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A Full Moon Ch. 01

By: Fantasyboy69



Moving to Salem Massachusetts had never been my idea. I'm California born and bred. Sun, surf and sexy babes in bikinis were my thing. Not snow, skiing and sexy babes you couldn't tell were sexy cause of the damned parkas. But I was here because I was getting paid big bucks to do this work exchange with our parent company here. An extra fifteen grand at the end of the year was nothing to laugh at when that was a 20% raise just for moving. I remember stepping off the company plane and looking at the cold gray sky above me when I had left a beautiful blue one behind. "Welcome to Salem, Mr. Davenport," some stuffy suit said with a nasal voice I found grating on my ears from just those five words. Me? I wear a suit to work, what corporate exec doesn't, but only cause I had to. Hell I never worse shoes unless I had to. Looks like shoes would be a must when I could lose my toes to frostbite. "My name is Carl Miller and I was assigned to drive you to our office."

I nodded and when he turned I mimed shooting myself in the head. There was a snicker from the pilot who knew me very well as for about an hour of the flight her copilot had taken over and she had helped me "relax" during the flight. It never failed me. Get close to a girl and she would be mine. Happened since I was thirteen. I was blessed with good looks, a winning smile, quick mind, great genes for a perfectly sculpted body and something else that drove women crazy: a deep and resonant voice. More than one chick had begged me to rumble in their ear while I banged 'em. The pilot was no different and for almost the entire trip she was all over me like bitch in heat...darn! "Maybe you'll still be flying for the company when I go back," I said and I watched her pelvis twitch and her lips quiver. I had given her one hell of a ride since I was also blessed with a big dick and the knowledge of how to use it. 

I looked at the limo they had waiting for me and hopped in the back seat to find another guy there, this one in a casual suit of cream. He was a big dude. I'm pretty big at 6'3" and 215 pounds but this guy would tower over me by at least four inches and outweighed me by a hundred pounds of muscle. Flaming red hair and gnarly mutton chops he would look at home in a kilt. He had a jolly smile on his face...but his eyes were colder than the weather out there and an eerie yellow green. "Welcome to Massachusetts Jon. The name is, and I know how bad this sounds, Angus." I laughed. His voice was so accented with Scottish that it was that funny. "Gets 'em laughing every time."

"Sorry. I was expecting more people like Miller up there. Nice to see someone who doesn't take himself too seriously." Except he did. He knew how to put someone at ease, sure, but he was only playing a part. This guy was no one to turn your back on no matter how cool he seemed.

"Actually most of the people are like him. I'm just better at acting like I'm not."

"Point for honesty." He tipped an invisible hat. "So will my duties be the same as in California?" I asked as he poured himself some bottled water. The company was adamant about drug testing and that included alcohol. He offered me one and I nodded.

"Mostly. Some regional differences will have to be taught, but you will mostly handle the same duties." I nodded. So I was still the heavy, still in charge of layoffs. Which could get as bad as its sounds since I'm only twenty-four and most of the people I fire are old enough to be my parents or were my age. My other duties were in sales which is where I would need to be retrained as I was taught to sell to the West Coast not the Great Lakes and North East. I needed to know how to sell if I was to be in charge of checking up on employee sales records.

When we got to the office I was taken up to the fifteenth floor and shown to what would be my office for the next year or two. The walk across the lobby was an exercise in keeping my face straight because every chick I passed looked at me hungrily...and so did a few guys. I knew there had to be a few gay guys around which was more flattering than anything else. I got not problem saying I've let a few go down on me in college. Damn great head too. Nice to know I still had it! In the elevator I was standing next to a woman my age who looked at me like she would have jumped me right there had Angus been absent, but she just moved to the other side of the car out of what looked like deference mixed with a bit of fear.

There was something else I was noticing on my way up. Everyone here, including the men, were all athletic and all good looking. I mean the ugliest person was still adorably cute. I fit in well here so I didn't think too much on it, but when I looked around I saw not one fat person or buck toothed or even average. Even the janitor, who was well into his sixties, was in great shape and reminded me of a dapper Sean Connery. Angus led me to my office which had a great view of nothing since it was overcast but it had a mini bar, fantastic furniture I knew I could use for extracurricular activities, and a desk I would not feel slighted to be behind. The desk alone screamed authority. "This is your office. I won't bore you with the tour. I'll leave that to your OA." Angus left the office with something like a stalking march and I shook my head. The guy was intense.

Setting my briefcase on the desk I picked up my phone and dialed my friend Dean who had brought most of my stuff by moving truck a few days ago. "Yo, dude, you find the place okay?" I asked when he picked up my home line.

"Dude, this place is freaking huge. Like mondo huge. Got most of it unpacked save your skivvies." He laughed on the other side of the line. He could not unpack what I did not own. No underwear for me since I needed easy and free access. "So I can scat back to the sun?"

"Yeah. Thanks for the help, dude." He would be taking the jet back since he did work for the company as my last office assistant. We started out as bitter rivals since I got the job he wanted, but when he was put as my OA we got to know each other and we got on great. "Don't grump at the suit that replaces me for the time."

"I won't, dude. Take care bro."

When we hung up I dialed my OA's extension. "Yes, Mr. Davenport?" came a man's query. His voice was soft pitched and neither low nor high.

"Could you come to my office please?"

"Right away." I hung up and not five seconds later my OA stepped into the room. Like everyone else here he was handsome and in great shape, but unlike the rest he was short. Barely five feet eight he was the shortest person I had seen, women included, but he looked like he could bench press a semi truck. I got big arms but his were bigger. White blond hair and pure blue eyes, the guy would stand out in any crowd. There was something about him I liked immediately. He was maybe a year or two older than I was, though he looked maybe in his bare twenties, and I could tell we would get along.

"Close the door and have a seat." He nodded and was in his seat with more speed than was necessary. "First things first. Screw company policy and call me Jon, or Jonathan if that's too informal. What is you name?"

"Patrick Farris." He took the lack of formality in stride. "I must say that in certain circumstances I must call you Mr. Davenport."

"I understand. Other than those times I hate formalities." I glanced at my desk and my monitor which was on and displaying the company logo. "All the work I need is here right?" I asked as I gestured to the screen and he nodded. "Great. One last question and then it is your show. Where is the grub I'm starving." At this that calm demeanor cracked and he grinned. Oh yeah, this guy was a chick magnet. That smile was one I would love to get as it still screamed wholesome and sweet while mine was more like devilish and sultry.

"I can take you there on our tour." I nodded and I dropped off my jacket. We left the office and instantly all the women were looking at me like I was on the menu. Patrick on the other hand never got a single glance and in fact he seemed to walk very small.

On the elevator I asked him, "Patrick, why do you walk like that in the halls? Like someone who was inferior." I needed to know these things because I had to work here now and I did not want to deal with that type of shit.

"I'm just an OA. I don't matter to them." His eyes were downcast.

"Dude, chin up. Stand up straight and walk like you are the king of the world and people will start treating you like it."

"Jonathan, since you seem to dislike formality I believe I can speak freely, right?" God who did he work for last? A Nazi asshole?

"Patrick, you can say whatever you want. Tactfully but speak your mind." I could not handle working with people without spines and it looks like I had to give one to a guy who should have had one just by sheer size...but then he was so far the runt around here.

"Were I as tall as you I would still be low wolf in the pack." There was something he was not and could not tell me. Maybe he had screwed up and cost the company a lot of money, making him a pariah of sorts. That would make me walk small too.

"Hmm. There's back story to this, but here's what we do. Since you now represent me in this office you will stand up straight and walk like you're alpha wolf. If anyone calls you on it tell them to talk to me. Don't care if it's Angus or the owner of the company."

"Mr. McLeod is the owner." I snickered and shook my head. I had been escorted to my office by the owner and I had not even known it.

"Guess I missed that memo. I thought a guy named Andrews owned it."

"He did until last year when he sold it off and retired early." There was something in his tone that said he missed the old man. Maybe a favorite uncle or they had been teacher and student. Who knew why, but Patrick did not like working for Angus McLeod. There was something creepy about his cold eyes.

"Still. If Angus calls you on it tell him I expect proper behavior, which includes posture, from those who are assigned to work for me. That should shut him up long enough for you to escape." Patrick grinned but it fell off his face as the doors opened up. This must have been our stop cause we started the tour and he was back to mousy quiet even if his back was perfectly straight. Oh well, I would work on that.

After the tour and lunch we were back in my office and I was going over my workload with Patrick. One on one he seemed to be a confident if somewhat reserved person which I found more appealing than the mouse he turned into as he stepped out of my office. "So what kind of night life does this backwoods place have?"

"It can be pretty wild. Just last night the cops had to be called for a fist fight in a bar." I gaped at him in shock. The cops get called for a fist fight? Then he smiled and I felt stupid. "There are clubs and bars and everything else, Jonathan. This may be a smaller place than you're use to but it's still a city."

"Yeah, ya got me. Nice to see we'll be getting along, funny guy. Any place you'd recommend?"

"Not really. I don't do clubs or bars. I prefer hiking and mountain climbing." I could tell he was an active person, no one with his body was a couch potato, and the thought of hiking suddenly appealed to me. I hadn't been in the mountains since I was a kid.

"Then lets get away this weekend. Go hiking and shit." He looked at me like I was making fun of him. "Dude, I'm serious. I just got to this place and I don't really know anything about it past what's in the city and even then all I know about it is the Witch Trials from centuries ago." Every kid knew about the Salem, Massachusetts Witch Hunts. I wondered how many innocent women died in those times and if any were actually witches. "Or does Angus not like company members associating outside of work?"

"Actually he encourages it, but no one has ever asked to hang out with me."

"Bunch of cranky bitches. If that's their attitude they can go fuck themselves." He got an alarmed look in his eyes like someone might overhear but he was grinning from ear to ear. "Yeah, I went there. My last OA and I were pretty close and we hung out as much as we could. So, we on for Friday night to Sunday afternoon?" He nodded. "Epic. Now lets get to work. I have until Friday to learn what I can to make me a better asset to this company." We got to work.

Friday at quitting time Patrick and I made a bee line to my place to change out of our suits and into our normal clothes. It was, I was told, unseasonably warm for late September. A blazing 67° with a clear blue sky that was fading to a rose. I pulled on a pair of jeans, tucking the Man in to make sure he was comfortable, and a tank top. My boots were laced and my pack ready with the necessities. When I jaunted down stairs I saw Patrick quickly tugging on his shorts, but I had caught a glimpse of his bare backside. I'm secure enough to say the man had a great ass. Not a feather on it and had enough meat on the muscle to make it round. A lot like mine and I know the chicks loved my ass. He was still shirtless and I just openly appraised his torso. The man was built. I'm in great shape but this guy could enter any Mr. Hardbody competition and place in the top three without trying. "Dude, gym bunny much?"

He looked over his shoulder at me. "Actually no. I work out twice a week. The rest is genetics." He turned and I saw closely trimmed body hair covered his chest, abs and a bit of his shoulders. "You look to keep in shape too."

"Yeah. Three times a week over there." He must have noticed the equipment in the other room since it took up a whole room. Free weights, Bowflex, tread climber...the works. "So lets do this thing." He smiled and he pulled on his own tank top. Slinging his bag onto his back we went out to his Hummer since I drove a Lexus. The tent and food were already in there so we just started her up and we were gone. "So, is there a prospective future Mrs. Farris?" I asked as we pulled away from the curb.

"No, too much work to keep." I laughed and nodded knowingly.

"So you play the field." He grinned at me. "Closet man whore."

"Nope, openly a man whore." That had me howling. Patrick was a completely different person when not at work and I liked this side of him. "There a future Mrs. Davenport?"

"Hell no. I'm not one for settling down yet and too many women want me. I swear I walked into the building that first day and every chick looked like she wanted to rip off my clothes and ravish me right there."

He grimaced at that. "Must be nice being you. All those bitches, and a few guys I'm sure, want you. I know that Connie in accounting wants to catch you alone during the filing days." The company took three days off every twenty-five days so they could catch up on filing. Kind of odd, but it makes sense when you handle accounts for over twenty countries and this was the main office.

"I'd ask if she was cute, but everyone there seems to be hot. You too, dude. I ain't afraid to say you're a good looking dude and I know you gotta be pulling your fair share of bitches." He actually turned a bit darker. "Whoa, did I just make you blush? I did! Oh my god! Not used to guys thinking you're good looking?" I asked jokingly.

"Not used to good looking guys thinking I'm good looking. All I get are the fat ugly old ones." I laughed and thumped him on the shoulder.

"Ouch. Sorry about your luck. Well dude, you just got told by a hot guy you're hot, how does that make you feel?" I asked with a cheesy TV anchorman voice and held an imaginary mic to his face.

"Hot," was all he said and we both laughed. His laugh was like a mix of puppy bark and deep growl and I had to admit it was kinda cool. We shot the shit as we drove into the night to a place he said was great for hiking and some decent climbing where you did not need a rope. Turns out he graduated at the top of his class in college and landed this job right out of it. He was twenty-nine although he looked about twenty-one. He said he had a few cousins who were all my size or bigger.

"Being the smallest guy seems to be your thing." He nodded with a sneer. "Dude, height don't mean shit nowadays. My best bud Troy is like 5'2" and a scant hundred pounds but he pulls women all the time with something you got too. Brains and personality. He knows how to talk to people, how to treat them and no one cares if he looks like he should be back in the eighth grade. You got that too if you'd just look at it. The only place size matters are here and here," I said pointing to his head and his chest. Then I dropped the mushy stuff. "And here," I said grabbing my crotch.

"The first two I have...not so much the last." I played the world's smallest violin for him.

"Poor guy. Has to settle for fat old guys cause he got no equipment."

"You know what, Jonathan, fuck you," he said with a laugh.

"No thanks, my ass is exit only." That made him snap his fingers in an ah shucks sorta way. 

"But thanks Jonathan. Not too many people take the time to realize I have a brain. The ones I have slept with were only interested in me because I look the way I do. Or what they think they could wheedle out of me because of who I work for." Being the OA for the layoff guy could be a good place for the more corrupt. I doubt Patrick was that type.

"No problem dude. If you ever need a pep talk, you know where I live and work." He gave me a thumbs up.

The site was too dark to see much past that it had trees and bushes around a decent clearing. There was no moon since it was new and the stars could not get past the trees to shed what light they could. Leaving the Hummer's lights on we set up the tent and everything before turning in for the night. "I'm warning ya, dude. I don't wear skivvies, so if you don't want to feel inferior look away." He rolled his eyes and looked away while I slipped off my jeans and pulled on some sleeping shorts. "There, you can now look and not feel like a child."

"Okay, Jonathan, now I'm curious." He rolled over in his sleeping bag and propped himself on one elbow. "Think you got a big dick? Lets see it." I shrugged and got up on my knees and pulled down the front of my shorts. It was cold but it still hung there five and a half inches long and just over five in circumference. He just stared with his mouth open. "Damn," was all he said. "Women must howl when you throw that thing into them."

"That they do. Then they call me back the next day for another round or ten." I was watching his eyes, seeing the pupils get huge. Like taking over the blue of his eyes huge. I know some peoples pupils got big when turned on and it being so dark that added to their size. The way he breathed very shallow was familiar. "You can touch it if you want." He looked up at me. "Dude, if you weren't such a cool dude you would have already tried to get your hands on it. So you like dick, who cares."

"You mean you don't care that I like guys too?" This seemed to be completely foreign to him. So Massachusetts was not as open as California but I didn't think the company was that narrow minded since Troy also worked for the same branch I had and he was openly and loudly bisexual. First guy to give me head and was my friend still six years later although we grew out of the bj part.

"Patrick, Troy is bi and my cousin is as gay as that purple Teletubby." That made him laugh. I slipped my shorts off. "Listen, I can tell you're attracted to me. I've let guys go down on me before so no problem there." He could not believe what he was hearing. "But if you don't want to, I understand. We just met..." I shut up when he scooted over and wrapped his hand around my cock. I started getting hard instantly since all it took was contact to get me that way. "Man whore," I said and he smiled.

"This thing is freaking huge. What does it get to?" His hand was softer than I thought it would be. He had to have some callouses on them but no. 


A Full Moon Ch. 01



"Just under ten inches but the Man don't get much thicker." He whimpered and licked his lips. "Dude go ahead. He don't bite, just spits."

"I...do bite. So," I put my hand on the back of his head and pulled him gently down to the tip. I had had some experienced cock suckers gag, but Patrick deep throated it all in that first gulp. I thought he had soft hands... wow. His mouth and tongue were slick and soft and I knew I would let him blow me again. There was no use of teeth unless he meant to use them and then it was like a light grazing.

"Oh fuck. There's a first." He chuckled, that deep rumble vibrating along the shaft. I just laid back and let him do what he wanted. I usually closed my eyes when a dude was blowing me, but this time I watched and I gotta say it was getting me hotter faster. He would drag his soft tongue up from the base where my balls met my dick and then toy with the head just a bit before licking back down, nibbling when he got down there. He had said he liked to bite and I liked a bit of pain. He seemed to know exactly where to bite and how hard cause he had me panting. "Okay, dude, you are hands down the best I have ever had and that is saying something."

"I just can't help it. You are so hot and I can't believe you're here with me like this." He dove back down and bit down harder than before and I groaned, pressing down on his head to let him know I was liking that. His hands began to explore my legs and stomach, caressing my flesh and kneading my muscles in an erotic massage. I was so turned on that I wondered if I would ever last. His mouth was so soft that it felt like the inside of the tightest pussy ever except when he would bite and that only sent more surges towards my balls telling them to unload. I let up on the pressure on his head and he pulled up panting. "Give me limits. I don't want to go out of your comfort zone."

"No kissing on the lips and I ain't letting you penetrate anything. The rest is up for experimentation." He grinned and began to lick his way up my abs to my nipples. He was having a hard time since he was trying to stay in his sleeping bag. "Dude, lose the bag. I ain't gonna make fun of you even if you got the smallest dick in the world. In fact lose the bag and the shorts. Get more comfortable." He smiled shyly and slid out of the bag and I saw he wasn't wearing his shorts anymore. I got a good look at his pecker and I wondered who he compared himself to to think he was small. Six inches was not bad for length, especially on a guy with his muscle mass, but damn if that thing wasn't thicker than mine. "Nice. Bet the girls and guys howl when you put that log in them."

"The women yeah, but no guy has ever let me."

"I can see why." He smiled again and went back to his exploration of my chest with that tongue I was coming to like very much. I gasped when he nibbled on my nipple and I dug my fingers into his powerful back. This was all new to me and I wondered why Patrick was having this effect. "Man that feels fantastic. The other one is jealous." Patrick leaned over me and attacked the other one first with his tongue and then his teeth. I could feel his cock pressed up against my leg and he was almost humping it but I didn't care. I could tell he was juiced and horny and the pre-cum trails he was leaving on my leg only added to this hyper awareness I was having. I looked at his bare ass as he chewed on my nipple and humped my leg. Those muscular orbs were flexing and making me think of things I had never done with a guy. Was a guy's ass tighter than a chicks? I'd banged a few chicks in the ass and it was great...was a guy's ass different?

Patrick nibbled his way to my neck and my earlobe. "God do you have a road map to where I like it?" He chuckled and it sent chills down my spine that ended up in my balls. I pulled him fully on top of me and was wondering if I would break my own rule of not kissing. I was that far gone that I wanted to kiss him, that into what he was doing to my body that my brain was not thinking. He whispered something in my ear and I had to pull his head away. "What?"

"Will you fuck me?" There was a look in his eyes that said if I didn't he would take my dick.

"On your hands and knees." His grin was almost feral as he rolled off of me and did as I said. That ass was pointed right at me, that hole looking like it had never been tampered with at all. "Have you ever done this?"

"Oh yeah. I just heal up nicely." I was running my hands along those fleshy orbs and dove face first into his crack. He whimpered and ground his ass into my face while I lapped at the hole I was going to invade. He tasted great, like something tangy and sweet. God I was here with this hunky guy and I was doing things I never thought I would...and I had never wanted anything more than to taste his ass, to feel it quiver as my own tongue slid around and into it. "Oh god Jon! Either never stop that or fuck me now cause I'm getting too close to hold back." I got on my knees and aimed right for it. I pressed in gently, knowing I was big, but like when he got his first taste of the Man he just went for it and slammed back until I had eight inches buried in that hole.

I fell atop him as that velvet vice gripped my dong. Nothing, ever, had felt this good. I stayed there a moment to enjoy the feeling of my first man ass. So tight, so hot, so much better than the chicks I usually banged. When I sat back up I pulled out to the tip and eased back in. "Don't tease me Jon. I want to get fucked like a bitch in heat." I slammed in the rest of the way, all nine plus inches rammed up in him and he whined. "Again, please." So I did. Pulling all the way out I slammed back in and he began to jerk himself off. I slapped his hand away and broke another record as I wrapped my hand around his dick and began to stroke him. "Jon, please don't stop." I didn't. The feel of his rock hard cock was similar to my own when I hit one so it was nothing new, but I realized he was uncut when the sheath kept slipping over the head. That made this a whole new ball game. Also the amount of pre-cum was amazing and that added a lot of lubrication. 

I was driving into his ass while I jacked him off and I felt that familiar churning in my balls. "Do you want it inside of you?" He nodded. Without pulling out I flipped him onto his back and leaned all the way forward while he wrapped those massive legs around my waist. His nails were digging into my back but that only made me pound that tight hole harder. Both of us were breathing hard and I could tell he was as close as I was to blowing his wad. Closer in fact as his balls leaped up and his breathing stopped. Those blue eyes clamped shut and the first volley dribbled over my hand but the next five hit his face, shoulder, chest and upper stomach. But that ass, that vice on my dick, squeezed even tighter with each volley and I lost it. I buried every inch in him and I felt like I was exploding through the head of my cock. I don't know how much juice I shot in him but I know I had never shot that much before. I swear I heard him howling as I fell atop him.

After a moment we both began to chuckle. "Jon, that was..."

"I know. Patrick, dude, if nothing else that was best damn lay ever." I felt something shift in him, something that said he did not fully like my comment. "But I never thought I would ever go this far with any guy. You're a special guy, Patrick." That feeling drained away as he kissed the side of my neck. Guess that was right. I rolled off of him, and out, and lay back on my pillow staring up at the roof of the tent. I turned my head to see him gazing at me with a soft smile on his face. "Are you trying not to cuddle, dude?" He nodded. I pulled him closer and he laid his head on my shoulder. Another thing new. I never cuddle even with chicks. I bang 'em and kiss a bit after and then go shower. "Was this your sinister plan to get me alone in the woods and seduce me?" I asked with a big grin.

"Rats, you found out my evil plot." I couldn't help but laugh. "I would say it was a hope, but not part of my agenda." He was playing with my chest and I had to say this was something I could get used to. A little pillow talk could be added as long as they knew this would not be a permanent thing.

"Well, agenda or not, dude, I would not be adverse to another go when we can find time. Sounds kinda slutty, and I don't wanna offend you," He silenced me by kissing my neck.

"Jon?" I grunted as I tried to find a comfortable position. He had clawed my back pretty good but I really didn't care past trying to sleep. "Thank you. I don't know why you've been so nice to me this week or why you went farther with me than any other guy, but thanks." I squeezed his bicep in a sort of welcome and shifted. "Rock under you?"

"Nope. Someone clawed my back." I chuckled as he bolted upright.

Patrick grabbed the Coleman lantern and lit it. "Turn over." I did and he looked at the scratches. "Oh fuck I am so sorry."

"Dude, I'll heal." But he was not listening. He crawled out of the tent and was back with some gauze, medical tape and two bottles. "They're just scratches."

"No such thing. They could get infected. God please don't let them get infected." I tried to roll over to let him know I was fine but he gently pressed me back down. With a sigh I let him tend to it. "This first one will sting like hell." I nodded and I smelled some strange almost antiseptic scent that alarmed me for some reason. He poured some on a gauze pad and dabbed at the wounds. At first I thought it was bearable but then it stung so fiercely as it began to bubble. 

"Son of a bitch what is that?" I knew better than to roll over or that stuff may run to my more sensitive areas.

"It will kill anything that may have been under my nails."

"What's in it?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Or why." I bit into the heel of my hand to keep from screaming as he wiped and dabbed for almost fifteen minutes. "I hope I got it in time," he mumbled quite a few times. Then I smelled the cleaner scent of Neosporin as he applied that and bandaged me up. It quit stinging like hell after that and just felt scratched. "I am so sorry, Jon. Really, I don't know what came over me. You just smell so good."

"I smell good?" I asked. This was new to me.

"Yeah. That's why women find you so irresistible. Your smell is intoxicating although I doubt most women you've been with knew why they had to have you." He set the stuff aside and slid into his sleeping bag. 

"Seriously? I thought it was cause I'm hot."

"Looks are nothing, but what you got...it's more primal. All the bitches at work smell you as strongly or better than I."

I turned my head to look at him curiously. "Why?" He just turned away. "Patrick, what aren't you telling me?" He stayed silent. "Hey dude. I think I need to know. What the hell is going on?"

He looked back at me and I could swear his blue eyes were glowing in the dim light of the lamp. Glowing like an animal's eyes. "There was marigold and puffball mushroom spores in that to stop the bleeding and help coagulate the blood. Datura to kill the pain," that I scoffed at, "and wolfsbane." I nodded before I really heard what he said.

Then it clicked. "Wolfsbane? As in werewolf?" I said it with a snicker but he nodded. "Yeah right, dude. Nice try." He just looked at me with those eerily glowing eyes. "You really think you're a werewolf?"

"I'm not a wolf, Jon, but I am a Lycan...we all are." I laughed until all our conversations came rolling back into my mind. He always called them bitches, talked about howling, being low wolf in the pack.

It crashed on me like a wave. I knew enough to know that a scratch or bite from a werewolf would turn me into one. "Am I...will I...?" I knew it was ludicrous to believe in werewolves, but what if?

"That's why I hope I got to it in time. It's a new moon, the virus is at its weakest and the wolfsbane should kill it. Should." He looked at me with such sorrow that I could not be mad at him. "If you do change come the next full moon then you'll find yourself with a new OA."

"Would Angus fire you for...infecting me?"

"No, he'd kill me." The plain and blunt way he said it made me cringe. "He may fire me still when he finds out I scratched you and drew blood. Not the best way to transmit it, but still possible. Saliva is second to blood and I know you're not bleeding anywhere else or I would smell it." 

I took mental stock of what I knew of Lycanthropes. Silver killed them, lost their minds during a full moon...then I wondered why I was giving credence to this. "This is insane! You're insane to think you're actually a werewolf."

"I told you I'm not a wolf." I looked at him in triumph. "Not a wolf as you know it. Not Canis Lupus." I shook my head. "Well, you'll know soon enough if I got it out of your system. Like in two weeks when the moon is full."

"Whatever. Lets just get some sleep. We got some hiking to do tomorrow." I turned my head and rolled onto my side with my back turned to him, a clear sign I was not happy. I heard him sigh and roll the other way.



A Full Moon Ch. 02



The next day dawned and I was not surprised Patrick was up before me since I was still mostly on California time. I stretched and regretted it as I felt the scratches again. That brought back the conversation after that simply amazing sex. Dude was whacked out of his mind. A werewolf! But he said he was not Canis Lupus...was there any other type of wolf? It was all so crazy...but some part of me knew he believed it. I pulled on my pants and a long sleeve shirt, boots and my jacket cause it was freezing out there. When I got out of the tent Patrick was standing there with no shirt on and in a pair of jeans. God, insane freak that he was he was still one hunky dude and I knew I would still bang that tight ass. "Sleep well?" he asked me without looking up. I had not made much noise at all.

"Yeah. Some hunky dude wore me out last night." He stood and smiled. I walked over to the stump to sit down while he finished cooking breakfast. My job was dinner. On the way I gave him a pat on his ass and he chuckled a bit.

"Not mad at me for the scratches?"

"Never was. That anti-wolf gunk was harsh dude. That I'm mad at you for." He looked at me on the verge of speaking when he stopped cause I was grinning like a fool. 

"Fuck you." He was laughing at my dopey smile.

"Nope, but I wouldn't mind getting yours again. If you're not too sore." Patrick came over and kissed the side of my neck and my ear. I shuddered because that spot always got me so hot that I would not think...just like last night. But since I had already done all that with this guy I would not feel so bad about doing it again...and again. "Don't start if you won't finish."

Standing he chuckled and went back to cooking. "I know you don't believe me, Jon, but thanks for being so cool about it all."

"So you're a lunatic whack job. Still a cool dude," I said with a snort and he flipped me off. "You know what? Why can't you be this relaxed at work. I mean some decorum must be adhered to, but I like you better like this than that mousy low wolf schmuck."

"Yeah, well, I am that schmuck because I'm not Lupus. The pack is very strict about hierarchy and my kind is almost dead last just above dingos and poodles." I laughed at the serious but merry twinkle in his eye. He believed it so I would not refute it, but it was still funny. "If you get my Lycanth infection you will be shunted out of management and into a menial job. Janitor or mail boy, anything other than a powerful place."

He served up some eggs, bacon and fried potatoes that were better than anything I could make. The subtle flavors were great, adding one more brick to his credibility. Nothing with superior senses wanted bland or nasty food. "What about you. You're an OA. That's middle management."

"Angus is scared to demote me." I raised a brow. "My kind are known to be erratic. We do not get the full Lupus form during the moon. Hybrids."

"You mean like in Underworld?" I loved that movie series. The Lycans from them were freaking awesome. I watched the making of stuff and wished I could have that costume come Halloween. And Kate Beckinsale was just hot.

"More or less. More human, less wolf, but still we retain most of our human side which means conscious thought mixed with animalistic ways. The worst stories about Lycanthropes have been about my kind." I ate slowly, enthralled by this fantasy he had created. It was thorough enough to be real. "But he's scared to demote me specifically." Again I raised a brow in question. "Once in a while there is a Lycan born rather than infected. We as a species are sterile, we infect rather than breed. But it happens maybe once a human generation that a Lycan male successfully breeds with a human female and she bears the child, dying since we come out in our hybrid form with teeth and claws." That would be torture on the poor woman. Ripped literally from the inside. "These children, which I am one, are so rare that they are almost set apart to protect them because half of us can breed. I can breed if I wanted, but since I have yet to find my lifemate, and won't so long as Angus is in power, I have yet to breed."

"Hence the bisexuality."

"Mostly. I'm attracted to whoever smells good." He grinned at me in a way that was purely predatory and the Man began to stand up. Another first since I was never one to get hard without direct contact. "But I'm rare even for my rare kind. I can change outside of a full moon to some degree."

"Then change for me. Make me believe." I was calling his bluff.

"Okay, but I get more sensitive to everything when I'm at that halfway point. I'm giving you a chance to take it back because I will probably take you by force. You smell that good." I wondered if he was actually serious. He was probably stronger than me even if he was not a Lycanthrope so while I may put up a good fight he could probably rape me...so why did this idea not repulse me?

"Later then. I want to go hiking before I get raped by a ravening beast." He laughed and nodded. "If nothing else, Patrick you are awesome to hang out with. You've a helluva imagination, dude, whether it's real or not. You should write a book." I was being honest. I liked him, a lot. Enough to consider making our private time something more than just a fling in the woods. If we could stay friends and fuck on the side it was awesome.

An hour later we were on the trails. I'd set aside my jeans and jacket for shorts and tossed my bag over my shoulders. It was a clear day and warming quickly so the temp plus my moving kept me warm enough. Patrick seemed to lose himself in his hike, inhaling often and deeply to revel in the scents of nature. I would watch him dash to the side and squat to gently lift a flower to his nose with a smile on his face. So innocent an act from a man who could rip apart your average guy from sheer strength; it made me smile. A few times he would come up behind me and wrap his big old arms around my waist and kiss my neck. I would never hear him coming and I never told him to stop since by this time I knew his sense of smell was very good and I knew quite a bit about pheromones. The smell thing was obviously true. He would then pull away with an apologetic look in his eyes and I would smile at him to let him know I was okay with him doing it. It had not occurred to me that we were not even talking but we were communicating through postures and looks. No lies, no muddy truths, just simple communication with nothing to cloud the meaning. I could tell he wanted to kiss me by the way his eyes would drop to my lips, but he would not do it without me saying yes.

Midday came and we were fishing for our supper on a rock in the middle of the stream, sun-warmed and flat. Our shirts and shoes were on it since it was hot enough to not need the shirts and the shoes had gotten a bit damp coming out here. I had already caught a good sized trout but it would be best if we caught a few more so we could eat like kings tonight and tomorrow before we headed back to reality. I was feeling good, better than I had in a long time. Something about the mountains, the clean freshness, was enough to make me glad to come here. Plus I had a great friend already. Now if only that nagging feeling that he was tell the truth about Lycanthropes would go away. I smiled over at him and Patrick returned it. Then the wind shifted and the smile fell off his face. "Jon, could you stand to get in the water?"

"I guess, why?"

"Get in up to your neck and don't make a sound." I opened my mouth to protest but he fixed me with a look that said he would force the issue if I did not. I set down my pole and slid into the bracing cold water, gasping softly. I looked back to see Patrick take of his shorts. Then something leaped the thirty feet to the rock and he went splashing into the water. I was about to call out and go after him when another form landed there. What I saw took my breath away.

It stood eight feet tall on its hind legs with gray fur and maddened red eyes. From its toothy maw came dripping saliva and its snout tried to get a scent of me from where I had been. Its shoulders were hunched and easily four feet across, his paws and claws bigger than the span of my spread hand, and his tail fluffed out in rage. I watched as this Lycan beast's nose twitched as it tried to get my scent and I guessed it was not very much for seeing since I was less than ten feet away. He was telling the truth! All of it had to be true and here was proof. From the water on the other side came Patrick...at least I hoped it was. Obviously male he stood seven feet tall and so massive that I knew he outweighed the monster on the rock. A cross between a man and the monster before me, it had furry cheeks like overgrown mutton chops, white blond fur covered him from shoulder to groin. His nearly human muzzle had blood on it and those stunning blue eyes, Patrick's eyes, caught mine and warned me to stay there. I nodded once. Then he leaped for the beast.

I could not follow the fight. It was too fast, too furious. I could only see gray and white blurs, heard only snarling and howls of pain and I could not tell who it was who was hurt. Blood splattered the rocks and our gear, splattered across my face and as shocked as I was I recalled he said blood was the worst so I ducked under the water and scrubbed it off furiously before it got into my own bloodstream. When I surfaced I saw something that scared me. Patrick was bleeding and on the ground, the monster facing away from me. He was hoisted up and off the ground, held aloft by the beast. Without thinking I was out of the water and pulling the hunting knife from the side of my pack. I leaped, hoping it did not scent me, and scored a stab in the monster's side. It howled in pained fury and dropped Patrick to the stone. It spun faster than I thought it could but aimed too high. It was going for a slash against a Lycanthrope not a tall-ish human. This gave me one chance. I drove the knife up and under the creature's jaw, slamming with every ounce of strength I had, driving the blade into it's brain and twisting for good measure. Its eyes bugged out like it could not believe the audacity of a mere human disabling it. Watching it topple was satisfying. Keeping it in my sight and my pitiful senses open in case their were more, I moved to Patrick's side. He looked up at me. "Get in the water now." His voice was much deeper than normal and it came out with more growl than anything. I was torn between wanting to help and sense.

Sense won. I slipped back into the water and waited. After a very long time I was losing consciousness from the cold water and hypothermia. I recall feeling someone haul me out of the water. That was all until I woke late that night in the tent and Patrick was curled around me, once again human. We were sharing one bag with the other draped over us, anything to keep me warm. The strangest thing was I knew he was as much a monster as those others, just as capable of tearing me apart, but I didn't care. I felt safe. "Patrick?" I asked quietly and his eyes flickered open. "You okay?"

His smile was the most beautiful thing I had seen in a long time. "About as healed as I can be in so short a time. You have got to be the dumbest, bravest human alive to take on a feral with only a hunting knife that was not silver." 

"I could not let it kill you...or whatever it was planning." I placed my hand on his cheek and kissed him. It was soft and loving as any kiss with a woman and he did not try to ravage me like I was half expecting. "But you're fine?" He nodded. "Don't scare me like that again, dude." He chuckled without much humor. "Why did you ask me to get back in the water?"

"I'm a masochist. Pain turns me on...and I could smell you that close to me." I grinned and turned him around to hold onto him as he had held me. He sighed and relaxed back against me. We were naked with his ass pressed against my groin. "You okay with me being Lycan?"

