Bet y'all thought you've seen the last of me... But alas, I'm back, and I come bearing hurt/comfort and snarky animal boys once again!

Warning: This is the sequel to the main story, and every chapter of it will contain mpreg. Any additional warnings will be added to the note before each chapter.

The snow was melting and flora was beginning to bloom.

Tiny yellow wildflowers sprouted from the thinning layer of frost, attracting the attention of hungry rabbits, newly awakened butterflies, and a very concerned wolf.

Sable ears tilted back in distress as Sebastian knelt before the small patch of gold, carefully picking a handful of the largest flowers he could find. His eyes idly wandered to the entrance of the den he shared with his mate as he held the flora close to his bare chest, watching for any signs of the little reynard's emergence.

He was met with disappointment for the third day in a row.

Ciel had fallen ill on the fifth morning of spring, and had secluded himself in their burrow until late evening each day since. He was not feverish, and did not sniffle and cough as he had when he was sick before his heat, but still he found himself plagued by a sense of wrongness.

He was without energy and constantly hungry, but despite that, he was plagued by an unabating nausea that had him rejecting his first meal of the day the second its scent met his nose. Fish, in particular, had been considered off-limits after the second morning of his illness, given its tendency to leave him dry heaving at the edge of their territory moments after tasting it.

Sebastian was overcome with protective worry. He spent his nights alert, dozing periodically rather than truly sleeping as he watched over his ailing mate. The nights were easier-regardless of his occasional yawns, Ciel became more lively at sunset. He was able to eat and wander about the grounds without a hint of trouble from his strange sickness, save for his chest's newly awakened sensitivity. But the alpha felt the fierce urge to protect his mate, all the same, a crushing feeling that rivaled that which he felt during the fox's heat.

Ciel had been asleep when Sebastian left the nest to hunt at daybreak, and remained at rest now, as the wolf bundled the bright flowers with a thin vine. Glancing to the hare simmering over the small fire he built, the alpha made his way to the burrow, creating as little sound as possible when he nuzzled close to his mate and deposited the wildflower bouquet just outside of their nest.

The smaller creature stirred, slate tail instinctively draping over his alpha's thigh when he sensed his returning presence. With a muted groan, Ciel stretched out stiff limbs, his thin arms tucked close to his middle as he glanced over his shoulder. He caught the cerise shine of his lover's worried eyes and gave a fond roll of his own, insistently tugging Sebastian's arm around his waist as he groggily uttered a half-hearted "morning".

"Good morning, vixen," Sebastian crooned, pressing kisses into the short, downy hairs at his lover's nape. "How are you feeling today?"

"Mm… Tired, mostly. My stomach feels okay, but it's still tender."

The wolf made an understanding sound, idly sliding his hand beneath his mate's to caress his stomach. "Perhaps it was the finches we shared a few days ago. You're used to having yours warmed, so eating it fresh may have made you sick." He felt Ciel nod against him, and took the omega's sleepy silence as his chance to study him without his knowledge.

Physically, the fox looked well. There was colour in his cheeks-as much colour as the fair little thing had to begin with, anyway-and his fur was still thick, luxuriant to the touch and without the missing hairs that would signal illness. His eyes, though half-shut in his attempt to fully wake, were bright, not at all glassy. The only true difference was the minimal pudge around his belly button, an addition that sparked warmth deep within Sebastian's chest. His omega was tiny, he needed a bit of weight to keep him in good health.

His scent, however, had changed. It was not an overwhelming shift, he still smelled as he had when they first met, but there was something new. If Sebastian were to guess, he would say that the new aroma was of magnolias. How very peculiar.

His own fragrance strengthened in kind, uncontrollable, but unnoticeable to his sensitive nose. Ciel, however, gave a satisfied purr, pressing back against him harder in a wordless demand to be scented.

With a chuckle, the alpha complied. The sweet and woody miasma of cranberry and sage was brushed along the reynard's mating mark, the base of his tail, and both of his wrists-at Sebastian's insistence, his wrist even pressed between Ciel's thighs, leaving every scent gland he possessed exuding traces of his protective claim.

