Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
Title: It’s What’s On the Inside That Counts
Author: Hergerbabe
Fandom: Xena
Pairing: A/J, some C/S
Rating: A big fat NC-17, see the warning
Category: first times
Archive: AJCSfic, JLA, anywhere else, just let me know
Notes: A response to Toby’s pack challenge
MAJOR WARNING!!! This fic contains scenes of bestiality, if this squicks you in any way, please do not read!
More Notes: If it seems at all hurried, that’s cos I wrote it in a day! LOL!
Disclaimer: So not mine, it’s not fair!
For Toby, thanks for reminding me of your fabulous idea and the fantastic and quick beta!
It’s What’s On the Inside That Counts
Ares paused in the middle of the battle. He had the feeling he was being watched, again. Without thinking, he twisted his sword and shoved it backwards, disembowelling the warrior behind him. His eyes flicked over the battlefield, searching, then slowly he turned. His gaze came to rest on the trees, where a huge wolf was watching him.
Ares frowned, lifting his sword to block a blow from the side. He flicked his wrist, disarming the man who’d attacked him, and plunged his sword into the man’s chest. His eyes never left the wolf. As always, it stood and watched him, never moving.
After a moment, Ares returned his attention to the battlefield, but his mind stayed on the wolf. It watched him constantly, had done so for a while now, possibly even longer than he knew about. But as always at the end of the battle, when he turned back, the wolf had gone.
He frowned again, wolves were his animal, but that didn’t mean anything. Was the wolf ‘his’ or an enemy’s? Why did it watch him? It was starting to piss him off.
@>-->---
The wolf ran through the trees until it reached an old oak tree. It raised its head and howled.
Two identical wolves approached from the trees and whined. The wolf dropped its head and trotted to meet them. They sniffed each other, then nuzzled each other, yipping happily.
They rolled around for a while, play fighting. Then, as if at some unseen signal, they jumped up, looking into the sky. As one, they howled. With a final lick to his littermates, the wolf jogged away.
The other two watched him, then they looked at each other. If anyone had been watching them, it would have seemed as if they sighed. Then they turned and ran in opposite directions.
@>-->---
Ares appeared on the path, fully prepared to taunt Xena. What he wasn’t prepared for was the wolf that had been watching him, to come running full pelt out of the forest and leap on him, knocking him to the ground.
Startled, he looked up at the wolf standing on his chest, for some reason more interested than angry. Then he heard the explosion. He tipped his head back so he could see behind him and gaped at the destruction. He looked at the wolf again, realising that whatever had caused that destruction, would have hit him, if the wolf hadn’t knocked him down.
The wolf looked down at him, and Ares found himself staring into its eyes. They didn’t look like the eyes of a wolf. Instead, pale eyes shone with intelligence and… Ares started in shock. They shone with love.
Xena and Gabrielle came running up the path. They stopped when they saw the obliterated forest.
The wolf looked back at them, then it leaned down and gently licked Ares’ lips, before running into the trees. Ares sat up and touched his mouth. It hadn’t felt like a lick, it had felt like a kiss.
“ Ares!”
Ares started again and frowned at himself in annoyance. “ What?!” he snapped.
“ What do you mean, what?” Xena snapped back. “ What in Hades are you doing?”
Ares slowly got to his feet and glared at her.
“ And what was with the wolf?” Gabrielle asked curiosity evident in her voice.
“ I was here to see you, but I’ve got more important things to do now,” Ares growled. Without further ado, he vanished.
Xena and Gabrielle stared at each other.
“ What was that?” Gabrielle asked. Xena shrugged in frustration and annoyance. A sudden noise in the trees, had them spinning round, weapons ready.
They both sighed when Joxer stumbled onto the path.
“ Joxer,” Xena exclaimed, “ where have you been?” They’d lost the wannabe warrior about two days before, and she had been quite worried.
Joxer looked at his feet, “ I, uh, I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going. Got a bit lost,” he said quietly.
Xena sighed, “ Well, you’re found again, come on let’s go.”
“ Go? But…” Gabrielle started.
“ But, what?” Xena interrupted her. “ We don’t know what happened here, and it’s unlikely we ever will. There’s no point in hanging around.”
