Night of the Wolf

Night of the Wolf Chapter 1

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Note from the author... (THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION!!!!) It is a dark fantasy from my mind. Treat it as such. Please forgive my use of artistic license to tell a story. I was enamored with the many werewolf legends from so many different cultures. Many were far more frightening than the European tales I grew up on.

Warnings: There is non-consensual sex and graphic violence in the story, two elements that are part of my old life. While werewolves and shifters only exist in the world of cryptozoology, I am all too aware that monsters are real. I add this warning to prevent against triggering a reader who (like me) has crossed the path of REAL world monsters.

There are gender, gay and racial slurs from the racist bigoted patriarch character. It is part of the boy's up bringing he had to live with it, like many of us.

If you are still reading, enjoy.

Night Of The Wolf =================

Chapter 01... It Begins Anew

Chase Nadir

Saturday Night...

Kyle was overjoyed with his new-found status with the football team. He wasn't a player, or cheerleader. No, he was part of the cheer team by proxy. He was in fact a theater nerd. He was a part of the school's acting group's technical section. This year he and his friend took it a step further and created a sub mascot for Wiley Wolf, Scruff the Pup.

Kyle helped his best friend put on and maintain the new wolf mascot suit. He even designed the acrobatic head, so his friend's spine would be protected during the acrobatic flips that were added to the routines. Scruff was there to provide tech support, and acted as a stand-in, an understudy if you will, for Wiley.

Thanks to his new status, he had one of the twin offensive guards all to himself. He was one of the few students who could tell the twins apart.

His friend Jedidiah helped him practice his technique Friday after the away game. Tonight's passion, was all for his Karl. This was the day he decided he would give his love his virginity. More than anything Kyle wanted Karl to be his first.

Every town in the world has a Lover's Lane, a place where the young cruise to be alone with their boyfriend or girlfriend and let carnal things happen. The boys had been kissing and cuddling in the extended cab pickup during the entire drive to Lover's Lane. Here in Glynis Landing it is on a remote section of the Panther Reserve, Kyle's favorite place to stargaze.

Kyle and his theater buddy Jedidiah were just a couple seniors at Glynis High. The boys had been friends since they were in preschool. Kyle was looking forward to letting Jedidiah live vicariously, through his retelling of tonight's activity.

He had already apologized to Jed once today for hurting him. Jed was always in his corner helping both he and his father. Kyle felt like shit for laughing at him yesterday. Jed was only trying to help and his best friend laughed at his freak out. "God the guy went through hell and I put him in it again." That thought brought Kyle back to the task at hand.

Kyle had engulfed the Left Guard's cock down to his balls. The varsity team member was close to releasing a load of teen cum down his lover's gullet. The peaceful night sky betrayed the fact that there was a hunt going on. Tonight the boys were the prey.

The evening's illusion of piece was broken as the driver side window shattered inwards. A silver-ish piano wire wrapped around the older teen's neck. Kyle swore he could smell burning flesh as the wire dug deep in his lover's throat. There was an explosion of sound as the roof was ripped from the truck.

Large hands grabbed hold of the young teen lifting him from the shredded vehicle. They threw him to the ground next to the pickup. All the wind was forced from Kyle's lungs on impact, as he watched two others grab hold of Karl, forcing him to his knees. The cord was locked in place. Another locking cord was wrapped around his wrists.

The leader of the party spoke from the shadows, "If you try to shift stud, you'll be decapitated. You two, hold him. If he does anything trigger the device. Listen close little cub. You can't save your pup, if you are dead."

The gruff low voice continued, "First guys let's give this 'warrior hunter in training' a real show. Let him see what his pup can really do..." A lusty laugh erupted from the crowd.

"Strip the pup, and hold him!" Kyle, still in shock over what already happened, finally saw his attackers. When he saw fully what they were, he pissed himself in fear. More laughter.

At first he thought the attackers were just men on meth or some other drug, explaining the feat of superhuman strength. He soon discovered they were something not quite human. For the most part they looked humanoid, but their bodies were covered with thick fur. Their heads had a distinctive canine look to them, and their eyes glowed amber.

The monster's ripped the fabric from the boy's body with such speed; his tender flesh was covered with deep red friction burns. While the powerful hands pressed the seventeen year old boy on the ground with such force his knees dug into the soft Earth. The Alpha was leering as he approached him.

The freakishly large beast growled, "If you wish to live, you will take everything that I am about to give you. If you bite me, if you try to hurt any of us, I guarantee you will live just long enough to regret it and then you will die screaming!

IF you obey and please me, you just MIGHT live through this." With that the creature wiped Kyle's mouth with its eleven inch semi hard pointed cock. It frosted the young boy's lips with foul smelling precum.

The voice growled, "You're gonna suck my dick little puppy. You're gonna have my cock between those sexy puffy lips!" The Alpha announced matter-of-factly, just as if he was saying you're going to breathe air.

Kyle had recovered, and apparently lost his mind in the process. He yelled, "Suck your own dick, asshole!"

That was the wrong thing to do, the Alpha's mouth drew up into a tight smile... he connected a firm back hand slap to Kyle's cheek. It was a hard slap, the force made Kyle's head bounce against his shoulder.

"Get busy on my cock now boy!" The Alpha's voice was measured but firm, his hand flew again, another back handed slap. This time it was so hard that spit flew from Kyle's mouth, and split his lip.

Kyle looked towards Karl; his eyes had a plea for help that couldn't come.

"For the very last time slut, suck it... NOW princess!" the Alpha looked down at where Kyle knelt before him. He clenched his fist, ready to strike.

Kyle had pretty full lips for a guy. They looked even better with a hard cock between them. Karl could see the Alpha's shaft; he watched it grow firmer as Kyle gingerly sucked on the head. The beast had a huge cock, not only long but unimaginably thick. Kyle's lips were stretched around it with such force they first turned white and then bluish as the blood was pressed out.

This was something Kyle had never expected to see. He choked but he didn't really have much of the big prick in his mouth, he was gagging at the taste.

Kyle's mouth was stretched horrifically wide; his eyes were squinting and watering as he rolled his head back and forth, hopelessly fighting to take another fat inch. A strong hand grabbed the back of his neck and the beast began to fuck his face, slowly at first, then harder and deeper with each stroke.

The teen boy gagged and sputtered, slurping off and plunging back on, matching the rhythm of the Alpha's hips with Kyle's head.

"Yeah, that's it. Mmm, damn boy" he muttered down at the teen, pursing his lips and thrusting his hips forward, "Make it nice and wet boy, you'll need it later." Kyle was gagging and choking as the beast rammed his freakish rod down into the young throat.

Kyle snorted, snot running from his nose as spit drooled out the sides of his mouth as the now hard seventeen inches forced it's way further down. Kyle looked down his shaft; his fur covered scrotum with its plump balls was still a foot away. He was crestfallen when he realized, he wasn't even halfway down and was already choking to death on it.

Kyle looked up at him, his face now turning a shade of dark scarlet, throat convulsing madly. His body was desperately struggling to expel the oral invader to get a breath of air. The monster wishing to prolong the torment pulled out with a loud sucking sound. His monster cock jutted out into the air, thick and slimy, streams of saliva and deep throat mucus dangling off it dripping on the teen and the ground.

"Hell yeah cock slut, now you are learning to suck a REAL dick not just that boy's tiny twig." The monster said pointing at Karl's bound angry form. The beast ran a tight fist down his shimmering pole in long strokes. He slid the boy's gooey spit down the meaty shaft to his nuts.

"Get back to working on this cock boy... Remember, do it as if your lives depend on it...", he said, tilting his hips so that his cock waved back and forth in front of Kyle's face lazily. "... because they do boy." Kyle's own cock betrayed him, as it too was leaking precum as he looked up at his attacker.

Kyle had cock slobber running down his chin. The monster looked back down deep into his prey's eyes, "Back at it boy, your night is just beginning. A lesson must be sent." Kyle's mouth fell open in resignation of his fate. The Alpha's cock returned to its last depth.

"That's it. You're a surprisingly good little cocksucker... for an omega boy. You're going to catch my nut butter soon." He growled as he slammed balls deep in the teen's mouth. The Alpha's tennis ball sized nuts bounced against Kyle's chin, as his lips made contact with the beast's swollen knot.

The rape of his throat came to an end a little short of ten-minutes after it reluctantly began. The Alpha started to grunt and his whole body seemed to stiffen up, his thrusts becoming jerky and spasmodic. Kyle felt the monster's huge nuts draw up.

Mentally he braced himself for this final humiliation, hoping against all, this was the end. Kyle felt the beast's cock sliding from him as it burst into action spurting a hot burst of thick, creamy cum in his throat and mouth. It spewed across his tongue and hit the back of his throat.

He gagged again and struggled to get his mouth free but the Alpha and the pack held the boy in place and continued to pump his salty cum deep into his mouth until he had emptied his balls into his unwilling plaything's mouth. He finished by slapping his messy dick a few times against Kyle's lips and then he stood back to allow the spectator's to get a few post oral pictures.

"Oh yes, you liked that didn't you boy? Look at him, he is in his glory. This is the first time he's sucked a real cock. I think he wants more don't you?"

Kyle wiped the cum from his face as he spat out the wad that was left in his mouth. The beast slapped him again, "That was the wrong thing to do with MY precious gift to you boy! You still have so much to learn..." He leered at his minions. "Entertain him for me boys, I need to have words with this 'hunter in training.'"

Before he could fully wrap his head around what had just occurred, the larger of the two beasts holding him down lifted him up off the ground. It threw Kyle over his shoulder like a sack of feed. He walked to a nearby fallen large tree trunk and threw the teen, stomach first down, over the fallen oak.

Again the air was forced from his lungs. While he struggled to regain his breath, powerful hands made quick work of securing his hands and feet to stakes embedded in the ground.

While the others took time using his now stretched throat, the beast sitting behind him started to finger the teen's ass. He used his cock slime and spit covered fingers to coat the virgin teen's whole. It was to be the only lubricant for the teen's passage. He felt the creature's long nail scratch at the tender flesh inside of his hole.

Kyle still didn't know what they were going to do, but the teen's worst fears were realized when the guy's cock started to push in between the teen's ass cheeks. Kyle screamed as the monster cock reached the teen's rosebud, fearing that it would rip him up. The searing pain was blinding, as the teen's rapist slammed balls deep inside him.

He then started to move inside him, slowly at first, then picking up speed and power. It shouted in an odd accent, "Boss, I thinking guy WAS virgin!" He leaned forward to grab the teen's shoulders. The pain was still bad, but as the teen's poor abused ass was becoming used to the invasion, it slowly turned to something approaching pleasure.

Pleasure at least until the beast's knot swelled on the inside of his rim stretching the passage to an unbelievable width, locking rapist and victim together.

After fifteen minutes of solid banging, Kyle heard the beast gasp as he unloaded his cock deep inside him. As soon as he dismounted, his place was taken by a guy with a longer but slimmer cock. He was rubbing his weapon up against the teen's prostate, which caused him to get a rock solid erection. He lasted about ten minutes before cumming, and being replaced by the third furry rapist.

The last guy was the pack Alpha. He actually showed his prey his cock had fully recovered before he mounted the teen slumped across the tree stump; it was huge, bent, and ugly it brought back the teen's fears about being split open.

By that time Kyle was aching with the non-stop ass fucking. Kyle could feel his anus tearing. After he had added his sperm to what felt like gallons leaking from the teens abused bottom, they cut the bindings and pulled him up off the tree stump.

Just a few hours ago Kyle was dreaming of being opened by his dream stud. Now Kyle could hardly walk, he just moved like he'd been riding a stallion non-stop for six days straight. The teen's ass was so battered; sore and stretched Kyle thought a bus could drive up it and not have to pull in the mirrors. Blood, cum and shit seeped from the now gaping hole then oozed down the teen's thighs.

Kyle thought that his humiliation was finally over but the teen's tormentors saw that Kyle had got a hard on, and insisted that Kyle jerk himself off in front of his almost lover. He stood there surrounded by the five wolf-like beasts who had just gang raped him. His sweet Karl was kneeling and bound in front of him, while he jerked himself.

After spraying his load all over the Offensive Guard's face the gruff leader took control of the garrote.

"That's enough fun boys. Now it's time to send the message..."

With one quick move the alpha member drew up hard on the garrote. He pulled so hard the silver garrote severed the head from the teen ball player's body. Several streams of blood spurted from the torso like a macabre fountain bathing Kylie as he shrieked "NO!" Then the athlete's heart beat no more.

"For the record boy, that wasn't the message... you are. You boy touched and harmed that which is mine alone, bought and paid for. This can never be tolerated or forgiven."

With a nod of the alphas head the other four lycans pulled each of the boys limbs until they were severed from the torso, Kyle's shrieks filled the night, as the wolf beasts howled. As the teen breathed his last, the alpha knelt over Kyle's chest. Dipping his nail in the boy's own blood pool he wrote, "See you soon, my little soul!"

Sunday Afternoon... ...

Jedidiah T Glynis "the fifth" was quaking as his father called him into the living room. His family and all but a few friends called him Quin. It was the family's way of acknowledging though he was the "fifth" to carry the name; he would still have his own identity.

If you're a Glynis in Glynis Landing it goes without saying, everyone knows your business. The Glynis clan had been the soul of the community forever. The family has the largest farm and real estate holdings in Travis County. Even still the family holdings were hit hard by the financial downturn when the real estate bubble burst and a few family tragedies compounded things. Even still the family lived up to its motto "Survive and Thrive." Jedidiah's grandfather was able to rebuild and expand the family's portfolio just before he died earlier this year.

Jedidiah had just moved back in with his father and mother after three years of caring for his aging grandfather. The boy had been forced to carry secret upon secret. Everyone respected his father as much as they feared his grandfather, Papa Quade. If only everyone knew how right they were to fear the old man.

Unlike the rest of the family Quade had a vision for Travis County. That vision had very little to do with agriculture and preservation. Simply put he saw dollar signs. He saw people wanting to flee Miami, Orlando and Tampa for some peace in the country. Each having their own little half to five acre lot of developed suburban paradise at a price. Thankfully for the county he died before he could fully execute his vision.

