Wolf Pack - 9. Lessons Learned

The neko sat outside, staring at the sky. He had always been drawn to the stars. They painted such pretty pictures for him.

He felt the man sit beside him silently. Neither spoke, both contemplating the bright dots in the sky.

“You enjoy watching the stars,” Danuva said finally.

Elias nodded.

“Quarian was the same way. I wonder if he still looks up from time to time. Personally, I’ve never seen the draw. They’re nice, but I like to keep my thoughts where they are needed.”

The neko let his master ramble on, shivering slightly in the late spring air. He thought he saw a star blink, but a second later the light was back, as solid as ever and he put it from his mind.

“You’re cold. Let’s head inside. I’m sure the others want to get their sleep.”

Standing, the neko followed the human inside, and they settled into the corner of the main room, Danuva draping a blanket over the both of them.

Elias curled up on the floor beside Danuva, purring quietly as the human stroked his hair. He was a good master. The man hadn’t tried to have sex with him, he allowed the neko his own clothing, and he let him keep his necklace. For once, Elias was happy he had been bought.

He wasn’t as comfortable around the elves. There was something wrong with them. He was pretty sure the one called Sandor was a werewolf. But the man that looked like Danuva had told him not to give a werewolf away unless he knew he had done something wrong. And besides, Danuva knew, didn’t he? He called the wolf Sandolin and the elf had the same name.

The elves and the woman were heading back to the city tomorrow, to pick up supplies for their journey to the Elf lands. Danuva said he was staying here with Elias, and he was going to sleep in his own bed for once.

An arm wrapped around him loosely, and the neko heard Danuva’s breath soften. The hand stroking his hair had fallen away, but the sound of Danuva’s quiet snoring lulled him to sleep.

The morning was a rush of activity. Sandor moved around quickly, aiding Danuva in hooking the nag to the cart once more. He would be taking Masia’s stallion to the Elven lands, while his prince travelled to Astara to collect supplies for their own journey.

The wagon attached to the mare, Sandor turned to saddle his mount. The stallion snorted, his ears flickering back. Sandor ignored him, setting the padding over the horse’s back. The stallion shook, sending the padding flying into the dirt.

Sandor growled at the horse, and the stallion backed nervously, trodding on the padding.

“Having some trouble?” came an amused laugh.

The werewolf scowled, turning. Masia was watching him, leaning against the side of the stable in a very unladylike manner.

“You scared the crap out of him yesterday. He’s not going to be comfortable around you for some time.”

The woman approached them and stooped down, gathering the pad in her hands. She brushed off the dirt and place the pad back on the horse’s back. Stroking his neck, she whispered softly to him as Sandor set the saddle over his back.

“See? Not all men need a show of force. And not all men appreciate jealousy.”

Sandor growled at the human as she turned back to the house and the horse stamped nervously. He tightened the saddle with a huff and went to collect his supplies.

Danuva loaded his chickens into the cart, ignoring their indignant clucking. He wouldn’t need their meat or eggs any more and in fact, the three silver Masia could make from selling them would serve the group much better in the months to come.

Sandor trotted past, his horse tossing his head vigorously. Danuva bit back a chuckle. The wolf would have a hard time just controlling his mount on his trip.

As the elf vanished over the horizon, Danuva finished loading the wagon. He headed back into his house to let Masia and Paelius know they could leave at any time. Elias was lying curled up in the corner and Danuva smiled at the snoring neko.

Masia pulled the man aside as soon as she saw him.

“I want to thank you for allowing so many strangers into your home,” she said quietly. “I know we can’t have been the best house guests.”

“Aside from some increased shopping and having to more closely guard my virtue, it has been my pleasure,” Danuva smiled.

Masia chuckled quietly. As Paelius walked past them with a nod to the woman, she shook Danuva’s hand.

“I suppose we’ll see you in around three days,” she said.

“I’m looking forward to it,” the man said diplomatically.

His guests finally gone, Danuva sat in a chair and sighed heavily. He was at a loss for what to do. Normally he’d be out taking care of the animals but they were all gone now.

He saw Elias’ ear twitch out of the corner of his eye, and he looked over as the neko yawned.

“Good morning,” Danuva smiled.

