Archive of Our Own

"Valko…please…"

The stars truly aligned.

That's all you could think as Valko's hips slapped against yours in a steady pace aimed at pulling even more moans from your mouth. He tucked his face into the curve of your neck, a growl rumbling from the depths of this throat. "So good…." He brushed his nose against you and parted his lips, breath fanning across your skin with each snap of his hips. He groaned your name. "Do you have any idea how incredible you smell?"

No, it wasn't just the stars that had aligned, but the moon and its phases as well. Never in your dreams did you think this would have happened for you and the partners in your life, but here you were. Valko was currently experiencing the start of his rut. Consequently, Rafayel was feverish, tired, and moody because Ebb Day was any day now. And you? Well, given how…restless…you were the last couple of days, it wasn't a total surprise when the tracker on your hunter's watch notified you that your temperature indicated that you were ovulating.

The cosmos had aligned indeed.

"More," you whined. "Nghhh…" The prick of his teeth against your neck along with the wet sound of his tongue and lips sent another surge of pleasure to your already sopping core. The wolf ears on the top of his head twitched, listening to your sounds. Your pussy squeezed his cock as you threaded your hand through his hair and gave a gentle tug.

"Fuck!" Valko cried. His pace faltered. His tail swished. He said your name again through a growled warning.

You knew what he meant by it. Part of you wanted to be a little playful and test him, to tease him a bit more and bring him even closer to the brink. The other part didn't want to push him today when he was already this desperate due to the rut. Before you could decide, Valko sucked on your neck to stifle his moans. His teeth sunk further into your skin, tongue laving over your skin and marks he’d left. The sensation made your back arch and your nipples harden. Your cunt reacted, squeezing his cock again while your hips ground against his pelvis in an attempt to take more of him.

Valko stilled inside you. He abandoned sucking on your neck with a pop! and moved to gaze down at your face. Your name dragged from his mouth, teasing. His lips curved into a smirk. "Keep doing that and m'gonna cum early. Is that what you want?"

You shook your head.

"Words. Use all your words to answer me like a good girl."

"I don't want you to cum early."

"That's what I thought," panted Valko. "You wanted to help me…but if you keep being a bad girl…it's gonna be hard for me to—"

"It's okay," you said with a tilt of your head. "I mean, you know, if you can't keep going after you cum. Since it's a rut, we can just go again later when you've recovered."

What started as a light chuckle turned into a deeper laugh. Valko smiled and rubbed his thumb across your bottom lip. "Oh…my beautiful fated mate. You don't understand. Going again, cumming more than once …that not what's gonna be hard for me. What's gonna be hard is my dick and my ability to keep holding back so you can handle it."

Oh….oh fuck.

You'd expected hearing something like that from Rafayel or Sylus, but not Valko. Then again, this was your first rut with him. To say you both were learning through this was an understatement. Your pussy reacted to his words by contracting once again around his cock, another round of slick coating him in his place inside you.

Valko shuddered on an inhale. "Fuck. That turned you on that much?" He started up again at his previous pace. His hands shifted down to your ass and squeezed. "Such a perfect mate. Gonna make me fill you up with all of me. Especially when you smell and feel like this. Fuck…wanna go down on you again….wanna drown in you. Right now, I need you…just like this, especially when you're this wet for me."

"Valko," you gasped, "right there! Harder….Please? Need you harder."

"Only if you keep sayin' my name like that and keep taking exactly what I give you."

"I'll take everything." You stared up at him and put on your best pout. "Please, Valko? I want everything."

He snarled long and low, cock shifting deeper at your words. "You're so fucking…perfect. Asking me so sweetly too. Gonna prove to everyone you're mine." His tail drifted between the two of you and settled around your hips to help cradle you. "Here…don't wanna hurt you."

You thanked him with a kiss. He received it with another growl of pleasure. The juxtaposition of the softness of the fur from his tail and the feeling of his skin against yours alighted your senses. His wolf ears shifted slightly, listening to all of your sounds and those on the other side of the door. Your other partners were still in their bubble, but ready to step in and help if needed. Since this was his first rut with a soulmate, and you'd volunteered to help, Valko wanted to make sure he did this with guardrails. Over the last few days, he'd been anxious beyond measure that he'd hurt you in the process. Now that he was here fucking you in a desperate attempt to sooth that instinctual urge within him, he was still trying to fight himself to avoid fully giving in, and still nervously holding back despite your reassurance.

"Ready?" asked Valko. When you nodded, he shook his head. "Words, my moonlight. Need to hear you say it."

"Yes." You slid your hands across his muscles and rested them on his shoulders. "I'm ready. Give it to me…"

Valko leaned forward. His cock shifted deliciously deeper. His hands gripped the backs of your thighs, pressing them closer to your chest yet not as far back as they could go. You gasped beneath him and lifted your head from the pillow in an effort to meet his lips. Valko leaned forward, closing the small gap between your upper halves. Your mouths collided in a mixture of hunger and desperation that made your breath hitch. His tongue delved into your mouth and you moaned around it. He whined in need and pushed your parted thighs further back in an attempt to slot himself against you even more tightly than he already was.

"Not enough," Valko sighed. He ground his hips in a tight circle, testing the angle of his length. "Need you…need more….smell too good, need you…." A quick push forward sent the head of his cock deeper in a sharp nudge against your cervix.

"Ah..." you sucked in a breath. "Valko!"

"Too much? Am I too deep? Did I hurt you?"

"No, just that angle…it was a lot."

Valko adjusted his position, then gave a languid thrust forward, burying himself in you until he stopped short just before the swollen knot at his base. "Here…how's that? Better?"

You nodded. "Much."

"Are you sure? I could stop—"

"No! Hell, no! I…I think I'll actually bite you if you stop. I don't know, but I'll do something…" That, of course, earned a laugh from Valko.

He kissed your calf, the center of your chest, and your nose. When your pout deepened, he gave you a slow kiss on the lips. "There, there. I'm about to make you feel all better, how's that sound?" He pulled out a few inches and locked his eyes on yours. A rough thrust brought his knot up against your entrance again. "Good?"

"Ah! Mmm hmmm…fuck!"

"Good."

