Never Alone

Ezra felt his blood freeze in his veins, there was just something about the tone of voice, years of conditioning told him something was very wrong!

"I'll just take this." Ross pulled out Ezra's Remington before he could do anything about it. "I was never sure about you, there was just something not right, and your friends so conveniently close at hand. You know if you are going to earn your living deceiving people you have to work on your act!"

Ezra was well aware this had been a hastily put together plan and he was so worried and distracted he was off his usual game, and now his lack of professionalism had put Buck - all of them - in jeopardy. Chris had given him the responsibility of leading the mission and he had failed all of them and his failure might cost Buck his life or worse, because if he were forced to change, here, now, in front all these strangers, who knew what would happen to him!

"What was the plan, wait until the very end, until all the money was in one place and then take it all with your gang? Well Sands…if that is your name - I'm afraid not tonight. Now I don't want any trouble, we will just stand here and wait until it's over then you and the others will be escorted out of here." Ezra's eyes darted around trying to pick out the others. "Oh don't worry, they are all taken care of as well. So Mr Sands, let’s just enjoy the show."

Ezra's right arm, complete with it's hidden Derringer, was trapped against his side as Ross stood close beside him with a gun jammed up under his ribs. As Ezra looked around the room he picked out the others. Cole stood just behind Chris, all the others had a man beside or behind them, and he could tell by their expressions they were as helpless as he was.

"I assure you sir, neither I nor my friends had any intention to rob you or any of your group, we are merely seeking a friend who has been missing for some time, that is all," Ezra explained.

"Really," Ross commented sarcastically. "Well you know, I don't care. Now you hush because I have a good deal of money says my Sultan will get the kill and it will take three to bring him down, so you just be good and I won't have to through you in there with them!"

Suddenly a huge cheer rose from the crowed as two dogs entered the arena. Both were Bull Terriers, the smaller one was mostly white with a few black points, the large was brindle with part of one ear missing. Both dogs wore thick leather collars to protect their vulnerable necks. The two dogs split up as soon as they entered the arena, snarling and snapping at the wolf, who in truth looked bewildered, looking up every now and again as if seeking help.

Oh Lord, Buck's never had to fight like this before, Two-Bloods fight one on one! Ezra suddenly realised.

Indeed the wolf looked unsure how to deal with the twin attackers coming at him from two different angles snarling and snapping. He snarled back, his hackles raised, ears back, swinging his head from side to side to try and keep track of them.

"The wall! The wall!" Vin's voice cut though the cheers and shouts. "Git yer back against the wall!"

The wolf lifted his huge head and then began to back away from his tormentors until his vulnerable rear end was pressed up against the wall. Now the dogs attacked each flank, first one then the other would come in. To begin with they just worried at him, small bites here and there, but little by little the attacks got stronger, the wolf, big though he was, wasn't quick enough to stop them; only occasionally did his powerful jaws find a target and when they did he seemed unable to deliver a real bite, as if he didn't want their blood in his mouth.

"Attack brother, attack is the best form of defence!" Josiah's voice was instantly recognisable as he shouted advice to the beleaguered wolf.

Ross spoke to Ezra. "Can it be that some of your friends actually bet upon the wolf, do they not understand how this works?"

"Oh they understand all right, it is you who do not understand."

The wolf suddenly came to life. Ignoring the damage being done to his shoulder by the Brindle he suddenly swung his head at the white and since the neck wasn't an option because of the collar, he grabbed the side of the head, ripping into the flesh as he lifted the dog into the air and swung it across the arena, blood pouring from a wound where his ear had formally been.

"King!" Ezra heard the owner’s cry of distress.

King landed against the wooden wall in a heap and began to pull itself unsteadily to his feet.

"Jack!" Ross bellowed close to Ezra's ear.

"Yes boss!" came the response.

"Send in Vicky!"

Almost as soon as he had spoken the door in the middle of the back wall opened a fraction and a third dog was in the arena, this was a bitch, but she too was a brindle.

"That’s Victoria, my queen and my sultan, together they are going to found a dynasty," Ross told a sickened Ezra proudly. King was now on his feet again, despite the blood pouring from his lost ear.

JD was going mad with frustration, he was held not just by the man with the gun in his ribs but by the same man's powerful grip on his arm, both his guns were in the man's belt. Every time he saw another set of jaws rip into the wolf he felt sick. Unable to watch anymore he looked up and across at Vin. The normally calm Texan, who was adept at hiding his emotions locked gazes with the youth. Those blue eyes, usually so clear and bright were clouded with emotion, there was a hard set to his jaw that was rare in the young man as he held JD's gaze, trying to give him the courage to see the thing through for Buck's sake. Josiah prayed, he implored God and every other deity he and ever heard of for strength, for something to help them. Nathan tried to keep track of the injuries Buck was picking up because if he did that, he didn't have to think about what was really going on.

