FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

“Jino, get in here!" The shout echoed around the office and into the intended recipient's ears. The young man looked up from his desk and wondered what his boss wanted. Usually, it wasn't a good thing for the old guy to be screaming your name. Typically it meant something was going wrong and he wanted to share that wrongness with you

Getting up from his little cubicle he could see the old guy standing in the doorway to his office. As soon as he was in view the old guy pointed at him and then gave a little 'come here motion with his finger'. Oh yeah, Jino recognised the look on the guy's face. It wasn't a happy look. In the short walk to his boss's office, the writer tried to think of anything he could have done to piss the editor off.

His work was up to date, he'd handed in everything he had a deadline for. That was a matter of pride for Jino, he always delivered. His work this week had been preparing to cover the USA muscle-building Championships next week. As a sports reporter, one with a body that many people thought would make him eligible as a contestant, that was just one of many events he would get to attend that year.

Maybe there was some issue with his press access. There'd never been problems before, but you never knew. It was the only thing he could think of that would explain why his boss had a grumpy look. If a future story, and the accompanying images of buff guys flexing, was to be pulled from their pre-assigned slot. It'd leave the old guy trying to fill a large chunk of paper at short notice.

Reaching the office, Jino took a deep breath and then stepped inside, “Hey, Terry. What's up?"

The old guy was already sitting at his desk. In an age of computers and paperless filing, somehow Terry's desk was still covered in a mountain of paper. It would take a team of archaeologists a few days of digging to find out what the desk surface looked like under the mess. Terry insisted he knew where everything was and did not take well to any offers to help clean it. “Come in, and sit down." He grunted as he picked up a bit of paper.

Jino took a breath. It was never good when Terry asked you to sit down. Usually, he wanted you in his office and out as fast as possible. Being asked to sit was a sign of bad news. As soon as his cheeks touched the, almost worn-through fabric of the chair opposite Terry's desk, the old man leant forward and said, “you heard about Bryce's accident?"

Working in an organisation dedicated to sharing the news, of course, he'd heard that one of their top writers had been in a bad car accident. Not fatal, but pretty damn bad. Supposedly he would eventually be able to walk again. However, it would be a long time before that journalist would be out in the field. “Yeah, has there been any change? He's not getting worse is he?"

Terry shrugged his shoulders and his expression let Jino know the editor had no idea and this wasn't about some co-worker dying. “He's fine. Or as fine as a guy can be when he has several kilos of iron bolted to your spine." The editor replied, “me, however, I'm dealing with the loss of a top reporter who had a bunch of assignments that leave significant holes in the next few months." Suddenly Jino saw where this was going.

“I'm a sports reporter Terry, I have my own…"

“You have the stories I gave you. You're a journalist and I'm your editor. Plus, this particular job you're the only guy I can give it to," as he spoke the old guy handed over the paper he was holding. “This is from the leader of a were pack out in the fucking wilds of Wisconsin of all fucking places. They are some sort of super sub-marginalised group of weres. Bryce had been working for months to get them to agree to let him visit them for a human..well humanish interest piece."

Jino frowned as he read the letter, a pack of werewolves living out in the middle of no-where," why me? There's plenty of other journalists here who would be…"

“Jino, I know where you're going with this," Terry cut in quickly and then he gave a sigh. “Look, yes you are a sports guy, that's what you are interested in and that's why we hired you. However, you remember that piece you did last year on those dress up pervs?"

The writer felt himself stiffen a little as Terry spoke. The paper had been running a series of stories on a whole load of subcultures, both human and mystic creature ones. When he'd seen that puppy culture had been on the list he'd put his name forward. Partly because he knew he would be able to do a good job and mostly because at home he had a selection of puppy hoods and gear. If anyone was going to write about his secret subculture it was going to be him. “Yeah, they ain't pervs though. It's a simple dom…"

“I don't give a shit," cut in Terry once more. “They read it and apparently they are saying if Bryce can't do the piece they will only accept you as a replacement. Some mystic shit about needing someone who can represent their side fairly."

Shrugging his shoulders, Jino submitted. It wouldn't be that bad, he had a werewolf friend or two. He even knew a werewolf puppy and if he was honest… it was a turn on. “Fine, well if you give me the file I will look into setting up…"

“No file and no waiting." Jino bit his lip as he was interrupted again. He knew the behaviour for what it was, a guy desperately trying to stamp his authority onto his neck. His inner puppy really wanted to bite. “Bryce was supposed to be there tomorrow for two weeks living with the pack. I know you are supposed to go and look at a bunch of oiled-up buff dudes," Jino's inner puppy growled again as his work was trivialised, “however, this is a real chance for a writer. You are looking at a three or four-page spread. This could be huge for you. Plus, you don't have a choice. So my advice, lean into this enjoy it and make sure to push your expenses to the limits. I promise to turn a blind eye."

Push his expenses to the limit? While on assignment in the wilds of Wisconsin? Terry could turn a blind eye all he wanted, the chances of him being able to push the limits were as remote as this werewolf ranch. “Fine, can I at least have the files so I can prepare properly."

“Sorry, look Bryce had all the data and he isn't in a fit state to share it," Terry answered. “Just try and do some research online or something, on the plane. Treat it as a challenge, a chance to grow as a writer. "

Frowning Jino told himself he would do just that. While he was on the plane, in first-class drinking his way through his expense account. “Do you at least know the address, or how I get there?"

“Address is on the letter. You are a grown man, I'm sure you can figure out your own transport. I don't have time to babysit you." Terry replied waving his hand for Jino to leave.

With nothing left to say Jino wanted to get out anyway. It looked like he had a few hours to pack and figure out how he was getting there. Plus, figure out exactly where there was and who he was actually going to meet. Werewolves had been a part of the community for almost a hundred years, ever since mystics outed themselves to the world. Werewolves, vampires, and a whole range of exotic otherkin had joined the civilised world.

So, the story seemed a little lacking. Was this pack some sort of cult? Or a pseudo cult maybe? Getting back to his desk, he read the letter again. It was brief, just confirming that the pack leader, Bernard, accepted Bryce's request. “In order to understand the unique nature of our pack, I would suggest a minimum of a fortnight's stay." Fortnight, so Bernard wasn't American, most likely English.

The unique situation was what interested him. Putting the address into google brought the place up on google maps. Or it brought up a building somewhere in the woods. An eyeball estimate made the place a good twenty miles from the nearest town. The address popped up very little else. With just Bernard to go on, searching for the pack leader was pointless. The letter though, handwritten post not email. That spoke of an older guy. The oldest wolves were several centuries, it might be one of those.

“I have enclosed a short profile on each member of our pack. Given the rather unique nature of our family, I have anonymised their information as much as possible. I would appreciate if the final article could maintain the anonymity of our group, as well as the location of our home." Everything about this passage made the hairs on the back of Jino's neck stand on end. Not wanting their names or location to be revealed, on a human interest piece. That was a red flag.

A mysterious otherkin cult, twenty-five miles from the nearest help. Jino tried to reassure himself that this wasn't as bad as it seemed. Bryce wasn't suicidal, whatever the police said about the reckless driving that had led to the accident. So, this was just a wolfpack, but not like the local packs. Maybe one that had not integrated for some reason. Hopefully not because they still enjoyed hunting humans for sport. Though that might explain why they specifically asked for him. Jino spent a lot of time in the gym and it showed. He could quote his body fat percentage and he was always pushing to get bigger. Working out was his drug of choice. That showed very clearly in his staff photo on the paper's website. In sheer poundage, he probably represented the biggest meal.

Realising that he was just psyching himself out, Jino tried to put such thoughts from his mind. Though, that wasn't helped by the fact he spent the next three hours researching werewolf history and culture. While most of it was not as bloody as once believed. There were a few outliers. Though the evidence was balanced on some of the bloodiest episodes, humans had not always reacted well when they found a wolf pack.

In desperation, he called up his only werewolf friend, Kevin. They'd met at a pup gathering. Though he knew Kev was a relatively young were, not even fifty yet. He'd never seen Kev's were form. That wasn't totally unusual, most weres and other mystics didn't let humans see that side of them. Not normally anyway. Jino had to admit he'd found it hot to play with a were and he'd hinted at being willing to play in a true were form, a werewolf in pup hood sounded super cute and sexy.

“Hey, Jino," the wolf said as he picked up. “How're things?"

“Hi, Kev. Sorry to call you out of the blue I just… I have a story and I could use your help," Jino said and took a few minutes to explain. Then asked, “Any of this ringing any bells with you?"

“Hmmm, I don't think so," the wolf replied. “I could maybe ask about, see if any of my friends knows about this pack."

“Thanks, Kev. I owe you one," Jino said. “Maybe when I get back we could get together."

“Sounds great, I'd love to get to play with a pup like you again," Kev replied and Jino couldn't help but smile to think of how much fun they'd had the last time they got together. “Later, puppy."

Jino hung up with a smile. At least he had something fun to come back to. He spent the next few hours booking his travel, a first-class plane ticket and then reserved a rental car. A nice big SUV, something that could handle going cross country if needed. After all, the roads out to the ranch may not be in the best condition and were most likely maintained by the wolf pack themselves. Given how far they had gone to keep their privacy that road might be pretty darn rough.

Heading home he packed enough clothes for two weeks. Mostly casual stuff clothing, along with his laptop and a few notepads. Just as he finished his mobile phone started to ring, it was Kev, “Hey, Kev. You hear anything?" Jino was fairly certain he must have heard something, to actually be calling him.

“Not… well, not a lot. Nobody I know has met any weres from Wisconsin. However, one guy said if the pack leader was an Elder wolf, that's one over a hundred years old, from England, called Bernard, then he might recognise him." Kev informed him. “I got this from one of our elders. He said Bernard was a bit of an outcast, he was a stuck wolf."

“A stuck wolf?" Something from the day's research jumped into his mind. “He can't change form?"

“Yes, or something like that. Mick is over two hundred years olf. His memory isn't exactly perfect. However, he remembered a stuck wolf coming over just after the war… world war two that is…"

“That's before Revelation day," Jino observed, Revelation day was when the mystics finally came out of the shadows. It was July twenty-first, in fifty-nine. The summer solstice, lunar and solar cycles matter a lot to mystics, coming out on the longest day was seen as appropriate. If you are going to step into the daylight, you should pick the longest day to do it.

“Oh yeah, long before. Being a stuck wolf back then, oh boy, he was not in a good situation." Kev answered, providing a little extra information. “If they were stuck in human form they were pretty much kicked from the pack if they were lucky, and you don't want to know what happened if they were stuck in the other forms."

Jino really didn't, but if he was going to write the article he was going to do a good job, “I need to know though Kev."

“Silver dagger to the heart, a wolf stuck as a wolf was a danger to the masquerade," before Revelation day the Masquerade was law. Anyone risking being exposed would be terminated. Someone permanently stuck in an animal or worse still the hybrid form would be a definite risk. “Look, I know that sounds bad. However, this Bernard guy, if it is him. He survived his own pack forcing him out, managed to avoid every other pack and back in those days a lot of packs would kill a stuck wolf on sight. So what I'm saying is he'd be one really tough elder wolf."

“Yeah, but to travel so far, he'd have to be stuck as a human so…" Jino started to say.

“Jino, listen to me. We may look like humans when in that form. Don't let that fool you. We've got the strength of a vampire. Just cause he is stuck in human form doesn't mean he couldn't break every bone in your body without so much as breaking a sweat." The warning was taken very much to heart. Jino was really hoping that Bernard would turn out to be someone else. Though, actually when he thought about it. Just being stuck didn't make him dangerous, or at least any more dangerous than any crazed werewolf could be.

“Ok, I won't try to arm wrestle him. I'm just there to interview him and get to know his pack. Does Mick know anything about the rest of his pack?" Jino asked, making a few notes on one of his pads.

“Nothing, however, look stuck wolves are rare. Like really rare. So it might be he has convinced some local yokel pack of wolves that he's some sort of big deal," Kev's voice was heavy with mistrust. “You sure you want to do this? I mean, it doesn't seem safe to me."

