Rind.

Kellan snorted, shook himself and reappeared in human form. Gustin stared. Kellan stared back for a minute, then wandered off to sniff at the leftover soup. Then, as if sensing a change, he paused there, by the fire pit, and sniffed the air instead. He blinked a few times, turned to face Gustin (still staring).
"Human."
"Huh?"
Kuskellanar growled.
"My season is close."
Gustin took two steps back and held his hands up, almost tripping over the pile he'd been kicking.
"Close? Close like how close? You said spring...you said at least a moon."
Gustin could hear the anxiety in his own voice, and wondered if he sounded so scared to Kellan. The wolfe growled a little and shook his head as if to clear it.
"Had I been spared your antics, human, it would have held off."
"Antics?! I haven't - "
Kellan straightened up to his full height and Gustin began to feel a bit intimidated.
"You lured a competing male into my home."
"He came here on his own! I never - "
Kellan held up a hand.
"It is late for excuses."
"He's your friend! I don't even know him!"
Kellan stared evenly at Gustin.
"You behave that way with males who you do not know?"
Gustin lifted one side of his mouth.
"Bet you wish you knew."
Kellan narrowed his eyes at that, and suddenly the sarcasm didn't seem like such a good idea.
"I have been gentle with you thus far, human, but I have come to believe that I will have to teach you differently."
Gustin didn't like this.
"Come here."
The human shook his head.
"Come, human. Now."
He shook his head more vigorously and put a bit more space between them. Then he got a stunning display of wolfish speed and determination as Kellan crossed the room in two bounds and caught him around the shoulders. He struggled; Kellan tightened his grip. Gustin relaxed, went slack, and the arms loosened. He took the opportunity to try to bolt and they tightened instantaneously.
"This really isn't necessary; I honestly think I learned a lesson, I mean, it's just that I'm too trusting, and we - "
Kellan moved one hand to cover his mouth.
"I do not think that you understand the seriousness of what you've done."
Gustin brought his eyebrows together, tried to look pitiful.
"Had I not returned in the time which I did, you would be a possession of the Layer Adotre at this time, in the middle of your marking ceremony, and your future would be entirely in his hands. He is barely capable of surviving on his own; what would he have done for you? You would be dead in your first pregnancy."
Kellan removed his hand and Gustin looked uneasily up at him.
"You must learn to stop endangering yourself."
The wolfe released him. Gustin didn't move from his spot, only looked at the wolfe with a worried face. Kellan snatched him by the arm, led him over to the bed, where he sat and threw Gustin over his lap.
"You are in a strange place, far from home, and far from safety."
"What? What are you - mec'thal!!"
Gustin swore as the first strike impacted. It hurt, brought heat to his skin and sting to his eyes. He tried to wriggle away, but Kellan caught him, restraining both wrists in one large hand and pulling him back into place.
"When I give you orders, they are for your own good."
"Yes, Kellan, I understand, noI'msorrywhatareyoudoingdon't - endatin!"
"And when I give you orders, I expect you to follow them."
Gustin tried to catch his breath. His ass was on fire. Kellan stroked his back.
"Count them, human. At ten, we stop."
The wolfe struck him thrice more, and Gustin got louder.
"STOP, Kellan, this isn't fair, I didn't ask for this, I don't want to - mec'thaaall, Kellan, don't - mec'th!"
That strike was harder, Kellan reminding Gustin of the wolfe's full strength. Gustin whimpered. Kellan was unmoved. His hand fell again, and again. Gustin stopped wriggling and bit his lip to hold his position.
"Last."
This strike felt the sharpest, most painful because he was anticipating it. Kellan released his wrists, picked up the human, and settled him into his lap, facing the wolfe. Gustin refused to look at him, wouldn't meet his eyes. Kellan turned his chin, but Gustin pulled away and focused on the wall, face angry. Kellan waited.
"You hit me."
Kellan shook his head, gently brushed some of the hair back from the human's face.
"Discipline, not anger."
Gustin tried to get up (Kellan held him back), and then began to speak, but stopped when his voice broke.
"Human?"
Gustin shook his head and suddenly, abruptly, tears began to leak from his eyes. Kellan wrapped his arms around him, brought him close to the broad bare chest. Gustin fought at first, but soon calmed.
"That hurt. You hurt me."
Kellan exhaled, rubbed his back.
"Perhaps next time, you will remember."
Gustin didn't respond. Leave it to a wolfe to say just what he didn't want to hear. Don't endanger himself. Protect himself. For what? So that Kellanar wouldn't lose his stupid fucking ransom. Gustin was heavily engaged in feeling sorry for himself, so he didn't see it coming when Kellan kissed him. Gustin broke it and looked to his eyes for an explanation. Kellan grunted and looked away. Gustin's heart was pounding. Was this part of the deal, too? Was this how wolfes exerted dominance over their mates - not mates, actually; ransoms - or was this just Kellan's own particular punishment for what he deemed to be Gustin's misbehavior? Gus ran through the list of his exits in his head, kicking himself the entire way. Leave it to him to get kidnapped by a wolfe, and a rapist one to boot. His confession had been right; he trusted too quickly. He was just working through an escape plan in his head when Kellan spoke, his voice rumbling low and deep from his chest, but with a strange tone.
"That was not...an indication, human. I just meant it to say that I am not...did not want to hurt you."
Gustin frowned.
"I - I don't understand."
Kellan looked at him sympathetically, leaned forward so that their heads were touching.
"I don't either, little one. I don't either."