Feeding the giant wolf had thankfully gone fine, but there was now no way that the beast didn't need to relieve itself soon. He'd even lugged a huge pot of water up from the kitchen for it. 

Just need to figure out how to get it downstairs and outside without losing an arm... or my face. 

He could sense Verander considering his words in the back of his mind, so it was no surprise when the man spoke up a few minutes later. 

Perhaps give him something to hold in his mouth? That way he at least wouldn't be able to bite you right away. He'd have to drop the item first, which should give you enough time to realize that you need to move away? 

That was actually a good idea, but as he looked around his room, he couldn't really find anything that he'd want to put between the beast's massive jaws. He had some books here and there, but those definitely weren't an option. Clothing also wouldn't work, and he doubted that the guy would ever just carry around a boot between his teeth. 

What do you suggest? I could just give him more meat, but he'd probably eat it faster than it can be replaced. 

He wouldn't even doubt the guy's ability to crush bone. Silas was just about to start digging through his dresser in the hopes of finding something he knew wouldn't be helpful when he felt his beta's presence in his mind. 

Alpha Silas, the ghost pup has arrived, Kandza said a moment later through their bond, making Silas immediately spin around to face the other wolf sitting in his doorway. 

The look of his second in command gave him pause as he watched the tiny pup run out from behind Kandza to hop straight up onto the bed with its alpha. Silas watched them for only a moment, to be sure that Sitkea would be fine, then returned his attention back to his beta. 

What happened last night? You look unwell. 

The wolf before him stood up slowly, making it even more obvious that he was struggling. 

I am not sure, but I would like to request to be excused from my duties today. 

Silas frowned but nodded. He would have told him to go straight to his room to rest anyways, so it was a relief that Kandza wasn't interested in trying to stay on duty. 

Thank you, alpha. I will take my leave now. 

He watched as the wolf bowed its head slowly, then turned and walked away. A few moments later he heard a loud sneeze come from down the hall, making his frustration grow a bit more. 

I will be having a talk with the elder vampire later. My Kandza has never been sick, and now here he is ready to pass out at my door because he went to visit his love interest the previous evening? 

Something wasn't adding up. Unfortunately, he couldn't get away from his current task, but he did send an order out to one of his other wolves to request a meeting with Pretennon later that evening. He knew that the man had been planning another evening out with his heir, but he didn't mind what time the vampire returned his request so long as he did so soon. He would stay up as late as he could and allow himself to be woken up if the man arrived even later. 

Alpha Silas, I think having Sitkea here will make things easier. He is rarely violent around the pup.

That was a relief, and also part of the reason why he'd requested the pup to be brought over. 

"Good, then let's go stretch our legs a bit," he said as he calmly walked toward the bed. 

He could tell that the wolf didn't want him near the little pup, but it also kept its mouth closed and ears pointed upward. It wouldn't attack him, at least, not yet. 

Slow and steady. 

Silas carefully reached for its neck to unclasp the lengths of chain holding the wolf in place. It gave off a low growl as he worked, but thankfully didn't try to bite. The moment the chains dropped to the bed Verander's wolf jumped down and after a quick shake of its coat, stretched out each leg, then leaned down for one more good, full-body stretch. 

That would actually be kind of cute if his claws weren't digging into my floorboards. 

He waited until the wolf was completely ready, then carefully walked toward the door at a slow, measured pace. Silas figured that Verander would be glaring at him the entire walk out of the house, but to his surprise, he felt the wolf's attention break away from him quite often as little paws danced about behind him. 

They were just getting to the steps when he heard Sitkea give out a quiet whine, drawing his attention over his shoulder immediately. 

Oh. 

He had a split moment of worry thinking that Verander had gotten annoyed by the hyperactive pup and disciplined it, but he had actually just picked Sitkea up by his scruff before he could try to bolt down the stairs. 

I hadn't even thought about that. 

A little embarrassed about his lack of foresight, Silas moved a little quicker as they headed downstairs, then walked up to the door and held it open for Verander's wolf. He watched it take a few steps out into the cloudy morning light before it set the pup down, then started running full-tilt toward the forest behind the house!

"W-wait!" 

Shit!

Silas quickly yanked his sweater and shirt off in one go before undoing his pants mid-run. The second he managed to kick them mostly off he shifted into his own wolf form and hurried toward the back of the house. He was just about to call for several of his wolves to help him catch Verander's, but he stopped himself right before he sent out the order as he skidded to a halt in a patch of damp grass. 

He's... pooping. 

It took him a full minute of standing and staring, like an idiot, to realize that Verander had run ahead so quickly because Sitkea would try to pull on his tail... while he needed to do his business. 

As it were, the pup was just about to him, and clearly aiming to bite its target, but thankfully Verander was also just finishing up. Right before Sitkea could get close enough to accidentally walk into something they'd have to clean off of him later, Verander bolted forward, leaping over the pup's head with ease. 

Sitkea huffed out a little squeak that sounded more adorable than it should have before he turned and began running after the giant fleeing wolf. It would have been a pretty cute scene if he hadn't realized, albeit a bit too late, that Verander's wolf wasn't playing with the pup. It was attacking him! 

The hit he took from the simple collision sent him rolling into the grass over and over until he caught sight of huge teeth about to go in for his throat. He managed to flip himself and hunch with his head down right before Verander's jaws closed over his scruff. 

He expected to be shaken, or at least bitten badly at that point, but when all he heard was a frustrated growl from the giant wolf, he blinked open eyes he hadn't realized he'd closed. The quiet sound of Sitkea grumbling as he tugged ferociously at Verander's huge tail had Silas breathing an immeasurable sigh of relief. 

