FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

LYKOS: Inner Instinct

Chapter 2

(The Truth Comes Out)

* * * *

Bright, scorching sunlight bore down upon the university campus from the clear, deep blue sky up above. Even this late in the summer, the midday heat was intense, but that didn't stop the students at Cypress Ridge from spending any less time outside. Students were milling about along the walkways that snaked around the campus, walking to and from classes or just stopping to talk to friends. Even more students sat and mingled in the large campus quad outside of the Sutton Building, a large five-story brick structure that housed the administrative offices and loomed over the campus. Crowds of young men and women were sitting on the grassy lawn having lunch or getting started on their first class assignments, and others were having fun throwing around footballs and frisbees.

Vincent and Spencer were making their way down the brick lined path between the engineering building and Sutton, coming from their morning English class. Vincent was a few steps in front of Spencer, walking a bit quicker than usual as he took in all of the new scents and sounds. He'd been on the campus before, once to tour the university and again for orientation during the summer, but the campus seemed more alive today than ever. With every breath, he caught various whiffs of new and interesting scents: the combined aromatic and woodsy scent of all the trees and plants on campus, the musty smell of paper and dust drifting out of the library, and even the amalgam of different cuisines wafting from the campus cafeteria three buildings away.

Then there were other scents that he didn't recognize right away. He breathed in and caught a warm, spicy, and musky scent on the wind. He honed in on the scent and saw a couple making out against a building a few feet away. Lust. He sniffed again and a slightly acrid scent with a bitterness to it hit his olfactory nerves. He shook his head and turned toward the source of the smell, a kid who was nervously pacing back and forth and biting his nails. Anxiety. Fear. He could smell the emotions of the people around him.

Spencer had a big grin on his face as he watched Vincent running forward and sniffing all around, testing out his new sense of smell. It was nice seeing Vincent accepting his changes so readily after the breakdown they had a few hours earlier. He couldn't help but notice just how confident Vincent seemed after his transformation before class. Vincent was walking taller with an air of newfound confidence, and Spencer hadn't been able to take his eyes off of him all morning.

Vincent had always been cute in a nerdy kind of way, but now he was handsome and manly, muscled, broad shouldered, and hairy. They were now as much equals as much as friends, and that turned him on. Spencer could feel his cock growing hard in his pants, and he started to blush, quickly turning away from his friend and trying to think of other things to make his erection go away.

Vincent stopped and sniffed the air again. Spencer's musky, citrusy scent had gotten warmer and spicier. Lust. He turned around to see Spencer blushing, and he grinned knowingly. Spencer must have seen a cute girl he liked. It was the first day of their college experience and he was already thinking about finding a girlfriend.

"Hey, Spencer," Vincent called out, "We should get some lunch before our next classes!" Spencer looked at him and nodded, catching up to his friend as they made their way toward the cafeteria.

"So, how are you feeling?" Spencer asked, getting a bit serious. Vincent was silent for a moment as he thought about his answer.

"I feel good," Vincent answered, before shaking his head. "Well, not just good. I feel... more awake, like I've been living my whole life inside a cramped shell and I've finally broken free of it. It's like I'm able to experience a completely new level of the world that had been closed off to me until now. It all feels... amazing." He looked over at Spencer walking beside him, looking back at him with a soft smile on his face.

They were the same height, now, eye-to-eye for the first time since childhood, and even though it was exciting Vincent was still a bit unsure about the changes and what he had been turned into. They knew nothing about werewolves other than what they had been shown on the news. How were they going to figure any of this out on their own? Spencer could see the tension in his friend's face and smiled wider, slinging an arm around Vincent's shoulders.

"Well, I guess you're going to have to explain it to me in more detail over a nice burger." Vincent licked his lips and his stomach growled deeply in response.

"Make that two or three burgers," Vincent said, rubbing his stomach and feeling the defined abdominal muscles beneath the skin. "I think I've really worked up an appetite now that my metabolism has ramped up." He licked his lips as he imagined the savory taste of a juicy burger on his lips and tongue. "Ooh! What if they have meatloaf! Or chicken wings! Or maybe pork chops!"

"Dude, you're practically drooling," Spencer laughed, clapping Vincent on the shoulder. "I bet they have all that and more for you to eat. Thankfully, our meal plan lets us eat as much as we want from the cafeteria with one swipe. So, you can have yourself a feast fit for a wolf!"

"Then, what are we waiting for?!" Vincent asked, grabbing hold of Spencer's hand. "Come on! If we get there in time, we can beat the lunch rush!" The two sped ahead down the path, Vincent pulling Spencer forward as he easily weaved and dodged through the crowd.

A few yards away, a teen with red hair and a thick beard was sniffing the air. He was right. He had smelled another wolf, the faint smell of wet wood that came with being a werewolf was clear on the teenager's scent. His eyes brightened, and he smiled widely. He caught the scent on the wind once again, a mix of wet wood, warm, sharp ginger, and the earthy scent of thyme. They all combined to form a musky, heady scent that called out to him and comforted him. He had to meet this guy, and he had to tell the others. His phone vibrated in his hand, and he looked at the time. He was going to be late for his next class. The teen sniffed the air one last time, committing Vincent's scent to memory, before he ran off in the opposite direction toward the science building.

* * *

Walking around outside in one-hundred degree heat through college campuses was not how Xander had expected to spend his day. His olive skin was glistening with perspiration as he looked around the University of Houston for the teenager that Kaho had seen in her vision. She had described what he looked like in her vision once they had regrouped that morning: about eighteen or nineteen, light caramel brown skin, dark brown hair, brown eyes, glasses, thin, average height. Finding him, though, was proving difficult.

As a Tracer, Kaho could track the boy down the street from the alley, but no further. With only a description to go on, they had figured the only way they would find the kid was if they scoured every college campus looking for a sign of him, some essence that Kaho could lock onto. They had started their search at the colleges closest to the scene of the crime, but after visiting three colleges they still had no luck. Even the Keeper cadets they were in contact with at each of the colleges in the city had wound up empty-handed, so far.

Xander sighed, abandoning his search for the moment. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and looked around, spotting Kaho a few feet away from him talking to a student. She finished her conversation as Xander walked over to her, and she crossed her arms in frustration.

"No luck on your end, either?" Xander asked.

