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"Hey Kajex?"

"Hmm?"

"Gotta ask you something."

The wolf nuzzled against her cheek. "Anything."

"How's life treating you, lately?"

"... Crazy."

Syrra stifled a giggle, running her paw through her wolf lover's back, her thighs squeezing firmly around his hips. She could feel the steady, gentle pulses of his seed still pouring into her womb, a blooming warmth that made her tremble and twitch in the best possible way. Raindrops tapped against the glass of the hotel room, a gentle relaxing sound that made it easy for Syrra to calm down from the bout of lovemaking she'd been treated to. The sound of her partner breathing into her ear made her shiver a little, a deep purr rolling through her chest as she leaned into his hug. Tonight was not so different from most nights, but it felt more significant in light of all recent events.

She looked up at his smiling face, bumping noses briefly. "Feeling better?"

"Mmm... a bit, yeah," he sighed, squeezing her gently. "It helps me process."

A pause. "Let's talk."

He nodded. "Alright."

Her movements were limited as she was kept in place with his knot, but she still managed to sit up and lean against the backboard of their bed, feeling comfortable enough in his lap. Comfort would be necessary if she was going to touch on some things she knew needed to be discussed. She'd put it off for a while, knowing that most of the issues were being taken care of without their input, but now it was the best moment to broach the topic with him, get him to see what he had been missing. She didn't blame him for overlooking it, though.

After all... it wasn't everyday you rediscovered your species.

Their last mission had ended with the liberation of seven sentient humanoid wolves, which both Kajex and Locke recognized instinctively as kin; one of the younger ones was virtually identical to Kajex, though shorter. It was a big enough shock that Master Skywalker had ordered the crew a few weeks off while the rescued wolves were operated on and recovered, lest they be a constant burden on Kajex's focus. Indeed, for several days after Kajex had been harboring a barely-suppressed interest in keeping them under his eye, musing on whether it had been the will of the Force that they had been rediscovered.

It was good timing, as it gave the Gold Rush team time to fly to Corellia and schedule an massive upgrade in living space for the ship. The last three days had helped the pack unwind and come together, something made more important with the addition of a new member – a Selonian hunter named Rook – yet every evening had ended with Syrra returning to Kajex's embrace. There was little to do but wait until the Gold Rush was finished with its repairs and makeover, less than two weeks away. As the ship's unofficial medical officer she felt responsible for making sure the team's spirits were as good as their health. That, in turn, meant making sure that their leader wasn't forgetting anything important.

"I figured you were going to ask me about the other wolves sooner or later," he sighed.

"Not until I knew you were relaxed enough to talk about it." She reached up and rubbed behind his ears, smiling up at him. "It's alright. I know you're not ignoring them."

"Well, no," he said, looking a little troubled all the same. "But I shouldn't have waited this long, either."

"Hon, anyone in your position would be struggling as much as you have to make sense of it. Having this dropped on your head three days ago, I can sense your head has been a vortex of ideas and concerns." She kissed his nose. "You've been doing a lousy job keeping your thoughts away from me, lately."

"I don't want to trouble anyone with my worries, but I also don't want to lie to you anymore," he said, shrugging. "But if you've already got a bead on where my head is at, then maybe it is a good time to talk about it."

"I know you've been excited to get the ship worked on for a while now, moreso since it means we can house more of your own species," she said. "That in itself is a blessing that I know you've been trying to process on your own time. It's why I'm glad you've been so keen on putting your focus on me these last three nights, even when you've been distracted almost every second of the day."

"I was afraid you'd sense that," he chuckled sheepishly. "I mean... yeah. It almost feels too good to be true. But I want to make this right for the wolves we found, keep them close so that the Empire or Circle of Syn doesn't try to manipulate them or take capture them." He paused, his expression darkening. "... I don't want what happened with Locke to happen to them."

She nodded, rubbing his shoulder. "That's a valid concern. I know it's not your only one, though."

He hesitated, and through her bond with him she could sense him trying to pick the right words. "Well... I'm certain they can at least understand Basic, the way Kentoh did, but we still don't know anything about their language or culture. I guess I'm scared of discovering what they're like, what they will and won't accept." Another moment of hesitance. "Maybe I'm worried they'll be like the Trianii, in some of the less-progressive ways," he admitted.

"Like they won't accept your open preferences?" she suggested with a mild grin.

"Or the fact that I've been intimate with the only other wolf in my life, who is genetically similar enough that he may as well be my own brother – assuming he actually isn't." He shook his head. "I mean... I've already been thinking of him as my brother for three months already. Longer than that, honestly," he admitted.

She nodded, readjusting herself in his lap with a moan and a purr while he snugged up close to her. "The NRI have already agreed to let us know what they find while they're under observation. You have a right to know. They won't deny you or Locke that knowledge, especially if they're going to be relocated and need to have that information to find a good world for them. And as far as whether they'll accept your preferences or not, I don't think a former slave species would put much stock on the morality of same-sex intimacy. It'll matter more to them that you freed them."

"I guess," he sighed. "There's just... so much I don't know. I don't want to screw up and lose them, not when I've already lost three of them without having the chance to do anything about it." He paused, a sad smile forming along his muzzle. "Never thought the stakes would get so high. It was bad enough when all I had to worry about was myself; now I have a whole them team to watch – a whole pack, really."

She smiled back at him, hoping it would be encouraging. Since their earliest missions she'd known him to be hard-working, even reckless if it meant someone else didn't have to risk their neck. It had taken time earning his trust, easing his fears, and showing him that his team – his family – could be counted on. He had gotten better, yet even now she could sense that tension in his mind; that insistence that he needed to have some measure of control.

"You know we're here for you, Kajex," she finally said. "You don't have to do it alone." She nuzzled him. "Besides, you're not the only one worried about them. It might be a good idea to put more focus on trying to understand the one other wolf you know best."

He paused, his alert eyes softening at the words. "Locke?"

She looked him in the eyes. It was the real reason she wanted to talk to him. "I think it's important that you don't get so caught up on the big things – things that are already being taken care of – if it means overlooking what you already have right now. I barely get along with most of my siblings, but even today I still have some love for them. I'd be lying if I said I didn't wish we were a little closer. You still have that chance with Locke, especially with our time off. Don't you think you should make use of that time?"

The wolf's ears pinned back sadly. "I... you're right, Syrra," he sighed. "I should have set aside some time to do... something with him. I want to understand him better, but I don't know how to approach it."

"Don't feel bad. We've been busy enough as it is. And you have time now," she assured him. "Spend the day with him tomorrow. Find a common ground, something that can bring you closer; even if being 'close' means being physically intimate," she added with a blush and a smile. "You're going to be spending your life with him, too."

"What about you, though?" he asked, looking worried.

"I'll be fine," she told him. "I'll have everyone else. I think it's a good time for Keris and I to be better friends, too." She tapped his nose with her finger. "Do this – for both of you."

He managed a smile and nodded. "Alright. Just him and me, then."

Although he wasn't tired for it the next morning, Kajex hadn't gotten an ounce of sleep after Syrra had gotten him to promise to spend time with Locke. For hours after that, even after his Trianii fiancee had drifted off, the wolf sat up in bed and mulled over what he would do with his brother. By the time he managed to get a moment with Locke to himself, he still hadn't figured out what they would do.

He found the white wolf on one of the hotel's upper landing pads, talking with Talrik, Miles and Rook as they climbed into one of the rental speeders. "Nah, don't worry, I'm sure we can busy ourselves for the next few hours," Locke told them. "I'm a horrible shot with a blaster, anyway."

"This guy is proficient in multiple lightsaber forms, but still shoot straight to save his life," Miles scoffed, adjusting the driver's seat. "You're going to have to learn at some point, boss. You can't always rely on the Force." He nodded to Kajex. "How about you, you wanna tag along? We were about to hit up a shooting range in the Blue Sector, maybe shop for some new equipment."

"I'll pass," the wolf chuckled. "I was looking to make plans with Locke anyway. Keep in touch if anything happens, though."

"Don't worry, I'll get the kids back before curfew," Miles told them.

"Didja hear that, Foxboy? Goggles here just called us 'kids,' Rook snorted.

"Guess now we're betting credits on the range," Talrik sighed, shaking his head. "We'll see you guys later, then – whatever you plan to do, have fun."

The wolf brothers waved to them as their speeder peeled out and merged into Coronet's light traffic, disappearing around the hotel corner less than a minute later. Locke laughed quietly, shaking his head. "I know my shortcomings in marksmanship, but my tutelage in combat was very melee-focused," he said, leaning on the railing. "Maybe they're right, though. Just another thing to add to the list of lessons I've yet to learn."

"Just let me know when you want to learn," Kajex offered. "Got a moment to talk?"

The white wolf smiled at him. "Always. What's on your mind?"

