FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Dice

Tomorrow was the day I'd been looking forward to all week. My stomach felt like a block of concrete dropped onto it when I thought about that man. The way he seemed to take control; when he pulled me into that embrace. No one had ever done that before. I wanted him to do it again.

“Dice." Dad's gravelly voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I glanced around the dark conference room, lit only by three gallery lights above the long, cherry wood table. Dad was at the head, and I was to his right. The rest of the wolves took their places based on their ranks in the organization.

My father was slightly shorter than I—black fur like mine, but graying along the longer beard and mane. His eyes were a deep amber, piercing… terrifying. Even though I was his son, he was always the monster I had nightmares about as a pup. It was easy to see why he led unchallenged for so many decades.

“Yes, sir," I replied, keeping my composure straight, chest out, teeth bare, just as I was taught over the years. Never show weakness. Never show fear.

Dominate…

“How have things been going with the Shantu clan? Are they ready to lay down and submit?"

“I can't get anywhere with them," I replied, my heart racing. My father saw me as this work of art. This ultimate genetic success, but inside I was one stiff breeze away from blowing over. Another failure on my part, but to be fair, I hadn't really tried. There were other things on my mind.

“Do you remember Sakira?"

A shudder went up my spine as I heard that name. He'd mentioned it years ago, but I always found a way to avoid what he was suggesting. “Yes, sir."

“You're going to deliver that clan to me one way or another, Dice. Since you can't negotiate worth a shit, you may as well put your other traits to use."

“I'll try again."

“No." The room seemed to jump as the palm of his hand slammed against the table. “No more trying. We're fragmented and we're staring at the claws and teeth of three powerful clans. We're losing territory to the Lok—fucking hyenas are winning against us, and the lions have already closed in from the east. We need unity."

“We need the favor of the working class," I muttered, gritting my teeth. “Why bother holding onto territory that we can't even seem to maintain properly? The entire city is turning into this festering shit-hole, and you've done nothing about it."

The hackles on my neck rose as I watched my father seem to get bigger while I shrank. That was a challenge to his authority, one I had no right to make. Why did I say that?

“I'll let that slide this time, Dice." He folded his hands in front of him on the table and I swallowed the lump in my throat. “You do have a point, but this is the catch. The more we lose, the less we can build on."

“What about the humans?" one of the others spoke up. It was Malcolm, an imposing brown wolf with a scar over his left eye. “The state is starting to send aid, maybe we can—"

“Never," my father shouted, standing from the table. Everyone looked down, their ears folding against their heads. “I've heard there are already humans in this city, and we're not letting what happened to the others happen to us. We're not conforming to their ways only to be treated less than second-class. We're better than that." He lowered to his chair. “Do you know where Melioran comes from?" No one spoke, though we all knew the origins of that name. “It's Latin for better. Pursuit of something better. We are superior beings, and the wolves are the strongest. I'll not hear talk of humans again at this table. Understood?"

We all stayed silent, but nodded in compliance.

“I want any human found in this city eliminated."

My head snapped up. “What?"

“Sir, that'll be suicide," Malcolm said.

My father paused and raised his hand. “All of you leave, except my son." The other wolves sat still, at my father's manic request. “Leave," he shouted. The others stood before filing out of the room, nearly stumbling over one another. Dad stood and ambled to the wall before glancing at the ceiling. I didn't know what was worse, him staring at me, or him looking away so I couldn't read his disposition. “You're to mate with Sakira."

“No," I shouted, pushing myself from the table. “You're not going to stud me out to win favor for this clan. They despise us anyway. What makes you think Gero would give his daughter to me?"

“You think you're ready?" His tone dropped, and the hackles along his neck stood straight. Shit.

“N—no."

He turned toward me, and before I knew what was happening, my feet left the ground, the back of my head striking the wall. He may have been older, but he was just as strong as I was. Maybe stronger. With his right hand clasped around my neck, his claws tearing into my skin, he pinned me and I went rigid against him. His teeth were inches away from my face and I turned away.

“This," he growled, no… more like hissed. “This weakness will not be tolerated, Dice. You understand me?"

I nodded, my eyes averted.

“If you're not going to challenge me and take my place, then instead of being worthless, you will breed with that bitch and join our families together." His grip tightened, and it became harder to breathe. “I've heard things, Dice."

My eyes went wide, and my breath quickened.

