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Chapter Text

“With all due respect, Exalted, you can not expect our men to stay firm when the Veretian snakes keep taunting them.” Damen didn't know what bothered him more, the constant brawls between the two armies or that people keep referring to him by his late father’s title. Logically, he knew that it should be the first one, they were now one army and therefore should act as such least they wanted the animosity to cost them their victory on the battlefield. Logically, he understood that in order to lift morality between their soldiers they had to see him as the true rightful king of Akielos, but the loss of his father was still too fresh. He had not had time to mourn him and it just felt disrespectful in a way, as if Damen was stealing something that was not yet his to take, as if Theomedes could suddenly appear and reprimand him for overstepping. Or maybe he was afraid of having lost the guidance of his king, the all knowing man that would help him distinguish right from wrong, that would prevent him from making a fatal decision. Damen was tired and somehow lost, but leaving the problem for another man to solve was not an option. “I would talk with Prince Laurent about this tomorrow. Soldiers acting like children would not do when war truly starts. Until then, tell them I do not want to hear about any retaliation from our side, they are better trained than that”. Nikandros bowed. “Of course, my King. I will relay the orders to Makedon, but I don't think he will be appeased for long”. Damen sighted “I just hope he will be appeased enough until tomorrow”.
Nikandros left towards the direction in which the majority of the tents of the officials had been laid. Damen turned towards his own tent at the begining of the row.

The night sky was clear, with no clouds on sight and the brightness of the full moon allowed to see without the need for torches. It was still early, but having finished with his obligations for the day, he just wanted to rest.
He entered his tent and began to undress. Since joining the Akielon army he had refused slaves that would attend to him, so using the cloth, water and soap some squire must had left for him, he began cleaning himself from the dust and sweat of the day. Once finished, he went to lay on his paddle and cover with a sheet, not bothering with nightwear as he usually did at home.

The smell was sweet and he could feel himself salivating. A pair of arms was wrapped around his neck, soft hands massaging his scalp. A nice weight sat over his lap. His hands closed around a slim waist covered in soft silk. They traveled up, feeling the hard planes off a small but well defined chest, toned shoulders, a slender neck, hair as soft as the silk they were wearing. He felt an exhalation against his lips and not a second later, warm, moist lips against his. He opened his mouth to taste them and felt a sudden explosion of ambrosia. Omega. Mine. Laurent.

He suddenly woke up panting. He was tangled in the sheet and painfully hard. Damen reached for his hardness with a hand, palming himself to ease the discomfort. He could still taste Laurent in his mouth, feel his weight against him. He started stroking himself languorously. Images of their only night together came to his mind. How lovely his Omega had looked naked over the white sheets that accentuated his rosy skin. Blue eyes unguarded and vulnerable. How sweet his moans have sounded, low and shy at firsts, louder when he no longer could contain himself.

Damen came all over his stomach. He gripped his cock around the swelling knot and imagined it was Laurent who was squeezing him. He waited until his breathing slowed to get up and clean himself before returning to bed. He lied there, his eyes wide open. Damen felt hollow. He felt the absence of his Omega by his side, between his arms, where he belonged, where Damen could protect and cherish him, kiss him until both of them fell asleep together, covered in their combined smell with a mark in each of their necks.

He tossed and turned unable to get rid of the sensation of longing. Finally he got up. He needed to see Laurent, even hearing his voice alone, telling him to get lost would be better than laying alone in his cold palet. He put on a clean chiton, exited his tent and started walking in the direction of the Veretian camp.

The few soldiers front the neighbouring country who were still up followed him with his eyes, surprise clear in their faces, but no one dared to stop him until he arrived at the Prince's tent. Jord and another guard he didn't recognise guarded the entrance. Jord, at least, didn't look surprised to see him there. “What brings you here, King Damianos? His Highness has already retired for the night. Unless there is something urgent that requires his immediate attention he should not be disturbed”. Damen had not actually thought of what excuse to tell, since he had been too focused on the idea of being close to Laurent. He suddenly remembered the conversation with Nikandros. “I need to discuss the behaviour of his troops. They have been trying to start fights with the men in the Akielon army for days and it needs to stop.” Jord looked puzzled. “ I doubt His Highness would consider that an urgent matter. He was very clear on the fact that he didn't want to be disturbed tonight.” Damen doubled down “It is an urgent matter when a brawl could start at any second.”

“Prince Laurent has already retired for the night and it is unlikely for a fight to break when most of the soldiers are already sleeping. I suggest you come back tomorrow, Exalted.” Jord replied with a concerned look on his face.

Damen did not want to make a scene, even less in the middle of the Veretian camp. If Nikandros heard he had started a dispute with a soldier over visiting Laurent in the middle of the night he would surely get questioned and probably scolded, position as king be damned. “I’ll speak with him tomorrow. Have a goodnight, Jord”.

“Goodnight, Exalted” replied Jord.

He turned around and left for his tent. Halfway to the Akielon camp he suddenly stoped in his track. He had seen something in the forest, a flash of golden light. He got closer to the tree line and caught a whiff of something sweet, but it was so swift that for a moment he thought he must have imagined it. And then he broke into a spring into the forest following the smell trail. He tried to be as silent as possible but it didn't look like he was successful, because when he reached the source of the smell, Laurent was already looking at him with a mocking little smile. “You giant brutes truly could not be louder. Are you not taught how to move with the slightest grace in that barbaric country of yours? I thought a bear was coming my way”.

“If it was truly a bear shouldn't have been better if you had tried to hide?” he asked in the same mockery tone Laurent had used.

“You are right, I know you weren't a bear. Even bears are more sneaky.” he replied and looked away. “What are you doing here?”

“What am I doing here? What are you doing in the middle of the forest at night? I was just following you”

“Well, you found me. Now you can just go back to where you came from, preferably to the Akielon camp, you are unnecessarily close to the Veretian one “ remarked Laurent.

“I came looking for you. I mean, I went looking for you to your tent, but Jord told me you had already retired for the night. So behold my surprise when I smelled you outside your tent.”

“And why did you go looking for me?” Interrupted Laurent. “Where you hoping for a midnight tryst? Did you think I would let you in, invite you to my bed and let you fuck me again?”

“Don't say it like that Laurent”

“Like what? Like you- ”

“No.” Damen took a couple steeps forward until he was in front of Laurent. “So cruelly” He lowered his voice. “Like what we did was something you didn't want to do, like I forced you to it.” He said with a sad expression on his face.

Laurent took a step back and turned his back to him. None of them said anything for a couple of minutes. Finally Damen broke the silence “You didn't answer me before. What are you doing in the forest Laurent?”

Laurent sighted and turned to look at him. “You can not tell anyone.” He fixed him with a look. Damen waited for him to continue. “I have spies in Akielos tracking the movement of the armies there, both my Uncle’s and Kastor’s. But I can not risk linking the messengers that bring the information from Akielos with myself of our armies, in case someone notices, follows them and the whole net I have built is destroyed”.

