Rind.

Dinner was attended by Iorir, another wolfe who looked old and a bit haggard and wouldn't shift out of animal form to talk to them, a wolfe of about Iorir's age who had a thick scar blinding one eye and greeted Adotre enthusiastically, and - most interesting to Gustin - a tall, gangly, strangely built wolfe who looked to be in his teens. Upon sighting this last attendee, Kellan's demeanor changed drastically. He half-shifted, spiking his hackles into the air and baring sharp teeth, using one arm to push Gustin and Adotre behind himself and snarling.
Iorir stepped forward, hands raised in a calming plea.
"Alpha! Alpha Wolfe Kuskellanar! It's alright, Alpha. He was raised by us."
Kellan calmed himself and shook his shift out, still eyeing the youth, who was now crouching on the floor.
"My apologies, Wolfe. I should not have reacted in such a way to a guest in your house."
Iorir was turned away, soothing the youngling, urging him up from the floor. Gus noted that something about the kid seemed just a little off - his build, perhaps, was not common to wolfes. Kellan stepped forward, extending his hand to the youngling, who was standing now but still half-hid behind Iorir.
"My apologies, Melloz."
The young wolfe's face colored, and Iorir intervened again, giving Kellan a stern look.
"We do not use that name here, Alpha. Here, Adnan is one of us."
Kellan raised his chin.
"Ah. In that case, my apologies, Cousin. I am sure you are a welcome addition to the Wolfe Iorir's burgeoning pack."
the young wolfe flicked his eyes back and forth nervously between Kellan and Iorir, then very bravely turned and fled the room. After a moment, the old, haggard wolfe got up and calmly limped after him.
Adotre exchanged glances with Gustin, both of them watching the scene with great interest. Gus mouthed a question to Adotre, who mouthed an answer back. Gustin furrowed his brow.
"What's a Mellozsian?" he asked out loud, and all eyes flicked to him.
"We will discuss it later, Mate." Kellan answered shortly. "For now, we must eat, and prepare for Adotre's mating."
At the mention of the word, the one-eyed wolfe looked up from his plate and grinned broadly at Iorir. He shifted, then spoke:
"Why, Alpha," his animal form said, a teasing scold in his voice, "So that's why Adotre's come for another visit. But shame on you - bringing back a mate for you and no one else. And here we thought you were going out for provisions."
Iorir glanced at the company, then grinned back, clearly at ease with this gruff-looking wolfe.
"I was." he replied. "I needed something to last me through the winter."
The one-eyed wolfe and Gustin laughed, Adotre looked positively scandalized, and Kellan growled that he hadn't found it all that amusing. Then, suddenly, the animal wolfe sitting on the floor cocked his head curiously at Gus, who was still laughing. After a moment, Iorir caught on, and then Kellan and Adotre did, too. By the time Gus had stopped laughing, everyone was staring at him.
"What? What'd I - oh." Shit. He'd forgotten that whole Synthesis thing was still supposed to be a secret.

