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For his son's sake, he's ignored his instincts and invited the wolf into his home. As the evening drags on, Gale realizes too late that he's not just hosting an old acquaintance-- he's handing over control, piece by piece, and watching everything slip from his grasp.", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Gale's childhood bully Case has returned to his life. For his son's sake, he's ignored his instincts and invited the wolf into his home. As the evening drags on, Gale realizes too late that he's not just hosting an old acquaintance-- he's handing over control, piece by piece, and watching everything slip from his grasp.", "writing": "[b]Chapter 2: The Devil at the Door[/b]\nLRR\n\nThe following Friday, Gale was in the middle of preparing the meatballs - some vegetarian, some with beef (which made him nauseous) - when the doorbell rang. He barely had time to wipe his hands before Blake came bounding down the stairs. By the time Gale reached the front entrance, Case was already ducking inside, wearing a Rockets jersey and slinging a worn duffle bag over one shoulder. He had a subtle but distinctive cologne on that reminded Gale of the scent of mountain air after a rainstorm.\n\n``Dad, look! Case has the same jersey I do!'' Blake beamed, gesturing excitedly at the wolf. Blake was wearing the jersey Gale had bought him for Christmas six months earlier. It was still a little too loose on him - he'd hoped he'd grow into the men's small, but he was still under four feet tall, and his antlers hadn't started to grow in at all. Blake's doctors insisted this was normal for a roe deer, but even Gale had been taller at his age - a fact his mother was quick to point out almost every time she saw Blake.\n\nTo get ready, Gale had taken a half day from work, but he was still wearing his work clothes: a plain blue button-down and gray slacks. He felt out of place, stiff in comparison to the relaxed, effortless way Case carried himself. He was still figuring out what to say, but Case spoke first.\n\n``Nice place,'' the wolf said, glancing around, warm smile barely concealing his more typical smirk. ``Didn't expect this much space.''\n\nThe implication - not bad for you, Gale - was subtle, but Gale still gritted his teeth. ``It's more than enough for Blake and I.''\n\n``Smells good,'' he said, not acknowledging Gale's comment as he set his bag down.\n\n``Yeah, spaghetti,'' Blake said. ``It's my favorite!''\n\nCase laughed. ``Mine too, actually. What do you know.''\n\nGale motioned toward the bag. ``What's all that?''\n\nThe wolf grinned, eyes glinting. ``Well, I figured I'd dig up some of my old shit - er, stuff - so I could do things proper. Been a while since I coached, but I'm gonna give Blake here the best damn lessons I can.''\n\nHe crouched down to unzip the bag, then pulled out an old football. The leather was faded and cracked from years of storage, but the logo was unmistakable.\n\n``Got this when I graduated from Rockfall. Whole team signed it. A couple of those guys went pro, so it's probably worth somethin', but it's just been sittin' in a box.''\n\nBlake's eyes went wide. ``Wow! Thanks, Case! I'll take real good care of it.''\n\nGale hesitated, forcing down his growing discomfort. ``That's... a bit much, don't you think?''\n\nCase waved a massive paw dismissively. ``Like I said - been sittin' in a box damn near fifteen years. Figured Blake here'll give it a proper home.''\n\n``Whoa, you played with Ragnarson!? He's starting for the Eagles this year!''\n\nCase grinned. ``Yep. Best Center I ever played with. I still talk to him sometimes. Maybe we can get tickets for the game next time he's in town. I think I saw they were coming in for a preseason game.''\n\nBlake was practically jumping. ``Oh, wow! Could we, Dad? Please?''\n\nGale hated football. Always had. But he wasn't about to let this asshole take his own son to a game without him.\n\n``Uh, sure, buddy. We'll see.''\n\nCase chuckled, clapping Gale on the back just hard enough to mean something. ``That's the spirit. Three tickets might be harder to swing, but I'm sure we can make it happen.''\n\nBlake grinned, practically vibrating with excitement.\n\nGale forced himself to move things along. ``Anyway, I should get back to dinner. Noodles are probably almost ready. Blake, why don't you take Case to the backyard and toss the ball around for a bit?''\n\n``Yeah! And you can show me how to throw like the pros, right, Case?''\n\nThe wolf winked. ``I was always a lineman, but I got a pretty good arm. Come on, buddy.''\n\nBlake dashed upstairs to swap the signed football for a newer one, and within moments, their voices were carrying from the backyard.\n\nGale tired to keep an eye on them as he cooked, but after almost burning his sauce, he had to focus on the meal. He strained the noodles, then pulled out a bottle of wine while letting the meatballs finish cooking. He didn't drink often, and this was nothing remarkable. \n\n``Case,'' he called. ``Do you want water or wine?''\n\nThe wolf's voice floated in from outside. ``Shit, no beer? Well, I guess I'll have some wine. I got somethin' special for us to share, but I figure that'll be later.''\n\n``I don't usually keep beer in the house.''\n\n``Nah, it's cool. Wine's good. Ericka used to drink a lot of it.''\n\nGale didn't respond. He focused on the food, listening for Blake's voice. He thought he could hear laughter, but he wasn't sure.\n\nThe timer dinged, and Gale poured the sauce over the noodles. Just as he was about to call them in, the back door swung open.\n\nBlake came in first, grinning ear to ear, arms held up in a triumphant pose. Case followed behind him, his usual easy smirk in place.\n\n``Have fun?'' Gale asked, glancing at the wolf.\n\n``Yeah, that was a blast. My kids take after their mom, so they don't like this sh - stuff. But this kid's got some real talent.''\n\nBlake beamed. ``Thanks, Case!''\n\n``Hey, just tellin' the truth, kiddo.'' Case ruffled Blake's headfur, then strode into the dining room and started dishing up an enormous plate of pasta. \n\n``Help yourself,'' Gale muttered. \n\n``Fuck, I'm starving,'' Case said, giving a theatrical sniff of the sauce. ``This smells great.''\n\nGale clenched his jaw, but kept his tone even. It wasn't as if the wolf was saying anything rude, so why did it make him feel so angry? ``It's not fancy or anything, butI hope you like it. Lyra taught me the sauce recipe back when we were still married.''\n\nThe words left his mouth before he could stop them. For a fraction of a second, he saw the flicker in Case's eyes - something smug, something knowing.\n\n``Lyra was a pretty lousy lay, but she sure as fuck knew her way around a kitchen.''\n\nGale glared at the wolf. ``Can you not talk about my son's mother like that?''\n\n``Daddy, what's a lay?'' Blake was piling an uncharacteristically large helping onto his plate as well, undoubtedly trying to match the wolf.\n\n``I think that's something we'll talk about later, buddy,'' Gale said as he sat down.\n\nThere was almost nothing left of the noodles, and only a single meatball by the time Gale plated his own dinner. One of the meat ones, of course. He poured himself a generous glass of wine to try to compensate, arguing with himself that he wasn't that hungry anyway, but his stomach said otherwise.\n\n``This is a helluva lot better than what I usually eat,'' Case said as he stabbed a meatball and swallowed it whole.\n\n``It's really good,'' Blake agreed.\n\nGale sighed, taking a bite. ``Thank you, both. I'm glad you're enjoying it.''\n\nThey ate in silence for a while, the sounds of forks scraping against plates the only noise between them, until Blake started peppering Case with questions about his business.\n\n``Well, I just came back to town, and haven't really had time to do much more than set up the workshop. The house is pretty nice. Three bedrooms, big yard, swimming pool. My kids live in the next town over.'' Case swirled his fork through the noodles before shoveling a massive bite into his mouth. ``Ericka and I never married, but she milks me for as much child support as she can get. Truth be told, I don't mind all that much. I like being a dad, and I want to make sure the twins get as much opportunity as possible. That's a big part of why I started this business.''\n\n``How's business so far?'' Gale asked, only politely curious.\n\n``Real good. People'll pay a premium for quality craftsmanship these days.''\n\n``I bet,'' Gale replied, finishing off the last of his food.\n\nA pause stretched between them as Blake and Case continued eating. Finally, the wolf leaned back and patted his stomach with satisfaction. Then, with the same effortless authority he always carried, he turned to Blake.\n\n``Hey kiddo, there's a USB stick in the side pocket of my bag. You know how to set that up with your TV?''\n\nHe nodded. ``Yeah, Daddy helped me watch cartoons with my friend.''\n\n``Perfect. Why don't you go get things set up? I wanted to talk to your dad for a bit.''\n\nBlake hesitated for half a second before shrugging. ``OK.''\n\nAfter he left, Gale let out a slow breath. ``So, what do you want?''\n\nCase took his time answering. He leaned back in his chair, reaching for the bottle of wine, and without asking, refilled his own glass. Swirling the deep red liquid lazily, he took a slow sip, watching Gale the whole time.\n\n``You don't seem too happy I'm here,'' the wolf finally said, smirking over the rim of his glass.\n\nGale folded his arms. ``Can you blame me? You do know my last name isn't actually Acorn, right?''\n\nThat should have landed as a jab, but Case just grinned.\n\n``Sorry, man. I just wanted to see if you had the balls to correct me.'' He didn't say the obvious conclusion to that.\n\nGale exhaled sharply through his nose. ``I was trying to ignore it.''