He started a relentless pace that made you grab the pillow for purchase. The slap of his skin against yours and the wet sounds of your cunt practically echoed in the room along with your moans. The tip of his tail slid beside you, brushing against your waist in a calming motion. Valko said your name through a growl. "My good fuckin' girl. So wet for me. So good for me. That's it, baby. Tell them. They're listening to us right now. How's that, huh? Feels good, yeah? Mine. All mine."

His name had become a mantra on your lips between your squeaks and whines of pleasure with each trust. You gazed up at him for a moment then reached up and placed your hands on Valko's cheeks. "Feels so good…"

The action crumbled what little resolve he had left. Both ears on the top of his head rotated slightly and his tail twitched "Fuck…you're all mine. My mate," he babbled, eyes half-lidded yet fixed on you, hips more erratic in their pace than before. "I'm so fuckin' lucky. 'm so lucky. And you're beautiful… gonna be more beautiful when I fill you up. Gonna—fuck, you're squeezin' me so tight! Feels good, huh? Such a good girl."

A moan clawed out of the depths of your chest as Valko gave a particularly rough thrust in just the right angle.

"I'm so sorry, baby…" Valko paused his hips for a moment, just a moment, long enough to cover your open mouth with his, tongue brushing against yours, teeth nibbling the meat of your lower lip. The two of you had only tried this position once before, and you both could feel why that was probably a good thing. Despite how delicious it felt, given his size, the mating press, and the way your limbs were tangled with his, you could only imagine how sore you would be all over when you were done.

"Don't apologize…feels good…"

"But I'm being too rough…" he whined, "'m losing it…I'm so sorry…" Valko dragged his thumb across your bottom lip and smirked when you gazed up at him. He always said he loved your eyes, and you were certain that right now they were enough to make him cum on the spot if he wasn't trying so hard to hold back. And he was definitely still holding back. He kissed your knee. "The way you're looking at me…can see it on your face, it feels really good, huh?"

"Yeah—mmnh! Fuck! So good…"

"Good. I love you so much, d'ya know that? My little wolf, my moonlight, my fated mate. Love you so damn much. You're mine. Wanna show you how much. Wanna show everyone how you belong to me. Gotta fill you up…wanna fill you up. Want me to fill you up, don't ya? Want me to fill you up with pups?"

The burning desire in your core thrummed at the thought. It wasn't the first time the idea of being filled with cum left you this aching.

With Rafayel, you'd chalked it up to the soul bond when that sudden urge to be both filled with all his cum and actually have it take washed over you. You’d been in the middle of riding his cocks, and you couldn't think of anything else in the moment.

With Sylus, it was a little different. Then again, thanks to that glowing eye of his, he knew what you wanted without either of you verbalizing it. Only nods and you holding onto each other tightly as he claimed you. He'd filled you so full that it took longer than it did after Rafayel, hours actually, to fully empty yourself of all his cum afterward given how much volume Sylus had in that form. Zayne shared with you later how astonished he was that your birth control had actually managed to hold up against both of them, but particularly Sylus.

Now, with Valko, that feeling simmered inside you again. However, this time, the desire ran seemingly as deep, if not deeper than it had with Raf's soul bond. You felt it in your marrow. The instinct that Valko was your mate was nearly on sight and only grew the more time you spent with each other. Yours. He was yours in a way you couldn't describe. Mates. Fated mates. A bonded pair. You weren't sure what to call it but it was so instinctual, so primal, so embedded and locked in your being that you knew he was meant to be yours and you were meant to be his and you would fight anyone who dared to take him away from you.

And right now? Well right now, you'd do anything to take all of him, to be filled with every last inch and every single drop of his cum.

"Yeah," you whimpered, head lolling through a nod. The building pleasure was so intense your muscles trembled. "Please? I love you, Valko. I want you."

Valko laced your fingers together to steady you and held your hand against the sheets, his pace never faltering. A growl rolled through his chest and throat. "I've gotcha, baby. I love you so much, d'ya know that? Love you so much. Need to breed you. Need to give you my knot…."

"Please…" you begged. "Need you…need all of you."

"Yeah? Okay, gonna give it to you." Valko gave you another kiss. He slowed down for a brief moment to give you a few measured deep strokes, filling you up just until his knot, only to cautiously pull out and drive forward with a wet smack! to fill you again. He was testing. No…he was teasing. Valko moved again, and again, setting this new pace while aiming for your sweet spot and further coating himself in you.

"Rightthere, right there—right—fuck—THERE!"

Valko chuckled. His ears rotated again, first the left, then the right, at the sound of your moans over the sloppy and slick sounds between you. "Yeah?" He pressed his length a little deeper this time, nudging your spot in a way that nearly made you cum and earning a breathy moan from you. "There, huh? I gotcha. Let me take care of you." His pace increased. "That's it…. Fuck, you’re so wet. Practically coating my knot with how much you're dripping. I need you. Need to take you."

"Valko…"

When moans matched his tempo, he whimpered. "I can't take it. Watching you get closer to falling apart around me…need to go faster than before now, okay? Are you gonna be a good girl and take it? Fuck…feels too good…don't think I can keep holding back—"

"Don't stop. Don't hold back." You stroked the hair at nape of his neck and his whole body shuddered.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. Please, Valko? I can take it. I wanna take it."

"Fuck…gonna make me cum talkin' like that…. So wet for me. So tight. I'll give it to you, gonna give you my knot, plug your tight little pussy, fuck you deep and full cause you want it so bad. I hope you don't regret askin' me for it."

"I won't."

He moaned your name. "My fated mate. You're fucking mine. All mine. Wanna give you my knot and prove it…make you mine…but…fuck, not yet."

"Why?"

"Not yet…gotta get you ready first…"

"But I am ready."

"No. Not yet. But you will be…need a little more…" He babbled. His hands dipped between you. Your hips jerked against his when his thumb grazed your clit for a moment before clutching your thigh again. "Feel how close you are. So tight…my knot's big. Don't wanna hurt you."

