G.A.HAUSER

Copyright © G.A. Hauser, 2011 Cover design by Mark A. Richfield Cover model; Jimmy Thomas Artwork by G.A. Hauser
Edited by Stacey Rhodes
ISBN Trade paperback: 978-1461-09916-1
The G.A. Hauser Collection, LLC
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First The G.A. Hauser Collection LLC publication: June 2011
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There is only one rule.
There are no rules.
There is only one path. Confusion.
Be confused.
Chapter 1
Charlie Mosby thought life on a horse ranch in Heber, Utah, was idyllic. For years he managed the stable of sixty-five horses at Vernon and Connie Norman’s place. Three men—Butch Crowell, JP Martin, and Hal ‘Goat’ Groates—helped him full time, while ten day workers, or wranglers, did the rest.

He was twenty-five, healthy, and content.
Until…
Until ATF Special Agent Roman Burk came into his life. Everything Charlie believed in, thought he knew, not to
mention his own sexuality, changed.
Opening his eyes on a cold, but sunny November morning, Charlie gazed at Roman who was sleeping beside him. Roman’s hair was jet black, and the growth on his jaw was just as dark. It didn’t take more than staring at Roman to make Charlie excited. But being a creature that shifts its form from a man to a wolf, a wolf to a crow, or a crow to a man, certainly made Charlie aware of all of his five senses. Smell in particular.

Neither Charlie or Roman, nor the ATF agents that worked with Roman, knew why Roman had changed. Yes, while Roman was a wolf he’d bit Charlie, but that couldn’t be the reason why Charlie was now under the same spell Roman was. Could it?

A spell? A curse? A blessing? Charlie wasn’t sure what he had going for him now. Other than an amazingly strong, handsome hunk lying beside him. In Charlie’s mind, that was enough.

He scooted closer, very glad Roman had learned to control the changes. When they first met, every emotion caused Roman to morph, and seeing Roman in pain, not to mention losing his man shape, was upsetting to them both.

Charlie liked becoming a wolf. He doubted his boss, Vernon, was keen on the idea, and Charlie knew his horse Spirit didn’t like it one bit. A wolf. A sense of freedom and intense wonder came with that shape. Charlie was aware Roman did not share his state of awe. On the contrary. Roman wanted to get this mystery solved and move on, and that meant going back to Reno where his office was.

Look at you . Charlie hadn’t always preferred men as sexual partners. He had dated women exclusively, and at one time considered the idea of asking out one of Vernon’s lovely daughters, Suzie or Sherlane. But…

A chance meeting on the roadside on Interstate 80 with a gay man changed all that. ‘Joe’ offered Charlie a blowjob after helping him change a flat tire. Charlie couldn’t recall the last time anyone had offered him such a lovely treat, so he accepted, assuming doing something once with a man was curiosity, nothing more. But after the contact, Charlie was left craving another sexual encounter with a man.

That’s when he met Roman, who he found stark naked on ranch property. The sexual appetite of Roman, not to mention his good looks, gave Charlie another chance to see if… If an alternative lifestyle was something he could consider.
It was.
The closer he and Roman got, the less Charlie craved lying with a woman.
And now? Now that they were both half wolf/ half man, or in Roman’s case a third wolf, a third crow—which Charlie had yet to change into— What on earth are we?
Charlie’s sexual drive had hit an all time peak. All he wanted to do was hump Roman, suck him, roll on him, and sniff him. It was madness at its highest level, and pure fantasy.
With his morning erection needing some attention, Charlie dug one hand under Roman and curled him into an embrace. Slowly Roman came to the surface of his slumber. His bedroom brown eyes opened under dark lashes, making Charlie shiver with desire.
“Howdy, partner.” Charlie smiled, giving Roman’s neck a good sniff.
“That’s some wake-up call.” Roman parted his legs and pressed their crotches together.
“Rise n’ shine.” Charlie licked Roman’s jaw, beginning to assert his dominance over him, urging Roman to his back.
A sound like a low purr came from Roman as he submitted to Charlie’s advance. Spreading wide, he allowed Charlie to do as he pleased, which made Charlie a happy cowboy.
Once Charlie had licked his way down to Roman’s chest, giving attention to each nipple, he knelt up and reached for the petroleum jelly left on his nightstand. Though he had intentions of getting condoms and proper lubrication, Charlie wasn’t one to go into town very often, and the idea of asking someone to pick those items up for him was impossible. Not to mention turning into something canine while behind the wheel of his truck was a daunting prospect. It was against Charlie’s nature to take risks, but he was a very trusting man. He trusted Roman.
As Roman watched Charlie prepare, he said, “We have got to get lube. I can’t stand that shit.”
Charlie chuckled softly. “Read my mind?”
“No. I can’t seem to do that to you anymore. But, come on.” He curled his nose.
“Lubrication and condoms. I must be outta my mind to be ridin’ you bareback.”
“Me? I’m clean. Are you kidding me?” Roman shifted on the bed as Charlie inserted two fingers inside him. “Oh, that’s nice…” He moaned. “And I haven’t had sex for years before we met. Not with this crazy job, I don’t.”
“Hush up. I’m not believin’ that for a minute.” Charlie tried to wipe his fingers off and ended up rubbing the remainder into his dry hands. He tugged on his cock to keep it hard, moving closer.
“Right. You believe we turn into animals but you don’t believe I don’t fuck around anymore. I give up.”
“Fuck now, talk later.” Charlie rocked Roman’s legs backwards so he exposed his ass, pointing his stiff length at it.
Roman held his own knees and raised his hips to make it easier for Charlie. Instead, Charlie backed up, grabbed Roman and spun him around roughly. “Changed my mind. I’m goin’ to do you doggie style.”
“How appropriate.” Roman got on his hands and knees.
“Seems more natural.”
“Don’t even go there.” Roman pushed his face into the pillow.
“I’m goin’ there, Roman. Make no mistake.” Charlie laughed and gripped Roman around his hips, yanking him closer. He pushed the head of his cock against Roman’s tight rim and penetrated him gently.
Roman gave a snarl and wriggled backwards, uniting their bodies.
As Charlie entered Roman’s hot hole, he felt chills cover his skin and the urge to change began deep in his belly. Strong emotions seemed to spur it on—anger and hatred being the quickest to bring out the wolf. He ignored the painful sensation and focused on the pleasure. There was no need to hold back with Roman. Charlie humped him to his heart’s content, pushing his climax over the edge. The minute he came, Charlie gripped Roman in a death lock, his arms around Roman’s waist, allowing his cock to pulsate as deeply inside him as he could.
It started with a growl.
Roman began thrashing under him in excitement. The noises Roman made were a mixture of pain and pleasure. Charlie knew exactly what was happening.
~
Roman couldn’t speculate as to why or what caused him to become this insane shape-shifter, but it had. Whatever he had encountered on that last ATF mission had been bad, very bad.
Though he was slowly learning how to control the changes, sometimes he could not.
Being sexual with Charlie, going crazy for an orgasm and feeling Charlie deep inside him, began to alter Roman’s mental state enough to lose control.
Charlie’s arms surrounded him, holding on for the ride. Roman’s groan of pain turned into a wolf’s mournful howl. Propped up on his arms, Roman blinked and stared at his large furry paws and black nails. He shook off his fur, and spun around. An enormous timber wolf was staring back at him. Charlie had changed with him.
They snarled and showed their teeth, battling for the alpha male spot, though Roman knew Charlie was top dog.
“Why couldn’t you control it? I was in the middle of enjoying a good climax?” Charlie bounded on the bed, nipping at him.
“How the hell should I know? You think I have this completely under control?”

“Why don’t you?” Charlie chased Roman off the bed, out of the room and into the living room.
Roman felt Charlie biting at his tail. He stopped short in front of the hearth, which was nearly out and needed more wood to continue burning and keep the cabin warm. “You didn’t.” Roman sunk his teeth into the thick fur of Charlie’s neck.
“I wasn’t going to deal with you man on wolf.” Charlie tackled Roman to the floor, standing over him.
Roman licked at his snout. “You win. As usual.”
“I want to eat breakfast. We can’t go up to the ranch house like this.” Charlie sat on top of Roman, pinning him down.
“Can you change at will now?” Roman pushed his big black paw into Charlie’s face.
“I think I got it down. I have no idea how to get to be a crow though. How did you do that? I want to fly.” Charlie swatted Roman’s front leg out of his face.
“No clue. I would love to shower and eat breakfast, believe me.”
“You started this.”
“You did. You fucked me like a dog.” Roman chewed on Charlie’s long ear.
“Blamin’ me? You started this whole thing.” Charlie shook Roman’s teeth off his ear.
“All right. Let me focus.” Roman lay back, one paw still pushing against Charlie’s chest, and closed his eyes. He went through breathing exercises to relax and calm his mind but ended up growing angry at having this ‘unusual’ dilemma. Pain began twisting Roman’s insides and he knew something was going to happen—he just wanted the end result to be a man, not a crow.
Slowly he opened his eyes. Charlie, the man, was sitting on him, coming around from his painful change as well. When he had completely transformed, Charlie dropped down on Roman, catching his breath. “Man, that hurts.”
“No kidding.” Roman groaned, rubbing his rough jaw.
“You in there, fellas?” Suzie knocked on the front door.
“Yeah.” Charlie managed to get to his feet. He stood by the door but didn’t open it. “I take it breakfast is served.”
“It is, Charlie. Is Roman with you?”
“He is, hun. But we’re…ah…” Charlie made a silly face at Roman when words didn’t come.
“Indisposed?” Roman offered, smiling.
“That’ll work.” Charlie repeated it through the door. Roman heard Suzie chuckle. Charlie said, “Your dad mad at me?”
“He doesn’t know what to think, Charlie.”
Roman sighed. He was royally screwing Charlie’s life up. The last thing Charlie’s horse, Spirit, wanted on its back was a wolf. And that made taking care of a horse ranch nearly impossible for Charlie.
“Let us wash up, Suzie. We’ll be up there quick.” Charlie met Roman’s eyes.
The sadness in them caused Roman so much anxiety he almost became changed again. He stopped thinking about how depressing it was and headed to the bathroom.
“Okay, Charlie. I’ll get Mom to keep your plates warm.”
Roman glanced back at Charlie as he followed. Once the shower was running, Roman stepped in, wetting down. Charlie joined him, waiting his turn.
“I am so sorry.” Roman allowed Charlie to get under the spigot.
“Look, let’s focus on figuring out how to end this insanity. If Vernon can’t accept me for who I am…”
“Charlie.” Roman shampooed his hair. “We’ll have nowhere to stay. You have to keep Vernon on our side.”
“He’s got a business to run,” Charlie said, soaping up. “I can’t do a thing about his attitude if I’m bad for business. I can’t jeopardize his family or the ranch.”
Roman trapped Charlie against the wall with his body. “You can and you have to. Without this cabin as our ‘home base’, we’re screwed. You got that?” Roman could see Charlie was anxious about how serious it was. “Babe.” Roman cupped his jaw. “The cult or whatever did this to us, is here. Somewhere near this ranch. I am not leaving. If I have to get Phil and Nick to write up a court order to keep him cooperating I will.”
“Don’t do that. Don’t mess with Vernon.”
“I have no choice.”
The fire of anger lit Charlie’s eyes.
“Don’t. You’ll change. Calm down.” He could see Charlie take deep inhales of breath to force himself to remain human. “We will figure this out. But in the meantime, you need to make Vernon see we need him.”
Charlie faced the running water and rinsed off, stepping out of the tub and grabbing a towel.
Roman finished and stood dripping, staring at him. “Please.”
“What choice do I have?” Charlie threw up his hands.
Before Roman could answer him, they both caught a reflection in the vanity mirror. It wasn’t the first time something appeared to them in the misty steam.
Roman flew at the image as Charlie gasped in terror.
“Release us!” Roman railed at the glass, gripping the edges as if he would pull it off the wall.
The female with the red painted face, blue and white stripes under her eyes, and a crown of black feathers and wolf skin, didn’t react.
“Her lips are movin’, Roman. Hush up.” Charlie touched Roman’s back.
Roman felt the edges of the metal frame dig into his skin as he clenched the glass. The image’s mouth moved, but no sound came out.
“Can you lip read?” Charlie asked, huffing in panic.
Roman struggled to.
“She’s fadin’. Roman, she’s fadin’ away.”
“No!” Roman began fighting with the mirror, shaking the plasterboard behind it.
“Don’t! You won’t do nuthin’ but make a hole in my wall.”
“Who are you?” Roman began feeling emotional at the helplessness. “Why did you do this to me?” he cried.
“Stop, Roman! You’ll turn into somethin’.” Charlie grabbed him from behind, holding him.
Roman collapsed inside, feeling helpless. It was an emotion he was not used to. For nine years he worked with the ATF, feeling as if he were part of a well trained army, conquering foes. Now? He felt like a child battling giants.
The urge to weep was strong, but Roman never could cry. Pain and anguish he felt deeply, but the satisfaction of a good wail of tears evaded him. If Charlie weren’t holding on tight, Roman would have dropped to his knees on the bathroom floor. He was tired. He needed to get on with his life and work. Why was this curse ruining his life?
“Come on, partner.” Charlie struggled to snap Roman out of it, shaking him and squeezing him. “Don’t dwell on it or I’m going to lose you to somethin’ furry.”
Indeed, Roman felt churning inside his gut precipitating the change. He shook himself out of it, standing on his own. “I’m okay.”
“We’ve got to deal with this one day at a time.” Charlie cupped his jaw affectionately.
“More like an hour at a time.”
“Yes.”
Roman met Charlie’s bright blue eyes and sighed. The tranquil effect calmed Roman down and the sensation in his midsection subsided. “I’d be lost without you.”
“I’m thinkin’ the same thing.”
Roman cupped the back of Charlie’s head and kissed him. Chapter 2

Trying to act as if this were a normal day at the ranch, Charlie walked down the path with Roman, wearing his snakeskin boots and cowboy hat, his sheepskin jacket and tight blue jeans. Roman wore one of Charlie’s old jackets and a pair of his worn out denims and t-shirt, along with beige work boots.

It was overcast and cold, the November wind bringing in the winter season.
Before the men made it to the ranch house and their meal, Charlie spotted the truck which had brought the wranglers to the ranch. The group of day workers helped with the cleaning of the stalls and grooming of the herd of horses.
He spun back to make a comment to Roman about not being out in the field right now doing his job when loud barking prevented him. Charlie glanced down at his feet to see Harley, the rambunctious Jack Russell, yipping and snarling at both he and Roman.
“Harley, go away. I know we smell like the enemy. But it’s just me.” Charlie reached to pet the dog and he nipped at him and growled.
“Told you he was a nuisance.” Roman kept walking to the door of the ranch house.
Charlie kept his eye on the little dog that was a pit bull when it came to defending his territory. “Stay outside, you nut.” Charlie used his boot to direct Harley back from the door as he closed it. When the men were inside, Charlie could still hear Harley barking his head off.
He removed his hat and coat and inhaled the scent of bacon and sausage from the griddle.
Suzie and Sherlane stepped out of the kitchen to greet them.
“Sorry we’re late.” Charlie approached the young women, feeling like a pest because he should have been eating with the other men.
To his surprise, Suzie kissed him on the cheek. “No problem, Charlie. Come sit.”
Charlie heard Roman snarl. One thing being part wolf did to Roman, it made him possessive to the extreme. Charlie admonished him with a look and a shake of the head.
Connie brought over two heaping plates of food to the table. “Here ya go, boys. There’s plenty more.”
Sherlane filled the mugs with coffee and caressed Charlie’s shoulder affectionately. “How’re you feeling, Charlie?”
“I’m all right. But I feel guilty about how this is screwin’ with my work. I don’t want to let the boys down, or your dad.” Charlie added milk to his coffee seeing Roman ‘wolfing’ down his food like he was starving.
Suzie and Sherlane joined them at the kitchen table.
“Don’t worry about Dad, Charlie. We’re more concerned about you two.” Suzie rubbed Charlie’s hand.
Roman’s lip curled, showing his teeth and he snarled again. This time Suzie caught it and jerked her hand back from touching Charlie. “Take it easy, Roman. I don’t mean anything by it.”
Charlie glanced Roman’s aggression. reason.
“Roman,” Charlie said, “If you don’t stop, you’ll be licking that plate with a big pink tongue.”
As if he realized he was falling under the spell of anger, which meant changing, Roman sat upright and adjusted his attitude. “Sorry.”
Charlie began eating his western omelet and hashbrowns. “Where’s Vernon?”
“He’s gone into town.” Sherlane leaned her elbows on the table.
“Will either of you be going to a drugstore?” Roman asked, still stuffing food into his mouth.
Charlie stopped eating. “No. Roman. Don’t.”
“Why, Roman?” Sherlane rested her chin on her palm. “I can get you anything you need.”
“Condoms and lubrication.” Roman didn’t hesitate, finishing his food and holding up his plate. “Did you say I can have more, Connie?”
“Of course, Roman.” Connie took his plate to the stove.
The blush of embarrassment hit Charlie’s cheeks. He kicked Roman under the table.
at Sherlane and Connie’s reaction to They appeared unsettled and for good
“Ouch.” Roman made a sour face at Charlie. “I’m sick of petroleum jelly. That stuff sucks.”
“Oh, my Lord, just shoot me.” Charlie rubbed his face with both hands.
Sherlane replied, “Sure, Roman. I’d be happy to get that for you. Any particular brands?”
“I can’t believe this.” Charlie stood and nearly toppled his chair.
Suzie said, “Don’t worry, Charlie. Sit and finish your breakfast.”
Connie placed another helping in front of Roman. “You boys better not be having unprotected sex. You know better than that.”
Hearing Connie acknowledge that she knew he and Roman were making love was too much for Charlie. His skin felt like it was on fire and the deep humiliation was overwhelming. Before he got to the coat rack to get his hat and jacket, he doubled over in pain.
~
Roman scooted back from the table to go after Charlie. The minute he stepped into the room, he stopped short.
It was his turn to confront a large timber wolf while he was still a man. “Shit.”
He heard Suzie and Sherlane gasp behind him. When he spun around to tell them to stay put, he spotted Connie with a shotgun. “Don’t you dare! That’s Charlie!”
“Get him out of the house, Roman.” She cocked the gun.
Roman gestured for the women to keep still. He scooted around the perimeter of the room towards the door. “Charlie, calm down. Look what you did to yourself. And you just told me I’d change. Well?”
The hair on Charlie’s neck and back bristled, and he showed his long canines.
“Why are you so upset?” Roman inched towards the front door, hoping Charlie wouldn’t attack him. As his anxiety began creeping in, Roman also felt something stir inside him. He had no time to lose. If Connie had two wolves trapped in her living room, she would shoot them both. He lunged for the front door and threw it open.
Charlie dashed out of it, disappearing from his sight.
Instantly Roman grew sick, dropping to his knees. He heard Suzie and Sherlane rushing towards him to comfort him, but couldn’t respond to them anymore. As he unfolded his wings, Roman ruffled his feathers and squawked.
“Shoo!” Connie used the butt of the shotgun to chase Roman outside. He hopped out of his clothing and through the door.
Roman caught the sound of Harley barking and spotted Charlie racing up the trail, passed the wranglers who were shouting in excitement, beyond the corral of horses that shifted and reacted in a wave of stomping hooves.
Charlie spun around and snapped at Harley, but the small dog was determined to chase Charlie down.
Butch galloped after Charlie on horseback. Roman had no idea what his intent was, but knowing Butch, it wasn’t good. Roman dove at Butch, pecking at his cowboy hat.
“Hey!” Butch flinched and yelled, “Not you again!”
Roman attacked him, nearly knocking his hat off.
“I’m trying to stop Harley! Will you let up?”
Oh. Sorry. Roman resumed flying towards the Jack Russell and his lover.
As he gained height and a bird’s eye view, Roman’s attention was diverted. What the…? He knew he needed to help Charlie, but the sight of a ring of fire in a clearing by the reservoir was taking priority. He changed direction and headed for Deer Creek. ~
Harley! Leave me alone before I hurt you! Charlie kept snapping at the terrier, but he was unwavering in his duty. The sound of clomping hoof beats gave Charlie a start. He halted in his tracks, spun around and saw Scout making a direct line for him, Butch spurring him on.
The minute Charlie stood his ground, both the dog and the horse hesitated. Harley continued to bark like a maniac, but Scout reared, needing to retreat.
All right. I’ve had enough. Charlie sat on his haunches and closed his eyes, taking deep wolf-breaths as he panted, his tongue hanging out of his mouth.
The moment he adjusted his emotions, his mid-section began to ache and twist. Charlie faced the ground and put his hands over his head to withstand the agony. Harley became more aggressive for a moment, then stopped barking.
“Charlie…”
The sensation of coming around from a bad dream was disorienting. Charlie groaned and heard his human voice. “God damn it.” He shivered as the cold air hit his skin. “I can’t take much more of this.” He opened his eyes to see Butch removing his jacket and wrapping it around him.
“Harley, get lost.” Butch shoved the small dog in the direction of the ranch. “Go.”
Harley trotted off now that he had done his job.
“You all right, Charlie?”
“No. I’m not. I’m losing my mind.” Charlie tugged Butch’s jacket around his shoulders, catching Butch’s scent on it. He blinked and met Butch’s dark eyes. The stream of thoughts Butch was having hit Charlie like a radio frequency.
Butch was debating his attraction for him as if he had the devil on his shoulder.
“I need to get my clothes.” The vulnerability Charlie felt was extreme in so many ways. He glanced around. “Where’s Roman?”
Butch tried to be discreet as he glanced at Charlie’s naked body, but Charlie already knew Butch was fighting off desire.
“He’s a crow. He flew off in that direction.”
“This is bullshit. How long are we supposed to keep doing this? I can’t work. He can’t work. Vernon is going to either kill me or kick me off his property…”
“All right.”
At the sensual caress to his cheek, Charlie caught Butch’s gaze. “You’re nineteen and you like girls.”
Butch reacted to the comment and shook his head. “I didn’t say nothin’!”
“Believe me, Butch, you don’t want to go this route, just ‘cause it’s easier.” Charlie tried to get to his feet. Scout snorted and backed up wearily. “That horse is not goin’ to want me on its back.”
Butch helped Charlie stand and closed the coat over his chest. He popped his cowboy hat on Charlie’s head and smiled. “I always did like Brokeback Mountain.”

“Hush up. You do say the stupidest things.” Charlie blushed despite himself. “Get that horse over here. I’m not walkin’ back.”

Butch appeared shy suddenly, a trait Charlie had never seen in him. He tried not to hear his thoughts, knowing it was rude and intrusive, but…they were beginning to take a lustful turn.

“No, Butch Crowell, you do not want me. I am a mess. Don’t even go there. You need to ask Suzie or Sherlane out. Believe me. This whole gay-wolf thing is drivin’ me crazy.”

“How do you know—” Butch turned pale. “Please tell me you cannot…” He held Scout’s bridle and both he and his horse’s eyes grew wide for different reasons. Scout began to pull back and grow agitated as Charlie drew near.

Butch was mortified to have been seen through.
“Sorry. I can read your mind. I won’t betray you, buddy. Promise. Just do yourself a favor and stay away from me. I’m tellin’ ya, I can’t be more messed up.”
“Sure would like to have sex, Charlie. I can’t have sex with Vernon’s daughters. He’d kill me.”
“You got that right. But that don’t mean you can’t keep ‘em company over at the tavern.” Charlie took another step towards Scout. “Yer goin’ to have to hold onto that horse, Butch. He’s goin’ to go nuts with a wolf on his back.”
“How does he know you’re a wolf? You’re a man right now.”
Charlie covered his crotch as Butch took a look. The coat barely covered his ass and groin, and his legs were freezing cold. “He smells wolf. Stop lookin’ at my balls, Butch.”
“I’m not.”
“You got him?” Charlie edged closer.
“Yeah. Get on his back quick. I’ll hop on and get him under control.”
Every time Charlie drew near, Scout danced away, showing the whites of his eyes and snorting.
“How about you get on first? This ain’t workin’.”
Butch stuck one foot into a stirrup and swung his leg over the saddle. He seesawed the rein, trying to stop Scout from rearing. “Get on, Charlie.”
“He is goin’ to freak out.” Charlie moved behind Scout’s line of vision.
“I got him.”
Charlie gripped the saddle and Butch’s leg and hoisted himself up on the uneasy gelding.
“Hang on.”
Charlie wrapped his arms around Butch’s waist. “I got ya.”
In his mind, Butch said, Wish you did. Charlie didn’t know what to think anymore. His life had spun out of control. As Butch turned Scout back to the ranch house, Charlie rested his head on Butch’s shoulder, trying to keep calm. Through Butch’s masculine scent he caught a whiff of something burning, but it wasn’t wood. Where do I know that smell from?
“You feel nice, Charlie. I hate to say it.”
“Then don’t. Don’t say it and don’t think it.”
“I know being with women is what I’m supposed to do. But they make it so hard, ya know? All I want is sex. I’m too young to get married and start a family.”
“Go meet someone over at the bar.”
“I can’t drink there too often. I have to turn twenty-one.”
“It never stopped you before.” Charlie dreaded the wranglers seeing him half naked, but there was nothing he could do.
“When you’re there with me, I know no one’s going to say anything. You know? They all respect you, and no one messes with you.”
“Don’t stop at the barn, okay? I don’t need to show my wares off to everyone.”
“I’ll take you to the cabin.” Butch chuckled.
“I appreciate that.”
Charlie felt Butch sigh deeply, his back muscles expanding against him. His sexual appetite had always been high, but after turning wolf and making love to Roman, Charlie felt as if he had sex on the brain. Were animals wired to keep fucking?
Survival of the species?
Butch directed Scout to move passed the barn to the path in front of the ranch house.
“Lord I hope there ain’t a tourist ride scheduled. What a sight they would see.” Charlie rested his chin on Butch’s shoulder, staring at the parking lot and long winding drive that led to the main road.
“There is. Later this afternoon. Another group of city folk. Makes me laugh they think riding a horse for a few hours is a vacation treat.”
Charlie glanced at the windows of the ranch house as they passed. He didn’t need the girls or Connie and Vernon seeing this either. It was like a bad dream—being naked in public. The humiliation began to burn in him, so he quickly changed his thoughts before Butch and Scout had to deal with a wolf again.
Butch stopped Scout at the cabin’s front door.
Charlie hopped off, handing Butch his coat and hat. “Thank you much.”
“You’re sporting wood, Charlie.”
Charlie cupped his hand over his body and opened the cabin door. “No, we can’t do nuthin’ with each other, Butch. I swear, my life is complicated enough. And right now?” Charlie blew out a breath of frustration. “You have no idea.”
“What’s it like?”
Scout shifted uneasily now that he could see Charlie again.
“What’s what like?” Charlie backed into his cabin, trying not to be rude, but needing a shower and clothing.
“You know.”
The thoughts in Butch’s head became clear. He wanted to know what gay sex felt like. “Uh uh. No way. Let me clean up. Thanks again.” Charlie shut the door and shook his head. “This can’t be real. I swear, I am havin’ some bizarre dream that has no end.”
Chapter 3

Roman flew in a circle over the area. A wisp of smoke curled in the cool breeze and dark rain clouds loomed from the eastern sky. He landed on a branch and tried to see what was causing the scent of chemicals. One he knew well. It was the same smell that had overwhelmed him on that search he, his partner Agent Phil Dean, and his SWAT team had done of the abandoned warehouse. It was the odor of poison or a toxin that caused him to be helpless, and brought on a change in his life that made it impossible to work, live, or even laugh again.

The area around the fire ring appeared deserted, but Roman had no idea why a small fire was still burning. He hopped lower on the branches of a paper birch tree, bare from the coming winter. That smell made him sick. But he wasn’t sure if it was the actual effect of the aroma or the recollection of what it had done to him. Either way, he became nauseated and faint. He opened his beak to breathe deeply and tried to keep his talons tight on the branch.

His sight narrowed to a black tunnel and he fell to the hard ground. He extended his wings as pain seized him. The more agony he endured, the more emotional misery he felt. He curled into a ball, knowing he was changing, but unsure of whether it was into a man or wolf. As it continued, he knew. Man. He wasn’t so sure being a naked man this far from help was good. But there was nothing he could do about it now. “Charlie…” he choked out, wondering if his lover would be telepathic now that they were both wolves. “Help me.”

Shivering from the cold as the sun vanished behind dark black clouds, Roman dug his fingernails into the hard ground and writhed in pain. An icy drop of rain hit his back. No. Oh, God no. He used his hands to prop himself up and look for shelter. A woman’s image appeared; red painted face and a black feathered crest on top of a wolf skin on her head.