“My boss was pretty emphatic. Plus, well look, I'm not even sure this is the same guy. It's not like I'm going to disappear. I'll be contacting people the second I get there. I am a journalist, so if I did go missing you'd better believe my boss would make a big stink about it." Jino tried to sound as reassuring as he could. More for his own benefit than Kev's. This was all true, Terry could be an ass but he didn't tend to put his reporters in real danger. “I'll be fine and back here in a couple of weeks. I'll be able to tell you all about it and hopefully, this means I will finally get to see one of you guys in the fur."

“You want to see us like that?" The wolf's voice had some genuine surprise in it. “You should have just asked."

“Oh… honestly, I never thought I could just ask," replied the human a little embarrassed. Fortunately, Kev wasn't there to see the slight pink tint to Jino's brown cheeks.

“Sure, you couldn't ask me to wolf up, but asking me to eat out your ass was easy," snorted the werewolf.

“Well that's easy, I've had practice asking that. Plus I didn't ask, I told you pup," Jino put a little dominance into his voice and he could hear the soft whine of a pup that was wanting to play, coming from Kev through the phone. “Well, I know what we are doing when we meet up in a couple of weeks."

“Sounds good to me, though if you want me to change, I'll bring my pup mask. Hoods don't fit hybrid heads so I had them make me something a bit special," Jino had to admit he was really curious about that.

“Ok, that I have to see," he replied and then a soft beeping in his ear let him know it was time for him to hit the hay. His flight was early in the morning. “I've got to go. See you when I get back, and I mean see you in all your forms, pup."

“I'll be waiting. You take care and watch your sweet ass, cause I want another taste of it," Kev hung up before Jino could reply.

The reporter hit his bed, and it didn't hit back. Sleep, however, evaded him completely. His mind was too busy spinning out a thousand possibilities. A mixture of every cliched horror movie he'd ever seen and all the reports on cult kidnappings he'd read of. A pack of werewolves totally isolated from the world. Bernard might not even realise that the world has moved on. For all he knew, this was the werewolf equivalent of ordering in some take out.

Jino knew that thinking about this wasn't helping. He had a long day in the morning, an early flight and then a long drive. To survive that he needed some sleep. Picking up his phone he looked up stuck werewolves and was treated to a series of youtube videos of werewolves getting stuck in all manner of places. It actually helped, it was hard to be scared of someone with their tail stuck in a revolving doorway.

Recalling what Kev had said about getting an adapted puppy mask he went looking to see if he could find any pictures of what it would be like. It wasn't hard to find. Apparently, plenty of were's liked puppy play. That made a certain degree of sense to Jino. After all, a dog was a wolf after millennia of living with men. A hybrid of the two, just like a werewolf. There was a never-ending series of images of werewolves in all manner of gear.

It wasn't long before Jino flicked onto videos. One hand resting on his engorged cock. He found a video of a werewolf in hybrid form and puppy gear, mounting a human who was holding his leash. His jaw dropped as he watched the short video. It was all he needed to jerk away a little bit of stress. Watching the horny were letting loose on his human handler was far more arousing than he'd ever thought it would be.

With the release of some stress and the warm glow of some dopamine and all the other endorphins, he was finally able to doze off. His dreams, however, were not restful. He couldn't focus much, all he knew was that he was being hunted. Jino spent hours running through woods, mountains and plains as some nameless beast chased him down. So when his alarm rang, it was a relief to wake up. His perfectly sculpted body was drenched in sweat and his bed was equally soaked.

With no time to deal with the sweaty sheets, he cringed to think that when he returned he would need to deal with the stale sheets. That was future Jino's problem though. Current Jino had to deal with getting washed, dressed and to the airport in time to board his flight. There was no time for a cup of joe, and his breakfast was a protein bar munched on the way to the car. His bags were tossed on the back seat and he pulled out of his driveway.

At the early time of the morning, the drive was refreshing simple. Near empty roads meaning nobody cutting him off, or going annoyingly slow in front of him. Pulling in to the long-stay carpark he noted the extortionate price they would charge per day for the simple service of a small area of concrete to park his vehicle. More expenses for the paper to pay, a satisfying thought as Jino locked the car behind him.

He booked in at the first-class desk and helped himself to the bowl of candy. A few sweet bits of chocolate helping him to perk up. However, they quickly became a second to the fresh hot coffee served in the first-class waiting lounge. Along with some pastries that he nibbled on, feeling slightly guilty as he didn't know when he'd next be able to hit the gym. However, it was early and this trip was not expected or even reasonable, so a few extra calories were definitely in order.

While he nibbled, he tried to look up more information on 'stuck werewolves'. There was very little on the net. If Kev hadn't told him about it, he'd have thought it was something made up. Kev wouldn't lie, though his elder might have. But, why? To scare him into not going? It hadn't felt like that when he'd spoken to Kev. There was definitely something strange about it. Even if this werewolf pack didn't turn out to be stuck wolves, Jino had half a mind to keep poking at it. Something told him there was a story there worth telling.

He boarded his plane and sank into a cool leather seat. The flight was a very comfortable affair. At regular intervals the stewardesses would offer some additional treat. More coffee, sweets, a second breakfast, and more drinks. Jino turned down almost none of it. Rationalising the indulgence in his mind, since he would have a long drive ahead of him when he landed a large protracted breakfast would keep him going.

The lack of internet meant his investigation was over. All he could do was dwell on the facts. However, dwelling on facts is hard when you are dozing in a reclined seat with hot towels on your face and a chilled mimosa in one hand and a fresh bacon roll in the other. By the end of his flight, he felt fully refreshed and also fully full.

Wasting no time he found the rental car he had booked and set up his sat-nav. A four-hour drive awaited him. Thanks to crossing a couple of time zones it was already early afternoon when he set off. Meaning he wouldn't arrive until the day was mostly over. That actually suited him fine, a quick hello and then a night resting in whatever accommodation they provided would suit him. Then he could start the real work the next day.

Driving through the Wisconsin countryside he had to admit, it was pretty. He also realised the route he was taking was leading him further and further away from civilisation. Towns were getting smaller and fewer. Even farmhouses were becoming a rarity as he drove on. He did at least get to see a lot of cows. Although as he drove up north into the highlands they too became fewer and farther between. The open country became forests, closing in around him. Their shadows casting further as the day wore on. The terrain far more hilly and the number of towns dwindled even lower.

Finally stopping at a small gas station just a half-hour from his destination Jino got out of his car. Every muscle screamed at him and given his build that was a huge din. He stretched and groaned as he felt his body complaining at having spent so long behind the wheel. Filling up the gas tank he stopped by the small store. It was set up for tourists, it seemed. Postcards and trinkets all arranged neatly, all there to sell to people on the long drive to the great lakes that lay further up north.

Jino smiled to himself as he spotted the yellow triangle cheese hats. He'd seen them on T.V., but somehow, in real life, they were both more impressive and more pathetic at the same time. Next to them was a small refrigerator where a small but impressive array of Wisconsinite artisanal cheeses could be bought. Next to it, also in the refrigerator, was a display of artisanal beers and craft ales.

“Going far, Sir?" The clerk behind the desk asked him politely.

“Gone far, not much further left," Jino replied taking a brief stock of the young guy. Already a little bit of a beer and cheese belly was beginning to show on the clerk. Spending days sitting behind a counter probably didn't help.

“Oh? You staying local, you have family here?" The young man asked. Jino grabbed a couple of six-packs of the ale and several blocks of cheese. Figuring a gift of some sort might go down well as a greeting. If he'd thought of it earlier, he would have gotten something from home.

“No family, I'm staying with a werewolf pack up in the woods," Jino half expected the young guy to freak out or share some scary story about tourists going missing.

Instead, he got a slight shrug," ah. Well, the town's Beer, Cheese and Bacon festival is on this weekend. You should drive down. It gets a bit crazy, but there's some real good food. The beer is really good too, all local microbrews." Not a pleading, 'not the werewolves! don't go they'll eat you.' Not even a vague acknowledgement that he was meeting up with mystics. He assumed there would be some legends about the scary wolf house up in the mountains. Instead, he got someone selling him the local town cookout.

Although, the meat-eater in him said that might be worth the drive for...maybe he could offer to take some of the wolves. A were at a burger festival was surely going to be a sight to behold and could lead to some great photo opportunities for the article. His growling stomach made him wish that there were some burgers for sale at the small store. It had been a long time since he had overfed it on first-class freebies.

“I'll see if I can fit it in," replied Jino as he handed over a small wad of bills. Grabbing the purchases, he left. Tossing the beer and cheese in the back of his rented SUV. His legs, arms and back ached as he climbed into the driving seat. Jino knew he was going to be sore for a while after he got to the werewolf place.

He still wasn't sure what he should expect when he got there. A giant log cabin, or collection of them. A brick house, or maybe some huge scary mansion, almost like a castle pressed against the hillside dominating the world around it. The closer he got the more he kept looking for something. However, all he saw was trees, trees and the road he was on.

Turning off the main road he joined a small rough and ready track. He was glad he had something with four-wheel drive as he had to slow down on the bumpy road. His vehicle crawled along, the trees far closer now. Their branches clawing at the car as he drove passed as if trying to stop it. His eyes kept flicking to the woods around him, half expecting to see a wolf, or werewolf staring back at him. With the sun beginning to lower itself in the sky the shadows had grown long and the dusky light was less than friendly.

The air was still, it seemed almost suffocating. Jino found himself forcing his breath, taking it slow. One deep lungful at a time. Reassuring himself that this was all in his mind. That, if this place was anything out of his nightmares then the local clerk would surely have heard and warned him. Or maybe it was just that the werewolves were so good at hunting humans that no-one had ever escaped or even gotten the whisper out that there was something wrong up there.

A flash of something black and his head jerked. Was that a wolf he'd saw? Was it all in his mind? The car stopped and he looked around trying to stop his panic breathing. Was his job really worth it? He grabbed a bottle of warm water and took a calming sip. Looking around him all he saw was empty forest. No glowing eyes stared at him from the dark underbrush, just fallen leaves dancing in slight gusts of wind.

Scolding himself for letting the situation get to him he turned the engine back on. Driving forward and then he jumped. His heart shot into his mouth. There behind him, clear as day was a wolf, or possibly a werewolf in feral form. Fur as black as midnight, sitting in the middle of the road looking at the back of his car as if it was nothing. Jino hit the brakes out of a mixture of fear and instinct. A foolish one, he later realised, he should have hit the accelerator.

Getting out of the car he could feel himself trembling, “hello? My names Jino. Bernard invited me here." He called out, staying right by the door of his car. The wolf said nothing, it didn't move a muscle. If not for the flick of its tail then it may have been a statue. “Are...are you a werewolf...or just a wolf?" Jino asked.

“What would you say if she replied just a wolf?" The question came from behind him, very close behind him. Warm breath brushed up the back of his neck. Jino gave a far from manly squeal as his heart tried to leap out of his chest and his entire body jumped. Spinning around so fast he half tripped over his own feet. He would have fallen onto his ass, if not for the quick reflexes of the beast behind him. A black paw shot out and grabbed his arm, easily holding him up. “Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

Jino had made his professional life around the biggest and most manly of men. A subset of men he felt at ease amongst because he wasn't too far off joining their rank. Before him stood a brute that reminded him of his years in school hiding from the school bullies. It was an unpleasant reminder to how diminutive he had once been, at the same time there was a thrill to see a werewolf in the fur. “Then don't sneak up behind me!" He yelped as he leant against his car gasping for air.

“In my defence, it was really funny," the werewolf replied with a chuckle. His fur was black, much like the wolf on the roads. However, he was in a hybrid form. A long and broad frame body. His digitigrade feet making him taller still. The wolf towered over the journalist by a good head and more. It was wearing some jean shorts and nothing else. His eyes were yellow and twinkling with mischief.

“That's your defence?!" Jino asked in exasperation.

“Yes," the wolf confirmed with his grin only broadening. It was clear to Jino the animal was not about to back off.

