The next day started as the others. Denver and Long Fang noted Silver was missing, his assistance replaced by another of Nova's brothers of another mother, Swift River. Otherwise, they all worked at getting the heavy harness on him. Out in the sunlight, Denver couldn't help but comment on how soft and shiny his pelt was, taking every chance to give him a quick pet.

Anubis wasn't a fool. Thinking back, what Denver was doing would have been aggressively criticized even if he were a _Wogtal_, but Anubis came to the realization that he didn't really mind. The omega was both adorable and submissive, his two favorite things. Smirking to himself, he mused briefly just how simple it would be to turn the boy into a hot mess when he gave his haunch a stroke before snatching back his hand. 

Today, he was to haul great trunks of trees that had been traded for from a passing flat bed over to the sawmill. Plenty of the buildings needed new planks before the winter set in. As he stood to be hooked up, the smell of the trees assaulted his nose. These trees came from the same forest in the mountains, and he wasn't sure if he should consider whether it smelled like home or hell. 

The path that he had to walk to drag the logs took him through the heart of the commune. Along the way he had to pass Jack, Fern, and White Toe working on pulling the broken engine from the tractor. The thing leaked fluids that made his nose ache, and yet they hardly seemed to notice. So focused were they on what they were doing, he had to shake his head. Their senses were so dulled, none of them would last a week in the mountains. Although, come to think of it, he had thought that of Nova, too.

His ears perked when he heard coquettish giggles near him, drawing him from his thoughts. A couple women stood together by the drying racks, watching him and whispering. When he walked back to get another log, the crowd had grown. By the time he was returning, leaning into the harness, it had grown again. By his third pass, he could not help but smirk and make a show of his strength with a little saunter. Some half dozen women eyed him keenly, their tails swishing while giggling so loud that it was gaining Jack's attention.

“I bet those paws turn into some big hands,” purred a mottled tri colored kappa unabashedly, cupping her cheeks dreamily.

“What?” Jack peered over at her.

“Oh, I'm sure,” another responded as they ignored him. “And just look at those shoulders! Like mountains!”

Fern's head popped over the tractor. “What?”

Jack rolled his eyes at the women. “Of course he's got big shoulders! He's a Dire!”

As soon as Fern followed their gazes and grinned with his tongue hanging out, White Toe struck him with the wrench. “No! Bad dog. Keep your dick in.”

The women tittered together, wagging their tails as they watched Anubis haul the last log.  “And how his haunches bulge with power...”

“His bulges even bulge with power!”

“I'd like to see the power in the bulges under his tail!”

They all yipped in laughter. Jack groaned and smacked his forehead against the side of the tractor. 

Scrambling to the top of the tractor, Fern waved his grease covered hands. “Hey, bitches. Don't ye have fish to be dryin'? Ya'll distractin' me!”

One of the women stuck her tongue out at him “Oh yeah, cuz _we're_ the distracting ones!”

As the crowd dispersed, one of them stated “My fish can't ever be dry with him around” and they burst into laughter again.

“What did I do?” Jack muttered to himself.

“What'd ye do?” Fern repeated incredulously. “What did ye do? Why, ye only dropped a very handsome wolf in the middle o' a pack o' thirsty bitches, and ye insisted he be naked!” He threw up his hands and pointed to Anubis already in the distance. “For fuck's sake, look at the glossy bastard! Ye can see his balls from here! They're fuckin' glorious! It weren't yer brightest idea, Jack.”

Jack glared up at him, then over at White Toe when he agreed with his brother. With a growl, he turned back to his work. “I'm gonna neuter 'im.”

“Ha!” White Toe barked. “You an' what army? Gonna call Khade'grr?”

Fern squatted down to peer at his alpha. “C'mon, Jack, we're no good at this slave business, and he's been 'bout as dangerous as an aggressive sneeze. He's either gonna be part of the pack, or he has to go. This whole thing's been more torture for us than him. Fuck, he almost looks like he's enjoyin' it! I wouldn't even need to force 'im to suck my dick. He'd do it just cuz he's more into the slave thing than we are.”

“If I suck yer dick, will ye drop it so we can get this done?”

Fern gasped, his hand in front of his snout. “Don't do that to me, Jack! Not unless ye mean it!” He put his hands over his heart. “I only been dreamin' o' it since we was pups!”

Rolling his eyes with a barely contained smirk and shake of his head, he sniffed the air and redoubled his efforts. “Unless ye intend to be doin' this in the rain, let's get back to it.”

Standing tall, Fern put his hand over his eyes and squinted into the distance, frowning. “I hope Iron Gale stays with the otters tonight. Hey! Garth! Time to buckle down! Storm's a blowin!”