Kajex didn't answer immediately, taking a seat at one of the balcony benches. "How long as we known each other, Locke?"

The white wolf gave him a curious look, head tilting slightly. "A little over a year, I suppose," he said slowly, taking a seat on the opposite side of the bench. "If we're counting the good old days where Voyde said I had to kill you if you got in the way. Why do you ask?"

He clasped his hands together. "I've had time to talk with Miles and Keris. When I went to pick up Talrik's mother from Sua, where Keris and I had that brief tussle, she didn't tell me you were there." His eyes flicked to the other wolf. "At the time, I was still a bit... disconnected from the Force. Able to use it, but lacking in concentration. Yet I still thought that I might have felt your presence nearby. I never said anything about it, because I didn't want to pin my hopes on something I wasn't sure of, especially after your intervention on Abaat. I thought I felt you, even saw you there, but... I thought I had been deluding myself. I know now that I wasn't."

Locke nodded, his gaze attentive and concerned. "Go on."

The wolf struggled to continue, trying to find the right words. "It's just... the majority of our interactions, starting from day one, were based on being enemies. We're not anymore, but it doesn't change the fact that those early moments of helping one another were more... restricted." He shook his head. "I'm sorry, this is sounding stupid."

"It's not," Locke assured him, scooting in closer. "I think I can sense where you're getting at. Please, continue."

"Any interaction we've had since that day has been in the comfort of home, with our friends and loved ones – and I wouldn't have it any other way," he added quickly. "And finding out about our connection, that we're essentially siblings, was the happiest moment in my life, on par with Syrra accepting my marriage proposal. Not a few days after that, even!"

"The feeling is mutual," Locke said.

"So... what I want to ask is if you would like to spend today to strengthen that bond between us. Just you and me. No Syrra, no Keris, no Gold Rush pack. Just a pair of brothers enjoying each others company and... hell, just having a brotherly relationship. Whatever that means between us."

"You mean apart from raising your tail for me once a week?" Locke chuckled.

"I make no apologies for physical intimacy," Kajex replied, smiling. "It can be anything we want it to be, just as long as it peels us away from a card table, a training mat, or a meditation chamber."

"Then I'm open to it – though I'm curious what you had in mind."

Kajex didn't respond immediately, looking out in the distance. Coronet spread a good distance to the north, yet to the east there was a dense forest he'd traveled through with both his fathers. It had only been a few months since he had imparted his story to the rest of the pack, but since losing his fathers there wasn't a week that went by without Kajex thinking about them at least once.

When he did answer his voice was quiet. "Back on Ekibo, we did a lot of camping to help with my Sentinel training. Maybe it was just me, but I always felt like I could focus more with fresh air and soft earth beneath my feet."

Locke's ears perked up. "Training in the wilderness sounds like a good change of pace. Would you be open to that?"

Kajex hesitated. "Sure, but... you wouldn't find that boring, would you?"

Locke didn't answer immediately, moving closer to the other wolf. "Kajex, the more I think about it, the more I suspect that the Force brought us together. Any number of things could have happened in any number of different ways, but it only took one moment and one chance for us to find each other." He put his paw on Kajex's leg. "You and I have spent our lives using the Force in our work, it's the one thing we know best. I think it only makes sense that we strengthen that connection and learn more about each other that way. What better way than to do it in an environment where the Force is strong?"

Kajex nodded, a small smile curling his muzzle. "Alright, then here's what we can do: I still have the camping gear that my dad's and I used back then, so we can rent a speeder and find a patch of land to train, duel, and have some privacy to talk. We can stay the night, then come back here."

"Alright, I'm game," Locke said, getting to his feet. "It'd be good to get some exercise somewhere outside of the ship, for a change. I'm looking forward to seeing how well you stack up against me."

"Oh yeah? Why's that?"

Locke grinned. "Because I think today's a good day for a rematch."

It took less than an hour for the pair to gather a few pieces of equipment, leave the city limits and travel about a mile into the eastern forests, where patches of mist hung just below the treetops. It was deep enough to lack any true human habitation, yet close enough to the border than the planet's more dangerous fauna preferred not to travel through; more than isolated enough to be away from the sounds of the city. They landed the speeder in a rough clearing in the woods, near a fallen tree and a stream.

Within seconds of stepping out into the clearing, Kajex was overwhelmed without how quiet it seemed. Without the roar of the speeder there was nothing but the gentle, natural sounds of the forest; floral stirring in the wind while fauna chattered and murmured in the grass or in the trees. Nowhere was there a hint of machine or man in the vicinity, no roar of technology drowning out the noises of pure nature. He closed his eyes and breathed in deep, finding it easy to focus as clean air filled his lungs.

"It's peaceful here," Locke muttered next to him, looking around. "It's easy to forget how swarmed your senses are by ambient sounds and scents until they're not there. I'd say it's calmer here than on Yavin 4, in fact."

Kajex nodded. It was a different feeling from meditating among the aggressive fauna of Yavin 4. There was no Massassi temple generating the low hum of Force energy one could feel in the back of their head. Every breath the wolf took seemed to relax the tension in his body little by little. The rainfall from the night before had left the dirt and grass slightly damp, feeling pleasantly cool to their bare feet. He shrugged off his satchel and tossed it onto a branch on the fallen tree, then turned to Locke. "Thanks for coming out with me."

"Don't mention it," Locke replied, smiling. "I appreciate the change of pace, and I was looking forward to spending some one-on-one time."

The pair started stretching out, though after a minute or so a question came into Kajex's mind. "Mind if I ask something?"

"Be my guest."

"Have you ever wondered why telepathy has been so easy for us?" he asked. "Normally you don't get much more than a couple of words before the effort becomes too much, but I feel like it's been so easy to speak with you. Syrra too, in fact."

Locke paused, scratching his chin. "I guess I never gave it much thought. I made it a point not to have telepathic conversations with Voyde. Maybe it's just a natural talent for us."

"You were lightyears away from me and still able to reach out to me through the Force before we fought on Katarr," Kajex pressed. "That's not normal."

"It's the Force," Locke chuckled. "'Normal' doesn't really apply. Do you remember what I suspected when we left Southern Star Station, that acts between us have a way of forming bonds through the Force? I won't pretend that I know how such bonds work, but something in me – maybe the Force itself – causes me to believe it's the reason we could reach out to each other so easily. I believe that it will help each other in the future. I'm willing to put my trust in it and not question it, if you are."

Kajex nodded, getting to his feet. "Are you sure you're up for this? You don't think Voyde might try to interfere?"

Locke's smile wavered for a fraction of a second. "Not over long distances, no. He'd have to be in orbit to do it, and I'd be able to sense him. I'm confident enough that I'm willing to risk it for this rematch. Besides, there's no chance we'll kill each other with training sabers." A pause, then a smirk. "Or a real one, in your paws. My heart might not have been in our last fight, so I wasn't dueling at my best. You, on the other hand, were quite rusty."

Kajex blinked, then laughed. "Oh fuck you, bro. Just for that I'm actually going to kick your ass!"

"Ha, there's the Kajex I know!" Locke chuckled. "Then how about we set some stakes and make it interesting?"

Kajex tilted his head. "I'm listening."

"How about... dueling for command of the pack?"

The gray wolf stiffened, frowning. "I'm not sure I like the sound of that. My ship, my rules."

"By all means, keep the ship and continue to be it's captain. What I want is to see if you have the discipline and strength to lead more than two people at a time – or take control under the sheets, " Locke added, folding his arms.

"Hey, don't take my willingness to be a courteous host and lover as a sign that I'm a pushover." Kajex shot back. "I'm flexible, not controlling."

"Maybe. But are you too flexible? You could have remained a Jedi, yet you became a mercenary; you could have fought the Empire and sought allies, but instead you remained alone and fought criminals. You struggled to train Syrra because you feared pushing too hard or too far, or revealing who you were. Even in matters of intimacy you will bend backwards for others if they push. You're always willing to raise your tail to me, yet you've never once taken charge. It makes me wonder how much you're willing to... submit," Locke said, his grin broadening. "If I were to beat you, would you do what I asked of you? To always defer to me as your leader and lover? Perhaps even agree to hand over your fiancee to be both my student and mate--"

The hairs on Kajex's hackles raised slightly at the suggestion. "If that's really what you want to duel for," he interjected in a firm, clear voice, "then I'm game – I have no intention of losing. But if you're just trying to use dun moch rile me up to throw me off, then you might end up regretting it." He took a calming breath, drawing his lightsaber and igniting it, then ensured the blade was set to training intensity before getting into two-handed opening stance. "Don't go easy on me. And no more dun moch."

The white wolf considered him for a few moments, then nodded and drew his borrowed weapon. A green blade sprang from the hilt and he flourished into a similar two-handed position. "I don't intend to pull my punches. Show me what you learned as a Jedi. Let me see if you have anything to teach."

