The Mythology Set

As a little background for the wolf packs, they're wolf demons that just prefer to take human forms, because it's more practical to feed those forms since they're not as big. These human-formed demons are perfectly capable of turning into a monstrous form; they just choose not to.

Yeah. -_- Anyway, if you have any questions that weren't answered in the story, feel free to send those questions to me in a PM and I'll answer them to the best of my ability.

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Mating Game

Joey tried to ignore the way his ears pressed back against his skull and his tail curled up against his stomach as he felt his mate slide out of bed. He tried to ignore the way his heart broke when he realized that his mate didn't care for him. He tried to ignore the fact that even though he admired and cared for his mate, his mate detested his existence.

He tried to ignore the fact that he wouldn't even be there if his father hadn't been such a dick to his mate's pack that a peace treaty requiring inter-pack mating among the leading families had been the only thing that had him in his mate's bed.

Once he heard the door close, the blond slid out of bed and put on some pants, then carefully made his way out of the room. He sniffed for his mate's scent and, once he found it, began tracking it. If his mate was going to be sleeping with someone else, he at least wanted to know who it was, so he could hate him or her properly.

He was confused when he realized that his mate was heading to the servants' quarters, though. He'd thought the man would have better taste than that. He'd always seemed so refined, and proper—a dalliance with a servant seemed somehow beneath him.

Joey almost yelped when he turned a corner and nearly walked into his mate, then scurried backward. Peeking out around the corner, he strained his ears forward so he wouldn't miss anything.

Seto looked around carefully, then walked up to the door leading to the servants' quarters and knocked. When the door opened, he simply said, "I'd like to speak with Kisara."

The servant that had answered the door nodded and retreated, closing the door softly. A few moments later, the door opened and closed again. Joey couldn't see who Kisara was, unfortunately, because as soon as she got out the door, Seto had her in his arms and held her tightly, blocking her from view.

Joey scowled, then sighed and retreated back to their room. At least he knew the servant's name, now. He could just go see her while his mate was off taking care of business at the edge of the pack's territory tomorrow. He'd be gone for two or three days, giving him plenty of time to see who the girl that his mate slept with instead of him was.

Scowl fading, the blond slowed to a stop, lifting a hand to timidly touch the bite mark on his neck. He'd only had sex with his mate once, for consummation of their relationship; aside from that, the brunet hadn't touched him once. Joey knew that Seto hadn't wanted to mate with him, but it hurt that the older boy didn't even want to try getting to know him or even touch him.

Seto would probably spend most of the night out of their bed, instead staying in a guestroom with his servant and mistress. He didn't want to spend the night in their bed, alone, knowing that his mate was sating himself with someone else. It just made him feel pathetic.

Bypassing the door to their room, he stopped at a door a few rooms down, knocking timidly on the large door. "Akako?"

The door opened after a few moments, showing a taller man with long black hair tied back into a ponytail and red eyes. His ebony lupine ears twisted forward, eyes nearly glowing in the darkness. When he saw the blond in front of him, though, his lip curled up in a disgusted sneer. "What?"

Joey flinched and took a step back. "I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have bothered ya." When the raven-haired wolf growled quietly, he turned to scamper back to his room. "I'm sorry-!"

"Wait."

The blond wailed as the older man grabbed the back of his neck and allowed himself to be dragged back. "I'm sorry Akako I should've thought before I woke ya up I forgot ya don't like bein' disturbed please don't kill me!"

Akako growled again, then sighed in annoyance. "…Why are you here, Joey? Shouldn't you be with your mate right now?" When the younger boy flinched, he frowned, suddenly concerned. "…Where is your mate, Joey?"

Joey's ears wilted as he looked away. He didn't know what to say. He didn't want to admit that his mate was seeing someone else; that was just too humiliating after having to give up his own personal happiness for the good of the pack.

"…I see." Akako stepped back and opened the door wider. "The bed is small, but it's warm." He managed a small smile when the younger boy looked up at him. "If your mate asks about my scent on you, tell him you had a nightmare, couldn't find him, and I'm the only one you know that could comfort you right now."

He tried to ignore the whimper he heard when the blond scampered over to his bed, and he tried to ignore the way the once proud wolf's tail curled up against his belly in shame. Once he climbed into the bed, he ignored the needy way the younger boy cuddled up against him, and he tried to ignore the feeling of tears trickling down his chest from where the blond pressed his face against him.

And he tried desperately to ignore the feeling that this wasn't fair for either of them.

.-.-.-.-.-.

"I'll be back in a few days. Try not to let anyone push you around," Seto ordered as he finished packing his bag.

"Okay. Ya need anything else?" Joey followed him to the front door of the castle, where the rest of the higher-ups in the pack were waiting for them. He paused just inside of the door and bit his bottom lip.

The brunet turned to look back at him, frowning. "No, I have everything." He paused, glanced at the men waiting for him expectantly, then reached out to perhaps touch the younger boy's cheek.

Joey tried not to be too eager, but he couldn't help holding his breath in anticipation. He desperately wanted his mate to touch him, even just gently and with no intentions of having sex with him. He felt his breath escape in a whoosh when the brunet immediately pulled his hand back and shook his head, feeling heartbroken. His mate wouldn't even touch him to keep up the impression of liking him in front of his pack mates.

"…Be safe," he whispered miserably, ducking his head. He wondered what Kisara had that he didn't that his mate couldn't even bear touching him innocently. "Good hunt."

Seto nodded and turned to leave without glancing back at him. "Take care of him, Akako."

The blond gasped in surprise and turned. He hadn't even sensed Akako come up behind him. "Ee-?"

"I told him you've been having a lot of nightmares lately," Akako stated quietly, watching the group leave, then turned his penetrating gaze on the blond. "You're planning on confronting his mistress while he's gone, aren't you?"

Joey dropped his gaze immediately. "I… I don't know about confrontin' her. I just… I just wanna see her. I wanna see how she's better than me. I mean, she must be better than me. Seto goes t' see her every night."

