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LYKOS

Third Age

Chapter 3

(Ad Pondus Omnium)

The snow had stopped falling, but most of it still blanketed Echo Creek. The clouds were thick enough that the sunset hadn't had a chance to penetrate and as a result it felt many hours later than it really was. The tires of the cars hissed as they rolled through the slush on the road, sending a soupy spray up onto the sidewalk. Thankfully Udo could sense when the cars were coming and stepped out of the way just as they came.

He had been walking for hours, meandering around campus first and then off campus. There had been no real destination. It just felt good to walk, to get away, to think… although he didn't particularly like the thoughts that he was having. He was hundreds of miles away from home and he had fallen right back into the same habits. His father didn't understand him or his life and had made a declaration and Udo had walked out. It reminded him of that freezing night in the parking lot of the Lancaster mall…

As Udo walked, he became aware of louder and louder music from up ahead, the sort of music Fletcher really liked. He looked up and realized he'd walked far enough down Main Street to come up to the Faulkner's Cove sports shop. It had been locked up for the night but the lights were all on and the music was blaring. Maybe the clerk was in the back stocking… Udo looked through the window at the snowboards, skateboards, the climbing equipment and the ATV gear.

The trapezoidal store was laid out fairly nicely though it wasn't the sort of place he usually went to. Udo's eyes scanned the sales floor until he spotted the rack of sweatshirts. There was one with a poofy lining inside the hood and the sleeves, but it had a unique poof fringe around the waist and a line down the back. It almost reminded him of a mane or a tail.

“Looks cozy, doesn't it?" A voice asked. Udo turned, jumping a bit, seeing Thackary there. The barista had gotten off shift and bundled up against the cold, wearing a beanie and a scarf along with a few other layers of fabric. Udo looked at the barista and blushed a bit.

“Yeah. I guess there's not as much of a moratorium on stuff that makes people think of wolves?" Udo asked. Thackary chuckled at that.

“Damn right. It's such a relief… I can't imagine how they did it. Every social group, every team name, every event had to be sanitized and double checked to make sure hunters wouldn't decode it as some secret name for a werewolf group. Living that way is safe, but it's no real way to live." Thackary said before pausing, “Speaking of which, what are you doing all the way out here?" he asked. Udo blushed and shrugged.

“I was just going for a walk, trying to clear my head." Udo replied. Thackary looked at Udo a moment longer before he shook his head.

“No, try again." he said. Udo looked up in stunned shock.

“No, really, I wanted to clear my head." Udo said. Thackary sighed softly before slinging an arm around his shoulder.

“You, my friend, are keeping a secret. It's not the good kind of secret either. You found this bad thing and now you're running to try and bury it, but what do dogs get when they dig holes?" Thackary asked, starting to walk with Udo.

“Bones?" Udo asked with a smile. The keeper stopped, scrunching up his face.

“No, they bury the... Maybe my metaphor was too advanced for ya. They get in trouble. It is my job to keep werewolves out of trouble." Thackary said. Udo laughed a bit despite himself, shaking his head more. He loved how mirthful Thackary was, but even that moment of joy seemed to bubble and boil away as the despair came crashing in again.

“My dad wants me to come home. He thinks college is a bad idea, that he never should have let me come here. He's going to stop paying my tuition and wants me to go back to a podunk town where nothing ever improves. The best you can hope for is that it just gets worse as slow as possible. He has no idea what I am, no idea what kind of person I am, what I've done…" Udo said before looking up into Thackary's eyes with an urgent, deep earnestness. “I fought a curse… I broke out of a secret scientific research base. I helped evacuate test subjects. I fought an ancient Greek werewolf spirit… I met the man I want to marry if that sort of thing ever becomes legal because he's got several other husbands in line for him. I can't go back. If I go back it'll kill me…" Udo said, nearly panting. Thackary was a bit wide eyed.

“Dude, that's all it took for you to spill your guts?" he asked softly. Udo panted a bit, his breath turning to fog as it left his lips.

“I guess I wouldn't have made a very good keeper." Udo said. Thackary laughed at that and shook his head.