Gabrielle sighed, “ I guess.”
Xena took another look around, then whistled shrilly. Argo trotted towards them and Xena mounted him, starting down the path. Gabrielle and Joxer followed in silence.
@>-->---
Zeus waved his hand over the mirror and the forest disappeared. He stared at his reflection for a second, then sighed. “ It has started,” he said.
Hera put her hand on his shoulder, “ It’ll be fine, I know it will.”
Zeus nodded, “ I hope so.”
@>-->---
Ares appeared in his temple and worked out his frustration and anger in a flurry of destruction. Then he sat down with a sigh, and gazed at the room. With a wave of his hand, he put everything back to rights.
He touched his mouth again, he couldn’t get the feel of the wolf’s tongue from his mind.
*Strife!* he yelled mentally.
There was a flash and Strife appeared with Cupid.
“ Yo, Unc s’up?”
Ares frowned at his son, “ What are you doing here?”
Cupid frowned back, “ You interrupted our first time alone together for weeks, I want to know why.”
Ares blinked, “ Sorry, I forgot.”
Cupid raised an eyebrow, “ Are you okay, Pops?”
Ares shook his head, “ I think someone tried to kill me.”
“ What?!” Cupid and Strife exclaimed simultaneously.
Ares shook his head again, “ One minute I’m waiting for Xena, the next, a wolf has knocked me out of the way of a massive blast of energy.”
“ A wolf?” asked Strife, “ Wait *the* wolf?”
“ Yeah, *the* wolf.”
“ Woah, what do you mean, *the* wolf?” Cupid asked in confusion.
Strife grinned at him, “ Unc’s got a fan,” he giggled. “ There’s this wolf that keeps following him around, watching him.”
Ares frowned, “ This is the first time he’s done anything but watch. He saved me.”
“ He?” Strife raised his eyebrows.
“ Yeah, there’s something unusual about that wolf. Strife, I want you to see what you can find out. And tell your mother too, when you see her,” said Ares.
“ Why don’t you tell her yourself?” Strife asked in confusion.
Ares smirked, “ Even I wouldn’t disturb her right now.”
Strife frowned and cocked his head. Then he made a retching noise, “ Oh that is like, so gross! Thanks for the warning, Unc!” Ares laughed at him.
“ What?” asked Cupid, he frowned and concentrated. “ Oh!” He started to laugh, until Strife elbowed him in the stomach.
“ Shut up, you wouldn’t like seeing your Mom doing that!”
Cupid pulled a face, “ Oh thanks for the visual! Yeurgh!”
“ Can we go now? We were just getting to the interesting part, if you know what I mean,” Strife smirked.
Ares smiled fondly, “ Go, have fun.”
The couple flashed out of the room, leaving Ares alone to contemplate his strange day.
@>-->---
Strife flung his head back and screamed as Cupid hit the small nub inside him, over and over as he plunged into him. His back arched and his body shuddered as his climax tore through him, his seed spurting in hot jets onto their chests.
“ Oh yeah, Strife,” Cupid grunted as he thrust into the tight, hot, convulsing passage of his husband. He stiffened and pumped his warmth deep inside Strife. Then he collapsed on top of his mate.
“ Damn, you’re so hot!” Strife gasped.
Cupid chuckled and nipped the delicate skin of his neck. “ I love you too.”
Strife wrapped his arms around Cupid, gently stroking his wings.
“ You’re worried aren’t you?” Cupid whispered after a couple of minutes. Strife nodded. Cupid lifted his head and rested his chin on Strife’s chest. “ Tell me about the wolf.”
Strife bit his lips thoughtfully. “ There isn’t much to tell. Unc started noticing this wolf watching him all the time. He ignored it at first, but then it started to piss him off, ‘specially cos it always disappears before he can do anything. This is the first time it’s done anything.”
“ Do you think it’s been waiting for something to happen?” Cupid asked.
“ Unlikely as it seems, yeah.”
“ What are you going to do?”
“ Try and find out where it comes from,” Strife said with a shrug, “ And what it’s doing.”