"You must be a complete masochist," the raven-haired wolf muttered, placing a hand on his shoulder and steering him away from the door. "Seeing her will only hurt you. You know that, right?"

"Are ya tellin' me not t' go see her?" the blond asked quietly, frowning.

"I'm saying you may not like what you find. You didn't have any serious relationships when your parents decided that you'd mate with Seto instead of your sister, but you don't know if that's the same for him. Perhaps he was really in love with her and it was only duty that made him say yes to mating with you." Akako raised an eyebrow. "Would you be able to handle that, if he was in love with her and felt that sex beyond consummation would be betraying her?

"He's done his duty to the pack. He mated with you. That was all that was necessary. He doesn't necessarily need to touch you to continue any charade that he likes you. I admit that he could at least spend one night with you, but can you really expect him to give up the woman he loves after mating with someone simply because it was his duty? He's from a different pack, Joey. They're loyal to one person at a time, and loyalty includes not touching others unnecessarily. Just because we touch each other all the time doesn't mean—" The black wolf cut himself off with a whine. "Hey, don't cry. I'm just trying to make you see reason—"

Joey jerked his head away and swiped at his eyes. "I don't care. I'm allowed t' visit my family. If they don't smell him on me, they're gonna know somethin's wrong and they'll be angry. And if I don't visit, because I don't want them t' know I don't smell like him, they'll still get angry, and then our matin' would be pointless and the packs would start arguin' again! I just… I just want him t' make it at least look like we're happy." He couldn't help a quiet sob and grabbed his ears tightly in frustration. "Why doesn't anyone care that he smells like her instead of me?"

"I told you that they're not like us," Akako scolded, but drew the blond into his arms anyway. "Come here… You're lucky your mother sent me with you. And you're lucky I accepted."

"Ya didn't have a choice. You're an omega. Ya had t' do whatever anyone told ya," the younger boy answered harshly. "You're only here 'cause if ya go back everyone's gonna get mad at ya and maybe even kill ya. You're not here because ya wanna be. You're not here because ya care or anything!"

The older man stayed silent for a few moments, then quietly explained, "I'm only an omega because I choose to be, Joey. If I had a reason to fight my way up the rank, I could. I choose not to because I don't care for all of that political crap. Look how much good it did you." He stroked the blond's hair and sighed. "I may not have cared about you when I first came out here, but I care now that I've gotten to know you. Doesn't that count for anything?"

The blond huffed and hid his face in his neck. "…I guess it does." He clenched the raven-haired man's shirt in his fingers tightly and shuddered. "I wish he'd touch me. I wish he'd do somethin' t' show he doesn't despise me."

"Well, when you think about it… he probably does," Akako muttered.

Joey leaned back, appalled that he'd say that, then smacked him as hard as he could. "How is that s'posed t' make me feel any better, ya jerk!"

The older man immediately took a step back, raising his hands apologetically. "That was probably uncalled for."

"Ugh, you're so insensitive! No wonder none the girls pursued ya! You're hot but ya got as much tact as a brick!"

"…Like you have more than me," Akako hissed.

Joey glared at him. "At least I know not t' tell people they're fat, ugly, or hated! Jeez, ya coulda gotten laid so many times and ya ruined everything by openin' your stupid mouth!"

The black wolf seemed surprised. "Really? They thought I'd look good enough to sleep with?"

The blond threw his hands up in disgust. "You're an idiot. I know I'm oblivious, but you are an idiot."

Akako sighed. "You would know, wouldn't you."

Joey glared at him, then huffed and turned to stomp away. Any satisfaction he might have gotten from leaving him was lost, though, when the black-haired man drifted after him, ever the watchful guardian.

.-.-.-.-.-.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Akako asked one last time. When the blond shot him a glare, he held his hands up. "You've been crying a lot lately. I worry you won't have any moisture left in your body if you cry anymore."

Joey glared at him a little longer, then huffed. "Shut up. I haven't been cryin' that much."

"…Right. Just so long as you stop waking me up in the middle of the night," the older man muttered, scowling, and the blond at least had the decency to flinch.

"Err… I'm still very sorry about that."

"Of course you are." The raven-haired man glared at him. "Well, go on. Otherwise, let's go."

The blond shivered; Akako was much grumpier when it was late—grumpier still when he was being kept awake against his will. "Okay, okay, I'm goin'." He walked up to the door to the servants' quarters and hesitated a moment. When he heard the older man growl impatiently, he hurried to rap his knuckles against the hard wood.

It took a few moments, but eventually, the door opened. Joey blinked at the boy who looked up at him, then smiled awkwardly. "May I speak with Kisara, please?"

The boy glanced back at Akako, then looked back up at him. "…You should go stand with your friend when she comes out," he whispered, then disappeared from sight as the door clicked closed.

Joey turned to look at the older man and frowned. "Wha-?"

"I think he means I should protect you," Akako stated, shrugging. "In any case, perhaps he's right."

The blond blinked at him, then shrugged and began to walk over to him. When he heard the door open again, however, he had to turn back to it, almost afraid to allow his vulnerable back to it. His breath caught in his throat as his eyes met a blue even more intense than his mate's, and he suddenly understood why the brunet kept coming down to the servants' quarters night after night. She was beautiful.

Her long white hair flowed down her back like water, somehow making even the drab dress she was wearing look admirable. Her eyes were piercing and commanded respect, as if she had been an alpha in another life. Her white ears, perfectly matching her hair, were long and shaped widely, and her tail shined silver in the light. Her face was pale and unblemished, and her skin looked smooth and soft.

Joey became aware of just how soft it wasn't when her palm struck his cheek. "Ngh!"

"You brazen little bitch!" she snarled, teeth flashing as he fell to the ground. She went to lunge at him and roared in fury. "First you steal my lover and now you come down to mock me!"

The blond cringed and immediately ducked, using his arms to cover his throat in case she seriously wanted to kill him. When he heard a startled yelp and a thud, however, he hesitantly peeked up from beneath his bangs, still carefully covering his neck.

