When he thought of that, Damon did find it particularly amusing that about a month earlier – if asked – he would easily regard himself as asexual. Aromantic, even, as compared to his twin, those things hardly found purchase in his ever-busy mind. His brain was constantly mulling over all kinds of ideas and concepts, and sometimes if his brother weren't nagging him into annoyance, he would be inclined to forget his body had any sort of basic needs – including the need for sleep or substance.

And partially, perhaps, that's why falling for Ares completely freaked him out and turned his whole fucking world upside down. What he felt for the hybrid was so… illogical, and yet it consumed him so utterly… it was more than scary.

None of his ideas seemed as fascinating as finding ways to make Ares focus on him completely. And despite the blowout it caused… As hours later, his lover's words still seemed to resonate through his head every time he was able to focus… He was selfishly pleased.

Like he told his heat-crazed mate: he truly didn't give a fuck about anyone else. It was Raha who was sweet and empathetic to the point of it making Damon want to never disappoint his twin brother – and stick to what he understood of any given situation. Hold his tongue and act polite, even when his chest burned with all the words and way he yearned to express just how annoying and boring he found most people around them. So fucking predictable, sometimes he could nearly predict the future just by knowing how someone will react or what they would do – and more often than not, end up pissing him off.

Those who thought to pick on his brother for his unusual eye color were especially high on Damon's private list of those he would love to make pay – if he didn't know, it would upset Raha. And those who inadvertently tried to shove a wedge between them by their senseless remarks about the differences between their IQ – fucking blind to the fact that his twin was as smart as him, if in a different way. Smarter, even – in his personal opinion, because Raha understood the illogical world of emotions in a way that always baffled his twin. To the point that knowing him – and his difficulties with that – his brother would explain to him what Damon's stupid brain could not comprehend.

He knew – and frankly didn't give a fuck – that some would call them co-dependent because it worked for them… most of the time, anyway. Raha was his orbit, keeping him steady whenever his mind slipped away from humanity… and sanity.

But as much as adding Ares put the whole equation out of whack… He couldn't bring himself to regret claiming him.

While in the passing weeks, Raha had the luxury of having Senri all to himself, Damon had to put up with sharing his lover's attention not only with the whole fucking Clan of shapeshifters but also all manner of Other guests who bid for his mate's time and help. And though he put up a calm front… he quite despised that.

Logically, he understood that after the whole ordeal of their uncle's reappearance, there was a whole avalanche of consequences to overcome – especially, as Ares explained calmly, in relative to the Others and those young found alongside them inside that abandoned lair.

In between the lessons with Shtola about their kind and magic, and moments that he had his lover's attention all to himself – while Ares used his absence during those to alongside Hades's deal with the situation – Damon, in his free time, set to learn the intricacies of his mate's people, determined to prove himself equal to the task of standing at Ares's side.

And – as he now knew – he not only completely overdid it, making his lover feel insecure, but – based on Raha's warning – apparently even threatened his mate's position with his absurd… tantrum.

A situation that he fully intended to course-correct… but for that, he needed to consult his lover's younger brother – and that, so far, had proved to be difficult.

He attempted – twice – to gingerly wiggle out from under his lover's body as carefully as possible to not wake Ares, but as soon as he dared to think that he was in the clear (the second time, he managed as far as the edge of their nest!), the heat-crazed hybrid would snarl a warning and pounce… swiftly and mercilessly squashing all thoughts of leaving his possessive embrace.

If, when fully conscious, Ares tended to be overprotective and possessive, in a heat-induced frenzy, it shot to a wholly new level! Apparently, taking his attempts as a challenge to his claim… Well, the second time, when he almost managed to crawl away, ended with a tight grip on his tail, pulling him back into the pile of black furs and him getting fucked until he passed out to the sounds of his lover's satisfied rumbly purrs. And despite carefully keeping to the male form, his mate's instincts seemed undeterred as the last he felt was his big hand insistently massaging his abdomen and his insides downright stuffed with the heat of his cum.