Two Weeks Later
Ares stood invisible in the middle of the battlefield, waiting. There was a tingle up his spine and he spun round. There was the wolf, and it was watching him. But how could it know he was there?
He started towards it but it turned and ran into the trees. Ares ran after it, but when he got to the trees, it had disappeared. Ares growled in frustration, how the fuck had it done that? He reached out his power to scan the area, but could find no trace of it.
“ Dammit!” he swore, destroying a section of forest with a blast of fire. He was starting to get frustrated with this, especially as his sleep was constantly disturbed by dreams of the wolf’s eyes and the strange kiss.
He went back to the battle and joined in aggressively, causing no small amount of terror and panic, even in his own warriors.
It wasn’t just the wolf that was getting to him though. He had no idea who would dare attack, or why. More, would they try again, and if so, when?
@>-->---
“ Any luck?”
Strife shook his head, “ I didn’t get there in time.” He sighed, “ Man, Unc was pissed! His priests are tiptoeing round him at the moment, they know he could explode any minute.”
Cupid sighed and pulled Strife into his arms. “ Better stay out of his way as much as you can.”
Strife nodded, “ I will, don’t worry.” He snuggled closer. “ Mom’s no help, she’s getting a massive energy kick out of this!”
Cupid shuddered, he didn’t get on with his mother-in-law. “ You don’t suppose it’s her?”
Strife laughed, “ Nah, Discord she may be, but stupid she is not!”
“ I guess.”
@>-->----
Ares watched in his scrying mirror as Xena and Gabrielle fought off a group of bandits, his eyes narrowed briefly as he realised that they appeared to have lost Joxer again. He flashed down to watch in person. Invisible, he interfered, tripping Gabrielle, then knocking Xena down mid somersault.
But it didn’t give him any satisfaction and he backed away.
Once Xena and Gabrielle had dispatched the bandits, Xena spun round, staring suspiciously into the surrounding forest.
“ Come out!” she yelled. Ares flashed into view, leaning against a tree. “ What are you doing?” she demanded.
“ Relieving some boredom,” Ares smirked.
Xena put her hands on her hips and frowned, “ What, by causing mischief? You lost your right-hand God?” she taunted.
Ares growled and stalked towards her, only to be knocked to the ground by the massive wolf. The air around them crackled with energy and the path behind him exploded, throwing dirt, rocks and bits of tree into the air.
Quickly, Ares reached up and grabbed the wolf. His hands slid through the thick, soft pelt and the wolf whined. Their eyes locked and Ares let go, his arms dropping to the ground.
Like before the wolf leaned down and gently licked his mouth, but this time the wolf’s tongue dipped briefly between his lips.
Ares moaned, startled. The wolf stared at him again. It licked his neck and then ran off. Ares turned his head to watch the animal, too shocked to move.
“ Ares?” Xena crouched down beside him. He looked up at her, surprised by the look of what almost seemed to be concern on her face. “ What’s going on?”
Ares sat up and shook his head, trying to clear it. “ I wish I knew,” he said in a moment of honesty.
“ Is someone trying to kill you?”
Ares stared at her for a moment, then he nodded, “ I think so.”
“ And the wolf?”
“ I don’t know.”
“ That is one freaky wolf,” said Gabrielle, staring down at the War God.
Ares frowned at her, for some reason the insult annoyed him.
“ It watches me, and now it’s saved me, twice.” He stood up and scanned the area, but again he could find no trace. He scowled, trying not to think of the strange kiss, because it had aroused him. And that disturbed him almost more than the fact that someone was trying to kill him.
He walked over to the crater that had been left by the blast. Whoever was trying to kill him was certainly powerful. He wasn’t sure if the energy of the blast would have been enough to kill him, he was a god after all. But it would certainly have incapacitated him for a while, leaving him at the mercy of his attacker.
Without a backward glance at the two confused women, he vanished.
Xena and Gabrielle shared a long look after peering into the crater themselves.
“ This could be bad,” said Xena.
Gabrielle shrugged, “ If someone wants to kill Ares, good luck to them. I just don’t want to be there when he catches them!”
Xena frowned thoughtfully. “ I hate to say it, but I think we’re going to have to help Ares.”
