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LYKOS Second Skin Chapter 21 (Refuge)

The sound built up behind the wall with a loud, raging power, culminating in a single point. Then, there was a hesitation, a sputter, and then the hiss of high-pressure water erupting from the shower head. It came out strong, but as it traveled in its long arc, the water combined before falling in lazy, loud splatters across the back of the tub. All of it was fresh and all of it was steaming hot... just the way Marco needed it to be.

One long, thick cinnamon toned leg slipped in, followed by the rest of Marco's torso. He slipped in and pulled the frosted glass partition shut behind him, his feet sinking down into the inch of water running down the base of the tub. Beads of water collected on the frosted glass before rolling down. Marco stood there for a moment, letting the water pelt his skin, massaging it and soaking it all at once.

Marco had taken more showers than he could count since their escape - first at the hotel, then back at his parents' house. It helped in the moment, not just to relax his muscles and soothe his aches, but it felt like he was washing the trauma off of his body, trying to cleanse himself after everything he had gone through. Udo had done the same... as had Duncan. He was thankful that his parents understood.

A clawed hand came down, lifting up the shampoo. With a gentle squeeze, the citrus scented contents leaked out onto Marco's silky black hair. The bottle cast aside, the clawed hands began working it into a lather, spreading it deeper and deeper, working it down the length of his hair, down to his scalp. Some of it brushed his pointed ears. Marco worked it down lower and lower and lower, his swollen brow furrowing as he realized his hair had grown longer, reaching past the nape of his neck, even brushing his shoulders.

His hands slipped back around to the front, claws dipping into his beard, combing through inch after inch, finding at least six, maybe more. He was surprised, confused, and a bit aroused. His nipples hardened, poking out in defiance, comforted by the hot water. His manhood was hardening as well, swelling longer and thicker, rising up from his ample balls. The tan flesh started to take on a reddish hue, the mushroom shaped head swelling outward into a point.

Marco growled at himself, shaking his head. How could he get turned on at a time like this? But then the question hung there. A time like what? He had escaped, he had rescued as many wolves as he could. The hunters were taken care of, the facility was destroyed, and he was healing... but it was more than just his body that needed to heal. He had to be strong for the others, but it had to be more than just a show. He actually had to heal inside as well as out if he was going to do what had to be done.

**** There was a stillness before the sunrise, a quiet solitude, a peaceful fragment of time left unwitnessed that made Marco feel as if time had come to a standstill. Marco had been up for enough early mornings that he knew that wasn't true, but he enjoyed the illusion. He also appreciated how different each morning was, not only from one another, but from expectation as well. Houston was a lot different to Colorado, the low over night had been a balmy fifty-five degrees.

Marco wiggled his bare toes in the soft grass of the back yard before he started to stretch with slow, deliberate movements. He still ached in a few places, but he was on the mend. As tempted as he was to close his eyes, he kept them open, watching the patches of clouds turn from dull grey to ribbons of color on a periwinkle sky. Before long they were lit up in hues of hot pink, salmon, red and gold.

One move gave way to the next. Marco felt a bit rusty, but at least the order still was steady for him. Without much background noise, Marco easily heard the door to the house ease open and then shut again, then the tender footsteps of his mother padding out. It was just like when they had been back home during the summer - except, of course, that so much had changed. Cira moved out into the grass, taking up a position next to her son. She looked him over for a moment, examining his position before she followed suit, moving into the same pose.

Marco smiled at that, holding it long enough for her to get a good flex before he moved onto the next. Moments passed in silence, but Marco's breathing relaxed, the tightness in his muscles eased and he settled deeper into each position. They made it almost all of the way through the set by the time Marco realized Cira wasn't going to be the first one to talk. He blushed a little, moving into another pose.

"I... I didn't know how to tell you." Marco said softly, feeling a little frustrated that he'd been in the same position just a few months prior telling her that he was gay. "At first, no one even knew about werewolves. I mean, at least not like they do now. Then when they did come out, the first ones anyone saw were the direwolves hurting people. They weren't anything like me or my friends..." Marco said softly. Cira nodded gently.

"Even after seeing them on the news, when your father told me that he was going to be studying werewolves as part of his job, it felt like science fiction, not reality... Then those commercials came on, and there were a few interviews on the news. When it got more complex, it felt more real." Cira admitted. Marco moved to a new pose and held it, Cira following suit.

"I'm not sure what to do." Marco said softly, "I called a couple of friends to help with the relocation. We need to get these wolves out of here before they can be tracked down again, but they were all caught in their own territory. Going home might not be safe for them either. Even you and dad... What if they trace what we did back to you?"

"Then we will deal with it. We can't live in fear of what might happen. We can prepare for it, we can work to keep it from happening, but if we surrender to the fear, then we're just living through the bad twice over." Cira said. Marco smiled and leaned forward, bracing his hands on the ground for the next pose. Cira debated putting her back through that but followed after.

"Is dad going to go back to work?" Marco asked.

"Yes... If he didn't, it would raise too much suspicion. There's still a chance this way, at least to buy more time." Cira said. Marco nodded at that, though his hair fell across his face, brushing the ground.

"I'm going to go to the safe house today with the others. We've got to introduce our friends and try to help coordinate everyone's relocation." Marco said. Cira smiled more.

"What a good boy I raised... And what a good man you've grown into." Cira said. Marco smiled at that, nearly blushing. He was so thankful. His mom had accepted that he was gay, and she'd even accepted that he was a werewolf. He knew he was fortunate. There were so many out there that weren't as lucky, that weren't as accepted. Now he had to do his part to make sure they were safe.

**** Houston was a city of legacy and history with many landmarks and locations that withstood the test of time, though a few fixtures hadn't been quite as lucky. Adair High School had served the local populace for many years until it could no longer keep up with growing class sizes and changing building codes. The school had been left standing, trading hands a few times since before, ultimately, being converted into a shelter. Classrooms had become bedrooms, the gym had become a game room, and the cafeteria served three hot meals a day. It had served a vital service for the community... not just the humans, but the werewolves of Houston as well. The shelter had been a safe house sitting in plain sight.

Marco moved up the slightly sloped cement steps to the second floor, feeling oddly relieved at having exercise again after being cooped up for so long. As good as it felt on his muscles, he had to appreciate the age of the school. The ceramic water fountains set into mosaic arches, harkening back to their origins from the early nineteen hundreds. Even the lights hanging from the ceiling of the stairwell were shrouded in a stained glass pattern that cast a myriad of colors across the walls. Marco looked up at it, his eyes catching hues that he would have never been able to make out as a human.

As Marco led the way, the rest of his pack trudged up behind him. Yom kept close to Marco, though he checked back to look at Fletch as he huffed a little. Fletch was just as taken aback, stepping out onto the second floor. It was eerie how similar the building was to his own high school back in New York. The lockers were the same drab gray, the walls the same butter cream off-white, the floors the same shade of dark brown coated with countless layers of wax.

