Erystotle had been patched up and returned to health after he had been attacked. He still didn’t know exactly why he was targeted, but it was easy to assume it was to get at Chimera. Erys knew the King was the strongest leader he had ever served under, he’d seen the kindness he was capable of, but he had also seen the violence. It didn’t make him frightened of the King, in fact he felt the opposite when he had seen Chi enact his vengeance on the wolf who attacked him. It gave him more confidence that Chimera would be there to protect him, and if anyone touched him they put up their life as forfeit.

The pearlescent man was able to get back to his duties very shortly after the attack. He did a lot of small tasks around the pack, things the other wolves didn’t really think about, while he was cleaning and organizing the resort. Keeping everyone fed the best he could, and all the while found himself thinking about the chimeric King.

Twice now he had kissed him, Erystotle felt the affections from him, and was given a glimpse of deeper desire there. He also felt the hesitation. Chimera didn’t want to force himself on Erys. He was the King of Fenmyre and could have whatever he wanted, Erystotle included. Yet he’d stopped himself after a passionate kiss. Erystotle could only conclude that Chi didn’t want Erys’ forced affections, he wanted him to come to him on his own.

Finishing his duties for the evening, and his head heavy with conflicting thoughts, he made his way back to his rooms. Thinking about it as he passed the ajar door he realized he hadn’t gathered Chimera’s dinner dishes. Erys meant to sneak in and sneak out without disturbing Chi, but when ghostly eyes trailed the room he found Chimera already asleep over his work. Maybe Erys should have continued with his duties, but there was a peaceful aura about the man that made him pause.

After closing the office door, hesitant paws carried him closer to the plush mat where Chimera was laying. Erys carefully blew out the candle, and again his mind told him to retreat to his quarters. Instead Erys closed the distance between himself and the sleeping King. After debating for a moment The man lowered himself next to Chimera and curled his body against the massive man’s pale shoulder.

After taking control once more, things had fallen back into an easy rhythm. Chimera woke before the sun and worked well into the night. Often Aliana and the boys would be asleep before he was finished, so he simply slept in his office. There were some night when he pored over his books and ledgers that he didn't plan to sleep in his office, but ended up doing so anyway. Tonight was one of those nights. Mentally and physically exhausted, Chimera had fallen asleep right where he had been working. Parchment, papers, books... they were all spread out around him.

The black and white giant didn't know how long he'd been asleep, but he had been sleeping soundly. Warmth against his shoulder roused him, however. Sleepily, the brute blinked mismatched eyes and curled his neck to see who was laying against him. He was more than a little surprised to see Erystotle beside him. The candles had been extinguished, but even in the darkness, the man's beauty was evident. He was healing from the injuries given by the now dead bastard by the dam, but Erys was still beautiful. Many emotions flitted through the Dire brute. In the end, he curled back up and went back to sleep, not wanting to disturb the man beside him.

Some time during the night, Chimera had rolled over to get more comfortable. Reflexively, he pulled Erystotle into his embrace just as he would to any of his queens. Strong forelegs pulled the smaller brute against his chest, wrapping around him. Chimera's neck curled, his chin settling on the back of Ery's crown just between his ears. Comfortable as ever, Chimera continued to sleep.

"Speech"

As well as he knew Chimera’s almost dual personality he knew how hard the King worked. All day and night it seemed like his attention was on running the pack well, keeping them safe, providing for the wolves in his care. He showed the wolves he cared for with the efforts he put into those daily tasks. His love was obvious in those actions alone, but he also found the time to give each of them their own personal attention. He was far more concerned for them than himself, and that wasn’t a fact that Erys would soon forget or take for granted. That was why he worked so hard for Chimera, he deserved every effort.

When Erys saw him sleeping alone, he couldn’t help himself and he curled up against the massive man. He felt Chi stir slightly as his pearlescent form curled beside him, but it wasn’t enough to pull him completely from his sleep. Chimera accepted his presence and both wolves easily fell asleep in the dark.