“ What?!” Gabrielle stared at her as if she’d gone mad.
“ You remember what it was like when Ares was mortal?”
Gabrielle blinked, then nodded reluctantly. “ Okay,” she sighed, “ But how?”
“ I haven’t got the first clue!”
@>-->---
*Strife*
“ S’up?” Strife appeared in the War Temple.
“ Where were you?”
Strife frowned, “ Thebes, like you told me.”
Ares stopped pacing, “ Oh. Yeah.”
“ Did something happen?” Strife asked in concern.
Ares shoulders sagged and he sat down. “ The wolf saved me from another attack.”
“ No shit?!” exclaimed Strife.
Ares glanced up at him and smiled ruefully. “ No shit.”
“ What happened?”
“ Same as last time, I was pissing off Xena and the wolf knocked me out of the way of a massive energy blast.” He didn’t tell Strife about the kiss, he wasn’t telling anyone about the kiss! He refused to even *think* about the kiss!
“ You were with Xena both times?”
Ares looked up sharply, “ Yes!”
“ Could be a coincidence.”
Ares frowned, “ Maybe. I don’t think it’s anything to do with Xena though, she almost seemed concerned.”
Strife looked shocked, “ Really?” Ares nodded. “ Wow!”
Ares waved him away, “ Go, I need to think. Say hi to Cupid.”
Strife nodded and disappeared.
Ares got to his feet and started to pace again. Could it be a coincidence? He decided to find out.
He flashed down to Xena’s camp and stood just outside the clearing, watching the women by the fire. He wondered again why Joxer wasn’t with them. He hadn’t been there long when he felt the air crackle again.
He heard a whistling noise and was thrown to the ground, a heavy weight landing on his back. But the wolf hadn’t quite reached him in time and he blacked out from the blast which had partly caught him on the head.
Xena and Gabrielle leapt up at the explosion and ran to where they could see the wolf rolling over an unconscious Ares. It stood over him, whining and nudging him with it’s nose, licking his face.
It looked up when it heard them and growled menacingly. Xena stopped and pulled Gabrielle behind her. The wolf was massive and obviously very protective of Ares. It growled again, then it leaned down and clamped its jaws in Ares vest. It began to drag the God away.
Gabrielle went to follow it, but Xena stopped her.
“ What?”
“ Ares will be safe with the wolf. I want to see if there’s any trace of his attacker,” Xena said, glancing round the dark forest.
“ Okay.”
Ares woke with a groan. He was lying on a bed roll and a fire flickered a short distance away. Curled around him was the warm, furry body of the wolf. He tried to sit up and fell back with a moan, as pain shot through his head. The wolf leapt to its feet, sniffing the air. Then it appeared to relax.
It whined and nuzzled Ares neck. Very gently, it began to lick the wound Ares hadn’t even realised he had on the side of his head.
He sighed at the warm, wet tongue that lapped his skin. Unconsciously his hands wound into the thick pelt, stroking gently. The wolf whimpered and lifted its head, staring down at him. Again, Ares was astounded by the intelligence and love he saw in the animal’s eyes.
The wolf lowered its head and licked up his neck, the large tongue trailing up to his ear. Ares moaned despite himself. The wolf lifted its head again and whined. It sniffed Ares, nose touching his neck. Then it licked his face.
Wondering what in Hades he was doing, Ares turned his head slightly so the wolf’s tongue touched his lips. The wolf pulled back as if in surprise, then it almost seemed to moan and lapped delicately at Ares’ mouth.
Ares grasped the wolf’s neck and opened his lips, groaning as the hot tongue dipped inside his mouth. The wolf pulled back and sniffed again. Ares could have sworn it grinned at him. It backed away and he loosened his grip on its neck.
The wolf lowered his head again and pulled at his vest, wrenching it open. Ares’ head fell back and he moaned as he felt the wolf start to lick his chest. The wolf’s tongue skimmed over his skin, pausing to lap at his rapidly hardening nipples.
“ What am I doing?” he moaned aloud. The wolf paused, almost seeming to laugh at him. Before he could do anything, it backed up again and nuzzled his groin. Ares sucked in a breath of surprise, he hadn’t realised he was already hard.