“I won't repeat it, because I might lose control and kill you." His thumb massaged the bump in my throat before pressing down. “Tomorrow, you're to visit the Shantu estate and take possession of what is ours. You're practically perfect, and there's no female that would deny you. Do you understand?"

I nodded, bile spilling into my throat as I thought of what this bastard wanted me to do. Would I even be able to bed a female? The thought repulsed me. I wanted to spit in my father's face, but he really would kill me.

“Good," he whispered, his grip loosening before letting go altogether. “Now get the hell out of my sight."

I hurried toward the door, keeping my head and ears low.

***

Elijah

“This is gonna have to do," I muttered to myself as I stacked an unpacked box on top of another in the hallway closet. I hadn't had time to unpack all the way or even decorate the house. At least it was clean. The small one-bedroom apartment was the right size for me, but there weren't enough windows. It always looked so dreary in this place, and it didn't help that the only view I had was another shit-brown apartment building with a cracking brick facade.

Though the rooms were mostly bare, the place smelled amazing. Considering the company I'd have, I kept the meal in the oven mostly carnivorous. My mother, bless her, was an amazing cook. Southern soul food kept everyone at the table happy… albeit a little wider than we all should have been. I took all of her recipes and put a healthier spin on them so as to not end up the chubby guy I used to be. My job didn't allow me much leeway on my diet and exercise routine.

I took a deep breath through my nose, the aroma of seasoned whole chickens with scalloped potatoes making my stomach complain. The digital clock on the stove read half-past noon.

Where was he?

It occurred to me then that I never did mention a time. I also never gave him my number or got his. Wait, did he even know which apartment was mine? I panicked and ran through the living room before bursting out the front door. Perhaps he was in the parking lot, realizing our mistake and waiting for me to get him.

As I ran down the stairs on bare feet, I dashed into the summer sun, jumping back when I stepped onto searing asphalt. After looking around the bare lot, the excitement faded. He wasn't there. Of course he wouldn't be; what was I doing? All that hesitation last night, the revelation of his secrecy, the way he tried to push me away when I hugged him… forgetting to ask me for my number; it all added up to something I didn't want to believe.

No, he wouldn't have offered to come to my house just to stand me up, would he? He was obviously turned on, and everything about his body language screamed I was his type. God, why did I do this to myself again?

I turned away, holding my head high as I sauntered back toward the apartments. This would not ruin my Saturday, though it sure felt like someone was standing on my chest. I never thought I'd be so attracted to a Melioran, but I couldn't get the image of him out of my head. He was such a mystery, and I was really hoping to unlock those secrets today. There wasn't a guarantee we'd work out being so different physically, but I'd have been willing to give it a shot—or at the very least, make a friend in this lonely city.

The doorknob clicked under my hand, and I pulled it, stepping back inside the cool living room. I plopped down onto the couch and reached for the television remote before stopping. Nah, I wasn't in the mood. I let my arm fall back to my side as I lay back against the cushion of my plain, brown fabric loveseat. At least I made enough food to last me for a few days as leftovers.

I closed my eyes for a moment before the beeping of the oven forced me up off the couch. My body was so full of energy earlier, but now it was as though someone pulled a plug and all of it drained into the ground.

After turning the oven off, I walked out of the kitchen toward the bathroom. I leaned against the sink with both hands, looking at myself in the mirror. What was wrong with me? It was hard to make and hold on to friends, and men seemed to hit me up for a night and disappear without a trace. I always thought I was a pretty confident person—confident in myself, my sexuality, my looks—but the more this happened, the more I agonized over something I didn't understand.

Was it a race thing? Sure, I was one of only four black men at university, and the only one in nursing school, but I doubted that was the issue. No one ever gave off racist vibes. Aside from some dry skin, everything about me seemed normal. I was tall, with a great jawline… I even had visible abs for crying out loud. I took care of myself, so could it be something worse? Something I couldn't fix?

I grabbed a bottle of lotion and squirted a dollop into my palm before rubbing my hands together, spreading it up my arms and around my elbows. If I kept thinking about this, it would drive me crazy.

A knock at the door sent my blood pressure into freefall as I went light-headed and my chest fluttered. The energy that had been sucked away earlier returned, flooding every muscle as I ran out of the bathroom toward the living room. I stopped at the front door and took a deep breath, calming my expression so I didn't appear too eager. I hadn't felt like this in a long time.

As the door opened, I saw Dice standing there, his mask on with that same trench coat he wore when I met him, only this time he wore faded jeans that cut off just before his ankles leaving the rest of his leg and paws exposed.

