Inside the shack felt smaller than Mammon remembered. Infinitely dirtier. They sat in the living room, which comprised of a round oak table with the respective over-sized chairs with long back rests that could easily seat six wolf demons. On the floor was the old leopard patterned matt, which was so darkened its black spots were indistinguishable. An unused fireplace was the only other highlight in the room, with a stack of logs next to it, where cobwebs and the respective spider community already illustrated the lack of usage.

In these years, Raymon hadn’t changed. Not physically, not mentally, and certainly not in maturity or hygiene, which he notoriously lacked. Mammon pinched the bridge of his nose, as though it would help soothe the guilt of handing Haru into these clutches of evil. He had expertly avoided the chieftain’s invites for that evening, hoping to spend time alone with Haru, and now, here they were, stuck, victims to this nefariousness called Raymon. Mammon felt some relief to at least wash their glasses before Raymon served their drinks.

“You know what this idiot did?” Raymon rumbled, horn cup in hand and a gleeful gaze at Haru. The human shook his grinning head vehemently, his words already too slurred to keep up.

“He bent over,” Raymon said. “And farted right there and then! He smacked his furless frozen arse at them twice and ran like a rabbit! HAHAHAHA!”

To Mammon’s distress, Haru joined the grey wolf in the merry laughter. “Noooo, not Mammon-san! He mooned them??!! No, that’s impossible.”

“Mm,” Raymon nodded, gulping the last of the liquor in his cup, “His pompous arse back then didn’t know any better. And he might’ve had skinny pink legs like you humans, but he could run like a mare in heat! Ain’t that right, your lordship, Grand Marshal?” He winked and a valiant burp followed, making Mammon turn and wince, as though Raymon had done it close to his face. “They had to teach him some manners back at Court.”

Mammon could no longer dignify his uncle with comments.

“What’s wrong, Mammon~? Are you tired?” Haru stroked Mammon’s leg. A gentle display of affection he would never have started in Raymon’s presence if he weren’t already inebriated. He was at ease here, and for once, he dropped that troubling san. Even if it was the alcohol helping him along. Look at those droopy eyes. Not even the smell of booze on him could override how tempting he looked right now. The silver-eyed demon repressed his temptations in front of Raymon, else the old wolf wouldn't hesitate to add this to his repertoire of Mammon's embarrassing stories. Not too long now, and he and Haru would be alone. Soon. 

“No, sweetheart, I’m not tired.” Mammon said. “These are just tired old stories; they cultivate no interest.”

“They interest mmeeee.” Haru slurred, as though to himself. In his drunken state, he rarely discerned how low or loud his voice could get. He had his gaze downcast, and he removed his hand from Mammon’s leg.

“Try not to heed what my uncle says.” Mammon said. “Especially when drinking this cheap liquor. Where did you get this one, Raymon? Was it the giveaway from the tavern before it closed down?” The silver wolf stood up, grabbing the empty bottle and waving it as he moved to the kitchen.

“I brewed it myself, you ungrateful twat.” Raymon grumbled, feigning offence. Then he whispered to Haru, ‘The hell do you even see in him?”

“Mm, indeed I could smell the absence of quality from down the street. Where are your reserves, old man?” Mammon halted by the kitchen door without sparing a glance. It was time for a refill. If he knew Raymon at all, the more he drank, the sooner his uncle would nod off. 

“You can smell so well, why don’t you figure it out?” Raymon grunted.

Mammon ignored the chance for a comeback and disappeared through the double doors. As if the stench wasn’t enough, Mammon narrowed his eyes at the sticky black gunge growing from the corners of the kitchen sink and the various crevices between the pale-looking tiles over the counter. The dirt on the surfaces was so ingrained, it looked as though they were part of the decor. How could a wolf let himself go like this? Not just any wolf, this was Raymon; once the chieftain’s second in command. Living like this, his uncle must have lost his sense of smell years ago.

“Raymon-san,” Mammon heard Haru’s whisper. Perhaps in his stupor, Haru thought the wolf would not hear them. Mammon stopped and let his keen wolf’s hearing do its work. It might also help him refrain from a cleaning spree. 

“Do you mind if I ask you something?” Haru whispered again.