\n\n``Yeah, that only works if you don't look like someone pissed in your Cheerios every time they get under your skin.'' Case chuckled, tapping his glass against the table. ``Look, it was just instinct, really. I swear I've gotten past all that bullying shit. And that high school stuff was a long time ago, anyway. You gotta let it go.''\n\nGale knew that was bullshit, but he wasn't sure which part offended him more - the fake apology or the fact that Case was probably right about him being easy to read.\n\n``You can't, can you?'' Case mused, swirling his wine again. ``That's kinda why I like you, y'know. You always felt everything so deeply. Makes you predictable. That's not an insult, by the way - it's actually kinda nice.''\n\nGale blinked. ``What?''\n\nCase tilted his head, still smirking, but there was something different now - something deliberate in the way he was letting Gale see beneath the mask. \n\n``Look at you,'' Case said, gesturing lazily with his glass. ``You're still pissed, still carrying every little thing I ever did to you like there's a fuckin' ledger you might need to pull out when the moment's right. You think I don't see that? You think I don't love that?'' He tipped his glass back and finished it off, watching Gale over the rim. ``Hell, if you weren't like this, I wouldn't be here.''\n\nA chill crawled up Gale's spine.\n\n``What the hell are you talking about?''\n\n``I'm talkin' about how simple you make things, Gale,'' Case said, tapping a claw absently against the stem of his glass. ``You want to believe in good people and bad people. In mistakes that should mean something. In fairness. But life ain't like that. Some people just are, and the ones who figure out how to move through the world without gettin' bogged down in all that sentimental shit? We win.''\n\nGale clenched his jaw, gripping his wineglass tighter. ``And you want me to admire that?''\n\nThe wolf gave a breathy laugh, then shook his head. ``Not admire, exactly. Understand. See the work that goes into it. I mean, c'mon - look at all this.'' He gestured broadly, indicating the house, the meal, the entire evening. ``This is art. You're probably the closest thing I've got to a mortal enemy - 'cept for maybe Ericka. And it took me about an hour to make it so you couldn't say no. You let me in. Your kid's practically worshiping me. Even your own mother could see I'm a I'm everything you'll never be.''\n\nHe leaned forward slightly, voice lowering just enough to feel intimate.\n\n``And you? You hate every second of it. You can barely look at me without an eye twitching. But you still made me this meal. You poured me this wine. And this ain't gonna be the last time.''\n\nGale stared at him, breath shallow.\n\nThe wolf tapped a claw lightly against his own chest. ``That's craftsmanship, man. It takes patience. Effort. And... sometimes it just feels good when someone notices.'' His grin widened, something dark glinting in his ice-blue eyes. \n\nThe wolf leaned back again, completely relaxed. ``I like you, man. Always have. Not because you're smart or sexy or whatever - you're kinda a dumbass - but you feel everything, and you let yourself get wrecked by it. You're fun.''\n\nGale felt his heart hammering against his ribs.\n\nHe wanted to scream at him to get out. He knew he should stand up, throw Case out of his house. Tell him to stay the fuck away. He needed to do something. \n\nBut he didn't move.\n\nCase belched loudly, then let out a satisfied sigh, stretching his arms behind his head. Then, as if nothing at all had happened, he reached for the bottle of wine and topped off Gale's glass, filling it almost to the brim.\n\n``There you go, bud,'' he said smoothly, setting the bottle down with a quiet clink.\n\nThen he stood, rolling his shoulders as he walked out of the kitchen.\n\nBlake's voice greeted him immediately, full of energy. ``Case! I saw you on the sidelines. Rockfall just won the coin toss!''\n\n``Oh yeah, squirt? This is one of my favorite games. Haven't watched it in years.'' \n\nGale sat there, staring at the full glass in front of him, feeling the walls close in. Blake's ceaseless praise and Case's easy laughter echoed in from the other room. \n\nGale picked up his glass and gulped the entire thing down.\n\n***\n\nThey watched the recorded game together, but Gale felt like an outsider in his own home. The living room wasn't big, and Blake and Case had already claimed the couch - one on each end, perfectly at ease.\n\nGale hesitated, debating whether to grab a chair from the dining room, when Blake beamed up at him. ``You can sit next to me, Daddy,'' he said, scooting closer to Case. The wolf didn't look up, but he lifted an arm over the back of the couch, casually inviting Blake to slide in next to him.\n\nGale's gut twisted. A dozen red flags screamed at him to say something, but a sliver of doubt whispered that he was overreacting. Blake was happier than ever. And what right did Gale have to take that from him?\n\nThe game played on, but Gale wasn't really watching. The voices of the commentators blurred into background noise beneath Blake and Case's easy conversation. Spaghetti night was supposed to end with a movie. Watching Case in his glory days was not the same thing. He hated whenever the wolf appeared on screen. Young. Massive. Effortlessly confident. Was this when he and Lyra had been fucking? \n\n``See that?'' Case gestured toward the screen. ``The offensive line is too slow off the snap. A good defense smells that weakness from a mile away.''\n\nBlake nodded, eager. ``Yeah! That's why they keep getting sacked, right?''\n\n``Exactly,'' Case said, ruffling the kid's hair. ``See? You're getting it already. Man, that QB was pissed at me by the time we got to halftime.''\n\nHe draped his arm around Blake's shoulder, pulling him in slightly. ``You and your dad ever toss a ball around?''\n\nBlake hesitated. ``Not really. We used to a little when I was younger, but...'' His voice trailed off, and for a split second, his eyes flicked toward Gale, then quickly back to Case. ``I mean, not much lately.''\n\nCase smirked but didn't look at Gale. ``That so? Shame. Good hands are built early. But hey, maybe we can work on that some more next time..''\n\nBlake brightened instantly. ``Really? That'd be awesome!''\n\nGale let out a slow breath. The tension in his chest coiled tighter. If he said something, if he snapped, Case would win. Again.\n\nMore plays. More commentary. More conversation Gale was excluded from.\n\nAt some point, Case stretched and rolled his shoulders with a satisfied grunt. ``Hey, Gale, why don't you fix me a drink or something? Whiskey, if you've got it.'' He gave Gale an easy grin, like it was just a casual request between friends.\n\nGale hesitated for a moment before sighing and pushing himself up from the couch. ``Yeah, sure.''\n\nIn the kitchen, he opened the liquor cabinet, his fingers trailing over bottles that had mostly belonged to Lyra. Dust clung to their necks, the faded labels a reminder of a different life. He found a bottle of bourbon, only and pulled down a glass. Pouring it felt oddly performative, like he was playing bartender in his own home. He added a splash of water, stirring absently before heading back to the living room.\n\nAs he stepped through the doorway, he felt like he was walking in on something private. Blake sat stiffly, his hands clasped together, like he'd just been caught doing something he shouldn't. Case, on the other hand, was the picture of ease, reclining back with a knowing smile. \n\n``Thanks, buddy,'' Case said, taking the glass and draining it. ``Ah, that's good shit. Thanks.''\n\nGale let his head tip back against the couch. The warm glow of the TV flickered across the walls. The wine softened the edges of his thoughts, leaving everything slow, unfocused. Blake was still talking. Case was still talking. The game droned on.\n\nHe should tell Blake it was bedtime. It was getting late. But the thought was too heavy, too far away.\n\n``Whoa! Did you see that?''\n\n``Damn good footwork,'' Case said ``That's the kind of quickness you gotta have at the next level.''\n\nGale barely heard them. The room was too warm, thick with the scent of old upholstery and Case's cologne. His limbs felt heavy. His eyes drooped.\n\nThe next time he blinked, Case was whispering something into Blake's ear. Blake laughed, then nodded, glancing toward Gale.\n\nCase nudged him gently, his voice light. ``Hey, bud, looks like your dad's about to crash.''\n\nThe deer shook his head, forcing himself upright. ``I'm fine.'' It sounded unconvincing even to him.\n\n``It's all right, fourth quarter's about to begin. I know it's not your thing,'' Case said. ``We'll keep it down so you can nap a bit.''\n\nBlake smiled warmly at his father, as if thankful his new friend was so kind. ``Yeah. Just rest, Daddy,'' he said softly. ``You've had a long day.''\n\nCase reached for the remote, flicking the volume down a couple notches, then settled back as he and Blake resumed their quiet conversation. The relative quiet was deafening, but the wine and his own exhaustion soon caught up with him.\n\nReluctantly, Gale closed his eyes.\n\n***\n\nGale wasn't sure how much time had passed when he woke up, but the TV was off, the house was silent, and the lights were out. A glance at the clock told him it was just after 2 AM.\n\nSomething felt wrong.\n\nHe sat up, rubbing his eyes, trying to shake the heaviness from his limbs. The blanket he'd had over himself was gone, neatly folded over the arm of the couch. A dim light seeped in from the kitchen, the only glow in the otherwise pitch-dark house. Gale's stomach twisted. It had been off earlier - he was sure of it.\n\n``Blake?'' he called, his voice hoarse.\n\nNo answer.\n\nHe swallowed hard, an unease creeping in. ``Blake?'' he called louder, his voice cutting through the silence.\n\nStill nothing.