Jedidiah was the youngest member of his family's line, and everyone wanted to know who he would take after. Jedidiah had just emerged from a personal hell that lasted years and ended mercifully with the death of Papa Quade. Only three other people had known part of what had happened, the Sheriff, Jed's mother and his best friend Kyle.

Of all the things that were bothering Jed now, the biggest source of concern for the boy was living up to his father's vision for him. Jed knew he would fall well short of that vision.

It was a family tradition on his father's side that every other generation the grandfather's name would be cursed upon the first born male child. The burden and legacy involving the name he shared with his grandfather and his forebearers was so heavy. Jedidiah was named after the family company's founder; his father was named after the original settler who founded the town.

In his Papa Quade's eyes there was never any doubt as to the direction Jedidiah would go. From the time of his conception to this point in his life all was following the family's predetermined path for him.

Far from the rugged good looks of his father and Papa Quade; Jedidiah had been a sickly child. So sick he spent his fourth and fifth birthday in the hospital, starting school a year late. He jumped straight into the first grade.

Jed's physique favored his mother. He was softer, slim, five feet six inches tall. Still he had his father's dusty blonde hair and blue eyes. In addition to his frame, he shared many of his mother's gifts. To the world he looked antisocial, shy and struggled to form relationships... at least with most humans. Jed was the kind of boy that if he went to a party, a rare occurrence, he was more likely to make friends with the host's dog or cat.

Jed's mother, Hachi Glynis was Buck Glynis's first act of rebellion. He rejected the southern belle his father chose for him and married from his heart. Buck had no desire for useless people. He fell in love with Hachi watching her field dress a deer she and her father dropped during bow season. Six months later they were husband and wife, eight months after that Jed was born.

Buck's choice of following is heart over his father's wishes cost him his share of that inheritance. The only thing he was bequeathed from HIS grandfather was the orchard and farm land. It too was lost during the economic crash, and citrus canker blight. Buck had to make a deal with the devil to get it back. His Faustian deal cost him almost three years of his son's life.

As a result, it would be Jedidiah who would get control of the remainder of the land and business holdings. The estate would be held in trust until Jedidiah's twenty-first birthday. The company who ran the trust was out of Miami, and was unknown to Buck. Each month the boy would receive a large stipend from the estate that Buck insisted he bank for the future.

This Monday was yet another turning point in Jedidiah's life. This was the moment everything started to change again. This was the day his father knew there would likely not be a Jedidiah the sixth.

Jed heard what the sheriff had just said... Jed was accidentally outed by Sheriff Duach "Dutch" Blaidd. But the father's questions about Jedidiah's sexuality had to wait; the Sheriff was here on official business.

Two boys had been found dead this morning viciously murdered by some psychopath or psychopaths. It was Karl McCormick from the varsity football team and Kyle Jennings. The McCormick twins were two of the jocks who looked after the weaker kids in school. Jed liked them both.

Harder to accept was Kyle Jennings; a fellow theater nerd and lifelong best friend to Jedidiah. The boy had been seen arguing with Jed Friday in the student's parking lot after the away game. As part of the investigation Sheriff Blaidd made contact with the Glynis family. The sheriff also knew it was a small County and the boys had been close friends, he wanted to be the one to notify Jed. Jed always was his special case.

When all was done the sheriff excused himself. Hachi Glynis attempted to assuage her husband's state of shock. As the sheriff departed, he noticed the boy slip out the back door. "I'm sorry Jed. I didn't know that they didn't know. You know the last thing I ever wanted to do was to make your life any more difficult."

"It's not your fault sir, I own this. I should have told them. I knew dad would react like that. The family legacy is everything to him. It's kind of why I never told him about Papa Quade. That's a conversation I don't even know how to start. Above everything a boy needs to be able to look up to his father. How can I take that from him?"

As soon as the words escaped his mouth Jed heard the sounds of needy desperation and he changed the topic back to the one at hand. "Kyle was going on his first date Saturday and wanted advice. He's one of the few people I told what you and Mom know about Quade and... me. How is his dad doing sir?"

The sheriff patted the seventeen year olds back. Most of the world saw a weak soft boy. Sheriff Blaidd saw an incredible strength and a kind spirit... Being gentle does not make one weak. "I knew you would have nothing to do with it Jed. I still had to talk to you. I figured it would be easier to find out about Kyle's death from me, then from the rumor mill.

Mr. Jennings is taking it really bad Jed. That boy was all he had left. I'll try to keep an eye on him. I'm just afraid he's going to quit on us. Only so much pain a body can take." Dutch used that momentary slip to remind the boy... "For what it's worth, you should tell your father about your Papa Quade at some point. He has a right to know son." The sheriff realized he went a little too far. Jedidiah was nodding in agreement. Dutch knew that day would come, but this was not that day.

"My boy Arian wanted to make sure you were okay too. Don't be out too late. The sun is going down; you know that's when the predators come out of the swamps. One of these cases in a career is all I can handle."

Jed saw through the sheriff's eyes... He saw the crime scene as the sheriff saw it. He saw Karl's head and decapitated body and Kyle's body torn and scattered like pieces of a discarded torn rag doll.

He also saw the three dead panthers that had to be put down by fish and wildlife for scavenging on the remains. The teen reached his breaking point and vomited.

The Sheriff replied, "Fuck! I forgot you could do that." One of the gifts that Jedidiah shared with his mother and his grandmother is the ability to create an empathic connection with others. On rare occasion he could actually transmit and receive thoughts and images to another, if they were emotionally close. He also knew instantly if someone was lying, that gift had only failed him twice.

When Jedidiah recomposed himself he replied to the sheriff, "I'm okay. I just wasn't expecting to see... um... that..." The sheriff apologized, and repeated his warning. Jed replied, "I'm just going to go out to check the irrigation system in the North grove. Hopefully dad will calm down by the time I get home. For now, I think I'll just trust the wildlife."

The sheriff nervously watched the boy walk to the pole barn. The young never see the danger till it is too late. Especially the gentle ones like Jed and Kyle. Everyone looked at Jedidiah and saw an entitled, spoiled, golden child.

The sheriff knew the full story. He knew the boy had already survived so much, too much. Even though this great evil touched the boy, he remained innocent and kind.

Jedidiah knew one thing better than most; there were a lot of places to hide on the many acres that made up the family spread. He turned off his phone and slid it into his pocket. The last thing he wanted to deal with was a phone call from his father tonight. Jed waved at the sheriff then headed out into the woods.

Jedidiah hadn't been lying to the sheriff when he said he needed to work on the irrigation system. The new micro sprinkler system required constant attention. It wasn't just a convenient excuse to get out of the house. Today's repair however only took fifteen minutes once he arrived. Mud dauber wasps plugged the emitters again. With the repair complete he rode over to the east grove to watch the moon rise.

Two hours later, Jed was on his back in the dump bed of his ATV. He was watching the rise of the super moon. It always amazed him how large the thing was as it crept over the orange trees when the atmosphere was heavy with humidity like tonight. The night before Jed witnessed the rise of the near full moon from the top of the pole barn. There was something about a sunset and moon-rise that was special to him.

Jedidiah loved watching the night sky come alive. He could see the path of stars that led the way to the "City in the West." The land where is Mother's parents now lived in the afterlife. Jed knew one day his parents and he too would walk the Milky Way to join with the Breathmaker, just as Kyle had now done.

While he respected his father's beliefs, he did not share them. He sought comfort in, and shared his mother's faith. Neither his father nor Papa Quade liked that decision, but his father admired his thoughts and convictions. As to his grandfather's opinion, it never mattered... at least not to Jedidiah.

The last time Jedidiah darkened the door of a church was for his Grams memorial service. In the eighth grade she went missing. Jed refused to go to Papa Quade's service. His absence was explained as a sudden sickness. It was Jed who found Papa Quade's body.

Jed and Kyle used to come to the orchard to share the experience of the night sky awakening. The other thing that they used to do was bitch about the guys at school. Jedidiah's favorite target was the sheriff's son Arian.

Once upon a time Jed thought there was more than just a spark of interest. That spark of interest was quickly extinguished by Papa Quade. After that turn in his life, Jed knew he was not worthy of such a perfect boy, too much had happened to ever forgive.

When Arian was alone with Jedidiah he was a pretty cool guy. In Middle School the two boys had been close friends. Freshman year Jedidiah's grandfather ordered Quin to stop talking to the boy "or else." When Quade told you to do something you did it. When his threat went unheard, Jed's grandfather made a complaint directly to the sheriff to keep his son away from his grandson and heir.

The move hurt doubly because Jed had such a crush on Arian. As a freshman Jed new every single freckle on the older boy's body. When the friendship went cold, he guessed it was one of those nerd VS jock or social status situation things. He never understood that level of societal restriction, two worlds separated by an invisible line. Even still Jed always felt pulled to the boy.

Then it hit him, his friend Kyle would never experience this with him again. Jedidiah began sobbing hard. He started remembering all the good things they did together. Pranks they played on the new members of the thespian's club. The paint fights during the set dressing for My Fair Lady last year. He remembered Kyle saying that he wanted his first romantic kiss under the moonlight.

Then Jed saw the image from the sheriff's mind again. How the boy was torn apart. What kind of monster could do such a thing? "Breathmaker, don't let this be the way I remember my friend forever. Please give him the peace and love he was deprived of in this life."

There was a disturbance in the brush that brought him out of his prayerful remembrance. At first he thought it was a coyote because it moved like a dog. He thought, "No it cannot be a coyote, the size isn't right. It doesn't move like a panther either." A silly yet frightening thought came to his mind, "What if it is Hutch-ko Chop-ko."

When he was a small boy, a "cousin" from Oklahoma told him the tribal legend of Long Ears. The creature the cousin described was a hairy wolf like monster. It was four-footed, the size of a donkey, with a wolf's head, long pointed ears and a horse's tail. If the foul smelling beast of legend touched you, it would infect you with disease.

Jedidiah laughed at the foolish thought. No, when the form collapsed in the meadow Jed saw the animal had more in common with a canine, a big one. Perhaps one of Mr. Parker's hunting dogs got loose again... Jed could tell the animal was struggling to breathe, but he also knew that wounded animals were dangerous.

Still, animals were Jed soft spot. They were also part of his gift, a gift that he was not to tell anyone about. Jed took after his mother a little too much. If it was fur bearing it became their best friend. Neither could let an animal suffer.

As he approached he saw the gray almost silver fur had been matted with blood. Clearly the animal had been in a mighty battle. The animal heard Jed approach and turned his head. Painfully the creature opened its eyes. When Jedidiah saw the glint of the yellow eyes staring back, he knew another wolf had crossed his path. Over the last few years he had helped several wolves. This one looked familiar.

Jed knew this was going to be another wolf story that his friend Thomas the fish cop would not believe. Florida Fish and Wildlife had a major bug up their ass about there being no indigenous wolf populations left in the state. Somehow these creatures kept crossing Jed's path.

The classic historical argument is that the black wolf or the red wolf is native to Florida. This was neither, it was too big and the wrong color. Jed found and treated more than a few injured wolves. He would do what he could, and then they would wander off afterwards as he recovered.

Somehow wounded critters of all sorts found him, his mother, or his grandmother. She and her mother taught the boy how to control the healing gift they shared. He dismissed his many wolf encounters as just another part of the gift.

There was something about the way this animal looked at him. Suddenly it was as if there was a light switch that flipped on. "It's you again Slick... What did you go and get yourself into now?"

It was almost as if the beast said with his eyes, "I won't hurt you, please help me." Jed removed his shirt and soaked it down with water from his canteen. He started cleaning the animal's fur looking for wounds. He removed as much of the blood as he could. The animal whimpered under his touch.

Jedidiah spoke to the animal, "Please don't hurt me Slick. I know you're hurting; I'm going to do what I can. Mom's going to kill me when she sees this laundry. I'd rather not pay for a good deed twice."

The creature turned his head and looked at Jed. It was as if he smiled in understanding. Jed grabbed more supplies and the blanket from his ATV. He had been able to do this with other animals. But he had never tried anything like this on one so badly injured. Jed gently caressed each of the wounds on the animal; it was as if a zipper had been pulled closing each wound in its wake.

Jedidiah had never expended this much energy on one animal. By the time the last wound was closed, Jed was exhausted, panting and covered in sweat and the animal's blood. The creature was so happy it licked and playfully nipped Jed's wrist.

Jed spread the blanket over both the animal in himself, "I'm just going to lay here and pool our body heat. I need to rest, and then we can try to get you loaded in the ATV. I need to get you to the vet to have a real doctor look at you inside." Fatigue overtook the teen and slumber crept over him.

After midnight Monday morning...

A couple hours had passed and Jed woke under the blanket alone and cold. It would be several hours till the sun began to chase the moon from the sky. If the moon's reflected light had been a little brighter Jed might have noticed the human footprints in the sand walking away from where he slept.

As he reloaded the ATV to roll out, Jed knew he was going to catch hell from his father for being out most of the night. He quickly folded the blanket and loaded his tools on the ATV.

On the way back he passed the Sheriff's cruiser. The man held his hand out shouting angrily as he approached, "Where in the fuck have you been Jed? Your parents have been scared shitless boy. Your dad has called for updates six times in the last hour! I have twelve deputies out looking for you." As they drew closer the big man saw all the drying blood and his tone changed to concern. "Are you injured Jed?" He asked.

The older man climbed out of the police SUV and started examining Jed. "The blood is not mine sir. I had to care for a wounded animal. If I didn't help, it would have died. When I woke up sir, the wolf was gone." There was a brief moment of panic in the man's eyes as Jed described the animal.

The sheriff's panic turned relief and concern. "Jed, it was a very stupid thing for you to stay out this late. Treating injured wildlife alone is high up there on the dumb scale too. You sure you ain't got any punctures in you boy?"

"No sir, it nipped at my wrist but I don't think it even broke the skin" Jed extended his arm to show him the small bruise that was forming on his wrist. The sheriff and his mom were the only ones who believed his past wolf sightings.

Sheriff Blaidd examined the bruise, as the big man sniffled in the cold pre-dawn air. "I'll call your folks, you run straight home boy." Jed heard the sheriff's broadcast on the radio, "Cancel the second search, Juvenile Glynis located." Hearing that, he knew they were looking for another and his act of shame stole resources from THAT search.