You nearly unraveled. Reaching forward, you grasped the sides of his face and pulled him down, closing the gap between you in a demanding kiss. Valko paused his thrusts, moaning into your mouth. You broke the kiss and moved down to the column of his throat and sunk your teeth into his skin, not too hard, but just enough to leave behind a slight indentation. Valko let out a higher pitched whine that dissolved into a broken growl. The sound was as intoxicating as the feeling of his dick twitching inside your walls. His hands slowly roamed up and down between your waist and hips, back to your thighs and up again. Your body relaxed into his.

"Atta girl," whispered Valko. He kissed you harder, his tongue pushing you both into something deeper yet gentle. He whimpered in need and you whined in return at the praise. He broke the kiss, then smiled down at you as you stared up back up at him with eyes equally glazed with desire. "I wanted to be a little more careful with you first. And now…now I just want to claim you. Is that okay?"

You nodded. "Mm-hmm…it's more than okay. It's perfect."

"Gonna fuck you full."

"Good." You leaned up, kissed Valko's human ear, and whispered, "now be a good boy and hurry up and fill me…please?"

With a quick and well-aimed thrust of his hips, Valko started up again. He was slightly longer than all of your partners except for Sylus, but, depending on if his ears and tail were present or the cycle of the moon, he was much thicker than him. You still weren't quite used to it. Each time you were intimate, just like Sylus, Valko took care to spend a little more time than the others to warm you up, and tried to be a little more mindful when he bottomed out and of the angle of his thrusts.

That said, you and Sylus developed an understanding with each other within the first few times of having sex. He knew when he could push the boundaries and be a little rougher with you, when pushing his cock deeper and harder until you cried his name was exactly what you wanted and needed. You and Valko, on the other hand, were still learning each other and how to navigate each of his sizes, along with the balance between too much and just enough.

And today, at this angle and in this mating press, it was too much and not enough and you wanted, no, needed him even more. Needed that extra bit of him, needed that knot pressing against your entrance.

Valko groaned, "Just…a little more, okay? Got a little more…gonna fill you, breed you. Wanna fill you all the way…can I?"

"Yeah," you gasped. "Yes!"

"You sure?"

"Please, please, I need to cum!" you begged, tears threatening the corner of your eyes in desperation. Your cunt fluttered around him and you could practically feel yourself dripping onto the sheets at this point. "Enough edging. I'm ready, Valko. I promise. Please?" You were whining now, moaning while attempting to grind against him and failing. "Please? I wanna feel you. You won't hurt me. I trust you. I really…need to cum…"

That snapped another layer of resolve holding him back. "You're that close, huh?" Valko hissed. "Fuck…me too, baby. I made you wait too long. Made us both wait too long. Fuck, I wanna ….wanna give you my knot…"

"Do it," you whined, "Please?"

"I love you. Such a good girl. My beautiful mate. Gonna breed you. Feel you dripping for my knot." His hips rutted forward. "Take it for me, baby. It's right…here."

In one short thrust, Valko's knot slipped past your entrance with a squelch. You gave a scream of pleasure. The stretch of your cunt around his knot was more than you anticipated, but it felt so damn glorious. "Ohhhh my—AH!" He'd pushed himself a little further, his knot sliding deeper until it was pressed firmly in your cunt. "Vaaalko…" you moaned, eyes rolling back for a moment. Your focus slowly returned to him and you panted at the stretch and the feeling of being so incredibly full. "Oh my…oh my godsss. Oh my…Astra. Valko…"

"You took it," said Valko, gasping, eyes wide. "You fuckin' took it." He pressed kisses all over your face and ended with one on your lips. "Good girl! My good fucking girl. You're such a good girl. Can't believe you took it, took all of me—oh, fuck! SHIT! M'gonna…m’gonna cum…"

Cum. The knot inside you, the way you were stretched around his entire cock to the base of him, the grinding of your clit against him, it was enough to make you do just that. Your breath hitched. "Valko—I'm—!"

"Cum for me."

It happened so fast you hadn't realized you'd managed to cum until the middle of your high. You clung to Valko, nails that we're previously pressed into his shoulder blades now dragging down his back in an effort to grab onto something, anything, while you fell apart. Your body flinched a few times but remained strung taught and tense, your back barely arched against your thighs due to the mating press. Your mouth gaped open but nothing came out, as if your voice was stuck in your throat.

Valko followed immediately after you, whimpering your name through a broken moan into your neck. His cock jerked as he spilled inside you. He sighed against your skin. "So good, so fucking good..."

"…Val…" your voice finally came back to you, hoarse and barely there.

Valko gave a small shift of his hips, his tail curled around the upper thigh of your left leg as if to further lock the two of you in place. The action caused him to cum even harder. The warm sensation currently flooding your core burned hot as he filled you. In an instant, you felt yourself cumming again—only this time, your vision blurred and a dizziness washed over you with the wave of pleasure.

A little over a week ago, when it became clear that Valko and Rafayel's cycles would align, you and your partners determined a plan. Or, rather, Sylus devised the plan and presented it to everyone. It went like this:

The day before Valko’s rut, Sylus would bring him and Rafayel to one of his more secluded properties, and the three of them would ride it out together. Valko’s rut, Rafayel’s Ebb Day, all of it. Luke and Kieran would stock the house the trio would stay in, and Sylus would ask Zayne to prepare a medical kit just in case. They’d all return once it was clear Valko’s rut had reached its end. 

You were against this idea, not because you didn't think Sylus could handle it, but because you didn't want the three of them doing this alone. Besides, you'd gotten used to helping Rafayel with Ebb Day and you'd be damned (verbatim) if you didn't help him with this one. You also wanted to extend the same support to Valko. Your connection to him was too strong to let him suffer another rut without you.

Sylus relented and the plan then included you joining him in helping Valko and Rafayel through their respective ruts together. 

Valko was against the idea because, while he instinctively loved the thought of you helping since you'd make it so much easier than going it alone, he didn't want you helping…and he also didn't want any member of his new pack helping. He didn't want to end up hurting you or any of them by accidentally going to far. Sylus laughed at his mindset, and made a few quips, noting that there were less painful ways to suffer.

You turned to your partners for help and an informal vote on how to proceed. 

Xavier, who would be away on a mission for just over a week, thought the idea of you helping with Sylus’s plan would work well. As long as there was a plan for ensuring your well being and safety during it, he didn’t object.