“Well, ok maybe it was. I mean, Jesus how did you do that? I swear you weren't there when I got out of the car," the writer asked the conversation actually helping calm his nerves. Jino had played more than one prank on a friend. He knew how to take it and dish it out. In his mind, he just mentally marked down that he owed the wolf one, whoever he was.

“Werewolf magic," the beast said and then chuckled. “That and I was just coming around the corner when you stopped. Bernard sent me, he was expecting you like an hour ago and was worried you might have hit some trouble. The road can be rough and he wasn't sure if a city guy like you might have gotten a car stuck or something. I'm assuming you are Jino."

“Yes, and you are?" The reporter asked holding out a hand, feeling slightly odd. Do you shake hands with a werewolf in hybrid form? Was that like asking a dog to shake? Was that an offensive thought? The wolf grabbed it, the huge mitt enveloping Jino's brown hand in soft fur. There was strength in the shake, but a very clearly controlled strength.

“Walter Brakenshire," any vestiges of fear or concern at the werewolf's imposing looks vanished.

“Walter the werewolf?" Jino asked with a slight chuckle.

“Hey, Jino!" Walter replied in an instant, his voice singing the words softly. “Oh! Jino!"

“Wow! That's a blast from the past," Jino replied with a chuckle. “Though Dexy's Midnight Runners spelt it Geno, not Jino." The message, however, was received and he made a mental note not to repeat the joking alliteration.

“Eh, close enough," the wolf replied with a shrug. “So, you gonna give us a lift up to the house. You're just about five minutes away."

“Ah… sure," Jino replied, the request taking him a little by surprise. He'd assumed the were would want to run through the woods, rather than ride in the car. Once more he was glad he had rented a large vehicle as the werewolf would probably not have fit inside a smaller car. Unless he transformed into his human form, assuming he could.

Walter trotted around and climbed into the front seat. Even with the size of the car he barely fit. As Jino climbed in, the werewolf reached behind himself to open the back door. The black feral wolf trotted up and leap into the back of the car.

Jino glanced at her, “er, hi, I'm Jino."

“She's Talia and she's a dog," Walter replied with a chuckle. “I'm assuming you've never seen werewolves before."

“I actually have a werewolf friend, however, I've not seen him in anything but his human form," Jino admitted. Not exactly liking his use of the 'one of my best friends is a werewolf' trope.

“Well, let me tell you when you see one of us in feral form, and you will very soon, you won't question if they are a werewolf," Walter said as he reached back to stroke the head of the dog. “Talia here was a stray we found as a puppy. She's a good girl though, and super smart, for a dog."

“I look forward to it," Jino said as he drove off. He meant it too. Things were looking up, at least Walter seemed friendly. “How many of you is there?"

Walter looked a little awkward," I think you should probably wait to speak to Bernard about this stuff. We're kind of unique, even among werewolves we stand out."

“Is that because of your evil sense of humour?" Jino joked.

With a laugh, Walter replied," you have no idea." Then he leant across and whispered right into Jino's ear, his hot breath tickling as it flowed across his skin. “But you're going to find out."

“Oh, I think I already did," observed the writer as the car pulled out of the thick forest and into a large clearing. Sat in the centre was a huge mansion. It was stately and clearly old. Jino's eyes spotted a few gargoyles on the corners. The roof was like an old medieval castle, with parapets going around the circumference. On each end of the long building was a tower, easily double the height of the rest of the building.

The clearing had a large lawn just in front of the house. However, Jino's eyes spied some vegetable patches to one side and fruit trees already laden with some fruit. Clearly, the place was at least partially self-sufficient. Hardly a surprise, for a werewolf pack hiding in the middle of nowhere.

What was a surprise was how empty the place was. Jino had expected there to have been someone at least tending to the vegetable garden or something. He'd expected they would want to sneak a look at the guy who was going to spend the next two weeks living with them. “Nice looking place. Where should I park?" He asked, careful not to observe the lack of any other weres.

“Just pull up to the front door for now," Walter replied and when they got there he leapt out. “Leave your bags, someone will carry them to your room." The black werewolf said as he opened the door for Talia to jump out. The black dog trotted up to the huge open front door and vanished inside.

Jino groaned as he stood up again. Once more his muscles were aching at him. He took a moment to stretch and bend himself back, trying to stretch out his spine.

Walter took a few steps towards the door, “come on, I'll show you to Bernard's office."

Jino nodded and followed after the wolf, moving slightly stiffly as his joints rediscovered the joy of movement. The house was tidy and yet empty. All the walls were decorated in floral wallpaper and he spotted paintings, many of them landscapes that reminded him of the world just outside the door. Others were of people, most likely werewolves. Some of them in hybrid or feral forms. They all stared out at him.

However, the art didn't bother him. What did was the quietness, the lack of anyone but himself and Walter. Maybe that was all there was. No big pack just one werewolf and his...friend, servant, lover? Possibly all of the above. The black wolf didn't say anything much as he led him down a corridor. They passed a few closed doors before Walter stopped at one and knocked softly.

“Come!" A strong voice called out.

Walter opened the door, "here's the reporter you ordered." He shouted as he waved with his paw for Jino to enter. Jino glanced into the room. The room was big or rather had been big. Its walls were lined with bookcases upon bookcases. They took up all the space this room had once had. It was more like a library than a study, however, Jino could see a desk by a window. With the sunlight shining through, all he could make out was a vague black shape against the window. He wasn't sure if the figure was in human, hybrid or feral form. All he could say for certain was that there was something living in there, surrounded by enough paper to make any forest weep for the loss of its kin.

“Ah, good. Mr Peters, come in!" A voice boomed out. Booming was the right term. It was a voice far deeper than any Jino had ever heard. “Walter, our guest has travelled a long way, some tea and biscuits would be appreciated I'm sure."

The werewolf gave Jino a look, “tea or coffee?"

“Coffee, please," Jino replied and found himself slightly sad to see the werewolf go. There had been something reassuring about the big furry guy. Walter had been affable and comforting, at least after his terrifying entrance.

Taking a deep breath Jino walked into the room, “Hello Bernard. Is it ok if I call you Bernard, I don't know your last name?"

“Bernard is actually my last name," the voice boomed back. Jino found himself slowing down a little as he got closer. The werewolf was sitting in a high back chair facing the window. He could just about make out a head sticking out above the back of the chair. He was fairly sure it was human. Or at least human-shaped.

“Well, then it is nice to meet you, Mr Bernard," Jino replied reaching the desk. Mr Bernard glanced up at him. He was dressed in a well-pressed shirt and pants. His hair was black, neatly trimmed and yet quite long, to match his beard. There were grey streaks in both, giving him the look of a fifty-year-old human male. On the desk were a series of open books and a manuscript, which Jino noted was being written in. The script was neat and flowing.

The man stood up and gave Jino a firm shake. Jino had shaken hands with athletes of all calibre, as part of his job. Yet the iron grip of Mr Bernard was a match for every single one of them, including the contestants in the world's strongest man competitions. Physique wise he was clearly fit, yet Jino was easily bigger than him. “Nice to meet you. Please, have a seat. Walter will be back soon with our drinks and biscuits."

Jino winced as he remembered his gift, still in the back of the car, “I brought some good beer and cheese, a sort of hello gift. I left it in my car."

“That's ok, I'm sure it has found its way to the fridge by now," the deep voice definitely had the hint of an English accent. “Please, I imagine you've had a long journey. I won't keep you long."

Slipping down into the seat on the far side of the desk, Jino couldn't help but note his back was to the window with a large desk and his host blocking any way out. “Thank you. I must admit, it was a long drive."

“I am sure you must also be curious about our pack and what makes us so special," Mr Bernard said as he leant down to blow on his manuscript. He closed the book and sat back, giving Jino a long look. His eyes were slightly unnerving, they were unlike any that Jino had ever seen. It was strange, his own eyes said they were just blue eyes, yet there was something in that gaze. Something that spoke of far more years of life than a normal… a non-mystic person would ever experience.

“I must admit, yes. Bryce was not able to pass on any of his research. My own has not been very fruitful. Although it may be that you are a stuck wolf." A slight intake of breath from Mr Bernard told Jino that Kev's elder had been right.

“Impressive," Mr Bernard said softly. “All you had was a name and location and you were able to find out our secret. I worry that I may have not been appropriately cautious in my correspondence.."

Jino shrugged his shoulders, “I have a friend who is a werewolf, he said one of his pack's elders remembered a stuck wolf called Bernard heading this way, a long time ago. It was honestly just pure luck and a guess."

“A good guess and never under-estimate a lucky man," the man leant forward a little. “Napoleon knew the value of luck. When people said his victories were all due to luck he retorted, “I'd rather have lucky generals, than good ones". I believe some years later your President Eisenhower bastardised this quote. You predecessor clearly was deficient in this most rare of qualities. It would seem you are not, and that helps validate my decision to request you."

“Actually, I have been wondering, why me? I'm a sports reporter, not an investigative journalist, like Bryce." Jino figured that the werewolf would at least appreciate a direct approach.

Mr Bernard didn't reply immediately. He did, however, pull open a drawer of his desk and pull out a neatly bound bundle of papers. As he put it on the desk the door far behind him opened and Jino spotted the large frame of Walter, walking while holding a tray in both paws. Mr Bernard searched through the pile of papers until he pulled out an article. Jino recognised it instantly, the photo of a group of pups. What nobody at the paper had known was that he was there in his pup hood too. The other pups obscured his body and in his hood, he could have been anybody.

Walter arrived, “Harry made some cheese scones. I thought you might appreciate a few before they are all gone." The werewolf said as he placed the tray down. Jino was a little surprised to see the tray was silver or looked it anyway. The cups were bone china, as was the elegant teapot. It was hard to imagine someone like Walter drinking from one of these delicate and tiny cups. The mental image was somewhat comical, it would be like if Jino tried to sip tea from a thimble. There was also a plate with several large scones piled up. Next to it was a butter dish with what looked like a full block of butter. A second and far less fancy pot was placed in front of Jino. His coffee.

“Oh, you are a little gem," Mr Bernard said his deep voice a little lighter as he spoke. “Please tell Harriot thank you, I am sure this batch will be as delightful as her last," Jino noted Mr Bernard stroked Walter's huge arm as a thank you. He knew werewolves were far more physical both in their affection and expressing emotions than humans.

The werewolf gave Jino a wink and the human hoped he would stay. However, he immediately turned to leave.

“Our guest has left some cheese and ale in his car…"

“It's already in the fridge," Walter cut in quickly.

“Ah! I thought it would be. Mr Peters brought them as a gift for the pack. I thought maybe some cheese and crackers for supper would be fitting."

“Will do, Bernard," Walter replied and then was gone.

The plate of scones was pushed across the table, “please feel free. I have rather a weakness for cheese scones."

Jino's stomach was grumbling at him and yet he eyed the scones nervously. If the other wolves were stuck like Walter clearly was, eating their baking was a good way to end up coughing up hairballs. They don't make hairnets big enough. However, he didn't want to seem rude. The desire to be polite and to put something in his stomach won the day and he grabbed a scone. As he lifted it to his lips he heard the wolf give a sharp intake of breath and he could see a slight look of disapproval.

When it came to looks, Jino would rather see the face of a drunk man reaching for a knife while planning his murder, than the look of mild disapproval on this particular face. “Sorry, is everything ok?"

“It's nothing, but cheese scones are eaten with butter. Plain or fruit scones with cream and jam; the order of which one places them on the scone may get you thrown out of some places in England," as he spoke the man's serious look softened and he smiled, warmly. “A silly and frivolous argument, dating back centuries. Good men have come to blows over something as silly as the order of cream and jam on their baked treats. Of course, by good men, I mean foolish idiots who believe that defending their traditions are far more important than learning to live and let live."

Pausing, Jino glanced at the block of butter. In his mind, he thought “when in Rome". Then he wondered if he kept following that train of thought would he end up howling at the moon by the end of the week. There are worse things to howl at, Jino figured. He swiped the scone across the block of butter scraping up a bit and then took a bite. It was good, a strong taste of cheese, mixed with the salt of the melting butter and the crumbly texture of the dough. Although, the look on Mr Bernard's face was priceless.