Chris felt he was alone in this hot, noisy room, with a gun pointing at his back. His weapon had been taken from him, he was helpless. He didn't like the feeling.

The noise around him faded away - the people, even his captor - were distant as he tried through sheer force of will to give Buck strength, as the wolf tried to fend off three dogs. And as if he could indeed draw strength from his pack, Buck suddenly turned on the wounded King and, taking the opportunity as it presented itself, he once more attacked the dog's head. Despite the fact that the two brindles were attacking his vulnerable rear and flank he mercilessly attacked he white dog - ripping into it again and again, until this time the dog did not move when it crashed into the wall after the wolf tossed it.

"NO!" King's owner cried out desperately, this was not how it went, it was the beast that died not the dogs, these dogs were the best, the breeding stock for the next generation, this is why they no longer fought each other.

Now Buck turned on Vicky, still ignoring the torments Sultan was inflicting. Desperate not to see his king and queen hurt, Ross shouted at Jack to let in another dog, one named Pirate, a black dog with a white chest blaze.

"Seems you lose your bet," Ezra commented idly.

"Only half of it, I ain't riskin' my two, to that thing!" With that Ross moved toward the edge to see better.

With Ross moving ever closer to the edge Ezra's right arm was almost free. The wolf appeared not even to notice the trail of blood he was now leaving in his wake as he relentlessly pursued Vicky, ignoring the new dog and Sultan. She faltered and the wolf managed to get his massive jaws on to her hind leg. Picking her up he dashed her skull repeatedly against the wall until she was just a lifeless hunk of meat.

Ross forgot about Ezra as he watched his precious queen die, he forgot to hold the con man close and in a flash the derringer was out and jammed up against the man's groin.

"You know what this is Mr Ross?" Ezra asked with menacing slowness. The rancher nodded. "It may be small BUT at this range it will destroy what little manhood you have and even if you don't bleed to death you will never be a MAN again. Do I make myself clear?" Ross, now ghost white, nodded vigorously. "Call your men off, I promise you we do not intend to rob you, we never did, as I told you we just want our friend back."

Ross gave the signal and his men backed off, once free the six gunmen quickly regained the upper hand and disarmed their erstwhile captors - then, as they backed away, now all carrying a gun in each hand, the six men edged closer to the ring side. Once they were all in position and to the amazement of the crowd, all six men jumped over the lip and down into the pit! Once they landed there was a moment of inactivity from both men and beast. Then the new dog Pirate, turned on Chris, who shot him dead with no compunction. He would have done the same to Sultan but Ezra waved him off; this was Buck's kill. The men formed a line with their backs to the straight wall. Each with two guns drawn, they covered the astonished near silent crowed. The wolf advanced on Sultan who didn't appear to be backing down, but then the wolf began to snarl, his blood stained jaws dripping with saliva as he bore down on the dog no matter how much aggressive posturing the dog put up.

"Call him off!" Ross shouted down in desperation.

"Not mine to call!" Chris shouted back. "Not in this at least."

With the vindication and permission of his pack leader still ringing in his ears Buck lunged at the dog, catching its hind leg as it tried to flee. The wolf paid no mind to the dog's display of surrender, it pinned it and, as a horrified Ross looked on, the Wolf proceeded to use its teeth and tongue to undo the buckle on the collar and, once it was free, toss the leather strap away.

"God no! No, that thing it ain't natural, stop it!" Ross begged.

But the men with the guns did nothing and said nothing, as the wolf took hold of the dog in his powerful jaws and dragged the whimpering Sultan back to the men to stand in the centre of the line, flanked by three men either side of him. The wolf never once let go of Sultan as it raised baleful yellow eyes to Ross, as he stood trembling above them looking down. Then in a room that was now silent except for the dogs’ whimpers. There was a yelp that was cut off half way as the sickening sound of a powerful pair of jaws breaking a neck pierced the silence.

Sultan's body hung limp and lifeless in the jaws of the huge wolf. Then, still maintaining eye contact with Ross, the wolf contemptuously dropped the body. Ross looked on helpless and horrified as he mourned the loss of his favourite dog. Then the wolf threw back his head and howled in defiance and triumph and as a cold chill spread though the spectators each of the men in the arena joined him in the howl.

Finally the eerie noise died down and Chris spoke. "We're Four Corners Pack, touch one of us again and you all die!" No-one in that place doubted it for a second. "Nate, 'Siah, door."

