...My Master’s eyes open and he looks up at me, I beam.

He winks and gets up slowly, strongly to his feet. The Admiral gets up slowly as well but stays sitting, breathing with his head down. I’m worried about him for a second but then he lifts his head meeting my eyes briefly, his eyes are strong. He lowers his eyes again, just listening to his fate.

“Perhaps we will have two Admirals, the Captain suggests to his counsel that way we don’t have to watch these two tear each other to pieces every week.” The Admiral looks surprised briefly before returning to his previous stoic-submission.

Murmurs of approval.

“They are both very close ranked in strength.” Somebody agrees.

“Then it’s settled,” The Captain says, “once the old Admiral has regained his strength we will have two equal level Admirals.”

The other wolves go up to my Master and lower their eyes and heads submissively, congratulating him and laughing. Then cockily make eye contact with the old Admiral who lowers his head or looks away. I jump when someone even bears his teeth at him and spits. But Master grabs them by their scruff and growls something softly that I can’t hear. The Captain comes down and makes brief eye contact with my Master who gives a curt nod. Before he walks out of the courtroom. Soon everyone else does as well. Master throws the offensive wolf after them until it’s just me, the telepath, and the two wolves.

As soon as the door closes Master falls to the floor with an exhausted sigh. The old Admiral lay down too with a groan. I drop onto all fours hurrying to my Master.

“I’m fine,” he whispers and just reaches up to kiss me.

“What about the rules?” I worry, “I think you need to rest a little bit longer!”

The Admiral chuckles, “I’m not considered a wolf right now so you’re alone.”

I frown, “that’s cruel.” He shrugs and says, “I dunno it’s kind of nice not to have to stress about being perfect for a week.”

Master flops an arm across the Admiral’s chest, “You need more rest, you’re talking crazy.”

“A week?” I gasp. The telepath comes down and gently touches the not-wolf on the shoulder.

“I’m sorry, this is partially my fault.”

“Oh that’s right!” 'Growl.' “What in the world possessed you to finally challenge me? I’d all but given up on you.” The old Admiral asks.

“That cunty bitch, so-called doctor tried to take Syl from me.” Master gravels. I hug him letting him know it’d be okay.

“Oh,” the old Admiral laughs, “Nice to know it had nothing to do with my years of training or advice.”

Master sits up on his elbow and growls half-heartedly, “Watch the way you talk to me dog.”

“You know you don’t really care.” After a long second the old Admiral sighs. “Can I stay in your home for a week.” I blink looking from him to Master.

“I, I have to think about it.” Master says sitting up with a grunt, “I don’t want anyone treating you like a dog but…” He looks at me. I tilt my head confused. “I’m worried the others will say our fight was staged or something if I protect you.” He reaches for me and I curl up in his arms.

“Were you scared?” He whispers to me. I nod. “Did you think I was gonna lose?” He ruffles my ears.

“I, I was convinced you were dead after your spine-” My voice breaks and he hugs me.

The old Admiral coughs, “Yeah sorry about that.” He pokes at the telepath who bats his finger away. “It’s just how it goes, love them one day, try to kill them the next.”

“Love them?” I ask, confused.

“Yeah,” he says tilting his head at my Master, “didn’t he tell you?”

My Master tenses up, ‘Growl.’ “Wait!”

“Your Master was the heartthrob of our entire class.” He says at the same time. I turn back to my Master and mouth.

“The colorful wolf.” The old Admiral murmurs, “what was his name again? He was the closest to gaining your heart but-” My Master is shaking with rage. The old Admiral stops, seeing he was going too far and gives a brief explanation mostly for me. “But you always said it was useless to get feelings for others because you could never mate with any of us. Unless they were an Omega of course.”

“And I would never fall for an Omega because they were too weak.” Master finishes, “Yeah I know what I said when I was a pup but things change. And the laws are the same. I don’t feel like getting banished.”

I glance at the telepath starting when I realize he’s looking at me. I imagine opening my mind to him and then hear, ‘Your thoughts are getting mixed and chaotic.’

‘Well yeah I just found out my Master was a the class heartthrob and a heart breaker apparently.’

‘Calm down, it’s not like he’s cheated on you, you came after.’

‘That’s not it!’ I think angrily and the telepath leans back.

Then he thinks, ‘You’re not lying, you actually seem excited about it but...sad because he can’t be with the colorful wolf who he loves.’

‘Don’t you dare share this with the Captain.’ I snap at him mentally.

‘Everyone knows.’ He huffs, ‘You’re allowed to love each other, everyone has a few platonic relationships, kissing is allowed as well just no mating.’

‘Why?’ I ask.

‘It has been such a deep rooted rule of society I don’t know the origin.’

‘Hmm,’ I think and turn back to my Master.

Closing my mind off again, which was much easier now that the presence was gone. I think to myself, ‘Now it makes sense that he seemed so upset about the colorful wolf.’

I touch my Masters face gently and whisper, “I just want you to be happy,” and kiss him softly on the cheek. “I’m not jealous.” I add quickly. “Or anything.”

The old Admiral sighs, “You’re right, it’d be way too suspicious if I stayed with you, they’d probably think we were a pairing.”