Roman gasped in fear but no sound came out of his throat. ~
Charlie stopped at the ranch house to retrieve his coat and hat. No one was around at the moment. It was between breakfast and lunch, so the girls attended other errands. Charlie had no idea where Vernon was, and didn’t want to call his cell phone to ask. He left the ranch house and turned his collar up against the wind. “There ain’t goin’ to be no pleasure rides today. No way.” He spotted JP, Goat, and Butch instructing the wranglers to get the horses inside the barn before the storm. Two by two, they held the horses’ halters and jogged the herd from the open paddock into the shelter.
“Butch!” Charlie hollered, cupping his mouth as the storm drew near. “You seen Roman?”
“Not since he flew that way, before I met up with you.” Butch trotted across the trail to the barn with two horses. “She-it.” Charlie figured Roman was helpless and naked somewhere on the property. He knew his horse would be a problem to deal with now, not only with Roman but with him. He glanced back at his pickup that was parked in the front lot. What the fuck. Those agents already tore up Vernon’s trail when they searched near the reservoir yesterday.
Charlie ran to the truck, taking the keys out of his pocket. He climbed in, starting it up, engaging the four-wheel drive. He drove between the gap of the barn and the corral, pausing to make sure no one was leading horses across. Butch rapped his knuckles on the driver’s side window. “What are you doin’?” “Lookin’ for Roman. You know he’s up there naked and freezing his nuts off.”
“Let me come.”
“No. You stay here and help JP and Goat deal with the wranglers.”
Butch jogged around the front of the truck and opened the passenger’s door, climbing in. “Here comes the rain.” “Damn it, you never listen to a thing I say. Hang on. I got to find him. Keep your eyes peeled for a crow or wolf too, will ya?”
Butch grabbed Charlie’s knee. “You got it.”
Charlie glanced down at Butch’s hand quickly as he powered up the trail in his rig. “Which way did you see him fly?” “That way.”
“Fuck. That’s the direction of the reservoir. I should call the agents. I have a bad feelin’ in my gut.”
“Don’t call ‘em now. You’ll get ‘em all riled up and if there’s nothin’ there, they’ll be mad as hell.”
The truck began to whine as the trail turned to mud. “Which way. Tell me, Butch. I can’t think straight I’m so worried.” “You want to know what I think?”
“I do.” Charlie glanced at him, feeling a slight twinge of pain in his gut. He had to keep his head or a wolf would be sitting behind the wheel.
“You know where the deer and the coyote got cut up?” “No. No!” Charlie panicked. “Don’t even say that. If anythin’ happened to him…”
“Charlie. What’s wrong?”
“Shoot! I can’t get mad. Butch, if I get upset…” Charlie held his stomach and tried to keep driving.
“What?” Butch sounded frightened. “You go wolf on me? You kiddin’ me? You, a big ole timber wolf in this truck cab? Oh, no.”
“Talk about somethin’ else. Butch, I can’t…” Charlie caught his breath and could barely see in the downpour.
“Right. Somethin’ else.”
Butch cupped his palm over Charlie’s crotch.
Charlie jolted and revved the gas pedal in the process. “Not that!”
“I can’t think of anythin’ else!”
“You gotta be kiddin’! You can’t think of anythin’ but my dick? With everythin’ that’s goin’ on right now? And I think I’m the insane one.” Charlie peeked down at Butch’s hand. He hated to admit his fury vanished with the warmth of Butch’s touch. “What’s it feel like, Charlie? Huh? What’s makin’ love to a man feel like?”
“Where is Roman? My Lord he’s out in this horrible weather naked and freezin’. He’s goin’ to have pneumonia.” Charlie felt Butch’s fingers exploring between his thighs.
“We’ll find him. Should have brought Harley.”
“You can’t get that dog outside in a storm. He’s most likely sleepin’ on the hearth rug.”
Butch chuckled softly.
Charlie shifted gears as the terrain grew steeper. He tried to focus on where Roman could be while allowing Butch’s sensual massage to prevent him from getting angry or upset.
~
Roman convulsed from the pain and cold. Through an ache in his head that was making it feel like it would burst, Roman began to see images around him. “No. No way!” He lay on his back and tried to get to his elbows for a better view.
In the drenching downpour of cold rain, blurry shadows appeared to close in on him. The red painted woman held a bird by its feet upside down over Roman.
“No! Go away! Haven’t you tortured me enough?” He swiped at the apparition but his fingers past right through it. He squinted from the pain to see his legs, smeared with mud and blood. “Fuck you! Get away from me!”
With every ounce of will he possessed, his teeth chattering from the cold, he crawled on his hands and knees to get away from the haunting. He made his way to a low hanging evergreen and flattened out to lie under the branches, giving him some protection. Charlie…come on, Charlie…
Closing his eyes as the wind whipped the trees making the branches scrape his back, Roman heard the sound of drum beats and felt the vibration from the ground. His skin became hot even in the icy weather. I’ll die here. A year from now someone will find my remains.
No matter how he tried, he couldn’t summon up enough strength in his anger or fury, or anything extreme to make him change. “Damn you!” He cried, yelling at the wind. “Damn you to hell for doing this to me!”
A whining engine sound cut through the other noise in his head. He blinked and listened, holding his breath. “A truck!” He used his last reserves of strength and crawled out from under the tree. Bowing his head to the wind and sheeting rain, Roman could see headlamps of a vehicle in the distance. He made an all out dash to get to it, knowing he’d be violently sick from the freezing weather if he didn’t.
He could hear the truck’s wheels spinning in the slimy mud.
Roman pounded his fists on the driver’s window. “Charlie! Thank fuck!”
Charlie opened the door and got out, pushing Roman inside the cab.
Butch took off his coat and held it out for Roman. “What are you doing here?” Roman asked, shaking in spasms.
“I’m helping find you.”
Charlie closed the door and turned up the heater, blasting it to warm Roman. He removed his jacket and put it over Roman’s legs. “You’re goin’ to be okay.” Charlie put his arm around Roman to comfort and warm him.
Roman felt the heat with relief, trying to stop shivering. “Let me get us out of here.” Charlie rocked the truck in the mud.
Roman could hear the wheels spinning again. “We’re stuck.” “No.” Charlie put it into first gear and drove the rig up and back.
“Let me push her.” Butch reached for the door handle. “You can’t push her in this mud. Sit tight.” Charlie shifted into reverse and began to roll backwards down the trail. Roman closed his eyes, finally feeling warm.
“You okay?”
He opened his eyes slowly, meeting Butch’s stare. “You. Do not put your hands on my man again.”
“I didn’t touch him!” Butch held his hands up in the air. “Not now, Roman. We don’t need a wolf in the truck. You got that?” Charlie continued to back down the trail, swinging the truck around with a spin, and grinding through the mud in the torrential rain.
“Ya try to help a fella and this is the thanks you get.” Butch shook his head.
“Butch,” Charlie said, “He can read your mind.”
Roman glared at Butch. “Do not touch him again.” Butch said nothing, staring out of the windshield. Instead of getting upset, Roman leaned his head back on the seat and closed his eyes, trying to keep sane in what had become an insane world.
~
Though it was nearing mid-day, the sky was so black it seemed like late afternoon. Charlie drove past the barn, seeing the doors closed with all the horses contained inside. The wranglers had gone as well, and the ranch house was lit from within. He peeked at Roman, who was resting his head on the seat back, his eyes closed. Butch met Charlie’s gaze, appearing worn out. Charlie gave him a slight smile in appreciation. Butch returned it.
Roman opened one eye, as if he heard the silent messages between them loud and clear. No one spoke.
Charlie parked the truck and shut the engine. “Thanks for your help, Butch.”
“Don’t mention it, Charlie. I reckon if the weather turns nice, the afternoon ride will be on. Otherwise, I figure Vernon will reschedule.”
“I agree. See ya at the house for lunch.”
“See ya.” Butch adjusted his hat before getting out. “Here’s your coat.” Roman took it from around his shoulders. “Thanks.”
“It’s okay, Roman. You just take good care of Charlie. Hear?” He took his coat.
Roman didn’t reply.
Charlie figured he’d only get defensive if he did. “Come on, Roman. You need to get cleaned up.” He reached for the door handle and spotted Sherlane’s yellow Ford Escort pulling into the lot. “Hang on, Roman.” Charlie touched his arm. Roman put Charlie’s jacket on while they waited.
Suzie got out of the passenger’s side of Sherlane’s car, pulling her hood up over her head as she walked to the ranch house. Sherlane obviously spotted him and Roman in the truck, because she pointed at them.
“Fuck,” Roman said, trying to cover himself with the jacket. Suzie held a bag as she approached. Charlie opened the truck door.
“Got this for you. Are you going somewhere? How did your truck get so dirty?”
Charlie took the bag, trying not to show how mortified he was that she had bought him and Roman supplies for sex. She noticed Roman’s muddy legs and said, “Oh no.” “Yup.” Roman tried to make light of it. “Lucky me.” “Roman… How are we going to fix this mess?”
“Let us get to the cabin, Suzie.” Charlie nodded to the truck door she was standing by.
Sherlane returned to where the men were waiting after stopping at the ranch house. “Here. This is the clothing you guys left after breakfast.” She held out a plastic bag. “Oh!” She blinked seeing Roman’s naked lower half.
“Crap.” Roman grabbed the bag and covered his legs. “Ladies, I appreciate it, but I have to get Roman into the cabin. Okay?”
“Wow. Nice bod, Roman.” Sherlane pulled her coat up over her head to shield the rain.
Suzie elbowed her to behave as they leaned close inside the truck near Charlie. “Okay. See ya later. I guess Dad will cancel this afternoon’s ride.”
Roman pulled the pants out of the bag and put them on. “We have to go,” Charlie said, trying not to be rude. “Bye!” Suzie held her sister by the elbow and they scooted back to the ranch house. Not only could Charlie hear their giggles, he could read their thoughts. Yes, Roman is hot and has an unbelievable body.
Roman put on the shoes once he had the pants on. “How much more humiliation can I take, Charlie? I’m losing it. I swear.”
“You? You and me both, partner. Okay. Let’s make a run for it.”
“Why? I’m already soaking wet and muddy.”
“True.” Charlie held the bag from the drugstore and climbed out of the truck. He and Roman walked the paved path to the cabin.
Charlie opened the door and went directly to the fireplace to get it lit, hearing Roman close himself in the bathroom for a shower. He placed the white bag beside him on the floor and stacked wood and kindling onto the rack. Once the fire caught on, Charlie stared at it, feeling drained and empty.
Though he could have sat in a daze all day, he managed to get up, take off his hat and boots and bring the bag with him into the bathroom. The hot steam swirled around when he opened the door. He peeked into the bag and took out a box of twelve condoms and a packaged tube of lubrication. “How do they know what to buy?”
“They’re smart girls.”
Charlie shook his head. “Remind me to pay them back. This shit ain’t cheap.”
“Okay.”
He pulled the shower door open and exhaled loudly. “You okay, Roman?”
“No. I have to call Phil. While I was a crow, I found a ring of fire and…”
Charlie cringed, waiting to hear. “And?”
When Roman looked faint, Charlie reached for him. “Hang in there. What happened?”
Roman began to sink to the tub as if he had given up on the battle that was sapping his strength. Charlie took off his wet shirt and shut the water, kneeling beside the tub.
His black hair soaked and dripping into his face, Roman’s eyes grew red from his emotions and he bit his bottom lip. “Aw, hun, hang in there.” Charlie rubbed his back gently. “I can’t do this anymore.” Roman swiped the running water from his face with two hands.
Charlie reached for a towel and began patting Roman dry. “Let’s get you out of there and I’ll call Phil, okay?”
“That…that woman…” Roman shivered visibly. “She came at me again.”
“When?”
“Right before you guys found me. I smelled that burning chemical shit.” Roman took the towel and wiped his face. “It made me so sick, I dropped out of a tree.”
“As a crow.”
“Yeah. As a crow. I hit the ground and changed. It was agony.”
Charlie tried to coax Roman out of the tub.
“She came at me again with a dead bird.”
The news made Charlie upset, but he fought to keep it in check.
“The worst part was, she wasn’t even there. I was fighting a spirit or a figment of my own imagination. How can I win that battle, Charlie?”
“Come on. Let’s get you dry before you get a chill again.” Charlie held Roman’s arm and hoisted him to his feet. Shaking and unsteady, Roman held onto Charlie and stepped out of the tub. Charlie wrapped a bath towel around him and knew they both had to keep a level head or they would be back into trouble again. “Why don’t you get dressed, call Phil…” Roman gripped Charlie’s jaw and kissed him.
The movement was so sudden, Charlie started in surprise. That hot tongue in his mouth instantly created a fire in Charlie. He moaned and cupped Roman’s jaw, feeling his dark designer stubble and deepening the kiss. Roman dug his hands into
tongues, Charlie’s hair and they sucked on each other’s
whimpering and growing hotter.
“The bed…let’s get in the bed…” Charlie said
kisses.
Roman didn’t respond, running his hands down Charlie’s
naked back to the top of his jeans.
While Roman began chewing on Charlie’s jaw and neck,
Charlie snatched the items off the sink, one in each hand, and
slipped out the bathroom door, headed to the bedroom. Roman was in hot pursuit.
Before Charlie could set the rubbers and lube down, Roman
tackled him to the mattress.
Charlie started laughing. He couldn’t remember the last time
he laughed. And it felt good. The laughter must have been
contagious because Roman began roaring with hilarity. Tears ran down Charlie’s face as he tried to contain his
chuckles unsuccessfully. He gave up battling from underneath,
allowing Roman to win. Roman held both of Charlie’s wrists
over his head. Charlie still gripped the box of condoms in one
hand, and the box with the tube of lube in the other.
“Man, it feels good to laugh.” Charlie smiled and stared into
Roman’s sparkling brown eyes.
“No kidding. Wow.” Roman released his hold and knelt up,
taking off Charlie’s jeans for him.
Charlie set the items on the nightstand and helped shimmy
out of his rain spattered pants. When he was naked, Roman ran
kisses from Charlie’s knees up to his crotch.
between “Oh…Roman, that feels so nice.” He released his pent up
stress and focused on the feathery light touches.
Roman nudged his face into Charlie’s balls so Charlie parted
his legs. For a brief moment he thought about Butch’s curiosity.
What’s gay sex like, Butch? You do it once, you’ll never go back
to women.
Using the pillow, Charlie propped up his head to watch.
Roman caught his gaze, his eyes on fire. Yeah, maybe all this is
insane, but I never would have met you, Roman, if you didn’t get
saddled with this curse.
Roman made himself comfortable between Charlie’s legs and
began lapping at his sack and the base of Charlie’s cock. Charlie
relaxed his arms to his sides, rubbing his fingertips into the
bedding as the urge to come grew.
A deep rumbling sound came from Roman of contentment.
Charlie hoped the sex didn’t push either of them into a change of
shape. But after the roughhousing, he felt very good. Perhaps
there was something to laughter being the best medicine. Once his balls were sucked into Roman’s mouth one by one,
Roman smiled wickedly.
Charlie glanced down at his own cock. It was blushing deep
red and the veins were showing through the skin. “You got me
into quite a state there, partner.”
“I did.”
“What are you fixin’ to do about it?” “What do you want me to do about it?” “Finish the job, wolf-man.”
Roman’s face lit up with laughter.
happier. “Go on.” He raised his hips off the bed.
As if he were trying to tantalize, Roman used the tip of his
tongue to touch the head of Charlie’s cock. Each tiny lick made
Charlie’s cock bob and him groan. Charlie didn’t know what he
was enjoying more, the foreplay or watching it.
Roman gripped the base of his own cock, tugging it as he
played with Charlie. Seeing Roman touch himself produced a
surge of pleasure to Charlie’s cock. “You stick that in your
mouth and I am goin’ to spontaneously combust.”
Without hesitation, Roman sunk Charlie’s cock deep into his
throat, sucking hard.
Charlie couldn’t be Just as Charlie was on the verge, Roman sat back on his
heels. “Give me that lube. I’m going to send you into orbit,
Charlie Mosby.”
Charlie grabbed the box and tossed it to him. “’Long as you
don’t send me into changin’ into a critter.”
“Be quiet.” Roman opened the package, tossing the box, then
squeezed a blob of lube onto his fingers.
Charlie watched, catching his breath in excitement. “So this is
real gay boy sex?”
“Yeah. What do you think?” Roman placed the tube on the
bed and nudged Charlie’s legs open wider.
“I think I never should have let that ‘Joe’-feller suck my cock
last October.”
“Sure, Charlie. Whatever you say, Charlie.” Roman laughed
while he rubbed his slick fingers over Charlie’s rim.
Unable to prevent it, Charlie gripped his knees and pulled
them backwards, exposing his ass. The temptation to howl was
there, but it was going to be a human howl in pleasure, not a
wolf’s. Roman dipped two fingers into Charlie’s ass. “Holy— Roman, you sure know how to please a guy.” “Just wait. Check this out.” Roman held the base of Charlie’s
cock as he massaged his prostate gently.
The minute Charlie felt both deep penetration and strong, hot
suction, he came. He gasped loudly and rocked against the
powerful orgasm, arching his back, throwing his head into the
pillows. “Sweet mother of God!” Charlie had never felt anything
like it in his life. He wasn’t a Romeo or serial dater. He’d had his
flings back in high school and one or two one-night-stands with
the waitresses from the Other Side Tavern, but…
Roman kept sucking and massaging until Charlie thought he
was experiencing multiple climaxes. His dick kept pulsating with
each probe and draw of Roman’s mouth.
He was speechless, rolling his head from side to side in
disbelief. Roman moved on the bed, getting closer. He pushed
his cock inside Charlie and connected them.
Charlie glanced at the unopened box of condoms and then at
Roman. No way was Roman going to stop what he was doing,
and Charlie didn’t want him to.
Watching the pleasure on Roman’s face as their bodies united
as one, Charlie wasn’t so sure it mattered any longer. They’d had
unprotected sex already, didn’t they?
Once Roman had most of his cock inside Charlie’s ass, he
held Charlie’s knees and began thrusting. “So nice.”
“Much better with that gel.” Charlie relaxed and enjoyed the
sensation now that he was slippery and ready.
“I knew it would be.” Roman grunted and Charlie felt his
cock pulsate inside him. “I’m there.”
As Roman climaxed, Charlie stared at him. Roman’s beauty
astounded Charlie. Seeing him in orgasm was something Charlie
would never forget. Even after he leaves. Which he will do the
minute he figures out how to stop changing into animals. Melancholy filled Charlie at that prospect.
Another thrust inside and Roman pulled out, catching his
breath and recuperating. “We’re still men. That’s a good sign.” Having no idea what expectations to have in this relationship,
Charlie rolled off the bed to clean up. When he stood, he felt
Roman’s cum running down his inner thigh. “Should we be usin’
a rubber?” He headed to the bathroom, receiving no reply. Chapter 4

Roman placed the tube of gel on the nightstand and glanced at the sealed box of condoms. He heard the water running in the bathroom sink. The warmth of their coupling vanished to reality. Roman didn’t know what to think or do. Hadn’t they already ridden each other bareback?

He stood at the bathroom door watching Charlie dry his crotch and hands. They met gazes. “We can from now on if you want.”

Charlie put his hands on his hips. “What do I mean to you?” “The world.”
“So, when you get the knack of this change thing…you’re not

goin’ back to your job?”
“Get the knack? Did you just say that? You think all I need to
do is control it and I’ll be happy?”
Charlie blew out a breath of air which sounded like
frustration.
“I want to be rid of this fucking curse, not learn to control it.”
Roman used a washcloth to clean up.
“The minute you get cured of this bull crap, yer gone.” “Don’t start this shit. Please.”
Charlie pushed by him, leaving the room.
Roman finished cleaning up, he entered the living room and
stood naked, looking at the fire in the hearth. He poked at it with
a metal iron and sat on the floor, lost in thought.
He heard Charlie moving around and glanced over his
shoulder. He was fully dressed and putting on his cowboy hat
and coat.
“I got work to do.” Charlie left the cabin.
Roman opened his mouth to reply, but the door shut before he
could. He stood and dug through his belongings for his phone,
sitting back in front of the fire. He tapped in Phil’s number and
held it to his ear.
“Agent Dean.”
“Phil.”
“Roman. How are you?”
“Surviving.” He ran his hand over the hair on his leg. “We’ve been chasing down leads. Hang in there.” “About an hour ago I found a fresh ring of fire and that crazy
painted bitch appeared.”
“When? Where?”
Roman could hear the excitement in Phil’s voice. “An hour
ago, up in the same area near the reservoir. But…”
“I can get a unit up there—”
“Phil, listen to me.” Roman leaned back on the bottom of the
couch, his knees bent, scratching his balls. “She was a figment.
An image. I don’t even know if what I was seeing was real or
just my memory of the event.”
“Are you still changing?”
“I was a crow when I spotted the fire. Does that answer your
question?” Roman couldn’t hear the rain hitting the window any
longer and wondered if it had stopped. “Phil…”
“I’m sorry, Roman. Nick has a huge group working on this;
FBI, USP, local sheriff’s department…”
“Phil, Charlie is changing now too.”
“What?”
“Charlie. He’s changing into a wolf now as well.” “Please don’t tell me this is viral. Do I have to quarantine the
ranch, Roman?”
Roman felt the breath catch in his throat. “Viral?” “Roman, we need to contain this.”
“It can’t be. Are you out of your mind?”
“Then how did it spread to Charlie?”
“I bit him.” Roman’s guilt was great at the deed.
“You bit him?”
“Yes. I was a wolf at the time and…” Roman rubbed his
forehead. “I assume my bite did it.”
“So now it’s like rabies? Roman, we need to get you to a
hospital and do some testing. I can’t knowingly let you infect
people.”
Roman sat up. “Hang on, Phil. I am not going to go to a
hospital. Are you kidding me? I have to stay here. This is where
those morons that cursed me are. What leads have you gotten?” “The local sheriff’s department has a list of all the cults in the
area. We’re in the process of going door to door, interviewing,
and issuing search warrants.”
“Right. So you think my red-woman is living in an apartment
and going to a day job. Are you just trying to piss me off?” As
his temper flared he felt pain in his gut.
“What do you suggest?”
“Get that helicopter in the air every day. Look for them
lighting a ritual fire near the reservoir.” Roman gripped his
stomach as it began to churn. He gasped air and tried to calm
down.
“I’ll ask Nick if he can do that. You want us back to search
the ranch today, Roman?”
The phone dropped from his hand and he doubled over. “Roman?”
On all fours, Roman shook out his fur and looked at the
phone.
“Oh, shit. Roman, did you just change into something?” Roman poked his nose at the phone, sniffing it.
“Damn it!” Phil said. “Fine. The weather is shit at the
moment. Can you hear me?”
Roman made a yip noise.
“The minute it clears, I’ll see if Nick will agree to getting the
copter in the sky. But you do need to get to the hospital…You
still there?”
The idea of being poked and prodded with needles, changing
into a wolf or crow in front of a medical staff, being quarantined,
or worse, was not going to happen.
“Roman?”
Roman pushed his paw against the key pad, trying to
disconnect the call. The last thing he wanted was to be held up
for inspection as a freak and taken away from the search. He
trotted to the front door and sniffed the base. It was raining out
but the intensity of the storm had passed. Roman sat on his
haunches and knew he never should have mentioned Charlie
turning into a wolf.
What if everyone in the ranch changes? Could that happen?
Is this a virus that can be passed on? A pandemic?
No. It’s a curse. And Charlie got it because I bit him. Note to self. No more biting.
~ Charlie looked for Vernon. The sky had lightened up and
only drizzle fell from the clouds. He stood on the front porch of
the ranch house, taking in the withering baskets of flowers
Connie tended all summer, the swinging bench seat, the view of
the hills and forest across the front of the property. It was going
to be a long winter. When the snow came, they would set up
tours with skiing and snowshoeing. But the rain between seasons
did not help business.
He wiped his boots on the welcome mat and opened the front
door. Harley was on him instantly, barking and snarling. Goat, from his spot on the sofa with JP, yelled, “Shut up,
Harley.”
Charlie used the toe of his boot to nudge the dog outside,
closing the door. “He used to like me.” He put his coat and hat
on the rack by the door. “Where’s Vernon at?”
“I think he’s in his office.”
“Where’s Butch?”
“Takin’ a nap in the cabin. He’ll be here soon.”
“You all right, JP?” Charlie thought he was being strangely
quiet.
“Just trying to keep away from you. I don’t want what you
and Roman have.”
Goat sat up with a start. “You can get it?”
Charlie narrowed his eyes at JP. “Stop talkin’ shit.” “Hi, Charlie.” Suzie poked her head out of the kitchen.
“Where’s Roman?”
“Back at the cabin. I need talk to Vernon, all right?” “Did Sherlane and I get the right stuff for you and Roman?” Charlie glanced at JP and Goat for their reaction and felt the
blush come to his cheeks. “Yeah. Fine.” He took out his wallet
and handed her a twenty. “This cover it?”
“That’ll do, Charlie.”
“What stuff?” Goat asked.
“How much was it? Was it more?” Charlie handed her
another ten.
“What stuff did she get you?” Goat asked again and received
a sharp elbow in the side from JP, who had obviously figured it
out.
“Just the twenty. It was only a bit over that, but don’t worry.” “You don’t need to be paying for our needs. Next time give
me the receipt so I know exactly. Okay?”
“Sure, Charlie.”
He gave the two men a quick look and walked down the hall.
Pressing his ear to the door, he said, “Boss?”
“Come on in, Charlie.”
Vernon was seated at his desk, tapping keys on the computer. “That ride this afternoon on or off?”
“Off. They cancelled.”
“Sorry, boss. Did they reschedule?”
“No. They were only going to be in town one day.” Vernon
pivoted in his chair to face Charlie, resting his elbows on the
desk. “Any progress on the ‘situation’?”
Charlie sat down across from him. “I don’t know what the
authorities are up to.” He felt terrible to be imposing on
Vernon’s business. “I’m sorry I didn’t get up on time this
morning.”
“How long is this going to go on, Charlie?”
“I don’t know.”
Vernon appeared conflicted.
“You said a day ago, I was like a son to you.”
“I did.”
“I’m askin’ you like a son to his father. Stand by me, Vernon.
If you make me leave this job, this home I got in the cabin, I am
goin’ to be lost.”
“I understand that, Charlie. But what if a client sees you or
Roman as a wolf? What do I do then?”
“Can’t you say we’re tame? That we were brought up from
pups?”
Vernon smiled as if it was ironic and shook his head. “Are
you? I’ve seen Roman look awful threatening, Charlie.” “I didn’t say they could pet and cuddle us. Just not be afraid,
that’s all.”
Vernon rubbed his face and looked as tired as Charlie felt.
This curse was draining everyone. “Connie said she pointed a
shotgun at you this morning.”
The knot of fear made Charlie’s gut tighten. He inhaled a few
times to calm down. Now would not be a good time to change.
“I’m sorry.”
“You turned into a wolf in the house with my daughters.” “It won’t happen again.”
“No? You can guarantee that?”
Charlie couldn’t look Vernon in the eye. “The girls will be
back at college soon, won’t they?”
“They’ll go back Monday after Thanksgiving weekend, but
they’ll be on break in December and home for four weeks. You
and your friend better not still be dealing with this mess then.” “No. We won’t. I promise it can’t go on for that long.”
Charlie felt a catch in his throat. “Forgive me, Vernon. I never
meant no harm to come to you or your family.”
“I know, son. But I’m not sure I’m prepared to deal with this
issue long term.”
“Where will I go? This problem is based up near the reservoir
where we’ve been gettin’ those animal sacrifices. I have to be
here to get undone.”
“I’m trying to be patient, Charlie. You know I am.” Agonizing pain hit Charlie in the mid-section. He held his
stomach and doubled over. “No. Oh no.”
“What is it, Charlie?” Vernon walked around the desk to
comfort him.
“I have to calm down. Otherwise…” Charlie stumbled to his
feet. “Let me leave. Let me leave here now.” He staggered into
the hall, trying to make it to the front door.
“You all right, Charlie?” JP asked.
“No.” Charlie opened the door and Harley was there,
snapping and barking at him.
Charlie fell to his knees and couldn’t hold back anymore.
While the Jack Russell nipped at him, Charlie writhed in agony
on the front porch.
The household was roused immediately, crouching around
him to give comfort, and recoiling and gasping as he stood on all
fours and shook out his fur. He nipped back at Harley to shut
him up, then headed for his own cabin. With the dog at his heels,
Charlie hopped up on the door of his cabin, clawing to get in. It opened and Roman stood back, allowing Charlie inside,
while stopping the little dog with his leg. “Get lost, Harley!” Charlie raced around the living room in panic.
“Calm down.” Roman tried to coral him. “What did it? I just
finished my bout. This is ridiculous!” Roman turned his face to
the ceiling and screamed, “Leave us alone! Jesus Christ!
Enough!”
Charlie blinked his long lashes and sat on his hind legs. He
kept shaking out his coat, trying to change back. He watched
Roman double over as if pain was hitting him. The strong
emotions did it every time. And controlling anger, fear, desire,
and humiliation was the hardest thing either of them had to do. They were obviously lousy at it.
Roman dropped to his knees and gasped for deep breaths.
Charlie closed the gap between them, sniffing at him, licking his
chin.
“I’m okay. I’m not allowing it…” Roman cringed, showing
his teeth as he battled.
Charlie lay down, his head on his front paws. It was
exhausting them. The constant changing was making any outside
battles impossible. The curse was perfect in its making. Seeing Roman regaining his composure, sitting, wearing
sweatpants and a t-shirt, limp against the bottom of the sofa,
Charlie melted inside. He scooted closer and put his head on
Roman’s lap. Roman caressed his head and ears gently. “Change back, lover. Change back.”
Charlie closed his eyes and forced himself to try, the fear of
losing his home and job was strong.
Roman curled Charlie up in his arms, burrowing his face into
Charlie’s fur. Charlie’s ears twitched trying to hear if Roman
was crying. He wasn’t, but there was no doubt Roman was an
emotional wreck.
As he grew angry at Roman’s anguish, the pain began in the
same spot. His gut.
Charlie rolled to his back and his legs went stiff as he rode
the wave. His canine grunts morphed into a human voice. “Ouch, that sucks so bad!” Charlie caught his breath and
rested his head on Roman’s lap. “Son-of-a-bitch, that takes
everythin’ out of me.”
“I think that’s the plan.” Roman caressed his face. “It kills us
slowly.”
“Don’t even say that.”
“What happened at the ranch house?”
“I was just discussin’ this nightmare with Vernon. He ain’t
goin’ to tolerate it for much longer. And do I blame him? Jesus
H. Christ, Roman. I’m surprised he hasn’t turned us both in to
the animal services.”
“So? How long have we got?”
“I don’t know. That’s what terrified me. Him kickin’ us to the
curb when we both can’t function as humans.”
“Is he that heartless?”
“He’s a practical man. He keeps worryin’ about his business
and his family. Can you really blame him?”
“I do and don’t. I mean, I would never kick a man that’s
down. But that’s just me.”
Charlie sighed and looked at himself. “I left all my damn
clothin’ there again.”
“You don’t have to tell me. I’m beginning to think I should
just become a nudist.”
“How we goin’ to figure this out, Roman?”
“I spoke to Phil. I begged him to keep the copter available for
daily searches. The cult performs their rituals by the reservoir.
We just have to get the timing right.”
“We should camp out up there.”
“We should.”
“I’d do it tonight, but the storms made everythin’ a muddy
mess.”
“Did Vernon see what you did to his trail with your truck?” Charlie cringed. “No idea. Didn’t ask.”
“Why didn’t you take a horse up?”
“Sure, Roman. Sure.” Charlie stared at the fire which was
keeping him warm at the moment.
“We’re going to be homeless soon, right?”
“I believe so.”
“Why don’t you talk to Suzie? Beg her to beg her father to
give us a week.”
“A week.” Charlie felt as if he could doze off. “I never been
so exhausted in my life.”
“I know, babe.” Roman ran his hand over Charlie’s hair and
neck. “I’m so sorry.”
Chapter 5

Roman began to feel guilty, and with that emotion brought on the symptoms of transforming again. He battled it back once more and stared at the flames, trying to clear his mind of any strong feelings. The worse their situation became, the harder it was not to be angry, frustrated, and rid the power of the curse.

