Max put the barbells down, breathing heavily. He then put them back on the racks and leant back on the wall. This villa didn't have a lot of gym equipment, but they were enough for this session for him and Tom. Besides, this was just a light session.

The dog looked across the room and watched Tom running on the treadmill. He had to say, as his personal trainer, looking at him running on the treadmill, muzzle open with tongue out to regulate his breathing and body temperature, Max felt proud of the wolf. Tom wasn't trying to bulk up like him, but he still looked quite hot. His muscles looked more defined and developed now and he was more confident nowadays. That bloody fight also made them aware of the wolf's physical condition. Tom had endurance, so they only needed to increase and maintain his strength. Max was no mixed martial arts fighter, so he didn't know about Tom's fighting style—if he even wanted to know about that. All that he knew was the wolf could be deadly.

He shook his head and gulped his drink. Who knew that alone time was just the next day? The others left to explore the city while Octo was in his room to “do some stocks and stuff". Max knew the panther had stocks and stuff, but he was sure this had more things to do with his fight with Kevin. He felt bad for the panther and wanted to take him out for a pint or two, but Octo said he didn't want to be disturbed. It also gave him the chance to spend some time alone with Tom. Maybe they could snuggle on the bed all day or cook something.

The treadmill's timer sounded, and it slowed down until eventually stopped. Tom was leaning on the handrail when Max approached him. “Nice."

“I ran for 20 minutes!" The wolf heaved for air with his muzzle open and tongue out.

“Just 20 minutes."

“In 25 kilometres per hour!"

“C'mon, that's nothing for you." Max ruffled the wolf's head fur. “We're done, anyway. Let's get some water."

Walking to the living room, he pretty much carried the wolf there as he was leaning on him. The wolf plopped down on the sofa while Max went to the kitchen, then returned and put two glasses of water on the coffee table. Tom gulped it down. “Ah."

He gave Tom's head some pats as he reached for the television remote.

They spent the next few minutes cooling down. Tom wanted to cross his legs, but Max forbade him. Instead, Max pulled the small table closer and put his feet on it.

“Oi."

“What? We're alone here right now." He took a gulp.

Tom looked at him, then shrugged and did the same.

Watching the football game on the television, Max scrutinised the players as they played. One of them made a wide kick, but he groaned as it lacked precision. The ball went haywire and nowhere close to the same team.

“Oh, come on!" He growled as yet again, one of them made a wide kick. Like before, it went haywire. This time, though, it went outside the field.

The ball was kicked in again. This time, they actually managed to hold it in. They passed the opposing team's defence, then when one of them was close enough, he made a shot.

“Shit! So fuckin' close!" The kick was too narrow. It bounced on the ground and was caught by the goalkeeper. If only he kicked a little higher…

The dog drank the water as the goalkeeper threw the ball back into the field, but he turned his head when he felt a poke to his thigh. Tom was poking his thigh curiously, then poked his own thigh. Max mrf'ed amusedly but didn't stop him. Tom seemed to be comparing their thighs. “Thickness isn't everything, you know?" The dog chuckled.

“Yeah but…" Tom trailed off. “I still feel like a child next to you and the others, even Lucas."

“To be fair, Lucas radiates strong top daddy energy when he's not doing anything, but just talk to him and it turns into strong bottom energy."

“Yeah though, he does… wait how do you even know those terms?"

Max snickered, though his ears went down. “I did my research."

“That sounds very sus."

“Oi, I'm trying to gay here!"

Tom eyed him, then looked away. He didn't say anything, but Max watched as his ears slowly went down and down until they were flat. As they did, the wolf's tail began to wag, only for the wolf to hold it down.

Max just gave a chuckle and pulled Tom closer. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he was much more comfortable with his sexuality now. Honestly, it felt nothing much different from dating a woman. He liked Tom and his personality, and he was sure he would still like Tom even if he were a woman.

For now, he would familiarise himself with the wolf more intimately.