“No, no you wouldn't, but that's okay. You're supposed to be a wolf, not a keeper." Thackary said, looking at Udo with a deep seeded contemplation, wrestling with his own thoughts before he reached a final decision and marked it with a slight nod of his head. “Come with me." he directed simply, turning around and heading the other way.

“Where are we going?" Udo asked.

“You need to express yourself and I think I know a place." Thackary explained, coming to a stop at the street corner, waiting for the signal to change. As the last vestiges of light gave way to the inky darkness of night, the traffic lights cast an emerald and ruby glow across the sheen of water on the street. It could have been a picture, and the changing of the crosswalk signal would have been the flash as a wash of white light joined the other colors reflecting on the road.

Udo had always heard about the college campus being a 'bubble' that the school kids rarely broke out of. He had tried to explore beyond just the grocery store and the coffee shop, but as Thackary led him along with such ease and confidence, he realized how little he had traveled off the beaten path. He crossed the street, following after Thackary, trying not to look like a stray puppy. He would have walked side by side, but honestly he had no idea where they were headed.

The keeper led the way almost two blocks closer to campus, passing a pottery store whose exterior had been painted so many times in layers of beige and terracotta paint that it practically looked like it had been forged and fired in a kiln itself. Thackary glanced over his shoulder, giving Udo a bit of a warning smile before he turned onto a narrow and incredibly poorly lit side street. The werewolf hesitated a bit, the blue in his eyes taking on the faintest golden tint as they tried to adjust.

The side street extended between two neglected ranch style homes that had been engulfed in the shroud of a canopy of ancient trees. The branches were knit together seamlessly, arching over everything. A lone streetlight cast a pale blue glow that traveled only a few feet before being consumed and obfuscated by the wet, rain drenched leaves. There were no lights in either house, the lawns dominated by moss instead of grass. The lone sign on the street warned of a Dead End, and while Udo knew what it meant, it was so uninviting it was unnerving… but he had grown to realize that the Keepers had almost a bottomless bag of tricks when it came to protecting their secrets.

Udo forced himself to look beyond the houses, making out something he had not seen before even with his enhanced vision. There was an old battered fence that stretched across the end of the street. It had been painted white at one point, though there were chips and knots and a few splotches where graffiti had been painted over. Not all of the boards were even, some were even askew, but through the gaps and openings, Udo saw something unexpected. Beyond the barrier was a strange sort of glow coming from the trees, like tiny floating stars.

“What is this place?" Udo asked.

“It's got a few names. Just don't call it Diagon Alley or I'll have to punch you." Thackary warned as he headed for the fence line. Udo decided the only way to keep his nerve up was to follow close behind. The keeper pulled a board back and slipped through the gap, reaching back to keep it out of the way. Udo ducked down and stepped through to the other side, rising back up as he brushed his blond bangs out of his face, his eyes widening in wonder.

The two had passed through Echo Creek's scariest, darkest side street and emerged in the complete opposite. The canopy of trees was illuminated by a web of clear christmas lights, lanterns and well placed accent lights. Trails of lights came down like vines, spiraling down street lights and connecting to strands that ran across the roof line of eclectic and mismatched buildings. Everything before them was situated around an old roundabout, apparently the continuation of the road that had been declared a dead end. The center of the roundabout was dominated by one massive tree that was easily a hundred years old.

A food truck sat on the curb at the edge of the roundabout, offering up savory kebabs. There were a few stores with big open windows and an old brick house with a stained glass window mimicking the trees that surrounded the neighborhood. Despite the cold and wet, people were walking to and fro, talking and chatting with one another. There were people of all ages… and one pair of friends sitting on a bench, each of them sporting wolf ears in the open air. In that moment, Udo forgot the rage he had been holding for his father and the uncertainty for his own future. The only feeling that filled his heart was wonder.

“This was here the whole time?" Udo whispered, “What is this place?"

“You've heard of the East Village in New York, right?" Thackary asked.

“I mean, a little. I know it's a bit different culturally." Udo said. Thackary sighed a bit.

“Kids these days…" He muttered.

“Aren't you younger than me?" Udo asked. Thackary made even more of a face.

“Echo Creek has always been a sanctuary to werewolves and Keepers, dating back to its formation. The displaced and dispossessed came here and defined the city's personality and culture. Just like Ren's family and several others. Not every werewolf goes to the school. That's just a way to share what we have with others." Thackary explained.