There is no way to sneak home when you're riding a diesel powered ATV. The first person he ran into was his father removing the tack from his horse. He simply yelled across the paddock, "Quin! Park it, and get your ass in that house!"

Jed's mom briefly freaked when she saw all the blood on her only child. Jed was able to explain that a wild animal got off the nature reserve and needed help. Mother and son really didn't need to explain things to each other, they knew. Neither could walk away from a wounded animal, it just wouldn't be 'human.'

She had Jed strip out of his clothes and walk straight to the shower. When he came out his mother already had breakfast ready for the family. His father spoke, "Quin about last night, I wasn't angry at you son. I was just a little shocked. Your mother and I suspected..."

Hachi arched her eyebrow looking at her husband, "Okay your mother knew, and I sort of suspected... but it wasn't until the sheriff told us about you kissing Kyle that it kind of rang home... for me at least."

He put his hand around the young man's shoulders. "Your mother and I love you no matter what. That means we love you pal, no matter what you do or who you love..."

The conversation went on for some time longer but Jed stopped listening at that point. He heard all that he needed to hear, that his father's love was unconditional. The family completed the normal morning routine caring for the farm.

A couple hours of hard morning chores later, Jed showered again and prepared himself for school. He reminded his mother that he had theater practice and he would stay late. "I'll get a ride from someone else in the troop. Now that Kyle is... gone I am alone in the sound and light booth. They need me mom."

The school day started with a note in homeroom for him to report to the guidance counselor's office. The school had a team of crisis counselors on-site to talk to students about the murders. The staff knew Kyle, the McCormick boys and Jed were best friends, so he was at the top of the list. After that an announcement was made about the two boy's deaths.

The rest of the day students who barely paid attention to him, suddenly were concerned about the loss of his friends. Teachers kept an eye on him, looking for signs of trouble or trauma. Everyone expected the weak boy to fold under the pressure of the violent loss of his friends. Through the day he had an odd feeling. It was like someone was following him.

His suspicions were confirmed before fourth period when Arian cornered him on his way to shop. "Hey, how you holding up?"

"God I wish people would stop asking that already. Arian we haven't been real friends since the middle school. The only time you're interested in me is when your friends aren't around."

As soon as the words came out of his mouth he felt guilty. He hadn't meant to sound as harsh as he did. He could tell that his words hurt the older boy. He also knew he didn't deserve such a fine prize as Arian.

"I'm sorry Jed. You were just so shy and standoffish after Middle School. When your Papa Quade told my dad to keep me away from you, I thought you didn't want..." The boy stopped. "I know you were really close to Karl and Kyle. I wanted you to know, I asked the coach and the faculty to dedicate homecoming to them. They agreed. Why the hell would they go out into the woods?"

"Kyle was really looking forward to his first kiss. He wanted it to be perfect. He wanted to lose his cherry in the open, looking at the stars. He was probably seduced by the moon too; we both love the full moon. The preserve is our favorite place."

Arian gave a shoulder hug to the smaller boy. "Jed, eat with us at lunch today. Please..."

Jed was amazed at the pained look on the older boys face. He was truly asking...no begging for his attention. He responded with a simple, "K." As he walked away he realized what the other boy had always called him. "Arian, thank you for calling me Jed; you, your dad and Kyle are... were the only ones who did."

"I can feel the hairs on the back of your neck bristle whenever anyone calls you Quin. I always could pal." The second bell went off, they were late.

Mr. Jackson was annoyed and requested to know why the county's golden child delayed his teaching schedule. "I'm sorry sir. People have been stopping me to talk about Kyle and Karl. I was just told by the team captain they're dedicating homecoming to them." The educator nodded in acceptance and understanding. He too got the memo tread carefully with the boy.

This was the one class that Jed's father insisted upon. "You have to know how to repair the shit that breaks on the farm." There is one good thing about shop for Jed; it had a lot of big jocks to sneak peeks at. Both Karl and Kent McCormick, the Wolves Offensive Guards, had been in this class with him.

Jedidiah's heart broke at the sight of Kent and the empty stool. Jed couldn't help but notice the red swollen eyes of the surviving twin. Jed slid from his stool and wrapped his arms around the older boy. It was just an attempt to share comfort. Jed didn't care what anyone else thought.

Kent asked Jed to fill his brother's now vacant workstation. Later during the class, Jed was mindlessly rubbing his wrist. Kent leaned over and asked, "Love nip?"

The older boy briefly grinned as Jed told him the story of how he took care of the wolf. "Kyle really loved your brother. He never said Karl by name, but he described him so well. God I never expected him to land one of you guys. I am glad it was him. Kyle deserved someone really good. You two understood us."

Kent replied, "They were going to announce being a couple today. Kyle loved Karl for what he was, not just as a dumb piece of meat. I know you were his best friend. Your friendship meant the world to him. I guess neither of us should have come in today."

Jed replied, "Unfortunately with my family, if I missed school my hair would have to be on fire, or have a major artery severed." Kent laughed. The teacher arched an eyebrow at the interruption. Under the circumstances it was forgiven. He knew the two boys were hurting, and laughter was a mechanism for both coping and healing.

Kent added, "Mom and dad wanted me to stay home today. I could hurt there or I could hurt here. I didn't see any reason just to be home staring at our four walls... Pal, if you need someone, I am always here." Jedidiah returned the sentiment.

The next two periods passed without incident. Jed couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. Every so often he saw Kent, Arian or another member of the football team out of the corner of his eye. As school mascot he dismissed it as just being part of the cheer squad. He was just a peripheral jock family member.

Lunch came and Jed found Arian waiting outside his graphic art class door. By the time they made it to the lunch room, most of the varsity "A" squad was there. Jed noticed almost every member of the alpha squad was sniffing as they got near him. Jed was starting to think that the alpha jocks were sharing a cold.

When the new Glynis High was built, the team went from being the Indians to being the Wolves. It was hard to perform with the large canine head. It was actually Kyle who came up with the modified harness that kept his head from twisting around.

The last to arrive at the table was Donovan McNabb the tight end. His arm was in a sling. Jed asked what happened. He replied, "I was injured last night screwing around. It's just a sprain, but I may not be ready by game time." Jedidiah knew the boy was lying, but didn't call him on it.

Jed thought with the game being in honor of his friends, there was too much at stake. "Can I see your arm?" Donovan shot a look to Arian who simply nodded. With that, the wall of muscle winced as he extended his arm. This would be the second time Jed attempted a healing on a human.

Jed gently held the athlete's elbow with his left hand, and then pressed his right middle finger where the muscles gathered together. Slowly he worked his way down towards the wrist. He attempted to hide what he was doing as if it were just simply a massage. When he was done, sweat was beading on his brow as he asked, "Is that better."

Donovan flexed his hand making a fist. Then he did a range of motion. To the amazement of all he said, "What the fuck was that! I've had massages my whole life. Nothing ever felt like that!"

Although he hated doing it, Jed tried to lie, "Its Native pressure point medicine. My mother's father taught me." To try to sell the illusion Jed added quickly, "You may wish to rest your arm in that sling for the day." No one bought it, but the matter was dropped.

There was a booming voice over his shoulder, "Good trick son! Donovan make sure the team trainer takes a look at that arm." The voice belonged to the team coach and Donovan's father. "Thanks for looking after my guy. I can't afford two holes in my lineup before Friday's game.

Arian, looks like your old man was right about this kid. He is special." The big man's hand came crashing down on Jed's right shoulder. The teen grimaced. A healing like that always took a bit of time to recover.

Arian asked, "Are you okay?"

"I'm good. I was just out in the grove most of the night. I found an injured animal that needed care."

Coach McNabb asked, "What kind of animal son?"

"You guys are going to laugh. Fish and wildlife doesn't believe me, but it was a wolf. The most beautiful silver and gray wolf I've ever seen." There was a snicker from Terry Kendrick across the table.

The boy backed off immediately when he saw the glare from his team captain. "Not laughing at you Jed. I am just imagining some big tough alpha male wolf rolling over for you to care for it. You're not exactly physically imposing."

Jed started to challenge the boy's perception of the events, when the drain of the healing hit hard. He suddenly slumped in his chair out cold.

Jedidiah woke up in the health station. Arian and the school nurse were looking at him. The nurse stated, "Ah, you're back with us. I'll call the coach back. That man ran carrying you in here without breaking a sweat." With that she departed.

Arian remarked, "Jed no bullshiting. I felt something come out of you, it went into Donovan." Jed thought for a split-second about lying. He never could do that well. He drew in a ragged breath for strength.

"Arian you have to keep an open mind. What I'm about to tell you, you're not going to believe, but it is true. Each of us has a life force. Some of us have the ability to reach in and touch that life force. Some of my people can use it to manipulate the world around us.

My gift is with earth things, like some animals. I can use a portion of my life force to bring healing. Donovan didn't have a sprain, he broke his arm. What's more he knew it and lied to me.

I traded a few hours of my life to heal his break. I know how much you'll need him on Friday night. That wolf last night, I probably gave a year or two to. He was near death." Jed saw the look of concern in Arian's eyes. "It's okay, it's just the crappy years at the end that no one likes anyway."

The coach chuckled and Jed spun his head. Jed wasn't sure how long he had been standing there, but he knew Coach heard it all. "I, WE believe you pal, and yes Donny's arm was broken. You have to promise never to do that again. If the pack knew the cost to you, we never would have come to you or your mother for healing.

Arian you changed him, now you have to tell him. I'll keep the nurse busy when she comes back. You got to make it quick. She is catching on, and I am not so sure how long Principal Perry can stall her."

"Arian, what did he mean that you changed me?"

"Coach is right, we believe you. Now I have to tell you something that you have to believe. That wolf last night... was me. You called me 'Slick.' I'm a lycan Jed. Don't be afraid, I'm going to have to show you this for you to believe." There was a snapping and popping sound as Arian shifted, sprouting hair. It only took moments for him to shift into the form of the silver wolf from the night before.

Jed couldn't help the primal fear he was feeling. He curled up into a little ball, tight up against the wall. The wolf shifted form back into its human self. "Please don't be afraid. I didn't mean to, but when I nipped your wrist, I infected you. Your mother's gen has been hands off for so many generations. I didn't know why. I didn't know about Elementals until my father explained your kind this morning.

Dad was mad as hell that I may have injured you. He was more afraid that I destroyed the security of our pack. Dad said you Elementals are brutal when provoked to wrath.

Our kind, lycans, have walked the Earth for millennia. Gaius Petronius of Rome once documented our kind. It led to a hunt that almost destroyed us all.

There are two kinds of lycans, those who are born and those who are turned. I was born this way. I didn't know you gave so much of yourself for me last night. I just knew I wanted to be with you. I'm so sorry...

Last night we were out hunting for Karl and Kyle's killers. There is a rogue pack of mongrels bent on our destruction. The Miami pack has already fallen. Donovan, Kent and I made contact with six of them. We were supposed to just find them and get help. But, we chose to engage.

We killed all but three of them, they ran off and Donovan was too injured to pursue. Kent stayed with him and I continued alone. In the end I couldn't keep up. After an hour, I stumbled through the brush in front of you.

Jedidiah I know this is a lot for you to take in, and we don't have much time. So I ask you again, are you okay?"

Stunned the teen simply asked, "Is it just like all that Twilight stuff? Where do you stand?"

Arian couldn't resist the easy joke, "Clearly we are on Team Jacob! Sparkling vampires... AS IF! Seriously though forget all that shit. It is just a lot of misinformation. There is a shitload of it out there, and the less said about the Lon Chaney version the better.

The story about conversion that's closest to the truth is from 'Doctor Who' the 'Tooth and Claw' episode. That was no big surprise; Russell Davies is one of us... a convert of course.

There are two types of conversion rapid and slow. When I nipped you it started the slow process. My job is to teach and protect you. Three of those rogue hunters from last night are still out there... Dad thinks there are more. Our pack will protect you. Since I changed you, you will eventually become part of our pack."

"Is it like the Navajo legends of Yee Naaldlooshii... the skinwalkers?" Jed knew according to that legend, there was no such thing as a good skinwalker.

"I don't know the story personally, but I feel your fear. A lot of those dark wolf legends are about mongrel packs. You and I share a connection, I think we always have. There's only one connection that is stronger...

In time you may be able to hide your feelings from me but right now they are so open. I am so sorry, I made you frightened. If it helps I haven't changed since the day you met me. Only your knowledge has changed."

In hopes of passing on his sincerity Arian held Jed's hand, "I would never hurt you. The fact that you gave up part of your life to help me means more than anything. When we are in wolf-form we are more primal, we have less reason and more emotion. My wolf-form genuinely cares for you... so do I... I always have Jed."

Jed saw in the other boy's mind, his own body covered in blood performing last night's healing. It was an odd, almost erotic feeling how it felt to be healed. Jed knew the older boy was telling the truth. He also felt the huge wave of love the older boy had for him.

Jedidiah had only experience the love of his mother and father before, this was so different. Jed was overwhelmed; he knew he did not deserve such a prize. He thought, "When he finds out, he will not want me..."

The conversation and dark thought came to an end, as the nurse and the coach loudly bickering came back into the darkened room. Jedidiah had another moment of panic, "Please ma'am, don't send me home. I was just tired. Please don't call my mom with all that is going on, she will just freak."

"Well sweetie you won't be the first student to fall asleep in this building. Your color is good again, your blood pressure is good, and your temperature is good. I see no reason to send you home. With all the stress, it looks like you just needed a little nap. I'll write you boys a note and get you back to class.

She looked down at the bed, "Holy cow boy, did you bring the whole farm in with you? You farm kids bring your critter's fur in with you. A lot of our students are allergic you know." Jedidiah began apologizing as Arian stood behind the nurse grinning.

Coach added, "Jed, remember there is a team party at the Pizza King tonight. We really want to see you there."

Jed made an excuse but Coach saw through it sighing, "Just try Jed."

During the rest of the classes of the day, Jed saw in each of his classes at least one pair of yellow wolf's eyes staring back at him. His pack was made known. All of the faces were accompanied by a welcoming smile or wink.

