A Paws of a Time
When they met 15 years ago, James was at the beck and call of one specific wolf, tainting his high school experience forever. Nowadays, when "chance" brings the two of them back together, will it things continue to be same? Or can people change? And if so, who?
Tiger's back, this time with a Paw Day story.
Might continue it one day, but for the moment leaving it as a standalone.
"So, are you planning on going?" 34m
"To the reunion? Yeah"
"U?" 32m
"Me 2" 31m
"You know that he’s going to be there, right?" 25m
James continued to stare at the blinking cursor, hoping that it’d finish this conversation for him, but alas, it never did. The fox lowered the phone. He had been so focused on being able to see his old gang again that he had forgotten about... him.
He picked his phone back again.
"Who?"
"You know damn well who"
The fox sighed.
"Bel, it’s been 15 years..."
"People change"
"People like Cael N-E-V-E-R change"
James put down his phone again and hugged his pillow, trying to lull himself to sleep. Trying to put the whole event behind.
Trying to forget about... him.
"Hey, nerd!"
James woke up to the tone of that, oh, so familiar voice. He looked around. The faded-yellow walls and the rows and rows of lockers reminded him of his high school. There was even those cringey motivational posters plastered all around talking about school spirit, and hanging in there, and what not.
He looked at his arms. Long and scrawny twigs, just like back in high school. In fact, the only thing missing were the rest of the students. The hallway looked completely empty, but if it was then from where—
A loud crash brought back him back to his senses. Next to his face, a long and gray furry arm extended from the locker back to its rightful owner. The fox grimaced at the face looking back at him.
"Hey, Cael..."
"That’s Sir to you, pipsqueak."
"I’m not—"
Cael grew bigger and bigger. No, in fact, it was actually the opposite. James was shrinking, more and more, up until he was barely as tall as any of Cael’s toes.
"You’re not what?"
The fox trembled. "Cael, please..."
"I already told you, it’s Sir!" Cael lifted his foot. "And I’ll make sure you remember it this time!"
The fox closed his eyes as the foot came crashing down onto him with the force of one thousand suns.
"Sorry, is the AC too high for you?" Amanda asked.
"No, it’s fine." James sniffled.
He was still drowsy after waking in a cold sweat last night. Good thing he had not mentioned anything about his dream to the toad, or the fact that he had to wash his sheets. All this talk about Cael, he had to make sure that Bel never brought him up again. But given the circumstances, could he really blame him?
"Okay, if you say so."
James was glad that Bel’s girlfriend had decided to come with them to the reunion. Bel was a good friend, always trying to protect him, but he could be overbearing at times, especially when it concerned you-know-who. She’d keep the toad busy, or at the very least, steer the conversation in a different direction.
The fox lied on the bed and closed his eyes.
Best case scenario, the wolf would miss the reunion altogether, and this would be a weekend to remember. Meeting all his old friends again. Do some networking. Hell, if he was lucky, he might even get laid this far away from home.
Worst case scenario, the fox did not want to think about it.
"James!"
The fox woke up with a jolt. "What?"
"Am wanted to know if you were up for some drinks?"
Oh, right. They had arrived at the hotel one day before the reunion started to get some quality time together, or at least that’s what Bel had told Amanda.
"Sure thing, just let me get ready."
James grabbed his shoes and made one last trip to the bathroom. After finishing, he noticed a small bottle on the stool, Bel’s cologne probably. He was sure that the toad would not mind. James put a few drops on his hands and then started to rub them on his neck, but not soon after noticed something off about the smell...
It was perfume.
The fox tried to wash it off, but no matter how much he tried, a small feminine sent lingered.
Bel’s nostrils flared as soon as the fox left the bathroom. "Dude, are you..."
James blushed.
"Oh, it doesn’t matter, sweetie," Amanda replied. "It goes well with you, and besides, it might help you meet that special someone tonight."
James forced a smile. It was good that Amanda did not mind, but why did friends in a relationship were always so invested in making their single friends get a relationship of their own? He had stopped counting how many friends, relatives, friends of relatives, and relatives of friends Amanza had introduced to him so far, all in an effort to rid him of the curse of bachelorhood. A curse that he did not mind having himself.
He did not want to rush things. When the right guy arrived, he would know. Accidental perfume wearing or not.
The trio headed on to the elevator and pressed the button for the second floor, but just as the doors were about to close, a voice shouted from outside, "Hey, wait for me!"
James reached for the button to open the doors when Bel grabbed his hand.
"Don’t."
James looked at him puzzled. Bel had not looked that angry ever since...
"Sweetie, don’t be rude." Amanda went around the pair and pressed the button.
The doors opened, and behind them was a clean-shaven wolf wearing a black suit. "Thanks for—" His short breath soon turned into a wide grin. "James?"
"Sir?"
The wolf’s face beamed as the fox became tight-lipped, completely oblivious to the daggers that Bel was shooting at him from the other side of the box. The wolf moved closer and pressed his snout against Jame’s neck, taking several quick breaths. "Are you wearing perfume?"
"Oh, it’s mine."
For the first time, Cael paid attention to the couple. "Oh, my apologies, madame," he said, grabbing Amanda’s hand and giving it a small kiss, "And you are?"
"Amanda," she answered. She then turned around to point at her companion, "Bel’s girlfriend."
If there was someone that you could say really hated the wolf’s guts, that was Bel. Even if he had not been Cael’s plaything for the better part of their high school. Or had to carry the wolf’s books from one classroom nor do his homework. Or had ever seen the wolf’s toes, let alone knelt for hours to rub them.
And despite it all, Bel seemed to hate Cael more than even James himself.
The elevator dinged. They had reached the second floor.
"Well, it was nice seeing you," Bel quickly said, "but we already have plans for the night, so—"
"Would you like to join us?" Amanda asked. "We were just about to grab some drinks at the hotel’s bar."
Cael turned back towards the fox, who quickly shrank under his sight. "Gladly."
The wolf put his arm around Jame’s shoulder and escorted him out of the elevator. Just like in high school, he was at Cael’s complete mercy. Wherever the wolf went, he’d follow. And whatever the wolf asked...
It didn’t take long for them to reach the hotel bar. Since the reunion had not started yet, and it was the middle of the week, there were barely any patrons. Amanda picked a cozy couch, and James—at Cael’s behest—sat first. Then, as the wolf took his seat, he leaned over to the fox’s ears.