When he came around next, Damon had no idea how long it was since lost consciousness. His braid untangled a while ago, and his messy hair obscured his vision, not to mention that he was feeling quite sticky and sore… The heavy blanket of his mate's massive form covered his back, and he somewhat groggily realized that what woke him up was Ares's hand pushing under him, and he moaned weakly to the sensation of his big, hot hand curling over his groin possessively.

"…mine," rumbled happily and hoarsely by his neck while his muscular thigh pushed between his legs, and he nearly meowed softly as his mate took him with growly purrs. He realized a while ago that in a frenzy, some traits of Ares's true form 'peeked' through his humanoid one… but knowing that didn't really take anything from the downright blinding pleasure of his lover's quite enlarged dick spearing his insides until he felt ready to burst with it.

"Yours, yes, but… ngh, fuuuck...!" he trailed off to a whimper when apparently satisfied with his answer, Ares rumbled on more of those growly 'mines' then shoving his hair out of the way, bit him while climbing to his knees behind him and pulling his hips along until he had no choice but to do so as well. Clenching his hands in the furs around them, he whined breathlessly when his lover purred harder around his bite and, at the same time, ground into him insistently. The pressure against his prostate sent a sizzle across his nerve endings, and despite his body's general exhaustion, his cock thickened under Ares's hot palm, electing another pleased round of purrs. Rubbing the flesh almost tenderly, his mate pulled back and nuzzled into his neck while rutting into him in slow but deliberate strokes, building the pressure until Damon couldn't help but push back against the scorching intrusion.

Yet… there was something very distinctively different about this to the earlier craze. The tenderness was almost as telltale as the slow, almost apologetic rhythm of the heated skin pressing against his back. The male's satisfied sounds grew as he instinctively wrapped his tail around him, closing his eyes and not even trying to stifle his moans matching the way Ares took him. Until his lover growled softly and climbed up to all fours above his back, somewhat hesitantly sliding his hands along Damon's arms while doing so. His big hands curled over his, and without conscious thought, he let go of the furs in favor of lacing their fingers, pushing up until his back again was covered by the heat of his mate's skin. Rolling against each other in slow, tiny movements and without a care in the world on his mind, he let himself relish in the heat and the feeling of his lover's possessive claim. Pressing the back of his head into Ares's shoulder, purring his name in between his breathless gasps, he still smiled involuntarily when his mate sighed contentedly, nuzzling into his neck and nipping on his skin.

"Feeling… b-better, babe?" he breathed, tightening his fingers around Ares's and smirked when his lover's breath hitched, and he froze, buried inside him up to the hilt. He hissed with displeasure at that, squirming for more of that insanely hot, deep friction, and his mate gasped, then moaned and – thankfully – went back to it, rocking into him with that barely there movement. It felt far, far too good… and he was always skilled at multi-tasking! "If you do… we have an issue," he purred and purposefully lowered slightly while arching his back… loving the way his mate growled and freed his right hand to again wrap it over his cock, adding a deliciously hot friction over the achingly hard flesh as he eagerly rocked back and forth, whimpering at the double sensation.

"…issue?" hoarse and still slightly dazed but far more coherent barely tore through the rising haze of the mounting pleasure, but Damon licked his dry lips and fought to focus, nearly taking it for a challenge as the rock-hard flesh inside him on every barely there slide rubbed against his prostate. Pushing back against each thrust and nearly experimenting with the growing pressure, fascinated by each sensation his lover supplied… "…oh, kitten…" Ares rasped and completely wrecked his concentration with his next words. "…l-love you, Damon…" sounded so achingly uncertain… so fearful… as his mate buried his nose against his neck that he moaned weakly, shakily pushing his free hand back behind his head and wrapping it around his lover's neck, rubbing his fingers through his messy, swear-dampened hair that now felt just a tad less thick than fur. Still as soft as the length of his black tail as it curled around his abdomen, twitching nervously over his skin.

So cute… and yet… so heart-wrenching, too.