The two biggest men needed no second bidding to shoulder in the door behind them. Everyone in the room was too stunned no to say 'freaked out' to react, as the six men and a wolf disappeared through the small door. The wolf was elated, overjoyed to be back with his pack but he had one more thing to do before he could celebrate. Following his nose he found Jack hiding in a storeroom. The door handle proved no match for the skilled mouth and the wolf quickly had the door open.

"Oh sweet Jesus!" the man gasped as the wolf approached. Suddenly the terrified human lost control of his bodily functions. As he looked on in horrified silence the wolf cocked his head on one side at the sight and smell of the man, then as he advanced and the man turned to try to climb the shelves, the wolf took a huge bite out of the man's ass! With that accomplished the wolf guided his pack to the big doors that lead to the outside, he paused as he passed the tiny cage he had been held in.

"That where you've been all this time?" Chris asked, eyeing the filthy state of the tiny cage. The wolf just lowered his head a little.

"The bastards, I should have killed 'um," Chris breathed.

Once they were outside the wolf made his joy at being back with his pack known. He yipped and barked, jumping up and down to lick their faces. JD knelt down to hug the huge shaggy neck and having his face well licked.

"Jeez I missed you!" he gasped out. "Guess you did too?" this just produced more licks.

Ezra dropped to his knees beside JD. "I'm so sorry I couldn't find you sooner," he confessed, but he didn't get to say much more because he too was covered in licks.

"We don't have time for this guys!" Chris cut in. "Buck, Steel's over the ridge, past the scrub and across the creek, that’s outside the ranch boundary, we'll cover your back," he ordered.

Buck yipped, bouncing up at him.

"Me too pal, me too, now go, go…" Chris pointed to the distant ridge just visible in the light of the half moon.

ooOOOoo

Ross and his men suddenly came to life after the shock wore off. "Get them!" Ross shouted running for the front of the building.

As Ross and his men came around the building a hail of fire met them that kept them back but hit no one. As he took cover Ross could just make out the fleeing wolf as it raced into the night.

"You did all this to set a wolf free?" Ross bellowed at the six gunmen.

"Yes!" Six voices bellowed back.

"You're on my property!"

"Don't wanna be," Chris called out. "Just wanna leave, an' never come here again."

"So why ya shootin'?"

"So you don't shoot the wolf."

"It killed my dogs!"

"He is our friend and since you were planning on killin' him. I don't see what yer problem is? You're just lucky we don't take offence to the way you treated him! And just how much money of ours you got." With that Chris signalled his men to pull back. To discourage further pursuit, Vin took a shot at Ross blowing his hat off. With that the six mounted and rode off into the night.

The chase was half hearted. No one wanted to get shot for a wolf!

ooOOOoo

Buck found Steel using a mixture of Chris' directions and his nose, he greeted the horse with a little bark, which faithful Steel answered with a whinny. Buck quickly changing back into human form, and dressed, eager to return to the others and help. He was in so much of a hurry and so high on worry and the joy of being reunited with his pack he didn't notice his own injuries or how odd it felt to once more be a biped after so long on four lags. Steel had been happy to have JD take care of him but it wasn't the same as having his master back. Man and horse flew over the ground retracing his tracks back to the ranch. He was just cresting the ridge when the others came racing toward them, Cole leading the pursuing group pulled up his men following suit.

"Why did you stop?" Ross demanded.

"Look!" Cole pointed at Buck on top of the ridge, rifle in hand aimed at them as the other six got further away. "You remember that night we heard the wolf pack?" Ross nodded. "It had to be them, we never did find any wolf tracks, but remember I said we found tracks for seven horses? Well look there's the seventh one!" Cole looked at his boss, he knew how much the dogs meant to him but they weren't worth dying for. "It's not worth it sir, it's not worth risking the men's lives…"

Eventually Ross nodded his agreement and turned back.

Buck was now in the lead, with his superior night vision he lead the others in the general direction of Four Corners, in the moonlight it was easy for the others to follow the big grey in front of them. Powered only by a desire to get as far away as possible from the place of his captivity Buck just kept going, even as dawn broke he didn't stop.

"Hey Buck hold up!" Chris called.

But the Two-Blood didn't even seem to hear him. He just kept riding. Chris shook his head and spurred Pony to bring him beside Steel.

"Buck wait up! Now Buck! STOP!" Finally Buck seemed to hear and rained Steel in. Only now he just sat there looking down at the saddle. Chris noticed that he was not sitting in his usual lazy comfortable style, with one hand tucked into his waistband, both his hands were wrapped around the saddle horn, gripping so tight his knuckles were white.

"Buck?" Chris tilted his head down to get a look under Buck's broad brimmed hat. "Nate! Get up here!" he yelled suddenly.