He didn't know why no one else could see these things. Maybe it had something to do with the beings inner wolf sensing the weak pack member. He had a million questions for Arian.

Jed also had moments of intense grief. He had shared a few classes with Kyle and Karl. Their now empty desks hit him hard. At those times a lycan teacher or student actually felt his loss, and extended support and comfort.

After the last bell he walked out of class to find Donovan, Kent and Arian. Donovan push past the other two and gave an almost bone crushing hug to the boy, "Dad told me what this cost you. Thank you little buddy. I never had someone give part of their life for me."

"It wasn't much of a gift. From what I understand, I'm now going to live for a very long time."

Kent replied, "Only if he doesn't die before you change." He saw the surprised look on Jed's face. "The strain is linked to his life force. If he dies the strain in you dies too."

"We'll keep that to ourselves for now; otherwise my pop would probably kill him. That man has had one too many surprises involving me this week already." The boys asked Jedidiah to join them at the mall before the team dinner.

With it being homecoming week every evening had a different activity planned as a celebration for the team tonight was the booster's dinner. Jed was asked to attend but bowed out gracefully once now he was trying again. Truth be told he didn't feel like a party.

Jedidiah asked to be excused, "I have to work in the sound booth for the play. I have to learn all the cues because I'll be alone with Kyle... gone now." His pain was palpable.

Arian spoke up, "You guys go ahead. I'll bring him as soon as his practice is over." With that the group departed. Jed protested, knowing in the end the jock god would leave him when he learned the truth. "Jed, Kyle told Karl you need two sets of hands up there. I just so happen to have two... most of the time. You need help and I want to help, really let me." Jed relented.

The boys talked about silly School stuff as they walked to the new theater arts building. Tech crew was always first on set and last to leave. When the director arrived, he argued about Jed's "guest" in the booth.

Arian said he wanted to understudy Jed. Jed said he could use the assist. "No matter what sir, I'll have to train someone from scratch. It's too late for the other set people to learn for this performance."

The director responded, "This had better not be some dumb jock joke. I know your girlfriend is a member of the cast; still I won't have you making fun of what we do here. Our family has suffered a tremendous loss this week. I will not have that loss compounded."

On cue Stephanie Jacobson entered the theater. Steph and Jed had been close. The older girl watched over he and Kyle. Today Jed knew she was going to walk right past him to hug her QB stud boy friend. Jed was wrong.

The belle came directly to Jed and gave him a big hug, "How are you holding up sweetie?" There was always true sincerity anytime Steph addressed Jed. She kissed the boy's cheek. That was when he felt it; she was one of 'them.' "Quin, are you going to need help getting into your costume Friday night?"

Arian said, "I got that covered Steph. I'll help him out. Oh, and he prefers Jed not Quin." For the first time Jed felt it. There was no chemistry between Arian and Steph. What they had as a couple was all an act. The love he had for the girl was like that of a brother would have for a sister.

The director insisted on a power circle before the rehearsal. This time he called it a healing circle. He acknowledged the missing links in their chain of friends. Arian was introduced as Quin's new understudy. Then Karl's cast position was filled.

Over the next two hours Arian was impressed by the depth of knowledge Jed possessed about the massive set of mixing in lighting equipment. He fought back the urge to snicker as the boy became demanding with his directions. Then he realized this was as choreographed and timed as when the pack hunted together. Here in this hunting ground Jed was the alpha.

Arian smiled when he saw the wolf mascot suit piled in the corner of the sound booth. He wondered how the boy always made it to game time after practice. He also saw how no other team was able to "spirit capture" the mascot costume. They all were looking in the athletic department, not the arts.

Now thanks to Steph, Arian knew putting on the costume was a two-man job as well. That knowledge gave him another excuse to get closer to his prey.

The director asked Jed how Arian did in the booth. "He was a little rough, but he takes direction well." When the director left he turned to Arian and said, "You should go get something to eat. I'll just get a ride home. I think my folks will want me home tonight." Arian insisted that Jed call his parents and ask permission to eat dinner with the team.

Jedidiah made the call on speaker. His mother was happy that someone wanted her boy to engage in social activities. "Of course you can stay out; you are part of the team. Be home early enough to get a good night's sleep." Arian chimed in that he would make sure Jed was home before nine.

Dinner consisted of pizza and cokes, Coach McNabb and the booster club were treating. There were a couple cheerleaders there with their boyfriends. Of course most of the girls only nibbled on salads.

With the two healings in such a short time, Jedidiah was famished. Even Donovan McNabb was amazed at how much pizza the boy packed away into his tiny frame.

Jedidiah looked at the other boys and smiled sheepishly, "I didn't get to eat lunch..." Coach and Donovan McNabb both laughed heartily and the rest of the team joined in.

During his address to the team and boosters, it was coach who announced that Jed was their good luck charm. "Since the Wolves adopted Wiley as their mascot. We have not had a single defeat."

Sports and superstition go along together like hand in glove. The coach was not above playing on that superstition to inspire the team.

The coach continued, "Jedidiah could you come up here for a moment." Some of the boosters had knowing smiles as Jed mounted the riser. "You have done some amazing physical feats out on that field. The acrobatics you added to the mascot persona has earned our team and the school media attention. It's fired up the team, it's fired up the community, and it's fired up the fans in the stands.

The athletic director and I have been talking. We cannot withhold this any longer. With the folding of the gymnastics team you've lost your chance at a varsity letter. The mascot has always been part of the theater arts program and it will remain so.

But we cannot hide the physicality and important nature of your role to the athletics program. As of now, you also are part of the athletics department, just like the cheerleaders. I am very proud to give you the varsity letter you earned." Jed suddenly realized why the urgent appeal to attend. Only one thing was missing, if Kyle and Karl were there... Cheers from the student-athletes went up from around the room.

Then came an announcement from the athletic director, "Ladies and gentlemen, I really hate to have to do this. I am sorry I had to follow that great and long overdue bit of business. I have bad news for you. With the murder of your classmates Mr. Ferguson canceled the contract on the hall we were using for homecoming due to security concerns. As a result the committee has been forced to cancel the homecoming dance..."

One thought flashed in Jedidiah's mind, "Oh, hell-to-the-no!" With Kyle now gone it meant he would be going stag but he was not giving up on his final homecoming dance. Thanks to Papa Quade, he missed out on the first three. He was not going to miss out on this one.

Mr. Ferguson was once a business partner of Papa Quade. He also shared other of Quade's interests. Just the sight of him made Jed's stomach turn. There was no way this limp dicked pseudo-man baby fucker was going to win.

Jed, the mousiest boy in the senior class found his voice. "Mr. Carruthers, I am sorry for interrupting, I have a possible solution. Would The Orange Plant be a good enough venue?"

Mr. Carruthers quickly fired back, "Do you think your folks would allow it Quin?"

"Sir, The Orange Plant is my property, not my families. It was willed to me personally. I am an emancipated minor and CAN enter into contracts on my own. I will ask my parents if they endorse my decision, but in the end it is my decision to make." At the urging of the director Jedidiah called his father and explained the situation. The adults gathered around while his phone was on speaker.

Buck fully endorsed Jed's suggestion. "Especially during hard times there needs to be a continuity of normal tradition. No one should be allowed to steal homecoming from these kids. There is no safer venue."

Mr. Carruthers made phone calls to the school board and to the faculty guides. All of whom welcomed the news on the one penny lease of The Vault. Arian made a phone call as well to his father. The Sheriff promised to provide security for the dance.

Of all the family properties, Jedidiah's least favorite was Papa Quade's home, The Vault. That was Jed's least favorite name for the facility he preferred the original The Orange Plant. Before the national juice company started buying all of their citrus produce, the family had a processing and packing plant on the North-side of Glynis Landing near the college.

His great grandfather spent an enormous amount of money at the time building and hardening the facility as an emergency storm shelter. It was done mostly to shelter his employees in case of a hurricane. The Great Okeechobee hurricane and flood of 1928 weighed heavy on his mind. Buckhold Jameson Glynis the fourth was a man of action when things bothered him.

When someone parked a bunch of nukes off Florida's coast way back in the 60s he made sure it also doubled is a fallout shelter. When they went under contract with the national juicer, Jed's grandfather converted it again to a family storm shelter and put additional family quarters in. Jed moved in with Papa Quade back in the eighth grade, due to a series of family tragedies.

Junior year Papa Quade talked Jed's parents into the emancipation of the boy so he could learn to take the reins of the family business, 'just in case.'

Just-in-case happened two months later. Quade had died of a massive embolism. Jed was given "The Orange Plant" and Papa Quade's vehicles in the will. Jed left the vehicles at The Orange Plant and would not drive them. He had the distinction of being the youngest person in high school to have to pay property tax. In fact Jed's holdings were more than half the taxable assets for the county.

When the will was read Jedidiah's first impulse was to bulldoze the old factory, including the real vault. If he did that he would be forced to take the cash payout on the remnant of the estate and the trust would be dissolved. Papa Quade continued to exercise his control, even from the grave.

His father told him to take the wiser course. "You should use some of your inheritance to make the place your own. You're going to need a place when you go to college. Who knows you might even want to have a few friends move in with you. You could have a killer frat house as a freshman. I love you son but God knows you are no farmer. You need to find your own way."

Jedidiah realized there was no way to win the argument without breaking his father's heart. Above all, a son should be able to look up to his father. Jedidiah could not give many gifts to his father, but he can preserve the good memory of Papa Quade in Buck's eyes.

Jedidiah quickly move to plan B. He changed everything he could afford to change inside the factory home. He had a good eye for design and architectural salvage. When the Bijou Theater across the street caught fire and had to be demolished, the owner let him go through and pull out items that could be salvaged. The big victory was a few of the new seats from the balcony section. He was also able to grab the balcony structure and the large spiral staircase that led to it.

Big Jimmy Johnston was re-roofing The Orange Plant at the time. Jed wanted the aging roof water tight again. He used his crane to drop the implements in through the skylights before they were replaced. The salvage transfer was done at no charge.

Apparently his wife lost her cherry and their eldest son was conceived in that balcony. He was overjoyed to help Jed save that treasured memory.

The furniture items that Jed couldn't replace, he had reupholstered. Jed's mother taught him the art of dealing with retailers. Especially when dealing with furniture companies. Between hotel remodels, and year-end closeout items he was able to get enough furniture to fill the entire living area of the old factory.

By the time Jed finished he had spent millions on the updates, most going to local trades' people. The act erased a lot of the damage done by his grandad. Jed held a housewarming inviting the tradesmen and their families in to marvel at the finished product. Jed laughed as he saw Mr. and Mrs. Johnston settle into a loveseat in a corner of the old balcony.

On the long ride from the pizzeria home Jedidiah slept leaning against Arian. The alpha jock had his arm wrapped around the younger boy. Jed woke up as the pickup pulled off of the paved road onto the long shredded bark driveway.

"I'm going to need some help getting the furniture out of the way at The Orange Plant. I don't suppose you know where I can find some manpower? It took a couple of days to get it ready to use as a shelter back in the day."

Arian smirked as he replied back, "I think I can scrape up some bodies." Then he leaned down and kissed Jedidiah. As soon as the truck pulled up to the house, the flood lights came on. It was almost laughable how quick Jedidiah's parents were on the porch.

Everyone was cordial and on their best behavior. Mr. Glynis was impressed that his boy landed the quarterback of the team on his first day out of the closet. Looking back he saw how close the boys had always been. Being Monday, and a school night, the evening visitation ended after fifteen minutes. Both boys needed to get to bed and one had a long ride home to the other side of town.

Arian gave Jed a peck on the cheek as he said good night. He told Jed he would pick him up in the morning, and would not let his boy object. Jed was surprised that his mother and father approved. Jed considered this his first real date. Something else odd, his heart felt empty as the older teen departed. It was as if he could feel his strength fade as the other boy got further away.

He also had a cold feeling at the bottom of his heart that someone was watching, someone he knew, someone evil. He felt the rage but couldn't identify the source. With a look at his mother he knew, she felt it too.

Tuesday...

Early Tuesday morning Jed was awoken from his restless sleep to the sound of a pickup pulling in the driveway. Without seeing the vehicle or saying a word he knew it was Arian. The strong teen helped Jedidiah complete his morning chores. There were also some playful exchanges of touching.

Jed's father hollered out, "Play grab-ass, after the animals are fed."

To which Jedidiah let out a loud whine, "D-a-a-ad!"

Jedidiah's morning chores took about two hours to complete. Both boys being normal hormonal males were dripping sweat. Buck told his son to let the older boy shower first. While Arian was in the shower, Buck and Jedidiah had a talk about the facts of life, the condoms and consequences talk. "If dad only knew..." Jed thought.

Jed shuddered to think what his father was talking to Arian about while he was in the shower. He was likely showing Arian the family's fine collection of hunting rifles, it's a southern thing.

The boys wolfed down the large breakfast that Hachi prepared. Buck told his son that he was proud that he opened up The Vault to the homecoming dance. "It's been a long time since we've had a community activity in that building. It's long overdue.

The men's group from the church is going to be grilling steaks for you kids. We can't arrange a caterer in time. Ferguson really screwed us all. Would you believe the bastard is even trying to keep the security deposit? So we're going to be the caterer. Mr. Perkins is providing the servers."

Arian replied, "My dad's got six deputies and a couple troopers volunteering to work the security detail off the clock. The rest of the guys from the team are going to be showing up after practice tonight and tomorrow to help Jedidiah clear the furniture away."

He turned his attention to Jedidiah, "Oh, which reminds me Steph wanted me to ask if the homecoming decorating committee can come by tonight to see how much more supplies they are going to need. How big is this place?" Arian's family had never seen the inside of The Vault, and even fewer people knew how it got its name. Back in his great-grandfather's day it was simply called The Orange Plant.

Jed asked, "Did anyone but me try to sleep last night?" Then he dropped his head and sent the text reply to Steph, earning him a dark look from his mother. She hated technology at the table. She picked her battles carefully; right now she had other fish to fry.

Hachi asked a pointed question to Arian. "Are you still going out with Stephanie Jacobson, Arian?" Jed swallowed hard seeing his mother's protective side.