The fox turned, pupils dilated, more focused now as he reached up to return the favour. Sebastian rumbled softly at his mate's attention, kissing the young man's wrist when it drifted past his face in favour of leaving its mark at the base of his ears, his jaw, his marked neck, and the tip of his tail.

With a lazy smile, Sebastian drew Ciel nearer for a kiss to his pink lips. His tongue delicately scraped along his lover's fangs, his mouth melding into the fox's own as small digits found their way into his wind-rustled locks. His tail gave a small thump against Ciel's hip, languishing in the gentle pull of his hair when they parted. Sebastian beamed and Ciel gave an exaggerated sigh at his joyous expression-and yet, he fought back a small smile of his own.

It was not often that Ciel accepted his kisses in the morning, much less returned them. It was a silent agreement between the two of them that no contact beyond their usual embrace was acceptable until the fox had woken enough to leave the den. But it had been different for the last couple of days-Ciel was not only accepting, but seeking out his touch the second he awoke.

Sebastian attributed it to nerves over his persistent illness, but he couldn't deny his exuberance over being able to both touch and admire his mate's sleepy features as he blinked rapidly to keep his eyes open.

"I have hare roasting. They should be ready now. Are you hungry, pet?"

The reynard nodded, toes curling in the heavy bear pelt beneath them. In just a fortnight, it would likely be warm enough to exchange the heavier furs for his supply of lighter ones. In a month, they may even be able to replace some of the hides with flowers and fresh moss.

"I am, actually. I feel like I haven't eaten in days, even though we ate elk last night."

With great reluctance and fatigue weighing down his small form, Ciel sat up, brushing hair from his eyes as he edged his way out of their warm, enticing den. The frigid brush of snow against the soles of his feet was an unwelcome change despite being accustomed to it, and he found himself wishing that the snow would hurry up and thaw completely.

As much as he adored the hot springs his mate had taken him to, the journey there was far too long to be practical as a daily excursion. The sooner the ice melted and the air warmed, the sooner they could indulge in the refreshing coolness of the nearby lake every evening.

His stomach growled, distracting him from his thoughts of summer and swimming, and bringing a pink tint to his cheeks as he dropped slowly-gracelessly-onto the ground in front of the cooking spit. He removed both delectable slabs of meat from the fire, offering one to his mate when the wolf settled beside him with two wood-carved cups of water.

Ciel eyed the blackberries floating in his cup warily when he first brought it to his lips, but found himself surprised at the pleasant flavour it added. It seemed the wolf still had a few secrets-meal-enhancing ones at that.

He managed to eat most of the hare that was caught for him, along with half of his water, but before he could bring another bite to his lips, he was stopped by a building soreness in his stomach. The discomfort was not as great as the last morning, but it made an appearance all the same.

Swallowing thickly, he slumped, his new position relieving the smarting flesh if only by a fraction. The hand that wasn't holding his breakfast came to rest over his stomach, massaging it lightly as his ears tilted back in distress. A heavy hand fell tenderly upon his shoulder.

"Again, vixen?"

Ciel gave a quick nod, biting back a moan when the dull ache intensified. Before he could protest, he was hefted into warm arms and carried back to the burrow, pressed delicately into the plush mass of furs spilling over his nest. His alpha shifted the pelts, molding them around his curled form before sliding in beside him.

Sebastian's hands instantly found purchase on his mate's stomach, gingerly kneading at the sensitive skin. Ciel gave a quiet sigh beneath his affections. The wolf remained silent, focusing on the fox and the way his tension dispersed beneath the smooth prod of his fingertips. He bid his scent to soften and curl around his omega, soothing the smaller creature effortlessly.

All was calm for several minutes, time slipping away as Ciel began to purr his appreciation at his alpha's massage. The omega was so very close to drifting off again, his eyes heavy and breaths slow, tail pleasantly lax against the back of his thighs. However, he was unable to rest for long when Sebastian's hands abruptly stopped. Sitting up, he turned his confused gaze to his mate. "Mm… Is something wrong?" he questioned, noting the way the wolf's eyes fluttered shut when he inhaled deeply.