Just as Charlie began to doze on his lap, Roman heard a knock at the door.
“Charlie? You in there? I have your clothing.”
Roman rubbed Charlie’s shoulder. “Why don’t you go get to bed?”
“Hmm?” Charlie came around slowly.
“Suzie is here. She has your clothing.”
“Oh.” Charlie looked down at his nakedness.
“Go wait in the bedroom.” Roman got to his feet and hauled Charlie up. He spanked Charlie on the ass as he went.
Once Charlie was hidden from Suzie’s view, Roman opened the door. He spotted Suzie walking the path to the ranch house. “Hey.”
She spun around. “Oh. Roman. Charlie changed into a wolf and left his clothing.”
“He’s here now. He’s human again.” She handed him the folded pile, his boots, hat, and coat. “How’s Vernon taking it?”
“Not well, Roman.”
He stepped back and allowed her in, placing the clothing on the couch. “Suzie, you have to convince your dad to let us stay here.”
Seeing her attention lock onto something behind him, Roman glanced over his shoulder. Charlie was wearing a pair of old faded blue jeans and a red plaid flannel shirt. He didn’t look twenty-five, he appeared weary and spent.
“Sherlane and I are going back to college Monday, Charlie. I have no idea if Dad is going to kick you out after that. We tried to convince him you need him.”
Scuffing his bare feet as he walked, Charlie dropped down on the sofa and stared at the fire in the hearth.
Roman took a deep breath and blew out a loud exhale. “If he kicks us out, we’ll be naked in the freezing cold.”
“I know.” Suzie sat beside Charlie. “We pleaded with him.” Charlie nodded, eyes blank and staring at the flames. “Even Butch argued with him, Charlie. He’s on your side.” Roman bristled but caught himself before jealousy took hold.
“Are you two going to be able to have lunch with us? Mom made barbequed pulled pork and baked beans.”
“I can’t imagine bein’ welcome there no more.” Charlie slouched, straddling his legs.
“You are. As long as Sherlane and I have anything to say about it, you are.” She looked back at Roman with sad blue eyes.
“We need to spend time near the reservoir. That’s where we’re going to find the idiots who did this.” Roman stood near the couch.
“The weather report says it’s supposed to change over to snow overnight. Our first snowstorm of the year.”
“Great.” Roman ran his hand through his hair.
“Dad’s hoping for a good dumping. He said snow will increase the business and the cold temps will help freeze up all the mud on the trails.”
“True.” Roman wished he could read Charlie’s mind. Nothing was there when he tried. Suzie’s thoughts were a mixture of her anxiety over the two of them, and her imminent return to school.
“Well, the food is going to be ready if you want it. I can bring you two plates down if you’d like.”
“We’ll be there in a little while. Thank you, Suzie.” Roman walked her to the door.
“Is Charlie going to be all right?” She bit her lip.
Roman peered back at him. He was still staring at the fire. “I hope so. This problem isn’t good for any of us.”
“I know. Dad is worried more of us will change into wolves. We won’t, right, Roman?”
Phil’s fear of this curse being viral echoed in Roman’s head. But until they knew how it was exchanged, there was no need to panic everyone. “Right. Don’t worry.”
“How did Charlie get it?”
“I bit him.”
“You did? During lovemaking?”
“Uh, no.” Roman spotted Charlie perk up as he heard the conversation. “Go on up to the house. We’ll be there shortly.”
Charlie asked, “Has anyone called to make plans for trail rides today?”
“No, Charlie. They all cancelled due to the weather. So nothing going on at all.” She added, “Sherlane and I are getting cabin fever. You think you guys can stay men long enough to join us at the tavern?”
“Go with Butch,” Charlie replied, “He needs the company of women.”
“Oh? Why? Is he bi-curious now too?”
Roman snarled in reaction, but immediately caught himself and stopped.
“Yeah. See if one of them waitresses will help him out. Okay?”
Suzie laughed uncomfortably. “No! Not okay. You silly.” She smiled at Roman. “Make him come eat something.”
“I will. Just tell everyone to talk about the weather when we get there, okay?”
“Oh! Right.” She nodded and walked towards the house.
Roman closed the door. “We need to eat.”
“It’s all we do. Eat, sleep and have sex.”
“Welcome to the world of animals.”
“Animals don’t need a paycheck and a cabin. Not to mention, a truck, insurance…”
“Okay. Don’t get upset or you’ll change on me.”
“I can’t face them. I can’t see Vernon now. Not after I just turned into a wolf again.”
“Sweetheart.” Roman sat next to him, rubbing his thigh. “Please. If I don’t act like a normal man, I’ll go insane.”
At the touch, Charlie met his eyes. The carnal lust appeared instantly in them. Before Roman could think, Charlie lunged at him, toppling him back to the sofa, lips locked together.
The attack was so sudden, Roman slid off the cushions to the rug in front of the fireplace. Charlie yanked Roman’s t-shirt up on his chest while licking and sucking at his mouth.
Roman released himself to Charlie’s dominance, closing his eyes and holding him by the shoulders. As if Charlie’s appetite were beyond control, he dug his hands into Roman’s hair, then cupped Roman’s chest in both hands before moving lower, wriggling his fingers into Roman’s sweatpants.
The heat from the fireplace added to what was becoming a sexual inferno. As Roman squirmed under him, Charlie yanked Roman’s clothing to his knees. Charlie parted from Roman’s mouth to sniff and lick his way downwards.
Roman gasped for air, shivering as Charlie chewed his way to his cock. Before Charlie sucked it, he rubbed his face into Roman’s groin, inhaling and moaning.
“Don’t you turn on me.” Roman swallowed down a dry throat.
“No way.” Charlie forced Roman’s knees apart and burrowed in between his thighs.
“Holy fuck.” Roman shivered and clawed at the rug and wooden floor underneath him. Feeling the coarseness of Charlie’s shadow scratching the sensitive skin around the base of his cock and balls, Roman’s dick throbbed and he grew eager for release.
Charlie bent Roman in two and ran long wet licks over his rim to his testicles. “Jesus, Charlie!” The chills raced up Roman’s spine. While Charlie darted his tongue in and out of Roman’s hole, he squeezed Roman’s cock at the same time as it throbbed.
There was no way to edge the climax. Roman came, shooting ribbons of cum over his stomach and chest. Charlie went crazy, licking Roman’s ass as his body gave up his seed.
Kneeling upright, Charlie wiped his mouth with the back of his arm and used his fingers to scoop up the cum.
“Get the lube.” Roman panted, his chest heaving.
Charlie ignored him, coating Roman’s ass with his semen.
“Charlie…”
With a heave of his powerful upper body, Charlie drew Roman towards him, impaling him with his dick.
Roman hissed and withstood the penetration. “Fuck! Charlie, get the lube!”
A low growl came from Charlie as he thrust inside Roman.
Roman caught the glow coming from Charlie’s eyes, like cat’s eyes in headlights. Charlie showed his teeth and threw back his head as he came.
The mixture of excitement and fury ignited the change. Roman held his stomach as it began to stir inside him. As he writhed, Charlie’s human grunts turned to canine snarls.
The minute Roman opened his eyes, he had a timber wolf standing over him, paws on his chest. Roman snapped his teeth at Charlie and shook out his fur beside him.
“What the hell are you doing to us, Charlie? Making us change?”
“Fuck you!”
“I asked you to use lube!”
“How did you like it? Huh, Roman? Ain’t payback a bitch?”
The fur rose on Roman’s back as he circled Charlie in the small space of the living room. “Payback? For real?”
“I hear it’s a bitch. Or in this case, a male wolf.”
“This isn’t like you.”
“Did you really say that? This isn’t like me? You don’t even know me, do you? How many brothers and sisters do I have? What’s my favorite color?”
“Have you gone crazy?”
“I’d be better off with Butch. You know that? He knows me. And he ain’t fixin’ to leave me.”
“You selfish asshole! That’s what you’re concerned about?” Roman snapped his teeth at him. “Don’t you think we have bigger problems at the moment?”
“You think you’re the only one with problems? If I head up to the ranch house and change again, into this!” Charlie exposed his large menacing canine teeth. “How much more of this can Vernon take? You heard Suzie. I’m done thanks to you.”
Roman charged at him and pinned Charlie to the floor. Charlie growled and snapped his jaws at him. “Calm the fuck down.”
“Don’t tell me to do nuthin! I like bein’ a wolf, you know that? ‘Cause I can kill you.”
“Kill me? Now you want to kill me?” Roman sat down and released Charlie. “Go ahead. Kill me.”
As Roman let go of Charlie, he began to release his emotions. He toppled to his side and withstood the change, the pain. When he blinked, Charlie was a man again, curled in a ball, sobbing into his hands.
Roman crawled beside him and drew him into his lap. “I’m sorry. I am so fucking sorry.”
Charlie rocked as he cried.
“I’d give anything to be able to cry like that.” Roman squeezed him tight. “Let it out, babe. Let it out.”
Chapter 6

Charlie never cried.
Maybe once. When his granny died.
Roman was right. This was no way to live. Not fun. Not

healthy. Not natural.
“I’m sorry I’m cryin’ like a baby, Roman.”
“It’s okay. I’m surprised you haven’t killed me for doing this

to you.” Roman kissed his forehead, rocking him in his arms. “You didn’t ‘do it’ to me. You never would harm me.” “You got that right. I’m sick to my stomach you’re dealing

with this now as well. It sucks!” Roman’s muscles tightened. “Stop. Goddamn it, stop. You’ll be fur or feathers if you
don’t. And I had enough for one day.” Charlie sat up, wiping his
face. “What did you say your agent friend Phil was doin’ to help
us?”
“Fuck if I know.” Roman rested his back on the sofa. “That
fire needs more wood.” He knelt up and threw another log on it.
“Where do you guys store it?”
“Out back. Under a tarp.”
When Roman made as if he were getting up, Charlie grabbed
him. “Don’t get it now.”
Roman slumped back onto the floor tiredly. “What are we
going to do, Charlie? What if this is it?”
Charlie lay flat on his back with his head on Roman’s lap. “It
can’t be it. We can’t do this for long. Lord help me, it’s been two
days and I’m exhausted.”
“The change takes so much effort. I can’t deal with that
horrible twisting sensation in my gut.”
“I know. It’s tough to keep your mind off the shit that pisses
ya off. So hard.”
“It is.” Roman caressed Charlie’s cheek and neck. “So…
How many brothers and sisters do you have?”
Charlie stared at him. “Five.”
“Five?”
“Yeah. Three sisters, two brothers.”
“Holy shit. Are you the oldest or youngest?”
“Neither. I got one younger brother and one younger sister,
and two older sisters, one older brother.”
“How do you keep track?”
“Don’t know.”
“What’s your favorite color?”
“You don’t have to ask me that just because I got mad at ya.” “I want to know.”
“Denim blue.”
“Of course.” Roman smiled.
“What about you?”
“Blue. Sky blue. Like your eyes.”
“You’re gettin’ all romantic on me.”
“Yeah. About that. Use lube, wolf-dude.”
“Sorry. But well, payback is a bitch.”
“Shut the fuck up.” Roman tried to stay calm. “You seriously
suck.”
“I do. That’s true. I couldn’t live with me.”
Roman got quiet and they both stared at the flames as the new
log became engulfed. “You really like Butch?”
“As a friend. I don’t want to make love to him.”
“Why not? He’s adorable.”
“He’s nineteen and you don’t know how screwed up that boy
really is.”
“Oh?”
“He cut up a deer carcass just to make everyone think the
sacrifice killin’s were still goin’ on, and he attacked me with that
same knife. No thank you. That boy’s got a temper.” They fell into silence again.
Finally Charlie said, “Pulled pork and baked beans is starting
to sound real good, Roman.”
“I know. I’m constantly hungry.”
“Shall we try?”
“Why not? Let’s just keep our heads, okay?”
“I have to. Vernon will not take much more.” Charlie stood,
reaching out to haul Roman to his feet. They washed up and got
dressed. “It’s goin’ to suck when the girls go back to college.”
Charlie tucked his shirt in. “They’re keepin’ Connie and Vernon
sweet. You know?”
“I know. I think you have to try and do your job, Charlie.”
Roman sat on the bed to put his socks on. “Just try and keep
things normal.”
“My horse won’t let me near him.”
“You have to work on that. Maybe coat yourself in cologne.” “That won’t fool him.”
“It may.”
Charlie put on his hat and coat. “I really hope I don’t leave
this stuff in a pile by the door again. I never thought I’d be
runnin’ around in the buff.”
“Keep the mind even.” Roman tapped his own head. “Don’t
get upset.”
“Or angry, or jealous, or…”
“Eh!” Roman wagged his finger at Charlie. “Or anything.
Let’s just enjoy lunch. Okay?”
“That’s the plan.”
Roman put on the old coat Charlie had lent him. “Man, do I
miss my clothing.”
“I’ll bet.” Charlie opened the front door, stepping out. “I can
see you in dress slacks all duded up.”
“Love getting decked out for a night in Reno. Can’t wait to
take you to my favorite restaurants.”
“Is that a fact?” Charlie laughed softly, walking the path to
the ranch house. “Got a trip planned out for me?”
“No. I got a life planned out for you.” Roman smiled wryly at
Charlie, making him blush.
“So you do want me around? For a while?”
“Hell yeah. A long while.”
“I need to know things like that, Roman. For my sanity.” “I know, babe. I just can’t think straight right now.” The moment they opened the door, Harley went crazy,
barking at them.
“Dog! Get outta here.” Charlie nudged him outside with his
boot again, locking him out. They entered the kitchen and
everyone stopped eating.
Suzie broke the silence and stood. “Sit down, guys. Let me
get you helpings.”
Sherlane hopped up as well. “What would you like to drink,
boys?”
Charlie didn’t take off his hat and coat, waiting for Vernon
and Connie to say they were welcome. “Vernon? Is it okay if we
join you?”
“Of course it is!” Suzie replied quickly.
“Boss?” Charlie asked again.
“Have a seat. Just don’t change into something scary. Is that
fair?”
“You know how hard we try.” Charlie took off his coat and
hat, reaching to take Roman’s as he removed it.
“Thanks, Vernon. I know this is taxing your good will.”
Roman sat down at the end of the long table opposite Vernon
who was at the head.
Charlie hung up the coats and his hat on the rack by the door,
hearing Harley still barking outside. He shook his head and
returned to the kitchen. The girls had two full plates for them and
had poured coffee into mugs.
Charlie sat between Roman and JP. “Thank you, ladies.” “Eat up. There’s plenty more.”
Goat asked, “Can I get seconds?”
“Of course, Hal.” Suzie took his plate.
Butch ate a bite of his food, then asked, “What you boys been
up to? Or should I not ask.”
After he tore off a chunk of bread, Charlie said, “Just you
mind your own business.”
“Any leads, Charlie?” Sherlane asked as Suzie placed more
food in front of Goat and sat down.
“No. Don’t let’s not talk about it. Me and Roman got to keep
calm or there’ll be trouble.”
“Sorry.”
Charlie tried to eat slowly but he felt the urge to do what
Roman was doing—gobbling his food down quickly. He had a
habit of eating fast as it was, but the wolf in him was nearly
forcing him to bite and swallow without chewing.
“We’re expecting snow overnight,” Connie said.
Charlie could see she was trying not to stare at Roman as he
devoured his food.
“Slow down, buddy.” Charlie rubbed his thigh.
Roman looked up, eyes wide. “Am I eating too fast? Sorry.”
He straightened his back and set his fork down.
Sherlane said, “You do as you like. Don’t worry, Roman. No
one minds.”
“I’m just really hungry.”
“And not an ounce of fat on you.” Suzie smiled.
“Some guys just have good genes,” Goat said.
“Yeah. He looks good in jeans.” Sherlane giggled. “All right,” Butch said, “Cut it out.”
Charlie smiled at him. He knew Butch was jealous of any
attention the girls gave anyone else. “Don’t worry, Butch. All
them girls can do is look.”
Roman chuckled as he ate, giving Charlie a mischievous grin. “Unfair.” Sherlane laughed.
“Uh hum?” Vernon scowled. “Not during our meal,
Sherlane.”
“Sorry, Dad.”
“What needs tendin’ this afternoon, Vernon?” Charlie asked. “You boys need to get some gravel and fix that muddy mess
Charlie made with his truck.”
“She-it.” Charlie looked up and found Connie’s disapproval.
“Uh. Sorry for cussin’. Yeah. I’ll fix that, boss.”
“Do it before the ground freezes, otherwise we’ll have ruts.” “Right.” Charlie looked at JP and Goat. “Okay if you boys go
get the gravel?”
JP replied, “We’d better. No one wants a wolf in the truck
with them.”
Goat nearly finished his second plate of food. “So, how did
you get it, Charlie?”
Charlie glanced at Roman. “Next subject, please.” Butch said, “He got it from laying with Roman while he was
a wolf. Right?”
“Not now, Butch.” Charlie grabbed Roman’s leg under the
table. “Still calm, partner?”
“Yes. I’m not going to let them get to me.” He sat up. “Did
you say I can have more?”
Sherlane smiled and took his plate. “Coming right up.” “We should take Roman with us to the state fair.” Suzie
buttered a piece of bread. “You’d win top dog at the eating
competitions.”
“I’d win top dog at Westminster too.”
When Connie started laughing, everyone turned to her in
surprise.
She said, “I thought that was very funny.”
Roman winked at her.
Charlie blew out a sigh as he tried to keep calm. Sherlane
gave Roman more food and sat down again.
As they all began talking about the weather and noncontroversial things, Charlie actually felt slightly normal. If they
never got angry or upset, was that the key? And was that even
possible?
~
Roman was muddy up to his knees. Wearing ill-fitting
borrowed clothing was uncomfortable. Since he was still human,
he helped the men fill the deep ruts Charlie’s truck had created
when Charlie searched for him earlier that day.
The good thing about the work was the fact that it cleared his
mind. For two hours, he threw shovel loads of gravel into holes.
He had always been fit, but lately with the unusual
circumstances, he was exhausted.
Straightening his back for a minute, adjusting his gloves,
Roman looked out into the distance at the setting sun.
Thanksgiving weekend was upon them and he missed his family. At least his mother knew he was alive. That had to be better
than going missing without word of where he was.
“You all right, Roman?” Charlie paused in his shoveling.
When he did the other three men stopped and looked at Roman. “Yes. I’m fine.”
“Not going wolf are you?” Butch asked, wiping his forehead
with the back of his glove. As he did his cowboy hat was tilted
upwards, and he smeared mud on his face.
Roman shook his head and approached him. “You just wiped
dirt all over yourself.”
Butch leaned away from Roman’s attempt to clean it. “If you
touch me, will I change into something?”
Roman’s expression dropped. But he didn’t know. Was that
it? He was ‘Midas’ with the wolven touch? He retracted his
hand.
JP asked, “Roman? Is that true? Is it contagious?” “Come on, fellas.” Charlie threw another shovel loaded with
gravel on the mud. “Let’s get this done so we can shower and
relax. All right?”
Fighting an unsettled sensation in his gut, which began with
emotion and ended in agonizing pain and four paws or wings,
Roman continued working.
Butch took out a bandana and wiped his face. “You boys
need to know that answer. I do not want what you have. Do we
even know if breathing the air near you, or close contact will do
it?”
Goat dropped his shovel and backed up.
Charlie exhaled loudly, blowing a puff of warm breath into
the icy air. “Don’t even start rumors like that. Come on. We’re
almost done. You can’t get it from bein’ near us. You all would
have it by now. We’ve been sittin’ and eatin’ with you all.” “I don’t want it, Charlie.” Goat shook his head, using his coat
collar to cover his mouth. “I don’t even want to take a chance.” Roman speared his shovel into the dirt and glared at Goat.
“Why don’t you let us finish then, Goat? Okay? If you’re so
afraid of ‘catching’ this shit, get lost.”
“Roman. Calm your ass down.” Charlie spread more of the
gravel. “We need to just finish this job. Okay? No one’s getting’
anythin’.”
Battling the uneasiness in his stomach, Roman continued to
work, knowing he was pushing himself close to changing. What
if this was contagious? In reality, he didn’t know how Charlie
got it. He assumed it was his bite. Charlie didn’t change into a
crow. If Roman had pecked him while he was one, drawing
blood, would he?
The internal voices of the three men began to fill Roman’s
head. The overlapping noise made it nearly impossible to
concentrate. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to
continue remaining calm.
But a deep rooted fear of creating an entire pack of shape
shifters was terrorizing him. Phil had said it as well.
Containment. Diagnosis. Tests.
Roman knew it wouldn’t take long for Phil to express his
concerns to Nick and their superiors. It was only a matter of time
before the ATF or Feds returned, carting them off in bio-hazard
suits or taping the entire ranch off under quarantine.
But was that reality? Should he and Charlie turn themselves
over to a medical staff?
He gazed at Charlie as he worked. Beautiful Cowboy Charlie
with the perfect ten body and pretty blue eyes.
As if Charlie felt the stare, he looked up from his shoveling. The attraction was strong between them. Roman wondered if
he had met Charlie before he became a wolf and crow, if he
would still feel this way.
Yes.
Charlie was everything he wanted in a partner. Looks, smarts,
kindness, courage…and he wanted a man in his bed. Not a wolf. Butch said, “You two look like you’re about to do
something.”
JP and Goat perked up, pausing in their shoveling. “Do what? Turn into wolves?” Goat backed up.
“No. Kiss.” Butch gazed from Roman to Charlie. Roman heard Butch’s thoughts at that moment, loud and
clear. What’s it like to kiss a man?
“Come on, we’re just about done.” Charlie took another load
of gravel off the dwindling pile. “Picture a hot shower and
dinner.”
“We still have to make sure the ponies are good for the night.
They’ve been in the barn since the storm.” JP rested on his
shovel handle.
Charlie checked his watch. “Let’s let ‘em out for a few hours
before nightfall.” Charlie used the shovel to flatten a pile of
gravel. “We’re done here. This is good enough.”
JP and Goat stomped on the gravel to even out the mounds,
while Charlie collected the shovels.
Roman followed Charlie to the barn with Butch. The minute
he and Charlie entered the building, the horses became vocal. Butch took off his hat to rub his head under it. “Charlie,
you’re useless now.”
“You just hush up. Open up the stall doors when Roman and I
get to the end of the barn. Can you do that?”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to scare them into the open
field.”
“You got it. So how useless am I now? I’m better than Harley
at herding.”
Roman chuckled under his breath, walking down the middle
of the huge stable as the horses either showed the whites of their
eyes or backed up into the stalls with a bang.
Butch called out to the other two men, “Get ready for a
stampede.”
Roman waited at the far end of the room with Charlie. He
noticed him staring at a chestnut horse with a white blaze on his
face. “That’s yours, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. That’s Spirit. Look at him, lookin’ at me like he can’t
stand me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t know if cologne will be enough. You think it’s our
scent or the sight of us?”
“Both.”
JP and Goat entered the stable. “What’s the plan, Charlie?”
JP asked.
“You boys open the stalls. Roman and I will just stand here.
Believe me. They already want out.”
Three at a time, the doors were unlocked. Before JP, Goat,
and Butch could react, each horse made a dash for the open barn
door.
Charlie and Roman walked slowly with the men as each
horse was released into the grassy fields.
Once the barn was vacant, they cleaned the stalls that needed
cleaning, refilling water and oat buckets.
Roman was dead on his feet. While working at the ATF, he
was mostly at a desk and phone, doing his routine at the gym, an
hour running, and that was it. Occasionally they’d have tactical
training to keep their skills sharp, but he couldn’t imagine this
type of physical work daily.
After two hours of shoveling and hosing down stalls, Roman
was craving a hot shower and a meal. The good news was,
neither he nor Charlie morphed into animals again.
When the sun began to set, Charlie tilted his head for Roman
to join him. “We’re done.”
“Thank fuck.” Roman’s muddy shoes were becoming cold as
the temperature dropped. Flurries began to fall. He and Charlie
brought a load of wood inside the cabin to feed the hearth. While Charlie lit a fire, Roman stripped and headed to the bathroom,
getting the water running in the shower.
He stood under the hot spray and groaned. Hearing Charlie
laugh, Roman pushed back the glass door and made a silly face
at him. “You’re used to this hard work. I’m not.”
“Aw…poor thing.” Charlie stepped in behind him, closing
the sliding door.
“Do you have to get the horses back in again tonight?” “It’s easier to round them up when you’re on horseback. I
can’t do it now.” Charlie took his turn under the water. Roman grabbed him from behind, pushing Charlie against the
tile. Charlie pressed his palms on the wall, spreading his legs, as
if he knew what Roman wanted and was just as eager. Jerking his cock to make it even harder, Roman used soap to
get slick. He didn’t wait for the water to rinse it away. Once he
was on target, he pushed inside Charlie, holding him around his
hips and onto his cock. Charlie groaned, and the sound was a
mix of human and canine.
Roman felt the urge to change competing with his desire to
climax. He fisted Charlie as he humped him, blowing out breaths
in loud huffs and rising quickly before the soap stopped working
as lube. With the thoughts in his head of Butch wanting to try
gay sex, wanting Charlie, Roman came. He gripped Charlie with
two hands and jammed his cock deeper inside him.
Charlie’s growl alerted Roman he’d better react now or else
he’d be fucking a wolf. He fisted Charlie quickly in both hands,
keeping his cock inside him but not screwing him any longer.
Charlie arched his back and his fingers curled, as if he were
clawing the shower wall.
The sensation of throbbing began inside Charlie. Roman felt
it with his cock. Soon Charlie grunted and pressed backwards
into Roman, his dick pulsating as he jammed it into Roman’s
hands.
Softening finally, Roman’s length retracted out of Charlie’s
body. He kept hold of Charlie’s genitals with his left hand,
touching Charlie’s chest and nipples with his right. “You are so
incredible.”
Another deep moan came from Charlie.
“You still with me?”
“Barely.”
Roman turned him around so they faced each other. He
cupped the back of Charlie’s head and drew him to his lips. “I love you, Roman,” Charlie whispered between their
mouths, resuming the passionate kissing.
Roman jolted in reaction, but continued to kiss Charlie as he
thought about it. Love? Did he love Charlie? He didn’t know. They parted lips and Roman stared into Charlie’s eyes. As if Charlie knew, he said, “I didn’t tell you to hear it back.” “I know. I feel very strongly for you, Charlie. Like never
before with anyone else.”
“Okay.” Charlie shut the water and opened the sliding door,
reaching for a towel.
“Charlie.” Roman figured if he didn’t immediately say it
back, Charlie would not take it well. He should have said it back. ~
He knew he shouldn’t be angry. For so many reasons, Charlie
could not get mad, or even be emotional. Why did he say
something that stupid to Roman?
A towel wrapped around his hips, he headed to the bedroom
for fresh clothing, furious with himself and beginning to battle
the pain from his bad decision. Pain that was indicating a change
was coming.
“No.” He stood still, closed his eyes and inhaled.
“Charlie.”
Charlie counted to ten in his head.
“Charlie, I do feel very strongly about you.”
“Don’t touch me.” Charlie flinched at a light caress on his
shoulder.
“Did you just tell me not to touch you?”
He was losing the battle. His emotions for this man were
growing too strong. And obviously Roman did not love him. “Babe…”
Charlie dropped to his knees in pain.
“No. Charlie, fight it! Fight it!” Roman took him into his
arms.
He wasn’t even sure he wanted to fight it anymore. It was too
hard. This was too hard. Charlie curled into a ball, releasing
himself to the agony of the transformation. He was physically exhausted from the long day, and mentally he was barely holding
it together.
He stood on all fours and shook out his fur.
Roman sat cross-legged on the floor, staring at him. “Great.” Charlie trotted out of the bedroom to the fireplace, sitting
down to stare at the flaming logs as they warmed the room. With
his thick fur already keeping him insulated, he began to pant, his
tongue hanging out of his mouth.
A ringtone sounded. Charlie knew it wasn’t his phone. His
ears twitched at the noise, very loud to his sensitive senses. Roman dug though his clothing and answered it. “Hello?” He
headed to the bedroom for privacy, which was silly because
Charlie could hear everything for miles. He just didn’t know if
he wanted to.
Charlie walked to the front door and put his paws on the
knob, making scratching noises.
Roman poked his head into the room and said, “I’m not
letting you out,” before stepping back inside the bedroom again. Charlie made a sound of disapproval, but it was dark outside
and he knew being naked and alone in the woods would
probably be a lousy idea. He curled up on the hearth rug to think
as Roman argued with Phil on the phone.
You don’t love me. Fine. I have no idea why I said it. I said it
because I love you. Why do I love you? I don’t know. You suck.
You made me a fuckin’ wolf and you don’t love me.
Roman opened the bedroom door so hard it slammed against
the wall. He was wearing one of Charlie’s jeans and a plaid
flannel shirt. Both were tight on him.
At the noise, Charlie started and got to his four feet, tilting his
head at him.
Roman threw up his hands. “You ready for this one? Phil said
the director demands they contain us. Contain us!”
His fur beginning to stand on his back from anxiety, Charlie
shifted his weight from leg to leg.
“Blood tests! Cages! No way. No way!” Roman tugged open
the front door. “I am not allowing that. They’ll have to fight me
to get me to a fucking lab!”
The minute Roman collapsed to his knees in pain, Charlie
closed the gap between them. As Roman writhed in agony on the
floor Charlie, stood by, poking him with his nose.
Roman shook off the clothing and his black fur gleamed in
the firelight. “We have to get out of here.”
“And go where? Are you crazy? What do we do in the snow
when we’re naked?”
“Charlie, I am not becoming someone’s lab rat.”
“Can’t we just say no?”
“Say no? No to the ATF? The FBI?”
“We still have rights, Roman.”
“You’re insane.” Roman stood in the doorway, sniffing the
cold air. Snow was beginning to cover the shrubs and tree
branches. “It looks so pretty you’d never guess it’s lethal.” Charlie stood beside him, smelling the mixture of wood
smoke and horses on the breeze. “It’d take us some doin’ to
prepare to camp in the woods. And we can’t do it like this.” “We could if we stayed like this.”
“How do you reckon we can do that? Come on, Roman. You
know how fickle this shit is.”
“Maybe we can get Butch to bring us food.”
“Hush up. You’re talkin’ crazy.” Charlie curled up by the
hearth again, his snout on his front paws. His trust in Roman had
taken a hit with the lack of an ‘I love you’ in return. The last
thing he wanted to do was be lost in the snowy darkness, naked
and freezing to death.
As Charlie grew sad he felt his gut churn. When he made a
noise of pain, Roman closed the door to the cabin with his nose
and sat beside him.
Charlie curled into the fetal position and began to morph.
“This sucks!” he yelled, startling Roman. He trembled in spasms
and got to his hands and knees. “Maybe we do need a doctor,
Roman. I can’t keep this up. It’s drainin’ the life out of me.” Roman kept shaking out his fur and Charlie knew he was
trying to change back.
Once he caught his breath from the pain of transforming,
Charlie sat on his heels and watched Roman. “You want to get
mad, Roman? I’ll make you mad. When you turn into a man,
why don’t you go? Why don’t you head up to the mountains alone? I’ll make sure you got food. Okay? Just get away from
me.”
Roman dropped to his side and showed his large canines as
the agony grew. Charlie dabbed at a tear in the corner of his eye
before Roman noticed.
Roman panted and moaned as he recuperated and then as if it
finally caught up to him, he covered his face and choked in what
sounded to Charlie like a sob.
Though he tried to behave as if he didn’t care, Charlie did. He
cared a lot. Spooning Roman from behind, he held him close as
the fire warmed their naked skin.
“I’m sorry, Charlie. I’m so sorry.”
Charlie squeezed Roman tight, resting his cheek on his hair.
He closed his eyes and they were both so exhausted, they fell
asleep.
Chapter 7

Roman woke to the grinding sound of a heavy truck diesel engine. He sat up with a start and shivered as the fire had died down. Charlie was asleep on the hearth rug near him.