"Gives new meaning to the words doggy style."

"Okay, point of advice. Never call a Lycan a dog. Good way to get killed." But he was smiling at me, his blue eyes radiant in the soft light of the campfire outside banked for the night. "But I'll be your bitch any time."

"I'll hold you to that, Patrick. Those...ferals. Are they dead?" I had to ask. I would not stay in these woods a second longer if they were still around.

"By now they should be. I may be a lowly OA but I have some pull with the former pack leader." He grinned slyly. "He is my father after all." I chuckled, knowing a little bit more about how he survived in a place where he was a pariah. "I let him know there were ferals in the area and he discreetly told the hunters. If there were anymore of them they are dead or fled by now."

"And does Daddy know about your seducing the new guy?" I asked nuzzling his neck and kissing his ear.

"He should since he and two hunters are sitting around the fire right now chuckling at how fast I work." My jaw dropped and he nodded.

"You mean they..." I trailed off as I felt my face flush. While I was unconcerned with them knowing I had sex with Patrick, I was scared that they might know I may have been infected.

"My father knows everything since he willing stepped down before his prime had passed and I keep him abreast of everything within the company and pack. He knows you banged the shit out of me last night. He could smell you on me." I groaned and heard a soft chuckle from outside.

"Pipe down voyeurs," I barked and they all laughed. I ended up laughing too which only made it funnier. I leaned as close as I could to his ear and barely breathed out, "Thank you for saving my life." He shivered and nodded. "Should I put some clothes on? I want to meet your dad." He looked amused. "No?"

"You're a human and you incapacitated a feral. That shows a lot of mettle. You could go naked in front of him to show you are not afraid of him but do not come bearing weapons." He whispered this last part so quietly I almost could not hear him. I nodded and climbed out of the bags and smiled down at him. Leaning forward I kissed him again, this time he kissed back. So much for that rule, but then Patrick was special, had been the moment he came into my office, and now I knew why. I slipped out of the tent naked as the day I was born except for the bandages on my back.

I could tell who his father was even without the other two packing hunting rifles. Save for the different hair color Patrick was a dead ringer for his dad and I found myself thinking his mother, who I realized was dead from his birth, would have fallen fast and hard for this man with that easy smile and merry blue eyes. "Jonathan Davenport, welcome to Massachusetts. I do hope my son has been... accommodating." I shook his hand when he offered. He was a taller version of his son, almost as big as Angus in height but broader in the shoulders.

"In every way, Mr. Andrews. You've got quite a fine son and I hope that we become even closer friends in the future."

"Oh gag!" came one of the hunter's voice. I looked at...her. "Pop, he's banging my bro, do I have to listen?" He had a sister? She looked nothing like him at all...except in the shape of the nose. She was not even all that pretty and I realized she was not Lycan. He had a human sister? Older, she had to be near thirty-one or two.

"No, but he is a very respectful man. Covertly asking for my blessings for him to pursue my son, which I give since he put his own life on the line to save him." He turned back to me with a final nod. "I can tell you have feelings for him that you do not know how to put into words. Mariam over there cannot smell you as we can and I must say Patrick was right. There is a part of your natural scent that even makes me pay attention and I have no desire for male company. He fell for you the moment you walked off the elevator." I couldn't help but grin as Patrick put his arm around my waist and smiled up at me like a love sick puppy.

"Patrick's a very special guy, Mr. Andrews. I would not have been so open were he not." This was new to me and I realized that I could hide nothing from the man. He could smell my emotions and sift through them like I would search for a phrase in my computer at work. He could tell I was already struggling with something I barely knew was there.

"I believe that when the time comes you will find a true friend in each, truer than either of you know or have seen so far." Cryptic much, but I wondered if he wasn't right. I cared for Patrick and I knew he cared for me. I didn't even know why I cared so much about him to do the things we had, I only knew that I was falling for him and I was willingly traveling down a road I never would have gone with any other guy. "Now both of you need your rest to heal. Lycanthropes may heal very fast, Pat, but you need your rest." He nodded and slipped back into the tent. "We shall be standing guard through the night so you need not fear. Isaac, please give Jonathan the gift." The silent hunter came over and pulled a silver wolf's head medallion out of his pocket with a gloved hand. "That item should keep whatever last traces of the infection from gaining hold until your body can fight it off. Wear it to work and in open view if you wish to be left alone. The sight of it will deter all but the most adamant pests and the touch of that will hurt any Lycan, not just wolves," he said and then smiled. "Just don't use it on my son if he gets too grabby."

"He's had every chance in the world to take advantage and has not. I doubt he ever will." I nodded my farewells and slipped into the tent, the pendant going into my bag openly in front of Patrick so he would know where it was. Then I slipped into the bag beside him and wrapped my arms around his broad chest, exploring his body and learning what it was like to hold a man. We fell asleep with me playing with his chest hair.

Sunday dawned a sparkling blue with white clouds wisping overhead. I could hear Patrick talking to his dad softly as I pulled on my clothes. I left my shirts off and walked out to sit next to the fire. "Morning gentlemen."

"How do you feel this morning, Jonathan?" asked Mr. Andrews.

"A little sore but that's only across my back." Patrick dashed to the tent and came back with the first aide kit. He gently removed the old bandage and looked at the scratches. Mr. Andrews came around to look and I heard him audibly sniffing them.

"I smell no infection, Lycan or otherwise, in his back." Patrick heaved a sigh of relief and let it air out for a while. "You are lucky my son cares for you so. Not many Lupus would have cleansed your scratches."

"He said Angus would be pissed if I was infected by him. Why is that?" Patrick gave me breakfast which also came with a kiss.

"Execs are trained and cultivated so they can be infected. That is what the outlying branches are for in reality." Human farms? My mind easily grasped the idea and found it shrewd. "Likely candidates are brought here for closer inspection for traits we like. One is the capacity to breed as only a certain genome is needed which you have." I nodded like I was impressed with myself. "There are a few others but that is the one I put in the founding charter of the company. I want Lycans to be their own people not infecting to multiply. That virus tends to corrupt the host, bringing out their worst parts. With each breeding pair we have we come one step closer to actually having our own race not dependent upon humans anymore."

"Not to interrupt but that sounds like a great idea, from the view point of a human. So if Patrick infected me and I came out like him, which I doubt would be a bad thing in my opinion all things considered, I would have been wasted breeding stock and wasted money. At least to Angus." I got a few nods. "I knew I didn't like him. Patrick is worth ten times all those flea bitten mongrels we work with that treat his kind like trash." Patrick looked scandalized and Mr. Andrews just laughed. "I'm serious. None of them have shown the slightest bit of worth other than a few bitches who just like me cause of my smell."




A Full Moon Ch. 02



Even I could see the admiration in the former pack leader's eyes. His posture said he was proud of the way I was holding his son in high esteem and had he a tail I knew it would be wagging. "Well said. This loyalty is one of those traits I look for. I could wish you were a female for the breeding reason, but this closeness is better for him now and I think you as well. Here is the question though. Would you, now knowing, consent to being infected?"

"Not by them! If not Patrick then you as I doubt you'd do it painfully. Blood in my food? Saliva? I can think of a few non-violent ways to transmit it. There is still that chance that I am infected right?" Both nodded. I could not believe I had just said that but it was how I felt. There was something with the way these two were that made being infected by them okay in my mind. "Then we wait until after the full moon. If me being Lupus means a place in the company then I don't care." I reached over and took Patrick's hand. "I just don't want to lose this guy."

"Not even Angus would fire you or kill you. Breeders are too rare." I smiled at Patrick who kissed my fingers. "I have dallied too long. It was a pleasure to see you are better than your company profile, Jonathan." We all stood and Patrick gave his father a big rib cracking hug. I would have been ground to dust but the old wolf just grinned and returned it. "Do come around the house for Thanksgiving, the both of you." I shook his hand and I was startled that there were twelve hunters that melted out of the foliage to jump in the two SUV's along with Mariam and the silent one.

"Oh they're good." We waved as they drove off. "Think we could go bathe? I feel grimy?" He nodded and we grabbed some towels and some natural soaps he used to not hurt the environment. I looked at the pendant in my bag.

"Bring it just in case," he said and I did, putting it around my neck. I leaned forward, kept it from swinging and touching him, to give him a kiss. "I wonder why I am so special to you."

"Maybe to my human nose you smell good." He laughed that adorable laugh and we went down to the stream and a deep pool that had formed behind a few large boulders. Stripping naked we eased into the water and dunked ourselves. I grabbed the soap from him and began to lather up his body as we waded to the shallow end. He was growling in content, not afraid anymore to let his natural reactions come out. I ran the bar along his chest, paying close attention to those eraser like nubs and he shivered as I gave one a light pinch. I circled around behind and pressed up against him as I washed his hard abs and lats, trailing tender kisses and nibbling along his neck and shoulders.

"Oh Jon, you are going to be in trouble if you don't stop that. I don't want to run the risk of hurting you again." But he didn't stop me. I slipped my hands around to wash his back, being more utilitarian. I gotta say his back reminded me a lot of the waves at Santa Cruz. Gently rolling and powerful at the same time. It was almost too perfect. I was getting hard and I backed off to slip my hands to those fleshy orbs. I massaged and caressed his ass cheeks while I tickled that pucker which felt like I had not invaded it at all. Fast healing indeed. "Jon...oh Jon stop teasing me and...oh!" He stopped as I shoved in, every inch slamming into that ass. Patrick looked over his shoulder with those blue eyes telling me to do my worst. 

"Not this time. This time I want you my way." He nodded and I just kept the pace slow and steady, deep strokes that I could keep up for close to an hour. My hands did not stop their washing either and I moved them around and grasped that rigid pole, pulling back the foreskin and washing the head. Patrick began to squirm and whimper. "Like that?" He only nodded, to lost in the sensation I was giving him. I knew how sensitive I was when someone just played with the tip and his would be ten times as sensitive because of his Lycanthropy. He was squirming and grunting, writhing in a few minutes what would have taken me almost a half hour. I grabbed the base of it to keep as much blood in the shaft and head as I could and them really polished his knob. He was loving every touch and wanting it to last but he was being tortured. "Got to make sure it's clean." I let go and he finally sagged a bit in relieved disappointment.

"Why?" he asked softly while I rinsed it off. I pulled out of his ass and turned him around. His eyes almost popped out of his head as I leaned forward and took the head in my mouth. His body trembled as I ran my tongue around the tip tasting not only the soap but a unique flavor that had to be him. "No, if you do that I may infect you." He tried to pull out but I wrapped my hands around his ass. He could easily dislodge me but I was letting him know in no uncertain terms I wanted to suck his cock. The feel of it was almost cool, strangely cool. Patrick quit trying to fight and just let me explore his dong. I pulled the skin all the way back and licked around the tip which had him quivering again, his breathing erratic. "Jon, please stop. I don't want to infect you." 

I stood up and kissed his mouth tenderly. "Patrick, you didn't hear me when I was talking to your dad. I don't care if I get infected so long as it's by you or maybe him." He looked at me like I was speaking Hawaiian. "If I get infected, I get infected. I don't want it to be by claws or fangs, and this... I want this." He swallowed heavily and nodded. I went back down to that thick rod and took more than the head. I had never sucked a cock before in my life but I knew what I liked and tried to do the same. My jaw would not open far enough to let me get more than half in but that seemed enough for him. I was sucking a dick and I was hard as a rock! God I was loving the velvety hardness of the meat in my mouth and I wanted more, but I couldn't do it yet.

"Jon, I think I should tell you I got a hair trigger." I smiled up at him with his cock in my mouth and put a finger up his ass. His howl was soft but carried for quite a distance as I worked that finger in and out of that chute and licked my way down to those hefty orbs that were churning in his sac. I took one in my mouth and his hand went to my head. Instead of applying pressure he just played with my hair. "Oh god no one has ever done this to me, Jon." I took one in my mouth and sucked gently while pulling it away from his body until there was the slightest of pain. "And you thought I had a road map?" I released it with a pop from my mouth and took the other one to do the same, all the while my finger was sliding in and out of the place I really wanted to be in. "Oh fuck! I'm gonna cum." Like a striking snake I whipped my head up and wrapped my lips around the rigid dong, catching the first volley in my throat. 

My only thought was I wanted more. I wanted everything he could give me. He was howling loudly now, pulling my head into his crotch with more force than I really could handle but I stayed there for him. It filled my mouth and I swallowed, feeling it slide down my throat and into my gut. I lapped it all up and when his knees finally gave way I caught him and eased him back against the rocks. "I got to say this." I kissed him passionately and pulled back. "I love you Patrick. I want to be with you. If that means I get infected then awesome."

"You...love me?" I nodded and he smiled and kissed me back. "Tell me you love me again."

"I love you." He kissed me with such fire and desire that he did not have to say the words. I knew he loved me. A thought ticked into my head and I pulled back. "What about lifemate?"

"Company policy. Not an actuality except in some very, very rare cases among Lycan birds." I almost asked but left it alone. So I would not lose him to some breed bitch. "Jon, I..." I kissed him softly to let him know he did not have to say a thing.



A Full Moon Ch. 03



Monday in the office was kinda funny in a scary way. I knew they were all Lycanthropes of whatever sort. Wolves were the most dominant here with a few tigers, owls and bears thrown in. The funny thing is I was not the least bit frightened and I should have been. I came in whistling and all the bitches took one sniff of me and look so confused. I know they smelled me, but they also smelled Patrick's scent that still lingered about me although he had told me how to clean up with a soap that neutralized odors to some extent. Yet I was wearing my heavy jacket since it was raining and we had cuddled in it together beside the fire before we drove back to Salem. His scent still lingered on it and thus on me. No need for him to mark his territory, I did it for him. 

I stepped onto the elevator with a pretty brunette with pansy eyes and a great set of tits. Normally I would have been all over her but I was not in the mood for anyone other than Patrick. She on the other hand was very happy to see me. "Hi. You're Jonathan right?"

"Sure am."

"My name is Connie," she said with a sight purr in her voice.

"Ah, Constance Yates from accounting. I'm glad I caught you alone." Her face lit up and she stepped closer, her blouse seeming to open of its own accord to offer a great look into the Grand Canyon of Cleavage, the Marianas Trench of Tits. "Other than your duties in accounting you handle overseas accounts in the Caymans, right?" She nodded, sidling up closer to where her leg was touching mine. Heavy handed tactics that could get her fired. "The sales for that region are down by fifteen percent. I need you to inquire among your peers who is being lazy. Reviews are coming up after the next filing day and I would hate to bear the bad news since I have only been here a week."

The look on her face was comical. She was expecting something a bit more romantic I think. "I'm the only one who sells to that region," she said as she took a step back. Her nose must have told her I was not interested in her at all. I did not like to be hunted like this, it was a turnoff.

"Then I'm glad this was a private conversation. Try to get your sales up before reviews so I can say that a discreet word was all it took to get you back on track. I am sure Mr. McLeod will be happy to know his employees aren't lazy." She stepped closer again and slid her hand inside my jacket and pulled it away as if burned. "Oh! Are you okay? Did you cut yourself on my necklace?" I asked and pulled out the silver wolf head. She looked at it and took a very hasty step back just as the doors opened for my floor. "If it gets too painful you should get a band-aid. Can't risk infection." I waved as the doors closed and chuckled to myself, removing my outer jacket and letting them all see the pendant. Almost as a one every set of eyes looked to it, knew what it meant, and looked away.

"You are going to cause trouble, young man." I looked back at the janitor, that Sean Connery look alike. He glanced at the pendant and snickered. "Nice necklace."

"Thanks. Mr. Andrews sent it to me via my OA as a welcoming gift to the main office. Seems he likes that I play no favorites and don't tolerate prejudice where I work." I looked him dead in the eye, knowing this was one of Patrick's kind. His slightly wrinkled face broke into a grin. 

"Seems like someone told ya before they should have." He did not seem displeased about that either. I think he was kind of happy I was openly saying I would not tolerate anyone putting the Canis Lunais down because they were born Lycans and not infected. 

"It happens when I'm in charge of layoffs. I want to thank you, Eugene, for keeping my office so clean. Nice to know someone around here takes their duties seriously and with professional decorum." He nodded and went on about his day. I walked to my office and hung up my coat. Patrick came in with my memos and messages. "Close the door and let me hear what I have going on today." He closed the door and quietly came over to kiss my cheek.

"Thanks for Gene. He gets way more harassment than I do."

"Is that a formal complaint?" He shook his head, telling me I had to see it for myself. I nodded and we got to work. Once I had the rundown he went back to his desk and I sat at mine. We had agreed to play it cool although anyone with eyes, ears and a nose could tell we were intimate, just not at work. No sooner had I sat than my phone rang. "Jonathan Davenport," I said briskly.

"It's Angus. There has been an incident report with your name in it." He sounded almost angry.

"Really? I just got here twenty minutes ago and my entire trip here I was never alone. I am sure security cameras saw my every move." The bitch had run and told on me.

"A young lady filed an injury report and cited you as the cause."

"You mean Ms. Yates in accounting? I had a private conversation with her informing her that her sales were down and that reviews were coming up. I believe in thanks she gave me a chaste and companionable pat and cut her finger or something on my necklace. I told her she should put a band-aid on it to lessen the chance of infection. It should be all logged on the camera."

"Jonathan, don't hem and haw with me. What happened?"

"She practically was trying to get me out of my clothes in the elevator and had her hands in my jacket and cut her finger." You wanna play hardball, Connie? I can play all day. "I would like to hope she will not make advances like this again in hopes of garnering favor so close to reviews." I opened up her employee file and found seventeen claims of harassment against her in the past year alone but none panned out.

"I see. By your tone and first statement you don't seem to want to make this formal." Angus was looking for a way to keep everyone happy since he was probably watching the surveillance footage right now.

"I am flattered by her attention but I think it inappropriate for the work place. I believe a gentle warning should suffice. I am sure this is an isolated event." Bull shit! The bitch was a fucking whore by the statements the other guys had made.

"Then I will speak to her discreetly. So you are doing you reviews after the next filing days?"

"Yes sir. You probably know my file inside and out so you know I do them at random times." I heard a grunt on the other end of the line.

"I won't keep you then, Jonathan." He hung up and I stuck my tongue out at the receiver before hanging it up. Time to do some investigating. Time to cause some trouble. By the end of the day, after two meetings with the top sellers for the region, to learn first hand what I needed to know here, I had done some digging and found the entire employee roster for the building. Calling in Patrick we went over every name and he pointed out every Lunais here and then I went further. I found out not only were they not being promoted when they had better skills than the mongrels they put there, they were not getting raises. I checked everywhere to look for patterns to use so it did not look like I was singling out this group of people. I found some other non-wolves that were being shafted for those who were wolves or at least canines. I compiled the list and found out the names of all those who got the jobs instead and as a whole their work was substandard. 

All week I gathered info on everyone because I was going to shake this company and its stupid hierarchy up. I even dug around in Patrick's file for any dirt and found only that he had never applied himself to assisting his last boss. "Lacks initiative," and "lazy" were common in the reports. The last boss was transferred out by Angus for embezzling so the reports were ignored. Nice to know my boy was a hard worker. File after file I looked at, even logging in extra hours to get this review done. Friday afternoon I sent out a mass email letting all the staff know how I did my reviews. It was simple. White backgrounds showed no problems and they were in no way getting fired, but they would not be up for promotion. Red was a notice of a probationary period where their division heads would keep an eye on them to look for improvement or I would personally. Yellow backgrounds were for exemplary reports and to let them know they are being considered for raises and/or promotions. Grey was a notice of termination where they would have one chance to meet with me, their division head and Angus to discuss reassignment rather than termination.

"You have an interesting way of doing things, Jonathan," said Angus when I handed him the approval for this style of notification. "Simple and direct with nothing to get wrong. I like this reassignment idea."

"They should not be punished if they fail to succeed in a place they may have trouble in. I recall my supervisor transferred me to another division and I flourished there rather than get fired."

"All good then. When will these be sent out?"

"Next Thursday after we get back from the filing days. Only you know this. Less anxiety that way, less mistakes during filing. The actual reviews for the rest will be at your convenience." He nodded like that was a good idea. It had been Patrick's idea too since he said after a full moon Lycanthropes are very lethargic for a day or two and more susceptible to accepting change. This way they would not really raise a stink if they get canned.

"Good. You are aware that your division head for sales enters in your reports."

"Yup. He told me I would be evaluated for next review. Training period."

"Good." He dismissed me with a wave of his hand and I left his office and headed down to mine.

Gene was just leaving it with a load of trash and I gave him a nod of thanks which he returned. On my desk was a small basket with a red bow and a card. It was filled with fudge, my one major vice, and I sat to read the card.

Jonathan,

Thanks for thinking the best of us here.

That was all it said and it brought a smile to my face. Looks like word got around of what I was doing and I know which little bird told which little bird. "Patrick could you come here for a moment?"

"Yes, Mr. Davenport." He came in my office and shut the door. He looked at the fudge and smiled.

"Someone has been very generous to me. Since I don't know who sent them I cannot find favor with anyone." I stood and wrapped my arms about his waist. "Tell him thanks for the delivery and to thank the cook."

"You are smarter than they know."

"You are the only one who knows what I'm planning, knows I love fudge, and who it affects. So you will let them know." I swatted him on the butt and shooed him from my office with a piece of fudge in his hands. 



A Full Moon Ch. 04



All weekend and into the next week I had not slept well. I chalked it up to the reviews but it wasn't. Monday night had me pacing my floor in my sleeping shorts. It was the first night of the full moon and I was merely waiting for it show its face through my window. Patrick told me that I was to stay away from him during the full moon and I had to agree. He would be getting all fuzzier and I may not. I scratched my chin in thought. A smile toyed about my lips as I thought about Sunday night and lying in bed with him. Just out of the shower we crawled between the sheets and just relaxed. Our love making had become regular as far as it happened every night, but it was far from normal. He liked it when I was rough and it made him even more wild to know that he had to restrain himself just in case I had not been infected. Any time we were together outside of work we never wore clothes. Just before the shower when I had dropped my pants he was right there to slide that soft tongue up the shaft to get me aroused which took all of a second. He didn't spend much time down there since we always had sex in the shower. Less chance of bodily fluids being exchanged even though if I wasn't blowing my wad in his ass it was down his throat. He seemed to like the taste. "It's like your smell. There is something about it that exudes sex appeal. I bet every bitch...I mean woman you have been with swallowed even if she hadn't before."

"True. Huh." I thought about it too and he was right. Every person I had been with had swallowed. I just thought I was lucky. I could not argue his point since I could not get enough of his load. Something about it was like nectar from his nuts and I was the hummingbird. I could not get enough even though he produced it like ten times faster than I did. I could swallow one at breakfast on Saturday and get the same size load an hour later and every hour after.

My train of thought, which had my dong making a tent in my shorts, stopped as the full moon peeked in my window. It looked at it, hoping I did not change and praying I did. There was nothing at first, but I felt a gut wrenching pain that made me bend over grabbing my sides. I fell to the floor in agonizing pain and I felt my skin crawling as my body hair began to grow and become denser. It came in thick and jet black when I was an auburn. Feeling the shorts tighten and then get shredded as I grew out of them was the most comfortable part of this. The most painful was the growing of the tail. That alone was as painful as when I dislocated my shoulder in high school playing football and fell on it the next day. I could feel it elongating, feel every inch that was not natural to my body as waves of agonizing pain that were worse than the last...

Then all the pain was gone, leaving me whimpering and whining on the floor. I knew I had changed but as I stood I was no Lupus. I stood on my hind legs and had to duck to not bump the ceiling. My paws were huge and I realized I was far bigger than the feral in the woods. I took an unsteady step towards the mirror in the corner, my tail automatically compensating for my new gait. Dude, I gotta say this though. When I got to the mirror I looked at the lupine face of one sexy wolf. I was massively muscled, sleek, trim and glistening in the lamplight. My eyes had retained the same dark green but were now flecked with gold and when I smiled my teeth were white and sharp as knives. "Look out Patrick," I said, my voice much deeper and sounding like James Earl Jones dropped a few octaves.

I pulled out a pair of sweat pants that would fit in the waist and eased them on. I was way surprised I could manipulate objects almost as well as I could as a human and I gingerly slipped my legs into them. I ended up having to rip off the elastic cuffs from the bottom and then they went on albeit like long shorts. I thought about going out and over to Patrick's house but that could be bad. He could mistake me for someone else and attack. He could not be home and I would be running the risk of being found by neighbors. I may run afoul of other Lycans which would suck in a bad way. So opted to stay home and went down stairs carefully. They creaked under my increased weight but I knew they would hold since I did not weigh more than six hundred pounds by my estimate and they could hold eight hundred on each step. I cringed when a car went by outside, but I knew it for what it was even if my now far superior hearing thought it was coming through the wall at me. I smelled that my cottage cheese was going bad and tossed it out; I only realized why when I tossed it and knew that I had smelled it from upstairs. I knew I was far stronger as I could feel it in every movement I made. My muscles rippled with awesome strength and I wondered how much of it would carry over to my human self.

I taught myself to drink water by lapping it since I did not have the same mechanism as a human, even eying the toilet with humor. "Nasty," I rumbled and then chuckled. I sat on the floor and then curled up finding that better than sitting since I now had a tail. I realized I was dead tired and not even hungry. I had expected to go tearing off into the night to steal chickens or cattle to feed my monstrous appetite, but I was not even hungry. I did get up and found out I could walk on all fours just as easily as bipedal and since I did not have to stoop to go through the halls I found it easier indoors. I grabbed the leftover meatloaf from the night before and ate it because I knew I would be hungry in the morning. That done I went back upstairs and into my room where I closed the curtains, turned out the light, and curled up on the floor. No sense in getting dog hairs in the bed. I was tired from the lack of sleep leading up to tonight and I knew I would sleep like a rock. Tucking my nose under my tail I was soon dreaming about chasing deer through the forest and feasting on the entrails with a huge pack beside me.

I awoke on the floor and stretched. When I looked down I wondered if I had dreamed it all, but I was wearing the sweatpants which I cinched the drawstring and stood. I was curious and lifted the edge of my huge bed, easily lifting the solid oak four poster with one hand. "Epic," I said and took a quick shower. I set out my clothes for the day and dialed Patrick.

"Hello?" came his voice on the other side. He sounded tired. Must have had a rough night. Did my insomnia give me a better night than the others because I slept?

"Hey there Patrick, guess what."

"By the way you sound you didn't change." I could not tell if he was happy or sad.

"Wrong, dude. I make one sexy black wolfman." I heard the phone hit the floor. It made me snicker that he had reacted so well. I would have paid to see the look on his face when I told him.

"What? You changed?" His voice had that same double edge tone. "I'm coming over."

"Good. I need to get a few lessons tonight and I want to see you. I missed holding you." I did too. The line went dead and I smiled. He was certainly eager!

He was at my door ten minutes later looking dead to the world but still so handsome to my eyes. I kissed him softly on the lips, making sure to keep the pendant away from him. Patrick began sniffing me and gave me the oddest look. "You don't smell any different and you should." His eyes went to the pendant. "And you're wearing silver. Are you sure you didn't just dream it?"

I looked down at the pendant which I had taken off to shower and put back on like I had since I had gotten it. I had been wearing it last night during the change and had not been hurt. "But how?" I went over to my sofa and lifted it one handed into the air. "I couldn't do this before."

"I'm calling my Father. He may know something about this." He reached for the phone and I felt like this would be a bad idea. Something said I should keep my Lycanthropy as much of a secret as I could. Perhaps it was that last shred of doubt I had about losing my humanity.

"No, we can figure it out." He stopped and looked at me strangely. "Dude, we're both intelligent people. If we don't come up with anything then we can ask Mr. Andrews." That satisfied him and he came back over.

"Describe the change and how it felt." I did, in very vivid detail. Every tingle from the hair growing, the act of balancing compensated by my tail, the pain of that tail growing. The jumping at the car driving by, knowing I needed more cottage cheese, scarfing down a half of a meatloaf like it was nothing.

"You did change, but how can you be awake like this? First changes are always the worst and I know you had not been sleeping well. That would knock you out like you said, but you would...should still be comatose. How can you still be wearing the pendant?" I shrugged and took it off. Patrick's nose flared at the same time mine did. I knew what he smelled like and I liked his scent. It was subtle and earthy like the delicate dew on morning grass. Now I smelled all of him. That same sexual smell that I had always liked even subconsciously was there but it was so prevalent that my cock was getting hard right there. I could smell his own arousal and confusion as to why my scent suddenly flared like his own. I dropped the pendant on the floor and ripped off his clothes, he hands doing the same to mine. I was still mostly in control of my thoughts and I recalled him saying he would rape me if he could smell me stronger. I knew what he meant now. I could not keep my hands, my mouth, anything off him. Our lips smashed together as our tongues battled for dominance. Those gentle hands that I knew could rip me apart were trying to do that right then, his normal boundaries gone for the moment, but it was nothing compared to the raking trails I was leaving along his back. He was whimpering in pleasure as I went from his mouth to his neck and bit, not nibbled my way down his chest to his nipple. I chewed on it like it was the finest candy and I felt something in me shift. Something changed in me and I could feel a new thought process bloom. I tapped into that and I whined as I felt myself change. Patrick stepped back and watched me become a hybrid, not the full one I was last night but one like him in the woods; more wolf than fully human. I got a lot taller, a lot bigger and the hairs on my body grew out to be a short blanket of black mixed with auburn.

It was not painful at all but my senses were again much keener than when I was fully human but not as good as last night. "Believe me now," I asked with a smile and his answer was to run his fingers through my hair which felt so good I fell over in puppyish submission. "No wonder dogs love this. Don't stop, me likey."

"Jon, this is amazing. You can touch silver." I nodded like I had gotten that memo. "Any silver?" I perked up at the thought and got to my feet reluctantly. I trudged to the china cabinet and opened a drawer. I took out a silver spoon and held it. Nothing happened to me at all. Patrick touched it with the barest amount of skin and pulled back with a hiss. "You are amazing."

"I know that, but what about me being able to touch silver?" Despite everything he laughed and socked me hard in the shoulder. Harder than ever but it still felt the same. Mondo pain tolerance! I gave him one back and he went staggering. When he looked up his smile was one of challenge, but I held up my hands. "Not in the house, Patrick." I looked inward again and found the off switch for my mid-form. The change back had me staggering and he caught me before I went face first into the wall.

"Easy, love, you need to wait a bit before you change to and from." I nodded, staying there in his arms. He lifted me easily and put me on the sofa. I smiled up at him and pulled him atop me which was my favorite position to cuddle even though I was the top in our relationship. Our naked bodies were entwined in a gentle embrace, far from the savagery of the first part of this. Our senses were no duller but that sudden flare was gone which I liked. We both liked to be slow and almost lazy about our love making, knowing that when we got to the actual sex it would be fiery and almost violent since he loved pain. Now, with me infected, there was no reason to restrain ourselves from him digging his nails into my back like he had the first time. That made me tingle with anticipation.

It was new for me to feel everything more keenly and when he began to nibble at my ear and neck I whimpered and bucked below him. He stayed on, but he looked shocked. "Sorry. That's more sensitive now than before." He raised a brow and kissed down my hairless chest to my rigid dong. My back arched as he licked the tip as softly as he could. "Oh fuck me running!" I gasped and pushed his head down. Like he always did he took every inch on the first taste but this time I had no control over my reaction and I shot the load of all cum loads down his throat. My nails raked along his back and he groaned which made me shoot harder since I was buried in his throat. It seemed like eternity that it went on and when I finally crashed back down to earth from orbit I saw him grinning like a fool. "Think you're all that, huh?" He nodded. I picked him up in my arms, not tired in the least, and carried him up the stairs, a feat I could never have done even in as good a shape as I was. Short he may be, but Patrick was one solid dude. I eased him onto the bed and pressed my lips to his, content to just kiss him as he was content to be kissed. Patrick wrapped his arms around me as I slid on top of him, a rare position for us during cuddle time...

Then the phone rang. We both growled at it simultaneously and then snickered. I picked it up and said, "You had better be my mother or dying for interrupting me." Patrick had only heard me answer the phone like this if we had been waylaid and it brought a dopey grin to his face.

"No, bro, but when you hear the righteous news you'll die."

"Dean...dude I don't care if you got laid this century, you're killing me here." I put him on speaker phone and went back to lie atop Patrick and toy with his chest hair. I had told him enough about Dean that he had wanted to meet him.

"Gettin' some, dude? Bogus timing, but since she's probably been plowed like a hundred times she can rest while I tell you the most awesome news." I laughed and kissed Patrick's nose.

"Fine, but I won't be responsible should you get a letter bomb. Tell me your news so I can get back to what I want to be doing." Patrick flipped us over and began to trail kisses along my jaw. I didn't care if Dean heard us snogging, he'd banged a chick with me once.

"Bro, I got a promotion...to your old job!" I mimed shooting myself in the head and Patrick snickered

"Super, bye."

"You know what that means right? You're staying at HQ for a long time." I could see the appeal of his new job then. I would be able to stay with Patrick much longer than I thought. Maybe there was a certain former pack leader behind this. That would be the sneaky thing I would expect from a werewolf who liked me with his pup. Apparently Patrick understood the same thing and kissed me very passionately. "So you fitting in?"

"Never have, most pussies are too tight for me." Dean roared with laughter and Patrick stopped kissing me to chuckle silently against my chest. "Dean, you remember me telling you the company was sold? Well, the former owner is an awesome dude. He likes the fact I'm sleeping with his offspring." Patrick chuckled harder and to keep quiet he went back down to my balls and began to lick and suck on them. My voice shook as I said, "Best head ever. Great body, bluest eyes, tighter than anything in history, perfect ass..." I trailed away in a groan.

"Blowing ya right now, huh?" I made some sort of affirmative grunting noise. "Awesome. Well when can I meet her?"

"Never. Dude, I'm hanging up now."

"Righteous, I'm at your front door anyway." The door bell rang. I slammed my hand on the disconnect button on my phone and looked down at Patrick who whined like a cute, beaten puppy. He wanted to continue, and so help me I wanted to never stop, but if that really was Dean then I would be going to prison for murdering my bud.

"I hate him. I will infect him and stab him with a silver spoon in his brain!" Patrick laughed and rolled off of me. I wanted to scream, but I did miss my bud. "Go put on a robe, love, and lets go get revenge by telling him I'm dating a guy exclusively." I pushed off the bed and did not bother to put on any clothes which had the Man standing at half mast when I went to the front door to look through the peep hole. Sure enough there was the dipshit right there. With a small bag which meant he was staying for maybe one night or two since the filing day was company wide. I opened the door and glared.

"Whoa, I did interrupt." He stepped inside since it was like 2° out there right now, but I had not felt it at all. Added perk: ignoring all but the most extreme weather. "Put the Man away so I won't get bashed if you turn too fast." I snorted and picked up the pile of rags that had been mine and Patrick's clothes.

"Have a seat while I go put on some pants. I'll never forgive you for this," I said as I always did when he did something that made my life harder. I always forgave him though. Dean sat and I turned to go back up stairs but Patrick was right there with a pair of pants which he exchanged for the pile of rags silently to get rid of them and grab the essentials out of it. "Okay. So why the fuck did you fly all the way out here?" I pulled on my pants and made sure the Man was comfy.

"Orientation. Guess they got some training thing now that tells me how to say you're fired." I laughed and shook my head. "I'll be here in town for the week at a posh hotel the company is paying for. So where is this bodacious babe you were banging?" He set his bag on the sofa next to him and took off his shoes to tuck his feet under him. Like me he hated shoes and suits. Hell he hated anything below 65°.

"Probably ran out of the room and leaped out the window." Patrick came in with a quick breakfast and sat in my lap. Dean's eyes just about bugged out of his head as he saw the sheer size of my wolfman in a sarong. Just to make him even more freaked out I kissed Patrick softly on the lips while sliding my hand across his chest and caught his lip with my teeth as we pulled apart which made him whimper. I looked back at Dean whose mouth was so wide he could fit both our dicks in it with room to spare. Never have I seen him so shocked. He knew I fooled around with a few guys in college but knew my rules. "Dean, this is my boy Patrick. Babe, this is Dean, my bud." 