“I've been here for almost two years. During the full moon - hell, when we were on campus… I never smelled any of them. I didn't know they were out here!" Udo said, feeling a bit of shame. Thackary patted Udo on the shoulder.

“That's the point, my friend. Keepers keep their wolves safe. Classic espionage one-oh-one. If one cell is unaware of another, it can't be compromised." Thackary said. Udo looked at the barista for a long moment, considering.

“Your pack is here, isn't it?" he asked. Thackary reached up and adjusted his hat.

“Well, sort of. I mean I try to keep the whole town safe, but yeah. The pack that I was brought up with is here." he admitted. Udo smiled a bit.

“I love seeing this, but what's the lesson? That I have a place here? That people can be themselves?" Udo asked. Thackary shook his head.

“You'd figure that out yourself, you didn't need that from me. I know your boys. They'll get your head on straight." Thackay said. Udo tilted his head.

“Then why show me this other cell?" he asked.

“It's the only place in town that has a decent werewolf barber." Thackary shrugged.

“Wait, a barber that is a werewolf, or a barber for werewolves?" Udo asked.

“Both." Thackary said, pointing to one of the buildings with a big bay window and warm white light spilling out.

“Why do we need a werewolf barber?" Udo asked.

“Because you're trying to break out of a rut and you told me once that before you got bitten that you were a total Goth." Thackary replied. Udo rubbed at his arm.

“I mean, yeah, technically… And then after the change I can't keep my hair dyed. It just washes out to blond in about a day." Udo said.

“Hence… the werewolf barber." Thackary explained before he started walking again. Udo watched the keeper go, trying to process everything before he broke into a light jog to catch up. He'd given up on maintaining his look in his freshman year, but now Thackary had dumped the chance to change right in his lap… Udo knew that sometimes people did wild things to themselves when they were dealing with stress and loss. It was probably dangerous to present him with a chance like that… But maybe it really was time for a shake up. If he was going to grow his spine and face his dad, what did he have to lose when it came to his own appearance? Beneath the glow of the lights floating in the trees, a grin crossed Udo's lips as he realized that the possibilities really were endless.

****

The harsh blue LEDs lining the cooler cast a glow across the drinks within, sparkling through the bottles of water and glinting off the metal caps of the other beverages. Marco stood for a moment of indecision before he finally opened it up and grabbed a coconut water. The cooler door swung shut with a slap as Marco moved up to the counter, setting the drink down. It was rung up and Marco swiped his student ID card through the reader, deducting from the credit balance. The clerk gave him a vacant nod and Marco stepped out of the convenient store and into the first floor of the Hawk's Nest.

A quick hiss came from the metal can as it was opened and Marco tipped it back, taking a swig before he moved back toward the overstuffed recliner he'd camped out in while studying. He had chosen one of the seats out of the way, half hidden behind a huge artificial fern, but as the evening got rolling the Hawk's Nest turned out to be one of the livelier places on campus. Besides the convenience store, It had a large screen television with a few rows of couches that acted as a miniature movie theater. There were a few pool tables, a gaming area with a cluster of smaller televisions, a room barely bigger than a closet that acted as the campus radio station and a Laundromat. There was even a balcony above the entrance lined with a glass safety wall, but that had been claimed by another group an hour ago. Marco had almost made it back to his study spot when his path was cut off by two approaching students.

“Marco, long time no see man, how are you doing?!" One of them asked with a tone that sounded almost sincere, He had all the hallmarks of one of the frat boys from campus; backwards baseball cap, a tight activewear shirt showing off his muscles, a bit of a stubble beard and polarized sunglasses despite the fact that it was dark outside. Marco had kept an eye on him a few times in the canyon, keeping him from getting too overzealous with the less eager wolves.

“Just trying to get caught up on class stuff… I missed a lot." Marco said.

“I can't even imagine man… They did one of those TV specials on it, they called everyone taken 'The Lost Ones'." the other student commented, looking at Marco with almost pity. He very well could have been from the same frat as the first wolf, though his straight black hair was pulled back into a short bun that hinted at his asiatic heritage. Marco knew him too, a werewolf that seemed mostly content to run beneath the full moon, though occasionally to chase others as well as a bit of a game.