~:~

"Alpha, I apologize, truly, if I'd had any idea - "
Kellan raised one hand to stop Iorir and the one-eyed wolfe's apologies.
"Please," he said, looking uncomfortable and glancing at Gustin, "It's not necessary. We are not even sure yet - "
"It's the sign, though, isn't it, Alpha??" it was Adnan, the Mellozsian youth, who had returned by then and was sitting on a fur on the floor at Gustin's feet, looking awed up at the human. Gus really wished he'd remembered his own rule about always playing stupid.
"Well, yes, but - "
"And did you mark him?" the one-eyed wolfe inquired quietly. Kellan growled.
"That's none of your - "
"He did." Kellan snarled at the confessor, and Adotre shrank back. "I'm sorry, Airu, but you did. And he is...what everyone thinks he is. At least, I think he is. He has the Listening and the Spell of the Moon. That's already enough for me. She would not send us one so close and then..." Adotre bit his lip, looking down at the ground. "I think they should know, is all, Airu. I'm sorry."
Kellan exhaled and closed his eyes.
"Fine. It is known then." he opened his eyes and fixed each of them with a steely glare. "And perhaps then you understand why our retreat from the Irion must be done in secret, and in such haste. There are those seeking him who would take him from me, and - "
"THEY CANNOT!" Adnan was on his feet immediately, tense as if for a fight. Gus's eyebrows shot up. Where was that sort of energy when Kellan had growled at him thirty minutes ago? Kellan sent a withering glare at Iorir, who put one hand on Adnan's arm to calm him down. The youth realized his brashness immediately, and apologetically dropped down to sit on the floor by Iorir's feet.
"Yes, Adnan. We all know the foretelling. He must not be separated from his true mate. Don't worry, youngling. All will be well."
Iorir turned back to Kuskellanar.
"Any assistance you need from us, we are prepared to give."
The other wolfes and Adnan nodded. Kellan inclined his head in grateful thanks, and Gus began to wonder why it was that he had hardly been a part of this conversation. That was alpha wolfes for you. He wondered if Adnan was an alpha in training - perhaps that was the reason for his brashness. Kellan cleared his throat and Gus gave the conversation his full attention again.
"In that case, my first request is that we discuss the mating of my only Nemel, the Layer Adotre. He is the ward of my Mate and myself, and we must be positive that when we depart the Irion, we leave him in good care."
the one-eyed wolfe grinned lasciviously up at Iorir.
"Oh, don't worry, Alpha Wolfe Kuskellanar. Our alpha Iorir will keep him in verrrrry good care."

~:~

In the end, there were not many preparations that needed to be made. The ceremony was simple - just a few words exchanged in private with the moon, then together before the crowd (of five). Then, for the mating, there had only to be a room with a good fire, plenty of furs to make a soft bed, a nurse standing by (whom the one-eyed wolfe had agreed to go and seek out, but in the meantime, Kellan would act the part of), and the Layer's parents to witness.

After the ceremony, Adotre had gone to bathe and speak to the moon before the mating was to take place, and so Gustin had a few minutes alone with his wolfe before they went in to the mating room.
"So are you sure we have to - "
"Yes."
Gustin frowned, all his arguments exhausted.
"Alright, fine. What do we have to do?"
Kellan shrugged unconcernedly from where he was unpacking things on the floor. He set aside some salted meat to be given away to Iorir and his men.
"Nothing. Sit. Watch." he cast a warning glare up at Gustin. "Be silent."
Gustin puffed his chest out.
"I can be - ohh."
the wolfe was at his side instantly.
"Mate! Are you injured??"
Gustin put one hand to his belly and shook his head.
"No...no, just...felt, um, weird for a second. There was - "
Kellan looked pale.
"The cub??"
Gus nodded, then shook his head.
"Yes, but no, it's like - not...bad, just...weird...for a minute." he took a deep breath. "I'm fine. Fine."
Kellan looked unconvinced. Gustin exhaled.
"Check me, touch me, sniff me, do whatever. I'm fine, I just get startled a little bit by my own body sometimes."
Kellan leaned forward and tentatively inhaled, sniffing around his mate's neck until he ws satisfied.
"Alright. But I demand to be informed of any further startlings."
Gustin rolled his eyes and agreed.
"Ok. Fine. I promise I will. Let's just go and get the Layer mated."