"No one I've talked to has seen a student matching our exact description," Kaho said, kicking at the ground. "I haven't even been able to find the slightest bit of an essence to grab onto. He's not here."

"I guess we move onto the next college?" Xander groaned.

"Yes, we still have to hurry to find the young man!" Kaho answered insistently. She knew her partner was somewhat inexperienced in the field, but the severity of the boy out there on his own should have been at the forefront of Xander's mind at the moment.

"There were no reports of a teenager matching the description turning up at the hospital last night?" Xander inquired.

"No, nothing yet, which is a good sign that he's still alive," Kaho answered, "It also means that he could still end up a direwolf and hurt people. We have to get to him before anything happens!"

"Alright, then," Xander said, gesturing toward the parking lot, "Onward to our next destination." Kaho gave him an unamused look but waved it off and made her way towards their vehicle with Xander sluggishly following behind her.

* * *

Rays of gold and orange sunlight filtered through the large windows into the art studio on the fourth floor of Burdine Hall. Vincent stared out over the campus walkways below, watching students reclaiming their lives now that classes were ending for the day. The sun was just starting to descend in the evening sky, casting shadows across the ground that were slowly growing as the sun dipped lower in the sky.

Sitting amongst his classmates in the large studio and waiting for his professor to finish her introductory presentation to the class, Vincent was finding it difficult to pay attention. There was so much in his life that had changed in just the past few hours, and he still hadn't been able to process it all in such a short time. The murder the night before. The panic attacks he'd been having. The realization that he had been turned into a werewolf. It was all so much at once.

"Alright, class, that's going to be it for today," his professor called out from the front of the room. "Remember to consult the syllabus and bring all of the supplies you'll need for our first project. I'll see you all again on Friday." Vincent quickly stood up and slid the tall stool he'd been sitting on under the large studio table before following his classmates out the door.

The smells and sounds that he'd been getting used to outside were almost overwhelming as he walked through the crowded halls. He was starting to become accustomed to some of the more common smells that lingered in the air, but his nose still twitched whenever he got a whiff of a sharp cologne or a kid who had gone too many days without a shower.

As bothersome as the smells were, the sounds indoors were even more overpowering. Chatter from all of the students and faculty inside of Burdine Hall bombarded his eardrums and surged over him like a tidal wave of noise. He could pick up on conversations happening all through the halls and on the floors above and below him, some with way more information than he even cared to accidentally overhear.

As he walked from the hallway into the large foyer with a staircase leading down to the first floor, a sharp, clear tone suddenly cut through the voices all around him. He looked around searching for the source of the noise and was surprised to see no one else reacting as he was. The sound stopped only a moment later, but then he picked up on a woman's voice that started to speak.

"My name's Sam. I'm twenty-three, a Pisces, I like to snowboard... and I'm a werewolf."

Vincent's eyes went wide. Another werewolf? He focused on the voice, trying to pinpoint its location. The first floor. He pushed through students in the hall, quickly making his way down the flight of stairs as the voice continued in his ears.

"I didn't even really know what that meant at first. I was bitten during the eclipse, and my whole life changed."

Vincent made it to the bottom floor and looked around before he spotted the television on the wall near the small cafe in the building. He got closer and saw the young woman who he'd been hearing. She was wearing a grey t-shirt and blue jeans and was sitting on a bench in an all white room. Her skin was kissed with a healthy tan, her long hair was dark brown and her eyes were the deepest darkest blue Vincent had ever seen.

"It could have been really scary, but I didn't have to go through it alone. I went to Futurza, and together we're finding answers. You can find them to. You don't have to be alone." The image on the television faded and the blue Futurza logo appeared above the company's web address.

"Futurza..." Vincent said under his breath. He had heard that name before. Their commercial had been everywhere the last few weeks, saturating television channels, online videos, and even the radio. Their message was one of optimism, that science would win out over emotions, and even in a time of uncertainty people would continue to grow and prosper.

The logo faded after a few seconds and another commercial for a fast food chain started playing, breaking Vincent from his thoughts. He turned away from the screen and made his way out of the building. Maybe he and Spencer should look into Futurza and see what they were all about. He knew the company had their headquarters located just downtown, so it couldn't hurt to visit and ask how they might be able to help.

He pulled out his phone, looked up the commercial on YouTube, and sent it to Spencer asking him to watch it and to meet in their dorm. He quickly started making his way towards Ryder Hall, with a newly invigorated sense of hope, feeling more determined than he had all day.

* * *

The sky was taking on the rich pink and purple tones of a beautiful sunset as day slowly transitioned into twilight. Crickets were coming out for their nighttime symphony, and the moon was already visible high above. As Kaho pulled the large black SUV into the side parking lot of Cypress Ridge University near the freshman dorm, she hoped that the Keeper cadet who had called a few minutes earlier had some useful information for them.

"Where did Thomas say he was going to meet us?" Kaho asked, looking over at Xander.

"He said that he would meet us by the side entrance to Ryder Hall with one of his wolves," Xander said, looking at his phone. "From what I can see on the campus map, we must be close. It should just be somewhere over there." He pointed towards a four-story brick building to their immediate right.

"I guess we get down and look around for them, then," Kaho said, opening the driver side door and stepping out. Xander quickly followed suit and walked closely behind the twenty-six year old as they made their way toward the building ahead. As they approached, a teenager with coppery red hair ran around the corner of the building. He was dressed plainly in blue jeans and a simple black t-shirt. The boy sniffed the air and looked them over for a second before he waved at them. He turned back and called out at someone else around the corner of the building before he started running towards Kaho and Xander.

"I knew I could smell the Keeper herbs on you two," the redhead said as he approached them. "Nice to meet you, guys. Name's Noah," he grinned, holding out his hand. Kaho took his outstretched hand and shook it, feeling the power in the young man's solid handshake and tight grip.

"Kaho," the older Keeper replied, "And that's Xander. Are you the werewolf who saw the student we're looking for?" she asked, quickly getting to the point. Noah nodded.

"Yeah, I saw him this afternoon on my way to class," Noah said, "I caught his scent as I was making my way across the quad, and it was a different scent than I knew from the other two wolves on campus. So, I followed my nose and saw him on his way to the cafeteria with another guy. I would have caught up with him to introduce myself, but I was already going to be late for my biology class. It wasn't until I told Thomas about the new wolf that I found out there were Keepers looking for him."