"We never were going out ma'am. Our families have been friends forever. Her dad asked me to look after her at school. Her last boyfriend was a major stalker. He roughed her up a bit. Everyone assumed because I'm the quarterback and she's the head cheerleader we were dating. After today I guess everyone will know better."

Jed could tell his mother was impressed by how far the boy would go to protect a friend. That said he could also tell his mother wanted Arian to stay away from her son. Jed could feel her discomfort each time Arian touched him.

The boys realize that morning was slipping away, and they had to head to school. Jed had that same cold feeling as they turned off the driveway onto the road. For a moment he thought he saw a man standing in the tree line.

During the day Jed's circle of friends had increased. The whole student body heard about the offer of the free location for homecoming. Sadness also stalked Jed during the day. There were times he thought about his friends and burst into tears. It was odd that when those moments happened Arian was right there.

At one point the boy asked about the coincidental arrivals of Arian. It was on the way to lunch that Arian explained he had a link with Jed since his family moved here in the seventh grade.

"You were the nicest guy in the school. Not too many people accept the new guy. Back then I was unsure of myself and dorky. I hadn't even had my first shift yet. When you helped me with the bullies, I thought you were the bravest kid on planet Earth..."

Through the day Jed noticed a whisper campaign in the works. There were groups of four to five kids in the hallways exchanging information. Those conversations stopped whenever he approached the group. Those sudden silences were accompanied with odd looks, and goofy grins, from the now quiet students.

After school Jed had another theater rehearsal, as Arian and the team practiced for homecoming. Between scenes Steph zipped in and out of the booth. The two exchanged notes on homecoming. She offered an observation "Oh, you know he's been head over heels for you for years."

"I thought he was totally into you." With that Steph laughed.

"No Jed, he wanted to make a move on you after your granddad passed. He just didn't want to appear weird. He wanted to give you your space and hoped you would make the first move. He and I had a lot of conversations about you. I'm glad you're one of us now."

"Steph, why is it I'm so stressed and tired but too anxious to sleep when he and I are apart, and yet I get so energized, excited and happy when we're together? It seems like I get incredible strength just being around him."

"You're feeding on his strength. He's your Alpha; he's the one who converted you. He's always had a connection to you on an emotional level. Now you two share a biochemical link."

At that point a bean bag splatted against the window of the soundproof booth. The director was letting him know he missed a cue. Jed apologized over the sound system and made the correct adjustment as Steph laughed.

After practice, the director made a comment about the absence of Jed's understudy. Jed reminded the teacher that Arian was just an extension of his arms. He also pointed out Arian had other obligations to the school.

With the technical run-through complete Steph and Jedidiah went out to the football field and watch the team finish their practice. Cheerleaders would practice tomorrow as the team rested. That was the plan at least, until the coach decided that there was a need for another scrimmage to work on defense. In the bleachers Jed had that unsettling feeling of being watched again.

The team ran into the locker room and changed. Showers were optional because the coach realized they were going to be doing hard work at The Vault. Arian emerged from the locker room and gave Jed a strong sweaty hug. The younger teen was overcome by the heavy musky smell. Steph grabbed hold of Jedidiah's hand. "I'm driving you to The Orange Plant. I'm not going to have him stinking up my cheer partner."

In the car Steph looked at Jedidiah. "Okay that link I was telling you about, it works both ways. He gets just as excited when you get close. Right now he can feel your moods. He feels your stress about this parting. He needs to pay for your attention." The girl let out a playful laugh.

The "A" squad followed behind Steph's vehicle in a convoy of cars and trucks. "I wanted to be alone with you Jed so I could thank you. I was one of the wolves you healed last year. I was the one who got her paw caught in a trap. The damn thing broke my wrist. I didn't know that it cost you so much. Thank you."

She leaned over and kissed his cheek. Jedidiah felt a flush of jealousy as well as gratitude. Gratitude from Steph, but he shared Arian's jealousy watching the girl kiss HIS boy. "Jed, you felt that?" The teen nodded his head yes. "It's not going to take long for you to change. You shouldn't feel us this strongly. You shouldn't have felt him at this distance."

On arrival at The Orange Plant the mini pack assembled and Stephanie shared her observation. It was Arian who felt Jedidiah's wave of fear, "There is nothing to be afraid of it's just a change of being. You are, and will still be you, but soon you will be more."

When the large security doors retracted and the team saw the size of the first bay some were amazed. "Guys this is nothing this is just the garage." One by one the rest of the bay doors opened down the length of the industrial side of the building. It was a rare thing to see the building wide open. Jedidiah knew this rare treat was necessary in order to remove all of the furnishings from the bays that would be used.

Jed really hated this building. He could feel the old dead man's presence in the air. He also felt someone evil staring at him. He felt a familiar and uncomfortable presence.

There was another sensation he felt as the students walked around the front of the building, Jedidiah thought, no... He knew he was being watched. Not just by the people he was with. He felt anger, a feeling full of pure rage. Jealousy, that Jed was being touched by another. Arian felt Jedidiah's discomfort and rubbed the back of his neck.

A couple of the older local students remembered the last time they saw this building as a shelter. There was reminiscing about how many days they spent during such and such a storm. That was long ago, it had changed.

Then Jed remembered the last time the building sheltered someone from the storm, other than a family member. In the ninth grade Jedidiah pleaded with Papa Quade to allow Kyle and his family to stay with them. The price Jed had to pay was high, but Kyle's family was safe. Another wave of sorrow over took the boy. Not for his dead Papa Quade but for his dead friend.

Jed quickly pushed those thoughts back then asked a couple of the boys to open the shipping containers outside the far end of the bays. "The big furniture gets loaded in first. Then you have to pack the smaller furniture around it."

The rest of the team joined Jedidiah as he opened the living side of the facility. Steph let out a, "Holy shit! This place looks different." Then she realized she let her proper southern belle persona slip. "Sorry."

"This side is just a house. A really big house, but a house none the less."

Coach McNabb quickly added, "Most houses don't have, I'm counting four seating areas that most of us call living rooms...

"You remember, until five years ago we were sheltering most of the whole town during storm season. We only stopped when the county built the new school."

The coach fired back, "Your Papa Quade was quite the humanitarian, a truly great man." Jedidiah grimaced, and the coach noticed and let it drop.

"Okay let's gather up in the home office upstairs. We need a plan of attack." The home office was something of a joke. How many home offices have a conference table that can seat twenty? Jed took his usual spot in the middle of one of the wide sides.

Coach McNabb pointed to the head of the oval shaped table. "I think that's your seat pal."

"If I'm in charge of the meeting, the head of the table is wherever I'm sitting." Jedidiah replied, earning a chuckle from all. Jed took a quick inventory of who had worked on the shelter in the past.

Coach was put in charge of the large item load teams. He knew how to work the forklift from previous storms. Arian volunteered to work on his team, along with the strongest members of the squad.

The one good thing about this building was that it came with all of the factory accoutrements. The scissor lift was a hit with the decorating team. It meant they could do paper streamers from the top rafters and have them swoop down.

Jedidiah saw Steph's father Mr. Jacobson. He ran a party supply store. "Sir whatever Steph and the decorating crew need please put it on my account. I'll pay it out of my trust fund."

The gentleman acknowledged and said he would charge cost only. "Thank you sir, but keep your finger off the scale. I don't want you to be out of pocket a single dime on this."

"Quin, I don't think you understand what that phrase means. Quade used to say it to me a lot; only when he was accusing me of shortchanging him."

"Sir, I know how he used it, and I am ashamed of his actions. I'm not him. In fact sir, the greatest compliment you can give me is not comparing me to him. I appreciate everything that you do for this community. I want this to be my gift. You are donating your valuable time and effort that's more than enough."

Jed smiled down the table, "Please Sir, could you please just call me Jed?" With one exchange from a point of respect and admiration, a rift that developed between the families ended.

"Stephanie if homecoming is dedicated in Karl and Kyle's memory, make it something remarkable. They were both something equally remarkable." Jedidiah's eyes misted over and he was fighting to maintain control.

Coach rubbed Jed's shoulder in support, and then took the large item load team putting them to work. Mr. Jacobson offered to handle the small item load team. Jed told him to load everything into the bedrooms, with the exception of the large bedroom on the first floor. Grandpa's room was always hands off. Jedidiah pretended that room never existed.

At the end of the meeting the rest of the football team picked up the conference table and loaded it and the chairs into the master bedroom. "Holy crap this is 'YOUR' room Jed! We could play half field touch in here."

"It's only my room when I'm here, and I don't like this place much. One of the joys of converting industrial space to residential space is big rooms." he replied.

With the small load team and decorating team separated Jedidiah started to disassemble the kitchen modules. He knew the cook team would work out of the church's mobile kitchen trailer. With most of the student body and dates coming he knew that they needed the seating space.

An hour later, Jedidiah's parents and the sheriff's family arrived at the same time. Buck took over taking apart the kitchen for his son. "Take a break boy you're sweating and you look like hell." The big man smiled down at his son.

The boy rose to his feet, and then showed the sheriff how to log into the security camera network. The sheriff took the information of a security camera system with great glee. "Why on Earth did we start using the school as the shelter?"

"Papa Quade said it was a private property thing." Jedidiah replied. Both knew the truth but let it drop.

Half hour later Jed saw his mother and the other women setting up the buffet. It was only fair to feed the volunteer labor. He felt as if he wasn't doing enough and started walking over to help.

Jedidiah was staggering as he approached the table. He heard Arian's mother Carolyn shout, "Catch him!" Then he fell into someone's arms. The next few moments were like something out of a fuzzy underwater like dream.

Carolyn turned to Steph, "Hurry, Go get my son!" There was a sharp pain in Jedidiah's chest. It felt as if someone was jabbing a hot knife into his heart. He saw Doc Daniels leaning over him performing an assessment.

Carolyn was cradling the boy's head in her lap. "Breathe little one, breathe for us new pup." The concept of being told to breathe was silly to Jedidiah. He had been breathing his whole life after all, this is nothing new.

Hachi Glynis looked down upon her son. Rubbing his chest she asked, "What have you done to your eyes little one?" Buck Glynis approached and said to his wife there was nothing wrong with Jed's eyes.

Her question went unanswered as Arian bounded up the stairs. Hachi could see the energy flowing from the older boy to her son. "Jedidiah you cannot draw strength from another! This is dark, it is not our way!"

With a single look from Carolyn, Stephanie began clearing the area of all but immediate family. She looked at her son saying, "Calm your pup. Doctor, watch the boys. Buck, Hachi we need to talk." As soon as Arian slid into his mother's place, Jedidiah's pulse dropped to a normal level and his breathing became regular.

As the boy's head continued to clear the doctor asked pointed questions, "Arian, when did you mate with the boy." Jedidiah's mouth fell open as he began to protest.

Arian pushed his hand on his pup's chest immediately the boy fell silent. "Doc you have known me my whole life. I have never, and will never lie to you. We have not physically consummated a relationship. I want to, and I think he wants to as well. But we have not."

"I trust you boy. Your case is becoming more and more curious Jedidiah." Doc continued examining the boy in Arian's lap. He asked a series of questions, to most of which Jedidiah responded in the affirmative. With one final reply to a question, the doctor had a near panicked look on his face. He excused himself to talk to the adults.

There was a rush of mumbled communications from the adults. The angered voice of Hachi Glynis was raised, "My mother told you to keep your child away from him. This cannot happen, not again."

The calm words of Buck Glynis filled the room, "Sweetheart I'm betting that boat has sailed. Our boy IS changing and that cannot be stopped apparently." The concerned father shot a look to the doctor who shook his head no.

Doc replied, "I've never seen a case this advanced. From such a small bite there has to have been someone, somewhere in his lineage who was... um, exposed.

I am a little concerned with the speed he is changing, with all these changes in a frail kid like him; he should be dead from shock. At this rate, he should shift within three maybe four months.

It's going to be very hard on him. What you just witnessed was probably one of the worst cases of separation withdrawal I have ever seen in my practice.

Dutch, Carolyn don't be angry with your boy. The bite and the blood bath wasn't the only trigger, this is a natural mating. No sex involved, these boys are just connected. Short of the death of one or the other, there is no way to break this bond."

Dutch cursed, "Damn now the council has to be told..."

Jedidiah's head cleared enough for a sudden realization. Shocked, he looked into Arian's eyes, "They know Arian. They have always known about lycans." Turning his attention to his parents, "Why didn't anyone tell me?"

Arian kissed his pup on the forehead and said, "I guess you're happy that we brought the "A" squad. We're all lycans. Doc, how are we going to handle tomorrow and the rest of the school year?"

At that point Coach replied, "Arian skins!" He touched his nose, "Let's see if the old factory trick will work in this big ol' factory. Give him your jersey." Jedidiah clutched the smelly sweat covered football jersey. Then the coach sent Arian out to the shipping containers.

Fifteen minutes later Doc asked how Jed was doing. "Feels a little like being stung by fire ants. I can handle it though. I'm not as anxious as I was. My chest doesn't hurt."

Coach sent a runner to get Arian. Once the boys were together again the jersey was put in a plastic bag to preserve the scent. "Tomorrow is jersey day boy; no one should look twice about you wearing your boyfriend's shirt. Assuming you guys don't mind the public knowing."

Jed looked at his father. Buck was kneeling next to his boy. He only nodded his head in the affirmative. The boy gave his father a bear hug. "Why didn't you tell me dad? I was scared enough letting you know I was gay. Now I find out you knew about werewolves..." He could feel the pack, his pack, collectively cringe, "...sorry lycans."

"Dutch, did you ever tell your son?" The pack alpha shook his head no. "Boys I'm going to tell you a story about how our families became friends. Quin the man you were named after, Jedidiah the first, came across a man with deep wounds during a hunting trip. The man said he was mauled by a panther.

Jedidiah treated him, cleaning and binding his wounds. He stitched the wounds together with the only thing he had available, his sewing implements. He expected the man to die and was surprised when he didn't.

He was amazed at how quickly the man healed. After three days of care, he was back on his feet. That man was your father Arian. Two days later there was a full moon and Jedidiah witnessed the transformation from man to wolf."

Jed was doing some quick math in his head and turned to Arian asking, "How old are YOU again?"

"Nineteen and I've never heard this story either."

