, it becomes sort of a continuation of the round that they made. You are right, this part of the fabric has movement, like everything else. There is movement everywhere. :-) You wouldn't have a problem sewing it properly, because you are good at matching the design in a print.
It seems like you won't be satisfied with only brown. The top doesn't feel finished for you that way. It seems like you don't want to look in your stash for other choices-- you are keen on using this particular fabric again. You have this original vision that you were going to use the orange/wolves for a border. But? Why are you just not using it then?? * little laugh* Why are you wondering what others might advise (in more than one post)? :-)
When you have the orange/wolves only in the center, they are the pop of color in the whole top-- the fabric that provides the interior decorator's touch of color in their 60/30/10 formula. If you put the orange/wolves on the outside too, you will change the balance.
You might not be liking a light color for the border. Most quilts have a darker outer border to 'frame' the top. But those quilts usually have a lighter background. What you have here is the reverse, with a dark background, so a light border is not out of place. You could consider adding another 2" of brown around it to achieve a dark edge.