"Did my pup miss me?" He whispered.
James bit his tongue and started to blush, while the wolf sat next to him. Smiling.
"So, I guess you two know each other, Mister...?" Amanda asked.
"Cael." The wolf relaxed his stance, putting one arm over the fox’s shoulder again. "This guy and I were thick as thieves back in the day. Isn’t that right, James?"
James just stared at the floor in silence while Bel feigned looking at the menu.
"Oh, so you’re also here for the reunion?"
"Wouldn’t have it missed it for the world," Cael said while looking at the fox. A stoat in a suit soon approached asking for their order. Amanda and Bel started, followed by Cael, but when the stoat turned to ask James, the wolf answered, "Oh, don’t worry. We’ll share."
"Understood." The stoat winked at the wolf as Amanda giggled.
"I need to go to the bathroom," Bel said quickly standing up, "you coming, James?"
The fox prepared to stand up, but he soon felt the wolf’s shoe pinning his right foot down.
You’ll stay here until I say so.
Defeated, James slouched back into the couch, where the wolf put his arm over him once again. Bel rolled his eyes and left in a fit, leaving Cael and Amanda to chat the night away.
Cael would go on to talk about how he met James, what he did for a living, and the kind of things he liked to do for fun. Meanwhile, Amanda did the same talking about her relationship with Bel, how she had met James, and her own stuff. James, on the other hand, stayed quiet and occasionally glanced at his phone. Bel was sending texts one after another.
The food arrived. Cael had ordered a juicy steak, medium rare. He took a quick bite. "It’s good." He then cut a small piece and offered it to James, same fork as the one he had used just a short while ago. "Wanna try?"
James wanted to refuse. From the corner of his eye, he could see that Bel wanted him to refuse as well. But 8+ hours of road trip had taken its toll on the poor fox, and he caved in. Cael pet James on the head, but the fox was more focused on the seething rage that appeared on Bel’s face. At least he would not drink from the wolf’s glass though, since he did not want to know what would happen if both of them got wasted...
Time went by, and Cael was now being held by the fox’s arms, his hand caressing the fox’s thigh. "I missed you, you know."
James gave a polite nod. Bel and Amanda were long gone, and the check had already been paid. There was not much reason to stay here any longer. So, for the first time in this dinner, James spoke up, "I think we should go." Cael’s face lit up. "I mean, to each of our separate rooms."
"Oh..." Cael tried to stand up, but soon lost his balance and fell back on the couch. "Sorry, I think I drank too much. Would you mind taking me to my room?"
James looked around. There were now more people in the bar, and everyone was staring at them. He thought for a moment about leaving the wolf behind, but he did not want to cause a scene. "Okay, sure, get up."
The wolf’s face lit up again as the fox got him back on his feet and they went on to the elevator. Once they reached the wolf’s room, James was ready to drop off the wolf when the latter spoke, "Key’s in my pocket."
James reached out for the closest one but could not find anything.
"No, the other one."
James sighed. He moved his hand to the other side of the wolf and put his hand in the pocket, unintentionally groping him as he searched for it. Cael smiled, and even if he had no proof of it, James was sure that the wolf had planned for that to happen. He opened the door and dragged wolf all the way to his bed and lied him on top of it. He then turned around and headed for the door.
"You’re not leaving me like this, are you?"
The fox turned back.
Cael was resting with his head on his arms, but more importantly, he also had one raised leg, his foot pointing in the fox’s direction. "I don’t think the hotel would like it if I slept on their pricey sheets with my dirty shoes on."
You’re not serious...
James sighed. If this is what it took to get rid of Cael forever, then he might as well do it. He grabbed the wolf’s ankle and slowly pulled off the black moccasin, leaving the nylon-socked foot next to his face.
"Now the other one."
This time the wolf did not raise his leg, so James knelt on the floor and proceeded to try to remove the other shoe as well. However, Cael lowered his free foot to the fox’s face and stroked the side of his muzzle.
"You know, I could use a massage as well."
James stood up. "Cael, I..." Am not your toy? Want to leave? Won’t go through this anymore? "You’re drunk. I would never take advantage of you like this."
James was about to leave when he felt the wolf’s huge hand holding his wrist. Cael sit up, and with one swift move pulled the fox closer until their lips met. A few moments later, Cael let the fox go away.
"Does that taste like alcohol to you?"
James was short on breath. "I-I don’t know... I think I’d have to try again."
Cael smiled and pulled the fox closer again. James sucked the wolf’s tongue. Cael’s spit was sweet. He had always liked fruity stuff. But he was right, there were no hints of alcohol anywhere in it. Had the wolf lied just to get him in his room?
With his curiosity sated, James let the wolf’s tongue explore the inside of his mouth, meanwhile the wolf’s free hand grabbed the fox’s and moved it closer to his bulge. James shifted the wolf’s balls around as the wolf continued to assault his mouth, until he had enough and unbuttoned his pants. Cael then broke the kiss and pushed the fox’s hand away.
"Nah-ah, you know what you need to do." Cael lifted his still-shoed foot for James to finish his job, but just as the fox prepared to remove his sock, Cael hit his muzzle with his free foot. "How I trained you."
James looked at the wolf with a deadpan stare, but the wolf only smiled back at him. With no other choice, he pulled the sock closer and bit it to drag it off.
"Attapup!"
Cael raised his other foot and slouched back as the fox repeated the action. Now with both feet bare, he propped one of them over the fox’s shoulders as the fox started to rub the other one. He closed his eyes. "Just like the old times."
James did not pay attention. His sole focus was the pads in front of him. They had gotten rougher from the last time he had tended to them, but the process was still the same. He put his thumb under the pad and started to make small circles on the outside on the outside before moving to the center. He repeated this for both the balls and the heel, but just as he was about to move on to the toes, he saw that the wolf had splayed them open. James looked at the wolf. He was still with his eyes closed, but he didn’t need to say or do anything to make clear his intention.
James pulled the foot closer to his mouth and licked between the toes, his tongue then moving on to the top of the foot. The taste was earthy, but manageable, which was not surprising given the way they smelled. It was musky but natural, not dirty. A far cry from how they usually were after gym class.
"You always liked doing that."
"You know I don’t like feet."
"Not that. Making me happy."
James had never thought about it that way. It was not true, was it? Could it be that the only reason he had gone through all that torment was because he wanted to make Cael happy? Could...
The wiggling toes in front of him got his attention, and as if by instinct, he chomped them and started to suck.