He was agog, a term that can only truly apply to the gentry seeing the working class do something practical and yet so very wrong at the same time. The werewolf said nothing. However, he did reach out, take a scone and a butter knife from the tray. With a deft motion, the scone was cut in half to leave two disks of scone. Butter was whipped onto the knife and spread evenly across both slices of the baked good. It was enough for Jino to realise what he'd done wrong, no Englishman dunks his scones in the butter. “How are they?" Mr Bernard asked as Jino finally swallowed the mouthful, feeling his face burn with embarrassment.

“Very nice," Jino answered honestly and his eye dropped down to the butter. A second dunking would mean smooshing the area he had just bitten against what was clearly a communal block of butter. However, taking the knife and cutting it in half would mean acknowledging he had been wrong to dunk in the first place. He could see those strange eyes staring very keenly at him. Jino was all too aware his actions were being judged, analysed. He wasn't sure what for or why, but he was very certain the next step was important.

The easiest response would be to grab a knife and cut the rest of the scone in half and then butter it. Yet, that would be like admitting the werewolf's way of eating scones was correct. Jino suddenly remembered something his father had told him; 'always finish what you start, son. See it through and then learn from what you did wrong.' It wasn't exactly the wisdom of the ages, but right there and then it was enough to make him choose. Turning the scone in his hand a little, he dipped the unbitten side in the butter and finished it off with a second much larger bite.

“Oh, well done," the werewolf said with a chuckle. “It's good to see a young man sticking to his guns, no matter how uncivilised they may be." Observed Mr Bernard as he took a bite of the scone. “Not bad… it's missing a dash of English mustard. You just can't seem to get it these days. Leastways not in Wisconsin. One tries to adapt. However, cheese scones are something a bit special to me, my mother used to bake them, she was a kitchen maid for a rather rich family. Every once in awhile she would steal one for me. That is, of course, the only thing she ever stole in her entire life. She was the most honest and honourable woman."

Jino had a feeling he should have been writing down notes. However, he wasn't sure. It hadn't been made clear if the interview had started yet. “Was she… like you?"

Mr Bernard smiled, “oh dear god no. My mother would probably not approve of the life I have had to live. She was an English Woman, capital E capital W. She just happened to occasionally grow fur and a tail, but she never let that stop her." The old gentleman gave a chuckle as he leant back in his chair. Then he shook his head, “sorry, a habit of the old is to sit and talk about days gone by, until the day has gone by and you've accomplished little today but to think of yesteryear. I'm afraid when you have lived as long a life as I… well let's just say I have a lot of stories to tell. Which we shall get to later. Right now I believe you had asked a question about why I asked for you specifically."

With the whole scone challenge, Jino had actually forgotten he had asked the question. His burning curiosity returned in a heartbeat. “Yes, I did. If you don't mind answering."

“Young man, and believe me you and every man you know is a young man next to me. If I had not wanted to answer questions I would not have agreed to a reporter living with my pack for the next fortnight, now would I?" It was strange to hear him describe himself as so ancient. His words and tone did not match the body and face. However, the eyes… the eyes were old. That was what was so strange about them, a man at sixty does not have eyes that say they have seen the centuries pass.

“I guess not."

“When he was trying to sell me on the idea, you compatriot sent me a whole bunch of articles from your paper. Ones focussing on telling the story from the other side. I believe that was his intent, to show that our story would be told, from our side," Mr Bernard picked up the print out of his article. “Now, this convinced me that you might be the right man."

“My article on puppy culture," Jino acknowledged. It was what Terry had told him, it was that simple.

“Well, not the article so much as the photograph," Mr Bernard said, his finger sliding to point at Jino. “This I believe would be yourself, would it not?"

Jino was glad he had finished the scone and had not yet touched his coffee, or he was sure he would have choked. None of his colleagues had spotted him. How had this old man, who had never even met him spotted him from a black and white photograph? “I... “ Jino had scrupulously separated his work from his life in the puppy culture, for a very good reason. The media can make a wildfire out of a match, and a journalist engaging in such activities was far more than a match. However, something told him now was not the time to lie. “... am that particular person, yes."

“Doesn't say so in the caption," Mr Bernard shot out. “It lists this person as Dexy." Observed Mr Bernard and then he smiled. “Well, no matter. I suspect that this might mean we can expect a fair story out of you." For a moment Jino wondered if that was some kind of threat or a hint at blackmail. “For there isn't a single one of us who doesn't know what it's like to hide yourself, or part of yourself, from those around us. I trust that your understanding these feelings will mean you are better at telling our story than someone who lacks such insight."

The conversation paused there. Jino honestly wasn't sure what to say. He did understand something about hiding. More still about the relief and horror of coming out of hiding. Acceptance and rejection, he'd had both when he came out as gay. Acceptance was, of course, wonderful. Rejection was bitter and it burned long in his mind. Which was part of the reason he hid part of himself. He had no desire to taste that bitterness once more.

“However, returning us to the matter at hand, or paw if you will," Mr Bernard smiled a little at his rather weak joke. “Yes, my pack are all what we call stuck wolves. Myself included."

“So, you cannot change into the other forms of the werewolf?" Jino asked, being locked in one form and wanting to be in another, knowing you should be able to be another. He wasn't sure what that would feel like, probably not great.

“Actually, my case is slightly different. You see, we are not all stuck the same way. Some of us can change between false and morphic forms. Others between true and morphic. Some, like Walter, for example, are stuck in one form. For some they are born stuck, others become stuck on a moments notice. Yet others, such as myself, become stuck gradually," this time Jino knew to grab his pen and pad and make some notes. There was little doubt this was an interview and in that short statement he already had more information on stuck wolves than he'd found in a whole night of searching the internet.

“I find it easy to change from false, to morphic, to true. Yet, changing the other way began to become difficult…. Oh, how long ago was it now? Maybe a couple of centuries ago. It is hard to put an exact date on it." Jino noted down the centuries part underlining it. “Over time it has gotten harder and harder to turn back to false."

“Sorry, can I ask why you say true, false and morphic? I thought the preferred terms were human, wolf and morphic." Jino's reporter's instincts cut in for him.

“Oh yes, those are the 'modern' terms for it. I believe the reason is that humans would be offended to know werewolves describe their form as false and the wolf form as true." Jino's pen blurred as he scribbled this down. “Before we revealed ourselves I'm sure the elders decided that it was best to change things up. Though as a stuck wolf, even though I am one of the eldest wolves, I didn't get to be an elder or have any say. True wolf form, morphic form because we are morphing between forms really and simply decide to stop halfway. False form, because unlike the wolves of the wild, humans never accept us as true humans. I may be human-shaped, but I'm not human. Not really and to be honest, looking at what the humans have done to this world I am not sure I'd choose to be human if I had the choice. I chose to look human because it is helpful or at least useful and most importantly because I know if I leave this form I will never be able to return to it again."

“What… what was it like to know you were becoming a stuck wolf?" Jino paused a little worrying that was the wrong question. Or that it might be hurtful to think on. However, he was a journalist, he knew he had to at least ask.

Mr Bernard took a deep breath," terrifying. Having known the joys and freedoms to change my form at a whim. To suddenly have to fight for it. The struggle itself is like drowning, being stuck between two air pockets, one way is like swimming through thickening tar, the other like floating on air. You know you have to keep fighting on, and yet your body is screaming at you to stop and go back. If I change again, that tar will be concrete for me, and I have not the strength of will to push through the concrete.

I… miss those other forms. The grace of the wolf. To run like a morphic. To climb to dance… yes, young man, I have danced under the full moon. Though it was so very, very long ago now. I miss my tail… ha! You'll never know the simple joy of bounding around with your friends, just letting it all wag out. I suppose the nearest you can get is like an illness, a disability. Like waking up after an accident to find you can no longer walk. Your brain remembers what you were, who you were but you feel less of a person.

Those around you… they don't understand. Werewolves don't want the world to know about us… because they don't want you to know what they did to us." Mr Bernard was staring into his cup, almost as if he was reading this out from his tea leaves. Jino got the feeling the old wolf wasn't seeing what he was looking at, he was seeing things far back. “Do you know the structure of the pack, young man?"

The question caught Jino off guard. He as supposed to ask the questions not answer them, “err, you mean the alpha, beta and omega?"

“Yes, that's right. A load of rubbish really, some stupid human looked at wolves in captivity and saw how they behaved and assumed they were like that in the wild," the werewolf sniffed disapprovingly. “ You put a bunch of humans in captivity and you'll find they behave the same way, just look at prisons. The true pack is… is a family. Generations of wolves working together as one, because that is… that is what you do. It is who you are. You are the pack and the pack is you. Then… then one day you change, you don't choose to change you discover something about yourself and your pack… your family, turns on you. You are lost in despair feeling like some leper and those who you love… they come to you with a knife made out of silver. They leave it on your nightstand and they tell you to do the honourable thing."

Jino could see tears running down the old man's cheeks as he spoke. His own eyes were glassy as he stopped writing. He knew he'd never forget what he was hearing. Mr Benrad looked up and those weeping eyes blazed with fire, “fuck em! I may not be able to run anymore but I'll take that silver dagger to my throat when my body is too withered to move, in any form. I have fought and clawed, and bitten my way through their stupid ranks. Let them come and take my life if any of them is wolf enough to do so."

Pulling open a drawer Mr Bernarld pulled something out of it. It glinted in the dying sunlight, “here it is. I keep it as a reminder." the old man placed it carefully down in front of Jino. “True silver, not stainless steel made to look silver like this tray, or anything else that looks silver. We can sense it you know, silver, feel it for miles around." Bernard chuckled," I made myself quite rich on my sense for silver. That was back in the old days of the West when any man could lay a claim. All I had to do was pay others to mine the ore for me, and of course, defend what I found. Easy to do when the fools try to shoot you with lead."

Picking up the dagger, Jino could feel the age of the object. It was beautifully made, intricate Celtic design on the handle. With a single ruby set in the middle. The blade was thin and still sharp. As he turned it over, Mr Bernard continued his story. “They sent her in with that. My own dear mother “be a good boy and don't show your mother up Bernard. I raised you better than to cause a scene." Her last words to me. She… she never even said goodbye, she just left me alone. For a long time, I held that knife, thinking of it. Wanting to use it even. Believing that it was what was best for the pack. Then I realised… there was no pack. A pack, a real family would have been there for me. They would not have given me that knife, they would not have cast me out."

Mr Bernard sat back in his chair and lifted his teacup, drinking the last dregs of his cold tea, “the worst part of this all is… if my mother turned up on my doorstep, which a cheese scone made by her own hands. I'd let her in, I'd hug her and I'd accept her apology. Because, when you tear a wolf from his pack… he never feels whole again, not truly. He is lost and alone. That is why I made this place. Why I started to bring stuck wolves together. It helps to heal those wounds, and a wolf needs to belong to a pack, to a family."

Jino had no idea what he should say. He glanced down at his pad, he had filled in pages of scribbled notes along with a bunch of questions he had thought of but not asked.

As if sensing the young writer's discomfort Mr Bernard broke the silence, “now, young man, you've had a long day. I did warn you that us elder folk tend to get lost in the past if you let us ramble on. You will have much more time to ask your questions and to know who we all are. I have arranged for you to spend some time with many members of my pack. Those who are willing to have their stories told. I would ask that you respect the wishes of those who ask you not to write about them. Some of my pack are still in hiding. I'm afraid that is why your welcome party was just young Walter and his dog. Many of them are afraid of you."

That final sentiment hit Jino hard. The last twenty-four hours he'd been trying to control his own fear of the werewolves. To hear that those same wolves were in fear of him was a thought that had never even once crossed his mind. “I will respect their wishes, of course. They don't have to speak to me if they don't feel safe. However, I would like to get to know as many of your pack as possible. Even if I don't write down anything about them, it would help me to understand. There is one question I would like to ask before we conclude this interview. If you don't mind answering one more?"

“Please, feel free young man," Mr Bernard answered with a nod of encouragement.