Patrick leaned forward and shook his stunned hand. "Nice to meet you. Jon's told me so many stories about you. Do you really have a birthmark on your left nut?" He turned that gorgeous smile on him and I could barely suppress my grin as Patrick's scent went to what I could only think of as happy. It was like smelling sunshine. He was playing up the gay boy role so well, complete with fake lisp and flopping hand gestures towards his crotch.

"Me chu," Dean said...and least that's what it sounded like. Patrick and I broke into laughter and both pointed at him. It was so funny to see his eyes trying to pull back into his head. This was totally worth being interrupted...almost. "Is this for real? I mean...whoa."

"Yeah it is dude." Patrick sat in the chair beside me, careful to keep his still somewhat bleeding back for staining the upholstery. "I met him at work and he's the best friend I have here."

"I saw him get off the elevator and right away I fell in love." I smiled over at Patrick although he knew what I was feeling. "Here is this tall, handsome man who the first day to call me by his first name."

"And that's weird how?" Dean asked.

"He's my boss. I'm his OA." Patrick had dropped the act which was only funny for a short time. Dean sent me a sly look.




A Full Moon Ch. 04



"Best OA I've ever had too. Even without the amazing sex and hours of cuddle time." Dean was about to yell at me for the first half but the last half of the comment blew that out of the water. Like I said he knew my rules and knew I did not cuddle.

"Seducing your OA?" he asked and I wanted to thump him on the head.

"Other way around. I seduced him," Patrick said although that was about as far from the truth as you could get and not be a total lie. There was a part of him that was seducing me, the part that made him such a great person and friend. That part that reminded me of what he partly was: a lost puppy with no one to love him. "So my new boss throws formality to the wind and at the end of the week we go camping together. Hot guy alone in the woods with me...Fate?" Even Dean laughed at that remark. It had to be fate because I never would have come to Massachusetts on my own and I would never have met this special guy, never would have become a Canis Lunais, never would have fallen in love in so short a time.

"Okay. Bro, this is all way strange. I know the few other dudes you gave sore throats to," I laughed and Patrick grinned and cleared his throat, "and none of 'em can hold a candle to this dude here. They were all skinny little gay boys who just wanted that meat log in your shorts. But you, dude?" he said looking at Patrick while shaking his head. "You could walk in a room and fill it by sheer size. Our buddy Troy's like that save he's one of 'em skinny boys, but he gets noticed. Any chick would want to bang ya, Patrick. I guess I can see what the bro here sees in ya."

"You have no clue how far off you are," I said. "Patrick is something like the runt of the entire office building." Dean raised a brow. "You'll see come Thursday. All the bitches are scorching hot and the guys make me look in the upper part of average." I hung my head as if in sorrow. "Poor Dean. He'll be the ugliest guy there. Not a bitch in sight." Dean socked me in the shoulder. "Do you know a less picky bitch for him? One who won't care if he's merely adequate?" I asked Patrick.

"I think Betty from the New York office would like him." I nodded. Betty was a Lunais who was thirty-four but looked ten years younger. Pretty blond, 5'11" tall and very smart. Also one hell of a cook, she made the fudge, and from what Patrick says lonely. She had not had a boyfriend since she started working for the company twelve years ago. No Lupus wanted to date her and normal guys were intimidated by her beauty. Dean was not one to be intimidated. If nothing else she could keep him company.

"Setting me up with a date dudes?"

"Yup. That way you can stay out of our hair so we can stay in bed." Dean got the hint and raised his hands.

"I know when I'm not wanted. I'll let you two get back to your man sex." He shivered comically as he got up. Patrick shook his hand and left, showing off the scratches I had left on him. Dean gaped as he saw them and then snickered as Patrick removed the sarong and draped it over the banister. I whined almost inaudibly as I watched that muscular ass sway up the stairs. "Gotta say, Bro, you got yourself a winner there. I ain't one for dudes, dude..."

"But that ass is just too damn perfect." Dean nodded grudgingly. "Tight too." He groaned and gave me a hug before leaving back to his hotel. As soon as I heard him get in his rental car I was bounding up the stairs, my pants being stripped off and I pounced on Patrick who was waiting for me face down on the mattress. Had I been hard I would have gone right up inside him, but since I wasn't I settled for laying atop him and kissing the back of his neck near his ear. Funny thing was the sexual mood was gone, but neither of us wanted to let go of the other so we stayed in bed cuddling. I wrapped my arms around his chest and rolled us over onto our sides. Pulling the covers over us, we soon slid into sleep, him in my arms. Can anyone ever ask for anything more?

We woke only because the full moon pulled us out of La La Land. I felt it a few minutes before the actual change and Patrick only a scant second before me. Our eyes flicked open and we looked at each other, our senses already sharpening. Pulling apart we went to different parts of the room. "Ready?" he asked me with a smile.

"For you to rape me or the change?" I asked with a lascivious grin.

"Either and both."

"Bring it on," I replied just as the first wave of pain hit me and drove me to my knees. I clenched my teeth to avoid screaming but this time I watched as much of my body change as I could. I watched through blurring vision the hair grow from every follicle possible on my thigh as they expanded to double their girth. My hands became paws with opposable thumbs and sported some wicked looking claws. My feet lost two toes and the length of the metatarsals nearly tripled and got denser to support the extra weight on the balls of my feet. Again the most painful was the tail growing and that had me panting until it was done.

Then I pushed myself to my feet and made sure to stay ducking. I looked over at Patrick and saw a stunning specimen of a Lunais. His coat was silver white and shone with vibrant health. He was not much bigger than he had been in the woods but he was definitely more lupine. My snout protruded more when his was more of a muzzle, like the difference between a Chow and a Labrador. I looked into his all too human eyes and smiled. Taking a few step towards him I took him in my powerful arms as gently as I could and and licked along his jowls and began to nibble on his ear. I didn't have lips to kiss but I could improvise. "Jon, you are by far the sexiest wolf ever."

"Nope, that would be you," I rumbled in his ear and his shivered all over, his tongue lolling out for a moment. Then I pulled away. "Is there any place we can go? I need to get out and see what I can do."

"We can go to join the Lunais pack a few miles outside the city. We gather there every full moon...away from the Lupus and their hunting grounds." I nodded. It would be interesting to see those from work in their natural guise. "Lose the pendant though." That made sense and I took it off. I snagged a back pack from my closet and those modified sweatpants. "You won't need those."

"Hello...first night as a wolfman. Not going out there with my boys and the Man banging my knees." There was something in the way he was looking at me, something I smelled on him that said he wanted me to show of what I had. "Why do I feel I'm about to be a trophy?"

"Status is earned in odd ways. As a breeder you need to show what you have to bring as far as genetics. I'm considered near the top for a mate for the females as my own genetics are good, albeit the runt factor, and my rare ability to change outside of the moon is a desired trait." Then he wrapped that huge paw around me and began to pet my back. "And if I show up with you then I get shown a social dominance by bringing the newest breeder who is also so damn sexy all the bitches will be howling for your attention."

My grin I knew was totally insufferable. "Serious question, dude. What if all that sexual scent gets to me? You are the only guy I'm attracted to, but women?"

He looked pensive for a moment. "If you happen to find a suitable bitch for you, you better hold that libido in check until we tell Angus of the change and let him know you have a female in mind. That way it does not seem like you're trying to usurp his place as alpha male by breeding." I rolled my eyes and nodded. I slipped the pendant into the pack with a change of clothes as well as something for Patrick just in case we get caught outside when we change back. Also brought my wallet. "Ready?" I nodded and we went out the back door, me locking it up, and I automatically sniffed the air, scenting no one near enough to see us as we dashed for the alleyway that would lead almost directly into a wooded area. All we had to do was cross one major street which right now was bustling with cars. I walked as quickly as I could in this new form but found I felt clumsy. When I switched to all fours I found myself more stable. "Find that easier? Some do."

"At a slow pace I'm fine, but this swifter one I think I should stay quad until I get use to it." We got to a few dozen yards of the street, scaring off a bunch of cats that fled up ladders and into trash cans to avoid so obvious a predator, and halted to watch cars go zipping by. "Any plans, Patrick?" I heard a scraping noise and looked to see him muscling a manhole cover aside. "Yuck." He just looked at me. With a sigh I shimmied in and thankfully landed on a dry, clean spot. Patrick joined me and I could see him perfectly even in this low level of light. He sniffed a few times and went running off on all fours at a good clip, me scrambling to catch up. I got lost in the twists and turns of the sewers, which did not have alligators or ninja turtles in them, but since Patrick seemed to know where he was going I just followed him.

That is until I smelled something that was totally wrong to my nose, something very foreign. It made my hackles rise and a low growl issued from my throat that made Patrick pause and look back. He scented the air and barked a laugh. "That's what I've been following. Musk trails marking the route to the manhole nearest the clearing. It's Gene's scent."

"Smells rancid," I said and almost wished I could take it back. Gene was a nice guy, I thought he should have a nice scent to go with it.

"It's supposed to. This area of the sewers is his turf." Marked territory. No Lupus would be down here and no Lunais would want to tangle with Gene as he was old, crafty, and still a force to be reckoned with even as a human. I snorted to try and clear my nose and Patrick just laughed as he continued on. "You'll get used to it all. I'm sure your musk is as pungent."

"Speaking of smelling...do I have to sniff tails?" That got a full bellied laugh that echoed in the tunnels.

"God no and if you tried and it was a bitch she may think you wanted to bang her. We still have our human brains and all of our little quaint ways to say hello without the tail sniffing." He stopped suddenly and I ran right into him. "But you can sniff mine all you want." I actually shot my tongue out and licked his bare hole which made him whimper and look back at me. 

"I have other plans for that before the night is over." He grinned so happily that I had to smile back. "Did you think I would say no to wolfman sex?" He smelled apologetic. "Silly puppy," I said fondly and gently took his throat in my jaws. Normally a challenge among canines, I did it to show one thing and he got that message. I did not consider myself dominant or submissive and I would not deny him in any form.

"I love you so much Jon." I let go and bared my throat for him, showing I had no fear he would hurt me. I felt those powerful teeth against the fur at my throat, but there was no pressure. It felt like you giving someone a loaded gun and told them to put it to your head. Scary as hell but a fright because you trusted them to never hurt you.

"I love you too, Patrick. Lets get going." He nodded and we were off again.

I felt a sort of tingle in my nose as I caught my first whiff of the assembled Lunais. If you have ever walked into a kennel right after they let the dogs go out and run around for a bit, you know what it smells like. We were in the tree line and I could see them sitting around and talking like you would with any friend, a few playing games over by a bonfire, even three Lunais pups tussling while a few bitches watched over them. It was one big wolf picnic. "What if they don't like me?" I whispered so softly to Patrick when I realized I was the only black wolf there. The rest were all grays and light browns, even two other white wolves like Patrick, but I was the only black one.

"You work with half of them and if you don't know the employee roster by now you're blind. The rest will accept you on the basis of your performance at work. And being on the arm of one dashing wolfman." I smiled and licked his nose. I was still nervous and he could smell it. "Relax. If they want you to leave I will go with you and none of them want that." I gave him a questioning look but he did not answer. He just pushed into the clearing. A few heads turned and hands waved which he returned. Looking back he gestured for me to follow. Taking a deep breath, I stood to my full height, an impressive eleven and a half feet, and walked out. There was a small silence as those turned our way spotted me and then it became eerily quiet as somehow they all knew there was a new wolf in town. I did not really like the way a few of the males were looking at me, I was by far the largest one there. "Everyone, look who grew fur."

I saw a big, graying wolf come walking over and saw the same look Gene had all the time. "Well I'll be. Mr. Davenport, welcome."

"It's just Jon, Gene. We ain't at work." I shook his hand when he offered. I towered over him but there was something that let me know he could whoop my ass in a fight.

"Who infected you? Angus will be livid." That thought seemed to please him a lot.

"I did. Two weeks ago on a camping trip." His words sent a ripple through the crowd. He looked at me with a questioning look and I nodded. "Jon and I have been intimate since that first night." He made his way to the campfire and sat down with me curling up at his feet after dropping my bag by the stump he sat on. It was a very unsubtle gesture I was his and his alone. Him sitting there must have been some sort of signal because everyone came over and sat, laid, or curled up to listen. I wrapped my paw around his calf muscle and stroked it softly. "Never have I been so thoroughly bred." I looked up with a shocked and embarrassed grin.

"Kids, dude," I said and they all laughed.

"We don't hide anything from them," one bitch said and I heard a familiar voice. Betty was just as lovely in lupine form as she was in human. "Breeding, death and other facts of life are taught young so they understand what it is." I nodded with respect. I wondered how different life would have been for me had I been born Lunais.

"Question before he spills our sex life to the wind," that got a smile and a few encouraging nods. They were treating me with respect and a bit of parental protection as I was very new to this. I needed to know things and they could teach me. "Why am I Lunais if I was not born one?"

"Huh," Gene said. He seemed to be the oldest one there and was the nominal leader by the way they differed subtly to him. "When infected the human takes on may traits of the Lycanthrope who changed him. Since you were infected by a born Lunais you have his form."

"And rare gift. He can change outside the moon." That got a few shocked looks but mostly from the males who saw me as competition. The females were all looking at me like I was now on the menu again. 

"You are a special case, Jon. Most infected by Lunais become Lupus. Why you are among that rarity can only be chalked up to Patrick being the one who infected you." I nodded with satisfaction and laid my head back down.

"As I was saying. In the course of intercourse I tore his back up pretty good." He smiled sheepishly as a few bitches howled.

"Bred ya good, eh dearie?" came a question from an older bitch.

"That he did Caroline. Best ever." I tucked my nose under my paw to stop them from seeing me grin. "I cleaned it as best as I could and even my father said he smelled no infection."

"Could it have been from some other wound inflicted during your romp?" Betty asked. We both shrugged. I had not been hurt during the sex at all. "May I inspect you, Jon? It may need to be addressed if the wolfsbane does not work for Lunais-infected." I nodded and she had me stand up and face the fire. More than a few bitches were openly eying my crotch. Betty was quick but thorough as she lifted my arms, feeling the muscles for something she was looking for. When she got to my groin I could not help but become aroused...very aroused and more than one female, and Patrick, sniffed and whined. "Wow," she said but went on with her exam. I'm glad I was hairy cause I felt my face get hot. Then she was probing around the base of the shaft. "Here. There is a scar almost too small to see. I can feel it."

I felt where she was touching and knew what had done it. When he had gone back to work right before he asked for limits he bit me hard enough to scrape the skin but not break it. It was open to the smallest of the capillaries. And then I had fucked him hard and he must have bled some. I told them of my epiphany and Patrick smiled sheepishly. "So that was how. Do you agree, Gene?" The venerable old wolf nodded, accepting it as true since it was highly likely. He told them of the fishing trip we took and how it had been interrupted. The news that ferals were moving into the pack's turf was not good because that meant Angus was not keeping up the patrols of the hunters who were hired for just this purpose, but how do we approach this?

When Patrick came to the part that I saved his life they all looked at me like I was insane to go after a feral. "It was that or watch him get killed. I took a chance but it paid off. We're both fine, they are not, so I made the right choice. It could be different next time, but this time it all turned out gravy." They just shook their heads, although the bitches were all looking at me closer. I was turning out to be quite the candidate for breeding.

"But you were human still." One younger male said. By his build and voice he was about fourteen or so, that age when hero worship was worst for sports figures and other righteous dudes.

"Didn't matter to me. I took a huge risk, not knowing if there were more or if the wind would shift and he would scent me, but I couldn't let him hurt Patrick any more." He leaned down and I rolled over onto my back, exposing my throat for him. He took it in his jaws and they all gasped or growled. When he let me return the favor they were even more shocked. Even in the Lunais relationships there was one dominant, usually the male, and one submissive. We had declared equality in our relationship. "I would not let anyone hurt him." A few ladies sighed like it was so romantic.

"I believe these two are very unique both in rarity and their obvious love for one another. I believe that certain Lupus should not realize this." Gene was covertly telling them all to keep the two of us a secret. I was touched by his thoughtfulness, but then I had never cared who was Lunais or even Avis from the very beginning. "Too bad your infection cannot be hidden."

I grinned and sat up. "Patrick, when did you know I was infected?"

"This morning."

"Shouldn't you have known sooner? You did infect him and I doubt the two of you have been separated since the trip." Gene had that look in his eye like he suspected I may be even more unique than they all realized.

"I thought he was human until he called me to tell me he got hairy. I didn't even know until a few minutes after I got there and he told me about his change. He...has a way to keep it somewhat of a secret I think." His hesitant speech made them a bit curious, I could smell it. I slipped the tie holding my bag shut while I looked to be shifting it to sit up all the way and palmed the pendant. I watched them sniff in confusion and then quite a few came forward to sniff me openly.

"You smell no different than the day you first got here," said Betty in wonder. I just grinned and stood, dropping the pendant back in the bag. Stretching to my full height, I pulled Patrick up to his feet.

"It seems since I am new I can still think of Angus as an ass rather than the pack leader, so please do not tell him about this. Any of this." It was unanimous. "So, who wants to help me see what I'm capable of? Who wants to wrestle?" I think every male of breeding age wanted to test themselves against me. I just grinned and moved away from the fire. "Patrick is last," I said with a wink.




A Full Moon Ch. 04



"Why?" asked the first guy to step forward. He was more lean than I was, and smaller, but he would keep me on my toes for speed and agility.

"Cause once I get him in a grapple it leads to something more." Patrick began panting like he was in a rut and I was in heat. "Down boy, save it for later."

Turns out I was capable of taking each one on, even Gene, when it came to brute strength and some actual wrestling moves, although there were a few times I swear Gene would have been able to take me down with cunning only gotten through age and experience, but he did not use all of it. I was fast, agile, and they all seemed to think I would be stronger and faster as I grew into my Lycanthropy. My nose was not as good as some, but it was average, although my eye sight was exceptional and my hearing more so. In a bipedal run I was awkward and slow, but quad I was better than most. I was a strange being to them as I was something like a cross between a Lupus and a Lunais. I would give those purist Lupus a run for their money in strength and speed on all fours and the Lunais a challenge in cunning. I had their strengths and a few of their weaknesses. I could not be as quiet as they could since I was new. My paws were bigger than the average Lunais so I could not manipulate objects as well, but those huge paws made for bigger and stronger hits. I did not really fit fully into the Lunais mold so they did not try. I was like Patrick; something close but not quite. The only thing I could do much better than all of them was howl. I had more depth and volume, more inflection than they did. It seemed to come naturally. What I said in the howl was nothing but baby talk as I did not know the language yet, but even actual wolves took up a chorus with me from miles away.

I had just finished a long howl when I realized all was silent again. Had I fucked up? I looked around and saw a lone wolf the size of a Volkswagen come walking quietly into the clearing and I saw them all get on their bellies in respect and awe. I tilted my head in question until the firelight caught those merry blue eyes. "Mr. Andrews, nice to see you again. Or should I do as they do?" He yipped a happy bark and I laughed. I could make out the inflections well enough so I bowed at the waist, as sign of respect without the groveling. 

"Have you no respect for a leader?" an older male asked.

"I have much respect for Mr. Andrews, but I do not serve him." Everyone looked to be getting ready to attack me for blasphemy. "If he were Lunais I would shake his hand as I did when I met him. We aren't Lupus," I said as the only Lupus came and sat by the fire, "so showing underbelly is not how I see us. We are still thinking beings and as such there is no need for it. We are not even his kind and he knows that. We are in this pack by choice and birth, not law, but they treat you, and me once they realize it, like second class citizens. You know this and so does Mr. Andrews. Man or wolf, he knows we are different." He nodded his head. There was some spark in him that remained aware of what I was saying and though he could not speak he could respond in kind. I turned to the Lupus. "Angus may try and treat you like you are beneath him and I think physically I would not even be a match for him. He wants you to conform to his view of what the pack should be. In the war he would be called a Nazi." That shocked more than a few. "I'm not calling for a revolution or anything like that, pack is too ingrained in you to even consider it, but think people. We are different. Would you ever think of rising up against this Lupus here?" There were many negations and some of them loudly. "I knew that because man or wolf, Lunais or Lupus, there sits a being of respect, integrity, and decent moral values who deserves all the kowtowing but never asked for it. Would you ask a thinking being to degrade themselves by this?" I gestured to a few still prostrate. He shook his head after such a long sentence went through his mind. "To you Mr. Andrews, I give respect as a man who deserves it because he knows to get it you must give it." I bowed at the waist again and just to show them I was serious I went all the way for a brief moment and came right back up to look directly in his eyes. For an answer he came over and I knelt to put my muzzle at the same level as his. Our eyes were locked and I knew they were expecting him to accept the wolf challenge, but he only licked my nose and I gave him a hug. "Strange to not pet such a beautiful beast." Mr. Andrews yipped and went chasing after a few of the kids who knew him very well.

I stood and Patrick took my hand. "You understand him far better than most."

"He's a lot like my own Dad. I know their type and how they think. Not magic, just practice. Does Angus expect all this groveling?" I asked. Patrick nodded. "Then he'll most likely get mad at me cause I refuse. Respect is given where it is returned."

"Be careful of him, Jon. He is not a Lycan to cross."

"I know it, but I will not be subservient to him. You, sure," I said while nuzzling the side of his shaggy neck, "but no one else. But right now I'm feeling dominant." I took his hand and led him away from the fire, away from the party, and away from all those eyes. As soon as we got into the trees I grinned at him. "Catch me if you can." I went running full speed through the trees, sometimes misjudging the space and having to twist quickly to get out of the way and once taking out a low branch that was in my way. Patrick was actually having a problem keeping up with me on all fours until we came to a stream, then he leaped and caught me around the waist with a playful snarl.

"Caught ya," he said in triumph until he realized I had reversed and had him on his hands and knees. "Or not." I bit into his shoulder which made him howl that turned into a yip. "The scent getting to you?" I showed him how much by using my tongue on that hole in the back. He dropped his front half to give me better access and I lapped at the pucker with more energy than I ever had eaten out a pussy. He seemed to have lost the ability to speak, he just growled and whined, bearing back to get more pressure from my tongue. I was drooling so heavily there was gallons of saliva all over that hole and the inside of his thighs. "Please..." was all he could get out and I plunged my dong into that hole. He had once asked me to fuck him like a bitch in heat so I did. I put all my weight behind each thrust and he had to really dig into the turf in front of him or be slammed forward with each piston pound. My senses were alive more than ever and I could tell he was so turned on I could make him orgasm without touching him and he was in no position to touch himself. His smell was driving me insane and I knew I had to stop.

I pulled out, panting. "Patrick?" I asked and he looked back. I leaned back over him and whispered, "Take me." His eyes widened and I nodded. I wanted to know him, to give him something he had never had. "Now," I growled. I got on all fours and he slid that talented tongue across my own virgin ass. "Oh fuck me. Dude, that is fucking awesome." He was gentle and caring even as he dug his nails into my thighs and flipped me onto my back. My knees came up to my shoulders without him even asking or putting them there and he dove back down to really eat my ass. I grabbed his head and pushed him down for more pressure. God no wonder the ladies went wild when I was down there! It was by far the best feeling ever, even better than his tongue on my dong and that was the best head ever in the history if all head. I wondered if it was normal to be so focused on a part of your body that your brain shuts off the other senses cause I swear I could not hear, see, smell, or taste anything. All I could feel was his tongue teasing my tight tush and testicles.

My claws were digging deep into the turf, tearing out tufts of grass. I couldn't believe how awesome this felt and I was totally involved. Then he stopped and my senses came slamming back on and I gasped. "Jon, do you realize you just turned a rock to powder?" I looked at my claw and sure enough there was powdered granite and gravel in the pads. I just stared at it and then brushed it off and grabbed the ruff of his neck and pulled him atop me, the head of his dick pressing against the hole. "Eager?"

"Well duh!" He pressed forward gently. There was so much tension in his posture, fear of hurting me and anxiety about not being any good. I could smell that, that fear of being inadequate. It was so sweet but I was not going for this slow business. I knew what I had to do to take it without much pain. I relaxed as much as I could and then wrapped my legs around his waist. I locked eyes with him and gave him a grin before I squeezed my legs to push him in all the way. It hurt, god it hurt, but there was something in that pain that I found was so nice that I knew that I'd bottom for him more than tonight. A low growl escaped and he looked into my eyes to make sure I was okay. "I'm yours." The love I saw bloom in his eyes opened my heart in a way I cannot describe. 

"Tell me if you want..." I shut him up with a lick to his nose.

"What I want is for you to live out whatever fantasies you got. Make this a night for firsts."

There was a moment when I thought he would just stay there staring down at me, but he pulled out with an evil grin. "Run," he said and licked his chops.

"Mmm feisty!" I waited for a moment to let my body tense up again. Then I rolled backwards and came to my feet, leaping over him and running full speed on all fours. I felt him wait for a second and then the chase was on. I showed him he would have to really work to catch me. He'd already had a taste of what I would feel like when he claimed me, but I was not going to let him feast without the hunt first. I paid no attention to where he was just like no prey would. It was not a real hunt, I was not afraid at all and there would be no fear smell, but the chase was what he wanted.

I leaped over a boulder and then waited for him to clear it thinking I would still be running on, and he did go a great distance before he realized he had been duped, but by then I was already back over the boulder and running along our original route. I heard him swear and go sniffing of my trail. He must have found it quickly because he was back behind me. I cut into the trees again and went up into one to leap to the next. I knew dogs pretty well and wolves were just wild dogs. Treeing prey drove them wild. Sitting up there I saw him smiling at me. When he did a standing leap to get thirty feet in the air I leaped just out of his reach, giving him a scratch on the way as I landed and sped off again. He knew the terrain though and was trying to herd me to a specific spot but I was not having any of that. I had an idea and slipped as I tried to turn too fast and he almost had me. I felt his hot breath as he pounced, but he missed since I was out of control myself. Scrambling on the early fallen leaves, I got up and ran again. I was surprised I was not even breathing hard when we had easily covered a mile or more in our little romp.

The smell of fire caught my attention and I skid to a halt because it was not our fire, not the Lunais fire. Patrick though he had me when he saw my posture and stopped himself. I sniffed, trying to sift though the unfamiliar scents the smoke masked. "Three men, two women, and a young male close to the age of puberty," he said and I began to sift through it catalog the differences of general age and sex. The same breeze that brought the scent brought snippets of conversation and guitar music. They were camping for the last time before the snows came. "We should go before they see and tell the others they are here." I nodded, thoughts of sex gone from my brain.

I caught movement to our left and pointed to it. Or rather them. Four Lupus, no wolf was that large, were stalking closer, mostly hidden except where the moon peeked through the trees. Patrick's eyes widened. I knew what he was thinking. These Lupus were hunting the humans and it was not for sport. "Are they high ranking in the pack?" I breathed into his ear. He shook his head. "Then they won't be missed."

"Are you crazy? Four on two is not an even fight. Hell four of us on two of them is hardly even...in their favor." I started forward anyway. He grabbed my arm and I looked at him like he was insane.

"Should I let them die? You told me that only one out of every one hundred can be infected, the rest die. Infection or food, those humans will die if we don't do something." He nodded. "You go get your father and fast. He should awe them into submission." Patrick ran. With him out of the way I could concentrate on how to keep these wolves from eating.

I stalked close to see if I knew any of them by smell and of course I did not. I knew none of the Lupus by smell. But I was closer. I could tell all were males and that the smallest one weighed as much as I did which meant I was in for a world of hurt. I was close enough to smell their anticipation and knew they would attack soon. Please get here soon, Patrick. Then they attacked. I let out a blood curdling howl to get some sort of warning not only to the humans but to the Lunais. They knew my voice, the Lupus did not. Yet they did not halt. I could see one of the men raise his rifle and squeeze off a shot that pegged the lead Lupus between the eyes which dropped him, but there were three others. "Run Dylan" cried one of the women and the boy ran for the nearest tree, but the smallest Lupus veered to catch him. Oh hell no! I dashed forward, hoping I was faster than the wolf who looked to be enjoying his own game of the hunt. He was in no hurry since his prey was only on two legs.

My heart was thundering in my ears as I heard the men and women screaming in agony, making a macabre dissonance that spurred me on. I swooped in, grabbing the boy in my arm as the Lupus snapped to bring him down, and swiped at the tender snout of the beast. It yelped it shock and pain and that was enough time for me to get the boy out of its reach. The boy was screaming in my ear and kicking to get away. I leaped up into the tallest tree I could and set the boy there. "Stay here, kid," I said gruffly and jumped back down. When I landed atop the Lycan he yelped again, but my advantage of speed was gone. I had agility but he had power and years of hunting while I had hours. I attacked with every ounce of fury I felt, my claws slashing and teeth biting, but I did not know how to fight as a wolf. I did know how to tussle with dogs, but that was mock battle. This...this was real. I doubt we could kill each other in the time it took for the other three to finish off the people so it was a race to incapacitate or our backups getting here. When he tripped me with a rush I rolled to protect my underbelly but he was on me with a vice grip bite on the back of my neck. I howled out in pain, raking my claws along his jaw and eye, but he just flung me against the tree, a small branch stabbing into my right shoulder. The impact shook the tree alarmingly and shook me even more. I was too young for this, too new to deal with even one small Lupus. I staggered to my feet and shook my head to clear away the stars.

He leaped again, but I was not done yet. I grabbed his front paws in my own and and swung him around, bashing him against the tree I just hit. There was a satisfying yelp and I used the springing momentum of his body recoiling back to a natural position to reverse the swing and throw him into a massive boulder. There was an ear grinding howl that almost covered up the sound of cracking bones and stone. The kid above me screamed which distracted me. I looked up to see if any had managed to climb up after him, but no, he looked fine. That distraction cost me as the Lupus came back faster than I thought it could and slammed me to the turf. My head hit a rock and I know I blacked out for a moment but I was doing my best to keep this thing from getting a death grip around my throat. His hind legs were raking across my underbelly and I could feel it more keenly with each passing moment. My vision, once perfect even in this light, was growing dim from blood loss.

Then the beast was off me and limping away. I felt my head being cradled by Lunais hands that were not Patrick's but I could not see well enough to know who it was and was not thinking clearly to interpret the scent. "Kid...in the tree," I gasped out.

"He's safe," came the soft reassuring words of Betty. I nodded and winced when she began applying something to stop the bleeding in my gut. "I'm surprised you're alive not to mention conscious."

"Almost wasn't. Is pack leader..." She placed a finger on my muzzle to silence me and I did as I was bade. Like I wanted to talk when all I wanted to do then was sleep. I could barely make out a soft growling conversation going on and I knew that not only was Mr. Andrews here, the entire Lunais pack was around. No sane Lupus, beast or not, would take on the former leader and over a hundred Lunais. I was safe and I hoped the kid was too. My wound was healing quicker than I thought, but then it was a full moon and we were strongest under the gaze of the full moon.

Still wobbly I got to my feet with Patrick's help and saw the four Lycan were muzzled and leashed by no less than four Lunais apiece. I thought it fitting until I realized I knew three of these Lunais. The Hunters from the woods. "You should be resting," my love said without much in the way of closeness. It looked like they were playing this cool so I would to.

"I should, but I shall not until these four pay for their crimes against pack law. And when the child is safe." I looked up to see the kid staring in awed and rapt attention. "Honored Leader, it is your decision their punishment but may I ask that you take them now so I can retrieve the boy?" Mr. Andrews looked at me sideways as the sentence sunk in and then nodded. I bowed low and the four Lupus were led away. The Lunais followed but Patrick stayed to act as guard. "Are you okay little dude?" I asked and he shrank back. I sighed. "Think I'm well enough to get up there?"

"You should be in bed, but I have a feeling you're going to ignore me so I will stay here to catch you if you fall." He licked my nose and I returned it.

I took my time getting up there and found the kid huddled as far from me as he could get. I straddled the branch and just looked at him as I took in the scent of fear and denial of what had happened. I could understand everything he was feeling as it all seemed unreal to me too. His eyes refused to leave me as I licked at the wounds on my underbelly, speeding up the healing process even more. Then something bit me and I scratched it with my claw...my hind one. The boy sat up a bit more and looked at me closer. "Yeah, good looking aren't I?" He just stared. "I could get you out of the tree. As you can see the big bad wolves are gone and only us nice ones are still here to make sure you're safe." Ever have a one sided conversation? They're bogus and I hate them. "My name is Jon. What is yours?" I waited, tilting my head this way and that. Another sigh escaped my mouth. "Well?" I asked again.

"Is my mom..." I did not answer. I looked to Patrick and he ran off in the direction of the boy's parents and came back only a moment later with his head hung low. 

"I'm sorry, little dude." I saw his lip quiver and then he steeled something inside himself and I smelled nothing from him then. No fear, no sorrow, no anger...just sweat, urine and some blood where he had scraped his leg earlier that day. "Do you want to get down?" He nodded, not caring anymore to be afraid of me. I slowly and gently wrapped my arm around him and fell sideways off the branch, twisting in the air to land on my feet. I set him down and took two steps back, sitting down to be less frightening. Patrick sat beside me and laid his head on my shoulder. "Do we have access to a phone, Patrick?" He nodded. "Call the cops and tell the Lunais to vamoose." He nodded and stood up to walk away.




A Full Moon Ch. 04



When he was gone I looked back at the kid whose face was as hollow as a pipeline. "Did you...want to say good bye?" He shook his head. Something in him had already said good bye and the rest had checked out. "Any place you can go? Uncle? Grandparents?" Again he shook his head. "A friend's house? Kid, believe me when I say the foster system can be rough." He looked at me but said nothing. I stood again and motioned for him to follow. He did, neither plodding along nor running ahead. It was like he had died when he heard his mother had. I surveyed the scene before he got to the site. There was nothing to say there was murder done there. "Grab what you can and we'll head up the trail to where you're parked and meet the cops there." He went and did as I said without complaint and without saying a word. He went about camp picking up what he wanted, doused the campfire like a pro, and then came back. I nodded and we walked up the trail, leaving it all behind him.

Patrick appeared a few minutes later. "They said they were sending out some people and Mariam will be there to meet them with the little dude."

"He ain't said a word since you left or even tried to leave or..." I looked at the kid with sadness in my heart. To lose your folks like that and be the only one left alive with nowhere to turn. I could not begin to understand what was going on behind those vacant eyes. Patrick followed my gaze and I could smell his mood go to sorrow. I looked up at the night sky and realized it was much later than I thought. The moon would be down in less than an hour. "Looks like we won't get home in time. Good thing I brought clothes."

"Think we should stay around?" He nodded to the kid.

"Yeah. I doubt anyone would believe him with the night he's had." Patrick nodded and we walked the rest of the way in silence.

Mariam almost drew her gun when she saw me. "You are too damn big for your own good. Everywhere." I grinned.

"Patrick doesn't complain about my size." She made a retching sound. "Hey, little dude, this is Mariam. She's gonna wait with you until the cops come, okay." He nodded. "If you want we can come back in a bit, without the fur." He looked right at me, life finally in his eyes for a brief second and he nodded. "Okay. See you in a bit, Mariam." She nodded and led the kid to the SUV so he could put his stuff down. We faded into the bushes and trotted about a hundred yards away where I sat down hard.

"Rest while you can. The less you do the faster you'll heal and the less it will hurt once the moon is down." I just laid back and stretched out, crooking a finger for Patrick to join me. He did, placing his head on my shoulder. "I'm proud of the way you handled that Lupus. It's not easy."

"I wasn't too bad off until I got distracted then he was on me and my momentum was gone. I'm just glad to be alive and healing and that the little dude is alive...although the last is kinda a double edged thing ya know?" Patrick nodded. To be alive was a good thing, but to be the last one alive after such a night was hell.

We stayed that way as long as we could until the change was right upon us and then we rolled apart. The change back was painless, the excess hair and tail, ears and other lupine parts just sorta melting into our skin. It was quick too, taking less than a minute and then I was handing Patrick some clothes to put on although I did get a quick feel of that ass. I checked out my abs and saw it was about as healed as if it had happened a month ago rather than a few hours. By tomorrow I would be healed. Dressing, me putting the necklace back on, we made our way back to the kid who looked up at us with wonder. "You okay still little dude?" He nodded and reached up to touch my face. "Still me, just not fuzzy." His eye met mine and he nodded, satisfied I was still the same person. "What a night." The cops arrived maybe twenty minutes later and made a big fuss over the boy not talking to them.

"You gotta tell us what happened boy. At least tell us your name."