“Is it true, what they're saying?" the first student asked, his voice a bit too eager, a bit too invested in what he thought might be the answer.

“I don't know, Ryan, what are they saying?" Marco asked. The frat boy looked a little more hesitant.

“That you lost your powers…" he said softly. Marco gave a shrug.

“It seems that way." Marco replied, a little annoyed. Ryan's friend looked a little dubious.

“Did your pack mates try to fix it?" he asked. Ryan gave a lopsided smile.

“If not, maybe Kuro and I could." he offered. Marco forced a smile.

“I appreciate the sentiment. Whatever happened, it doesn't seem that easy to… reverse." Marco said, not sure how he felt about the idea of calling it a fix just yet. “I'll just have to find new ways to be helpful at the full moon. Maybe I can learn how to be a keeper, seems like there's always a good chance to learn at the canyon." Marco said. Ryan looked even less enthused at that comment.

“We don't really go to the box canyon anymore. Tobin said if people are going to come after us, we can't make it that easy." Ryan said. Marco's eyebrow quirked a little.

“Tobin said that, huh?" Marco asked, trying not to broadcast his feelings.

“Yeah. I mean, we're predators. There's no reason we should be in a hole in the ground where we can't see or hear or smell. If the hunters are going to come after us, we should be ready and give them a real fight." Ryan explained.

“I assume you still take keepers with you?" Marco asked. Ryan's bravado faltered slightly.

“I mean, yeah…" Ryan said.

“They're part of our pack, just like you used to say." Kuro said. Ryan shifted his posture.

“Anyway, tell Yom and Duncan they're more than welcome to join us for the next full moon. I'm sure they're eager to let their beast out. Good seeing you Bro, glad you're okay and stuff." Ryan said before he gave Marco a pat on the arm as he resumed his path to the convenience store. Kuro lingered for half a beat before following after, the two stepping inside. Marco turned, looking over his shoulder, watching the two stock up on snacks through the window. Despite losing his lycanthropy, it still felt as if someone had brushed his fur the wrong way.

****

The large dorm room seemed oddly empty without most of the pack, especially as the evening wore on. The blinds had been drawn as they usually were, reflecting the warm creamy glow from the lamps on the desks nearest the window and the rope lights taped to the underside of the wooden shelving running near the ceiling. Yom sat at one of the desks, trying to work on a paper for one of his classes without having much luck. He exhaled slowly and closed his eyes, listening to the notes that fluttered up from the guitar Duncan cradled on his lap.

Duncan had settled into the well used couch tucked between Udo's desk and Marco's, playing a few chords at first until he'd worked his way up to a melody that was slow and lilting. Yom couldn't quite place it, but he could certainly feel it. It was heartfelt, somber, even a bit sad. The auburn haired Junior kept playing, building up more and more until he reached the climax. The intensity of the notes faded, the melody repeated its last refrain a few times before it finally fell silent, leaving a void in the room. Yom closed his laptop and turned his chair around, looking at his friend.

“How are you that good?" Yom asked. Duncan looked up with a shy smile.

“It wasn't anything…" Duncan said. Yom glared a bit.

“Don't make me say something you'll regret." Yom said, shaking his head, “It was beautiful, but it makes me worry." he admitted. Duncan looked up in surprise.

“What do you mean?" He asked. Yom took a breath, trying to find the words he wanted to use, or at least the English words.

“I think that we find our strength in each other… We faced something bigger than we ever imagined and we won, but now we don't know how big the next thing might be. I never smelled fear from our pack until we came back." Yom considered, “And your song was too sad." he added with a quicker emphasis. Duncan gave a wry grin at that and nodded, setting the guitar down to rest on the floor, leaning it up against the couch. He leaned forward, crossing his arms on his lap.

“Do you ever think about how far we've come, Yom?" Duncan asked, “Two years ago we were the freshmen… Two werewolves on campus, living it up. Parties, booze, men for you, both for me…"

“Luck would not happen without misfortune's help." Yom said, recalling something his mother had said when they were growing up. He smiled a bit at the memory before looking back at Duncan, “We had some wild times, wild enough that I would have died if Marco hadn't stepped in. It shook me out of myself. I learned to be a better man, but I'm still learning. I'm just…" Yom hesitated.