"Actually, speaking of the devil," Xander said, seeing another teenager come running up behind Noah. Thomas's floppy locks of curly brown hair bounced around as he made his way toward the group. He was wearing black jeans and a thin, forest green hoodie over a white t-shirt with the university's logo printed on the front.

"Hi, Kaho. Xander." Thomas said, pushing up his glasses and looking between the two Keepers. "I thought you two were just in town for our training last week. Are you both transferring to Houston full-time?"

"It turns out they want more Keepers positioned in the bigger cities to help deal with the aftermath of the eclipse," Xander answered. "So, we're going to to be here until things become a bit more stable. Though, with the large amount of werewolf disappearances and the hunter attacks still happening across the city right now, it doesn't seem like we'll be departing any time soon."

"Speaking of which," Kaho said, bringing them back on topic, "the student we're looking for was bitten when trying to help out a werewolf that had been the victim of a hunter attack."

"Oh! He sounds brave," Noah said, his eyes glinting brightly. He turned to look at Thomas. "Maybe he's what we've been looking for, too, Thomas?" Kaho cleared her throat.

"We still don't know what he is," Kaho stated, growing impatient with the young man. "Anyway, were you two able to find out more about him or where he is?"

"I was able to sniff out what dorm he's living in," Noah answered, gesturing to the large brick building they were standing next to. "Thomas and I went up to his room just now, but we came up empty. The name tags on the door said the occupants' names were Vincent Gomez and Spencer Atwood. Unfortunately, both he and his roommate weren't in the room when we knocked, and it seems like they left a few minutes before we got there."

"Well, there goes our lead," Xander groaned.

"I memorized the wolf's scent this morning," Noah quickly added. "I was able to catch it pretty easily, so it shouldn't be hard for me to follow his scent and help you find him." Kaho raised an eyebrow and nodded.

"That seems like the best plan we have at the moment," she said, turning to Thomas. "We're going to need you to stay on campus. Let us know if they get back before we can track them down."

"Alright. I can do that," Thomas answered.

"Good," Kaho said, quickly moving onto the redhead. "Noah, can you tell which way they went?"

"Their trail leads to the parking lot, so I think they must have driven off."

"Then we don't have much time before the trail goes cold," Kaho said, already starting to move toward the SUV. "Let's get on the road before we lose them again."

"I call shotgun!" Noah called out, running ahead of the two older Keepers. He turned around and waved at Thomas, "I'll text you if we find them!" Thomas held a thumbs up in the air and waved back.

"Good luck!" Thomas shouted back as he watched the three enter the large vehicle. The engine quickly revved to life, and the black SUV pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road in pursuit of their wanted werewolf.

* * *

The drive from Cypress Ridge to downtown Houston took a bit longer for Vincent than the night before, as the two teenage men had left at the perfect time to hit the evening traffic on the highway. The sun had fallen behind the skyline just as they were making their way into the city, a stripe of pale orange on the horizon fading into the deep indigo of the night sky. The city still shined like a beacon in the night, the orangey-yellow light spilling out from the windows of tall skyscrapers and bright LED street lamps lighting up the roads and highway.

"Do you think this is the right thing to do?" Vincent asked, gazing over at Spencer in the passenger seat. "What if they turn me into a lab rat?"

"I think you'd be more of a 'lab wolf'," Spencer joked, snickering under his breath at his horrible pun. "They don't seem like a horrible company," he added, scrolling through the Futurza website on his phone. "They list a bunch of environmental studies they're working on, new ways of creating energy, experiments to find elusive particles of matter. Though, strangely enough, all they have on their website about Wolves is a bunch of promotional videos like the ads we watched earlier. That, and a waiver to sign up for their study. There's nothing about treatment or what exactly they do for you."

"Maybe they just tell you those things in person?" Vincent questioned, "It probably isn't the best business practice to put their treatment procedures online where their competitors could just take it for themselves."

"I guess that makes sense," Spencer mumbled, reading through another long article on the website written by the company's current CEO, Naomi Bennet. "So, what's the plan? You're not just going to go in there and sign up for their study, right?"

"No, I don't think so," Vincent said, "I'm just going to go in and ask if they have any information that could help me out. Maybe they have a pamphlet for the study I can take with me to read over."

"That's... kind of a plan," Spencer said flatly, looking up from his phone. "I just don't want you getting in over your head hoping for a miracle cure."

"Spence, I got in way over my head as soon as I decided to help that werewolf in the alley," Vincent sighed. "At least I might be able to find some people who can tell me more about what exactly I am at Futurza. Now, what's the address for the headquarters? Did you find directions to it from the highway?"

"It's not a hard building to spot," Spencer said, pointing towards the Houston cityscape. "You see the huge glass skyscraper with the steel hexagons on the outside? That's where we're headed. That's Futurza's headquarters."

Vincent looked out across the city to their right at the huge buildings that towered over the landscape. The Futurza building stood tall and bright, a behemoth monolith of steel and glass that was only shorter than two of the surrounding skyscrapers. It loomed over the city, giving the impression of both a beacon of hope and a scrutinizing eye over the city. It was an intimidating structure, but Vincent hoped the people inside would be a resource of knowledge for him to consult about what he had become.

He exited the highway and drove into the city proper. Being among the streets and people again, dwarfed by the giant structures all around, reminded him of the night before and of how much had changed in only a day. No longer was he just another person in the city. He was different, now, an outlier in a way that not many others in the world could claim. His heart began to beat quicker in his chest, his breathing becoming more laborious. At last, he pulled onto the side of the road, shut off the ignition, and looked ahead at the Futurza building before them. He gripped the steering wheel for a moment as he regained his composure, pushing the panicked feeling back down.

"I guess I'm really doing this," Vincent said, looking over at his friend. Spencer smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

"I'll be with you every step of the way, buddy," Spencer said. Vincent nodded.

"Let's see what we can find out," Vincent said, opening his door and stepping out into the warm night. He looked around, taking in the surrounding streets and buildings, before he glanced across the street at their destination.

Up close, the Futurza building was even more brilliant. There were large planters lined up in a neat pattern around the building, bringing a needed spark of nature to an area so engrossed with concrete, glass, and steel. Within each raised planter grew a large tree that could serve as a nice shady place to sit and eat lunch for anyone that worked in the facility. At night, however, they were ominous shadowy growths of swaying leaves and branches that obscured the light inside the lobby from reaching the street.