Nathan appeared on the other side of Buck. After one look at the big Two-Blood he shouted over his shoulder. "Vin, we need to camp, shade and water! And we need it now."

"I'm on it!" the Texan responded.

ooOOOoo

It took just twenty minutes for Vin to find a campsite. Buck didn't so much ride there as sit on Steel who just followed the other horses. When the horse stopped he just sat there.

"Buck we need to you to get down now," Chris said softly.

Buck looked at Chris and nodded, he made an attempt to move, to swing his leg over the saddle but as he moved his vision blurred and the darkness that had been edging it for some time enclosed it completely and he began to slide out of the saddle. Chris was only just able to steady him long enough for Josiah to come to his side and together they lowered him to the ground. Once they had him safe on the ground Nathan took over. In no time Buck was stripped of blood-soaked clothing and laid on a pair of bedrolls. Now they could all see what the wolf's heavy coat had covered. Bites all over, some big, some small, and dozens and dozens of bruises. The worst two wounds, the ones responsible for the blood loss that had caused him to black out, were on his shoulder and hip. Huge open wounds, that were still bleeding, the one on his shoulder was so deep the shoulder blade was clearly visible. Except for some claw marks on his chest all the wounds were on his back or sides.

"I have to get these all cleaned out before I can even think of stitchin' them, I'm gonna need a hell of a lot of water and rags, how many clean shirts we got?" Nathan asked.

"Sometimes Mohammed needs to go to the mountain," Josiah said enigmatically.

"Eh?"

"Would it not be easier if we took Buck to the creek, it's deep and running quite fast, looks clean, we could lay him in the stream and let it clean all the wounds in one go. He fevered?" the preacher asked.

Nathan lay a hand on Buck's brow and nodded.

"Might help with that as well, what do you think?"

Nathan thought and than nodded.

"You get him down there, I'll take him from you," Sanchez offered, already stripping off his clothes and striding toward the creek.

While Chris and Nathan got Buck upright again, Vin and JD started collecting firewood while Ezra took care of the horses.

"Vin, I want a ring of small fires around Buck's bedroll, that way I won't need to put a blanket on him." Nathan instructed.

"No Nate, not all around," Vin corrected, "he'll feel trapped, he's gotta have a way out or he'll panic."

JD frowned. "Buck ain't afraid of fire."

"No he ain't, but wolves are, he's been a wolf fer near ten days, don't reckon he's been one fer more than a night before this…it's gonna take him some time to adjust I reckon, is all."

"You’re right, do what you think is best Vin," Chris instructed, Nathan nodding his approval as the two taller men moved their unconscious friend toward the creek.

Josiah had stripped of all his clothing and waded into the creek. The melt water from the mountains was so cold he thought his feet would drop off and he hated to think what would happen to the more sensitive part of his anatomy, when he waded deeper! But it was what was needed. He reached out to take Buck's dead weight from the other two. Supporting the taller man under his armpits.

"Come on Buck, let's get you cleaned up." Manoeuvring out into the deeper stream he lowered Buck into the fast flowing water, supporting him under his neck as if he were conducting a total immersion baptism. He watched as the younger man shivered and made a feeble effort to get away from the cold water.

"I'm sorry Buck, just a little longer, we gotta clean them wounds. God knows what's got into them," he whispered into the injured man's ear.

Almost as soon as he was in the water Nathan said it was enough and he was out and lying face down on the bedroll. With the help of Ezra's whisky the fires were already burning and Vin and JD were adding fuel all the time. The effect was to surround Buck with warm air, so Nathan didn't need to cover him and risk the small puncture wounds getting dirty again. This meant he could concentrate on the wounds that needed stitching. When he was done he had used all the thread he carried, and Buck had nearly a hundred stitches in his back and sides. The fever Nathan had detected hadn't got any worse, if anything it had dropped a little, but he was still restless.

"Well Nate?" Chris asked as the exhausted healer finally stood up.

"If I can keep the infection an' fever back he'll be fine with some rest. He's gonna have a few more scars but notin' worse than that I'd say. 'Cause he'll have to take things slow fer a bit, 'specially while he's got the stitches in."

"Buck won't like that," Chris commented.

"Well that ain't nothin' new, fer any of you!" Nathan snorted.

Ezra sat himself down and lay a hand on the tall mans’ head, running his fingers through the luxuriant wavy black hair. He bent down and spoke into Buck's ear.

"This is my fault my friend, my beloved, if I were not so helpless in the wilderness I might have tracked you more efficiently. If I had been more alert we would not have been captured and that barbaric fight would never have started, forgive me my love, I will make it better, I will make you feel better I promise you." With that he bent and kissed the top of Buck's head.