“Scared?" Duncan asked. As much as Yom wanted to deny it, he had to nod.

“Scared." Artyom admitted reluctantly, “But even if I'm scared, even if I don't know where we're going, I'm not going to question the journey. I'm where I need to be and who I need to be with. I think you are too." Duncan looked into Yom's eyes as he said that.

“I hope you're right. I feel like I just sort of grabbed on, I don't know if I belong." Duncan said. Yom grinned a little.

“Maybe you did grab on, but we all did." Yom smirked, “Out of lust, intrigue, the need to be cared for, to be understood... The important thing is that you didn't leave when Marco-" Yom paused, inhaling a little, “needs us most." he said finally. Duncan gave a soft smile at that and nodded, thinking for a moment before he pulled the guitar back up.

Once more his fingers started to strum across the strings, teasing out notes, then chords, then another melody. This one was curious, adventurous, a faster tempo building to something compelling. Yom smiled at that and nodded, turning his chair back around. He opened his laptop back up and started writing again, his fingers moving across the keyboard now that he had a clear head.

****

There was a stillness in the air of the old shop, a feeling of its age. The light wood used in the long counter had aged and gained a marigold patina and the metal fixtures had an aged brassy pyrite tone that shone beneath the lights set up in the corners. One wall was dominated by little drawers arranged like cubbies, rising from floor to ceiling. Each one had a little brass metal frame holding an index card to indicate the contents, but the lettering had worn off years ago. The bones and beams of the shop dated back many years, but it wasn't without signs of progress. The flooring had been replaced with large sleek slate grey slab like tiles that were easy to maintain and the magazines on the table were all current.

Standing in the midst of the shop, cleaning up wisps of stray hair, was a man that seemed to be a shining example of the shop's contrast and compliment to the modern age. He was in his mid thirties, his sleek black hair worked into a swept back pompadour with just a hint of silver in it. There was a light fade on the sides and a stronger taper in back, bringing the hairdo to a sharp point. The hairdo was counterbalanced by a well groomed, well shaped mustache that had just the faintest bit of a curl at the ends. His grey button up shirt worked well with his black slacks, making him look right at home in the shop that straddled two eras.

The barber shifted slightly, head tilting as he sensed movement outside. The broom was returned to its place and a chair turned around to greet the door as it swung open, admitted Thackary and Udo. A smile formed beneath the mustache of the barber, golden eyes surveying the two new guests, looking Thackary over quickly before shifting to Udo.

“Welcome to the Razor's Edge. Thackary, are you back already or is this a referral situation?" the barber asked. Thackary smiled.

“I have decided that my friend Udo here needs a good makeover and I can't think of anyone better to trust his fate to than you, Michael." Thackary said. Udo smiled a little nervously. The barber gestured to his chair.

“I promise I will take the best care of you possible." Michael said. Udo looked at Thackary and moved over, sitting down in the chair before he looked up at Michael's eyes, seeing their unusual color and smelling the characteristic scent of a werewolf on him.

“I guess we can go wild cause it will just grow out with the full moon in a few days, right?" Udo asked. Michael's eyebrows rose in a bit of shock before he looked over at Thackary.

“You didn't tell him about my skills? I'm hurt." Michael said, though his tone was clear that he was joking.

“I know you'll do right by him. Just don't keep him out all night. I don't think he's up to your kind of night life yet." Thackary said, turning for the door. Udo's hands gripped the arms of the chair.

“Where are you going?" he asked. Thackary looked back and shrugged a little.

“I was headed home when we bumped into each other and I've gotten you where you need to be. There's a special bond between a barber and his client, almost like doctor and patient or bartender and customer. I think this is an experience you need to have for yourself, especially if you're trying to sort through everything. You'll be okay and I'll see you in the morning for your iced coffee." Thackary said. Udo nodded at that and leaned back in the chair, watching Thackary go and disappear out into the night.

“With this being your first visit, I need you to understand that it is my job to help you be you, however you see yourself… or what to see yourself." Michael said as he turned Udo towards the large mirror mounted to the wall, letting him look at himself clearly. He was nineteen years old, had almost caught up to Fletcher in height and his face was framed by long light blond hair that came down almost to his shoulders. He'd had long hair for his entire life, only shorn shorter when his father would win out in arguments about it over his mother.