“So you are waiting for the messenger in the forest next to our camps”

“I’m not waiting for them here. I was on my way to the meeting point when a clumsy, loud giant interrupted me. And now I'm probably running late,… or at least less early than what I was aiming for”

“Sorry” Damen replied sheepishly. “I can go with you.”

“You're not coming with me”

“Why not? I can help you. I have already gone with you on secret missions and I was of help.”

“You were of help as my slave”.

“I was of help as myself” said Damen. “I broke that window’s bars with my strength and played the part of master fine enough”.

“And fucked those Vaskian girls with your cock too. Don't forget” he drawled.

“Jealous, sweetheart?” smirked Damen. Laurent narrowed his eyes.

“I won't be a burden. I promise. It's less dangerous if someone accompanies you.” Laurent was going to said something but Damen interrupted him “...and I know you can defend yourself well enough, but still, two is always better than one.”

Laurent fixed him with a stare for a moment. “Fine. You can come. But you are doing what I told you”. He turned and started walking.

Damen smiled and followed after him.

After about ten minutes of walking Damen asked “So, where exactly is the meeting point?”

“In a village, about an hour on horse from here”

Damen furrowed his brown. “Isn't that too far to reach by foot, during the night, with not even water on us?”

Laurent looked at him from over his shoulder. “That is why I asked Jord to bring a horse here before” Just as he was speaking, Damen saw a horse appear tied to a tree trunk.

“Glad that you planned everything” He said turning to Laurent. But Laurent had gone quiet and grown still.

………..

“Is there something wrong?” Damen asked him.

When Laurent had told Damen that he could join him he had not thought about how he had asked Jord to bring him only one horse. They could either return to the camp to retrieve another one or they would have to share this one. He would have to be touching Damen for a whole hour, no, two hours. He didn't bring enough money to be able to buy another horse for the journey back and he doubted that the Akielon carried any money at all. But going back to the camp would cost them some time, time they didn't have, apart from the risk of getting caught by any of their soldiers. They would have to make do with what they had. Laurent felt his cheeks getting warm.

“You would ride the horse and I would go at your back”. He would rather have to hold to Damen's back than be surrounded by his arms, his heat enveloping him. At least that way he would be in control of where they touched.

Damen seemed to suddenly take awareness of the situation. He audibly gulped. After a moment he said “I can shift and follow you. With only one person to carry the horse will be faster. I can easily keep up with it.”

Laurent looked at him. “Yes. That would be best. We have already lost enough time. I’ll carry your clothes.”

Damen bent to untie his sandals. Laurent turned to give him privacy, or to give himself some respite, considering Akielons didn't care much for being naked in front of others.

A moment later he felt something soft against his hand. He looked down and saw the lion rubbing his face against his tight. When in animal form, people tended to be more open in their behaviours, unable to completely control their wants and unable to pretend. Laurent wanted so much to tangle his hand in Damen’s mane. He was sure if he rubbed behind his ears the lion would purr. Maybe he would go as far as showing him his belly. Damen was so trusting and, as a lion, he always tried to be as close as possible to him. He was sure that, had he not been so unreachable and cold towards him, he would be getting groomed right now, unable to get rid of him.

Laurent distanced himself from Damen before doing anything that he would later regret. He bent down to take the chiton, the sandals and the cape with the lion pin. He untied the horse, mounted and made him start walking. Damen followed him.

Chapter Text

Damen was now trotting next to the horse. About thirty minutes into the journey they had left behind the forest, where the density of the trees forced him to keep behind Laurent. As soon as they reached the road, he used the extra space to move beside him. He just wanted to get closer. He was pretty sure that he could carry his Omega on his back if he wanted to, he really didn't need to mount a horse, he could mount Damen. Maybe he would suggest it for the journey back.

When they reached the outskirts of the village. Laurent dismounted. Damen took the opportunity to rub against his waist and legs, trying to spread his smell all over him.

Laurent gently pushed him away. “You should change back. A lion is certain to stand out for anyone we may cross.”

Damen huffed, but started shifting. He put on the chiton and sandals. “Maybe I should not wear the lion pin either?” He tried to find a pocket in his chiton to store the pin, but couldn't find any. *Sorry Damen, sometime it is hard to be a stylist pretty dressedinasheet boy.

Laurent turned to look at him “I’ll carry it for you, but the cape will have to stay with the horse.” He took the pin from his hand and put it in one of his jacket’s pockets.

They entered the village trying to keep to the darker streets and walked to an inn not unlike the one Laurent had once used to meet with another messenger. This time though, none of them were dressed as a pet. Laurent was wearing worn travel clothes. In comparison, Damen looked too clean and out of place. He pointed it out.

“I think that, more than why you look so clean, people would wonder why you are dressed in a sheet. But there is nothing we can do about that right now.” Suddenly Laurent’s face lit up.

“Wait”. He undid the braid he was wearing and combed the hair with his hand, bringing it to the front of his head to cover his neck. He took Damen's hand and started rubbing his wrist against himself, letting the glands there cover him in the Alpha’s smell. Then, he rubbed his own wrist against the Alpha’s chest. Damen's heart swelled with warmth and his head filled with possessive thoughts of grabbing Laurent between his arms and burrowing his head in the Omega’s neck. Thankfully, Laurent took a step back before he let himself be carried away.

Laurent tied the horse to a post and went inside the inn. Damen, still trying to recover from the sudden warmth and longing he felt, was slower to follow.

At those hours only a couple of men were still sitting at the tables. Laurent went straight to the innkeeper, a Beta woman who appeared to be in her late forties.

“Goodnight Madam. Is there any room available at this inn? My husband and I have just been victims of a robbery. They took our vagon and left us with only one horse to continue our journey. They even stole my husband's clothes!”. Laurent exclaimed. “I was just fast enough to conceal some coins between my own robes”.

“Oh poor dear, what a horrible thing!” She shouted “You must have been so scared!”.

Damen reached Laurent’s side and the Omega leaned against him.

“I certainly was. I was terrified they would try to force themselves on me”. Laurent replied looking anxious, enveloping his arms over his midsection.

Damen put an arm around his shoulders. “Everything is fine now, sweetheart. We are both safe and the things they stole can be replaced”. He tried to minimize his Akielon accent, hoping the Beta thought he was originally from Delpha.

The woman nodded. “I’ll prepare a room for you and tomorrow morning I’ll send someone to look for clothes for your husband. We can not allow for him to go around half naked”.

Damen almost rolled his eyes, but was able to contain himself. Veretians were such hypocrites. They would deem someone wearing a respectable modest chiton, that perfectly covered the intimate parts of the body, to be half naked, but then, when their pets wore almost completely translucent cloths, they wouldn't bat an eye.