\n\nThe air felt too still, too controlled, like the house was holding its breath.\n\nGale pushed himself to his feet, legs unsteady beneath him, and stumbled toward the staircase, gripping the banister tight. His pulse pounded in his ears. He climbed the steps two at a time, his breath coming faster, his unease threatening to choke him.\n\nBlake's door was open. Darkness stretched inside. \n\nThe bed was empty. The covers had been pulled back, but not in a way that suggested sleep - more like someone had left in a hurry. The football Case had given him sat abandoned near the pillow, untouched. His backpack was zipped and upright against the wall, like it hadn't been moved since yesterday.\n\nThere was no sign Blake had even been here tonight.\n\nGale's stomach wrenched. He forced his feet to move, heading down the hallway. The bathroom door was ajar. He nudged it open.\n\nEmpty.\n\nThe scent of toothpaste and mouthwash lingered in the air, but it was overpowered by something else - Case's cologne.\n\nGale's fingers curled into a fist. It was too strong, too fresh, like the wolf had stood here only minutes ago.\n\nHis breathing grew shallow as he turned toward his office door. The knob was still locked, undisturbed, but his hand hovered over it for a moment anyway, as if expecting it to turn in his grip.\n\nGale swallowed against the growing panic. His gaze drifted down the hallway, to the last door at the end - his bedroom. The door was shut, but a thin sliver of dim light seeped from the bottom.\n\nThen, just barely, he saw it.\n\nMovement. A shifting shadow passing underneath the door.\n\nHis breath caught in his throat. His feet felt rooted to the floor, the weight of dread pressing down on him.\n\nBlake was in there.\n\nAnd he wasn't alone.\n\nHe twisted the doorknob, dreading what he'd see on the other side. Mind flashing with images like that first night after seeing Case again.\n\nBlake and Case were both on the bed. The young deer had changed into pajamas and had apparently been tucked into the king sized bed. He seemed comically small in it, especially next to Case. The wolf was laying next to his son, but over the comforter, a comically thin barrier between the two of them. One of Case's arms was curled around the 9-year-old who seemed to be blissfully sleeping. His other hand held a phone.\n\nCase was also almost completely nude. Only a pair of tight boxer briefs covered his groin. It was almost innocent looking. Except Case had a very large erection straining the front of the fabric, the front slightly damp. The wolf glanced up with a knowing grin. ``Ah, there you are. Was starting to think you'd sleep all night.'' He kept his voice gentle, but the words were not.\n\nGale took a step back, his body suddenly weak.\n\n``No...''\n\n``No?'' Case replied, sounding genuinely surprised. He looked down at the deer lying beside him. ``Blakey here was going to tuck himself in, but I offered to keep him company until you were done. I didn't have any peejays, but it's just us guys. Right, bud?''\n\nHe nudged the kid gently, who murmured something unintelligible in his sleep and turned onto his side, facing away from the wolf.\n\n``That's probably for the best,'' Case continued. With surprising grace considering his size, Case gently eased away from Blake, then stood up. ``Let's step out here, I wanna show you something.''\n\nHe gestured toward the doorway, but Gale was rooted in place.\n\n``N... No,'' Gale managed, his voice strangled. He wanted to yell, to scream, but Blake was right there, and everything about the situation was surreal, dreamlike.\n\nCase tilted his head, his expression one of simple amusement. ``You don't want to wake your boy up, do you? Never seen a tyke crash so hard.'' The wolf pocketed his phone, then pushed his way passed Gale.\n\nReluctantly, Gale followed, but his feet were still heavy. He stopped long enough to close the door to his bedroom, making sure it clicked closed before following Case into Blake's bedroom. The wolf stood in the middle of the smaller bedroom, as if taking in the posters and toys and trophies. He was still in his underwear. In the light, his bare torso looked almost like a sculpture. Perfectly formed muscle wrapped around his chest, his shoulders, his abdomen. He was so much bigger than Gale, so much more intimidating.\n\n``What are you doing?'' Gale hissed.\n\n``Oh, nothing. Just tryin' ta figure out where to do this. I guess here's as good a place as any. Shut the door.''\n\n``Case - ''\n\n``Fine, leave it open,'' he said as he stepped forward and grabbed the deer by the antlers. There was a short struggle before the much smaller Gale was forced onto his knees, head craned back by the large, strong grip.\n\n``Case,'' Gale tried to hiss again, but the word was strained. ``S-Stop!''\n\n``You remember back when we were kids, how you used to stare at my dick all the time? Maybe you didn't even notice. But I did. Even when we were little. That summer we took swimming lessons? You always watched me every fuckin' time. You had this look. This hungry look. Like you were obsessed with it. It grossed me out then. I didn't want to be some fag's jerk fantasy, you know?''\n\n``W-what? But, I'm not--''\n\nHe pulled harder, causing the deer to let out a soft yelp. ``Oh, please. You think squirting a little cum into your ex's sloppy cunt means anything? We both know you've wanted this for a long time. Stop fightin' it. Unless you want me to go teach your kid a few more tricks instead. Bet he'd look real good with a cock--''\n\nGale grunted as he tried to twist his antler's free, but he was no match for the much larger canid.\n\n``--down his throat. Yeah. Bet you'd love that, too.''\n\nGale's heart sank and he stopped fighting for a moment. That was all it took for his face to be shoved right up against the bulge in the wolf's underwear.\n\n``There ya go, Acorn. That wasn't so bad, was it?'' He said, releasing his grip on the deer's antlers.\n\nThe smell was thick and musky and the fabric was damp with pre. The wolf's musk was almost exactly how he'd imagined it. Strong with a slight spicy note. It made him feel light headed.\n\n``Take it out.''\n\n``C-case...''\n\n``Or I'll walk into that room and lock the door.''\n\nReluctantly, Gale reached up with shaky hands and pulled down the canine's underwear, exposing his thick, throbbing cock. It was an angry red color that radiated heat. The smell was stronger than ever. Gale's mouth went dry at the sight of it. Yes, he'd seen it before. The image was burned into his memory. But he'd never been so close. And he'd never seen it hard. Not fully. God. Had Lyra really taken this?\n\nCase chuckled as he gripped Gale's muzzle and cock together sliding the latter over the former in slick movements that left the deer's sinuses saturated with the scent of musk. ``Back then, I had things all wrong. I thought the homos drooling after my cock were losers who just weren't man enough to get pussy. But now I know better. Cause you don't have to be a faggot to get off with another dude. Sometimes a hole is just a hole. And fuck me if it ain't a turn on, having a guy on his knees for me. Begging for my dick. Look at you, Acorn. You want this so bad.''\n\nGale felt his mouth begin to water. He was breathing hard through his nose. Case was leaking enough precum that some moistened his lips. He could taste him now. It was all he could taste. All he could smell. All he could think about. And he knew it was true. He wanted this. Some part of him had always wanted this.\n\nA forgotten memory surfaced, the memory of humid, chlorine-laden air and the soft laughter and conversations of other kids around him. Of Case's lean form slipping out of his swim trunks. Of his as yet immature sheath bobbing, plump and half-hard even at that age, as the wolf strode across the locker room towards the toilets. Of Gale mindlessly following him to stand at the next urinal. Of the hot, musky scent that filled the space between them.\n\nCase had glanced over, his brow wrinkling in disgust, but his eyes had flicked downward, too, and his nostrils had flared.\n\n``Gross,'' the wolf had said, zipping himself up and leaving without a word. That had been the beginning of their falling out.\n\nNow... here it was. The thing that had fascinated him so much as a child. Now in its full glory. Unfurled like a flag. Red like a warning. Hot and throbbing and inches from his face. The wolf eased back, sliding his cock off the bridge of his muzzle, its tip pointed at him like an arrow.\n\n``C-Case,'' he gasped, ``Please... don't...''\n\nThe wolf chuckled. ``Tell me you don't want it.''\n\nGale opened his mouth, but no words came. He didn't. But he did. His pulse was pounding, and his own pants felt impossibly tight.\n\n``Didn't think so. Open wide, Lil' Acorn.''\n\nCase's fingers curled around the base of his cock, holding it steady. And Gale obeyed. He opened his mouth, tongue extending, and the wolf's hot, slick tip touched him. It slid over his tongue, leaving a trail of pre that tingled his taste buds, his nose filling with a new, even stronger aroma that made him shiver. Behind the wolf, a poster of a cartoon puppy on the wall smiled.\n\n``Mmm,'' Case moaned, ``There's somethin' special about deer tongues. Soft as hell. Buttery smooth.''\n\nThe wolf's words barely registered. He was already lost, drunk on the intoxicating mix of musk and pre. He swallowed and shivered at the way the liquid slipped down his throat. He was still slightly buzzed from the wine, but now his body was burning up, the heat of arousal spreading through him.\n\nCase's grip tightened. His other hand found the back of Gale's head, gripping his antlers again. ``Come on, Acorn. Let's see if you can suck dick better than your wife did.''