He had lived his life with one style. He hadn't thought about it all that much, especially since becoming a werewolf, but Thackary had been right… If his life was going to keep trying to change, what was the point of hanging on to the way he had always looked? Did he even like that version of himself? Did it represent who he had become? Who he had grown into? Udo took a breath, wrestling with the thoughts. His dad had drawn the line in the sand but Udo had no intention of obeying. He wasn't an omega, he wasn't a follower. He was his own man.

“What did you mean when you said Thackary hadn't told me about your skills?" Udo asked. Michael smiled almost mischievously at that.

“As scary and sexy as werewolves are, there has always been a battle between our natural abilities and trying to express ourselves. Tattoos, piercings, even hairstyles are hard to maintain because we tend to revert back to our natural equilibrium. That's what you expected with the full moon, right?" Michael asked. Udo nodded.

“Yeah… Even when I cut my own hair, it always comes back to this length." Udo said. Michael nodded, reaching up to pull Udo's hair back gently, using his hand to look at it as a ponytail, then up a bit higher to check out what it would like with a bun before shaking his head a little, letting it slip back before he spritzed it with some water and started combing it out.

“Like some of your friends might have learned, tattoos are possible with certain modifications to the ink. Similarly, extra care with piercings makes them possible to maintain without constantly re-piercing. I have painstakingly experimented with many methods to ensure that my clients don't have to exhaust themselves with constant upkeep to maintain their chosen style. So the question is… what do you want, Udo? Who do you want to be?" he asked. Udo felt a little bit of a chill at that before he looked into the mirror, meeting the gaze of his barber.

“I want… to be confident and proud, exciting… I don't want to be in the shadows. I want to be myself and look like the person I've grown into thanks to my pack." Udo said. Michael smiled at that.

“You like your pack then?" he asked, lifting a pair of scissors that had golden handles and blades, though there was a silvery sheen to the edge as he started to snip, tidying up the edges to start.

“I love my pack. It's my real family, the family I was meant to have. I know who I am when I am with them. I'm the best me, and I want to keep getting better." Udo said. Michael inhaled slowly, getting a good whiff of Udo's scent before smiling warmly. He set his scissors down and moved over to the wall of drawers, running his hand from one brass handle to the next before he opened one drawer and withdrew a jar of faintly yellow gel.

“This contains Aconitum Anthora… Known as yellow monk's hood or healing wolfsbane. Humans have used it to help with rheumatism, colds, pneumonia and heart conditions. For our kind it can enforce a sort of… static memory for your hairstyle. Once we find what's truly yours, using this will keep it from growing out as fast." Michael explained, setting the jar down on the counter.

“So I can stay as the me I become?" Udo asked. Michael nodded at that, picking the scissors back up.

“Just stay honest to yourself and to me, and we'll find your new style so you can look as confident and proud and exciting as you feel when you think of your pack." Michael said, “Welcome to the Razor's Edge." he said before he got to work.

****

One by one the lights of the Hawk's Nest snapped off until only the main light outside the convenience store and the lights in the laundromat room were on. The pool tables had been reset, the balcony long since abandoned and Marco had headed out. The door swung shut behind him and the card reader switched back to red, admitting no one else until morning. Marco yawned a bit, feeling the weight of an incredibly long day. He'd been working hard to catch up on classwork, but even an accelerated program was hard to digest without just cramming for tests.

Marco's hand gripped the guard rail running up the middle of the stairs, leading back to ground level. He trudged a bit slowly, his hazel eyes rising up to seek out his dorm room on the third floor. There was still a faint hint of light coming from the cracks between the blinds. He smiled despite feeling guilty that he was keeping everyone up. As Marco reached ground level, he looked out across the orange glow cast by the lamps that criss crossed along the pathways, shining bright despite the late hour.

As he took a few steps toward his dorm, something tugged at the edge of Marco's awareness. It was vague and undefined, numb and muted without a werewolf's instincts, but it was still there. Marco paused and turned, spotting someone standing on an intersecting path. For a split second Marco wasn't sure who it was, drawn to the feathered, layered blond hair that was swept up into a faint crest hinting at a mohawk. The blond faded to white at the tips just like the frost on the blades of grass around them… but those blue eyes, the handsome face, it took only a split second for Marco to realize the truth.