He smiled at the woman. “Thank you for your kindness”

“Is the least I could do. Have you had dinner? I could bring you some soup while you wait for the room”

“We haven't, the thieves appeared before we had the chance, but after what happened I'm not really hungry.” Laurent replied.

“Sweetheart, you should take something. It would do you no good going to bed on an empty stomach” Damen interjected, he didn't know why, since it was likely that Laurent had dined before leaving the camp, but he just felt the need to make sure his Omega was well fed.

“I will bring you some. Take a seat.” The woman left for what he supposed was the kitchen.

Laurent turned to him and arched an eyebrow. “Don't you think you are starting to play pretend a little too well?”

“I think I'm starting to like partaking in your games very much, my dear husband.” Damen smiled at him.

Laurent quickly moved towards a table, but not before Damen was able to see a blush appear on his cheeks. He took the seat next to him on the bench.

“So, I was robbed of my clothes umm” Damen started. “How lucky was I that the thieves left a sheet behind to cover myself.”

“Oh, but they didn't leave it behind. You had to walk naked all the way to a farmhouse, and when the poor woman living there saw you naked, she got scared and fled from there. So you had no other option than stealing a sheet that was hanging for drying.”

Damen chuckled. “I am also a thief then?”

“Only out of necessity, of course”

The innkeeper returned with the soup and bread.

“Thank you, Madam. I don't mean to overstep but, could we ask you one more favour?” It never stopped fascinating Damen how Laurent could switch so swiftly from himself to the character he was playing. Right now he looked like a sweet, innocent Omega, with his hands demurely folded over his belly, shy of asking for anything more than what had already been offered to them.

“Certainly my dear.”

“You see, we were traveling to visit my cousin Phillip, who lives in Bezonmont, and we had already sent word that we would be arriving today. Since we haven't reached the village, my cousin might be worried and go out to find us. This place is not far Bezonmontand and our planned route so he might come here inquiring over our whereabouts. If he happens to arrive here, would you do us the favor of sending him to our room?”

“Of course. What names would he be asking for?”

“How impolite of us not having introduced ourselves. I am Lamen from Delfeur and this is my husband Lazar from Varenne”. He took the opportunity to mention he was from Delpha, just in case.

“Good.” She smiled. “My name is Louise. Now I’ll let you enjoy the soup.”

“Thank you, Louise.” Both of them said.

Damen took the ladle and poured soup into their plates making sure to fill the one for Laurent generously.

“Are you trying to flatten me up?”

“I'm just making sure you are well feed”

“I don't need for you to worry about my eating”

“But I do want to take care of you”

He watched as Laurent ducked his head to sip some soup, golden hair covering his face.

“When do you think your messenger will arrive?”

Laurent looked up from his plate, his cheeks slightly red. “I am not sure, he had a long journey ahead. I wanted to arrive early in case he appeared soon.”

They finished the soup in silence, Damen took the chance to observe Laurent. The way he inclined his head softly when he took a spoonful of soup and blew air to cold it, his lips pouting slightly, then opening to put it into his mouth. A drop of soup remained on his bottom lip. Damen reached with his fingers to wipe it clean, before realising what had he done. Laurent’s eyes went wide. Just then, Madam Louise appeared to retrieve the plates and told them that their room was ready, but if they wanted to take a bath they would have to wait until the morning. They thanked her and moved upstairs.

…..

The stairs cracked with every step. In the silence surrounding them the sound was almost too loud. Hearing the Alpha say he wanted to take care of him had made his heart skip a beat and heat pool low in his belly. He had felt his cheeks flushing and decided to take a sip of the soup to try and hide it. It wasn't fair, Damen was able to make his head go blank and his inner Omega purr in delight with just a couple of words, all the stoicity he had cultivated over the years lost in seconds. As if that wasn't enough, he had then reached to touch his lips making Laurent feel the sudden urge to have his hands all over his body… and now all he could think about was the night they spent tangled together, Damen’s soft kisses and sweet words of encouragement.

They entered their assigned room. The fire must have been recently started because it was still cold inside. He looked at the bed, where two blankets had been laid. His initial plan had been to sleep until the messenger arrived so he could rest for at least some part of the night, but now there was also Damen to think about and he couldn't send him to the floor with just a blanket since he was no longer a slave but a king. He also doubted that either of them would be warm with only a blanket when the room was so cold. It was not like they hadn't shared a bed before, so wouldn't it be strange if he assumed Damen was going to sleep on the floor but Damen assumed he was sleeping on the bed with him? And maybe the Alpha would even think that Laurent was being too childish because they had fucked before, so there was no reason to not share. And worst of all, he wasn't sure he didn't want Damen in bed with him, because the thought alone filled him with nervousness but also with warmth and desire.

“You can take the bed and blankets, I won't need them if I shift.” Damen interrupted his thoughts.

Laurent wanted to protest, it wasn't fair that he was the one taking everything, but he knew better and just nodded. He moved to sit on the bed to remove his boots and avoid looking at Damen while he divested himself of his clothes. When he looked up again Damen was lying in front of the fireplace, light dancing against his reddish mane giving the impression his head was covered in flames. He was cleaning his paw using his tongue. Laurent smiled fondly, accommodating against the headboard, one knee bent and hands over his belly, to observe the lion. He could imagine small children tugging at his hair playfully only to be licked back by the giant cat, and Damen chasing after them when they tried to escape from his cleaning.

The Alpha continued grooming himself, this time licking his back. Suddenly, he raised one of his back legs over his head and started cleaning his butt. Laurent burst out laughing because of how ridiculous it looked to see the mighty Damianos, heir of Akielos and unbeatable warrior, acting like a kitten. His laughter appeared to startle Damen, because he raised his eyes to look at Laurent, lowered his leg and got up from the floor. Next thing he knew, the lion was next to him, with his front paws over the bed, reaching for Laurent's face with his tongue.

“Damianos! Get off of me!” Laurent eyes watered from laughing. “Don't you dare get your butt licking tongue anywhere near my face!”

Damen placed his big head on the Omega's chest and huffed. Laurent rested a hand in his mane and wiped the tears from his eyes with the other. He aimlessly carded his hand through Damen’s hair and heard him start to purr. It was easier to forget why he shouldn't be intimate with him when he wasn't in human form. He looked into his eyes, like this, they were so big that, even from a distance, he could identify all the shadows of brown in them. Laurent sighted.

“We should try to sleep.”

Damen closed his eyes and rubbed his nose against his belly. Laurents heart clenched.

“I mean it. Who knows when the messenger will appear and how many hours we have left to rest.”

The Alpha opened his eyes and, with a last puss against Laurent, went to lay by the fire. Laurent missed him already. He turned and buried his face in the pillow.

...

