by Sky Winters
Greg nodded.
“Of course. I don’t know the first thing about shifter culture…it would be best if you were involved in their lives. We will figure it out.”
“Good,” Luke said, his face relaxing into a smile. “You just keep that in mind. We’re going to be all right.”
Greg’s heart fluttered. He liked the way Luke said “we.” He liked being involved in Luke’s protective sphere. His pack. Nothing sounded more romantic or appealing to Greg than being able to enjoy the rest of his life in this same comfortable sort of life. It was exactly what he hadn’t known was missing from his life until he found it. But did Luke feel the same?
“Well, looks like it’s about time for us to move on if we’re going to set up camp before sunset,” Luke said, standing and dousing the fire.
“Okay,” Greg said. He tried getting to his feet and was surprised to feel a searing pain in his back. Luke stopped what he was doing and rushed immediately to his side, taking him by the hand and helping him to his feet.
“Easy there, boy,” Luke said, his blue eyes worried. “Don’t want to hurt yourself. You’re carrying a heavy load. Not too great for the lower back. But don’t worry, I’ll help you through.”
Luke held gently to Greg’s hand as Greg finally was able to regain his balance. Finally, when he was convinced that Greg was all right, Luke slung his bag over his shoulders. “Let’s get moving!”
Chapter 9
By early evening, Greg had followed Luke deep into the forest. They were well beyond anything Greg had ever explored before, and he found himself getting nervous butterflies in his stomach. What if Luke was only pretending to be the kind of guy every man would be crazy not to want? What if deep down, he was truly just as dangerous as other shifters could be? There was no way of knowing. Although Greg really wanted to trust him, what if he had taken him home and impregnated him on purpose? Maybe he was tired of being lonely and just wanted somebody to keep him company? A family he could take by force?
But when they stopped and Luke turned his kindly face to Greg and offered him a reassuring smile, Greg felt silly and guilty for doubting Luke’s intentions. Although it was true that you never really knew the kind of person you were with, it still seemed ridiculous that he would be wondering such strange things about Luke. It was probably the hormones, he knew. He had been given no reason to doubt Luke’s intentions. But still, things that were too good to be true, like this amazing, rugged, sexy man, usually were. Or they came with a catch. Maybe the only catch here was that he got Greg pregnant and his life would never be the same again. That wasn’t something he would have to feel too horrible about.
Luke had decided to settle down right beside a stream. From their vantage point, they could see a small trickling waterfall cascading into the stream. Across the water, the scenery was beautiful. You could see everything for miles, and Greg was blown away by how beautiful the site was.
“Wow, how did you find this place?” He asked.
“I was running around one day and decided that I wanted to live right near this area. But I figured if I built a house here, it would ruin the integrity of the place. So I built my house a few miles away right where you saw it.”
“It must not take you very long to get here when you’re in your wolf form,” Greg said thoughtfully. It was strange to believe that Luke was more than just the typical man. And yet, nothing else could possibly be the truth. He was exceptional in every way, so it made perfect sense that he would also have something incredible and supernatural about his personality.
“No, I can manage to make it across long distances when I am shape shifting. I’m pretty fast, if I do say so myself. Most people think that a silver wolf might have a problem with being able to keep up, but the fact is that I am able to use my experience and my wits to go even further than most people would believe is possible of me.”
“Wow,” Greg said, wondering what Luke could possibly look like in his wolf form. He wanted to ask, but he was worried that it would sound rude. One of the things that the wolf shifters were always complaining about was how normal humans were so frequently badgering them to show off their power. It was something that made them feel like they were supposed to be exhibitionists rather than living beings with their own lives. It wasn’t a spectacle for normal humans. It was simply the thing that made them happy and the natural ability that they were able to use.
Luke smiled over at Greg, and Greg could tell that the wheels in his head were turning. However, he had no idea what the man might be thinking about. Soon however, Luke was standing in front of Greg, the same sexy grin creasing his face.
“I bet I know something that you’re afraid to ask me,” he said. Greg’s heart pounded. It seemed as if this man was not only gorgeous, but psychic. Or maybe it was his wolf senses being able to tell what kind of things that Greg might be thinking. Or maybe it was his age, giving him the wisdom to be able to understand exactly how other people’s minds could work. Either way, she was insightful and intuitive, and it made Greg both nervous and excited at the same time. What else is he capable of?
“Oh yeah?” Greg asked, trying to play coy. “What would that be?”
“I bet you want to see what I look like as a wolf, but you are trying to be all politically correct so that you don’t offend me or some shit. Honestly, a lot of the newer generation are a bunch of wussies. They just want to have something to complain about. There are real problems out there, but people asking questions and simply being curious isn’t one of them. If we cannot get along, then most of the problems they are pitching about wouldn’t exist. But they’re the ones that keep up the negativity. I don’t understand what they are thinking.”
“Well it’s true, most people if they don’t understand something and they ask a question, they are doing it maliciously or to hurt you. And you’re right, I am dying to know what you look like as a wolf. I noticed while we were... Well anyway, I noticed that you’ve got Wolf tattoos on your back. Is that what you look like?”