"He don't blame you." The voice startled Ezra. "Buck ain't like that, you know that," affirmed JD.

"I know, but sometimes I wish he would, sometimes I wish he would just accept that he deserves to be apologised to, that people do him wrong and he doesn't deserve it. Sometimes it's good to be just a little selfish." Ezra looked down again stroking Buck's hair.

"I love him too, you know?" JD said quietly.

"I know."

Sometime after dusk Buck passed from unconscious to asleep and the dreams came. As normal he twitched and yipped and growled but mostly he growled, his hands began to claw at the ground.

"Buck?" Chris was sitting beside his oldest friend. "Come on now pal, hush now, you're safe."

The growls got louder and more intense.

"We gotta get close to him," Vin stated.

The others looked on puzzled.

"When wolves sleep, the pack all sleep together, touching. I think we need to get close to him so he can feel us, know he's safe, home."

And they did, placing all the bedrolls around Buck, and since it was still warm they stripped off and lay down with their injured pack mate. JD and Chris lay beside him, making sure they were pressed up close to him without putting any pressure on any wounds. Vin lay beside Chris with Josiah near Buck's feet, his arm draped over Buck's long calves and Nathan on the other side. Buck's head was cradled in the small of Ezra's broad back, his arms wrapped around Ezra's mid section. Like this they settled down for the night. To the surprise of the One-Bloods it was a very comforting, safe feeling. And it had the desired affect on Buck, who quietened down almost instantly.

ooOOOoo

It took them two days to get back to Four Corners. Nathan had wanted to send Vin and JD ahead to get a wagon but Buck would have none of it. Despite the injuries to his ass he insisted he could sit a horse, and did, although he did allow Nathan to put a folded blanket over the saddle. Once they were back Buck agreed to stay in the clinic until the last of the fever was gone. This proved to be just two days. Apparently Josiah's method of mass wound cleaning had worked. On the evening of the second day Ezra came to the clinic to collect Buck.

"I have the bath tub all set up, I thought you might like a proper, warm bath, if Mr Jackson agrees." Nathan looked over at Buck, really he wanted the patient to stay a while longer but realistically knew he wouldn't.

"Just be careful and don’t let them deep wounds get too wet, no long soaks, all right?" Nathan cautioned.

ooOOOoo

Buck looked at the steaming tub, it was so inviting and yet he just couldn't face it; not just sitting in it, but even bending down just to get into its inviting warm waters seemed impossible. Ezra he noted hadn't put any fancy smelling oils in the water; the soap on the chair beside the bath was of the plainest kind, only smelling of soap. The room was lit with candles which, while as well as being soothing on the eye, was also soothing on the olfactory senses, compared to a kerosene oil lamp. Humans probably wouldn't even notice a difference, but Ezra had taken the time to think about it because these were proper bee's wax candles, their scent was a true smell of the forest, and Buck found it soothing.

Ezra quietly closed the door behind him, then just as quietly he removed his jacket and hung it the closet.

"Buck?" he asked, walking silently around the tall Two-Blood.

"Mmmm."

"Would you like me to help you undress?" he enquired politely.

"Yeah Ez, I'd 'ppreciate that."

Ezra stood in front of him. For the short journey from the clinic to Ezra's room Buck had only donned the minimum clothing. First Ezra knelt in front of him, and as Buck raised first one foot and then the other, the gambler tugged off the well-worn boots, Buck hadn't bothered with socks. Next he stood behind Buck and with infinite care eased the jacket off his shoulders, needing to stand on tiptoe to accomplish the task with the tenderness it required. Blood had seeped into the faded shirt fabric in a few places but not many, fewer than Ezra had feared at least. He came around and stood in front of Buck again.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Do it," was the only response.

One by one he undid the shell buttons and tugged the shirt out of the loosely worn pants. The claw marks across the chest weren't deep but they were very sore looking. Moving to Buck's side he peeled the shirt of one shoulder, then changed sides to repeat the operation. Now he was at the back again, gently peeling the cloth down past the ugly bruises and stitched wounds, oh so gently easing it away where the dried blood had stuck the fabric to the torn flesh. Ezra felt the rage in his heart all over again, wishing they had killed those men, wishing they had known then, what they knew now. That anyone could do such things to such a beautiful, magnificent creature, was beyond him. As if he was reading Ezra's mind Buck spoke softly over his shoulder.

"It ain't that bad Ez, it's over."

In response Ezra traced his soft fingertips down Buck's spine, moving first one way then another to avoid the injuries. Finally he pressed the softest, gentlest of kisses to the undamaged small of Buck's tanned back.