Damen couldn't be cold thanks to the fire and his somewhat thick skin. However, he noticed that Laurent had started shivering a couple of minutes after leaving his side. He debated what to do. The Omega had made it clear that he wanted to be left alone, but the cold must make him uncomfortable and unable to sleep. He finally decided to walk to the bed. He could spend some time heating Laurent until the room stopped being so cold, and then return to the fireplace. He carefully got up on the bed. Laurent turned to look at him.

“Umm..What are you-”

Damen snuggled up to him from above the blankets and, a couple seconds later, the Omega stopped shivering. Laurent didn't say anything else, he simply closed his eyes and relaxed. After some minutes, Damen could hear his deep breathing of sleep.

Chapter Text

He was woken up by an unpleasant sound. When he took a peek around the room trying to pierce the source of the noise, he found Laurent hovering over a basin while he heaved. His Omega looked quite distressed, with blond hair sticking to his sweat covered face. He quickly got up and shifted into his human form to place a hand on his forehead and hold his hair with the other. Laurent threw up one more time, the stench of it almost making Damen vomit, and then he spent a couple of minutes gagging without anything else coming out of his mouth, his stomach already empty. The Alpha moved his hand to draw circles on his back.

Finally, the gagging stopped. He got up to pour water from a nearby picher into a cup and offered it to Laurent, who took it and rinsed his mouth. Damen dabbed at his lips with a cloth and continued to draw circles on his back, all the while releasing comforting pheromones. His Omega leaned slightly into him, so Damen placed him in his lap, where Laurent was swift to rest his face against his neck. He continued rubbing his back and started cleaning the sweat from his face with the cloth. Damen didn't know how much time they spent like that, but at some point he decided to ask “How are you feeling, sweetheart?”

“Better” a soft murmur.

“Maybe the cold upset your stomach”

“Maybe” a sight.

Laurent shifted in his hold.

“You are naked” a whisper.

Damen looked down.

“I am”

None of them made any attempt to move. Laurent rested his head against Damen's chest and closed his eyes. The Alpha held him for some minutes until Laurent's stomach made a sound of protest.

“I will bring something for us to eat”. Damen hoisted Laurent up carefully and carried him to the bed, where he covered him with blankets.

“Wait here”. He petted his Omega's hair away from his face. He could almost swear that Laurent had leaned into the touch. It made his heart flutter.

“Are you going to keep watching me or are you going to bring breakfast?”

Damen smiled, donned his chiton and exited the room. He went downstairs and found Madam Louisa.

“Good morning, Madam. My husband is not feeling well and he won't be able to come down for breakfast. Could you give me something to carry upstairs, please?”

“Poor thing. Yesterday was truly a horrible day for him, was it not? It was going to catch up to him eventually.”

She moved towards the kitchen. “Let me grab something for you”

Damen returned upstairs with a tray full of bread, some honey, cheese and a jar containing camomile infused milk. When he opened the door he saw Laurent rubbing his belly while murmuring something that he couldn't comprehend, for it didn't appear to be any language he understood.

“What are you murmuring?” Damen went to sit on the bed, balancing the tray over his legs.

Laurent blushed.

“I was just speaking to myself.”

“But that was not Veretian, was it?”

“It was actually Kemptian” Laurent took a piece of bread and dipped it in the honey.

“Have you ever being to Kempt?”

“No. My mom used to speak to August and me in her mother tongue when we were alone, and I spent a lot of time with her, so I learned it quite well. When I was ill she would sit by my bed and sing to me in Kemptian.” A pause. “I miss having her near when I’m not feeling well.”

“I think it's nice that you have something like that to remember her by.”

Laurent smiled.

“She said that it was important to have a way of communicating that no one but us would understand, and that sometimes it was useful for her and me to speak in a language Alphas wouldn't comprehend.”

Damen chuckled. “So that is where your affinity for secrecy comes from.”

Laurent shrugged and stole the piece of cheese Damen was holding

“Do you… do you sometimes wonder what your mother was like?” His Omega asked.

“I don't do that too often now, but when I was a child I would go around asking anyone who met her how she was, not so much what she looked like, but what she liked to do, to eat, what songs she preferred.”

He cut some more cheese and offered it to Laurent.

“Close to Ios there is a place called the Summer Palace. It belonged to her. There, in the garden, some statues resembling her still remain. When I was a small child they looked so tall, they gave the impression of being taller than even my father. Now, I see that her head would not have reached past my chest.”

He offered some milk to his Omega.

“I don't know if I would have preferred meeting her and then losing her like you did, or if never meeting her has been better, for I never felt the pain of having her taken away.”

“Losing my mother was indeed painful, but it could never surpass the happiness it brought growing up under her care” Laurent replied with longing eyes.

They finished the remaining of their breakfast in silence.

“Do you think we could ask for a bath?” Laurent inquired. “I feel dirty after throwing up”.

“Of course. Let me-” A nock on the door interrupted him.

Laurent and him locked eyes for an instant, then Damen got up and went to open the door. On the other side there was a man, slightly tanned skin and brown eyes, nearing forty. He dressed in a mix of Veretian and Akielon traveling clothes, with an upper part that resembled a chiton reaching almost to his knees, but wearing trousers under it. Damen let him in.

Laurent was already standing in the middle of the room.

“Name”

“Phillip”

“Fine. What news is there?”

“Not much. Both the gross of the Akielon and Veretian armies in Vere are settled in the capital. The Veretian numbers are small, your own army would most likely overpower them in battle. Ios is in a state of constant instability. Even though the presence of Akielon military forces has increased, people are restless and afraid of invasion. Small crimes such as robbery has also increased and authorities are overwhelmed.”

“What are the chances of infiltrating into the palace with a significant force?”

“Few. Maybe the chaos would allow for a small force to penetrate unnoticed, but not a large one.”

“If that is all, maintain the assigned positions and do not try to infiltrate the palace to collect information.”

“As you order” The messenger inclined his head in respect and left.

“Better late than never, I suppose.” Damen said and Laurent smirked.

“We should return to the camp.”

“Didn't you want to take a bath?”

“I can take it there. I have the feeling you didn't tell anyone you were going to be missing for half a day, or am I wrong? Poor Nikandros is probably sick with worry. To think that he recovered you just to lose you again ”

He looked sheepishly at Laurent. “We should start moving.”

Laurent rolled his eyes but smiled nonetheless.

They went downstairs to pay and bid farewell to Madam Louise, thanking her for sending his cousin upstairs and telling her they were leaving soon so they were able to reach the village before noon. She insisted on looking for clothes for Damen, but upon discovering nothing she found fit his large body, she gave up.

Once outside, Damen shifted into his animal form and proceeded to rub against his Omega, who pushed him away.

“You are going to cover my clothes in hair.”