Cael smiled, and that filled James with an unknown yet familiar feeling.
As the fox lapped at the wolf’s digits, Cael moved his other foot over to the fox’s crotch. "You’re out of your sheath."
The wolf started to rub James’ crotch, causing him to take out the other foot from his mouth, putting it on his muzzle. His labored breath passing through the space in between the wolf’s toes.
"I thought you said you didn’t like feet."
"I don’t."
"Then why are you humping mine?"
James did not answer. He could image the smirk on the wolf’s face, but it didn’t matter. Getting off was all he cared about. He huffed and humped. He unbuttoned his pants, the red cock bursting out from inside. He then grabbed the wolf’s foot and held it in such a way that his penis would slide along it easily. All while continuing to get drunk on wolf musk.
"Stop." The wolf ordered.
Against his own needs, James stopped; he had been trained well. The wolf retracted his feet, leaving James sitting eagle-spread. He then shifted his position so that his muzzle was pointing right next to the fox’s tip. Without a warning, he then gorged on the dick right in front of him.
It was easy to tell Cael did not have much experience, at least in this position. His teeth grazed the fox’s cock as he bobbed up and down, and he barely went down to begin with. Half-length if that. The hand which he used to hold the rest of the shaft was also gripping too strong.
And still, James enjoyed every single moment of attention that the wolf gave him.
"I’m coming." James moaned.
Yet even with that warning, the wolf continued doing his task until the inevitable happened. Cael stopped as his maw was filled spurt by spurt with fox milk. After it was done, Cael licked his lips and stood up to kiss the fox. A trail of saliva tasting like feet and cum trailed after he broke the kiss.
Cael caressed the fox’s cheek. "Well, now that you had your fun, it’s my turn."
"Yes, Sir."
James was sleeping soundly against the wolf’s chest, yet still twitched whenever Cael traced his fingers along the whip marks on his back. He was glad that he had talked with the organizer before to know that they were arriving beforehand. They still had a full weekend to continue with their fun, or at least, that would be if a certain frog did not interfere. His girl seemed nice, no idea what she saw in him though.
Cael moved on to scratch the fox’s head. James got closer, nuzzling against the wolf’s chest. He looked so beautiful. So peaceful.
If I asked you now to leave everyone and everything you know, would you say yes this time?
“Is that the frog?”
“Toad,” James corrected as he continued scrolling through his messages.
Yesterday
Dude
Dude 8:50
Plz just answer 9:00
Where R U? 9:05
James 10:00
Don’t tell me
You’re with him, aren’t you? 10:02
Seriously?
What’s wrong with you? 10:10
The events from last night flashed before James. Meeting Cael again. The dinner. Carrying back the wolf to his room. And then…
“Jealous as per usual.”
Who? Beltino?
Jealous?
“Why would he?”
Cael guffawed. “You’re kidding me, right? Don’t you remember how he was whenever I approached my girl?”
James rolled his eyes, knowing full well that the wolf at his back would not be able to see them. “Farah was your girl, Cael, not me.”
The wolf moved closer and pressed his lips against the fox’s neck. “Fine, my boytoy then.”
James sighed, not intending to continue the conversation. He went back to looking at his messages, under the constant gaze of the wolf at his shoulder.
Missed call from Bel 11:00
Today
James
Pick up… 0:00
Plz, I’m worried 0:15
James felt the tip of the wolf’s erection prodding him from behind, followed shortly after by the wolf’s hand moving to his sheath as he kissed all over his neck.
R U ok? 1:00
He didn’t hurt you again, did he? 1:03
God, please, just be alright 1:30
JAMES!!!!!! 2:00
I really screwed things over, didn’t I?
“C’mon, it’ll be just like in the good old times!”
“No means No, Cael!” James snapped back at the wolf’s constant insistence. Just the thought of… anyway, the couple approached the maitre d’ and gave their names. Once the Shepherd left to look for the organizer, Cael pressed himself against the fox and whispered.
“Pity.” He gave the fox a playful slap on the back. “You would have looked so cute in a collar.”
James blushed as Cael started to nibble his ear. The nerve of that wolf…
Not before long, a loud, shrill voice echoed through the venue. “Oh. My. God.”
“Miyu!” Cael shouted with such an enthusiasm that James even got jealous, “It’s been so long.”
“Yeah, I’m glad you made it,” the lynx responded before turning her gaze at the fox, “You guys. Did you come together or…?”
“We—” the fox got interrupted by a sudden hit to the chest.
“Put it on my seat.” Cael said, his coat now lying on the fox’s chest, “Miyu and I have got a lot to catch on.”
Before he could voice any argument, the maître d came back and escorted the fox while Cael remained behind with the lynx. Not before long, they arrived at the table. Close to the band, yet still far enough for some privacy. The Shepherd gestured at the seat with James’s name on it.
James sat down and took a quick look around. The venue was fairly empty, but he could see Bel and Amanda at the opposite side. He thought about going over and apologizing to them when a voice boomed around him.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Cael’s boy.” It had been ten years, but that voice still sent shivers through his spine. James turned around to see the bulldog sit down. “I expected you to be leashed and on all fours by now.”
“I tried.” Of course, Cael’s seat was next to his. The wolf sat down and grabbed his coat. “Thanks for bringing it over.”
“Don’t tell me that the great Cael has gone soft after all these years?”
“Me?” The wolf laughed with a false bravado.
If there was someone that you could say James really hated, that was Bill. James did not know what was up with him, but the bulldog had a way of bringing out Cael’s worst side anytime the two of them were together. In a way, it was like him and Cael.
Maybe that was why Bel hated the wolf so much…
Fortunately for him, he did not have to tolerate as much the bulldog’s presence as the rest of the table started to fill. James looked over at Bel and Amanda’s table. He could see his friends laughing along with a few other people he didn’t know as well, but that he had met thanks to Bel. His table on the other hand…
Bill. The lynx from before. Even Cael’s former girlfriend. All dressed in fancy suits, which really highlighted the difference between him and the rest of Cael’s circle.
Just like in high school.
“And what about you, James?” The fox was caught off-guard, as per usual, by the vixen’s question. Farah was usually the one always trying to include him in their conversations. “What have you been up to these past few years?”
I wouldn’t exactly call ten years “few”…
“You’re wasting your time, Fay,” Bill responded, “You can easily tell that the boy has never worn a tie on his whole life.”
