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The drive home from the campsite was luckily noneventful. Though, my mind raced with ideas. Things I'd wanted to study for years, and now I had samples. Not unlimited, mind you, but I had them. My own blood. My own dna, was now that of a shifter.

I got home to my two-story townhome and parked the car in the carport, unlocked the door, ran inside, and went directly to the kitchen. My stomach--and my wolf--was growling for food. I opened my fridge and found lunchmeat and cheese. I opened the freezer and found the bread. I made myself a sandwich. I then went to my landline and checked the answering machine. Nothing. Ok. Good, work hadn't called while I was away.

As I ate, I pondered many things, the whole while my wolf scented our living space. Becoming familiar with the musty, stale air of a home that was not often lived in. I liked going camping, rock climbing, fishing, hunting, kayaking, rafting, etc. Anything outdoorsy and I was in. It was one of the reasons I'd moved to Fort Collins from New York a year and a half before. I loved the city, and I'd quickly gotten a job with the College of Natural Sciences at the local university. My Doctoral Thesis on the mating habits of alpha gray wolves being a big reason why the college hired me on. I hadn't yet achieved Tenure, but eventually.

I prodded my wolf internally, "Want to check it out?"

He perked up and nodded his head emphatically, "Do I ever!"

I took my clothes off this time, so I didn't ruin them. I shifted into my wolf form with the cracks and snaps I was quickly becoming accustomed to. My wolf barely fit in the hallway Let alone going up the narrow stairway. Yet he managed. Bowling through the townhome like a freight train. He ran through the upstairs and ran back down the stairs. He sniffed through the kitchen, the eating area, the laundry closet, and finally scented the bathroom before he curled up and relaxed. Perfectly content. It was odd, because he was I and I was he. However, when I was in my wolf form, much of my human thought process went into the background and my more feral, canine side came to the fore. It was almost like playing one of those third person shooters I'd grown up on. I was fully cognizant of what my wolf was doing, fully in control of that, yet he still had a mind of his own at times.

He dozed for a while longer before I knew it, it was time to head to the Pack House and to my mate's waiting arms. I prodded the wolf again, "Can I have control?"

"Of course. Drive us to our mate."

"Of course." Quicker than last time I shifted, and I noticed the cracking and snapping less this time. I went over to the couch where I'd placed my clothes and donned them before grabbing my phone and pulling up the location. It was by Horsetooth but it was further south than where the reservoir was. I pulled up the directions got into my car and drove off.

***

The pack house was huge. I gaped as I drove up and parked in one of the many parking spaces out front. I couldn't believe our pack had this much money. The house looked like a giant log cabin that sprawled over the property. It had a brilliant front entry with an alcove with a hanging sign saying: Horsetooth Wilds Pack House. I chuckled at the name.

I got out of my car and scented the air. My god that was a lot of people. I had to guess from the strongest scents that there were at least a hundred and fifty packmembers. Obviously, the whole pack couldn't live in the building, but it had enough room that they could all fit into the building for events. I walked into the building and was greeted by a very sensible, businesslike foyer with a concierge desk. I walked up to the desk where a petite blonde was sitting. "How may I help you today, sir?" She asked in a very guarded tone.

"I believe Alpha Michaels wanted me to meet him here. McNamara?" I replied in what I hoped was a cheerful tone.

"Ah here you are. Just have a seat over there. Alpha Michaels will be with you soon." She replied, warming up to me.

I went to sit down when I heard my mate's voice, "Ah, Cole. I'm so glad you came. Come we have much to discuss."

"Yes, Alpha."

"So, as I told you before, this is the pack house. It operates as a gathering place for our pack and as a location that the authorities can come and speak with us if they have questions. Which reminds me I need you to sign quite a few forms, today. Come with me."

"It's lovely. Do you live here, Alpha?"

"I do."

We continued walking down a long corridor which was lined with doors which reminded me of hotel rooms. They had numbers and they had card slot door locks like a modern hotel. Rickard paused in front of one at the very end of the hall and slid a card into the mechanism. I heard the whirr of the electric motor as it unlocked the door and he threw it open into what appeared to be the presidential suite of a hotel. "This," he said, "is my home. Welcome, Cole. I hope eventually you'll consider it home as well." As we walked in I noticed the dark hardwood floors in the foyer of the suite. A slate gray covered the walls and along the wall to my left I noticed a mirror under which a table sat with a set of keys laid on it.

"Wow!"

He nodded. Then he started walking off to the right down another hall and I noticed an open door into an office. The desk was strewn with papers and the monitor covered in sticky notes. As he bade me sit, he walked over to his chair and plopped down, kneading his temples, he asked, "Ready?"

"No?"

He barked a laugh. "No one ever is. Alright, first things first, this is a rundown of what happened last night. From what I gathered you were cooking dinner when our direwolf happened upon you, he chased you into the forest where you led him to that clearing. He lunged at you and you managed to fend him off with your arm for a while before he managed to get his muzzle close enough to your face where he scraped his teeth down your face. In shock, you slid your knife across the wolfs throat, killing it instantly. Sound about right?"

"Yes."

"Okay, so sign here, officiating that that is what happened. Next is this form. Acknowledging your mutation into a wolf shifter." I signed. "This one acknowledges that you are now under the jurisdiction of the Paranormal Affairs Office of Colorado." I signed.

The rest of the afternoon went something like that. I signed my name so many times my hand cramped. After all the paperwork, though, Rickard led me into his living room and we sat and watched some tv for a bit. As we watched I couldn't help but lean into him and take in his scent direct from the source. My god he smelt beautiful. Lilac and juniper berries. That's how I'd describe his smell.

It wasn't too long before I was dozing with my head on Rickard's shoulder. He didn't seem to mind. He turned off the TV and then before I knew what was happening he had me in a bridal carry and was taking me to his bedroom. He laid me down on his bed and kissed my forehead, "Goodnight, Cole."

I murmured a goodnight to him as well. Then everything faded, and I fell into the land of slumber.