"Officer, you shoulder find ID's on the parents down there and from there you can find his name. He's been through a tsunami in one night and if he ain't up to talking yet, he should be left in peace." The cop nodded and walked away in disgust. Patrick went to show them the bodies and I stayed with the little dude. I leaned over a bit and whispered, "Ever seen werewolves before tonight?" He shook his head. "Creepy, ain't we?" He nodded. "The wolfmen looking ones are the good guys, the others can't think like humans until they lose the fuzz. Not bad, just not able to see right from wrong. That big one that took charge is the pack leader. He is one cool dude. My bud Patrick is his son and the leader is someone you can trust." The little dude nodded that he understood my words. I put my arm around him and he just wrapped his around me gently, keeping clear of my scrapes. There was thought in his head for him to think about my injury.

About an hour later a plainclothes came up. He was about forty and looked tired and smelled tired. "Hey there. Is your name Dylan Parker?" He nodded and I finally had a name to put to the boy. "Do you want to tell me what happened? If not it can wait until later as I can guess." Dylan shook his head. "Fine, fine. Your name is Jonathan Davenport, right?" I nodded. "You found Dylan?"

"I did. Patrick and I were hiking and saw something I'd rather not think about. Found Dylan here in a tree. Called you guys." The investigator scribbled a few notes. "Detective, what's gonna happen to Dylan?"

"Honestly? No relatives, no place to go. Unless a friend comes forward to offer a home for the interim then he's gotta go to the CPS." 

Dylan hugged me tighter and I looked down at him. I made my decision. "Can he stay with me? I know it's not procedure since I barely know him but I don't think I could pry him off with a the jaws of life."

"You wanna go with Jonathan, Dylan?" He nodded vehemently. "Well, until the courts decide what to do with him, you keep him. The two of you will have to come down to the station and fill out some mountains of paperwork, a background check on you will be part of it, but it should be fine."

I smiled down at him and I got a very wan smile in return. "Epic. Did you need either of us for anything else? I'm sure he's hungry and would like to get some rest."

"Go on then. Just get to the station sometime today or tomorrow." The detective wandered off and I walked the two of us over to Mariam.

"Can you give us a lift back to my place?" She nodded reluctantly. I could tell she didn't really like me, but then she was a hunter and I was banging her baby brother. "Tell your bro and dad where I'll be and with Dylan."

Once at my place I showed him first to the room he would use, then the kitchen. "His" room was one of the guest rooms upstairs and was mostly just a bed, a pair of matching dressers and its own half bath all in a pale blue. He just nodded and set his things as far from the door as he could and out of sight. I knew what that meant: MINE MINE MINE MINE! I had not seen what he had stuffed into the bags he brought and I almost did not want to know. I just led him down the stairs and into the kitchen. "Hungry?" He shook his head. I nodded. "You want to rest before we tackle the cops?" That he nodded to. "Go take a shower then and if you got pj's you can wear them and if not then you can use something of mine. Only have the one shower so go hop in." He just went up stairs. I heard him start the shower and I called the station to start my paperwork over the phone so I would have to do less later. Gave him my info for the background check cause until now I had nothing to hide. One petty theft when I was twelve was the only thing on my record and that was sealed when I turned eighteen and expunged two years later since I had done nothing else...but I had NEEDED that new pair of roller blades. Ah the stupidity of youth.

After I heard the water shut off I waited a few minutes and went up to see Dylan dressed in a pair of plaid flannel bottoms and, of all things, a movie tee shirt for "An American Werewolf in Paris." I snickered and he jumped. "Sorry Dylan. Ready for bed little dude?" He rubbed his eyes and hopped into bed. I tucked him in and sat beside him. "There are a few things you need to know. You know me 'n Patrick are werewolves." He nodded. It would be hard to deny the fact since he had seen us all hairy. "Tonight is the last night of the full moon and we get hairy again. It's just a warning so you know about it. I'm the big black one and he's the slightly smaller but buffer white one. I need to know if any of them scratched you or bit you, or if I did on accident." He shook his head. "Good. That means you don't need to worry about getting hairy until later in your life." That got the smallest of smiles. "If you want anything ask, write me a note, point and grunt. Any questions about Lycans ask Patrick cause this is my first full moon and I don't know enough except silver hurts us, we get drooly and slobbery and pee on the sofa, and I get better looking." He smiled a bit bigger. "Which is hard to do." That got rid of the smile. "Oh funny guy." I smoothed back his hair and stood. "Later tomorrow we'll head down to the station so you can tell them what you know. Hopefully not everything." He shook his head. "Good." I drew the curtains and shut the door most of the way. I took my own shower, making sure to really get a look at my scrapes, and then fell into bed. I woke up only when Patrick slid in beside me and wrapped his arms around my chest.

That is until around noon when Dean called. "What?" I growled into the phone.

"Long night, bro?" he asked with innuendo.

"Not the way you think. Finally got to sleep around seven this morning once the cops were done." I shut my eyes to block out the sunlight.

"What? Dude, what the hell happened?"

"Went hiking with Patrick and his family," mentioning his name woke Patrick up and he was alert if red eyed, "and found a kid by himself. Entire family killed by wolves from what it looked like. Little dude ain't said a word since and last I checked was dead to the world in the guest room. Filling out paper work tomorrow to keep him here until the courts decide to sic CPS on him." I let out a yawn and stretched, knowing I would not be getting back to sleep with Dean wanting to every little detail. Kissing Patrick's nose, I rolled out of bed to check on Dylan and saw him asleep in a ball and the covers completely off the bed.

"Way bogus dude. Kid okay?"

"Physically he's fine," I whispered as I walked away from the door and down stairs to go get something to eat. My stomach looked good after the rest, with only the faintest of lines where the barest of skin had kept my guts inside my tummy. "The rest I would say he's a nudge away from a complete mental breakdown. Don't know how much the kid saw but I would bet he saw more than anyone should." Grabbing a bowl of cereal, I curled up on the couch and sighed. "So why did you decide to call me this early in the noon?"

"Wanted to see if you and that walking muscle wanted to grab grub together." 

I looked up to see Patrick nodding his head, his hair all messed up. "The walking muscle says he's willing, but it may have to be here. Don't want to wake Dylan yet."

"Whatever is best for you, bro." He meant it too. Dean was always a great friend once we decided to be friends, and he was ever the accommodating one.

"Sure. Gimme about an hour to become civil. Maybe Betty will agree to chaperon you." Patrick pulled his cell phone from out of his pocket and began dialing. I love him so much. I don't even have to ask and he knows what I would like. After a very short conversation he nodded. "I'll see you in an hour. Betty is coming over."

"Wicked. See ya then bro." He hung up and I sighed. "Am I doing something stupid agreeing to this lunch?" Patrick came over and laid his head in my lap.

"If it doesn't take all day, no." I finished my cereal and set the bowl aside to play with Patrick's hair. Canine or human it still felt wonderful. His eyes drifted shut and he let out a slow breath. "If you keep doing that I'm going to fall asleep and we need to get dressed for this lunch from hell." I snickered and leaned down for a kiss. We both heard Dylan get out of bed and trudge to the bathroom, use it, and then start down stairs. Patrick went to sit up but I gently held him there. If Dylan could accept us as Lycan he could accept us as bisexual.

"Hungry, little dude?" He shrugged and came and plopped down in the chair opposite us. He looked mildly interested in what I was doing to Patrick. "Sleep well?" Dylan shook his head. "If you want something to eat lets go to the kitchen. If not a friend of mine is coming over for lunch. A normal human friend who does not know about werewolves. He'll be here in about an hour. Sounds even more like a surfer dude than I do." That got his small smile I was coming to know well. He stayed where he was though. Patrick got up with a groan, kissed me softly on the cheek and ruffled Dylan's messed up hair on the way past. "Patrick's friend Betty is coming over too. She's the one that applied the gunk to my stomach last night to stop the bleeding." He gave a nod. "So, you gonna talk today?" He shrugged. "Anyone ever tell you that you're a stubborn little dude?" He nodded with a slightly roguish smile. "Since you ain't hungry we should get dressed for the chore ahead." The smile fell away. "What?" I asked and he pointed to his clothes and shook his head. "Ah, no clothes?" He shook his head. "Then we can make a quick run to the mall and get you some things."

Dylan's face clouded up like he was going to cry. "What's wrong, Dylan?" For an answer he came over and put his arms around me. "Yeah, well, I don't want them to put you in foster care if I can help it and if I show I ain't fit to take care of you in the interim then they take you sooner. So go put on something and we'll go shopping." He gave me a full on winning smile and I returned it as he bounded up the stairs. Maybe he would come out of this okay.

Betty showed up just as the three of us were leaving. She looked a bit tired but well enough in a nice turtleneck sweater and jeans. When she saw Dylan her eyes misted over. Dylan's reaction was something completely different. He stared at her like she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. "And where are you boys off to?"

"Getting the little dude some clothes. Wanna come with or hold down the fort for when Dean shows up?"

"And miss shopping?" She held out her hand to Dylan and he went almost as if mesmerized. "You can ride with me and we'll make fun of how silly they look with and without fur. Or I'll make fun and you just nod like I am right. It'll be good training for when some pretty girl catches you." Dylan looked torn between going with this lovely lady and being with me.

"We'll take Patrick's Hummer. You two can sit in the back and we'll pretend we don't hear you." We went shopping, not listening to Betty calling us every thing from drooling to mangy to mutts. I think the best part was Dylan just nodding like he agreed when all three of us could smell he was not really that amused by her.

Late evening found me and Patrick in our Lycan forms watching TV with Dylan. We'd rented a DVD and popped popcorn for little dude. He was sitting in the chair while I leaned back against the sofa and Patrick leaned back against me. The movie was supposed to be an action thriller I guess but to us it was a comedy...all three of us. Dylan picked out his favorite movie which was "An American Werewolf in Paris." We were all laughing at how wrong Hollywood got it. I was surprised not only to see him pick that movie but to be laughing at it. It almost seemed like he was forcing himself to confront this image of werewolves killing and to laugh at it. "They don't even move right," Patrick said.

"Real ones are much scarier," Dylan said and we both just stared.

"Decided to talk?" I asked. He nodded. "Don't start clamming up now, Dylan." He gave me a big grin.

"Why silent all day?" Patrick asked, looking at him with those stunning blue eyes.

"I was always told to shut up and not cry like a baby." I blinked. I could see him being quiet then but not silent.

"Well, as you can see we encourage talking, we do it so much." Patrick gave him what looked like a big puppy grin. "Anything you want to talk about? Questions?"

"Are they all dead?" he asked evenly. His eyes never left the movie.

"Yeah." Seeing him nod with finality was startling. "You don't seem so upset anymore." Which I could not make heads or tails of. One would think he would be at least unhappy if not bawling like a kid. I would be crying like a baby.

"Well, life wasn't all sweet at home," he said as he looked at us and then he just turned back to the movie and didn't say another thing about it even when asked. Patrick and I shared a look and I knew we would be trying to ferret out info about the little dude as long as he stayed here. I could imagine life where he would be happy or at least at ease with them dying. Too many Hallmark movies to not know a gist.

As I was tucking the little dude into bed I sat on the floor beside it and asked, "You ready for the cops tomorrow?" He looked thoughtful and then nodded. "You sure? Cause they probably got enough that won't really need your statement. I don't want you to really have to think about it if you don't want to."

He gave me a kinda sick grin. "I gotta think about it or I'll get nightmares. I mean you and Pat have been great and you don't even know me, but those other Lupus scared the piss outta me." I nodded then opened my mouth to ask how he knew the name of the other Lycans. "I am really into Lycans. You and Pat are Lunais, them others are Lupus, and then you got a few others that could just be legend. It's why I can talk to ya when you get all hairy and not run. That and yer cool." High praise from a kid whose parental units were mauled and eaten by werewolves. "I gotta apologize fer kicking and screaming when you put me up the tree."

"Ain't no thing, little dude. I'd have done more than that." I gave him a wolfish grin... har har har... and he rolled his eyes.

"And thanks. I'd be dead if it weren't fer you." He began to scratch me behind the ear and I fell over with my tongue lolling out.

"God, stupid canine side..." Dylan laughed as kept scratching my ears and the big furry ruff around my neck. You have no idea just how awesome it feels. I licked his hand for him to stop else I would have been there all night. "Enough, before I lose my brain to heaven." I tucked him in and smoothed back his hair. My mom did the same for me every night.

As I was leaving he called me back. "Can you...stay here for awhile?" I nodded, whining softly to call for Patrick to bring his sexy butt up here. It only took him a moment and he ducked into the room with two pillows. He tossed them on the floor and then clicked off the light. All three of us settled down, Dylan to rest and us to cuddle. "No making out," he whispered and we snickered and began to do just that. "Ewwwwww! You better not be licking each other, cause that would just be gross." Now that he was talking it was so much noisier around my place but it was awesome.

"Nope," Patrick said, "not while you're in the room." Dylan grunted as if that's the way it should be. Funny thing is we all fell asleep there.



A Full Moon Ch. 05



I woke wondering what to do with Dylan when I went to work when said answer came knocking at my door. I grumbled, which woke the other two with a start. "Someone is at the door." Dylan nodded and rolled over to go back to sleep. Slipping into my room I pulled on some shorts and went down stairs to the front door. I opened it to a surprise. "Mr. Andrews?"

"Sorry about the early time, Jonathan, but I figured you may need someone to watch the young man until after you get home from work." He stood there looking like every other well built middle aged man. With a halo! A shiny halo of happiness because I didn't have to find a sitter.

"I was just thinking about that. Come in please. I'll tell Patrick to put some pants on and see if Dylan's okay with a Lupus baby sitter." He stepped inside and I hung up his light sweater. Patrick was already coming down stairs, Dylan yawning and rubbing his eyes behind him. "Guess you heard me, huh."

"Smelled him. Morning Dad." Patrick gave his dad a one armed hug and me a kiss on the cheek. "Dylan, this is my Dad. He's the big Lupus that made the other scared so bad they peed on themselves." There was a merry twinkle in both of their eyes.

"How are you, young man?" Mr. Andrews knelt to look up at him, something a Dad would do but not a leader.

"Tired, sir. You look nicer as a human." Dylan yawned.

"Actually I'm meaner. Growl," the man said with a fake sneer and Dylan smiled. "Why don't you head back up to bed. If you want I can tell you a bit more about werewolves when you wake up." That got a big nod and Dylan went upstairs to fall, literally, back into bed. "Poor kid. You two get ready for work. Angus will want to talk to you, Pat. Jonathan, I suggest you ignore anything that happened and if anyone asks say Dylan is staying here as a favor to your OA who has no idea how to deal with a kid."

"Which I really don't. I was never a normal boy. I'll see you later, Dad." Patrick went back up stairs, me admiring the easy grace ... and his butt.

"I see the pendant worked." I turned back to the former leader and narrowed my eyes. "It's called blessed silver and it's something a few humans have been working on for situations like yours. With Patrick as the one who turned you, and the fact that his own adaptability is quite rare, we could try to see if we could give you at least partial immunity to silver. You can touch it, which is good."

"Sneaky, Mr. Andrews. And you never told Patrick." He shook his head. "Well, if Patrick turns anyone else you can try again to see if I was a fluke." He nodded and I went upstairs to get dressed.

Work was one big fiasco since not only did the incident happen and everyone was walking on pins and needles, they were exhausted from their own changes from the moon...and I was handing out my evaluations this week. Any of the three would make the company a bit ragged for a day or two...all three would turn it on its head. Patrick and I walked in lock step to the elevator and more than one worker scurried out of my wake. They knew I meant business because I was dressed in a black suit when I normally did not, shined shoes, hair done perfectly. The silver pendant hung in plain sight as the elevator door slid shut. One of the Lunais from the seventh floor had gotten on just before us along with a few others. "Good morning, Mr. Davenport. Morning Patrick."

"Good morning, Mr. Walters," I said with a perfunctory nod, but my eyes held the actual greeting since he could not smell me too easily with the pendant on. I was happy to see my own kind...now that I had a kind. "Are you ready for your inspection today?" I said it simply, letting the gossip be spread about that today was inspections day.

"I believe so, Mr. Davenport." I smelled him get nervous along with the rest of the car. Even Patrick got a bit nervous.

"Then you should not worry because of over confidence or self deprecation. Just do your job and do it well and I doubt you will ever have to worry about a bad report." I included everyone with my eyes. That way they would not know I was playing favorites even if they suspected it. It also let them know I knew their names...and now their scents.

We got off the elevator and marched to my office where Patrick closed the door. "That will spread around that inspections will be handed out today."

"I know. This way, with the lethargy of the filing day blues, they should be less inclined to react." I sat at my desk and uploaded all of my emails to be sent out on the company server. I also added something in there that let me know when it was read as I was fifteen minutes early and if they read it later than I believed necessary, the time would be recorded for the next inspection. "Go check your emails, Patrick." He nodded and left the office. I had to send out two gray emails today and they would be meeting later with the heads. Five yellow slips, three for Lunais and two for non-Lupus Lycanths, twelve red ones that all but two were for Lupus, and the rest were white. I could not just hand all the Lunais and non-Lupus promotion emails, so I planned to do it slowly.

Patrick came back in as I watched almost 95% of the emails had been read in a matter of minutes after the company officially opened. Some I knew were part-timers and would not read them until later so I did not count it against them. "At least it's not red or gray," he said with a smile.

"Well, you 'exhibit the lack of managerial skills necessary for advancement' enough to keep you as my OA and keep Angus off my back. I did ask to give you a small raise though for your hard work and dedication to the company." It was 50 cents an hour which was not much, but since he logged well over 80 hours a week, he would get close to and extra two hundred a month. 

"Do you think Mr. McLeod would promote me anyway?" he asked and grinned.

"Nope, but this way he can see I'm not playing favorites but I do like the work you do for me." I reached over to snag the phone when it rang. "Jonathan Davenport."

"Mr. Davenport, this is Evan Hanson over in distribution. I would like to set up a time for my appointment." I could hear the nervousness in his tone and knew this was one of my gray emails.

"Of course. I am free after 3pm today if you can arrange it with the others mentioned in your email. Did you have any questions about it?" Pat left with a nod and shut my door quietly.

"May I ask why I got a gray one? It says 'unsatisfactory performance', but I am doing the best I can." I knew this man was a hard worker and he deserved something more.

"I know you are. If you recall the other part of a gray emails is reassignment. I don't think you're cut out for distribution, Evan. I will be recommending transferring you laterally to the supply office since there should be a position opening there."

Could smell transfer through the phone cause I swear I smelled him get happier. "You mean I'm not getting fired?"

"Not if I can help it. I went over every employee's records and saw that they had thought your current job was a promotion. I can see the error in your numbers. You like the supply room and I hope Mr. McLeod will agree with me that you are better suited for the assistant director job there."

"Really? Mr. Davenport I don't know what to say."

"It's not set in stone, Evan, but I will do what I can. Any other questions?" There was an negative and I said my good bye because my other line was flashing. "Jonathan Davenport."

"You measly ingrate! How dare you send me a gray email!" I listened to this asshat totally bitch me out and I was totally recording the message too because I had recommended him for termination due to too many complaints about his behavior and temperament. In short the guy was a mondo douche and needed to be canned before someone killed his dumb ass.

"Goodbye," I said after two minutes of nonstop bitching and then attached the phone audio file to an email to his head and Angus. Let him get out of termination now. I did dial an extension myself. 

"Kelly Hartland." I had never met Miss Hartland, but her own records showed why she was the director of distribution. Exemplary record, no reports or even a bad word, she was the type of employee all companies wanted.

"Hi, Miss Hartland, this is Jonathan Davenport. I am calling to set up and appointment for 3pm with you and Mr. McLeod to go over Mr. Hanson's status with the company. Will that be okay?" I was smearing on the honey and knew if she was here she would be trying to jump my bones cause it also came with a look and smile.

"Of course. Evan called me a few moments ago to set it up. He seemed a bit happy to get that email." I could tell she was confused.

"I want him to be transferred to a place more suited for his talents. Supply. I told him that was the reason for the email, a fully documented recommendation. I would like your input and help if I can."

She went clicking away on her keyboard. "Ah I see why you're doing this. His work has been a bit lower than the others but he puts in so many more hours to get them this high. He is an excellent employee but yes, not in my department. You have my support for transfer."

"Thanks, Kelly. This should help the company a lot. Do you have any other employees that may fill his slot or ones you recommend personally for promotion with him leaving?" She gave me a list of names, only two, and I had sent both of those yellow slips. "Think about either more and let me know as soon as you can which you want more. I'll back you with the Boss."

I had one last phone call to make. "McLeod."

"Howdy Angus, it's Jon."

"Ah. I got your emails summing up everything."

"Good. Can we have the meetings today at 3pm, if that's good for you? Soonest done is soonest ended."

I could hear him cover the receiver and tell someone something in his office. "That would be fine. I noticed two grays."

I told him of Evan and what I was recommending with the backing of his current head. Angus agreed right there he would do the switch but we would still meet for the formality. "And the other?"

"Well, with a lot of thought...namely about two seconds, I recommend Mr. Earl for termination."

"Why? His record is good."

"Listen to the email I sent and read my summation." I waited and then heard Angus gasping and chuckling at some of the anatomically impossible things Mr. Earl was threatening to do to me for this outrage.

"I see. Hmm. Well, that meeting we're going to hold definitely and if he says one wrong word he's canned, but I would rather transfer him to some other satellite office than lose him."

"Your choice ultimately, but he is not suited for this office in my opinion." After I hung up I called my supervisor for sales and asked if he was available for another quick session of him looking over my shoulder.

"No helping just observing," I said at last and he agreed for a one hour observation before lunch. "Thanks. I think I can do this fine, but I would like to be double checked to your standards."

3pm rolled around and I sat in the conference room with Angus and the two heads I had asked to be here. Miss Hartland was tall, stunning ginger of a lady in her late forties but with a sexy body I could not help but admire from afar. Mr. Stevens was an older gentlemen in his seventies who was looking tired but relatively content with life. "So, good news first to put us in a nicer mood for Mr. Earl, or save Mr. Hanson for the second to get us out of what I think will be a sour one?"

"Earl first." Angus pushed the intercom button and Miss Hartland took a seat in a chair at the end of the table since this was not her department.

Mr. Earl came in with a sneer on his face but it was gone when he saw Angus's dark look. He could not hide the stench of his rage that he was being fired and it filled the room with an odor akin to vomit. "Please have a seat, Mr. Earl," I said evenly and professionally. Since I was the heavy I was in charge of these sessions nominally. "I believe you know Mr. Stevens, the head of supply, and Mr. McLeod." Earl nodded tightly to both. His entire posture said he was pissed off but his face was a mask of composure. "This hearing is being held to determine your status in this company, whether it be termination or transference to a different location. At the current time my recommendation is for the former, but you may give this committee reasons why we should not let you go."

Oh it rankled him that I was in charge. I was pleased as punch cause I knew I could get his goat if I wanted. I wanted this asshat fired cause he was one of the worst when it came to bad treatment of the non-Lupus employees. Earl began to tic of his good points, all of which were valid, but he did them on his fingers and in a voice that was just one nudge away from belligerent. After two points Angus was getting annoyed, even I could smell it and my nose was not all that good compared to the Lupus in the room. "Furthermore..." he went on but I raised a hand. He gagged on what he was going to say but he went silent.

"All valid points, but I don't not believe they overshadow not only your record of sowing discord among the other employees in lower paid positions, which there are thirty-one documented incidences, also the manner in which you behaved yourself today."

"You little..."

Angus cleared his throat. "The ultimate decision is mine, Ted, so please moderate your tone."

Earl took a breath. "Those allegations were never proven and I do hope you can understand my emotive response to this after working for this company for twenty-two years." He was back to being a calm man just waiting to explode.

"Yes, of course I understand a little unrest, Mr. Earl, but your language when you called to ask for my thoughts this morning was less than civil."

He then did the stupidest thing I had ever seen. "You have no proof." I pressed a button and his own voice blared in the room, his foul words being trumpeted right back at him.

"I recorded it. Handy little invention." I was ready for it and sure enough Theodore Earl launched himself at me, but he did not get far as Angus's mitt of a hand grabbed him out of thin air and tossed him like a rag doll against the wall.

"Consider yourself fired, Ted. You have one hour to collect your things and get the hell out of my building." Angus was livid and got more so when Ted looked him dead in the eye for more than a few seconds time...challenge. But his eyes dropped when Angus growled too low for a normal human to hear and god the stench of musk that Angus put out nearly made me vomit. Earl got up and slinked out of the room. "I am sorry it came to that, Jon."

"Me too. I was hoping for something a little more peaceful. Thanks for taking over. I'm a decently built guy but he would have hurt me a lot." Angus smiled and this time it did touch his eyes. He had enjoyed tossing that shit around.

"Think nothing of it. You were doing your job, even if you purposely antagonized him."

I grinned and nodded. "But..." I said with a finger raised as if making a dramatic point, "I did it within the bounds of my job and professionalism." Miss Hartland chuckled from her seat.

"Bullshit, Jon. You were so annoyingly nice to him that I wanted to thump you one." I laughed and nodded.

"Kill em with kindness, that way they hang themselves. Now, shall we make a man happy?" Kelly joined us at the table and Angus called Evan in. His posture was hopeful but ready to be let go. "Please have a seat, Mr. Hanson." I liked this one first off. He was no Alpha at all but he was a decent man and not one person had anything wrong to say about him except when it came to his overall numbers. "You know all of the members of the board." He nodded. "Good. Mr. Stevens is joining us for his input. This hearing is being held to determine your status in this company, whether it be termination or transference to a different location. It is my recommendation, as well as the recommendation of your current head that you be reassigned to the supply department. In a prior conversation Mr. McLeod has agreed this is best." Evan sat up straighter and his handsome features turned boyish with that smile.

"Really?" I nodded.

"Yet, it is now up to Mr. Stevens whether he will accept you." Evan looked at the man, imploring him to accept.

"Lad, you know you are always welcome in supply. Never had a better worker than you. But I don't think you should be assistant." Evan nodded, still too happy to care what his job was just so long as he was in a job in supply. "Angus, I think this would be a good time to retire. I'm too old to worry about this any more and it is my recommendation that Evan here take my old job."

I sat there stunned.

Kelly was speechless.

Evan nearly fainted.

Angus nodded. "You're sure of this, Michael?"

"Positive. I was just waiting until someone showed promise and I could put my last two cents worth in. Evan is the best man for the job." Mr. Stevens smiled a kindly, wrinkly smile and Evan was tearing up. This was a great way to end this meeting.

"Very well. With your two cents, Evan you are promoted to Director of Supply, effective tomorrow. Michael will stay on for one week to ensure you know your responsibilities and to fill out the necessary paperwork for his own retirement." Angus's scent now was actually one I liked. He was happy to see someone was getting what they deserved, but unhappy to lose someone he obviously admired.

"Thank you. Thank you all." Evan shook all of our hands and even gave Michael a big hug. "I'll miss working for you, sir."

"Naw, I'll probably still put my two cents worth in if I feel you need it." Evan laughed and left to go clear out his own things to move.

I stuck my hand out for Mr. Stevens. "I would have liked you, I think."

"Naw, I'm a cranky old coot. You though will be good for this company. Shake things up a bit." He left to gather his things. "Angus, keep this boy around. He is upper management material if he can do this in two weeks." With those parting words he left.

"Awesome dude. I miss him and I never knew him. Oh, Angus." I handed him the official papers. "These need your signature for all the copies. Kelly is promoting someone to take Evan's old spot." He nodded and signed them without even reading them. "Great. Here you are Kelly." She took them and went to give the good news to the other employee. "Also, if you could go over the list..."

Sir, Mr. Andrews is on the line.

Angus looked annoyed. "I'll take it in here. If you'll excuse me, Jon..." I nodded and left in a kind of a hurry. I had a feeling I knew what this call was about. It would be best if I was gone from the office, so I called the front desk and told them I would be gone for the rest of the day with family matters.

I drove home and entered to see the little dude was boxing with Mr. Andrews. "Keep your guard up, kid." He threw a very slow punch and Dylan ducked and got him in the gut. "Oooo you got me." He fell over with a fake grunt and Dylan was grinning ear to ear. "Ah, Jon, you're home early."

"Got to handle the cops. So...Angus was not too pleased to hear from you." I was grinning and so was the former leader.

"I told him about Dylan and that I would be paying closer attention to him. He is not officially leader for another four years." He got off the floor with a pat to the little dude's head. "You be a good boy now, Dylan. If you're lucky they'll let you stay here for awhile. If you're not...they'll let you stay here forever."

"How's that a bad thing?"

"All those shedding seasons all over you bed. Catching the boys kissing." Dylan just shrugged. "Hey it's your therapy bill." I laughed and gave Mr. Andrews a firm handshake.

"Thanks for keeping the little dude company."

"My pleasure." I escorted him to the door and his car. "Take good care of that boy. He seems to trust you two and I think he likes me, but no other Lupus should get near him. He can tell us all apart even if we're not in lunar form." I raised a brow. "He's a Lycan fanatic. He knows about the ferals and even has more knowledge on an almost extinct Lycan breed no one has heard from in a hundred years."




A Full Moon Ch. 05



"I'll take care of him."

"I know you will Jon. And, if he asks to be turned cause I feel he will, you do it. Your ability to touch silver should transfer to him." I opened my mouth to say I would never do such a thing to the kid, but he just looked at me and I dropped my eyes because I could not help it. His gaze was that strong. "Sorry, Jon, but I feel it should be you if anyone."

"I'll consider it." He nodded and left.

I went back inside and Dylan was clomping down the stairs to go to the police station. "Can he stay with me whenever you feel I need a sitter?" I smiled. Yes, he did like him. 

"If he wants. Not afraid of that big bad wolf?"

"Naw, he's a big ole puppy." His grin was huge. I was glad to see he was bouncing back but faster than I thought. His life really must have been hell. "Lets go and get this over with."

When we got there and the desk officer had us wait in a lime green room that was seriously in need of a wash with something other urine and Pine Sol. Dylan was content to just stare out the window but I was on my laptop doing some work. We had been waiting for a few hours when the door opened. "Finally here?" asked the detective from the scene.

"Been here since about four actually. No wonder they call it a waiting room." I closed my laptop and Dylan stood.

The man checked his watch. "Three hours? Who signed you in?"

"Taller than me, blonde hair, brown eyes, maybe thirty years old, bored look on his face, smelled of burritos and cheap wine. Maybe a quicky during lunch cause he had a fresh hickey he was trying to hide with the collar of his uniform." I stopped when the detective grinned.

"I know who you mean." He motioned for us to follow him to the mountains of paperwork. "Did you ever think about being a detective yourself, Jonathan?"

"Nope, I just notice things. Like you favor our right hip and that female officer over there with the tight bun thinks you're hot." Dylan chuckled a bit. He knew I could smell the change in her pheromones as we walked by.

"You're a hoot, Jonathan. Old football injury, the hip, and that officer is married with a kid." We entered his office and got to work.

"Still doesn't stop her from liking you. Before we get started, do you have a gopher to run get Dylan something to eat? We haven't had dinner." I could hear his tummy rumbling and it was making me want food too, but I was not a growing boy...much.

"Sure." He pressed a button. "Millie, Dylan is here. Can you take him out to dinner?"

A moment later and older woman with a kind face and doe eyes popped her head in. "Hey Dylan."

"Hi Millie. I'm back." She wore an officer's uniform but with a different badge.

"C'mon, kiddo. Lets get you fed and let them handle the paperwork."

Once he was gone I looked at the detective. "He's been in and out of foster care since birth. Seven families in his short life, none of them willing to put up with his oddness. The silence, the obsession with werewolves. Just been shunted around. Here is his file." I was handed a two inch thick accordion folder stuff full. "Kid's got issues."

I stared at the folder and then set it aside. "Detective, am I able to adopt him. Legally?"

"Your background check is clean and clear if that's what you mean. But why? He's a handful."

"I went through the system myself and I know what he's going through with that. I don't want the little dude to have to get caught by the rip tide when I can save him. I know the silences and about him liking werewolves."

"Not liking. Obsession. Clinical obsession."

I waved his worries away. "Dude, my obsession is my body. I work out a lot but no one calls me on it. His is about the wolfman. Any comic geek out there is thought of as an oddball cause of their hobby that consumes their life. This little dude is no different."

Smiling, the detective handed me an application. "Here. I have gotten a court date to decide his fate. Set in two weeks. Fill that out and I'll submit it. Get it in now and they will see you're serious about keeping the little dude and it will make it easier for them to decide." I filled it out in triplicate and got the rest done in record time. "You push paper for a living?"

"Guilty. Sales when I'm not in charge of layoffs."

"Oooo the Heavy." I grinned.

"Actually had to fire someone today. But also got a recommendation for a promotion answered for another guy." We talked while I worked and about ten minutes shy of finishing up the little dude came back in. I had decided I would not get his hopes up cause I wanted it to be a surprise.

"Here you go Millie. The interim paperwork for Dylan." She looked at the top page and smiled. It was my application(s). She leafed through it and nodded. "All set then. Well, Dylan, until the court date you'll be staying with Jonathan here." That brought a huge grin to his face. Millie saw it and I could smell her get happy and relieved. Finally, her scent said, he had found himself a home.

The next new moon came and I was a bit tired the next day having slept poorly. Entirely my fault really since it may have been the last night with the little dude and I wanted to give him something to remember if they took him. We rented everything werewolf and ate popcorn. Betty and Mr. Andrews came over to join the party, Betty bringing over her daughter who was a year younger than Dylan. It did not trouble him at all that Dylan was the only human in the room. He thought it was awesome. We stayed up until two in the morning having a mondo awesome party and then got up at eight for court at nine.

The judge saw us trudge in and looked concerned. After getting the preliminary crap out of the way the judge looked us over. "Why are the three of you so tired?"

"My fault, Your Honor. I felt that, since last night might be the last I get to spend with the little dude, he needed something to bolster his spirits. We stayed up really late watching movies and eating junk food. Not the best choice maybe, but he deserved something." I could see it actually won some brownie points with her that I wanted him to have something good to look back on.

"Not the best but maybe correct. I have looked over your record, Mr. Davenport. Steady job for the past five years, financial stability, a desire to give Dylan a home." Dylan looked at me in shock. I could barely keep the smile off my face. "Having filled out the application in triplicate shows you want this situation to remain."

"I do Your Honor. I want to adopt Dylan." Pat's eyes misted over and I could feel him radiating love from every pore. I hadn't even told him I wanted to keep him permanently cause he would've totally blabbed just from body language.

"And would that be okay with you, Dylan?"

She must have expected a shrug or at most a nod, but she was shocked when he said, "Heck yeah. I'd love it."

"My, my. With that rather vocal yes it is the decision of the court that you are given custody of Dylan Parker." Before the last words were even out of her mouth he flung himself into my arms. There was another mountain of paperwork for me to fill out and all that, but right then I was feeling on top of the world. I had a man I loved and was getting the most awesome little dude ever, giving him a home. 

We finally got out of the courthouse after lunch and Pat had to go to work but I had the whole day off to deal with family matters. "Hey Jon?"

"Yeah little dude?"

"I gotta ask what you and Pat were doing out there in the woods." He seemed to find this suddenly important.

"Full moon night, had to run around rather than be cooped up. The Lunais of the area gather every full moon away from the Lupus hunting ground. Like a huge family picnic only at night and a lot hairier." Dylan giggled. "It was my own first intro to the pack and Pat and I slipped away for some alone time." I was not comfortable talking about that to the kid so I glazed over some facts. "We were running and I smelled the camp fire and then saw the Lupus. The rest you know."

"Yeah. Umm...Jon?"

"Yes...umm...Dylan?" I was teasing him and his reticence so he'd know he could ask anything he wanted.

"Will you turn me?" Mr. Andrews had said he would ask but I figured it would be at least a few weeks down the line, not the day I adopted him.

"Is that a question of if or when?"

"Both," he replied.

"I would say if you really wanted it, and I know you totally do, I would say give it a little time. Get use to living with Lycans before you become one. Meet a few more." He nodded like he knew I would say something like that. "I'll do it, don't get me wrong, but...ya know?"

"Yeah." He seemed satisfied with that. I had said I would do it and I would.

"I'll see if I can't bring you to the next picnic. Wonder if they've ever had a human other than the Hunters around during then."

"Hunters?" he asked and I told him what I knew about them and why they were necessary. To protect us we had to protect the humans from us. That meant sometimes killing our own, usually the ferals or loners that may wander into pack territory that were endangering humans and thus our own way of life among them.

