𝖎𝖋 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝕓𝕦𝕚𝕝𝕕 𝕚𝕥

Sol’s eyes flicked up to meet the others, holding himself back from simply closing that distance.  There’s a little flick of something under Sol’s eyes at the others words.  Considering his resent…more dominant attitude between Bodhi and Balthazer, he was pulling himself forward and out of the others grip before lowering his head to simply press a kiss against those boots, trailing his lips up to the others legs as his hands traced up to the others front. He had to admit the other calling him a precious little thing did just…spark something in him.  “ All right…”

Knox watched with an impassive expression, hardly giving away any of his intentions or emotions. He was a master of concealment; he’d learned from an early age not to show his hand until the appropriate time, which... occurred once Sol’s lips had found their way upwards. “All right indeed. I’m impressed. Generally speaking. You obeyed so well. And here I was worried I’d be met with resistance.” Knox tugged at the waistband of his trousers, pushing them down his hips, just enough that his cock could cascade over, half-hard, yet still somehow heavy. “Feel free to start with your lips and tongue, but eventually, I’ll wear your sweet ass, and you’ll be the one fucking yourself on me.”

“Prodigious huh? My, that’s quite the word. And quite the claim. Hopefully you can back it up..  You’re generation. Now that’s a lofty statement.” All the the same, Sol was just going to reached up and tie up his long, blond hair into a pony tail before he’s doing exactly that, settling down onto his knees, a shiver running down his spine at being called little Sol.  “And how exactly would you like to be thanked?’ Sol said, his voice light and airy as his he looked up at the other, doing his best wide eyed innocence. 

Hands took Sol’s face between them, bending slightly so their lips were a mere ghost away from one another. Smart boy, Knox thought. Tying back his hair like that. Goddess forbid he get sweat or spit or slick in those perfect blond strands. “That’s for you to figure out, isn’t it, my precious little thing? Start at my boots and work your way up... and I’ll tell you when you’ve thanked me sufficiently.”

“Oh really? Then I guess you better give me a damn reason to get on my knees and beg? 

“Until you get on those pretty knees, you’ll never know quite how prodigious I can really be, now, can you? Climb on down, little Sol. My generation gave you this home. It’s time you thanked us for it.”

“Oh? Which do you want? Submission or do you want me to treat you like you should get on your fucking knees already?”

“Who says I can’t have both? Though I would like to start with the view of you on your hands and knees, begging for what I can give you.”

“That, darling, is the best idea I’ve heard all day.” 

“Prove it.”

“Unapologetic dominance, or unadulterated submission.”

“I should have anticipated this question. Zakar and Odin. I’d trust them with my life. They’ve earned it.”

“I’m going to sound like a pup in heat, but... anyone without the need for emotional attachments. I’m still a wolf, and I still need to be fucked, but I’m not interested in romance, or even staying the night. No cuddling. So if you fit the bill of a rough fuck and done, find me. There are only two wolves I’d give extra attention to.”

“I’m not looking to mate. No. I’m still reeling from the last mate. But if I were to mate... age would be no matter, as long as he had entered adulthood. Be he 19 years old, or 119 years old.”

Athos was almost exactly like his father had written about in the letters, it seemed like the perfect place to be, though he wasn’t even sure if he was truly meant to be here yet. What if his father had changed his mind about him even coming here? He gave a gentle sigh as he walked into the tavern, maybe a drink would calm his nerves, it was the only thing he could think to do in this moment. 

He ordered a whiskey neat and sat down at a table that looked towards the door, half hoping that his dad would just walk through the door. He turned his head to the man sitting at the next table and smiled softly. “Nice weather huh?” asked Mathias almost wanting to roll his eyes at himself. 

Knox wasn’t exactly a curmudgeon, but he could get close on occasion. The wolf preferred solitude to company and spent more time on his own that he should have. The few friends he’d gathered could be counted on one hand, and they were those he’d met as they built Athos from the ground up, finding their new lives here. But on occasion, even the grumpiest of wolves needed a mug of mead.

He settled at his own table with the beverage, lifting it to his lips to drink in the solace of himself. Most of the other wolves in Athos knew how standoffish he could be, but... this scent was new. It explained why the wolf spoke, commenting on the weather of all things, seeming cheerier than Knox would have ever liked. He grunted once in return, lowering the mug. “Get to the point, pup.”

It was damn near impossible how connected the two were - if Zakar would have considered anyone his closest friend, it was Knox, especially since the two of them understood the pain that came with distance from a mate, and it seemed that Knox had a knack of being able to read his thoughts. His words seemed to argue against his own internal words, the insecurities that were in his mind, and he could only breathe in deep. But hearing Knox speak about his pup, it brought on another worry - what happened to him? Did he meet the same fate as his dearly departed or was he someone thriving? He wasn’t sure, but the not knowing is what was killing him. “I don’t even know what happened to him…” Zakar spoke, wanting to pull his attention away from himself, his friend’s words unable to stop the ever-growing guilt that kept building up in his stomach. “What if he… what if one of the king’s men took advantage of him… I…”

Knox didn’t know how he’d react if his mark began to fade; he couldn’t imagine Zakar’s pain. Although time had passed since Zakar had last seen his mate, and his pup... Knox knew that the connection still existed. Not knowing was the worse fate of them all. I don’t even know what happened to him... Now that, Knox could understand. Although it wasn’t quite to the same extreme -- at least Knox’s mate was alive out there, somewhere -- the lack of knowledge could be gut-wrenching. Impossible to wrap his head around. And Zakar’s imagination, clearly, was filling in all of the spaces that could have existed. Worst-case-scenarios were swirling, and for that... Knox could provide no peace. “If one of the king’s men did anything to him,” Knox tried, voice soft, “then it’s done. There’s no more suffering.” He didn’t know if the idea would help; he didn’t have the words to truly get through to his friend. It devastated him. Zakar was one of the few who Knox actually trusted. “Would you like to hold a ceremony in his honor? I can make the arrangements.” Perhaps an open mourning period was exactly what Zakar needed.

Part of Zakar was worried that people would see the mark, note that the scar was beginning to heal, and realize how horrible of a mate he was. That they would shake their heads at him and tell him that his grief was his own damn fault for not being there for his mate. Still, as that thumb brushed against his cheek, Zakar breathed in slowly and closed his eyes, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to bubble up. And it seemed that his friend was able to read his mind, able to sense the guilt that was buried within Zakar, and he had to sigh at his words. And I chose to leave him and our pup was the thought that crossed his mind, but one he didn’t dare speak on. “I know,” was all he said, but his words meant more to the wolf’s latter statement than the former - knowing full and well that his mate had stayed in Egrain.

Decisions had been impossible during that time; Knox knew that better than anyone. What had started as a foolish dream for a better life had been forged into reality by Zakar, Knox, Makani, Odin, and all the others who came here first with them. Knox had never held Zakar accountable for the decisions he’d made. How could he? “Your heart is too gentle,” Knox murmured, tugging the Alpha against him, hand slipping to the back of the Alpha’s neck to tug it down, nestling it against his own shoulder. “You made the right choice. Look at the pups who have a chance at life because you dared to come here. Your mate... your pup... it was a sacrifice that you made. An altruistic sacrifice. The packs may not always seem grateful, but they are. No one takes our sacrifices for granted.”