"If you boys wouldn't mind, some of us only have one lifetime. I'd kind of like to finish this." Dutch laughed as his friend continued, "At this point, another wolf came out of the brush. This time the battle went a different way and the other wolf retreated gravely wounded.

When Dutch returned to human form he told Jed the first the story about how his pack and another pack had been battling for centuries. The fight goes all the way back to their village in Wales. This last battle cost him his first mate.

I'm actually a little surprised with you Quin. You normally research unusual names. If you had, you would have known his family name, Blaidd is Welsh for Wolf.

Son, your namesake was a man of great courage, and I see that in you as well Quin. Over time the men came up with the plan, how our family could shelter their pack from time to time.

Our family's wealth is no accident. The pack loaned us funds to develop property. In the old South food was power. That loan has been paid back long ago. Our lycan friends bought land so they could migrate back and forth, between their three great camps. We care for it when the entire pack must relocate.

You never thought it odd we have so many nature preserves around our little town. There's a purpose for it, our friends needed their places to hunt protected. Connecting them is property owned by either our family or the pack. All of those lands are well-protected..."

Buck nodded at Thomas the fish cop. Arian saw his favorite wolf denier's eyes glow amber. Thomas did know there were wolves, he just didn't share that he was one of them.

Buck continued, "Lycans live a portion of their life in one camp. When people notice they are not aging, they move on to one of the other properties in another state. There they live for a time until it's time to move again.

By the time they go back to the first location, they claim to be descendants of the original person. I have known Dutch by two names. He was an English teacher when I was a boy, and now the sheriff as an adult.

Son, I don't know what this change will bring to you. I know you and your mother share a gift I cannot even begin to imagine. I know your heart is good.

Arian I'm asking you to look after my boy. He's going to need to learn how to control what you do naturally. This is so far beyond me. I've seen you grow up; I know you're a good boy too. Your mom and dad did a good job. Still I never thought one of our family would be... um... 'mated' to one of you. You're a gentleman of good character I could ask for no better partner for my boy."

Arian replied back to Buck, "I'll protect him with my life sir. He is my pup now. Our pack law mandates it. Jed, you are going to be reborn in the Rhiau Pack, I look forward to running by your side."

Hachi Glynis approached and knelt down next to her boy. "Son are you sure this is the path you wish to follow? I may be able to intercede and stop the change. This has happened in our family before. It did not end well."

"No mother I love him. I always have. Besides, it would take too much from you..." With that the boy touched his mother's stomach, "It would also hurt my sister. The Breathmaker has provided life and a future for our gen..."

A light came on in Buck Glynis head as he interrupted with a stunned shout, "You're pregnant!! I'm going to have a daughter? Why didn't you tell me?"

Hachi simply replied saying, "Surprise? I wanted to be sure. You were so disappointed the last time..." The couple embraced remembering the miscarriage four years ago. After the couple's embrace broke, the men gathered and started vigorously shaking Buck's hand as if it was his great accomplishment alone.

While that was going on, Jed was blissfully nuzzling in Arian's chest fur.

Late that night Jedidiah was anxiously pacing the floor. Jed thought he was being quiet. There is no such thing as a quietly pacing teen boy when his father is nearby. Buck opened the boy's bedroom door, "Can't sleep son?"

"I'm so sorry dad. I didn't mean to wake you. I just feel like I could run to the moon and back. I don't know where this energy is coming from. And it feels like I'm covered in itching powder."

Buck stepped across the room and gave his boy a hug. "Let's go see what kind of tea your mom has down in the kitchen."

Buck watched his boy fidgeting at the table while the two mugs of chamomile tea were steeping. "I have no idea what you're going through son. I can see you're nervous. You're surrounded by people who love you. We will get through this. If you think it would help, I'm even willing to let Arian move in."

The boy and his father talked until two in the morning. In the end Jedidiah looked at his father and asked, "If you and Mom don't have another boy, would you mind if I take on your name next? You know when I have to recreate my new identity twenty or so years from now."

"Buckhold Jameson Glynis the 6th... I kind of like it. I never did like the tradition of passing on the grandfather's name on to the grandson. You can have them both, alternate back and forth. It's hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that you are going to see millennia pass. I prayed you would have a long life when you were little and so sick. I just didn't realize it was going to be that long."

When Jed returned to his room he saw the plastic bag with Arian's jersey in it. He had a thought, then broke the seal and took a deep hit of his alphas scent. With just one or two whiffs his mind settled down and he was able to return to a restless sleep.

Wednesday...

The new day began; again Jed heard the sound of the familiar pickup truck on the shredded bark driveway. Before Arian removed the key from the ignition Jed was dressed downstairs and running across the porch at his love.

Arian kissed his pup full on the mouth. "Did you sleep at all last night?" Jed shook his head no. "Me neither, I just feel like I'm on fire or something. It's like I just had to be with you." Another kiss.

Jed's mother stepped out onto the porch and said, "I have an answer to that Jedidiah. It's because your wolf is submissive to him... sweetheart, it is also in heat."

"MOM!" The embarrassed boy shrieked.

"I just tell you what I am told. It's a biological imperative son. Your inner wolves know who their mate is now. The drive to mate is strong. Be careful you two." Suddenly his dad's comment last night made sense. If there was risk in coupling, his dad wanted to be close, to protect his boy.

With that the two boys took off and started on the morning chores. Jedidiah had an energy he had never before experienced. In less than an hour the two boys had all of his three hours of morning chores done. The boys were in the hay loft after throwing more square bales down. Arian pulled Jed into a tight hold and kissed him passionately.

Between kisses Jed joked, "I guess since my chores are done early, a little 'grab ass' is allowed."

Arian replied, "I don't mind if I do." Jed moaned as Arian began massaging the boy's large firm mounds of flesh. Both boys were getting hot, as their crotches ground against each other. Jedidiah felt a little uncomfortable, as if someone was watching. When he voiced his concern, Arian said, "Sweetie, it's just us."

"Please Arian, let's go to my room. We can shower and um... change. I know someone is watching... I feel him. I can feel his hate."

Arian relented, as the boys climbed out of the loft Arian saw the large reddish brown canine like form running into the woods downwind. Suddenly he knew why he didn't smell the threat his pup felt. He wondered how Jed knew.

As soon as the door to Jed's room closed, Arian continued his passionate assault on the younger teen's mouth while his hands caressed Jed's firm bubble bottom.

In the end passion one out. As all fear Jed felt washed away in a river of lusty hormones. The two teens began pulling at each other's clothes. The last time Jed saw Arian completely naked was in the eighth grade. A lot had changed in four years.

Jedidiah softly caressed the older teens developing mat of chest hair. "Will I get fuzzy like you?"

"That's not how it works pal. I don't see you getting a lot of body hair. Not in human form anyway. I see one thing that will change..." He held Jed's cock. "...your... um... hood, is gonna grow back." Jed admired the seven inches of soft uncut cock meat swinging between Arian's legs.

"Boys, I am starting breakfast, get in the shower!" There were times Jed thought his mother was telepathic.

Jed noticed the singular was not used she told the boys plural to get in the shower. He looked it Arian and asked, "Wanna save water?" A sly smile spread across the older boys face. Jedidiah noticed how the blood was flowing to a certain appendage as well.

Arian saw both the desire and a little fear in his partners eyes, "Pal if you're not ready that's totally okay. I'm not going to rush you Jedidiah."

It was as if his name were some sort of key unlocking his full desire. He sank down onto his knees and took Arian's prick into his mouth. He was tentative at first licking the tip of the foreskin covered member. His tongue slowly probed within the hood.

"I've been cleaning out really good down there I didn't want you to get grossed out on your first try." Arian said. "You can skin it back and get a good lick at the head if you want."

Jedidiah caught Arian's slip. He had meant to say "look at the head." Clearly Jed had been working a bit too slow. With his right hand he pulled back the foreskin exposing the purple head. With his left hand he slowly massaged Arian's balls. He figured he was doing something right when a low moan erupted from Arian's throat.

The boy slid his mouth down the length of Arian's hardening shaft. Jedidiah took his lover's shaft deep then moved his full lips up and down the length of him and ran his tongue around the end of Arian's tool.

He took his mouth away from Arian's throbbing flesh and began to gently masturbate him as Jed's tongue went on an eager explore. First he took Arian's firm furry balls into his mouth one at a time. Then Jed was moving his tongue beneath them and towards Arian's hole. He let his tongue gently explore the older teen's body for a while before moving back up to his balls and then prick.

Jed was enjoying the faint taste of soap combined with the copious amount of precum his partner was producing. Arian was amazed at the boy's skilled tongue work. He could suddenly feel himself about to shoot his load. As soon as Arian announced he was about to cum, Jed increased both his suction and rhythm. He knew between lovers the seed goes down the throat, not on to the face. That only happens in porn videos.

Arian's balls drew up tight as he came shouting real loud, "Uuuuuuuuuuuuuugh! OH MY GAWD JED!" and shoved his cock as far as he could down Jed's throat. Six or seven volleys of hot teen spunk blasted deep into Jedidiah's throat.

Jed's good job deserved a reward, Arian thought. As Jed stood to just hold his lover, Arian pressed his lips to Jed's tasting the remnant of his own seed. Arian return to fondling the large mounds of flesh that bracketed Jedidiah's tight hole. Arian whispered in the boy's ear, "Trust me?" Jed nodded yes, and Arian slowly turned the boy around and dropped to his knees.

Arian spread the boy's full ass cheeks apart. He loved looking at them jiggle as he walked down the halls at school. When they parted he saw the pink puckered ring, looking tight and virginal. He quickly thought to himself, "Jedidiah may know how to suck dick, but this is all mine!"

He ran his tongue across the pink opening, hearing the startled gasp from his prey at the sensation, and when the tongue flicked inside his hairless anus the gasp became a squeal. Arian probed the tight orifice as deep as his tongue could go while reaching down and squeezing Jed's hairless nuts, rolling the orbs in his palm while he rimmed him.

Jedidiah was rock hard and leaking, the older teen noted when he tried to grab Jed's cock and found the smaller teen's prong curled upward toward his stomach, a tribute to the rimming he was getting. Jed was moaning and whimpering in blissful delight.

Jedidiah's face was buried under the shower head as he squirmed under the continued assault of the older teen's burrowing tongue. Jed felt the hand grab his cock and begin to stroke the shaft his body shuddered as he spat his watery seed onto the shower pan below him.

After Arian felt Jed's dick start to soften he milked it dry. Then Arian straightened up and moved close to his prey, his cock again erect. Jed jumped when he felt the older teen insert his cock into his tight anus, and then realized that it wasn't his cock but a finger.

Then a second finger entered his ass, and Jedidiah bit his lip hard to muffle the sounds he feared would give away the pain he was feeling. He didn't want the older teen to stop, and was willing to endure anything to have him. Jed and pain were old friends. Jedidiah knew that great pleasure could come from pain.

In the end Arian was skillfully fucking Jed with three fingers. Thrusting and spreading them inside Jed's tight hole. Five minutes of play later Jed's cock leaped as again rope after rope of cum sprayed against the back wall. As Jed gasped loud and shouted, "YES! OH, YES!"

Hachi knocked on her son's door. "Save some hot water for the rest of us please..."

Arian replied for the breathless, shaking and spent Jed, "Yes ma'am!"

As the boys dried off, Arian asked Jedidiah where he learned how to suck. "Please don't ask that question. Just tell me it felt good." A flash of pain and guilt crossed Jed's face. "I don't deserve you..."

Arian saw the pain in Jed's eyes and replied. "Hell ya it was great. You are wrong though, I don't deserve you." Arian kissed his boy again. He thought, "My baby will tell me in his own time."

The family was mostly silent during breakfast. No one wanted to make eye contact. Buck always knew the right comment to bust up his boy..."Little loud boys, juuust a little loud..." While everyone laughed; except Jed whose head practically dented the table. In the end he too finally laughed.

Hachi added, "Why is it every generation thinks that they invented sex."

Arian saved his boy from terminally blushing, "We need to head to school. Don't we Buddy."

Buck replied, "See you guys at The Vault after practice. We have a long night of setup ahead of us. We're going to have a mixed crowd tonight. There will be a lot of lycans but we will have a lot of uninitiated people with us. You boys had better come up with a plan if there's an issue like last night. I recommend starting to select hiding places."

Jed's dad continued, "Your team has got the big game Friday boys. You should just stay at The Vault this week. Your folks are oddly okay with it too Arian. We all know the score boys. I know you need to stay in close proximity. At least until you change the first time. You can stay here, or Jedidiah can stay with you and your folks. Don't take this the wrong way, I appreciate the free farm labor, but I've known for some time my boy is no farmer."

Homecoming weekend in Glynis Landing was packed with student activities. Thursday and Friday there was no school. Thursday was a "teacher's workshop," and the Chamber of Commerce dinner with the team and Homecoming Court. On Friday the parade and game were the big events. Jed's father knew another thing; with a psychopath on the loose The Vault was also the safest place in town.

Maybe his mom and dad were right; it is just a building after all. Since his father insisted he keep it, he was determined to try to get people to call it something other than The Vault. It was The Plant, The Factory, The Shelter... Hell anything else was better. The Vault was for that secret hidden room his Grandpa called it his oubliette, a room of forgetting.

For the second day this week, he was met in homeroom with a note to report to the counseling office. Jedidiah presented the note to the admin assistant and took his seat next to his counselor's door. The admin assistant smiled and then said in a sweet Southern drawl, "Two doors down honey, you've been moved... You have a new Guidance Counselor. Mr. Mancuso has been assigned your file."

Jed nodded thanking her and slid down to the correct seat. Mr. Mancuso had been pretty cool in the past. Besides this was Jed's last year. Of course he couldn't help make the observation that he was the GC for every single one of the jocks he knew on the "A" squad. He also handled most of the trauma cases.

When Mr. Mancuso came out to greet him he saw a flash of amber eyes Jed knew exactly why this change occurred. "Good morning Mister Glynis. I needed to talk to you about some changes in your schedule. Carol please print out Mister Glynis is new class schedule."

When the door shut Jedidiah couldn't help but notice how the GC sniffed the air and smiled. Then Mr. Mancuso continued, "First off Jed, welcome to our family. With the murder of your friends, you were coming to me already.