The two of us grabbed lunch and then I drove by the office to pick up some work. The receptionist looked at me oddly when I said I was doing that with Dylan in tow. "Who is this?" she asked and Dylan hid behind me and smelled so much of fear that I had to fight the urge to snort.

"My son. Adoption went through today. Just grabbing some work to take home since I know Mr. McLeod would not like a minor running around my floor bothering the ladies." I walked away and into a thankfully empty elevator. "You know she's Lupus."

"All but the janitor and the mailman were. I couldn't tell wha' the lady in the black skirt and pink top was though."

Good to know he only knew wolves by sight. "If my info is correct she was an Owl." His eyes got as huge as saucers and I stifled a laugh. "Yes there are other species. Not many that I know of, but maybe Mr. Andrews could tell you about them if you asked really nice."

"Wow. More than wolves?" I could see him thinking he was way behind on his research. "I like Mr. Andrews. He's one of them but he's so cool."

"Most I would say most are pretty cool if given a chance and most would avoid humans during the moon. Some though....aren't. Just like normal people." He nodded to that as the elevator opened and he got his first look at the office. It was rather drab today since it was the height of the work rotation and not many people paid any mind to me as I walked by, my silver pendant in plain view and Dylan trotting at my heels.

"Here are your messages, Mr. Davenport," said Pat as I walked past. I motioned for him to follow and he did, the little dude smelling very confused. 

In my office I closed the door and Pat stepped up to give me a kiss. Then he handed me the messages that I looked over before sitting at the desk and dialing records to let them know I had a dependent now. "Yes, I'll fax over his records when I can find them in the mounds of dead trees." The records clerk was a Lunais. "Yes it is actually. Yeah, I couldn't let the little dude disappear into the system again. Is that allowed?" I asked and smiled, knowing my scent went from neutrally happy to OMG happy. "He may decline but I'll ask him." I dialed a few other numbers and saw to that business while Dylan wandered around my office and stared out over the city from my window. Pat was scribbling the info down that the persons on the other line would give me while I typed it into my computer. Once done I hung up and said, "All set. Little dude we need to get your stuff from your old place and then back to the new one." I tossed Pat my car keys. "I'm stealing your Hummer." He tossed me his keys and I grabbed my work from my desk.

There was a knock at my office door. I sniffed and paled. Pat did too. "I'll mind Dylan. Keep him out of mischief." Pat took the little dude to the door just as Angus was coming through. Dylan looked at him and then paled and I think he was one wrong word away from pissing his pants. "Mr. McLeod," Pat said in passing and led Dylan away under the scrutinizing gaze of the Pack Leader.

"May I ask who that is, Jon?" He shut the door behind him.

"My foster son. Just finalized the legal stuff today. Little dude's been through hell in the past month. We were just on our way to get his belongings from his old home. Picking up work."

"Nice to see that you're taking your duties seriously even when taking a day off. There is something that has come to my attention in the recent past that needs your expertise." I sighed inwardly. "Nothing major, just something to do with your current selling sector before you joined us. I would like for you to investigate it and then correct it."

"I will do that. Anything else before I take off?"

"This is not a place for kids."

"I understand and it won't happen again." He nodded like it had better not and I flipped him off to his back much to Gene's mirth as he passed by my open door. I grinned and left with the little dude in tow.

He said nothing as we walked to the Hummer but I could still smell his fear and knew I would never bring him here to the office again. "That was the current Pack Leader and will get it if he doesn't show his douche colors too badly to Mr. Andrews, but you did not hear me say that." I looked at him out of the corner of my to see him smother a grin. "I won't take you back there. Too much for you and my poor nerves."

"Yeah. That guy was one mean Lupus." I nodded. I knew he was no one to cross but that did not mean I would bow to him. Never that.

Getting his things was short and simple as he didn't have much except for a bunch of Tupperware tubs and one small suitcase full of clothes. It made me sad to see he did not even have something so simple as a single toy in all of that. The only thing of obvious value was an old computer that should have gone out in the trash a decade ago. My cell phone had better computing power. Yet he insisted on carry it himself when I knew it weighed a thousand pounds of outdated hardware and software. We got home and I just toted it all up to his room and saw him plug his comp. It took forever for it to go through its POST and then for him to log in. I left him to his own organization and went down to do some of my work. It didn't take long either since it was simple number crunching and I had most of the formulas in my head.

Then I got to that problem Angus told me about. I looked into the old files and found nothing suspicious until I got to a small anomaly that didn't quite add up but I could not tell why. I stared at the thing and couldn't see why it made me think it did not belong. Checking the account I found it was a payroll number and the amount was something that should not be there really. Then I recalled the guy I replaced was embezzling and I wondered if this was how he did it. The amount was small enough to go unnoticed unless you were anal about the books. Money was being siphoned off the payroll account to go into a dummy worker whose name was not listed, yet the overall amount we send to the satellite for pay had not increased in the last two years prior, not without a paper trail a mile long. I checked for a department name and found one I did not have in my roster. I double checked the number and then dialed the office. "Jonathan Davenport's office."

"Pat, it's Jon. I need you to check on a dep number for me." I gave him the number and he ran it through his computer.

"That's a classified number. I don't have access. Takes a VP or higher authority." He sounded confused as to why he would not have access. "There are only two types of numbers with that level. R&D and security. Each has their own sub codes and whatnot. Sorry I could not be more help."

"Thanks. I'll get a temp code from Angus since I'm doing something for my sector."

"I'll have him email it to you." I hung up and wondered what the last guy was up to. He didn't have VP access to hide a code cause I was sure there was something bogus going down. Maybe he had just been a scapegoat for someone higher up with access to that level of security. Well, until I got that clearance code I could do nothing else with this so I went up stairs to find Dylan's door shut.

I knocked softly. "Hey, Dylan, can I come in?" I hated when my folks just walked in. In a moment the door opened.

"Thanks for knocking." I ruffled his hair and I could see he was working on his ancient computer.

"Done unpacking already?" Nothing had really been changed so I knew all those tubs were still packed in hiding in the closet.

"Fer now. I wanted to get what I felt about the Owl Lycanthrope lady down. Since I can't find anything in all my notes about them I have to start somewhere."

"Tubular. So you really are obsessed with Lycans." He looked mildly hurt but nodded. "I think it's kinda bodacious you got a hobby you like so much that no one can take from you as long as you got eyes and a brain." He smiled. "Would you like to see something way awesome?" He nodded and I told him I would be right back. I changed into those modified sweat pants and came back. Dylan looked confused, his eyes locked on the silver pendant.

"Is that silver?"

"Yup. I can touch it. Not sure why or how but I can. Since you like Lycans so much...would you like to see a hybrid change?" He looked like someone had given him the keys to Toys R Us and said have at it. 

"You mean you can change when it's not even a full moon?"

"A bit. Not all the way. Pat can too and he's the one who turned me into a drool machine." Looking withing myself for that thought process I enacted that partial change. It was not painful at all compared to the full change that would happen again in two weeks. Hair sprouted from every pore but not the full length coat I would get. I grew and filled out, my muscle mass nearly tripling even in this state. When the process was done I looked at Dylan who was grinning from ear to ear. "That's the partial change. The other is a lot more painful and can take a lot longer. Gotta grow a tail ya know. So, start taking notes, little dude."

"You mean you'll let me examine you?"

"To some extent yeah. Figure you want to know more about us, so what kinda father figure would I be to not help ya out?"

"The kind I always got before," he murmured but then got out his notebooks and started to give me a basic physical. What did it feel like? What did I sense? What changed? What stayed the same? All the while he was not taking notes but drawing me. I saw it emerge with a talent I had never seen.

"Whoa, little dude, lemme see that?" He showed me the drawing, smelling scared or readying himself for something negative. I could not believe the details he had shown. I took it over to a mirror and compared the drawing to what I saw. Dead to rights it was me. "Ya know, with this talent, you could make one awesome artist for fantasy novels or even make one wicked cool video game."

"You...ya like it?" I nodded and handed it back. "Everyone else says I should do something realistic. Something real life."

"They obviously did not know werewolves exist. It's really amazing." His grin was huge and he gave me a big hug which I returned as gently as I could size my strength had increased with my change.

"Do you really think I could make a game?"

"Not with that old clunker no. You would need to get a much better computer." He sighed and nodded knowing that to be true.

"Do I get an allowance for doing chores and getting good grades?"

I thought about it and nodded. "Sure. Ten bucks a week if you do all your chores. Five bucks for every A you get, 3 for every B, a buck per C, but you owe me five for every D and ten for every F. Your chores will be keeping your room clean, doing the dishes, taking out the garbage and dusting." All light work things and I hated dusting since I would now sneeze my head off.




A Full Moon Ch. 05



"That doesn't leave much for you," he said with a smile.

"Sure it does. Bathrooms, windows, vacuuming, shopping, going to work, washing the walls, polishing the silver since you'll get grubby kid germs on them and Pat can't touch them," that made him grin again. "So I have a lot to do. So, if you do all your chores that's forty a month with an additional bonus of $35.00 if you get A's in all of your classes. Which means...tomorrow you go back to school." He groaned dramatically and I enacted my change back to normal human, cinching the draw string.

"That is so cool to watch. Can I watch the full change in a few weeks?"

"No. That one is still to dangerous for you to be around. I've only had one full moon. Maybe Pat will let you but not me." I was glad he nodded like he understand why I said it. I was in full command of my mind but I was also a crab when I was in pain. "Speaking of other things creepy, when was the last time you went Trick-or-treating?"

"Umm...never actually." My mouth dropped and I shook my head.

"Then, if you want we can take you this year. Halloween is five days away."

"I don't even know what to be. No costume shop I know can make an authentic Lycan costume."

I got an idea but it would take some clever doing and a few favors called in. "Leave that to me. Tomorrow we'll go shopping. You should really think about being an artist more. Maybe sketch what Pat looked like as his sexy wolfman self from memory." Dylan went over to his few piles of stuff and came back with a small stack of art. All of them were of me and Pat, some together being snuggled by the other, some in poses I know neither of us ever stood in. My only response was to gape. "Little dude you are one mondo cool man." He waved it away like he knew it but I could smell he was embarrassed. "So now I scan these into my computer, you file away the originals and we start a portfolio of your art so when you turn eighteen in a few years you'll have a soft copy to send out to schools and companies to see if they will hire you. After college of course."

"Sweet." I ruffled his hair and did just that, giving him a thumb drive with all his drawings. "Um...I have a few more."

"Lemme guess, you have like a thousand more and want to scan them all." He flushed and nodded. "Fine. You can scan them when you have time between slave labor and school." The little dude gave me a huge hug. "You really should start getting use to me being a nice guy, although the hugs are cool. If you want something just ask. I may think about it and I may say no, but it's better to ask then to want."

"Can I go to the next Lunais picnic?"

"You're already invited by me and Pat but I still have to check with the others to see if it's okay." He nodded and went barreling back up into his room to put the new scans on his computer. I picked up the phone and dialed.

"Troy Jennings."

"Hey bitch miss me?"

"Hey fuck wad. I have. How's life in the big office?"

"Great. Banging a really awesome guy exclusively." That got an appreciative grumble. "Yeah. There isn't a thing we haven't done yet. That last is a husher bro." Thus saying it was a secret.

"Gotcha. So you gave up the booty finally. I'm jealous."

"Whatev, bitch, you know you only wanted the Man in you." I could see his eyes rolling. "So, listen. I'm sending you a drawing. I want you to send it out to your peeps and then to Ginger." He said he would get right on it. I also gave him a lot of info about the company and how it's run up here and he thought it sounded like I was working for the biggest asshat in the world and I did not disagree in the slightest.

An hour later I got a call. "Hello."

"Hey stud, it's Ginger." I could not help but grin.

"Hey beautiful. Got the drawing I had forwarded." I knew she had or else she would not have called me. She never called a guy, they called her, so this must be a business thing.

"Who did it?"

"Would you believe a thirteen year old boy?" She said she did not by the way she told me I was a fucking liar. "Totally true. He's my foster son."

"Hold the phone. You got a kid?"

"Yeah. His name is Dylan and the little dude is mondo awesome." I told her what I wanted and she said she had enough to go and would see what she could do in such a short time. 

"You realize you owe me for this."

"Nope, calling in a favor. You may even squash that when you meet the little dude." What I had planned was going to blow Dylan's mind and he would be totally crying happy tears. Hell I would be too when I saw him smile. And there was no way he would not smile for this.

"Must be some sort of awesome for you to call in a favor from me. I'll see what I can do. If I can't do it in time we have some things in storage that should work."

"I knew I could count on you." I knew I could too because she was the one girl I had banged that I called back the next day. Damn good sex and even better conversation. She been in some tight spots in college during midterms, and in debt up to her tits, so I tutored her through three semesters and my own foster dad helped me pay for some of her bills by giving her a very nice job as his secretary while she was in college when no one would hire her because of her financial troubles. She owed me big time. We talked for another hour and I had to admit I missed talking with her. I got her cell phone number so I could stay in contact and promised I would have lunch with her sometime.

The Little dude would never see it coming.



A Full Moon Ch. 06



Friday afternoon came and I took off early, dragging home some work, to pick up Dylan from school. I had been planning this surprise for the past few days and I was glad everything had panned out as far as it could from my end. When he got out of school I was there leaning against the car. "Ready, Dylan?"

He nodded and looked in the small back seat where there were some suitcases. "Where are we going?"

"On a small vacation," I said as we drove off to go pick up Pat from work and transfer all of the stuff to the Hummer. I had not even told Pat the entire thing, only he needed to pack for the trip.

"Really? Where are we going?"

"California." His jaw dropped as his eyes got epic huge. "If you're lucky you may get to go to Disneyland." He whooped and hollered and asked a billion other questions I refused to answer.

"But..."

"The only thing I'm telling you is you get to see Dean." That seemed enough for now. The two had been a riot to watch because Dean would try to crack through the silent wall and then throw his hands up in exasperation, Dylan miming it perfectly when his back was turned. When Dean would look back at the little dude he would see only that blank look as Dylan stared through him.

The flight was longer than my last one. Probably because last time I was getting laid and that never seems to last as long as actual time says. But, truth be told, this one was better. Seeing Dylan as he marveled at something so simple as a flight was something way awesome. He HAD to sit by a window and HAD to get head phones for the inflight movie, and HAD to make eyes at the pretty flight attendants...although that made Pat and I laugh more than anything. The airport was hell...like always and renting a car was a pain...like always. We didn't leave the airport until close to five in the afternoon Pacific time which meant just in time for rush hour traffic...like always.

Pat was miserable, a low growl a constant stream from his throat. The sounds of honking, profanity, engines, the smell of smog and pollution and the ocean, all of it got to him and he was not happy. I had missed this so much! I was back in my element and dodging through traffic like nothing and Pat was praying we didn't die. The little dude was cackling with glee when I cut someone off and then yelled back at them. "Don't repeat anything you hear during traffic," I told him and he nodded with a huge grin.

We finally got to the outskirts of San Diego near Lake Jennings Park. It was well after dark and the boys were asleep as I did my first fun act of this trip. I dialed Dean and put it on speaker, which woke them but they had to be awake for this. "Rot, fall off, and die." I had interrupted sex...darn.

"Whatev drama queen."

"Jon, you picked the worst time to call. Mondo hot Korean twins, bro."

Pat was grinning and Dylan's ears perked up. "Oh well. Guess what? Me and the guys are coming out to California and we're staying at your place." I had just turned onto Summerhill Terrace where Dean lived. Nice neighborhood, So Cal weather, perfect for partying with Korean twins. I turned off the head lights to not alert him we were here and pulled up quietly. 

"Tubular. Gotta go."

"Dylan misses his Uncle Dean." It was a total fabrication on my part, but anything to keep him on the line as we grabbed our stuff and sneaked to the front door.

"The kid spoke? Bodacious. Going." I rang the door bell. "Dammit what...bro, is this revenge?" All three of us cracked up. There was a whine in his voice I had only heard once and that was when he had a chance with a smokin' hot blonde one condition: He had to sleep with her husband too. I still don't know if he did it or not.

"Bingo. Let us in." He hung up and we continued to laugh as we waited. Pat and I could hear him cursing karma and me in particular in several different languages. Our smiles were so innocent and pure when he opened the door in a house robe. "Hey bro."

"Yeah, yeah, get your butts in here." We trouped in and he shut the door. I peeked over his shoulder to see said twins wearing only men's Oxford style shirts. Yup, mondo hot. "You had to show up now, didn't you."

"Karma's a pain. Sorry to take him away from you ladies, he'll be back shortly." Dylan looked over and his eyes widened. I swear the little dude mouthed the would DAMN.

The ladies were eying Pat and me like were new courses on the menu. "You could join us," one said with a little flip of her hair.

I didn't even need to consult Pat. "No thanks. I got all the loving I need." I smiled over at Pat who grinned back and the girls pouted. "Go have fun, Dean. I know my way around." He gave me a high five and went back upstairs with the ladies.

"You could have, Jon," Pat said as we put our light bags in the guest room, "I wouldn't have been upset...or blamed you."

"Eh. I was telling the truth. Hot as they were, they're not you and I've seen Dean naked enough for one lifetime." That got me a kiss, one that said Dylan was sleeping on the couch while we did nasty things in the bed.

We had all fallen asleep by the time Dean was done. To our bio-clocks it was almost 3 am. All of us were piled on the couch but I perked up when I heard Dean's light tread on the floor. When I stood he motioned us outside to the terrace to talk. "Good to see ya bro. You know I ain't mad for the stalling tactics."

I grinned. "I know and you had it coming. Hope this isn't too much of an inconvenience."

"Naw, it's righteous. So, how's the little dude really?" I told him how he was adjusting and why I was here. Through it all Dean's face was very serious, a rarity. When I was done he nodded a bit. "Jon, for once I can honestly say you have got to be one of the best people I have ever met. You're doing all this for someone you met such a short time ago. The kid deserves it all, true, but you're going to win the father of the year award. I'm proud of you. I know we joke a lot and we're young, but this...you are always welcome here no matter the hour or day." The lack of surfer lingo made me realize he was that serious. Dean and I knew each other well and I know we had discussed children, always saying when we were done whoring around and in our thirties we'd have them. Yet here I was with a foster son older than half my age, taking responsibility for another life.

"Thanks Dean. For everything and for helping with this."

The next morning we were up and ready to go close to sunrise. We had to get up that early if we were going to get to our first and main stop for being here as we only had two days until Halloween. Dean was passed out still, whether the twins were still around I couldn't tell, so we left him a note saying where we would be if he wanted to join us. The drive was too long to Pat but old news to me and we made it to Hollywood at a bit after 9:30 am. Dylan was bouncing up and down in the back seat as we pulled in to Universal Studios. "So that's Universal," I said as I started to pull out. Dylan's face went from joyous to mortified until he saw me grinning. "Chillax, little dude, we're going to be here all day."

Watching him in the park was amazing since he seemed to know more about it than I did as far as history and how it related to Lycans. How this set was used in this movie or how it should have looked if they used this era. When the wolfman came up, Dylan laughed at him. Guess compared to the real thing this guy was tame. We took him on rides that made Pat cringe because of the noise and even I had to rethink coming here, but Dylan, after seeing the pinch between our brows said he was done with most of the rides. The backlot tour was mondo awesome for movie buffs as you were on the sets and facades. 

When lunch time came around we headed to one of the gates the was marked Employees Only. A guard standing there just looked at me like I was stupid for not reading the sign. "We're here to see Ginger."

The guard paled and the hastily unlocked the gate for us and gave us very precise directions while handing us each passes. "Have a good lunch, sirs," he said and I nodded, smiling inwardly. Yup, the girl was still a class A bitch...loved her.

"Do I want to know?"

"You'll see soon." 

The directions led us to a building that smelled of chemicals and glue. Pat and I both snorted and even the little dude made a sour face. When we went in I saw my old FB was waiting by the door. "There you are. Still sexy as ever." She gave me a hug, grabbing my butt and making me grin and chuckle. She turned to Pat who was mesmerized. "Who's the hottie staring at me?"

"That is my boyfriend Pat. He's a sucker for a pretty face not matter the gender." At the word boyfriend she raised a ginger brow and smirked. "Yeah, yeah." I thumped Pat on the back and he blinked.

"How can you stand working in this smell?" He asked as he shook her hand. Then it hit me. Ginger smelled fantastic. Under the cover of chemicals and her usual lavender perfume was a scent that had me thinking. Pat, who was more attracted to scent, would want to do many naughty things with her. Threesome!

"Eh, you get use to it. So where is...looks like we got another staring boy," she said fondly, but it wasn't at her he was staring. It was the costumes. Ginger worked as a costume designer and crafter for many Hollywood films and even did some conceptual art for Underworld. Dylan was gazing at all the pieces to who knows what movie, but it was one station that grabbed his attention. There was no mistaking the pieces were Lycan.

"Jon?" he asked me with so much longing in his voice, so much hope.

"Ginger is making you a werewolf costume. As a huge favor to me." Dylan began to cry and he almost knocked me over with a hug. I had expected joy, not utter orgasmic tears of elated glee. I could not keep the huge grin off my face. I knew I was spoiling him, but he needed some spoiling since he had never had it. I read his file page for page. He led a solitary and rather dismal life in his other homes, the families unable to reach him in his walls of silence until they finally gave up on him and sent him back into the system.

Ginger and Pat were grinning too, tears in both sets of eyes. Pat mouthed "I love you" because even he had not been told what this was all about. I knew Pat also was growing to love Dylan and since right now his prospects for his own children were nil, here was someone he could raise right along side of me.

When my eyes flicked to Ginger she made a gesture saying I didn't owe her a thing. "Come on, handsome, lets get you measured and fitted for what we have in stock. After that, well, we'll do the best we can." She held out her hand and he took it with a huge smile. 

A few other designers came over when they saw the huge smile on his face. I figured she had said that a special case was being made and the looks they passed around said they would toss out ideas at least. Pat went over while I slipped to the door of the big wig here. A well built man answered. "You must be Jonathan. I'm Kyle Yorton." He let me in, shaking my hand, and closed the door. The air in here was much fresher and well ventilated. 

"Thank you so much for allowing us to barge in on such short notice." I sat when a seat was offered and looked out through the mostly closed mini-blinds. 

"It's not everyday Ginger asks for anything so when she does we all do what we can since she's always helped us out with our projects. This one though? I have never seen a face so bright." Dylan's face was invaded by his molar showing grin as he tried on the prosthetic legs that came from the Underworld prop house. Those at least would fit well enough and were pretty much a signature of Lycans now. Whoever designed them might even be Lunais since they looked pretty darn close to our anatomy. When Mr. Yorton passed by me I caught a whiff and smiled.

"He's an awesome little dude. He loves Lycans so much. Dylan adores Pat more than me I think." I watched for a flicker on his face and got none. What I did get was a scent change to caution. "Yes, Pat's a Lycan, just like us, although I have never smelled your type since I wasn't changed until a few months ago."

There was no hiding it if I was truly a Lycan and he knew that. Taking a quick stock he nodded. "I knew he was, Lunais unless my nose is faulty, but I could not tell about you."

"Yeah, Mr. Andrews said I was rare since Pat infected me. I can mask it a bit which has saved me a huge chunk of trouble at work."

"You work for the Pack?" I heard the capital letter in there.

"In the main office. Pat's my OA."

"And you know the Leader enough to talk to him?"

"Yeah. Well, I know Mr. Andrews pretty well as he sits with Dylan since he's retired early." My words confused him. 

"Why would the leader cub sit?"

"Because the little dude is probably the closest thing he has to a grandson. Pat's his son." At my words his eyes got as round as saucers.

"That's the Leader's son?" I nodded. "And you are..."

"His boyfriend." That set him back in his chair with a raised brow. "I don't know how it happened either. Save for him I'm hetero." That got a laugh. "I gotta ask, what species are you?"

"Tigris Lunais." I nodded like I was impressed. I filed away the scent I was getting from him and comparing it to the other weretigers and Lunais. I could sift through it slowly and pick up the tiger scent now and then below that was the Lunais scent I was becoming so familiar with. "And Dylan knows?"

"Knows and has seen us in our lunar forms." I told him briefly about how we found him and came to adopt him. All the while Kyle shook his head smelling displeased.

"This new Leader-in-Waiting will not be good for the pack if the Lupus are already acting like this. I've heard that The Panthera Tigris have also been more aggressive. Perhaps this shift in power has unbalanced things for a time." I nodded, hoping it was a short time. He grinned out at the workers who were all actively pitching in, bringing over what they had on hand to Ginger to say yes or no to as it was her project. "Such a lad I have never seen. Human raised by Lycan parents."

"He asked to be infected. I said to wait a bit before making the decision final."

"He likes us that much?" I nodded. "Think he would like to see a Tigris?" I nodded. I knew very well he would love to see one.

"Can you change outside of the moon? I was told it was very rare."

"Among wolves, yes. Tigers it's more common. Still rare though." He could not help but feel a bit proud of the fact he could change outside of the moon. I smelled it on him and knew I probably smelled that way sometimes.

"Is it a full change or a hybrid like Pat?" That only got me a smile and I knew he could go full monty. That would piss Angus off if I could change all the way and slap that dick attitude out of his head. "So, how much is this going to cost?"

Kyle looked out at the little dude with a smile. "Call it a gift. One Lunais to another."

I didn't know what to say. It was very generous as those items could cost thousands of dollars. I was willing to spend it too as I had a very comfortable salary and already enough squirreled away to last a few years with care. Yet I didn't have to simply because Lunais seemed more pack than the Pack sometimes.

It was getting on into dinner time as they final touches were being applied. Someone had gotten lunch for us all and we ate while the costume was pieced together from scraps and odd ends. The only parts that were prefabricated were the paws and claws. While the claws were not the intricate ones used in the movies, they were still able to open and close which had him giddy. It was a quick miracle; he looked very much like Pat did in his lunar form save for the stock items.

When the final touches were done we all stepped back and helped Dylan over to the full length mirror. His eyes opened wide and I could tell he was grinning save for his Lycan mouth didn't move that way. He smelled very pleased. "I think we've outdone ourselves, guys," said Ginger with a satisfied smile. "The costume may seem a bit large for you right now, but that's because you could wear it maybe a few more years without having to come back for more. Do you remember the order the items go on?" Dylan nodded. With me standing by he took a few steps in the stilts that now made him very close to my height. At first he was unsure but he was getting it after a few minutes. "Those will stand up to two hundred pounds of weight at a full run."

"Don't go trying it right now," I said when he looked ready to do just that.

"But Jon..." I heard him whine and we all laughed. 

Kyle came out of the office looking at his watch. "You guys knock off for the night while we get this young man out of the costume safely." With nods all around, the rest of the team did just that. "You too Ginger. You've been working too hard lately anyway." She sighed but nodded. She gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek and then got a hug from Dylan.

"Hairiest hug ever. Good thing you're cute. We'll do lunch tomorrow, boys, before you head back to cold as hell land." We all watched as she left, Kyle helping Dylan out of the latex mask.

When she was gone Dylan was staring at Kyle with a look that said volumes. "What? Do I have egg on my face?"

"The little dude can spot a Lycan on sight." 

Kyle raised a brow. "Handy if you're into us. Can you tell what I am?"

"I think tiger, but I don't know fer sure. There is something different that I haven't seen before."

"How can you tell us apart? I'm Tigris Lunais."

Dylan shrugged. "I dunno. I just can. It's like knowing when a dog is either going to attack you or lick your face. You just know." He sat in thought while we got him out of his costume and stowed it safely for travel, keeping the stilts out so he could practice them. "I can see it. How a person moves once I know, I compare it to an animal. Birds confuse me although I think I could spot another owl if I saw one." Then he snickered. "Spotted owl." We all groaned at the bad joke.

Kyle grabbed some pencils and sketch paper and handed them to the little dude. "Let's see how good you really are, little artist." Dylan looked confused until Kyle took off his shirt and slacks, standing there with his back to us completely naked. "Time for the painful part." Pat and I nodded in agreement.

Kyle got on all fours and I felt the shift. Dylan's eyes bugged out of his head and his hand began to sketch faster than I thought possible, but he was only doing parts of the anatomy. The face and how it elongated and widened, losing the human feature for the feline. The grimace of pain and how the incisors lengthened. The hands and feet as they changed from human to paws and claws, the skin growing fur even as some of it tore to expose muscle and heal within fractions of a second. Dylan caught as much as he could in the two minutes it took for the change to be done. A twelve foot tall white tiger crouched there and looked back over his shoulder, the echoes of pain still in his eyes. "First pose. I'm still tired." Dylan nodded and sketched away. By the end of the night he had ten good poses and about forty pieces. He could fill out an artistic anatomy book on Lycans in days.

When Kyle was human again he came over to gape at the sketches. "So, when can you start working for me?" Dylan laughed but I could tell Kyle was serious. "You have a gift, Dylan, make no mistake about that. You could turn this into a very good cartoon or game or even do graphic design or CGI movies." He held one up and looked at it. "I didn't do this pose." Kyle stood back to back with Pat who was in his lunar form, Pat's shorter but more heavily muscled body a good contrast to the longer, leaner lines of the tiger. "Yes, when you turn eighteen and if I still work here I'll help you get into a job in the business. If," he exclaimed with his finger in the air, "Jon and Pat say yes and your schooling is good enough." The look on Dylan's face was amusing as he was very disgruntled but also very happily embarrassed.




A Full Moon Ch. 06



On our way back to the main park for the last few hours of our day, Dylan gave each of us a huge hug. "You guys are the best thing that ever happened to me."

Back in Salem on Sunday, the day of Halloween, we were all getting ready for the night's festivities. Pat and I would go as our selves, no make-up or costumes, and follow at a discreet distance just in case anything went wrong. "You could come with me," Dylan offered.

"We could, but I didn't want to make it seem like you needed us there. Didn't want to cramp your style if you met a really hot freshman chick." Pat's comment made me roll my eyes.

"Like I would. I don't get girls." He didn't seem to care either. When you're the oddball of the school no one really talks to you anyway.

"Neither do I," I said with a snicker. I never knew why girls wanted to bone me, they just all wanted what was in my jock. "So you want us there with you?" Dylan nodded. "Guess we're taking the little dude Trick-or-treating."

I knew that most everyone on my street would be passing out the last legal high. Sweets galore since the area was pretty well off, he would be bouncing off the walls for the next few weeks by what he would pull in. It was totally awesome watching him stalk down the driveway and seeing more than one person jump at how realistic his costume looked. The adults were more afraid than the kids who ooed and ahhed over it. House after house he would go up with a crouching step as if hunting for his prey, Pat chuckling. "He's more Lycan than you are."

"Har dee har har. He's liked them forever, I've liked them for a month." That got a laugh and a kiss. I realized right then how comfortable I was with Pat. He just kissed me in plain view of the entire community and I didn't flip out. 

"Lunais filth," I heard behind us and we broke our kiss to see a young man glaring, not at Pat or me, but at Dylan. I sniffed and caught the undeniable scent of a Lupus. I already knew this could turn out ugly.

"Excuse me?" I said as I had not understood what he said although his tone offended me.

"Not you, the kid."

Pat raised a brow. I spoke before he did. "My son? What's wrong with him?"

"Uh...nothing. I thought he was someone else." He immediately looked like he had messed up.

"Problem?" said a voice I had heard around the office. I looked at Darius Hollyman from routing. A stiff necked asshat, but having read his employee file I saw no major flaw other than he was a hard ass with everyone including himself. A man to respect if not like.

"No, Pop, no problem. Just a misunderstanding." Ah, so this was the kid he claimed as a dependent. Darius had one son who had been changed along with him when a Feral attacked them, killing the mother. The other child was a girl and would be ten now. Still human but knew about Lycans.

"Jon, Pat, how are you this evening?"

"Good, Darius." I said with a polite nod.

"A word with you," said Pat and pulled them aside out of normal human hearing range but I heard them just fine. "You, Tommy, better watch what you say. Do you want the whole world to hunt you down if they knew?" The young man colored but shook hie head.

"What did you say?"

"Lunais filth," murmured Tommy.

Darius shook his head. "Towards the boy in the werewolf costume. FYI, Tommy, I'm the Lunais you smell, not him. That's Dylan, Jon's foster son. Human. The same human whose last foster parents were killed by Lupus." The boy's face clouded with shame. At least he had the knowledge to know he was an idiot.

"We will speak of this at home, Tommy. Let's not ruin the night for either of our families. What have you to say for yourself to Pat, son of the Leader?"

I noticed that Darius did not say former or anything like that. Seems here was one person who did not fully support Angus until his learning period was done with. Good to know. "I'm sorry. It's an attitude I picked up from my friends. No excuses."

"It's okay, Tommy, but please be careful. If Jon or Dylan really heard that, or another Lunais who was not so understanding of the tensions, you might have been in more trouble than this." Tommy nodded. "Now go help your sister get as much candy as you can. Keep her smiling tonight and I'll completely forget about this." Tommy looked at his father who nodded, then went jogging off to go escort his little human sister.

"I am also sorry, Pat. I will have to make sure he doesn't make that same mistake again."

"It's okay, Darius. We have never had problems at work and you have never been accused of wronging Lunais. Don't lose any sleep over it and don't treat the boy too harshly. We both know about peer pressure."

"He'll get lectured, that is all. I will see you at work." He went to leave but turned back. "Does Jon know about us?"

"Can't say that he does. My father gave him the silver necklace he wears as a token of welcome." Darius nodded and shook hands with Pat before leaving to join his family.

Dylan and I walked up. "All settled?" Pat nodded.

"Did he really say that?" Dylan asked.

"I told him," I said with a bit of a grin. "He better get use to it now when he has the choice."

"He did, but I know he was ashamed after."

"You learned a lot from your Dad, huh Pat." He nodded. I knew what he meant. Diplomacy and understanding were how Mr. Andrews led the Pack.

"Yeah. I've been very lucky. I know it doesn't need saying, but whatever my dad tells you, learn from it." Dylan nodded and we went on with the little dude stalking. He even went up behind an older girl and trailed her for a few yards before she turned to see who it was, screaming her head off and making her little brother laugh at her. He came back to us radiating happiness. "Schoolmate?"

"Yup. She hates me anyway."

"Feel bad at all?" He shook his head and I laughed along with him.

Once Dylan was asleep in his room, Pat and I were in the living room and relaxing as we had not all weekend. One thing I have learned so far about being a parent: No time to yourself until the kids are asleep. The fireplace was lit, some pillows thrown on the floor and we lay there without our shirts just being close. The pendant was on the table beside us in case someone came over who was Lycan. Not that it had happened, but then I hadn't realized I had another Lycan close enough to the neighborhood to Trick-or-treat there. "What a night."

"Amen, Jon." His head was cradled by my shoulder and bicep as I toyed with his chest hair that he had not trimmed in a week. I kinda liked it and he loved when I toyed with it. "What a weekend. I like Ginger. She's a hard ass but she's cool."

I chuckled and he looked at me. "You just wanna bang her." He opened his mouth to protest and then closed it nodding.

"She smells fantastic."

"Yup, and it would be a very educational lay for you. Probably the best sex with a woman in my entire life." At that he raised a brow and grinned. "I don't think she could handle this," I said as I rubbed his growing torpedo. He let out a sigh that turned into a bit of a giggle when my hand slipped over his lower abs and undid his pants. That was when the door was practically torn off its hinges as it was bashed down. Pat and I leaped to our feet and cleared the couch to the front door area in a second to see what the hell was going on, me snagging the pendant on the way by.

There stood two Lupus in their human skin and of all things two Ferals! The Ferals were bound by collars and chains held by the Lupus. The scent was thick and I knew they were not here for social time. I snorted and crouched low, growling "Get out of my house."

The taller Lupus let go of his leash and the Feral lunged for Pat who was already enacting his change. It put him at a temporary disadvantage since he was racked with pain, but it would even the odds soon enough. "You stay here," said the tall one, "I'll get the boy."

Dylan...

I was confronted by the other Feral that was now loose, but it came in with more caution than its ilk and I had enough time to wrap the chain around my hand. "Dylan, wake up and run!" I roared, but I could not tell if he heard me, although with the noise he'd probably woken up already. The Feral slashed at me but I grabbed his claw and ground my fist into his chest, the silver sizzling as it connected. The howl was muffled as I clamped down on his muzzled with my armpit, dropping and slamming him to the floor. I got a good claw rake across my side but all it did was piss me off. My own change enacted and I knew without a doubt I was more than a match for this one...