“I'm so stupid," I said, shaking my head. “I totally forgot to give you my number. How'd you find the apartment?"

His eyes squinted as he grinned under his mask; I could see the outline of his teeth. “I actually got here an hour ago, and I've been knocking on all the doors. I caught your scent though, which led me here."

“Damn, I'm so sorry. Come on in." Wow, he had been looking for me for an hour. It was hard enough to get most guys to text me back after a night on the town, but this one hunted me down in a heat wave without really knowing me. I grabbed his hand and pulled him inside before shutting the door. “How the hell are you not dying right now? Take that damn jacket off. And what's with the mask?"

“Heh," he chuckled, slipping his arms out of sleeves as he removed the unnecessary layer of clothing. There was that scent again, that spicy cologne mixed with his sweat and whatever else...that was. The white shirt he wore underneath was tight-fitting and sleeveless, showing off every ridge and ripple of his midsection. He was gorgeous and so tall. At least a foot and a half taller than me. “It's kind of a symbol of my clan. It's… a way of letting the right people know who I am."

I could feel myself lock up as I gave his words deeper thought. Images of hospital beds, Meliorans with gashes ripped into their chests and limbs, flesh ripped away by teeth… it all flooded my mind.

“Clan?" I asked, taking his jacket before draping it over a wooden dining room chair.

He turned away, his ears falling to the side as he looked at the floor, scratching his head. “Elijah," he said, the gruffness of his voice softened. “I gotta tell you something, and you're probably not gonna like it."

“Let's eat first." I placed a hand on his chest, giving it a slight pat before turning toward the kitchen.

“It does smell good in here," he said, turning toward the couch. “Do you mind if I sit down?"

“Go for it, man. You don't have to ask."

The minutes passed as I fixed our plates, making sure his portion was large enough. Wolves had huge appetites, and Dice looked like he could eat an entire man if he wanted. I wondered if that desire ever came to him?

Plates balanced in both hands as I made my way to the small, round dining room table I had draped in a burgundy cloth, setting them across from one another next to silverware I put out earlier. Dice got up from the couch and hurried over, sniffing the air as he approached.

“You know," he said, looking down at the food. “No one except my mother ever cooked for me before."

“Well, you'll get a little taste of my own mother in these," I said, sitting on the chair before scooting forward. Dice snorted, and I realized my choice of words wasn't exactly the best. “Shut up."

He pulled the chair out and took his seat across from me, causing it to creak and groan under his weight. Dice could have easily weighed over three hundred pounds. Would that chair hold?

The wolf dug into the chicken first, his powerful jaws crushing the bone as he chewed. I had never seen a Melioran eat before.

“You're gonna choke if you eat the bones too," I said, lifting my fork before shoving it into the potatoes.

“Nah." He swallowed what was in his mouth before shoving in an entire drumstick. The sounds of bones crunching were loud and unsettling. “If you only knew the things I've eaten. This is really good, by the way."

I paused for a moment as I thought about what I wanted to say. As much as I considered choosing my words carefully, they poured out. “I was worried you weren't gonna come."

Dice finished chewing and smiled, his eyes brightening. The almost child-like expression he wore made me want to hold him in my arms, if he'd fit.

“I almost didn't," he said. The honesty hit me in the chest like a boulder. “But I had to."

“Well, don't feel obligated." Even I heard the pissed-off sarcasm in my voice. That wasn't exactly how I wanted to say it.

“It's not that," he said, looking down at his plate before folding his hands in his lap. “You need to get out of this city."

“Excuse me?"

He looked back up at me with a seriousness that made me shiver. “Get out of Tesak."

“I just fucking moved here," I said, the volume of my voice increasing as I spoke. “Are you guys prejudiced against humans or something? I don't understand you."

“My father…" He froze, grimacing as the words trickled out. “He controls this region, and he's dangerous. Please, don't stay here anymore."

My suspicions earlier were well-founded. “You're one of them, aren't you? Part of all the murder and maiming going on here."

“Yes." He broke eye contact again, gritting his teeth. “I've killed. I've done things… and I'll keep doing things. I don't have a choice. I'm sorry. You went through all this trouble, and I could tell you looked forward to having me. No one's ever looked forward to being with me." His eyes met mine again as tears fell from them. He was… crying. What was this guy's personality? Was he a killer, or this? “I'm sorry."