"I… love you, too, my ridiculous kitty," he breathed, and for a moment – as his heartbeat stuttered out of it mad rhythm with his lover's barely there, relieved sigh – he was nearly confident that that feeling that filled his chest almost painfully had to be that. Right now… it wasn't a good time to explain his difficulties with discerning emotions. Especially not when he made his silly cat insecure despite Shtola's pointed warnings about their mate's nature.

At some level, he was aware that it was his part-human side that was causing the issues. Or – more precisely – his human upbringing. Like Raha used to say in their lessons: it was all about the mindset, really. And like with Shifting, he was clearly behind his twin in fulfilling his lover's needs.

He focused on the material and physical, thinking it enough to make up for his… emotional ignorance – while not seeing something that now seemed a tad… obvious. Ares, with his unfortunate upbringing and the role he strived to fulfill, craved to be needed. As he said in that forest… everyone always needed something of him – and Damon inadvertently, stupidly, made him feel too unnecessary. Not in his ideas – as he always strived to include his lover as much as possible considering his role – but more… in between them.

He was so uncertain about his feelings… So afraid of how Ares made him feel… he hid from him. Behind the wall of his usual humor and pretending that sexual pleasures were enough to make up for his inadequacies… he thought he could hide his biggest, life-long fear: that he wasn't capable of love. That his selfish claim of his beautiful male made Ares stuck with someone who just… couldn't meet his emotional needs.

It felt fucking ironic that Allag commanded emotions while he felt so painfully lacking in that area…

Feeling a gentle, hesitant prod against his inner shield – as he tended to think of it – he still balked, falling motionless under his lover's bigger frame, and cursed internally when Ares's breath hitched, and he pulled back even while curling his arm and tail around his chest.

This was the biggest issue of all, he thought, opening his eyes and staring numbly at their still intertwined hands buried in the furs. Since they mated… he refused to let him in, too scared of what Ares would find – or, to be more precise: what he wouldn't find – behind that last wall he held his mind behind. Because under all his masks and manners… he knew that his mind didn't work like others did. And if it scared even him… how could he inflict that on his mate? And Ares, with his caring and considerate nature… always so fucking focused on what others needed… didn't push, despite clearly needing that deeper connection.

It was all about consent with these silly cats in the end. And his mate – the very pinnacle of their kind – was determined to let him decide how much he was ready to dive into their world. Plainly: into him. How much he was ready to share of himself…

…and despite how much it scared him…

Damon took a deep breath, closed his burning eyes, and, with determination coming from desperation, forced that shield down, letting their connection expand as he basically bared his soul to his mate. Nearly shaking in the effort of it before he felt Ares flinch then hesitantly press back… so careful and delicate at first… to soon tear a hopeless whine from him as Damon's senses expanded and their souls combined.

And suddenly… it all made sense. Everything he always struggled to understand… good, evil, emotions, and other incredulous ideas… it all clicked, tempered by his lover's innate sense of right and wrong – and just… made sense for once.

"Oh, my kitten…" rumbled happily inside him… inside his head or by his ear – he wasn't sure or cared, as his senses swam with the overload of information and sensation – as Ares's grip grew tighter, firmer around his body and mind. "…you do love me. You feel… Bast… You have so much love inside you to offer… How could you ever think otherwise, Damon?"

Did he…? He wasn't sure… but the certainty and confidence in his tone… The conviction of a tender kiss against his cheek and the soothing sound of low purrs made him relax, exhaling the air he didn't even realize he was holding. Made his senses settle into a sense of unity. Their minds and bodies combined as his heartbeat and breath fell in rhythm, matching that of his mate, and his… soul resonated with another, finally making him fully understand the meaning behind Shtola's most important lesson.

He was no longer human – while his gorgeous beast was never one in the first place. And it was high time stopped thinking about himself as one… Stopped considering his lover – or their relationship – in human terms and by human mindset. He was an Allag, designed by the goddess of love and pleasure to match his lover's needs… and he fucked it up by trying to be something else.