...but not when the shorter Lupus joined in with a silver knife. I felt fire blossom along my side and my scream turned into a howl as he dragged the blade along a rib and out. This was not good. I could touch silver but it hurt me like I was a normal human. There would be no fast healing this wound. My eyes clamped shut as I pulled, snapping the neck of the Feral and leaving its body on the floor as I slowly rose to tower over the Lupus who was suddenly not so brave anymore.

Pat stood beside me, his own Feral dead on the floor with its head somewhere detached from its body. I clamped my paw on my side to stop the bleeding as much as I could. "You will die now," I snarled.

"Or the boy will," came the voice of the tall one as he came down the stairs with Dylan held kicking and punching by the throat. "Step aside, Pat. And no use hiding your change now, Jon. Angus will be told soon enough."

"Put Dylan down and I'll let you leave here alive." All that did was get Dylan's throat squeezed tighter and he wheezed out a help. I judged if I could grab Dylan before he was hurt further and knew I could not. Pat and I stepped back. He relaxed his grip. "Why? What has he done?"

"You don't know? Then I won't enlighten you. You Lunais filth! You should never have been born." He was slowly walking down the stairs. "Change back, garbage, or I'll just kill him right here." We did as ordered, my falling to my knees as I could not keep my balance with the wounds and change. "Hmm, I like that view. Lunais, on their knees in front of me. You too, Pat. On your knees." Pat growled but did as ordered. "Useless dogs! I..."

He was cut off as his brain was splattered all over my wall by a bullet fired from a gun outside. I barely heard the silenced gun, but I saw its results. Dylan was dropped and he fell down the last few stairs in a heap of tears, but he was otherwise unhurt from what I could see. The last Lupus went wide-eyed and dove for the door only to stop as he too was killed by a single shot, this one to the heart. I could see the neat hole was splattered with silver nitrate. Someone watched too many movies...thank you Hollywood. "Dylan!" I crawled to him as best as I could.

He looked at me and waved me to stay. "I'm okay," he said hoarsely and looked out the door with wide eyes. I didn't stay as told and went to him to look him over, the pendant still wrapped around my hand. 

Pat stood and went to the door. "Nice shot Darius." My head whipped around to see the man come through the door with his son who had a high powered rifle, the kind that would take the head off a Lycanthrope. "Jon, how's the cut?"

"Bleeding but not as bad as it could be. These scratches are worse." I looked up when Darius came in and crouched.

"I would say we needed to get you to the hospital for the scratches, but that's useless. What I want to know is how you can touch silver and hide your scent." He was not demanding, just curious. "Silver knife and you're still alive. Neat trick. Tommy, call a few Hunters, ones that won't let this event be talked about." He nodded and pulled out a cell phone. "Damn Ferals right in the city. This is not good."

"No kidding. Dad should be told." Pat was setting about cleaning up the Ferals' bodies as best as he could.

"I already called him when we scented them." He looked at Dylan. "You well enough to grab some bandages for Jon? If not just sit tight." Dylan got up and stumbled up the stairs, proving he was being brave to do this with a hurt ankle and rapidly growing bruises around his throat. "Brave kid you got there."

"You have no idea. Darius, thank. Really. You saved his life."

He smiled tightly. "I'm glad a Lupus could atone a bit for previous wrongs against the kid." Darius stepped aside to help me up and Dylan came in with all the bandages in the house, Neosporin, and of all things wolfsbane. "Resourceful little guy."

"If someone gets wind he was scratched, they'll smell this on him and it should keep his secret a bit longer." Tommy looked very impressed as he was talking on the phone.

"They'll be here in ten minutes. The Leader...is pulling up now. Shall I go home, Pop?"

Darius was thinking about it when Pat spoke up. "No. Let my father meet you. It's always a good thing to be in favor of the Leader." Darius nodded to his words and took the bandages from Dylan to help wrap me up.

Mr. Andrews came in looking about as angry as I had ever seen him and he glared at the bodies as if he could kill them all over again. His scent was furious but he was fully in control. "Darius, glad you were in the neighborhood. You boy okay?"

"I'm fine, Dad, just a few bites really. Jon's got a silver knife wound as you can see. Your little trick did the work, however you did it. Dylan?"

"Been better but not a scratch on me. Just a sore throat."

The Leader nodded sagely. "Glad to see you're okay. Relatively speaking of course. You, young man." He turned to Tommy. "Thomas, right?" He looked completely shocked the Leader knew his name. "Nice shot there. How far away were you?"

"Maybe a hundred yards, sir." He pointed out the door. "Over by the azaleas." that was across the street and down five houses. 

"Well done. You're, what, fifteen now?" He nodded. "Good. Darius, with your permission, I would like to sponsor him for Hunter training. We could use a good shot like him."

Darius looked a bit shocked. Hunters were rarely selected so young, being chosen usually after they finish college. And to be sponsored by the Leader...he had never heard of such a thing. "When he graduates, and if he wants it."

Mr. Andrews looked at Tommy. "And would you like that? If not, then I will have to find some suitable way to repay you since you saved the life of Dylan, possibly my son, and a valued member of the company and a man worthy of respect."

I smiled at the thoughtful look on the boy's face. I was also smiling because he had put Dylan's name first, as if that was the biggest thought in his mind. "Well, sir, I would like that, but that being three years away, I might change my mind or worse."

"Then...hmm...and internship in the company mail room for now. Two hours a night and eight hours on either Saturday or Sunday, provided your grades are steady, with full benefits and pay. If you choose to not become a Hunter, then you'll have real world experience and a job reference for your future."

That was a great offer and one no one would pass up. "Thank you, sir. That would be amazing."

"Then it's settled. I'll drop the message to Mr. McLeod. You'll start after the next moon." That was in a bit over a week. "The authorities have arrived. Jon, can you and Dylan stay with Pat tonight while we clean this mess up?"

"Yeah. You can tell me the official story tomorrow. B&E?"

"Sound about right. Drunken idiot had the wrong house I say." We all nodded, including Darius and Tommy. "Gather your things. Pat, get a few things for Jon while he's checked out." Five Hunters in police and paramedic uniforms came in, the lights from their vehicles rousing the neighbors enough to form a group around my house.

"Nothing to see here," said one of them. "Ma'am please step back onto the sidewalk."

"I think it would be best if we had your gun for now," said an officer to Tommy who handed it over a bit reluctantly. "Good shot though, kid."

While I was taken outside for the paramedics to look over, Darius stood by. "Jon, how long have you been infected?"

"Actually, a bit over two months. A week after I got here. Pat and I got a bit rowdy." Darius chuckled.

"Ah. Nice choice of words. And you came out Lunais-infected rather than Lupus." I told him our theories on why and about the silver pendant. "I knew Travis was tricky, but to so that with silver without anyone knowing...amazing."

"Travis?"

"Oh. Mr. Andrews." He was on a first name basis with the Leader. "The head of the Hunters in my pack-father." I looked confused and I know I did. "Um, like a mentor program for newly infected. Like an adoption into a pack family." That I understood.

"Huh. That explains how Tommy had Hunters on his phone high enough to not be asked questions."

"Yeah. Michael loves Tommy since he never had kids of his own. He's pack-father to, I think, thirty Lupus." That was a large foster family. "Jon, I will tell you that your secret is safe with me. While I will not speak ill of the Leader-in-Waiting, I do not fully endorse some of his beliefs and know why you feel you must keep this from him."

"Thanks Darius. Perhaps once this has been cleaned up you and Tommy could come over for dinner some time. Bring your daughter. That way Tommy can see Lunais are not really filth and Dylan can know some other Lupus other than Mr. Andrews."

Darius nodded. "You are a good man, Jon. That boy needs someone like you in his life. I would like that. Maybe it will help Tommy break away from his group of friends too. If they're saying things like that I don't think I want him associating with them anymore anyway." Darius and I talked while I was stitched up on the spot and told I would live and to call if anything got worse. Then I was set free and Darius went home with Tommy who was still getting praise from the Hunters discreetly.

Dylan waved a good bye to them and I knew it was genuine. Now the big question is why? What was Dylan to make him a target?



A Full Moon Ch. 07



I took the next day off, any normal human would have after a knife wound to the side, but truth be told it hurt as if I were a regular guy. The scratches were slower in healing than normal and Pat says it's because of the silver in my system which would be gone soon enough. The evening spent at Pat's apartment was one of the worst in memory. Feverish, chills, sweats, nausea and of all things...I was hornier than I could remember. The entire place smelled so much like Patrick that I was inundated by his scent and it drove me crazy. There was no escaping it. Pat knew what I was going through and he said I would be in the bed and he would be in the couch. Dylan was taking the guest room.

"No buts, Jon. You're hurt worse than you're wanting to let on. I can feel the heat from here." He was standing a good ten feet away.

"I'll be fine, right?" He nodded and I settled back into the bed that smelled so much of him, but in a stale way. He had not slept in the bed for the past few weeks. I looked for Dylan, but he was already sleeping in the next room. "So...why?"

Pat shook his head. "I don't know, but I'll do some digging. Dad knows a lot more than he lets on about the outside workings. The question I want answered is what the hell were Ferals doing in the middle of Salem. There are at least fifty Lycans between your house and the edge of the city in all directions. Someone would have seen them, smelled them, or whatever. It doesn't add up."

I nodded, somewhat startled by the fact that there were so many Lycans near my house. It was daunting and a bit unnerving. "Under it."

"The sewers. I'll ask Gene to poke around. He knows it the best out of all of us."

Pat didn't even try to wake me for work the day after, and Dylan stayed home from school as well. He watched me like a mother hen all day, sketching away when not doing his homework which was done in less than an hour. Sketch after sketch, he depicted the nightmare of the last night too well. His main focuses were the Ferals. Also how the brains looks splattered on the wall. When asked, he said he was fine. I didn't pry, no sense in it as I knew he would not tell me if he didn't want to. When my fever was high he brought me a lot of water and cold compresses which he changed out after only a minute since they had gotten hot.

When Pat got home he looked to be in one mondo good mood. He brought in his laptop on a TV tray and set it up. "This will make your day. I wish you had seen it." He held up a DVD and put it on.

The scene was the office building board room and the heads of all the departments were there along with Angus and Mr. Andrews. It was footage from security cameras. "May I ask why you have asked us here, Mr. Andrews?" Angus asked and I could tell he was not happy.

"Simple. Two Ferals were in the heart of Salem last night." The heads looked confused and mumbled a bit to themselves. "We will get to what happened in a moment, but this is the second time in three months they have been allowed into Pack territory." Mr. Andrews was steadily staring Angus right in the eyes, the most obvious challenge in all of the animal kingdom. "Twice and both times it directly affected my son. I will say this crystal clear, Angus. If any more Ferals come within ten miles of this city while your training period is in effect then I will remove you." The grin that split my face at the suppressed anger in Angus's could not be stopped. 

"You are well within your rights to..." Angus began, but Mr. Andrews held up his hand even as he interrupted him.

"And if said Ferals come within sight of my son, Jonathan Davenport or young Dylan Parker, then I will have you removed from the Pack, this city, and this planet. I will kill you myself if my son is so threatened again. Is that clear?" Angus's jaw worked and I heard him grinding his teeth, but he nodded all the same. "Good. This has been your only mistake, Angus, but it has been a costly one. See it does not happen again. If not, I say publicly you will become Leader."

One head, Miss Janet Miller, raised her hand to speak. When acknowledged she cleared her throat and said "Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but what happened? We all know about the first incident and about the child, but there has been something else?"

"Yes. For better or for worse, Jonathan now knows about Lycanthropes." There was a collective groan. Angus sat up straighter. "Yes. It's hard to hide when two Ferals are led in on leashes to his house and the door was busted in. They were after Dylan from what I was told. Thankfully two Lupus were there within minutes to remove the threats, one of whom was a fifteen year old pup."

"The new intern," said Angus and Mr. Andrews nodded.

"Jon was scratched." There was another groan. "Pat has treated the wounds and very thoroughly. Since he was wearing the silver pendant when he was scratched, there is little chance the virus will take hold, but be ready for the possibility, Angus." I don't know if I really liked that they knew I knew about the Lycans and that I had been scratched, but it was out in the open now. "He knows Pat is one, but he does not know the company is all Lycans. That day is a bit far off I say." Ah, so I was to remain ignorant of the company.

"That is probably best. And do you think Jonathan still a candidate?"

"I do. His reaction towards Pat did not change, although he now knows why Pat avoids him during the full moons." Mr. Andrews was telling them and me what the game was, only they thought it was real.

"Led in, you say?" asked Evan Hansen.

"Yes. Two Lupus. Outsiders, but still our own kind. I am asking you, all of you, to keep a lid on this around Jon as much as you can. Security needs to be tightened, Angus. This the last I will talk about this. One more favor to ask is this. Can anyone tell me why a boy would be the target of this event?"

Angus nodded. "His last foster parents, it turns out, came upon some information about the company's former Personnel Head and used it to worm close to three hundred thousand dollars out of him before he was sent away." Dylan looked very confused. "The child is to inherit all of the money when he turns eighteen, unless he ends up dead. Then the money reverts to an unnamed account. Jonathan, as his legal guardian, can't touch it. Even post mortem."

I looked at Dylan who sat there processing this new info. His brow was knit in confused thought. "It's a lie. They would have moved out of the small house we lived in if they had that much cash."

Angus was still talking. "The four who killed them were Outsiders contracted to keep them from the money and getting more."

More was said, but all of it boring. That is until the meeting broke up. Then Angus stormed up to Mr. Andrews. "You dare come in here and say this in front of the entire heads?"

"Yes." Angus stood a head taller than Mr. Andrews, but there was no ounce of fear at all. "If you will kindly step back I won't have to rip out your throat and send it home to your wife and pups." The ultimatum was delivered as if he was talking about passing the salt. Angus fumed for a moment and then took a few steps back. "There. If you remember I also told you, and them, that you will be Leader, which is a public vote of confidence. They have heard what I said and as long as you can keep those mongrels out of the territory, you will be Leader. While I do not believe the same as you, your leadership is without question. The Pack will be in good hands."

Angus visibly calmed. "Thank you. I apologize for my behavior. This has been a trying time since Jon moved in."

"I know. He's shook up, believe me. But, with your goals in mind, keep Pat with him. They work well together and as for their relationship, it will keep Lycans in a good light so Jon will be more accepting when he is asked."

"A good bit of advice. Patrick and Jonathan do make a good team, and while I am not exactly thrilled that breeding males are paired up, I know they are both smart enough to know feelings will have to be set aside for the good of the Pack. Now, if you will excuse me, I must see about keeping this event from the media as much as possible." Mr. Andrews waved him away.

When Angus was gone, the Leader turned to the camera and spoke to me. "Got that, Jon?" then the recording ended.

"All of that was for show right?" Dylan asked.

"If you mean how my Dad reacted, no. He'll kill Angus if he steps out of line." Dylan nodded but he was a bit upset. "Does it change how you see my Dad?"

"A bit. Makes me like him more that if it comes to it he likes me more than that dick." We laughed at that.

"Glad to hear it. Oh, and Dylan, you're coming to the next picnic, right?" Pat asked and the boy's face lit up brighter than the sun. "I asked around and the Lunais said they would love to meet you. Show you a side of Lycans you haven't seen much."

"I can really go?" We nodded and got big hugs.

The next full moon came the night after Gene made his report. He didn't tell Angus, he told Micheal Jenkins, the head of the Hunters who just happened to be over with Darius and Tommy. My place was cleaned up and the door replaced and we had only been gone a few days. Michael was a small man, relatively speaking. Lean, wiry, he stood only six feet tall, but he missed nothing. This was a wolf who got where he was by brains and something I would never know. Dylan respected him if not outright liked him and Michael seemed to accept that.

The knock had come about an hour after dinner while we were all around the TV watching the third Harry Potter movie. It was Darius' human daughter's favorite movie and I admit I liked it too. When the knock came I waved Pat to stay seated and got up to answer it. "Gene. Welcome, won't you come in."

"Sorry to intrude, Jon, but I heard that Michael was here." I led him in to the living room.

"Dylan, why don't you take Tommy and Tabitha up stairs and show them some of your art." He nodded and the others got up, knowing this was adult business. Gene sat where the little dude had been.

"The Ferals have used the sewers, but only as far Splaine Park. They came from the wharf areas." He told us how he tracked them back to the piers and it was only a hop, skip and jump to my house from Splaine Park which is across the street from where Darius lived, all things considered.

"Then they came in by ship." Micheal got this look in his eye, one I liked. "I'll look into the shipping manifests. Anything that put into port that day I'll know about."

"Go back a few days. I found enough scat in one location that said they had been in the sewers for three days or so." Michael nodded and left to go question Gene alone.

"A shame Dylan is the target of all this." Darius shook his head.

"Yeah. Little dude's been through enough. Still we're a bit better prepared for this now."

"How are the injuries healing?"

"Good." I showed him my side. The scratches were almost gone and the knife slash was red but healing. "I should get some decent healing tomorrow night."

"Ah, the Lunais meet. What will you do with Dylan?"

"He'll be coming with us. The Lunais are eager to help him through what trauma he has and I want to keep an eye on him. Where better than surrounded by over a hundred Lycans I can at least have a conversation with."

Darius looked and smelled surprised. "Isn't he...apprehensive?"

"Nope. He wants to go."

Darius only shook his head. "I worry now. About Tabitha. Normally she goes and stays with her grandmother in Boston during the full moon, but Edith is out of town this week."

Pat and I exchanged a look. "If she wants she can come with us. Offspring are always welcome at the meet and she can keep Dylan company since they'll be the only humans there and it could get a bit overwhelming."

"Really? That's very kind."

The full moon was up enough that we had changed, but we had gone to the site ahead of time so we didn't have to take the kids through the sewers. That would not have been good even if they had not been used recently by the Ferals. Dylan was a bit subdued, it was only a month ago this day he had lost his foster parents. Even if life was not all that great, there was some connection. Yet, when Pat and I came back from our Changes in our Lycan forms his smile was huge. Tabitha was wide eyed but grinning herself. She had shown a remarkable amount of spunk and fire within her. Had to have it when her family were slobbering drool machines for three nights out of the month. 

"Wow. You are really pretty," she said to Pat who I know was pleased even though he just shrugged. "Pop never let me see him during the full moon except when it was a must. Too dangerous."

"He's right. He loves you very much, but Lupus lose their humans selves in the moon." Pat set down the bags of food for the evening and set about to make the bonfire teepee. The logs were eight feet long and a foot thick and he just set them up as if they were nothing.

A stray breeze carried a scent to me and I stood and smiled. "Hey Gene." Dylan spun when he heard the bushes rustle and saw Gene, his smile getting huge again. The little dude had gotten used to us, but seeing another Lunais brought out all the inner nerd in him.

"Well now. Looks like we have some guests. Dylan, I can see your molars from here." He came in with his stealthy gait and set down some bags of his own to crouch before the little dude and Tabitha. "Welcome, pups."

"Gene, you look better now. Especially that really cool shock of silver." Gene had a silver stripe above his left eye to his ears.

"That I got in a fight against four Ferals. The other pups have all heard the tale, but since this is your first picnic, I'll give you the short version." He sat on the story log and they sat at his feet. I did too because this would be both educational and probably fun. Pat just started the fire. "I was a much younger wolf then, barely into my thirties and a Hunter in training." I perked up. "I'll say that I was the first and only Lunais to be trained then, the stigma was much stronger. Yet I was chosen. I was on a routine patrol near the Mexi-Cali border when I spotted two sets of Lycan tracks leading from the water. They were exceptionally heavy and I figured they would be easy for me to overcome." Gene was fast and agile even as a human. "I radioed my location in and set out...against the advice of my superior." Dylan chuckled while I nudged him from behind. "I found them quickly. I found four of them."

Tabitha was staring open-mouthed but hung on his every word. Gene's voice had that feel to it, like you should listen. "They just looked at me at first and then decided I was no threat. Growling a warning, they turned their backs on me and proceeded on their hunt of a pair of cattle that had strayed from the herd."

"Uh oh," Dylan said with mock horror.

"Uh oh is right. I didn't like being ignored back then so I growled my own warning. That got their attention and I got hurt badly. Three of them died before my own help arrived. But it was not from a Canis."

"Was it an owl?" Dylan asked.

"Apt guess, pup, but no. Something far more rare."

"A boar? Pop says a few of them still exist." Tabitha suddenly had Dylan's attention. More than wolves and other hunters? A boar was herbivorous so this was new to him.

"Perhaps even more rare than them. Pantera Leo Solaris." Even I was confused. "Ah, the new ones are always confused. Solaris are Lycans, but they turn during the day and only when they choose, except during rare eclipses. Just as there are wolves for the moon, there are those for the sun. This was a werelion, and there is no lunar cousin." He had them, and me, riveted. I had never heard even one story about solar Lycanthropes. By the look on Dylan's face he was almost in heaven.

"That old tale?" Tabitha said. "I don't mean to be rude, but Pop said they're a myth. All the Solaris are."

"Wise as your father is, pup, he does not know everything. But I will say this. I was bleeding heavily and the sun was hot. I could have been hallucinating...but I don't think so."

I looked at Pat who was grinning, his tongue lolling out of his mouth. He had heard the stories all before and if he gave them any credence, he didn't say it and his scent was not giving it away. Solar Lycans? I had never heard of that, even from Hollywood. Dylan's face was lit like Christmas but a bit confused. Could he have heard something about them? I would have to ask later.

The Lunais came in families and pairs, a good precaution since the Feral attacks. I knew them all by scent now and more than half by name. Dylan and Tabitha were the only humans there but no one made a big deal about that. In fact, some of the younger kids openly included them in games like hopscotch, telling the best lies and joke contests. Things a human would not have a distinct disadvantage at. Tabitha and some of the girls were doing each others hair, a difficult task for the Lunais whose manual dexterity was decreased, but she loved it. So did they because it included brushing.

I saw the little dude over with a group of boy and he was engaging in an arm-wrestling competition. Wandering over I asked, "A bit unfair?"

Dylan was panting and puffing, the other pup not even trying. "Dyl's not 'pecting ta win, Jon. He jus' wanna see how strong he is." I knew this pup was born and raised in the South...but wow. I though had one mondo accent to get rid of. "For a skinny guy he ain't so weak." I grinned and put a single finger in the mix and helped Dylan win. The other guys laughed. "No fair!"

"Hey, I never had a hand in it." That got a groan from the bad joke.

Pat came over and hoisted Dylan into the air and over his shoulder. "Um, Pat, I can walk." He didn't even try to struggle.

"I know, but you have been there all night." The little dude thought and nodded. He would have. "And there are some folk who want family portraits drawn."

At that he perked up. "Really? You mean...I can actually sketch an entire family?"

"Four." He was now giggling his fool head off. To study not only Lycans, but Lunais males, females and children? Yup, he was distracted for the night.

Gene came over with a glint in his eye. "I'll watch the pups." At first I was wondering why he would offer that, then I smelled Pat. He wanted alone time.

"Thanks, Gene." He nodded and I slipped away from the group and took off as fast as I could with my injury. Even with the healing powers I had it was slow in healing but far better than yesterday. I knew Pat would be able to catch me, but I was not going to make it easy for him. I had the pendant.

When I got to the small river I slipped in quietly and let it float me down stream while I doggy paddled. I let it carry me around a bend to a shoal and sat there because I heard and smelled Pat had followed my trail to the river. I knew he would eventually find my trail from the river, so I sat there. I heard him head upstream and then silently slipped back into the main stream and then looked to see if he was there, sniffling and listening with all my senses wide...nope, he had gone upstream. Good. I knew where I was going and got out of the water and ran on through the night as fast as I could. Hunt me now, I thought as I slipped in and out of the stream, up trees and jumping from each to throw him off.

Around midnight I got to the spot I was headed to...and there was Pat waiting for me. I stood up and shook my head. "Am I that predictable?" I panted out and he barked his cute laugh.

"I found your trail downstream. After a few miles I knew where you were headed." He came over and licked my jaw. "Romantic?"

I nodded. The clearing had not changed at all since our first night. I had gone to the spot where he had turned me without really knowing it. "By the way you were smelling, I knew you wanted something fun."




A Full Moon Ch. 07



"The chase was fun, but getting here first was funny." Carefully he checked my wound. "Slowed you down I think."

"Yeah. You wouldn't have been able to catch me easily if I were healthy." I took him in my arms and licked around his muzzle. The one mondo huge drawback: can't kiss him. "Now, where were we two months ago?" My paw slid down his hairy body to fondle his already rising dick, both of us remembering where we were.

"Jon, are you sure? I don't want to hurt you." As an answer I tripped him and he landed on his back with a thud. I was in the mood to be feisty and the answering yip said he was more than ready to let me. When I straddled his crotch, he whined and like last time, the time that seemed so long ago, I took it quickly. It was painful, but nothing compared to the knife wound, and again there was something there that felt good. "Oh god, Jon. I..." he stopped even as I did, hearing a diesel engine coming down the trail to this clearing. We both growled and I pulled off as we slipped into the woods to duck behind cover. "I swear, if we try this one more time and get interrupted I'm going to punch their brains through their asses." I stifled a laugh and we began to fade away.

Then we stopped. "You sure no one is around?" asked a voice as they got out of the truck. It was a deep, raspy voice Pat perked up at hearing.

"Yes, the Lunais are miles away and the Lupus don't stay anywhere near them since those four killed that boy's family."

Obviously humans who knew about Lycans, most likely Hunters. "Good. We got our orders from the higher ups. The goods will be coming in from Canada."

"Great. Last time was too much of a waste. Not enough time for everyone to have some."

Some...some what? I looked at Pat who shrugged. "We sure the boy is with the Lunais?" asked raspy. There was only one boy I knew of and I wanted to storm in right then and confront them about it. Pat held me back with a shake of his head.

"Yeah. That freak-show son of the former leader took him along. Probably to let his faggot-ass boyfriend have some rest." Pat and I looked at each other and went to get up, but we were pulled back by strong jaws.

Darius stood there, his blonde fur rather nice looking. How had he snuck up on us? How did he know where we were? The look he gave us said we should not go rushing in, but listen and learn. A smaller Lupus was hiding to our right and I knew it was Tommy. Why were they here?

"Never gonna get to him now. The higher ups want to get that boy away from Jon and Pat. He's the key to all of this." There it was again. Dylan was something more than even he knew. Dammit, what was my son?

"Just keep your eyes open. If them freaks leave the boy alone for any reason, grab him." There must have been some sign of affirmation because they left quickly.

Once gone, the mood gone, Pat and I looked back at Darius. He and Tommy sat on their haunches with more than an bit of caution.

What are you doing here? asked Pat. Rather, his whine and postures asked.

Hunter-Leader-Father suspicious, said Darius. He must have meant Michael. Sends us to track. It was hard for me to understand fully the complex language, but I was learning more every day.

Is your memory sharp? Pat asked and Darius shook his head. Some Lycan could remember quite a bit from when they changed, Darius was not one of them. Young Hunter?

Tommy yipped softly. It was a small honor to be called a hunter, the young part saying he would be one some day. Memory is strong. This one will remember.

"Good. Jon, we should head back to the meet."

"Yeah. Guys, thanks." They faded into the trees and soon I could hear nothing and they were down wind. "Dammit, how am I supposed to get you alone for hot wolfman sex? I mean come on!" Pat chuckled a bit and we started back at a slow trot.

Once back Gene gave us a brief knowing look but it slipped when he saw we had not gotten what we wanted. "Dare I ask?"

"I have no idea, really. Dylan is being targeted by some Hunters. Something about goods coming in from Canada and him being the key." Pat obviously trusted Gene enough with this information.

"I'll see what I can find. Your father made his appearance. The picnic was a different one this time. No one bowed." I raised a brow in a bit of shock. "I should say no one was prostrate. At the waist, like you did. He seemed to find that a good thing." We followed his gaze to where Mr. Andrews lay with Dylan resting against his barrel and sketching one of the families. "That pup of yours...he's an odd one, but make no mistake he was well received and well liked. Tabitha is more normal to us, being raised by Lycans for the most part."

"What's odd? Other than him loving Lycans?"

"That's the odd thing. His love stems from a knowledge so deep it's scary. Not only does he know a Lycan on sight, he sees families. He saw that Allen was my nephew at a glance."

He could tell familial ties? My little dude was becoming more spooky every day, which was actually kinda cool. "Huh," was my only response. "Gene, do we have any teachers in our numbers? I suddenly do not like the idea of public school for Dyl."

"A few. One is a high school teacher. I don't think it would be too hard for her to fit the pup in." He saw right to the problem I was having. "She works at Salem High." 

Not a bad place, the little I knew about it. "I'll talk to the little dude. Moving schools might not be cool with him, but the Lycan teacher might sweeten the deal."

The conversation came up the next day when Dylan realized we were being a bit more observant than normal. "Guys, why the sudden hovering?"

Candid as always. "Told you he would be suspicious," Pat said with a snicker.

"Honestly, we're worried." I told him why and all the while he was straight faced and silent, that old defense he used when he didn't want to tip his hand. "So we're being clingy."

"I don't get it," he said. "Why me, I'm not special."

"Something is up, something to do with Lycans and you and your former fosters." I didn't know what and neither did Dylan. "But leave that alone for now. Do you have a problem with moving schools? Salem High is a good one, and your teacher is Lycan."

He grinned. "And leave that hell hole? Happy to leave there."



A Full Moon Ch. 08



That night was something of a godsend. Betty, her daughter Heather, and Gene dropped by before sunset with popcorn, pizza and a stack of DVDs. When I had answered the door, Betty came in and gave me a look. "We're here to keep Dylan busy while you and Pat go out. You two need some time to be a couple."

I just looked at her. "Can I nominate you for sainthood?" She nodded. "Dylan, we have furry company for the evening." I heard him scramble and come down stairs. He was dressed in his pj bottoms already and did a flying hug for Gene.

"Hey there pup. Brought some movies. Heather picked them out so you can yell at her for bringing nothing but Disney." Gene set him down.

"Really? Yer the best, Heather." The younger girl smiled prettily.

"That's all set. Pat and I are apparently going out."

"We are?" he asked, coming down the stairs wearing his own tear away pants. I was getting into the habit of wearing loose fitting pants for the moons so I could strip faster.

"By order of Betty."

"Ah. Yes ma'am." He went back upstairs. "Get dressed for dinner, Jon."

"How dressed?"

"Suit. Bring casuals too. Enough for a night away from home." I looked at Betty who nodded. Had they communicated beforehand? Or during? Cause I hadn't heard anything.

"You're okay with this?" I asked.

"Sure. You guys need some time to not worry about the curve balls you've been thrown. Dylan will be fine. Mr. Andrews will be here tomorrow and us again in the evening."

"I smell a conspiracy. C-O-N-spiracy." Betty gave me a look like I was being dumb, so I went up stairs to pack. Dylan came up to grab his pillows and sketch book. "Uh oh. Looks like someone is going to be seeing some more transformations."

"Only Gene. Betty says I'm too young to watch her." He snapped his fingers like he was disappointed and I had to laugh and give him a high five.

"You gonna be okay without us for a few days?" I was not worried for his physical safety, not with the watchers he had, but ever since I had adopted him I had tucked him in every night. Some nights sleeping on the floor in his room if he had a nightmare. 

"Yeah. I mean who's gonna mess with Gene. And Betty will nag 'em until they kill themselves."

"I heard that," she yelled from downstairs and all the guys laughed.

Dressed, packed and ready to go, Pat grabbed his keys to the Hummer and steered me towards that. We had a little over an hour until I would worry about changing, my arms were already starting to itch, so I wondered where we would go. I asked as much.

"You said last week you missed fresh seafood." I started to drool. "So I'm taking you to Finz." God I love this man! I hadn't had any good seafood since I came here and I am a huge salmon, crab and shrimp lover. Like, I would totally eat it with every meal were it not so expensive.

Wharf Street was a bit empty tonight, but that was okay. Less people meant less chances to be seen should we have to bolt for changing. With it right on the water I hoped it would be fresh. While it may not be seafood, it was hugelakefood. Good enough for me. The interior was clean and smelled of exactly what it should: fish and beer. Not the stale kind either. There were only three other couples this early so we pretty much were alone. "Welcome to Finz. I'm Nina, your hostess. Table for two?" Pat nodded and we were led to another section of the restaurant. "Can I start you out with something to drink? Or an appetizer?"

Pat nodded. "I'll have the rope grown mussels and a blueberry ale."

"And for you?" she asked.

"Hmm. It all looks so good. I'll have the wasabi-stoli oysters and a clementine." She smiled whisked away. "Holy crap this place...can I eat it all?"

Pat smiled and took my hand, rubbing the back with his thumb. "Whatever you want. Mind you, if you order everything I won't be able to pay my rent, so I'll have to move in with you."

"And this is a bad thing...how?" He chuckled and leaned a little closer. While we didn't set rules about PDA in actual public, he was respecting my choice to set them tonight. I kissed him softly. "I mean you stay with me every other night."

"You really are amazing. You don't do anything half way, do you?" I shook my head. Go big or go home, that's what my foster dad taught me.

"Crap," I said and pulled out my cell. 

"What?" Pat looked worried.

"Nothing that serious. I have to make a very important phone call." He nodded, but still held my hand. "Hey, old man. Yeah, it has been a few months. Been working the new job and settling in. Loving it. It's a good challenge learning everything new." Pat grinned and nodded like this was something important. "So I got some news for ya. I was just thinking about what you taught me growing up. Go big or go home. Well, I've started a family." I pulled the phone away and Pat stifled a laugh to hear the cheering on the other end. "Dad, I'm putting you on speaker, so keep the cheering down, we're in a restaurant."

I clicked the button. "So you finally settled down?" Pat's smile got even bigger when he heard my Dad's heavy Aussie accent.

"More than ever. Not fully, yet, but I do have a wonderful person in my life. Been dating since I moved here pretty much. Say hi, Pat."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Davenport." 

There was a moment of silence. "Either she's a bass named Patricia or he's a baritone named Patrick." I laughed at the smile on Pat's face. "Nice to meet you, Patrick. Has that child been behaving himself?"

"Nope, but that's why I love him. Keeps things interesting."

"Good. I didn't raise a quiet boy. Has he sung for you yet?" I put my face in my hands to keep for laughing very loudly.

"No, he hasn't."

"Good," my dad said, "he's tone deaf." I looked up with a red face to see Pat just laughing. My Dad has sung in the Sydney Opera House on numerous occasions. "Never submit yourself to that."

"Thanks, old man," I said and stuck my tongue out at the phone.

"Don't stick it out." That only made us laugh harder. When our drinks arrived Dad was regaling Pat with stories of my youth. "And when he was thirteen he tried to surf behind the neighbor's Mo-ped." I was just watching Pat who had tears streaming down his face. "Fifteen stitches and a broken arm later he was trying it again the next week."

"Speaking of that age." I said, "there is one last bit I haven't told you."

"Saved the best for last, or the one I might fly out to Massachusetts to strangle you for?"

"Best, really. You're a grandpa now." I started ticking off seconds on my watch.

Thirty-four seconds later he breathed. "Who do I have to send my condolences to that you knocked her up and then left her?"

"No one. I adopted." The sound was something similar to getting the wind knocked out of you, but only in reverse. "He's an awesome little dude. Dylan is his name. You could fly out and see him, meet Pat. Oh, and while on the subject of a visit, if you do come, can you bring some of my old movies? The ones in the storage unit."

"Adopted? A teenager?" I nodded. "Why?" This news brought out the business side of him and Pat's reaction was almost comical. He went from smiling to serious and a bit worried. Dad was a business man and kept private and business separate.

"He's been in and out for most of his life. He was the only one left alive after a wild animal attack and we found him in a tree. After shit like that, he didn't need to go into the system again, so he stayed with me until the hearing date and by then I knew I wanted him to stay. He's smart, talented, hates my boss."

"Hmm, sound like you at that age as well. So this is more than just saving a child from the system?"

"Totally. Dad, once you meet him you'll know why."

After dinner, we were driving out to another part of the hills in the opposite direction from our camping spot. Dad had been a bit more serious during the rest of the conversation, but he seemed in good spirits. "I see why you and my Dad get along so well."

"Told you, Pat, I know how to deal with business family men. So where are we going? And did you plan this?"