The wolf nudged more insistently, and again wondering what in Tartarus he was doing, Ares reached down to undo the fastenings of his pants. He hitched them down, freeing his erection. The wolf sniffed his crotch, its nose tickling his balls.
“ Oh Gods,” Ares moaned. The wolf’s hot, rough tongue licked up the length of his shaft and his back arched with pleasure. Amazingly expertly, the wolf lapped his cock continuously until he was moaning aloud. His balls tightened and he stiffened as he came, seed splattering onto his stomach.
He watched in wonder as the wolf licked the come from his belly, making small happy sounding noises. It stepped over him again and lay down on top of him.
Ares realised the wolf was erect and unconsciously thrust upwards. The wolf whined again and rubbed against him, till Ares felt it shudder and warm liquid cover him. The wolf got up and licked him clean again, then it licked his face and curled round him.
“ Who are you?” Ares whispered, as he drifted off to sleep.
@>-->---
When he woke, the wolf was gone and his head had healed. The fire was still flickering. Ares stared up at the sky in confusion.
Where had the wolf got a bed roll from? And how could it possibly have lit a fire? He knew there was something about the wolf that bothered him, he just couldn’t quite work out what.
As he lay there, he realised it was the eyes, somehow, he knew those eyes, but how?
He transported himself back to his temple, where he found Cupid and Strife waiting worriedly.
“ Where have you been?” Cupid snapped.
Ares frowned, “ What do you mean?”
“ You’ve been missing for three days!” Strife shouted. Worry had made them both forget exactly who they were talking to. Ares let it go but raised his eyebrows.
“ I went to see Xena and it happened again,” he started. “ The blast caught me on the side of the head, I must have been unconscious.”
“ And the wolf?” Strife asked.
Ares shifted uncomfortably as the memory of what had happened made him harden again. He sat down quickly. “ He saved me, just.”
“ Dad?”
“ Hmmm?”
“ Are you okay? You seem distracted,” Cupid frowned in concern.
Ares shook himself out of it. “ One, I want to know who keeps attacking me, and why it only seems to happen when I’m near Xena. And two, I want to know who the wolf is.”
“ What do you mean, who?” Strife asked in surprise.
“ That is no ordinary wolf, its eyes are human.”
Cupid and Strife exchanged worried glances.
“ Strife, next time the wolf watches me, I want you to follow it.”
“ ‘Kay, no probs.”
Ares nodded in satisfaction.
@>-->---
The wolf howled as it was joined by its brothers. They stared at him as he bounced around excitedly. He rolled onto his back, wriggling lie a puppy.
One of his brothers sniffed him, then backed away in surprise. The second brother looked at him inquiringly and he pointed his muzzle at the ecstatic wolf still rolling on the ground.
The second brother sniffed, sneezing in surprise. He nudged the first wolf, who finally got up. He licked his brothers and with a wolfy grin, ran off alone.
The two remaining brothers stared at each other. The older one snorted, shaking his large head. They licked each other and ran off in opposite directions.
@>-->---
“ Hey Xena, wait up!” Joxer ran after his two friends, almost but not quite avoiding tripping over a tree root.
Gabrielle helped him to his feet. “ Hi Joxer, where have you been?”
“ Visiting Jace,” he replied, wiping the dirt from his face.
“ How is he?” asked Xena.
“ Oh you know, the same.”
Gabrielle giggled, then stopped when Joxer looked hurt. “ Sorry, but I always see him in that pink dress.”
Joxer smiled, “ Yeah, me too.”
“ I’d love to see Jett in that get up,” laughed Xena.
Joxer stared up at her, stunned, then burst out laughing. He had to lean against a tree until he recovered. The two women grinned at him, they hadn’t seen him cheerful for a while and they were glad their friend seemed happy.
“ So what have you been up to?” he asked eventually.
Xena sobered. “ Trying to find out who’s trying to kill Ares,” she said quietly.
Joxer stopped smiling. “ Any luck?” he asked, looking at Gabrielle.
Xena shook her head.
“ It’s weird, this big wolf keeps saving him,” said Gabrielle.