\n\nThe insult would have been enough to send him reeling under normal circumstances, but the haze of need had already settled over him. The wolf pushed his hips forward and Gale gagged, unprepared for the thickness and the way it pushed against his throat. He tried to pull back, but Case held him firmly in place.\n\n``Breathe through your nose,'' he grunted. ``Come on, take it. Relax. Take it.''\n\nThe wolf's voice was low, but insistent, and Gale wanted to obey. He hated himself. He hated that this was happening. This was rape, wasn't it? The shame was unbearable. And yet... and yet, his own cock was so hard, and the thick length stretching his muzzle felt so right, like it belonged there.\n\nCase started rocking his hips, his knot tapping at Gale's lips as his cock slid in and out. ``Look at you. Fuck. Imagine what Lyra would say if she knew you were doing this. Heh, probably give you a few tips. Or maybe eat my ass while I used you. She was a freak like that.''\n\nShe'd never done anything like that for him, but none of that mattered right then. \n\nGale's eyes began to water and his vision blurred. Case's pace was picking up and he was thrusting harder, forcing his cock deeper, making it difficult for Gale to catch his breath. The scent was making him dizzy. His own cock was aching with need. His slacks were soaked through. He wanted so much to touch himself, but he didn't dare. Not without the wolf's permission.\n\n``Yeah. Look at you,'' he pulled back and smacked him across the face with his cock. It felt like a club. ``Tell me you love my cock.''\n\n``I... I...'' Gale swallowed, trying to regain his bearings. ``Case, please...''\n\n``Tell me, Acorn. Tell me how much you love my cock. Say it. Say it and I'll let you have it. I'm just about to pop.''\n\nGale stared, transfixed, at the glistening shaft. A thick vein pulsed along its underside, throbbing with each beat of the wolf's heart.\n\n``I... I love your cock,'' he murmured.\n\n``Fuck yeah, you do,'' the wolf growled, pressing his tip against Gale's tongue again. The deer tried to push his muzzle forward, but Case tightened his grip and snarled a warning. ``Nah-ah, not yet, Acorn. Say it again.''\n\nGale swallowed, his throat clicking, and tried to ignore the ache between his legs. ``I love your cock,'' he breathed.\n\nCase smirked and his cock throbbed in response. Encouraged, Gale said it again. ``I love your cock, Case. Please, I want it.''\n\n``Say `Please give me your cock.'''\n\n``P-please... please, give me your cock, Case. I want to make you feel good.''\n\n``Good boy,'' the wolf purred, his ears flicking. His voice was soft and gentle. More precum spilled over his tongue, but Gale didn't try to move. ``I should have done this a long time ago. I can smell your little acorn leaking. You're gonna cum too, aren't you.'' It wasn't a question.\n\nGale whimpered and nodded. He was. He'd never been so aroused before. Not since he was a teenager at least.\n\n``You have my permission,'' Case said. ``You can shoot your little load while you drink my cum, but not before. And not after. Understand?''\n\n``Yes,'' Gale gasped, his hips twitching as they tried to buck and relieve the building tension.\n\nCase pulled back until his cock head was between Gale's lips. The deer's mouth was open and panting, his breath hot against the wolf's tip. ``Then tell me what you want one more time. Use that big nerd brain and make me believe it.''\n\nGale swallowed. The wolf's scent was overwhelming, intoxicating. He couldn't think. ``Please, Case. Please give me your cock. Please... I want to feel your knot throbbing. I want to taste your cum. I want to know what Lyra felt when you fucked her. I want to make you feel good so I can be useful for once. Please. Let me have it.''\n\n``Heh. Good enough, Acorn. But I don't want you to taste it. I want you to drink it. Got it? Every drop. And look me in the eyes while you do it.''\n\nGale whimpered and nodded and his cock ached.\n\n``Open wide.''\n\nCase thrust hard, and the thick, battering ram of his cock slammed into Gale's throat. He gagged, choking, but the wolf didn't stop. The fucking that ensued was brutal. Gale had asked to be used, and that was exactly what was happening. He wasn't a person. He wasn't a man. He was just a hole to be used by this wolf he'd hated and loved for his entire life. It was so pathetic. It was so weak. And... and he was going to cum too early. Whimpering he wriggled his tongue against the invading organ and elicited a new, more exciting grunt from Case.\n\n``Mmf, fuck yeah, bitch. Here. It fuckin' comes. Mmmmnggggrrr.''\n\nHis thrusts picked up speed, his knot knocking against the deer's lips, bruising them. His jaw was strained to the point of cramping. Case kept brushing his teeth, but the wolf didn't seem to care. Gale's eyes grew wide as he realized what was about to happen and tears streamed from his eyes. The thick, meaty sound of Case's balls slapping against his chin barely registered, like an echo of something happening far away. And then he slammed deep into Gale's throat. Deeper than he thought possible, and Gale accepted it. Fighting against his body's instinct to reject the massive intrusion, he held his breath and relaxed his jaw, feeling the bulge of the wolf's knot pressing tightly against him. It was hot and pulsating. It felt like it would burn him. But that was nothing compared to the fire that was spreading down his throat. He realized it was cum. The wolf was cumming.\n\nBrown eyes locked on to Case's, and Gale's whole body was wracked by a powerful orgasm. He had to fight that too. Even as his cock twitched and his slacks were filled with semen, he concentrated on swallowing the wolf's cum. Gulp after deafening gulp was all he could hear save for his pounding heartbeat and Case's ragged breathing.\n\nFinally, after what might have been a handful of seconds or several long minutes, Case released the grip he had on Gale's antlers and the poor, exhausted, barely conscious deer doubled over, coughing and choking as a mix of semen and wine spilled from his lips and onto the floor. Case chuckled over him. ``Well shit, hope that doesn't stain the carpet.''\n\nGale wiped his mouth on his sleeve, unable to look up. Unable to speak.\n\n``Thanks, Lil' Acorn. Always knew you were a cocksucker.''\n\n``G-get out,'' Gale managed.\n\nCase shrugged as he wiped his cock clean on Blake's comforter. ``Sure, bud. I got what I wanted. Does that mean I'm not invited to `spaghetti night' next week?''\n\n``Case... you need to leave. I'm not asking.''\n\n``Alright, alright, fine. I'll go. Just need to get my clothes.''\n\n``I'll go.''\n\n``What, don't want me to say good night to your kid? Or are you just afraid he'll smell the shreds of his dad's dignity on my dick.''\n\n``Just stay here,'' Gale says.\n\nWith effort, he got back up and made his way to the master bedroom. Blake was still sleeping soundly. He seemed so blissfully unaware. So perfect. Such a contrast to what he'd just done in his own son's room. Quietly, he looked around until he found Case's clothes in a rumpled pile near the foot of the bed. He grabbed them, turned and found Case standing in the hallway, eyes locked on Blake.\n\nInstinctively, Gale put himself between the wolf and the boy, quickly pushing the wolf back and into the hallway, then slamming the clothes into his thick chest. ``Get dressed. Get out.''\n\nCase stared down at Gale with that cold, calculating gaze. Finally, he sighed, then put his jeans back on. He didn't even bother to button the fly or put on his jersey before he was heading down the stairs. At the front door he paused, then looked back up to Gale with his signature grin. ``You have my number if you get thirsty. Can't promise to pick up, but you never know. You might get lucky.''\n\n``Get out!''\n\n``I'm going, I'm going,'' the wolf said, turning his attention to the door. It took a bit of finagling to get the lock undone, but he finally managed. When the door swung open, Gale could smell the fresh early morning air and the dew on the grass.\n\n``See ya, Acorn.''\n\nGale's ears twitched at the sound of the door closing. Immediately, he rushed down the stairs, turning the deadbolt and other locks as quickly as his shaking hands could manage. As soon as the last one was secured, he fell back against the door and slid down to the floor. He wasn't sure how long he sat there, head buried in his hands. The taste of Case's cum mixed with cheap wine still lingering on the back of his throat. His own shame cooling and sticking to his fur.\n\n``Daddy?''\n\nGale's heart shattered as he looked up. There, at the top of the stairs, was Blake in his rocketship pajamas. His eyes bleary with sleep, but concern etched clearly onto his muzzle.\n\nHe looked up and swallowed. ``Yeah, sweetheart? What's wrong?''\n\n``What are you doing?''\n\nHe opened his mouth and shut it. ``I was... I was just...'' He shook his head. ``Just thought I heard something and was making sure the door was locked.''\n\nBlake seemed confused. He stood there for several long seconds. ``Were you crying?''\n\nHe forced a smile, though his bruised lips were stiff. ``Oh, no, honey. Just have a bit of a headache.'' He stood, leaning against the door to aid the movement. ``Come on, let's go back to bed.''\n\nBlake made his way to his own bed, and Gale took a brief, hot shower to wash some of the memory of what he'd done away. It was only after, as he checked on his son, that he remembered the pink stain he'd left on the carpet. Then he recalled Case wiping himself on Blake's blanket, like he'd been marking it, and saw that the young deer was now sleeping with his head just a few inches from the stain. The sudden nausea that hit him caused him to stagger to the bathroom. He barely made it in time to retch violently into the toilet. The worst part wasn't the vomiting or the fact that he had to taste Case's cum all over again. It was that he already wanted more.\n\n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "Chapter 2: The Devil at the Door
LRR