Kajex did not move initially. His brother's words troubled him; while there was an undertone of playfulness in how he spoke, he could sense an underlying sincerity in his words. Some part of their connection was telling Kajex that he was being serious about taking control – another part was hidden from him, perhaps Locke employing the mental blocks that Kajex had taught him. It was his trust in Locke that allowed him to push down the feeling, collecting his emotions and focusing on the white wolf as they circled each other.

It was different terrain from the first time they crossed sabers. Katarr was dry and stagnant, the terrain beneath their feet was coarse and flat, and the air felt dead and suffocating; and the presence of the Force wound was like a dampening of his connection to the Force. The environment alone was different. The soft earth and grass felt damp and uneven beneath his paws, the air from cool and clean, and the connection between them felt clearer than it ever had before. So when the two wolves finally started, it was in perfect tandem, moving at the exact same moment.

Kajex darted in with inhuman speed and feinted as Locke opened with an overhead slash. The gray wolf sidestepped and jabbed at the opening, yet the white wolf guarded effortlessly, batting the point away. Locke countered, swung – missed. Kajex dodged, cut – blocked. A spin and a slash at head-level, but Kajex ducked under it; a riposte and a slash to the legs, yet Locke flipped over the attempt and pressed the attack. Blades of gold and green wove through the air, flashing each time they connected. Their sabers crashed and hummed through the air with each swing and block, sending shocks and lingering aches through Kajex's arms. The opening cadence of the dueling brothers became a half-minute struggle for control of the flow and pace of the fight, neither giving up ground. Their blades crossed near their emitters into tight saber-lock allowing the brothers to look each other.

It was when Kajex saw complete calm and focus in Locke's eyes that he lost the opening to the duel.

He could already feel the strain of combat, yet his albino counterpart bore no hint of exertion. His focus wavered and in the breadth of half a second Locke shattered the saber lock with a grunt, knocking Kajex back several steps and re-engaging with a renewed assault. He cursed silently, now forced to fall back into a defensive form as he regained his footing. It was enough time for Locke to settle into a more aggressive form, weaving his blade in abrupt slashes at angles Kajex was barely prepared for. He attempted to disengage for space, but Locke lunged forward and slashed, nearly catching his shoulder. An annoyed growl poured from behind grit teeth as Kajex returned to defense, unable to find an opening to exploit nor a moment to breathe.

Now the difference in this duel to Katarr's was in its intensity. Locke had been honest about his heart not being in the duel on Katarr, but while there was a calm, almost cold focus on the fight, he was engaging with vicious attacks and wild cadence that seemed to lack any rhythm. Kajex had seen it before – it was Juyo, a dueling form developed by Sith, which very few Jedi used and fewer mastered. But where Locke was held back by his own self-doubt and loathing in their last duel, now there a blazing, controlled flame beneath his stoic facade; one stoked carefully and held in check by over a decade of discipline and training. Kajex's ears pinned back as the tireless onslaught continued, his arms aching as he defended.

He struggled to focus on the fight and not on his doubts and fears, or the fact that he could lose at any moment, when Locke brought his saber around in a vicious slash that ripped Kajex's weapon out of his paws. With a curse he backflipped away just in time to avoid Locke landing a winning blow, calling out to the Force and summoning his weapon back into his paw. He landed awkwardly and dropped to one knee, but managed to reignite his weapon and block just as Locke reached him with an overhead blow, locking their blades in place again. The white wolf's face was still placid as he spoke, though there was disappointment in his tone.

"Was this it, Kajex? Was this everything you learned, everything you have at your disposal? What do you have left to teach Syrra if you can't match me?"

Kajex's ears twitched and he glared. "I said no dun moch!"

"You think the Circle of Syn would follow that rule? They will prey upon your fears and emotions any chance they get," Locke countered, forcing his saber closer to Kajex. "They will do anything they can to take your life and destroy everything you hold dear. But if I have to take the lead to protect it, I will. Even if I have to take it from you."

Kajex's blood seemed to freeze at the words. "What... are you talking about?"

"I was being serious about taking control. Keris means as much to me as you do, and I will go to any lengths for her, yet your leadership nearly got her killed. Talrik nearly shared the same fate twice, as you told me. Syrra saved my life, I owe such a beautiful woman my life and protection. I could easily take her as a student and second mate, strengthen our bonds, sire offspring with her and Keris, and defend them all where you could not." He smiled. "I love you, Kajex. But when you lose, I will take everything that matters to you to keep it safe. Your ship, your responsibilities, your student and mate – and you."

Kajex's arms shook and Locke's blade inched closer to his shoulder. "You wouldn't... I won't let you..." Confusion and fear welled up within. He could sense no malice in Locke, nothing that would make him feel amiss. Were it not for their bond through the Force, he would have suspected Voyde was controlling his words and actions; perhaps waiting to strike Kajex down during a moment of trust or doubt. Yet he could only sense Locke, his sincerity in the things he was saying, and certainty that he follow through with his threat.

What unsettled him most was what he could feel from Locke. There was no question in Kajex's mind – he would do it, not out of cruelty, but love. For him.

"You've been fighting since the Clone Wars to stay alive and keep those you love safe, yet you couldn't," Locke said kindly, forcing his blade another inch closer. "You don't have to fight for control anymore, not when you've spent all of your life fighting; and not when I have to strength to do it for you. Surrender, and I promise I'll take care of you and everything you love."

A surge of fear, fury, and pain tore through Kajex's chest. With a snarl he wrenched the saber lock to the side and shouldered into him, knocking him briefly off-balance. With a clear opening, Kajex flung out his open paw and blasted Locke back with a pulse of Force energy, sending him flying a few meters before landing on his back. He flipped back to his feet and brought his saber up, but faltered as Kajex spoke.

"You've never had a family before," Kajex said in a low growl. "You've never had to fight for a family before. And you've never lost a family before."

Locke said nothing, his facade creased by a furrowed brow.

"I am not surrendering." He took a deep breath and released it along with the tension. "I wasn't strong enough to keep from losing both my fathers... but I was young. And I have never used my failures as an excuse to give up." He got back in an opening stance. "I won't take the easy way out by handing my responsibilities to someone else, even if they're stronger. The people I love and the burden I choose to carry are mine to handle. I know the stakes – I've lost them before. That's why I keep fighting."

"Then why are you losing?" Locke asked, raising his saber to a ready stance.

"I'm not losing. A Jedi uses only as much power as he needs," Kajex replied. His left paw released its grip on the lightsaber as he flourished into a one-handed stance. "I guess I need to use a little more."

Locke raised an eyebrow. "You're several years out of practice as a Jedi, while I've been training more than half my life just to survive. Do you really believe switching to a different fighting form will let you beat me? I'm sorry, Kajex – I meant to motivate you with fear because I thought you would overcome it. But if this is the best you can do, and if you're too timid to match me, then for everyone's sake I will be our alpha."

"Then what are you waiting for, Locke? Take everything from me. Take the role of leader. Take Syrra from me, to be her teacher and mate. Take responsibility for the family we now have." He smirked, relaxing his posture and beckoning him with his free paw. "Take all of it – if you can."

Locke's frown deepened. It was the only signal Kajex got before lunging at him with a quick slash. Instead of defending and engaging directly, Kajex darted forward and angled his blade around, stepping deep into Locke's range. He deflected and with a sharp twist forced Locke's saber away from him, his back now to his opponent. Locke shifted back to adjust and swept his blade at his torso, but Kajex twisted in place, blocking the blow and bringing his elbow into Locke's stomach, knocking him back a step. With the white wolf now off-balance, Kajex turned to re-engage.

He leapt in with a jab, barely missing Locke's cheek before seizing command of the dueling rhythm with a fluid, flexible cadence. Wide sweeps to Locke's body mixed with sharp cuts aimed at his limbs, pushing him back. When Locke tried to power his way through with a strong slash, Kajex leapt over it and landed a sharp kick into his shoulder. He tried again and Kajex blocked, cutting back at the white wolf with a chop towards the neck. When Locke managed to defend, Kajex stepped in and brought his handle and fist into Locke's muzzle. As Locke staggered back his facade broke, registering shock; yet his defenses held strong as Kajex continued.

As before, Locke demonstrated the same skill and power he'd used to dominate the fight, but now Kajex as answering back with similar tenacity. For all of his combat ability, Kajex could tell Locke was no stronger nor faster than he was, though he leaned heavily into the powerful blows and unusual angles of attack that he had mastered over what must have been half a decade of study. Even when he was on the back foot, his defensive skill was enough to prevent Kajex from landing a winning blow. Yet despite this, the fight was no longer in his favor. His steadfast execution in rote maneuvers, strengthened from training, could not effectively counter Kajex's unorthodox tactics and creativity.

He pushed his brother back after a fierce exchange and Locke spoke. "If you were capable of this kind of fighting, why did you never teach it to Syrra?" he pressed, slashing at Kajex as he approached.