He put on the pair of jeans and shoes that he shed by the door, then Charlie’s jacket. He opened the door and gasped in surprise. Nearly a foot of snow was wedged in front of it, and it was still falling in big chunky flakes against the dark night sky. “Holy shit.” Roman tried to step into the drift, pulling the coat close over his naked chest. He tilted his head to the sound, now recognizable—a plow off in the distance on the main road.

His paranoia of being raided and carted off was getting him angry. But he stopped that emotion before he turned into something.

Closing the door, he spun back to the room to see Charlie sitting up, rubbing his face. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s just a plow on the main road.” Roman hung Charlie’s jacket back on the rack. He knelt down and tossed logs onto the fire.
“There is a thermostat and a furnace.” Charlie pointed to the wall.
“Oh.” Roman walked over to it, turning the lever until he heard the blower kick in. “You okay?”
Charlie stood, steadying himself on the mantle. “What time is it?”
“No idea.”
“Did we miss dinner?”
“I don’t know. Want to call the ranch house?”
“Not if it’s one in the morning, I don’t.” Charlie walked to the bedroom, Roman assumed he was looking at the digital alarm clock. He stood at the doorway watching him.
“It’s only seven.”
“Does that mean we can eat?”
“Do you only think of food?” Charlie opened a dresser drawer, removing briefs.
“No.” Roman tackled Charlie to the bed.
“I’m mad at you. No sex.”
Roman ran kisses up Charlie’s neck and cheek. He slid his hand down Charlie’s torso to his crotch, cupping it.
“You do whatever you like, don’t you, Agent Burk?”
“I’ll stop if you really want me to.” Roman felt Charlie’s cock pulsate in his palm. He waited, but Charlie said nothing. “Babe? Do you want me to stop?”
“I don’t know what I want.”
Roman leaned on his elbows to be able to see Charlie’s face. “I do love you.”
“Sure ya do.”
“Honest. I’m just terrified of everything at the moment.”
Charlie’s expression softened. Roman thought his light blue eyes were hypnotic. “Do you still want me to stop?”
With one quick movement, Charlie was kneeling over Roman. Roman inched out of the tight pants he was wearing while Charlie reached to the nightstand for the lube.
Just as Charlie squeezed a dab on his fingers, one of their cell phones rang. Charlie said, “That’s mine.”
“You want to get it?”
“Not at the moment.” Charlie spread the gel on his stiff cock.
“Then come and get this.” Roman spread his thighs, bent his knees, and elevated his legs into the air. He focused on Charlie’s expression. He wasn’t smiling, or frowning. He just seemed preoccupied. Roman figured it was Charlie’s way of keeping his human form for their sexual act.
Charlie scooted closer, pushing the head of his cock inside Roman. He gripped Roman’s legs and began thrusting his hips. Roman inhaled a few times to relax, unwinding his tight muscles. He had a feeling Charlie may still have a chip on his shoulder about his faux pas earlier, even with the apology and explanation.
Roman held his own cock and gave it what it needed to climax as Charlie took care of himself. The tempo grew fierce as Charlie showed his teeth and gleamed with sweat. Just the sight of his cut muscular, hairless chest and tanned skin was enough to set Roman on fire. He came, milking his cock as it spattered cum all over his body.
Charlie choked on his grunting sound and deepened the penetration until he could not push in any further. He huffed for air and a drop of sweat rolled off his nose, hitting Roman’s stomach.
“Good one, Charlie?”
Charlie pulled out, climbed off the bed and left the room. Roman heard the sink running a minute later. He rolled off the mattress and stood at the threshold of the bathroom, watching Charlie clean up. “You’re still upset.”
“Nope.” Charlie brushed by him, putting his phone to his ear to check what call he missed.
Roman washed himself and caught his reflection in the mirror over the sink. He appeared rough, unshaven, and wild. More like a wolf every day. With both hands he leaned on the sink to calm down before he went into another painful spell.
“It was Suzie. She said Connie’s keeping our food warm if we want dinner.”
“I want dinner.”
Charlie pushed the buttons on his phone and walked back to the bedroom. “Suzie? Yeah. We’re comin’ up. Thanks, hun.”
Roman knew he was still in the doghouse, literally. He got dressed, trying to keep his temper and emotions in check so he could eat. He was perpetually hungry…and horny.
~
Charlie put his hat and coat on, standing near the door, waiting for Roman.
“It was a foot deep of snow, last I checked.”
“No.”
“Yes. Take a look.”
Charlie opened the door and stared at the drift which had blown against the front of the cabin. “Well, Vernon should be happy. His winter snow season has arrived.” Charlie kicked back the snow as he exited.
“Who shovels the path?” Roman closed the coat he was wearing, following Charlie to the ranch house.
“We do. Me and the boys.”
“Right. Of course.”
Charlie glanced over his shoulder in the blinding snow to see Roman huddled over against the wind. “City boy.”
“Yeah. What can you do?”
He stomped his feet on the front porch, trying to shake off the snow and heard Harley going crazy barking. “I can’t kick him out tonight.”
“Yes, you can.”
Charlie opened the door and gave the Jack Russell a tired shake of the head as he went into a barking fit and snapped at their heels. He hung up his coat and hat and met Sherlane who was coming out of the kitchen.
“I’ll lock him in Dad’s office,” she said, grabbing the dog’s collar.
“Thanks, Sherlane.” Charlie gave a shy wave to Vernon, who was reading the newspaper by the hearth fire. “You still okay, Vernon?”
“I appreciate you boys filling up the ruts. Just in time.”
“Good snow pack out there. You should do well with the snow trail riding.”
Suzie poked her head out of the kitchen. “It’s on the table, Charlie. You two help yourselves.”
“Thank you, Suzie.”
Roman sat at the table behind a plate loaded with steak and potatoes. “Has everyone else eaten?”
“Yes, they have, Roman. We were going to go knocking at your cabin door, but Butch said you may be…in the middle of something, or not even in there.”
“Good ole Butch.” Roman began gobbling his food.
Sherlane returned, washing her hands at the sink. “You fellas want a beer?”
“Sure.” Charlie buttered a roll. “Where’s Connie?”
“She’s watching TV in the den.” Sherlane set two bottle of beer on the table.
“Join us.” Roman gestured to the chairs across from him.
Suzie poured two cups of coffee, giving one to her sister, and sitting behind the other at the table.
“What are you two going to do now that it’s snowing?” Suzie warmed her hands on the mug. “Will the ones who cast this spell be harder to find?”
Roman shifted in his seat but Charlie knew he was going to try and keep calm. No one wanted wolves in their kitchen. “We may have a problem with my own men, Suzie,” Roman said.
“Uh oh. What kind of problem?” She glanced at Charlie and he could hear her concern in her thoughts.
“They think Charlie and I are health hazards.”
Sherlane blinked in surprise. “Does Dad know about this?”
“If they quarantine the ranch he will.” Roman devoured his food quickly.
“No.” Suzie shook her head. “Sherlane and I have to get back to school Monday.”
“I know.” Charlie sipped the beer from the bottle neck. “Don’t worry. Everything will be all right.”
“Will we get it eventually, Roman?” Sherlane didn’t look as terrified as Charlie thought she would be at the prospect. But no one else had gotten bit. That had to be the key.
While Roman spoke calming words to the two sisters, Charlie remembered the dream he had right before he changed. Roman was telling Agent Phil Dean and Agent Nick Hoffman about the events that led up to his transformation, and Charlie didn’t know if he was imagining it as it was being described or living it.
But right after that event, Roman bit him. From then on, he began changing.
“Charlie?”
He snapped out of his thoughts and focused on Sherlane. “Sorry. Did someone ask me something?”
Vernon entered the room, filling his mug with more coffee. “How’s the food, fellas?”
“Good.” Roman continued to eat heartily.
“Dad, Roman said—”
Charlie reached for Suzie to stop her from telling Vernon what Roman had discussed. The words cut short in her sentence.
“Roman said what?” Vernon stirred sugar and milk into his coffee.
“He said it’s going to be around two feet of snow before it stops.” Charlie sat up straighter in his chair.
“I heard the snowplows coming through.” Roman tore a roll in half and devoured it.
“They hit the main highway, but you boys have to do our property.”
“First thing tomorrow, boss.” Charlie caught Vernon watching Roman gobble down his food. He kicked Roman under the table, making Roman sit up and take notice.
“Am I doing it again?” Roman asked.
Suzie and Sherlane giggled.
“Sorry.” Roman blushed and ate slower.
Vernon left the room without a comment.
Charlie said softly, “He ain’t goin’ to take much more of this. When you girls leave, I reckon he’s gonna’ boot both our asses off the ranch.”
“I have a feeling no one is going to go anywhere once the agents can get here.” Roman held up his plate. “Is there more?”
“I’ll get you some. Charlie? Another helping?” Sherlane took Roman’s plate to the stove.
“I’m still working on this one.” Charlie took another bite of his steak.
Suzie leaned closer to whisper. “You don’t want Dad knowing about the quarantine?”
“No way.” Charlie shook his head adamantly. “And you girls would be smart to get out of here or you’ll not be going back to school on time.”
Suzie looked back at Sherlane and they exchanged worried glances. “I can’t go back early. I’ve got a flight to Boston booked, and with this snow…”
Roman slammed his fist on the table in frustration.
“You keep that up and you know what’ll happen.” Charlie nudged Roman’s beer closer. “Drink up and calm down.”
Sherlane brought the plate over to Roman, sitting again. “We can just go with the flow, Roman. This is too serious not to worry about you guys. I know once we get checked out, everyone will see we’re fine.”
“Are you?” Roman asked, “Or are you a carrier?”
“A carrier?” Suzie sat upright quickly. “Don’t even say things like that.”
Roman shrugged. “I have no idea what kind of disease I have.”
“You said you had a curse.” Suzie tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Not a disease.”
“How did Charlie get it?” Roman asked, sipping his beer. Sherlane whispered, “Sex?”
Charlie pushed his plate aside in distaste. “Stop. Don’t start talkin’ about this bein’ a product of our relationship.”
“Keep a level head, Charlie,” Roman warned. “But we do need to figure this out.”
“I already have. You bit me.”
“He bit you?” Sherlane’s hands shook as she drank from her coffee mug.
“Yes. He broke the skin and all.” Charlie pointed to his hand, though the cut had vanished.
“That has to be it then.” Suzie relaxed in her chair.
“Why hasn’t he changed into a crow?” Roman asked. “Is it because I didn’t bite him when I was a bird?”
Charlie contemplated the question. Nothing made sense to him, though it seemed it was important to Roman it did.
“Have you tried to turn into a bird, Charlie?” Sherlane asked.
“Tried?” He addressed Roman, “Did she just ask me if I try to change?” Charlie shook his head and gave her a look of disbelief. “The answer to that is no.”
Roman chuckled. “The answer to that is yes.” He ate another bite of food off his plate.
“Hush up. You don’t know what you’re sayin’. I do not try to change.”
“You do. You get mad on purpose.”
“You’re goin’ to get me mad now.”
“Uh oh,” Sherlane said, looking anxious.
Charlie inhaled a few deep breaths. “Is there more beer?”
“I’ll get one for you.” Suzie stood. “You too, Roman?”
“Yes, please.” Roman finished his second plate of food and stood, putting it into the sink. “Is the dishwasher full of dirty or clean plates?”
“Dirty. I’ll take care of it.” She handed him two beers.
“Thank you. I feel like I need to be paying your parents for all the free food.” Roman brought Charlie his fresh beer, taking his empty plate for him.
“You worked today, didn’t you, Roman?” Sherlane asked.
“I did.” He joined them at the table.
“Then you earned your food.” Sherlane smiled brightly at him.
“You two ladies are amazing. I don’t know how to thank you.” Roman put his hand over Sherlane’s on the table.
Charlie felt a stab of jealousy and with it a pain in his gut. He tried to clear his mind and drank more beer.
Suzie laughed at him. “Charlie Mosby…gay and in love with a man. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.”
“Stop. Don’t humiliate me.” Charlie felt his cheeks warm. “You can believe I turn wolf, but you can’t believe I’m a gay man.”
“No,” Sherlane said, “I can’t believe that either. So? Are you a gay wolf?”
Charlie and Roman locked stares. “Am I?”
“Yes!” Roman laughed as he said it.
“Is there such a thing?” Charlie rested his elbows on the table.
“There is now.” Sherlane smiled.
The sound of the front door opening and Butch’s voice greeting Vernon stopped the conversation. Charlie listened to the exchange between his boss and his co-worker.
“There’s nearly two feet of snow out there, Vernon.”
“That’s great news. Once they get the roadways clear, I bet we start booking rides.”
Charlie watched Roman’s reaction. It was as if Roman was already a wolf. Charlie could just about see him sniffing the air and his ears twitching.
Butch hesitated when he stepped into the kitchen. “I had no idea there was a private party going on.” He opened the refrigerator and removed a beer.
“It’s not private, Butch. Come join us.” Sherlane stood. “I was about to offer these men pie.”
“Yes, please,” Roman replied.
“What did your mom make this time?” Charlie caught Butch’s eye as he joined them at the table.
“Apple cinnamon. It’s delicious.”
“Let me help you, Sherlane.” Suzie brought their coffee cups with her as she stood.
Charlie stared at Butch who was looking at Roman at the moment. “What are JP and Goat up to?”
“Watching TV in the cabin.”
“Did you manage to get the horses back into the barn?” “We did. Even without you and Spirit.”
“Watch it,” Roman said, showing his teeth.
“What?” Butch opened his hands in question. “He asked.”
Suzie began bringing helpings of pie to the table. “You boys behave.” She set a plate in front of Roman and Charlie first.
Charlie slid his over to Butch. “In thanks. For you doin’ my job.”
“That’s very kind of you, Charlie.” Butch raised his beer bottle in a toast.
Charlie tapped it with his, glancing at Roman. He noticed Roman’s countenance change and gave him another boot under the table.
“Ouch! Stop doing that.” Roman rubbed his shin.
“You stop goin’ into an emotional tailspin. Ya hear?” Charlie pointed his finger at him. “No more canine funny business tonight. I can’t deal with it.”
In the silence after the comment, Charlie heard Butch’s thoughts. What’s sex between you like? “Why do you want to know so much?” he asked Butch.
“Huh?” Butch rested the neck of the beer bottle against his lips.
“Why do you keep wonderin’ what gay sex is like?”
Roman choked on his laughter as Suzie brought more plates of pie to the table, smiling.
“I didn’t say that!” Butch’s cheeks went crimson.
“You thought it.” Charlie thanked Suzie for his slice of pie.
She and Sherlane sat down with forks and a container of whipped topping.
“You cannot read my thoughts.”
“Yes. He can.” Roman opened the container and scooped out a dollop onto his pie.
“I can’t tell you how wrong that is.” Butch reached for the whipped cream. “Tell him girls how wrong that is.”
“Does that mean you can read our thoughts as well, Charlie?” Sherlane asked.
“Yes. Stop picturin’ Roman naked.”
Roman coughed and began laughing loudly.
“I don’t have to picture it. I did see most of him.” Sherlane licked the pie off her fork tine.
“Did it get hot in here?” Suzie turned beet red and stuck her fork into the tub of whipped cream taking a mouth full.
“You’re all crazy.” Butch took a big bite of his pie which was loaded with whipped topping.
Roman pointed to his head with his fork. “Sex on the brain. Wolves and men.”
“And women.” Suzie smiled slyly.
“You have sex on your brain?” Butch asked.
Charlie took a helping of the sweet topping and passed it back to the girls. “I guess everyone does.”
“Do you two really have sex together?” Sherlane asked.
“Don’t go there.” Charlie shook his head. “I am not comfortable talkin’ about that, Sherlane.”
“Sure they do.” Butch ate another big bite of pie, talking with his mouth full. “Two men? They’re probably doing it constantly.”
“Yup.” Roman scraped the last bite of pie off his plate and ate it.
“Wow.” Suzie blinked her blue eyes. “Like all the time? Even when you’re wolves?”
“Oh no.” Charlie rubbed his forehead. “Don’t. You don’t want to have me change into one of those.”
“Why are you so embarrassed?” Sherlane wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Charlie, it’s hot.”
He stopped chewing and stared at her. “What did you just say?”
Roman kept chuckling, using his index finger to clean his plate and lick it off.
Butch shifted in his chair.
“Sporting wood, Butch?” Roman sucked his finger seductively.
Everyone looked at Butch.
He was red from the neck up.
For some reason, Charlie cracked up with laughter. The girls joined in and finally Butch did as well.
Vernon poked his head into the room. “Well. It’s nice to hear laughter again. I thought we never would.”
Sherlane and Suzie dabbed their eyes and tried to contain it.
Charlie gave Butch a wry smile. “Yeah. Sometimes you just have to laugh, boss.”
“Care to share the joke?”
“No!” Butch said quickly, then smiled.
Charlie caught Roman’s mischievous grin and returned it. Chapter 8

Roman shoveled the path in front of the ranch house. It was nearing ten and the snow was still falling. Butch and Charlie were busy trying to keep the snow off the walkway that led to their cabins, but it would take one of their trucks with a snowplow on the front of it to clear the main parking area and drive leading to the street.

Feeling achy from the previous gravel shoveling, Roman took a break and looked up at the spinning snowflakes. “Guys, it’s just going to be covered by morning.”

“I know, Roman, but at least it’ll be easier.” Charlie tossed another shovel load of dry, blowing snow to the side of the path.
“Bed time, Mr. Mosby.” Roman noticed Butch perk up and look their way. “Yes, Butch, we’re going to have sex.”
“Roman.” Charlie approached him, shaking his head. “Don’t start.”
“He asked that question in his thoughts.” Roman brushed the snow off the brim of Charlie’s hat.
He removed it and tapped it on his leg, popping it back on.
“Why does everyone love cowboys?” Roman touched Charlie’s cheek and went for his lips.
Charlie backed up and looked over his shoulder at Butch who was coming their way, the shovel resting on his shoulder like a soldier’s gun. “This is useless. And why aren’t JP and Goat out here?” Butch said.
“I just figured we’d do the path,” Charlie replied. “No point in gettin’ them out here for such a little job.”
“How come you two didn’t change into animals again?” Butch leaned his shovel against the porch and took off his hat to shake off the snow as well.
“It’s in the mind.” Charlie tapped his own head. “I think we got it figured out. If we don’t get mad or upset, we can stay human longer.” He placed his and Roman’s shovel against Butch’s. “Come on. Let’s go. I’m warm from the work, but this wind is goin’ right through me.”
Roman caught Butch’s eye as right before he turned his back to him, headed to the cabin. His thoughts were crystal clear.
Charlie said, “No,” as if answering Butch’s unspoken question. It made Roman chuckle.
They arrived at Charlie’s cabin first. It was a one bedroom cabin. Butch shared a three bedroom cabin with JP and Goat.
Roman stood at their doorway, kicking the door ledge to get the snow off his shoes. He glanced up and found Butch and Charlie staring at each other.
“You do realize, Butch,” Roman said, “If we do anything to you, you may become one of us.”
“I’m not asking you to.” Butch shook his head as if he were embarrassed.
“Not out loud.” Charlie smiled.
“Is it better?” Butch’s eyes widened.
“Let’s just say, we know what we like ’cause we have the same parts.” Charlie gave Roman a sly grin.
“Damn.” Butch brushed off the snow as it blew against him.
“Go ask Goat or JP to get in bed with you.” Roman put his hand on the door knob.
“I don’t want either of them.” Butch looked down at his pointy cowboy boots.
Charlie dusted the flakes off Butch’s jacket affectionately. “Hun, go to bed. You’re just tired.”
“I’m fuckin’ horny. I haven’t been laid in ages.”
“Charlie?” Roman tilted his head.
“No!” Charlie appeared mortified.
“What?” Butch turned his collar up to the cold. “What?” he said louder. “It’s freezin’ out here. Are you inviting me in or not?”
“Not!” Charlie nudged him. “Get goin’. See you early for breakfast. We need to get the place cleaned up in case Vernon gets a snow trail ride.”
Roman caught profanity in Butch’s thoughts, aimed at Charlie. Then Butch continued walking to his cabin. Roman entered the room, took his shoes off and hung his coat on the rack while Charlie did the same. When Charlie threw logs into the fireplace to heat up the room, Roman checked his phone for missed calls.
He put it to his ear to hear one from his supervisor, Nick Hoffman.

“Roman, we do need to check you out. Please don’t make this an issue. What would you do if Phil or I were in your situation? We can’t allow our friendship with you to color our feelings on whether this is a health hazard.”
Roman rubbed his face tiredly.
“Weather permitting, we will be at the ranch tomorrow morning.”
Charlie crouched in front of the fire for warmth and stared at him. “They have to come, Roman.”
“I can’t do this. I can’t.”
“Stop right now.” Charlie walked across the room towards him. “Do not stress out and turn.”
Roman fought the pain in his gut and set the phone down on the kitchen table. He embraced Charlie and rocked in his arms, sniffing his shirt and skin. His sense of smell had become so acute it was almost too powerful. But inhaling Charlie was wonderful. It instantly calmed his anger down, but made him hot for sex.
He cupped Charlie’s jaw and tenderly opened his mouth for a kiss. Charlie ground his hips against Roman’s showing him how excited he was.
Yes, when two men are attracted to each other, there’s a lot of sex. Sorry, Butch. But I think Charlie and I have become a committed couple.
Charlie unbuttoned Roman’s shirt, backing him to the bedroom, their mouths still connected. Roman hit the foot of the bed with the back of his legs, pulling Charlie’s shirt from out of his jeans to get at his skin.
Huffing for air, Charlie backed up, taking off his clothing while giving Roman a look that burned into Roman’s heart. Roman shed his clothing as fast as Charlie was. The moment they were both naked, they reconnected, sucking at each other’s mouths and holding each other tight.
“I do love you, Charlie. I do.” Roman buried his face into Charlie’s neck and hair, inhaling him deeply into his lungs.
Charlie forced Roman back on the bed and knelt over him. The wild wolf was just under the surface. Roman could feel it as well as see it in his lover. The scent of male sweat was heavy in the air since both of them had exerted themselves shoveling.
Roman reached for Charlie, wanting him closer, but Charlie pinned Roman’s arms to the bed over his head. “Take me, Charlie. Take me.” Roman watched Charlie’s black pupils dilate against his light blue colored irises. The wolf was trying hard to come out. Charlie snarled and arched his back, fighting it.
Roman saw Charlie as both a wolf and a man at the same time. Charlie’s aura of strength made Roman want to keep Charlie with him forever. The connection the curse had given them was growing.
He wrapped his legs around Charlie’s hips and used hot friction against him, writhing on the bed, trying to break free of Charlie’s hold on his arms.
Charlie laid flat on top of Roman, cupping Roman’s head as he kissed him again. A deep rumbling growl came from Charlie. Roman asked, “You still with me, cowboy?”
“Yeah. Still with you. But it’s tryin’ hard to make me howl.”
Roman stayed still, staring into Charlie’s gaze, their cocks pulsated between them.
“You sure you love me?” Charlie asked.
“Yes. I’m sure. We’re like blood brothers now.”
“Does that make this incest?”
“Hell no.” Roman hooked his ankles around Charlie’s legs.
Charlie kissed him a few more times, smoothing his hands down Roman’s arms, squeezing his large biceps. When they broke off the kiss, Charlie reached for the tube of gel on the nightstand.
Roman unhooked his ankles and felt the tension release from his body. Laughter, feeling content, calmness, all kept the curse at bay. He wished those feelings weren’t fleeting. Perhaps keeping calm tomorrow would chase the fear of contamination away from his supervisors.
Roman blocked those thoughts from his mind and watched Charlie squeeze a blob of lube on his fingers. Roman drew back his legs, holding his knees to give him access.
Before Charlie used the gel, he crouched down to nuzzle into Roman’s groin. “You smell so good.” Charlie moaned, rubbing his face against him. “I could camp down here.”
“I wouldn’t complain.”
Charlie held his coated fingers upright and licked Roman’s length from base to tip.
“You’re a fast learner, Charlie.”
“Got a good teacher.” Charlie pushed his slick fingers against Roman’s rim, making Roman moan.
Chills raced over Roman’s skin as Charlie sank his fingers inside him. “Lover, lover…oh, yes.”
With his free hand Charlie held the base of Roman’s cock and engulfed it into his mouth, giving Roman an internal rub just like Roman had done to him.
Roman gripped the bedding in his fists and closed his eyes. “That’s it, babe. Just like that.”
Charlie groaned and appeared to be enjoying giving head as much as Roman was enjoying getting it. The urge to come became strong in Roman. He opened his eyes and watched Charlie working him like a pro. It was all it took.
~
Charlie felt Roman’s cock pulsate strongly in his mouth. He swallowed the load, getting a second one to savor on the back of his tongue. When Roman’s climax subsided, Charlie knelt up and pushed the head of his cock into Roman’s ass. “Aw hell that feels good.” He inched closer until he was balls deep. “Damn.” Charlie focused on the tight heat and thrust his hips against Roman.
Roman raised his body to meet the rhythm of Charlie’s actions, rocking on the bed.
“That’s it, Roman…I’m there.” Charlie allowed the pleasure to overtake him, waiting for the sensations in his groin to stop before pulling out. He sat on his heels and wiped his face with his forearm. “That just gets better every time.”
“And we’re still human.”
“Thank Christ, we are. I can’t deal with changing back and forth. The pain is too much.” Charlie slid off the bed and reached out his hand. “Time to clean up and sleep. I’ve never been so tired.”
Roman clasped his hand and was hauled to his feet. They washed up quietly in the bathroom. Once they returned to the bed, holding each other close under the blankets, Roman said, “Tomorrow, when the lab boys get here. We have to convince them we’re okay.”
“How’re we goin’ to do that? If you’re okay, won’t they want you back at work?”
Roman stared at the ceiling. Charlie could hear the plows still making the rounds in the distance.
“We have to stay here, Charlie. And stay together.”
“They can’t make us part ways. That’s not fair. I understand their caution, but…no way they can decide who a man chooses to love.”
Roman smiled and held Charlie tighter. “Yes. I wish more people thought that way. Wouldn’t it be nice?”
“Good night, Roman.”
“’Night, Charlie.”
Chapter 9

The next morning the ranch was a winter wonderland. Charlie and Butch hooked up the plow to Charlie’s pickup truck and he began clearing the driveway and parking lot right as the wranglers arrived to help with the horses.

He pulled over allowing the group to pass and noticed right behind them a train of black SUVs and sedans. “She-it.” Charlie instantly felt anxiety from the presence of officials, and it turned to pain in his mid-section. He fought the change with everything he had, pushing the snow to the sides of the lot where it made high white mountains.

When he spotted the men open their trunks and covering their clothing with white bio hazard suits, he shut off the engine of the truck and hopped out.

Roman stood on the porch of the ranch house, a shovel in his hand.
Charlie hurried to his side as the rest of the working men from the ranch stopped to see what was happening.
“Butch!” Charlie yelled, “Get them wranglers into the barn and busy workin’.”
Butch waved in reply and urged the men to continue their duties in the stable.
Seeing Phil and Nick wearing full white protective gear was alarming. Charlie battled the demon inside him to not become a wolf. He and Roman had talked in length about their tactics to be able to stay put. But the stress was causing Charlie pain.
“You have to be kidding me.” Roman gestured to his coworkers’ outfits. “Now I’m the fucking plague?”
“Don’t make this difficult, Roman.” Nick approached him.
“Me? Me make this difficult? Why don’t you just find the morons who did this to me? Is it that hard for a team of agents to pick up a cult that slices hearts out of animals?”
Judging by the tone of Roman’s voice, Charlie could tell if he didn’t stop arguing he would soon be on all fours with his tail between his legs. “Calm down.” Charlie touched his arm.
After a deep inhale of breath, Roman spoke in a quiet tone. “Do you know what this is doing to Charlie? To his employer? Come on, guys. This isn’t a disease.”
“You transmitted it to Charlie,” Phil said through a face mask of plastic. “We have no choice.”
“What are you going to do with us? You think we’re going to sit in a cell in some hospital?”
Charlie swallowed his fear and gripped his stomach as it churned. Roman caught his eye and said, “This isn’t going to work.”
“I know.” Charlie wished he could read Roman’s mind, but he was getting a feeling he didn’t have to.
“It’s just temporary,” Phil said, “Until we can figure out what you have.”
“What I have?” Roman’s temper flared. Charlie knew what was coming, so he let go his restraint as well.
Vernon stepped out of the ranch house. “What’s going on here?”
Charlie caught Roman’s glance once more and knew by his expression what he was up to. They both jumped over the railing, off the porch and sprinted through the pristine snow towards the mountains. As he went, Charlie felt the pain turn to agony in his stomach. He looked behind him and spotted the officials in pursuit.
“Roman!” Charlie cringed and held his abdomen.
“I know.” He showed his teeth as he grimaced. They both dropped to their knees in the deep snow.
Just when Charlie thought they were trapped, Butch let loose the herd of horses from inside the barn, causing a stampede of hooves between the two men and the agents.
Charlie stood on all fours, shaking the clothing off his back. Next to him a large black timber wolf was doing the same.
“Go!” Roman bounded through the snow.
Charlie followed, hearing chaos behind him as the horses panicked from their presence, making it difficult for the ATF team to chase them.
“Good ole Butch. We owe him one.” Charlie and Roman put a wide distance between them and the agents.
“We can’t change into men, Charlie. This is it. If we do, we have to get back to the cabin, and those fuckers will be waiting.”

“I know .” Charlie figured the change happened whether you wanted it or not. They had gained some control, but the odds were they would end up in trouble.
A loud shot rang out.
Charlie jumped straight in the air as Roman had a similar reaction. “Tell me they ain’t shootin’ at us.”
“Tranquilizers.” Roman’s tongue hung out of his mouth while he increased his speed. “Get moving, Charlie. Up into those woods. Don’t look back. Zigzag. It makes a harder target to hit.”
It was difficult enough running in deep snow, but to cut sharply left and right was exhausting. “They’ll track us until they find us.”
“That’s why we need to get up into the federal land. More woods to hide in.”
“Goddamn snow is showing where we are.” Charlie glanced over his shoulder as he ran. They had a long lead on the agents now.
“I know. Got to keep going, Charlie. They’re going to capture us and we’re going to be in a white room like lab rats.”
Charlie focused on the thick woods at the edge of Wasatch Mountains. He and Roman trotted near the edge of the Deer Creek reservoir, hoping their foot prints would vanish in the water. Soon they were surrounded by silence, the snow hanging heavy on evergreen branches and ferns.
Roman paused, looking in the direction of the ranch. “Would be nice if we were birds.”
“I don’t know if I can do that.”
Roman sniffed the air. “I smell that fucking chemical scent.” He raised his head and started tracking it.
“The scent you told me you smelled when you changed?” Charlie caught a strong odor, but everything was intense when he was a wolf, hearing, scent, sight…all his senses were heightened.
“Yes.” Roman slowed down, trying to catch the smell in the air. “I can’t tell if it’s from that same ring of fire I spotted the other day. It’s got to be under snow now. Would they be doing their cult practices in the snow?”
“You aren’t askin’ me, are you?”