Bill flinched after the monkey to his side gave him a hard nudge. The bulldog gave a forced apology as the rest of the table figured out how to de-escalate the situation.
Not that they had to, because, as much as the fox hated to admit it, Bill was right. What had James done with his life all these past years? He just wasted it all around in a menial job or hanging with Bel and Amanda. Trying his best not to think about… him, and failing.
“No, it’s fine,” James replied. “You know how the job market is right now.”
“The only people who complain about the market are—”
James did not see as Bill’s partner nudged him again. Instead, his gaze was looking all the way down. Beneath the tablecloth, he could see the wolf move a leg closer to him and then stroke him. A few moments later, Cael took of his shoe and crossed his leg so that his foot rested on top of James’s knees, just barely out of sight of the rest of the table.
“I didn’t know you were going through that,” Cael said, “Hey, you were always good with numbers. We could always use someone like you at my company.”
James grabbed the limp appendage on his lap and started to knead it.
“Hey, nerd!”
James turned around towards the loud voice coming behind him. Standing in front of him was a mountain of gray fur covered only by a red-and-white cloth with a very prominent number Nine emblazoned on its front. It was Cael, one of the stars of the football team. While they’d had a few classes together, this was the first time the wolf had ever talked to him. James cowered under the gaze of the pair of golden eyes glaring at him from above. He might not have been as much of a jerk as his other friends, yet still rumors abounded about how forceful Cael could be to get what he wanted.
And what the wolf wanted, right now, was him.
“Hey, Cael…”
The wolf moved closer, trapping the fox between him and the cold locker behind. “You’re good with numbers, right?
“I-I guess?” James gulped. It was true that he was “good with numbers’” often acing any classes where math was required, but he rarely if ever was in the top grades.
“Good. Good…” The wolf relaxed his pose, giving the fox something else to breathe than just wolf breath and musk. “I’ve not been doing so hot lately, you know. So, you’re going to help me.”
“You mean—”
The wolf leaped to the side and started walking away. “See you after practice, pipsqueak.”
And thus, their relationship began.
James had to cancel his plans with Bel, who had been pestering the past few months about some new platform game that was coming out. Or was it a fighting game? James did not remember, but it didn’t matter much anyway. Bel was so excited about it and making him happy made James happy as well. Anyway, James was sure that the toad would understand, after all, who knew what would happen if he dared to go against Cael’s orders. Thus, James waited obediently on the bleachers and watched as the football team played.
He did not know what to make of the situation. Was Cael planning to copy his test answers? Force him to do his homework? Or maybe…
“Oy, Cael, looks like you got a secret fan.” James looked down and saw a bulldog leaning against the bleachers looking at him. His number Ten shirt was dripping with sweat. “No need to be shy, boy, I’m sure that wolfy over there does not mind that you’re stripping him with your eyes. Again.”
“W-What?!” He hadn’t… he was just… it’s true that he had looked at him during class before but—
The bulldog smirked at him. “Tell you what, boy, if you really want to see what a real man looks like…” The dog trailed off as he lowered one hand to the waist of his shorts. “I can…”
“Scram it, Bill!” Cael arrived and shoved Bill out of the way, the latter mouthing a whatever as he walked away. The wolf stared daggers at the bulldog’s nape for a few seconds before turning back at the fox. “Didn’t think you’d come.”
“You, er, you told me to see you after practice.”
“Oh, that’s right, I did. Didn’t I?” The wolf wiped off the sweat of his brow before throwing the towel at the fox. “I didn’t tell you to wait here, but it doesn’t matter. Anyway, make yourself useful and bring that with you.”
“Where? To the changing room?”
“No, to homecoming. Of course, to the changing room!” Cael rolled his eyes. “Now, unless you’re planning on giving me a tongue bath, you’re gonna sit your ass there and wait until I finish my shower, and then we can talk. Are we clear?”
James nodded, and Cael smiled.
Little did they know that one day (or rather, several days), James would end up doing just that.
After Cael’s shower (and a long teasing session by Bill), the pair headed off to the wolf’s house. James couldn’t help to compare it to his. It was smaller, for sure, but not enough to make it uncomfortable. Some might even call it “cozy.” The wolf’s room though, that was a completely different story.
There was barely enough room for the wolf’s bed and a desk, Cael taking a seat on the latter. Seeing that the fox was just standing around dumbfounded, he cracked his fingers and pointed at the bed. The fox immediately obeyed, and Cael smiled.
This would go smoother than he thought.
“So, here’s the thing…”
Cael explained the situation, and to James’s relief, it was simple. He was simply not doing so well in a few classes, math, physics, and the like, and he wanted James to tutor him. No cheating. No underhanded tactics. No compensation.
Not asking the fox’s opinion either.
While the wolf never said it verbatim, the way he talked made it very clear from the beginning that James would do it because he had asked him to. End of the story.
Once their discussion was over, Cael leaned down to pick up his math book but stopped when trying to go back up.
“Something wrong?” James asked.
The wolf let go of the book and straightened himself slowly, putting one hand over his shoulder. “Yeah, think I might have sprained something.” The wolf rubbed his shoulder for a while before addressing the fox again, “Rub it for me, will ya?”
James did not know what to do, so he just complied.
Cael turned on his chair to face the desk and waited for the fox to get behind him. He guided the fox’s hands until it was firmly over his trapezius, and then let him work his magic. “Book,” Cael barked.
The fox leaned down and brought the over one-thousand-page tome up to the desk before going back to his former task. His kneading was weak, unlikely to help in any meaningful way, especially with someone as muscled as Cael. It would barely qualify as a pleasure massage, but the wolf didn’t mind.
After all, it was not like he was injured or anything.
For the next year or so, that was James’s life in a nutshell. It was rare for him to meet with Bel or any of his other friends, as most days he’d be going straight from school to Cael’s house to study. He missed the toad and the others, but he soon would get to meet and hangout more with Cael’s. The “popular” crowd.
There was Miyu and Farah from the cheerleading squad. Leon from track and field. Lucy and Peter, children of likely the richest family in town. And a bunch of other people who came and went as time, and popularity, went by.
Oh, and Bill, of course, Cael’s teammate and best friend. James really hated when the two of them were together, as Cael was all too eager to share him with the bulldog and his ‘antics’.
However, things changed one day during their senior year.
It had been Miyu’s birthday party, and James huffed and puffed as he hauled the three-times-his-weight wolf out from the party. He dropped the wolf on the passenger seat and moved closer to buckle his seat belt.
