[--Aug. 2003--]

Travis spent a lot of time with the pack now that his pups were three years old. If it wasn't helping Ron with the fences and horses, or Byron with any number of repairs, the alpha could be found hanging around the community center. He wasn't teaching the pup classes anymore, but instead, working on upgrading the building with new facilities and additions.

He'd also taken a healthy interest in Dakota, who he felt lacked more positive influences, and partially due to what happened with Riley. Even though Travis hadn't been a fan of Riley, he knew Dakota had still looked up to his brother, and losing him was a blow. Most days he found some spare time to check in on the teen, and today was no exception, as he'd brought him out for a run in the woods. He'd also been working on Dakota's posturing as he was getting closer to joining the adult ranks.

He focused heavily on teaching him the difference between being intimidated and showing respect, two things he felt Riley had backward, and that might have rubbed off on his younger brother.

"You don't always have to submit to show respect. Sometimes showing that you're intimidated can invite more challenges against you. Be confident--look like you belong, own the space around you, and others will be less likely to see you as a target," he explained.

"Hn. Easy for you to say..." Dakota scoffed, with his hands on his thin waist, while he panted to catch his breath. "It's not like anyone's gonna take me seriously, regardless."

"Then make them," Travis said with a stern look that was made even more intense by the piercing blue of his eyes. "Look at Slade. He's a big fucking wolf. If size and looks were all that mattered, he'd be top rank, no doubt. But Slade is a caregiver. He allows others to invade his space and back him down. Nothing wrong with that, but he doesn't command respect. Here--" Travis took Dakota by the shoulders and moved him into a clearing. "--This is your space now," he said, taking Dakota's hand and holding it out. "If I get within arms reach, I'm within striking range. I can hit you, but you can also hit me back." Travis took a step, so he was just out of Dakota's reach. "This is your challenge line. At this distance, you always have a choice--back up or stay." Travis took another step right past Dakota's arm. "Now, why didn't you back up? I can hit you right now."

Dakota's brows furrowed slightly. "I... I guess I wasn't ready? I dunno," he shrugged. "Should I of backed up?"

"You didn't back up because you trust me. If you had backed up, then I'd know you were afraid of me. So, show them you're not worried, regardless of if you actually are, and you'll own your space. Most of them won't come past your challenge line. They'll try to bluff you out--don't give them an inch."

Dakota just gazed up at Travis for a few seconds, admiring the strong lines of his face, his golden blond hair, and solid frame. With the alpha this close, it was clear that Dakota had grown. He was still slender, but there wasn't as dramatic of a difference in their heights now, although Travis still had over a foot on him.

It was also becoming impossible for Dakota to ignore how good the other wolf smelled. Ever since his hormones had started fucking with him, he had more and more thoughts about the pack's leader that he really shouldn't have been having in between daydreams about Maribel. Dakota licked his lips and took a small step forward. "What if I advance... and move my challenge line?"

Travis leaned forward. "Then you're challenging me," he murmured. But clearly, Travis had no problem with Dakota doing so. "So, now I have to figure out if you're bluffing."

Excitement built in Dakota's chest, playing across his boyish features the longer he locked eyes with his alpha. His heart was beating faster, and the idea of Travis hearing it made his ears and cheeks heat up. He didn't move, though. He didn't shy away or allow his shoulders to slouch. He just stood there... waiting anxiously for... Well, he wasn't exactly sure what.

"I think you'll do fine," Travis finally said, smirking as he turned and started to head back towards the trailhead.

In direct contrast to his time spent with Travis, Dakota's evenings had become a total fucking nightmare most days. Nate was well into his "terrible twos" and every bit of that angelic little duckling-pup was completely gone--poof! Right out the goddamned window...

If he wasn't chomping down on Dakota, he was trying to get his teeth around anything within reach. To make matters worse, the little asshole wasn't a shy shifter like Kaid, so keeping him confined for a time-out was nearly impossible. When he wasn't as charged, he was trying to mount and posture his older cousin, and so Kaiden had taken up to submitting to Nate's authority, despite being older and bigger.

Dakota was at his wit's end when Slade finally got home one evening. He was just sitting on the couch, staring at the ceiling with tears in his eyes, making trails down his face, with bloody bite marks on his arms and shin--surrounded by a few of Slade's shredded vinyl record cases, a chewed up sippy cup, and Dakota's mangled Walkman CD player. Nate was sleeping peacefully across his lap, while Kaiden had been relegated to the spot beside Dakota.

Slade could definitely sympathize with his little brother, having to wrangle the two pups during the day wasn't much easier. He also understood that Dakota was younger and that it was a big responsibility to ask of him.

"I put in my vacation, so I'll be off for the next two weeks," Slade offered the next morning. "Why don't you take a break?"

"Really?" Dakota asked, his eyes glittering with a sudden burst of excitement that he hadn't had before.

"Yeah, I mean don't get me wrong, I appreciate you helping out with the pups, but I can manage... I think," Slade laughed. "I'd probably try and get moving before they wake up or they'll try to go with ya," he added in a hushed tone as though just the mention might wake Kaiden and Nate.