Udo brought up the rear, though he had brought Duncan with him. He followed after the others a bit sheepishly. He still hadn't spoken to Marco since his reversion. There was so much he wanted to say, but Marco wasn't ready. It almost felt like torture to Duncan to be so close, and then to have Marco all but peel away. He understood how Yom must have felt back when he'd first met Marco. Having that yearning, that need, that urge, and then to be rejected? It could have pushed him over the edge too... Just looking at Marco's fit ass, his thick legs, his broad back. Duncan growled a little, feeling his own pants tighten. He closed his eyes, trying to chase away the feelings.

Udo reached over, resting a hand on Duncan's shoulder, trying to calm him. Duncan's eyes opened, flashing gold for a moment before reverting. He exhaled a little, letting out a soft sigh. Udo gave him a reassuring smile and patted his arm. Marco fell into the crowd moving down the hallway, heading toward the doors to the school's old auditorium. The seats were filling up with those calling the shelter home and a few stood on an even higher level, the seats formed around the auditorium like a U.

There were familiar faces gathered... Werewolves that had been trapped in the facility, werewolves that had looked to Marco for support and strength. Seeing them out of the cages, Marco was a bit taken aback by their diversity. Men, women, young, old. The hunters had kidnapped so many different people... And some had already headed back home, taking their first chance as soon as Cira and Haku had rescued them. Others, however, were too afraid to travel en masse or lacked the resources.

"Marco!" A familiar voice exclaimed. Marco turned, seeing the well tanned, blond wolf jogging toward them, his pointed ears peeking out of his hair. Marco looked at Tofino with a bemused grin, reaching up to rub his cheek. He had to pause, noticing the strip of fuzz growing from his bottom lip to his chin.

"That's new, kid." Marco said. Tofino grinned.

"Hey, I was inspired..." Tofino said, "You look a lot better."

"I'm getting there, thanks to my pack." Marco said. Tofino smiled, moving toward Yom, offering his hand. Yom was a little confused but gave it a squeeze and a shake. Udo looked around before he narrowed in on some tension, the hairs standing up on the back of his neck. He pointed to one of the doors that led backstage. Marco turned as well, smelling a familiar smell - the smell of a human, and a very particular one at that.

"Why don't you all find a good seat." Marco said before excusing himself, jogging up the few steps to the stage before heading for the door. As he left the gathering masses behind, he could smell the mounting fear and apprehension.

"He is not welcome here..." A deep voice growled.

"How do we know he didn't turn us in the first time?" Another asked.

"I know you've been through a lot, but I can vouch for him. Besides, we need all the help we can get." A cooler head explained. Marco came around the thick, heavy curtain to see a mix of familiar and unfamiliar faces. Auel was unmistakable, standing near the wall, his strong shoulders still somewhat elfin compared to the bulkier werewolf bodies around him. His sandy blond hair was pulled back into a short ponytail. He was on guard, prepared to defend himself, but another had placed himself between Auel and the wolves.

"Ethan!" Marco exclaimed, his eyes wide. Ethan turned and Conrad stepped out from behind him, having already packed on another few inches in height after being fed well. The aggressive wolves hesitated as Marco moved up, looking over at him. Marco ignored them and moved to scoop both of the brothers up in his arms, giving them a powerful hug. Conrad growled happily, giving Marco a long sniff before he was released, looking him over.

"You made it..." Marco said. Ethan nodded.

"How could we not? We knew we owed everyone a huge debt for putting our family back together, especially after how we got there, but if this isn't a way to make up for it, I don't know what is." Ethan said. The other werewolves were still flummoxed, but Marco turned to address them.

"Auel is not a risk to us. He is an ally. I'll explain, just find some good place to sit." Marco said. The wolves hesitated, their authority challenged, but it was hard to argue with the man that had rescued all of them. Their very lives were owed to a nineteen-year-old college student. Marco stood his ground, watching them disperse before looking back. Conrad looked a little sheepish, peeking back at the edge of the curtain.

"Are you really going to speak in front of all those people?" he asked. Marco shrugged.

"I have to. We have to come up with a plan." Marco said before smiling, "I'm so glad you're here." he added, patting Ethan and Conrad each on their shoulders before he looked at Auel, "And you." he added.

"It's nothing." Auel murmured, though it certainly had been. He'd been all over, trying to find more evidence to support them, then shifting gears to help with evacuations. The hunters still hadn't recovered after the FBI and homeland security raids after the Rising Sun attacks, but they had enough numbers that there would still be challenges in getting everyone where they needed to be. Marco looked at them all before taking a bit of a breath. It seemed that being an Alpha helped with stage fright at least.

When he had gathered enough strength, Marco moved up and around the big curtain, stepping out. The lights were on him, almost pleasantly warm to his skin. His eyes scanned the crowd, seeing just how many were still there. Some of them had not been in the facility, they were the local wolves that had taken a risk to bring so many strangers in. He saw young and old, thick and thin, men and women. Some of the Texan wolves were looking up at him with comparable beards but a good deal more tattoos and muscles. Marco hadn't felt smaller than anyone for a while, but he wasn't there to compare anatomy. Marco looked at all of them, then his eyes found Fletcher, Yom, Udo and Duncan sitting in the audience. He gave them a slight smile to stay grounded before he cleared his throat.

"I can't begin to imagine what you're all feeling..." Marco began, looking out at the crowd, "I can barely understand what I'm feeling. Angry, scared, betrayed, violated, furious. I was taken from somewhere I thought was safe, taken across the country, caged like an animal and experimented on. It wasn't right. It wasn't human."

"Hell no!" one of the audience shouted, a murmur moving across the crowd as some of them grappled with the weight of Marco's use of the word human.

"We took down those that captured us, but there are more threats out there... More hunters, and the ones that ordered for us to be kidnapped. They found us where we called home, they found us in our own territory. Going back may not be safe, and staying here won't either, not for those of us that were taken." Marco explained.

"What are we supposed to do?" A desperate young woman asked from near the stage. Marco looked back over where Ethan, Conrad and Auel were standing. Ethan and Conrad had chosen red, a color of solidarity and strength. Auel was dressed in a khaki shirt and olive pants. They looked back at Marco with support. Marco turned back to the crowd.

"For those of you that want to go back home, Auel will help get you around hunter checkpoints and stay off the radar. He'll teach you what they look for and how to stay undetectable." Marco explained. Some of the audience growled and snarled, aware of Auel's past. Marco disregarded, pressing on anyway. "Others will need to hide... If your identity is compromised, if your home isn't a place you can return to, Ethan is a skilled Keeper. He knows places to lay low until this is over."

