The den felt warmer than usual.
Not comfortingly warm.
Not safe warm.
Something closer to pressure.
Like the air itself had thickened.
Aiden noticed it first in Theron.
The subtle shift.
The way his presence changed—not louder, not stronger, but contained. Like something vast pressing itself into a smaller shape.
Controlled.
Too controlled.
Theron stood near the entrance longer than usual.
Not watching the forest this time.
Watching himself.
Aiden frowned slightly.
"…you're tense."
Theron didn't answer immediately.
That alone was answer enough.
Inside the den, the pups were asleep again—finally calm after the earlier disturbances outside. Their breathing was steady. Small bodies curled together like they refused to let the world separate them.
Aiden stayed close.
Always close.
Theron stepped inside fully.
Slow.
Measured.
And stopped just inside the threshold like he was deciding how much space he was allowed to take up.
"…Aiden," he said quietly.
That tone made Aiden look up properly.
Something was wrong.
Not danger.
Not attack.
Something internal.
Theron exhaled once.
"…my rut is starting."
Silence.
Aiden blinked.
Just once.
Then again.
"…now?" he asked.
Theron's jaw tightened slightly.
"…yes."
A pause.
He didn't move closer.
Didn't let instinct take over.
Aiden studied him carefully.
The tension in his body.
The restraint in his scent.
The way his hands curled and relaxed again like he was physically holding himself back.
"…you're holding it back," Aiden said slowly.
Theron didn't deny it.
"I won't let it affect you," he said.
That made Aiden's expression shift.
"…affect me?"
Theron looked away for a brief second.
Then back.
"…you're still recovering."
A pause.
"…from the loss."
The word landed heavier than either of them liked.
Aiden's gaze dropped slightly.
Just for a moment.
Then lifted again.
"…so you're just going to stand there and suffer through it alone?"
Theron's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…it's not suffering."
A lie.
A careful one.
Aiden stepped closer.
That alone made Theron's control tighten visibly.
"You're shaking," Aiden said quietly.
"I'm fine."
Aiden exhaled sharply.
Not angry yet.
But close.
"…you don't get to decide that alone."
Theron's gaze snapped back to him.
Immediate.
Protective.
"No."
The word came out harder than intended.
Silence dropped again.
The pups shifted slightly in their sleep.
Unaware.
Theron lowered his voice.
"…I can control it."
Aiden's eyes narrowed.
"…why?"
That question hung there.
Too simple.
Too sharp.
Theron hesitated.
Just a fraction.
Then—
"…because I don't know what it will do to you."
Aiden froze slightly.
Theron continued, quieter now.
"…after everything."
A pause.
"…the miscarriage. The stress. The instability around us."
His gaze softened just slightly.
"…I won't risk pushing you into something your body can't handle right now."
Aiden stared at him.
For a long moment.
Then—
"…you think I'm fragile."
Theron stepped forward instantly.
"No."
Firm.
Immediate.
But Aiden didn't back down.
"…you're acting like I am."
Silence again.
Heavier this time.
Theron exhaled slowly.
"…I'm acting like I don't want to lose you again."
That stopped everything.
Aiden's expression shifted.
Just slightly.
Something softer breaking through the frustration.
"…you won't," he said quietly.
Theron's gaze held his.
"…I almost did."
Aiden didn't respond.
A pause.
Then—
Theron stepped closer again.
Slower this time.
Controlled.
Careful.
Not letting instinct override him.
"I can wait," he said.
"…if that's what you need."
Aiden looked at him for a long moment.
Then—
"…you don't have to shut me out."
Theron didn't answer.
Because he was trying not to.
The tension between them didn't disappear.
But it shifted.
Became something quieter.
More fragile.
Aiden stepped closer again.
Close enough now that Theron's control visibly tightened.
"…you're really holding it back," Aiden murmured.
Theron's voice dropped.
"…for you."
That made something in Aiden soften fully.
He reached up slowly.
Touching Theron's chest.
Right where everything was being contained.
"…you're allowed to need me too," Aiden said.
Theron closed his eyes briefly.
Just for a second.
Like that sentence hit somewhere deeper than expected.
When he opened them again—
He was still holding back.
But less rigid.
Less alone in it.
"…don't push me too far," Theron said quietly.
Aiden's expression softened slightly.
"…then don't stand so far away."
Silence.
The pups slept on.
Outside, the forest was quiet again.
But not peaceful.
"you know...i want you to feel good too"
Theron shifted slightly in the chair he was sitting in "what?"
"i want you to feel good, like you make me do when i'm in heat.."
Aiden stood walking closer to Theron before kneeling, hand resting on Theron thigh.
"can i?" Aiden asked softly,letting his pheromones flow in the air.
"Aiden, the pups--" Aiden interrupted, "Ronan is with them, and they sleeping"
he open Theron's pants with ease, hands locking around Theron's shaft.
Aiden smirk wicked, "mouth or hand, alpha?"
Theron amber eyes burn with desire, "fuck..Aiden, you impossible..mouth"
Aiden lick the soft skin of the shaft, the salty taste familiar yet new.
open his mouth wider he took in the tip, tongue working on the underside of the shaft, while he bump his head back and forth, setting an good pace.
"fuck! haa, Aiden, why you so fucking good, i-i'm going to cum"
Aiden pull back, gasping for air, smirking up at Theron, "like it, that much?"
Theron smirk back, "of course, how couldn't i?...come here, why don't we see how good you are at riding?"
Aiden, move quick, pulling his pants and boxers off into the floor, before sitting in Theron lap.
the scent of Theron's alpha pheromones making Aiden head spin, "mhmm, you scent is so strong, please Theron, fill me"
Aiden move his hips, Theron precum dripping shaft sliding between Aiden cheeks.
Theron lean in, "you put it in, youself"
Aiden growl at the idea, but move his hand to keep the shaft steady as he push it inside.
the stimulation was high, Aiden pause halfway, "its so deep...i-i don't think i can fit it all"
Theron rumble softly, hands moving to Aiden waist, "you can, my warrior...take you time"
after a few seconds Aiden continue, once fully settle again, he lean his head against Theron shoulder
"so deep"
"i know, you did good"
before Aiden could say anything, Theron move his hip, hitting the sweet spot inside Aiden, making Aiden head title back in pleasure.
over and over again.
Aiden hands dig into Theron back.
"w-wait Ther--ngh.. Theron, slo-slow down" Aiden voice tremble.
"i-i'm go-hgnh-going to c-cum"
Theron didn't listen licking Aiden ears in a slow, intimate movement before sucking on his neck and biting.
buried himself deep inside Aiden.
Adien scream, the edge of his version going white, body shaking.
after the waves of pleasure Disappear, he rest his head on Theron.
eyes widen.
"w-wait, why you getting bigger? Theron!"
Theron look at him, smirking "knocking"
as if that explain everything...
"and after that, let's go for another round, hmm? my warrior?"