Within an hour, the storm flew in with a vengeance. Everyone was scrambling to get things put away. By the time Anubis was done hauling equipment into the various barns, and assisted in herding some of the wayward animals back into their protected pens, the chill wind was blowing dust into the air until it was near blinding. Denver and Long Fang hurried with removing his harness, and rushed out of the barn, not even looking back to ensure the door of his stall was latched much less locked. 

Rolling his eyes, he fluffed up his bed of hay and flopped down, ignoring the growl in his belly. Closing his eyes, he listened to the angry rain pound the roof in furious sheets. He really should get sleep, considering how weary he was, but there were things behind his eyes that he did not wish to relive and stared blankly at the hole in a plank of the wall. Thunder rolled overhead, many flashes illuminating a figure at his door. Perking, his head snapped around to find Nova soaking wet and holding a big bowl of the meal they had all shared that evening, though it was well past dinner time.

“Uh,” she started nervously, her teeth nearly chattering, “D-Denver said he forgot to feed ye, so I told 'im I'd... make sure someone took care of it.” She put the bowl down, her hands shivering with the cold. “I-I... had to wait for omma to go to sleep.”

His eyes narrowed wickedly and he rose to his paws, stalking towards her with the focused gaze of a hunter. Her breath caught and she stepped back but bumped into the corner of the doorway, and he was already too close for her to reconsider. She panted hotly when he sniffed the air and met her gaze knowingly. She wasn't in heat, but she was plenty needy.

Licking her nose and gulping, she lowered herself submissively, and gathered the courage to whisper, “just... just don't knot me, o-okay? Ju-just in case.”

Raising a brow, he pointed to his muzzle expectantly. Swallowing hard, she tugged the buckle until it fell to the ground and was as forgotten as the dinner. 

Pressing his nose against her crotch, it made her gasp. He took a deep sniff and looked up at her with a devilish smirk that sent a shudder up her spine. Whimpering, she obediently unbuttoned her shorts, biting her lip when he pawed them down far enough for his searing tongue to lap at her damp spade. Every commanding lick made her gasp and whimper, her legs shaking to hold her up against the onslaught of sensation. She was practically perched on his nose, a hand on his head to steady herself while he helped himself to her needy hole. 

Just as she grew hazy, he moved so he could nudge her away from the wall, making her trip forward. Stepping over her, he put an enormous paw over her head, pressing her helplessly into the hay. Gasping for air, her heart pounded in her chest. His other foreleg wrapped forcefully under her belly and jerked her hips up. His paws spread her legs wide, exposing her to his whim. This was what she was here for; to be dominated, and he knew it.

As he rubbed his throbbing length along her spade methodically, he leaned down into her vision and growled deeply, the entire building rumbling with the thunder that roared at the same time. “My pet.”

She whined in a way he had not heard from her before. A fiendish grin bared his teeth when his shaft was instantly dripping with her arousal and her hips squirmed in desperation. “Yes, yes, Master,” she gasped, and couldn't tell if it was more thunder or his approving growl that made her body vibrate.

Smug and pleased, he leaned back, clutched her hips tightly, and plunged his length to just before his knot in only a few thrusts despite how tight she was. So full of him, she moaned and panted, lost to the waves of pleasure crashing through her as he began at his leisure until working to a crescendo.

Putting a paw next to her head so he could lean into his thrusts, he panted against her ear, feeling himself drawing close. With a low growl, he pulled on her scruff, demanding her complete surrender. Her hands gripping the hay, every last shred of resistance melted, so lost to the thrill that she was willing to take every last inch of him had he intended it. For a moment, he pondered it; to _remind_ her that she _belonged_ to him, as he always had. Like property.

With a feral groan, he pulled out and rubbed his throbbing shaft against her ravaged pussy as the ropes of his cum shot out of him hard enough to rustle the hay. For a long moment, they panted together, trying to regain their senses. Flopping over with a thud, he nuzzled and licked her cheek. The sweet, satisfied smile she gave him made his whole body tingle, and he forgot how to breathe for a moment. She had never done that before, always seeming so ashamed when he was finished. Squirming over, she slipped between his legs and snuggled into his dense, warm fur, listening to the storm until a shocked gasp startled them both.

Realizing the morning had already started without them, they scrambled to separate as Denver put a hand beside his eyes and turned away, stuttering “I-I-I don't- I don't see nothin'. I-I don't know n-nothin'.”

“I'm so sorry, Denver,” Nova whimpered, pulling her shorts up and rushing out of the stall without glancing back. 

Gulping, Denver leaned down to pick up the discarded muzzle. “Ye, uh, ye better, uh, finish yer break- breakfast,” he muttered awkwardly before retreating to complete some other task, leaving the muzzle on a bench. 

Knowing Nova's scent was all over, Anubis did the only thing he could think to do. After all, it hadn't been uncommon for the slaves to piss themselves because they had been forced to hold it too long, and the smell was strong enough to cover everything.