Damen couldn't resist the whine that escaped his throat. Laurent just rolled his eyes and mounted the horse.

“Come here”

He obliged. Laurent reached to scratch behind his ears and he purred happily.

“There, there. Are you happy now?”

So he licked his fingers to demonstrate that he was indeed very happy. They set a light pace towards the camps.

Twenty minutes after leaving the inn, they reached the tree line. Damen let the horse take the lead so he was able to observe his Omega.

Suddenly, he felt a sting in his loin. He turned around to see what had bit him and felt himself falter, falling to the floor.

“Damen?”

He looked at Laurent, who had turned in his direction with a worried expression on his face. He tried to get up but his back legs weren't responding.

All of a sudden, he heard hurried steps coming their way from all around and five men appeared in front of him. They were dressed in rags and carried knives that were currently swinging at him. One of the men got close enough that Damen was able to bite his arm and pull him towards himself. He swiped at his throat with a paw and the man fell to the floor, blood dripping profusely from between the fingers holding his neck.

Damen had difficulty maintaining his eyes open. He could hear the horse neighing loudly, but he wasn't able to spare even a look to see if his Omega was alright, since the remaining men continued shouting and swinging their blades. One of them caught him on the hip and he retaliated by clawing at the man’s leg.

He felt his movements getting slower. Finally, his vision went black and he lost consciousness.

…

Laurent heard a tud behind him and he turned to see the lion had fallen to the floor. He called his name and the Alpha looked at him but he didn't seem able to get up. A moment later armed men emerged from the forest and his horse, scared, reared. The men started attacking Damen but he wasn't able to help because the horse wouldn't calm down.

He watched as the lion killed a man, but then another was able to reach Damen with his knife. Laurent felt fury taking over him. How dare they threaten his Alpha. He leaped from the horse, who ran away, and shifted.

Laurent jumped over the back of one of the men and closed his jaws on his neck. Then leaped towards the one on the left, too surprised to react on time, and tore at his stomach with his claws. The other two faced him, one of them reclined against a tree, the bound caused by Damen on his leg making him unable to stand upright. Laurent charged against his other leg, making him fall to the ground, where he sank his fangs into his throat.

When he turned around the last man was running away. Laurent chased after him and swung a paw at his Achilles tendon, slicing it. The man fell and Laurent made quick work of him.

He returned to Damen's side. The lion was lying with his eyes closed and head resting over one paw. He didn't appear to have any visible bounds, but Laurent felt anxious nonetheless. He shifted back and verified Damen was still breathing. Laurent pushed on the Alpha's side to lay him on his other side so he was able to check for any possible injury in his chest or abdomen. There were none. He let out a sigh of relief. Then he saw the dart stuck to his loin. Laurent carefully removed it and tossed it aside. He rested his head against Damen's mane taking in his scent and trying to calm down.

Laurent had been so scared of losing him. Seeing him on the ground unable to defend himself had filled him with fury, dread and a protectiveness he had never experienced. He softly put his arms around the lion's head and held him in his lap, his face buried in the lion’s mane.

Time passed and Laurent began to feel cold. He gently deposited Damen's head on the ground and went to see if any of his clothes could still be useful. They were not. From his shirt to his boots, everything was torn during his shift. Among the torn trousers he found Damen's lion pion. At least that had stayed with him, because all of the Alpha's clothes had disappeared with the horse.

He didn't know what to do. Returning to the camp naked and leaving Damen behind unprotected was not an option, but he didn't want to shift and for the Alpha to discover his animal form. He had been hiding it from everyone until then. It was his best kept secret, letting people think his form was a small and docile creature, not unlike most of the aristocracy. Just as he hid his swordsmanship skills he concealed his claws. Now, there seemed to be no other option than showing it to Damen. However, maybe revealing it to the Alpha was not such a big risk. Damen had shown him loyalty and respect once and again, he had never questioned Laurent's motives to conceal his talent. Furthermore, when Laurent had shifted moments before, he hadn't stopped to consider that he would be exposing himself to the Alpha. That had to mean that he didn't really feel threatened, right? That maybe he didn't mind for him to know.

“I really hope not to end up regretting putting so much trust in him.” He murmured out loud in Kemptian.

Laurent took a deep breath, shifted and went to lay next to the sleeping lion.

Chapter Text

Laurent was resting against the Alpha's belly. He felt warm and pliant, stretching his paws over Damen's body. The Alpha smelled so good he couldn't stop rubbing his face against him. He moved upwards and licked his snout clean from the men’s blood, then moved down and proceeded to do the same with the blood in the lion's paw.

Laurent felt so relaxed and content, he couldn't stop the purr forming in his throat. He started to doze off.

He was woken up, what could have been minutes or hours later by the sound of approaching steps. He quickly shifted back into his human form, took the torn clothes and hid behind a tree.

Two men, and Alpha and a Beta, came into view, both wearing Akielon military uniforms. When they saw the lion on the floor they stopped at once.

“It’s him?” The one who appeared younger asked his Beta companion in Akielon.

“I think so.”

“Is he injured or only sleeping?”

“I don't think Damianos Exalted would just decide to fall asleep in the middle of the forest surrounded by dead men.” He moved forward and kneeled in front of the lion.

Laurent watched him closely, unsure on how to proceed. If he made himself known, the soldiers might think it was suspicious for their King to be drugged in the middle of the forest with only the companion of a prince who, until recently, was an enemy.

“Exalted. Damianos Exalted.” The soldier placed his hand on the lion's head and shook it slightly, but Damen didn't wake up.

“Maybe he really is injured?” The other man said with fear in his voice.

“He breathes normally, so it can't be too grave. Help me check him up.”

Laurent decided that regardless of the soldiers’ suspicion, he could not tolerate the cold for all the time it would take for the lion to wake up. He certainly was not making his decision based on not wanting for the men to have their hands all over Damen.

“He was shot with a sleeping dart. He is fine.”

Both soldiers instantly got up and drew their swords.

‘Who is there?” The younger one shouted.

Laurent leaned out from behind the tree, just enough for them to see his face, keeping his naked body covered by the tree.

“The prince of Vere” he said.

The Akielons looked at each other not knowing what to do. Finally, the Beta took a step forward.

“What happened to our king?”

“Those men tried to rob us by sedating him. But he killed them all before the dart could make its effect.”

By their faces Laurent could guess they wanted to ask why their king and the Veretian prince were alone together in the middle of the forest, but they did not dare ask such a question about the private matters of royalty.

“Why are you two here, so far away from your camp?

“Kiros Nikandros has ordered a searching party for the king.”

Of course Nikandros would be worried because Damen disappeared without telling no one he would be missing. He was sure that his king’s disappearance coinciding with the absence of a certain prince was making him even more anxious.