The following Friday, Gale was in the middle of preparing the meatballs - some vegetarian, some with beef (which made him nauseous) - when the doorbell rang. He barely had time to wipe his hands before Blake came bounding down the stairs. By the time Gale reached the front entrance, Case was already ducking inside, wearing a Rockets jersey and slinging a worn duffle bag over one shoulder. He had a subtle but distinctive cologne on that reminded Gale of the scent of mountain air after a rainstorm.

``Dad, look! Case has the same jersey I do!'' Blake beamed, gesturing excitedly at the wolf. Blake was wearing the jersey Gale had bought him for Christmas six months earlier. It was still a little too loose on him - he'd hoped he'd grow into the men's small, but he was still under four feet tall, and his antlers hadn't started to grow in at all. Blake's doctors insisted this was normal for a roe deer, but even Gale had been taller at his age - a fact his mother was quick to point out almost every time she saw Blake.

To get ready, Gale had taken a half day from work, but he was still wearing his work clothes: a plain blue button-down and gray slacks. He felt out of place, stiff in comparison to the relaxed, effortless way Case carried himself. He was still figuring out what to say, but Case spoke first.

``Nice place,'' the wolf said, glancing around, warm smile barely concealing his more typical smirk. ``Didn't expect this much space.''

The implication - not bad for you, Gale - was subtle, but Gale still gritted his teeth. ``It's more than enough for Blake and I.''

``Smells good,'' he said, not acknowledging Gale's comment as he set his bag down.

``Yeah, spaghetti,'' Blake said. ``It's my favorite!''

Case laughed. ``Mine too, actually. What do you know.''

Gale motioned toward the bag. ``What's all that?''

The wolf grinned, eyes glinting. ``Well, I figured I'd dig up some of my old shit - er, stuff - so I could do things proper. Been a while since I coached, but I'm gonna give Blake here the best damn lessons I can.''

He crouched down to unzip the bag, then pulled out an old football. The leather was faded and cracked from years of storage, but the logo was unmistakable.

``Got this when I graduated from Rockfall. Whole team signed it. A couple of those guys went pro, so it's probably worth somethin', but it's just been sittin' in a box.''

Blake's eyes went wide. ``Wow! Thanks, Case! I'll take real good care of it.''

Gale hesitated, forcing down his growing discomfort. ``That's... a bit much, don't you think?''

Case waved a massive paw dismissively. ``Like I said - been sittin' in a box damn near fifteen years. Figured Blake here'll give it a proper home.''

``Whoa, you played with Ragnarson!? He's starting for the Eagles this year!''

Case grinned. ``Yep. Best Center I ever played with. I still talk to him sometimes. Maybe we can get tickets for the game next time he's in town. I think I saw they were coming in for a preseason game.''

Blake was practically jumping. ``Oh, wow! Could we, Dad? Please?''

Gale hated football. Always had. But he wasn't about to let this asshole take his own son to a game without him.

``Uh, sure, buddy. We'll see.''

Case chuckled, clapping Gale on the back just hard enough to mean something. ``That's the spirit. Three tickets might be harder to swing, but I'm sure we can make it happen.''

Blake grinned, practically vibrating with excitement.

Gale forced himself to move things along. ``Anyway, I should get back to dinner. Noodles are probably almost ready. Blake, why don't you take Case to the backyard and toss the ball around for a bit?''

``Yeah! And you can show me how to throw like the pros, right, Case?''

The wolf winked. ``I was always a lineman, but I got a pretty good arm. Come on, buddy.''

Blake dashed upstairs to swap the signed football for a newer one, and within moments, their voices were carrying from the backyard.

Gale tired to keep an eye on them as he cooked, but after almost burning his sauce, he had to focus on the meal. He strained the noodles, then pulled out a bottle of wine while letting the meatballs finish cooking. He didn't drink often, and this was nothing remarkable.

``Case,'' he called. ``Do you want water or wine?''

The wolf's voice floated in from outside. ``Shit, no beer? Well, I guess I'll have some wine. I got somethin' special for us to share, but I figure that'll be later.''

``I don't usually keep beer in the house.''

``Nah, it's cool. Wine's good. Ericka used to drink a lot of it.''

Gale didn't respond. He focused on the food, listening for Blake's voice. He thought he could hear laughter, but he wasn't sure.

The timer dinged, and Gale poured the sauce over the noodles. Just as he was about to call them in, the back door swung open.

Blake came in first, grinning ear to ear, arms held up in a triumphant pose. Case followed behind him, his usual easy smirk in place.

``Have fun?'' Gale asked, glancing at the wolf.

``Yeah, that was a blast. My kids take after their mom, so they don't like this sh - stuff. But this kid's got some real talent.''

Blake beamed. ``Thanks, Case!''

``Hey, just tellin' the truth, kiddo.'' Case ruffled Blake's headfur, then strode into the dining room and started dishing up an enormous plate of pasta.

``Help yourself,'' Gale muttered.

``Fuck, I'm starving,'' Case said, giving a theatrical sniff of the sauce. ``This smells great.''

Gale clenched his jaw, but kept his tone even. It wasn't as if the wolf was saying anything rude, so why did it make him feel so angry? ``It's not fancy or anything, butI hope you like it. Lyra taught me the sauce recipe back when we were still married.''

The words left his mouth before he could stop them. For a fraction of a second, he saw the flicker in Case's eyes - something smug, something knowing.

``Lyra was a pretty lousy lay, but she sure as fuck knew her way around a kitchen.''

Gale glared at the wolf. ``Can you not talk about my son's mother like that?''

``Daddy, what's a lay?'' Blake was piling an uncharacteristically large helping onto his plate as well, undoubtedly trying to match the wolf.

``I think that's something we'll talk about later, buddy,'' Gale said as he sat down.

There was almost nothing left of the noodles, and only a single meatball by the time Gale plated his own dinner. One of the meat ones, of course. He poured himself a generous glass of wine to try to compensate, arguing with himself that he wasn't that hungry anyway, but his stomach said otherwise.

``This is a helluva lot better than what I usually eat,'' Case said as he stabbed a meatball and swallowed it whole.

``It's really good,'' Blake agreed.

Gale sighed, taking a bite. ``Thank you, both. I'm glad you're enjoying it.''

They ate in silence for a while, the sounds of forks scraping against plates the only noise between them, until Blake started peppering Case with questions about his business.

``Well, I just came back to town, and haven't really had time to do much more than set up the workshop. The house is pretty nice. Three bedrooms, big yard, swimming pool. My kids live in the next town over.'' Case swirled his fork through the noodles before shoveling a massive bite into his mouth. ``Ericka and I never married, but she milks me for as much child support as she can get. Truth be told, I don't mind all that much. I like being a dad, and I want to make sure the twins get as much opportunity as possible. That's a big part of why I started this business.''

``How's business so far?'' Gale asked, only politely curious.

``Real good. People'll pay a premium for quality craftsmanship these days.''

``I bet,'' Gale replied, finishing off the last of his food.

A pause stretched between them as Blake and Case continued eating. Finally, the wolf leaned back and patted his stomach with satisfaction. Then, with the same effortless authority he always carried, he turned to Blake.

``Hey kiddo, there's a USB stick in the side pocket of my bag. You know how to set that up with your TV?''

He nodded. ``Yeah, Daddy helped me watch cartoons with my friend.''

``Perfect. Why don't you go get things set up? I wanted to talk to your dad for a bit.''

Blake hesitated for half a second before shrugging. ``OK.''

After he left, Gale let out a slow breath. ``So, what do you want?''