A distant look came over Joxer’s face.
“ Joxer?”
“ Hmm? Sorry. That’s really strange,” he said.
Xena frowned at him, “ Yeah.”
@>-->---
“ That last attack was too close.” Zeus paced nervously.
“ Don’t worry, our little wolf won’t let anything happen to him,” Hera tried to reassure him.
“ The other two should be helping him,” he muttered.
“ They will, when it’s time.”
@>-->---
Ares was in the middle of battle when he felt the eyes on him again. He turned and shivered at the intensity of the wolf’s gaze. Despite himself and the situation, he felt himself harden and wanted to go to him. But he knew the wolf would run, as always.
*Strife, he’s here, are you ready?*
*Yeah, I see him*
Ares stared at the wolf, ignoring a sword slashing across his arm. Without breaking the gaze, his arm shot out and he gripped the warrior that had attacked him by the throat, casually breaking his neck with a twist of his wrist.
The wolf lay down, resting his head on his paws, watching Ares as he turned back to the battle. Ares tried to ignore the warmth of the gaze, and his erection as he fought on.
As the battle came to an end he turned, but as usual, the wolf had gone. He checked the area, but as usual could find no trace. He sighed, he’d just have to hope Strife would find out who he was.
@>-->---
Strife followed the wolf with some difficulty. He was amazed at how quick and agile the animal was. Finally it stopped and lay down.
Strife watched from behind a tree in horrified fascination as the wolf began to howl in pain. Its hind legs started to stretch out, and Strife flinched as he heard the bones break. Then the forelegs lengthened, becoming slimmer. The muzzle shortened and the pelt began to recede.
After a few, obviously very painful, minutes a naked, trembling man lay face down in the clearing. Strife waited for the man to recover, he still hadn’t seen his face. The man eventually got to his feet, but he was facing away from Strife.
He walked over to a bush and pulled out some clothes, shakily dressing himself. Strife gasped, he didn’t need to see the man’s face, he’d know those clothes anywhere. He quickly transported himself back to Olympus.
@>-->---
Ares started out of his doze and looked down at himself, grimacing at the sticky wetness at his groin. He’d dreamt of the wolf again. He sat back in his chair as he recalled the dream, then suddenly his eyes widened.
Strife flashed into the room and Ares jumped.
“ Unc, I know who the wolf is,” he said excitedly.
“ So do I,” said Ares.
Strife deflated, “ You do? How?”
Ares blinked, “ I finally recognised the eyes.”
“ Wait, you recognised Joxer’s eyes?” Strife looked confused. “ I didn’t think you even knew the dude existed!”
Ares looked up at his nephew. “ You don’t know everything about me,” he said quietly. “ Joxer is,” he paused, “ Joxer is…” he stopped and shook his head.
Strife had a sudden moment of clarity and knelt in front of his uncle, putting his hands on his knees.
“ Unc? You love him, don’t you?”
Ares closed his eyes against unexpected tears and nodded.
“ Go to him,” Strife whispered. Ares opened his eyes and stared at his nephew, then he nodded again. Strife backed up and Ares vanished.
Strife stared at the empty chair and sighed. He hoped everything would turn out okay, his uncle deserved some happiness.
Xena looked up suddenly.
“ What is it?” Gabrielle asked.
“ Ares.”
Joxer jumped up to his feet as Ares walked into the camp. “ No! You mustn’t be here!” he cried out.
Ares looked startled. Out of nowhere, two wolves appeared and knocked him to the ground, as yet another energy blast flew past.
Joxer howled. Xena and Gabrielle stared from Ares to Joxer not knowing what to do. They backed away as Joxer dropped to the ground. He ripped his clothes off hurriedly as his body began to convulse. His arms and legs shortened and thickened. His nose and jaw lengthened and enlarged and he began to sprout fur.
In minutes, he was a wolf. He howled again, trotting over to his brothers. He leaned over Ares and licked the God’s face.
Then the three wolves turned and stared at Gabrielle. She backed away nervously, but they pounced on her, pushing her to the ground. Xena moved towards them, but Joxer growled at her. She stopped, uncertainly, but trusting Joxer not to hurt Gabrielle.