“H-hey!" Tom yelped when Max pulled him to sit on his thighs. Max didn't say anything, only burying his muzzle on his fluff and occasionally licking and biting the wolf's neck and shoulders. His hands hugged the wolf tightly, keeping him anchored.

Tom at first tried to get away, but gave up and let the dog do what he wanted. “I really am small."

“You're not small," Max licked the back of his ear. “you're cute-sized."

The wolf only let out a whine.

“Heh." He gave the wolf's ear a gentle bite. “You smell so good right now."

“Max, no horny!"

“Don't you want to sniff me?"

The wolf was positively blushing. “No horny!"

He lessened his hug, then booped the wolf in his hold. “Hehe. Hey cutie, did you know what the Angles and Saxons said when they arrived in Britain after the Romans left?"

“What?"

“Dayum bois let's tap 'em hard!"

Tom laughed at that. Max ignored the television, feeling proud of his joke… if that was even a joke. He hoped it was historically accurate, though. “Eh, I got another one. What did an Ancient Greek person say when a swan is watching them intently?"

Holding back another laugh, the wolf held the dog's arms “What?"

“Oh shit is that Zeus? Should I wear more clothes?"

They laughed at that and wagged their tails, the football match already forgotten. Tom turned around and looked at Max with a smile. “You're adorkable."

Max smiled back. “Says the one who reads books like no tomorrow."

“Well, the compasses don't seem to exist just yet, so I need to watch the stars."

“Is Zeus one of the constellations?"

“I don't need someone to watch me while rubbing their hands when I'm on the deck of the ship alone, thank you."

Max laughed. That gave him an idea. “Eh, anyway, since that workout is turning me on…" He leant closer and licked the wolf's muzzle, “and we're alone in this villa…" His hands went up the wolf's sides. “wanna get frisky? I'll let you suck me all you want." He winked.

Tom's ears went down in embarrassment. “No horny!"

He just laughed again. “Okay, okay. So, wanna do something together?"

“Uhh… what can we do?"

“You know, anything? Drive around the city, maybe?"

“We did that yesterday already."

“Oh yeah…" Max scratched his nape. “Well, we can go to the markets and find some noodles?"

That made Tom perk up. “Yes, yes!"

Giving a small laugh, Max then pushed the wolf away softly. “Well, let's shower now. We reek. Don't drop the soap or you're gonna make me act unwise."

Tom moved off of the shepherd's lap. “Max, they're using liquid soap here."

Max just shook his head with a smile.

Admittedly, none of them was really looking forward to this, but as they gulped down yet another round of sake, it didn't matter anymore.

Octo wiped his mouth and put the small cup down. After that fight two days ago—also Kevin slept in Max and Tom's room for two nights—they were really at each other's edge. The others of course must have noticed that they didn't talk to each other for the last two days, save for Andy as usual. No one really asked him about it, though, only Mike asked him if something happened and Tom cornered him earlier this afternoon and talked about it.

He didn't want to make it so obvious, but Tom was also close to Kevin, so that meant Kevin must have told him about it. The grey wolf didn't probe too deep, though. He just talked to him to make him relax and suggested that he and Kevin spend some time together.

It was silly, really, the reason they had a fight. Looking back at it, he felt childish and spoilt. The red wolf's phone had been cracked for quite some time and a few days ago it finally broke. He had offered to buy him a new one multiple times, but Kevin always declined. Octo understood that, but when he saw Kevin asking Tom to buy a phone, he felt… even more jealous.

Kevin had him, so why was he asking Tom?

Then, he felt angry. He felt like Kevin wasn't trusting him enough. True, their relationship didn't really feel like boyfriends, more like friends with sexual benefits. Ugh, why was the red wolf so hard to be understood?! He just wanted to help, dammit.

A few hours after Tom left, he felt guilty. Kevin was not someone easy to be controlled. He was a rebel and one had to earn his loyalty… of some sort. Tom had managed to do it, but Octo had not. He couldn't just force the wolf to do what he wanted. Money will not give him the way. Now, he felt like a control freak, and he felt really bad about that. Fuck, he really envied Tom and Max for having such open communication between them.