As the two young men crossed the street, the cover from the trees lifted and the inner foyer could be seen clearly through the thick panes of glass. The floor was crafted out of large, polished obsidian black tiles. Four large fountains made of textured glass panels rose high into the air and ran the length of the long foyer, cascading clear water down into shallow, recessed pools below. Small planters that held small trees had been placed in a row, similar to the ones outside the building, and steel benches had been placed on either side of them.

The brightly lit interior was intense compared to the dimly lit exterior, but gave a welcoming air to the facility. The Vincent couldn't see anyone inside at the moment, but he figured there must be someone at the front desk to see them once they entered. As they stepped onto the opposite sidewalk, Vincent's ears suddenly twitched as he heard the sound of running feet coming towards them. He turned and saw a teenager with a huge grin on his face rapidly making his way down the sidewalk, waving his right arm wildly at them.

"I found you!" Noah shouted, picking up speed. Vincent looked back at the guy with a look of confusion on his face before turning to Spencer.

"Do you know him?" Vincent asked. Spencer quickly shook his head, and Vincent looked back at the redhead. "I think you have the wrong people!" he said as the teenager got within earshot.

"No, it's you," Noah said, stopping a few feet from the two boys as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. He typed out a quick text and looked back up at Vincent. "Oh! Huh. You're more handsome up close than they've been describing you," Noah said nonchalantly, making Vincent blush.

Vincent looked over the teenager now that he was out of the dark. He had wavy, fiery copper red hair and a short, bushy red beard that stood out on his fair skin and called attention to the freckles that were dotted across the bridge of his nose. He was tall, about Spencer's height, and he had the lean but muscled form of a swimmer. His dark brown eyes reflected the light coming from the street lamps above them, and were a contrast to the brightness of his red hair and light skin. Noah was typing on his phone, for a few seconds, before he brought it up for Vincent to read.

"You're the guy who was bitten last night, the one that the Keepers are looking for," the note read. Vincent stared at the message, before narrowing his gaze on the scruffy redhead.

"How do you know about last night?" Vincent asked, quickly getting defensive. "Who are you? Who's looking for me? Are the guys from last night coming back to finish me off?!" His final question trailed off into a growl as his eyes turned gold. His claws quickly pushed out of his fingertips and his fangs got longer and sharper, making it harder for him to close his mouth all the way. His thick stubble grew out into thick mutton chops down his jaw as he growled at the teenager, shielding Spencer with his body.

"Woah! No need to let the wolf out, dude, someone might see!" Noah whispered, looking around to make sure they were alone. "Look, my name's Noah. I go to school at Cypress Ridge with you two, and I'm also a wolf." His eyes suddenly flashed from brown to a bright amber for a moment before returning to normal. "See?"

"Wait, there's more wolves at our university?" Spencer asked quietly, placing a hand on Vincent's shoulder to calm him down. Vincent took a deep breath and felt his claws and fangs return to normal, the hair on his face receding.

"Look, there's a lot to explain, but it's best we do it where we're not being monitored," Noah said, eyeing the surveillance cameras on the side of the Futurza building. "We'll have more time to talk once I get you somewhere safe." He sniffed the air and turned towards the boy's blue Toyota Camry. "Mind driving? As much fun as running is, we probably shouldn't be out in the streets the night after a hunter attack."

"Umm... I guess," Vincent muttered, still a bit unsure of the teenager they had just met.

"Awesome! I call shotgun!" Noah called out.

"Hey, that's my spot!" Spencer complained before looking at Vincent. "Are you sure we can trust him?"

"I think so," Vincent answered, "He's like me, which means he and whoever he's taking us to see might have even more information than Futurza does. I say it's worth the risk to trust him."

"Alright," Spencer agreed, looking across the street at the teenager standing by their car. "Let's go get some answers."

* * *

Vincent wasn't sure where Noah was taking them, at first. They took numerous right turns, then left turns, went down streets for blocks, and then doubled back on their route going the other way. Noah took the boys in a meandering route across the city and had them stop at a few points to make sure anyone tracking them would have a hard time doing so. The extra time in the car gave Vincent and Spencer the chance to introduce themselves to Noah and find out a little more information about where they were headed and the people they were meeting.

After about thirty minutes, Vincent pulled the car into a parking garage on the corner of a street across from a shopping plaza. Noah led them down the street and towards a shop called Glazed & Glorious Donuts. Looking through the large shop window, it appeared that the small, independently owned bakery had just closed for the day. Simple light fixtures hung down from the rafters, casting down a warm creamy orange glow that dimly lit the store's interior. The wooden chairs had already been picked up and placed upside down on top of the large, square oak dining tables that lined the right side of the shop.

A lone server stood inside the store, wiping down the serving counter with a wet cloth. He looked a bit older than the teens, probably around twenty-four years old, and had on the shop's embroidered pink apron over a plain white t-shirt and blue jeans. Even as they approached, Vincent could see the small flairs of individualistic personality the server wore on his body.

The man's luxurious black hair was shaved short on the sides and left long on top, styled to the left in a wide swoop. On his right ear hung a small gold earring that glinted in the dim light whenever the server moved around. Vincent could also make out a large tattoo of what looked like the treeline of a pine forest that ran up the length of his forearm and contrasted nicely against his well-tanned skin. The trio outside knocked on the door, immediately grabbing the server's attention He jumped over the counter and quickly ran to unlock the door for them.

"Noah, you're back!" the server said, immediately shifting his gaze over to Vincent, "Is that him? You found him!"

"Thankfully he was pretty easy to track by scent," Noah answered, entering the shop and beckoning Vincent and Spencer in behind him. He gestured towards the server. "Guys, meet Derek. He's the Keeper who watches over the store and makes sure everything keeps running in front of the operation. Derek, this is Vincent and Spencer."

"It's nice to meet you guys, but you probably shouldn't keep Kaho waiting. She's in the back with Xander."

"Alright, we better head back, then," Noah said, "Come on, guys." He led the boys into the kitchen at the back of the shop and stopped when they came up to a door marked "Breakroom". He opened the door and motioned for the boys to walk inside. Instead of finding a run of the mill lounge for employees, the boys were ushered into a neatly decorated sanctuary.