Zayne agreed, begrudgingly. He wouldn't be able to be around consistently so he agreed that a medical kit would be necessary. He would ensure you personally were equipped to handle an "intimacy marathon" before you went, and would send along the kit with anything the four of you would need. He also confirmed that he would clear his schedule the day after to see to any care you may need at home.

Caleb disapproved so fast you weren't sure he fully processed everything. But no, he'd processed the plan, understood it, and absolutely didn't want you going through with it. While he trusted Rafayel and Sylus (the former a little more than the latter, though he wouldn't outwardly say it), he didn't want you to go away with Valko. He was worried about what Valko's rut meant compared to Rafayel's, and he wanted to be around so, if needed, he could use his evol to keep him away from you. However he couldn't leave Skyhaven for a week or so, which meant he'd miss Ebb Day and potentially wouldn't be home until either after or on the final days of Valko's rut depending on how long it would last. Because of that, he yielded, reluctantly. He folded his arms and said he'd let you go through with it.  It was a statement that ignited Rafayel. 

"You're ridiculous, you know that right, Colonel Clingwrap? I'm more of a danger to her than Valko," Rafayel emphasized that night after dinner. "We'd never hurt her, period, but especially during our…times. She trusts us. You need to trust her judgment more, y'know?"

An argument ensued, because of course it did.

Caleb and Raf traded verbal barbs, you and Zayne tried to calm them both down, Sylus was utterly himself in ways that pissed Caleb off even further, and Xavier tried to distract Valko from the discourse by offering to share some of the snacks he was eating.

The conversation was ultimately tabled for the remainder of the evening, though the decision that you helping with Sylus's idea was the best solution hung in the air with a lasting tension.

Everyone went their separate ways for the night after that. Xavier fell asleep on the couch. Rafayel went into the small studio in the house to paint to cool off. Zayne went back to the hospital for a round of surgeries but first filled your hot water bottle since you'd complained just before dinner about cramps. Valko pulled out his laptop and decided to do some work alongside Sylus, who made a few calls to Luke and Kieran.

After showering, you went to bed and curled around the hot water bottle while anxiety bunnies bounced rent-free in your mind. Caleb headed back to Skyhaven but only after bringing you a cup of ginger milk curd tea, apologizing to you, and counting planes to help you fall asleep.

You woke up in the middle of the night with Xavier beside you murmuring in his sleep about how adorable you were. After quietly getting out of bed and leaving the room, you shuffled into the hall and overheard Sylus talking in living room. You turned to go back to bed but Valko's sniffles and watery apologies made you stop.

Sylus sighed. "You have nothing to be sorry for. I do have some…suggestions: you should listen to the advice of those who've experienced more ruts than the years you've been alive. You and I may be different, but…it's similar, nonetheless. Rafayel's, as well. It's different for what each of us are but, we all know what it's like to have that burning desire, that pain, that need and ache that consumes everything within us so wholly there's nothing else we can think about. We've encountered matters the other three could never imagine." He said your name and you could hear the smile and fondness in his voice, "she tries to understand. She just wants to do what she can to help because she loves as fiercely as she fights. Before you decide to truly go it alone, think on it. If not her, then at least let me and Rafayel help."

"But," whispered Valko, sniffling, "I'm already causing problems. I'm sorry, I don't mean to cry about it." He sniffed again. "Sorry, I just…gods, I hate ruts."

"It's normal. Don't apologize for them, or for your emotions before, during, and after them."

"I should do this alone."

"I don't typically advocate for that option, especially now that you have her and she's your mate. She…is your mate, right?"

"She is," said Valko, voice giving way to a slight growl. "She's my mate. She's locked in me. She's mine."

"Understood. Well," began Sylus, "in that case, while I get wanting to avoid certain things and I understand that you’re attempting to protect her as much as you can…I do think letting your rut run its course with her help is the best option. She's your mate, so long as she agrees, and it's clear she already has, let her help. But, if you're still adamant on excluding her, then I can get you suppressants. Rafayel previously declined my offer to use them, but I'll keep this offer open to you since you mentioned that you used them before. There's a supplier in the N109 zone that is vetted and trusted. They support quite a number of individuals like us. I can put you in contact and—"

"I don't like suppressants. I've tried them before and I…I don't like it. I always feel so sick. Besides, I've…gotten into the habit of leaving town for a while during them or staying away from people. I just go to the forest. But, if you have a better options, I'm open to it. I just…Sylus, I need her safe during my rut. I'll do anything to keep her safe."

Sylus frowned at that. "Keep her safe?" he echoed. "Valko, I need you to know you're not a danger to her—"

"Yes, I am," sobbed Valko. "I'm a danger to her and this pack. And I don't know that I won't hurt her! I've never had her or anyone during a rut. I'll lose control. I know it."

"You don't know that."

"Yes, I do. She already smells so fucking good to me every day. I know you know her scent…how intoxicating it is. I never truly understood when my packmates used that word to describe their mates but I get it now. I really fucking get it. I can smell her in a crowd, and not just because I've scented her. She's just that," he groaned, "she's just that good. Her natural scent is fucking delicious. And so is how the artificial scents from her shampoo and her body wash mix with it. Fuck, and how she smells after our scents have combined, and how she smells once I've scented her. Fuck. It's too much. And especially right now before this rut. I can't…Do you want to know how I first realized my rut was coming soon? The last two months, in addition to her usual scent, I could smell from miles away when she was ovulating. Do you have any idea how maddening that is? How the hell am I supposed to work when I know she's within a five kilometer radius of me? Last month whenever she was near me and wet, it took everything in my power to avoid bending her over this couch and burying myself in her. Holy shit. Ugh, just listen to me! I'm terrible. I sound so horrible. I'm horrible!"

Sylus chuckled at that. "You're not horrible. Besides, I'll let you in on a secret: when I'm in the N109 zone, I always know when she's coming to visit me. Do you know why? I can catch a whiff of her scent the moment she's on the bridge separating us from Linkon, usually no matter where I am in the area."

"Are you serious?"