When he was finally beginning to wake Erys could see the very first hints of dawn filtering through the windows. He blinked open his ghostly white eyes as he realized where he was. He’d forgotten where he had fallen asleep, but the warm arms around him reminded him in an instant. His smaller thin frame was nestled perfectly against Chimera’s chest with his arms wrapped around him.

Chimera’s head was nestled over his own, and Erys could feel as much as hear his even breathing. He had never known Chimera to be so at peace as that moment. He was always moving, always thinking, Erys hadn’t ever seen the man relax, but part of him hoped his presence had helped to bring such deep and healing sleep to the massive King. A soft sigh left his lips and he snuggled back into Chimera’s embrace, content to rest there in his arms as his mind began to play through the rest of their morning together. Would Chimera immediately get to his paws for the morning patrol, would he scold him for sleeping here? Would he kiss him again?

There had been a time during the early morning hours where Chimera's internal clock woke him so that he could prepare for the day. Normally, he would be up and out the door, ready to run the first patrol of the day. Today would be different, however. Before his eyes opened, he felt the body within his grasp, clutched against his chest. The scent of Erystotle surrounded him and the big brute cracked open his pale pink eye to look down upon the pearlescent form pressed against him. There was work to be done, but he wouldn't ruin this moment or the small man's sleep. Closing his eye, Chimera drifted off once more.

Some time later, the gentle shifting of the other wolf roused Chimera from sleep once more. His eye cracked open again but he made no other move. Erystotle shifted a bit, pressing closer to him and Chi reflexively tightened his grip around the man. They lay there for a time, but Chimera could tell that Erys was awake by the feel of his beating heart that was pressed against his own chest. "We should figure this out," he spoke in a soft, whispering rumble. There had been so much tension in the king due to these feelings that he held for the man. It would be easier to just come out and have the man say what he wanted, right?

Chimera drew back, placing enough space between them so that his gaze could meet the pale silvered eyes of Erystotle. Still holding the small brute to him, he came right out and asked, "What do you want from me?" If it was in his power, Chimera would give it. Had Erys wanted this to happen or had he simply been trapped by Chimera's strength? Did he want what Chi wanted? The man was about to tell him, he hoped.

"Speech"

Erystotle had never slept so late in his life. He had to be up and ready to go everyday so his master would not find him still asleep and kick him awake. The difference between that life and this one couldn’t have contrasted with more intensity. That change was why he slept so easily now. Chimera’s protective embrace around him, the warmth of him all around, Erys felt safe and comfortable. Two things he had gone sorely without for years.

As he curled against Chimera’s two toned form he felt his embrace tighten. The morning had grown late, and neither of them fell back to sleep again. Waking up slowly here in the King’s arms was a privilege he never saw in his future, but then again it had always been so bleak. Chimera’s whispered words could be felt through his whole body, mismatched ears fell behind his horns as he processed Chimera’s words.

His ghostly gaze lifted to Chi’s two toned eyes as he shifted to ask more seriously. What did he want? Erys took in a deep breath as he straightened his wild thoughts, memories, and habits. He had overcome much in the short time he had been with Chimera, but some things lingered longer than others. ”I have no right to ask anything of my King.” He spoke humbly, despite being freed he was not Chimera’s peer. ”But… I would offer myself instead.” He sighed softly, showing the little frustrations at not projecting his thoughts clearly. An emotion he wouldn’t have shown anyone before Chimera.

”You’ve reminded me what it feels like to live, something I thought I had lost. I feel so safe here with you, something else I’d forgotten about. You took away my chains. Chimera, you’ve given me everything I could have ever asked for.” He savored the way the King’s name fell from his lips. Erys had thus far used only the King’s honorifics, but the intimacy of the moment broke long ingrained habits. ”Except.. maybe.. “ Erys hesitated then, his silver white eyes shifting from Chimera’s dual toned eyes, to his dark lips. The word ‘love’ would not be coaxed from his throat. ”Your affection.”

The hesitancy thrummed through the mans entire body like electricity and Chimera held him a little tighter, letting him know that he could answer the question freely. The giant brutes ears strained eagerly, awaiting an answer. The pale wolf took a deep breath as though sorting his thoughts, then he softly began an explanation. One that Chimera listened to with great interest and great need.