Thick, leather-bound books lined the shelves of a set of tall oak bookcases that covered the back wall of the room. To their right was a huge set of wooden cabinets and a workstation that looked right out of a chemistry lab. A bunsen burner sat in the center of the large desk and different sized vials and bottles filled with various herbs and colored chemicals had been left scattered across the workspace. In the center of the room, at a table dressed with a dark purple tablecloth, sat Kaho and Xander in mid-conversation. They looked up as the boys entered the room and stood to greet them.

"Vincent and Spencer, this is Kaho and Xander," Noah said, closing the door behind them and stepping further into the room. "These are the Keepers that were looking for you, Vincent."

"I'm sorry that we are meeting under such unusual circumstances," Kaho said, calling the boys closer, "Please, have a seat. We have quite a bit to discuss." Vincent looked at Spencer for reassurance before he stepped forward and took a seat at the table. Spencer sat down in the open chair to his left, and Noah stepped behind Kaho, leaning against one of the bookshelves.

"Noah told us a bit about you on our way over here," Vincent said, "He told us you were investigating the attack on the werewolf who bit me."

"Yes, Xander and I are a part of a group of individuals called Keepers," Kaho stated, "It is our sworn duty as Keepers to protect werewolves from harm and guard the secret of their existence from the world at large."

"I guess you all slipped up during the eclipse in April," Spencer muttered coldly.

"That was not our fault!" Xander harshly replied.

"Xander, no need to get upset," Kaho said stoically, "What happened during the eclipse was a horrific travesty, one we wish we could have prevented, but it was ultimately out of our control. There were forces at play even greater than the Keepers could handle. Now, we're doing all we can to help make things right to the best of our ability as a worldwide organization so that we can once again make the world a safe place for werewolves to coexist alongside humans."

"I have a lot of questions," Vincent said. Kaho turned to him and nodded.

"As you should," she said, "being turned can be a harsh and sudden change to a person's life, especially when it happens without warning. I can only imagine how scary it must be for you, to suddenly feel as if you're sharing your body with another entity. And, before you ask, as much as I would like to give you your old life back, that's unfortunately not possible."

"Well, if there's not a cure, can you at least tell me more about what I am?" Vincent asked, "Did I contract some sort of virus from the guy who bit me last night?"

"No, not a virus," Kaho answered, "Becoming a werewolf is an inherently magical process. Werewolves stem from an ancient curse that was placed upon an ancient king named Lycaon and his sons as punishment by Zeus, transforming them into wolves."

"Hold up, you're saying that the gods are real?" Spencer asked, a look of shock and confusion on his face.

"They did exist at one point, yes," Kaho replied, "Though they've since departed our world. The curse is just one of the lingering effects that continues despite their absence."

"How did the curse spread from them to others?" Vincent asked, "Did they just go around biting people and turning them?"

"Not necessarily," Kaho replied, "The curse can be spread two different ways. If two werewolves have a baby together, that child will inherit the curse from their parents."

"That's right!" Noah said, interjecting, "That's how the curse was passed onto me. My mom's side of the family has been werewolves for decades."

"The other way to receive the curse is to be turned," Kaho continued, "Usually that occurs through a bite, but it could also happen through the insemination or ingestion of werewolf semen. As soon as a human is turned, the curse is passed on and their wolf self is formed."

"Oh," Vincent groaned, "So, I basically have an STD now?"

"It's comparable to one," Xander said, "which means you probably shouldn't have sex with humans in case you accidentally pass the curse to them."

"What's the big deal if he turns someone else?" Spencer asked, "From what I've seen with Vincent, becoming a werewolf isn't all that bad." Kaho and Xander's faces quickly turned into ones of concern. "Unless, that's not always the case," Spencer mumbled.

"Vincent was... lucky," Kaho said, "Only a third of people actually become werewolves after they're turned."

"What happens to the other two-thirds of people?" Vincent asked slowly.

"We have a mantra in the werewolf community," Noah said, "One of us, one of them, or not at all."

"That's why we try to keep the amount of people turned into werewolves as close to zero as possible," Kaho replied, "The outcome is more often than not less than ideal."

"So, break it down for me," Spencer said, "One of us. What does that mean?"

"That means you become a werewolf," Noah answered, "You're able to shift like Vincent did earlier, and on the full moon you transform into a huge Primal Wolf."

"Okay, that's pretty straightforward," Vincent said, "What does the next phrase mean?"

"One of them," Kaho said, "That involves a bit more of an explanation. I said earlier that Lycaon and his sons were cursed by Zeus and turned into wolves. Most of them were able to tame the curse over time and regained the humanity they had once lost, but not all of his sons wanted to be tamed. A faction of his sons wanted to run wild and revel in their brutal and vicious nature. The wolves that regained their humanity, the ones that overcame their instincts, became what we call the Claw Clan. The others that were ruled by their lust and ferocity became the direwolves, the Fang Clan."

"You've seen the footage from the night of the eclipse," Xander stated, "The image of wolves just bursting out of human bodies? Those were direwolves, not werewolves. For direwolves, the human dies whenever they transform as the wolf inside rips out of their body. At the end of the transformation the direwolf dies and the human has to climb out, who is unaware of anything they did as a direwolf."

"That sounds horrifyingly painful," Spencer muttered.

"It is a difficult existence for most direwolves," Kaho said, "Even those who try to commit suicide fail because the wolf takes over, and its wounds heal. It is a life I would not wish upon anyone."

"That's disheartening," Spencer said, lowering his head, "So, those are the first two. What about the last one about? 'Not at all.' Does the curse just not work? Would the person stay a human?"

"In all accounts the curse will take," Kaho responded, "There are some people, however, whose bodies will reject the curse. In those cases... the person dies."

"Shit," Spencer blurted out. He turned to look at Vincent, a sad look on his face. "You really are lucky. You could have died." Vincent winced. If he hadn't been so lucky, he wouldn't even be alive. He would have left his parents without a son, Spencer without a friend.

"That... puts things into perspective," Vincent muttered, suddenly aware of his own mortality.

"Again, I'm sorry for any pain this knowledge causes you," Kaho said, "I hope knowing all this will give you a deeper understanding of what it means to be a werewolf and how important it is for you to be careful with that power." Vincent nodded.

"Yeah, it's a lot to take in," he sighed, "but I promise to be careful."