"When will it be over?" A voice questioned earnestly, though that one stung Marco. It came from Tofino near the front row, looking up at Marco. He looked back at Tofino, then his gaze lifted back up to the gathered masses - the sea of people that needed the same reassurance, the same resolution that Tofino did. They had been displaced, ripped out of their own lives. Even those that hadn't been kidnapped had seen their secret world ripped open.

"The hunters didn't do this on their own." Marco declared, "The weapons that were used to kidnap us, the information that led to our rescue, it all came from the same place: Futurza. It's the same company that has been welcoming werewolves in for months for their studies. We were just one piece of the puzzle. They're doing something there, getting ready for something big. We can't let them finish it. If they do, they'll treat us like the monsters they expect us to be, and worst of all, they'll start with all the werewolves that volunteered to go to them for answers, the wolves that wanted help, that wanted a cure."

The audience had no questions at that, the words sinking in. A few guffawed, feeling as those that went to Futurza brought it on themselves. Others, though, felt the sinking feeling knowing that their brothers and sisters had gone in, feeling reluctant to embrace themselves. To them Futurza had seemed like a beacon of hope rather than the herald of a nightmare. The declaration settled heavily on the crowd as it brought into focus just how wide Futurza's scope had been to invite werewolves with one hand while kidnapping and experimenting on them with the other.

"Whatever they are planning, they must be getting close. They were desperate with us, desperate enough to take risks. I want as many of you to get to safety as you can, to get far away from here. I want you to find happy lives and to be safe. Once that's done..." Marco paused, inhaling, letting the idea crystallize in his own mind, "I'm going to take Futurza down and make sure the world knows what they did, so no one will ever do this to our kind, or any kind, ever again."

His words were met with riotous hollers, then howls. The big, tough local wolves clapped each other, relieved to hear that someone was taking a stand. Other werewolves looked conflicted, terrified at the idea that any of their kind would pick a fight after they had so narrowly escaped being prisoners. Marco looked out at his pack, seeing reassurement from Yom and Duncan, encouragement from Fletcher and empathy from Udo. They had faced down the most terrifying aggressors of their life to escape, but now they were going to turn around and go straight into the lion's den. At least this time they would have each other and their unified strength.

"Alright everyone, we've got a lot of people to move and we can't make it obvious. The way we're going to do this is with planning!" Ethan called out, his voice strong and confident again. He'd spent the last month healing with his brother and their family, rebuilding what they had lost, healing from the mourning and the grief and the guilt. It had given him a calm that had only strengthened his natural gifts. "I need you to gather up so we can get a good headcount."

"Pacific Northwest, over here!" Auel said, pointing to stage right, "Mid-west, Deep South, East Coast!" Auel said, pointing out more spots. Marco turned.

"Don't forget the islands." he added. Auel nodded.

"Hawaii, with the Pacific Northwest please. Pacific Islands too." he added.

Sensing that everything was moving along well enough without him, Marco took a step to hop off the stage but landed face to chest with a seven-foot, burly, bald Alpha that had two streaks of silver running down his belly length beard. He'd been a werewolf so long that his brow bone seemed permanently stuck swollen and his pierced ears had a bit of a point to them even in human guise. He'd worn black jeans with the knees torn out and a leather vest, showing off the myriad of tattoos over his very defined arms, chest and stomach. Marco gave a sheepish smile and looked up at the man in his late forties. There was a moment as they looked into each other's eyes that they seemed to connect, not just as mutual Alphas, but in their shared ancestry as well.

"Sorry, I didn't see you there." Marco said, trying to snap himself out of the awkward moment. The Alpha took another step closer, bringing his swollen tent to press against Marco's lap. Almost in defiant response, his own cock began to harden and swell, growing painfully erect in moments. The man reached down, giving Marco's thick beard a long, deliberate pet.

"You're the Alpha that saved my boys from that underwater prison?" he asked, his voice deep and resonating. Marco shrugged, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"It was a group effort, we had to rely on each other." he said softly. The very tall, very broad shouldered, very bald werewolf let out a chuckle, then a huge laugh before he leaned down, pressing his lips to Marco's. Marco murmured in shock, feeling beard against beard, tent against tent, then a clawed paw resting on his hip before the kiss broke and a string of saliva connected their lips. Marco licked the saliva clean, looking up with his eyes flashing amber for a moment. The elder Alpha growled happily, giving Marco one last hump.

"You saved my boys, not to mention more werewolves than this auditorium can hold, and you're taking the fight to Futurza. You can stay here as long as you want, any time you want. You're cousins of the Houston pack now. Make yourselves comfy in the lounge while everyone gets organized. You deserve a reward." he said. Marco got the feeling it would be rude to refuse the hospitality and nodded, though the elder Alpha leaned down and kissed Marco again. Marco grunted in surprise at that, feeling his cock swelling longer and longer in his pants. The Alpha ran his tongue over Marco's sharpening teeth before dragging his claws down through Marco's beard as it got a little longer, then a bit more, almost like he was giving Marco a gift of his own.

When the kiss finally broke, Marco was panting. The elder Alpha shook his head, turning to walk away, wishing he was a bit younger. As he disappeared back into the crowd, Yom moved up with his jaw hanging open, looking down at Marco's crotch. A hand shot down, feeling the wet spot that had formed. Marco blushed furiously, pulling back from Yom's hand.

"I didn't know he was going to do that!" Marco protested.

"It was damn hot." Duncan admitted, sighing wistfully, "It seems you get admirers wherever you go. I can't blame Carlos." Duncan smiled.

"It's an honor, I think... From what I've heard, Texas has a lot of werewolves. We were just accepted by one of their biggest packs." Udo smiled. Marco looked around at the masses being added up and separated by their friends, trying to coordinate the big movement. It hadn't seemed scary in the moment, but now the crowd was starting to seem a bit overwhelming.

"Maybe we should check out that lounge, decompress a bit." Marco said softly, walking up the steady slope toward the back of the auditorium. Both Yom and Duncan took a moment to appreciate the swagger in Marco's steps before Udo swatted them both on the backs of their heads, getting them to start moving so Fletcher and he could follow. As they reached the doorway, Udo turned and looked back at all of the werewolves gathered, praying that they'd be able to get back to where they needed to be safely.

**** The old door to the teacher's lounge clicked as it was eased open, Fletcher looking in a bit uncertainly. His eyes narrowed a bit shrewdly before he double checked the door, realizing the colloquialism was in fact quite literal; the werewolf's lounge was, at one point long ago, the teacher's lounge. Rayne opened the door wider and stepped in, allowing the others to follow in after. The windows had been painted over with a thin film, allowing the streetlights outside to shine in with a dull orange hue, illuminating the huge bed and array of recliners and cushions around the room.

The space had been made up to be an ideal wolf's den. Aside from the beds and chairs, a large wine fridge was stocked with a variety of food and beverages that were all on display through the glass door. There was a television hooked up to a few different gaming consoles, and there were a few carved stones engraved with Keeper symbols. Marco moved over to lift one up, running his finger over it.