"Lie back for me, vixen," Sebastian requested softly, palms slowly sliding along Ciel's waist. Feeling. Searching. He pressed his lips to the reynard's navel, just beneath his belly button, his midnight ears becoming alert as he focused. And then he heard it: the quiet thump of new heartbeats.

A wave of elation washed through him, causing his tail to give an excited curl as his lips parted, exhaling an amazed breath. He'd known it was a possibility from the first moment he mounted his lovely mate, but he hadn't considered it since; after all, it was unlikely that the boy would fall pregnant after only one heat together. But that also meant that they had never discussed this outcome, and he was without any cues to help him determine how his lover would react to the news.

"Ciel," he whispered, keeping his tone steady, propping his chin atop a small hip as his eyes met his mate's. He stroked along the tod's thighs, a gesture he hoped would ease the reynard, if only by a small fraction. There was a tinge of nervousness in the downturn of Ciel's frown, mirrored in his own expression as he laid a ginger kiss upon the omega's silken stomach. "You're pupped, darling."

Ciel went rigid beneath him, the breath stolen from his chest as he pushed himself up on his elbows. "I'm what?" he said, voice sharp, almost a hiss as his own palm found its way to his abdomen. True to Sebastian's word, if he listened very carefully, he could hear a pattern of heartbeats that were not his own. His fingers jolted from his stomach, unintentionally nudging the wolf's hands away, as well. His breathing was fast, unsteady, panicked. It felt as if the walls of their den were closing in on him, the air tight and stuffy as he shuffled into the corner of his nest.

He was shaking. He could feel his alpha attempting to calm him, laying kisses between his ears, stroking his forearms, whispering sweet words against his crown as he tried to hold and scent him. But Ciel pushed him away. It was too warm. He needed air. "Out. I n-need out," he managed to rasp, slipping from the burrow the second Sebastian retreated.

Out in the open, he was able to suck in a series of harsh, greedy breaths, leaning his weight against a towering pine as the wolf followed after him.

Kits. They were having kits. They had only spent one heat together, had just finished moving the last of Sebastian's belongings into their shared den. And now, it was all about to change. Again. A frightened whine hummed from the omega's throat, and though he saw his mate approaching, he said nothing, only lashed his tail in rising agitation.

"It will be okay, darling. Come sit and try to calm down for a while, and then we can talk about it," Sebastian said, expression pained as he took in his lover's spooked form. He cupped the fox's cheek in hopes that it would ground him, but Ciel flinched back, posture becoming defensive.

"You only say that because you did this to me!" the omega suddenly snapped, eyes brimming with tears formed by his thinly-veiled anger. His scent spiked, bitter with increasing distress.

Thinking it best to give the tod the space he needed to process the news, Sebastian did not reach out for him again. Instead, he knelt, gazing up at him with worry and patience. "Ciel, I know we didn't talk about this, but you know the purpose of breeding. You knew it was a possibility."

"But during our first season, Sebastian!" Pacing, all but buzzing with nerves, Ciel could not stop himself from giving a low, drawn-out growl.

The alpha sighed, apologetic and defeated all at once. "I'm sorry, but there was no way to keep it from happening while still sating your need. I swear to you, I will care for you and our litter to the best of my abilities. This won't change anything between us, it will just take some adjusting."

"Won't change anything?" Ciel gave a small, disbelieving laugh. The frustrated tears he'd tried so hard to blink away began to drip down his cheeks, his jaw clenched tightly. Tightly enough that his fangs drew twin droplets of blood from his bottom lip. "We haven't been together long enough to settle in, we haven't even mated outside of my heat more than a handful of times. How could you say that this won't change anything?"

The wolf's lips parted briefly only to close again. He didn't know what to say to comfort his lover, how to convince him that they would figure it out, that they could still do all of those things with pups. But he refused to stand by and watch his lover struggle without any attempt to soothe him. And so, he reached out slowly, guiding small fingers closer so that he could tenderly brush his lips over the back of Ciel's right hand. "I'm sorry, Ciel, I truly am. Tell me what to do, tell me how to make this better, and I'll do whatever it is you ask of me."