“Udo…" Marco said. Udo gave a nervous grin, his smile seeming that much bigger without the curtain of hair on either side.

“What do you think?" he asked, moving up sheepishly. Marco's grin grew as well as he looked Udo over with appreciation. He wasn't cute, he was handsome… The haircut really showed off how much he had matured since joining Marco's pack. He'd gone from Omega to Beta and now barely that. His long hair had hidden his defined cheekbones and even obscured how his shoulders had broadened in the last year.

“You look phenomenal." Marco said, huffing a bit, his breath turning to mist in the cool air. Udo grinned a bit more, revealing his elongated canine teeth.

“You really think so?" he asked, coming up to within a foot or so of Marco.

“I do… Words fail to describe how amazing you are." Marco said. Udo's lips closed, his smile turning more into one of relief and contentment.

“I'm glad you liked it. I haven't had my hair this short… ever," Udo said, thinking back.

“I like the tips, I didn't think that worked with werewolves though." Marco said.

“Well, like you taught me, anything is possible." Udo said before he leaned in and kissed Marco. Marco murmured, reaching up, resting a hand on Udo's cheek while another drifted to his waist. The kiss lingered for several moments, the two standing in the middle of three different paths. When they broke the kiss, Udo was breathing a bit heavily. He leaned in closer, bringing his groin to Marco's. Udo licked his lips and looked into Marco's eyes, his own shifting from blue to greenish gold and then finally amber. “Marco, I… I want this moment to be for us. Just you and me. No one else, not the future or anything else." he whispered.

“Just you and me… I promise." Marco whispered back with a warm grin. Udo smiled at that and stretched again, kissing Marco, grinding against him, pressing tight. Marco pressed back, feeling his boyfriend's erection pressing to his. The kisses were heated, passionate, even desperate. Marco moaned out loud and as their kiss broke, Udo moved to kiss and suck and nip at Marco's neck.

Marco groaned louder, feeling the sting as his flesh was sucked and sucked, breaking capillaries beneath the surface. Udo worked his way down, nuzzling against the collar of Marco's shirt, working the flesh that was harder to reach. Udo's hand slid up the inside of Marco's shirt, his fingernails stretching into claws, drawing down the tender flesh from Marco's nipple to his navel. His other hand slipped down, working on the Alpha's pants, toying with the button before drawing the zipper down.

“Fuck…" Marco whispered, barely able to form words. He'd had heated, passionate sex with his pack many times before, but it felt different now. He was a human and Udo was a werewolf with strength and stamina and power. It was thrilling and scary and amazing all at the same time. Udo gave Marco's neck one more bite before he used a claw and cut open Marco's boxers. Truthfully, he lost a lot of undergarments that way but that was one college expense he didn't seem to mind.

Udo's hand wrapped around Marco's cock, squeezing it lovingly, working it forward and back, up and down. As turned on as Marco was and as late as it was, he was still a bit mortified that any dorm room could look out and see what they were doing. He started to guide Udo along the path toward their dorm building before stepping off just beside it, moving into the barkdust between a large bush and the building itself. Udo grinned and pressed Marco to the brick wall before pulling the Alpha's fly the rest of the way open, working his meat like a jackhammer.

Marco groaned, writhing against the wall, his back arching. His cinnamon toned cock stretched to full mast, bloating and stretching. Even without lycanthropy, he was a credit to his ancestry and quite well equipped. Udo salivated at seeing Marco so full, but he couldn't indulge his baser instincts. He had a bigger prize in mind. Udo licked his lips one more time before he shucked his pants and underwear, letting them fall to the ground. Udo gave one last grin before he jumped, springing up to Marco's chest before letting gravity bring him back down.

A grunt escaped Marco's lungs, but he had just enough time to reorient himself, bringing his shaft up. Udo lopped his legs around Marco's waist and, with a bit of maneuvering, Marco felt Udo's hungry, quivering tail ole slide down around his cock. Marco exhaled slowly with awe as he felt that ass impale itself on his cock. He started to lift his hips up, sliding deeper before he tilted back. Udo moaned softly, his face contorting into all manner of lewd expressions before he tightened his legs for a better grip and started to lift himself up only to let himself drop down a moment later.