“I'm sure King Damianos won't wake up for a while. My clothes were torn during the quarrel. Why don't you go back to the camp, report to Kiros Nikandros you found the King and bring me some Veretian clothes. Your king may also need clothes for when he wakes up, his were being carried in a horse that ran away when the fight started.” He emphasized the clothes being Veretian because he definitely didn't want to end up wrapped in a chiton.

Both men seemed to hesitate, going against the orders of a prince, even if not their own, was not something they were used to.

“I can go to the camp by myself. It will be better if Neinos stays here to protect you, should more men arrive.”

Of course they did not want to leave their sedated king alone with him.

“Go on then.”

The Beta left. Laurent went back to hiding behind the tree. Not having anything better to cover himself with, he decided to try and put on his torn clothes. His shirt was still somehow not that bad, the damage was mostly in the lost buttons that didn't allow for the piece to close at the front, and the sleeves, with completely broken seams. He could still wear it like a west and use the broken sleeves as a belt around his waist. He used the rags that were now his pants as a barrier between the cold ground and his backside, he could not allow himself to get cold.

Laurent remained seated for at least half an hour. He looked up towards where the sun was filtering through the tree leaves. By the intensity he could guess it was already well past noon. He peeked from behind the tree. The soldier, Neinos, was sitting against a tree observing the forest around him.

“He has already spent several hours sleeping. Maybe you should try to wake him up again. We will be able to return faster to the camp if he can walk on his own.”

Neinos got up and approached Damen.

“Exalted Damianos.”

“Shake him.”

“Exalted Damianos.” He repeated, this time shaking the sleeping lion slightly.

“Shake him stronger or we will be waiting until tomorrow for him to wake up.”

Neinos shook him with more force and finally the lion seemed to react. The big feline let out a soft Fuff and stretched languorously, opening his eyes. He seemed to suddenly realise where he was and what had happened because he tensed completely in mere seconds.

“You can relax. You killed them all.”

Damen turned his head sharply towards him and a moment later Laurent was being pressed against the tree trunk by the massive form of the lion. Small happy purrs were coming out of Damen's throat.

“I'm fine, I'm fine.” he murmured.

Laurent cradled his giant head in his hands, softly scratching under his chin.

Damen shifted back. Laurent looked away, having the naked figure of the Alpha right in front of him made his mouth go dry.

“I have bad news for you. My horse went wild and disappeared with all your clothes. But I had your pin with me, so at least that was not lost.” He offered it to Damen.

“What happened to your clothes?”

“They were torn while I tried to fight them. They were carrying knives. It was actually pure luck that they didn't draw blood.”

Damen look at Neinos.

“What is your name soldier?” He switched to Akielon.

“Neinos, Exalted.”

“Neinos, I need your clothes. We can not let an Omega go without clothes.”

“Damianos, there is no need. I have already asked another of your soldiers to bring us clothes.” Laurent whispered urgently.

“You should not need to be uncomfortable until then.”

Neinos has already approached the tree with his clothes on hand and was offering them to Damen. Now there are two naked Akielons. Isn't this great.

“Thank you, Neinos.”

The soldier went back to the other side of the tree to give them privacy.

“I can't wear this.”

“I know you don't like Akielon clothing but it sure covers you better than what you are wearing right now.”

“No, I mean,” Laurent looked at him intently. “I can't wear this because it smells.”

Damen took the clothes to his nose and sniffed.

“These are quite clean.” He brought them in front of Laurent’s nose, but he batted them away. The smell almost making him gag.

“They reek of Alpha, Damianos. It's disgusting.”

“Oh.”

“I'm fine with what I'm wearing until the men arrive.”

“Of course.”

Damen went to give the clothes back to Neinos. The Alpha was still very much naked, muscles moving beautifully under copper skin. Laurent couldn't resist taking a peek at the strong thighs that led to a firm and taut ass. He no longer felt even remotely cold.

When Damen returned to his side he looked away, trying to hide his blushing face.

“I don't remember what happened after killing the first man. Can you tell me?”

“Do you remember that you also injured another one on the leg? He fell and his life ended with fangs to his throat. When I was able to dismount the horse, I pussed a third one to the floor and his stomach was ripped by claws. The remaining two tried to escape but they ended like the first one after I also sent them to the floor.”

“It seems we make a good team.” Damen was looking at him with the brightest smile he had seen on his face for a while and it made Laurent's heart leap in his chest with a mix of happiness and remorse at concealing the truth from him. The confidence he had felt about revealing his form to the Alpha had vanished the moment the soldiers arrived. It was as if the bubble of intimacy they were enveloped in had popped to bring them back to the hard reality, a war against two usurpers and dangers that could see them dead if they weren't careful enough. Revealing his form, even if it was only to Damen, could lead to his secret being known by more people, and that was something he didn't want to happen, at least not yet.

The sound of hooves hitting the ground sent him back to reality. Damen got up and went to meet with Nikandros, who was at the head of a group of five men, including the Beta from before.

“Exalted.” Nikandros dismounted and kneeled briefly in front of his king.

“Nikandros, good friend.” Damen embraced him. “Did you bring clothes for us?”

“Yes.” He gestured to one of the soldiers, who brought forward a bag. “I would like to speak privately with you once we are back at camp.”

Damen nodded and took the bag, from where he extracted a chiton and a cape. He donned the chiton and fastened the cape with the lion pin. Then, he brought the bag behind the tree where Laurent was and left to give him some privacy.

When Laurent extracted the last remaining cloth from the bag he almost cursed out loud. A fucking chiton. They really brought him a fucking chiton after he specifically asked for Veretian clothes.

“Damianos.”

Damen appeared at his side not a moment later. Laurent frowned at him.

“Your men brought me this.”

Damen's eyes went wide.

“I'm not going back to camp dressed in a chiton.”

The Alpha was quick to unfasten his pin.

“Allow me.” Damen asked Laurent while he fastened one corner of the cape to the pin from Laurent's back and the other from his front, in a way that he was practically enveloped on it and only able to move his right arm. The cape was long enough to cover his legs.

“I guess it will do.”

Laurent left Damen's side almost running towards the group of Akielon men. When the Alpha had draped the cape around him he had had to contain his breath so as to not jump him right there. Damen's scent was heavenly and the cape smelled so much like him that Laurent could begin to feel some wetness between his legs. He needed to reach his tent and have a cold bath.

…

While Damen talked to the Veretian prince Nikandros and the soldiers had begun to dig a hole to bury the corpses. Nikandros didn't feel the robbers deserved to be buried, he would rather let them be ravaged by the forest animals, for they had dared to try to kill Damen. However, they were not that far from the camp and it could ultimately lead to predators approaching their tents.