It was clear that the wolf still holding his neck wanted to do more than just stand there, but its attention was clearly wanted elsewhere. He wasn't sure if Sitkea would really be able to make him let go, but to his surprise, Verander spat out his scruff after one more angry grumble. He then spun around on the pup, but of course, Sitkea was used to his reactions and easily bounded the other direction with an excited wag of his own little tail. 

Silas wanted to get up and immediately move away, but at the same time, he wanted, or really, needed, to make sure that Sitkea would be okay. The playing was kind of cute, but at the same time, he was messing with a wolf that was easily ten times his own weight, plus some. 

He would never harm the pup. It might not be his genetically, but he loves Sitkea. 

That was a relief. He was just about to ask something else when the giant wolf actually settled down in the grass in front of him. He'd intended to get up, but with those huge teeth so close to his face...

You can get up. He's not going to attack you right now. 

The right now was a bit humorous, but he'd take it. Standing slowly, Silas let his wolf shake out its coat, then glance back toward Sitkea. He wanted to play with the pup...

He was just about to take a step closer when he noticed the giant wolf's form waver. 

What's going on? 

Before Verander could respond the huge wolf vanished before his eyes, leaving the little omega that Verander had mentioned in its place. The large silver prong collar hung from its smaller neck as it pinned its ears and lowered its head, confused. 

That... was unexpected. 

The wolf lifted its head and twitched an ear, then leaned forward and upward so that their noses nearly brushed. 

He suddenly wanted to rest... and Sitkea wears him out quickly when he's already stressed. 

Well, that made sense, and was honestly a huge relief. Feeling a bit safer, Silas let himself relax back into the grass as Sitkea finally bounded over to try and nip at his left ear. He rolled over a few times to dodge the pup's razor-like teeth, but eventually just let him have a few nibbles at his target as his own attention turned to Verander. 

Is that your actual wolf? The one you can control? 

The little wolf nodded, then leaned up to give a submissive lick to his wolf's chin. 

We're not used to not having the larger wolf trying to push us to act a certain way. It's a huge relief. 

As if to emphasize his words, Verander's small wolf gave a huge yawn and stretched out in the grass, rubbing its face into the cool green blades like a relaxing kitten. Silas almost expected him to begin purring. but when he let out a content little sneeze, he decided that that sound was even better. 

You normally try to keep him inside, don't you? he asked, suddenly realizing that their situation might not be as hopeless as he'd once thought. 

Of course. He's extremely dangerous and doesn't consider repercussions. I can't control him well, either, so if he gets out, he usually goes straight after you. 

Silas settled down in the grass as Sitkea hopped up onto his back and began licking and tugging at his scruff. 

I think we can handle him. He just let you have control voluntarily, right? 

The little wolf tilted its head in the grass, staring at him curiously as it nibbled at a random weed. 

Yes, he was tired after being out for so long. 

Silas twitched his nose as he reconsidered his previous plan. He'd been so upset with Verander always attacking him that he'd wanted to shackle him and force the silver collar on him so that he could teach him a lesson... but there wasn't really a lesson to be taught. Verander's wolf hadn't simply given him control back so that it could rest... it had given him control back during a time where it could have easily overpowered him and probably done some serious damage. Yet it had decided to simply retreat, instead. 

I think we need to let your larger wolf out more, he eventually replied, making Verander lift his head in surprise. 

Have you gone mad? 

Silas licked at his left paw as the possible repercussions of his words swam through his mind. He knew that it was risky, but it just didn't seem like simply chaining up the giant beast was going to help anyone. He was just beginning to chew on his foot when Verander nudged at his muzzle with his own, making him stop his habit even though he grumbled out a warning for interfering. 

You were making yourself bleed. 

Raising his hackles, Silas automatically wanted to snap back that he'd made him bleed plenty of times, but he bit back his words and sighed out his nose as he let his wolf's head flop down into the grass. 

I'm not against letting him out more often, but I'm worried that something might happen, Verander said.  

It was highly likely that something would happen, but he'd agreed to help train Verander's more aggressive wolf, and he would. In fact...

Looking over at the smaller wolf beside him, and more specifically, at the huge chain hanging around its neck, Silas internally sighed. He wanted to tell the wolf to shake off the collar, because honestly, it felt like he was just using it to demean the bigger wolf, which likely wasn't helping their situation, but he couldn't make himself tell Verander to do it... at least, not yet. That would give him back access to his human form, as well as quite a bit more strength, and he wasn't quite ready to deal with those things yet. The wolf needed to calm down a bit more before he would be comfortable giving that much freedom back.  

I'll take full responsibility for what he does when he's out. Just keep updating me about his temperament as much as you can as we go, he said, earning an immediate nod of agreement from the smaller wolf. 

Deciding to end the stressful conversation there, Silas gently tilted his upper body so that Sitkea would slip down into the grass, then stood. The pup immediately squeaked his displeasure, then ran toward Silas's tail. Instead of letting him have it, Silas darted forward, then turned when the pup followed. He'd never really gotten a chance to bond with the little wolf he'd imprinted on, so he decided to take advantage of their current, rare opportunity and have some fun. 

He thought that Verander's little wolf might want to join them, too, but when it simply flopped over in the cool grass and closed its eyes to enjoy the calm morning, he knew that he was giving him his chance to interact with Sitkea one on one. 

Thank you, he thought to the wolf as he began running around with the pup hot on his heels. He heard a quiet, content grumble in the back of his mind in response, making it quite clear that Verander was enjoying a bit of his own freedom. His more aggressive beast was peacefully asleep, finally allowing him to truly relax without worry. 

(Edited)