He also blamed his paranoid mind. He only wanted to keep all of them safe here. Westeravne was safe for them for this summer holiday, so why did he keep thinking that someone with malicious intent was here, watching them and waiting for the right time to attack? That was ridiculous.

So, Kevin trusted Tom more than him. Okay. No matter. He was jealous of that, but he only had to earn the wolf's trust. Also, he had to admit, drunk Kevin was a lot cuter, a lot more adorable, and a lot easier to handle than sober Kevin.

“Fuck, Oct, why you have to be so handsome?" In front of him, Kevin was leaning on the table and smiling at him. This was a traditional Japanese restaurant, so they sat on the floor with short tables. Good thing he got a private room for them; he didn't want people to look at his wolf.

He looked at their phones on the corner of the table, showing just how far the wealth disparity was between them. Sighing, he poured himself another cup and drank it, more than happy to not think about it. “I could say the same about you." He smiled back at the wolf. He wasn't drunk yet… well okay he was drunk but not as drunk as the wolf.

“Aw, thanks." Kevin blushed and smiled wide, closing his eyes with his tail wagging happily. See? Fucking adorable. Now, he envied Tom for having seen Kevin like this before. Hell, he might ask the grey wolf for some photos later.

Really though, why had they never gotten drunk together like this just the two of them?

“You know, uh…" The red wolf continued, scratching his ear and looking away. “really, thanks for that. I… um… well… that means a lot, coming from you."

“Ah, really?"

“Yeah… I love you, you dork."

This time, it was his turn to close his eyes, smile widely, and wave his tail happily. “I love you too, horn dog."

“Can I get a hug?"

“Come here." He patted the space next to him. Kevin immediately moved there and pressed himself closer to him. Octo pulled him into a hug and petted his head softly, inhaling his scent. “Who's my cute and handsome wolf? Who's my cute, handsome, and super sexy wolf?" he said as his other hand rubbed his chest and abs. The open shirt easily allowed him to feel the soft fur on the wolf's chest and abs.

Kevin laughed. “Me?"

“Of course you are." He laughed. “The sexiest in town."

The wolf licked his face, uttering happy wolf noises. Octo laughed and let him do it.

Kevin then lay down on the floor with his muzzles open like a puppy. Octo rubbed his stomach harder, then let it go and laughed again. “Big puppy."

The wolf caught his waving tail and began singing drunkenly with it as if it were a microphone.

“All I want is you~ No baby don't leave me~ I want you here~"

Octo reached out and petted his head again, a fond smile on his muzzle. He was glad that he had this problem sorted out.

Now, though, he had another problem. He could feel his lower parts go up as he looked at the helpless wolf lying next to him. He squeezed Kevin's pec, making him laugh. “Stop tickling me!"

“You want tickle? I'll tickle you alright!"

With all the force he could muster, Octo tickled the red wolf all over his body. He tickled his chest, pits, stomachs, even thighs, all the while Kevin was laughing uncontrollably with his tail wagging hard.

“Stop! Dude, stop!"

“No mercy!" He pinned his hands over his head and kept tickling him. One of Kevin's hands escaped his hold and knocked his arm away. That made him fall on top of the wolf.

They stared at each other, muzzle open and gasping for air. Their individual scents were mixing in the air, but the panther could still make out Kevin's scent, strong and hot and intoxicating. Octo shifted his shoulder a bit to be able to look at the wolf in the eyes, then let the wolf's other hand go. Kevin smiled and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “I love you, Octaviano."

The flowers inside him were blossoming. He leant down and gave the wolf a sloppy kiss, closing his eyes and properly repositioning himself on top of the wolf. When they separated, they gasped for air with their mouths still connected by a string of saliva. “I love you too, Kevin."