Akako bared his teeth threateningly. "I believe that that is quite enough." He tightened his grip around her throat and growled when she tried to struggle, slamming her against the wall firmly. "I'll admit that he was stupid to come down here, but for you to assume he'd come down here to mock you is equally as stupid when his mate is the one that comes down here for you."

At that, she stopped struggling, but she still looked incredibly pissed. But, instead of trying to kill them both, she merely nodded. "I see your point." Once she was released, she immediately turned her glare back on the blond. "If that wasn't your reason for coming here, then what was?"

Joey scampered behind Akako and peeked over his shoulder at her. "…I just… wanted t' see who he kept comin' to." He turned his head away and bit his bottom lip. "…He leaves every night. I just wanted t' know who he cared about so much that he left every night. And last night, I didn't get t' see ya when ya came out t' meet him." He hid his face in the older man's shoulder. "I see why he comes down now. He's… He's got really good taste."

Akako did everything he could not to lose his temper. 'You're getting my shirt wet!' But he didn't bring any attention to the tears he knew the blond was shedding. He had noticed that Kisara was much prettier than his young charge; he could only assume that the younger boy had realized it as well. "Joey, why don't you go get ready for bed."

The blond looked up at him in confusion. "Ya want me t' leave without ya-?"

"I will be going to bed as well, shortly. …And you're sleeping on the floor. You hog the bed." But he knew that he'd let the younger boy on the bed with him; his bed-hoggery was forgivable when he was so distraught and lonely. "I would like to speak with Ms. Kisara privately."

Joey frowned, brows furrowing together, then took a step away from him, keeping his eyes on his feet. "Oh. Okay. T-take your time," he whispered, then turned and began up the stairs.

Akako watched him go until he was out of sight, frowning a little as well. He'd have to explain later that it wasn't to proposition her or even just talk; he needed to speak with her and ask her for a favor. …Perhaps it would have been better if Serenity had been chosen to mate with Seto. She hadn't been ridiculed and taunted by her father the way Joey had.

"Well? What do you want from me?" Kisara spat, crossing her arms as she turned her glare from the retreating blond to him.

Turning back to her, he sighed, then crossed his arms as well and went to lean against the wall. "I'd like to ask a favor of you. –Not because he asked me to, and not because I want Seto to forget all about you," he added when he saw her eyes flash dangerously. "For Joey's health. I understand that you have every right to hate him, but think about what would happen if Joey died for reasons that could have been prevented. The planned mating might as well not have happened."

At that, she frowned, still looking angry, but not as hostile as she had been. "You have a point. Alright. I'm listening."

Akako looked away from her and sighed again. "…Joey and I… The pack we're from is very affectionate. I'm sure you've heard rumors that I'm Joey's lover, because my scent is all over him and his is all over me. It's a complete and utter lie." He glanced over at her and smiled a little as he watched her cheeks tint pink and embarrassment. "I'll admit that we touch each other a lot, and sometimes he sleeps with me, but that's only because he's lonely."

Kisara huffed and turned away from him. "How can he be lonely when you're with him?"

"Because I'm not his mate. I'm not from this pack, either. How is he supposed to feel accepted when everyone touched everyone else in our pack and no one touches him here? Especially his mate?"

The white-haired woman growled immediately. "You want me to tell my lover to touch someone else? To be intimate with that little tramp—"

"HE IS NOT A TRAMP," Akako snarled, turning to glare at her and making her shut her mouth. "He is oblivious and he is gullible, but he is not a tramp. He's here because his parents chose him over his sister to mate with your 'lover' and all he wants is a little acknowledgement. If you ever call him a tramp or anything so cruel again, I will rip you apart myself, no matter what your fucking lover may do to me in retaliation."

She felt her tail curl up between her legs instinctively, and she squeaked in alarm. "I…"

"Your lover doesn't have to have sex with him," the raven-haired man hissed, the fur on his tail bristling as he narrowed his eyes. "I hate that everyone assumes that everyone in our pack is some sex-crazed floozy because we touch each other so much. We touch each other to show affection. I know you're jealous. I know you're hurt. I know you don't want to share the man you love—and, apparently, that loves you back. But I cannot stand watching my friend waste away because his mate—the man he was required to mate with—won't even touch him.

"You know, the first words he said to Joey today were, 'Stay out of my dresser'? Joey had gotten so desperate to be covered in his mate's scent that he wrapped himself in one of his shirts and then put it back before he could notice. The only reason Seto did notice was because Joey had gotten his scent all over his shirt, too." Akako sighed and lifted a hand to cover his face. "He's becoming increasingly desperate for at least a little of his attention. Seto doesn't even have to touch him, as long as he can manage to talk to him. If Joey finally gets to the point where he begs Seto to talk to him, and Seto says no…" He frowned, then sighed again in frustration. "I don't know what Joey will do, but I'm sure that whatever good this arranged mating has done would immediately be ruined by it."

Kisara frowned and looked down at her feet. "…What a needy little bitch," she whispered, brows furrowing together. Now that she thought about it, he hadn't looked angry when the blond had looked at her. He'd just looked… sad. "…I'll talk to him. If nothing changes in a week, come down here and tell me. I'll make Seto see reason." She smiled awkwardly. "He likes reason."

Akako nodded, relieved. "Thank you."

"…So… when Seto comes down to make love to me… Joey doesn't go to have sex with you?" she asked after a moment, smile fading. "Because that's what everyone thinks, especially Seto."

"No. I don't get to sleep a lot," the older man replied. "So I get really pissed off when I finally get to sleep and Joey disturbs me to ask if he can sleep with me until Seto returns to their bed. He just snuggles up to me, cries a little, then falls asleep. …He told me that if he snuggles up to Seto when he's asleep, Seto shoves him away so hard and so fast that Joey falls out of bed." He couldn't help the way his tail bristled angrily. "He can't help it. Wolves from our pack just snuggle up to whatever's warm."