Secreted away behind the bushes, the two went at it, their skin glistening with dew and sweat. Udo rose and fell like the ocean waves and Marco claimed his boyfriend's body and soul. Udo grunted and groaned, loving the feel of being united with his lover, feeling the zeal of his liberation and change. With each thrust of Marco's hips, Udo felt a swell of completeness inside of him. His ears burned as they stretched into points, a bristle of wheat colored fur spreading up the backs. His brow bone started to swell outward, his eyebrows thickening. Even his pert, muscled, fit ass cheeks parted as his tailbone split off from its stagnant position.

Marco could feel what was happening to Udo. His body was getting heavier, his muscles expanding and thickening. Even the flesh around his cock was undulating and contorting in ways only a werewolf could manage. Udo panted hard, his breath blasting through sharpening fangs. At first it was only his canine teeth, but soon the others extended to dangerous points, filling his mouth with the weapons of a beast.

A golden-white tail dropped down, wagging behind Udo, hanging down to Marco's thighs, then his knees, then his ankles. Udo bounced up and down, higher and deeper, panting and grunting with need. His ears had gone fully wolf, sticking out from his newly styled hair. A patch of fuzzy white fur started to peek out from the collar of Udo's shirt and his chin grew fuzzy as a tiny sheen of brand new blond hairs pushed out from the point of his chin. Udo growled, a sound that resonated and reverberated from deep inside his chest. It reached out through his body and Marco could felt it shaking his bones.

Marco stood there, six foot one, a four inch black beard hanging down from his face, his long black hair bunched up in the beanie he wore. He had the build of a Hawaiian but the facial features of his mother's side of the family. From a distance anyone would assume he was the beast, but right now he felt like a cowboy trying to break a wild and untamed horse - although that horse was riding him at the moment.

Udo snarled and growled, bouncing up and down, moaning hard. Marco was doing everything he could to keep Udo balanced and even as his mass increased, though he felt a little reluctant he didn't have a third hand to give his boyfriend the direct attention he needed. Still, the rapid thrusting and close pressure of their bodies seemed to be doing the trick. Udo's achingly hard member had stretched out to nine inches, then ten, and all of that before it had started to change as well.

With each rise and fall, with each beat of Udo's heart, more and more blood forced its way into his cock. The flesh had stretched to the limit of his human body, but to a werewolf there were no limits. The flesh turned from pale to pink, pink to red, then almost purple. The mushroom shaped tip began to wriggle and contort as it hardened and stiffened, taking on a more rubbery texture as the internal structure changed. The tip stretched into a point, the length grew rigid and the base began to bloat and round and expand, pressing out on the sides.

Marco felt Udo's member shift, barely able to see it, but he could feel it going wild. It pushed out to a foot in length, the forming knot bigger than Marco's fist. Even without the sense of smell that werewolves possessed, Marco could smell Udo's need, his desire, his sex and his heat. It was potent and spicy and all for him… all for him even as he was. Even after everything that had changed, he was still Udo's Alpha.

In the heat of the moment, Marco leaned in and bit down on Udo's shoulder - not enough to break skin, especially with his flat human teeth, but enough. Udo threw his head back and let out an unrestrained howl, cumming instantly. Hot sticky sheets of yellowed wolf cum erupted from his monster meat, spraying down Marco's shirt, soaking it before the seed cascaded down over his bush and balls, dribbling down his legs to land in the bark dust below. Marco inhaled sharply, unable to stop himself. The feeling of making a werewolf orgasm was beyond words.

The Alpha threw his head back and gasped as he came, sending shot after shot of his pearly white essence deep into Udo's hungry ass. The two came for what felt like an eternity, even beyond the point of having no more cum to give. Their male members tried, pulsating, milking out every last drop until Udo collapsed against Marco and Marco collapsed against the brick wall, using a slight angle to keep Udo on his cock. The two panted, desperate for breath, soaked with sweat and starting to feel the cold air for the first time since their passions had ignited. Still, it wasn't enough to motivate them to leave. Just as Marco had promised, this moment was just for the two of them.