“Why did you agree to this intrusion at all? It seems to me like there is some risk that some werewolves may not appreciate hearing these stories. Are you not inviting some response, potentially an attack?" Jino asked, trying to be as professional and controlled as he could.

“Indeed, it may happen. Though I am doubtful they would be that brazen once the story is out there. However, my observations of the current world say that now is a good time to try and show that stuck wolves are still wolves. Maybe seeing things through our eyes will help some packs accept their stuck brothers and sisters. It may help others from experiencing what we went through," taking a deep breath Mr Bernard got to his feet. “Now, I think you are probably hungry. If you come with me I am sure we can find Walter and he will help you find the kitchen."

Jino stood up and followed the older man out. Once more it was difficult to assign the term old man to Mr Bernard. Out in the corridor, Mr Benrard walked him a few doors down and then opened the door. “This is the kitchen." He said as he led Jino through the door.

The kitchen was huge, a giant cavernous room with equipment and space enough for a dozen cooks to prepare meals for hundreds. However, it was mostly empty. Save for a table off to one side, around which sat three werewolves. Jino recognised Walter instantly. The second werewolf was actually in human form, a woman dressed in T-shirt and jeans. She looked in her early thirties to Jino's eyes. Though he knew enough to not judge that just yet. Her hair was black and in a long braided ponytail.

Looking at the last werewolf Jino remembered his meeting with Walter and how small he felt. This huge beast had to make even Walter feel small. He was crouched down beside the table and yet was still easily the same height as Jino. His fur was grey and white, in a more classic wolf pattern. As he looked at them, Jino caught eyes with the new wolf and he saw a sudden look of doubt and concern on that face. As he looked the huge beast seemed to shrink back in size.

“Ah, Harriot, and Estevan, please let me introduce you to our guest Mr Jino Peters," Mr Bernard said as they reached the trio. Harriot and Walter both got to their feet, Jino noticed that Estevan seemed to shrink back even more.

Waving slightly awkwardly Jino walked forward. Harriot offered her hand and he shook it. Once more he felt the power in her grip and more than that he saw a warning look in her eye. Clearly, he had some work to do to earn her trust. “Hello, Jino." She said politely and then she let go.

“Hello Harriot, nice to meet you," the writer put as much warmth into the greeting as he could. Sensing that Estevan would rather not shake hands he gave another wave, “hello Estevan, nice to meet you too." The huge wolf shrank back a little, then gave a glance at Walter before nodding a hello."

“I have some leftover sausage and mash if you are up for it?" Harriot offered, her expression softening just a little.

“I must admit I am a bit starved. I've had nothing but snacks since I got off the plane this morning," Jino replied.

“Right, well. Have a seat and I'll go warm something up," the woman replied.

“I will leave you young ones to it," Mr Bernard said with a slight bow. “Your scones were perfect, as always, my dear. Thank you." The last comment was aimed clearly at Harriot and Jino saw a slight flush of pink to her cheeks.

“They're just silly cheesy English buns," she replied a little gruffly. However, Jino could see her clear affection for the elder wolf.

Giving a soft laugh Mr Bernard turned and left, saying no more.

“Pull up a seat," Walter said waving a paw at one of the seats around the table. “After you've had something to eat. I will give you a quick tour and then show you to your room." The other wolf moved suddenly shuffling around the room to where Harriot was preparing food. Walter glanced at him and then leant towards Jino, saying in a hoarse whisper. “Estevan is still adjusting to being in hybrid form for so long. He hasn't yet mastered speech with a muzzle and he feels very self-conscious about it."

Walter glanced back at the young wolf and then said loudly, “I'm afraid we tend to eat a lot of English cooking here. Harriot is always looking to put a smile on the old guy's face. So prepare yourself for bangers and mash, stew and dumplings and for lots of spotted dick." At the last one, Walter gave a wink and Jino was sure there was a little flirtatious twinkle in his eye.

“I… am sure I will enjoy it all," lowering his voice he added. “I've never had a dick I haven't enjoyed, spotted or otherwise." Walter gave a chuckle and followed that up with another wink. While Jino worried he was being unprofessional. Although, surely a little flirting is fine, so long as it doesn't colour his opinions for the article. “So, how long have you been here?"

“Me, oh a fairly long time. Fifteen years, give or take. Harriot's been here since the fifties and Estevan he showed up two years ago," the grey wolf turned as he heard his name. Jino caught his eye and he saw the young male squirm a little uncomfortably.

“How many are there in your pack?" Jino asked as he gave Estevan, what he hoped was a reassuring smile.

“Living here there are thirty-six stuck wolves and one very stuck-up dog," Walter said and then added. “Who has a magical ability to always turn up just as food is being prepared." Jino followed Walter's gaze to see Talia trotting in, with the confidence of an animal who believes they own the place. She trotted up to Jino and placed her head in his lap.

On instinct, Jino petted her head and then a plate of food was plonked down in front of him. Four sausages sitting atop a small mound of mashed potato drizzled in gravy. “Thank you." He said and took the knife and fork he was offered. The food was nice, well-prepared potato and flavoursome sausages. Although, eating while three werewolves and one dog stare at you was a disconcerting experience. It might have been better if they were eating too. As it was he felt slightly like he was some creature being fattened up for the slaughter, surrounded by predators.

A soft whine from the head in his lap made him look down. Two big hopeful puppy dog eyes looked back up into them, “is it ok if I give her some?"

“Softy," grumbled Harriot, with a shrug.

“She may have a bit of sausage and you can let her lick the plate afterwards," Walter answered and then stuck his huge lupine tongue out at Harriot. “It helps prepare them for the dishwasher anyway."

The female gave him a shake of her head and then turned her attention to Jino, “So, Mr Peters, you are here to write about us? Expose us to the world, like it's fucking Revelation day mark two."

Jino paused in his meal, he could sense anger behind those words or more likely fear. Being exposed is not something anyone likes. When he'd written the article on pup culture he'd been surprised at how many of his friends were unwilling to be interviewed on it, even with anonymity guaranteed. The reason was usually linked into two fears, fear of their family finding out and fear of them losing their job because their boss found out.

“Well, I'm not exactly Jamie Short," name dropping the journalist who had written the first article, the guy that had been chosen by the mystics to announce their existence to the world. “I certainly hope I don't end up like him."

“Ah, so you don't want to win a Pulitzer?" Harriot asked.

“I think he means he's hoping he doesn't end up shot in an alley somewhere," Walter cut in, rolling his eyes at Harriot.

“Yes, the second. Though I doubt I'll ever win that kind of award. I'm just the guy who covers sports, mostly. I've penned a few opinion pieces on things that matter to me," he wasn't sure why, but Jino really wanted to stress that last part. It wasn't that he didn't care about the news. It was just he often found it as depressing to write as to read. Sports could be uplifting and fun. Plus the chance to jam his oar in when he wanted to, it was not a bad job.

“And, do we matter to you?" the female were shot back quickly.

Taking a breath Jino tried to formulate a polite answer. However, after a long day, and mid-meal he was not able to stop himself. “Honestly, I found out about stuck wolves less than twenty-four hours ago. I've spent most of the time since flying and driving a long way just to get here. I've had one conversation with Mr Bernard and half a meal. Although the sausages are really delicious." Jino paused for a breath and he saw Walter giving him a little 'go on' gesture. “I don't think that's enough time for anyone to really learn enough about someone for them to really matter on a deeply personal level to anyone. I'm not going to look you in the eye and lie about that. I have a job to do, and that is to get to know you. Then to try and explain who you are to whoever reads my article.

I'm going to do that to the very best of my ability. Not because you matter, but because I consider myself a professional. I will be as balanced and honest as I can in what I write. That means showing you warts and all to the best standard I can attain. That is exactly what you can expect of me. It's the best I can offer and if that's not good enough for you then I suggest you speak to Mr Bernard about your concerns and don't worry, if you don't want yourself mentioned, or interviewed I promise nothing, not even your delicious sausages, will make print." Panting softly Jino looked Harriot square in her rather surprised eyes and asked. “Is that good enough for you?"

Harriot stared at him in the eye and then gave a nod, “I reckon that'll do." She conceded and once more Jino saw Walter give him a wink. “I'll leave you to finish your meal in peace." She added getting to her feet and retreating from the irate human, with as much dignity as she could. “Remember to put your plate in the dishwasher when you are done."

“Well done," Walter said as soon as she was out of earshot. “Harriot is not easily impressed, but you stood your ground. We weres tend to appreciate that in a person. Honesty is welcome too. Although, complimenting her cooking is an easy way to score points with her."

Picking up his knife and folk Jino replied, "it was also an honest statement. I am enjoying my meal."

“And the company is simply delicious too," Walter joked, making Estevan turn away a little in embarrassment.

“No complaints on that front," joked the journalist. He finished off most of the rest of his meal. Making sure to leave a small amount of mash and a chunk of sausage on his plate for Talia. The dog polished the plate and Walter pointed him in the direction of a huge industrial dishwasher.

Turning he found Walter on his feet, with Estevan beside him, “I promised a tour. It's a bit dark outside now, so I'd suggest we just do the common areas of the house and I'll show you around the rest of the place tomorrow morning."

“Suits me," Jino replied as he stretched out again. His back was still complaining at the long drive.

“Well, you've seen the kitchen, dining room is next," the werewolf led him out through some double doors and into a large hall. With three large oblong tables, each lined with seats. Though Jino's eyes also spied a large matt in one corner. “For Talia and those stuck in the true wolf form." Explained Walter as he caught the human staring. “Eating at a table isn't comfortable when you have four legs. Though I'll admit before I got stuck I used to always eat in fal… human form." Jino noted the minor correction to the more acceptable name of the form. "It's just easier to use cutlery. Wolf form was second best, assuming someone cut your food into bite-sized chunks. The morphic form is actually really a pain to eat in. Worst of both worlds. Nobody makes cutlery for paws like these."

As if to demonstrate Walter's point Estevan held up his own massive paws. They were easily the size of a shovel. Any human's hands would look tiny next to them. Jino gave a smile and a shrug, “big hands can be useful for other things." A big grin broke out on Walter's face, so many sharp fangs glinting at him should have been unnerving. However, any fear he'd had was long gone. Estevan looked away as if unable to meet his gaze.

“True enough," Walter replied and then added with a sigh, “still… I wouldn't mind being able to strum my guitar once more."

“You were a musician? Before you came here I mean?" The human asked, wondering if he should get his pad out. He guessed that might scare Estevan away, and he really didn't want to see the big guy leave. So he decided to try and write up notes when he was back in his room.

“Mechanic actually," Walter replied. “I just used to like to work with my hands. Taking engines apart, and then putting them back together and making them work. The guitar was just to impress… people." Jino guessed exactly why he might want to impress some people. He'd had a few guys play him a song or two; before he played with their instruments to see what fun sounds he could get out of them.

Leading the trio out the far door Walter stopped immediately outside, next to a small handwritten poster of some sort. “The houses chore chart," Walter explained and Jino looked over it. Apparently, Harriot wasn't the only cook. “Lots of dusting and vacuuming, a place this size full of weres, you have no idea how much fur we shed collectively. Fortunately, hair is high in nitrates which make for good plant food, so it all goes in the composter. Bernard says that it's good for the plants anyway. You may notice we have a new chore for the next couple of weeks, speak to the reporter."

“I'm on the chore chart?" Jino asked a little amused to hear he was a chore to be done.

“Yes indeed, and I'm down to do you first," the werewolf gave as lascivious a grin as Jino had ever seen on anyone's face and backed it up with a wink.

Jino felt his stomach tighten a little. There was no doubt he was being flirted with. Flirting was one thing, but Walter was a stuck werewolf. That meant he would need to weigh much more than his need to be professional. Jino would at least need to figure out if he could accept the risk of a serious carpet burn. Oh and wasn't there a risk of lycanthropy being transferred during sex? He was sure he'd read about that somewhere.

“I will endeavour to make doing me a pleasure and not a chore," he replied with his own lascivious grin. There was no harm in flirting back a little. Also, he needed all the allies he could get for the next few days. It wasn't like he'd promised anything.