Case took his time answering. He leaned back in his chair, reaching for the bottle of wine, and without asking, refilled his own glass. Swirling the deep red liquid lazily, he took a slow sip, watching Gale the whole time.

``You don't seem too happy I'm here,'' the wolf finally said, smirking over the rim of his glass.

Gale folded his arms. ``Can you blame me? You do know my last name isn't actually Acorn, right?''

That should have landed as a jab, but Case just grinned.

``Sorry, man. I just wanted to see if you had the balls to correct me.'' He didn't say the obvious conclusion to that.

Gale exhaled sharply through his nose. ``I was trying to ignore it.''

``Yeah, that only works if you don't look like someone pissed in your Cheerios every time they get under your skin.'' Case chuckled, tapping his glass against the table. ``Look, it was just instinct, really. I swear I've gotten past all that bullying shit. And that high school stuff was a long time ago, anyway. You gotta let it go.''

Gale knew that was bullshit, but he wasn't sure which part offended him more - the fake apology or the fact that Case was probably right about him being easy to read.

``You can't, can you?'' Case mused, swirling his wine again. ``That's kinda why I like you, y'know. You always felt everything so deeply. Makes you predictable. That's not an insult, by the way - it's actually kinda nice.''

Gale blinked. ``What?''

Case tilted his head, still smirking, but there was something different now - something deliberate in the way he was letting Gale see beneath the mask.

``Look at you,'' Case said, gesturing lazily with his glass. ``You're still pissed, still carrying every little thing I ever did to you like there's a fuckin' ledger you might need to pull out when the moment's right. You think I don't see that? You think I don't love that?'' He tipped his glass back and finished it off, watching Gale over the rim. ``Hell, if you weren't like this, I wouldn't be here.''

A chill crawled up Gale's spine.

``What the hell are you talking about?''

``I'm talkin' about how simple you make things, Gale,'' Case said, tapping a claw absently against the stem of his glass. ``You want to believe in good people and bad people. In mistakes that should mean something. In fairness. But life ain't like that. Some people just are, and the ones who figure out how to move through the world without gettin' bogged down in all that sentimental shit? We win.''

Gale clenched his jaw, gripping his wineglass tighter. ``And you want me to admire that?''

The wolf gave a breathy laugh, then shook his head. ``Not admire, exactly. Understand. See the work that goes into it. I mean, c'mon - look at all this.'' He gestured broadly, indicating the house, the meal, the entire evening. ``This is art. You're probably the closest thing I've got to a mortal enemy - 'cept for maybe Ericka. And it took me about an hour to make it so you couldn't say no. You let me in. Your kid's practically worshiping me. Even your own mother could see I'm a I'm everything you'll never be.''

He leaned forward slightly, voice lowering just enough to feel intimate.

``And you? You hate every second of it. You can barely look at me without an eye twitching. But you still made me this meal. You poured me this wine. And this ain't gonna be the last time.''

Gale stared at him, breath shallow.

The wolf tapped a claw lightly against his own chest. ``That's craftsmanship, man. It takes patience. Effort. And... sometimes it just feels good when someone notices.'' His grin widened, something dark glinting in his ice-blue eyes.

The wolf leaned back again, completely relaxed. ``I like you, man. Always have. Not because you're smart or sexy or whatever - you're kinda a dumbass - but you feel everything, and you let yourself get wrecked by it. You're fun.''

Gale felt his heart hammering against his ribs.

He wanted to scream at him to get out. He knew he should stand up, throw Case out of his house. Tell him to stay the fuck away. He needed to do something.

But he didn't move.

Case belched loudly, then let out a satisfied sigh, stretching his arms behind his head. Then, as if nothing at all had happened, he reached for the bottle of wine and topped off Gale's glass, filling it almost to the brim.

``There you go, bud,'' he said smoothly, setting the bottle down with a quiet clink.

Then he stood, rolling his shoulders as he walked out of the kitchen.

Blake's voice greeted him immediately, full of energy. ``Case! I saw you on the sidelines. Rockfall just won the coin toss!''

``Oh yeah, squirt? This is one of my favorite games. Haven't watched it in years.''

Gale sat there, staring at the full glass in front of him, feeling the walls close in. Blake's ceaseless praise and Case's easy laughter echoed in from the other room.

Gale picked up his glass and gulped the entire thing down.

***

They watched the recorded game together, but Gale felt like an outsider in his own home. The living room wasn't big, and Blake and Case had already claimed the couch - one on each end, perfectly at ease.

Gale hesitated, debating whether to grab a chair from the dining room, when Blake beamed up at him. ``You can sit next to me, Daddy,'' he said, scooting closer to Case. The wolf didn't look up, but he lifted an arm over the back of the couch, casually inviting Blake to slide in next to him.

Gale's gut twisted. A dozen red flags screamed at him to say something, but a sliver of doubt whispered that he was overreacting. Blake was happier than ever. And what right did Gale have to take that from him?

The game played on, but Gale wasn't really watching. The voices of the commentators blurred into background noise beneath Blake and Case's easy conversation. Spaghetti night was supposed to end with a movie. Watching Case in his glory days was not the same thing. He hated whenever the wolf appeared on screen. Young. Massive. Effortlessly confident. Was this when he and Lyra had been fucking?

``See that?'' Case gestured toward the screen. ``The offensive line is too slow off the snap. A good defense smells that weakness from a mile away.''

Blake nodded, eager. ``Yeah! That's why they keep getting sacked, right?''

``Exactly,'' Case said, ruffling the kid's hair. ``See? You're getting it already. Man, that QB was pissed at me by the time we got to halftime.''

He draped his arm around Blake's shoulder, pulling him in slightly. ``You and your dad ever toss a ball around?''

Blake hesitated. ``Not really. We used to a little when I was younger, but...'' His voice trailed off, and for a split second, his eyes flicked toward Gale, then quickly back to Case. ``I mean, not much lately.''

Case smirked but didn't look at Gale. ``That so? Shame. Good hands are built early. But hey, maybe we can work on that some more next time..''

Blake brightened instantly. ``Really? That'd be awesome!''

Gale let out a slow breath. The tension in his chest coiled tighter. If he said something, if he snapped, Case would win. Again.

More plays. More commentary. More conversation Gale was excluded from.

At some point, Case stretched and rolled his shoulders with a satisfied grunt. ``Hey, Gale, why don't you fix me a drink or something? Whiskey, if you've got it.'' He gave Gale an easy grin, like it was just a casual request between friends.

Gale hesitated for a moment before sighing and pushing himself up from the couch. ``Yeah, sure.''

In the kitchen, he opened the liquor cabinet, his fingers trailing over bottles that had mostly belonged to Lyra. Dust clung to their necks, the faded labels a reminder of a different life. He found a bottle of bourbon, only and pulled down a glass. Pouring it felt oddly performative, like he was playing bartender in his own home. He added a splash of water, stirring absently before heading back to the living room.

As he stepped through the doorway, he felt like he was walking in on something private. Blake sat stiffly, his hands clasped together, like he'd just been caught doing something he shouldn't. Case, on the other hand, was the picture of ease, reclining back with a knowing smile.

``Thanks, buddy,'' Case said, taking the glass and draining it. ``Ah, that's good shit. Thanks.''

Gale let his head tip back against the couch. The warm glow of the TV flickered across the walls. The wine softened the edges of his thoughts, leaving everything slow, unfocused. Blake was still talking. Case was still talking. The game droned on.

He should tell Blake it was bedtime. It was getting late. But the thought was too heavy, too far away.

``Whoa! Did you see that?''

``Damn good footwork,'' Case said ``That's the kind of quickness you gotta have at the next level.''

Gale barely heard them. The room was too warm, thick with the scent of old upholstery and Case's cologne. His limbs felt heavy. His eyes drooped.

The next time he blinked, Case was whispering something into Blake's ear. Blake laughed, then nodded, glancing toward Gale.

Case nudged him gently, his voice light. ``Hey, bud, looks like your dad's about to crash.''

The deer shook his head, forcing himself upright. ``I'm fine.'' It sounded unconvincing even to him.

``It's all right, fourth quarter's about to begin. I know it's not your thing,'' Case said. ``We'll keep it down so you can nap a bit.''

Blake smiled warmly at his father, as if thankful his new friend was so kind. ``Yeah. Just rest, Daddy,'' he said softly. ``You've had a long day.''

Case reached for the remote, flicking the volume down a couple notches, then settled back as he and Blake resumed their quiet conversation. The relative quiet was deafening, but the wine and his own exhaustion soon caught up with him.

Reluctantly, Gale closed his eyes.

***

Gale wasn't sure how much time had passed when he woke up, but the TV was off, the house was silent, and the lights were out. A glance at the clock told him it was just after 2 AM.

Something felt wrong.

He sat up, rubbing his eyes, trying to shake the heaviness from his limbs. The blanket he'd had over himself was gone, neatly folded over the arm of the couch. A dim light seeped in from the kitchen, the only glow in the otherwise pitch-dark house. Gale's stomach twisted. It had been off earlier - he was sure of it.