The corner of Elias’ mouth turned up slightly, even as he stared down to avoid meeting Danuva’s gaze. Danuva could smell the neko’s body, musky almost to the point of offending his nose.

“I’m heading to a creek nearby to collect some water if you want to come with me,” the human said.

Elias nodded, standing. Stretching, the neko followed Danuva from the house. A fifteen-minute walk found them standing beside the stream, Danuva lowering a large bucket in.

He filled a second bucket, then turned away from Elias. Removing his clothes, the man stepped into the water, letting himself sink until his body was covered.

Turning back to Elias, he called, “Feel free to join me.”

With a slight frown, the neko disrobed. Danuva averted his eyes until he heard the water splashing as a body entered it. Elias stood next to him, close enough for Danuva to touch, but far enough that it was obvious he didn’t want to be touched.

Danuva studied the neko he had bought, sighing internally. He was so nervous, so shy. It was endearing, but at the same time, Danuva found it slightly annoying.

An idea popped into his head and Danuva grinned. He dipped his hand into the water and sent a wave at Elias, splashing the neko.

Elias hissed in shock, nearly falling back. He stared at Danuva with wide eyes. Slowly, a grin appeared on the neko’s face, and he lowered his head.

A wave splashed into Danuva, and the human laughed. He sent another wave at Elias, ducking under the surface of the water to avoid retribution.

Ten minutes later, the two dragged themselves from the creek, collapsing on dry land with tired smiles.

“You can loosen up around me, you know,” Danuva said, turning his head.

His breath caught in his throat as he saw Elias completely for the first time.

The neko was slender, lightly muscled. His hair was still tangled and Danuva resolved to brush it later. The rest of Elias’ body was hairless, giving him a youthful appearance that seemed almost too young. If he hadn’t been assured by Masia that the neko was twenty years old, he would avoid any interaction that would leave the two nude together.

Interactions like this one.

Almost as if he was reading Danuva’s mind, Elias turned bright red and grabbed his underwear. He pulled his clothes on, cutting off Danuva’s view. The neko bowed his head again and walked to the bucket of water, waiting for Danuva.

The man sighed and dressed. Lifting the water, he led Elias back to his home.

Paelius sat on a rock munching on a rabbit leg. They had been stopped for ten minutes now, and he knew they needed to get moving again soon if they wanted to reach the town that evening.

Masia sat a short distance away, keeping her silence. The two had been rather awkward around each other since the woman had caught Paelius with Sandor. This trip might help them get over the tension between them. If Paelius could figure out what to say.

He had tried before, tried to explain why he was outside fucking Sandor’s brains out. While Masia seemed to understand that, it still left a gulf between the two of them, one he was not happy about. Their arranged marriage had been a happy event to look forward to for all involved. It was something neither had wanted, but when Paelius took the time to travel out and meet his bride to be, they had both felt an attraction to each other.

And now that attraction seemed to be gone for Masia.

Standing, Paelius approached the human.

“Remember the last time we actually had time alone?” he asked offhand.

A smirk lifted Masia’s face.

“It lasted, what, three minutes before Father found out?” she chuckled. “Heavens forbid two betrothed should enjoy each other’s company.”

The human sighed, the smile falling from her face.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“What? No, I’m the one who should be sorry. I haven’t kept myself-”

“Prince Paelius, you have done what you can to protect not only your people but those around you. And I have raised issue with how you have done so. It is not my place.”

“As the woman I was intended to marry, it is your place. I apologise for putting you in the position of having to correct my behaviour.”

It amazed the elf how quickly they could go from joking about the past to speaking with a tone best suited for holding court. It was as though the two took comfort in the decorum of highborn speech when forced to admit their wrongs.

“There would be no need to apologise if Riardin hadn’t tried to force you into his pack,” Masia said darkly.

“Forgive me, but there would be. Sandolin and I were together even before Riardin… changed me.”

Masia studied the prince.

“Do you love him?” she asked after a moment.

“Yes.”

Paelius took a deep breath.

“We… we should get moving,” he said.

He helped Masia into the wagon and climbed up beside her. Snapping the reins, the two sat back, Danuva’s horse pulling them to Astara once more.