Roman stood still, his ears twitching and moving in different directions. “They aren’t here. But they were here right before the snow hit.”

Charlie sniffed the area. “ You know what you’re smellin’ for. I’m clueless. I do smell somethin’ nasty though.”
“That’s it. The nasty smell. It doesn’t smell like the trees or the animal marking.”
“You sure we should stop here? What if Phil is comin’ after us?”
“We’d hear them.” Roman walked gingerly, like a trap was set under the snow. He stepped and paused, sniffing.
Charlie followed in his foot prints, keeping alert the any noise of human, horse hooves, or vehicle engines.
In a clearing of a circle of trees, the stench of chemicals grew stronger. Roman dug through the snow, sticking his snout into it. He jerked back and sneezed, shaking his head. “God, that stinks.”
“I don’t like it here.” Charlie looked up at the swaying trees.
“This is where they took me. I have no idea how they did it. How they got past an army of agents. It drives me crazy trying to figure it out.”
“Don’t get upset. I don’t need a naked man to try and keep warm.” Charlie jumped at a noise and stood alert. “Somethin’ is here, Roman. Somethin’ nasty.”
“We need to keep an eye on this area.”
“What will we do if they show up? We can’t even call for help now.”
Roman kept his nose to the ground and sniffed the perimeter of the ring through the deep snow.
Charlie watched him, listening through the trees for anyone or anything. Birds flapped as they were startled by Roman’s approach and the noise was so loud to Charlie’s keen senses, he jumped again before he realized what it was. “That breakfast isn’t goin’ to hold me. What did you do for food? Please tell me you didn’t eat raw meat.”
Roman stopped sniffing and faced him. “I ate while I was a crow. You’d be amazed how much fast food is left in the garbage.”
“You did not just say garbage.”
“Yup.” He continued sniffing and digging in the snow.
Using his front paws, Charlie cleared the snow under a low hanging evergreen tree. He dropped down and rested. “What if we stay wolves? What do we eat then?”

“I don’t know.” Roman approached him, lying down beside him to keep warm. “This fur is great insulation.”
“Just don’t get mad. Seriously. If you change into a man, we’re screwed.”
“I won’t.” Roman rested his chin on his paws, staring at the ring he had shoveled with his snout. “How’d they do it, Charlie? How’d they drug me, take me here, and change me into this?”
Charlie licked Roman’s face affectionately. “I don’t have any idea how. It don’t stand to reason.”
Roman rolled to his side and pushed his two front paws into Charlie playfully.
“Don’t start gettin’ frisky on me.” Charlie swatted his paw away.
“Why not?” Roman sat up on alert. “I hear motor engines.”
Charlie was on his feet, ears perked. “ATVs. Yup. They’re comin’.” He shook off the snow on his fur and stared at Roman. “Fuckin’ snow is going to lead them right to us.”
“They should lose our trail at the reservoir.” Roman began running into the woods.
“How good are your men at trackin’ wolves?”
“If they get help from fish and game, they’ll track us.”
The sound of a helicopter made both of them shrink to the ground.
“You have to be kiddin’ me! They want us that bad?”
Roman fell to his side and began writhing.
“No! No way, Roman!” Charlie panicked and stood over him, terrified. The anxiety was causing him to change as well. As he lay down to endure it, he heard a squawking sound. A big black bird was standing beside him, shaking out its feathers.
Charlie looked at his limbs. He was naked and beginning to shiver. Roman pecked him hard on the arm.
“Ouch! What are you doin’?” Charlie flinched and saw it had drawn blood. He got it instantly. “Do it again.” He held out his arm and waited for Roman to peck him.
Roman did, flapping at Charlie frantically.
Charlie curled into a ball and shivered as the cold quickly lowered his core temperature. The sound of the copter circling scared Charlie to death. He grabbed his stomach as more pain invaded him like a twisting knife.
He ground his jaw and closed his eyes as the intensity grew extreme. Flapping wings brought him around. Roman’s black eye and long yellow beak were visible standing right in front of him.
“You did it. You’re a crow.”
“No.” Charlie spread his arms and looked at his feathers. “I can fly?”
“We better fly. They’re closing in on us, Charlie.”
“I don’t know how.” He hopped around and his wings flapped uselessly against the ground.
“Learn fast!” Roman flew up to the high branches of the tree.
“She-it!” Charlie began using his wings like crazy, getting lift off and bounding around awkwardly. At the noise of a loud snowmobile motor, he was able to lift off and met Roman on the same branch. “I can’t do this.”
“You have no choice. We have to fly out of here.”
“How do you steer?”
“‘Wing’ it.”
“Are you bein’ funny on purpose?”
Roman took off in the opposite direction as the search party.
Charlie decided to let his bird body do the work and to simply keep his eye on Roman. He mimicked Roman’s wing maneuvers and tilting of his tail feathers. Once the task became easier, Charlie looked down at the ground as he flew. He could see the long line of black uniforms coming up the mountain from the ranch house, hear the helicopter as it circled the reservoir. There wasn’t time to enjoy the awe of flight. They had to get away from the chaos of agents and armed men.
Roman didn’t stop until they were a safe distance. He landed on a tall fir tree and steadied on a slim branch, dropping snow from its needles. Charlie clobbered him as he landed, gripping the pine needles and tilting around until he was upright.
“You’re a clod.”
“Hey. I’m tryin’.” Charlie gained his balance and looked behind them. “They’re serious about catchin’ us.”
“Yeah. But they can’t now. No more trails.”
“I can’t decide it this is incredible or horrible.”
“Welcome to my world.” Roman shifted his talons on the branch and focused into the distance. “As long as we stay crows or wolves, we can manage.”
“So? That’s it? You peck or bite someone and they’re like us?”
“What do you think? It worked both times. That’s why the idea of quarantining us is pathetic. As long as we don’t bite, no one seems to be effected.”
Charlie thought about it. “But we’re close, Roman. We have sex. It might be that, and not a bite.”
“And? You think it’s like herpes?”
“I don’t know what to think.” Charlie extended a wing and looked at it. “Boy, do I feel weird.”
“Just don’t change. The drop will kill you from up here.”
“Lordy.” Charlie looked down and ruffled his feathers. “No changin’, think positive.”
“That’s it.” The branch waved in the wind and Roman nestled closer to Charlie. “I wouldn’t mind finding a more sheltered spot. The fur is warmer than the feathers.”
“I’m hungry.”
“The restaurants are that way.” Roman tilted his head to the main road.
“You don’t expect me to eat garbage.”
“Good luck not eating it. You’ll know why I keep gobbling my food at every meal.”
“Other than eatin’ garbage, do you have a plan for how we’re goin’ to deal with this now that your agents have screwed us up?”
“No. Stop talking about it or I’ll be in trouble.”
Charlie could hear the whine of the snowmobiles and the distant copter still on the hunt. He shook out his feathers. “Well, let’s get lunch. I can’t go all day on an empty stomach. Show me where you got your French fries.”
“Follow me.”
Roman took off from the branch. Charlie felt it spring up and down and didn’t think, he just flapped.
Chapter 10

Standing on a discarded white paper bag, Roman and Charlie took turns eating the leftover burger and fries. Charlie devoured a long French fry as Roman stood on the bag to keep it from blowing in the wind.

“Look. That’s one of the ATF agent’s trucks .” Roman began eating quickly. “Hurry up so we can eavesdrop, read his mind, or figure out what’s going on.”

Charlie and Roman finished the last of the food and flew onto a fence near the truck.
“You think he’ll know it’s us?”
“Not if we don’t dive bomb him.”
Roman flew closer to the drive-thru window. Two men were in the SUV, still wearing their black uniforms. Roman didn’t know them by name, but thought they looked familiar. Charlie bumped into him as he gained his balance. Roman only glanced at him for a second. “I can hear the radio transmission.”
Charlie tilted his beak to the side. “What’s it mean?”
“They halted the search for now and left containment in case we show up. I think they’re going to hang out at the ranch all night.”
“That ain’t good. I was imaginin’ a hot shower and warm bed.”
“Keep that thought. You’ll stay a bird.” Roman hopped along the fence as the rig drove to the take-out window. The passenger’s side window powered down and one of the agents threw a French fry at them.
“Oh. Cool.” Roman swooped in to catch it. “It’s still warm.”
Charlie waited for his, missing it and picking it up from the ground. “Needs ketchup.”
“I can’t tell you how funny this is. These guys have no idea who we are.” Roman stood on the side mirror boldly. The agent hand fed him a French fry. Roman gobbled it down. “You believe this?” He flapped his wings at Charlie.
“Careful this ain’t a trick.” Charlie stood on the warm hood of the SUV.
The SUV began to move so they flew back to the fence.
“Do you know them?” Charlie watched the truck park in the lot and the two men eating.
“No. Come on.” Roman flew back to the side mirror and Charlie landed on the hood near the windshield wiper.
The agent behind the wheel started feeding him.
“I should crap on their windshield.”
“Don’t. The free meal will stop, and I like the food warm.”
Roman poked his head into the cabin. He listened to the agents talk.
“You don’t believe this wolf shit, do you?”
“No, but I’m not going to question the special in charge.”
“They’re sitting containment on that ranch hoping for two wolves to come back? And they think we’re stupid?”
“The guys on the scene said they saw something weird happen.”
“Sure. In two feet of snow two men became wolves.” The agent sipped soda through a straw.
Roman wanted some of his hamburger. He looked at it hungrily.
Charlie flew closer to him. “You dip into his lap, he’ll swat you.”
“Doesn’t that smell good? I am so hungry. I keep imagining Connie’s big home cooked meals.”
“If we can sneak there tonight, Butch will get us some grub.”
“Look,” the agent behind the wheel said, “That bird’s eyeing your burger.”
The agent tore a piece off, feeding it to Roman. “Man, these birds are tame.”
“They probably get fed here all the time.”
“Move over!” Charlie flapped at Roman and they exchanged spots. Roman set the chunk of bread and meat on the hood and ate bites of it.
“Give his partner some.”
“Here ya go.”
Roman watched Charlie take the chunk and stand beside him on the hood, eating it.
The radio aired information. Roman stood alert to hear it.
“This is a broadcast for all units. Information only at this time. Be on the lookout for two males, naked and seeking shelter. One male goes by the name Charlie Mosby, is six feet tall, weighs one-ninety…”
Charlie flew beside Roman, ruffling his feathers.
“Keep calm, Charlie.” Roman flew up to a tree branch close enough to hear, but far enough not to be caught when the entire message aired.
Charlie joined him as they heard Roman’s description being broadcast.
“These men can morph into wolf or crow form. I repeat, these men can change physical characteristics. Report any sightings of animals behaving strangely to dispatch…”
Roman caught suspicion rise in the men in the SUV. “Let’s go, Charlie. They’re pointing at us.” Roman flew across the street, back towards the ranch.
~
The two of them flew in a loop over ranch property. It was nearing one in the afternoon and Charlie could see a party of tourist riders out in the distance. “Vernon must have convinced them not to close the ranch.”
“Good man.” Roman perched on the ranch house roof and walked to the eave. “That means they don’t feel there is a serious contamination threat. If they thought there was, they’d have crime scene tape up everywhere and this place would be evacuated.”
“Ha. Sure. Tell Vernon he can’t run his business? I bet he threatened to sue. The man knows all the politicians in this town, and is best drinkin’ buddies with Sheriff Kenmore.”
“It doesn’t hurt to have power, Charlie.” Roman stood on the edge of the eave. “Butch is down there on his horse.”
“How are we going to talk to him?”
“He’ll know it’s us.” Roman flew down and perched on Butch’s hat.
“Hey!” Butch waved his hand over his head but Roman held on. “Roman?”
Roman pecked his head lightly.
“Where’s Charlie?”
Charlie landed on the back of Butch’s saddle.
“Good Lord, please don’t tell me you’re a bird now.”
Charlie pecked him once on his back.
“What am I supposed to do? Them agents are still everywhere waitin’ for you two.” Butch walked the horse into the empty barn. He dismounted and Roman stood on the western saddle with Charlie.
Roman had no idea how to communicate to Butch. He flapped and squawked but Butch obviously couldn’t translate.
“Let me guess.” Butch took off his hat and scratched his head. “You want me to help you.”
Charlie hopped up and down, opening his wings.
“Right. Do what? They’re guardin’ your cabin, Charlie. They have surveillance cameras too.”
Roman began to grow upset about their situation. He didn’t know how Butch could help them without either risking getting in trouble or them getting caught.
Pain seared through Roman’s mid-section. He toppled off the horse saddle and hit the ground, hard.
Butch reacted too late, reaching to stop his fall.
On contact with the floor, Roman began to change, his teeth chattering. Charlie landed beside him, ruffling his feathers again and again.
Roman opened his eyes and rubbed his arms. “Butch. Help us.”
Butch took off his coat and covered Roman. After a garbled squawk, Charlie began to change.
“Goddamn it, boys. What am I supposed to do with you’all?”
Roman comforted Charlie as he shifted back to human form.
“Fuck, that hurts.” Charlie moaned, showing his teeth from his pain.
Scout grew uneasy and backed up against the wall. Butch grabbed him and removed his saddle and bridle, putting him into his stall.
Roman held onto Charlie, sharing the coat, trying to keep him warm.
“I’m exhausted.” Charlie yawned.
“Butch, is there any way to get us into your cabin?”
“You’d been better off doin’ that as a bird.”
“Shit.” Roman rocked Charlie in his arms, hiding his face in Charlie’s chest. “I’m sorry, babe. So sorry I’ve done this to you.”
Butch poked his head out of the barn. “Why don’t you two hide in here? Sherlane and Suzie picked up your clothing from the trail earlier.”
“Thanks, Butch.” Roman forced Charlie to get to his feet, holding him as he opened one of the stalls to crouch down in. The scent of horse droppings was strong in Roman’s nose. “Charlie…”
“We should have stayed wolves. They’re warm.” Charlie sat on the fresh hay, curled up with his knees against his chest. Roman sat beside him, putting Butch’s coat over both their knees.
“They’ll find us. Why did you bring us back here?” Charlie rested his head against the back wall of the stall.
“I didn’t know what else to do. We need to have a decent meal and between Butch, Suzie, and Sherlane, they’ll help us.”
“It’s Thanksgiving weekend. I feel bad to put those people out.”
“Come here.” Roman held Charlie and rested his head against his. “Forgive me.”
“Other than the pain in the ass your office has made, I’m not so sure I’m sorry for any of this.”
Roman nudged Charlie to meet his eye. “What?”
“I mean it. Getting’ to be a wolf and a bird? Roman, that’s amazin’ stuff for anyone.”
Roman felt his eyes sting with tears. “What would I do without you?”
“Can’t you call those vultures off?”
“I wish I had that kind of power. I’m just a peon.”
They huddled closer, staying quiet. Roman was so tired he could sleep.
“Charlie?”
Suzie’s quiet call woke Roman up. “In here, Suz.” Roman looked at the opening over the half stall door.
Suzie appeared with a pile of clothing in her arms. “Here ya go, boys.”
Roman stood, cupping his crotch and took the bundle. He and Charlie got dressed as Suzie turned her back to them.
“They on to us yet?” Charlie put on his coat after he sat down to put on his socks and boots.
“No, but I have no clue how many of them are set up around the area. Word is that they’ve set up some type of surveillance system.”
Roman rubbed his face tiredly. “We can’t go to our cabin.”
“You can stay in our place. Fuck those bastards.”
Roman blinked his eyes at Suzie’s anger as Charlie choked in surprise. “Wow.” Roman glanced at Charlie. “She’s awesome.”
“No kiddin’.” Charlie hugged her. “Woman, what would I do without you?”
“Don’t flirt with me in front of your boyfriend.” She laughed. Lowering her voice, she said, “Seriously, Charlie. You can stay with us.”
“What did Phil say? They didn’t quarantine the ranch, so that’s a good sign.”
“Dad convinced them it’s not contagious. He said it’s a sexually transmitted disease.”
Roman nearly reacted strongly, but bit his lip.
Butch and Sherlane appeared. Sherlane was holding a bowl with foil on top and Butch carried a bottle of wine. Roman could smell food and instantly began salivating.
“Here ya go, boys. Eat up.” Sherlane gave each of them a fork.
They sat down with their backs against the stall wall and shared a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs as Butch crouched down and set a bottle of wine out. “Connie and Vernon know you’re here.”
Charlie asked, mouth full, “Is that good or bad?”
“Mom sent us with the food.” Sherlane smiled.
“Good,” Suzie said.
“I’d be lost without you guys. You’re like family.” Charlie wiped at his eyes.
“Stop, Charlie,” Roman said, “Do not change now.”
“Sorry. I’m all right.”
Roman and Charlie ate the food quickly.
“We can sneak them into the ranch house,” Suzie said. “I can open the window to my bedroom. It’s in back and the horses are blocking it now while they’re in the paddock.”
“The minute those horses get a whiff of them, they’ll go nuts,” Butch said. “Let me get them to my cabin. JP and Goat can help.”
Charlie said, “How will they help?”
“Goat can act as a blind. You kiddin’ me?” Butch took a swig of the wine. “Here. You boys take it or I’ll drink it down.”
“There’s no way we’re going to get past agents.” Roman wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
“What if we distract them?” Sherlane opened the top button of her blouse.
“That’ll work.” Butch laughed.
“How many are out there?” Roman asked. “I saw one SUV out front with two agents in it.”
Butch replied, “Yup. One at the driveway, and two up in back on the trail.”
“That’s it?” Charlie stuck his fork into a meatball.
“Far as I know. Like I said, Vernon got rid of most of ‘em. He had Sheriff Kenmore give ‘em hell about it hurtin’ business. The sheriff said they had no proof you were a danger to the whole lot of us.” Butch eyed the wine again but didn’t reach for it.
“I’m surprised anything would work on the ATF.” Roman drank from the bottle, offering it to Butch. He declined. “They pretty much run over local departments, like the Feds do.”
“Dad knows the mayor and the council. Believe me,” Sherlane said, “He’s not an easy person to control or contain.”
“To Vernon.” Roman raised the bottle in a toast.
“You guys need to remember somethin’.”
“What, Charlie?” Suzie asked.
“Harley.”
They all exchanged glances.
Charlie said, “When Harley gets our scent, he’s goin’ to go crazy.”
“I’ll make sure he’s out of the way, Charlie.” Sherlane wrapped her coat closer around her.
Roman fed Charlie the last bite of pasta, handing the empty bowl back to Sherlane. “That hit the spot. Thank you.”
“You don’t go hungry. Not on a holiday like this one.”
Charlie rubbed his forehead. “I can’t believe we’re messin’ up your Thanksgivin’.”
“You’re not.” Suzie looked outside the barn.
“Do we have a plan?” Roman asked.
Butch said, “Yeah. Let me go get JP and Goat. We’ll hide you two. You girls go distract the agents after you tie up that crazy dog.”
“Got it.” Sherlane gave him a thumbs up and she and Suzie left the barn.
“Sit tight.” Butch pointed to the stall behind them.
“Thanks, Butch,” Charlie said.
“Don’t worry about it.” He glanced over his shoulder and left.
Roman sighed loudly and drew Charlie into the stall with him. “Hello, stranger.”
Charlie exhaled deeply and rested against him, embracing him. “I can’t tell you how insane this all is.”
“Don’t I know it?” Roman sniffed him and pressed his lips against Charlie’s.
Charlie responded, kissing back.
“You have a good support group.”
“I do.” Charlie smiled. “I never knew how good.”
“I can see why you don’t want to leave them.”
“I would if…”
“If?” Roman straddled his legs so Charlie fit between them.
“If I had a reason.”
“Am I a good enough reason?” Roman cupped his jaw and licked his lip.
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
“I’ll take that for now.”
~
Charlie held Roman’s crotch and kissed him, heating them up in the cold air. He felt the warmth of Roman’s body mingling with his. Just as he began to get excited, he heard Vernon calling his name.
“Charlie?”
He broke the embrace and stepped out of the stall. “Over here, boss.”
Vernon’s silhouetted outline, his cowboy hat and heavy lined coat blocked out the outside spotlight. Charlie noticed Roman stay back in the stall.
“I’m sorry, Vernon. I know I’m screwin’ you up.”
“I made a deal with them, son.” Vernon glanced over Charlie’s shoulder, and Charlie knew he just spotted Roman.
“What deal?” Charlie replied.
“You’re to give the agents a DNA and blood sample. Both of you.”
“All right. Who’s takin’ the blood?”
“One of the agents out front is a paramedic.”
“I don’t trust them, Charlie.” Roman emerged from the shadows.
Charlie addressed Vernon, “What were the terms of this ‘deal’?”
“They don’t close me down. Charlie, I pulled a lot of strings for you two.”
JP and Goat entered the stable, pausing when they spotted Vernon. Butch was behind them, he too stopped short.
As the anxiety rose in Charlie, his gut began to churn. He held onto his mid-section and took a few deep breaths.
Roman cupped the nape of his neck to comfort him. “Hang in there.”
Vernon asked, “Is he turning into something?”
“He’s fighting it.”
Charlie gulped air and bent over, hands on knees. The battle inside him was intense.
Butch, JP, and Goat hurried over. They rubbed Charlie’s back as they spoke words of support. “We’re here for you, Charlie. Don’t worry.”
Charlie cleared his mind, which was nearly impossible to do. He straightened up and said, “I’m all right.”
“So?” Vernon asked, “You boys agree to give the lab some samples?”
“What choice do we have?” Roman said.
“None.” Vernon appeared grim. “It’s the condition to keep them agents at bay and this ranch in business.”
Roman clasped Charlie’s hand. “Let’s go. We have to do something. We can’t stay in the barn all night.”
“We’ll come with you,” Butch said, “To make sure they don’t try anything sneaky.”
“Thanks, Butch.” Charlie kept overhearing thoughts. He didn’t want to. But it was impossible to ignore. Like people were whispering in his ear, he heard Butch’s macho curse words in support of him, battle ready, JP and Goat’s nervousness at confronting anything official, and Vernon’s anger at being put through nonsense when business was hard enough in this economy.
Though Roman’s warm hand in his felt nice, Charlie gave it a squeeze and released it. There was no way he was completely comfortable in this new role as a gay boy. He had too many things to adjust to at once and his nerves were shot.
The six men walked down the long drive to the entrance of the ranch. Suzie and Sherlane were doing their job distracting the two agents, one on each side of the car. When they heard the sound of boots on icy gravel, they turned to watch.
“Hi, Dad. We were just seeing if the men needed any hot coffee,” Sherlane lied.
“I know what you were doin’.” He leaned into the car near the agent behind the wheel. “There they are. You come inside and do your testing.”
Charlie recognized the two agents that had fed him and Roman food earlier while they were crows.
The agents jumped out of the car as if they were being attacked.
Charlie and Roman both jolted in reflex, fight or flight kicking in.
“Shit!” Roman grabbed his stomach and bent over.
“Oh no!” Suzie rushed to his side.
Charlie was fighting the change as well. “Don’t threaten us. Don’t!” He held up his hand in warning.
The men relaxed their stance and stayed put.
Butch and JP stood near Roman, trying to help. “Roman, look at me. Don’t think about those idiots,” Butch said.
“Hey!” One of the agents took offense.
“He’s one of you!” JP said, pointing. “Don’t you guys have a heart?”
“All right,” Vernon tried to calm everyone down. “Roman? Are you still with us?”
“Yes.” He inhaled deeply, standing straight.
Charlie held him around the waist. “We outnumber them.”
“They’re armed and can call for backup. So, no, we don’t.”
Charlie knew even without mindreading, Roman figured out what he meant.
“Come on.” Vernon waved Roman and Charlie to come with him. The group followed behind, not speaking.
The minute they drew near the front door of the ranch house, Charlie heard Harley going crazy behind a closed door inside the house.
Connie stepped out of the kitchen, shaking her head sadly. “I hope this is an end to the inspection. I’d rather deal with Charlie and Roman as wolves than you boys lingering around. You’re bad for business.”
Charlie noticed the two agents appear sheepish at the comment from the matronly Connie Norman.
“Why don’t we get a pot of coffee going?” Suzie said, taking off her wool hat and gloves.
The three women walked into the kitchen.
Charlie took off his coat, sitting on the sofa. He rolled up his sleeve. “Here ya go.”
Roman sat beside him, keeping his eye on the two agents who put on rubber gloves.
One crouched in front of Charlie, opening a kit which he set on the floor.
The second agent made Roman open his mouth and swabbed inside it, putting the cotton stick into a tube.
Just as Roman asked which unit the men worked for, identifying them, Charlie was stuck with a needle. He winced and clenched his jaw as he watched his blood being siphoned into the syringe.
The agents swapped places and Charlie opened his mouth as he held a cotton ball on the spot where he was poked. The second agent swabbed the inside of his mouth thoroughly.
Once he had finished, Charlie asked, “Is that all we need to do?”
“For now.” The agent sealed the glass bottle and wrote on the label.
Suzie and Sherlane brought in coffee and homemade cookies.
“I hate needles,” Goat said, shivering visibly.
After the blood sample was taken from Roman, he seemed once again to be undergoing an internal battle. Charlie knew if he changed with the agents present, it wasn’t going to end well. “Roman, eat a cookie. Connie makes the best peanut butter chocolate chip in the county.”
Roman’s dark eyes met his. Charlie could see the wolf just behind the man. He broke off a piece of cookie and fed Roman. As Roman chewed, he kept his gaze on Charlie.
The spark of fire between them lit. Whether it was fighting back the change or the sexual demand, Charlie knew he and Roman were in a chronic state of an internal battleground.
They needed to be left alone to find the culprits, but they couldn’t fight the ATF and Feds as well. Charlie had hoped they were all on the same team. He wasn’t so sure now.
Vernon said, “You got your samples. Time to clear out.”
After removing his rubber gloves, one of the agents walked closer to the front door, flipping out his phone as the second one packed up the kit.
Charlie could hear not only the agent in the room’s side of the conversation, he could hear the one on the other end of the phone as well.
“Got both samples from both men.”
“Good.”
“Vernon Norman wants us to get off his property.”
“The cameras in place?”
“Yes.”
“We have the cabin covered?”
“We do.”
Just as Charlie was digesting the information, Roman shot to his feet and crossed the room aggressively.
“No! Roman, calm down.” Charlie hurried to his side.
Roman pointed his finger into the agent’s face. “No cameras. No surveillance. Are you fuckers trying this hard to catch the sleazebags who did this? Or are Charlie and I the new public enemy?”
“Roman…” Charlie caught a scent of Roman’s fear and knew he was going to become a wolf if he didn’t stop.
“You know how it is, Agent Burk. We just follow orders from the top.”
“Give me that.” Roman snatched the phone away from him. “Hello?”
Charlie glanced back at the group who were watching with baited breath, as if this would not end well. Charlie struggled to block out the commotion of thoughts bombarding him.
He noticed Roman grip his stomach as he argued on the phone. Roman’s teeth showed in a snarl of anger. Charlie stood behind him and held him close, rubbing his chest and abdomen to keep him under control.
At Charlie’s touch, Roman’s voice lowered in intensity and he took a few deep breaths.
“We did as you asked. The entire ranch did.” Roman continued to stare at the agent in front of him. “We’re done here. No cameras. You got that? Charlie and I have enough to deal with. We don’t need spies watching us fuck.”
“Oh!” Sherlane, who stood at the threshold of the room, covered her mouth and blushed.
Charlie said, “Sorry, Sherlane.”
She waved to brush it off and returned to the kitchen.
As the debate grew slightly risqué, Charlie tightened his hold on Roman to keep him a man. The two agents stood with them by the door, as if they needed to be ready for anything.
Charlie rested his head on Roman, letting out a deep sigh. Yes, I’m a gay boy. Look at them all starin’ at me. Get used to it, Charlie. This is your life from now on.
JP and Goat did not stare overtly. But the gaze he was getting from Butch was electric. Perhaps hearing about men together and seeing them touch was a whole different world for the nineteen year old. Was Butch a virgin? Charlie could only wonder.
“Fine. Here.” Roman handed the agent back his phone. “You’re done. Take your cameras before I toss them in the woods.”
The agent put the phone to his ear to hear what his instructions were. They both left the ranch house while the one agent continued to talk on the phone.
Roman reached backwards to touch Charlie. “I need to sleep. I can’t function anymore and if this keeps aggravating me, I’m going to be on four legs.”
“You get it settled with the ATF?” Charlie released his hold so Roman could turn around.
“I hope so. They just want us to stay put so they can keep tabs on us.”
“Where are we supposed to go?” Charlie asked, making a silly face. “Reno?”
Roman grabbed his face and kissed him.
Charlie grunted and backed up, seeing the shocked reaction from his boss and his co-workers.
They had gotten everyone’s attention. Charlie felt humiliation creeping up on him and the knot in his stomach grew.
“We’re going to hit the sack.” Roman waved at the men. “I can’t thank you enough for your help.”
Charlie crouched down, holding his stomach, battling with all his might to stop the change. “Don’t do that in front of people.”
Roman urged Charlie to his feet, handing him his coat. “Sorry. I’m hornier than a wolf in heat.”
Shaking with the effort it took to calm down, Charlie put on his jacket and looked at the men he worked with staring at him as if he were a freak. The pain began to get severe. He reached for the doorknob and kept doubling over from the cramping ache.
Roman ushered him outside quickly. “Calm down. Come on, lover. Stay with me like I stayed with you.”
Charlie’s breath puffed out in vapor clouds in the icy air. He limped, bent in two from the pain, as Roman coaxed him to keep moving. Once inside the cabin, Roman brought Charlie to the bedroom and sat him on the bed.
“Okay. You’re okay.” Roman caressed his face, kissing his slack mouth. “Charlie…I love you…fight it.” He shed his coat and tugged off his shoes, keeping the kisses coming.
Charlie struggled for breath as the pain subsided and a different urge overtook it. He felt Roman push his jacket off his shoulders and open the buttons of his shirt.
“Are we bein’ filmed?” Charlie panted for breath as Roman began to undress him.
As if it took a great effort to stop the foreplay, Roman looked around the room. He picked up the lamp from the nightstand to inspect and then opened the drawers, removing the lube from one.
A wave of exhaustion hit Charlie. He got to his feet and scuffed his heels to the bathroom. As he relieved himself he noticed a small black microphone on top of the medicine cabinet. He finished what he was doing and took it into his hand, shaking his head in disbelief. Once he had washed up, he brought it to Roman, who had found more equipment and piled it on the kitchen table. “We almost did an x-rated film.”
Roman chuckled, but he sounded exhausted as well.
“Go wash up. It’s been the day from hell.” Charlie patted his back.
Roman met his eyes quickly and headed to the bathroom.
Before they turned in for the night, Charlie threw a few logs into the hearth, lighting them, locked the front door and peeked out of the window. Butch, JP, and Goat were walking past his cabin on their way to the one they shared. Charlie opened the door and the three men stopped.
“Thank you.” He reached out to touch Butch’s cheek.
At first Butch recoiled in reaction, but a second later he embraced Charlie, holding him tight.
A lump formed in Charlie’s throat as one by one his friends gave him a hug for support. Charlie dabbed at his eyes and said, “I never thought you three would stand by me like you did.”
Goat chuckled nervously. “I never had a gay-wolf friend before. I guess there’s always a first time.”
“I won’t let you down. Ever.” Charlie ignored their thoughts that came like voices in his ear. He didn’t want to know if they were afraid or skeptical. He just wanted to feel loved.
“Get some rest, Charlie. Tomorrow’s a new day.”
“Thank you, JP.” Charlie clasped his hand for a last squeeze. When the men walked on to their cabin, Charlie shut the door. He spun around to see Roman, naked, smiling wickedly.
Charlie gave him the same grin back and approached him, opening his jeans.
“I know you’re tired.” Roman reached into Charlie’s pants.
“I can come. I want to make love.”
Roman led Charlie to the bed, helping him take off the rest of his clothing. Once they were both naked, they relaxed face to face.
Charlie gazed into Roman’s dark bedroom eyes. The love he felt there made his skin prickle with fire. Something strong was between them now. Like a blood tie. And in the dim lighting of the one table lamp, Charlie could see the wolf in his man. The hunger. The heat.
At that moment, nothing mattered more to Charlie than Roman. He cupped the back of Roman’s head through his thick black hair and drew him to his lips.
Roman fell to his back on the bed, letting Charlie dominate him. He spread his legs and reached between Charlie’s, holding his stiff length.
Charlie sucked on his lips and sweetness of his lover’s taste. He Roman’s thighs and felt the urge to howl in the night.
Using hand over fist, Roman fondled Charlie’s cock as it thickened. Charlie threw back his head and thrust his hips forward into Roman’s palms, loving the tight friction.
“God, look at you. Charlie Mosby, you are fantastic.”
In his twenty-five years of life, Charlie had never experienced the freedom, the thrill, or the power, of who he was. Roman had brought him to a level of being that was the best and worst of everything he had ever known.
Without intending to, Charlie let loose that previously contained howl. It was beyond his control. He reached his hands over his head and spread his fingers to the ceiling as if it were the moonlit sky.
Roman gripped him around his waist and threw him on the bed. They both panted and snarled as the combination of wolf and man began to merge. Charlie knew they were on the verge of the changeover, but neither ever did.
~
Roman had made love to many men but never had the electricity and sparks been so intense. Charlie’s scent was driving him wild. He inhaled deeply and licked Charlie’s neck and jaw, teething on his skin. Charlie’s whimpers under him echoed his own. He spread Charlie’s thighs with his knees and tongue, moaning at the knelt upright, straddling ground their cocks together. Charlie grabbed Roman’s head and connected to his mouth.
The kissing nearly turned Roman into a wolf, it was so wild. He found he was holding back his climax as well as his inner wolf. He couldn’t get enough of Charlie, running his hands from his hair, down his shoulders and muscular arms, to his hips. Roman roared in desire and sat upright, gripping Charlie’s legs roughly and chewing his way down his chest to his crotch.
Under him Charlie writhed, digging his Roman’s hair and urging him downward.
Roman rubbed his face against Charlie’s devoured his musky scent. He ran his tongue along Charlie’s cock, feeling it pulsate and tasting the pre-cum from the tip. Charlie thrust his hips, needing penetration. Though Roman was hungry for his own pleasure, he opened his lips and allowed Charlie inside his mouth.
Roman knew once Charlie got his dick inside a hot, wet hole, he would go mad. And he did.
Holding his cock by the base, Roman allowed Charlie to fuck his mouth. He drew long hard suction to the tip, tasting more pre-cum and moaning with the growing need.
“Roman! Ahh! Son-of-a-bitch!”
The rapid pulsating began deep between Charlie’s legs. Roman could feel every throbbing beat. He rubbed hot friction at the base of his cock, his rim and his balls. Charlie gasped and punched his fist into the bed, choking on the intensity.
Making sure he had milked Charlie for all he had, Roman snatched the lube from the nightstand and pushed two slick fingers into Charlie’s ass. Another wolf-like howl mixed with a masculine groan emerged from Charlie. His eyes were still closed and every muscle in his chest and abs was tensed and showing through his bronze skin.
With the taste of his cum on his tongue, Roman spun Charlie to his front and became the alpha male. He held Charlie’s hips and pushed the head of his cock inside him.
Charlie groaned and pressed his head into the pillows.
Balls deep, Roman stopped to feel the incredible sense of uniting with his lover. He looked at their union and chills washed up his spine. The moment he felt Charlie’s body release to him, fingers through