"What's this doing here?" He asked softly. Fletcher looked over idly.

"That's the symbol for shield. I guess it's part of what makes this place safe. Ethan said that there's some magic at work to keep people from noticing how many people come here, let alone upstairs." Fletcher said.

"I think it's nice." Yom said, sitting down on the bed, "A bit more our speed. More room to spread out than in the hotel room." he smiled more. Marco looked up at that.

"I don't know, people are getting their lives in order, I don't know if we should..." Marco said. Yom's face softened as his eyes fell downcast. Fletcher looked at Yom, then Duncan, even Udo. He swallowed a bit before moving over to Marco.

"I get that it's been a hard time, and it might feel weird. No one's asking you to do anything you don't want to, but it could be healthy, even healing. We're here for you. You're safe. They even let us use this space. We can be together without you hurting me... This is an amazing time. We just want to be together. You don't have to be afraid of that." Fletcher whispered. Marco looked up at him, then to where Duncan was.

"I'm not afraid of being together, I'm afraid of not being able to stop. They..." Marco hesitated. Duncan blushed where he was standing, but he knew how hard it was for Marco to admit it.

"They experimented on us. They used us on each other to try and bring out something more. I lost myself in it and Marco saved me." Duncan said gently. Marco grimaced.

"I lost myself too. I..." Marco sighed, moving over to sink down into the recliners, "I was so out of it, I went into this dream where it was freshman year, and I lived it differently. I didn't know it was a dream until the very end when I met a spirit named Haechi, a protection spirit... an old one... a saber toothed one that looked like you, Rayne." Marco said. Fletcher shook his head, looking at the carpet for a moment before he looked up.

"I've done the ancient spirit thing already. I didn't need a redo, but I guess Ren was right after all." he murmured, reluctant at the prospect of another hitchhiker. Udo moved over, putting an arm around Fletcher to try and give him strength.

"It isn't like Demeas." Marco said, hoping to try and reassure Fletcher, "When the blood eclipse was all over and Demeas was gone, Haechi saw you were... wounded. He wanted to help you heal before he moved to the other side."

"What do you mean they experimented on you?" Yom interjected, looking between Marco and Duncan. Duncan opened his mouth to speak but Marco shook his head.

"They wanted to see what an apex Alpha would be like. They used moonstone and lotus they stole from the kidnapped wolves, along with some other things. It changed us... into these beasts, and it-"

"You don't have to, it's-" Duncan tried to interject, but Marco continued.

"It was amazing... The most amazing thing I've ever felt, but then I... I wasn't me. I was knocked out of my own body. It was on autopilot while my soul wandered and found Haechi." Marco whispered.

"His double knot was delicious." Duncan sighed. Yom went beet red.

"Did you say double knot?!" Yom asked, growling slightly. Duncan scooted back further on the bed, trying to give Yom a little more room.

"So it was all connected?" Fletcher asked. Marco nodded.

"I... I wanted to protect you so bad, I didn't mind staying human if it meant keeping you from going through that pain again. I... we really had a good year." Marco whispered. Rayne looked back at his boyfriend, hearing his words, but for some reason all he could think about was a dream he had on the drive to Texas, a dream where Marco had come out to him and on to him in the common room. He'd held on to that dream so tightly that it had given him strength.

Fletcher's eyes glistened with tears behind his glasses before he lunged at Marco, awkwardly straddled his lap and gave him a deep kiss. Marco growled softly, opening his lips, letting Fletcher's tongue inside. The two battled with their lips, going at it messily for a moment before Fletcher pulled back, panting for breath.

"All that time, we were still connected." Fletcher whispered. Marco smiled at that and reached up to brush the fuzz that had grown out of his boyfriend's cheeks suddenly.

"I was afraid of losing myself to the beast. It's not the first time. Freshman year, I thought I'd lose myself to Seamus too. I thought this year would be all about becoming a campus Alpha, bringing what made our pack great to more wolves. Instead, all that heat and power made me so horny, it was so tempting just to give in." Marco looked over at Duncan, "I'm sorry I pushed you away, I just... it would have been too easy to become that Alpha for you." Duncan nodded softly, blushing again.

"I'm sorry too. I think I wanted it so bad, it reminded me of how Artyom explained falling in love with you. I'm sorry." Duncan whispered. Udo shook his head softly.

"I know this is complex, but it's also simple. I need all of you big boys to listen to me, alright?" Udo asked. The others paused, looking over at the blond wolf with surprise. Udo made sure they were all paying attention before he smiled, "Marco's power... is love. He loves all of us, he loves werewolves, he loves humans. That's the connection that binds our pack and our family and it's what drives us to do the right thing."

"It's what brought me back from the edge." Marco said, looking into Fletcher's eyes.

"And it's what is going to heal us. Right, Alpha?" Udo asked. Marco looked at Udo, then the others, then Duncan before he nodded gently.

"Duncan, I'm sorry I avoided you. I think I can do better. I want to be the Alpha you deserve, that all of you do. Duncan, will you join our pack?" Marco asked. Duncan's face lit up at that and he scooted closer to the edge of the bed.

"Are you sure?" he asked. Marco nodded.

"Yeah, be with us for real." he replied. Duncan grinned, though a clawed hand rested on his chest as Yom leaned in.

"But if he gets a double knot again... It's my turn, alright?" Yom said. Duncan grinned and nodded at that.

"Of course. I'm just the pup of the pack, right? I defer to all of you." Duncan said. Fletcher murmured at that, pointing to Duncan.

"Come over here, pup." he said after a moment, surprising Marco. Duncan hopped off the bed and moved over. Fletcher reached up and grabbed his head, pulling him down, giving him a soft, testing kiss. Duncan closed his eyes and inhaled Fletcher's scent, smelling hints of fresh hay with a kick of alkaline and maybe even some spices. Fletcher broke the kiss and nodded to himself, "Alright, we can keep him. He's sweet." Fletcher replied. Marco chuckled at that and sighed happily, resting his head on Fletcher's shoulder.

"So, we're doing this?" he asked. Udo nodded.

"Pack bonding, pack healing." Udo replied.

"If we're going to do it, let's do it right." Marco said with consideration, his eyes scanning the room carefully before he set his sights on just what he needed to do.

**** The atmosphere of the lounge had changed when Marco stepped into the small anteroom attached to the lounge. Yom and Duncan had relaxed on the big bed and Udo had plopped himself down between them, leaning back against their beefy chests. Fletcher stood, arms crossed, not sure what Marco was planning. The lounge had seemed nice enough, considering what it was, and Udo had even peeked into the anteroom, finding it to be little more than a supply room.