"Going is secret and no. Betty and I...we understand each other. She used to be my babysitter and we had ways of talking without talking." So they had known each other for years, maybe even decades. That would be an easy way to learn someone's thoughts. That or they had some super secret wolfman code I didn't know yet.

"Must be nice. So I don't get any hints?"

"We'll be entirely alone." That sounded actually kinda nice. No Pack to annoy us, Dylan safe with members I trusted, no work to get in the way.

He turned off the road and onto a dirt one, pressed a button on the console of the Hummer and the gate in front of us swung open and then closed after we drove through. So this was not a rustic camp get away if there were remote gates. The drive wound around and up and then ended at a one floor compound. I call it that because it looked like it could house forty people or so. It was a log cabin on steroids. The roof topped out at twenty feet and I could see through some of the windows that it was all open space inside. Pat pulled up and quickly got out to unlock the door. I grabbed the cases and bolted in. I could feel the moon's pull strongly now. I got out of my suit in record time and just in time. My dress socks would be trash as I felt myself changing. While it was no less painful, it was something I had gone through enough times not to be bothered as much by it. It was taking less and less time to recover and I was up and mobile in a few moments, Pat already cleaning up our strip mess. "It does get easier." He smiled over at me. "So, you, me alone in a log compound in the woods."

Snickering, Pat put his paws on my hips. "You're close. This place is designed to be a safe house for a few dozen Lycans should the need arise." Yikes.

"So we really are alone." He nodded. "'Bout damn time. No murderous Lupus to hunt innocent humans, no Feral bearing Lupus to knock down the door, no hunters with cryptic messages about Dylan." He yipped that cute puppy laugh of his and led me to the fireplace which came on as soon as we approached. "Motion sensors for the fireplace?"

"Dad wanted the best money could buy for me." I raised a wolfy brow. "This was my home while I was growing up. Dad knew some Lycans would be peeved he had fathered a Lunais on a human, even if it was his human wife. So Mariam and I lived here after I was born." We lounged by the fireplace my head on his shoulder while I pet his stomach. So this was his childhood home. All the amenities, great places to play, no one around should he go wolfman on his bossy sister. "I come back every once in awhile to see if the place needs cleaning or anything." He licked my nose. "You're the first one I've brought here alone."

"Romantic," I rumbled and cuddled up closer. Not for warmth but just to be near him. Scary to think how fast we had fallen for each other. I couldn't imagine being without him in my life, not for a single day. I knew we were alone, knew we could do whatever we wanted, but right then, all I wanted was to be with him.

When I woke the next morning Pat was sound asleep on the floor, snoring softly and drooling a bit. So damn cute! It was rare for me to be up before him, so I slipped out from under his arm which was still wrapped around me and went to start breakfast. I was not surprised how well stocked the kitchen was and soon had a pot of coffee brewing and eggs frying in the grease from the bacon and sausage I cooked. I kept waiting for him to stir, but he kept right on snoring. That or he was faking it. I listened to the steady breathing and rhythm of his heart...nope, still sleeping. Then the potatoes were fried while the juicer went to work on the oranges.

I heard the change in Pat's breathing and heart rate and brought him coffee before he even sat up. "Good morning, my love. Breakfast will be served soon." I gave him a kiss and the coffee, watching him try and compute all the strangeness. 

"How are you awake? Is it one more thing my Dad made sure you can do?"

I laughed. "No clue. I woke up and wanted to make you breakfast. Everything was fried in bacon grease."

"Are you trying to make me fat?" he asked with a bark.

"Like you ever could get fat. I haven't worked out since I was turned and I know I'm getting bigger in the arms and shoulders." It was true. I hadn't touched the weights really and I was getting bigger. I would have to get new suits very soon.

When I brought him his breakfast he was salivating. "You are trying to make me fat." I had put more than enough for two men on his plate.

"As if. I bet you finish that and go back for more." He grinned.

And proved me right. He went back for another plate of the same size. "Why don't you cook like this all the time?"

"No time. With work and Dylan, I don't really have the time to do this except during the moon." Pat nodded like it was true. I had more duties than most at the company. "And it can get expensive and not the healthiest thing. If you promise to be a good boy I'll make it for you next full moon too." I ladled on sexual innuendo. 

"Oh? And how can I prove I'm a good boy?" he asked, looking at me with those stunning eyes. Our scents were giving away our arousal.

I took his plate, noticing a large object had invaded his groin. I then replaced his plate with myself. Pat groaned a bit as I wiggled my ass against his dong, sliding my cheeks around until I felt the head press against my hole. "Oh, I'm sure you'll find ways." 

"Should I be loving?" he asked as he caressed my chest.

I leaned in, breathing into his ear, "I hope you can fuck me good, Pat, because I want you to know that today...you are my Alpha. I'm yours however you want me." His entire body shuddered and he flipped me onto my back. While I was not normally into rough sex, for him I would do anything. 

Pat began to bite and nibble his way down from my ears to my collar bone. Him and his road map. When I went to pull him back up for kisses he shook his head. "Keep your hands behind your head. You move them, I stop for the rest of the day." I laughed, did as ordered, and I wondered what insidious evil plan he had in mind.

The first thing he did was start tickling me and I couldn't stop him. It was so low I almost kicked him off of me, but I would not wuss out yet, even though I was having trouble calling him vile names through the laughter. The look on his face was mischievous and very cute, actually. That was when he slid everything inside me and I gasped in both pain and pleasure. My legs wrapped around him and squeezed when he tried to pull out. He would have to hurt me to break the hold I had on him.

"Too fast?" I nodded. "And by the clamped legs I would say you don't want me to move."

"Bingo. Fuck, why does it hurt more as a human?"

"Because there was no foreplay." He caressed my cheek. "But you really mean it, don't you? That, to you, I can be Alpha."

I smiled up at him and pulled him in for a kiss, barely wincing at the pain in my rump. So much of his life was spent with him being something like an omega wolf. You can't get much lower than that in a pack. Always being seen as something less than worthy, having to take what scraps he could get. True, his father is still the leader, but his birth stigma never goes away because of it. And maybe because of it people would seem to try and treat him better than his peers because he is the Leader's son. "Pat, I love you more than I have loved anyone else in my life. I love seeing that look in your eye when you catch me in a chase, when you win a verbal debate, when you come out on top in anything. That look that says 'I won this round and not because you let me'." There was another look in his eyes right now. I have never seen anyone look at me like that. "It may seem like I'm letting you be on top, and I am. No man has been, or ever will be, in the the position you're in. Whether or not I'm an Alpha Male, I'm still and alpha personality.

"But I'm giving it up for you and you alone. You can be my alpha whenever you want." He slid out slowly, my legs relaxing to let him do as he wished, but he slammed back in and I gasped. "Patrick Farris, you better not stop that else you're going to find yourself in the dog house." That slam had pummeled my prostate and made my dick harder than it has been in a few weeks. He pulled out and slammed in again and again, harder each time but never to the point of trying to hurt me. This was Pat asserting his dominance over me and it was turning me on. His scent went through the roof and I was having a hard time keep my mind from shutting down and just giving in completely. Then I stopped trying to fight it and gave myself fully to him.

Pat flipped me to doggy style and grabbed onto my hips tightly. As he thrust forward he pulled backwards. I could hear the slap of flesh on flesh, but I could not tell you what it was for the pleasure I was feeling. It was a visceral feeling, a primal urge to please the man I loved in any way I could. I knew no other man would ever give me this pleasure even if I let him. I was moaning as he was growling deep in his throat. He claimed me and as some part of me knew he was reaching his climax, Pat bit into my shoulder and I howled. In that moment we both shifted to hybrid form and my own orgasm hit. Our howls mingled and harmonized in a way that sounded like the most wonderful music to me. We fell over panting and Pat released my shoulder from his rather toothy maw. I settled back against him, his dong still deep inside of me, and tried to reboot my brain to some semblance of human. It had been fast and animalistic and I knew I would let him do it again...after my ass healed.

"Wow," he said and chuckled.

"No kidding. You actually made me howl and cum without touching my dick." He half kissed, half licked the back of my neck and I shuddered. "If I was a female I would be worried about pups right now even if I wasn't in heat." He was laughing which was making his dick jump within me and I hissed. "That hurts a lot more than it should."

"Too much?" he asked, still concerned about me even after he proved thoroughly that he could breed with the best of them.

"For my first actual time, maybe, but I wouldn't have it any other way." Pat pulled out slowly and we changed back to human, our bodies shivering from the spent energies. I rolled over to kiss him, but he climbed on top of me and put my hands back behind my head. I laughed, yet there was an edge of how much he was turning me on. I was still hard and I knew what Pat was going to do a split second before he did it, but I was not ready for it. As sensitive as I get after an orgasm like that, I was not ready for it at all. Pat took just the head into his mouth and swirled his tongue all over and I bucked, shoving my entire length down his throat. "Holy fuck. God that's just wrong!" I was whimpering and squirming, but I was given explicit orders not to move my hands. And it was feeling pretty good. I never had much of a tolerance for masochistic torture like this. Then, I never had a reason to let it go on. "You're risking mutiny, or hostile take over...or whatever the fuck you want to call it!"

"Good. I want to see how far I can push you before you push back," he said for a brief moment and then dove back down.

"You're pretty damn close, Pat." He grabbed my knees and put them over his shoulders and proceeded to bathe my balls with his tongue. I panted in both relief from the sensitivity torture and from the fact that that tongue of his was just acrobatically amazing. "I can't tell if this is punishment or I was somehow a good boy without knowing it."

"Can't it be both?" he asked from between my thighs and I laughed, which turned into a gasp as his tongue went to work on my well worn hole.

"Oh boy. That...yes, that..." I knew I wasn't making much sense at that moment but I don't think he cared. Hell, I didn't care so long as he kept doing that. My toes were curling and uncurling and had I been human I would have had cramps in my calf muscles by now. With a quick gesture I was flat on my stomach and he was face first, devouring my hole. "Pat..." I heard him make a questioning noise but his tongue didn't stop. "Are you going to stop teasing me and get that dick of yours back in there?" I was almost begging.




A Full Moon Ch. 08



"If you want," he said, his voice husky with desire and he slipped his dong deep inside me again, but he didn't pound me like he did last time. This time he began to massage my shoulders and neck. "Feel good?" I mumbled something. Then he stretched out atop me, still inside, and just lay there. "Jon, I love you." I said it back but it wasn't very intelligible. "My father was right. Those months ago...I found the one person I want to be with for the rest of my life." He pulled out and rolled over to prop himself up on his elbow. "Even if it is just friends, I never want to lose you, Jon. I need to see your face as you smile, to hear your voice, to smell you. If only for brief periods I..."

I stopped him from talking with a kiss. "Patrick, those months ago I discovered something I thought a fairy tale. You see it in movies, you read about it in books, but you never see it in life unless you are very lucky."

"Werewolves?"

"Love at first sight," I said softly and he smiled so sweetly back at me. "It was your smile that made me ask if you wanted to hang out. Then I got to see you outside of work, and I didn't realize it but I loved you when I woke up and kissed you the first time. I mean, all of the insanity of seeing Lycans for the first time, seeing you hurt, killing one of them, all this stuff and I was glad it was you there with me."

"Glad?" He looked at me like I was either insane or trying to make fun of him, but liking either.

"Look at it all. Moving out here from sun and surf to snow and forests. Going from the sat office to the Main Office of the entire company. Total relocation." He was nodding, toying with my chest hair a bit. "I meet you and you throw my entire life into turmoil. I find out Lycans exist, I find out that the person I have fallen in love with is a guy, the person I hope will help me raise my adopted son, the reason my life is so amazing now is you. Through all this change, all this insanity, you have been there. And I'm glad it is you." 

"So you're hoping this is long term?"

"I'm hoping it's forever." Pat's eyes began to tear up. "Imagine it. You, me, Dylan, all of us together as one family. Our own land, no stupid Pack laws or customs saying who is acceptable and who is not. Just us." Pat curled up next to me and wrapped my arms around him. His need to be Alpha was done, I could tell, and now we were in the mood to be loving.

"That sounds so nice. Somewhere...somewhere I don't have to hang my head. Our own Pack of family." I could almost see it too and it was a lovely picture. "But it will never happen. Angus will never sanction us to be together exclusively." I nodded and as much as I didn't like it Angus was the Leader and I had to fit myself into the Lycan world.

"But we have here and now. Just the two of us." Pat smiled a nuzzled my neck.

My phone rang. I looked at it like it was out of place. Sighing I went to go answer it because it was Dylan's ringtone. "Hey, Dyl."

"Actually it's Betty. You need to come home now. Something strange is going on with Dylan and we're all at a loss."

I felt a tinge of fear. "We're on our way." Pat was already getting up and grabbing our clothes. Dressing like it was an Olympic event, we were out of the door in less than five minutes. "What now? Why is it my son?" Pat just held my hand while driving like a maniac back for my house.

When we pulled up I was opening the door before the Hummer had stopped and was at the door before Pat had even parked. Betty, Gene, Michael and Mr. Andrews were all there and Dylan was laid out on the floor with ice packs on him. "What happened?"

"He was feeling tired and we thought nothing of it as we were up until five in the morning watching movies and whatnot." Betty shook her head. "I felt his forehead like any other mom when he said he didn't feel well. He has a fever, but one hotter than anything I have ever felt in a human." I went over and knelt by his head. I could feel the heat radiating off him. It was higher than a human should be able to take without dying.

"Why is he like this?"

"He just laid down and said he was taking a nap. Then he was out like a light. I called the Leader and the Head because I am now out of my league."

I looked at the elder Lycans. Mr. Andrews shook his head. "I have never seen anything like this and I have raised human children. He's stable at 115 degrees. If I didn't know what to look for I would say he was on the verge of a first changing."

I wondered if the Lycans that attacked us hadn't infected him, but he had been treated for infection. They had also treated me... Michael stood over him with a concerned look. "Gene and I...well we have a silly theory. We've seen things as Hunters that Travis and Betty never would." I looked up at him like anything was worth listening to. "Now, I know you don't know much about the other types of Lycans, but Gene has mentioned Solaris."

I sat down on my rump. A Solaris...Dylan? "Aren't they, like, a myth or extinct?"

"Not a myth," Mr. Andrews said, "as I have spoken with one once when I was very young as a Lycan. Haven't seen one since. I don't know enough about them to know if the theory is true and I don't know how to find them."

"I know of a place you can start looking," said Gene. All heads turned to him. "Angus has files locked in his office on all sorts of things, but one file is locked up tight. I might be able to get a peek inside if you want."

It was a long shot. "Don't get caught Gene." The older wolf just smiled. "So you think this may be him...going through puberty and becoming a Solaris but you can't prove it." Michael and Gene nodded. "God, it would make sense though. His intimate knowledge of Lycans has to come from somewhere. And this would be something those Hunters would be wanting to get their hands on. Solaris blood."

"Those 'goods' you mentioned," Gene said and I nodded. "I'm going to go to the office and poke around Angus' files." He left with a lively step. He was on the trail and like any Hunter he was going to get there quickly and efficiently.

I looked down at my son. So much seems to happen to him, I thought. I felt his forehead and his eyes shot open. "Whoa, Dyl, you okay?" He shook his head. "Do you know what's going on?" Again he shook his head. "Neither do I," I whispered when his eyes slid shut again.

"He appears to be stable," Mr. Andrews said. "Perhaps you and Patrick should go wash up and get changed." I looked at him and when he tapped his nose I know I turned all shades of scarlet.

"You...Oh my god." I mock glared at Pat as he walked in. "This is all your fault." His expression was shocked. "They can...smell you on me. Hell they can smell you've been in me!" I watched his face melt into a huge grin. "Now everyone will know I bottomed. I am going to go shower." I kissed him on the way by. "Our lives just keep getting freakier and freakier."

Dylan woke up before sunset and just sat up. "I'm hungry," he declared and we all just looked at him. "You guys are funny looking right now."

I was going to comment when I felt the pull of the moon. I had been ignoring it because of my worry, but I couldn't any longer. The shorts I had been wearing were toast and I could see Dylan's eyes were bugged out of his head. This was the first time he had seen me change all the way and I could tell he was going to be doing a lot of drawing later. "Okay, that one caught me off guard." I watched as Mr. Andrews finished his own change and I thought about how much more painful it looked than my own.

Pat came in from the kitchen, ducking through the door, and sat down. "Stress can hide the feeling until you have no choice but to change. How do you feel, Dylan?"

"Better. Not tired, not hot." He got to his feet and wandered into the kitchen.

"You're spooky, Little Dude." I heard him laugh as he was making a pastrami sandwich. With spicy mustard, lettuce, tomato, on sourdough. He hates sourdough. When he came back in I saw the size of the sandwich and just marveled. I could eat it, but even all wolfed out I would barely be able to finish it. "You are hungry."

"Yup."

"Sourdough?" Pat asked. He knew Dylan's eating habits as well as I did.

"Too hungry to care and the wheat was behind it." Pat and I exchanged glances while Mr. Andrews came over and began sniffing him. Dylan just looked at him like he was being odd.

I smell...something, he whined. If the Alpha is at a loss, then you know this is something strange. 

All night Dylan was being slightly spookier than normal. We would be talking with whines and growls and he would answer the question we posed. None of us had taught him anything from the language, but he was answering anyway. He would lapse into silence and just walk over to the window and look up at the sky. "I miss the sun," he said once and then said nothing again for an hour. We all went to sleep about 4 am. 

When I awoke it was like sleeping next to a furnace. Dylan was feverish again, but it was no worse than yesterday. The bad thing is I had to got to work. I called his school to tell them he was going to be out sick. Then I called Mr. Andrews. "Thanks, Mr. Andrews."

"You know, Jon, you can call me Travis. I will gladly sit with the pup. If he was anything like yesterday then it won't trouble at all. Be sure to see if Gene found anything out. I haven't heard from him." Not good.

At work Pat and I got to the office to find an email from Gene. It was not sent to my business account but to my personal one.

Jon,

I have found something. Heading down south to see if it pans out. Be back on Saturday.

Gene 

I looked at Pat and shook my head. Then I remembered his story. Had he really seen a Solaris when he was a Hunter down south? I checked my other emails and saw one from Angus. It was short and simple, a temporary password for that trouble spot he asked me to check weeks ago.

I logged into my sector accounts and put in the password. With that I looked up the number and found something that made me wonder. The number I could not get access too was a security number, one of the border guards we covertly had out there to keep Ferals out of the Pack territory. The thing is the guard was fictitious. He didn't even exist. I trailed it all back, the paperwork, the files, everything and found out this person was "hired" the same time my predecessor was. The money was being sent to an account based in Ontario and routed over to Saskatchewan. I dialed payroll. "Jones."

"Dennis, it's Jon from Great Lakes." I didn't have to say I was the hatchet man. "I have a question."

"Shoot."

"I have a fake employee in my sector. Mr. McLeod put me on the trail due to my predecessor's embezzling habits. I would like to cancel all payments to account number 556-89876-0011 and place all current funds on hold."

I heard some clicking away. "Wow, there is a lot of money in that account. It's been withdrawn from recently. The sum of two hundred thousand dollars."

"How recently?"

"Three days ago." That was the day after we overheard the Hunters. "There, the account has been frozen. Nothing we can do about the money withdrawn."

"Thanks Dennis. Send me an email if anything happens." I hung up and dialed Angus.

I got his secretary instead. "Mr. McLeod is in a meeting, Jonathan."

"Thanks Nancy. When he gets out can you ask him to call me please?"

"Sure."

I kept reading about the account transactions and I was starting to notice a pattern. All of the withdrawals for the last season have coincided with Dylan's big times. His foster parent's murders, the attack at our house, and now this. Someone was really trying to get him alone and god help me I would kill whoever was trying to hurt my son. I was growling deep in my throat and Pat came in, closing the door. "That is loud enough for me to hear, Jon." I pointed to the screen. He scanned the pages I was reading and I smelled him get as angry as I was. "Got it. Just keep it down. Can't help the anger. I'll call Dad and tell him what we've found." I also told him about Gene. "Okay."

I picked up the phone when it rang. "So what is this about Jon? I have another meeting to get to."

My thoughts were pretty much that his meeting would probably be a waste of time compared to what he should be looking in to. "About the oddity in my sector you asked me to check into. I have frozen a dummy account, but several withdrawals have been made in the past few months, one a few days before you fired the previous guy."

There was a moment of silence. "Good. I'll send an email to payroll for the details. Is that all?"

"Until I can fully find out, yes." He hung up in my ear. "Dick," I said and heard Pat chuckling. I went about my day normally.

Tommy came by around noon with mail for the floor. Normally Pat would just take it but Tommy came into my office. "Here is your mail for the day, Mr. Davenport." He looked me in the eye with a brief smile and handed the sealed envelope.

"Thank you. Tom, right?" He nodded. My work self would not know much about him. "Thanks." He whisked away on his rounds. I felt the heft of the envelope. Probably close to a hundred pages. When I opened it I smelled Gene. Instantly I pulled the papers out and saw strange copies of files and a CD. Pictures of Lycans during the day, accounts of humans seeing Sasquatch, Lupus rumored to have seen Solaris...all things Gene had been looking for. But the biggest things are the locations. All of them were either from the Mexican or Canadian borders. Hadn't Gene's experience been from the southern border? Everything he had found he copied and it was here in my hands. I just put it back in the envelope and went back to work as if the contents were not important to me.

At home I found Travis was reclining with a book and Dylan was awake but looking drained. "How you feeling, Dyl?" I felt his forehead. No fever.

"Just really tired." He gave me a hug. "I know I've been a stress case lately."

"Yeah, well, your life has been rough these last few months. Stress does strange things to the body." I handed him the envelope. "Here's something that might interest you. Call it a homework assignment from me and Gene."

He sat up as quickly as he could and pulled out the files. Travis glanced at them and then sat up too. "All this...on Solaris?" I nodded. He began to read.

I pulled Travis to the other room. "How has he been?"

"Fever broke around ten. He's been taking it easy but the odd behavior has passed for the moment. Appetite is back to normal. Do you think it wise to give those papers?"

"Not really, but if the theories are true, then he should be prepared for it. Plus he would kill me if he knew I had them and kept them from him." He nodded with a grin. "Besides, I can't devote the mental energies to reading all that and making sense of it."

My phone rang and I smiled. I knew that ring tone. "Hey Pop."

"Jon, you didn't tell me it was below freezing in Massachusetts right now."

I registered the implications. "Pop...are you coming for a surprise visit?" There was a knock at the door. "God, all my family just drops in." I hung up. Dylan, put your homework away. Your grandpa just decided to fly out." I heard him shoving the papers under the couch and then went up stairs to put on a shirt. I went to the door and there was my dad. 

Well built under the layer of padding, he had been a rugby player in his youth. He still had a full head of strawberry blond hair that was kind of shaggy and almost looked like a lion's mane. There had always been a down to earth gleam in his green eyes and I was glad to see that it was still there. "Hey Pop." I pulled him into a huge hug. Funny thing is he seemed a bit tense.

"Jon, you look indecently well." I grabbed his bags. "So, where are...well, well, Travis Andrews." My dad and Travis just looked at each other and I swear I had never seen the Alpha look so shocked. This did not bode well for keeping certain family stories secret.

"It has been a number of years, has it not, Alan?" They shook hands like old friends. "The summit of '83, right?"

"You've a good memory." This seemed to come as a bit of a surprise.

I just stared. "So...I guess I don't need to introduce you. My world just went bang. Have a seat, Pop. Dylan is getting on his sick day best and Pat will be here after he finishes up his work at the office." Pop went and sat after taking off his shoes. Most of the people I knew from California didn't wear shoes. Less sand to track into the house. "Summit of '83?" I asked Travis.

"Two years after Miriam was born. Just got a promotion within the company and went out to the Summit with the then CEO." Travis went and sat with his book.

"Sick day best?"

"Dylan has had a fever for the past two days and it broke this morning. Don't expect sparkling conversation." Actually I didn't know how the little dude would react to my dad. I could see so many possibilities. I heard him coming down the stairs a little bit heavier than normal and looked to see him with jeans and a nice shirt on, shoeless, and his hair somewhat brushed. It was a nice touch that would show Pop that Dylan was not neat and tidy but he wanted to make a good impression. "Pop, this is Dylan. That is my foster dad, Alan."

Pop stood and came over to look at Dylan with a look of mixed sorrow and joy. I had not told him everything about his past, only that his last fosters had died and I swooped in and saved him from the system. Their eyes seemed to be locked, and in a moment of clarity, I knew there would be very little awkwardness. Most of that was Dylan leaped into his arms. "I have a grandson." Dylan was dwarfed by my dad's hug. He whispered something in his ear and Dylan nodded with the biggest smile on his face.

That was the scene Patrick walked in on and his smile was huge. He looked at his own dad with that same look. Family. These guys were my family. None of them were related to me by blood, although you could argue that with Pat since it is his blood that ran through my veins. Yet I loved them. I looked at my Pop, my son, my boyfriend and a good friend and I realized I needed nothing else in my life at all. My life was complete, here and now. Of course, not being under Angus would make it all the sweeter.

Pop looked out of the corner of his eye and saw Pat. "Dear god, Travis, did you clone yourself?" Dylan snickered and stepped aside.

"Pop, this is Pat." I know I sounded like a love sick puppy.

He eyed my walking muscle up and down. He had done the same thing with every girl I brought home, I was not too surprised. "Hmm. Nice to see that my son didn't choose an ugly guy just to make himself feel better." I grinned because he said the same thing about any girl I brought home. It was his way of saying I had good taste.

"Why don't the three of you get acquainted and I'll start dinner." I gave a kiss to Pat and a gentle shove to Dylan which made him snicker.

Once dinner was done, we sat around the living room. Pop and Dylan hit it off fabulously and Dylan was regaling him with stories of how awesome I was to have as a dad. Honestly I don't think I have ever been that embarrassed but pleased in my life. "Are we talking about the same Jon here? The one sitting over there?" He gestured to me.

"Yeah." Dylan grinned. "You did good, grandpa." I cringed at the horrid grammar but my dad just laughed.

"I did, huh?" He sent me a wink. "Now, it is getting late here, and I am sure you will be going back to school tomorrow. Is your homework done?" 

Dylan nodded but then remembered the papers he stuffed under the couch. "All but one research paper." He grabbed the pages and the folder and ran up stairs.

When he had gone Pop got his serious face on. "That child thinks the world of you, Jon." I nodded. I didn't know how to deal with such praise. Parents get use to it over time, teaching and learning along side their children, but I was in the ultimate crash course. "You really saved his life?"




A Full Moon Ch. 08



"Yeah, I guess I did." Pat gave me a kiss on the cheek. He and Travis got up to give us some of our own father-son time. "Honestly, Pop, I know I saved him and not just from the system, but to me it doesn't feel like I did much."

"Do you remember when I brought you home?" 

How could I forget? I had been ten years old and a huge burden. Getting into fights, the worst grades in school, spiraling down the path towards juvenile hall. The orphanage was at a loss, knowing I would never get adopted with my attitude. Yet one day I was called to the office for a meeting. Not unheard of and no one even made the scandalized sounds that they had in the past as I was always in the office.

Yet this time there was someone else there. A tall, brawny man with vibrant green eyes who I had never seen before. "Jonathan, have a seat."

"I didn't do it this time." I always owned up to my mistakes even then.

"This is not that kind of meeting. Have a seat." The man in charge of the orphanage gestured to the other chair.

"I'll stand thanks," I said with a bit of a sulky, acid tone. He had a very heavy hand, and I had been in his office the previous day.

"This is Alan Davenport." I shook his hand as I was taught. "He is looking to adopt an older child. Someone who is independent enough to be alone for a few hours while he performs in the Sydney Opera." I looked this Alan Davenport over again. Well, I had seen enough opera on TV and he looked like one of those stuck up people alright. "I have given him liberty to meet with a few children and for some reason he has chosen you."

I looked him dead in the eye. "You're wasting your time. I'm a hopeless delinquent that will amount to no good. Find a nicer kid."

His eyes widened just a bit. "Don't you want to be adopted?" he asked me in that clear Aussie accent.

"Nope. If I get adopted, I'll be shipped back here within a year 'cause I ain't no good." I had heard it often enough that I believed it now.

"Ain't is not in the dictionary."

"Ain't is a common word used in slang vernacular and is acceptable in everyday conversation while being incorrect to use in formal occasions." My attitude was making the head of the house turn a bit red from anger, but this opera singer just laughed.

"True enough. I sit corrected." I know my brow twitched in a bit of confusion. Had he actually just said that? "Would it kill you to go out for an hour and talk?"

"No, not unless you got a knife hidden on you and plan to stick me." Alan just laughed like it was the funniest thing he had ever heard, the head of the house was livid I was being so obviously disrespectful and I just looked at the guy like he was touched in the head. "What the hell, ya only live once and I would rather live in the dirt than here."

We went out to the park and just sat with a kids meal from a local fast food joint. It wasn't fancy fair at all, but it filled the hole. We didn't talk much, but I seemed to get what he was looking for. Someone who honestly didn't need to be coddled every second of the day as he wouldn't be there every second. "So, since you are still alive, what do you of me?"

"Oh, the loaded question with bullets for answers." He laughed again. "Do you honestly think I'm that funny?"

"No, but your mind works so much faster than the other children I have met. It comes out as snark for defensive reasons to hide the fact that you secretly wish someone would come and save you from the house and the place you got dumped and don't want to be dumped back into again." I blinked. "I'm not psychic, I read your file thoroughly. You slack off in school, you're disruptive and you get into fights. Anything to make it so you never have anyone close to you. So no one can leave you." 

His gaze bored holes into my head and I just stared back. I didn't want to admit he was right. "Are you sure you're an opera singer and not a psychologist?" I muttered.

"I do have a BS in psychology. Jonathan, why do you not want to get adopted?"

I never answered. Instead we went back to the house and he left me there. Funny thing was, I missed him. Someone had seen right through it all, through all the bullshit, to what was lurking beneath, and he had done it in less than an hour. Next week, same day and time he was back. Again we went back out to the park and again he asked me why I didn't want to get adopted.

On our fifth outing we went to the park again, only this time there was a concert going. People were going up and singing songs like one big karaoke bar without the alcohol. We grabbed some corndogs and lemonade and sat on the grass to listen. It was actually pretty cool. He didn't ask my opinion, didn't ask if I was okay. He just included me in his life and let me enjoy some time away from the house. 

The host grinned and pointed right at us. "Ladies and gentlemen, I see a very famous opera star in the audience. He's sung in the Sydney Opera House for the past five seasons as Don Giovanni, Rigoletto, and is right now doing Sarastro in the Magic Flute. Perhaps, Alan, you could give us a song?" All eyes turned to him and me and I wanted to shrink away. The crowd started to chant his name; I guess he really was an opera singer.

"Will you be okay, here?" he asked, the first sign of concern. I nodded. He got up and went up to the stage with the crowd cheering. He went to the piano and shooed the pianist away with a smile. "Now, this is a piano reduction of the orchestra, so you're going to miss some things, but with the piano miced it should be loud enough to be heard over me." The audience laughed. Without using a mic he began to play and sing and I stared. I had heard opera, but I had never HEARD opera. This...this was magnificent. He needed no amplification, he just sang.

And it kept me so entranced that I wasn't aware that some of the kids from school were there too. Ones who bullied me for being a smartmouthed orphan. The crowd was a bit thinner around me and they were able to surround me before I knew what was going on. Then came the name calling and one of them kicked me hard enough to get my attention. Then all was silent. "Excuse me, young men, but do your parents know how rude you are being to my guest? How rude you are being to the kind people who simply want to listen to good music?" Alan had stopped the song and stood up to his full height. "How rude you are being to me, making me stop my aria to ask you these questions?" His voice dropped to a tone that said he was very upset with them and I could see them trying to shrink away from the glares of the audience. "Would the parents of these young men please take them in tow?" Their parents did and I knew they would be getting at least some sort of punishment. "Jonathan, could you come up here please?"

I turned all shades of red, but I got to my feet. I went up on stage and looked at him like I was l going to get punished. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is Jonathan, a young man I have recently met that I am hoping will one day soon agree to be my foster son." I looked up at him. His eyes were so kind, so full of understanding. The crowd seemed to find this such a great moment.

"Can I call you Pop?" I asked quietly. No one would be able to hear me. He laughed.

"He asked if he can call me Pop." It got a laugh. "Sure, you can call me Pop." I jumped into his arms.

"You done good, Pop." We finalized the adoption and from then on I was Jonathan Davenport.

I came back to the present with a smile. "I see. Do...did you feel it was a big deal?"

"Not at all. You never made it a hard decision. I did what I could to save a person from a bad life." He leaned over and gave me a hug. "I'm glad to see you learned how to do it too."

"You done good Pop."



A Full Moon Ch. 09



With Pop staying for two weeks, I knew that this was going to be one interesting time in my life. I didn't count on Dylan being out of the woods as far as spookiness went and I was really starting to wonder where Gene was. I did get a lot of information from Dylan and his research report. He had read the entire packet cover to cover several times and then handed me a summation. He handed me a book report the same size as the book!

"Um, little dude, this is about the same size."

"I know, but I also found more things on the net that you might want to know about. Like where Gene is hunting the Solaris and the legends surrounding them." I was impressed. Give him something he wanted to study and he would go to the ends of the earth...sounds a lot like I was. "Grandpa and Papa Travis are taking me out to the movies."

"Okay...wait. Papa Travis?" I asked.

"Yeah. He's like my other grandpa since you 'nd Pat are my parents. Can't call him Grandpa when your dad is around, now can I?"

The logic was sound. "Sure. Have you called him that yet?" Dylan nodded. "Too bad, I would have loved to have seen his face when you did the first time."

"It looked like this." Dylan's smile became as big as his ears and then he barked.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Was he in slobber mode?" That got a nod. "What am I going to do with you?" My son was amazing. I would never have been able to cope with all this in the short time.

"Give me a few bucks for popcorn?" I shrugged and reached for my wallet. "Kidding, I have my allowance." In another fifteen minutes the trio were gone to the movies and Pat came down dressed in a pair of boxer shorts.

I sat reading the paper and marveling over it. The first recorded Solaris actually predated Lupus and Lunais by close to two hundred years. They were the guardians of some long dead Queen who worshiped Bast, the Egyptian goddess. With some sort of magic that could not be codified she turned her trusted guards into the first Pantera Leo Solaris. She gave them the power to turn at will into large cats to protect her as Bast did Ra during the day. It was also said she had turned herself into a cat at night much as Bast did.

Dylan had gone into vivid detail on the history of Bast and her religion and how Solaris thrived until a worshiper of Wepwawet, the wolf god, sought to overthrow the monarchy by turning his soldiers into ravening wolves to hunt and kill the Solaris while they were vulnerable during the night. The usurper gained a foothold because his creatures were infectious and able to take on the Solaris as they slept. The queen and her most trusted fled over the Tigris and the Euphrates, through the Fertile Crescent and east, running from the spreading plague of the Lycanthropes so named by the Greek who seemed to be passed over for the most part. The queen was killed in what is now India but a few of her followers remained.

There were tons of reports and sightings all over the world throughout history, but they stopped in the late 1950's. Like Solaris were truly and utterly extinct. Dylan had added that an anonymous source had a conversation with one a few decades ago, but that was the last recorded incident with a Solaris. Many legends were out of Central and South America and led to the worship of jaguars in their cultures. Even the Inuit people have revered legends and how some could become one with the cats.

"Anything interesting?" Pat asked, jarring me from my reading.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Dylan has really done a thorough search and report. But all of the sightings stop in 1957 over in North Dakota. There had been so many, each one showing that the Solaris were all moving north and then nothing. Like they just...left." I was at a loss. "And Dylan's behavior and weirdness only marginally reflects what was recorded about Solaris puberty. They go throw a huge growth spurt right before their first change. Like a foot to two feet in a month."

"That has got to be painful. So they don't infect like Lupus do."

"No, they're born, like Lunais. Well, most Lunais." I smiled and winked. "One big thing that is throughout then entire paper is that Solaris can only be detected when they want to be. Lycans can't tell one unless the Solaris wants to be known."

"Handy." I nodded and set the paper aside. "So Dyl probably isn't a Solaris."

"From what this says no. I..." The phone rang and I picked it up. "Hello?"

"Hello Jon."

"Gene! Where are you?"