pubic hair and he began humping him like a mad dog. Roman snarled and tightened his grip on Charlie’s hips, hammering until his head was spinning. The climax began deep inside his groin and exploded out of him. Sweat dripped down his temples and chest as he worked the orgasm for all he could. Both their whimpering moans were mixed with snarls and growls. Roman knew if he let go, he’d be a wolf instantly. The carnal lust he was feeling for Charlie was pure animal in nature.
Pain seared through his gut.
Roman let go his hold on Charlie’s hips and stumbled off the bed.
Charlie spun around, his eyes wild and his teeth showing.
Gasping for air, Roman held up his hand. “Stop yourself! No!”
As if he was slapped in the face, Charlie shook his head and woke out of the moment. He dropped to his back and held his chest.
Roman reached for the walls for balance, making his way to the bathroom. He splashed his face and washed up gaining control. Then he returned with a washcloth to tend Charlie.
Charlie was lying perfectly still with his eyes open. Roman wiped Charlie’s body clean, then tossed it on the floor and collapsed on the bed. With an effort they drew the blankets over them.
“My Lord,” Charlie’s voice was deep and hoarse, “Never in my wildest dreams…”
“I know.” Roman spooned him from behind, holding him close. “I know.”
Chapter 11

Charlie woke to the sound of someone shoveling in front of the cabin. He rolled over and found Roman asleep beside him. Before he got up, he took a moment to stare at him, something he was savoring a lot lately. Charlie had never slept with anyone before. He liked it. The sense of not being alone, of having a companion… Charlie didn’t know how much he was lacking until Roman came into his life. The urge to rub his body all over Roman’s was almost too strong to ignore.

The shoveling noise continued. Yes, he should get dressed and help. It was most likely Butch outside doing the work he should be doing.

Charlie checked the clock on the nightstand. It was seven. When he glanced back at Roman, his eyes were open.
“Mornin’.” Charlie smiled.
“Mornin’, cowboy.” Roman perked up to the shoveling noise. “Wow. Those boys start early.”
“Usually earlier than this. I should get out there.”
“You can’t with one of these.” Roman grabbed his morning hard-on.
The sensation made Charlie moan. “We have become sex addicts.”
“I always was one. I just never had a steady partner.” Roman tugged on Charlie’s cock. “You have to piss?”
“I don’t want to now.” Charlie rested his head on the pillow, blinking, looking at the ceiling. “What are we goin’ to do, Roman? We can’t live day by day this way.”
Roman slowed down his hand job. “I don’t know. I’m at a loss.”
After thinking for a moment, Charlie said, “It’s Thanksgivin’.”
“Oh. Is it?”
“Yes.”
“I usually worked through holidays and didn’t see my family. I don’t even pay attention anymore to the holidays or days of the week.”
“Connie and the girls will be cookin’ all damn day. You have no idea how much food they’ll prepare. Then they’ll invite all their relatives. The house will be full.”
“Maybe we should stay away.”
Charlie looked at him. “The girls will go back to school tomorrow.”
Roman shrugged, toying with Charlie’s balls gently as his cock softened. “What do you want me to say?”
“I don’t know. A game plan? A way to figure out what we’re doin’?” Charlie didn’t expect Roman to roll out of bed like he did, acting annoyed. When he left the room, Charlie felt lousy. He wished he could read his mind. He couldn’t.
He got out of bed to see Roman with his cell phone to his ear. Charlie glanced at the fireplace and decided to get a fire going since the logs had burned out.
Roman said, “Nick? Roman. What’s the update? And don’t give me any flack about contamination and containment. Just tell me when you’re going to find the woman with the red painted face.”
Charlie struck a match and lit the kindling. He wondered if the ATF agents had given up. It didn’t seem as though anyone had made any headway in figuring out why this had happened, or who had done it.
The shovel hit the front door of his cabin. Charlie started at the noise and decided to get out and help. It was his job.
He headed to the bathroom to take a shower.
~
Roman peeked out of the curtain and spotted Butch clearing the freshly fallen snow.
Nick said, “We found a small group in Salt Lake City that have ties to satanic worship.”
“And?” When Roman heard the water running, he opened the bathroom door to watch Charlie shower.
“We’ve got a list of names. It takes time to check each one. I don’t have to tell you that.”
“I want you to know how helpless I feel doing this alone. I have to know I have you guys behind me.” Roman made a gap in the sliding door so he could see Charlie soaping up. Charlie’s blue eyes made Roman’s cock wag.
“We are. Please believe me, Roman.”
“It’s Thanksgiving today. Is anyone even going to do any work on this?”
“We have a few of the boys still in the office. Phil said he’d continue to follow up on leads.”
Charlie faced Roman, spreading his legs and soaping up his genitals.
A flash of fire hit Roman at the sight. “Listen to me, Nick…I want more agents up near the reservoir. That’s where they do their rituals. They use that area that’s like a ring of trees. You know which one I mean.”
“I doubt they’ll be up there in this weather.”
“You don’t know that.” Roman felt his anger create pain.
Charlie immediately noticed it and touched Roman’s chest with his wet, soapy hand.
Roman calmed down and said, “Do not expect Charlie and I to continue this way ‘til spring.” He felt the water dripping down his chest. Charlie leaned out of the shower to lick his nipple.
“I don’t, Roman.”
“Fine. Keep me up to date. Okay?”
“I will.”
Roman disconnected the call and set the phone on the sink. He entered the shower stall and embraced Charlie under the running water. They kissed and rocked together in the steaming heat.
“Nothin’ yet, huh?” Charlie caressed Roman’s face.
“No.”
“Let’s hurry up. I don’t want to be late for breakfast or miss out on helpin’ the boys. I usually drive the truck with the plow.”
“Okay, babe.” Roman backed up.
“Git over here.” Charlie grabbed his cock. “I said we should be quick, not forget it.”
Roman laughed and handed Charlie the soap.
~
Wearing his cowboy hat and boots, Charlie found Butch, JP, and Goat, busy clearing the few inches of snow that had fallen overnight. Charlie took a broom and swept the light snow off the porch as Roman picked up a shovel to help.
“Did you boys eat breakfast yet?” Charlie asked.
“No. Not yet.” Butch paused and propped himself up on the shovel handle. “You’re usually the first one up. Not no more, hey, Charlie?”
Charlie and Roman exchanged glances.
“I get it.” Butch shook his head. “Lucky bastards.”
Even though Charlie knew what Butch meant, he was about to ask Butch why he thought turning into a wolf was lucky, when Suzie opened the door to the house, poking her head out. “Breakfast is ready, fellas.”
Goat hurried up the two steps of the porch, leaning his shovel against the siding. “Good. I’m starved.”
“Makes two of us.” Roman stomped his shoes to get rid of the snow.
The scent of bacon and coffee was strong in the air. As the men shed their coats and hats, Charlie could hear Harley barking his head off from where he was confined in the house. “Shouldn’t he be outside?”
“He hates the snow.” Suzie smiled. “Come on, boys. Mom’s got all the food on the table for you.”
Charlie entered the kitchen to see Sherlane and Connie up to their necks in pots and pans. “You gals are workin’ harder than us.” He sat at the kitchen table while Suzie filled their mugs with coffee.
“Yes,” Sherlane said, “Hours of preparation and a half hour to eat it all.”
“We’re doing our dinner at three, mind you’all.” Connie used her forearm to wipe her sweating brow. “I hope each and every one of you called your mamas.”
The men exchanged sheepish glances as they passed the platters of waffles and bacon.
Vernon entered the room with Harley at his heels. The dog immediately went crazy barking at Charlie and Roman.
Charlie tried to feed him a piece of bacon. “Here, dog. As a peace offerin’.”
Harley bit Charlie’s finger, making him drop the food. The morsel was gobbled up between barks.
Charlie looked at his finger for holes. “Damn. I have had enough bites lately.”
“Did he break the skin?” Suzie held Charlie’s hand to look.
“No, hun.” Charlie caught Roman glaring at their contact. He took his hand back to continue eating.
“Come on, you crazy mutt.” Suzie grabbed Harley by his collar and dragged him out of the kitchen.
Vernon sat in his usual spot, mixing milk and sugar into his coffee. “He used to like you, Charlie.”
“I can’t blame him. He thinks I’m his mortal enemy now.” Charlie reached under the table to squeeze Roman’s thigh. He said softly, “You can’t still be jealous.”
Roman blinked as if he were just coming aware. “Huh?”
“Nuthin’.” Charlie focused back on his plate.
“Any news, boys?” Vernon topped his waffles with butter and syrup.
“I think things come to a standstill over holiday weekends.” Roman devoured his stack of waffles quickly.
Butch said, “Are you kiddin’ me, Roman? They’ll do nothin’ to help you guys over the holiday?”
Charlie noticed Roman’s expression sour. “Change the topic.” He cleared his throat. “Any rides today, Vernon?”
“Nope.” Vernon didn’t look up from his meal.
“That’s normal.” JP sipped his coffee. “We don’t get much on Turkey Day.”
Charlie heard Connie clanking pans. He looked over his shoulder to see her stuffing the turkey. Visions of his childhood, his three sisters and mother busy in the kitchen, making a feast, his two brothers and dad tossing a football back and forth in the yard, overwhelmed Charlie. He’d become a stranger to them. And now? A creature they wouldn’t believe was part of their family.
“Charlie?” Roman squeezed his arm.
Growing hot and embarrassed, Charlie dabbed his eyes discreetly. Suddenly pain washed through him. “Oh no.” He staggered to his feet, nearly knocking the chair backwards.
Roman jumped up. “What happened?”
This time Charlie could do nothing to stop it. He dropped to his knees and then his side, curling in a ball on the floor. Roman knelt beside him, trying to get him to snap out of it.
Charlie let out a roaring yell at the agony and stood on all fours, shaking off the clothing.
“No! Charlie, we’ve been doing so well!” Roman went to grab his fur to stop him from running out of the room.
Charlie snarled, slipped into the living room, and backed into a corner.
The men hurried into the room to contain him.
“Get him the hell out of here. Now!” Vernon picked up an iron from the fireplace.
“Charlie…calm down.” Roman said, “Don’t open the door. He’ll just turn back into a man and be lost.”
“He can’t stay in here.” Vernon held the iron like a bat.
“Dad. Stop threatening him.” Sherlane stood in front of her father.
Charlie felt the fur on his neck and back stand. He curled his lip as he snarled. Roman knelt down, both hands held up as if he was intimidated. “Charlie, turn back. Just think of last night. Or earlier in the shower. And if that don’t work, get mad at something. Now.”
He knew Roman meant to bring back emotional memories, but the opposite happened—more humiliation in front of his coworkers and boss. He lashed out at Roman, snapping his jaws.
Roman backed up and fell to his rump, staring at Charlie in shock.
“Here.” Suzie tossed a leash at Roman. “Maybe you can hold onto him so he can’t run off.”
“I’m not sure I want to go near him.” Roman got to his feet warily.
“If you don’t get him out of the house now, I’m getting my gun.” Vernon pushed Sherlane out of his way.
Charlie watched Roman trying to loop the lead around his neck. He had to decide what he wanted. Right now, he wanted freedom and the mountains covered in snow. He jumped up on an overstuffed chair and put both paws on the window, licking the glass.
Something tightened around his neck.
“Let’s go, Charlie.” Roman held the leash upright to keep Charlie away from him.
Charlie went crazy, shaking his head and pushing at the nylon strap. The more he pulled, the tighter it got.
“Charlie! Calm down!” Suzie held her hands together as if to beg.
“Get him out of this house!” Connie ordered. “I can’t be dealing with this nonsense today.”
The noise of thoughts and everyone yelling was driving Charlie insane. He glared at Roman and leapt at him, jumping on top of him and knocking him to the floor.
Charlie snarled at him. “This is your fault! You did this to me!”
The change began in Roman’s eyes. Charlie could see them glowing.
“Oh no!” Suzie shouted.
Charlie felt the icy cold from the open door. Before Vernon hit either of them with the fire iron, Charlie bolted out the door with Roman on all fours in pursuit. The door slammed behind them.
In an all-out sprint, Charlie headed up the trail, through the new snow, towards the west side of the property.
He looked back and caught the black wolf tailing him, tongue hanging out of his mouth, his eyes glowing like headlamps. He didn’t slow down until he was nearing the fence line. Before he leapt over it, he stopped short. A dead deer was lying on its side, sliced open from ribs to groin.
Blood stained the snow around it and dozens of footprints were leading to and from it. Charlie sniffed around the deer and caught that same strange chemical odor. “Roman. It’s them.”
“I know. I smell it.”
“This is fresh. Get the agents here!”
“How?” Roman showed his canines in his snarl.
“Fuck you!” Charlie trotted off to the edge of the reservoir.
“Charlie! Why? Why did you change?” Roman caught up to him and body slammed him, knocking him over. Roman stood over Charlie, his black fur a stark contrast to the white hills.
Charlie nipped at his snout but Roman bit him harder, making him yelp. No matter how he tried, Charlie could not get free of Roman. Charlie broke down emotionally. He went limp on his back and pushed his paw into Roman. “I don’t know. I just don’t know.”
“Was it something I said?”
“No. I just got to thinkin’ of shit. Never you mind.”
Roman softened his aggressive stance and lay next to Charlie, resting his head on him. “And? This ‘shit’ sent you into a tailspin?”
“Yes.” Charlie flipped over to his front and rested his head on his paws. “I guess it gets to me sometimes, and sometimes it don’t. Know what I mean?”
“Yes. Unfortunately.” Roman raised his head and looked at the deer. “Wish I had a cell phone.”
“I screwed it up this time. Vernon was so angry. He’s about to kill me.”
“He was pissed. And yes, he’s very angry. That family just wants to enjoy the holiday and you and I are messing it up.”
Charlie whimpered and it sounded like little squeaking noises.
“Stop crying.”
“I can’t help it.” Charlie whimpered.
“I smell something strong. Charlie, stop crying.” Roman stood up and sniffed the air. “What is that?”
Charlie struggled to focus. “That chemical smell?”
“No.” Roman spun around and growled.
In panic, Charlie jumped to his four feet and stood beside him. A mountain lion was eying the dead deer.
“She-it! We have to get out of here.”
“No way. That cat will drag the evidence off. Not going to happen.” Roman snarled and began stalking the big cat.
“You have got to be kiddin’!” Charlie knew they’d need a pack of a dozen wolves to scare a predatory cat off.
The cougar growled, showing its fangs.
“Roman, do not attack that animal. She’ll cut you to ribbons.”
The sound of a galloping horse made all three of them perk up. The cougar trotted off before Butch could spot it. Charlie and Roman waited.
Butch rode up on Scout. “You idiots! Don’t you want to eat dinner with the family later?” Scout reared and nearly threw Butch off. He dismounted and tied him to a low tree branch. “Is that what I think it is?” Butch approached the dead animal.
Charlie moved behind Butch and nudged him closer to the deer with his snout.
Butch knelt down and shook his head. “Son-of-a-bitch.”
“Call the authorities.” Charlie kept poking Butch with his nose.
Even without verbal communication, Butch got on his cell phone. “Vernon. We got another dead deer up here. Same spot. Can you call the sheriff? Yeah. They’re here too. Yup. Still wolves.” Butch cupped the phone. “I got you’re clothing.” He tilted his head to the nervous horse. “Yeah. Okay, Vernon. I’ll wait here for them.” Butch inspected the carcass, pocketing his phone. “Same thing. I can’t believe it.” He looked at Charlie. “You guys didn’t do this, right?”
Charlie stood on his hind legs and pushed his paws into Butch’s chest. “No, you moron.”
“He’s got our clothing, Charlie. Are you over whatever stupid thoughts you had to make you change?”
“Hey! I resent that!” Charlie tackled Roman and bit his nose.
“Ow! Stop it. I was just teasing.”
“Hey, you two. Are you playing or fighting?”
Charlie looked up at Butch and bounded over the snow to him, toppling him backwards. He lapped at Butch’s face making him laugh and squirm away.
“Stop it! I’d only let you lick me like that when you’re a man.”
Charlie blinked and stared at him. “Yeah?”
“Git off me, you crazy nut.” As if Butch had realized what he had said was revealing, he blushed and stood up, brushing the snow off his arms. He walked around the area, looking at the fence. “Torn again. Will you change back so you can help me?”
Roman dropped hard to the ground, curling up in a ball.
Charlie knew what that meant. He stood over him, pushing his nose against him.
Butch hurried to the horse and pulled a black plastic bag off the saddle, bringing it to Roman as he shivered naked.
“Here, Roman.”
“Thanks.” Roman got dressed quickly, jumping into his jeans and socks, sitting to put on shoes. “Come on, Charlie. Play time is over. We need to deal with this.”
Charlie sat down on the snow and stared at the dead animal and the cut fence, getting angry. He tried to prepare himself for the pain but never could. Closing his eyes, he dipped his head down and braced himself. He made a noise of anguish and collapsed to the ground.
~
“There he goes.” Roman reached into the bag for Charlie’s clothing.
“It’s so nasty to watch.” Butch made a face of disgust and scratched his jaw. “I swear you boys better never bite me.”
“You better hope licking doesn’t do it. Charlie gave you quite a tongue bath.”
“Yeah. I know.” Butch wiped his face with his sleeve.
“Goddamnit!” Charlie clenched his fists as if shaking off the pain. “Why does that have to hurt so bad?”
“Here. Get dressed before Butch memorizes the shape of your dick.”
Charlie took the briefs he was handed and stood, hurriedly getting dressed in the icy air.
“Why did you change earlier, Charlie?” Butch asked. “What happened?”
“Nuthin’.”
“He won’t tell me either.” Roman held Charlie’s coat and boots in his hand as Charlie zipped up his jeans and put his shirt on.
“Thanks, Butch. You’ve become our best ally. I never thought that would happen.” Charlie put his boots on, then his jacket.
“I’m not all bad, Charlie.”
“I never said that.”
“You did. You tried to have Vernon fire me. Remember? Or do wolves have bad memories.”
“Please…” Roman moaned. “Don’t get anyone mad or emotional. Now…Watch where you tread. There are some great footprints here that I want the lab guys to photograph.” Roman asked, “Will Vernon call the sheriff or the ATF?”
“I assume so. You want to use my phone?”
“I didn’t memorize Phil’s number. He changed it when he moved out of our office.” Roman looked around. “There. That’s where they came in and went out.”
“Cut the fence again.” Charlie shook his head and tucked in his shirt. “I am sick to death of repairing that thing.”
They all spun around to the clomping sound of horses. Vernon, JP, and Goat approached.
“Welcome back,” Goat said, grinning.
The horses wouldn’t come closer than a few yards away. Vernon dismounted and looked upset at the sight. “I can’t believe this.”
Roman pointed to the fence. “Stay clear of that area. There are good footprints in the snow.”
“Why do they keep doing it here?” Vernon narrowed his eyes, looking around the woods. “Can’t they pick someone else’s ranch?”
“Did you call the agents? Or just the local sheriff?” Roman walked closer to Vernon.
“Both. They said ETA of fifteen minutes.” Vernon gestured behind him to the ranch. “The girls will show ‘em where we are, but the officials know now. They’ve been up here twice.” He said to Charlie, “I thought we had it straight you wouldn’t turn into a wolf in the house anymore. What the hell did you do that for?”
“Sorry, boss.” Charlie looked sheepish.
“Please don’t get him upset, Vernon.” Roman gave Vernon a warning glance.
“All right. I just hoped we’d have a nice meal and a day of peace. I guess that was asking too much.” Vernon took off his hat and scratched his head. “At least we know they’re still in the area. That has to be good news for you boys.”
Goat said, “I don’t want it happening to me. I hope those witches vanish.”
“Not until we have this curse removed.” Charlie stuffed his hands into his pockets.
Roman listened for any sound of ATVs or four wheel drive engines. “Most of the men will be on call and coming from home. We’d be lucky to see them in fifteen.”
“What do you want us to do, Roman?” Vernon asked.
“Wait. I have nothing to process this scene. I know they’ll do a thorough job.”
“All right. We’ll wait.” Vernon walked back to his horse and sat in the saddle.
Charlie and Roman met eyes. ‘What happened earlier?’ he mouthed silently.
All Charlie did was look away.
~
Nearly an hour later, Roman heard the sound of a vehicle. He said, “Finally.” Walking past the horses, giving a wide berth because they were wary of him and Charlie, Roman watched one black SUV coming up the snowy trail.
Phil and Nick were in the front seat while Sheriff Kenmore and one other officer were in the back seat. All the men got out of the truck and walked towards Roman.
“Another sacrificed animal.” He thumbed over his shoulder. “The area is loaded with foot prints.”
Nick nodded to the agent from the back seat. “Go get some photographs before we take a look.”
“Yes, sir.” He took a kit out of the hatch and walked over to the scene.
Roman stared at Phil. This man had been his partner for years. Now he acted like a stranger. “Any results from the lab on our blood work?”
“Not yet.”
“Then don’t treat me like I’m a leper.”
“We don’t know what the hell you have, Roman.”
The minute he felt his anger ignite, pain shot into his gut. Roman turned away from Phil and noticed Charlie watching him.
Vernon spoke to Sheriff Kenmore quietly, pointing at the cut fence.
Roman took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to relax while the deer and foot prints were photographed.
“They don’t seem very enthusiastic about helpin’ us, Roman.” Charlie frowned.
“I noticed the same thing. It feels as if they’re ready to move on and don’t give a shit anymore.”
“They did at first.”
“Yeah. When they thought I was missing, held hostage or dead. Now that they know…” Roman cringed and rubbed his mid-section.
“Oh, boy.” Charlie shook his head. “Not now. You think I had bad timin’?”
Roman looked up at the horizon and inhaled deeply. “Phil used to be close to me, Charlie. Now he’s acting like an apathetic stranger.”
“I’m sorry, Roman.”
“They’ll all head back to Reno soon. You’ll see. Now that they know I’m a lost cause, they’ll move on to the next case.”
“Don’t upset yourself.” Charlie patted his back, catching Butch watching them.
Butch mouthed silently, ‘He okay?’
Charlie shrugged, turning his attention back to the evidence tech.
Roman caught their communication and sighed.
The technician knelt down by the fence area. “Wolf tracks, and cougar tracks. You think that’s relevant?”
Roman said, “No.”
“Cougar?” Goat blinked. “You boys turning into a cougar too?”
Vernon and the sheriff spun around at the comment.
“No,” Charlie replied. “There was a cougar here tryin’ to steal the deer. We ain’t turnin’ into one.”
“That’s all we need.” Butch blew out a puff of air in the cold breeze.
The tech said, “I got all the prints and the scene photographed. Anything else?”
Vernon said, “We took the last few kills to the local vet. Doc McMurray did a good job giving us an autopsy. Up to you boys if you think you want to take it to your own vet.”
Nick replied, “Go ahead and take it to your vet. We’ll get the report from her. She did a good job last time.”
“Butch, JP,” Vernon said, “Go ahead and drag her down the hillside. Bring her to the doc.”
“Okay, boss.” Butch removed a tarp from JP’s saddle. Goat helped wrap the carcass up as well.
Roman approached Nick. “That’s it? Take a couple of pictures and let the local vet do the autopsy?”
“What do you want us to do, Roman?”
“How about track them?” He pointed to the snow footprints. “How about make an effort?”
“Roman.” Charlie stood beside him, touching him. “Don’t get upset.”
“It’s Thanksgiving day, Roman.” Nick’s breath was like smoke in the cold air. “I can’t get the copter up, I can’t do shit.”
“You can’t? If this was a homicide you would.” Roman fought hard to keep his anger contained. “If we escaped your little net, you would.”
Phil intervened. “Roman, you keep that up and you’ll be on all fours.”
“What do you care? You two are about to abandon me and Charlie. Admit it. This has become low priority for you boys!”
“Roman, stop yellin’ or you know what’s comin’.” Charlie gripped Roman’s upper arm.
“Admit it!” Roman doubled over and grabbed his stomach.
Phil crouched near him, cupping the back of his head, making Roman meet his eyes. “We are doing everything we can. Please believe me. You are still very important to us. But you know how this service works. We’re not even in our own jurisdiction. We’re working from a borrowed office with Utah state officials.”
“The Feds give up?” Roman battled the change, forcing his mind to let go of the fury.
“They’re letting us deal with it, but they’re there if we need it. They are still sending intel our way.” Phil’s eyes watered as he spoke. “We will not abandon you.”
“Phil.” Roman’s anger turned to raw emotion. “I want to get back to work. Help me.”
“I am, Roman. I swear I am.”
Roman wrapped his arms around Phil’s neck. Phil stood them both up, rubbing Roman’s back. “Okay. Hang in there.”
The pain was growing severe but Roman kept fighting it. He rested his head on Phil’s and inhaled his cologne. That scent brought him back to his office, his desk, his life back home. ~
The deer was wrapped in the tarp and JP tied it to his saddle to drag down the hill. Charlie tried to help but seeing his lover holding the handsome ATF agent, Phil Dean, was making him feel possessive over Roman. He knew Phil was straight, but the wolf in him was not happy.
Charlie counted in his head to defuse his anger. Why were they still hugging? He wanted them to part and step away from each other. The urge to push between them was growing in him, and cramping invaded his stomach.
He blew out breaths into the cold air. His gaze was glued to his lover holding another man.
Butch leaned against Charlie’s side. “Looks like he’s got other interests beside you.”
“No. They’re just buddies.” Charlie tried not to look at Phil and Roman’s interaction.
“Sure, Charlie. Like what you an’ me would be doin’ if Roman wasn’t around.”
“Butch, do you think gettin’ me angry is a good idea?”
“Me?” Butch appeared indignant.
Vernon said, “Come on, boys. Get that dead deer to the doc. Let’s go. Connie’s goin’ to have dinner on the table at three, and I am not disappointing her.”
Butch glanced at Roman and said to Charlie, “Keep calm while I’m gone. No one else here will do anything for you two.”
Charlie caressed Butch’s cheek lightly. “Thanks.”
“No problem, Charlie.”
It was Roman’s turn to stare at him in concern.
Charlie had never been a jealous man. He hadn’t had any close ties to a partner before. But there was no doubt that this extra pang of possessiveness was pure wolf in nature.
“Get goin’.” Charlie patted Butch’s bottom and nudged him on his way.
“Goat, you and Charlie fix that fence up.” Vernon tilted his head at the cut barbed wire.
“Yes, boss.” Goat removed tools from his saddlebag.
Charlie sighed and walked over to the tangled wire, seeing if it could be twisted back together again. Roman’s conversation with Phil and Nick was audible to him with his sharp wolf senses.
“If you get this thing under control,” Nick said, “and we find out it’s not contagious, we need you back at your desk.”
Charlie winced and glanced back at Goat as he began to use pliers on the cut ends of the fence.
“I can control it. I know what it is that causes the change.”
“Okay, Roman. When we get the results from the lab, we’ll call you and let you know.”
“Nick, if I was truly contagious, wouldn’t everyone on this ranch be infected? Wouldn’t both you and Phil? Come on, this is crap and you know it.”
“Charlie is sick with this. Don’t tell me it’s crap.”
Nick and Charlie connected stares. Charlie felt a light snow beginning to fall, as Goat tended the work beside him.
Nick turned away first.
“I bit him.” Roman appeared to be keeping his temper once more. “Do you think I’m going to go around biting people?”
“If you come back to the office in Reno, then what happens to the task of finding the people responsible for this?” Phil opened his palms in a questioning gesture. “You leave this area and the investigation will go stone cold.”
Charlie wished he could read Roman’s mind. What he was sensing from his comments was he was ready to get away from him, the sooner the better.
“Charlie?” Goat asked. “I could sure use a hand.”
“Sorry, Goat.” Charlie knelt down and tugged on the cut end of the wire. Even though he wasn’t looking, he could still hear everything going on around him. Vernon and Sheriff Kenmore left. The sheriff walked with Vernon down the trail while Vernon led his horse, walking beside the sheriff. JP and Butch followed on horseback, dragging the deer behind them. The evidence tech was stowing his gear in the back of the SUV and Nick and Phil didn’t look as if they were staying much longer.
“Charlie,” Roman called.
“Yeah?”
“I’m going back with the boys to the ranch. You need me to stay here?”
Pain crackled inside Charlie’s gut at a sense of abandonment. “No.”
“Okay. See you when you get done.” Roman got into the SUV with the agents.
Goat gave Charlie a nervous look. “Stay human, Charlie. It’s just you and me here.”
“I will.” Charlie heard the SUV starting and driving off.
Goat began chatting about the coming meal and what his favorite food was, as Charlie allowed the banal conversation to keep his nerves calm.
~
“You don’t even want to track them?” Roman leaned over the front seat, the evidence tech appearing uneasy beside him.
“We have no idea when they killed that animal,” Nick said, driving the SUV back down the rutty trail.
“Last night.” Roman heard thoughts from the tech. He was terrified he’d either contract what Roman had or be in the back seat with a wolf. Roman said, “Boo!” and the man jumped in his seat in fear.
Phil spun around and realized what Roman was doing. “Roman, leave the poor man alone. He was called out from home to assist us.”
Roman leaned over the front seat again. “Come on, guys. Help me out here. If I don’t find the morons who did this, I’m stuck with this shit.”
“Tomorrow I can get more units up here. You know paid overtime on a holiday is not the best scenario to get a large group to respond.” Nick pulled into the parking area and stopped the truck.
Roman could see the wranglers had arrived, cleaning stalls while the horses were in the open paddock. “Seriously? Money? That’s why instead of a K9 tracker, a copter, and a load of agents, I got you two and this terrified tech?” Roman pretended to snap his jaws at the man. The man got out of the SUV in a hurry.
Phil spun around in his seat. “Roman…shut up and listen.”
Roman rested his chin on his hands on the seat back.
“We are working like dogs behind the scenes. Both the Feds and our guys have a list of names. One by one, we are knocking and interrogating. If something comes up positive on an interview, we’re ready to get a warrant to search premises.”
Nick kept the engine running to keep warm, giving a glance at the tech agent who was smoking a cigarette, leaning on Charlie’s pickup truck. “Roman, you think you’re forgotten or low priority, but you’re not. We’re still trying to find the original cache of weapons and bomb-making material from the call we responded to when all this crap happened. There will be agents here helping the local police until we can either verify or rule out the possibility that there is still a problem here.”
Roman closed his eyes and laid his cheek on his hands. “I can’t take much more of this. I want to get back to normal. I feel so fucking helpless.”
“You have Charlie.”
Roman opened his eyes to Phil’s comment. He blocked out both of their inner dialogues about his sexuality, not wanting to know what they thought deep inside. “He’s not my career. And he will still be my lover when this is over.”
“That’s not our business, Roman.” Nick looked out of his side window. JP and Butch had loaded the deer into a pickup truck. Butch stayed behind as JP drove out of the ranch lot. Vernon and Sheriff Kenmore were shaking hands before the sheriff got into his patrol car and left.
“I know. But you two seem to think I can live happily ever after as Charlie’s sexual partner and nothing else. I’m only twenty-nine. I have a few years left in me before I ‘retire’. I love my fucking job.”
“I know,” Nick said, looking at Phil. “We know.”
Roman touched each of them on the shoulder. “So? You promise tomorrow you’ll get some search parties up here?”
“I can’t promise anything without an okay from the top.” Nick waved the tech to come back into the car. He was done smoking and looked cold. He shook his head no.
Roman slid back to slouch on the back seat, legs straddled. “The scent will be gone. The trail will be covered in snow. You guys missed the opportunity.”
“Sorry, Roman. Like we replied, “We aren’t working with our own men here. The Feds withdrew, and the local department is severely short staffed.”
Roman threw up his hands in frustration. “I’m sunk. This is it. This is my life from now on.”
tried to tell you earlier,” Nick
Phil turned around in his seat so he could talk to Roman face to face. “You said you can control it now.”
“Not entirely. I’m not even sure what the rules of this shit are. If I get mad, or if I don’t. If I relax or if I cry. It happens no matter what.”
“But you know when it’s coming on.”
“What’s your point?”
“My point is, if this is the new Roman Burk, why not just deal with it?”
“Gee, what a good idea,” Roman said sarcastically, “It’s so much fun. I think it’s your turn. Get over here and let me bite you, Phil.” Roman grew angry and lunged at him. Instantly he felt pain as Phil recoiled quickly.
“Calm the fuck down,” Nick said, looking at Roman in the rear view mirror.
Roman slowed his temper, rubbing his gut. “What’s wrong, Phil? Not interested in this ‘new’ way of life?”
Phil pointed a warning finger at Roman. “I’m your biggest ally, Roman. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.” Phil retracted his finger in case Roman did try to bite him. “I never had a problem with you being gay, and I don’t have a problem with you being a wolf or crow either.”
“This is about you?” Roman let out a sarcastic laugh. “Lucky me, my co-worker doesn’t have a problem with me being gay. Did you hear that, Nick? I’m lucky.”
“This isn’t getting us anywhere.” Nick checked his watch. “My wife and kids are expecting me for Thanksgiving dinner back in Reno. I have a long fucking drive ahead of me.” He exhaled loudly. “Roman, just believe that we are doing all we can. I can’t reassure you anymore than that.”
Roman caught Phil’s suspicious glance. He read his thoughts and smiled sadly. “I won’t bite you out of spite, Phil. Chill out.”
“The director will ask me if I think it’s okay for you to get back to work, Roman,” Phil said, “and I’m trying to give you the benefit of the doubt. You contaminated the man you’re having sex with. Why would anyone think you’re safe to be around?”
“You think it’s like AIDS or an STD? Do you think I want to fuck everyone around me?” Roman felt another bout of anger flare up and fought it. “I can’t tell you how incredibly insulting that is.”
Phil shrugged. “You two fuck and now he’s infected.”
“I have to get out of this car before I tear you both to shreds.” Roman opened the back door.
The agent outside the car jumped out of his skin and walked around the opposite side of the SUV to get in.
Roman leaned into the car. “Just keep me up to date on the progress. Is that too much to ask?”
“No,” Nick said, “I promise I will.”
Roman slammed the back door closed and watched the SUV leave the lot. He looked up the trail, thinking of Charlie, but headed to the cabin. The least he could do was call his family and say Happy Thanksgiving.
~
“That should do it, Charlie.” Goat stood upright, holding his back as if it ached.
Charlie tugged on the wire to see if it would hold. “All right. I think that’s all we can do for now.”
Goat reached out for the pliers. Charlie handed them over and Goat tucked the tools into his saddle. His horse shifted and snorted in the chilly air, eying Charlie nervously.
“You want a ride back?” Goat held the horse’s bridle.
“No. You go on. I think I’ll just take my time. I have a lot on my mind, Goat.”
“It’s cold out and the snow’s picking up, Charlie. Don’t stay out too long. We’ve all been up here for hours as it is. And Connie’s bound to have loads of food ready.” He swung his leg up over the saddle.
“I know. Thanks, Goat.” Charlie gave him a little wave.
When Goat walked off, Charlie knelt down to look at the bloody snow where the deer had been. He could see where the human tracks went after the kill. The light snow that was falling wasn’t covering it yet, but it soon would. Using his canvas gloves to push the barbs down, he climbed over the low wire fence and followed it.
A noise behind him made him spin around. He blinked and looked through the flurries to see a little white animal barreling up the trail towards him. “Harley, what are you doin’ out here? Suzie said you hate snow.”
Harley slipped under the wire and stopped at his heels, barking.
“Fine. You want to play that way, go ahead.” Charlie ignored him and kept walking, head down, sniffing the air and eying the footprints which were fast vanishing.
Harley finally gave up his attack on Charlie and walked beside him, nose to the ground.
“Do you smell that, ya dumb dog?” Charlie paused and inhaled. “Smells like that nasty chemical odor. What is that?” He followed it, and the tracks. Harley kept zigzagging ahead of him, as if he were following the same scent.
Charlie hadn’t explored this area of the federal land before. The snow was deep and his progress was slow. Harley was bounding like a jackrabbit in front of him, trying to keep his head above the deep snow.
The tracks led to a shack, run down and weatherworn. It was tiny, six by six feet with no windows and one door. The roof was pitched and the shingles were wearing thin and green with moss. Harley circled around it, his nose to the ground. He raised his leg on the corner, marking it.
Charlie listened. Not a sound was coming from it. His nerves kicked in but he didn’t let it overwhelm him. As he approached he could see a padlock on the door. Harley didn’t bark at him anymore, instead he stood by Charlie’s legs as if he were afraid of the cabin and Charlie was now a friend.
“What do you think it is?” Charlie asked him.
Harley blinked, licked his nose and panted.
He took a look around. More footprints and a few tire treads which showed vehicles leading up to and away from it were slowly being covered by snow.
Charlie put his nose to the crack in the door, and sniffed. He backed up quickly and sneezed from the stench. “That ain’t good. Somethin’s dead in there.” He patted his pockets for his phone. It was where he had left it, inside his jacket lining pocket. He opened it up to see if it had any charge left. It did.
He punched in a number. “Vernon?”
“Charlie, where are you? Everyone’s here at the house. You have us worried.”
“Vernon, I found a hut out here outside our property. It’s a tiny shack but I think it has somethin’ to do with me and Roman’s problem. Is he there?”
“Yeah. Hang on…Roman, Charlie’s on the line.”
Charlie spun around at a noise and felt his stomach churn in pain.
“Charlie?”
“Roman, I followed the trail that led off from the deer. I’m at…” Charlie held his gut and caught his breath.
Harley began barking at him.
“Charlie! Don’t change! Where are you?”
He took a few deep breaths. “I followed the foot prints… there’s a hut here, and it stinks of death. It’s locked up.” Charlie cringed and held onto the side of the shack for balance, hoping the pain would subside.
“Is that Harley? Tell him to shut up. I can barely hear you.”
Charlie fell to his knees as Harley began snapping at him, obviously smelling wolf. “Roman…”
“Charlie! No. I don’t know where you are! Don’t you dare change on me!”
“I’m tryin’…There’re tire treads, but the snow is coverin’ it up.” Charlie clenched his jaw and curled in a ball.
“Think calm thoughts. Charlie, please. Where are you?”
“West of the kill.” Charlie sat with his knees to his chest, his back to the hut. When he opened his eyes, he saw a figure with a red painted face looming from the surrounding woods.
“Oh, fuck. Roman, she’s here. The…the thing…” Charlie choked on his words as the agony began to morph into the change.
“What thing?”
“The red woman…” Charlie dropped the phone and curled into a ball, screaming in pain.
~
“Charlie!” Roman panicked and could only hear Harley going crazy. “Charlie! No! Where are you!” He opened the front door of the house and dropped to his knees. The phone hit the floor and he clutched his stomach and writhed in agony.
Butch’s voice was the last thing he heard before he bolted outside. “Roman! What happened to Charlie?”
Roman ran on all fours up the trail, bounding as fast as his legs would take him. The snow was falling steadily in large spinning flakes. He felt the cold air in his mouth as he panted, his tongue tasting the scent along with his nose.
He followed the trail to the spot where the deer was killed and came upon barbed wire. He raced along the fence line in frustration. He tried to dig under it and hit frozen dirt. Roman went nuts snapping at the air, trying to figure out how to leap over it. He howled and yelped in pain and fell to his side, digging uselessly at the snow as his body changed. On black feet with a wide wingspan, Roman hopped up and down and flapped his wings. He flew over the fence and tried to keep sight of the trail but the snow was blinding him.
Harley’s barking became audible. Roman flew towards the sound. He heard the dog yelp in pain and spotted it retreating, headed back to the ranch. Roman dove down and landed on the ground, wishing he still had his wolf body. He hopped on the top of the deep snow, seeing Charlie’s footprints and following them. The smell of rotting death grew strong. Roman flew a few more yards and spotted the hut. He landed on it and looked around. Scratching noises came from inside and Charlie’s clothing was in a heap outside it.
Roman pecked at the roof, accomplishing nothing.
He landed in front of the door and looked at the lock. “Charlie?” He flapped at the door, hitting it and rebounding.
Snuffling and whimpering noises came through the door.
“Charlie!” Roman dove at the door again and again, hitting it and falling to the ground.
He heard noises and spun to look behind him. Something appeared to be hiding in the low scrub. He took wing and noticed a shadowy figure. Instantly fear seized him. He dropped out of the sky and hit the hard ground, writhing and flapping his wings in agony.
~
Charlie was locked in the dark hut. He shivered as he became overwhelmed with the fumes. A shelf with dozens of jars, covered in dusty dirt and dried blood, dead creatures hanging from their feet, candles burned to wax pools, pentagrams and goat’s heads, made him shake in terror. He had no idea how he had gotten locked in. He clawed at the door, biting the handle, unable to move it.
A noise of something hitting the door came to him. He perked his ears to listen. It hit the door again and again. Then he heard moaning. “Roman? Roman! Get me out of here!”
Charlie couldn’t figure out what Roman was until he heard his human moaning. “Roman!” Charlie doubled over from the pain and curled up on the floor. He howled until his human voice choked out of his throat. “Roman!”
“Charlie!”
“Get me the hell outta here!” Charlie got to his knees and used his fists to pound the door. The fear and fury were causing Charlie to continue to feel pain and the change. He had no idea how to deal with this. Not this time. I have to calm down. “Roman!” He struggled to his feet and shook the handle. “Get me out! This place is like a butcher shop from hell!”
“Charlie…”
Charlie could hear Roman’s pain and knew he was fighting with all the internal changes just like he was.
“Roman, please. Calm down. Stay a man long enough to get me the hell outta here. I can’t stand it.” Charlie shivered as he spotted animal parts—paws, heads, horns, tails…
He bent in two and his knees hit the ground. The pain was excruciating. He hopped on two bird feet and flapped, knocking into the door and squawking.
~
Roman got to his knees, feeling the icy cold. He crawled to the door and turned the handle, feeling the padlock was secure. “Charlie, I can’t…” He tried to get to his feet and tugged on the door. His insides were churning and cold sweat made him feel the freezing wind. “Who locked you in?” He glanced around in paranoia. “Charlie, I need bolt cutters.” He body slammed the wall, trying to knock it down. His emotions went haywire and he fell to the ground, yelling in agony and snapping at the air as he morphed back into a wolf.
The painted apparition began to grow larger, reaching out, blocking the light gray clouds.
Roman cowered and curled into a ball. He shivered in terror and heard Charlie hitting the door from the inside, squawking loudly.
He fell to his back and grimaced, his paws jutting out stiffly as he went through another change. His head was splitting from the constant pain, and as his naked skin withstood the icy cold Roman shouted out to try and stop chaos. “No! No more!”
Blood was spattered on him and he opened his eyes to see that horrible painted woman chanting and holding a bloody heart in her hand.
“No! Get the fuck away from me!”
“Roman!”
The sound of a horse’s whinny and heavy footfalls came to Roman. He felt as if he were blacking out and gripped at arms that reached for him.
Chapter 12