When the door finally opened, Duncan perked up a bit, but his jaw dropped a little as a heap of clothing came flying out, landing on the floor near the corner. The next thing to emerge was Marco's strong, thick, tree trunk of a leg. Despite its strength, it was well shaped and coated with a fair dusting of hair. Marco's foot stepped down into the carpet that the werewolves had installed in the lounge, though his toenails had darkened to black and taken on curves, stretched out into dangerous claws.

Marco's leg stretched upwards inexorably to his groin, and it was clear that he had shed every trace of his clothing. Marco's bush was thick, dark against his tanned skin... but none of it held a candle to his manhood, or rather his wolfhood. The hints of his humanity were already fading away as the shaft pushed outward inch after inch, already surpassing a foot in length. The blood pumping in stained the flesh a vibrant, rich crimson color. Veins bulged and the mushroom shaped tip was pushing out into a point.

Marco's scepter bobbed and wobbled, standing aloft over his ample, full, swollen balls that each seemed to be the size of an orange. The whole affair was very animalistic, but a hint of a sheathe had formed around the base of his manhood too, anchored against his firm and fit, hairy stomach. All eyes in the lounge were on their Alpha, practically salivating as his manhood only seemed to grow longer and thicker by the second.

With another step, Marco's shapely hips and ample ass came into view, all beneath his torso that seemed like a stack of abdominal muscles built up off of the firm foundation. His pecs were thick, his nipples erect, and a fair dusting of hair covered his chest and even his back. Marco's arms were thick and robust, the biceps and triceps pushed out to points that never would have fit into a shirt in the first place. His physique was impeccable, pushed a little further than anyone but Duncan had seen, and yet more grounded after his experience.

Marco's eyes gleamed a bright amber color, nearly glowing as they absorbed and reflected the light from the room and the sign outside. His beard hung down to his collarbone, thick and fluffy. His ears were not only pointed, they had gone full wolf with fleshy, velvety interiors and a fur lined back, all coming up into points. His brow bone was swollen, and his mouth was full of fangs. Marco stood there, a robust, thick black tail dropping down behind his legs, obscuring any light that would have passed through where his legs were spread.

Marco stood there, shifted and naked, showing off just what made him, him. Duncan and Yom were drooling. Udo had to admit even his heart was racing, but Marco's eyes were trained on another. Marco looked at Fletcher, looking into his eyes, into his soul. He looked at him with the love of not just one lifetime, but two... He loved him as a friend, a boyfriend, a mate, a lover, and he'd had the chance to fall in love with him twice over. Marco knew Haechi was healing the wound in Fletcher from being killed and brought back, but Marco hoped that he had the strength to help Fletcher along that path.

The gaze exchanged between the two lovers was unbroken. Marco took a half a step closer, a grin crossing his lips before he let out a soft growl. It was more than just a sound - it was intent. The reverberation shook through Fletcher. He felt it in his heart, his lungs, his groin. His heart sped up; his blood boiled. He felt a pressure building up inside him, uncertainly at first, until finally it erupted.

From behind the protective lenses of his glasses, Fletcher's brown eyes turned to the color of honey, then citrine, gleaming an intense orange. Tiny sprouts of new, soft, bushy hair began pushing out of his cheeks, trailing down in front of his ears as more hair emerged from his chin. Fletcher murmured, his ears growing and throbbing a little bit as sand colored fur grew over the back of them. Fletcher's hands flexed, tightening and curling up before suddenly he flexed his hand open. His human nails shifted in an instant, flicking out into sharp, narrow brownish black claws.

Fletcher shook his head, his sideburns growing in thicker, his ears rounding more. It was a lot to take in, almost too much to contain. Fletcher's mouth had always been full of words before, but never quite so many teeth. It was hard to keep it all in, and soon it proved to be entirely impossible. Fletcher's lip pushed out, making way for two nubs that descended from his upper jaw. They were subtle at first, but the fangs thickened and dropped down, taking on a slight curve.

Duncan sniffed the air rapidly, reaching to unzip his pants. His hand slipped in, caressing and rubbing his growing erection as he watched the two going at it without even touching at this point. Fletcher's pants sagged down, losing their grip before they fell entirely, pooling around his ankles. A thin, soft, long golden tail was growing out from where his tailbone had been. The isolated segment had broken free, ensnared with ligaments and tendons, holding it all together as new bones filled in, taking the place of whatever phantom appendage had once been connected to humans.

The long, feline tail flicked one way, then the other, expressing Fletcher's uncertainty. Thankfully for him, Marco was plenty focused on the task at hand. He reached out, caressing Fletcher's sideburn before he pulled him closer, their lips meeting. It was a bit different than before for both of them. Fletcher murmured, cooed, and then squirmed with delight. Somehow Marco had learned how to kiss him in ways he'd never known before, ways that Fletcher had always dreamed off. Every pressure point was right, every minute shift.

For Marco, the changes were more superficial. He'd never really kissed anyone with saber-tooth tusks before. It felt a little different in bad and good ways both. Their lips had a harder time working together, but the tusks were exotic. His tongue felt good sliding between them, feeling their strength, the unusual enamel surface. It gave Marco a thrill and he didn't want to give that up. He pulled Fletcher tighter, starting to fondle with his clothes. He tugged his underwear down, letting it join his fallen trousers.

Fletcher purred a little, unintentionally at first. It surprised him that he was able to, but then the feeling just grew. It radiated out of his chest like an engine, shaking his diaphragm and his lungs at the same time. He even felt his heart skip a beat as Marco's fists took hold of his shirt, wrapping the fabric around them once for a good anchor. With one swift movement, he tore the fabric apart, splitting it up the front to reveal Fletcher's firmer, harder stomach and his pert, healthy chest. Marco dipped down, giving one of Fletcher's nipples a kiss and then a bite.

Fletcher growled pleasantly, putting his clawed hands on Marco's chest. Without thinking of it, he dug into Marco a little with one paw, then the other, kneading back and forth. Marco growled and hissed at the unexpected pinpricks, but his skin healed up so fast it became a very unusual dynamic. Still, there was so much work to do. Marco slid back up, giving Fletcher another powerful kiss before he rested a paw on his chest and gave him one nice push, letting him fall back into Yom's lap.

Marco growled with delight, finding Fletcher fantastic in his new guise... But he wasn't the only one in the pack. Marco knew his work was just getting started. He hoped that the wolves would give them privacy in the lounge long enough for their bonding. He didn't want to share his boys with anyone, and he didn't want anyone to get in their way... Not after everything they had been through, not after everything they had endured. This was their refuge, their chance to heal and connect... and Marco was ready.

The Alpha's gleaming eyes surveyed his pack. He knew Yom and Duncan would be down for anything and they generally had a good deal of patience. It wouldn't be tricky to satisfy them, but he had to make sure they all had their time to shine. Marco's grin grew wider before he turned, looking at Udo. Udo looked back at him with love and respect, but Marco wanted something more. He took a breath before he suddenly leaned forward, nearly coming nose to nose with Udo before he let out a growl - not as a threat, but as a challenge and an affirmation. Udo did not shy away. He stood his ground and then replied with a growl of his own, responding in a way that surprised even him.