He carried one of the corpses by the shoulder towards the hole. As he was going to throw it inside he noticed the jaw marks in the neck were small, smaller than what he had thought Damen's jaw could do. He approached another corpse and observed bigger marks. It looked like two different creatures had bitten the men, but Nikandros was not completely sure, it could be caused by biting from a different angle. He decided to keep his thoughts to himself for the moment. The daily practice schedule had been disrupted in favor of looking for Damen; the sooner they were able to return to normality, the less likely problems were to arise between the soldiers.

Chapter Text

Damen followed the movement of the falcon with his eyes. Nikandros was an excellent flyer in open spaces, but the closeness of the trees made him quite clumsy inside a forest. He had offered to shift back when he realised they would have to share horses, delaying the return. His friend had obviously insisted on Damen mounting so, at the end, Nikandros and another one of the soldiers had shifted to allow Laurent and himself to take their horses.

His Omega in question was riding ahead of him, his blond head more times than not, turned in Nikandros’ direction. The animosity between them worried Damen, and Laurent's constant watch over Nikandros spoke volumes of the distrust he felt for the Alpha. He wanted them both in his life, and maybe that want alone was preposterous since most times Laurent wouldn't even bother to be remotely polite with Damen, but he couldn't imagine his future any other way. Besides, both men should try to at least keep an image of neutrality towards the other in front of the soldiers, and they wouldn't be able to achieve that unless they changed their feelings towards the other.

Damen had already spoken with Nikandros, but his friend wouldn't budge in his stance regarding the Veretian Prince, even more so after learning of the marks in his back. Damen decided that he should talk with Laurent, to try to show him that despite his seriousness and sometimes hard words, he didn't need to be mistrustful of Nikandros, his friend was just trying to protect him. Maybe that way he would try to make an effort to be more diplomatic towards him and, in turn, Nikandros would relax around him.

They arrived at the Akielon camp and he sent Pallas, who was there to receive them, to the Veretian camp with orders to ask Jord to bring the prince clothes. He knew his Omega would hate entering his own camp wearing Akielon clothes, no matter how good he looked, and he did look good. When Damen had seen him in a chiton he had almost had a heart attack, followed by all his blood traveling to his lower belly. He had had to contain himself very hard not to rub his cheek against Laurent’s, and he wasn't even in his lion form. But all that paled in comparison with the feeling that overtook him at seeing his Omega wrapped in his cape, with his pin on the shoulder, marking him as part of his household. It had seemed Damen hadn't been able to hide his feelings of possessiveness and lust, since Nikandros rolled his eyes upon seeing his face.

He guided his horse to approach Laurent's side.

“Jord will be coming shortly. Let me offer you something hot to eat and drink.”

“Fine.”

Nikandros was looking at him with a raised eyebrow. Damen gestured that they will speak later. He guided Laurent towards his tent. The soldiers around looking at them, at Laurent wearing his cape and pin. Damen couldn't help but puff his chest.

They dismounted and he held his tent opening for Laurent to get inside. Damen asked one of the soldiers to bring them food, juice and some of the warm spiced vine the Akielons had started to prepare after tasting it at the Veretian villages they encountered on their journey.

When he entered he found Laurent sat over a chair at his desk, feet planted on the seat. He took a blanket from the bed and put it over his Omega's shoulders. Laurent seemed initially surprised but quickly borrowed himself deeper in the blanket. Omegas tended to like being warm. He seemed so soft that way, with his head peeking from between the folded cloth.

“Exalted, may we come in?” was heard from outside.

Laurent sat straight with his feet on the floor.

“Come in.” Damen shouted.

Two soldiers entered carrying a pair of bowls containing stew and two jugs. They placed everything on the table and left. Damen sat in front of his Omega, who relaxed again.

“I asked for warm wine to be brought, but also for juice in case you didn't want the wine.”

“I see you Akielons are taking to Veretian drinks well enough.” Laurent smirked. “ I'll take the juice.”

Damen poured some for him and filled his own cup with wine.

“I wanted to talk with you about something.”

Laurent peeked at him, mouth full of stew. He swallowed.

“About what?”

Damen took a deep breath.

“About you and Nikandros.”

“Nikandros? What do I have to do with Nikandros?”

“He is my second in command and I will trust him with my life and my country, and I understand that you two don't get along with each other but, for the sake of this alliance, I think you both need to start being more cordial towards each other… or at least to pretend to be.”

Laurent raised his eyebrows.

“I think I am acting cordial enough in front of the soldiers. Whatever argument that happens between us when there is just us three is not going to be known by anyone else.”

“Maybe you should try not to constantly watch over him?”

“I don't do that.”

“On the way to camp you didn't look away from him for even a moment. Maybe Nikandros doesn't like you yet, but he would never try to harm you, I promise. You don't have to be constantly on alert regarding his actions.”

Hi Omega stared at him for some moment without saying anything. Then, he looked down at his hand over the table.

“I wasn't watching Nikandros because I distrust him.” He took a breath. “He just reminded me of August.”

Damen stared at him not knowing what to say.

“My brother's form was a peregrine falcon, so not exactly the same, but from a distance I was almost able to fool myself.” He was breaking the bread into tiny pieces. “ There are not many whose form is a bird of prey, and even less a falcon, at least in court.”

Damen let his words sink.

“I didn't know. I'm sorry for assuming.”

“You do that a lot. Assuming.” He took another spoonful of stew. “Sometimes you are even right.” Laurent smirked.

He let out a laugh, not being able to contain himself. They continued eating in a comfortable silence. Some time later Jord arrived with the Prince's clothes.

“Thank you Jord. You can leave them here and return to our camp, I will be back after finishing this.”

“As you wish, Your Highness.” He bowed. “Exalted.”

Laurent reclined in his seat, softly drawing circles over his stomach.

“Have you eaten too much?”

“Maybe.” He smiled at Damen. “Care to pour me more juice?”

Damen was utterly at this man’s mercy. He had just asked juice as if Damen was still his servant and not a King, but had he asked for Damen to kneel and kiss his boots, the answer would have been the same.

“Of course.”

Laurent took the goblet to his lips after Damen poured him the juice. His lips slightly tinted pink from the dark color of the liquid. What wouldn't he give to kiss him right then. He remembered how soft his mouth was, wet and warm, Laurent timidly trying to explore his mouth with his tongue.

“I should go back to my camp.”

….

Damen was usually respectful regarding making his smell known. He would mark his presence and his overall mood, but he had never imposed or made Laurent feel uncomfortable with too many pheromones. Now, the Alpha’s pheromones were enveloping him like a blanket, and he could smell his arousal. Laurent felt as if his head was filled with cotton, his senses awakened by Damen’s smell. He rubbed his legs together trying to sooth the heat between them. The control he had over his own smell was fading.

“I should go back to my camp.”

He got up to leave and realised he still needed to change into his clothes.

“I need to change.”

Damen also got up.

“I’ll wait outside.”

“Thank you.”