Kevin's hands went to the panther's sides, going up and down his chest and abs. “You're hot, too." He then sighed, then unbuttoned the topmost button. “Wanna take a wild ride with the wolf?"

Octo chuckled. “Does this give you ideas?"

“Mmmmaybe." Kevin's hands went down and cupped his arse. “But fuck it, I don't feel like pulling your tail." He laughed. “That's gotta be the first time."

“Wanna cuddle instead?"

“Want something more sexual, tho."

“Cuddle while naked?"

The wolf laughed. “Wanna feel my soft floof, arent'cha?"

“Aren't you too drunk to tease me right now?"

“Mrf. Too drunk to care."

“I'm gonna fuck you hard then."

“No! Please! Don't put it inside! It's so big!"

“If I'm not mistaken your dick is so hard it's poking my stomach right now."

“That happens sometimes." Kevin smiled coyly at him.

Octo just laughed and got up, sitting back up and pouring themselves more sake. “Get up. Don't get any ideas." He whacked the wolf's pec; it gave a little wiggle. “Eh, what time is it anyway?"

“I wanna get up but I don't wanna get up~"

Taking his phone, Octo's hand went back to petting Kevin's stomach. Whoa, it was almost 23. They should've gone back to the villa an hour ago. He saw several missed calls and texts. He opened several of them.

Thomas Luis: “Oct? Are you still there? It's half to 23."

Max Kleinschmidt: “Hey oct are you so drunk you can't get back? XD Call me if you need a ride."

Andy Wilson: “Ey bad panther is drunk? kek :v"

He was drunk right now. The panther gulped his cup empty and gripped his head, grimacing a little. Probably they shouldn't get on the bus. He called Max instead, putting the call on speakerphone when he couldn't even put the phone in his ear. “H-hey, Max."

The shepherd laughed on the other end.

“H-hey don't laugh!"

“Okay, okay." He was still laughing but then held it back down. “Since you sound so drunk right now, I'm guessing you want a ride."

He burped and scratched his ear. Kevin was singing with his tail as a microphone again. “Erm, yeah? Do you mind?"

“Just wait there. Me and Tom are gonna go there. Send me your location."

“Yeahhh will do. Thanks, Max."

“Thank me later when you're sober, or better after you puked." The shepherd laughed again. “See ya in ten mins."

“See ya." He put his phone back down.

Kevin was still singing. As he waited for the dog and the grey wolf, Octo lay down next to Kevin and sang along with him, also using his own tail as the microphone.

“I want to stay by your side~ you give me warmth in my heart~ I know I'm chasing the sun~ forever shining amongst the stars~"

Octo watched as Max put the seasoned meat onto the griller and took several steps back as it caught fire immediately. Max grinned in satisfaction as the others cheered. The fire burned the meat, then went out quickly.

It was their last night here. Everything had been going well according to his plans… well, he didn't actually have a plan, but still. They explored the city and more, relaxed at the beach, even booked some private massage sessions. Now, it was time to have a dinner party. They were leaving tomorrow morning.

Kevin's tail brushed against his own, making him look up. “Anything I can help you with, babe?" asked the wolf, arms crossed and brows raised. “Like, lathering it up?"

Octo just carefully put the mushroom pieces on the pizza he was making. “Shush. Go check the oven."

The red wolf laughed and walked away to do so.

Done with the pizza, he transferred it into a pizza peel and brought it to the oven. Kevin noticed him and moved aside, letting him put it in the oven. That done, he wiped his hands together before taking his gloves off.

Hands on his waist, he looked at his friends. Andy was helping Max cook the barbeque whereas Tom was inside the kitchen preparing the salad. Lucas was playing the guitar beside the pool with Vilkas and Mike singing beside him. Like this, he felt happy. He really felt closer to them, even Mike whom he just met on this trip. He was right; going to Westeravne was the best choice.

“So, how long does it cook?" Kevin asked him, pointing at the stone oven.

“About 15 to 20 minutes since the heat isn't big enough."

“Aw."

