(When your dog snores so loud she wakes you up. So you poke her to wake her up, and she gives you the how dare you look.)

His heir was angry. It was definitely not a feeling he expected to sense from his quiet, calm, level-headed Sebastian. Just the emotion alone was enough for Preto to set down what he was doing and meet him as he stepped through the front door.

Ah.

While the man now standing before him was easily older than forty human years, since his body had stopped growing abruptly at a much younger age upon being changed into a vampire, he couldn't help but consider him absolutely adorable... even when he was about to cry.

The most important issue was evident right away as he leaned over a little and lifted Sebastian's exhausted pup from his arms. After yelling for his medical staff, he carried the light wolf up to his heir's room, knowing that it would be the most comfortable there.

Sebastian ran ahead, blurring around the room until there were three extra blankets on the bed, as well as a few more pillows. He finished setting things up right as Preto walked up to the bed and settled Ruoka into the soft nest his master had built.

"It will be alright, Sebastian. Calm yourself and remain where you are for a few moments," Preto said as he sat beside the panting little wolf and gently pet its head as his two human medical staff checked his vital signs.

When his female nurse mentioned that they should get Ruoka as much water as he was comfortable drinking, Sebastian vanished from the room, only to return a minute later carrying a large basin of cool water.

As soon as he sat it down on the bed Ruoka inched his way closer until he could start taking big, biting gulps.

"Gentle there. No one will take it from you," Preto said as he gave the pup a firm little tug to its ear.

Ruoka grumbled into the water, but did slow himself down quite a bit.

Are you going to be alright? I will make you something to eat shortly, but do you feel like you need any other assistance? he asked, wanting to make sure that his heir's pup would be fine.

Just very tired. I should be fine.

Preto nodded, then turned his attention to his still-upset heir.

"Sebastian."

Hearing his name, the young man quickly lifted his head and stepped forward, clearly wanting to be of some use.

"What caused you to lose control? I could sense that you were becoming stressed, but you never called for me," Preto said, sounding a little disappointed.

He would have come immediately if he'd been asked to, but since Sebastian hadn't seemed like he was in trouble, and hadn't called for him, he'd hesitated to go to him.

Perhaps I need to be more protective.

"The Rain alpha, Silas. He cut the tip of his finger on one of my fangs," Sebastian said, earning an understanding nod.

When he patted the bed beside himself, Sebastian hesitantly sat down. He leaned forward immediately, clearly keen on keeping an eye on his pup around his master.

He is quite worried about you.

Ruoka finished his basin of water before lifting his head and looking past him to Sebastian. His heir, showing his rare shy side, quickly tucked himself against Preto's side, clearly still feeling horrible for what he'd done.

It's not his fault. Alpha Silas tried to get him to drink from him by forcing him to taste his blood. I stepped in front of him before he could try to bite him.

Reaching over, Preto gave Ruoka a good ear scratch.

You are a blessing, little one.

Ruoka pinned his ears and snorted slightly, making Preto chuckle and remove his hand.

"My mistake."

Sebastian looked up at him as he gently grasped his arm.

"What was your mistake?"

Preto's brow furrowed as he looked down at his heir, then to his other side, at Ruoka.

You are not allowing him to hear you? For what reason?

Ruoka licked his nose nervously before tucking his face between his paws and looking away from them both.

You two are so stubborn.

Shaking his head, Preto turned back to his heir and lifted his hand to settle atop his curly hair.

"He didn't seem impressed that I called him little."

Sebastian looked past him to his pup again, but Ruoka refused to look at them anymore. He was sulking.

"I mean... as far as wolves go, he is pretty small," he said, surprising Preto and, it would seem, Ruoka, since he quickly lifted his head and gave them a look over his shoulder.

I... feel as if I am about to become a step parent. I'm all for whatever is going on.

His heir's expression changed to one of utter embarrassment as he quickly spun around, then flopped over onto his belly on the bed.

He... hadn't meant for him to hear that little thought.

Ruoka grumbled at his master's attempted escape from the situation, and much to Preto's surprise, got up on his shaky, tired legs and meandered his way over to Sebastian before sitting down right at his side.

