Chapter 53: The Nature of the Void

Lir arrived just after dark, stepping into the pack house with the quiet confidence of someone who had walked through worse places than this. The leopard’s void mark showed faintly along the side of his cheek under the hallway light, appearing like a tear shape carved out of his fur but with a purple/blue energy in it, sometimes subtle and hard to notice, and not as bright as Cass’ void energy eyes. Remi gave him a short nod from the couch. Stark, the young deer, watched him with open curiosity. “Well met, cougar.”

“Leopard...” Lir corrected. Stark smiled at his own lame, low effort jab.

Movie night had already started. Someone had put on an old action film that no one was really watching, easy to consume while their real attention is usually on each other. Bottles and cans cluttered the coffee table, every animal at least three drinks deep. The air smelled like beer, popcorn, and the warm, lived-in scent of the pack.

It did not take long for the usual habits to surface.

Roan had Cass tucked firmly on the big couch, one thick arm around the midnight wolf’s waist. Every so often he leaned in and nosed under Cass’s jaw, breathing him in like he still needed the reminder that he was solid and safe.

Whatever dangers the pack faces, they always have this to come back to. The quiet and feel of each other, the warmth of the bodies they share.

Cass tilted his head to give him better access, a soft sound leaving him when Roan’s tongue dragged slowly over the side of his throat.

“You’re clingy tonight,” Cass murmured, though there was no complaint in it.

“Deal with it,” Roan answered against his fur, voice low and warm. His paw slid under the hem of Cass’s shirt and settled on bare fur, thumb stroking slow circles. “You’re warm. I like you warm.”

Cass huffed a quiet laugh and turned enough to press a lazy kiss to the corner of Roan’s muzzle. “Sap.”

“Your sap,” Roan corrected, and bit him gently just below the ear.

Across the room Kiran had claimed Zariel completely, as usual. The little red fox was draped across the big white wolf’s lap like he belonged there, legs tucked to one side, cheek resting on Zariel’s broad chest. Zariel’s heavy paw moved up and down Kiran’s back in long, idle strokes, occasionally dipping lower to squeeze one cheek of his ass through his shorts. Every time he did it, Kiran’s tail gave a pleased little flick.

“You’re in a good mood,” Kiran mumbled into his fur.

“You’re soft and quiet for once,” Zariel replied, voice a deep rumble. “I’m enjoying it while it lasts.”

Kiran tipped his head up, eyes half-lidded and fond. “You love when I’m noisy.”

“I love when you’re mine.” Zariel leaned down and licked a slow stripe up the side of Kiran’s face, then kissed the top of his head. “Stay put.”

Kiran melted further into him with a happy sound and obeyed.

Khepri sat cross-legged on the floor with a drink, watching the pairs with lazy amusement and making no effort to hide that he was half-hard. Remi stayed on the far end of the couch with his arms crossed, ears angled slightly back. Stark kept his eyes mostly on the screen, though his ears flicked every time Roan murmured something low against Cass’s neck or Kiran let out a small, content noise.

“I can’t wait till the others find someone ... awwwwkward,” Cass whispered to Roan. Though the pack has no problem sexually pleasuring Khepri, the poor young hyena is still the odd one out and doesn’t have what they consider ‘a mate’ like the other four members do.

Lir accepted a beer from Khepri and settled into an armchair, observing the room like he was cataloguing it. He did not join the casual touching. Neither did Remi or Stark. They focused on the movie, making jokes and just enjoying the evening. Stark didn’t intend to start heavy Dream Walker training just yet, not tonight.