The initial words weren't at all what Chimera wanted to hear. They were still the words of a servant; a slave. However, Erystotle continued. These words... they were closer to what Chimera had needed the man to say. He had given Erys time and space to sort out his own emotions. He'd given him time to come to terms with his newfound freedom. He'd let him be a free wolf again and develop his sense of self. All of this he'd done without pushing, without pressure, in the hopes that Erys would come to him of his own free will.

Finally, Erys lifted his gaze to meet that of the hulking brute. The only thing that Erys was missing... was Chimera's affection. One black-toed paw shifted upwards, sliding up the smaller man's back so that it rested gently on the back of his head. The king's gaze continued to bore into that of the pearlescent wolf and he spoke in a low, husky voice, "Then you shall have it."

Chimera lowered his lips, finding those of the man beside him as he pulled him into a deep kiss. His tongue danced over Erys', absorbing the flavor of the horned wolf. He didn't let the kiss linger for long before he pulled back, though not very far at all. He could still feel the panting breaths of the smaller wolf against his lips. "I want you to come to me because you want it, not because you're a slave. Not because you think that it's what I want." His tongue slid over the brutes lower lip. "Tell me what you want, Erystotle."

"Speech"

Erystotle was very nervous to expose his inner thoughts to Chimera. There was no one before the King who had ever taken any kind of interest in what lay beneath his ghostly pale eyes. With a gentle squeeze and his full attention, Chi coaxed the words gently from his pink lips. Before this, before the King, before his freedom, there were no desires. There was no future there was no self. Erystotle had been an object used and made to work. His dreams and goals were crushed along with his spirit long ago. Exploring those essential parts of a healthy life had been eye opening, and Chimera allowing him to search and discover under his protective wing made all of those once impossible ideas flourish.

The pearlescent man was a broken shell when Chi took him from his captivity, and the King had carefully worked to help Erystotle grow. He filled him with life again, he could think about the future, his goals, and his desires. As Chimera’s dark toes cradled the back of his head, and his sharp eyes gazed into his silvery gaze those desires manifested physically. There was no attraction before Chimera, every wolf was the same gray master as before. Chimera was everything he had never really had, he cared.

His eyes fluttered closed as the King gave him exactly what he had asked for. Pink lips parted as Chi leaned forward to kiss him. Erystotle tasted his tongue, and felt brand new emotions swirl and dance in his core. He fell into Chimera, forgetting everything before this moment. All that existed was the two of them, and the warmth they made together. A soft whine of protest pulled from his lips as Chi released him, hovering slightly so Erys could feel his breath on his tongue. Chimera revealed softly his own desires, he never wanted to influence Erys in his decision making. He wanted him of his own accord, and as he spoke everything made sense. Why he had torn himself away after their first kiss, why he had been so distant after he’d saved him, why he wanted to know Erys own desire. What did he want?

"I want you, Chimera.” He whispered as he gazed up into Chimera’s softening gaze. Chimera made him feel in ways he had never experienced before. He wasn’t an object to be used anymore, he had become a wolf again. His barriers were all but destroyed, he lay in Chimera’s arms bare and vulnerable like he had never allowed himself to be. "I’ve never felt like this before,” he confessed quietly, however obvious that fact might be. He’d never felt wanted like this before, wanted because of who he was and not because of who he had been made to be.

"You truly saved me.” The last words were spoken more to himself as he lifted a dainty white paw to Chimera’s cheek, using his soft pink toes to take a kiss for himself.

"Erystotle Atlas"

Still, he could feel the heartbeat of the man wrapped in his arms. Chimera found himself wondering if his heartbeat matched that of Erystotle. He wasn't as nervous as the small man. He was only a little doubtful that the pale brute would reciprocate the feelings that had been growing in the King. Erys had been a slave for a long time. He had been raped and used whenever another felt like doing so. He hadn't had a choice. Why would he ever want to subject himself to being used again? Chimera wouldn't use him in the same sense that the slavers had, but he would want to mate with him for sure. Could Erys handle that? It was a question for another time.