"I wish I could say that it's a parlor trick that I could teach to you, but…"

Valko rubbed his eyes and groaned, then looked at Sylus. "It's like… every day this rut gets closer, I get more anxious because I just know there's such a chance that I will fuck this up if it's a bad rut. I don't want to scare her, or worse hurt her. I don't think I can handle it. I'll fuck this up. I just know it. I'm already fucking things up with this pack. It's been a major shift to have me around, and I know it's been a big change bringing me in and sharing her with me. I don't know how everyone truly feels but I know Caleb still doesn't fully trust me anymore after those months I was away."

"Sweetie, Caleb doesn't trust anyone who isn't Caleb. I'm also certain he doesn't fully trust himself. Besides, he does trust you, he just still feels hurt so he's playing cautious. He was worried sick about you. We all were. Plus, he is always a little territorial when it comes to her. I wouldn't use him as a barometer for how well you are or aren't fitting into this pack. Now, take a deep breath. You're only making yourself feel worse. And for clarity, you are fitting in. Everyone accepts you. Just ask her."

"Huh?"

"She's listening. You can come out now, kitten."

"Kitten, are you okay?"

Blinking, you gave a rugged breath and slowly moved your eyes to take in your surroundings.

Rafayel watched you, his cheeks and ears a vivid shade of pink from his fever and likely the arousal of overhearing your session. "There she is. Welcome back, cutie. You scared us."

You looked up at Valko, who stared down at you with concern clouding his amber eyes. Your hands had released their grip on him and lay at your sides. He'd adjusted your position so your thighs were no longer against your chest and shoulders in a mating press; instead, your calves were still on his shoulders, but the angle of your legs was more upright than before. He was also still very much deep inside you. A stickiness between your thighs led you to realize that despite it being from your combined arousal from earlier, you actually couldn't feel his cum dripping out of you. It was then you remembered how big his knot was and the way it was still plugging you shut.

"Kitten, over here. Look at me."

Through hazy vision, you blinked once, twice, then shifted your eyes to Sylus, who sat on your right side.

"What happened?" you asked.

He gave you a small smile that did nothing to actually ease the worried lines from his face. "You passed out. Valko called for us immediately so we came in to help. I'll explain more in a moment, just take your time coming back to us first." Sylus brushed some damp hairs away from your forehead while peering down at you. When you tried to shift your position, he gently stopped you by placing his hand against your chest. "Don't move. Give me a few slow breaths."

Doing as he asked, you inhaled slowly for three counts, held for two, and released for four.

"Again."

You repeated the action again under his instruction. In that time, Valko's tail moved to cover Sylus's hand were it rested. Sylus relented without a word or a glance and stroked your knuckles instead.

"Very good," he kissed the back of your hand. "Again."

You continued the breathing pattern.

Fuck. The last time that you'd managed to cum so hard you'd passed out was a handful of months ago after you'd been on all fours on the sofa thanks to the combination of Zayne and Xavier.

Zayne pounded into you with reckless abandon, desperate to release some tension after the day he'd had, and Xavier played with your clit while kissing you, claiming your mouth with such greed and hunger that it left you nearly breathless. The building pleasure brought on by your comparatively quieter partners (Quiet Dom One and Two as they were affectionately referred to in the group) was too much. Zayne made you both cum together and he'd barely managed to catch you as you promptly passed out. When you came to, Xavier was holding your legs up at an angle, while Zayne was in full doctor mode, buzzing around you and checking your vitals.

He'd noted that it was a vasovagal response, one that may have been worsened due to a number of factors including your activities, but he couldn't fully rule out that your protocore syndrome wasn't also one of the more significant reasons. Xavier kissing you the way he had while Zayne got a bit more carried way than he typically allows himself also didn't help. When you'd mentioned that you also hadn't eaten much during the day and you were a bit dehydrated, Zayne mildly scolded you and called a house meeting.

After that, a clear understanding of what to do when you or any one of your other partners lost consciousness became mandatory. Additionally, since aftercare was already a strong practice, a pre-sex ritual slowly became an unspoken rule in the polycule. There were now bottles and glasses of water sipped and available before sessions and sometimes during depending on how long they went on. Sleep became a higher priority, and everyone did their best to eat more regularly regardless of how busy their day became. Finally, certain activities were saved for after meals to ensure everyone was appropriately fueled.

Once Valko joined, he was brought up to speed on the protocols and made aware of what could happen to you if it was too much so he was prepared. Looking up at him now and seeing the way he held your legs the way Zayne had taught him and how his eyes flitted from Sylus and Rafayel to the rise and fall of your chest, your heart thrummed with happiness yet sank heavily.

He'd done everything right: he'd taken care of you during sex, remained worried about you and your comfort along with your pleasure. Now, instead of holding you close in the afterglow, he was holding your legs to get the blood back to your head, and he'd called out to Sylus and Rafayel for their assistance. He'd done what he should and reinforced that he really was a wonderful partner. But you couldn't shake the sadness bubbling inside you because you'd scared him. The downward curve of his lips, the relief in his eyes when you woke up…you'd scared him. Even though it couldn't be completely helped, you'd been the reason he'd been worried and scared. You were horrible—

Valko met your eyes just then. He gave a small shake of his head. He held your gaze for a bit longer and nuzzled his cheek against your calf. The action was like a soothing balm, instantly calming you and quieting the anxious chatter in your mind. He seemed to notice because the corners of his mouth curved up slightly in a tiny attempt at a smile. The unspoken meaning hit you as strong as if he'd said the words aloud.

Don't blame yourself.

The end of his tail lifted up a bit, then thumped back down against you. The motion was grounding. He did it again and, in addition to further soothing you, it redirected your focus to your breathing. You gave one last deep breath and returned your attention to Sylus who kissed your temple.

"How do you feel now, kitten?"

"Tired," you began, "but good…Valko was…really good. Feel full. Think I can go again if I need to…"

Sylus laughed. The deep timbre of his voice filled the room, and you couldn't help but to smile. "Kitten, you always find a way to surprise me. I take it you're feeling better?"

"Yeah, I feel okay. Just a little tired," you confirmed.

"Good, now be a good girl and don't try to do too much. Taking a knot uses a lot of energy. Don't overdo it. The good doctor won't let us hear the end of it if you do."

