Mammon heard a different groan, this time closer and right behind him. If he didn’t know better, he would’ve thought it the sound of a beast rising from a long nap.

“S-Silvoh? SILVOH!!” It bellowed.

Mammon lowered his head, closed his eyes and ran his fingers through his loose hair. To have underestimated this situation …

The silver wolf turned around to face the monstrosity. Like a grey servant of old, unable to sleep, to feel, unable to even succumb to punishment or defeat with dignity (something other wolves and unnamed foes had done with the minimum of respect) there it sat, defying all logic. It was weeping, searching after its friend as though Mammon had been nothing but an inconsequential pebble on its path. This… thing had driven Mammon into teleporting during their altercation. Out of despair. Something he had prided himself in never resorting to in any of his battles; even those he lost.

There was little relief when he noticed it had returned to his original size. It did nothing to soothe his irritation.

Alas, I’m the freak.

It remained on the ground, so Mammon judged the Risúl must’ve had some impact, if only minimal. Any other day, Mammon would have loved nothing more than to get himself and this aberration to the elders for a thorough check. Something had to be immeasurably wrong with one of them!

For now, however, none of it mattered. He could not scent Haru, the blood in the air tainted his senses. He cursed his eyes for not finding him.

“SILVOOOH! WHERE DID YOU GO?! Don- don’t leave me!” The large wolf bawled, his deep tone disturbingly child-like. Things were about to become more irritating than Mammon cared to handle. Why would a giant child like this come after Haru?

He would teleport them to court as soon as he found Haru. Then he halted. Leaving like this could spark tensions between the two kingdoms. Chieftain Lobos would punish any wolf crossing the line like these two, but he wouldn’t stand for outsiders telling him how to run his own kingdom; even if Leviathan was the new king. Alliances between demons was just not that strong. But Haru was here; somewhere, and Haru was their target. This was no time to hold on to diplomacy.

Then Mammon saw them approach, and his heart betrayed him, overwhelmed with helplessness. It was as if he was a small wolf again. He was alone, facing his old demons. He remained still until they came out of the shadows — Fenus and Grodus. At a time like this.

They walked casually, while Grodus held a smaller wolf by the scruff of its neck, its bottom paws unable to reach the ground. Mammon tensed his fists even after seeing Faolán a few steps behind. Finally, his heart regained life when he saw Haru’s slight frame just a step behind the wolf guard, his expression tied in fear and confusion. He seemed to be clutching the torn fabric that was once Mammon’s uniform. Unable to digest the situation, Mammon’s chest tightened, and breathing became something laboursome.

“SILVOH!!” The monster wolf sobbed. “You’re alright! I heard you cry out!”  Only then did Mammon recognise his previous attacker on Grodus’ hold.

The silver wolf’s gasp allowed him some of his senses, and he recalled he was still in his wolf form. Yet he paused. Haru was running to him. Haru recognised him and ran to him. Haru threw his body and embraced him, calling his name. Finally, he could scent him. Haru.

“You’re alright? You’re okay? You’re bleeding!” Haru scanned his face and chest. “Quickly, sir guard, sir,” Haru waved to one of the court’s guards who were further back. “Please, where can we take care of his wounds?”

Mammon shook his head, reaching for his lover’s hands and bringing them closer to his lips. Words had fled him, so great was the relief that bathed his breaths. He just needed this moment to last longer. Haru was safe. And he was here. The hesitation, the dread, the disgust for his ugliness he had expected, but never knew he feared so much until now, was nowhere to be found. How could he have lost himself to worry that he forgot who Haru was? From the moment they met, he knew his human was different from the rest. How could he have neglected so much?

            Love is nothing but a mess of ignorant trickeries. It short sights wisdom and malice all at once. A fearsome                           foe; one cannot simply overlook it when it strikes, for its roots burrow deep.

After this thought, Mammon changed to his usual form and his fluffy tail waved freely. Haru looked up at him, surprise and tears danced under his smudged glasses.

“You’ll fog up your glasses even further, sweetheart.” Mammon’s smile softened as he caressed his beloved’s cheek and let their foreheads rest on each other’s.

“Fenrir’s teeth, you actually brought out that hideous form,” Fenus sneered, his voice alone ruined the sweet moment. “For these two?!”

“Worse. Didn’t you see him teleport?” Grodus chuckled.

Mammon nudged Haru beside him. Whatever they were doing here, Fenus was still Fenus. “Fancy seeing you lot here. Impeccable timing, as always.” Mammon said flatly.

Fenus narrowed his eyes at him as his only response, and then looked over to see the burly wolf still sat on his rear on the ground. “Ghenus! Get your smelly arse over here, now!” He commanded.