With your other changes, it is for the best. I will be so happy to help you with anything you don't understand about pack etiquette. Anything you don't understand about our history. If you do not feel comfortable coming to me, go to the coach. He's our pack enforcer, but he is also a wealth of knowledge. He is the second oldest Alpha in our pack."

Jed simply nodded his head in agreement. "For such a shy boy, you have a strength about you son. Coach McNabb will be joining us in a few minutes. For the most part your schedule is going to remain the same.

Your friend Kent McCormick understands you are a vulnerable pup. With Arian's consent he asked to shadow your schedule when he is not available. I did have to swap a couple of classes in order to put your study hall periods together. Are you okay with Kent being your protector here?"

"Yes sir. He and his brother always were our... MY protector." A wave of sorrow and fear crashed over him. He once again saw the image from the sheriff's mind; the image of his friend Kyle torn to pieces." Mr. Mancuso barely got the trash can to him in time before Jedidiah threw up his breakfast.

He apologized and explained to Mr. Mancuso what had occurred and his special gifts. The educator took several minutes to calm the boy. "That's a horrible thing to have to see. I will tell you, in time it will fade. Try to remember the good times when you hear his name."

The two went over his schedule. For the most part, if Kent was not in his class, Arian was, or the teacher was a lycan. Mr. Mancuso told him those lycans were taught to help cover for Jedidiah's current condition. When Jed commented it was as if both he and his mother were sharing a pregnancy. His mother was carrying his sister, and he with his inner pup.

"Jedidiah that is a very astute observation. In a way, you ARE pregnant. There's another personal ability growing inside of you. It is an aspect that will sustain you hundreds possibly thousands of years to come."

The door opened and Coach McNabb entered. He sniffed the air and looked down at Jedidiah grinning ear-to-ear, "That was going to be my second choice." He and Mr. Mancuso shared a laugh at the confused boy's expense.

Coach saw the confusion, "I had you wear his jersey today so you could keep Arian's essence close to you." He pointed to his nose, "The better way is to put it in you. Someday soon you'll be able to smell what we smell."

The boy blushed and dropped his head into his hands.

The GC quickly explained after a shared chuckle, "Jed, its okay. It's just a canine thing. When we sniff the air we're reading the news, and the big news is that you are off limits. Both of you are great guys. We are happy for you. For lycans sex is just a thing. When one of us finds our 'true life mate,' we all rejoice."

Coach added, "We celebrate a bond that is closer than marriage. You two are linked in a very special way. You know how long our kind lives. Some of our kind; never find that true life mate. The smell you share will be permanent when you go through the mating ritual once you shift."

The Coach went on, "All that said, the smell is a little weak, how long has it been? Jed told him a couple hours. "OH, so you two... um..."

Mr. Mancuso rescued the coach asking, "Oral?" Jed again blushed.

Coach agreed and added, "Nothing to be ashamed of. You'll just need to do it more often for full effect. It will be hard on Arian. The urge to mate is very strong in us. Poor kid must be rubbing himself raw."

The GC shot back, "Outta line Coach! You know better. We're not total animals here. It's up to Jedidiah to set the pace."

Coach put his hand on Jedidiah's forearm, "Dutch tells me this is how you know I'm telling the truth. Is that so?"

Jed nodded yes as he replied, "Y-yes sir. Sometimes I can tell if someone's lying at a great distance, but when they're in physical contact I know instantly if they're lying. I've only been fooled twice. One was a doctor who was very, very good liar and I was a little stupid. The other, I was dumb and blinded by love for my Grandad."

"Okay pal, Mr. Mancuso is right. I was far out of line, and I am sorry. It is up to you to set the pace. What I am worried about is the fact that Arian is young. Don't tease him. There are cases when the dominant lost control, shifted and raped its mate. There are some deaths recorded as well."

Jed whimpered softly. The coach moved his hand to the boy's shoulder "The fact Arian is an alpha is a big concern. Betas can only perform a hybrid shift during a full moon. Alphas can go hybrid at will, but the young have..." The big man was searching for the right word.

Mr. Mancuso offered, "Impulse control issues."

Coach was annoyed at the interruption, "Mr. Know-it-all-thesaurus is correct. Be careful and everything will be okay.

Then Coach added, "I'm not trying to scare you. I'm trying to inform you of a potential risk." He handed over a card to the teen. "This is not to be abused. What you boys did this morning has a medicinal benefit for you.

If you get to the point where your chest is hurting, and you get that out-of-control feeling, give this to your teacher they will send you on your way. Your pack guardians in your classrooms also know the signs and they'll help you.

As soon as you're out in the hallway text the number on the card with the message 'NOW.' One of us will pull Arian from class and take him to my office. I'll make sure no one sees you two go into or leave the office. I know this is very uncomfortable for you and I know you would prefer it being completely private. But that is not an option here. You have any questions?"

"What is the deal with people's eyes?" The CG was surprised by the next. "I smell weird stuff too... Jed's shirt I know it is sweat but it smells like the best cologne EVER. Both of you, I smell your aftershave but there is more... I can't explain it... Oh, and the period chime are they louder or is it just me. Sometimes it is so loud it hurts."

The GC replied, "Doc said you were advanced I didn't know that far... I'll get some earplugs to you, they are small, hard to see and they will help you out here. If someone does see them and asks say... Damn, you can't lie..."

Coach took over, "Tell them the truth; you are having trouble with your ears. Leave it at that. But take the plugs out after school so you can adjust to the increased sensitivity. The same thing is happening to your nose, increased sensitivity, you'll adapt."

Mancuso took over again, "Eye color... When in human form our eyes are how we say hello."

Jed had a horrific thought, "Oh, god! Could you people smell the other people on me when...?"

The Coach knew why the question was asked. "Frank give us the room."

"No sir. He is my GC. I have to be able to go to him for help. If he could smell the changes in me too... Is it better that he thinks I am a slut?"

The Coach's mouth drew into a fine line as he nodded. "Jed, we could. We put people around you hoping you would confide in one of us, if something was wrong. You have to understand to us sex just smells like sex. Dutch just told me what Quade made you do. Jed, why didn't you say something?"

Jed began crying as he replied weakly, "I had to protect my family."

With that the enforcer understood the boy understood pack loyalty. He has the ability to sacrifice everything to protect the pack. The muscle-bound coach hugged Jed. The two men helped calm the pup. Both men were feeling like crap for missing so many signs.

Once calm the coach continued, "Jed, give me your phone." Jedidiah hesitated for a moment remembering the last time he gave his phone or tablet to another. In the end he complied and the coach programmed in three phone numbers; the phone number for the text message, his own, and the pack alphas.

"Don't blame him; Arian did what he was required to do. He told me that you were having other... issues. He says you felt someone was watching you. If you get that feeling again like this morning, call me immediately. If by some miracle I don't answer by the third ring, call the sheriff immediately. Do you understand?"

Jed nodded yes. He also felt the concern, bordering on worry radiating from the coach. He asked the logical question, "Am I in danger? Is there a problem?" He asked nervously.

Initially the coach tried to pass off the story he and the sheriff came up with. He saw the boy's eyebrow arch. The coach asked, "Want a partial truth, or a comfortable lie?"

"THE truth sir lies hurt more."

"THE truth, well your change happened at a bad time. Our pack is under pressure from a rival pack. The newly converted are vulnerable and make a tempting target. Wolves are territorial, and this rival wants what we have. We're going to keep you safe or die trying. You have to understand, the pack MUST come first."

"I understand, and thank you, sir." In the back of his mind he wondered if the sins of Papa Quade were part of the new difficulties. The answers were probably in The Vault. The pack was withholding information from him; it seemed only fair to do the same in return until he knew the truth.

The rest of the morning consisted of more sniffs and smiles from the younger pack members. Students kept walking by Jed saying, "You got my vote" or "I voted for you". Jed didn't know what was going on until later.

Arian took Jed to the coach's office for a "treatment" before lunch and again before the pep rally that took the place of last period. Jed taught Arian how the Wiley Wolf costume goes on.

Arian was also using the time to touch and tease the tender parts of his mate's body. They were ten minutes late for the rally earning a smirk from the coach, and a playful scowl and finger wag from Stephanie.

At the end of the rally, the announcement everyone was waiting for was made. The homecoming King and his court were announced. No one was surprised when Arian's name was announced as King. The big surprise for Jed was when Stephanie's name was announced as first runner-up in the Queen's court.

The principal (also a lycan) announced that the years "Homecoming Co-Monarch" would be Jedidiah Glynis. Steph and the cheer squad helped Jed out of the wolf head, to the cheers of the crowd.

School was over and Jed had to switch to the practice uniform. It was the original prototype costume. The major difference between the prototype and the performance costume was that the prototype was plain fabric and not fitted for the field air conditioner. That device was used to keep the mascot cool during the game between cheers and skits.

For safety sake the acrobatic head was used. It was necessary for choreography, to practice with the same field of view you have during the performance. Arian couldn't keep his hands off his boy. Jed reminded the QB of the punishment for him being late for football practice. Arian announced he was happy to run those laps.

Arian provided another treatment in the locked sound booth. Immediately after dispensing the orgasmic medication, there was a knock on the door. The voice of the dramatic arts teacher was asking if Jed needed help. The boys scrambled for decency. Jed stood adjusting the costume, as Arian scrambled to fix his trousers and belt. Jed yelled out, "Just a minute sir."

When Jed opened the door, the director smiled and stroked his thumb against the corner of his own mouth with intent. When Jed did the same he felt the dampness. He buried his face in his hands and his face burned bright red.

"It's okay Jed; I know your big secret." There was a flash of panic on Jed's face as he shook his head no. Mr. Thomas the theater arts teacher was not a lycan.

"Jed come on now, you were wearing the star quarterback's jersey today, your an artist, theater nerd, cheerleader AND a gymnast. Throw in a campy lisp and you'd be the poster child for gay boys everywhere. My gaydar is still pretty good son. I'll even admit I did experiment back in college."

Jed breathed a sigh of relief that he was talking about 'THAT' big secret. The educator continued, "Okay Jed, take a deep breath, and center yourself. There's someone who wants to talk to you down near the stage."

Arian walked with his pup and the teacher. "Jed this is a new freshman transferring in from Miami and he reminds me of someone I met three years back. I'll leave this to you; I want you to pick the new understudy." With that he turned and walked away. Mr. Thomas liked to keep the cast on their toes and thinking. This was one of his spontaneous IMPROV your ass out of this one moment.

Jed was dumbfounded but knew he needed to have an air of confidence, "We have to be out on the field for practice, so we'll have to make this quick."

Jed noticed the frosh's eyes go from pale blue to amber and back to blue. "Um... Hello sirs." Jed was fighting back a chuckle, as the shy boy began to stutter. "I'm J-Jason March s-sir. My dad was t-transferred here from his old FHP p-post in Miami.

I was on the s-swim t-team and in the t-tech crew in o-our theater program at my last s-school. I'm still t-trying t-to find something g-good to be a p-part of. My dad thought this m-might be a good f-fit."

"Okay Jason, you've given me a background. Now you're going to have to give me a clue what are you asking me to do?" Arian started laughing earning him a quick elbow to the ribs from Jed.

"I heard ab-about the boy who w-was your helper and p-played your sidekick Scruff the P-Pup. I was j-just wondering if..." The request hit Jedidiah very hard. He hadn't thought of replacing his friend. He zoned out.

Arian sensed his pup's hurt and weakness. He stepped in to help, "Your dad is Trooper Jake March?" When Jason nodded his head yes, Arian told Jed the trooper helped his father process the scene. "They are a good family, and new to the pack."

That was enough to snap Jed back to the present. The drama teacher was fond of saying about those actors who understudy, "The part must always survive the player people. The show MUST go on." Wiley must survive Jed's graduation and Scruff had to survive too.

"Well Jason, we've decided to leave the Scruff costume and Karl's gear setup on the field empty during the homecoming game as a memorial. But I can use some help with my gear while Arian is on the field kicking Razorback asses. Let's see how you do, we'll call it your tryout. I know it's last-minute but are you available to sit in on practice tonight?"

The freshmen painted on a huge smile shouting, "Y-Yes sir!"

Jedidiah couldn't hide his amusement then said, "Take my head out to the practice field, we practice with the cheerleaders. The boy took off sprinting carrying the wolf head as if it were fragile as glass but worth more than gold.

"Damn Jed, you knew the kid fifteen minutes and you're already giving him head. Should I be jealous?" Jed blushed then Arian continued as they walked out to the practice fields, "Oh that boy is such as zed it's ridiculous. He's gonna get passed around. You saw his eyes?"

"Yeah what was that?"

"In every pack there are a few alphas, there are many betas and then there are a few zeds. Other packs call them omegas, the end of the line. That would be him. He is pliant, just terrified of offending anyone. He's afraid to even show his wolf publicly. Hell he can't even shift unless there is a full moon, assuming he has shifted yet.

He can sense you're in the process but when he looks at your eyes he is seeing amber and it frightens him. It actually is frightening a lot of the weaker betas too."

"There is absolutely no way I'm an alpha."

"Jed, we don't know what you are yet for sure. I believe you are... As far as alphas, do you think of my mother as an alpha?"

Jed shrugged his shoulders. "Dad is the pack alpha with a capital A. My mom is the alpha female. An alpha is just a really dominant personality. That dominance shows up in different ways.

What you were doing yesterday at The Vault that was showing dominance. You were respectful, but you still took charge. A zed/omega is kind of a doormat and would just let people do what they wanted, even if they knew it was incorrect."

Jed shivered. Now he was determined to protect Jason. No one deserved to be passed around like a party favor.

Practice went well; Stephanie and the girls put young Jason through a mini cheer boot camp. As the newest member of the squad, he was appointed gopher and damn did they run that boy.

While Jed took a break from his acrobatics, the girls put the wolf head on Jason and went over some fill-in routines just in case something happened to Jedidiah. Stephanie always had a backup routine.

While the girls taught basic choreography to Jason, Stephanie slid over to chat with Jedidiah on the bench. "Cute kid, but oh God he's shy. I think he'll be good once you put some makeup on him. He needs something to hide behind."