“Thanks, babe.” Cael smiled, and James sighed.
It was not the first time the wolf had confused him with Farah when in this state. James put on his own belt and sped off. While Cael no longer had a curfew, James still did and, sure, he had told his mom that he would be staying with Cael this weekend, so he could have stayed longer if he wanted, but he didn’t want to think of what would happen if Cael’s mom talked to his.
Back at the wolf’s house, he grabbed the weighty body again and slowly made his way up the stairs to the wolf’s room, where he unloaded him on the bed for what he hoped would be the last time. Or at least tonight. Cael was not a chill drunk.
James removed the wolf’s sneakers, and tired, he sat at the foot of the bed, quickly followed by the wolf putting both feet on his lap. James grabbed one of them and started kneading it with both hands. That’s what their study sessions had turned into. Unless there was an exam, most of the time it was just James massaging the wolf, cleaning his room, cooking for him, or whatever the wolf wanted. Or if Bill was there, being their footstool, or whatever the bulldog wanted.
Cael relaxed. James hoped that not enough that he’d have to carry him all the way to the bathroom. Like last time.
“Women, right?” Cael said.
James just nodded, as he had learned long ago that his opinion did not matter to the wolf anyway. All he knew was that Cael and Farah had had some kind of fight, which is when he started to drink more and more. It had taken him his all to get the wolf out of that party. He did not want to even think what would have happened if they had stayed.
He let go of the foot and started kneading the other one. The sooner Cael went to bed, the sooner he would as well.
“It’s just… why do they have to be so complicated?” Cael continued rambling, “I shouldn’t need to be telling her what I need, you know? She should know, you know? And if I say something, she should agree with me. You know?”
Just go to sleep already.
“Farah can be so, so… independent, you know?” On that he was right, she was headstrong and competent, and all too happy to show it to anyone who dared underestimate her. “I thought that she’d be more… you know? That’s what dad used to say, that women changed once in a relationship. Not Farah though. I guess what I was expecting was someone more… submissive, you know?”
Yep, definitely not Farah.
“Like you.”
James stopped kneading and looked straight at the wolf’s eyes. Cael raised his foot up to the fox’s nose.
“I’d bet that if I asked you to kiss my foot you would, you know?”
While he had showered before the party, James could still smell traces of sweat emanating from the appendage right in front of him.
“Kiss it.”
James hesitated for what felt like hours, but in truth, barely amounted to more than five seconds before he planted his lips on the sole. It tasted just like it smelled. Like flesh, slightly damp and salty flesh.
His first kiss.
“Like it?”
“Not really,” James answered, the aftertaste still fresh on his mouth.
“Was it bad?”
James remained silent, trying to think on how to answer, but Cael then used the underappreciated foot to pull him closer and kissed the fox. The wolf was rough, and sloppy, making sure to lick all around the fox’s lips, teeth, and tongue before breaking the kiss off. “Does not taste bad to me. You’ll get used to it.”
James remained silent.
“But if you’d rather try something else…” Cael pushed the fox slightly and lowered his hand to his waistband to unbutton his pants. The tip of his cock was already coming out of his sheath.
The wolf pushed the fox lower and lower until the fox’s whiskers tickled the underside of his balls. James looked up, past the redness in front of him, and saw the wolf smiling. Is this really happening? He started to salivate.
“Just think of it like if you were in the shower.”
While James did not know if Cael had ever seen him do it, it was obvious what he was referring to. Unlike avians or aquatics, who preferred a more hands on approach, for canines like them, one of the most common ways of masturbating was to just bend over and use your mouth. Sure, there were some people who considered it “gay” to suck yourself, but James was sure that every canine or feline had tried it at least once, and to be fair, it certainly beat using your hands.
James moved closer. Cael’s cock was receding back into its sheath, so the fox used two fingers to stretch the slit before starting to lick at it. James licked and licked, and the member started to engorge once again until the redness was several fingers out, and that’s when the fox started to make out with it. It surprised him just how much you could do with your mouth when it was not your penis.
Cael started to thrust his hips, trying to tie a bitch that was not there (or rather, not in the way his body intended), but his knot still managed to find an acceptable place inside the fox’s mouth. James gagged, his own cock had never reached so far inside him. Cael continued to buck up and down, and the fox’s head followed, his teeth firmly past the knot’s base and following its movement.
The wolf moaned and grabbed James’s head, holding him in place before giving one final hard thrust. James teared up as the wolf’s warm seed ran through his throat. They stayed like that until the wolf was completely spent, his grip softened and his knot waned.
Once the fox was ungagged, he slowly made his way up, where Cael kissed him again. This time, more superficial, yet more tender at the same time. Cael hugged the fox, his breathing growing slower and slower. He had fallen asleep, the fox in his arms.
They did not talk about it the next morning, though Cael did enter the fox one more time in the shower. James gritted his teeth as the wolf penetrated him from behind, only aided by the few drops of body soap that he had used as lube. It was painful, but it became easier once his knot was fully inside. Cael bit the fox’s shoulder, to have a better grip while he thrusted. Or so he claimed.
He apologized after they were done. He had drawn blood. The first and only time he had ever apologized to him.
From then on, their relationship changed. James had hoped that Cael ended things with Farah, but the couple continued dating for quite a while, even though every study session nowadays got more physical, if not necessarily always involving sex. Cael and he had also gotten more physical at school, even when Bill was nearby, though Cael strictly forbid them from doing anything sexual the day he caught James licking the bulldog’s feet (at Bill’s behest, of course).
Even after Cael and Farah finally broke up, James was only Cael’s side-bitch. And up to some extent, he liked it that way.
Cael was a raising star with a bright future already planned for him after high school, and James feared that those plans would include him…
“Oh, I’m sure James here wouldn’t mind rubbing them, isn’t that right, James?”
The bulldog’s voice returned James back to the present. Bill was grinning at him, the gaunt monkey right next to him looked embarrassed.
James was about to snap back at the bull… but who was he kidding? He’d at most stare at him with a silent rage. Before he did, Cael’s arm fell behind him.
“Maybe later. We have to go.” The wolf said, turning his head towards the fox, “We’ve stuff to discuss, right, James?”
The fox nodded and Cael helped him get on his feet. From the looks of it, the party was dying down already. Only a couple more tables still had any people on them, meanwhile a manager bided his time in the corner for the right moment to kick everyone out.