Charlie landed on the floor, listening. He heard Butch’s voice and Roman’s distress. He flapped and hit the door again and again.
“Charlie?” Butch shook the handle. “You in there?”
Charlie squawked and went crazy, knocking over glass jars and candles, hitting the walls in a fit. He dropped to the ground and spread out his wings in agony.

The door was battered and creaked. Charlie began retching from the constant pain. He couldn’t think, the smell inside the hut was vile and overpowering. Death, blood, decay, mold, toxic waste.

The wood door began to split, letting light into the small space.
On his hands and knees, Charlie dry heaved from the dizziness. The cold air made him shiver.
“Charlie.” Butch grabbed him by his shoulders and dragged him out.
Roman cradled Charlie on his lap, rocking him. When Charlie could open his eyes and see clearly, he found Roman, clothed, looking as wretched as he felt. The pain had exhausted them both.
Butch stood with his cell phone to his ear. “Vernon, call the sheriff again. Yeah, I know what day it is. But I think the boys found something important.”
“Roman…” Charlie’s teeth chattered.
“I’m sorry, Charlie, I’m so sorry.” He moaned, holding him close.
“Your clothes are right here, Charlie. You need help?” Butch squatted down near him.
“I can’t think. I can’t.” Charlie wiped his face with both hands.
“We’ll help ya. Come on.” Butch handed Charlie his briefs.
“You can do it, Charlie. Before you freeze to death.” Roman’s face was streaked with blood and sweat.
Charlie wiped at it clumsily. “Why are you bloody?” He thought about it. “No. No, that witch touched you again.”
“Stop. I can’t change anymore.” Roman covered his face.
His limbs quivering violently, Charlie slowly got dressed as Butch tried to help him and talk on the phone simultaneously.
“Where did she go, Roman? I was helpless when she locked me up. I had no idea how to defend myself.”
Butch pocketed his phone and buttoned Charlie’s shirt for him. “I need to go back to the spot where the deer was killed. Someone has to show them where this is.”
“Don’t leave us.” Charlie zipped his pants and sat down on the broken boards to put his boots on. “We’re too drained to fight.”
“I know. You two come with me. We can wait there.”
Charlie put his coat on, seeing his cell phone on the snowy ground, nearly covered by the fresh flakes. He picked it up and wiped it off. “What time is it?”
“Nearly two.” Butch looked into the hut. “Nasty!”
“What the fuck is in there?” Roman leaned on the broken door and poked his head in, recoiling quickly and shaking, snorting the stench out of his nose. “Augh!” He backed up. “Smells like a fucking corpse.”
“Yeah. It does. I was about to be the next one.” Charlie fastened his coat and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Vernon isn’t goin’ to get his day of peace. We made sure of that.”
“You?” Butch gave him a look of disbelief. “Come on. I can’t stand the smell of this pit.” He walked over to Scout and held his bridle, heading back to the ranch property.
Roman touched Charlie’s shoulder. “I am so exhausted. I can’t move.”
“We’ll lean on each other.” Charlie wrapped his arm around Roman, and Roman held him tight. They walked slowly through the snow, following Butch and Scout’s trail.
Charlie was dead on his feet. The experience had drained the life out of him. The snow grew deep and the wind blew it sideways, chilling Charlie through his jacket and boots. He squint his eyes to see the big brown horse, swishing its tail a few yards ahead.
When he stumbled, Roman kept him on his feet.
“I have to go to the cabin, Roman. I can’t…I can’t stand this cold.”
“Okay, babe. Hang on.”
Just as they made it to the barbed wire fence, and the spot where the deer was killed earlier, Charlie could see Vernon on horseback. Butch mounted Scout, made a circle loop to give him running room, then barreled towards the fencing and jumped it. He halted the horse on the other side and walked it over to Vernon, pointing in the direction of the hut.
Roman and Charlie managed to climb over the sharp wire at the post, reaching for each other and nearly dropping to their knees in exhaustion.
“What’s all this about a witch?” Vernon shielded his eyes from the storm. “Boys, I hate to tell ya, it’s goin’ to be a blizzard out here. You’all can’t stay outside no longer. Go on, get back to the house.” He leaned over his horse’s neck. “Roman, are you injured?”
“No. It’s not my blood.” Roman wiped at his face with his sleeve.
“Get over here.” Vernon reached out his hand. “Charlie, you ride with Butch.”
The horses danced around in anxiety until the two men were on their backs. Charlie held onto Butch, resting his head on his shoulder, closing his eyes.
He heard Roman say, “We’ll never find that place once the snow covers the tracks.”
“We will,” Vernon replied. “I think everyone’s had enough for today.”
Charlie nearly dozed off as Scout brought him down the trail. He felt Butch rest his hand on his thigh. “I got ya, Charlie. You don’t worry. I’m watchin’ your back.”
Charlie was glad someone was, because he had lost the ability to function.
~
Roman slid off of Vernon’s horse and collapsed on the snowy ground. Vernon hopped off, helping Roman to his feet.
“Go inside. Go.” Vernon nudged Roman to the house and brought his horse to the stable.
Roman held his hand up to shield the whipping snow. Charlie grabbed his upper arm and led him when Roman’s limbs failed to move. “I have to wash off the blood. I can’t stand it.”
“All right, Roman. I’m with you.”
They walked past the ranch house, and staggered down the snow covered path to their cabin. Charlie opened it up and helped Roman inside. He moaned in relief and made his way directly to the bathroom, stripping off his clothes. Behind him Charlie was leaning on the sink staring at his own face.
“Never in my life…” Roman turned on the water in the shower. “…have I ever felt so much pain.”
“Like givin’ birth. Unbelievable.” Charlie stepped out of his jeans and held onto the sink for balance.
“I can’t function.” Roman finished undressing and nearly fell climbing into the tub. He let the water rush down his face and chest. “Get this fucking blood off me, Charlie.”
“I will.” Charlie climbed in behind him and lathered the soap in his hands. “It’s like I’m not here. Like my body is here and not here. Does that make sense?”
“Yes. To me it does.” Roman sighed when he felt Charlie scrubbing him. “What did she do to you? What happened?”
“Fuck. I don’t rightly know.” Charlie washed Roman’s groin and chest. “I remember bein’ a man up until I got to the hut. Then all hell broke loose.”
“How did she get you locked in that shack?” Roman took the soap and scrubbed his face.
“I was not me. I was either a crow or wolf. I wish I can remember. All I know is I was throwin’ up from the pain.”
As if all the emotion had finally gotten to him, Roman dropped to his knees and sobbed, covering his face.
“Oh no. No way we can stand anymore. We are goin’ to be human the rest of the day. I am not goin’ to deal with this. Roman, snap out of it. Think of the meal we’re goin’ to be eatin’ in five minutes.”
“I can’t. Charlie, I can’t.”
“Stand up. Come on. You’re the one specially trained in this, not me. Didn’t they teach you how to withstand torture?”
Roman held the shower door and dragged himself to his feet. “It’s the ATF, not the Navy Seals or paramilitary, Charlie.” He took the shampoo Charlie handed him. “I need to lie down. I can’t even fathom sitting at a dinner table and acting normal.”
“Yeah. I know. Me too. But I want to. It’s the girls’ last day before they head out, and well, it’s…”
Roman kept welling up with emotion. “Thanksgiving.”
“Yeah. It is. I may be too sentimental, but that does mean somethin’ to me.” Charlie rinsed off the soap and guided Roman to do the same. He pretended the water cleansed him, cured him, rejuvenated him. But he was fooling himself.
Charlie shut off the taps and opened the door. They both peered into the steam nervously. “She wouldn’t dare.”
“Sure, Charlie. Keep telling yourself that.” Roman handed Charlie a towel and rubbed one through his hair, stepping out of the tub, shaking.
“Is it a real woman? Or what?” Charlie dried his back, avoiding looking in the steamy mirror.
“No. I can see through her. And she moves like a fucking cloud or ghost.”
“What the devil is she?”
Roman met Charlie’s eyes and felt his burn with worry.
As if just realizing what he said, Charlie shook his head in denial. “She is not Satan.”
“No?”
Charlie began to panic, reaching to get out of the bathroom.
Roman gripped his arms. “Don’t! You and I can’t change anymore today! You got that?”
They both doubled over and grabbed their stomachs.
“Stop yellin’.” Charlie choked and inhaled deeply.
“I’m calm.” Roman closed his eyes and inhaled through his nose deeply. “Peace. Charlie, think of peace. Calm oceans. Love. Life.”
Charlie stood slowly, straightened his back and hung the towel over the rack. “I need booze.”
“Amen.” Roman followed him to the bedroom to find fresh clothing. The moment Roman sat on the bed, he flopped backwards, closing his eyes. “I can sleep. I seriously am so tired.”
Charlie relaxed beside him, holding him. “Are we in some weird dream? Is this reality? At times I’m not sure.”
“An altered reality. I’ve heard of it but never believed it.” Roman caressed Charlie’s wet hair.
“I don’t know what’s real and what’s in my head.”
“I’m real.” Roman touched his finger to Charlie’s lips. Charlie embraced him, squeezing him close.
Roman held onto him tightly. His heart quickened its pace at the love he felt for Charlie. A tear rolled down his cheek and he kissed Charlie’s hair. “What I feel for you is real too.”
Charlie let a sob escape his lips and quickly controlled it.
“You’re right. Exhausted or not, we should go have our Thanksgiving dinner. Sitting here and crying together will be trouble.”
Charlie leaned up on his elbows and stared at Roman. He pecked his lips and said, “They have all the booze.”
Roman smiled, then laughed. The moment he did, he felt power and life surge into his limbs. Charlie began chuckling and he too succumbed to the laughter.
Roman knew in that moment that laughter, love and happiness were going to be his biggest defense against whatever darkness possessed them. But finding joy in the face of demonic curses would be fleeting.
~
Roman was just putting on his coat when his cell phone rang. He looked directly at Charlie and answered it.
“Roman?”
“Phil.”
“Sheriff Kenmore called our office and said you found the suspects.”
“We located a shack where they were doing some nasty business. The woman with the red painted face was there.”
“Did you get her?”
“No. She got us.” Roman tilted his head to Charlie, telling him to continue leaving the cabin. The snow was deep and drifted against the door again. They pushed the door back against the wind and closed it quickly.
“What does that mean?”
“She locked Charlie in the hut… Look, Phil, the way the snow has hit, and losing daylight, I doubt we can find the place now.”
“Your call.”
“Can you gather the troops in the morning?”
“I can. Eight a.m.”
“Eight a.m.”
“Are you guys going to be all right?”
Roman stepped through the deep snow to the ranch house. He heard Harley barking, and Connie shouting to lock him in a back room. When Charlie opened the door, Roman spotted and a huge pine tree covered in lights and baubles, a hearth fire burning brightly, and a gathering of friends and family were inside, he said, “For now. Happy Thanksgiving, Phil.”
“Back at ya, Agent Burk.”
Roman disconnected the call and stepped inside. The holiday cheer of the men Charlie worked with and Vernon’s family warmed his heart. He took off his coat and was handed a glass of wine.
Suzie and Sherlane gave both him and Charlie a warm hug.
“We’re so glad you guys are…well, you!” Suzie straightened Charlie’s shirt collar affectionately.
Charlie raised his glass to Butch. “There’s the real hero.”
Butch appeared bashful and blushed.
“To Butch.” Roman toasted him.
The crowd in the room joined him.
“Come on, fellas. I just did what you would have done.”
“No, Butch. You went above and beyond. Thank you.” Roman loved his modesty. He had thought Butch was filled with ego and had become his competition for Charlie’s attention. But that didn’t prove to be the case.
Charlie hung his cowboy hat on a hook by the door, and held Sherlane’s hand as she introduced him to members of their extended family he and Roman did not know.
Suzie held Roman’s hand and brought him along. “How good are you with names?”
He sipped the wine and winked. “Terrible. But just being here is wonderful. Thank you.”
“Shh. We didn’t tell the rest of the folks what’s going on. So don’t go changing into anything scary.”
Roman crossed his finger over his heart. “I’ll try my best. If you keep me and Charlie laughing, you have nothing to worry about.”
“Wow. If that’s all it takes.” She tried to tickle him.
He nearly spilled his wine and batted her hands away. “Augh! Not that way!”
She giggled and brought him over to an elderly woman. “Grammy? This is Roman Burk. He’s an ATF agent. Isn’t that cool?”
“What a handsome man. Is he your boyfriend?”
Suzie smiled at Roman. “No, Grammy. He isn’t.”
Roman held the old woman’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“She’s a lovely girl.” Grammy patted his hand.
“Yes. She is.” Roman gave Grammy a sweet smile. The moment was full of the serenity that he and Charlie needed to take a break from the nightmare.
He met Charlie’s eye from across the room and new the love between them was getting a firm hold. If he rid the curse, he’d never be jealous or doubt Charlie’s love. But the bad blood in him was steering him to the dark world and away from love and light. Though the jovial atmosphere and scent of good food kept him on his feet temporarily, Roman wanted to rest.
Connie called the crowd into the kitchen.
Roman finished his wine and admired a table overflowing with food and beautiful crystal and china.
He and Charlie stood beside each other as Vernon said, “Let’s give a prayer of thanks.”
Charlie clasped Roman’s hand on one side and Sherlane on the other. Roman lowered his head in respect as Vernon said a prayer and thanked everyone for coming and joining them.
They took their seats and passed the food.
Roman felt at peace suddenly and had no doubt that love was going to get him through.
~
Charlie couldn’t eat another bite and he was buzzed on wine and tequila. The conversations became a hum in his ear and he felt himself nodding in the chair.
“Time to sleep.” Roman squeezed his knee.
Charlie checked the time. It was only eight but he was completely wiped out. He clasped Roman’s hand and was hauled to his feet.
“Going to your cabin, Charlie?” Suzie asked.
“I am. You girls leavin’ early?”
“As soon as the snow is cleared on the main roads.”
“Come here. Say goodbye now in case somethin’ happens and I miss you.”
Suzie stood from her spot on the couch with her sister, hugging Charlie. “Will you be okay?”
“I think your father is gettin’ used to wolves on his ranch. Thanks to you and your sister.” He found Sherlane giving Roman a hug and smiling at him. “You just have a safe trip back to Boston.”
“If I don’t get stuck in an airport, I’ll be fine.” She released him and hugged Roman.
Sherlane swapped places with her. “You take good care of yourself, Charlie.”
“You too. I think we’ll be okay. Time will tell.”
“I think Dad is going to help. Just stop turning wolf in here.” She smiled.
“I’ll try my best.” He parted from her and waved at the rest of the extended family. “Nice meetin’ you’all.”
They returned the pleasantries and Charlie headed to the coat rack to get his hat and jacket, Roman with him. As Charlie put his coat on he met Butch’s eyes. “See you in the mornin’ to clean all this snow.”
“Okay, Charlie.”
“Bye.” Charlie waved and opened the door. A gust of wind and snow hit him as he did. He kicked at the snow on the porch, taking the shovel and clearing the front steps before heading on to the cabin. Roman was silent behind him, and the lack of voices and constant thoughts hitting Charlie from everyone was a relief.
He pushed his boots through the powdery snow making fresh tracks. Stopping at his cabin, he looked back at Roman who appeared worn from the horrible day. Charlie entered the cabin, taking his boots off at the door and hanging up his hat and coat. He went directly to the fireplace and lit a fire, while Roman headed to the bedroom.
Charlie crouched in front of the hearth, getting the kindling lit and waiting for the logs to catch.
He heard soft patter behind him and then a touch on his shoulder. When he turned to look, Roman was naked and his crotch was eye level.
Charlie held onto Roman’s hip and ran his lips against his limp cock, inhaling him and then taking him into his mouth.
Roman combed his fingers through Charlie’s hair. “Let’s do this in bed.”
Charlie gripped both of Roman’s hips and sucked deeper as Roman’s cock grew in his mouth. He locked his arms around his waist and moaned, holding his cock on his tongue and savoring the act.
“My lover, my man…” Roman sighed. “What would I do without you?”
Charlie released Roman’s cock from his mouth and looked up at him.
Roman caressed his cheek with warmth and affection.
“Love me?”
“Do I.” Roman smiled. “Like crazy.”
Charlie got to his feet and held Roman’s hand as he led him to the bedroom. Moving slowly, like he was on auto-pilot, Roman undressed Charlie, kissing his chest as it was revealed and opening his jeans.
Charlie stepped out of his clothing and brought Roman with him onto the bed. They lay side by side, kissing and touching each other softly, the weariness beginning to win out. Unable to fight the exhaustion any longer, Charlie held Roman in his arms and fell asleep.
Chapter 13

Charlie woke to pounding on the door of the cabin. Beside him Roman sprang up and threw off the covers, jumping into his pants as he went.