He jerked his head back to her and snarled. "If he does it again, I'm not going to handle it well. Joey ran into my room without knocking and hid under my bed for hours, just crying his heart out because not only had he been shoved away, but because it had hurt and Seto didn't even ask if he was okay. Not only did he wake me up after I'd finally managed to fall asleep, but he wouldn't even tell me what was wrong and he wouldn't let me touch him. A WOLF FROM OUR PACK SHOULD NEVER FEEL LIKE HE HAS TO SHRINK FROM SOMEONE'S TOUCH!"

Kisara took a few steps backward as she saw his eyes glow with fury. "Alright. I'll tell him. I'll talk to him. I'll do everything I can to help you help Joey. Please calm down."

Akako growled angrily, ears twisted flat against his skull. "Mother fucker. It's so hard for me to sleep. I swear to God, if your lover hurts Joey so that he has to wake me up one more time, I'm going to kill EVERYONE! …Except Joey. Because none of this was his fault." He took a few deep breaths and forced himself to calm down. "Okay. Okay… I'm going to bed," he stated firmly. "I'm going to bed and I'm going to sleep." He turned his head toward her and glared. "But if it does happen again, you will be one of the first to go."

She smiled nervously and held her hands up in a placatory manner. "I will definitely talk to Seto about it when he comes back. You may have to deal with Joey in your room one more night, but I will talk to Seto that night."

The raven-haired wolf growled again. "You damn well better. I wasn't the omega because I couldn't fight my way up. I was the omega because I chose not to."

She chuckled anxiously as she watched him stalk away, then fell back against the wall and sighed in relief. "I thought he'd really kill me…"

.-.-.-.-.-.

"Did you… miss me?" Seto frowned as the blond's fork clattered back onto his plate when he looked up at him in shock. "…What?"

The younger boy blushed a little and looked back down at his plate, pushing some of the vegetables around on it. "…It's nothing. I just… Yeah. Yeah, I missed ya," he answered quietly. "It was quieter without ya here."

The brunet tilted his head. "Quieter?"

"Well, ya… It's just that…" Joey sighed and finally speared a piece of broccoli with his fork. "…It's quiet even when ya are here," he muttered sadly. "'cause ya never talk t' me then, either." He saw the brunet's hand still over his own plate and immediately knew he'd said too much. Standing quickly, he wiped his face with his napkin and exclaimed, "I'm finished. Thank you for the meal!"

Seto frowned as he watched the blond scamper away, then turned his gaze on the younger boy's escort. The raven-haired man sighed and looked at his plate longingly before he, too, got up from the table, striding quickly in the same direction the other boy had fled. He looked back at his own food and sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

Kisara had been right. While he had been trying to be loyal to the woman he loved, he'd neglected the person he'd actually mated with and, in doing so, had alienated him. He'd seen the blond's tail beginning to curl up between his legs as he'd fled, ears pressed flat against his skull. He'd made his mate feel as if he couldn't even be honest with him.

He felt the scratches along his back throb painfully at the thought that the relationship could never be salvaged, and he shuddered when he remembered the threat his lover had given him.

"If you ever put me in a position like that again, I'll rip your dick off and this won't even be an issue! I thought that man would kill me!"

He shuddered again. He had never seen her so angry.

"Besides, that poor thing looked so pathetic that even I had to pity him! Me! The other woman!" Her face had turned serious. "Seto, when he looked at me, I saw something in him break. You mated with him for the good of both of the packs. If you continue to neglect him, he'll be so damaged that you might as well have not mated with him when his family sees him. Talk to him. Get to know him. He doesn't look like a terrible person. …His friend seems to think he's nice."

If he'd ruined their relationship before it had even begun, then Kisara was right; he might as well have not mated with him at all, especially when he went to visit his family or his family came to visit him. He didn't want that. …He just… didn't know how to fix the damage he'd already caused by being so callous with him already.

"Is everything okay, Seto?" Mokuba asked innocently, peering up at him as he bit into his meat. He peered after the blond and smiled. "Joey's really fun to play with. Well, sometimes he creeps me out because he just touches my hand for no reason, and I worry because when he doesn't think anyone's looking, he seems so sad, but other than that, he's a really nice guy. He's really good at card games!"

Seto looked at him and raised an eyebrow, concerned. "He touches your hand?"

"Yeah, but when I see how he and Akako are all over each other without being romantic, I figure it's just because he doesn't know how to show affection any other way. And it's funny to see Roland get uncomfortable when Akako is talking to him and gets right up in his face!" The younger boy laughed. "Neither of them know what personal space is!"

"…So… they just touch each other because they can?"

"Well, yeah, Seto. Their pack is touchy-feely," Mokuba replied, smile fading a little. "Even I saw that when we went to their territory to talk to them. Everyone that was walking together was holding hands, even the older people, and I saw a group of people sitting under a tree as they were mending clothes—they were lying across each others' laps or had their legs hooked around someone else's or were leaning on each other. Gosh, even Joey was draped over his little sister."

Seto leaned his head in his hand and sighed, scowling in frustration at his own obliviousness. Joey wasn't trying to get him to have sex with him; he just wanted attention, and the only way he knew to do that was by touching him and asking with his eyes. He still remembered the night he'd woken to find Joey snuggled up against him and, in his confusion and disgust, had literally kicked him out of the bed.

He realized later that he probably should have offered some sort of apology, but it was only after Kisara told him how much time Joey had spent crying and hiding from his one friend in the pack that had accompanied him to his new home that he knew how badly he'd hurt him. He wasn't a very touchy-feely person himself, but he hadn't really needed to just kick the blond away.

"…Card games, you said?"

"Yeah, he rocks at poker. He had me in my underwear so fast I—"

Seto scowled. "Your underwear."

"Uh… Well, when you play strip poker, you're supposed to—"

"I know what the game is, Mokuba. And you're much too young to be playing it."

.-.-.-.-.-.

"They play cards now," Akako stated quietly, taking a sip of his tea. "Seto told me to get lost. I figured you might enjoy some company while your lover is entertaining his mate."

Kisara stirred some sugar into her tea and sighed. "I should be working."

"I should be getting the crap beaten out of me at home." The black wolf sighed and rubbed his temple. "I'm glad that you're limiting your sex to four nights a week. And somehow, Joey's found the confidence to just slip into my room while I'm dozing rather than waking me up entirely. I like that."