“I…" My words trailed off as I tried to think of anything to say. I wanted to be angry, but I was kind of disappointed. He was the first guy I felt comfortable being around in a while, and I'd just met him. Yeah, he gave off strange vibes, but ever since that night in the limo, I felt more at ease.

Dice stood, but I got off the chair and ran over to him.

“No, sit down. You're not leaving," I said, my hand grabbing his shoulder, forcing him back. I expected a lot of resistance, but the wolf went limp under my grip. He did as I told him, but glanced up at me with an odd look on his face. “You're gonna finish eating, and then we're gonna talk more."

“Okay," he whispered with no objections and began eating again, all the while looking at me as if he were waiting for something.

I turned away from him and furrowed in confusion, trying to figure out what I was dealing with. I sat back down and resumed eating, now feeling uncomfortable as the wolf's widened stare never left me, his ears still low. I knew this body language well from my studies.

“What's going on with you?" I asked, shoveling another forkful of the meal into my mouth.

“What do you mean?"

“I—I don't know. You're acting weird."

“I'm stressed," he said, finishing the rest of the food on his plate. “I meant what I said, though. You need to leave, or at the very least…" He trailed off, one ear perking upward.

“What?"

“Quit your job and never leave this apartment."

“Are you out of your goddamn mind?"

“No," he said, leaning forward, his eyes pleading. “I've never been more serious. Quit your job. I'll give you whatever you need. Whatever your salary was, I'll triple it."

“Are you… you can't… what the hell?" I'd never been so flustered... so confused, and so angry at the same time. “Do you know how hard I've worked to get here? Yeah, I make shit money, but this is what I love to do."

“And I want you to remain alive so you can keep doing what you love. So you either move, or you take me up on my offer. Please."

“I can't just quit, Dice. That will ruin me. This is my first job; if I quit after just a few days, no one's ever going to hire me."

“Let me handle the hospital. I'll handle everything, okay?" He pushed his plate forward and folded his hands on the table. “So what'll it be? Move, or stay with me?" Dice's eyes widened for a moment as he stammered. “I—I mean stay. Here. In this apartment."

He couldn't walk that back, but with so many emotions swirling inside of me, the one that was most dominant was a sense of joy. What a strange feeling to have after being told my life was in danger. But he liked me. He was the first guy that returned any emotion. He wasn't perfect by any means, and he was a mobster—but there was something else hidden in him, something that drew me. This was a risk. A huge one. I was about to put not only my life, but my future in the hands of a Melioran that I'd known less than a day.

I was really going to do this.

“If I move, will you promise that this won't fuck up my career?"

His ears sunk with entire body. “Of course. You have my word."

I studied his reaction.

“And if I stay, can you promise the same thing?"

His ears went erect and his posture straightened. That was all I needed to know.

“Absolutely."

I paused, feigning deliberation. “Then I'll stay."

There was a whooshing sound against the wooden back of the chair as his tail went crazy.

“All right." A wide, toothy grin took up residence on his face where anxiety lived moments ago. “Don't worry about anything." He stood and grabbed his coat.

“Are you leaving?"

“I—I have somewhere I need to be. I'm sorry. I'll come back later, I promise."

He slipped his arms through the sleeves and draped the mask over his maw. I stood and walked up to him, grabbing the mask before pulling it down. “Well, you spent an hour earlier trying to find me, so I'm gonna take that as a deposit of trust." I stood on my toes and pushed his head to the side before kissing him on his furry cheek. “I'll trust you for you now."

He seemed so overwhelmed, like he'd never been kissed before… and that wasn't even a proper kiss. The moment he left the apartment, I was sure he'd soar through the skies, being launched into orbit by nothing more than his emotions. And boy, did he have emotions. This was not at all the person he pretended to be that night; he was completely different.

And I liked it.

“You got it," he whispered, slipping the mask back over his face. “Give me a time."

“What?"

“To be here," he said, swallowing hard. “Tell me when you want me here."

“You're the one that has to be somewhere. I'm not your dad."

He grabbed my right hand in both of his. “Demand I be here by a certain time."

“Okay, now you're just getting weird." I knew something was up with him from earlier. Was this some kind of fetish?

“Please."

I pulled my hand away and crossed my arms. “Fine. Your ass had better be back by eight. No exceptions."

His tail went crazy again. I wondered if this should worry me. Was he damaged or something?

“You got it. Eight."

He turned and opened the door before glancing back at me one more time, then slipped out.

I stood there, my mouth still open as I watched him run by the window.

“What the hell just happened?"