A snort from behind them broke their little moment. Estevan's huge paw pointed at the chart. “Apparently, Estevan gets to do you after me." Walter explained, “by which I mean to have his interview. Bernard asked everyone to sign up to a schedule. Those that were willing to, anyway. Harry, Jerome, Bernice, she's a sweetheart stuck in true form so you'll need an interpreter. I'll give you the rundown of everyone tomorrow, so you can start to prepare."

Staring at the chore plan, Jino couldn't help but wonder how the hell he would cut so many interviews down into something that could actually be published. If he told everyone's story it'd be a novel. He suspected he might get a full bookcase out of Mr Bernard alone. “Thanks, I'd appreciate the help." He mumbled all thoughts of flirting fleeing from his mind.

Next, Walter showed him the library, it was much like Mr Bernard's room, only bigger and with some comfortable tables and chairs. All empty, something Jino couldn't help but notice. Though also well used. It was clear the occupants of the house were avoiding him, save for Walter and Estevan. “When I was told I would be spending a couple of weeks with a pack of werewolves, I never thought they'd be the ones hiding from me." He muttered, it was an observation more intended for himself, but the two were's both picked up on it.

“Well, there's some who are afraid of being exposed. I'm sure Bernard told you that, others who are just not comfortable around non-mystics. Humans aren't exactly known for their love of mystics who can't conform to human shapes at will." Walter explained and then he added. “The rest are… well look, they are friendly. Nobody here's a risk to you, but we are used to being around each other and as a pack we can be a little...rough with each other. Wolves speak with body language and sometimes, we shout!" As if to emphasise his point Walter swung his hips into Jino, the tap no doubt meant to be light and playful almost knocked the writer over.

Jino gave a grunt, “that I can understand." He replied and then let his own shoulder barge into Walter heavily. His inner puppy barked in triumph as he watched the big wolf stumble just a little. “Guess I will just have to take my chances." He said, putting as much swagger in his step as he could and giving Estevan a playful wink. “I came to live with the werewolves, not sit to one side and be treated like a porcelain doll."

“I can respect that. However, it's not just me you have to convince," Walter replied as he led Jino on. “There are a few common rooms for games and stuff. Plus a couple of television rooms and a small cinema room."

As they walked into the first of the common rooms Jino at last found some of the pack. Three of them sitting down watching the television. At last, he knew why it was so silly for him to confuse Talia with a werewolf in its wolf form. Sitting beside an armchair was a wolf. From the size of it, Jino could have easily believed it was a bear. Although werebears were supposedly incredibly rare and unusual.

“Hey, Connor, Claire and Danny. This is Jino, the reporter," Walter announced, three sets of wolf eyes turned to look at him and then returned to the television. The other two were both stuck in hybrid form, or they were currently in hybrid form, and Jino was ashamed to admit he didn't know which of the three was the female and he certainly wasn't going to ask. Walter gave Jino a shrug, “best not to disturb them while they are watching CSI. They not only have the strength to murder you, but they've also just been boning up on how to get away with it too."

Estevan gave a snorting laugh at the joke and Jino just shook his head. “Well, I have no desire to disrupt anyone's viewing pleasure, or to have my dismembered corpse spread across the entire state." He said, and as they backed out he playfully bumped into Estevan this time. Only Estevan bumped back hard, the force of the bash sent Jino stumbling into the wall with a painful thud.

“Oh, Shorry!" The words came out instantly, heavily slurred through a muzzle and tongue not designed or used to speaking English.

“That's alright, I'm not broken. Just a little tenderised," Jino replied pushing himself off the wall and back to his feet. His eyes spied three very annoyed faces glaring at the trio. “I think we'd better leave before you two join me in my many graves!" Estevan chuckled and fled the room. Walter and Jino shared a look, the journalist was far more excited than before. Estevan had actually broken his silence. The look on Walter's face was a mixture of surprise, pride and amusement.

“I did warn you, we play rough," the large wolf muttered in his ear as he followed close.

“And I told you, I can take it a little rough," without thinking he added. “Or a lot rough, for the right wolf." Even a deaf man would have heard the flirtation in that response. Jino knew he was flirting and he was beginning to realise he was enjoying it. So far, Walter was just his type of playmate. Light-hearted, playful, a little rough, but controlled. The only issue was one of what Walter was, not who.

“I'll remember that," Walter's response was whispered, right into his ear. The huge wolf pressed right into Jino's personal space as they pushed through the door. Leaving the three wolves to their television. At least there were some pack members not actively hiding from him. The next two common areas held much the same. A smattering of werewolves who showed little desire to engage with him.

“Give it a day or two," Walter insisted. “Once a couple of us have gotten to know you better they will be more open with you."

“Yesh," Estevan piped up, his willingness to speak hopefully a good sign in itself. “They'll get ushed to your schent." The extra words took Jino just a few seconds to put together fully.

“My scent?" He asked a little baffled.

Walter paused and gave Estevan a little look, “yes...scent. Look, we're pack animals and you're an outsider. Your scent sticks out, it's not normal. Makes our nose itch and we don't react well to outsiders, as a rule. Except me, because I'll be damned if I'm going to let my nose determine who I like. “ A grunt made him add. “And Estevan, because he's a sensible lad, most of the time anyway. In a couple of days once you've been around a bit… your scent becomes part of the norm, our nose stop itching and you'll find many of us will be more willing to speak to you. I wouldn't take it personally if I was you. Just make sure you move around the house and grounds a lot. You want to get your smell everywhere."

Jino was truly nonplussed. “How would you recommend I get my...scent on things?" He worded the question carefully, there were very well known ways that canids marked their territory. Jino was sure that they would not be welcomed.

“Oh, hey. Now don't go pissing anywhere but the toilet. We're werewolves, not wild wolves. You go pissing anywhere we are all going to think you are a crazy man we want to get the fuck out of our home, and I think if I did that round your place you'd ask me to leave," Walter replied, clearly reading his very worried mind. “Our noses are really sensitive, you don't need to do anything but be in a place to leave your scent there. Believe me one close whiff and I can tell you what you had for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also when you last showered, what brand of soap and shampoo you use. As well as some more intimate details."

“By intimate details you mean…"

Walter leant close, his hot breath tickling Jino's ear, “I mean I can tell that you jerked one out last night." Standing up the wolf smiled. “That's the thing with werewolf packs, there are no secrets. Everyone knows what everyone's doing and who everyone's doing. You just sort of process the information and don't speak about it unless the person speaks to you about it first. Kind of like werewolf etiquette. No clawing the furniture, no howling at the moon after two am and no talking to people about the intimate details of their sex lives unless they start the conversation."

“Ah...," Jino found himself at a little bit of a loss of what to say. “So, just those three simple rules?"

“Oh fuck no, there are hundreds of them. Just like there are with humans. However, nobody ever writes them down. You just kind of learn them as you grow up; unless you're a bitee." That was a term Jino recognised, a bitee a werewolf who wasn't born they were transformed, usually by a savage bite. “However, even bitees pick them up."

“Great," grumbled Jino as Walter led him down a small flight of stairs. The house was easily the size of a hotel and Jino had no doubt by morning he would have forgotten most of where everything was. On the plus side, he would apparently be spreading his scent all over the place while he got lost looking for the nearest bathroom. “Are we going into the basement?" He asked when he realised they were going down from the ground floor.

Whatever horrors any human may have assumed they would find in the basement of a werewolf mansion, Jino was not prepared for the swimming pool. “Good for exercise in any form," explained Walter. “Bernard made a fortune back in the day, so he has deep pockets. The pool was added about ten years ago. You should have seen the faces on the contractors. Never seen so many big, butch burly guys pissing themselves daily. We probably paid extra, but at least it was entertaining."

As he spoke the wolf walked around the edge of the pool. It was clearly heated because Jino could feel the heat coming off it. He loved to swim and was thrilled to see it. “Exercise is very important for stuck wolves. You see, our bodies are supposed to be fluid, we're supposed to change our muscles and skeletal structure every day, many times a day. Being stuck in one form, it… hurts. So exercise, steams, saunas and massage. They keep you from feeling sore all day long."

“You guys have a sauna and a steam room?" Jino asked a little shocked, Two weeks in a large mansion with free access to a pool, a sauna and a steam room. This assignment was getting better by the second.

“Yes indeed, just over here," Walter said and walked over to a door with a small round window. As soon as he got there the wolf turned and placed his paw on Jino's chest, stopping him in his tracks. “It's occupied...very occupied. If you know what I mean."

There was no question in Jino's mind what Walter meant. Part of him wanted to peek in the window and see if he got a live show of what he'd seen on his computer the night before. However, Walter clearly wasn't going to let him and he usually only watched people who invited him to do so. That and he was never one to just watch. “I think so."

Walter pointed at another door. “Changing room is in there, we usually swim nude, in any form. If that bothers you, you are free to wear some shorts or trunks."

“I didn't bring any, but I'm fine without them," Jino assured him.

“Alright, and that room over there is the massage room." Walter's eyes suddenly sparkled with extra mischief. “Speaking of, I noticed you're a bit stiff after your long drive. If you want, I'd be willing to lend a couple of helping paws." Jino had a feeling he knew exactly where those paws were going to end up. However, a massage did sound good, his back was still sore from the drive. As was the rest of him.

“Thanks, I really could use a good working over. You… sure it's ok. I don't have werewolf strength, so you might want to go easy, at first." He replied, telling himself that it was just a massage, that was all he was agreeing to. At the same time, he was pretty sure he was lying to himself. There was only one very happy way the massage was going to end. He could see it in Walter's hungry, lustful gaze and feel it in his own pants. Still, for the sake of his own internal sense of professionalism, he would pretend that the massage was simply going to be a massage. He could put a stop to anything untoward at any moment. That was all part of being an alpha puppy, knowing what he wanted and saying no to what he didn't.

“Estevan, you probably don't need to hang around while I give our guest a good rub down. Maybe you could go find Harriot and put in the word for some more of those sausages our guest loved for breakfast," Walter said and Estevan gave Jino a slightly longer look. Jino got the impression he wanted to stay and wasn't too happy with being given the werewolf equivalent of money to go to the cinema so his big brother could score with the hot cheerleader. Although, Jino felt slightly strange to be thought of as a hot cheerleader in that analogy, though he had been called much worse.

Holding out his hand to Estevan Jino gave him a friendly smile, “it was a pleasure to meet you and I really look forward to getting to know you much better over the next couple of weeks. Thanks for the welcome."

The younger werewolf shook his hand politely, though Jino noted his grip lingered just a little longer than needed, “shee you tomorrow." He replied in his rather slurred speech. Then he gave Walter a shoulder bump as he left, almost knocking the smaller wolf into the pool.

Walter wasted no time opening the door to the massage room and leading Jino inside. There were three tables, and Jino had a little Goldilocks moment as he saw one massage table was clearly far too large, the other much too small and the one in the middle just right. Clearly one table for each form the werewolf being massaged might be in. The human and hybrid tables were big enough to lay fully on, with a hole for the face to go through.

“We had to have the hybrid table custom made, apparently nobody but us massages werewolves in hybrid form. So if you want to get some hands-on experience working the fur, you came to the right place," Walter said as he walked to a small cabinet and pulled out a few bottles of oil. “Let's see, yes coconut oil. For someone from somewhere far away and exotic."

“I'm from San Diego, not Santiago," observed Jino with a wry smile as he pulled off his shirt.

“Details, details. Exotic is a state of mind, nothing to do with the place of your birth," the werewolf replied with a wink. “Besides, I like coconut. It reminds me of tropical beaches and rolling naked in the sand. Though these days if I do that I spend the next six months brushing sand out of my fur."

“Well then, I guess I better submit to the coconutting, for the sake of your poor fur," replied Jino, as he reached down and unfastened his jeans. “You want me au natural?"

“Hell yes! Sorry, that wasn't very professional of me," Walter chuckled and then added. “It was honest though, so feel free to drop trow, if you are willing."