She blinked in confusion. "He still sleeps with you? Seto was under the impression that Joey stayed in their bed all night. He's always there when Seto returns."

"You both seem to underestimate his sense of hearing. Or you overestimate how quietly Seto walks. Joey can hear him coming soon enough that he can slip back into their room before Seto gets there." Akako muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like 'arrogant assholes.'

Kisara hummed thoughtfully and took a sip of her own tea. "I see. I'll mention that to him so he doesn't think too highly of himself. He's certain that things are moving forward quickly. Perhaps a setback could do him some good." She smiled mischievously. "Though I have to admit, I laughed when he came to me the other day and the first thing out of his mouth was 'he touched my hand.' He sounded so excited—or, well, as excited as Seto gets. He was happy."

"Ah. Joey was happy too." The older man chuckled. "He came in that night, and I hadn't quite fallen asleep yet. He said 'I touched his hand and he didn't slap me away.' He doesn't know I heard him because I was too tired to respond, but then he told me that he's really starting to like Seto." He sighed. "I'm sure that upsets you, and Joey will probably be hurt in the end because Seto will only ever love you, but I thought you ought to know. Perhaps you can warn Seto and have him nip that in the bud."

She hummed again. "…Perhaps." She stared down into her tea for a moment, then quietly asked, "Why don't you ever touch me?"

Akako glanced up at her and raised an eyebrow. "I was under the impression that Seto is your lover, and your pack doesn't view touching the same way ours does."

"Well…" Kisara blushed a little and looked away from him. "I was just wondering, of course. I don't care either way." She blushed even more as she felt his fingers trace lightly over her wrist before he withdrew his hand and couldn't help a startled squeak. "Ngh!"

"…I sort of knew it would make you feel more awkward than flattered, too," he added, smiling a little, and reached out to grab one of the lemon tarts she'd brought in with the tea. "You're cute when you blush, though. I can see why Seto loves you."

She huffed in embarrassment. "Shut up."

.-.-.-.-.-.

"…It shouldn't hurt to come down here," Seto muttered, frowning, as he trailed his sharp nails down Kisara's soft side. "I used to come down every night. Now I only come down on the weekends, and I miss him."

Kisara frowned as well as she trailed her fingers down his chest. "I've noticed that you've been distant lately. We're growing apart, aren't we?"

"…I can start coming down every other night again," the brunet suggested. "Or every two nights, even. I'm sure Joey wouldn't mind—"

"You said he kissed your cheek the other day," she cut in. "And then you said that you kissed his cheek in return. I think you're starting to love me less and love him more. Kisses are a sign of affection. You've been kissing me less and less. I mean, you still kiss me a lot, but not nearly as much as you had."

Seto sat up and growled in frustration, ears flattening against his skull. "…I'm sure if I spend more time with you, I could—"

"Don't do that to him," Kisara whispered, frowning. "Joey has looked so happy. He even smiles at me, like it's perfectly natural to share your mate with someone. That's not right." She traced a few patterns on the brunet's back, smiling a little when his tail twitched in an awkward wag. "Alright. I have a proposition for you, then."

The brunet turned to look at her and raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."

She looked up at him. "Seto, stop seeing me for a month. See if you miss me. Think about whether you'd miss Joey as much as you miss me. Come back to me after a month and give me your answer. I won't be upset if you decide to love your mate rather than me."

Seto frowned and looked away from her. "…That doesn't seem fair. I—"

She patted his arm gently. "Trust me. Come back after a month, and we'll discuss it then. …I'd like some time to think about us, too."

"…Alright," the brunet sighed, nodding. "Alright, Kisara. You win. I'll come back in a month."

"Good." Kisara smiled sweetly. "Spend that month with your mate."

He sighed again. "Okay. I'll come back in a month, then."

"It is for the best, Seto. For both of us. We both need some space to think."

"…I know…"

.-.-.-.-.-.

Joey smiled and nuzzled up against the brunet's chest, sighing quietly in content. "This is nice."

"It is." Seto ran his fingers through the younger boy's hair. "…You remember how I told you that Kisara and I were taking a break?"

"Yeah. You've been really tense lately," the blond answered, poking his side playfully. "You're stressed, aren't ya? Ya wanna see her. It's okay, I get it. I don't wanna—"

The brunet sighed. "I'm going to stop seeing her."

"—Hold ya ba… What?" Joey looked up at him in surprise. "…You're gonna… stop… Wha-?"

"I'm going to stop seeing Kisara. And I think, after we talk, she'll agree with me." He looked down at the blond and smiled awkwardly. "I don't care about her the way I used to. I care more about you. I think… I think I want to make love to you, Joey."

The younger boy blushed, looking confused. "Are ya—are ya allowed t' do that? Just… just stop lovin' her and love me instead?"

Seto raised an eyebrow. "…It's not something that I just decided, Joey. It's something that happened gradually."

"Oh. …Ya really wanna make love t' me?" Joey smiled. "I wouldn't mind that."

The brunet chuckled. "Well, I'm glad. I'll go talk to Kisara tomorrow, and then the next night… it'll just be you and me."

"Okay." The younger boy giggled gleefully. "Just you an' me. That sounds nice. I mean, I didn't mind sharin' ya, but—"

"—But… sharing a mate isn't natural," Seto cut in. "Don't worry. After tomorrow, I'll be all yours."

Joey snuggled up against his chest again, happy at the prospect. "Yeah!"

.-.-.-.-.-.

"I sort of knew this would be the outcome," Kisara admitted, smiling sadly. She leaned her cheek against his chest and sighed. "…You smell like him. I hadn't realized how good he smells."

"…I didn't either." Seto leaned his head down to kiss her forehead. "You're not mad?"

"No. I've been thinking this whole month, too." She leaned back to smile up at him. "My feelings have changed too. I'll still be your friend. That's how I love you now—not as a lover."

"I understand." He hugged her tightly. "I do still care about you, Kisara. I always will."

