Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, character names, nor anything pertaining to the X-Men universe. I profit in no way. Places are made up. Events and setting inspired by the book A Companion to Wolves written by Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear, and also my own fanfiction Wolves.

Warnings: Mpreg, M/M

Author's Note: This has been crawling, nay slithering around in my head for a while now and I couldn't stand it anymore. So here it is. Things will probably seem rushed, but I'm not terribly concerned with that. Mostly I just wanted to put it to paper, so to speak, and get it off my mind. Happy reading. Please remember to comment - let me know what you think.

Chapter One

Charles walked quickly from his father's Heall. He knew the time was drawing near, but he didn't want to be a part of the discussions going on in the Wolff Heallen at that very moment. He was of age now. His father was old, too old. He would not be able to hold the allegiance, the loyalty of the pack for much longer. The only thing that would stop the pack, and other wolf packs from challenging and killing his father for his position of Alpha would be to offer up a mating. Strong, aspiring wolves of all qualifying ages would be arriving from the brother packs. All of them willing to fight to the death for the chance at being Alpha of their own pack. Charles was just an afterthought. As the uke son of the Alpha he could not challenge his father to take his place. He was, along with the position, nothing more than a prize.

That was how he felt, though others tried to give him hope otherwise. From the time he was born he'd had to become used to the gazes of all dominant wolves. When he grew into a young man and his pheromones began calling to them searching for a mate, ha had to suffer their leers, their covetous gazes. All of them wanted him for one reason or another; at least their wolf sides wanted him. Having him meant power. Charles was certain that was all he would ever mean to any of them.

His first heat was approaching and all suitors who were willing to take the risk were on their way. In fact, his father expected the suitors from Krafvlen in two days' time.

It was midday, the sun was out high in the clear blue heavens, but the air was frigid. In Akkvar the air was always frigid, even in summer. Now they were nearing the end of the summer months and very soon after they would be in the thick of the harsh, dark winter. That's how he knew—they all knew—his heat would come upon him very soon. His body was already preparing to accept a seme's seed. The long winter months served as a kind of hibernation—a time in which the pup or pups could grow healthy and strong inside him while he rested in preparation for the birthing in the spring. Ideally. Winters were always harsh. Food is scarce. The long dark months when the sun is mostly gone from their side of the world is not always as restful for bearing ukes as they are meant to be. For the most part, packs are shut inside the Wolff Heallen together for safety and survival. Charles looked forward to that not at all. He had no idea who might win him—who he might be shut in with for seven months.

Before, as he was growing, learning his skills as a warrior like all the others, such time in the Wolff Heallen was enjoyable. He had his Shield brothers then. Three other young wolves that he was to stick with through any battle—fighting together, watching each other's backs. Fight for the wolves you're with. Always. Shield brothers were inseparable. As young pups in training they become drawn to each other and form bonds of love and trust so unbreakable that if one died in battle they could never be replaced.

Every winter Charles spent sleeping in a corner of the grand Heallen wound up in furs and entwined with his Shieldmates. This winter would be the first he'd spend away from them. He would have a loft room alone with his mate.

Most wolves could choose their mates, fall in love, whatever they wanted. If they felt drawn to each other they would mate, be happy. As a uke son of the Alpha Charles didn't get that luxury. He had to kneel naked and alone in a circle of strange wolves while they growled and fought over him like a piece of meat in lean winter. The scent of his heat driving them mad while he keened and writhed and leaked pheromone-laced arousal down his thighs.

He felt sick thinking about it. The only good thing about it was that he would have to endure only one mating. In old tradition a mating for position as Alpha allowed several of the strongest wolves to come forward and mount the bearer. Alpha was decided by whose seed was successful in impregnating the poor bitch.

Charles shuddered. He could only imagine what that must have been like. To be held helplessly in the rapture of heat while one ruthless, lustful brute thrust into him after another. He paled and stumbled. Reaching out he caught the wooden rail of a fence and stood hunched over while the nausea passed.

"Charles?" It was Alex. When he looked up Raven and Sean were not far behind. His Shield brothers. Never was he happier to see them. "Are you all right?" Alex's voice was low, soothing, and his face so full of concern. Charles smiled. Raven and Sean were also looking at him as if the slightest sound would startle him and make him bolt. Like him, they all knew what was going on in the Heallen.