"And, you don't have to do it alone," Noah said, "You have me and the other wolves at the university to help you through this. You're a part of our pack now."

"Thanks," Vincent said, "It'll be nice to have others to experience this with."

"Speaking of your pack," Kaho started, "Spencer has a role to play in that, too."

"I do?" Spencer asked, "But, I'm not a werewolf. How can I be a part of their pack?"

"Your role will be vital in helping protect Vincent and the other wolves as well as keeping their secret."

"So, I'd become a Keeper?"

"Indeed," Kaho replied, "There's currently only one Keeper cadet at Cypress Ridge taking care of, now, four wolves on campus. Thomas will be able to run you through the basics, but since Xander and I will be in town, we could train you and teach you the magic that we use to keep werewolves safe." Spencer looked surprised at that.

"Yeah, count me in," Spencer said, "I want to help and do all I can to keep Vincent safe."

"Perfect," Xander said, "We can start training in a couple weeks, but you should probably meet Thomas and start learning the basics so you're ready to help during the full moon this Saturday."

"What happens during the full moon?" Vincent asked, "Well, besides us turning into gigantic wolves."

"The different packs within the city usually get together to transform at a nearby state park or nature reserve, depending on the choice of the pack," Noah said, "With over 500 wolves living in Houston, it's quite the congregation of people. So, we usually split up between locations so as not to overwhelm the area with a whole bunch of apex predators."

"The Keepers are there to help protect the wolves from any harm," Xander said, "while also keeping them contained in the forests during their primal transformation. We can get into specifics the night of, but just mark it on your calendar so you don't forget. It's on a Tuesday next week, so plan accordingly for your classes." Kaho shifted in her seat and cleared her throat, looking across the table at the two teenagers.

"Well, I think that's enough information to impart on you both for one night," Kaho said, standing and bowing, "I would like to apologize one last time for any inconvenience we caused you, tonight, getting you here. I'm glad to know that you're safe and have a friend to look out for you."

"We were on our way to Futurza hoping to get some information from them when Noah found us," Vincent said, getting up from his chair, "Luckily, you all had better answers than I bet they could have given me." Xander and Kaho's eyes widened at the mention of Futurza.

"I'm glad Noah found you when he did, then," Kaho muttered, "I'm suspicious of any corporation having an interest in werewolves, let alone one as large as Futurza. It doesn't sit well with me, especially when they are having werewolves sign up to participate in a secret study. The Keepers have been doing our best to look into their claims of helping people who were turned during the blood moon eclipse, but they're almost better than us at keeping their secrets hidden from prying eyes."

"They seem like a reasonable enough group of people," Spencer said.

"That's how they appear on paper, but I sense that there might be more to their story," Kaho replied, "We can discuss that further at a later date, though. It would be a huge help if you could give Noah a ride back to the university. Xander and I have to stick around here for a bit."

"That should be fine," Vincent said, looking to Spencer for his approval.

"Alright, but I get to ride in the front on the way back," Spencer said, eyeing the redhead. Noah grinned and nodded.

"Thank you again, Kaho and Xander," Vincent said, "Have a goodnight."

"Goodnight," Kaho replied, waving goodbye as the boys closed the door behind them.

* * *

The drive back to Cypress Ridge was a quiet one for the young men. Vincent and Spencer were both deep in thought the entire way, processing all of the information that the two Keepers had passed onto them, while Noah sat in the backseat checking his phone. Vincent kept glancing over at Spencer, hoping his more extroverted friend would have something to say, but he just kept quiet, staring out his window as they made their way back to campus.

"It was good to meet you, Noah," Vincent said as they walked back to their dorm. "Hopefully we can hang out again in less dire circumstances, and you can introduce me to the other guys in the pack sometime." He held out his hand for Noah to shake, but the scruffy redhead just stared at it.

"A handshake?" he asked, looking up at Vincent, "Dude, we're packmates. We can be a bit more informal than that." He stepped towards Vincent and wrapped his arms around him in a gentle hug. Vincent was taken aback for a second before a calming, comfortable feeling washed over him, and he returned the hug. Noah rested his chin on Vincent's shoulder, and Vincent did the same, sniffing lightly at Noah's neck. He picked up on Noah's scent, registering it in his mind, a combination of wet cedar wood, mint, and rosemary. Safe. Comforting. His packmate. The hug only lasted for a few seconds, but it felt far longer for Vincent. Finally, he felt Noah start to let go and he stepped back. "See that wasn't so bad, now."

"No, it was nice," Vincent smiled, blushing slightly, "I... uh, like the way you smell." Noah smiled.

"Your scent is really nice, too," he said. He turned around quickly and ran up to Spencer, giving him a big hug, too. "I couldn't leave you out, Spencer. You're also part of the pack." Spencer chuckled and patted Noah on the back a few times.

"Well, it's been a long day," Spencer said, uncomfortably, "I think we should head off to bed." Noah let go and nodded.

"Alright," he said, "Hopefully I'll see you guys around. Don't be strangers." He turned to Vincent, "If you need to find me, just find my scent." He tapped his finger on the side of his nose a few times, before he waved goodbye and ran down the path to his dorm.

"He seems pretty cool," Vincent said, looking back at Spencer.

"Yeah, he's nice," Spencer replied, yawning, "Let's get back up to our room. I'm feeling beat."

The two entered the building through the side entrance and made it up to their room. Vincent kicked off his shoes and stripped off the borrowed clothes down to his boxer briefs before staring at himself in the mirror for a few minutes. He sighed, seeing how much he'd changed again, before moving away from the mirror and flopping down on his back in bed.

Spencer had also stripped down to his underwear, and was sitting in his desk chair, swiveling around absentmindedly as he looked over his class schedule for the following day. Vincent looked up from where he was laying and gazed at Spencer, worried that his friend had been so shut off since they left the Keeper's safe house.

"So, how are you feeling about everything we learned tonight?" Vincent asked, hoping to prod some conversation from his friend. Spencer stopped moving in his chair, still staring down at his desk.

"It was... more than I expected," Spencer muttered, "It's made me question a bunch of stuff I thought I knew."

"How so?" Vincent asked, glad that Spencer was opening up.

"Werewolves, direwolves, curses... all that information, it... it changed my perspective on things a bit," Spencer sighed. He was quiet for what felt like another eternity before he continued, "If I'm going to be the Keeper of your secrets, I... want you to keep a secret for me, too."