"I know. I'll be good. I promise."

Valko lowered your legs carefully and adjusted their position since you were still connected. The motion pulled a hiss from you and made you flinch. He frowned. "I'm sorry, my moonlight."

"Valko?" said Sylus.

"Yeah?"

"Got it from here?"

"Yeah. I've got her."

"Alright." Sylus stood and handed him a bottle of water. "You'll let us know if you need assistance again?"

Valko nodded once. "Thanks guys. I will. And I'm sorry."

"Don't be," chimed Rafayel. He looked at you. "Cutie, don't move too much. His knot isn't like mine, and we both remember what happened that one time I knotted you." When Valko growled at that, Raf rolled his eyes. "Relaaaax. It was before you met her here. I'm just making sure her taking yours doesn't end the way it did with mine."

The memory made you groan. "Raf…."

"Hey, I'm saying it because I care, but also cause I'm sure we're both still traumatized. Be careful."

That time was bad. Really, really bad. You'd never seen Zayne and Sylus so livid with him—or so livid in general. Xavier had been calm on the surface but you noticed his passive aggression toward Raf for over a week. In hindsight, you were just thankful the whole ordeal happened while Caleb was still assumed dead, otherwise you were certain Rafayel wouldn't be standing here to give you this warning.

"Also, Val, cutie is a bit of an overachiever in all aspects but especially when she wants to help us during our…tides. If you go again, keep a close eye on her, yeah?"

"I will. I promise. We'll be careful."

Sylus kissed your temple and left the room while Rafayel ruffled your hair and did the same before following. The door closed behind them, leaving the two of you to each other.

"Here." Valko held up the bottle of water and unscrewed the lid. "You need to drink something." The warmth of his hand under the back of your neck and head made you groan. Once you were propped up enough, you took two sips and rested your head against the pillow. "Atta girl. Think you can you give me one more drink of water? You need to hydrate."

Nodding, you lifted your head and took another sip. Valko kissed your temple. "That's my good girl." Once you were done, he closed the lid and placed the bottle on the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Better. I'm sorry about all of that. I'm a mess. Do you need to go again?"

Valko shook his head. "You're not a mess, and don't apologize. Taking care of you makes me happy." His tail swayed back and forth a few times. "I didn't do that on purpose! I just…" his cheeks flushed, "Well, as you can see it makes me happy. I don't mind taking care of you. You're my fated mate, and I love you. As for going again, maybe we can later or another day, my moonlight. For now, I think we need to stop. Plus," he glanced down then back at you. His cheeks grew more pink and the ears on the top of his head shifted from perked up to more of a flattened side angle as he continued, "I've been inside you for a while. Zayne's gonna kill me."

You frowned. "You could've just pulled out while I was passed out."

Valko gave a whimper and sighed. "I can't. I mean, I could, but it'd hurt you too much. I'm kinda…stuck for a while….I haven't ever slept with someone during this—not that I've even slept with a lot of people at all. And during a rut I'm always alone, or I've taken things so I don't have this…so…yeah. I'm sorry."

The knot. Ah, that's right. He'd be stuck inside you until it eased. But for how long? His knot was big, and it pressed so firmly inside you, you weren't sure how it would ever come out. Logically, you knew it would, but just thinking about it made your heartbeat jump. Would it hurt? Surely not. Raf's knots always slid out gently, surely Valko's would do the same, right?

Valko said your name.

His tail curled around your leg. Could he…wait, could he sense your distress? The moment you focused your attention back to him, he kissed you, sharp teeth nibbling your bottom lip. Once he pulled away, he nuzzled his cheek against yours and kissed your neck.

Yeah. He definitely sensed all of it. This was the second time, if you counted earlier when he held your legs up. Could he always sense your emotions like this? His nose was keen but this was different. Maybe it was the whole mate thing, or the bite he'd given you, or both. You'd have to unpack that later and ask him about it.

Taking a deep breath, you did your best to relax. "How long will your knot last?"

"Probably another 40 minutes? I don't know, but likely not much longer."

"Okay," you nodded. So about the same as Rafayel's. Okay, you could relax. "That's not so bad. Well…can you adjust positions like this? You're really deep and it kinda hurts—"

Valko whined. "Of course! I'm so sorry! I'm hurting you again."

"It's okay." You carded one hand through his hair and brought the other up to rub one of his wolf ears. "It only hurts if I move too much, but it's not your fault and it doesn't hurt a lot."

"I can move, but you're still really tense. I need you to relax a little more first so I don't make it worse while trying to move."

"Okay. I'm sorry—"

"Don't apologize. I'll help you relax. It's the least I could do since it's my knot. C'mere…" Valko kissed your lips, your chin, then buried his nose in the crook of your neck and took a deep breath. "You took me so well..."

You kissed his shoulder. Sighing, you leaned your cheek against him, waiting as his attempt to scent you and calm both you and your body down slowly worked despite being filled so fully. You felt your muscles loosen in his arms, the knot still firmly tucked in place. In one quick movement, Valko slid his arms underneath you and rolled you both onto your sides so one of your legs was hitched over his thigh, opening your pelvic floor up a bit for the knot to better rest inside you.

"How's that?"

"Yeah, a lot better, actually."

"Good. I don't want to hurt you like I did before. And I want you to be comfortable."

You knew he was thinking back to your second time together.

The two of you had been a little rougher with each other in bed. You'd been alone together that night, circumstances leading to your remaining partners being away and occupied. The sexual aspect of your relationship was still new, having only done it once but getting so close so many times to a repeat performance but getting disturbed by work or Valko's leader duties. Both of you were pent up, wanting and needy and desperate for release, and spent a good part of the evening surrounded by each other and wrapped together in a mating press. Everything was fine until later that night when you'd felt nauseous with some pain, and actually started bleeding.

You were calmer than you expected about it. After all, feeling nauseous after cumming happened once before when Rafayel managed to bruise your cervix at the start of a foursome and Zayne called an immediate end to the night. You just figured it'd happened again and simply stuck a pantyliner in your underwear, got back into bed, and cuddled up beside Valko, hoping the sick feeling would ease while you slept.

Valko, on the other hand, and he would deny this, panicked.