The pearlescent brute admitted aloud that Chimera was what he wanted and the giant's heart thudded, pale pink eye resting on the beautiful man's features. In a softer voice, Erys declared that Chimera had saved him. A slender paw then cupped the big mans cheek and their lips met yet again. He kissed the man, wrapping his forelegs more tightly around him, pulling their bodies tightly together. Chimera didn't try to hide the... effect that Erystotle had on him. He wanted the smaller man to know what he was in for if they became lovers.

The pair kissed once before Chi pulled back just enough to speak. "Give yourself to me, Erystotle. Give all of yourself to me and you shall have me in return." He wanted loyalty. He wanted the man to be faithful to him and only him. He wanted Erys' love and adoration. He wanted to have the man beneath him, begging for his love in turn. There was so much that Chimera wanted from the man, but for now, he settled for having him here in his arms sharing caresses and sweet kisses.


"Speech"

Erystotle had always been loyal as far as he was obedient, but there was no one who had incited a passion within him. His previous masters owned his body and they broke his spirit but they never possessed his heart. Chimera didn’t want to own him, didn’t want to use him, if there was to be anything between them Erys needed to want what was happening. Because he was a willing participant, not because he had to. The pearlescent man hadn’t ever experienced desire like this before, but Chimera had freed him. He could feel as another wolf would, he could want the affection of another wolf. He wanted Chi to fill that roll, and as Chimera held him tightly and fell into his kiss Erys knew he felt the same about him.

Strong arms wrapped around his shoulders and held him closer to Chimera’s chest as he leaned into their kiss. Erys was astounded how much different this felt than any time before now. He wanted Chimera closer, unlike every other wolf in his life before. For so long he thought anything to do with sex was repulsive, but when Chimera had kissed him for the first time his view had shattered. This intimacy was completely different from the assault he had to endure before.

Erys smiled into the kiss they shared, his claws pulling through Chi’s thick fur before the man pulled away slightly. Silver white eyes lifted to the King’s dual toned gaze, even as he spoke the feeling of their bodies pressed together spoke louder. Give himself. Chimera didn’t want to take him, he wanted Erys to give himself instead. The horned man wouldn’t hesitate to do that. There was nothing in his life to compare to the emotions that filled him.

"I’m yours, Chimera.” He whispered in return, marveling at how close their muzzles were and how strong yet loving his embrace was. Erys was smiling again because of him. "All of me, mind, heart… body.” His breath caught in his throat and a soft whine followed as he couldn’t quite hold back the emotions Chimera made him feel.

"Erystotle Atlas"

Bending other to his will was easy. He should have made a job of it. Tell then what they wanted to hear. Show a little affection or vulnerability, get an in, and the rest was smooth sailing from there. Chimera hadn't done that with Erystotle, however. His emotions and actions were true, although heightened a bit from waking to find the smaller man clinging to him in the dark.

In the growing light of morning, Chimera saw Erystotle smile. It was a rarity, for sure. He granted the pale man a rare smile of his own, though it was simply a lift in the corners of his maw. Erys spoke a declaration, telling the dark man whom he belonged to. It was something that Chimera had needed to hear spoken aloud with all of them. All of his lovers had to swear their fealty to him in this way, and Erystotle was no different.

The pearlescent man gave himself over to Chimera, mind, heart and body, as he'd put it. Triumph was what the beast felt first, like he'd claimed another win, somehow. Possession was a necessity. A kink almost. Chimera needed to know that the wolves he would hold within his power belonged to him and no other. Erystotle was saying just that. Just like Aliana had so long ago. It was like a drug to the King of Fenmyre and his lips once again met those of the smaller brute, though this time in a more crushing, needful manner.

The day would wait for no one and the light filtering through the open window reminded Chimera of the tasks that needed to be done. Though it was difficult, he pulled himself away from the pale wolf after a time, rising to his full height on the mat. "Enjoy your day, Erystotle. Should you find me asleep in here again, you don't need to be so secretive." There was a mischievous twinkle in the giant's pale, pink eye. With a nod, he reluctantly set off to begin his day.

"Speech"