Normally Udo's changes were slower to manifest, subtle and slight, fluid and easy. The growl summoned out a lot of strength all at once. His shirt tightened as muscles formed across his chest and arms. His jeans tightened too. With just such a short challenge, his body was taking it to the next level. His smooth cheeks grew golden with hair that started to bleach white on the tips. His ears pointed; his eyes shifted. His fingers popped as claws burst out from the tips, his spine lengthening and his ribs expanding.

Duncan's eyes widened as he watched a wolf he had once known as an Omega as he stretched taller, broader, and stronger. In moments he had gained inches, and it wasn't slowing down. His shirt rode up, revealing a patch of white fur around his groin. His pants looked almost like waders, lifted well up above his ankles. Udo growled and then bore his fangs as they filled in, his mouth distending a bit. His brow swelled thicker, his ears pushed out more from his head, and soon a long, luxurious white fur tail was filling in behind him.

Marco grinned with such pride that he grabbed Udo by both cheeks and pulled him into a fiery kiss. His claws made short work of the rest of Udo's clothes, discarding scraps and fragments to the floor below. Udo puffed up his chest with pride and excitement at getting such attention, but it was more than just air filling his lungs. His pectorals firmed up; his stomach defined more. His shoulders even popped as they pushed apart, widening just a little. Before everyone's eyes, Udo filled out, becoming a beefier specimen.

Marco growled, his lips gliding and brushing against Udo's, clawed hands slipping down his ribs, reaching around to brush his thickening, lengthening tail. Yom and Duncan were in awe, watching Marco work like a master sculptor, shaping his pack. Marco moved to kiss and then nip at Udo's neck, his sharp fangs grazing the flesh, making it tender before he lapped at it with his tongue. Udo groaned, feeling so close already, his cock shifting and changing, taking on its final form as it swelled and bloated.

A playful grin crossed the Alpha's lips as he debated pushing Udo over the edge right then and there, but he knew better than to indulge his impulse at that moment. This was a bonding experience, and they would have to find a way to bond together. He reluctantly maneuvered Udo over to the side of the bed as he peppered him with kisses, lowering him down until he was leaning against Fletcher for support, panting, sweating, moaning. Udo's balls throbbed, but he understood what Marco was doing. He just hoped he'd be able to do it quickly.

The air was already getting thicker with the scent of the pack's lust, mixing with the lounge's natural scent and slowly corrupting it. Their scents were strong, sinking into the fabrics, lingering in the air. This wasn't just any place for pack bonding. For the moment, this was their place. Duncan was already breathing heavily before Marco even met eyes with him, then Yom. He reached out, running a claw up Duncan's chest, grinning to them both. Yom sprung to his feet, tearing off his shirt and throwing it away eagerly. His pants had long since been opened, his shaft out and at the ready.

Duncan blushed, feeling like he had to make up for lost time. He tried to wriggle out of his clothes but felt awkward. Marco reached over, a claw catching the back of Duncan's collar before he dragged it down. The sound of tearing fabric echoed out into the room as the fabric split, stitches were cut, and ultimately the garment gave out. The fabric fell away, revealing Duncan's already fit chest and his very well-built arms, his periodic element tattoos contrasting against his flesh.

Marco looked at them, his two loyal betas... They were older than him by a few months, they were manly and virile, strong and - at one time - independent. Now they were in love with him, linked to him, and they thirsted for him. Marco leaned in to give Yom a long, slow kiss. Their beards pressed together, their tongues met, their bodies pressed, but Marco kept his torso at an angle, leaving space that he occupied by pulling Duncan in closer.

Duncan felt his skin press against Marco's and Yom's, his heart racing. He and Yom had messed around a bit freshman year, giving each other head a few times. Yom had been so eager to meet other werewolves and Duncan had been quite ready to sow his wild oats. But now? Now felt different. It felt like more. It felt elevated. This was more than just sex. This was about belonging, about being connected, about being something new. Duncan looked at Yom and Marco and how handsome they were... Marco was only nineteen, but he had a beard worthy of someone that had cultivated it for a lot longer. He was beefy, muscled, tall and robust... and Duncan knew he could be even more.

Marco shuddered, feeling the surge start ripping through his body. It was intoxicating, but he knew to keep it in check. If that had been the one lesson he'd learned that year, it was that there always had to be a balance. He wasn't all man. He wasn't all beast. It was a little of us, a little of them... He could play with both sides, but he knew never to give in all the way. Still, with that in mind, it wouldn't hurt to take in that energy his pack so freely offered. Marco broke his kiss with Yom and moved over to kiss Duncan.

The athlete felt his heart flutter as those plump, powerful lips pressed to his and that thick, wily tongue forced them apart. His mouth was invaded by the Alpha's slurping muscle, but was it an invasion if Duncan welcomed it? The three pressed together, muscle to muscle, cock to cock. Their balls hung heavy, fur spreading over them. Their cocks ached and throbbed. Marco's had only once felt fuller when he had been experimented on, but the close second was incredible. His aching, tingling, throbbing shaft was a deep red, nearly approaching purple. It had a slight curve to it, veins leading up to the pointed, animalistic head. It had even stretched wider than it had before, dominating his groin. A drop of pre clung to the tip like morning dew.

The room grew musky and humid, the air thick with the alluring aroma of werewolves in their prime. The symptoms of captivity had faded from Marco, Udo and Duncan. Their muscles were in full form, their body weight had recovered, their hair had the lustrous sheen of a life well lived... It was the perfect time for them to connect - for all of them to connect. Marco pulled back from his loves, huffing hard, looking at Fletcher and Udo. Fletcher looked up, his orange eyes almost glowing. He groaned, his feline tail flicking about behind him. Udo's tongue nearly hung out of his mouth as he looked up at Marco and marveled at how his Alpha had shifted.

Somewhere in the midst of reforming his pack, of helping them to heal and grow and bring out their beast, his ears had gone full lycan. They were full and pointed, furry, sticking out from his head. His beard blended into his hair, his eyebrows were thick and broad, his body hair had gotten so thick it had turned into patches of fur on his chest, elbows, and legs. His tail was nearly as wide as his strong, pert ass, hanging down behind him almost all the way to the floor. Even his claws seemed more naturally integrated into his fingers and toes, and he was ready.

Fletcher looked at the others, then at Marco, feeling the strange blend of his own life and the dream life Marco had lived with him... and he knew he had to take his shot. The others were his pack mates, the others had their connection with Marco, but Rayne knew he was Marco's true love, his boyfriend, his soul mate. Fletcher pounced off the bed, maw spreading wide. Marco hadn't even fully realized what had happened before he felt his fat puppy prick gliding between the smooth ivory guide rails of saber-toothed tusks, plunging into a hot, wet, hungry mouth.