"It's bad enough…bad enough," he breathed.

With that Ezra came around to face Buck again. Once more he knelt and with a gentleness that bordered on reverence he undid the buttons of Buck's fly. Once free from its dark prison, the flaccid cock lay before him, perfect and undamaged. Resisting the desire to touch it, caress it, kiss it, Ezra moved so he was behind Buck, the better to ease the pants over the ragged angry wound on his left hip and the bite marks on both ass cheeks.

"Got my best feature," Buck commented with a wry laugh in his voice, a laugh which sounded entirely forced to the Southerner's practised ear.

"Only one of your best features," Ezra assured him as he eased the coarse canvas down Buck's long lean legs and waited until he stepped out of them.

The gambler took only a second to appreciate the sight of Buck naked in the candle light, seeing only the long limbs, broad back, fine muscles and luxurious hair and not the livid bruises, bites and lacerations. Ezra gathered the clothing and, folding it quickly but efficiently, he placed it on a chair. Buck meanwhile had walked stiffly toward the bathtub. As he tried to bend, a hiss of pain he just couldn't suppress, passed his lips.

"Buck no! Wait for me," Ezra chided, crossing the room quickly. "I do not think it advisable for you to try to sit in the tub tonight."

"Well how in the hell else am I gonna take a bath?" Buck demanded.

"You will stand, I will wash you," Ezra explained. With that he rolled up his sleeves and taking the biggest sponge Buck had ever seen, dipped it in the water before rubbing the soap over it. Then he worked and rolled it in his hand until it was thick with creamy white suds. "Ready?" he asked.

Buck nodded. And as promised Ezra proceeded to wash his pack mate. He started with the shoulders and worked his way down, he was tender but thorough, paying attention to the wounds as Nathan had instructed him. He held the soap rich, water laden sponge at the small of Buck's back. Buck hadn't been bathed this way since he was a toddler. He had said very little, just standing there enjoying the wonderful sensations as Ezra soaped, rubbed, sponged and rinsed his body clean. It was as if Ezra was washing away the whole experience, re-claiming him for the pack by ridding him of the last scents of that place. Logically he knew the human members of the pack couldn't smell the different scents on him, but he could and he needed to be rid of them. Despite the fact that he was standing up Buck was getting drowsy; he was almost dozing until Ezra spoke.

"Move your legs apart a little," he requested.

Once Buck complied, Ezra squeezed out the warm soapy water so that it ran down between the pale globes of Buck firm ass, then he moved the freshly soaped sponge between the cheeks, moving it back and forth gently and rhythmically, eliciting a sigh from the Two-Blood. Moving around to face Buck again, Ezra once more knelt, paying no heed to the puddle of soapy water he was now kneeling in. He lifted the still limp cock to run the warm sponge under it, then along its impressive length. Buck gave an involuntary shiver and Ezra thought he detected a slight twitch but was determined not to get side tracked, at least not yet. He lowered the member and dropping the sponge picked up a brand new, very thick and expensive wash cloth. Once it was dipped in the water he moved to cup one of the heavy balls in it's sack; using just the pressure of his thumb through the cloth he both washed and massaged in gentle circular movements. This time there was no mistaking the twitch as Buck's cock began to stir. Once one was thoroughly washed he turned to the other. This time the response was stronger. Finally he moved to the cock itself. Wrapping the warm, wet, soapy, soft cloth around the half erect member he moved it up and down; occasionally he would roll his wrist over producing a twisting motion, once or twice he let his hands come to rest near the tip and just gently squeezed and released in a kind of throbbing rhythm. Buck began to moan and shift his weight as Ezra continued. Once he was sure Buck was almost fully erect he stopped, and stood up.

"No Ez, don't, please don't stop," Buck complained.

"Never fear beloved, we have a long way to go, I'm gonna take good care of you." As an extra assurance he bestowed a few gentle kisses to Buck's chest, just brushing the fully erect nubs that were just aching for some attention. Finally he stroked Buck's cheek, but then frowned. "But first, a shave I think."

This proved to be quite comical as Ezra had to stand on a chair to shave the much taller man effectively. Showing the kind of trust few Two-Bloods ever showed a One-Blood, Buck let Ezra shave him with his own cut-throat razor, and even trim his moustache. Finally Ezra was patting Buck's cheek dry and climbed down. Once Buck was dry, Ezra led the battered, bruised and stiff man over to the huge feather bed. Buck had to admit he had rarely seen anything so inviting. Ezra pulled back the covers and, pulling one of the pillows from the pile at the top of the bed, placed it where Buck's belly would be. He then waited for Buck to gingerly ease himself face first onto the crisp white sheets, the extra height of the pillow accommodating his erect cock more comfortably.