Ciel hesitated, guilt welling up alongside his already turbulent clash of emotions as he pulled from Sebastian's gentle hold. It wasn't right to fault his mate, he knew that. But he was afraid, his veins thrumming hot with anger-though who it was directed at, he was unsure. All he knew is that he had no desire to lash out at his alpha. He needed some time, and silence, to cool down and sort through his thoughts. "I think I need to be alone for a little while. I need to think things over."

Sebastian's stare softened, attuned to the omega's dour scent as he struggled to find some middle ground. "I'll give you as much time as you need," he placated with an encouraging croon. Rising to his full height, he pressed a quick peck to Ciel's forehead before silently departing to the edge of their territory. He wouldn't stray too far, hovering close enough for Ciel to call for him if he desired, without being so close that his protective aura was suffocating to the stressed fox.

He heard the remorseful warble Ciel hummed as the distance between them grew greater, but resisted the urge to return to the den that his mate had skulked into. Instead, he set to work gathering small gifts for his mate-tokens of appreciation as well as apology. He began to form a small pile of his findings, from a satchel of juicy blackberries, the smooth pelt of a young, fallen buck, a pile of violet crocus, and a dozen thin vines. He began to string the purple flowers along some of the more stiff vines, leaving them to hang like faux wisteria as he carried them to their home.

Having exhausted himself in his panic, Ciel was asleep when Sebastian arrived-that much was clear by his deep, steady breaths. And so, Sebastian began to string the floral adornments from the solid soil above the entrance, leaving their earth a touch brighter. Perhaps it would cheer his mate up.

Throughout the day, he'd brought Ciel the gifts he amassed. He couldn't take back what they'd done, but he could try to make it right by pampering the boy relentlessly. Ciel had spent most of the day in his nest. He refused to move unless absolutely necessary and even then, he returned in less than five minutes. There was an almost constant whine leaving his throat, making the alpha feel a twinge of remorse for getting them into this situation in the first place.

When Ciel asked Sebastian to share his heat with him, perhaps he didn't fully understand what that could entail. It was a mistake to take him without discussing the outcome, one the wolf deeply regretted despite his excitement. While he had no qualms about having pups so soon, he should have known that his mate wasn't ready yet.

"Darling, do you need anything? Food, water, more furs?" he asked once the fox woke from his reluctant slumber. A small shake of the head is all he got, mismatched eyes refusing to meet his own as Ciel burrowed deeper into his nest. "Very well..." he muttered, tugging the furs higher when he noticed the boy shiver. He wanted to hold him close, whisper sweet praises and assurances in his ear, and lie with him until things didn't seem so bleak, but touching him would do no good right now. He needed more time.

Slinking from their den to the grounds outside, Sebastian shed his human skin for a midnight pelt. His paws made prominent prints in the crisp snow beneath him, crunching under his anxious pace. His claws dug into the hardened surface as he settled down beside a tree several feet from their den; he was close enough to see the entrance of their earth but far enough away to give his mate some privacy. Ciel would seek him out when he was ready.

The sun had just begun to fall when muted footsteps met the wolf's downward-tilted ears. He didn't look up from where his head was perched atop his front paws, eyes remaining shut in rest rather than sleep.

The omega swallowed thickly around the lump in his throat, heart heavy with shame as he approached his mate. He'd wrongfully blamed Sebastian for this, had taken out his fear on him and made him seek refuge away from his new home. The alpha had been rejected and cast aside when all he was doing was trying to make things better-to right a mistake that wasn't his to begin with. The fox knew the consequences of breeding, it was the instinct-driven purpose behind the action, but that didn't mean it terrified him any less.

Ciel's voice, usually so fierce and proud, trembled nervously when he finally spoke, bottom lip wobbling alongside it. His upset state didn't go unnoticed by the sharp nose of his lover. "Sebastian... I'm sorry for what I said earlier, none of this is your fault. I begged you to claim me, it was my own choice to take you as my mate, and I don't regret it. Not a single fibre of my being wishes I wouldn't have let you mark me, it's just that I didn't anticipate this happening so soon. My mother told me when I was young that she and father had been together for three years before my brother and I were born. I suspected it would be similar for me."