Jino let his jeans fall and then pulled his boxers down. He couldn't help but notice he was already sporting a bit of a semi. Which made him blush, and that semi grew a little as he heard the sharp intake of breath from Walter. While, he may not have been up to professional competition standards, but he wasn't far off. His figure a nice hourglass, with bumps in all the right places. Ignoring the hungry eyes of the wolf, at least outwardly, he crawled up onto the table and lay on the cool leather fabric. With his face in the hole.

Like this, all he could see of Walter was his large feet. Not that he needed to see Walter to know the wolf was busy feasting his eyes on the body on offer before him. Those big paws moved and he knew Walter was walking around behind him. Part of him wondered if this was it, he was naked and prone right before an aroused beast. He'd known plenty of guys who wouldn't be able to resist going straight for his perfectly toned ass.

However, Walter wasn't just any horny guy. Jino sighed softly as warm liquid was poured over his shoulders. Feeling it run in little streams down his back, some starting to escape down his flanks. Only for a warm, soft, paw to suddenly scoop it back up. Jino gave a deep and satisfied sigh as he felt two huge paws pressing down into his flesh. The strength in those paws was unmistakable, and yet Jino could tell Walter was holding back. “Mmm, do you treat all guests to such a warm welcome."

“Depends on the guest," Walter replied, his voice low and deep. Walter's paws were like magic, they worked firmly and yet never too hard. Jino could feel the tension and strain of the last two days being rubbed out of him. He'd said the pack had to massage each other daily, the wolf had the skills to prove it. Those paws worked over his shoulders and neck. It wasn't until they slipped a little lower, Jino realised a werewolf had literally had his huge paw around his exposed neck. Yet, nothing had happened, save a deep pressure that was forcing the tension and worry out of him.

“You've got a lot of knots back here, all tension. When was the last time you just relaxed and let it all go?" the wolf seemed to defy convention by purring his words. While his paws slipped lower and lower.

“It… has been a while. I was preparing to cover a big event before I got this assignment. I barely had time to hit the gym, there was no hope of a decent massage," replied the writer. Then he moaned louder as those paws reached his lower back, pressing firmly and stroking in long motions up his flanks. “Mmm fuck, really too long." He affirmed as he felt those hands working over his flesh like they knew exactly where his stress was hiding. His nose flooded with the calming scent of coconut and something else, vanilla. Jino bet that was the only vanilla thing to happen to him with Walter.

The breath caught in his throat as Walter's paws slipped lower, working over his buttocks. Jino bit his lip, feeling every single finger, every motion, and just waiting for one of those fingers to dive into the cleft of his perfectly pert buttocks. For the wolf to start to claim his human prize. With each motion, Walter seemed to move nearer and nearer. Jino gave a soft whimper as a claw lightly pulled on his buttocks, pulling them apart for just a moment. Under him, his cock was throbbing, pressed hard against the leather and fully erect.

However, that touch never came. Instead, Walter moved lower, his paws working over Jino's thighs, one at a time. Pressing up those thickly muscled limbs. Each time his fingers stroked over Jino's buttocks and yet, never once did he go over the line. Jino wasn't thinking of his job anymore, of the need to be professional. He was just thinking of what it would feel like to be gripped by those strong paws, to feel that huge frame above him, thrusting down and spearing into him.

Walter's paws worked lower, taking his calfs one at a time, working them with the same practised expertise he had the rest of Jino's body. Lastly, he picked up Jino's feet. One at a time he rubbed them thoroughly, his thumbs working over the soles firmly. Then the wolf took a few steps around him, Jino saw the feet reappear in his eye line. He closed his eyes and sighed in stress-free heaven, while Walter took his right arm and worked it over slowly. There wasn't a single ache left in his body by the time Walter had finished both arms. Save for the very urgent aching and throbbing under his crotch.

“I usually work two full rounds, to ensure that I got everything properly, you up for a round two?" Walter asked, his voice lower and yet deeper.

“Oh, yes please," Jino moaned in response.

“There's a good boy," the werewolf whispered and Jino felt his inner puppy dancing a little. Did Walter know about that? Had he seen the article and spotted him too? Or was this just how he treated everyone. “How'd you like the view down there?" The question caught Jino by surprise and he opened his eyes. The wolf had stepped much closer this time. His huge paws were reaching down Jino's back from the front and his waist was pressed up to the bench. Which gave Jino a view of something other than werewolf feet. A very clear bulge was in view, sticking out from jeans that were clearly under pressure.

“I… it's nice. Though, it could be so much better if… if it wasn't obscured." Jino knew with those words he'd just fucked every chance he had to be professional, to say no and to walk out with his dignity intact. Walter reached down and unzipped his fly, then pulled out one of the longest and thickest cocks Jino had ever seen. Dignity was overrated, so was professionalism. Gulping softly Jino devoured the cock with his hungry eyes.

Spearlike, as all canines were. A deep red colour, but for the glistening beads of pre that were dripping onto the floor. It was just a few inches from his mouth. Jino couldn't stop himself he pressed his head down into the hole as deep as he could force it and licked out. His tongue just swiping over the tip. Walter's growl of lustful approval echoed in his ears and made his cock throb harder.

A huge paw landed on the back of his head, while that red spear was lifted up to his hungry lips. He wasted no time, wrapping his hungry mouth around it. Letting his tongue go wild on the throbbing meatus, tasting the river of werewolf pre. It was bitter and yet tangy, he swallowed it down and sucked hungrily for more. While Walter thrust his hips slowly and Jino felt his mouth being fucked full of cock. He didn't resist, in fact, he wished he could push down on it further.

“Damn! You like that don't you?" Groaned the werewolf as his hips thrust a little faster. The spearlike cock stroking back and forth over his tongue. Jino squeezed it in his lips and guided it up into his mouth with his tongue. “Oh fuck! Human's are the best at giving head." Smiling, Jino tried to prove that was true, he increased the suction, his tongue squirming more and more on the hot flesh. His reward was faster thrusting, more cock and the moans of pleasure of the beast holding his head down firmly.

Walter's thrusting grew faster and faster. Jino was beginning to think Walter was going to blow far too fast. When the werewolf exerted some control over himself. The pace of the thrusts slowed down. Jino loved the new controlled pace, the deep grunts and growls from above him. His submissive side was fully triggered and he just wanted to pleasure this alpha beast in front of him. While, own cock was aching still squashed under his body, leaking pre onto the table. His mind brought back what Walter had said, that werewolves could smell such things on a person. Which would mean by tomorrow every member of the pack would know that the big black werewolf had made the journalist his bitch within hours of arriving.

That knowledge only served to make this act so much more exciting. It was like a strange new kind of voyeurism. Everyone would know they'd fucked, that he'd sucked on Walter. Yet nobody would say a word about it. With that thought fuelling his mind he sucked harder and let his tongue go wild on the hot length. Jino was no stranger to giving head, he used every trick he knew to bring more and more pleasure to the wolf. His stomach growled with the desire to be filled with lupine juices. The drops of pre serving merely as appetisers, getting his palette fully whet and ready for the main course.

Walter was giving in to Jino's charms and talents. Once more his thrusting grew faster and faster. Then suddenly, without warning, Jino felt a mightly paw land on his ass. The smack echoed around the room and made his cheeks glow with a pleasant warmth. It wasn't a strong blow, but the shock of it broke Jino's concentration on the cock between his lips.

If that wasn't enough, the feeling of clawed fingers slipping between his buttocks was far more than was needed. His entire body tingled as he felt those claws teasing over his puckered entrance. Jino could feel the massage oil being rubbed and ground into his entrance. Then he squealed around the wolf cock, as two huge fingers were slowly pushed into him. His hands gripped the table tightly as he was stretched.

Jino was far from a virgin and it didn't take him long to adjust to the feeling of those fingers slipping inside him. With practised discipline, he forced himself to relax, to open up around those digits. Trying to ignore the thrill of a lover so wonderfully exotic and unique and just enjoy the touch and feel of both his ends being worked. Returning his lips and tongue to the action, encouraging that wolf to breed his mouth.

“Damn, you like that don't you, ever been fucked by a werewolf before?" Jino's mouth was far too full to answer truthfully: that yes he had, he'd also fucked one and done a lot more than just fucking with him. Though, never in anything but human form. Walter thrust his fingers deeper and twisted them slowly. Jino whimpered and pushed his ass back a little. He knew he was being wanton, but he didn't care. When you want a cock inside you, Jino always figured why fight it.

Jino squeezed the cock in his mouth, and flexed his buttocks, clenching around those invading digits, at the same time. Showing the werewolf he was ready for more. A deep moan and a growl showed that his message had been received. Or at any rate, Walter liked the squeezing around his cock. A thick jet of precum hit the back of Jino's throat. Suddenly, the thick shaft was pulled free from his mouth.

Panting heavily Jino started to lift his head out of the hole. However, a large werewolf paw pushed it firmly back down, “be a good boy and stay down." There was a growl in Walter's words. It struck the submissive cord inside Jino powerfully. His head went back in the hole, obediently. While his entire body tingled.

With his head down, he could see nothing. However, he could hear Walter, his paws padding on the floor as he walked around. Jino could feel those brown eyes exploring his body. Two paws suddenly gripped his buttocks, spreading them apart. A soft whimper of desire escaped Jino's lips, he forced himself to relax. Even being gentle, a werewolf's strength was likely to make this a rough start. Which suited Jino just fine, with how submissive the wolf made him feel, he didn't just want to be fucked he wanted to rut like animals lost to their lusts.

A huff of hot breath flowed down his taint. Jino bit his lip and trembled a little, knowing what might be coming and yet having no control over it. He knew he could ask, however, doing so would only pass more control to the werewolf. Walter might have triggered his submissive side, but it had limits. So he just lay there, trembling as another warm breath flowed over his ass, tickling down his taint.

Walter's paws gripped slightly tighter, pulling his buttocks further apart. Two huge thumbs stroked across his inner thighs, with each movement Jino's excitement grew. The breath was coming much stronger and more frequently, in his mind, he knew the werewolf's head was much closer. He'd assumed the brute would have mounted him by now, stuffed him full. Jino knew that was still to come, and he wanted it with each slight touch and tickle his need grew.

A particularly strong and directed breath blew right across his pucker. The strange mixture of warmth and cooling right on his entrance made him groan out loud. A soft chuckle from the wolf let Jino know his moans were heard. Another blow made him whimper, and yet that whimper turned into a squeal of less than manly pleasure. When a powerful, broad, lupine tongue ran up his taint and over his puckered hole.

“Oh fuck!" Jino whimpered unable to stop the words escaping his lips. His fingers gripped the leather table tighter and his ass pushed back for more.

“That comes after," Walter growled, the vibrations of the growl passing tickling Jino's taint. It was followed by the feel of fur stroking his buttocks and then the tongue returned. This time focussing on his pucker, the broad moist tip swirled around his entrance. Yet didn't push inside, Jino whimpered feeling suddenly empty. A dull needy ache, that had been growing inside him since he first laid down on the table, was now so strong it was screaming in his ears.

Werewolf fingers gripped his ass tighter, claws pressing into his taut flesh. The tongue swirled around again and then he felt it, a firm push. His trained pucker opening up easily as he cried out in joy. Walter's tongue pressed deeper, worming its way inside him. Jino's voice cried out again, he'd been eaten out before. Yet the length, strength and dexterity of this tongue was something far greater than any previous lover.

Hot breath was huffing against his hole and he suppressed a slight giggle as a cold werewolf nose pressed to his ass. The thick tongue slipped in deeper and then swirled more. Jino whimpered louder, his ass trying to lift up further. However, two paws far more powerful than him held him down. Another show of strength and dominance that just made Jino whimper in desire more. Under him, his cock was still trapped, and he could feel the wetness growing as he leaked precum onto the table.

Another cry escaped from his lips as that thick, long tongue pulled free from his ass. “Ok, I can't wait any longer." Walter's voice was far deeper, his words were drawn out into a long growl. Jino knew he was naked and exposed before a powerful hungry predatory beast. The strong paws left his ass and for a moment Jino was lying there untouched.