Bel and the rest had already left as well.
Cael escorted the fox all the way to the elevator, his arm never leaving the fox’s shoulders. As they walked back, James stopped at his own door.
“Sorry, I need to get some stuff.”
The wolf smiled. “No problem. See you in… five? Ten?”
James nodded and opened the door, quickly heading inside. He stayed next to the door until he could no longer hear the heavy wolf steps. He only needed to grab his bags, and then he could—
“Look who finally decided to show up?”
James turned his head around. Bel was standing right behind him hands on his hips. Hate irradiated from his eyes.
“Sorry, I—”
“Don’t apologize.” His voice was stern and curt. James would have almost preferred if Bel had shouted rather than use that tone. “You were with him, weren’t you?”
“Bel…”
The toad stomped his feet. “Amanda, don’t.”
The other toad remained silent on the bed, and so did James. He had never seen Bel like this before.
“Take off your shirt.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“Bel, I—"
“Take! Off! Your! Fucking! Shirt!”
James had been wrong; Bel’s shouting was worse. He slowly took off his shirt before getting manhandled by the toad towards the bathroom and forcefully turned around. Amanda gasped after seeing the red marks reflected in the mirror.
“I fucking knew it,” the toad said before letting the fox go.
“Look, Bel, it’s not—”
“It’s not what, James. Was it not your BFF Cael, the great wolf, the football star, the successful magnate, the one who did this?”
The fox remained silent.
“Seriously, James. Does he have some dirt on you, or why would you take this shit from him? Do you really enjoy being his footstool? His scratching post? His chew toy? Is that it?”
The fox remained silent.
“Because, if that’s your thing, cool, we can go out right now, and I can run you over with my fucking car if that’s what you want!”
“Bel!” Amanda shouted.
“What?!” Bel snapped at her, but Amanda limited herself to just point at James.
The fox was crying.
Bel sighed and rubbed his eyes. He approached the fox and gave him a hug. “I’m sorry, James. It’s just… you’re my best friend. And this? This is not fine.”
Amanda joined the hug.
“You could end up dead, or worse, and I’d never be able to forgive myself if something happened to you. You know that I care about you, right?”
James leaned into the hug. “Yes, I know…”
“Good, and that’s all that matters.” The toad rubbed the fox’s back, counting the scars with his hands. “Promise me that you won’t ever see him again.”
James sobbed. “I do.”
“Good.” Bel released the fox from the hug. “I know this is going to hurt, but sometimes it’s better to just rip off the band-aid, and the sooner you do it, the sooner you can move on with your life.” He patted the fox’s shoulder. “Remember, Amanda and I will always be there for you. No matter what. Now, let’s go to bed.”
James nodded and followed the couple back into the room. He lied on the bed and closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, the lights were off. Bel and Amanda were deep asleep. James tiptoed his way to the door and left the room. He walked until he reached the door with the number of his other card on it. Cael had given him his spare key.
Unlike his room, Cael’s still had the lights on. The wolf was in bed but turned his gaze towards the fox. “About time you showed up.” He smiled. “Hope you got all your things ready, but don’t think you’ll be able to keep pulling this on your new boss.”
James cocked his head to the side.
“Yeah, don’t you remember? During the reunion. The offer?”
“I didn’t say yes.”
“What are you playing at, James?” Cael sat on the bed. “You were the one who said you had nothing going on. I thought you were looking for something new. Something better. And I—”
“And you were the something better?”
Silence reigned for a few moments.
“Look, just get in bed. We’ll talk about this in the morning.”
“I’m not, Cael. This isn’t high school, and if you think you can threaten me like back then—”
Cael jumped out of the bed. “Threaten?!”
“Yeah, you know what I’m talking about. If you don’t want to get hurt, you must do whatever the great Cael says.”
The wolf took a step back. “Hurt you?! When did I ever…” The fox pointed at his back. “You know what I meant!”
James opened his mouth, but no words came out. “Whatever, if you wanted me to be your house and office slave just like back in high school, you’re sorely mistaken.” The fox walked to the door and threw the key back. “Goodbye, Cael.”
“James, wait—”
The door closed. James started the trek back towards his room. It only took a few steps before he tumbled to the ground, his hand grasping at his chest.
Bel was right. It hurt.
Got my acceptance letter today.
Don’t worry, dad already found us a place to stay.
Wait, what do you mean?
Please, don’t go.
JAMES!
James rolled to the other side of the pillow. He opened his eyes. Bel and Amanda’s bed was empty. Probably went for breakfast. Had they tried to wake him up, or had they just abandoned him?
Just like how he abandoned Cael that day.
Just like yesterday…
James got out of the bed; he didn’t want to wet the rest of the pillow. The fox went to the bathroom and turned on the shower.
Why had he agreed to come? Was he hoping to see Cael again? Did he really expect things to go different this time?
Water continued to trickle down his fur.
I am broken.
Maybe that was what Cael saw in him. Why he wanted him. And all he requested in exchange was a little obedience, which James was more than eager to provide. Cael was better positioned in life, would provide for him, and James liked the way he made him feel. Was it really that bad to accept the wolf’s offer?
To be together. Forever. Maybe not as the wolf’s true lovers, but as an interesting trinket. A pet. A toy. Something to be played with, cared for, not necessarily loved.
The bathroom door opened. “Oh, sorry, didn’t know you were there,” Bel said. He moved closer to the toiled. “Do you mind if I…”
James wiped his tears, thankfully concealed by the running water. “No problem.” It was not the first time he had seen Bel pee. In fact, they often went together while camping.
Bel lifted the seat and did his thing. After finishing, he moved over to the counter and turned on the faucet. “You okay, dude?”
“Yeah,” the fox lied. He turned off the shower and grabbed the nearby towel while Bel continued soaping his hands.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, why do you ask?”
Bel turned off the faucet and dried his hands. He then grabbed the nearby fur dryer. “Do you mind if I…”
“Oh, sure, no problem.” James left the room with the toad following behind. Bel put several towels on the bed so James could sit on them, before turning the dryer on. James shivered as cold air coursed through his back.
“Sorry about yesterday.” He meant their discussion, but James mind was running over the events with Cael.
Even with Bel, all he could do was think about Cael.
“Nothing to apologize for.” James tried to force a smile. “I know you said it because you care.”