~:~

Adotre was sitting naked in the middle of the heated room, in the center of a pile of furs, scratching nervously at his ear. He looked up with relief at Gus and Kellan, then ducked his head back down shyly.
"Hello, Airu."
Kellan went over to the Layer, seized his chin in one hand, and brought his head forward for a nuzzle.
"Hello, Nemel." he answered, gently.
Adotre gave his alpha an adoring, if nervous, smile, and Gus's heart melted a little at the warmth of Kellan's gesture towards the Layer.
Then Kellan drew back, and seized Gustin's hand to lead him over to a darkened corner, almost out of sight in the dimly lit room.
They waited a few moments in silence - well, partial silence, but every time Gustin tried to say something, Kellan shushed him.
After a few moments, the furs comprising the door of the room's entrance pushed aside, and Iorir entered.
Adotre sucked in a breath and shifted immediately, sitting on the furs in his animal form.
Iorir, nude, looked once into the shadows, searching for Kellan and Gustin, then, upon finding them, turned his full attention to the shadows. Kellan squeezed Gus's hand and kissed his mouth, gently - a plea for silence. It had begun.
In the firelight, Adotre's fur looked a little ruffled and Gustin briefly felt a parent's irritation that Adotre hadn't even bothered to groom himself properly before setting out into this. Then Iorir stepped forward, circled the bed once to survey his mate, and stopped. When he did, his shape blocked some of the light - from Adotre's view, he would be backlit, Gus thought, his face inscrutable. He wondered if this choice was intentional.
"Present to me, nemel."
Iorir's voice was gentle, but loud enough to be heard in their corner of the room. Gus wriggled down into Kellan, trying to find a comfortable position. With all this talking, it seemed like things might take a while.
the Layer swallowed and turned his back to his mate, shifting back into his human form as he did so. He knelt there, in the middle of the furs, backlit now and a silhouette to Gus and Kellan, and then dropped onto his elbows, ass in the air.
Iorir came forward and knelt on the bed behind him. Suddenly, Iorir pulled his left hand back and struck Adotre's left buttock. The Layer yelped, and Gus tensed; Kellan's arms tightened around him to hold him still.
"Did I tell you to present male? Present female to me, Layer."
Iorir's voice was still gentle, but chastising now. Adotre licked his lips and pushed up to his knees; his hand spasmed as if he were going to scratch his ear, but had managed to refrain himself. Instead, he awkwardly turned over so that he was on his back, shifted into his animal form, and shifted back again. Gustin craned his neck to see if there was any noticeable change, but couldn't see anything. Iorir's satisfied grunt, however, assured him that all must be well. Iorir separated Adotre's legs with his knee, then moved forward to settle between them. Adotre whined, and Iorir leaned forward and kissed him, then nuzzled his shoulder.
"Hush. It's me, it's only me. I won't hurt you."
Iorir sat back on his haunches, trailing his fingers lightly down Adotre's chest and stomach. The Layer whined again, and Iorir's voice got a little sterner.
"No more whining, Nemel."
Adotre shut up, but his breathing, already fast, quickened even more when Iorir swirled his fingers around Adotre's five eggs.
"Airu, please - "
Adotre sounded sincerely distressed, and now Kellan was tensing, and Gus frowned and squeezed his wolfe's hand to calm him. Kellan relaxed, but not much.
Then Adotre made a strangled cry and Iorir tried to soothe him.
"Hush, little one, I'm not going to hurt you. It's just me, remember? Iorir. This can be - " he glanced up once into the darkness, then shrugged and turned back to his mate. " - this can be just like those times before, OK? Just let me - "
"No..." Adotre's voice sounded teary now. "Don't make me drop, please don't."
Iorir's voice suddenly got very firm.
"Adotre. Calm yourself. I am your Airu. Do you disobey me?"
Adotre shook his head vigorously and took a few calming breaths. Iorir waited until some of the tension was drained from his little mate's body, then placed his hands on his stomach and began to use his thumbs to slowly squeeze the egg sac. After a few seconds of rubbing, one appeared to loosen and make its way to the thin tube. Adotre's breath quickened, and Iorir leaned over to kiss him, then sat back and continued using his thumbs to urge the little lump farther down Adotre's torso. The Layer began to wriggle, and even across the room, Gus could hear his panting. Iorir maintained his slow and gentle hand, and eased the egg down, occasionally stopping to kiss or lick Adotre as it went. By the time the egg had reached the bottom of the Layer's stomach, Adotre was sweating and gasping and wriggling up for more of Iorir's touch.
Gustin remembered the time Adotre had offered to express an egg for Gustin to see, and was very grateful he'd turned down that experience. Their relationship was weird enough as it was.
Then the egg must have popped its way into Adotre's fertilizing cavity, because the Layer very loudly, and with much ceremony, came. Iorir grinned in the half light and stroked his own cock, letting his mate bask in the afterglow for a few seconds before he urged him to turn over.
Adotre lazily complied, and Iorir urged him onto his hands and knees. Then Adotre glanced over his shoulder, and Gustin could make out that Iorir was finding Adotre's entrance with his fingers, preparing to enter him. Kellan squeezed his own mate's hand very very tight.
There was silence, then a startled yelp as Iorir made the first thrust. Then mumbled words which sounded like cooing and Gustin could see the trembling in the Layer's arms where Iorir stroked them. Then the wolfe pushed in a little more, and Adotre hung his head and keened for a moment - when he lifted it again, beads of sweat were evident on his skin. He reached back for Iorir and was rewarded with more kisses from his mate, more nuzzling and even a lick to the neck. Adotre was biting his lip. Then the wolfe came further forward, and Adotre couldn't keep himself from crying out. The yelp made Kellan's tension snap, and before Gus could stop him, he was lurching forward, towards Adotre.
Iorir caught the movement from the corner of his eye and acted completely on instinct, growling at Kellan and throwing himself forward to sheathe in Adotre completely. The Layer howled out his discomfort, and Kellan recoiled in horror at the result of his own action. Gus had by now managed to get a good grip on his mate again, and pulled the wolfe back into the shadows, whispering some calming words of his own while Iorir kissed the side of Adotre's face to apologize.