He gets up slowly and then to my surprise says, “Come on baby.” To the telepath picking him up and kissing him.

“Oh yeah, that’s rare.” My Master barely offers in explanation, lost in thought.

“Wait!” I call to the Admiral, “I thought…” I point to the telepath. He grins sharp teeth at me.

The Admiral murmurs, “Sometimes Omegas don’t get to choose their Masters so when they do finally imprint on someone…” He snuggles the telepath who was practically oozing with happiness.

“We have to share.” The Captain says, coming in through a back door.

He has his arms crossed and looks grumpy. The old Admiral lets out a mischievous laugh and walking up to the Captain makes me gawk as he starts kissing him as well. My Master looks away quickly, letting out an exasperated huff. The Captain’s facade melts away and he pulls the old admiral closer.

“I was worried,” He whispers. The old admiral just hums and then the Captain pushes him away, “I shouldn’t be seen kissing a dog.”

“But everyone knows we are a pair.” The old admiral complains.

“I’ll hide you away for the week.” The Captain says ignoring him, “Did you really think I wouldn’t take care of you?” He wraps an arm around his pair and leads the old admiral to the secret side door. “You didn’t see anything!” The Captain calls over his shoulder to my Master who is still looking away gesturing to himself obviously not looking.

The telepath sends me a last, ‘Maybe you should convince your Master to pair with, ‘growl.’ he obviously loves him.’

‘The colorful wolf?’ I clarify. He nods just before the door closes. I turn on my Master.

“Answers!” I demand excitedly but he just looks really upset.

“I’m going to need a minute.” He growls at me and then getting up he picks me up. “Let’s go home.” He sighs. 

When we get home, I can tell that it’s not a good time by Master closing the door and sliding down it. He pulls me into his arms with a shushing noise. I’m completely enveloped as he doubles over me, shaking. I expect him to surprise me by laughing or something but he’s just shaking. I look up gently touching his face but he’s not crying.

“Are you in pain?” I whisper and my Master sighs.

“I thought I told you to shush.”

“I’m sorry don’t be mad.” I whimper.

He just shakes his head, “After effects from the shot.” I feel him start shaking more violently and at one point my heart starts to race with fear. “It’s okay,” he soothes, “Go get me a cup of water and some food okay?” I get up, quickly grabbing a plate of meat strips and some water. He’s barely able to hold himself up shaking with his eyes closed. Taking the meat strips he shoves a handful in his mouth chewing with his mouth open then swallowing ravenously finishes the whole plate. He gulps the water then falls on his side with a heavy sigh.

I hover worried but not able to do anything until opening one eye he smirks, “Why do you look so scared, your Master is the second strongest wolf on the ship,” He lifts an arm for me, “stupid shot isn’t going to kill him.”

“How does it work?” I whisper after curling up comfortably.

“Short answer, it speeds up your body's normal healing process, using nutrients and energy that your body would normally use. So I’m out and I need to rest.”

I smile and kiss him on the snout surprising him a little as his eyes flutter and then they close and he’s unconscious again. I lay there for a while and then the trauma from what I just went through kicks in, I shake silently in tears. My Master unconscious and me sobbing on the floor next to him must have been a pretty pathetic sight.

"Do you need some help." The white coyote from before, whispers suddenly, surprising me.

I lift my head and look around not sure if I actually heard someone. He’s leaning out of the hallway and gestures to me silently looking a bit anxious.

“Do you want me to help you get him to bed?” He acts without making eye contact.

“Can you do that?” I ask embarrassedly wiping my eyes glad I wasn’t alone but also tense that I was equivalently alone with a stranger.

“I have to do stuff like this all the time.” He says softly, “I finished washing the bedding and returned it shortly before you came back. I got scared your Master would attack me but-” He gestures to my comatose Master. He walks over to my Master and picks him up with his arms. I go over to help, wrapping one of Master’s arms over my shoulders.

“Why would my Master attack you?” I ask, confused. As we start to drag him up the stairs.

“They tend to do that if you’re still working when they get back, they hate to see us. He yelled at me before, remember?” I nod surprised that I could meet anyone shyer and more frightened of others than me. ‘Didn't Master say I outranked him or something?’

“You don’t have to look down when you’re talking to me, I see us as equals.” I say.

The coyote stops short. Then turning to me he makes brief eye contact and keeps walking. My heartbeat picks up, ‘what was that?’

I don’t have time to think about it when the coyote asks, “You said that you thought you recognized me, what was that about?” I remember the white coyote from before and grimace not really wanting to talk about it in full detail.

“I’m glad you’re not him, let's just say that.” I mumble. We open the bedroom door and tuck my Master in bed in silence then.

“What happened?” The coyote asks, sitting looking at his sleeping face. “He fought and then needed one of those shots.” I say surprised when the coyote seems to struggle with something.

“Did he go up a rank or down?” He asks.

“Up, why?” I ask and then the unthinkable happens. The timid, terrified coyote seems to melt away and he grins at me bearing his teeth viciously, eyes glowing yellow.

“Then I better kill him now before he wakes up.” He says and while I’m still frozen in shock he lunges for Master’s neck.