"Of course, Spencer," Vincent said, sitting up in bed, "You know I'd do anything for you."

"Fuck," Spencer winced, looking across the room at Vincent. "You saying that just makes things harder. I know I should have said something sooner, but... I never felt ready. And, now you're a werewolf, which makes things a hell of a lot more complicated..." He trailed off and looked down at his hands, fidgeting nervously and biting his bottom lip as he paused for a moment.

Vincent's heart was in pain as he watched Spencer breaking down in front of him. The person who he'd always considered his rock to hold onto when things got tough was coming apart at the seams. Spencer looked back up at Vincent, sniffling a bit as he wiped away tears in his eyes.

"Vincent... I'm gay," Spencer said. Vincent stood up, ready rush over and comfort his friend, but Spencer held a hand up and continued. "I've only really known for a few years, now, but I kind of always had different feelings for a guy that stood out amongst my other relationships."

"Who's that?" Vincent asked quietly as he sat back down. Spencer was astonished for a second before he started chuckling.

"What do you mean?" Spencer asked rhetorically. "It's YOU, Vincent."

"ME?!" Vincent exclaimed, surprised by Spencer's words. Spencer smiled softly and got up from his chair, making his way across the room. He stood in front of Vincent and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It's cute how oblivious you are," Spencer said, looking directly into Vincent's eyes. "You've always been so sweet and kind, ever since we were kids. I admired you so much growing up and always wanted to be by your side. I guess eventually those feelings turned into a crush, and then that continued to develop into something more." A tear started to slide down Vincent's cheek, but Spencer wiped it away and caressed Vincent's face, running his hand across the thick stubble that had grown quickly across his friend's jaw.

"I've loved you for such a long time, Vince. It was so painful keeping my feelings hidden from you, but... I was so scared of losing you that I kept them to myself." He lowered his head and a few tears fell down his cheek onto Vincent's lap. "And... now, after waiting so long for the right time, I feel like I missed my chance," Spencer sobbed. He breathed deeply, catching his breath as he tried to steady himself. "I just wanted to be with you. That's all I've ever wanted."

"Then what's stopping you?" Vincent asked insistently, the first time he'd spoken in minutes. Spencer paused looking down at Vincent.

"Didn't you hear the Keepers?" Spencer retorted, "One tiny nick of your fangs, and I could die." Vincent sighed. Spencer was right, even if they wanted to be together, the fear of something accidental happening would always be on their minds. There was also the question of his own sexuality. He'd never really taken the time to figure out who he liked. His mind had always been too busy on schoolwork and extracurriculars to ever think about finding a date. But... he did love Spencer. They had been best friends for as long as he could remember, and they did just about everything together. Maybe this is what all their years of knowing each other had been leading up to.

"Spencer, after everything you've told me, how could you just give up so easily?" Vincent asked. He wrapped his big arms around Spencer in a tight hug and pulled him closer, resting his head on Spencer's stomach. "From what the Keepers told us tonight, being a werewolf, though rewarding, is a dangerous lifestyle. There's so much out to get us, and if I'm not careful a stupid mistake could mean my life." He paused, letting that sink in, before he continued.

"I love you, Spencer, with all my heart. I never thought I was gay, but... I can't think of anyone I'd want to be with more. Now, more than ever, I need you by my side. You're my protector, my Keeper. You're my best friend and, if you're still up to the idea, I... I want to be your boyfriend, too. I promise to do everything in my power to give you the love you deserve, and, as long as we're careful, I think we can make this work." He looked back up at Spencer, whose eyes were wet with tears. "What do you think?" Spencer's mouth formed a soft smile and he nodded.

"Are you sure?" Spencer asked hesitantly. Vincent chuckled lightly and grabbed onto Spencer's arms.

"Come here," Vincent said, pulling Spencer down onto his bed with him. Spencer lowered himself onto the mattress, his hands on both sides of Vincent's bare chest. He slowly laid down on Vincent's hairy torso, pinning his friend beneath him as their groins gently pressed together. He smiled nervously down at Vincent, just inches away from his face.

Vincent could sense the trepidation in Spencer, his heart beating rapidly in his chest, much like his own. He was nervous and a bit scared, but also extremely happy and excited. He smiled widely, and craned his head towards Spencer, tilting it to the side as he gently placed his lips against Spencer's. He slowly pushed in closer, using his lips to massage and manipulate Spencer's mouth, as they started to get more comfortable. It was clear they didn't have much experience kissing and that neither had kissed a boy before, but as soon as their lips touched a fire began to burn between them.

Spencer's eyes fluttered shut as he leaned further into the kiss, bringing his hands up to Vincent's face and caressing his cheeks. He massaged his fingers into the thick, bristly stubble, loving how rough it felt against his palms. He began to comb his fingernails through the hair, kissing Vincent more confidently.

Vincent's heart began to beat even faster the more he got into it. His kisses began to get more forceful and messy as he lapped his tongue around Spencer's lips before plunging it inside his mouth. All the nerves that he had felt before were gone now, it was just him and Spencer. He felt safe, protected, and most of all loved by the person in his life that meant the most to him. It was in that safety that he started to relax from the stresses of the day, letting go and falling into his instincts, allowing his wolf and it's most carnal desires to be set free.

As they kissed, Vincent's stubble began to push out further between Spencer's fingers, growing thick and dense across his cheeks and upper lip, pushing out an inch, then two. Spencer felt the short fangs began to lengthen and sharpen around his tongue as Vincent's mouth began to shift and push out slightly from his face. His ears tingled and pushed out into points, fur growing on the tips. Pressed together under Spencer's weight, Vincent could feel his groin began to throb and swell larger in his underwear, pinned tightly against Spencer's own hardening member under his weight.

Vincent began to pant, grunting and moaning as his kisses got more and more intense. Spencer could feel Vincent's body getting hotter beneath him, his friend's skin burning warmly and pouring out heat as his body hair grew thicker across his chest and torso. Dense brown fur quickly pushed out of Vincent's arms and legs. Vincent's hands were pawing across Spencer's back, grabbing at him, never wanting to let go. Spencer tasted so good, he felt so good. He loved Spencer with all his being, and he wanted more.