Ares stood up and stared at the wolves. “ It was Gabrielle?” he asked. Joxer shook his head. “ But it’s to do with Gabrielle?” Joxer snorted and nodded.
Ares walked over to them and knelt down, reaching out to stroke Joxer behind the ears. Joxer whined and nuzzled him. Xena and a terrified Gabrielle watched in stunned amazement.
Ares put his other hand on Gabrielle’s head and concentrated. “ Out!” he growled.
There was an ear piercing wail and an amorphous form appeared above Gabrielle. The wolves snarled at it. Ares lifted his hand and blasted it. Nothing happened. Hollow laughter resounded round the clearing and the strange, ghostly presence rose into the air.
Joxer nudged Ares. “ What?” Ares whispered. Joxer licked his neck. Ares gathered Joxer into his arms and the other two wolves stood either side of him. The wolves started to shimmer and Ares closed his eyes, absorbing the energy they were emitting.
A shaft of light shot from his chest and struck the presence. It howled in anger and pain, and exploded, covering them in a layer of clear sticky gel.
“ Oh gross!” Gabrielle spat gel form her mouth. Xena helped her to her feet and hugged her.
Joxer sneezed and shook his head. He turned and started to lick the gel from Ares’ face.
“ It’s okay, Joxer,” Ares pulled him back. He waved his hand and cleaned everyone up. Joxer lifted his forelegs and pushed Ares to the ground, licking his face again.
“ What’s going on?” Gabrielle asked staring at the strange pair, especially as Ares had started chuckling.
The other two wolves nudged their brother. He growled at them, but backed away from Ares. Ares sat up and reached out, pulling Joxer back over to him, winding his fingers in his thick fur. Joxer nuzzled into Ares’ neck.
“ I have no idea,” Ares finally answered her.
A flash lit up the clearing, and Zeus and Hera suddenly appeared.
“ Mother, Father?” Ares frowned. They smiled at him, and his frown deepened.
“ Well done, my son,” Hera said gently.
“ What’s going on?” Ares asked suspiciously.
Zeus sighed, “ We’ve known for some time that a demonic force would try to kill you, my boy. We believe it is part of Dahak’s plan to cause chaos. By removing War, all control on aggression would be gone.”
Zeus waved his hand and sat down on the chair that appeared. “ When the triplets were born, we knew it was nearly time. As you now know, they are shapeshifters, werewolves.”
Ares nodded, “ But why?”
“ Two reasons, it was easier for them to get around quickly, and watch you as wolves. But the main reason was, because, to beat the demon, you had to see through the outer form to what was inside. Only love can beat evil. Jett and Jace’s love for their brother allowed them to share their energy with him. And the love between you and Joxer, allowed him to share that energy with you. That was what beat the demon.”
He chuckled, “ Why the demon associated itself with Gabrielle, I can only guess. Probably because you spend so much of your time harassing Xena.”
Hera stepped forward and petted the wolves gently. “ You did well children. I give you the gift of instant and painless transformation. With clothes,” she added with a grin.
The wolves disappeared and in their place sat Jett, Jace, and in Ares’ lap, Joxer. They were all dressed in leather pants and silk shirts.
“ Well, that’s everything.” Zeus stood up and took Hera’s hand and they both vanished.
Jett got to his feet, stretching with relish. “ What a relief,” he said with a grin. He pulled Jace to his feet and hugged his brother. They turned to Joxer.
“ You’ll be able to stay human more often now, bro.”
Joxer snorted, “ Yeah well if you’d helped me out more often, I wouldn’t have had to be a wolf so much.”
“ Oh please,” Jett laughed. “ Like you’d have let us do any of the watching.”
Joxer flushed. Xena and Gabrielle watched in silence, still not completely sure what was going on.
“ So it was always you watching me?” Ares asked.
Joxer nodded, “ I spend so much time as a wolf, watching you, I find it hard to be human.”
“ That’s why you’re such a klutz!” Gabrielle exclaimed suddenly. Ares glared at her, but Joxer just nodded.
“ So all three of you were supposed to watch me?” Ares asked. Jett nodded. “ So why only Joxer?”