"Right now I'm in Panama. I have found out a few things and am on the trail of a possible Solaris. All others have been fake." His connection was faint but steady.

"How many others and where?"

"Three others and all of them along the US border with Mexico."

"Gene, not to throw a damper on your search, but Solaris can't be detected by Lycans." I told him what I read in Dylan's summation.

"Then they could have been." he sighed heavily. "Looks like I'll be going back once I'm done here. I'll keep you posted, Jon." He hung up and I shook my head.

"So he's fine," Pat commented, relieved. I was relieved too. Gene was a good friend and he was doing this out of loyalty, and maybe a bit of a streak to stick it to a man we both did not particularly like. 

"Yeah. Might be gone longer than we could hope, but this is Gene. He is thorough." Pat nodded and we sighed. "So. The munchkin is gone and protected by Travis' uber wolf powers and Pop's withering death glare and courtly acid tongue. If anything gets past them, it will be too big for us to handle." Pat grinned and bopped me on the head. "What shall we do with our afternoon?"

While my tone had been conversational, our scents said what we were thinking. But we sat and just snuggled, our fingers toying lazily across skin and body hair. It was sweet and loving and everything we both wanted...when we weren't ripping each others clothes off like horny teenagers. A late lunch was made and we fed each other. Pat had to be silly and stuck the potato salad in my face. It was in retaliation for me poking him when he was spooning it onto the plates and him getting splatted across the chest. Which I, as a good and loving partner, had to clean up. With my tongue. Repeatedly.

After lunch we went for a walk, holding hands the entire time. People in my neighborhood would greet us with smiles and waving hands. Genuine smiles. Part of me was still surprised that we weren't the least bit shunned. I had been somewhat uneasy about that, even in the back of my mind, until Halloween. By then I didn't care and no one made a big to-do about it. Yay, Salem! 

"Any more trouble, Jon?" asked Mr. Jennings, my neighbor down the street. The entire neighborhood knew about the break in and some had even offered to help fix things up.

"Nope, and thankfully so. Dylan's been sick and I'm glad it's been quiet. Well, until my Pop dropped in."

"Your father is Alan Davenport? The opera singer?" I nodded. I was not surprised people had seen him. He is huge. "Think he might sing something for my wife? She's a big Wagner fan." I knew Pop would do something although he was no Wagnerian singer in the slightest.

"I'll ask. You might not get Wagner, but he might do something."

"Thank you, Jon. Nice to see you Patrick," he said with a smile. Pat squeezed my hand and smiled.

Pop was asleep on the sofa and we were up in the bedroom with the papers Dylan had looked at. We were all in our pj's and had the pages spread out. "So, tell us what you didn't put in that dissertation."

"Well, fer starters the Solaris didn't just disappear. I've been doing more digging and asking Papa Travis about it and he has been a bit more open than I think he would be with you guys, even though he knows I'm gonna tell you anyway." We nodded and chuckled. Travis knew the information would be getting to us but he wouldn't let us know directly. "They immigrated into Canada and crossed over the continent north. Past Lake Winnipeg and Reindeer Lake and from there...well. Papa Travis thinks they may have a colony on one of the Queen Elizabeth Islands. He doesn't know for sure, but he has heard rumors of Lycans steering clear of them altogether and those that do go up there don't come back much. If they do come back they're really different. Like...all peaceful."

"Sounds like we should send the lot of them up there then," Pat said with a smile. I didn't disagree, but then I didn't agree either. If a Lycan lost his hunting edge, he would be dead very soon after that. He would be prey for those who did not take that journey. I knew Pat was being silly because I could smell the same bit of caution I felt.

"That's not the half of it. The area around Montana and the Dakotas is like no man's land. No one from the pack lives there. Gives em the creeps. Papa Travis said he went to check it out when he got the pack, but he couldn't get in there without wanting to run away as fast as he could."

That was big news. Travis was no coward, not even in the smallest sense of the word. If he ran it was for a damn good reason. "So...something about the area the Solaris are said to have settled and where they left from is seriously mysterious."

"Yup."

Pat and I heard Pop get up and we began to gather the papers quickly. Dylan got the hint and did the same. He didn't ask, he just did it. I grinned as I heard the grumbling of Pop coming up the stairs. He was not a person to wake up as it took a half hour for him to become civil. It was the same every morning I was growing up and it made me smile. "Watch. When he gets to the top of the stairs he'll be scratching his belly and grumbling." As Pop crested the stairs he was doing just that and the three of us laughed.

"Too much noise in there," Pop groaned and we only laughed harder. One thing would never change. When he came out of the bathroom he was brushing his teeth.

"Evening, Pop. Sleep well?" He grumbled and we laughed again. His eyes said he had done it just to make us laugh. "Any plans? I assume you and Dylan have plotted against me behind me back."

"He's giving a concert," Dylan said. "That's the other reason he's in town."

"Oh." I hadn't realized there was an opera company anywhere in the area, but Pop would make a point to find out and make his visit known. "What are they doing?" I asked him.

"Gianni Schicchi."

"They need someone for Schicchi?" I asked. It was a pretty popular comedic opera by Puccini. "Betto?"

"Simone." I laughed. He said he would never play Simone, the old man. "Right, right, smart guy." Pop went to get ready for the evening. I should have guessed he had a show as he always took a nap before them and rarely at other times.

"Want us to come watch you make a fool out of yourself?" The part was very much full of himself and loudly so.

"I don't know if you can get tickets since the show starts in two hours," he called from the other room.

"We can get them," said Pat with surety. 

I leaned in. "Ticket booth clerk a Lycan?"

"House manager. Fox." Dylan grinned even bigger.

"So, Dyl, wanna see an opera and get some culture?" He nodded. "Go get ready." We left his room so we could start getting ready ourselves.

Pop said goodbye on his way out. Pat had already secured tickets for the three of us. Not the best seats, but mezzanine seating isn't too bad all things considered. Pat and I were dressed in custom fit suits, have to with our builds, and Dylan was in a nice shirt and tie. "I need suits," he said.

"When you're done growing, then yes. Until then, little dude, you're stuck with off the rack." He gave an "aww shucks" finger snap as we loaded into the car. The actual house was in Boston, which not too far, really. Only fifteen miles or so. With the evening traffic it took us forty minutes; there was an accident on the 107 and we had to cut over to the Adamski Memorial. We picked up our tickets from the booth and headed inside. Dylan was looking all over the place to see not only the opera house, but also looking for Lycans. I smelled them, more than just a fox, but I hadn't seen one yet.

We took our seats and only then did Dylan have to use the bathroom. "Hurry up, curtain is in fifteen." He nodded. He was back in two.

We watched as Buoso Donati keeled over in the first thirty second of the opera, the only death. The family rushing in and "mourning" their loss. Mourning because they were all greedy bastards who wanted Buoso's money. He left that to the friars. They were really bummed after that. Rinuccio, the young love role, said his girlfriend's dad could help them. Enter Gianni Schicchi and he does arrange for them to get the money by impersonating the now dead Buoso and they made a new will. A will where he left himself the bulk of Buoso's estate to use a dowry for his daughter to wed Rinuccio.

When it was done and the bows over, Dylan went to the bathroom again as we waited by the stage door for Pop. When Pop came out, he looked nothing at all like Simone. He looked like a guy who was ready for bed. "You done good, Pop."

"It was okay. The baritone they have playing him is getting an ingrown toenail removed. He'll be back in a week. Until then, I get to be an old man. Where's Dylan?"

"Bathroom," I said. Then I realized it had been nearly five minutes and there wasn't much of a line at all. I went in. "You fall in, Dyl?" I called...and got no response. "Dylan?" I checked each stall. They were all empty. I knocked over a man in my haste to get out. "He's gone." Pat's eyes got huge. He ran to the ticket booth.

Pop's way was faster. "Excuse me!" he called over the crowd, his trained voice carrying. "Has anyone seen a young man? Thirteen years old?" I gave him Dylan's clothing description. No one had seen him. He went inside the bathroom and did the oddest thing I had ever seen him do. He got down an sniffed the ground.

"Um...Pop..."

"He was here, as were four Lupus." When I heard that I literally fell against the wall.

"What...?"

"He put up a decent fight and got one in the nose. I smell blood." He stood and went to the window, which was open. "They took him out through here."

"Pop?" He ignored me and went out and around the building to the alleyway where the bathroom window was. Here I smelled the blood Dylan had caused, and the exhaust from a vehicle. There were two sets of tire marks, small skids where they peeled out. "Where did they take him?"

"They would take him north. It has to be that way else they would never make it to safety before tomorrow." He looked at me and I could see he was both worried and pissed. He blinked and I saw a side of my Pop I never had before. His eyes...they were the eyes of a lion.

"Tomorrow...when Dylan changes first into a Solaris?" Pop nodded. "Will you be changing too?"

"No. It's a puberty thing."

My Pop...the Summit of '83...fuck. "We'll talk about our Lycan lives later."

Pat came running up. "I called Dad. The house manager was dead in his office. Silver knife wound to the chest and head." He didn't seem to care about Pop being there, until he looked at the lack of shock on his face. "Tell me what I missed later. We have Hunters on their way. Mariam is with them, as are Michael and Tommy."

"Has Angus been notified?" Pop asked.

"No. Dad says he will be letting Angus know personally. I wish I could see that fight. That fuck nut is going to get his ass handed to him."

"Not if I get to him first," I growled out. I knew I was in danger of shifting to my hybrid form and both of them placed a hand on my shoulders. Taking a very deep breath, I nodded. "Where in Canada would they take him?"

"Magog, Quebec is right over the border. There used to be a Solaris sanctuary there, but we left. It has the only place within a thousand miles they need." I called Betty and told her to book us a flight for Magog on the jet.

"I can't just..."

"Dylan was kidnapped and that is the only place they can take a prepubescent Solaris before he changes." I heard her gasp.

"I'll get you the plane. Head to the field." We waited until The hunters got there and then drove like maniacs to the plane. It was waiting and ready. Betty was there. "Go get him back." The three of us nodded and got on.

Once seated I just looked at my Pop. "So...how do we do this, Pop?"

"We do nothing about it. You're a Lupus..."

"Lunais," I said and he looked confused. "Pat infected me and he's a Lunais with very unique genes. I got his genes."

"Huh. Well, you're a Lunais and I'm a Solaris. We both get hairy, only I'm better at hiding it. Past that, you're my son, and if anyone tried to hurt you, they will answer to me." That settled that. He wouldn't disown his Lunais son. "I knew when I walked up to your door. I smelled you, Pat and Travis. Scents too strong to be casual visitors. It has been a long time since our kinds have really fought, but the instinct was to run.

"Yet here was my son. Now a Lycan. Now starting a family, one that included one of the few Lupus I have ever met whom I trusted enough to tell my secret. I knocked and found out that you were dating Pat and when I looked at Dylan I saw it. He saw it in me too. I looked at him and knew." He lay his head back and shut his eyes. "Dylan is my grandson." I nodded. "I mean by blood."

My heart thundered to a halt. My world was changing too fast and I couldn't keep up. "How can he be?"

"He has the smell." The cabin filled with a new scent. I knew it too. This was Pop's scent. A light musk. A calming thing laced with a frenetic energy. A vibrant pulse of life. One that Dylan was starting to smell like. "It's a family thing. I had one daughter, human like your mother, who left the family after a huge fight between her and your mother. I hadn't heard anything from her until she called to tell me she was going to give birth. She died as Dylan clawed his way out." Much like a Lunais birth. "The hospital never knew what happened, only that they went to check on her when she flat lined. I saw her corpse. They called it murder, the father charged with it and he is on death row because of it." Pop closed his eyes. "But I knew. I could not tell them what happened and could not go looking for a child that may not even be alive. He could be anywhere.

"But when I saw him, I knew him and he knew me. I looked at his file and I could trace it all back to one person. The man who took him tried raising him, but he was killed. Dylan was put into foster care. You know the gist of the rest." I did. Dylan was never at a home for very long. Always troubled, always a handful. Always different...and never knowing why. "But for him to show up in your life? My own grandson adopted by my own adopted son?"

"Kinda twisted way to find him." Pop nodded. "And I get why you couldn't tell me sooner. I mean I would never believe you unless you went all cat on me and then I would be scared of you." He nodded. "But why not when you found out I was Lycan?"

"I didn't know how you would react. How far into the politics you had gone. Pat is sitting there quiet and nervous. Wary of how I will act." I looked at him and Pop was right. Pat was nervous. I had never seen him like this.

"I know you're not going to hurt us, Alan, but it's..."

"It's something inside. Something that tells you to either run from me or try to kill me." My head swung back to Pop but I saw Pat nod. "I feel it too, but I love Jon too much to let it affect me, and for how you have made him so happy I love you as well. Travis would never raise a person who followed blindly."

It was true. Pat knew where he stood, but he didn't follow like a drone. "You are so like my Dad, Alan, that it is scary."

"I'm glad to hear that. Travis and I learned how to be leaders at the Summit and shared the same hotel room." More and more just kept coming at me.

"The Summit...what's it about?"

"Normal stuff, not Lycan. How to run a business. How to get to the top without resorting to underhanded tactics. Life lessons. We learned it well, I'd say. I wish he had thought to send Angus there. That animal needs a few lessons."




A Full Moon Ch. 09



I felt Pat relax a bit. "He'll get them."

When we landed in Roland-Désourdy Airport and hopped into a cab that waited for us. "Parc des Braves," Pop said as we climbed in.

"You're the second load of people going there tonight. Is there a convention?" the cabbie asked, his accent heavy.

"Yes. A group of business men meet there for a Summit every now and then." We shared glances. They had gotten here ahead of us. They took a plane, one they knew would get them here fast and without questions. There was no airstrip close enough.

Actually there was one and only one. We had been there not long ago. When I began to growl Pat looked at me. I knew it was barely audible over the sound of the engine and heater so the cabbie would never hear me. "The flight not agree with you, Jon?" he asked, taking my hand.

"Angus forgot to tell us about the earlier flight coming here. We would have missed the opera if we had known, though." Pat put two and two together. As did Pop.

"Remind me to thank him later," said Pop genially. I knew that Angus was going to be in a huge world of hurt. Travis would kill him, Pop would kill him slowly...I wouldn't let him die.

We got to the park and Pop paid the cabbie. He walked until the driver was gone, then he ran, his shirt flying off and he began to grow. Golden blonde fur sprouted and with it the full mane and tail of a Solaris feline. He topped over fifteen feet and I knew he outweighed me even when I was in full lunar form. His pants were shreds and they fell off as he ran faster, seeing the footprint in the snow. The only sets here. We shucked our own clothes and went hybrid because we could see that there was an occasional drop of blood in the snow. It had to be Dylan's. The tracks led to a gazebo and there they stopped, but Pop pressed some hidden switch and it raised up to reveal stairs and one guard. The guard had no time to even get a warning shout as Pop ripped out his throat with one swipe, those massive claws six inches long each. He didn't even slow, just ran down the steps. 

The steps ended in a huge room far below the ground. I didn't look around, I didn't care about the architecture. Just the boy laid out on the slab with four Lupus holding him down and the last cutting into his chest. There was no sound at all, but I could feel everything keenly. I moved. I think I moved faster than the others as I was the first one there and slamming my own claw through the knife wielder's chest. He didn't utter a sound to my ears, he just looked to be screaming and then he fell over as I shook him off my arm. Pat was facing off with two of the others and Pop the other two. Then I smelled them. Ferals were being let out of a cage by another Lupus and they were coming right for me. Good enough.

I met them head on and ripped the throat out of one before it could even get a swipe in. The last clawed my back, but I spun and grabbed his other paw and broke his arm. I never had the desire to kill until I had a son. Now all those dark parts we all have were right there in the front and I just waded through the Ferals. I took hits, I kept going. I was losing blood, but I didn't care as there were more targets for my anger. I was briefly aware that Pat had joined me in the fight, but it didn't register fully that we coordinated our attacks perfectly. It was almost as if right then I knew what he was thinking and he knew my thoughts. We were such a tight fighting unit the ten Ferals were dead on the floor in moments. I heard a gun shot but felt no pain. With that shot sound returned and I spun back to see Pop had killed the last Lupus. He was bleeding from a gun wound to the chest, but it was closing up very quickly.

Dylan lay sobbing on the altar, the dagger on the floor and his blood already slowing to a seepage. I dashed over. "Are you okay?" He shook his head and I pulled him close to me. I could feel the heat radiating off of him and knew something was wrong. "Pop?"

"Stand back. Let him get up on his own." I looked at him and he nodded. I stepped back, wishing I could hold my son. I watched as he began to pant, falling to the floor from the altar. He began to cry out in agony. I watched him change into a Solaris for the first time. The bad thing was he was far larger than he should have been. He had to grow a lot. His cries became mewls and hisses as his face became more leonine. Whiskers grew and the beginnings of a mane. He was like a gangly lion cub starting to get his growth, all limbs and lean angles.

Then he just lay there. I could see the scar across his chest where they had begun to cut into him. It was healed over, but it would never go away. I picked up the dagger and looked at the solid gold blade. Silver and gold, moon and sun. It made sense. Pop's wedding band had been platinum. He had a gold allergy. Slowly Dylan pushed to his hands and knees, collapsing once but getting back up. I went to go to him, but Pop shook his head. He had to get to his feet on his own. It took a long time, longer than when I had changed, but I was not born to this. I knew nothing of what a first change was like for those born to it and less of Solaris. Once up he wobbled and then shook all over. Then he stood all the way up, topping out at nine feet. "Dad?" he asked, and rushed to him. He hugged me hard. "God, Dad, they were going to take my heart."

"They're dead now. Your heart is safe." I could feel him shaking and this time he didn't try to hold it back. He cried. He clung to me and sobbed. Pat came over, but Pop stayed where he was. I looked at him but he was keeping an eye open for more surprises.

Dylan wiped his eyes. "Guess I can't hide this from you like I could some other secret." He sounded tired and hollow.

"Nope. Guess I won't be infecting you after all." He shook his head. "You do realize you are going to have a lot to learn."

"Yeah."

"He'll be coming with me for a year or two. Learn what he needs." Pop made a lot of sense.

"When?" I asked. I knew it was for the best, even though I had work...if I still had a job after I killed Angus.

"Starting when I go back to Perth. You should come too. Your mother misses you." Pop and Mom had been divorced since before I came into the picture but she loved me just as much as he did.

"I will, once I deal with that piece of shit Angus."



A Full Moon Ch. 10



Now, what to do about Angus, honestly. I doubt I could really kill him unless I used silver and I didn't want to be the future Leader-in-Waiting. I didn't want all of that. I wanted a home with Pat and Dylan without having to deal with the Pack's shit. We could try to move over seas. Maybe Australia. The parents would be thrilled. Angus couldn't touch us easily as we would be under the supervision of another pack and a Solaris. But Pat would have to leave everything behind. His family, his friends, his life. He might not be top of the hierarchy in the Pack, but he was to the Lunais. They all loved him even without him being the son of the Leader.

With Dylan unable to change back to human yet we had to hide in the caverns below the park. With nothing left down here that was alive, it would be safe enough for the day. Pop and Travis were making sure the bodies were disposed of and Dylan had his head in my lap. It was something to be petting your foster son's hair and having it feel like a lion's mane. He slept and his sleep was troubled a bit by dreams, but he was not awake and thinking about a knife headed for his chest. I smiled down at my son.

He had called me Dad. Without even thinking it he had called me the one thing he had never called any other of his foster fathers. How was I different? How did I earn the love and trust of such a boy? Yeah, I was the living embodiment of his fantasies. I was Lycan, he loved Lycans. I gave him a home after saving his life. That would make him like me, yeah, but even I would not hand someone my heart and trust with so little as that. But he gave it all willingly and called me the best name I had ever been called. Even better than son.

I looked up as Pop came over. With the bodies gone we had found enough clothing down here to wear something after our changes. Even some for Dylan once he was calm enough to change back.

"How's he doing?"

"He's asleep, which might or might not be a blessing with his history of nightmares. The scar will fade, right?"

Pop nodded. "Fade, yes, but it will always be there. With the precision of it, I would even go as far as to say the one with the knife had been a surgeon." I nodded.

"Why is the first Solaris change so different? I was tired, but not bad." I knew there were many differences between Lunais and Solaris, but were we that different?

"Imagine going through puberty all in one moment. All the changes, all the pain, all the things that take years." I could imagine that. "His mind needs to get use to not being human any more and once it does he will gain the first part of control over his changes."

"How long did that take you?"

"A little over a day. Once I was stuck in this form for a fortnight. High stress can change us as we gain control." It was daunting. This was a super stressful time for us all and Dylan was the center. At least we knew why now. "But I can aid him in getting back to his human self, although he will have to get a whole new wardrobe." He saw the question on my face. "When I changed back I was four inches taller and six inches the next time." 

"Great. I'm glad I have money in the bank. Although some of Pat's stuff might fit him in the height."

"And bulk. He'll gain muscle mass very fast."

"Sounds great," said Dylan as his eyes opened. "Maybe now I can wrestle those guys at the meet and see who wins." He sat up but stayed leaning against me. Which was hard as right now he was three feet taller. Even without the extra legs he was almost a foot taller than me seated.

"One more layer, huh little dude?" He laughed and winced.

"I'm fine. Growing pains are a bitch." I gave him a small look about the language. "Yeah, I know, but they are." He stood up and stretched. It was impressive because even as young as he was there was a muscle tone there that said he would probably be a mountain like Pop was. "Can I get some pants? Not use to my naughty bits being public." Pop just laughed and went back to the pile of stuff they had found. He brought back a robe that would fit. "Eh, good enough, although the green does not go good with my fur."

"How are you feeling, really?" asked my father and Dylan smiled sadly.

"With everything else, this I can deal with gladly. I mean we talked about it a few times and I knew it was coming up, so it doesn't really surprise me. Getting almost sacrificed..." he trailed off and sat down with his arms wrapped around his knees. "I can honestly say I have never been more scared in my life. It was like the worst horror film I have ever seen brought to life and I was the star. Only the stars don't know half of the pain. It burned and cut and I could feel it sucking something out of me." He had a few tears in his eyes, but they didn't fall.

"When we first turn, those of us born to the Lycanthropy emit a power. Only in the first turning. That energy can be taken if the heart is taken." Dylan and I sat listening to Pop. Pat was within earshot but he was busy with other things like hiding the bodies as best as he could. "The energy can be given to another of Lycan blood and they would become very strong indeed. By taking yours, they could have given a Lupus immunity to silver and the ability to change during the day." That was a frightening thought. Angus would be unstoppable. "I would hate to see anyone sacrificed like that." Then I saw something that said a line would be forming to kill Angus. I know more than a few Lunais who would love to be in that line but could not because of upbringing and culture. "He will pay for this."

"Good. He's a dick anyway," Dylan exclaimed and we all laughed. Then we got concerned as he began to mewl and writhe. Watching the reversal back to human was grossly fascinating and Dylan just whimpered once as he sat back up. Thankfully it was quick, unlike my first time changing back. That seemed to take forever. "God that hurts. Does it always hurt like that?" His hair was now a ruddy strawberry blonde and I could tell he was taller and bulkier. Like puberty's first growth spurt in a few hours and doing weight training.

"It gets easier," all three of us said.

"Dad, I got muscles!" He flexed and I was wondering where his little noodle arms went because he was barely a teen and had at least sixteen inch biceps.

"Nice. Wait for the rest. You'll be a beast like Pop. Anyone know what time it is?" I asked. With Dylan human again, we could get the hell out of this place and back to Massachusetts.

"We have an hour until sunset," Pop said without even looking at his watch. I never doubted him as he was always right when it came to time. Then he turned to Dylan. "Now, here is the big deal for us. No gold. Nothing. Can't even touch it. Seems like the queen who made the first Solaris didn't trust them and their sticky fingers around her gold."

"Got it." Dylan began to rapid fire questions and Pop answered each one until he got to Solaris breeding habits.

"That one I'll cover when you're sixteen." Pat and I laughed at the sheer look of incredulity. 

"I know about sex, Grandpa. I just want to know if there are mating rituals and if it has to be a Solaris or a human. Would a Lycan-Solaris cross be possible?" I suddenly wondered at such things. Was it possible? What would it be like?

"No, and never again ask that question, if you would be so kind." Pop's tone was a bit stern and I knew that this subject would never again be brought up.

Thankfully Dylan got the message and stopped asking questions. Instead he got up and began to see what new things he was capable of. Like a twelve foot vertical leap, lifting Pat with one hand, doing a wall run for close to twenty feet before having to hit the ground again. We watched him play like a kitten, testing his limits and his surroundings and generally being a kid.

My good mood soured when I thought about Angus again. I had to do something. This was my son he was trying to sacrifice. Yeah, Pop had blood claim and Travis had leadership rights, but I would get to the son of a bitch before them and show him what it meant to hurt my son. I shoved the anger down when I felt the three of them staring at me. "Saving it up for the shitball?" Pat asked.

"Yeah. We clear, Pop?"

"If you mean is the park clear, yes. The other...well, we'll see who gets to him first." He pulled me to my feet and we went up the stairs.

I dialed Betty. "Tell me you were in time."

"He's alive. A little spooked, but he's always been a bit spooky." Dylan grinned and gave me a gentle shove that knocked me over a step. "Can you send a plan for us?"

"I can. Jon, there is something you should know." I watched the entrance raise up and we left into the snow, none of us feeling it. "Mr. Andrews will be challenging Angus openly tonight. I don't know if you'll be in time." I knew Travis could very well kill him just by ripping his head off, but then Angus could do the same to him.

"Ask him to hold off, if you can find him. I want to at least get a punch in before Travis shoves his fist through the asshat's chest." Dylan went a bit wide eyed as we jogged to the air field. It wouldn't take us very long and it was cheaper than finding a cab.

"I'll let him know. He's called an entire Pack Meeting for this." I whistled low. "Yeah. So I'll call for the plane, you get here fast." She hung up.

Back in Massachusetts we were met by a huge surprise. Gene stood there and with him were five people I didn't know, but I would bet by the way Pop and Dylan were acting they were Solaris. "Gene, I take it your mission was a success."

"Sure was. They insisted on coming back with me. Mr. Davenport," he said with a nod. "The van is waiting to take us all to the Meeting. This will be a first. All the Lycans will be there. Lupus, Lunais and Solaris." The Solaris eyed us with a bit of trepidation, but Dylan gave each of them a winning smile.

"My Dads are cool. And Grandpa, well, he's cool too. That Gene though? He's shifty. Keep an eye him." It was a bit of a laugh to them as obviously Gene had won their trust enough to have them follow him all the way from Mexico and god knows where else. It did dissolve some of the tensions, but I understood what they were feeling. This would be the first real contact in decades and it was at a fight for leadership. 

"Do they know we're coming?"

"I was told Travis knows, but he won't wait forever."

Good, at least he got the message. That means I might get some chance to kick Angus's ass from here to next Tuesday. He so had this coming, the mondo douchebag.

We pulled up in front of the main office and I was not the only one surprised. "Let me guess, super secret room I don't know about." Gene and Pat nodded. "Yay, I finally get the full tour." We walked up to the doors which were actually guarded right now.

"Pat, Gene, you know this is no time for guests." 

"Just stop, Kevin," I said. "I was turned months ago." He looked shocked. "Yeah, I imagine that's what Angus's face will look like right before I rip his throat out for trying to kill my son multiple times. Move or be moved." The guard stepped aside and then he looked like he didn't even know why. "Thanks. I'll remember that for your next eval." We marched in.

I could hear the Solaris growling to each other, but I didn't know their language. They seemed to be less tense now that we were here and I was thankful for that. Gene led us to the service elevator and hit down. There was no basement level, but I guess that's because it's super secret. Dylan hummed the theme to jeopardy as we descended and Pat snickered. When it got to the room it opened up into something like an indoor stadium. My nose took a huge hit from all the fear and tensions I could smell. It stung and made me want to vomit. Dylan covered his nose and tried to snort the scent out. The others seemed to be fine.

I had never seen so many Lycans in one place. I could see they were even segregating themselves by type. The Lupus were in one section and then divided by their animal forms and the Lunais were in a smaller section and actually mixed up. This was more scary to me, as if the Pack was forced into this hierarchy by chance of birth and infection. No one had a say in how they were treated.

More than a few heads turned to see us standing there and when all of us made our way to go sit with the Lunais, more than some started to growl, but I stared at them directly in the eyes and they backed down quickly. One man even peed on himself he was so scared. Then people started to whisper about me. Why I was there. What had changed. What this meant for the Pack.

I saw Travis and got a nod to come over. "Dylan, go with Pat and Gene to the Lunais section. Pop, come with me." We split and went to our areas.

"Jon, you know I can't let you fight him," Travis said.

"Then try and stop me. I don't care about Pack Law right now. I care about a fucking piece of shit who tried to sacrifice my son. Travis, you know I have the utmost respect and love for you, but you cannot stop me from ripping his head off and shitting down his neck." Travis looked at me and smiled.

"Looks like someone came into his own." I closed my eyes and sighed. I knew what he was talking about.

"I changed, didn't I." He nodded. "I don't want it, Travis. I just want a few licks in before you actually kill him."

"And you?" Travis asked my Pop.

"I'm here representing my people. He tried to kill one of ours. Family ties aside, I claim right to combat." And oh boy would Angus NOT want to tangle with my pop. It would be a massacre.

"Hmm. Alan, shall we give Jon the fight? His seems to be the strongest case. If he dies then you can step in. If you die as well I will kill him." Travis was merely stating a fact.

"A father's prerogative to avenge his son, hmm?" Travis nodded. "The challenge is your, son."

"Just to set the record straight. This is not a challenge for leadership. I don't want the Pack, Travis."

"You could, though. Your own." I blinked.

I could, couldn't I? I grinned and then looked at Angus as he came in the room. All talking stopped.

God he was huge. Out of his tailored suits and his office I saw just how big he truly was. I felt tiny, but I also knew I could kill him. I felt it in my gut. He would not walk out of this room unless I spared his life. "Jon, what are you do doing here? Travis, you know better than to let humans come here." He wasn't even trying to hide the fact that they weren't human.

"I assure you, Angus, there are no humans in this room."

Angus went to open his mouth but I just stared right into his eyes and he shut up. "You tried to have my son killed." He blinked and then grinned. I took off my watch and shoes and the shirt I wore. I heard the faintest of whispers as some of the Lycans saw me for the first time wearing just pants. "Multiple times." I walked towards him and Angus just laughed at me. "See, I don't take kindly to people trying to sacrifice my son. I don't care if you're Lupus. I don't care if my son is Solaris." A murmur began to circulate. "You are not leaving here until I have beaten you bloody."

"You really think so?" Angus laughed. "Do you honestly think you can beat me?"

"Yes. And if not me then my father." I thumbed back to Pop who was stripped down to his skivvies. Angus sized him up and that wiped the smile from his face. "You see, Travis and Pop gave me the fight, although Travis has right as the true leader and Pop...well...Dylan is his grandson by blood and I really would not want piss off and Alpha Solaris." 

"He figured it out," Pop whispered to Travis.

"So here's the thing. You've managed to piss off two full Alphas and one who just came into his power." I was close to ten feet away. "I don't think your chances are good, you flea bitten mongrel son of a rapid whore. You will die like the dog you are and I won't even shed a tear." Angus lunged and went to punch me.

I caught his fist and stopped him completely. His eyes went wide. "How..."

"Ever met an Alpha Lunais?" I shoved him back and Angus had to catch his balance. "Pop, catch," I took off my blessed silver medallion and then entire assembly went silent. They could all smell me now, all smell that I was changed, and they could all tell that because of everything that had happened I was an Alpha. Perhaps the first Alpha Lunais.

"Impossible," Angus whispered.

"Very possible when the true pack leader is the father of your boyfriend." I stalked forward. Angus came at me full force and I barely got my leg back to stop his momentum and then we were fighting. Before this whole sacrificial thing I never would have had the drive to really challenge him, but right now I felt that I was going to do a ton of damage.

Angus knew how to fight though. Better than I did. He would block a hit and then send one right for my face, but I was faster. That was my advantage right now. I was younger and faster. I just had to keep ahead of his swings and I could get out of this without too much damage. I landed one lucky punch, but then he just shrugged it off and slammed a full force hit to my chest that sent me flying. I hit the ground in a roll but he was right on top of me and I couldn't even get to my feet. He picked me up bodily and threw me across the arena, this time I landed more or less on my feet and launched myself at him. He expected a high hit, but I got him in the balls with a headbutt. He doubled over and howled and I could hear Dylan cheering me on.

Of course all that crotch shot did was piss him off and he came at me again, this time truly pissed off. I went to duck his hit but I got a knee to the side of my head. My vision blackened for a moment and as I felt the ground under my hands I pushed up. It was a blind move, but it shot me over Angus and I landed a few feet away where my vision slowly began to return. Speed was not helping and I wasn't his match in strength, not yet if ever. He was back up and rushing me again. This time I leap frogged over him and landed solid enough to kick back and again score one to his balls. If I couldn't beat him fairly I would just make sure he never bred. He wouldn't back down though. He wasn't going to die from crotch shots and we both knew that. 

I went into a dive to the right, but he caught my foot and dragged me back to get me in a headlock. I had never felt such power. Even the solid holds from my school days were nothing compared to this. I could feel him trying to literally rip my head off while I elbowed him in the ribs, tried to gouge out his eyes, anything to get him to let go. It was no use. I couldn't break his hold or his concentration...not as I was. I could feel my consciousness slipping away but I had one last ace up my sleeve. I changed. Angus let go very quickly and crawled away as I stood up slowly. This change did not hurt, it did not take minutes. It was as fast as you can think and I was standing. I was not in hybrid form. I was fully in my Lunar form.

"Impossible," he said and then tried to get to his feet as I stared him down.

"You should know by now that true Alphas are beyond you." I was on all fours and coming at him slowly. I was over five feet taller and I outweighed nearly double and right now he knew without a doubt that he would die. I saw it in his eyes. He knew he would not live to see tomorrow. My upper lips curled as I growled.

Then I was on him, my claws raking at his flesh and my teeth ripping into that feeble seeming arm he threw up to block. He screamed as I ripped a chunk out of his forearm and spat it at him. Angus swung with his good arm but I caught it and hauled him to his feet and then off the ground as I stood to my full height. I roared in his face, saliva and blood splattering him and he closed his eyes as my other claw encircled his throat. His face began to turn red and I was liking the smell of fear I was getting from him...it smelled the same as Dylan did as he was being cut. That undeniable realization that you were going to die.




A Full Moon Ch. 10



"Dad?" I looked at Dylan who stood just outside of arms reach. "He's not worth it." His eyes were calm and his voice even.

I nodded and released his throat, Angus gasping for air. Tossing him aside, I took a few deep breaths and changed back into my human self. I was naked, but I didn't care much any more. "You had better be very thankful Dylan is a good person, mongrel. You will never touch my son, my boyfriend, or anyone else I care for ever again. If you do I will come back and kill you."

I raised my voice. "This was not the fight for leadership of this Pack. I will not be your new Leader-in-Waiting." More than one person was shocked. "This was me avenging the wrongs he has done to my family. Yet, right now I feel there needs to be change. Pop?" He stood. "Do the Solaris control Montana and that creepy area?"

He shook his head. "No. It has been marked by our scents to drive Lycans out of the area, but no one lives there."

"Then it is settled. Angus, I hope you're paying very close attention. With your blessings," I said to the Solaris, "I will make that area my territory." They had a visual conference and then nodded. "Thanks. Angus, if you ever set foot in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota or Montana without notifying me ahead of time, I will see it as an act of aggression and come for your head." He looked up at me from where he landed and glared but he nodded. He knew he could not beat me now.

I looked at the assembled Lycans. "If anyone wishes to come with me, you will be welcome. I don't care if you're Lupus, Lunais or Solaris. No one is better than another based on species, only if you're a mondo dick. Oh, and Angus?" He was still glaring. "I quit." I picked up my clothing and walked away.

I heard the roar Angus let out but then I heard it stop. When I looked back Dylan stood over him with his hand clenched and I saw my son slug him right in the jaw. "That's for trying to kill me you piece of shit." He turned on heel and came jogging over to me.

"Feel better?" He nodded. "Me too."

"Dad?" I looked down at him as I put my arm around his shoulders. "You done good."

*

Thanks for reading. Be sure to look for the next story in the series. Jon and Pat's tale is done...but there is more in store for Dylan and other members of the new pack.