“Aye, that I do.” Bel shifted to now be on the fox’s front, focusing on his chest now. The air was warmer now, and Bel used his webbed fingers to comb through the fur. Bel moved his hand up, clasping the side of the fox’s face.
“Bel, what—”
Bel closed his eyes and moved forward, the fox remaining in place until the toad freed him. “I like you,” the toad said, turning off the dryer. He looked down. “I always have.”
“But Amanda—”
“She knows, James. I…” Bel sighed. “Look, I’m sorry, maybe it’s not the right moment for this. Why don’t you head down for breakfast, and we can talk about this after? You, me, and Amanda.”
James nodded and prepared to head downstairs, making sure to bring his luggage with him. Check out time was near, and he was going to meet Bel and Amanda at the lobby after. Thankfully, the elevator was empty. At first, because a couple floors after the doors opened and behind them was none other than Bill.
The bulldog and his partner entered, pressing the button to close the door soon after. James moved to one corner of the small box while Bill moved to the one closest to the buttons. More people came in as the elevator went down, and when they reached the restaurant’s floor, everyone started to exit one by one.
Except for Bill.
James was the last, but as he tried to leave, the bulldog pressed the close button again, leaving the two of them alone. While he could not see beneath Bill’s sunglasses, James had the slight feeling that the bulldog was glaring at him.
“You had to do it again, hadn’t you?”
James stayed silent.
“You know, all I wanted this weekend was to have fun, meet again with some friends, and fuck my partner in a new place where I don’t have to worry about washing the sheets afterwards.” Bill took off his sunglasses, revealing a pair of red orbs behind them. “Instead, what happens? I spend the whole night trying to calm down my best friend and convince him that everything’s going to be fine.”
“Bill, I—”
“Don’t Bill, I me. Because you know what, James? I don’t care.”
The doors opened again, but Bill quickly pressed the button again, closing them in whoever’s face was behind.
“Look, I don’t know what sick games you’re playing with him, or how much you want him to treat you badly, but stay away from Cael.”
“That’s not—”
“Shut up, James. Just shut up.” Bill barked. “I knew you were bad news from the first time I saw you, and I warned him about you way before he asked you out.”
Asked me out? “You mean when he needed help with—”
“You really believed that? James, he’s the manager of an accounting firm, he was on a scholarship, what made you think that he actually needed help?” Bill let out an audible gasp and rubbed his tired eyes. “Besides, I was there in your ‘tutoring’ sessions, the last thing you did was study.”
It was true that when Bill was there, they did not study, but that was because the bulldog kept interrupting them. Right? The rest of the days… well, some of the days…
“You know what? Whatever. As I said, I don’t care. About you, that is. I care about Cael and don’t like to see him this way, so if you have an ounce of appreciation for all the things he did for you, you’ll leave him alone.” Bill removed his finger from the close button. “And if you don’t, this is your last warning.”
The doors opened revealing a pale monkey outside. The bulldog smiled and put a hand on his pocket to take out his phone. “Found it.” He then left with the monkey in his arms as he spun a story about how he had gone back to look for it with James’s help. Meanwhile, the fox remained at the back of the elevator.
He stayed inside the box as it bobbed up and down picking more passengers. At some point or another, Bel and Amanda joined the fox on his trip. Inertia would put an end to everything as he was dragged along the crowd outside the elevator.
If you have an ounce of appreciation…
For what? What had Cael done for him that James would be grateful for anyway? In fact, shouldn’t it be the other way around? Shouldn’t Cael be the one grateful to him? After all, there was the tutoring… okay, maybe not so much, but there was some. James had also agreed to all the wolf’s demands; out of fear, maybe, but he had still agreed to them. Also... also…
“James!”
The fox took a look around. He had somehow gotten outside of the hotel and right into the taxi area. People snook quick glances at him while waiting for their transports, chief among them being the frog in front of him.
No, not a frog. A toad.
“Are you okay, James?” Amanda said.
Of course—
“No, I’m not,” James said dejected.
Amanda smiled and motioned for him to sit on the nearby planter. “You always space out when you’re not. This is about Cael, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.” James sat down and Amanda held him tight. He told her everything, about how they met, their high school life together, and the events of the last couple days. “I just… don’t know what to do.”
“That is a lot to take,” she said with a pensive look on her face. “Bel had warned me about him before, but didn’t take him seriously. You know how he is."
Yeah, Bel could be headstrong to a fault, and that coupled with how self-centered he could be at times… it was no wonder their friend group had been as small as it was. When James first introduced him to Cael, sparks flied, no matter how much the wolf tried.
And he did try…
Amanda took out a business card from her pocket and handed it to James. James spun it around. It was Cael’s. “He gave it to me that time we met when Bel was not around.”
“So, you think I should take his offer?”
Amanda rolled her eyes. “I think you’re old enough to make that decision for yourself.” Sensing the uncomfortable silence between them, she quickly appended, “But I also think that the two of you need to talk.”
James played around with the card. “I doubt Bel will be okay with this.”
“Well, if he has an issue with that, he’ll have to learn to live with it,” Amanda said with her hands tightly around her hips, “James, you stopped being only his friend a long time ago. You’re my friend now as well. Now go, I’ll deal with Beltino.”
James hugged the toad and thanked her before running back inside. He went straight to the elevator. Maybe there was still time. Back at his floor, he dodged left and right until he arrived at Cael’s door. James searched frantically for the spare key that the wolf had given him, but then he remembered throwing it to the wolf’s face the day before.
He knocked a few times. Maybe this was not such a good idea after all…
James cleared his throat. “Cael, I… I mean, we need to talk. I’m sorry about what happened the other night, you did not deserve it. Or maybe you did. I don’t know.” He pressed his head to the door; there was still movement inside. “Look, this is confusing, but what I’m trying to say is—”
The door opened revealing a pig inside. James shoved his way inside to the bed and then turned back to the pig. He was wearing the hotel’s uniform. James took a long look at the room number. It was the right room.
“I’m sorry, my friend’s staying in this room and—”
“I was told it was empty.” The pig pulled out a tablet and started tapping at it. “Yep, checked out earlier this morning.”
James thanked and apologized to the pig before going back to the elevator. He checked the restaurant. The lobby. The parking lot. Everywhere, but there were no signs of Cael. Amanda and Bel had left as well. Guess it was too late after all? He slumped his way back inside the hotel, maybe he could get a taxi to the airport. After the call was over, he was about to leave when he spotted a familiar person in line waiting to check out.