"Syrra is naturally acrobatic and Ataru suits her better as a fighting style, so I taught her to be flexible and steadfast while sticking to her strengths," Kajex shot back, blocking and riposting cleanly. "Not to be someone she isn't."

Locke shouldered into him and twisted into another head-level slash. "You never taught her to heal others!"

Kajex ducked and jabbed, nearly catching Locke in the leg. "I taught her slicing, piloting, trusting her to try her strength on her own, and to balance her duty with compassion!"

A kick and a miss. "And discipline?"

"She's a former Trianii Ranger, Locke, she doesn't need to learn discipline – what the fuck do you want from me?!" Kajex snapped, attempting to leg-sweep Locke. "Do you think I lack discipline?"

Locke leapt over the sweep and charged at him, their sabers crashing again. "Are you even taking this fight seriously?" he replied, glaring at Kajex as they met in another saber-lock.

But this time he returned the glare as their weapons crackled and hissed. "You're trying to make a point, I get that. My counter-point is that I'm not the only one who fears losing everyone and everything – and you're not the only one who can protect them."

They broke the lock and stepped away until they were a few paces length from each other, both of them short of breath. "You've had the Jedi Order and your fathers to protect and raise you. I had only myself to rely on," Locke said, raising his saber back up. "I know the dangers and threats the Circle of Syn pose to all of us, better than you do."

"I lived a portion of my life using the Force less than I could have, surviving day-to-day on scraps and just enough money to maintain a ship meant for a crew of ten – alone," Kajex replied, trying to slow his breathing. "Even if you were the better choice to defend the pack from the Circle, what makes you think you'd ever be prepared for the kind of threats that I've faced?"

"Thugs and pirates are hardly--"

"Locke, I infiltrated an Imperial base using mental conditioning, mercenary tactics, and a blaster," Kajex cut him off, gritting his teeth. "And I nearly got away with it while you were on that base! I have the Force on my side! I am a Jedi! What do you need from me to convince you!?"

"You don't know the Circle, Kajex," Locke said, a tinge of pain in his brow. "Voyde may be the worst, but he's not the only one. You can't stand against them, not like I can."

With a frustrated sigh Kajex lunged in again, blocking Locke's next blow and keeping the pressure on him with a series of swift cuts. "Dammit, Locke, it's not about whether I know them – you know them!"

"So then you agree!" Locke shot back, swinging hard and fast from above.

"NO!" Kajex snarled.

Something more than his physical strength went into the counterblow, as he swung his lightsaber up and caught Locke's overhead slash cleanly, near the base of the blade. For a moment Locke's paws and weapon were wrenched to the sky, and he staggered back a full step, his eyes wide as Kajex's free paw as thrust palm-out at his chest.

A heavy 'boom' shook the nearby trees as he launched a pulse of Force energy that floor Locke in a heartbeat, his lightsaber flying several meters out of reach. He slid a few feet through the grass and dirt, letting out a pained yelp and whine as he rolled to a stop against a massive, fallen tree. Kajex dashed in, holding the point of his weapon out at the white wolf, yet all he did was roll onto his back with a groan of pain, staring at the tip of the blade.

Several tense seconds passed in relative silence, save for their labored breathing; and as they passed, Kajex began to sense the creeping sensation of shame radiating from his brother. His eyes narrowed and he flicked his wrist, tapping the tip of his weapon on Locke's nose. He yelped and covered his muzzle, giving Kajex reproachful look.

"Wud was dat for?!" Locke cried out from behind his paws.

"You deserve it for not understanding my point." Kajex sighed, deactivating his weapon and kneeling next to Locke. "It's not about which one of us can stand against them – It's about whether we can. I get that you had to survive on your own. I get that you had to be strong to keep Keris safe. I don't doubt that strength for a moment, and I never will, not the way you did me. But it's not just you, Locke. With a family, it's never your sole responsibility." He sat next to him, feeling a pang of sadness at Locke's growing shame. "I'm sorry you never understood that, that the way you were enslaved and abused means you lack any positive perspective. It's not about control – it's about cooperation."

"I... I know that," Locke said shakily. "But--"

"No buts!" Kajex snapped – Locke flinched. "I'm not going to pretend that I know everything, that I can protect us from every situation, because that would be asinine! And it would be just as asinine to assume you could have all the answers! That's why it has to be both of us, Locke."

For a few minutes the pair sat, not saying anything. A distant rumble shook the air gently, carrying the scent of petrichor with it. Now that things were calm, Kajex could feel Locke's confusion, and after a while he spoke again.

"What the hell were you even thinking, threatening me like that?" Kajex asked. "I told you to lay of the dun moch, but you kept taunting me."

"It wasn't really a taunt," Locke said, looking away from him. "At first I just wanted to test you, maybe throw you off. I just... it's how I was taught to duel and spar. Among the Circle, Inquisitorius, and dark side initiates, psyching out your foe is just another tool in battle. More importantly, it's a way to build your nerve and shake off an opponent's words. It's why I'm able to stay calm under pressure, and why I was able to study Juyo effectively."

"Okay, I get that. But at the same time you seemed sincere about it," Kajex pressed, frowning at him. "Like you were serious about taking control."

"I was," Locke admitted, still not meeting his eyes. "In that I was suggesting I might be able to be a better leader. But then you started getting angry and sloppy, too stubborn to stop, and... I started worrying that you..." He paused, swallowing. "I was starting to fear that you wouldn't be enough. That I was too much for you to handle. Then I started thinking about Keris, Talrik, and Syrra; how they've been hurt in the past, how you couldn't protect them. I started thinking I could prevent that, maybe offer a better life by taking control."

"By taking my fiancee? By trying to cuck me?"

Locke winced. "It sounds worse when you put it that way... but... yes, that's what I was thinking. I care about you and Syrra. My thoughts were going to ideas about how I could protect everybody--"

"By possessing them," Kajex finished for him.

Locke went silent.

"Your thoughts went there because you were afraid. Just like I am. About our family, about the new pack we found." He cocked his head, the pang of sadness sharpening in his chest. "Control is what kept you safe from Voyde having to control you, what kept the rest of the Circle at bay. It's what you used to keep Keris safe. You've been so scared to lose what you've gained that you started thinking you needed to have full control – just like Voyde."

"Dammit," Locke scoffed, without a hint of mirth in his blue eyes. "I guess the bastard really is still in my head. He didn't even have to control me."

Now he could sense despair beginning to creep into Locke, but Kajex wasn't having it. He reached out, grabbing his paw tight. "Maybe. One thing sets you apart from him, though," he said. "I could feel it in you, while we fought. Even if you were serious about it, I believe you completely that you'd do it because you genuinely love us all. Voyde doesn't care for anyone but himself. You are not him. And it is not your fault that you learned the wrong lesson from a poor teacher."

Locke finally looked up at him, the corners of his eyes glistening slightly, yet a smile on his muzzle. "I was wrong, Kajex. You clearly have more to teach, even to me."

"I mean... I'm just saying things right now," Kajex said, rubbing the back of his head. "I wouldn't call it a lesson."

"It was something I needed to hear," Locke said, wiping his face and resting against the tree. "You may be casual about it, and you may act undisciplined, but... you are a capable teacher." He took in a deep breath, letting it out with a shudder. "I'm sorry for this. I feel like I made a mess of things, angering you like this."

"It's alright, Locke," Kajex said, taking a seat next to him. "We did this to help us understand and learn from each other, and we did. Maybe it was a bit more... intense, than we meant for it to be, but I'm still glad you got it off your chest, and that you could learn from it. Even if I'm the last person who should be allowed to teach anybody."

"I still feel like I need to make it up to you, though."

Kajex nodded, then reached out and took Locke's paw in his. "Meditate with me, then. Show me how you do it, and we'll improve it with you."

Though there was reluctance in his eyes, Locke returned a nod and leaned against the tree, taking a deep breath. Kajex followed suit, easing into controlled breathing and falling into a light trance, keeping his paw in Locke's as he did.

"Are you going to let go?" Locke asked.

"Nope," Kajex replied. "I've been doing this with Syrra. I say we're close enough that I'm comfortable doing it with you." His brow furrowed slightly. "Having trouble?"

"I usually do, when I'm upset," Locke admitted quietly.

Kajex didn't say anything immediately, feeling the lingering shame from his albino counterpart. There was a toxic sensation, though it was directed inward and Locke seemed to be clinging to it. The desire to keep his paw in Kajex's seemed to be struggling with a feeling of unworthiness, like a starving, chained prisoner with food just out of reach. It took Kajex mentally nudging Locke for the sensation to be loosened, enough for him to fall into a trance.

Hey. Cut it out, Locke.