"Say less," Dakota whispered before he jumped out of the dining chair and threw his arms around Slade, giving him a fast hug before darting quietly back to his room to get dressed.

The first thing Dakota did after leaving the trailer was shift and run. Without any pups to keep an eye on, he could really stretch his legs and get some of his own pent-up energy out that felt like it'd been coiling in him for weeks. He ran all the way out to the lake before stopping to rest, rolling and kicking his paws in the air near the shore.

It was a beautiful day... There was a breeze and the sun was shining, but it wasn't too hot... part of him almost felt a little bad for not at least bringing Kaid with him. He still needed to teach him to swim.

Nearby, Travis was resting from his own morning jog. The white wolf was sitting on top of a rock up the hill, where he had a good view of his domain. Seeing Dakota without his nephews, he jumped down from his spot and sprinted over, ears and tail high as he approached the younger wolf. It was getting late into the season, and Travis had to posture more now than he did during the summer months.

Dakota's ears swiveled as he heard someone coming up on him, and he rolled onto his feet. He'd barely gotten upright in time to feel Travis's nose against his cheek. Dakota stayed planted where he was as he sniffed the alpha, his hackles relaxing slightly, but not all the way. He was still a little too young for the fur there to slick all the way back. The tip of his tail wagged just a little, but he was holding it lower than Travis's.

The white wolf only took a second to read Dakota's body language, and whether or not he found it acceptable before he rested his chin on top of Dakota's shoulders. When the display wasn't met with any resistance, he stepped back and stabbed a paw at Dakota playfully before play-bowing at him and wagging his tail.

The red timber wolf's ears went back affectionately as he pawed at Travis as well, then he lunged forward and leaped back, his tail telegraphing his eagerness to play. They wrestled and chased each other, much the same as they had multiple times over the last year or so. At least, they were until Dakota had gotten a little too bold, and his front paws touched the top of Travis's hindquarters--a plainly dominant posture.

Travis understood that the nature of the season and hormones were more to blame than Dakota, but that didn't stop the alpha from turning and pinning Dakota to the ground. After several minutes of playing, Travis started to make his way back towards the community center to catch a shower.

Dakota followed the alpha, shifting once he had a fair idea of where Travis was headed. "Hey, wait up..."

Travis paused and looked back at Dakota, motioning for him to catch up. Travis's running clothes were drenched in sweat. Clearly, he'd been working out for a bit before he'd come across Dakota.

"So... Slade's on vacation for the next few days," Dakota said, matching pace with Travis.

"Hah. I wish I got a vacation from my kids," Travis joked.

Dakota chuckled. He didn't have his own pups, of course, and never wanted any, but he could legitimately say he understood the feeling. "Could you hang out a little longer today...since I don't have to be home early?" There was an innocent inflection in Dakota's tone, but the little smirk on his lips made the eighteen-year-old look far more mischievous than he sounded.

"Sure." Travis was always flattered when Dakota made it clear that he enjoyed his company. He enjoyed spending time with Dakota as well. It was the entire reason he'd taken an interest in teaching Dakota what his brothers had failed to while watching the younger wolf's back. Dakota was only a few years away from joining the adults. He'd be ranking up alone with no other males close to his age, and with his parents retired and Slade an omega, Travis knew that Dakota would have to hold his own.

As they walked, it was hard for Dakota to focus on anything besides the way Travis's shirt was clinging to his muscled frame. He followed him into the community center, which was relatively empty. Dakota figured most of the pack members who might normally be here had probably left for the day to get lunch.

Travis was heading right for the gym, which was actually more of just a workout room, with equipment donated by various pack members. Although he was currently working on adding a real gym for the pack to use, Byron was still running numbers on that idea. At the back was a small locker room and shower. Travis used it pretty frequently because it was closer to the woods than his house.

Lockers lined either side of the room and there was a long wood bench in the center. Near the back, there was a stall and a shower.

Since Travis hadn't exactly told him not to, Dakota had continued to follow him right through the workout area into the locker room. He'd never actually been back here himself.

"Don't forget the door," Travis said since there wasn't a separate shower for males and females. He grabbed two towels from the shelf and laid them on the bench before he started to strip off his workout clothes.

Dakota's heart leaped into his throat. His brain went blank for a second before he replied. "Uhm yeah. Got it," he said, cringing at how fucking stupid he sounded as he closed the door. Dakota was completely confident in the fact that he liked women, but when he turned around to watch Travis remove his clothes, his jaw actually dropped a little... Every inch of the alpha was chiseled and glistening from sweat.

Travis caught Dakota's stare, and let out a short laugh, but didn't say anything as he took one of the towels and draped it over the shower wall. After playing with the nobs until he had the water at a decent temperature, he stepped in.

It suddenly took an awful lot of effort for Dakota to remember how to breathe as he moved towards the bench. He almost missed it entirely when he went to sit down, and played it off the best he could, while leaning down to remove his boots and socks, followed by his ratty but comfortable band t-shirt. He kept expecting Travis to stop him, yell at him, or ask what the shit he was doing.