Long Fang was the one to peer at him curiously from around the corner a moment later, his snout wrinkled. “Really? Yer gonna be the one that cleans that. Don't even look at me. Now ye come out here so I can put this on. I ain't goin' in there.”

Accepting his muzzle, he plodded outside with Nova's cousin and waited for his orders while Long Fang went to find Thorn, another of Nova's brothers from a different mother. Silver was still missing, but Anubis could hear the muffled moans coming from the cabin on the other side of the barn and smirked to himself. The man was intent on making some pups, and Anubis couldn't blame him. Just like her sister, Luna was delightfully submissive and her heat was strong enough to fill the air even at this distance.

“Nova! Nova, where are ya?”

Perking, then quickly looking back at the ground, Anubis felt his heart thumping in his chest. It was Cloud, her ears twitching as she listened for an answer. Growling when none came, she put her fists on her hips. “Where is that girl? She shouldn't be leavin' Veka alone like that. She'll never gain rank always messin' 'round like this.”

“Here, ommy!” Daring a glance, Anubis peeked up to see Nova running over, her fur wet enough that she had only shaken off before throwing her clothes back on. 

“Finally! Where've ye been? I been lookin' all over. Why're ye wet?”

Nova scratched her ear nervously. “Oh, uh, I-I were... down by the river! I, uh, I fell and got muddy. Uh, had to go wash up!” 

Raising a brow, Cloud eyed her daughter suspiciously before chastising her for abandoning her duties and shooed her off.

Today went as any other day, but he did not see Denver for most of it. The teen had been such a constant companion. Anubis could only imagine the shame the poor boy felt knowing such a secret. It certainly hadn't been the smartest idea, though it had been the most restful sleep he'd had in a long while. 

His work was done earlier than usual. Returned to his stall, he was surprised to discover had been cleaned and laid out with fresh hay. So this was where Denver had been. Sniffing around, he would have to find a way to make it up to the teen for covering him like that. Only Caesar and Terra had ever done such a favor for him.

An excited howl became several which became nearly the whole pack. Anubis could hear the growl of a truck pulling into the hamlet. Iron Gale must have returned. And by the sound of the excitement, he had won the bid for the engine. _Good_, he sighed, glad that something helpful had come of those beads.

The truck rattled all the way into the great lodge, and the pack followed. After all, a new engine would be a target, so they would put it in the most secure building for now.

Just as he had curled up and tried to get comfortable, a familiar figure was at the door. Nervous and unable to look at him, Denver informed him in a meek stutter that he had been given permission to join the celebration.

Standing, Anubis approached him slowly, eye level with the omega who stared at the ground. Not knowing what else he could do, he slipped his head over the teen's shoulder, a forearm wrapping around his waist. Denver gasped but did not resist. Sinking into his fur, his tail waggled a few times before he stiffened and pulled away, still looking at the ground.

“Uh, I-I don't like secrets b-b-but I, uh, I l-like ye a-a-an' I don't want y-ye to g-g-get in trouble. O-o-or Nova. We, uh, we, uh, sh-should get going.”

Giving him a nod, he followed along after him into the building with the mural. Before they even entered, the pulsing, upbeat music from the speakers spilled out into the night. It was the first time he had entered the great lodge. Directly inside was parked the old dusty truck, a large wooden crate in the back. On the other side of the truck away from the rest, Iron Gale was already tied with his mate straddled on his lap, holding her close as they kissed and nuzzled tenderly. The walls were covered in paintings of every sort and style, some flowing together, others abruptly clashing. There were benches and tables all about the sides, currently covered in food and several bitches who were moaning hotly as they were vigorously pumped in varying positions and with varying numbers of partners. Fern and White Toe were engaged in a drinking match, the first one finishing getting to slug the slower drinker in the shoulder. 

As his eyes roamed, taking in every member now that he could see them all together, they were inevitably drawn to the swishing tails of 3 naked bitches held high in the air to show their swollen spades. The sweet smell of their heats was thicker than the pungent haze in the air. Kneeling before a large chair made of wood and plush leather, their attentions were entirely on Jack's erect member in front of their faces. Their tongues lapped eagerly at his shaft, huddled together between his legs. He had the most cocksure smirk, leaned back in the chair, one leg slung over an arm rest as he watched them. Placing a hand on the middle one's head to push her all the way to his knot, he took a long hit from the pipe in his other hand, a thin line of smoke writhing up into the air.

His gaze flicked up and noticed Anubis. Immediately, his expression grew cold, eyes narrowed. Smoke shot from his flared nostrils in a sharp exhale. Locked in a battle of wills for a heart beat, Anubis had to surrender when the Alpha's snout wrinkled. Swallowing his growl, he plodded after Denver to the far corner where the low ranks sat.