A pause, then reluctance. Sorry. I have a lot of emotional baggage. You're not the only one who has been worried about our lack of one-on-one interaction. Another pause. I'm usually good at this, when I'm not thinking about the times I've failed.

It's okay, Kajex told him. Anything to help you get through this. I need you, too.

For Syrra and Keris?

Well, yes. But I was thinking about our lupine kin, actually.

The reluctance faded into curiosity. I'm listening.

For a few moments Kajex struggled to find the proper words, a lead-up that wouldn't cause pain. There was a reason I was pulling my punches at the beginning of the duel. I'm not a stranger to failure, and there are times where I've felt like I really failed Syrra, not teaching her what I know. I still feel raw about Talrik having been injured, losing both my fathers, and nearly killing you in a duel because I broke focus and let fear cause me to act. So what you said got to me. It felt like a slap in my face, but I pushed it down and tried to handle it calmly. Thing is... part of me wondered if you were right. For a moment, I almost considered giving up. Giving up control. Even giving up Syrra, just because I might fail her as a teacher... and as a mate.

He could feel surprise and confusion from Locke. Why didn't you? Not that you should have, but what kept you going?

I didn't want to give up without a fight. My fathers taught me perseverance, doing what it takes to help others and honor agreements. I didn't want to break my promise to the woman I love. And you also needed me, even if I had nothing of substance to teach you. I'm just worried that the pressure might cause me to give up too soon – on you, or on the new pack.

He trailed off, sighing. For a while neither of them spoke, and Kajex felt it was better they let the silence linger. The steady sound of the flowing river and the wind rustling through the trees was calming, and for a while the wolf felt a pang of regret that he'd spent as little time in the wilderness as he perhaps should have. The peace and quiet was soothing, as was the scent of the world around them, untainted by civilization; a massive change from the cold, steel interior of the Gold Rush. Before too long Locke stirred, and when Kajex felt his words they were laced with admiration.

Kajex... I think if I've learned anything from this duel and your words, it's that you are far more capable as a teacher and leader than you believe. I think that your ability to learn and adapt is crucial in being able to teach others. I pressed you on your shortcomings as an educator, yet you countered them perfectly. A pause followed and worry crept into his feelings. If anything, I'd be more likely to put the new pack at risk.

You've taught Keris well, Kajex started to say.

Now came a sense of inadequacy, despondence. But it wasn't until she came to the Jedi Praxeum with you and Syrra that she started to excel in her studies. She would never have learned her talent for Force illusions from me. I chided you for not being the one to teach Syrra how to heal others, but I shouldn't be one to talk. I've tried so many times to save and help others. It has always backfired. And with every failure, Voyde has always been there to grind the lesson into me. Another pause lingered. I used to think he was trying to gaslight me, mocking me when he claimed I could never teach Keris. But even today, I still wonder if he was right – that I'm ill-suited to teaching anyone. So... I share in your fear, though I lack your optimism. Voyde was thorough on beating it out of me.

You have a lot of self-loathing within you, Kajex noted sadly. But his abuse doesn't have to define you. You're not him.

Resignation. What else is there to me?

Kajex's answer was immediate, sincere – most importantly, spurred by a desire to to get through to Locke. You're strength. Not the strength he taught you for his own ends, but the strength you had to resist him. After everything you've told me about him, you survived and endured, and still came out a decent man who cares for others and still tries to do the right thing. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't turn you to the dark side fully.

Resistance, but lesser than before, laced with gratefulness. He's used me as a vessel in the past. You recognize that a large part of the blame lies with me, right?

No. No matter what Voyde has told you, you can't be held responsible for him controlling you, nor being unable to fight against his control. Sometimes those things are just out of our hands, kept out of reach because of our limitations – or those forcing those limitations on us. You have the chance you need to break free from his teachings and accept that the only limitations you have are what you want. But if you let him live in your head, mulling over his words, you'll always be his prisoner.

Now there was helplessness, confusion. A pang tore at Kajex, for someone he respected so deeply to be paralyzed by a lack of optimism. I'm not sure I know how to break free from him.

I think I do – by learning to love yourself again. Chip away at years of his abuse and manipulation until you feel genuine appreciation for who you are. Get to a point where you see yourself as you are, and not as Voyde tells you.

But if you're as afraid as I am... if we both lack that confidence, Locke started to say.

That's why I said that it had to be both of us, Kajex reminded him. I'm just as scared as you are of failing, but I can't let that stop us. I need you, as much as you need me. To get to that point where we can see ourselves through each other's perspectives. To have that extra strength when it seems like too much for one of us. To impart what we know to the people who are depending on us. And it's not just us, remember – we have Syrra and Keris, Talrik and Miles. Even Rook.

Warmth radiated from Locke. Your hope is... comforting. Before I came to know you, I'd go years without feeling it. Now it feels like an extra reason to get out of bed each morning.

I'm glad, then. It's not going to be easy, Kajex warned, but I think I know how to help.

How?

Kajex opened his eyes, still feeling at peace with himself. He glanced to Locke, still deep in a meditative trance, and smiled as he leaned over to him. He cupped the Locke's face and caught his muzzle in a gentle kiss, sighing as he consciously exuded his affection. Locke's eyes flicked open, a flare of alarm and surprise surging for but a moment before he sighed into Kajex's lips, squeezing his paw. The two embraced, lovers as much as brothers. As seconds passed Kajex could feel the worry and self-loathing fade into nothing, and he only broke the kiss once he felt Locke at peace.

"Hm, looks like it's working," Kajex said, touching their noses together.

"So... does this mean we're done training?" Locke asked.

"I think we've done well today, and we shouldn't overdo it after having such an eventful training session. Besides this is the best way to kiss and make up," Kajex added with a grin.

"Says who?" Locke chuckled, nuzzling him.

"Says Syrra and Talrik – and by the time we're done, you'll be saying it too," Kajex replied, leaning in for another kiss. "Now c'mere and let's get these robes off."

They were half an inch away from their lips meeting, when a deafening crack exploded overhead and the world was bathed in blinding light for a fraction of a second. Both wolves jumped and yelped in an almost primal fear, looking up to the sky. The clouds overhead rumbled and darkened, as a dense, gray sheet draped over a nearby peak above the treetops and sped in their direction. With a cry of dismay Kajex jumped to his feet and rushed for the speeder with Locke hot on his heels, neither of them bothering to collect their training sabers or Kajex's satchel as they rushed for refuge from the elements. They were halfway to it when the rainfall finally swept overhead; in less than ten seconds they were completely drenched, their training robes soaked and their fur matted down. Almost as if the world was intent on salting the wound, a surge of cold wind blasted against them, slowing their haste into a jog for the final few meters to the speeder. They wasted no time jumping in, slamming the doors shut.

"Hell of a way to end a training session," Locke said with a shiver.

"Son of a..." Kajex sighed, shaking the water off. "The weather report said the rainfall would be limited to the other side of the mountain range. Least I made sure the camping gear was waterproof."

"We're going through with it still? In this weather?"

"You want me to drive in this weather?" Kajex countered. "At least here, we've got towels, sleeping pads, and a heating unit. We'll have to get a little more wet, but it's better than being charged more credits for ruining the seats on a rented speeder."

"Heh... well, look at the bright side," Locke said, chuckling.

Kajex arched an eyebrow. "Which is...?"

"Now I'll have to get these robes off."

It did not take long for the worst of the storm to pass, becoming a distant rumble with brief flashes several miles away after perhaps half an hour. Still, the rain persisted even an hour later, and what little info they were able to get off of their slow holonet connection was enough to tell them it wouldn't let up until past midnight. Fortunately it didn't take too long to find higher ground away from the creek, nestled under some massive trees. As soon as the shelter was set and the two were inside and stripped off all clothing, Kajex immediately let Syrra know they were still alright, and would be spending the night there. Though there was some coy undertone in her demand to not get into too much trouble, he could sense that she was happy enough that they would be spending more time together.

"Probably because it means she gets to spend more time with Keris," Locke guessed, as wrung out the last of their training robes and slung it over a drying line with the rest. "From what she's told me, Syrra's been introducing her to your 'toybox' when they're alone."

"Yeah, well... Syrra asked for permission and who was I to say no?" Kajex chuckled, fiddling with the heating unit. It felt great to be out of the weather, nestled in the safety of a warm, sturdy tent. Even though the gear hadn't been used in over a decade, the heater and generator still worked, and the supports were still sturdy. "Besides, we're not going to need them."

"What about the others?"

"I'm assuming you're asking what Miles, Talrik and Rook are up to, and not what they'll do without my 'gear.' Syrra says they got back from hanging out just before the storm hit Coronet. They're taking it easy for now." He sighed, setting the heater a bit higher before hanging it on one of the support rods. "There we go. It'll take a few hours for the clothes to dry, and we're going to smell like the pair of wet dogs that we are, but this should be comfortable enough."