He tried to obey, this Ghenus, though he kept stumbling back on his bum. With an impatient grunt, Fenus sped over to the wolf, and smacked the back of his skull, as though he’d been waiting to do so all day. It didn’t affect Ghenus in the slightest, though he finally managed to stand up.

“His name is truly Ghenus.” Mammon said. “An acquaintance of yours?”

“He is the younger brother of Fenus.” Faolán replied.

Mammon raised an eyebrow, a strange suspicion rising. Ghenus’ red eyes, that dirty brown fur, and something about his posture did seem similar to Fenus. When Mammon spared Faolán another questioning look, the soldier nodded as though he had been expecting the double check.

Fenus kicked Ghenus’ thick leg this time. Now upright, Ghenus’ head was too far up from his brother’s reach. The image wasn’t unlike that of a weasel trying to slap a large dog.

“Your parents are very… thoughtful to name you that, Ghenus.” Mammon said loud enough to reach the brothers, and hopefully stop that unsavoury abuse.

Fenus’ scowl showed he had picked up on the sarcasm. “So my old man is shitty at naming. He doesn’t know how to keep it in his pants, so what?”

“Your old man is my hero!” Grodus grinned. “What’s it now, twenty-two?”

Grodus. Ever so boisterous and robust, always relaxed in those preposterous muscles. Mammon couldn’t recall a time he had seen the gargantuan wolf without an amused smile. The talk in Vargr was that he was unbeatable, fighting all his battles while laughing. Or so Mammon had heard. His height and bulk rivalled even that of Pox’s; even Ghenus’ over there, but perhaps that one was still growing. For Fenus to cosy up to Grodus since they were children confirmed he was the best. For that alone, no one touched Fenus. Even then, Fenus already knew how to weasel into valuable friendships.

“Twenty-five.” Ghenus mumbled. “I-I’m the twenty-fourth.”

“No one asked you!” Fenus snapped.

Grodus’ grin widened as he let go the younger wolf called Silvoh. This one landed roughly on the ground. Ghenus flinched and made to help his friend, but one side look from Fenus kept him stiff in place.

“Having twenty-something kids would be great!” Grodus continued, his eyes drifting in Haru’s direction. “We’re demons, it can’t be that hard to get souls pregnant, right?”

Mammon stepped in front of Haru, blocking Grodus’ view, his silver eyes never straying from the wolves in front of them. There it was, that lustful smell again. Mammon felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. Was it Grodus he had been scenting? The third wolf who ran away earlier? Mammon could still fight, but taking Grodus down would not be an easy feat, if at all possible. This time, he would teleport Haru back to Earth.

But it was Faolán who stepped forward. “Grand Marshal, it’s not what you think.” It was as though the guard even hadn’t spoken. Mammon couldn’t take his eyes off of Grodus. Unlike with souls, Mammon couldn’t read the minds of other wolf demons. Something he had never shared with Haru, but just as with many decisions he had taken so far, this one too, hadn’t been his wisest.

“Grand Marshal,” Faolán stepped closer, his tone calm and collected as he rested a paw on a fist Mammon hadn’t realised he had made. At the very least, Mammon couldn’t sense aggression from any of them.

“This is my fault.” Faolán paused when Mammon looked at him. “With Grodus and Fenus, we sent the boys your way.”

Mammon felt Haru’s hand squeeze his, but he refrained from looking away from the wolf guard, unsure of what he was getting at.

“I’ll admit, it was a stupid plan, but we got desperate. We needed you to see their potential.” Faolán scratched the fur under his jaw, though his tone didn’t betray the regret one would expect.  

“What say you, Grand Marshal, no harm done?” Fenus asked as he moved closer to them.

Mammon’s ears perked, noting that Fenus left behind the term ‘half-breed’ he so favoured. Grodus kept his grin, but the lustful scent was gone.

They baited him?  

In the next moment, Mammon straightened himself. Even without his uniform, posture had its significance. And some understanding started sinking in. He raised his bloodied arm to them, which even though was already healing, still looked quite raw. He felt Haru’s agitation, but he gently reassured his mate with a warm glance.

“I wouldn’t brush it away so quickly, Fenus.” Mammon began, “Ghenus here, is quite apt at causing harm. Even if my mate was not the primary target, your boys attacked an official of Hell’s court. Quite a distasteful prank. It is hardly something we can ignore.”

Fenus grit his fangs, confirming Mammon’s thoughts. Faolán, too, shifted his gaze between Fenus and Grodus. Inwardly, Mammon smirked. He had forgotten, or perhaps blocked away, how impulsive wolves in Vargr still were.