``Blake?'' he called, his voice hoarse.

No answer.

He swallowed hard, an unease creeping in. ``Blake?'' he called louder, his voice cutting through the silence.

Still nothing.

The air felt too still, too controlled, like the house was holding its breath.

Gale pushed himself to his feet, legs unsteady beneath him, and stumbled toward the staircase, gripping the banister tight. His pulse pounded in his ears. He climbed the steps two at a time, his breath coming faster, his unease threatening to choke him.

Blake's door was open. Darkness stretched inside.

The bed was empty. The covers had been pulled back, but not in a way that suggested sleep - more like someone had left in a hurry. The football Case had given him sat abandoned near the pillow, untouched. His backpack was zipped and upright against the wall, like it hadn't been moved since yesterday.

There was no sign Blake had even been here tonight.

Gale's stomach wrenched. He forced his feet to move, heading down the hallway. The bathroom door was ajar. He nudged it open.

Empty.

The scent of toothpaste and mouthwash lingered in the air, but it was overpowered by something else - Case's cologne.

Gale's fingers curled into a fist. It was too strong, too fresh, like the wolf had stood here only minutes ago.

His breathing grew shallow as he turned toward his office door. The knob was still locked, undisturbed, but his hand hovered over it for a moment anyway, as if expecting it to turn in his grip.

Gale swallowed against the growing panic. His gaze drifted down the hallway, to the last door at the end - his bedroom. The door was shut, but a thin sliver of dim light seeped from the bottom.

Then, just barely, he saw it.

Movement. A shifting shadow passing underneath the door.

His breath caught in his throat. His feet felt rooted to the floor, the weight of dread pressing down on him.

Blake was in there.

And he wasn't alone.

He twisted the doorknob, dreading what he'd see on the other side. Mind flashing with images like that first night after seeing Case again.

Blake and Case were both on the bed. The young deer had changed into pajamas and had apparently been tucked into the king sized bed. He seemed comically small in it, especially next to Case. The wolf was laying next to his son, but over the comforter, a comically thin barrier between the two of them. One of Case's arms was curled around the 9-year-old who seemed to be blissfully sleeping. His other hand held a phone.

Case was also almost completely nude. Only a pair of tight boxer briefs covered his groin. It was almost innocent looking. Except Case had a very large erection straining the front of the fabric, the front slightly damp. The wolf glanced up with a knowing grin. ``Ah, there you are. Was starting to think you'd sleep all night.'' He kept his voice gentle, but the words were not.

Gale took a step back, his body suddenly weak.

``No...''

``No?'' Case replied, sounding genuinely surprised. He looked down at the deer lying beside him. ``Blakey here was going to tuck himself in, but I offered to keep him company until you were done. I didn't have any peejays, but it's just us guys. Right, bud?''

He nudged the kid gently, who murmured something unintelligible in his sleep and turned onto his side, facing away from the wolf.

``That's probably for the best,'' Case continued. With surprising grace considering his size, Case gently eased away from Blake, then stood up. ``Let's step out here, I wanna show you something.''

He gestured toward the doorway, but Gale was rooted in place.

``N... No,'' Gale managed, his voice strangled. He wanted to yell, to scream, but Blake was right there, and everything about the situation was surreal, dreamlike.

Case tilted his head, his expression one of simple amusement. ``You don't want to wake your boy up, do you? Never seen a tyke crash so hard.'' The wolf pocketed his phone, then pushed his way passed Gale.

Reluctantly, Gale followed, but his feet were still heavy. He stopped long enough to close the door to his bedroom, making sure it clicked closed before following Case into Blake's bedroom. The wolf stood in the middle of the smaller bedroom, as if taking in the posters and toys and trophies. He was still in his underwear. In the light, his bare torso looked almost like a sculpture. Perfectly formed muscle wrapped around his chest, his shoulders, his abdomen. He was so much bigger than Gale, so much more intimidating.

``What are you doing?'' Gale hissed.

``Oh, nothing. Just tryin' ta figure out where to do this. I guess here's as good a place as any. Shut the door.''

``Case - ''

``Fine, leave it open,'' he said as he stepped forward and grabbed the deer by the antlers. There was a short struggle before the much smaller Gale was forced onto his knees, head craned back by the large, strong grip.

``Case,'' Gale tried to hiss again, but the word was strained. ``S-Stop!''

``You remember back when we were kids, how you used to stare at my dick all the time? Maybe you didn't even notice. But I did. Even when we were little. That summer we took swimming lessons? You always watched me every fuckin' time. You had this look. This hungry look. Like you were obsessed with it. It grossed me out then. I didn't want to be some fag's jerk fantasy, you know?''

``W-what? But, I'm not--''

He pulled harder, causing the deer to let out a soft yelp. ``Oh, please. You think squirting a little cum into your ex's sloppy cunt means anything? We both know you've wanted this for a long time. Stop fightin' it. Unless you want me to go teach your kid a few more tricks instead. Bet he'd look real good with a cock--''

Gale grunted as he tried to twist his antler's free, but he was no match for the much larger canid.

``--down his throat. Yeah. Bet you'd love that, too.''

Gale's heart sank and he stopped fighting for a moment. That was all it took for his face to be shoved right up against the bulge in the wolf's underwear.

``There ya go, Acorn. That wasn't so bad, was it?'' He said, releasing his grip on the deer's antlers.

The smell was thick and musky and the fabric was damp with pre. The wolf's musk was almost exactly how he'd imagined it. Strong with a slight spicy note. It made him feel light headed.

``Take it out.''

``C-case...''

``Or I'll walk into that room and lock the door.''

Reluctantly, Gale reached up with shaky hands and pulled down the canine's underwear, exposing his thick, throbbing cock. It was an angry red color that radiated heat. The smell was stronger than ever. Gale's mouth went dry at the sight of it. Yes, he'd seen it before. The image was burned into his memory. But he'd never been so close. And he'd never seen it hard. Not fully. God. Had Lyra really taken this?

Case chuckled as he gripped Gale's muzzle and cock together sliding the latter over the former in slick movements that left the deer's sinuses saturated with the scent of musk. ``Back then, I had things all wrong. I thought the homos drooling after my cock were losers who just weren't man enough to get pussy. But now I know better. Cause you don't have to be a faggot to get off with another dude. Sometimes a hole is just a hole. And fuck me if it ain't a turn on, having a guy on his knees for me. Begging for my dick. Look at you, Acorn. You want this so bad.''

Gale felt his mouth begin to water. He was breathing hard through his nose. Case was leaking enough precum that some moistened his lips. He could taste him now. It was all he could taste. All he could smell. All he could think about. And he knew it was true. He wanted this. Some part of him had always wanted this.

A forgotten memory surfaced, the memory of humid, chlorine-laden air and the soft laughter and conversations of other kids around him. Of Case's lean form slipping out of his swim trunks. Of his as yet immature sheath bobbing, plump and half-hard even at that age, as the wolf strode across the locker room towards the toilets. Of Gale mindlessly following him to stand at the next urinal. Of the hot, musky scent that filled the space between them.

Case had glanced over, his brow wrinkling in disgust, but his eyes had flicked downward, too, and his nostrils had flared.

``Gross,'' the wolf had said, zipping himself up and leaving without a word. That had been the beginning of their falling out.

Now... here it was. The thing that had fascinated him so much as a child. Now in its full glory. Unfurled like a flag. Red like a warning. Hot and throbbing and inches from his face. The wolf eased back, sliding his cock off the bridge of his muzzle, its tip pointed at him like an arrow.

``C-Case,'' he gasped, ``Please... don't...''

The wolf chuckled. ``Tell me you don't want it.''

Gale opened his mouth, but no words came. He didn't. But he did. His pulse was pounding, and his own pants felt impossibly tight.

``Didn't think so. Open wide, Lil' Acorn.''

Case's fingers curled around the base of his cock, holding it steady. And Gale obeyed. He opened his mouth, tongue extending, and the wolf's hot, slick tip touched him. It slid over his tongue, leaving a trail of pre that tingled his taste buds, his nose filling with a new, even stronger aroma that made him shiver. Behind the wolf, a poster of a cartoon puppy on the wall smiled.

``Mmm,'' Case moaned, ``There's somethin' special about deer tongues. Soft as hell. Buttery smooth.''

The wolf's words barely registered. He was already lost, drunk on the intoxicating mix of musk and pre. He swallowed and shivered at the way the liquid slipped down his throat. He was still slightly buzzed from the wine, but now his body was burning up, the heat of arousal spreading through him.

Case's grip tightened. His other hand found the back of Gale's head, gripping his antlers again. ``Come on, Acorn. Let's see if you can suck dick better than your wife did.''