Farah.
He approached the vixen, for the first time in his life without the wolf at his side. She was surprised, but still amiable, and confirmed what James already knew: Cael had left a few hours ago to catch his flight back home. James thanked her but turned back one last time before leaving.
“Did you know about Cael and me? I mean—”
“About the two of you sleeping together?” A shrill voice came from the reception desk. Miyu had just finished checking out. “Didn’t everyone?”
James looked back at the vixen, who simply nodded. “Yes, I knew about it. Cael had told me about his plans at Miyu’s party.”
“So, your fight—”
“No,” Farah interrupted, “that had nothing to do with you. Cael and I had our issues, and you were never one of them. And before you ask, no, you had nothing to do with us breaking up either.”
The vixen started to look tense, so James just smiled at her before addressing her companion. “Thank you for organizing all of this, Miyu.”
“Don’t worry, it was all Cael’s idea after all.” The lynx had a coy smile on her face despite the vixen’s glare. “Oh, sorry, was that supposed to be a secret?”
Before James could say something, the reception desk lady called Farah for her check out, and Miyu went along with her. He would have followed them, but soon a bellboy came asking for him. His ride was here. James left the hotel and boarded the taxi.
The airport was not that busy, thankfully, so the fox was able to find a cheap flight back home. After going through TSA, James looked at the information screen.
E35. Maybe… no. It had been so long ago that Cael had likely boarded his flight by now. Still…
James walked to his gate. On the way, he spotted a nearby restaurant. He had planned to just go to the food court, but his stomach reminded him that he had skipped breakfast today. Besides, he wanted some privacy. He entered, and while waiting for his food, James took out Cael’s card.
Did he plan all of this just so we could meet again?
His food arrived soon. Steak, medium rare. Juicy, and way better than the one at the hotel. Cael would have liked it.
James sighed. It was too late for that now. If only he had accepted Cael’s offer… but then again, was that really what he wanted? To be under the wolf forever? Literally and metaphorically. Maybe if Cael had been more upfront about the way he felt…
No.
All his life, he had been at the mercy of others. Cael, Beltino, hell, even the reason he was here in the first place was because of Amanda. He had always gone with what he thought other wanted- expected of him, and if there was something he had learned today is that he didn’t know what they wanted of him in the first place. No wonder his life had gone to the slumps once he didn’t have a Cael, or anyone else, telling him what he was supposed to do. Who he was supposed to be.
He had to stop thinking about Cael this and Cael that. This was not about Cael. This was about him. It was time for him to think for himself and take the responsibility for that.
If only he had been more upfront. What did he do? What did he want? And where did Cael fall on his goals?
Was the wolf’s offer better than what he currently had? Yes, it was.
Would he like leaving his whole world behind? No, he wouldn’t.
Would living with Cael, and working under him, imply that they would be back together? No, unless he wanted it to.
Was accepting Cael’s offer the right choice then?
That was the question.
James paid for his meal and left as he continued to ponder. He approached a nearby cart, and the panther offered to drive him to his gate, an offer that James gladly took since there were not that many people in the airport anyway.
A few minutes later, the fox left the cart and sat down before taking out Cael’s card again. His phone buzzed. There were several missed calls and messages from Bel, and above all of them was one from Amanda telling him to ignore everything that Bel had sent, an advice that he was sure to follow.
James took one last look at the card. Would Cael answer? He’d understand it if he didn’t, given what had happened last night. James sighed and dialed the number.
Whether he answered or not, this was something that—
A phone started to ring in tandem with the tones coming out from the speaker. James glanced all around. On the other side of the gate, a wolf slouched on one of the seats. He rose and answered his phone before looking straight ahead at recognizing the fox staring at him.
The call went through. “James?”
James looked at the gate number. E35. Had he told the panther the wrong number?
Cael got up from his seat and slowly made his way over, phone still on his ear, until he reached the fox. “Hey.”
“Hey,” James answered back, turning his gaze away from the wolf. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Yes?”
“I… I think I might be into feet after all.”
“Hah, I knew it!” Cael laughed and hung the call, taking a seat next to the fox. “You always seemed more at ease when playing with mine.” He crossed his legs, slipping off one shoe, his sole in plain view to the fox. He wiggled it, trying to elicit some kind of reaction, but not matter how much he tried, nothing happened. “Is there something else?”
“We-I need to talk,” James said. He steeled himself, preparing himself against who knows what, when the wolf’s big hand covered his. He looked at Cael, the wolf’s eyes were red and tired, but he still had a soft smile on his face.
“I’m here for you.”
And so, he started. James talked about their high school years. What he felt then. What he had discovered now. How their experiences had marked the rest of his life until now. Why he had left that day ten years ago. What had happened the previous night.
The fear. The pain. The joy. The longing. The… everything.
And through all of this, the wolf just listened. Cael was now the one turning his gaze away. He sobbed, but still waited for the fox to finish before speaking, “I… didn’t know you felt that way. I’m sorry, James, if only I—”
“The boarding for flight SF621 has started, with destination to…”
The pair went silent for a few seconds.
“That’s my flight.” Cael removed his hand from the fox’s and reached down to his side pocket, pulling out a ticket. No, a pair of tickets. He closed his eyes. “I had hoped that you’d go back with me this time. That we could…”
“Cael…”
“If it were up to me, I’d grab you now and take you back with me. I want to prove you that I can be better, that I can make you happy, that I can—” But before he could utter another sound, the fox pulled him into a kiss. The wolf smiled, but his smile faced as he saw the fox’s face.
James had already made his decision.
Cael stood up and took a few steps towards the gate. “I love you.”
“This is the last call for passengers of flight SF621, with destination to…”
James smiled. “Goodbye, Cael.”
The wolf forced a smile and moved on.
James watched as the wolf showed his ticket at the desk and boarded. He sighed and reclined as far as he could on the stiff seat. He smiled. It was sad, yes, but at least it was over.
Him. Cael. Everything.
All this time, it had been like his life had been a frozen image after high school. His goals, his jobs, even his relationships. But now, just like that, it was like if someone had hit on the Play button again.
It only took ten years, but at last that chapter in his life had come to a close. He could move on. Cael would move on as well. And James knew that even if fate decreed for them to meet again, to date again, at least this time they would no longer be shackled by the chains of their past.
James took a deep breath and left for his gate. After all, time waited for no one, and he was no longer restricted to live in a pause of a long-ago time.