He wasn't honestly even sure of that answer himself, as he stood and stripped off his pants. Dakota hooked his thumbs in the hem of his underwear, realizing he was probably thinking way further into this than Travis was. The alpha was married, after all, and had pups.

The thought cooled Dakota down enough for him to get the confidence to pull off his boxer briefs and venture over towards the shower.

Travis shifted a little to make room for Dakota, though there wasn't a whole lot of space. He was pleased to see that the redhead had gotten up the courage to join him. By now, Travis was already pretty certain that Dakota had a bit of a thing for him. He'd suspected it for a while, but had kept his suspicions to himself until he was sure. Dakota's flushed face and slight erection were enough evidence for him to know he was correct in his assumptions.

Once Dakota was in, and was close enough to feel Travis's body heat despite the stream of water, he did something stupid.

He placed a hand on one of the alpha's biceps, leaned up, and kissed him.

For once, Dakota's head wasn't a jumbled mess of thoughts racing in an out. From the moment their lips had touched, his mind had gone completely blank. The only thing he felt was heat, adrenaline, and desire like he'd never fucking felt in his life. His knees felt weak--like--actually felt weak, and he was pretty sure a needy sound might have escaped his throat, but he didn't need the embarrassment of humoring the thought.

Perhaps Travis's lessons had worked a little too well. Dakota was certainly showing that he could hold his own ground. Maybe it was Travis's ego, or his affections for the younger wolf, but whatever the reason, he couldn't bring himself to reject him. Instead, Travis took him by the hip and easily guided him so that Dakota's back was against his chest.

Travis rested his chin on Dakota's shoulder as he brought a hand around him and started to stroke the younger male's need.

Dakota's head tipped back against Travis and he rested his hand on top of the older wolf's. "This isn't fucking real," he panted as his eyes slipped closed. If it was some kind of dream though, he sure as shit didn't want it to end, because it was more real than any other he'd ever had. He had to press his free hand against the shower wall to steady himself.

Travis let out a low, soft chuckle, mostly because it didn't take long to work up Dakota to climax--he'd been ready to go from the beginning.

Dakota's hips bucked and tilted as his breathy moans melded with the patter of water on concrete. After catching his breath, he turned around to face the handsome object of his feverish fantasies. Maybe it was from the afterglow of his orgasm, but Dakota swore Travis looked even more attractive. His hands explored the toned shoulders, chest, and abs in front of him, tracing a finger down the 'V' that practically carved an arrow straight down to Travis's arousal that screamed, 'look at me.'

Despite being eight years older, Travis wasn't immune to the rush of the impending breeding season, and he knew it was particularly hard for the younger adults like Dakota, who were still heavily influenced by their hormones. He figured Dakota could use the release, but he also fully expected to get something in return.

Dakota bit his bottom lip as his fingertips hovered just below Travis's hip bones--his eyes begging, and waiting, for permission to touch the alpha's member.

Travis's head tilted to the side as he observed the subordinate wolf's expressions. He took hold of Dakota's hand that had stalled just short of where he wanted it to go, and carried it the rest of the distance to his rigid shaft. His other hand applied just enough firm pressure to Dakota's shoulder to push him down onto his knees. Dakota looked even more handsome when he was in such a submissive position, and Travis couldn't help the grin that pulled into his features as he pressed the head of cock against Dakota's lips tenderly.

That was more than enough of an invitation for Dakota. His heart skipped in his chest as he kissed Travis's tip, then wrapped his lips around his head. He didn't worry about the fact that he didn't know how to give someone head, or if he looked attractive doing it. He just confidently explored and experimented, reveling in every second of it. Kissing, and sucking, and licking... listening intently for the hitches in Travis's breathing, and feeling the way his muscles tensed under his teasing. It was a rush of control but also a vulnerability that Dakota never felt like he'd had before... and goddamn, he loved it.

Travis's eye's closed and he let his shoulders and head rest back against the cool tiles of the shower as he enjoyed the sensation of Dakota's mouth around him. His hips gently rocking now and then, testing the limits of what the younger wolf's jaws could handle. But his patience and control were limited and began to run thin.

As he got more heated, he took hold of Dakota's fiery damp locks, and brought his head forward, shoving his shaft deeper until he felt Dakota's throat tremble around him. He pulled back, giving him a moment to recover before plunging it down his throat again. Groaning, Travis rolled his hips with the new punishing pace. His hand jerked Dakota's head firmly towards his hips and drove his cock into him until he choked on it. He held Dakota there for a second as he twitched and climaxed before liberating the pretty redhead and yanking his member free.

Dakota gasped, coughing out a hoarse laugh as he tried to catch his breath. He grinned up at the alpha--quite proud of having been responsible for Travis peaking. Without a word, he stood up to his full height again, then lifted himself onto the balls of his feet, to place a chaste kiss on his alpha's lips.

Aight... who in the hell lets us write fanservice for ourselves? xD (Cuz thank you. We're having a lot of fun. lol )

Shout out to KingBem, Emmian_, and apdavey973! Thanks so much for your support!!