He pushed Spencer off him and threw him onto his back, placing his hands on Spencer's broad, muscled shoulders as he pinned him in place. He straddled Spencer on the bed, his legs on either side of him, as he brought his hips down, grinding his bulging groin against Spencer's hips. Vincent had never felt as horny as he was now, grunting and groaning as he let out his pent up lust. He loved the way he felt, the heat, the passion, all of it for Spencer, but, even though it felt good to let loose, he still knew he had to be careful.

He redirected his feelings, channeling them all across his body, focusing on other parts of his pleasure. He felt his muscles slowly start to expand, and he groaned lewdly as his shoulders and rib cage popped and grew wider to accommodate more thick muscle. His arms throbbed as his biceps and triceps plumped with firm muscle, his abdominal muscles pushed out further, and his thighs grew massive as he added on pounds of muscle in seconds. His hair started lengthening, pushing out the top of his head and down his back, which was growing its own fine layer of fur. His fangs got sharper and fur grew up over his pointed ears, blending them into his short beard and long hair.

Spencer glanced up at Vincent, his vision clouded with lust as he stared at his best friend moaning and growling over him while he grew larger and more animalistic. He shuddered with pleasure at every thrust of Vincent's hips into his, the blue boxer briefs stretched to their limits as Vincent's turgid cock coated them with pre and tented them proudly. His own erection stood at attention, his grey underwear straining around the six inch pole of hot, hard flesh with a drop of pre at the tip. He placed his hands on Vincent's chest, trailing his fingers through the coat of thick brown fur that ran the length of his torso and over a defined eight pack.

The pressure of his captive, hard cock grinding against Spencer through the thin layer of cotton felt amazing to Vincent. Drool was leaking out the side of his mouth as he humped Spencer into the mattress, jostling the small bed with each move. His hands and feet throbbed before he clenched his bed sheets and the claws extended, sharp and black, tearing into the thin cloth. He felt a pair of hands on his waist, and he paused his movements to look down at Spencer, his glowing yellow eyes staring into the blue ones below.

"Can I... help you out a bit?" Spencer panted, pulling the waistband of Vincent's boxers down ever so slightly, teasing the head of his pulsating cock. Vincent let out a high pitched whine and he nodded, his cock twitching insistently at the thought of being let loose. Spencer smiled, pulling them down Vincent's massive furry thighs.

Vincent's manhood popped out of the confines of his underwear, five inches of hot dick throbbing with every beat of his heart. As Spencer tugged the underwear down further, Vincent's round, plump balls oozed out of the fabric and dropped down low between his thighs. Vincent shivered as he felt his cock start to tingle, the skin rippling and loosening as it grew down, covering his mushroom shaped head. The skin began to itch as brown hair sprouted from his cock and balls, coating them in a dense layer of fine fur. Vincent grunted, the throbbing in his cock growing more intense, before the skin started pulling back with a soft squelching wet sound.

Spencer watched as Vincent's cock began to ooze out of the fuzzy skin, changing before his eyes. The mushroom head grew long and tapered to a point as more and more blood flooded into the member, turning it bright red. The shaft continued to push out, slick and slimy, as the foreskin separated into a furry brown sheath. The thick meat continued to emerge, pushing to six inches, then eight, then ten, drooping lower and lower from its weight. His balls swelled larger in their furry sack as they filled with his seed, priming him for release. Vincent was growling non-stop, basking in the glory of the intense pleasure radiating off of his thick doggy dick. He leaned down, hiking his hips into the air, as he kissed and slurped and humped against Spencer beneath him.

A sudden pain started radiating from his backside, a lump forming between the cleft of his ass cheeks. His firm ass began to part, the cheeks sliding away from each other, as the lump extended out further, first a mound then a short tube. The flesh and bone stretched outward, his tailbone pushing out as bone started to form at the end, gaining new segments as it lengthened from his spine. As the fleshy tube grew longer, it began to sprout short hair that quickly lengthened into soft fur. The short tail grew out to four inches, then eight, then a foot long. It began to sway back and forth behind Vincent as he got closer and closer to his climax. The dark brown fur grew out of the tail at a rapid pace as it continued to stretch out long and wide. Spencer felt the huge appendage tickling him with its fur, and looked down between Vincent's thighs at the four-foot-long shaggy brown tail, swaying happily between his legs.

Vincent whined, his thrusts becoming less rhythmic as his climax neared. He nuzzled his slight proto-muzzle and bushy beard against Spencer's cheek, lapping at the supple skin. He jerked his hips hard, once, then twice, growling deeply in Spencer's ear, before he tossed his head back and let out a deep, resounding howl. His heavy cock spasmed beneath him as a few spurts of silky white cum shot out of his member onto Spencer's stomach. Vincent's euphoric howl trailed off into a deep guttural growl as his seed got thicker, and stringer, and he unleashed a torrent of hot, thick yellow wolf spunk across his bed.

Spencer shuddered as the hot, musky wolf spunk blasted against his chest and torso, moaning as his erection twitched in his underwear and a large wet spot appeared on the fabric. He went limp on the bed, basking in his afterglow, as Vincent continued grunting in pleasure, pumping out more of his pent up seed, the smell of Spencer's cum exciting him. Vincent's mind was drowning in the euphoric high of the most intense orgasm he had ever imagined, his thick wolf cock shooting ropes of cum for a minute as his balls emptied their full load. When his rush of semen finally ebbed, he felt himself going dizzy, his brain having been deprived of blood for too long. He leaned forward, lapping his large, flat tongue across Spencer's torso, hungrily gulping down his seed. Spencer placed a hand on Vincent's head, stroking the wild, wavy hair as he was cleaned.

Once he'd cleaned every drop of his transformative seed from Spencer's body, Vincent stretched on top of Spencer, relaxing his muscles as he rested his head on Spencer's shoulder. He sniffed at Spencer's scent for a while, taking in the smell of their combined sweat and musky odors that mingled with the scent of their love and lust that was heavy in the air. He nuzzled against Spencer's neck and lapped his long tongue against his skin, slurping softly. Spencer reached his arms around Vincent's large shoulders, and hugged him close.

Vincent was happy. He wanted to remember this moment forever. Spencer and him cuddled together in bed. His heart full of love for the man that he felt undeniably devoted to. He knew that whatever happened now, they would always be together. They were friends, they were lovers, they were mates. And they had just had the best night of their lives.