"I see." Kisara sighed, hugging him back gently, then whispered, "Should we do it one last time? Just for old time's sake?"

Seto paused. "…I don't see any problem with that. I'll come see you after dinner tomorrow. I'll just ask Joey if he'd mind waiting until the night after that."

"Do you think he'll agree?" she asked, concerned.

The brunet sighed, frowning, then shrugged. "I don't see why not. He's understood everything else. He should certainly understand this. Right? Even he should understand the whole 'last hurrah' thing."

"If you say so." Kisara nuzzled his chest, unable to deny that the blond's scent mixed with Seto's just seemed to meld together nicely.

.-.-.-.-.-.

Joey looked up at the brunet and tilted his head. "So, how is tonight gonna go?"

"Actually, I was wondering if you'd mind if we waited until tomorrow night," Seto replied. "Is that okay?"

The blond blinked, baffled. "Uh… I guess so. I mean, I don't see why not. Did somethin' come up with another pack-?"

"No." The older boy sighed. "…I'm going to see Kisara one last time."

"…Well you sure changed your mind fast," Joey muttered, frowning, then looked down at his food.

Seto frowned as well. "This will be the last time, Joey. I promise. Kisara and I are just friends now."

The blond huffed. "'course ya are." He shoveled his food into his mouth and kept his gaze resolutely on the table.

"…This is the last time, Joey," the brunet stated firmly. "I won't be seeing her again."

"Of course," the younger boy muttered again. "I believe ya."

He did look angry. Perhaps he'd be angry for the next few days, too. But he'd understood before; he'd come to terms with it eventually, and perhaps even forgive him for it. He'd try to explain later, after he cooled down, because he could tell the blond wasn't going to listen anymore tonight.

.-.-.-.-.-.

Akako growled loudly as he heard a familiar knock on his door, trying to decide whether he wanted to kill himself or the blond on the other side of it. Eventually, he decided killing anybody would be too much trouble and dragged himself out of bed. He was ready to snarl and threaten to rip the younger boy's head off when he opened the door, but then he found the blond already crying, and instead of looking heartbroken or sad, like he usually did when he came to his room, he just looked… mad.

He couldn't help blinking in confusion. "…Joey?"

"Will you fuck me?" Joey asked softly.

Akako knew his jaw had dropped, but he felt his gaping was completely justified. "…Hah?"

The blond scowled and carefully repeated, "Will. You. Fuck. Me?"

"…Why?" he asked after a moment, frowning. "I thought you and Seto—You said that he told you he loves you—that he wants to make love to you—"

"Well, that doesn't seem t' have stopped him from fuckin' Kisara again!" Joey snarled, scowling.

Akako was officially confused. Just earlier in the week, while he'd been having tea with her, Kisara had admitted that she sort of liked him and that her relationship with Seto would be over after they talked. He'd thought that they… There had to be some sort of misunderstanding.

"Joey, you don't want to do this. You'll regret it, and—" he began, frowning.

"I want him t' hurt like he hurt me," Joey growled, hands clenching into fists. "I want him t' feel this pain and humiliation. I want him t' hurt just like me."

Akako sighed. "Joey, you know that won't make it any better—"

"Then I'll go find someone else that wants my ass. It shouldn't be too hard," the blond spat, turning to leave.

The older man scowled and reached out to grab his wrist, dragging him back quickly. "Joey, you know it's not going to help. It's just going to cause problems and hurt you both."

"I. DON'T. CARE!" Joey roared, making him take a startled step back. "He's never given a damn about me and when he finally does give a damn he still goes t' her? That's not fair! That hurts! I've been puttin' up with this hurt for months, and what's he been doin'? Goin' down and fuckin' her! I don't care anymore! I'm obviously not good enough for him so can't I at least be good enough for you for just one night!"

Akako sighed, brows furrowing together in frustration even though he felt pity welling up inside him for the first time. He'd never pitied the blond before; he'd been being groomed to take over as alpha for his pack, and then he'd had an arranged mating to the alpha of another pack, which still wasn't a bad position. He'd been mad when he'd seen his charge neglected, but he hadn't pitied him because he'd known that Seto had been in love with someone else, and then Joey had been so happy even sharing him with Kisara that he'd forgotten that Joey had even had a jealous bone in his body.

He'd sorely underestimated the damage caused by sharing his mate, and he realized that maybe Joey had been jealous, but at the time had been so desperate that he'd take anything he could get from Seto, even if it did mean not having him completely.

So he understood. He didn't like it, but he understood.

Joey couldn't help a sob as the older man pulled him into his arms, frustrated and angry and a million other things. "Please, Akako, just this once—"

"Shhh…" Akako pressed his lips against his throat gently and closed the door. "Just this once." He grunted as the blond pressed up against him and wondered what stupidity the brunet was suffering from.

He'd promised Joey sex and, after months of not having it despite having a mate, he'd really want that physical satisfaction. Having it taken away from him to be given to someone else (his 'former' mistress, no less) was like a slap in the face, and Joey would be understandably frustrated and hurt, especially because he wanted someone else to touch him and give him that satisfaction, because he could only do so much himself.

Akako had pretended not to notice the smell of shame and misery when Joey came out of the bathroom late at night, when he thought he was sleeping. Somehow, he knew that tomorrow morning would smell of shame and misery as well.

.-.-.-.-.-.

Seto stared at his empty bed for a few long minutes, frowning. He'd realized that Joey would probably go sleep with Akako while he was gone, but the blond had always been back in bed before he returned. Perhaps he's underestimated how angry the younger boy had been. Well, he'd just give him time to cool off, perhaps wait until breakfast to speak with him and explain—

"WHAT. THE. HELL!"

He jerked slightly in surprise, then immediately turned as he heard and angry snarl, slamming out the door quickly. "What's going on?"

Kisara snarled and slammed the door to the room she'd been looking into, gripping her hands into angry fists as she began to stomp away. "What a little tramp!"

Seto caught her shoulders and ducked when she instinctively moved to hit him. "Kisara, what's wrong?"

"That stupid little—trashy little—Urgh, your bitch! First it's you and now he's after Akako!" she exclaimed, ignorant of the tears rolling down her cheeks.