“ Duh, are you blind?” Jace laughed, “ He’s nuts about you!”
“ Jace!” Joxer hissed, his face going even redder.
Ares pulled him closer, “ Are you?”
Joxer looked up at him and nodded. “ I knew all three of us would be needed in the end, but I couldn’t bear not to be the one watching you. I love you.” He lowered his eyes and licked his lips nervously.
“ Joxer, even though I didn’t make the connection straight away, I recognised you. Nothing would have happened between us otherwise.” He gripped Joxer’s chin and made him look up, “ I’ve always loved you.”
Joxer looked startled, “ Really?”
“ No, I always have sex with wolves,” Ares chuckled.
There was a sudden gagging noise and they looked up at Gabrielle, who was pulling a face of utter disgust.
“ That is beyond revolting!” she exclaimed.
Ares glowered at her, “ I love him, the outside doesn’t matter,” he snapped.
“ Look, we’ve got to go,” Jett interrupted them. Ares let Joxer get up and stood up himself. Joxer hugged his brothers. “ See you around, bro.”
In the blink of an eye, the two brothers transformed into wolves. They bumped their heads against Joxer’s legs, then ran off. Joxer sighed and Ares turned him round, wrapping his arms round him.
“ Well my beautiful wolf.” Joxer smiled shyly. “ Will you come home with me?” Ares asked.
Joxer nodded. He glanced at Xena and Gabrielle, who still looked faintly nauseated. “ Bye, and thank you,” he said quietly.
Xena smiled at him, “ I’m sure we’ll see you often.”
Joxer nodded. He stared back up at Ares, licking his lips. Ares groaned and dipped his head for their first proper kiss. Joxer closed his eyes and wrapped his arms round Ares’ neck as he opened his mouth to his questing tongue.
When he opened his eyes again, they were in Ares’ temple, with a slightly startled looking Strife and Cupid staring at them.
Ares pulled away reluctantly and looked inquiringly at his son and nephew.
“ Did you want something?” he asked quietly.
“ Just to make sure you were okay,” said Cupid.
“ And you certainly are!” Strife smirked.
Cupid quickly grabbed his husband’s hand. “ We’ll leave you to it,” he said and flashed them out.
Ares smiled at Joxer and dragged him into the bedroom. He picked Joxer up and carried him onto the bed. He crawled over Joxer and lowered his head, reclaiming his lips.
Joxer moaned and pulled Ares down on top of him, revelling in the weight. He thrust his body up, rubbing himself against Ares, who moaned. They kissed again, tongues exploring each other’s mouths with a deep urgency.
Ares moaned, he’d loved Joxer for too long to be able to wait. He removed their clothes with a thought and turned Joxer over. Joxer got up on his hands and knees and whimpered as Ares’ slick fingers pressed inside him and his hot mouth clamped down on his neck, claiming him.
Ares removed his fingers gently and lined himself up with the opening to Joxer’s body. He pushed in slowly, groaning at the tightness. Joxer made growling noises in the back of his throat and pushed back hard, taking Ares’ full length in one go.
“ Joxer!” Ares exclaimed. He thrust hard into his lover, who growled again. Ares leaned down and bit the back of his neck and he howled. His teeth lengthened and sharpened and claws sprouted from his hands and feet, shredding the bedclothes.
Ares pounded into him and reached round to grasp his erection, stroking rhythmically. Joxer threw his head back and twisted it round awkwardly to stare at Ares. Ares looked momentarily startled at his partial transformation, then leaned forward and kissed him hard, flicking his tongue over the sharp teeth.
Joxer moaned and shuddered with his completion, filling Ares’ hand with his seed. It was Ares’ turn to howl as Joxer’s muscles clamped down around his cock and his orgasm ripped through his body and he pumped warm jets into Joxer’s body.
He collapsed on top of Joxer, who lowered them both to the bed. Ares stroked his hair, watching in fascination as Joxer became completely human again.
“ I love you,” he whispered.
Joxer smiled and sighed, “ Even the way I looked?” he asked.
Ares kissed his cheek and nodded. “ It’s what’s on the inside that counts.”
The End.