Earlier this morning, after he woke up with a terrible headache and a lot of throwing-up, he found Kevin in his arms. He wanted to enjoy the moment more but his stomach couldn't take another minute. Kevin also woke up with a terrible headache. After having breakfast, served by an all-too-amused Max, they finally could think straight.

Although Kevin realised what they had done the night before and was embarrassed, they showered together and were all mushy-mushy there. Octo couldn't help but chuckle; they made up and now Kevin was a lot happier, and in turn that made him happy. When Kevin wasn't being an annoying arsehole, he was really adorable.

They all had fun, and it was all that mattered.

Now that he only needed to wait, he figured he might help Tom out. However, just when he was setting an alarm on his phone, Tom walked outside and put a big bowl of steamed vegetables on the table. “Salad ready! Lemme get the sauces and plates."

“Lemme help you with that." said Kevin, walking after Tom.

Octo stared at the big bowl. He was hungry and that really looked like a delicious snack. However, he looked away and held back the urge. For now, he sat down beside Lucas. They nodded at him as he sat down but kept singing. Octo smiled and leant back on his hands, watching them sing.

“Allow me to paint the dusk, tracing the sky with all the fluffy clouds, we can lie down and go watch the stars, telling stories with laughs and cries."

He had to admit, Lucas had a really nice voice for singing. Coupled with the fact that he could play the guitar and that he was handsome, he sometimes wondered why the coyote was still single.

“Allow me to paint the night, bring you only the twinkling stars, to stay by your side and keep you warm, until we see your smile."

When the song ended, he spoke up, “Luc, you sound great, not gonna lie."

The coyote gently shoved his shoulder. “Heck no, I sound like a horny bird!"

“Do you know what a horny bird sounds like?" Vilkas asked.

“Sounds horrible, right?"

“They chirp and tweet for a mate, you know. They sound great."

Lucas went quiet for a bit, then laughed awkwardly with his ears down. “Uh… yeah… haha, I definitely don't sound like that." He gave the guitar to Octo. “How about you play now?"

Octo shook his head gently. “Sure. You want me to play what?"

“Uh, Sweet Summer?"

“No, play Extravagant Bone!"

“The one by Eastern Realm?"

“Yeah!"

“Are you challenging me or what? You know what, sure."

Octo was about to start the song when Kevin and Tom joined them. “Well, the salad is fully ready now. How long is the pizza?"

“Should be 5 minutes more."

“Well, how about keeping me busy till then?" asked the red wolf with a grin.

Huffing amusedly, Octo started playing the guitar. “I'm about to play a song."

“Naw babe let Lucas play the guitar!" He stood up and pulled the panther's hand along. “Let's dance!" Lucas wooed them as Octo stood up, giving the coyote the guitar. Kevin smirked at him, then said to the coyote. “Play some romantic shit, yote."

As Lucas started playing the guitar, Octo slowly started the dance. He put his hands on Kevin's waist while the wolf put his hands on his shoulders. They moved slowly, in tune with the slow music. He could feel all of them looking at him and making him feel a bit shy, but then Kevin booped his nose with his own and looked at him with half-lidded eyes.

Eh, why not?

He grinned and pulled the wolf, making more aggressive movements. Kevin stepped on his foot, “Sorry babe."

The panther just chuckled. “It takes more than you stepping on my foot to knock me down."

The red wolf laughed.

With that, he led their little dance. The others joined Lucas singing as the lyrics started. He took hold of one of Kevin's hands and pulled him closer. Spinning with the rhythm of the song, the wolf let out small shy laughter. Octo then lifted him up in a bridal style and spun twice, earning more shy laughter from the wolf. The others cheered at them.

Octo stared at the red wolf in his hold. He was handsome, problematic at times, but still really handsome and cute and sexy and everything in between. This wolf was a wild one, and he was more than happy to tame him with dinners, snuggles, and steaming hot sex.