"He can't be after me if he already has me," Akako stated, stepping out of his room as he buttoned up his pants. "He is my pack superior. I'm obligated to care for him."

Kisara snorted in disgust and spat, "And caring for him includes fucking him, I suppose."

Seto looked between the two in confusion, but he thought he was picking up on what they meant. He didn't like what he was finding. "What's going on?"

"That little slut—" the white-haired wolf began, ears twisting back in fury, only to yelp as the older man slapped a hand over her mouth.

Akako scowled. "I'm tired of this. I'm tired of you. I'm tired of spending more time with your mate than you do," he hissed, turning his glare on the brunet. "I'm tired of holding him when he's lonely and I'm tired of drying tears that you caused. I'm tired of hearing him go on about how happy he is because Seto's finally letting him touch him and then having him come in and sleep with me when he goes to sleep with you. I'M. TIRED."

The two other wolves took a cautious step backward as the raven-haired man's tail bristled, and even the hair on his head seemed to start to stand at attention despite being long and tied at the base of his neck. "I want to sleep. I want to take some time to find a mate of my own. I want to be able to leave Joey for a few days and know he's safe, that he'll be taken care of. Unfortunately, I can't do that, because apparently it's custom for wolves of your pack to be selfish little assholes."

Seto scowled. "I'm not—"

"You told him you'd make love to him!" the older man roared, teeth sharpening and lengthening. "He was looking forward to it! He was happy! And then you told him you wanted one more night with her! How did you think he would feel? Because I'll tell you right now he was hurt, and angry, and embarrassed! If it hadn't been me, it would have just been someone else!"

He snarled and glared at them, teeth bared in an ugly sneer as he turned his angry gaze on the brunet. "He loves you. He tries to pretend it doesn't hurt, but he does love you." He jerked his head toward Kisara. "And he respects you. He thinks you're a nice person, even if he hates with every fiber of his being that Seto loves you more." He snarled when they both opened their mouths, looking outraged. "Which is exactly the impression you gave him when you decided to spend one more night with each other rather than the night you promised with him."

"It was the last time. There was never going to be another night!" Kisara exclaimed, looking annoyed.

Seto huffed. "I would have told him about it, but he didn't really give me a chance. He just shut me out and wouldn't listen to me!"

"You both shut your fucking mouths." Akako's fingers cracked as his claws began to lengthen. "You're both idiots. I know why Joey's mother sent me here; she knew that you'd never understand the ways of our pack and didn't want her son to be alone." His nose and mouth began to twist out of his human form. "He's done nothing but cooperate with you and the one time he thinks he's going to be rewarded for his patience, you take it away and slap him in the face."

Realizing he was changing into his demonic form, the older man immediately stood up straight and forced himself to relax. "…You won't be seeing us for a few days," he stated quietly. "He's too ashamed to come out and face you. When he does come out, you probably won't be seeing him a few days after that. If he wants to be invisible, he can be, and he doesn't want anyone to see him after the mistake he just made." He turned and moved to open his door.

Seto reached out to touch his shoulder. "…Mistake?"

"He didn't want to have sex with anyone but you. He just wanted you to hurt like you'd hurt him," Akako explained quietly. He stiffened and shrugged the man's hand off. "He felt like you didn't believe he'd be any good, too, and maybe that was why you went to sleep with Kisara—because you were used to each other and knew what the other liked. And let me just inform you—both of you—" He turned to shoot them one last glare. "—That he's fucking fantastic in bed."

At that, both Seto and Kisara had to gape, and they could only watch as the door shut behind him.

.-.-.-.-.-.

"I'm… I'm gonna go get somethin' t' eat, Akako," Joey mumbled standing from the bed. "Ya want anything?"

"Not particularly." Akako turned the page of the book he was reading. "Unless they have something spicy."

The blond sighed and went to the door. "Okay."

"You're going to have to see your mate sometime," the older man called out after him. "You've been in here for almost a week; you know you're feeling antsy."

"Maybe I can hide for a few more days," the blond whispered to himself, stepping outside. He turned to close the door and sighed, leaning his head against it sadly. He felt so ashamed. He'd slept with Akako out of pettiness, and he knew he was wrong, even if Seto had been wrong too. Sleeping with someone for revenge felt so disgusting and contemptible. He was lower than the dirt that the omegas were sometimes forced to crawl on.

"You look tired."

Joey jerked in surprise, body going rigid, and he couldn't help a startled but ashamed whimper. "I-I-!"

Seto raised an eyebrow and leaned against the wall beside him, crossing his arms casually as he asked, "Has Akako been fucking you every night?"

The blond turned his head away and shuddered, tail curling up between his legs awkwardly. "I—No—I just—" He whimpered again and ducked his head, ears wilting in shame as he felt tears filling his eyes. "…I'm sorry. –But I know that that will never be enough. It was terrible of me."

The older boy frowned and stood up straight. "Wait, I didn't mean—"

"I shouldn't 've done that. It was petty of me and I was wrong. I… I…!"

Seto pulled the younger boy into his arms quickly, whispering into his ear as he began to cry. "I didn't mean that, Joey. I know it was a onetime thing. I practically drove you to it. Compared to how many times I went to sleep with Kisara while you—"

"But you and Kisara actually loved each other and I just wanted t' be fucked!" Joey sobbed, hiding his face in the brunet's chest. "I didn't care who it was or if he even liked me as long as he pounded me into somethin'!"

The older boy frowned and dug his fingers into the blond's shirt. He was an idiot. He'd assumed that he could have one final night with Kisara and then spend the rest of his nights with his mate, and he'd hurt him terribly by paying more attention to her for just that extra few hours. He hadn't… he hadn't realized that Joey had actually been that jealous of Kisara, but then again, he'd never promised to be only Joey's and then gone to Kisara for one last fling before.

He'd driven the blond into a jealous rage so powerful that he didn't care who he had sex with as long as he got it. Luckily it had been with someone who cared about his well-being. Plus, Joey had been completely celibate for months beforehand, only masturbating every once in a while in the privacy of their bathroom. He'd probably craved sex, and had been happy not only because his mate was ready to do it with him, but that he had someone else to touch him.