When Sebastian didn't stir at all, nor turn his head so that they could face each other, Ruoka lifted a paw and actually gave his master's shoulder a pretty good shove.

Can I just go sign the papers that they're an heir match, or do I have to wait for verbal confirmation?

He really wasn't sure how that law worked, since it had been many, many years since he'd changed Sebastian. He really ought to check it again...

Facing forward and crossing one leg over the other, Pretennon thought back, trying to remember if there was a clause about how to bind an heir to their vampire. As he pondered, he heard a light tap from behind himself, but wasn't too worried.

After a quiet growl from Sebastian, another tap was heard, but this one, actually, could have been considered a bit of a smack.

Hmm.

Lifting his head from his thinking position, Preto signaled for his male nurse, who had been waiting with the female one by the door, in case he needed them for anything else.

"Johnson, please go retrieve my copy of Meaningful Bindings from downstairs for me."

The man quickly bowed, then disappeared as Preto heard another, quite louder, thump behind himself. The sound, finally, drew his full attention again, making him turn so that he could see what was going on.

I...

Ruoka was sitting... actually sitting, on Sebastian's back. His head was tilted with his ears up, allowing him to all-but look down on his own master as his tail flicked back and forth in clear frustration right above Sebastian's clothed backside.

"I do believe he wants an apology for you calling him small," Preto said, drawing another quiet grumble from his heir, who still refused to move or acknowledge his frustrated pup.

He had no doubt that Sebastian had spoken of his pup in such a way many, many times before, but now that it finally understood him...

Seemingly not one for patience, Ruoka reached up with a paw and tapped Sebastian's curly hair once... then twice.

"You really might want to just apologize. You did take off his collar so that he could understand you," Preto said, his voice the slightest bit reprimanding.

He understood that the two would take a while to get used to all of the changes that were going to happen, but they weren't exactly getting started on the best foot.

Err, well, paw.

Still annoyed that he wasn't even getting a simple apology, Ruoka shifted his weight this way and that, allowing him to literally lie down on Sebastian's back and plop his head down onto the back of his master's.

He could sense his heir's frustration grow as Ruoka began to, ever so gently, lick his curly hair.

Sebastian...

In a blur of movement that was impressive to even his eyes, Sebastian whirled around, flipping Ruoka like a pancake until their positions were practically switched. His heir was baring his teeth down at the pup, who was now being held on his back by a clawed hand gripping his furry chest.

Of course, Preto wasn't honestly concerned, since Sebastian rarely got angry about anything, and staying angry? Not possible. As if to prove his point, his cute heir slowly retracted his fangs after only a few seconds.

Preto turned his attention toward the doorway as things seemed to calm down. His servant arrived not a moment later, handing him the book he had asked for. It was quite old, but it would at least refresh his memory on the general idea of the ceremony. He could browse an updated copy from the library later.

Just as he was flipping open the cover, intent on searching the table of contents, he heard the sound of Sebastian tossing his pup again.

Are they not done? Perhaps I should let them have their privacy.

Looking back over his shoulder, he was finally ready to chastise his heir for not giving his pup a simple apology...

Oh?

Pretennon tilted his head slowly as a smirk slipped onto his lips. Sebastian had, evidently, not flipped his pup at all. His adorable heir was the one who had been pushed onto his back, by a...

Well-muscled. Slightly long, dark hair.

His perusing thoughts were interrupted by a deep, yet somehow gentle, voice.

"I am not small."

Tilting his head the other direction, Preto continued his appraisal, feeling no shame, whatsoever, as he took in the body of the man pinning his heir to the bed.

I must agree. There is nothing small about him.

"Well then, I shall see myself out," he said, closing his book as he stood.

His two servants hurried from the room ahead of him, leaving him to lean back in and grab the door handle. Sebastian looked as if he knew he was about to be eaten alive.

One can hope.

Seemingly having caught that thought, his heir looked over at him with sheer terror in his wide eyes. Preto offered him a congratulatory smile, then tugged the door closed and headed downstairs to finish getting ready for the festivities... even if their guest of honor might not be able to make it.

(Edited)