"I'll bet you can't wait for the sonic showers to be installed on the ship – or the quick-dry stalls," Locke noted.

"Nah, that's just the nice stuff for you guys," Kajex replied. "As long as Syrra's in my bed every night, she's sharing the shower with me. But I'm sure we'll make use of it now and then, when we want some extra company."

He flopped onto his sleeping pad, the act dislodging a pocket of air from the cushion. All at once he detected familiar smells that nearly caused his heart to skip a beat. He could still smell the scent of his fathers in air, decades old yet potent enough to render him silent. It brought more comfort than grief as fond memories of his time with them flickered through his mind. For a minutes he closed his eyes and breathed in deep, holding on to the scent and the memories of fire-cooked meals and canned rations, fun Jedi training sessions in the snow, watching holothrillers and telling ghost stories – and a few more pleasant, intense moments shared in privacy.

He was close to dozing off when he sensed movement next to him, cracking an eye open. Locke had laid next to him, the white wolf's silver-blue eyes soft and curious, looking hesitant to speak.

"... What were they like?" he asked quietly.

Surprise jolted through his nerves, realizing he'd exuded his emotions without meaning to. It seemed a simple question, but it took only seconds for him to realize there were a million things he wanted to say about them – and he couldn't figure out where to start. He wished he could tell Locke everything he could, to the point that he knew what it was like to live with Bran and Kane; and wished more deeply still Locke had been there with him, to be lucky enough to share in Kajex's life. But the longer he thought about it, the more painful the memories were. After a few uncomfortable moments, he chose a place to begin.

"They were good men, good fathers, living in societies that would condemn them for being true to how they felt, but it didn't make them bitter," Kajex said. "They never gave up on helping the people who needed it, always ready to hear what needed to be done – and always prepared to go against orders if it was the right thing to do. They really believed in love and bonding being important, and they were always unhappy to sever toxic connections, yet wise enough to know when they couldn't heal rifts." He paused, swallowing. "I loved them. They never hurt me in any way, and risked their lives to save mine more than a few times. Bran just... risked it once too many. But I've long since accepted he wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I didn't understand it at the time, young as I was. It took me years after they were gone to finally understand what would cause a man choose the fate that Bran did."

"What caused you to understand it?" Locke asked, scooting in closer.

Kajex smiled. "You and Syrra. You know it like I do – when you care about someone so much that you'd go through chaos to help them, you'll do it without questioning why."

Locke stared at him for a few moments, then laid on his back, staring up at the roof of the tent. "I am... envious of you, Kajex. I wish I had known them."

"I wish you had known them, too," Kajex said, reaching over to touch his paw. "I meant what I said, our first night sleeping together – I wish we'd met while they were still alive, so you could have been raised with me, instead of being a slave. All the same, I know they would have loved you."

"You say that... I can't know that for sure," Locke replied, a tinge of pain in his eyes again. "Much as I appreciate it, I can't bring myself to believe it. Though honestly, if I could never know what your fathers would have thought of me, knowing I have your approval and love is enough." He squeezed Kajex's paw, looking to him. "You're really not angry at me? I don't mean to doubt what you say, but I've lived life second-guessing kindness."

"I'm not angry," Kajex told him patiently, smiling. "I understand what happened. From now on, we'll just set down some ground rules and disengage if things become too emotional." He rolled onto his side, putting his paw on his brother's chest.

"Good. I have no intention of ruining what bond we've established," Locke sighed, seemingly more out of relief than remorse.

Kajex grinned. "That said... you did lose."

"I... did, yes," he admitted, his ears pinning back warily. "Though I was hoping that we'd ignore the stakes I'd suggested, as I admit they were out-of-line."

"Very much so," Kajex teased, moving a bit closer. "But that doesn't mean I don't want a prize out of this." He grabbed Locke's shoulders and pinned him down, moving on top of him with a playful look and a wagging tail.

Locke grunted and pushed back, trying to sit up with a look of anxiety. "W-wait, but earlier you said--! If you're suggesting that you get Keris out of our duel--"

But Kajex cut him off by putting his paw out, palm facing Locke's muzzle. For a moment Locke tensed up, looking alarmed at the sudden movement until Kajex put a paw on his nose and pushed him back down gently. "Calm down, dumbass, I'm not talking about claiming Keris," Kajex chuffed. "I'm talking about us. We're dry and out of the elements, so now we gotta talk about how tonight's going to work."

"Oh, I... I thought it was going to be the same affair as usual... right?"

"Sure, but you were also right about me raising my tail for you all the time, never expecting you to reciprocate," Kajex said, switching to a calmer, more erotic tone, staring into Locke's eyes. He restrained the grin he felt bubbling up when Locke started squirming beneath him with a shudder and a sigh, the result of his toned ass brushing against his brother's sheath. "I'm no stranger to taking cock, Locke. I love cock. I love taking cock. And I love taking your cock when we spend time together. I love it about as much as I do giving it – but until you came into my life as a permanent presence, I'd been giving it a lot for the last decade, with Rik, Syrra, and Talrik. So having someone on my level being able to give as good as I give others was a nice change of pace, especially since it was an easy way to be nice to you. But maybe I should be firmer, as punishment for taking things a step too far."

"So... what's changing tonight?" Locke asked, his ears still pinned back in worry.

"Starting tonight, I think you should have to earn the right to fuck me," Kajex said, bumping their noses together. "And I should have to earn the right to pin you down and rail you good, too. So I'm going to call our duel a victory in my favor, meaning I get to choose whether to go all top, or power-bottom." He tilted his head. "And if the former happens to be a new experience for you..."

He didn't have to sense the alarm in Locke to be aware of it – it was painted all over his face. "I... no, I've never... I mean, I've considered it with Miles, but I--"

"Well now we get to find out," he said with a playful, subtle growl. It took little more than shifting his hips back and sliding a few inches away for his balls and sheath to rest comfortably on his siblings. Locke let out a soft gasp and moan as their heavy orbs caressed, and any resistance he had under Kajex seemed to relax. A glance down was all he needed to see that Locke's body was receptive, as the pink tip of his cock emerged from his sheath. It stirred his own arousal, the black peak of his cock greeting its sibling. His gaze returned to Locke, the white wolf biting his lip.

"I'm new to this, Kajex," he finally groaned. "I'm not sure I'm ready for... this. But you did win our duel, and I was out of line. So if this makes up for earlier, I'll bear with it and give it a try."

"Don't worry," Kajex said, leaning in close enough to stare into his brother's silver-blue eyes. "I'm not going to make you do anything you don't want to. Be a good boy, and I might even let you cum in my ass. For now, I'll work you up to it. I aim to make sure you enjoy every second. If we're really cloned from the same template, then I'm pretty sure you're going to enjoy this just as much as I do. "

His lips reached Locke's muzzle before he had a chance to speak, quelling further protest or hesitation, yet made no immediate attempt to push further. He was content to hold his brother close and share in the most basic expression of love he could, hoping it would ease Locke's nerves. Impassioned as he felt – as he always was when he could share these moments with Locke – he had no desire to alarm him, or overwhelm him with too much. For a few moments he feared he had pushed things too quickly, until the other wolf finally matched his kiss with a sigh, his paws sliding over his lap and onto his hips. In the buzz of his arousal, Kajex could feel his brother's appreciation and love through the Force, slowly opening up to him.

To Kajex it felt far long than what was, in reality, perhaps only a minute of light cuddling with locked muzzles; yet it seemed to do enough to coax Locke into rubbing at his chest. It was as good a signal as Kajex needed, reciprocating but rolling his hips slightly. In the next moment Locke gasped and broke the kiss with a low moan, shivering as their balls grazed against each other. Ripples of warmth and bliss rushed through Kajex's loins, coaxing the rest of his cock from its confines until it was half-firm and throbbing. Locke drew in another sharp breath, his chest rising as he pushed against Kajex's with a shaky thrust. Seconds later his cock spilled out of its sheath and against his abs, sharing it's pulse with Kajex's shaft. The two wolves panted for a moment, both caught up in the sight of their nearly-identical cocks pressed neatly between them, held in place by the sensation of warm, bare flesh resting against each other. Kajex was the first to move, a low whine escaping from him as he started to rock his hips back and forth, dragging his piece against Locke's twitching maleness and leaving a smear of precum in its wake. The movement prompted Locke to react, lifting his hips up with what limited movement he could to meet Kajex's motions. It was slow and gentle, but more than enough friction to reduce them to gasps and groans, sending a pleasant tingle through their bodies. Their eyes met again, gold and silver-blue hazed with lust and love, and without a word nor pulse of thought through the Force between them, they both reacted on instinct and met in a deeper kiss. The act was like tinder on an open flame, bursting into heat in Kajex's chest, spurring more effort into his hips.