Luke glanced out of the ground and grinned.
“How about I just show you what I look like? I read that would make you happier than just figuring that I look a little bit like one of the tattoos in my body art.”
“Did you draw those yourself?” Greg asked. He was carefully avoiding the topic of Greg actually shifting for him. Although he was curious, she was also a little bit scared. He didn’t mind waiting to find out what the man looked like as a wolf. He had never been very comfortable with wolves or dogs after being bitten as a child. He still had the scar on his arm. He didn’t want Luke to think that he was afraid of him. He knew that the wolves could sense fear. But the fear was just of canines in general.
“Actually yeah. In my down time, I do tattoos. I like to draw and figure things out. I’ve had to do tattoos for most of the shifter’s MC actually, they really love my art. They feel like it’s raw and tribal and it reminds them of what it really means to be a wolf shifter. A lot of the new generation of shifters have been begging me for tattoos, but they don’t understand the spirit of the pack, so I haven’t given them any. That’s part of the reason why that guy who was after you, Bruce, was so mad at both of us. He’s been wanting a tattoo for the longest time, one of mine, but since I refuse he’s had to settle for a random human giving him his. It pisses him off. Especially because they know I’m right when I told them that they are screwing up what we should be standing for. And everybody knows I don’t keep my opinions to myself.”
“That’s really brave of you,” Greg said, grinning shyly. He really admired the kind of people who were able to speak their mind without being afraid of what other people would think. Luke was clearly that kind of man, and he felt proud to be able to be speaking with him and holding his attention for so long. He knew that a lot of the time, people who only cared about their own values were dismissive of other people if they did not seem to share them. He wasn’t sure what Luke saw in him, but he was glad that there was something.
“It’s not brave,” Luke said scoffing. “It’s just what a man should do. He should speak his mind and mean what he says. He should learn what he stands for and where he comes from and learn how he can keep up the traditions of the past that made it possible for him to be who he is in the present. It’s pretty simple if you ask me.”
“I guess I never thought of it that way,” Greg said, looking down at the ground, a little bit embarrassed.
“Well happy to enlighten you,” Luke said with a chuckle.
“I’ve been having to hide who I am for a long time. My family never would have accepted it if I was gay. I didn’t have the courage to come out until I was successful in all the ways they thought I should be. I moved to the city where nobody knew who I was and where my family couldn’t find me, and I got that job with my cousin. By the time I finally could afford that condo with my ex, I felt like it was okay to be honest. But it was still hard. It’s hard to admit it but my whole life has been a lie until now. Being with you…this,” Greg gestured down to his swollen belly. “This is the only thing that has ever fell sincere.”
Greg cut himself off, afraid that he had said too much. It would sound weird if he told Luke how he was feeling. However, since he had laid eyes on the man, he had felt a strong pull to spend his time with him. And he thought it was strange how he had felt immediately a safe and comfortable feeling in the man’s presence. Those were the kinds of things he would normally hide. But Luke seemed to demand total honesty. The kind that most people never were able to admit to. And if they did, they would have to hold their breath and hope for the best.
“Well I’m really glad to hear that Greg,” Luke said, grinning at him. He stood and began pulling things out from the backpack. Greg watched as he set to work unpacking, and then quickly built a fire again to get ready for dinner. When that was done he started to set up the tents. Greg watched him, rising once from his seat to see what he could do. But Luke wouldn’t have any of it.
“You sit on down and let me take care of this. I don’t want anything happening to you because I wasn’t a gentleman. If you’re gonna have my pup, I might as well accommodate you right? Now seriously, just relax and let me show you how this is done. You don’t come across to me as the type who went camping very much as a kid and you’re gonna need to have all the pointers you can get if that’s the case.”
Greg last. Although he was embarrassed that Luke was right, he was also flattered by the attention and Luke’s willingness to show him the ropes. He didn’t treat him like he was stupid for not knowing things. Instead, he explained the commonly and generously until he had the right idea. Most of the time, people looked down on him if he wasn’t exactly the way they thought he should be, but Luke was nothing like that. He accepted them for exactly how he was. Every second he spent the man became more intense and powerful than the last. How had he never known anybody so amazing before? He had been missing out.
Finally, once camp was set up, Luke sat down beside Greg.
“Are you hungry?”
“Not yet,” Greg said. He had been feeling a little bit nauseated actually, especially after admitting to Luke that his entire life had been a lie and that the only sincere thing he had ever felt was what he had experienced in his brief time with Luke.
“Are you feeling all right?”
“I should probably tell you that I’m scared of dogs,” Greg blurted.
What was quiet for a moment and then he burst out laughing.
“Well I don’t mean to sound insensitive,” Luke said, wiping a tear from his eye. “But as the parent of a pup, that’s going to be pretty difficult for you.”
“I know,” Greg said miserably. Luke last again, a hearty belly laugh that started to make Greg feel embarrassed again.
“What’s so funny?” Greg asked.
“It’s not funny. It just seems silly to me that you’re even willing to be out here in the woods with a wolf shifter and pregnant with my pup when you’re afraid of dogs. We are more dog than dog you know. We are wolves. I guess you’re in the wrong place, kid.”