There was a brief silence, but the old man must’ve consented, as Haru continued. “Mammon-san’s—no, sorry. Mammon’s other form… his wolf form… can you tell me about it?”

Mammon’s hand stiffened around the empty bottle. It must’ve caught Raymon by surprise as well, as the old wolf didn’t immediately answer.

“I-I’m sorry for asking so suddenly. Maybe it’s not even my place to ask, I—”

“No Haru, you’re his lover, of course you would want to know. So, he hasn’t shown it to you?”

“No. Is it because I’m a human?”

At that, Mammon tightened his grip on the bottle and closed his eyes. For Haru to think such a thing. Worse, for Mammon to lead him to believe such a thing. Had he missed that thought?

“Nah, I don’t think it’s like that.” Raymon finally replied. “When he was a cub, all he wanted to do was flaunt that atrocious form for all of us to see. You’re telling me he’s gone shy?! Naaah, I don’t buy it. Don’t fret, son. It’s likely less complicated than what you’re thinking. He’s likely wanting to spare you the sight, is all!” Then, in a mere whisper, Raymon knew wouldn’t fool Mammon, he added, “I’ll tell you though, it’s so fucking ugly, you’d likely pass out if you ever saw it!”

Mammon couldn’t see them, but the silence that followed screamed Haru’s dismay. It was as if Mammon could feel his mate’s flustered gaze darting about the room. 

Then Raymon cleared his throat before speaking again, his tone low and grave. Perhaps he, too sensed Haru’s distress. “Wolves are difficult to understand. We don’t like to show others our true feelings. But he’s your mate, Haru. It takes some of us sometime, but when we decide on a mate, it means something, you know. Something strong; like a wolf's word and all that. It never convinced me that the kid would find someone, you know, him being the way he is. He may not look wolf, but on the inside, it's all he is! The worst of us! Maybe he really is trying to preserve you the sight, in his own way. It’s hard on the mind to take in demons like us, and half-wolves can still be eh… a strange sight. I’ll say this though, if you feel you’re ready, and you really want to know, don’t be afraid, just ask him, son.”

“I-I have asked, and I am ready to listen, this is Mammon-san, after all. I don’t think he took it too seriously though. I’d love to see the real him. And it's not just that. I don't know. I may have put unnecessary pressure on him with my eagerness to know things about him.” Haru paused. “We saw a wolf child earlier, in the market. Rudi?”

“So you two saw him…" Raymon sounded thoughtful. "Rudi is a bit… eh, special. We haven’t seen the likes of him around here since Mammon left.”

“Raymon-san, he was covered in bruises. He's just a child. Haven’t things changed, then? Isn’t that going against the chieftain’s wishes?”

“A chief can make laws all he wants, doesn’t mean every wolf will follow. You have something like that back on Earth, don ‘cha?” Raymon shook a bottle, only to frown in annoyance realising it was empty.

“Mammon-san when he saw Rudi… he seemed so… lonely. I can’t imagine how painful this must be for him. I don’t have the confidence to press him more. But even then, I keep going in circles, because I want to know. I want him to rely on me more. I’m just a human, and there’s not much I can do in your world, I understand that, but if I can be that someone he can be at ease with… Is that so unfair to ask? He is constantly doing that for me, why won’t he let me do the same?”

 “Yeah, I’m the last person to offer advice on that or anything related to that boy. I mostly left him to grow up on his own; haven’t you wondered why he didn’t take after me?” Raymon let his claws travel the length of the bottle in thought before continuing. “Maybe I only fulfilled my oath to his mother when I sent him off with the royals. Who cares, he was a thorn in my arse anyway, but listen Haru, when a wolf falls in love, there’s a certain change in their scent. Only other wolves can smell it, so I can tell you. His mother had the same smell when she fell in love with another. It only brought her ruin, but she couldn’t help it any more than I could...” Raymon paused.

Mammon understood where this was going and the old wolf still brooded after the love of his life when he got drunk. Raymon cleared his throat and continued. “I can tell you son, besides having his mother’s eyes, that brat has that same scent. He reeks of it.”

“Raymon-san…” Haru’s whisper cracked.

There the old wolf went again, saying something unnecessary. Mammon suppressed a heavy sigh. How did the conversation turn so sour, Mammon mused as he grabbed a fresh bottle and walked back to the living room.