Chest-to-chest, their cocks sandwiched between their bodies, the brothers rocked and flexed against each other. Any time their lips were apart, he was admiring Locke's body, further turned on by having this handsome wolf both as a brother and lover. Other men had come and gone through his life, but he could only describe Locke as perfect, from his athletic build to his snow-white fur, to the silver waves of hair. Their eyes met again and Kajex sensed the same appreciation from Locke, an exact mirror of him in build and shape. His paws went to Locke's chest the same moment that a pair of paws slid around his ass, and without having to spare thoughts or words they redoubled their efforts, moaning and panting as they thrust and rut their wolfcocks together. A surge of hunger gnawed at Kajex, and he shuddered, his cock aching painfully.

"It's... different this time," Locke whined. "Something's wrong."

"N-no, it's not," Kajex lied, trying to keep it going. "It's just more... intense."

Locke shook his head and removed his paws from Kajex's ass, sitting up. "Stop, I need... I need to see--"

They both sat up, a flare of irritation tingling in Kajex's nerves, but it disappeared the moment the pair looked down simultaneously. Kajex stared, perplexed and more than a little aroused at the sight of a pair of rock-hard wolf cocks drooling with precum and throbbing dangerously – and looking a full two inches larger than they usually were. He reached down with a hesitant, trembling paw, flinching as his palm pressed against the side of his shaft and his fingers wrapped around its thickness. A jolt of hot ecstasy coursed through every nerve in his loins and halfway up his spine, culminating in a sharp yip of pleasure and a short shot of precum splattering against Locke's. There was no mistaking the size now, the girth as evident in his fingers as it was in his eyes.

"What the fuck?" Kajex whispered. "This isn't... normal. Locke, is this...?"

Locke shook his head, wide-eyed and face flushed with red. "No... this has never happened to me, either," he panted. "By the Force... it feels... hot..."

"How big is... hold on." Kajex looked to his satchel, holding out a paw and summoning it to him. He pulled out one of the training sabers they had used, holding it perpendicular to his cock – the weapon's length was a half-inch shorter. "That's... no fucking way. This handle is a foot long exactly."

"That can't be possible," Locke replied in a hushed voice, looking both impressed and excited. "Both of us measured only ten inches in the past. How did we get another two inches out of nowhere?"

"It feels... so fucking hot," Kajex moaned, stroking his cock and tossing the saber aside. "I don't know-- fuck it, I don't care how! You need to feel it, Locke!" The moment Kajed reached down and wrapped both his paws against their cocks the white wolf's words slurred into a moan. The sensation of hunger, something Kajex could only describe as a primal feeling of need, tore at him as he thrust his cock through his grip, grinding against the underside of Locke's girth. It seemed to be all the convincing he needed as he joined his brother, his paws meeting in the middle and lending aid to Kajex's efforts. Both visible throbbed under their paws, each pulse generating gouts of precum that slathered over the surface of their shafts and in their palms, the tent filled with the strong scent of male sexuality and voices rising in lust.

"Oh fuck!" Locke cried out suddenly. "N-no no, I can't, not now!"

He removed his paws and sat back with his legs open, his knot swelling rapidly. Kajex's eyes widened and he lunged in, getting half of Locke's prick into his muzzle and swirling his tongue around the tool. The heady aroma and delicious taste of his brother's cock nearly sapped the rest of his sexual endurance away, but he steeled himself all the same, eager for his brother's nut in his cheeks. His paw wrapped around the knot and squeezed hard, generating a yelp and a moan from Locke as the underside of his cock twitched, his balls drawing up and pumping seed through the distended cum-vein. A flood of rich seed blasted from the tip and into Kajex's muzzle, filling it almost completely with the first jet; he'd barely had time to appreciate the taste of wolfcum on his tongue before he swallowed, sensing the next shot a half-second later. He took a deep breath and leaned deep into Locke's lap, taking his brother's cock all the way to the knot, the shaft sliding down his throat. It took a little focus, but he managed to widened his maw just enough to slide the knot past his lips and behind his teeth, holding it in place as he let Locke pour his spunk right into his belly. Were it not for his Jedi training, he doubted he would have been able to pull off such a feat; as it was, he felt dizzy and nearly out of breath by the time Locke's output slowed almost ten seconds later, and he pulled himself away from Locke's cock with a gasp and a cough, falling onto his back as the the last massive shots of cum splattered over his face and chest.

Through lust-glazed vision he could see Locke staring in awe at him, but he couldn't spare more thought towards his brother – the act had been too arousing for him, yet he could feel himself nearly stopped up from holding back his climax for so long, enough so that wolfish whimpers and whines were pouring from his cum-stained muzzle as he began to furiously jack off, trying to coax his nut out. It wasn't until he felt a paw on his stomach when he finally stopped. Locke had leaned in and was smiling down at him, his muzzle hovering over his cock.

"Allow me... Alpha..."

Before Kajex could process the words Locke slid his muzzle around the jet-black cock, moaning around its girth while his paws went to work; one paw massaged the base of his shaft firmly, while the others cupped and rubbed his heavy balls. Without anything for his paws to do, Kajex's fingers dug into the sleeping pad, as he moaned beneath Locke's ministrations. Less than a minute of this treatment was all it took for Kajex's body to relax, his knot swelling as rapidly as Locke's had – the impending climax nearly left him paralyzed, staring up at the roof of the tent and his toes curling as he tried to hold back. He almost missed Locke's next move, his gaze returning to him just in time to see him return the favor. Their eyes met just as Locke took half his cock in his muzzle, unable to smile but conveying pure love for Kajex in his gaze.

The pressure in his balls and perineum was too intense, and seconds later he moaned, pouring thick ribbons of wolf nut into his' brother's muzzle. There wasn't a trace of hesitance as he swallowed the load, making a brave effort to match Kajex's deep-throat before pulling back and letting the remainder of his climax to stain his face and body. Still shivering in the afterglow of cumming so hard, Kajex did not resist when Locke grabbed his paws and pulled him back onto his knees, all to share a deep kiss with him – and a substantial amount of his seed with it. For the next minute the brothers shared the load, tongues dancing in tandem as they cleaned as much spunk as they could, their still-firm shafts grazing against each other.

It was Kajex that broke the kiss, staring down at his length. Though now bearing a veneer of saliva and seed, it had not reduced in any way. "Fuck... I'm still hard," he whined. "That was so good, though..."

"I had to try something," Locke said, stroking his prick a few times as they nuzzled. "Kajex...I think I'm... I'm ready for this." His ears pinned back submissively and he bowed over, looking up at him. "I want this to be my first."

"N-no way, Locke," Kajex said, retaining enough of himself even in the midst of his lust. "This is bigger than you were when you fucked me, it'll be... too much."

"You told me you once had a Wookiee during a one night stand," Locke panted, keeping his eyes on the black cock and leaning onto his hands and knees, his ass raised up and his tail wagging. "If you could take that, I'm sure I could take you."

"I was drunk and I'd had anal experience – and I still couldn't walk right for a week after," Kajex replied. "But... we were both drunk and didn't prepare... so maybe..." It was the sight of Locke's raised tail and the lingering taste of seed on his lips that erased his remaining hesitation, prompting him to make a grab for his satchel again, drawing a full tube of clear lubricant. He looked back down to Locke, trying to inject some firmness in his voice. "Alright, I will. But you have to tell me the moment he becomes to much, or when you want me to stop!"

Locke nodded, and through the Force Kajex could sense that his words had not been dismissed. Now certain that his brother would alert him of any discomfort, he moved up behind Locke and unscrewed the top of the tube. With a paw on Locke's ass, he spread the cheeks apart and revealed his clean, pink pucker, then pressed the tube's tapered tip against it and squeezed. Locke shivered as Kajex poured the lubricant into his ass for a few seconds, pulling it back and letting a few healthy dollops land on the tight ring. Once he was sure there was enough, Kajex returned his attention to his cock, squeezing a line down the top of his length until only half the tube remained.

"Alright... I'm gonna ease you open, pup," Kajex said softly. "The gel warms up on contact, but try to relax." Locke looked back at him and nodded, a nervous but excited smile on his muzzle. Kajex pressed his thumb against the orifice for a few seconds, smearing the lube around while his other paw worked to smear his cock with another layer of slickness. A firm push was all it took for his thumb to sink into Locke's pucker, eliciting a moan from the white wolf, and with the orifice now breached Kajex quickly slid a finger in to replace it.

For a little while, Kajex worked on opening Locke up by gently massaging his pucker and sliding his digits in slow and deep, adding another finger every minute or so. Locke was virgin-tight, yet surprisingly more relaxed than almost every male partner Kajex had slept with, and it didn't take long for his eagerness to set in by pushing back against Kajex's paw by the time the third finger was buried in his hole. In this position his still-hard cock was aiming below him, leaving a growing stain of cock-drool where it landed; the sight caused an ache to flare in Kajex's shaft, his fingers massaging the pleasant burn where he felt it. He suppressed an anxious whine, beating back the urge to rut his brother carelessly with his determination to make Locke's first time taking cock the best in his life – a moment to remember.