The discomfort only lasted a minute though, and Iorir waited it out patiently, although Gus knew from experience that the urge to mate must be burning strongly within him. That at least was one point in his favor - the wolfe had some self-control. Then Adotre pushed himself backwards and Iorir took that as an impetus to move; soon, they fell into an easy, if hurried rhythm, and the sounds and scent of sex grew strong in the room.
Kellan moved closer to his mate, the earlier trauma forgotten, and his own mating instincts rising up in his mind.
Gus was not uanffected himself, and as Iorir's pleasure grew more expressive, Gus found himself drawn in. He reached over to touch his wolfe, but Kellan caught his hand and put it back in his own lap.
"Later." he growled out, and Gus crossed his arms over his chest and pouted.
Soon, the Layer was gasping his pleasure out, and with a low keen, he came. His wolfe came shortly after, growling his orgasm and grinding his hips against Adotre's.
Iorir turned them over onto their backs and they both lay panting for a long while, Adotre curled against his wolfe's side, Iorir's arms around him.
After a moment, Kellan rose, pulling Gus by the hand, leading him towards the exit of the room. He stopped them in front of the bed. Iorir lay with his new mate in his arms, stroking Adotre's hair and looking entirely blissful. When Kellan cleared his throat, Adotre looked up.
"How did - was I - "
"Well done, Layer. Well done, Wolfe. Blessings on your bond. And may your first joining be fruitful."
They turned to go, but Adotre struggled free of his wolfe's grasp and reached out to Gustin.
"Gustin, wait!"
Kellan and Gus stopped and Gus turned, a strange look on his face. Adotre almost never called him by his name. The Layer beckoned him over, and, when he was in close range, snatched one of Gustin's hands and placed it to Adotre's own belly. Gus frowned, but the Layer held it there on him, eyes closed in concentration, squeezing Gus's hand for almost a full minute before releasing him. He beamed up at Gustin.
"There. Now I know I am sure the egg will take, so long as it has your blessing, too."
Gustin was beginning to worry about all this superstition, but it was Adotre's night, and he didn't want to ruin the spell. So instead, he grinned, reached forward and touched Adotre's belly once more, then kissed him on the cheek and took his own wolfe's hand and left.