He was adamant that you go to Akso. He carried you to his SUV and then later from the SUV into the hospital. Which was a good thing too because you'd managed to bleed through your pantyliner at that point, and had puked once when he'd taken a corner too fast. When the nurses tried to separate you and have him remain in the waiting area, he emphatically responded that you were his mate when anyone questioned his relationship to you. He even stealthily made a plain silver band around your ring finger since you weren't wearing his signet ring. They granted him access privileges, though only just barely.

Between the ultrasounds and tests, he tried to call Zayne but you reminded him that he was in surgery so he left a voicemail. He did the same for Xavier, who was on a mission.

Rafayel didn't answer. At the time he was too engrossed in a painting to hear his phone, though he did meet you at the hospital an hour later.

Sylus answered in the middle of the first ring and you only managed to stop him from coming with the promise to remain in text communication because you weren't dying, just a little injured. He disliked your downplaying of your health and waited for you at home, though you did notice Mephisto lurking in the windows.

Caleb went to voicemail but earned a near instant call back. You could hear how furious he'd been on the phone, his initial concerned response composed of questions about you, where you were, and what happened dissolved into firm and quiet direction. He’d activated his Colonel mode, and you could see it in Valko's pained expression as he confirmed that yes, he did say you were at Akso and yes, you were okay.

Zayne appearing at your bedside after a successful surgery shouldn't have surprised you but it did. He'd gotten Valko’s voicemail and subsequent texts, and also Yvonne had sent one of the nurses to notify him once he was out of surgery that you were there. After looking at your chart and the results of the exam and tests, he pinched the bridge of his nose. Valko not only bruised your cervix but your activities together also managed to cause the rupture of a small ovarian cyst you didn't know you had. The rupture wasn't cause for surgery, and the bleeding had calmed enough that you could go home, but you'd need pain relievers and medicine for the nausea you still felt. Since you'd mentioned feeling pain when peeing while leaving a sample, he agreed with the gynecologist that it could be part of the bruising. However, he also wanted to keep an eye on it in case of any potential UTI in the coming days. Additionally, you'd need to avoid sex for at least a week or up to two while you healed, and come back for a follow up.

That was then.

Now, with Valko buried deep inside you, you knew this was a bit of déjà vu for him, especially after you'd fainted earlier.

Valko kissed you and stroked your cheek. "You sure you're okay? I still haven't forgiven myself for before. I won't forgive myself if I hurt you again."

You nod, "I'm sure."

"I was too rough, wasn't I?"

"No," you whispered, "it was all perfect."

"Are you sure? I…I lost control. You can tell me if I was bad to you. " His voice wavered as he began to spiral, "I know I'm horrible. I was rough with you. I marked and knotted you. I understand if you don't…want to see me again after this. It'll be hard for me but you come first. I should've taken better care of you. I'm a terrible soulmate—"

"Valko!"

"Yeah?"

"Please don't say mean things about my fated mate."

His eyes widened. "Baby, I—oh, no, no, no…. Hey, it's okay. It'sokayit'sokay. It's okay. Please…oh nonono." Valko cradled your face, thumbs swiping beneath your eyes at the tears sliding down. He pulled you against his chest. "Fuck, I didn't mean to make you cry. Shh, I've gotcha. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

You hiccuped and sniffed. Another round of tears you hadn't meant to shed surged forward and you wrapped your arms around Valko, holding him tighter.

"Shh, I'm sorry." He kissed the top of your head and cuddled his cheek against it. He sniffed once, then twice, and again, and you knew he wasn't just sniffing you, but crying too. Valko pulled away and stroked your cheeks. "Baby, look at me. Hey, I'm really sorry."

"You were being so mean to yourself," you whispered. "Don't be mean to yourself. Valko…all of this felt really, really good. I wanted all of this. Please, I need you to know that I wanted this. The knot and your mark…it only hurts a little," his face began to fall and you continued "but, Valko, listen. I didn't finish what I was gonna say. It hurts a little but it's just cause it's a bite so it stings a little after, and your knot has me stretched a bit more than I thought it would, but it feels good. It's just when it pulls a little, when I move like this to keep from shifting too much," you adjusted your hip a bit, "that's when it hurts, but it's not bad."

Valko immediately placed a hand on your thigh and scooted it up the side of his hip so your calf rested near his tail. You were still on your side but now you were closer to him and you could lean more against his pelvis. In addition to feeling more comfortable draped slightly over his hip, your entrance sat at an angle that kept his knot snug yet cozy inside you. "Better? My knot shouldn't tug at you or hurt as much like this. Should also help with how big it is."

You sighed in relief, "Yeah, it's much better. Good boy."

His ears twitched at that and his tail reacted with a few swishes. Valko kissed you gently, then whispered, "My good girl….Hey, my moonlight, why didn't you tell me before that it was uncomfortable?"

"It wasn't that bad. Besides, when it really started to hurt, I was going to, but someone was being mean to himself and I had to stop that," you teased. "But it's better now. It's just the mark that hurts, but it'll heal. Sylus's marks always did." When Valko raised an eyebrow at that, you sighed. "He's…he had a couple moments where his bites were a lot like this mark. The one he gave me on my neck didn't scar but the one on my inner thigh did. Raf didn't leave a scar because his healed almost instantly thanks to a Lemurian balm he used after. And before you ask, he likely won't share it. Which is fine because, I like having you on me. I wanna show that you did this. I just gotta accept the sting."

"Well, I can't do anything about your neck right now, but…later, I can make it better. The Elders have something for that. Since I'm a pack leader, they'll provide it and I can give it to you. And before you get anxious, they'll provide it without question, so don't worry. It might tip them off that I'm seeing someone but the Elders won't know about us and what we just did until we want them to. I'm under no obligation to share that private information, so you'll still be protected. And before you ask, I'm always extra careful about my scent around them too, so don't worry about that either." Feeling your relief, he chuckled. "I promise it's fine. We'll tell them on our time."

"Thanks, Valko."

He looked at your neck and frowned. "I really should've gotten some of that balm before this so I could take better care of you. Forgive me. Until then, we have Zayne's kit. He can look at it later too."

