The calculated bite to his sensitive ear sent rage surging through Axel's deep chest. He was growling, his muzzle snapping furiously in his attempt to get a hold of Nathan. He kept coming away with nothing but inky, black fur as pain and adrenaline jumbled his senses. Axel felt his ear tear, and that was it. His howl of pain morphed into a very human cry of anguish as he shifted back, elbowing Nathan hard under the chin just before delivering a punishing kick to the black wolf's ribs.

Hazel stared in shock as she came upon the pair. Her brother was scrambling to get away from Nathan, clumsily manipulating the human limbs he'd once again confined himself to for whatever reason. A streak of red was traveling down the side of his neck and onto his collarbone. Why had he backed out of a fight, especially this one? It didn't make any sense.

She shifted back, running to Axel's side. "Axel! Are you okay?!" He swung his arm out at her as she stooped to try to see his wound, barely missing the teen's pretty face.

"Fuck off!" He roared, his face heated with anger and embarrassment.

"Hey," She snapped right back, smacking down his hand with her own. "Don't talk to me like that, I'm trying to help!"

Axel got to his feet, cupping his ear. "You wanna help? Go get dad," he seethed.

Kaiden had not been far behind Hazel and was clearly shocked at Nate, who was still growling and posturing aggressively at his opponent. "Nate! Nate, go!" The urgency in his tone hadn't translated to his cousin who was still focused on making sure Axel knew his place.

When the black wolf lunged again at the now human Axel, Kaiden shifted into his wolf form, darting between them.

Nate's bite came down soft as Kaiden folded beneath him onto his back, extending one paw to brace against Nate's chest as Kaiden snarled and barked back at him. Nate stalled a moment as Kaiden yipped at him again, trying to make peace with his submissive display.

It worked. Nate backed off, allowing the omega to get back to his feet, his focus successfully removed from Axel. But Kaiden could already smell trouble, and as if on cue, caught sight of Travis heading their direction.

"I can't wait to watch him and Dakota tear the shit out of you, you cheating piece of shit!"Axel yelled.

Kaid barked at his cousin to alert him of the incoming alpha. Nate reluctantly started to make a break for it, and when he hesitated, Kaiden nipped at his flanks to make sure he kept going. Once Nate was picking up speed, Kaiden dropped back.

With his tail tucked between his legs, he met Travis head-on. The agonized yelp from Kaiden that followed tugged at Nate to go back, but Kaiden had done this for him. If he turned back now, they'd both regret it.

With his headstart and the rush of adrenaline, Nate felt like he was flying, he'd missed this feeling. He weaved through trees, over logs, and around bushes like he was one with the terrain.

After a while, he wasn't even running from Travis anymore, but for the freedom. Eventually, his lungs and paws burned, and he slowed to a trot as he hit pavement. Trees had fallen away to street lamps and houses as a familiar scent on the breeze drew him to an age-worn family home.

Despite the window being open and his fan running, Sean's room still felt a little too warm as he tousled his wet hair with a towel. He'd showered twice since Kaiden had dropped him and Trevor off. Once, a few hours before his parents had gotten home, and again after dinner, during which the feline had thoroughly convinced him he still smelled like weed, and his parents knew.

"You still haven't told me what your problem is with him," Sean reminded Trevor, dropping the damp towel on top of his dozing friend. Kaiden was a better subject than what his dad had been talking about while they ate. Mr. Wilton, who'd lived a few houses down from Trev's parents, had died in an ambulance on the way to the hospital that morning...the police apparently suspected homicide, which was basically unbelievable for Aspinview.

"Hey, if you wanna hang out with Count Chocula, that's up to you," the tabby tossed back while struggling against the towel, with which he was now locked in eternal combat, thanks to one stray claw that had become impossibly embedded in it. "He just...nggh...he just doesn't...damn thing...arggg!"