Rayne grabbed onto Marco's hips, his feline claws digging into his skin just a little to get a good grip as his head bobbed back and forth, taking in more and more of his man's meat with each go. Marco growled fully, moaning at that, shuddering. He looked over at Yom, meeting eyes with him, seeing that he had stretched even taller, his beard creeping up higher on his cheeks, his brow thickening even more. It made him look more like a horny beast, the beast Marco knew he was...

"Yom... Fuck me." Marco whispered. Yom looked surprised for a moment before a grin crossed his face. The thought was scary and appealing, making Yom think back to when he'd first turned Marco... He'd been so foolish, wanting to dominate him, to turn Marco into his Beta. He had no idea how good things could have been if he'd yielded control, but now? Now things were different.

Artyom slipped around Marco, his clawed hands reaching to caress his master's thick, full, robust tail. He hoisted it up, leaning in to kiss the back of Marco's neck, letting the tail brush along his hip, off to the side. This wasn't about who was top or bottom, dominant or submissive. This was just about loving and being loved. Marco murmured as he felt Yom's strong, thick shaft brush between his hairy ass cheeks, finding the tender ring of flesh buried within. Marco growled.

"Do it..." He whispered. Yom growled in response before he pushed forward. The head of his shaft slowly pried apart Marco's pucker, easing it open, widening it more and more until finally he was able to ease in without much struggle. Marco closed his eyes, growling harder, easing his hips back to take in more of Yom before easing forward to give Fletcher more to suck on. Marco built up a bit of speed, grunting as he eased forward and back, faster, feeling a different kind of pressure build along his cock until his eyes snapped open.

Fletcher made a soft sound as he tasted the first salty, musky splashes of liquid pouring across his tongue... but it wasn't cum, not exactly. It was copious, but it was more fluid. It was saltier, a little less sweet... It was pre, and lots of it. Marco was giving him a bounty, and he was honored to accept. Fletcher started to suckle and nurse on Marco's cock, guzzling down the pre swallow after swallow. He let it saturate his teeth, coat his mouth and fill his belly.

Rayne had been so fixated on his meal that he nearly jumped when he felt a silky hand caress his ass cheek. Udo had moved closer, not wanting to miss out on the games. Fletcher couldn't take his mouth off of Marco's monster cock, but he loved the idea of Udo sidling in. He raised his hips, bringing his ass up, presenting it to his fellow pack mate as a prize.

Udo looked at Fletcher, appreciating this new side of him. They'd always been so protective of him, first as a human, then as someone that had harbored something dark and sinister, and then as someone wounded by actions he couldn't control... but now Udo could see something more. Fletcher was a new man, a new creature. He could make his own decisions. He could push forward without being bogged down by the past. He was healed.

With a mixture of care and lust, Udo brought himself in, letting his shaft rest between Fletcher's ass cheeks, letting the flesh even out temperature until they felt like natural extensions of one another. Then he slipped back just a little, trailing the head of his shaft down the crease, leaving a trail of slick, silky pre to act as a bit of natural lubricant. It was just another benefit of the werewolf life. With everything ready, he made his move and pushed into Fletcher, sliding in inch after inch.

The four of them moved in such intricate ways, finding their own natural rhythm. Somehow there was no discordance between Yom's ramming, Marco's grinding, Fletcher's drinking and Udo's thrusting. It was a work of art, almost magical in its harmony... But it was more than just a spectacle to behold. Duncan knew this was his new family, his real pack. Marco was his Alpha, these were his brothers... and for the first time in his life, Duncan knew this was a pack with no pecking order. They weren't ranked, they were each different...

Yom was powerful and stoic, loyal and stalwart. Udo was compassionate, empathetic, tender and caring. Fletcher was energetic, curious, playful and volatile... and now Duncan had to find his place in the pack, to figure out how to contribute, how to be equal. It wasn't just about pleasing his Alpha, either. Marco gained strength from the whole pack doing well. It was almost like science experiments that Duncan remembered from high school, where the center of gravity for an object wasn't always where it appeared to be. Duncan looked at the four going at it before a grin crossed his lips.

Fletcher had been so lost in the moment, so satiated by Marco's seed and Udo's thrusting that he was shocked when he felt something slipping beneath him, traveling between his arms and legs like a truck under an overpass... except that Duncan wasn't just passing through. Fletcher was nearly hoisted off the ground as Duncan turned beneath him, reorienting himself. In order not to fall down, Fletcher grabbed onto Duncan's shoulders, draping over him while still bobbing his head on Marco's cock.

Duncan felt a little like a big dog trying to crawl onto a small couch, but he worked himself around, arching his back, scrunching and un-scrunching until his very fit, very toned ass began to brush against Fletcher's swollen feline phallus. Fletcher's cheeks blushed as he figured out what Duncan was doing, and then even more when he felt that familiar cleft. Fletcher's clawed hands began to knead into Duncan's shoulders, making the athlete wince and moan at the mixture of pleasure and pain, his own cock aching with need.

With the confusion over what Duncan was doing aside, Fletcher was able to maneuver himself, changing positions, lifting his hips up just long enough before he came down, impaling Duncan squarely and without missing a beat. Duncan shivered, feeling Fletcher's long, unusually feline shaft spear into him. It took exactly three thrusts until the harmony of the four fell in line with five. Fletcher bounced his hips, jack hammering down into Duncan, sliding deeper and deeper each time. Every time he came up, he took Udo into himself, feeling this cosmic push and pull, give and take, filling and being filled - all while savoring everything Marco had to give.

While the smell filling the air was captivating, it didn't quite compare to just how alluring the sound was. It was a symphony of romance and lust, a melody of the soft, slick, wet sounds of love making. The five moved as one, undulating, writhing, flowing and grinding. It was art, nature, and a deep seeded connection to one another all at once. Their hearts beat as one, even their breathing was perfectly timed. They were one pack, one family, all connected.

It was hard to tell exactly who had hit their limit first. Duncan hadn't even realized he had cum at first until he felt his knees starting to get wet and sticky as he bounced his hips back and forth to take Fletcher deep. Yom's face tightened up next, his hands digging deeper into Marco's hips, his head tilting back before his lips parted and he let out a deep, resounding howl. His thick, robust cock spasmed, then pulsed as every part of his body contracted and released in rapid succession, delivering his hot, thick wolf spunk into Marco's depths.

Udo smelled the cum, he even heard it hitting the floor beneath Duncan. He tried to hold on, to make it last, but he threw his head back and joined Yom in howling, his higher pitch blending into a true harmony. With two wolves howling and three cumming, Fletcher couldn't hold on. He shook and moaned, his mouth vibrating around Marco's cock as he came. Duncan was rewarded with an ass full of cat cum, Duncan growled, grinding his ass against the visiting cock, wanting to ensure every drop Fletcher had to give was trapped deep inside of him.