Luke slapped Greg on the back and stood.
“It’s not like that. I mean I can still be around them, I just wanted you to know that if I get scared, it’s not because I don’t trust you. That’s all.”
Greg lowered his eyes to the ground, his face burning with embarrassment and misery. Luke seemed surprised by the revelation and raised his eyebrows. He took Greg by the shoulders and brought him into a warm embrace.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings or something. I just find it funny whenever people are afraid of dogs. Were the most loyal and kindhearted creatures on the planet if you don’t mistreat us. It’s just that there are a lot of people out there who mistreat us. You know what I mean.”
“Yeah, I know. On the one that attacked me had probably been mistreated by somebody somewhere down the line. It just left me a little bit scared, that’s all. I can still be a parent. I mean I think so. All of this is so strange and confusing. I’m not really sure what I’m doing.”
“Well you don’t have to worry about that. I’m going to be here for you every step of the way, all right?”
Luke smiled down at Greg, and Greg instantly felt himself relaxing.
“All right,” he said.
Chapter 10
A few hours later, after they had eaten dinner, Greg and Luke sat beside the fire together talking in hushed tones. It seemed like nature had chosen to quiet down for the night, and both of them lowered their voices to accommodate her while she slept. Greg had never been camping before, and was surprised by how soothing it was to be outside under the stars. He had always assumed that it would be scary to be deep within the woods, but he felt safe with Luke, and nothing that would have normally scared him about being in the woods at night was bothering him anymore.
“You know, even if we part ways, I want you to know that you can come to me if you need anything at all,” Luke said. “I’ve been around on this earth for quite a while now, so I’ve got ways to get what I want and what I need. So don’t hesitate all right? I know we don’t know each other that well, but I want you to realize that you’re taking care of now. You’ve got me on your side. And unless you do something to change that, that’s the way it will always be.”
“Loyal to a fault,” Greg said softly. He didn’t want to do anything to change the way that Luke felt about him. It was scary to consider that he might be able to ruin their relationship somehow. He couldn’t imagine going back to his normal life, sleeping in Marty’s apartment and raising a wolf shifter child. Now that he had gotten a taste of life with the shifter, he wasn’t sure that anything else would ever do. But wasn’t he moving too fast?
“I don’t think that is such a thing as faulty loyalty. If you care about somebody, you stick with them until the end. You know? Anything else isn’t real. There’s no point in committing to somebody on this is going to go all the way.”
“What if we went all the way?” Greg blurted. Since Luke seems to care so much about honesty and loyalty, he might as well be out with what he was thinking. Most normal people would think it was crazy talk, thinking about all of this strange ways that things could go wrong, but Greg and Luke had such an odd and powerful connection that maybe it wouldn’t seem so strange after all.
“You mean what if we mated for life?” Luke asked, studying Greg seriously. From the looks of things, it seemed as if Luke himself had been considering this question as well. It wasn’t surprising.
“Yeah, what if we mated for life?” Greg said softly, holding Luke’s eyes. They were both serious now, and considering the weight of what they were talking about.
“Well I don’t think that’s something we should be talking about until you have been able to see me in my wolf form,” Luke said, casting his eyes to the ground thoughtfully. “I don’t want you to start deluding yourself with these fun ideas that seem like it would be easy for you when in reality, you’re not going to
be able to handle me for who I am. That’s why I have been single this long as it is. Nobody wants to handle me for who I am. And I’m not going to apologize or make any compromises. The way I am works for me and that’s just how it’s going to be.”
“That sounds fair,” Greg said, his heart pounding heavily in his chest. He had never seen anybody actually shifted to a wolf before. There were videos of it on the Internet that he had seen once or twice, but he knew that it was nothing compared to witnessing the real thing. And he had never seen anybody shift back into their human form either. All of this was really new to him. Maybe if he had been able to talk to his friend before any of this happened, she would’ve been a little more prepared. But he had gotten himself into this, and now he would just have to see it through.
Luke stood up and walked slowly toward Greg, his eyes glimmering in the firelight.
“Not going to do this, and I don’t want to scare you. Do you understand? I won’t hurt you. Even if you get scared. And if you are too scared, you just say so. I will understand and I will come right back to you as a human. And then, maybe if you can handle me as a wolf, we can talk about mating for life and what that might mean to both of us. Because right now in your head, as far as I’m concerned that’s a fairytale. And I would take it seriously only when you know who I am.”
“But if I could handle you?” Greg asked, his heart pounding anxiously in his chest. “Would you want to be with me?”
Luke answered with a wry smile and then immediately began his transformation. Greg’s mouth went dry as the man began to shrink and sprout hair. His muscles reorganized themselves, and a warm, pulsating energy radiated from his body as he changed. It must’ve taken a lot of energy for his body to be able to completely shape shift into something else, and Greg had never considered what it might feel like to be somebody witnessing another person’s transformation. It was almost erotic in a way as Luke’s clothes melted away and the hot energy brought goosebumps to Greg’s flesh.