Even as he flexed and spread his fingers around in Locke's tailhole there wasn't a word of protest, no request for him to stop; though given his moaning and breathing it didn't seem like he was capable of forming complete words. Still, Kajex could sense complete elation and desire from his brother, without a hint of pain. Reluctant as he was to stop, the white wolf's whines and moans were getting to him, his own cock slathered in a healthy sheen of lube and precum. He took a deep breath to steady himself, then leaned in and whispered into Locke's ear.

"Sorry for stopping, but... I'm about ready to start," he told him. "Last chance to back out."

Locke's answer was immediate, shaking his head. "No... I'm ready for it."

"You don't owe this to me, Locke."

"I know... I don't," Locke moaned, smiling back at him. "But if this is what it's like, then... I think I'll enjoy being your bitch tonight..."

A pleasant warmth welled up in Kajex, moved and aroused by Locke's word. In moments he was in mounting position, pinning Locke's shoulders down as his prick slid between the firm valley of his ass. His tip slid against the pucker and his hips rolled in, burying the first few inches into Locke. Both wolves nearly howled, their moans loud enough to briefly drown out the sound of rainfall, yet Kajex pressed ahead and slid more of his length into Locke before stopping. It was a far cry from Talrik, the fox being smaller yet more experienced in taking the wolf's full length; but now a full two inches had come from nowhere, and while Locke was larger he was much tighter. By the time he'd sheathed half his cock in the tightness was almost unbearable, a beautiful pain around his girth. Kajex expected his brother to cry out in pain, or tell him to stop, and for a few moments he paused to give Locke a chance. Instead, Locke took a deep breath and pushed his ass back into his hips, causing the remainder of his cock to glide and disappear until the stretched-out pucker was kissing against Kajex's throbbing knot.

"Ho... fuck," Kajex gasped, gaping down at Locke's ass. "Are you okay, Locke?"

"I'm... fine!" Locke groaned, pushing back firmly. "It's so deep, but it's amazing!"

Kajex guessed that if this wasn't hurting Locke by now, nothing else would, and with this comfort in mind he drew his hips back and built up a slow, steady, powerful rhythm. There was just enough lube to make each thrust glide easily into Locke's backside, and just enough friction to send tingle through his flesh as they caressed through his brother's inner anal walls. Each time he hilted the white wolf he held himself there for a second and a half, savoring the feel of heavy balls resting against each other before pulling away and repeating the movement. A haze of lust addled his senses, making it hard to feel anything but desire and arousal from Locke, such that when his tailhole and inner walls started tightening and fluttering around his girth, Kajex couldn't tell if it was intentional or accidental. It didn't matter – it made every thrust that much better, encouraging him to pick up the pace as the seconds wore on. He leaned over Locke, keeping his hips working as he did. The white wolf was lost on a plane of lust, letting out sounds Kajex had never heard from him – the kind of moans and whimpers only came from railing another man's prostate in the best possible way, noises that would make an alpha's ears burn with pride and exhilaration. He breathed into his ear, knowing he would not be ignored.

"Loving this, yeah?" Kajex teased.

"I... fucking love your cock," Locke whined.

"Good... maybe this should be your place... beneath me, impaled on my cock. You're such a natural at taking it, maybe you should submit to me. Give everything you hold dear to a stud that can handle it..."

"Fuck... you," Locke panted, smiling back at him. "You... made your point. Next time, I'll be making you beg for my cock."

"Win in another duel and you'll get that chance – but tonight, you're my bitch," Kajex growled affectionately, nipping Locke's neck. "Lose enough times, and I might put a ring on your finger drive the point home."

Locke stared back at him, his smile broad and sincere.

"... Is that a promise?"

Kajex froze, the pure sincerity of Locke's question stunning him. His cock throbbed and ached as if in response, made worse (or better) by Locke clenching around it. He swallowed, an excited grin breaking across his face as he nodded. "Y'know what...? Yeah. Once a week, we train, meditate, and duel. Whoever wins three duels in a row... gets to propose to the other."

Locke grinned back at him. "You're on – your ass is mine."

"Not yet," Kajex chuckled, nuzzling into his neck. He pulled away, still buried up to the knot in Locke as he coaxed him to roll onto his back, until the brothers were settled into a comfortable, intimate missionary position. His paws went to Locke's and pinned them down, their fingers intertwined. "Right now... it's just you and me."

Nearly every muscle in his body flexed as he resumed their rutting, his back and hips working to piston his cock repeatedly into Locke's hole; at the same moment he leaned in and caught his brother in another kiss, trying to convey as much love as he could in the act. In moments he had lost himself in the warmth and sensation of intense sex, his Force-bond with Locke making it seem as if the two had merged into one being. Where their bodies met to satisfy physical, sexual need, the bond was enough to fulfill the emotional needs they were sharing. Worries and fears turned to confidence and hope; what uncertainty had been lying beneath the surface was being countered by reassurance that the other was there for them. What love they couldn't convey in kissing and fucking, they shared through that bond. He pulled his senses back, attempting to be mindful enough to stroke his brother, but it was clear that Locke's prick was fine as it was, sandwiched firmly between their abs and massaging it as they fucked, smearing them with precum.

Kajex's hips arched and he yelped as his cock was subjected to a vice-like tightness; without warning Locke had loosened up just enough for his knot to glide into his ass, locking him in place. Locke's moan rang in his ears and Kajex's heart sang with joy at the sound, the moment sapping away what little endurance he had left to spare. He tried to announce it, but his voice caught in his chest and he could do nothing more but deliver a final thrust, his cock throbbing so painfully hard it was a wonder it didn't burst. Pressure unlike anything he could ever recall surged deep in his stomach, then released in a torrent that made his balls twitch with every pulse. White-hot ropes of wolf-seed shot from the tip of his tool, painting his brother's inner walls alabaster in amounts he'd rarely generate. He was so immersed in his climax he nearly missed Locke's next words.

"K-Kajex... I'm... gonna--!"

A rock-hard bulge pressed uncomfortably against Kajex's stomach and his eyes shot open. He pulled back frantically, stifling a pained yelp as his knot nearly kept him in place. Locke cried out more in bliss than in pain, and despite how tight his ass was around Kajex's knot, it relaxed just enough for him to remove it with a loud 'pop', freeing him up. Without wasting a second, and still spewing wolf-spunk from his throbbing piece, he climbed onto Locke's lap and sank down on the slick pole easily, gasping and arching his back as Locke's knot disappeared into his backside. Locke sat up and clung to him as both wolves howled simultaneously, their voices shaking the tent with an instinctive song as they erupted, ceasing only when the flow of their seed ceased into a bare trickle.

How long they held each other in the afterglow of their mating, Kajex could not say, but he savored every second of it. The tent was as much a mess as they were, the scent of male sex thick in the air, but Kajex could not care less. There was just the two of them, their hearts racing and breaths ragged, slowing doing as time passed. Neither spoke in that time, content to share silently in the warmth and affection that followed.

It was Locke that broke the silence with a pleasant sigh, nuzzling into Kajex's chest. "Why'd you do that?"

The Sentinel perked up, suddenly worried that pulling his knot free had caused injury. "I-I'm sorry, Locke. I was just so into it--"

"It didn't hurt," Locke cut him off, smiling up at him. "But why'd you pull free?"

"I told you I'd let you cum in me if you were a good boy," Kajex replied, laughing. "I've told you before, I don't like making promises I can't keep."

Locke chuckled and the pair laid onto their sides, still connected by Locke's knot. They kissed again, arms wrapped around each other. "So... what do you think caused this change in size to happen?"

Kajex shrugged. "I dunno... maybe a strong Force bond? Some kind of seasonal rutting change in our biology?" He thought it over, then shook his head. "Syrra might know more. She's been studying my biology for over a year."

"Is that what you call it?" Locke teased, licking his cheek.

"Oh hush," Kajex chuffed. "Maybe the NRI will have information about it. Maybe the new pack could tell us themselves. Honestly... I kind of hope it happens again while Syrra and I are in the mood. But I'm not going to worry about it."

"No?"

"Mmm... no." He looked Locke in the eyes, smiling. "Whatever it is – whatever we are – we're in this together. We can handle it."

Locke nodded, touching their noses together. "I'm beginning to believe that. We'll get there someday. Not just us, but the rest of the pack, too."

Kajex said nothing – and that was alright. It was enough for them to hold each other close and drift into sleep without a word. They had spent only one day training and loving, more than enough for the bond they'd had to grow a little stronger. There would be more time to talk about it, more challenges to face and overcome, more to discover about themselves and their species. It would not be easy, but Kajex wouldn't worry about it.

When the time came, they would handle all of that together, too.