With one final flail, Trevor and the towel toppled onto the floor with a soft thud. "Haha!" He emerged from under the towel victorious. "He doesn't smell right... I mean, Dude must have, like, ten dogs."

Sean squinted at him as if Trev had lost his mind. "You're really on the dog kick again?" he groaned, leaning over to retrieve the towel and toss it towards his laundry hamper. "If you're jealous of me making new friends, why don't you just say so?" he mumbled.

He didn't want Trevor to feel that way, he really didn't, but... it had also been really exciting to be around someone new and different for a change. "It's not like they're gonna be in town long anyway, and you'll always be my best friend...I mean come on," he said as he plucked up the stem of a used incense stick from his nightstand, fiddling with it.

"Well if they aren't going to be in town that long, why do you care?" the orange fluff ball wondered as he jumped up and sat down on the bed next to Sean. "And say whatever you want, this nose doesn't lie, Bro. Every time your family has baked beans it haunts me for a week--" Trevor broke his sentence off short as his head and ears swiveled towards the open window.

"FUCK!" Trevor was already gone as Nate's head poked through.

"You talk to yourself all the time, or just when you think no one's around?" The teen wondered as he finished pulling himself through the small opening.

"Nate!" Sean gasped, dropping the incense stub. "You scared the crap out of me! ...Damn..." He whispered harshly as he got up, moving to stand in front of the boy that he'd admittedly missed since they'd parted ways the other night. His excitement diminished slightly. That was right... Nate had just bagged him and bailed... Why was it that he kept forgetting that part?

"...What are you doing here?" he wondered, unable to help his curiosity as his eyes raked over the handsome male.

"Eh, the family isn't too happy with me at the moment. Thought I'd find a place to crash while it all blows over." It wasn't a lie, well, mostly wasn't.

"That's Nate!? Tell him to go away!" a muffled voice demanded from the safety of the floor beneath Sean's bed.

"You can stay here," Sean offered maybe a little too eagerly, color rising to his cheeks.

Sean's response was exactly what Nate was hoping to hear, and he smirked a little as he pulled him into an impulsive kiss.

"Sean? Sean! Stop it!" Trevor scolded harshly, his head poking out from under the bed.

The brunette practically melted against Nate, wrapping his arms around his shoulders as he fervently returned the show of affection. If he'd still been a little overheated before, Sean was burning up now, despite only sporting a pair of boxer briefs and an old threadbare t-shirt.

As much as he didn't want to, however, Sean broke their kiss. "Trev, stop," he pleaded breathlessly, unsure of how long it would be before Trevor's 'meowing' grew to a volume that could disturb his parents.

"Dude! He just broke in!  I'm getting mad creeper vibes, Bro, kick him out!" Trevor tried to reason with his friend, though it just sounded like low grows to Nate.

It clearly didn't bother Nate much though, because he pushed Sean back onto his bed while his hands wandered beyond the border of the other boy's boxers. Sean stopped him there, pushing against Nate's toned chest until he could get off the bed, and scoop up Trevor before the feline knew what was going on.

"Sorry, Trev," He mumbled regretfully as he headed for his bedroom door. He couldn't do this with Trevor in the room... or he couldn't do what he wanted to, anyway. Opening the door quickly, he poked his head out into the empty hall before setting Trevor down. "I'll explain later, I swear," He assured, barely above a whisper, though he doubted that would sate his friend. He didn't give Trev a chance to argue though, shutting the door as quickly and as quietly as he could.

The guilt hit him almost immediately and he wanted to take it back... to apologize to Trevor, but as he turned around and leaned against his door, his heart skipped at the sight of Nate staring at him from his bed. He slid down into a seated position, trying to soak in every detail of the moment.

Nate was here. In his room. And he wanted him again... and Sean wanted him too.

The next chapter contains a mature scene.

If you're not 18+ or if boy-on-boy action doesn't sound appealing to you, don't worry! You aren't missing any plot by skipping that part and heading straight to chapter 14!

Thanks again for reading, and please let us know what ya think!