“You are right Faolán. It was a stupid plan.” Mammon shook his head, exaggerating his disappointment in Faolán.

“You made it clear you weren’t going to check on the recruits; you told the chief!” Fenus exploded. "What did you expect us to do?!!"

“So this is what you came up with, to showcase your brother’s abilities?” Mammon retorted evenly. Though he exuded intent, Fenus’ words seemed caught up in his throat. “Please tell me this didn’t take the three of you to conjure up.” Mammon cocked his head at him.

“It was mostly Fenus’ idea.” Faolán interjected. “We all agreed. I wouldn’t have agreed to it if we had an alternative, sir. We… I needed you to see what they could do. Ghenus is… well, his size deceives his age, and he lacks self-control, but you saw what he can do. With the right training, he can become an excellent soldier. And Silvoh is an orphan. His father died a few years back on Satan’s last campaign in Ro’ laris. His older brother serves under you, he was there when you saved Kaeltan. Silvoh wants nothing but to serve—”

“Enough. What is it you want?" Mammon asked, irritated enough to drag this for longer. Somehow, this didn’t suit Faolán. What was he going to do next, beg? "And what assurances do I have?” 

Fenus frowned. “Assurances?!”

“L-like a promise, brother.” Ghenus tempted.

“For fuc- shut up, Ghenus!!” Fenus tantrummed.

The three wolves glanced at each other, but whatever silent exchange passed between them, they agreed; Faolán clearly represented them.

“That you take Ghenus, Silvoh and two more wolves to return with you to court. No one will expect compensation. We know the new king likes to offer it to the families of those who take up service.”

“Or, I could just report you to Chief Lobos and get an entire platoon free of such compensation.” Mammon pursed his lips. “And what makes you think that four wolves will be enough to account for this? I sense you have no idea of the gravity of your decisions.”

Even Faolán hesitated this time resulting in an amused chuckle from Grodus. Mammon glanced at Haru who still looked confused. His dearest couldn't grasp how anyone could find this scene entertaining. Again, he easily forgot he was among demons.

“Look, we didn’t know it was going to go down this way, a’right!” Silvoh finally said, nervously. “You don’t have to bring Chief Lobos into this! I wouldn’t have done it, if I knew about you… Fenus just told us to do it, as a training thing.”

“Yeah, training!” Ghenus added.

“And then you looked weird, not like a wolf at all, and talking about claim this and claim that!" Silvoh said again. "Who am I even gonna claim?! You scared the shit outta me!! And then Ghenus went and lost it! It wasn't supposed to happen! The way Faolán spoke about you… I thought you’d at least be a wolf.” 

“Yeah, yeah. You're not a wolf!” Ghenus reinforced with mild excitement which died down when Fenus glared at him.

To this, Haru frowned. “He is a wolf. He’s more wolf than any of you.”

The demons glanced at the small human, but Haru hid his fear well.

“Gentlemen, I’ve heard enough.” Mammon intervened, suppressing his swelling pride. Still, this wasn't the time to trade more unsavoury words with five wolf demons, one of which could go berserk at any moment. Mammon borrowed the ripped fabric Haru still clutched and began wiping some of the blood off his chest and arm.

“Mammon-san?” Haru tempted.

“Thank you for the rescue, Haru. Shall we head in? It’s late, I need a bath and fresh clothes. We’ll head to court in the morning.” Mammon turned to leave with Haru. “This was quite entertaining, gentlemen.”

“W-wait!” Fenus called out, already approaching the pair. “Don’t you wanna know who the other two wolves are?!”

“No, Fenus, I really don’t.” Mammon kept walking.

“No! You can’t—”. Fenus moved almost like he was pleading. 

“The third wolf would be me,” Faolán cut in. This time, Mammon stopped. He turned to stare at Faolán whose expression remained placid. “I am one of the top soldiers in Vargr at the moment. You can ask anyone here; they’ll vouch for my skills.”

Mammon noticed Grodus’ curt nod and crossing his arms, impressing the notion that he had had something to do with Faolán’s achievements. Indeed, even Mammon had sensed Faolán’s potential from the moment they traded words. Still, the silver wolf kept his gaze neutral. Too much time passed with Faolan’s pause and Mammon asked, “and the fourth?”

“I’ll take full responsibility for him; you can rest assured.” Faolán replied.

“That’s not what I asked, soldier. And after this stunt, what makes you think your word is of any worth to me?” Mammon cocked his head slightly.

Another long moment passed. Faolán’s inhale was calm, yet decisive before he said: “It’s Rudi, sir.”