Kneeling in front of the larger hybrid's paws, Ciel ghosted shivering fingertips through a thick, obsidian coat, stroking Sebastian's shoulders in soothing circles. Even in this form, he had come to know Sebastian's greatest pleasures. Where to touch, rub, and knead to relax him most. "Please don't be angry with me... I didn't intend to take my worries out on you, especially in the form of anger. It wasn't my intention to push you away."

Tears began to streak the omega's face as he curled in on himself, his arms wrapping around the wolf's neck, and the dampness from his closed eyes soaking the dark fur when he pressed his face into its softness. "I'm bloody terrified of what this will be like."

Opening his eyes the second he heard the first sob leave his mate's lips, Sebastian growled softly and nudged at what he could reach of the fox's alabaster shoulder. He couldn't embrace him in this form, but maybe it was what Ciel needed anyway. To vent his sorrows and his fears whilst clinging to the long, gossamer strands making up his winter coat.

When the resounding weeps lessened in volume, though the omega still shook like a leaf caught in the autumn breeze, Sebastian allowed his body to shift back into his human form. Wasting no time, the alpha pulled his mate onto his lap and secured him in his arms, guiding the damp, flushed face to the crook of his neck with a kiss to the temple. His tail curled protectively around the back of his love's thighs.

"Shh... It's okay. I'm not angry at you, Ciel, I understand that you're afraid. I swear to you though, I will do anything it takes to make this easier for you. I will hunt for you until you're so full that you couldn't eat another bite, craft you a hundred nests if that is your desire, find the finest pelts in these woods and bring them back to you in heaps. Just please continue to protect our pups and let me take care of you in turn. I know it is a lot to ask, but it would mean everything to me."

Sniffling into Sebastian's throat, Ciel nodded eagerly, chest warm as he laid a gentle peck upon his mate's bond mark and closed his eyes. Though his right arm remained around the wolf's neck, his left shifted to rest protectively over his stomach. It would take him a few days to get used to the idea of having kits, and perhaps longer than that to begin making preparations of his own, and yet, he could feel his instincts heightening. He was scared, but he wanted to protect their litter, just as his mate did.

"Though I rather liked the flowers, and the berries and pelt, as well, none of that is necessary, Sebastian," he said softly, pulling back to meet his lover's kind stare. "I will take care of the kits to the best of my ability, I promise you that much."

"I am pleased that you enjoyed them," Sebastian cooed, rubbing along the sore base of Ciel's spine. "And while I cannot thank you enough for that, I will still try. Just tell me anything you need and it shall be yours."

"I will," the fox promised, purring softly when Sebastian beckoned him in for a chaste, lingering kiss.

Caressing chalcedony bangs and wet trails from lapis and lilac eyes, Sebastian rose, his own trills rumbling peacefully alongside his omega's. "Come now, dry your eyes and rest for the evening, little darling. It's been a rather trying day."

"Mm… I've been resting all day. Let's do something else," Ciel murmured serenely, wrapping his legs around his mate's waist as he was carried back into his den, brushed by the delicate wall of crocus now serving as an extra layer of privacy from the outside world.

"Like what?" Sebastian asked, his tail thumping placidly as he watched the omega caress along the delicate, yellow petals of the wildflowers that he himself had picked for the boy at dawn. Mismatched eyes met his own, and when those pretty lips curled into a sly smirk, his question answered itself. And his body answered in kind, the first embers of lust drawn to the surface by a seductive drag of the reynard's tail across his thighs.

Relinquishing his reverent hold on the flowers, Ciel grasped at the elegant drape of the wolf's cloak, tugging him down, down, lower until he was mere inches from the fox's lips. "Well… You said even with kits, we could still do the things I mentioned earlier. So, why don't you prove it to me?" He trailed off, the faintest hint of fond resignation echoing from his softly smiling lips when he continued. "And then, before dinner, you can lie with me… no, us for a little while."

Unable to resist a grin at the alluring ring of Ciel's honeyed words, Sebastian happily settled betwixt his mate's legs and began to deftly untie his cloak. Once his task was complete, he pushed the petite fox onto his back, giving a pleased sigh as he took the omega into his arms and finally brought their lips together. "It would be my pleasure, vixen."