"Valko, how do you feel?" You asked. "I'm sorry, that sounded kinda mean and sudden. I just meant, you've been so worried about me, I want to make sure you're okay too. How do you feel? Am I hurting you?"

"I'm perfect. Never felt this good during a rut, and it's thanks to you. I mean it. It wasn't painful like it usually is. Knotting you helped more than you know. I don't think I need to go again later but I've never done this before with anyone, and you're mine, even more so now, which, that kinda helps me. But if…nevermind."

"No, what is it? Tell me."

"If I'm a little more…I don't know, clingy? Y'know, the rest of this rut, is that okay?"

You smiled. "It's more than okay. I'd love that actually. You know I never turn down Valko snuggles, especially with your tail. Whatever you need, remember? I promised I'd help you, didn't I? Besides, I think I'd be offended if you weren't clingy."

Valko looked at you in wonder. His amber eyes softening, a gentle fire behind them like a candle in a window on a snowy winter day. "I…really don't deserve you."

"Yes, you do. Because I deserve you."

"Hey…baby?"

"Yeah?"

Valko's human ears grew red. "Um, I, uh, I don't want you to worry about this. It likely won't take. Worst case you get a UTI after this because we're still locked together and Zayne will blow a gasket. But Sylus gave me some medicine so it…won't take."

A part of you was relieved, but that primal part of you, the instinctual one who desperately wanted Valko to fill you up and knot you and pump you full of his pups, really wanted this to take.

"You're…disappointed?" He gaped at you.

Your eyes widened. "How did you—"

"Your scent changed and plus I could feel it. Holy shit…you…you actually wanted me to breed you." His tail thumped at that and his wolf ears perked up despite his face being twisted in disbelief. "You wanted it to take. You wanted me to give you pups? I know things get heated in the moment, especially during ruts, but…baby, are you sure? Like, really sure?"

It felt right. And really, it wouldn't be so bad, would it? Valko was a good leader to his pack, and did his damnedest to fulfill his duties. You'd seen him with the puppers and, while they ran him ragged, he was so good with them and he took great care of them. He was also a doting partner to you and he fit into your polycule as if he'd always been there. Maybe one day, if Valko really did want it beyond what his rut was urging him to do, you'd carry his pups. You'd have to think about it when you weren't so heady from the emotions of his rut, and discuss it with everyone, decide if you'd carry anyone else's one day too, but…for now at least, that instinct thrummed heavily inside you. Being his, having a family with him, it sat in your marrow.

You nod. "Valko, I think part of me really did."

Valko growled and took your mouth in a devouring kiss. You reciprocated, tongue sliding against his, and groaned when he pulled back. He bit your lower lip, kissed it, and whispered. "Fuck…baby, you can't keep sayin' stuff like this and not expect me to react when I'm like this."

He met your eyes, pupils blown. His cock shifted inside you, pulsing with his heartbeat in your pussy at the thought. The feeling pulled a moan out of both of you. Valko lifted his eyebrows, asking. You nodded, answering. He kissed you again, hips snapping upward in small pulses inside you, giving you both some friction with his grinding despite his inability to pull out. It was more than enough.

"Shouldn't have told me that, baby. Shouldn't have told me. Next time. Gotta be next time," he growled again. "It will be next time, I fuckin' promise you that. Fuck those suppressants. Next time, I'm filling you up and it's going to take. I'll make sure of it. Next rut, we're not gonna leave this bed until I'm certain you've got my pups in you. We're bonded now. Gonna make you carry my pups next—and it will be more than one. Is that what you want?"

"Yeah," you gripped his shoulders and ground your hips against his, clit catching just the right way as you humped against him. "I want it!"

"I'll give it to you."

That was all it took. You and Valko came with each other, but it wasn't thunderous like before. It was softer. The breaking of a wave or the snap from a crackling campfire. This time he pressed his forehead against yours, your eyes locked on each others as you unraveled together. The intimacy of his eye contact and the way you were melded together was unlike anything you'd ever felt. You whimpered his name against his lips as you came, while he grunted once and huffed out a breath in his release. His nails gripped your hips, nearly breaking skin, stilling you. He released even more of his seed into you. The heat spread throughout your core and you felt the twitch of his cock in your lower stomach. He pressed against the bulge there and you sucked in a breath, riding out the rest of your orgasm.

"That's it…." Valko muttered against your lips. "Such a good girl for me. Did so good…you're doing so good for me."

You dropped your forehead against his shoulder, gasping as you came down. "Valko…'m so full….so good…"

He sighed against your ear, kissed it, and moved down to your neck, nose nudging the mark he'd left, taking in your scent. He stroked your lower back. "I'm sorry. I know it probably hurts, doesn't it? Are you okay?"

"Doesn't hurt, feels good…just full," you sighed. "Really full…"

"I know, I'm sorry. My beautiful mate, I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's okay. Just…don't let me go, yeah? Need to be close to you."

Valko gave a soft chuckle. "I won't. I promise. Need to be close to you, too."

The two of you stayed like that, your arms around each other, your legs entwined, his knot locked inside you. He kissed you slow and deep in between scenting you. Valko's tail grazing against you, further soothing you. After a couple minutes, he kissed you again. "How do you feel? Thirsty? Hungry?"

You snuggled against his chest. "Just want you."

Valko sniffed the top of your head and kissed it. "Well, you need some more water after a while. Plus, I don't know how much longer it's gonna be before my knot goes down. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah. Just a little tired though."

"I'd be surprised if you weren't. Still can't believe you took all of me."

"Of course I did. I'm yours, remember?"

"I'd never forget."

Valko continued to hold you close, occasionally nuzzling his cheek against your head, or sniffing your hair, or lifting your chin to kiss you. He traced patterns all over your back. His tail draped across your lower half to keep you warm. The sound of his heartbeat against your ear made it harder to keep your eyes open.

"Just go to sleep," he said, voice rumbling in his chest. "I can practically feel you fighting to stay awake."

"I don't want to fall asleep," you muttered. "What if you need me?"

"I won't need anything for a while, at least not until this eases and releases you. Rest."

"Okay…. Hey, Valko?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you…I love you."

Valko kissed the top of your head. "I love you, too."