The air was nearly electric, buzzing with the current of so many wolves reaching their climax. It had taken everything for Marco not to join them instantly, but even his restraint had its limits. Marco tipped his head back, his mouth parting. He felt the howl build from the depths of his diaphragm, up through his lungs, the vibration building in his throat before the sound filled his mouth and erupted from his lips. It was the deepest tone, strong and steady, harmonizing with Udo and Yom, then Duncan as he joined in.

For almost a solid minute, the wolves howled and came, Fletcher an anchor point in the midst of them all. He suckled down Marco's thicker, sweeter, potent seed. He felt like he'd drunk so much he might burst, his stomach feeling swollen and bloated, but he didn't want it any other way. He felt better than he had his entire life. He belonged, he was special, he was powerful, he was loved and accepted and respected. Fletcher finally pulled off Marco's cock in time to let the semen spray across his face, clinging to his fuzzy sideburns, dribbling down his tusks, even sticking to his pointed ears like webbing.

The thunderous peak of their orgasm had risen to such heights, but Marco could feel it ebbing down. Udo tenderly withdrew from Fletcher and Duncan slid out from under him. Yom reluctantly pulled back and the four moved over to the bed again, collapsing onto one another in a pile. Marco stood there, feeling full and satiated, contentment coursing through his veins... but he saw something else, in the corner of his eyes. It was almost like a figment of his imagination, a conspiracy of particles of dust and dreams, a glimpse of Haechi.

The spirit stood there for just a moment, looking like Fletcher and yet not. His hair was a bit redder, his tusks a bit longer, his hands and feet more like paws. His tail had spots, and there was a bit more canine in him, making him a true lion dog... For just a moment he looked at Fletcher on the bed, then at Marco, and with a slight nod, he faded from view. Marco looked back at his pack. They had not seen their visitor, their guest, their protector. Fletcher was busy laughing, his voice a bit hoarse from how much throat work he'd done. He was joking with Duncan while hugging Udo around the waist, smiling despite the tusks dropping down from his upper lip.

Marco smiled warmly, that warmth and joy filling well more than just his heart. Haechi had trusted them enough to move on. Fletcher was healed enough not to need a shepherd guarding him. He still had his changes, he still had protection from the werewolf curse. He was whole, and so were the rest of them. No matter what was ahead of them, Marco knew that they had never been stronger. They had found a refuge in one another, and nothing could stop them from doing the right thing.

**** The sound of wood sliding on wood was an unnerving sound, a shuddering groan that reverberated up through the bed that Silas pushed. He winced as he did it, one green eye shut while the other remained open to ensure the furniture was lined up well enough among the bookshelves in the back of the museum. The bed had already been made with clean, crisp sheets and a pillow. Silas stood up to admire his work, only to have to scoot out of the way as Riku shoved another bed into place next to the first.

"How many beds can we fit in here?" Silas asked, looking over to where Ren was rolling out another camping mattress onto a wood frame. Ren looked around, sizing up the space as best she could.

"If we get my desk out of here, six comfortably, plus four upstairs..." Ren said. Silas smiled softly.

"They can have my bed. I don't mind sleeping outside under the stars." he offered. Riku sat down on the bed he'd just pushed into place.

"That still doesn't cover most of the campus pack..." He said softly, reaching up to pull the hair tie off of his ponytail, shaking his black hair free. Ren moved over to the cupboard to withdraw another set of sheets and set them down on the bed she was making. She moved with ease, almost by muscle memory. Everything seemed to fall so easily into place, but here eyes were a bit more distant.

"All we can do is try to make their homecoming as easy as possible, and to offer a safe place as long as they need it. There are more beds at the clinic and a few other places around town we can use..." Ren said. Silas looked at Ren, feeling something weighing down on her. They'd spent enough time together that he could read her moods, no matter how much she tried to mask them. He moved over toward her, slowing a bit when he was a few feet away. He scratched at the reddish hair covering his ear, brushing it back.

"What is it?" he asked softly. Ren looked up at his question before sighing softly.

"Is it that obvious?" She asked, shaking her head before she let out a weary laugh, turning to Riku, "You know what this museum is dedicated to, right?" she asked. Riku looked up and nodded.

"Of course, it's a museum about the incarceration of the Japanese during the second world war..." Riku said. Ren nodded, stepping away from the bed.

"And here we are again... Our friends, our family, were taken against their will, relocated, imprisoned for things they didn't do... Out of fear, out of paranoia. And now they're coming back, except not all of them will be. Some won't be coming back at all. Others will go back home, and they'll never set foot here again. They'll be too wounded from the experience, their lives forever altered. And the ones that do? We'll hide some here, we'll hide some at the clinic, we'll try to keep them safe... But others will have their pride. They'll go back living their lives, trying to pick up where they left off, but now? How can they explain being gone for that long? How can they explain waking up in a sweat, or checking over their shoulder, or making sure no one's watching them?" Ren asked, her hands balling into fists.

"All we can do is try to give them their best chance... Like you did for me." Silas said softly. Ren looked up, her eyes glistening.

"It isn't always enough. I should have done more to protect them. They were my wolves and I failed them." she whispered. Silas considered for a long moment before he looked back at his mentor and friend.

"This place teaches us about a piece of history that we can't forget... About wrongs that were done to a minority. But... that's just one piece of the experience, isn't it?" Silas asked. Ren looked up at that, a bit curious. Silas felt a bit emboldened as he continued. "Your grandfather made it out of his internment, and then he passed on what he knew. You learned from history, you learned the lessons they gave, and you became a keeper. You kept the secret for years. You kept wolves safe, you rehabilitated them, and you passed on what you learned..."

"You're saying that life goes on past failure?" Ren asked. Silas shook his head.

"What I'm saying is that... the dark days are just the beginning of the story. What your grandfather did, what the displaced did, what our werewolves will do, is that they'll find a way to take their next steps, then more. They'll rebuild and they'll find a new path. The terrible, unforgivable things that were done to them set them on another course, but it didn't stop them. Besides, how could they have anything other than good luck when they've got us on their side, right?" Silas asked. Riku smiled at that, looking at Ren. Ren couldn't even try to hide the fact that she was smiling at that. She sighed a little and moved over to hug Silas close, patting his back firmly.

"You're a good boy, you know that?" She asked, patting his back a few more times, "Alright, we've still got work to do... Let's finish up here, and then we'll head to the clinic next." Ren said before getting back to work. Silas smiled, feeling comforted. Ren had opened up to him a lot more, and for the first time he felt like he might have been as comforting to her as she had been to him. In a way, it was almost like having a pack of his own... or maybe even another mother. Silas nodded with approval at the idea before he moved to help Riku assemble the next bed frame.