And just like that the Alpha was out and, even if his smell still lingered some, Laurent could at least breathe without feeling like his knees would collapse under him.

He undressed, placing the pin on the table and the cape over a chair for Damen to find. He proceeded to put on his own clothes, just to discover that the jacket Jord had brought him was to be tied in the back. Why the fuck could no one bring him the correct clothes today. Now he would have to ask Damen for help and he didn't want to do that because the Alpha was no longer his servant and maybe also because he was afraid of how his own body could respond to his proximity.

He tried to close the cords at his back but it was no use. Finally, he decided to call Damen.

He stuck his head through the tent entrance. Damen was a couple feet away looking in the distance.

“Damianos, can you come in?”

The Alpha turned to look at him and moved to enter the tent.

“Could you help me tie the jacket?” He turned around to show the Alpha.

He felt Damen approach him, hands in the small of his back tightening the jacket. The Alpha’s knuckles rubbed against his column every time he passed the cord through the eyelets. Laurent basked in that touch, feeling the hands moving upwards until he reached his upper back. Damen moved his hair aside so he could continue lacing it and Laurent inclined his head to the left to aid him. He felt a brush of air against his exposed neck that made him shiver.

Damen's hands had stopped moving, the jacket not closed yet. There was an expectant atmosphere in the tent. He could smell it in the heavy molasse scent of Damen, in his own arousal permeating the air.

Suddenly, there was a touch to his nape, fingers massaging his neck. He couldn't contain a bigger shiver. Damen moved his hand forward, softly stroking his glands. He pressed his back against the Alpha's front while a moan escaped his mouth. Damen enveloped him in his arms and leaned his head against Laurent's.

He felt comfortable and warm in the Alpha's hug, but he craved more. Laurent turned his head and buried his face in Damen's neck. The full force of his smell flooded his nose and mouth. He liked a wet strip on the Alpha's throat and felt his roar in the tip of his tongue. Something soft moved his face away from the source of smell. He found himself looking into Damen's eyes, his thumb drawing circles in Laurent's cheek. The Alpha got closer to his mouth, Laurent's lips parted for him, but Damen paused mere centimetres away. Both breathing the same hair, he looked from Damen's lips to his eyes. He was sure a plea could be seen on his own.

The Alpha leaned down to lick Laurent's lips, slowly, as if they were covered in honey and he was tasting it. Laurent could not stand it any longer so he grabbed on to Damen's hair to bring him down into his lips. The surprised sound the Alpha made in response was suffocated by the mouth awaiting him.

Laurent was drowning in Damen's taste, in the earthy smell of his pheromones. He felt the Alpha's hand in his waist move down to his hips and squeeze. He let out a whine.

Damen's mouth left him to kiss along his cheek, traveling up towards his ear, where he took his lobe between his teeth. A moan escaped Laurent's throat. The Alpha moved his lips down to his neck, licking his glands teasingly and sucking slightly at them. Laurent felt his knees give up under him and Damen had to support him so he didn't fall. He lifted him in his arms and carried him to his paddle on the floor, where he laid next to him.

Laurent felt overwhelmed by the smell of Damen enveloping him, on the paddle, the blankets and the Alpha next to him. He basket in his attention, arching into him while Damen nipped at his throat. He felt a hand reaching under his jacket where it ended in his lower back, and cursed for having had it laced before. He turned, with his face against the paddle, to offer Damen access to undo the jacket. The Alpha didn't waste time, it seemed he had learned his way with Veretian clothes if one was to judge from the speed with which he undid the laces.

Once the back was loose, Laurent got rid of the rest of the jacket, throwing it to the ground on the other side of Damen. The Alpha placed his left hand over his waist, moving it upwards until his thumb was massaging Laurent's nipple through his shirt. The contact made him shudder, warm travelling down to his lower belly. Then Damen's wet mouth was claiming his other nipple and all Laurent could was hold onto his shoulders and pant. Soft, teasing flicks and long draws of the tongue. His mouth was soon replaced by his left hand, mouth traveling up to murmur in his ear.

“You are so sensitive, sweetheart. I love how nicely you respond everytime I so much as brush your skin.”

As if to reinforce his statement, The Alpha pinched his nipple with a little more force than what he had been using.

“Dameeeen.” Laurent whined back.

Damen kissed his cheek chastely and moved his hand to strip Laurent of his shirt. He was so warm that the cold air of the tent over his skin was almost a relief, but then the Alpha returned his attention to his chest and the warmth completely engulfed him again. Now, without the layer of his shirt the sensation was heightened. Damen mouthed around his nipples, sucking and licking as he descended towards his navel, where he introduced his tongue, making Laurent arch into him. He had to bite into his hand to contain a moan.

The Alpha kept on nibbling around his navel, leaving wet trails over his stomach. He started to draw a trail of kisses downwards and Laurent had to hold him by his dark curls for a moment, unable to control himself. Damen looked up into his eyes, a question in his gaze, but Laurent was unable to say anything. The Alpha let his lips rest just below his navel and, the image he presented was so lovely, Laurent felt his eyes get wet and a sob leave his throat. He brought a hand to his mouth to try to stop it from escaping but it was in vain, Damen had already noticed and was moving upwards, his face filled with worry.

“Hey sweetheart, what is wrong?” He cupped Laurent's face with a hand.

“Did I hurt you? Was I too rough? Did you want to stop? I’m so sorry. I shouldn't have assumed you wanted anything.”

Laurent was shaking his head, unable to mutter a word. The image Damen had presented, with his lips over Laurent's abdomen, kissing it, had made Laurent imagine what it would be like to be fat with Damen's child and have him covering his belly in kisses and sweet words for their child. The longing he felt was enough to make him sob. He brought his face against Damen's neck and tried to calm himself with the Alpha's pheromones.

“I'm fine. You didn't do anything I didn't want you to do.” He was finally able to mutter.

“Are you sure?” Worry was still evident in his voice.

“Yes, I am. I have just been feeling on edge lately, it was not your fault.” Well he is partly to blame though Laurent. He wouldn't have cried had Damen not started to kiss him like that.

They stayed like that for several minutes, Damen softly stroking his arm.

“I did want you to touch me.” Murmured Laurent.

Damen shifted to kiss his forehead.

“Maybe another time. We slept very few hours tonight, we should rest.”

Laurent looked up.

“I slept very few hours, you took a nap at midday.”

“I'm pretty sure the result of being shot with a sleeping dart can not be considered napping.”

“You wish.” Laurent relaxed against the Alpha.

Damen's fingers carded his hair and the arousal Laurent had felt started to feel more like tiredness. He tried to keep his eyes open.

“I should leave for my camp.”

“You can sleep here so I don't sleep alone.”

“Hmmm.” Laurent tried to reply but the words wouldn't leave his mouth.

“Sleep well, sweetheart.” He heard Damen murmure before falling sleep.