"He won't be wearing Scruff's makeup and outfit for this game." The athletics department didn't have the money for two mascot costumes so Scruff wore a cheesy bodysuit, a headpiece with ears and puppy face paint.

"Good decision let the team and the fans say goodbye. I think we still have a boy cheer uniform that will fit him. I'll take him to the gear locker when we're done. Hey, I got an idea..." Jed asked what... "Nope, need to know, and YOU don't. Just trust me... To pull this off faculty can't know, and sweetie, you can't lie.

Jed, the girls, committee and I want to thank you so much for saving homecoming. Your place is perfect. The girls, who were running for Homecoming Queen, requested the write-in ballots be counted. The administration didn't expect your name to float to the top. When you won, they wanted to nullify the votes. We all said we would step down. The King and King's court joined us.

That's when the principal put forward the Co-Monarch compromise. He took the time to remind the other advisers that this event wouldn't have happened without you. He also reminded them that it was mostly Glynis Corporate gifts that built the new school. You are so loved both in the pack and the school right now. I am proud to be your first lady-in-waiting." With that said she kissed Jedidiah's cheeks sweetly.

After practice, to Jed's surprise his young understudy candidate stuck to him like glue. He insisted on schlepping the performance costume and supplies to Arian's truck. Jason was easy going, quiet and eager to please. Jed was surprised to find the whole March family at The Orange Plant helping out. Trooper March seemed pleased that his boy found a friend.

Jedidiah again took his position of leadership during the set up. Advising where tables could not be placed due to air returns, fire curtain areas and the like. His leadership style was firm but always polite. Even Arian's mother smiled in acceptance.

There were also little children running around trying to help out. Okay they were doing stuff to stay out of the way. A boy named Charlie came running up to his mother, "Mom, they got a REAL theater in here!"

The mother responded, "Charles loads of people have a home theater like us."

"No Mom, NOT like us, they got a for real movie theater!"

The increasingly irritated mother chided, "Charles Emerson March! No one has a movie theater in their house."

Jed couldn't help himself he chimed in, "Made it all the way down to bay four Charlie? You know that area is behind the velvet rope..." Nancy March's eyes grew big as saucers as she realized her son was telling the truth. "Mrs. March would you like to see it?" The stunned woman just nodded her head as Jedidiah and Charlie led her and a couple of the other lycan moms to bay four.

He un-clipped the 'do not cross' velvet rope. "This was my big indulgence during the remodel. I was able to save some of the features from the Old Bijou before they tore it down. Sadly, it's only twenty-five seats. The rest were just too far gone to save. Still I have enough spare parts to keep this theater furnished for many, many years.

The best part, for me at least, between the money from the insurance, what I paid for the salvage and the property, Mr. Whitehead had enough to build the new Bijou downtown. In the end the arsonist lost."

Mrs. March announced, "We heard how much you care about this town. I thought the staircase and balcony in the front parlor looked familiar. You really do have an eye for re-purposing things. The whole balcony is from The Bijou wasn't it?"

Jed replied, "Yes but it required a great deal of work to restore. I decided to run a hydraulic elevator through the big burn hole instead of just patching it"

Charlie whispered something in his mother's ear. "Jedidiah, we've been trying to rent a movie theater, to have Charlie's birthday party next week. We failed to make the reservations in time. I know this is a huge imposition but could we rent this space next Saturday?"

Jedidiah surprised the woman with the initial one-word answer a flat, "No." Knowing they were all lycans Jed asked, "We are all Rhiau Pack, if you will accept it ma'am, let this be my birthday gift to Charlie. I know I'm not a real pack member yet, because I haven't shifted but..."

Both mother and son were pleased beyond words. "Jed, I grew up here. I know the whole story. Your family has been friends of our pack for hundreds of years. As far as I'm concerned you are already a member."

Jedidiah thought to himself, "Maybe this place isn't so bad after all. Perhaps the joy of children's laughter in this place could exorcise the demons of the past."

They rejoined the crowd. Jed's Mom had a work detail putting together the cutlery and napkins. Tables were set, as fast as they were set up. Steph and the decoration committee turned three of the large bays of the old warehouse home into a grand ballroom.

After the last of the decorating crew had left for the evening, Jedidiah discovered why his parents were so eager for him to stay at The Orange Plant. In the old vehicle maintenance bay, he saw his parent's RV. They trusted their son, but they didn't want him out of sight completely.

Next to that RV was parked the sheriff's mobile command post in which he, his wife and their youngest son decided to camp out as well. Clearly they did not fully trust Arian either.

Jed was about to set up his bed in the family's RV, when his father suggested, "Why don't you just use Papa Quade's suite sport. We didn't use it for any storage so you and Arian will have a little more room, and privacy."

Buck had a disappointed look on his face as Jed replied, "No Dad. We can use one of the guest pods." His dad snorted back a laugh.

The guest pods were something of a joke. Jedidiah's grandfather used to say, "Those were for those friends that you wanted to see, but you didn't want to stay a long time." There was enough room for a full sized bed, a wardrobe, a small TV and a compact three quarter bath. "We give them just enough room to change their mind about staying."

Jed knew the rooms true purpose. To a select few of Papa Quade's special guests, they were known as the cells. Even still Jed was more comfortable in them then he was in Papa Quade's suite, or his own.

Buck added, "You know Jedidiah, someday you're going to have to tell me what happened between you and my dad."

"Someday Daddy. Just not now... Please?"

"Okay pal, we'll talk later on this. You boys don't stay up too late; you need to get some sleep. We only have one more full work day on this place. I want it perfect for you buddy." Jed hugged and kissed his mom and dad goodnight.

Arian received a similar departure instruction from his father and mother. The two boys turned and walked back into the living quarters. Arian snickered when he saw the tiny size of the guest pod. "Your Papa Quade didn't like guests."

"Arian he liked guests just fine. These rooms were his special... um... 'play' rooms. Flip this switch and that entry barn door locks closed. I haven't seen anything but the fire department's jaws of life that can force them open."

With the door closed he turned back to his love and said, "Papa Quade was a bit of a freak. That said some of his friends were... worse. Everyone thinks he was this powerful businessman, this great humanitarian.

I know the truth, he was a monster. Not a monster like folks assume lycans are. He was far worse. He hurt..." The teen shuddered, "...a lot of people. I don't want to think about him... not tonight, please."

Arian saw the sadness and shame in Jed's eyes. He realized, he felt it himself, their connecting bond was growing. "Okay, tonight is about us. But I do want to hear the whole story, someday... soon. I want to help you if I can."

The one thing that the tiny rooms had was a large shower. Many of Papa Quade's guests enjoyed water sports, and messy play. Others just enjoyed tormenting their playmates, or playthings.

Jed's remembrance ended when Arian pressed his firm lips to Jed's; bringing him back to the present. Jed felt Arian's tender tongue softly probing the younger teen's lips. Jed moaned softly as Arian caressed then massaged the globes of his ass deeply.

Jed asked if Arian was going to take him, his disappointment was visible. "Just a few more days hon. Dad says it is still too close to the full moon. My aggressive side is still too close to the surface. I don't want to hurt you. I feel your disappointment Jed. I want our first time to be perfect." Again Jed felt Arian's love for him.

As the younger teen sank to his knees Arian also felt a wave of shame and guilt. He understood... "Jed, I know there have been others you've been with. I've played with others too. Everything WE do together is OUR first time together. No guilt, no judgment, just love my puppy."

The rain head shower cascaded water droplets upon the two of them as Jed pressed his full lips against Arian's firming manhood. Looking up at his alpha with his big loving eyes he kissed the teen's semi hard meaty tube.

Jed's mouth closed around the sweet spongy flesh that was still not fully hard. Jed enjoyed the feel of a man's cock going from soft to rock hard in his mouth. He enjoyed knowing that he was the reason for the erection. He lost track of how many of Quade's clients and guests he pleasured. He knew the penalty for failing to bring the client to orgasm.

Jedidiah tried desperately to shove the images of the posture braces, ring gags, shackles and glory holes from his mind. This was about his lover's pleasure not his demons. If the connection between the two boys was truly growing, those would be the last images he ever wanted to share. Someday, he would tell Arian the whole truth... Not today. Today he was going to focus on the things he liked.

Jed enjoyed the feeling as Arian's cock responded to his oral stimulation. As it swelled, and pulsed it was an awesome experience for both boys. Jed put his experienced tongue to work, bathing the tender skin, his lips gliding up and down the shaft. Jed knew to make sure copious amounts of spit filled his mouth, soaking Arian's cock, adding lube.

It took no time to get the teen's uncircumcised cock to its fullest firm potential. Opening wide and swallowing deep, Jed sucked in as much of that beautiful dick as possible. Due to his experiences, Jed's gag reflex was not a very active one.

As a result of his extensive training Jed was rewarded by Arian's huge cock pushing his limits and challenging the depths of Jed's cock sucking ability.

Jed made spit as fast as he could, swallowing as little as possible. He coated his lovers cock, leaving it slick, glistening. His lips wrapped around Arian's fuck muscle, jaw pried wide and head bobbing as his own rock hard rod throbbed between his legs drooling on the shower floor.

Using his body weight for momentum, Jed was face fucking himself against his lover's now rock hard cock. He was determined to treat it like it was the last one in existence and was the key to life itself.

More than four years of pent up desire for his sweet Arian was rewarded again. Jed was going to make sure his stud got serviced right and would desire no-one else forever. When the QB started to thrust a little, Jed was slamming his mouth into Arian's thrusting hips. He took the cue and worked his hips, using Jed's wet mouth like it was a pussy.

Eyes watering, he was slightly gagging now, drooling like a Saint Bernard and almost cooing in delight. Still Jedidiah knelt there being treated like the slut that he felt he was. He truly believed he deserved nothing more that to be used. It was amazing to Jed as he felt Arian's shaft grow just a little harder.

His effort was rewarded with the salty sweet creamy smooth teen cum that he desired filling his mouth. Unable to swallow fast enough; cum, spit and throat mucus dripped out of the corners of his mouth and down his chin. The oral slurry made an unmistakable splat as the thick frothy liquid hit the concrete shower-pan.

Arian stood there trembling in post orgasmic bliss in his full naked glory caressing the younger teen's still cherubic face. He smiled down at Jedidiah and pointed at the boy's also impressively hard cock. "Let's do something about that."

"Arian, you don't have to... I'm so happy you liked it." Arian wiped the slime from the corners of the boy's mouth then washed his face, neck and body. Then Arian gently toweled him dry. All the while, he paid extra attention to Jed's crotch. Subtle brushes and pats designed to keep the boy happy and hard.

They returned to the bedroom and turned down the blankets. Jedidiah started to reach for his satin sleep-shirt. "Jed, it's your choice but you might want to start sleeping in the buff. Shifting in our sleep destroys a lot of clothing."

Jed blushed as Arian grabbed him by his erection leading him to the bed. Jed had missed seeing his lover grab something from the closet. As Jed slid between the sheets he finally noticed the bottle of lube Arian grabbed. "I thought you said you weren't going to fuck me tonight?"

"I'm not... No one said you weren't going to do me." Jed's mouth fell open. In his wildest dreams he never thought of penetration of another. His grandfather said his place was on the bottom. His place was only to receive the gifts of others. That thought was heard by his partner. "Jed, I have a lot to correct about your sexual education. Tonight is all for you."

Jedidiah started to protest as Arian straddled his lover's hips massaging lube onto Jed's cock and his hole. "Look at it this way if you have to, you are still on the bottom and I am in control." Jed couldn't argue with his logic. Even if he could, the feelings coming from his cock were just too good to ignore.

With his hole and Jed's rod thoroughly lubed, Arian aligned Jed's cock to his pucker. Jed's leaking precum became extra lube. Jed gasped as he felt how tight and slick Arian was inside. Jed marveled at the sight of the QB's toned furry, muscular ass taking the smaller teen's cock. It was insanely hot.

Now Arian started at a slow trot, riding Jedidiah's pole. He started encouraging Jed to thrust meeting his downward thrust. Arian began to ride him faster, forcefully fucking himself up and down on the cheer-boy's tool.

"This is my favorite position, I just love the cowboy. Right now your face is just so amazing. On occasion, I love being a power bottom, for the right guy." Arian's rejuvenated hard cock bounced against Jed's tummy leaking precum as Jed watched in frozen wonder while his alpha boy took his total pleasure from the younger teen's cock.

When Jed tried to reach between the QB's legs to jack him while he rode Jed's cock Arian slapped his hands away. "Jed, this is about giving YOU pleasure. Just enjoy. I saw, no one has ever cared about your pleasure have they?" Jed's eyes misted up as he shook his head no and averted his eyes. "Jed, look at me. I love you this much."

Jed and Arian erupted simultaneously; Jedidiah was amazed with the sheer number of ropes of cum that Arian painted across his stomach, chest, and face.

Arian was impressed with the fact that his boy, even after painting his insides was still firm enough to ride and ride he did. Jed could feel the semen seeping out of his alpha jock's ass running over his own balls as he continued to slowly grind.

Arian could feel Jed's cock spurt with every downward thrust. The alpha jock was determined to milk his pup for all he had. Finally, Jed couldn't take anymore. The razor fine line from pleasure to pain had been crossed.

"Please sir, I can't!" Arian laid down on top of his pup. They cuddled as Jed's spent tool gradually softened, but still stayed inside him until he got completely soft. Arian turned them both to face each other side by side.

The boy's drifted off into a deep sleep holding one another. Early in the morning Jedidiah's gift went active as he was dreaming. Jed could share his dreams bringing those he was close to in as silent witnesses. As Jed slept and remembered, Arian experienced Jed's years of hell.

As they slept Arian learned how close the connection would be between his boy and himself... He was drawn into Jed's dreams, and his remembrances. He saw through Jed's eyes everything that occurred and felt it as if he had lived it himself. Arian saw what Jedidiah wanted to tell him... to tell anyone so desperately.

The Dream/Remembrance...

They See How It Began...

This is the end of Chapter One...

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Thank you for sharing my fantasy. "Fantasies are fantasies because they are not reality, they are often taboo or rub up against social barriers," Ian Kerner PhD.

Thanks for reading.

Chase