Before he knew what was happening, a huge weight hit the table and his body. A furry form landing on his back. He yelped in surprise and excitement, it all happened far too fast for his brain to process. As he gasped and tried to recover, he felt something slipping between his buttocks. Walter found his mark just as Jino realised what was happening. Pushing back up into the werewolf Jino accepted his fate joyously.

Walter's thick length pressed into him easily. Jino guessed Walter had found another use for the massage oil. Biting his lip he felt the thickness stretching him wider and wider. “Fuck!" He whimpered as the length pushed deeper than any other lover.

“That's what I'm doing," Growled Walter right into his ear. The wolf's hot moist breath flowing over the nape of his neck. Followed by a soft kiss, the tickle of fur adding a strange yet wonderful extra sensation. Then with a second more powerful thrust, Walter forced the rest of his length into Jino; in one smooth, yet savage, motion. His furry thighs pressed up against Jino's buttocks. “Mmmm, so tight." The wolf growled into his ear.

Jino had to admit Walter might have been the biggest lover he'd ever taken. The entry had been rough, and slightly painful. However, the power and dominance of his lover far more than made up for any discomfort. Jino liked to play rough. He moaned hungrily and pushed his hips back a little, to show he was ready for more. “Mmm, damn, I thought you'd need a moment, most humans need me to go slow." Growled Walter, as he kissed over Jino's broad shoulders.

“I'm… not most humans," Jino shot back with a smirk of pride. He might not be a werewolf, but he was far more than the average man. Especially when it came to sex. Walter might have the natural gifts of a lycanthrope, but Jino had more than a few tricks up his sleeve when it came to adventures under the covers. Or on the covers, or dining room table, or pool table, and one time on the hood of a police car. Pushing back he clenched down, squeezing the thick meat inside his ass.

“Mmm, so I can tell," gasped the werewolf, he felt a muzzle pressing into the nape of his neck. The thickness inside him was withdrawn, quickly leaving him feeling empty, his ass pressed back up wantonly. Only for Walter to slam his hips down hard, the wolf's thickness being stuffed inside him in one motion. Jino tried to bit back his moans of pleasure, but he couldn't. They escaped his lips joyfully, echoing around the room. As the werewolf on top of him chuckled.

Warm black fur covered his entire body, each motion tickling every inch of his skin. A new sensation, and another wonderful one. Walter gave him another rough thrust and then another. The beast growling in pleasure, as if in response to Jino's soft moans and gasps. “Just warming up, little human," Walter growled into Jino's ear and Jino knew that was no idle boast.

Under him, his cock was still trapped. The weight of the werewolf holding his entire body down, pressing it into the soft leather top of the table. With each powerful thrust, Jino felt himself be driven hard into the fabric. The power of the thrusts was growing and there was something else growing. With each thrust, the base of Walter's cock was swelling and stretching Jino wider.

The werewolf paused, with his cock hilt deep inside Jino. Wriggling his hips and grinding his cock around, Jino cried out as it stroked across something inside him. A strong tingle of pleasure ran up his spine. Walter pulled back and slammed home hard, and Jino cried out again as that tingle grew stronger. The wolf not stopping his thrusts suddenly became thunderous, pounding into his hips again and again. Jino moaned and gasped, as he was pounded hard into the table.

There was no more pain, only the delicious feeling of being taken by a beast. That thickness had grown too much to push inside his abused hole, the thick mass slapping against his stretched and abused pucker. With each thrust Walter pressed that mass against his pucker, Jino could feel the wolf trying to force him open. He bit back the screams of pleasure and pain. Walter showed no signs of slowing, his thrusts grew more desperate and savage by the second.

“Shit…" the wolf moaned right into his ear. Then Jino felt teeth biting down on his shoulders. Little alarm bells ringing in his mind. A bite for a werewolf was a dangerous thing. That alarm was silenced by the pleasure filling him, his lusts drowning out any shred of common sense. He pressed back evermore, forcing himself back onto the thrusting cock.

With each thrust, he felt his pucker stretching more and more. The wolf's desperate grinding forcing him to open wider. His cock was screaming at him to touch it, his balls were swollen, desperate to shoot. Inside him he felt pressure building, thrust by thrust. Pleasure overrode everything. He was no longer a person, he was every bit the beast the werewolf was. They were rutting like beasts in the field. Bodies grinding against one another, desperate for the pleasure to continue.

Walter growled and snarled with each thrust, each time Jino's tight ring held his knot out. His thrusts never stopping, Jino had never felt such feral intent in his lover. Even Kev had held back more. His eyes caught the shadow on the floor. Walter's hybrid form, hips rutting, tail thrashing wildly. Jino's neck and shoulders dripped with the beast's drool. He was unable to tear his eyes from the shadow, and in the back of his mind, he wished he had a video or a mirror to watch properly.

His eyes locked on those shadow hips, watching them thrust as he felt the werewolf's thickness reaming his depths. The huge mass of the lupine's knot ramming harder and deeper with each thrust. With each thrust, he felt the pressure inside growing. Jino's cock was screaming and aching under him. With Walter forcing him down there was no way to get to it. Desperate fingers tore at the leather in frustration.

With an extra savage thrust, Walter pushed down harder, not pulling back. Jino's eyes grew wide as he felt the knot slipping inside him. His formerly tight ring stretching wider than any lover, or toy, had ever made it stretch. He screamed out with a mixture of pleasure and pain. Then he felt it, his ring giving and the knot slipping inside him.

A deep snarl of bestial satisfaction echoed into his ear. Walter's paws gripped him with a pure brute strength he had never felt before. He knew, for that moment, he belonged to the werewolf, he was Walter's bitch. With the knot swelling and locking inside him Jino gasped and whimpered feebly. While above him, Walter was thrusting with a burning passionate fury. The werewolf's furry hips pounding into him, driving him deeper into the leather. Beneath him, he heard the metal of the table groaning under the pressure. Jino couldn't speak, he could barely breathe as the wolf's hard poundings drove the very air from his lungs.

While inside him he felt the pressure reaching a peak he'd never felt before. His fingers clawed and scratched at the leather, he struggled with all his strength to lift himself up. His cock was screaming for the touch, anyone's touch. However, Walter was lost to his own pleasure. Jino felt it inside him, as the wolf began to fuck his seed into the human. With jets of cum so powerful they tickled his insides.

The new sensation was all it took to crack the dam. Jino felt himself slip passed the point of no return. He cried out in bliss as his cock began to throb. His balls being fucked dry by the horny werewolf above him. The orgasmic waves of pleasure so strong he lost all sense of the world. All he knew was the pleasure of those abused inches inside him. His cock sprayed over and over, his pent up juices being forced out of him.

Rutting like animals the two continued to writhe and struggle. Jino wriggling and fighting, until with a cry of triumph he forced his hips up enough to get his hand under himself. What he grasped was a desperately hard cock, already slick with his own cum. Walter showed no signs of stopping, fucking desperately, making his cock and knot rock hard, the sheer size forcing it to hit Jino's prostate with every motion.

Grasping his drooling meat Jino began jerking himself furiously. Unable to do anything but give in to the lusts and needs of his sweat-soaked body. Until a few moments later he stroked himself to a second orgasm, milking the last dregs of his seed from his balls. Falling down back onto the table, panting and gasping desperately for air. Jino had run triathlons and felt less exhausted at the end.

Walter wasn't quite done. The human just lay limply submitting as the werewolf fucked a second load of his seed into Jino's overstuffed ass. Eventually, Walter's hips slowed and stopped, with his huge knotted cock still locked inside Jino. “fuck… I needed that." The wolf moaned happily, as his whole body lay over Jino.

“Me too," Admitted Jino. He hadn't known just how badly he'd needed to be taken until he was being taken. Clenching his ass a little he felt the knot still inside him. Jino knew he was going to be sore for days afterwards. He smiled to himself knowing that was the price for good and rough sex. Jino also promised himself that before his time with the pack was over he would have his turn on top of the wolf. “We… going to be stuck long?"

“I should go down in twenty minutes or so, more if you keep wriggling and clenching," the wolf replied with a chuckle. “For now you are stuck, to this stuck wolf." It was a terrible joke, but it got Jino laughing. He knew that his boss or colleagues would never have approved. However, he certainly wasn't going to include any of this in his article.

Feeling beads of sweat dripping down his body, the wolf's fur was sticking to his skin. His shoulder was a little sore from where Walter had bitten, even gently it had stung. The soreness sparked something in the back of his mind. “I… you can't…" His words faltered a little as he worried he'd just let his lusts lead him into something really stupid.

“You can't catch it from a fuck, or a little love nibble." Chuckled the wolf in his ear. “It takes a lot of blood mixing to pass it on." Walter clearly anticipated the concerns and Jino guessed he wasn't the first human to ask that. Probably wasn't even the first one to ask while the wolf's cock was still locked inside them. “Usually that only happens if the human and were have a huge fight. The wolf has to be bleeding, the human has to have a lot of that blood mixed in to open wounds. Though I think every werewolf I know has had at least one human ask to be turned."

“You ever do it?" Jino asked.

“You wanting to interview me now?" Laughed the werewolf.

“More, just curious," Jino answered truthfully. He wasn't surprised to learn people were asking for that. Elder werewolves could be up to a thousand years old. That longevity mixed with the natural strength and senses of a werewolf was an attractive prospect. As long as you don't mind changing form and occasionally howling at the moon. After Revelation Day it had been made illegal to knowingly pass on lycanthropy, vampirism and a whole load of other types of contagious mysticism. Though accidents did still happen, possibly a lot more than was believable. However, when everyone involved says it was an accident then it's very difficult to prove otherwise.

With a firm pull, Walter's knot came free from his ass. A near tidal wave of werewolf spunk flowing out and onto the leather tabletop. “Damn, going to need to clean this place up." Observed the werewolf. “People may not mention it, but they also don't appreciate it if their furniture stinks of sex," Walter grumbled as he hopped down onto the floor. Jino noted just how lightly the wolf's feet landed on the floor.

Feeling his ass aching Jino rolled off the table. “I'll help," he insisted.

Walter tossed a towel to him, “ok, you mop up the volume and I'll grab the disinfectant. We got the super-strong stuff, to make sure we won't leave a nasal trace of our activities. Then I'll take you to your room. There's an ensuite shower, so you can get properly cleaned up."

The two spent the next twenty minutes cleaning the room. Jino felt more seed leaking from his ass with every step he took. Pulling on his underwear and clothing he knew they were probably going to be stained. However, he didn't care. His only regret was not getting to see that lupine cock erupting, to see the volumes of spunk that had been shot into his depths. However, Jino was very certain he would get to see that and probably a lot more before his two weeks were over.

By the time Walter escorted him to his bedroom, Jino was almost asleep on his feet. The room was quite nice. A large bed, large wardrobe, desk and a cupboard for storage. It also had a flat-screen T.V mounted to the wall.

“There's an ethernet port over there if you want to hook up to the internet," observed Walter. A total surprise for the human, who had assumed the isolated pack would have not had any of the modern conveniences. “All the pack have rooms like this. Most of us have a computer or laptop. It's your own little space, everyone needs a place to just be alone sometimes. Speaking of, I'll leave you to sleep and swing by tomorrow at around eight."

Before Walter could move Jino reached out and grabbed his arm, “I just wanted to say thanks for the welcome. I… wasn't sure about this assignment. I am now."

Walter gave him a confident grin, “thanks too. Not cause I had any doubts, but cause you are hot and I had a lot of fun fucking you. I hope that wasn't going to be a one-off. I mean you're here for two weeks, it'd be a shame not to take advantage."

Jino felt himself blushing and he laughed. “Well, according to that chart I have a very busy two weeks ahead of me. However, I'm sure I can find a gap you can fill."

Licking his lips Walter nodded his agreement to that sentiment, “I look forward to… filling your gap again." He mumbled and then was gone. Jino gave a sigh of relief to finally be alone with his own thoughts. He looked out the window, he could see the stars out in force over the beautiful Wisconsin landscape. Two weeks, it was going to be interesting. The human went to sleep wondering what the next day would bring.

I've just published a new Novella available in both ebook and hardcopy (after a vote on twitter showed an overwhelming desire for a hardcopy to be available)

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