Taking a breath to calm himself, his nose tickled and he looked up to realize Nova and Veka sat at the table. Nova was staring at him, quickly looking away when they met gazes. Noticing Anubis, Veka very nearly lunged to her paws, her old training kicking back in. The others were startled, but Nova quickly diffused it, taking Veka's hand and gently pulling her back into her seat, whispering something to her that Anubis could not hear over the music. 

After he sat back on his haunches beside the table, he figured it was best to keep his eyes averted from the two and kept observing the celebration. He had to admit he liked what he was looking at here a lot better than any celebration he had seen growing up. There was no stench of fear, no slaves, no whips, no punishments, no force. When Thorn, a gamma, tried flirting with an omicron, she turned him down. Rather than be upset, he shrugged and returned to dancing with the others in the large open space.

His muzzle was removed and a massive plate was piled high before him with all the foods they had made for this occasion. Before he was finished, another low rank offered him a bowl of the ale that flowed freely from several barrels. He had hated the bitter taste of the wine his people had made, but the ale here was rich and sweet and strong. Strong enough that after several more helpings, he could hardly stay on his paws, his head swimming pleasantly.

“Denver!” Fern cried out drunkenly, apparently having won the contest as White Toe was sprawled on the floor. “Denver, ah need meh good boy!”

Blushing hotly, the boy's tail wagged and he stumbled over, falling into Fern's welcoming lap. Their hands were immediately all over one another, and it was hardly minutes for Denver's moans to join the growing choir of other pairs as he bounced to the rhythm of the music. 

Speaking of the music, it wasn't like anything he had heard. Synthetic and energizing, he couldn't help but sway with the beat. Watching the dancers, his heart skipped multiple times when he spied Nova join them. As though a beam of light had shot through a crack in a storm, she was all he could see, all he could focus on. He forgot how to breathe when she peeked over her shoulder at him with heavy lashes and coy smile, turning away to sway her hips, her tail swishing suggestively. 

His giddy smile dropped in an instant when bared teeth and a vengeful green glare shattered his festive concentration. Cloud had stepped between them, closing the storm overhead. Suddenly entirely too sober for his own liking, he clenched his jaw, lowered his head, and stalked through the open path along the side towards the door. Anyone even near stepped away, watching him go, but no one tried to stop him.

The cool moist air of the night was sweet, but he didn't notice. Heading back for his stall, he heard the wet squelch of a paw in the mud behind him. 

“W-Wait. Anubis.”

Pausing, he didn't look back at Cloud. She took a long, pensive breath. “I... I'm sorry. That weren't necessary. Ye... shouldn't leave cuz o' me. Yer the reason we're celebratin' at all.”

His festive mood already broken, he sighed and continued towards his stall. She stepped after him and her voice stopped him again.

“She... she talks 'bout ye _all_ the time, what ye did to 'er... an' what ye did for her. My heart breaks when she tells me 'bout... all those things she saw. 'Bout that 'Slave Maker.' What an awful man.” She shook her head. “Naw, see, I didn't mean that either. He weren't a man. That was a true monster! She says that ye hated 'im just as much as anyone, an', well, that's gotta count for somethin' cuz even the devil 'imself couldn't fathom what he done.”

She took a shuddering breath. “Wild River never even knew she came home. He--he died thinkin' she were dead, or... or worse. We got that letter the day 'fore he died, that she were missin'.” Her voice grew harsh and thick as she tried to hold in her emotion, looking up at the stars that peered through the drifting clouds. “He died cuz he weren't payin' attention! He were so busy thinkin' 'bout her, he never even saw it! I... I thought I'd lost my darlin' pup, an' then I lost my mate, an then she came home with ye, an' he weren't here to know! Ye stole my pup, an' ye stole my mate an' I—I just don't even know how to feel....”

She gasped when he turned, taking a step back, but he had already snagged her around the waist, holding her tenderly. She was so tight in his embrace that all she could do was shatter, falling to pieces, sobbing into the fur of his throat. 

Even if he could speak to her, he could think of nothing that would make any of her experience less painful. He could tell her how he had never meant for any of that to happen. He could mean with all his heart and soul for it would be the truth. But those were not soothing words in this moment.

“A hunter must take patience as his mate,” was a proverb among his people. It was a virtue that was often helpful for other circumstances, such as waiting for Cloud to gather herself. 

Shuddering, she pulled away from him quickly, wiping at her eyes. Shaking her head, she sniffed and had to compose herself for a moment. Thinking quietly to herself as she chewed on her lip, she glared at him again, her face fur shining in the light where it was wet.

“I don't forgive ye... not yet. Ye hurt this pack so deep. But... ye've been helpin' stitch it all back up, an' as much as I wanna hate ye an' everythin' that ya are an' what ye did, yer helpin' us in ways I can't even thank ye for. That engine's the best thing to happen to this pack since I were a pup.” She thrust her head to indicate for him to follow. “Come back an' celebrate it with us.”