As Buck lay there stretched out and naked he was able to get a good view of Ezra as he stripped his own clothes off and, using the same water Buck had just stood, in quickly and efficiently washed himself. Quickly that was until he came to his genitals. Here he stopped, and well aware of Buck's gaze on him washed himself thoroughly, slowly and provocatively, putting on a show as his own cock began to harden, springing out from its luxuriant chestnut curls. Drying himself efficiently he approached the bed, and as he lay down beside Buck he pulled up the sheet and the soft eiderdown to cover them both.

Buck could feel Ezra's erection against his side as the southerner captured his lips with his own, easing them open to run his tongue around Buck's warm, soft mouth. Tongue met tongue and for some time that was all. Buck hadn't realised how much he needed this as he relaxed into the sensations of the kissing. Most, if not all Two-Bloods, considered the wolf to be their true form, all except Buck Wilmington who considered himself a human who could turn into a wolf, and not the other way round. While he had been held, unable to change back into his true self, he had been forced to look deeply into his wolf heart. His animal soul, his wild unrestrained primitive side, the side of him that acted only on instinct, the side that howled and sang to the moon. Some of what he found scared him, he felt alone, even when the pack came for him. Once the euphoria had worn off he felt apart and different as he never had before. He was different, he wasn't like them and he never would be, but he wasn't like other Two-Bloods either, he was caught between two worlds, an outcast in both.

But outcasts weren't loved like this, outcasts weren't bathed so reverently by another, outcasts weren't taken to another's bed to be loved. Fucked yes, he had been fucked and had fucked just to release the need, but this wasn't sex just for release, this was something more. Suddenly he was gasping for breath, not because Ezra held his mouth in exquisite captivity but in realisation that the fear he had been living with for so long was false. Stretching he head back he pulled away from Ezra, gasping for breath.

"What's wrong?" Ezra asked worriedly.

"Nothin', nothin' I just…I…can't explain…"

"We don’t have to do anything, you know? We can just lie here and sleep, maybe snuggle a little, if you want?"

"No!" he cried desperately, "I need you, I need you so much right now, please don't leave me…"

"Buck I would never leave you, we…the pack, we will never leave you, ever!"

"I know, I know, I know," he said desperately, tears flowing down his cheeks. "It's just… I killed them dogs! I mean… they didn't ask to be there, they were just doing what they do. It wasn't their fault and I killed them. It was…the last one…it was begging for mercy and I killed it, I... Oh God! I took its collar off and killed it… just to get revenge on that man! What kind of animal am I?"

"One who was forced to fight for his life, one who was kept in a tiny, dark, filthy iron cage on short rations and stale water. Cut off from his pack, his family, fearing he would never see them again, fearing he would die or be forced to reveal his true nature and be kept as some kind of circus freak! "

Ezra ran a gentle hand through Buck's hair as he spoke.

"You did what any man would have done if pushed hard enough. He was going to breed them, the two brindles, he would have bread a whole new dynasty of killers from them."

Ezra sat up a little, he lay his hand on Bucks cheek.

"You are one of us, not Two-Blood, not One-Blood, us! Four Corners pack. You are not an animal, you are not a wild beast, you are not a freak and you are never alone!"

With that he bent and kissed the nearest wound.

"Never alone," he whispered kissing his way to the next wound.

"Always one of us," he kissed down to the big laceration on the shoulder. "One pack, one destiny, seven men, one heart."

"Ez?"

"Yes beloved."

"Please Ezra, I need you so much."

"Are you sure you're ready?"

"I need you, please Ezra, love me."

"I will, I do."

Ezra reached out to the bedside table and opened the drawer and drew out a small jar. He quickly removed the top and brought it close to Buck. It had a mild, neutral odour.

"Alright?"

Buck nodded, the tears had dried up and he smiled at his lover.

"I'm gonna do all the work here, you just lie there and enjoy," Ezra instructed.

"Mmmm, sounds good." Buck folded his arms and lay his head down on them as Ezra moved to straddle Buck's lower legs. Taking a good amount of the cream in the jar he warmed it in his hands then applied it the Buck's back, hips, and legs. It wouldn't be the same massage he usually gave, he had to avoid so many injuries, but he kneaded and worked out as many knots as he could. Then he moved his warm slick hand to the crack between those inviting cheeks.