And he'd just taken that away and—in Joey's eyes—given that to someone else.

"…I'm sorry," Seto muttered, frowning. "I'm sorry I put you off. I'm sorry I went to go see her one last time. I shouldn't have left you to yourself. I didn't think about your feelings enough and I'm sorry I hurt you."

"'m sorry I was such a— …'m sorry I slept with someone else," Joey mumbled, trying to pull away. "I shouldn't 've— …I—"

"Shh." The brunet kissed his cheek before carefully rubbing his cheek against the younger boy's smooth neck. "Hmm. Your scar is fading."

"Yeah. But I didn't wanna bother ya about it." The blond turned his gaze on the floor, ears flopping forward limply. "I didn't know if your pack thought the same thing about the mating scars as mine did and I—uhn!" He yelped as he was shoved up against the wall, ears flying up in surprise as the brunet nuzzled his neck. "Gah-!"

Seto licked the fading scar a few times, pressing up against the blond's trembling body firmly. "All packs view the mating scar the same way. If you notice it's fading again, just tell me," he ordered quietly, carefully sliding one of his hands behind the younger boy's head.

Joey jerked his head back and howled, startled, as the brunet sunk his lengthening fangs into his throat, remarking his mate. Seto groaned as the blond's hips jerked forward, unconsciously trying to shove him away, and dug his claws lightly into the younger boy's scalp as he unintentionally ground his knuckles against the hard stone of the wall. Pressing closer to the smaller teen's body, he let a growl rumble from his chest as he gently shook the blond's neck, aggravating the wound so that it would scar more.

Joey whimpered submissively and relaxed a little, trembling as he let his head loll onto the brunet's shoulder. "Uhn…"

Seto dragged his fingers through the blond's hair gently, finally retracting his demonic teeth and releasing the younger boy's throat. He lapped at the wound gently and sighed, then gripped his hips and gnawed on the raw injury roughly. "Mine…"

"That hurts-!" the younger boy whined, squirming. He yelped again as the brunet pressed closer, unconsciously spreading his legs. His breath hitched as the older boy growled again and wedged his hips between his legs, shoving him up against the wall. "Ahn-!"

Seto stroked his side gently, then slid his hands down to grip the blond's thighs. "You're not allowed to smell like anyone but me now," he hissed, hooking the younger boy's legs over his hips. "You're not allowed to sleep with anyone else. If you're lonely, come to me. If you're scared, come to me. If you're angry, come to me—even if I'm the one that made you angry in the first place. Don't go to Akako. Come to me."

Joey whimpered again and bit his bottom lip. "But… but Seto, I—"

"You're my mate, Joey. Mine. And I've only just realized lately how important you are to me." The brunet licked his jaw softly, then began nipping and nibbling. "I'm sorry I hurt you so badly." He licked the dripping wound on his neck and sighed, then ground their hips together roughly. "Mine."

The blond mewed and jerked his head back a little. "Seto-!"

Seto was ready to rip the younger boy's clothes off and hump him silly then and there, but then he heard a quiet cough. Turning his head, he frowned. "What?"

Kisara raised an eyebrow at him. "Even we weren't so bold to have sex out in the open, Seto. I'm sure Joey will appreciate your attention just as much in your bedroom. …In your mating bed."

"Gah-! Ya want me t' have sex with ya in the hallway?" Joey exclaimed, looking offended. "After everything-!"

"…I hate you," Seto mumbled, turning to give the smiling woman a glare, then tossed the blond over his shoulder casually. "Now that the mood has been broken, let's go get some breakfast, Joey. And the healers can put some salve on that wound."

The younger boy huffed. "You're the one that did this t' me. Jerk."

"Yes, well, the healers also have a special salve that can make scars darker. I had every right to mark you again. You're mine."

Joey yelped as the brunet tugged lightly on his tail. "You pervert, just tuggin' on my tail where anyone can see-!"

Kisara smiled again when she hurt a howl of pain as they turned the corner and moved out of sight. "Well. At least Joey will keep him busy."

"Among other things," Akako sighed, opening the door and stepping outside. "He'll also keep him awake, ask him stupid questions because he can, and when Seto gets angry, he'll act cute and confused so that he can't stay angry. He acts stupid, but he's really a conniving little jerk." The older man shrugged a little. "Then again, I've noticed that people of higher rank in the packs usually have something that diffuses tense situations."

"Like how Seto just stares people down with a look that makes them feel stupid, or his brother just pretends to be oblivious?" she pointed out, chuckling quietly. "What did the rest of Joey's family do?"

"His parents were rude and cruel, making no one want to deal with them, and his sister pretended to not realize when people were insulting her family, instead turning the insults back on the people saying them. She was a clever little girl; I can understand why her parents wanted her to stay and take over the pack instead of Joey. Joey's strong enough to keep his position as alpha in a fight, but Serenity's clever enough to stay out of fights and keep her position. …But they both cried terribly when it was decided that one of them had to mate with Seto and it was probably going to be Joey."

"…Would everything have been different if it hadn't been Joey, and it had been his sister instead?" Kisara asked softly.

Akako turned a gaze on her and scowled. "Either you or Seto would be dead. While she's just as patient as her brother, she has always gotten her way, and if you two didn't stop seeing each other, she would have attacked you both until one of you couldn't get up. She's very possessive. …Joey didn't have any serious partners at his pack because she'd keep them away from him. She never wanted her brother to leave. Not because she was selfish, of course, but she saw what her parents did to Joey to keep him docile and she wanted to protect him herself."

The white wolf chuckled quietly. "…What a little spitfire. I'd like to meet her someday."

"You may just get your wish. His family's coming to visit since he hasn't kept in touch. The castle will not sleep for weeks," Akako replied. "It's never pleasant when the in-laws visit. …Also, don't let anyone tell Serenity you were Seto's mistress. She might still kill you."

"…I won't leave the servants' quarters then."