Ares was a strong, capable Alpha of his kind… both kinds… He had to be, with how much his… their people needed him. More than he realized or cared about… before literally feeling how much his mate needed to be needed. Either by his nature or upbringing – didn't matter – Ares craved the connection… with him and his Clan. He cared so much… for them all – his brothers, Clan, and even Others…

…and led mostly by instinct, woken up by the established, firm connection between them, Damon let go of all the barriers around his nature and gift, yearning to share… no, Express with them all just how much did their Alpha loved them.

And he involuntarily found himself – and his meaning – in the euphoria of it. This – feeling and feeding his mate the answering swell of his Clan's gratitude and love – was what Bast created the Allag for. This was what their magic was for and why there were 'Alphas' among them in the first place. Her beasts were pack animals – literally – and like any other of those, they needed the reassurance of their leader and the innate soothing of the hierarchy their nature required.

He failed, thinking to be Ares's equal… when he was never meant to be one. No, by Bastet's design, he was supposed to be Ares's tether – to Her and to his people.

"…thank you," whispered thickly against his neck, putting a giddy grin on Damon's face as the sense of how… right it was settled over his senses.

No, he wasn't meant to be Ares's equal… he was meant to stand above him by design – by his own demigod's nature. Because what were the gods, if not the conductors of their worshippers' wishes for the universe?

And as his senses expanded – reaching further and further alongside that new sense of self and his lover's soul – he grew even more confident in that feeling with another, answering presence even as his mate stilled utterly, not even breathing… as if suddenly understanding the same thing that for Damon's logical mind seemed like an obvious conclusion – turning his grin downright maniacal.

"Hello, Mother," he purred, sensing Her pleasure at the connection. Ares's awe at the realization… and the sheer scope of Her boundless, endless love for them while it flooded their connected senses and spilled over the expanse of his Expression.

'You did well,' purred through their heads in a voice like silk and honey, sending a vibration across their entangled senses. 'Many trials still ahead of you… my beautiful children… but you have my heart and my blessing, that you should never doubt.'

And feeling it – resonating down to the deepest recesses of his soul – Damon purred in bliss, letting his lover and their people drink fully into their Mother's love.

…until he collapsed bonelessly under his lover's form as his senses reeled with exhaustion when – likely having more experience with it than him – She cut the connection. Breathing raggedly and his ears ringing from the abuse of his magic… he barely heard his mate's whisper when Ares pulled him into a tight, possessive embrace and set a sweet kiss against his temple when he eagerly curled into his soothing heat.

"…brought joy, truly…" The awe in the thick voice was hard to miss. "You are a gift beyond equal, Damon."

"I know," he muttered petulantly, already half-awake as he pushed his head under his lover's chin on sighed contentedly, surrounded by his heat and scent. "Though… you're still going to pay, babe… When I can think of a proper price…" he slurred sleepily, smiling while Ares nuzzled into his ear with an agreeable hum, and his big hand petted his hip fondly when he set his leg over his side, settling flush against his chest.

"No price is too high for you, kitten," rang with such conviction… that a downright devilish smirk tilted his lips.

"We'll see…" he purred into the heated skin, then let the exhaustion claim him… drifting off to the soothing sound of his mate's amused chuckle.

Notes:

...so.

Well, starting this one - as usual - I didn't have a plan or a clear direction in mind, okay? I never do xD I have - honestly - no idea how other authors plan things when, for me it's always... well, full of surprises. As for my hesitation with this one... This chapter hints at something I'm very uncertain about, which is - predictably - 'Allags' true nature.
Quite frankly, though I'm an atheist myself, I did always find the idea of gods in general quite fascinating. Starting from Greek mythology through many others - while, admittedly, I was raised in a catholic home - stories about faith and gods always held a particular interest for me. And with Allag - well, I suppose, you'll get a look at my viewpoint at demigods - and gods - while I'm quite hoping not to offend anyone, obviously :3 So, for disclaimer, I guess: going forward [if I'm still unclear on the regularity of updates] any and all views on faith and gods in this story are FULLY my opinions and point of view I'd IMAGINE my characters having in any given setting or situation. They'll wary depending on those [characters and situations], and by no means is it meant to be offensive to any given religion in particular.
...just to be safe.

Cheers, and see you when I see you o/