Gently he moved from straddling Buck to easing his long legs apart and kneeling between them. Ezra ran one nimble fingered hand down the crack, and over the entrance that enticed him and trembled as he passed over it. He continued down to the two velvety covered spheres, he lovingly fondled and stroked them just as he had in the bath until Buck was gasping and squirming under his touch. He moved on to the rock hard shaft, repeating the ministrations he had lavished on it in the bath. Now without a wash cloth between him and the staff, he was able to be more subtle, more responsive to Buck's moans of pleasure. Every time the tall Two-Blood tried to move with Ezra the southerner stopped, reminding him he was to lie still and do nothing. Only when Buck's engorged shaft began to leak pre cum did he move on. Leaving his hands where they were, still massaging, he bent his head down.

Buck gasped as Ezra's warm, skilled tongue first brushed over the puckered opening and then entered it, circling and probing, dipping in and out before circling again. Buck began to squirm back to meet the intruder.

"Now Buck, what did I tell you!" Ezra scolded, stopping his ministrations.

"Please Ezra, don't stop," Buck gasped out.

"I won't, but you have to let me do the work. Trust me," he added quietly.

Ezra's eager tongue returned to its work, teasing, exciting and stimulating. Finally, Ezra took more cream and warmed it before easing one slick finger into the already relaxing entrance; very slowly he moved the finger in and out, just brushing Bucks sweet spot with a feather light touch. He waited until Buck was fully relaxed, his breathing deep and even, before he added a second finger. In response Buck moaned.

"Mmmm, so good Ez, so good," he murmured into his arms.

"Only the best for you beloved, slow and easy tonight, gently my beloved," Ezra all but purred as he began to scissor his fingers, gently stretching Buck. He wasn't as big as Buck, but he wanted him to be as ready as he could before he penetrated him. The man had suffered enough pain, if Ezra could spare him even a little more, however fleeting, he would. He hit Buck's prostate again and felt a tremor run all through the long lean body before him, a body which was now covered in sheen of perspiration.

"Please Ez, now!" Buck cried out.

"Not yet beloved, not yet, soon, very soon." He bent and kissed the wounds on Buck ass cheeks. "Let Ezra make it all better."

"Oh yes, God Ez, I can't last much longer!" Buck gasped as Ezra brushed against the sensitive gland again.

Without interrupting what the fingers inside Buck were doing Ezra reached for the cream one more time and applied a liberal quantity to his own erection. Finally Ezra pulled his fingers back and guided his own erect penis into the well stretched opening, just allowing the head to enter before pulling back and moving forward again, this time pushing further in.

In desperation Buck tried to move back to meet Ezra's gentle thrusts. But as before Ezra froze instantly and slapped Buck on the ass.

"Bad boy! What did I tell you?" he scolded.

"Oh please Ezra, I need you now!"

"And you have me, but I'm doing all the work, remember that."

"Just don't take too long."

Ezra just laughed and went back to his agonisingly slow thrusting, each time a little deeper. His own cock was screaming for release, but he told it 'no'. This was all about Buck. So slow and careful was Ezra that the inevitable pain when the powerful muscle ring was passed was so minimal that all Buck did was shudder slightly and then sigh as Ezra finally slid almost all the way in.

"Good God Buck, you're so tight, so hot." Ezra bent his head to run his tongue up Buck's spine as he worked, slowly deepening each thrust.

Then, after he had move back and forth several times, he hit the prostate with he head of his cock.

"Ezra! Oh God, oh God, ohGodohGod!" Buck cried out, arching his head back but somehow remembering not to push back.

Ezra leant forward placing his hands either side of Buck's lower back and began to rock gently, taking all his own weight ensuring he didn't rest on any of the bruises or wounds. As he rocked the head of his cock deep inside Buck, he brushed back and forth over the responsive little nub deep within the big Two-Blood.

Buck called out his lover's name repeatedly, running the word together in one long steam that was almost a howl, until Ezra felt the muscular ring encircling his own cock tighten as Buck came, and that as all it took for him to let go of his own control.

Buck felt Ezra come deep inside him as his own climax overwhelmed his still weary body and battered senses, and darkness edged his vision.

"Buck?…Buck?" The voice finally penetrated his mind and he opened is eyes to find he had been rolled onto his side and Ezra was gently washing him with a warm damp cloth smelling of soap. "Buck, are you with me?"

"I think so, what…?"

Ezra actually blushed. "You passed out on me, never had anyone pass out before." He then grinned. "Are you all right?"

"I'm better than all right, I'm just great." Ezra pushed back a strand of sweaty hair from Buck's brow and kissed him on the forehead

The Southerner put the wash cloth down and picked up a towel and lovingly and gently dried Buck. The pillow that had absorbed his climax had been removed as Ezra climbed into the bed beside him and pulled up the covers.

"Better?" the gambler asked of his troubled mate.

"Yeah, better." Buck agreed, just managing to stifle a yawn.

"Sleep my love, rest, heal. I will be here when you wake."