Their movements slowed. Octo pulled him closer, so close till their noses touched. They looked into each other's eyes. Kevin's brilliant blue eyes contrasted with the red fur around them. They were unlike Max's gentle and innocent gaze, they were like a small sliver of ice in the middle of a fiery field, just like how one had to navigate through the wolf's antics to get to his real side.

He smiled and closed his eyes. He felt happy.

Then, an idea popped into his mind.

He guided Kevin a bit farther from the others, letting the wolf go save for his arm. That made him almost fall and stumble into the pool. Almost, though he was tempted to just let him fall instead. The others laughed at that.

Kevin held him in the chest with heavy breathing when he pulled him back. “Dude, don't… don't do that again."

Octo just smirked. “I thought you liked thrills?"

“Yeah but being thrown into a pool at night by your boyfriend ain't romantic, babe."

“At least we can dry your fur and brush it later in the bed."

Kevin groaned. “Fuck, brush me."

Octo laughed. “We could do a lot more and you want me to brush you? Sure."

The other cheered at them. “Kiss already!"

“Kiss! Kiss!"

“Throw that fucker into the pool!"

Well, Kevin was very close, just a small kiss wouldn't hurt…

His pizza alarm then rang.

Kevin's ear flicked to the table as he looked up there. While the wolf was unaware, Octo gave his forehead a small kiss and let him go.

Gently shaking his head, he walked to the oven whilst feeling Kevin's surprised and flustered gaze on his back. When he was taking one of the pizzas out, Max clapped his hands and said loudly, “Food's ready! Best served hot so be quick! Also get your mead ready!"

Octo just smiled as he put the pizzas onto the plates. That was his captain, alright, his leader instinct never faded. Bringing the plates to the table, he saw them pretty much already drooling at the food, especially Kevin. With everyone holding a glass of mead, he finally put the plates down, then nodded at Max. The dog nodded back and turned to the others. “Before we eat, let's take a moment to thank this panther who really went out of his way and invited us here."

Ears going down in embarrassment, Octo took his glass of mead. “Come on, Max. No need for a speech."

Max just snickered, then pulled him into his arm, making him involuntarily blush. “Don't be like that, panther. C'mon, you gotta be bored as fuck to do all this." He laughed whilst ruffling the panthers' head fur. “Well, I'm not gonna keep everyone waiting. For Octo and his holiday idea." Max put his glass of mead up and everyone followed. “Kwase blóð warþt meðe. Dwerges sjyld warþt meðe. Wóðens låst stalt meðe. Úr frøþ ferþént meðe!"

Everyone replied, “Úr frøþ ferþént meðe! Wål!"

Octo drank the mead and watched with a fond smile as his friend ate the food heartily, laughing and telling stories with each other. He couldn't hold back the heat blossoming inside him. Everything seemed so perfect now. There was no worry in the air, only joy and festivity. Kevin complained that the mushrooms on the pizza tasted weird, so he gave them to Tom who was eagerly eating the roasted meat from Max. Lucas was already making himself a salad with sausage on the side, earning jokes from Mike and Vilkas.

Octo let his tail wave eagerly and served himself a plate. He did not regret bringing them here for the holiday. This really helped him a lot for what was about to come.

Notes:

“Kwase blóð warþt meðe. Dwerges sjyld warþt meðe. Wóðens låst stalt meðe. Úr frøþ ferþént meðe!" = “Kvasir's blood became mead. (The) Dwarves' fault costed (them) mead. Woden's/Odin's desire stole mead. Our joy deserves mead!"

This is a common short poem (singular “rím", plural “ríme", English “rime" or “rhyme") in South Icelandic. There are many short poems in South Icelandic, some are hundreds of years old. They often use artistic words, have cryptic meanings, or employ uncommon constructions. For this one, it retells the story about the origin of mead in Germanic culture and is usually recited before drinking mead in a party. Mead (meðe) itself is an alcoholic drink generally reserved for special occasions unlike ale (“ól), beer (“bér"), and wine (“wín").

“Wål!" = “Cheers!" (literally “Health!")