The insult would have been enough to send him reeling under normal circumstances, but the haze of need had already settled over him. The wolf pushed his hips forward and Gale gagged, unprepared for the thickness and the way it pushed against his throat. He tried to pull back, but Case held him firmly in place.

``Breathe through your nose,'' he grunted. ``Come on, take it. Relax. Take it.''

The wolf's voice was low, but insistent, and Gale wanted to obey. He hated himself. He hated that this was happening. This was rape, wasn't it? The shame was unbearable. And yet... and yet, his own cock was so hard, and the thick length stretching his muzzle felt so right, like it belonged there.

Case started rocking his hips, his knot tapping at Gale's lips as his cock slid in and out. ``Look at you. Fuck. Imagine what Lyra would say if she knew you were doing this. Heh, probably give you a few tips. Or maybe eat my ass while I used you. She was a freak like that.''

She'd never done anything like that for him, but none of that mattered right then.

Gale's eyes began to water and his vision blurred. Case's pace was picking up and he was thrusting harder, forcing his cock deeper, making it difficult for Gale to catch his breath. The scent was making him dizzy. His own cock was aching with need. His slacks were soaked through. He wanted so much to touch himself, but he didn't dare. Not without the wolf's permission.

``Yeah. Look at you,'' he pulled back and smacked him across the face with his cock. It felt like a club. ``Tell me you love my cock.''

``I... I...'' Gale swallowed, trying to regain his bearings. ``Case, please...''

``Tell me, Acorn. Tell me how much you love my cock. Say it. Say it and I'll let you have it. I'm  just about to pop.''

Gale stared, transfixed, at the glistening shaft. A thick vein pulsed along its underside, throbbing with each beat of the wolf's heart.

``I... I love your cock,'' he murmured.

``Fuck yeah, you do,'' the wolf growled, pressing his tip against Gale's tongue again. The deer tried to push his muzzle forward, but Case tightened his grip and snarled a warning. ``Nah-ah, not yet, Acorn. Say it again.''

Gale swallowed, his throat clicking, and tried to ignore the ache between his legs. ``I love your cock,'' he breathed.

Case smirked and his cock throbbed in response. Encouraged, Gale said it again. ``I love your cock, Case. Please, I want it.''

``Say `Please give me your cock.'''

``P-please... please, give me your cock, Case. I want to make you feel good.''

``Good boy,'' the wolf purred, his ears flicking. His voice was soft and gentle. More precum spilled over his tongue, but Gale didn't try to move. ``I should have done this a long time ago. I can smell your little acorn leaking. You're gonna cum too, aren't you.'' It wasn't a question.

Gale whimpered and nodded. He was. He'd never been so aroused before. Not since he was a teenager at least.

``You have my permission,'' Case said. ``You can shoot your little load while you drink my cum, but not before. And not after. Understand?''

``Yes,'' Gale gasped, his hips twitching as they tried to buck and relieve the building tension.

Case pulled back until his cock head was between Gale's lips. The deer's mouth was open and panting, his breath hot against the wolf's tip. ``Then tell me what you want one more time. Use that big nerd brain and make me believe it.''

Gale swallowed. The wolf's scent was overwhelming, intoxicating. He couldn't think. ``Please, Case. Please give me your cock. Please... I want to feel your knot throbbing. I want to taste your cum. I want to know what Lyra felt when you fucked her. I want to make you feel good so I can be useful for once. Please. Let me have it.''

``Heh. Good enough, Acorn. But I don't want you to taste it. I want you to drink it. Got it? Every drop. And look me in the eyes while you do it.''

Gale whimpered and nodded and his cock ached.

``Open wide.''

Case thrust hard, and the thick, battering ram of his cock slammed into Gale's throat. He gagged, choking, but the wolf didn't stop. The fucking that ensued was brutal. Gale had asked to be used, and that was exactly what was happening. He wasn't a person. He wasn't a man. He was just a hole to be used by this wolf he'd hated and loved for his entire life. It was so pathetic. It was so weak. And... and he was going to cum too early. Whimpering he wriggled his tongue against the invading organ and elicited a new, more exciting grunt from Case.

``Mmf, fuck yeah, bitch. Here. It fuckin' comes. Mmmmnggggrrr.''

His thrusts picked up speed, his knot knocking against the deer's lips, bruising them. His jaw was strained to the point of cramping. Case kept brushing his teeth, but the wolf didn't seem to care. Gale's eyes grew wide as he realized what was about to happen and tears streamed from his eyes. The thick, meaty sound of Case's balls slapping against his chin barely registered, like an echo of something happening far away. And then he slammed deep into Gale's throat. Deeper than he thought possible, and Gale accepted it. Fighting against his body's instinct to reject the massive intrusion, he held his breath and relaxed his jaw, feeling the bulge of the wolf's knot pressing tightly against him. It was hot and pulsating. It felt like it would burn him. But that was nothing compared to the fire that was spreading down his throat. He realized it was cum. The wolf was cumming.

Brown eyes locked on to Case's, and Gale's whole body was wracked by a powerful orgasm. He had to fight that too. Even as his cock twitched and his slacks were filled with semen, he concentrated on swallowing the wolf's cum. Gulp after deafening gulp was all he could hear save for his pounding heartbeat and Case's ragged breathing.

Finally, after what might have been a handful of seconds or several long minutes, Case released the grip he had on Gale's antlers and the poor, exhausted, barely conscious deer doubled over, coughing and choking as a mix of semen and wine spilled from his lips and onto the floor. Case chuckled over him. ``Well shit, hope that doesn't stain the carpet.''

Gale wiped his mouth on his sleeve, unable to look up. Unable to speak.

``Thanks, Lil' Acorn. Always knew you were a cocksucker.''

``G-get out,'' Gale managed.

Case shrugged as he wiped his cock clean on Blake's comforter. ``Sure, bud. I got what I wanted. Does that mean I'm not invited to `spaghetti night' next week?''

``Case... you need to leave. I'm not asking.''

``Alright, alright, fine. I'll go. Just need to get my clothes.''

``I'll go.''

``What, don't want me to say good night to your kid? Or are you just afraid he'll smell the shreds of his dad's dignity on my dick.''

``Just stay here,'' Gale says.

With effort, he got back up and made his way to the master bedroom. Blake was still sleeping soundly. He seemed so blissfully unaware. So perfect. Such a contrast to what he'd just done in his own son's room. Quietly, he looked around until he found Case's clothes in a rumpled pile near the foot of the bed. He grabbed them, turned and found Case standing in the hallway, eyes locked on Blake.

Instinctively, Gale put himself between the wolf and the boy, quickly pushing the wolf back and into the hallway, then slamming the clothes into his thick chest. ``Get dressed. Get out.''

Case stared down at Gale with that cold, calculating gaze. Finally, he sighed, then put his jeans back on. He didn't even bother to button the fly or put on his jersey before he was heading down the stairs. At the front door he paused, then looked back up to Gale with his signature grin. ``You have my number if you get thirsty. Can't promise to pick up, but you never know. You might get lucky.''

``Get out!''

``I'm going, I'm going,'' the wolf said, turning his attention to the door. It took a bit of finagling to get the lock undone, but he finally managed. When the door swung open, Gale could smell the fresh early morning air and the dew on the grass.

``See ya, Acorn.''

Gale's ears twitched at the sound of the door closing. Immediately, he rushed down the stairs, turning the deadbolt and other locks as quickly as his shaking hands could manage. As soon as the last one was secured, he fell back against the door and slid down to the floor. He wasn't sure how long he sat there, head buried in his hands. The taste of Case's cum mixed with cheap wine still lingering on the back of his throat. His own shame cooling and sticking to his fur.

``Daddy?''

Gale's heart shattered as he looked up. There, at the top of the stairs, was Blake in his rocketship pajamas. His eyes bleary with sleep, but concern etched clearly onto his muzzle.

He looked up and swallowed. ``Yeah, sweetheart? What's wrong?''

``What are you doing?''

He opened his mouth and shut it. ``I was... I was just...'' He shook his head. ``Just thought I heard something and was making sure the door was locked.''

Blake seemed confused. He stood there for several long seconds. ``Were you crying?''

He forced a smile, though his bruised lips were stiff. ``Oh, no, honey. Just have a bit of a headache.'' He stood, leaning against the door to aid the movement. ``Come on, let's go back to bed.''

Blake made his way to his own bed, and Gale took a brief, hot shower to wash some of the memory of what he'd done away. It was only after, as he checked on his son, that he remembered the pink stain he'd left on the carpet. Then he recalled Case wiping himself on Blake's blanket, like he'd been marking it, and saw that the young deer was now sleeping with his head just a few inches from the stain. The sudden nausea that hit him caused him to stagger to the bathroom. He barely made it in time to retch violently into the toilet. The worst part wasn't the vomiting or the fact that he had to taste Case's cum all over again. It was that he already wanted more.

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