Charles shared a look with Raven, his sister in blood, his Shield sister in battle. His twin. "I don't want to be here now," he said attempting a smile. They all nodded.

"The Falls?" Raven suggested sharing a sly smile with Alex and Sean.

"The Falls," they chorused at the same time.

The High Raek Falls were miles away. Too far away for such a small group to go on their own in these treacherous lands. But his little group had been there many times. It was their private escape made more exquisite because it was forbidden to go off on their own, especially without telling anyone.

"Absolutely," Charles smiled brightly for the first time in what seemed like months. "Let's go."

The four of them ducked behind one of the barns in the field out of sight of the Wolff Heallen. The transformation was swift. A haze of silver mist and then four large wolves burst into the long grass racing away from the walls of the Heallen, away from the safety of the pack.

The four young wolves lay stretched out on the flat rock. Even with winter on its way in a few short months the sunlight bathing the large rock overhanging the pool was warm and bright. Charles and Alex were sitting close together in human form again, talking and sharing jokes. Raven and Sean were still in wolf form bathing in the warmth of the sun. At one point Alex tossed a pebble at the dozing wolves. It hit Sean in the rear flank and he yelped and rolled over into Raven. Alex and Charles roared with laughter as Raven nipped Sean with her sharp teeth and the two rolled and scuffled over the side of the boulder. Before long the two wolves were playing and racing in the shallows of the riverbank.

Charles watched them go, a fondness in his eyes, when Alex cleared his throat.

He looked back at his Shield brother.

"Alex?"

The young wolf rubbed the back of his neck. There was a deep set frown on his face as he mulled over his thoughts and what he wanted to say. Charles didn't push him knowing he would talk in his own time.

Eventually, Alex met his eyes.

"I'd fight for you, you know," he said, his voice low. "If I thought I had any chance at all of winning. I'd fight for you."

Charles was stunned. They'd grown up together, fought together, bled together. They trusted and cared for each other like blood brothers. It didn't surprise him that his Shield brother thought about it. But it warmed his heart to hear.

"Oh, Alex," he said, and his voice trembled just the smallest bit. To not have to mate with possibly a complete stranger—to have someone he knew cared about him and not the position of Alpha…it would have been nice. But Alex was right. He stood no chance of winning. "Oh, my friend," he reached over and touched Alex's cheek. "I know you would." He blinked swiftly to keep his eyes from watering. "And I wish very much that you could."

Charles reached down and gripped his friend's hand. "But knowing you would do so is more than enough. Thank you."

Alex made a face and looked away. "It's not enough. If I were stronger I could be a suitor, I could win you. Then you wouldn't have to suffer for the rest of your life."

Charles swallowed thickly. "It's not certain that it will be all bad," he said attempting a smile. However, he had a feeling he knew where Alex was going with this.

"Come on, Charles," Alex nearly growled. "We all know he is going to step forward as a suitor. No one in our pack can defeat him."

"No one in our pack," Charles repeated quickly trying to calm his own heart of such fears even as he tried to assuage Alex's. "There are many packs, many suitors will come." He blinked and a tear slid down his cheek. "And I've prayed to the gods every day that one of them can beat him."

Alex pulled up the hand gripping his and held it to his lips. "I am sorry, Charles. I'm not helping you at all speaking my fears to you out loud. Fears that are already your own. I am sorry."

Charles shook his head, letting his friend know that he didn't blame him for anything. How could he? He couldn't, not when Alex's concern was for him.

"My friend," Charles quickly wiped the tear from his cheek and smiled watching Raven and Sean's return. The red and brown wolves were drenched as they splashed back toward the boulder through the shallows. "The last thing I want to do right now, here of all places, is think about what might happen. Come on." He got to his feet and held a hand out to Alex. When he pulled him up they both leapt off the rock into the river. When they emerged they were wolves again—wolves had such simpler cares. Things that worried their human counterparts barely held a candle to the thrill of the run, the bond of the pack. The four wolves raced the riverbank, the woods, tangled with each other in the long grasses of the open fields, barking, growling, and playing. Not caring. For the first time in a very long time nothing mattered but each other.

tbc...