A moment later Charlie heard Phil’s voice.
“What the hell time is it?” Charlie asked himself, and looked at his digital clock. “Goddamn.” He sat up and rubbed his face in exhaustion. He and Roman had slept for twelve hours, and if Phil hadn’t knocked, who knows how long they would have been out. He got to his feet and put on clean clothing, seeing the pile of dirty things he needed to get to, eventually. He poked his head out of the bedroom and said, “Hi.”
“Hi, Charlie. You two need to show us where this hut is.”
“Let me get washed up and dressed.” Roman trotted back to the bedroom, squeezing Charlie’s arm as he did.
“You need coffee or anything?” Charlie asked Phil.
“No. I’m fine.”
Charlie heard shoveling outside his cabin. He wished he had woken earlier because now he and Roman had missed breakfast. With Suzie and Sherlane back at college, no one was interested in bringing them their meals or making sure they had eaten. Butch had work to do, and Connie and Vernon weren’t Charlie’s mom and dad.
“Give us a minute.”
Phil acknowledged him and seemed to just notice the pile of wires, a camera, and listening device that had been located and placed on the kitchen table. Phil and Charlie caught glances quickly and Charlie knew Phil was embarrassed by his agency’s need to spy. Phil pocketed the items.
Charlie met Roman coming out of the bedroom, fully dressed. “We should have set the alarm.”
“I know.” Charlie nodded and sat down to put his socks on, yawning and rubbing his rough jaw.
When Roman finished, Charlie entered the bathroom to wash up.
“Didn’t even get a morning fuck in,” Roman said, “And we were out of it last night.”
Charlie glanced at Phil who was listening. “Let me get ready.” He closed himself into the bathroom and could hear every word being said by the other two men.
“Who else’s here?” Roman asked.
“Just the local police. One officer. Everyone else from our division went back to Reno for the holiday.”
“You shitting me?”
“Hey, I stayed. I didn’t have dinner with my family.”
“I’m sorry, Phil. If I’d have known, I would have had you eat here.”
Charlie washed his face and stared in the mirror at his eyes. The investigation was fading. He knew that. Roman knew it. And Phil knew it. “Life as a wolf. Get used to it.”
When he stepped out of the bathroom, they stopped talking. Charlie put his boots on, then his hat and coat. He checked his cell phone and knew he should have charged it overnight. But he’d been fried and didn’t think of anything but sleep.
“Let’s go.” Phil opened the front door.
Butch, JP, and Goat were shoveling last night’s snow from the path and porch.
Butch asked, “You boys heading up the trail?”
“Yes.” Roman gestured to him. “Why don’t you come along?”
Butch said, “JP, Goat, you mind I help out?”
“No. Go on up. We’re almost done.” JP waved at him.
Goat said, “You boys missed a great breakfast. The girls just left too.”
“Sorry, Goat.” Charlie tucked his hands into his pockets and spotted one local patrol car in the lot with one officer sitting, idling behind the wheel. Phil walked over to his SUV and got into the driver’s seat.
Charlie and Butch climbed in back while Roman sat in front. “Not much help with us. No helicopter? Nuthin’?”
“I figured we’d see if we could find it first.” Phil set the fourwheel drive in motion and powered up the snowy trail.
Butch looked out of the rear window. “That cop isn’t even comin’.”
“Not in that car he ain’t.” Charlie exhaled tiredly. “Damn, I wished I didn’t miss breakfast.”
“I should have woke ya, Charlie. I’m sorry. It was kinda hectic helpin’ the girls pack their cars and shit.”
Charlie patted Butch’s leg. “No big deal. We’ll manage to get some grub later.”
Butch trapped Charlie’s hand on his leg, squeezing it.
Since Roman was busy pointing to the location ahead, Charlie didn’t pull his hand away.
“Past the spot where the dead deer was. Over the fence.” Roman leaned closer to the windshield. “Christ, look at all this snow. Charlie, will you be able to find it?”
“I have no idea.” Charlie attempted to remove his hand from Butch’s leg. At first Butch held tight, but then let it go. Charlie noticed him fidgeting—wringing his hands, shifting his legs. He tuned into his thoughts and realized Butch was dying to get laid. What else was new? Charlie stopped listening to him.
Phil halted the SUV when the trail vanished. They all got out and tried to walk in the deep blowing snow.
“That’s where the deer was,” Butch said, pointing.
“Jesus, we need snowshoes.” Roman labored as he sunk into the snow.
Charlie climbed over the fence and waited for the other three. He knew the direction but was struggling to recall much else. He sniffed the air but the wind was not blowing favorably. The sun was bright in the blue sky creating a white glare.
Determined to find it, Charlie trudged on, creating the first footprints on the freshly fallen snow. The other men used his trail to make their way.
In a few minutes, Charlie caught something noxious on the wind. “Fellas, I smell it.”
“Me too.” Roman quickened his pace, taking the lead.
“I don’t smell anything.” Butch sniffed.
Phil caught up to Roman and all four men were bounding in the deep snow towards the rickety structure.
“There it is.” Charlie pointed. “Roman, that smell is goin’ to make me puke.” Charlie stopped short and Butch body-slammed him accidentally.
“Whoa. You all right, Charlie?” Butch held him from behind.
“I can’t go no further. I’ll wait right here.” His mid-section began cramping in pain.
“I got ya.” Butch pressed his crotch into Charlie’s ass.
Charlie was surprised, then thankful for the diversion whether Butch knew it or not. “Thanks, hun.” The ache subsided.
Butch held him through his belt loops and they both watched the agents.
“Fucker’s empty.” Roman threw back the broken door. “They cleared it out.”
“How?” Phil did a perimeter walk. “There are no footprints, no tire treads.”
Charlie felt Butch using friction to roll his hard cock against his butt. “You better hope Roman don’t see this.”
“I got my eye on him.” Butch rammed his crotch tighter into Charlie. “I gotta’ keep you calm. Right? You can’t get upset or scared. Am I right?”
He was, but Charlie knew if Roman figured it out, there would be a big black wolf in the snow.
“Phil, they could have done it last night after we left. If it snowed all night, then it would have covered everything.”
Phil stepped into the hut. “I smell it. Fucking death. I know that smell anywhere.”
“Yeah, dead what?” Roman entered the shack.
Charlie closed his eyes and listened to Butch’s thoughts. Let me fuck you. Let me fuck you, Charlie. I want to so bad.
The feel of Butch’s cock riding over his backside was exciting Charlie but that didn’t mean he would cheat. Did he and Roman have that kind of relationship? Were they committed to each other? Or the minute Roman got the okay to go back to work in Reno, would he be gone?
“I can’t tell,” Phil said.
“There were jars of shit all over this place. Look. A pentagram.”
“So we’re dealing with satanic cults?”
Charlie felt his eyelids grow heavy as Butch began to develop a rhythmic motion to his seduction. It was as if Butch was already fucking him, riding hard against his butt cheeks and over his crack, tightening his hold on Charlie’s hips under his heavy jacket.
“I swear, if I keep this up I can come,” Butch said quietly.
“You need to get laid, Butch, if you can come just humpin’ my ass.”
“You two are never apart. Is he the man for you?” Butch breathed in his ear. “You decided that?”
“I don’t know what I decided. I have to figure out how to stop howlin’ and flappin’ my wings first.”
“What’s it like? What’s it like to make love to a fella, huh, Charlie?’
“You already know. You’re just about doin’ it now.”
“I like ya. I like ya a whole lot, Charlie.”
“Yeah. I got that idea already.”
Phil said to Roman, “I bet if we remove the floor boards, we’ll find something.”
“You see why I thought we’d need back up. At least someone to gather the evidence.” Roman looked up at Charlie, as if he were about to say something, stopping short. “What the fuck?”
Phil poked his head out of the shack curiously.
Charlie took one step away from Butch, trying to be subtle. “You need me, Roman?”
The look on Roman’s face became volatile.
“Told ya, Butch.” Charlie sighed and walked closer to Roman. “You calm down right now.”
“What was he doing?” Roman pointed towards Butch.
“Keepin’ my head steady so I didn’t change. Now stop bein’ as bad as a jealous wife and tell me what we’re goin’ to do.”
Roman’s expression softened. “We need to pull up the floor boards.”
“With what? Our bare hands?”
Phil said, “I have some tools in the back of the SUV.”
“What will we do if we find a body, Roman?” Charlie glanced at Butch who was standing still, his hands in his jacket pockets.
“You want me to get them?” Butch asked.
“I’ll go with you.” Phil stepped outside the hut.
“Not a good idea.” Charlie shook his head. “That witch has both me and Roman at her mercy. Give me the keys, Phil. I’ll go with Butch.”
Roman’s eyes narrowed.
Charlie poked him in the chest. “You want a repeat of last night? I don’t.” Charlie took the keys Phil handed him.
“There’s a duffle bag with tools and a camera as well.” Phil stepped out of the hut.
“Gotcha. You just keep him under control.” Charlie gave Roman a last scolding glance and walked back to the SUV with Butch.
“I’ll know, Charlie,” Roman said as they left.
“I know you will.” Charlie didn’t turn around.
“You know he’s that insecure and you still want him?” Butch blew out a loud exhale.
“Don’t even start on me, Butch. I am not goin’ to get upset. I had enough.”
“Sorry, Charlie. I don’t mean anything by it.”
“I know. I didn’t know shit at nineteen either.”
They walked side by side using the same trail they had cleared going to the hut to head back. “Would be a nice day if we didn’t have this to deal with.”
“Vernon’s got some riders booked. They’ll have a great trip in this snow.”
Charlie felt Butch brush up against him as they walked. “You really need to ask one of them waitresses out, Butch. I don’t think I’m the answer to you bein’ horny.”
“I always thought you were pretty, Charlie. I just would never tell ya that before.”
“I don’t know if what I got can be given to you. I can’t even think of playin’ with you if you come down with what I have.”
“I thought it was the bite.” Butch looked over his shoulder.
Charlie assumed it was to make sure Roman wasn’t following. “The bite? The sex? I wish I could be sure.”
“If you were sure?” They came up to the barbed wire fence and climbed over it gingerly.
“I still don’t know.” Charlie aimed the key fob at the SUV and used the remote to open the hatch. They stood behind it, digging through the black canvas bags.
While Charlie opened the zippers of the duffle bags, he felt Butch press up behind him again. “You do realize Roman will smell you on me.” Charlie felt Butch’s hands making their way to the front of his body. Butch grabbed Charlie’s crotch and groaned, humping his ass again, but this time with more aggression.
Charlie braced himself on the SUV. “Why do I have a feelin’ this will not end good?” Charlie looked in the direction of the hut.
Butch squeezed Charlie’s groin, as if trying to find out if Charlie was hard. He was.
The moment Butch located where his cock had thickened down one leg of his jeans, he jammed his hips into Charlie’s backside, humping like a bull rutting.
“Can you come?” Charlie took another paranoid look around.
“Yeah.” Butch pinched the head of Charlie’s cock between his fingers and nearly knocked Charlie into the truck with one good thrust from behind.
He heard Butch choke and grunt, obviously reaching his climax. “Son-of-a-bitch, boy. You came just from that? You are pent up.”
“Charlie…” Butch hugged him from behind. “I swear I can imagine doin’ you so easy.”
“Pull yerself together. We can’t be long.” Charlie moved away from him and looked at his face. Butch was flushed and glistening with sweat. “You look like you just been laid. Why don’t you head back to the ranch house and help the other boys. If Roman sees you…” Charlie caught the scent of his cum. “Or smells that.” Charlie gestured to Butch’s crotch. “We are goin’ to be dealin’ with a wolf.”
Butch blushed and looked down at his jeans. “I need to change anyway.”
“Yeah. You do. Go on.” Charlie tilted his head to the trail. “And tell Connie me and Roman will be hungry as bears for lunch.”
Butch cupped Charlie’s jaw and licked his lips. “When he leaves ya, I’m here.”
Charlie watched Butch walk down the trail, using the ruts from the SUV to head back through the snow. Butch glanced over his shoulder at Charlie once and kept going.
Shaking himself out of the strange spell of Butch’s touch and scent, Charlie slung a bag over his shoulder and closed the hatch. ~
“She was right there.” Roman pointed. “But I don’t think she was human, Phil.”
“What else could she be? Come on, Roman. You can’t get me to believe we’re dealing with something supernatural.”
Roman choked on his laugh. “Are you kidding me? I turn into a wolf, you moron!”
“Don’t call me names, dickwad!”
Roman spotted the glint of mischief in Phil’s eyes and got him into a headlock. They had always behaved like brothers and did all their training together, including defensive tactics, which included judo and karate. They had plenty of ‘hands on’ practice with each other.
“Get the hell off me, wolf-man!” Phil started laughing and tried to throw Roman, using one of his martial arts maneuvers.
Roman resisted being thrown, keeping his hold on Phil as he flailed.
The minute Charlie appeared, Roman released Phil and met his eyes. Charlie didn’t make any comment other than, “Here’s the kit.”
Phil straightened his coat and took it from Charlie. “Thanks. What happened to Butch?”
“I sent him back to the ranch.” Charlie walked towards Roman, but continued past him to look into the hut, keeping his distance, holding his collar to cover his nose.
“Here, Roman.” Phil handed him a crowbar and a sledge hammer. “Get that floor up.”
Roman wedged the end of the bar under the flimsy wood and with one hit, popped a plank up. The stench was overwhelming. He fell back on his ass getting away from it.
“What happened?” Phil crouched on one side, Charlie the other.
“That smell. I think since we turned wolf…” Charlie covered his nose with his sleeve. “It’s worse.”
“That’s a dead body.” Roman inched away from the hut. “I know that smell anywhere.”
“Damn it.” Phil flipped out his phone, dialing and putting it on speaker.
“Nick Hoffman.”
“Nick, it’s Phil. You still in Reno?”
“Yeah. What’s going on?”
Roman said, “Something’s dead and buried out here west of the ranch.”
“In that hut Phil said you two found last night?”
“Yes.” Phil reached out to help Roman to his feet. “We just pried up a floor board, and it nearly knocked Roman out from the stench.”
“Shit.” Nick paused. “No local resources?”
“Come on, Nick!” Roman showed his teeth in anger.
Charlie grabbed him from behind like Butch had done, in an effort to distract him. Roman tried to turn around to see what he was doing when Charlie began rubbing his crotch into his bottom.
“Uh…” Phil took if off speaker and put the phone to his ear while Roman gave Charlie his undivided attention. “Look, Nick, we need someone out here from our unit or the Feds.”
“Charlie?”
“Yes, Roman.”
“What are you doing?”
“Keepin’ you with us.”
Charlie ran his hands under Roman’s coat to his chest, massaging a nipple under each palm, grinding his cock into Roman’s butt.
“Is this what Butch was doing to you?”
“He was just tryin’ to keep me me.”
“All right,” Phil nodded as he spoke to Nick on the phone. “We have no choice but to sit on this thing until you send a unit.” Phil seemed to be distracted by the sensual contact and cleared his throat, turning his back to them. “Yes, I have a local unit waiting at the lot. True. Okay. I will. Thanks, Nick.” He flipped the phone closed and faced them. “Am I interrupting you guys?
“He’s keeping me calm.” Roman smiled and ground his ass back against Charlie’s hard cock.
As if the act was distracting, Phil kept looking away. “Nick is still in Reno but he’ll head this way. Meanwhile…” He peeked at them.
Roman needed to fuck Charlie but tried to keep his focus on Phil. “Meanwhile?”
“Uh…I’ll get the local PD to…to…Can you stop that for a minute?”
“Turning you off or on?” Roman moved away from Charlie and smiled at Phil.
“Strangely, on.” Phil ran his hand through his hair. “Anyway, Nick said to have the local cops tape and preserve the scene. That way we can free ourselves to do whatever else needs doing until a homicide unit can get here and process the scene.”
“Can you get the cop in the lot over radio?” Roman asked, reaching to hold Charlie’s hand. He immediately clasped Roman’s without reluctance.
“I can.” He removed a small walkie-talkie from his belt loop. “ATF to the Tom Unit at the Norman Ranch.”
“Tom Unit, go.”
“We need containment on a scene. Do you have a mobile phone number of your supervisor?”
“Affirmative. Ready to copy?”
Phil held his mobile phone in the second hand. “Go.”
Roman watched as Phil typed the number into his phone while the officer in the parking lot relayed it.
“Copy.” Phil hooked the walkie onto his belt and put the phone to his ear.
“The master of multi-tasking,” Roman said, gesturing at Phil.
“That smell is makin’ me sick.”
“Me too.” Roman walked a few more yards away from Phil and the hut as Phil talked to a supervisor from the local police department.
“I bet Butch enjoyed rubbing his cock on you more than you did.”
“I won’t hazard a guess. I don’t want you on all fours.”
“Come here, hot stuff.” Roman cupped Charlie’s jaw and kissed him.
“You’re goin’ to distract your partner.”
“He said he likes it.” Roman swirled his tongue in Charlie’s mouth.
“Uh hum.”
“Yes?” Roman kissed Charlie one more time and gave Phil his attention.
“Wow. Seeing you kiss another guy is weird, Roman.” “Weirder than seeing me morph into a wolf or crow?”
“No. Good point. Anyway.” Phil inhaled deeply and made a sour face. “It does stink. I think the wind direction changed.”
They walked farther away.
“There are several units coming up to stand guard over the crime scene until either our own unit or the Feds can get their asses over here.”
“Shoot. Vernon has a tour today with a group of riders.”
“Can’t they go that way?” Phil pointed east.
“They have to.” Charlie took out his phone. “This thing’s dead. I needed to charge it.”
“Here.” Phil handed his to Charlie. “We have to wait for the unit to arrive. We can’t leave here until it does.”
“I know.” Roman shifted his weight from one leg to the other. He was starving and imagining one of Connie’s buffet meals.
“Vernon? Yeah, it’s Charlie. Phil and Roman found something under the boards of the hut. They’re goin’ to get a crime lab up here.” Charlie glanced at Roman. “I know, boss, but they think it’s a human body under there.” Charlie rubbed his chin. “Yeah. Just take ‘em over the east side trail. You never know. Them city people love drama. You can say they’re filmin’ some cop reality show.”
Roman chuckled and noticed Phil staring at him. “What?”
“You two really…” Phil made a cliché gesture with two hands that meant intercourse.
“Yes. We really.” Roman mimicked the sign language. “Don’t knock it ‘til you try it.”
“I have no attraction to men.”
Roman shrugged. “That’s how I feel about women.”
“Okay, boss. Hey, could you tell Connie to save us a bite for lunch? We missed breakfast and me and Roman are starved.” He cupped the phone and asked Phil, “How long?”
Phil checked his watch. “As long as it takes to get a unit up here to relieve us.”
Charlie frowned. “I wish I knew. Sorry, Vernon. Yeah. Okay.” He hung up and handed Phil his phone.
“There’s not even a spot to sit down.” Roman looked around.
“You two want to wait in the car?”
“No. No way I’m leaving you here alone.” Roman gave a good scan of the area. It was quiet. Too quiet. He couldn’t even hear a bird. And considering the bright morning sunshine, that seemed odd. He began walking in a wide circle around the hut, looking at the surroundings, inhaling the various scents of trees, old urine markings, and avoiding inhaling the stench of death.
“Where’re you goin’?” Charlie asked.
“Not far.”
“Stay in sight. I’m not goin’ to go nuts lookin’ for you.”
“Promise.” Roman found the snow very deep until he walked under a canopy of tall fir trees. They created a shelter and the snow hadn’t touched the ground near their trunks. He noticed a dry spot on the ground and sat down, bringing his knees close to his chest, brushing the snow off his legs and shoes. From there he could see both the hut and his companions.
When they realized he’d located a spot to sit, they approached him, joining him under the prickly, pine-scented branches.
“Sure is dull waitin’.”
“Welcome to police work.” Phil removed a box of mints from his coat pocket and offered it.
Roman took one and shook one out onto Charlie’s palm before giving it back to Phil.
“This is breakfast.” Charlie popped it on his tongue.
“Hang in there, cowboy.” Roman rubbed Charlie’s thigh. He caught Phil glance at the contact. “This fascinates you, doesn’t it, Phil?”
“Huh?” Phil connected to Roman’s gaze. “Not ‘fascinates’. It’s just a little strange. I always knew you were gay, but I’ve never witnessed actual gay contact in person before.”
Charlie shifted on the frozen ground as if he were slightly uncomfortable at the topic. “You an’ me both, Phil.” Charlie brushed the snow from his shins. “I never thought I’d be a gay boy.”
“Really?” Phil raised his eyebrows. “You haven’t always preferred men?”
“No.”
Roman had the urge to push Charlie to the ground and rub all over him. He looked at the hut as a distraction from his animal cravings.
“Huh. So, Roman Burk converted you?”
“I had one other encounter with a man previous to Agent Burk, here.”
“And now you’re gay?”
Roman studied Phil’s expression. “I think everyone is bi, and we just develop our personal preferences as we move along.”
“Bullshit.” Phil laughed, taking a look at this watch and blowing out a breath like a puff of smoke in the cold air.
“Yeah. I agree with Phil,” Charlie said, “Pure bullshit.”
“So, you aren’t bi, Charlie? A man who dated women his whole life until one blowjob on the side of Interstate 80?”
Phil chuckled.
“I don’t think I want to date another woman. So?” Charlie opened his palms upright. “Am I bi?”
Phil asked, “You seriously do not want women now?”
Roman waited for that answer.
“I don’t think so.”
“Don’t ‘think’ so?” Roman tilted his head.
“No. How do you know for sure? I don’t know nuthin’ at the moment.”
“Wow. That hurts.” Roman made a snow ball and molded it in his hands.
“I don’t mean it like that. It’s all just so new to me.”
“How long did you know you were gay, Roman?” Phil asked.
“All my life.”
“Well, you had time to think about it,” Charlie said.
“I suppose. I knew I wanted men since I was six.” Roman tossed the ball up and caught it.
“Shut up.” Charlie smiled, shaking his head.
“I did. I used to go with my dad to sports events and jack off in the men’s room thinking of touching one of the players.”
“At six?” Phil made a face of disbelief.
“Well, maybe nine or ten.” Roman threw the snowball at a tree limb, making it dump its load of snow.
“How many men have you slept with?” Charlie asked.
“Why?” Roman took a handful of snow to make another ball.
“Just curious.”
Roman looked from Phil to Charlie and answered, “I don’t know a few dozen, maybe more.”
“A ‘few’ dozen?” Charlie asked. “Like in over thirty?” “Maybe.”
“Holy shit.” Phil laughed. “You slut.”
“I’ve been active since I was thirteen. Come on, guys. That’s sixteen years…over eight hundred Saturday nights.”
“Then you’re underestimating.” Phil snatched the snowball from Roman’s hand and threw it.
“You fucked eight hundred gay men?” Charlie’s eyes grew wide.
“No. Not eight hundred men. And I didn’t fuck them all. Hey, when did this turn into an inquisition?”
“You know, Roman…” Phil leaned back on his hands, stretching out his legs. “Me and the team wondered why you were hand-picked out of our group.”
“Why me what?”
“Why out of the twenty agents, from three law enforcement departments, you were the one chosen by this cult.”
Roman glanced at Charlie, feeling a flutter in his stomach. “Are you saying you blame me or my lifestyle?”
“No. I’m not saying anything. It’s just speculation.”
“And you did a poll and no other cop admitted to being gay, so you assumed—”
“Calm down.” Charlie grabbed Roman’s thigh.
“We didn’t do a poll, and I don’t have a clue if any of the other cops there were gay, but…”
“But?”
“Why you?” Phil sat up and brushed the needles off his palms.
“I was in that room at the wrong time. What if you had been the one to search it first? Then you would have been hit not me.”
“I entered that room only minutes after you did.”
The pain increased inside Roman’s gut at the turn of the conversation.
Charlie knew it instantly. “Change the topic.”
“No.” Roman held his stomach and took a few deep breaths. “No, Charlie, I want to hear this.” He calmed down and stared at Phil. “So you and the rest of our team decided because I was an out gay man that was why this happened to me.”
“It was brought up. No one knows why. You could be right. It could be just coincidence.”
Roman started to stand, feeling as if he would change if he kept hearing Phil’s comments. It was similar ignorance to gay men contracting AIDS and he was not happy to hear Phil say it.
Charlie jumped to his feet and grabbed his arm. “Hun, time to calm down. I don’t want you goin’ nowhere on all fours.”
Roman bent over, his hands on his knees, taking deep breaths. “He thinks this is punishment for being gay. They all do.”
“That’s a crock an’ you know it.” Charlie addressed Phil, “Why did you have to bring that up? You know Roman can’t get upset.”
“I had no idea he was so sensitive about it.” Phil stood, brushing off his pants. “The man’s been an ATF agent for nine years, in Special Weapons and Tactics for four of those nine. He’s seen everything in his career.”
“But I haven’t been scrutinized by my peers the way you guys did.” Roman straightened his back. “I know being openly gay on any police force is like a death wish.”
“That’s a load of crap.” Phil shook his head.
“Sure, Phil. You keep telling yourself that. Why don’t you come out as a gay man and see if you’re treated any differently.” Roman doubled over in pain and nearly hit the ground with his knees. Charlie gripped him and dragged him away from Phil.
“No way, Roman.” He embraced him. “You are stayin’ with me.” Charlie grabbed Roman’s crotch and made him jump at the suddenness.
As the sensation turned sensual and arousing, Roman exhaled and rested his head on Charlie’s shoulder. “I didn’t bring this on myself, did I, Charlie?”
Charlie massaged Roman’s cock through his clothing. “If you did, what did I do? Huh? I didn’t do nuthin’.”
“I bit you. I changed you.” Roman tried to focus on Charlie’s hand between his legs. It was helping keep the pain at bay. “You weren’t a target until you met me.”
“You do realize that notion is ludicrous. You just were in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Roman heard a distant vehicle engine. He said to Phil, “Someone’s here. Go bring them over.”
Without a reply, Phil walked towards the barbed wire fence and his SUV.
Roman searched Charlie’s eyes when Phil left them alone. “Sometimes I think the same thing.”
Charlie looked stern as he listened.
“I know the attitude has changed for the worse in this country towards gay men and women.”
“No.” Charlie shook his head.
“We can’t marry in most states, there are millions of dollars donated to keep us second class citizens, they banned us from the military until recently, and gay people are murdered or beaten up constantly…”
“You did not do this to yourself simply because you prefer men. That’s crazy thinkin’, Roman.” Charlie caressed his face.
Roman caught his hand and held it there. “It’s me. It’s my own feeling of self-worth.”
“You have to be kiddin’. Roman, you’re an amazin’ fella. You don’t let anythin’ that dumb shit says hurt you. He’s dead wrong.”
Roman looked up. A group of men in suits accompanied by uniformed officers were approaching. He backed up from Charlie and ran his hand through his hair, composing himself.
“In there?” A man in a suit pointed to the hut.
“Yes. Under the floor boards.” Roman stayed away from the shack as the wind brought whiffs of the dead body to his nose.
A solemn group of men surrounded the entrance, looking in, using flashlights to see under the floor.
Phil approached him and Charlie. “That’s the state patrol’s homicide unit. You two can head back to the ranch now.”
Without another word, Roman began walking to the fence. ~
Charlie turned to speak quietly to Phil, “You didn’t do him any favors. If I were you, I’d think of another reason this event happened to him.” Charlie poked Phil in the chest. “You could have just as easily been the one in that room. So don’t go throwin’ stones like you know the answers.”
Phil exhaled loudly but didn’t reply.
“I hope you’ll keep us updated on this dead body.” Charlie tilted his head to the homicide unit.
“I will. I have Roman’s cell phone number.”
Charlie spun around and caught up to Roman who was at the fence which had been cut by the men in suits who didn’t want to climb barbed wire. He shook his head at the gap which he, Butch, and the boys were forever repairing and passed the remaining officers who were with their four-wheel drive trucks behind Phil’s SUV. Radios crackled in the cold air as the men held crime scene tape and followed the snow trail to the hut.
Charlie hooked Roman’s elbow as they walked the long rutty path back to the ranch house. “Least now we’ll get some grub.”
Roman nodded, not saying a word.
Chapter 14

“Come on, sweetheart.” Charlie knew Roman was not happy and most likely battling his insides to stay human. He clasped his hand as they walked past the barn.

The horses in the paddock reacted to their approach like a wave of movement, backing up, whinnying and showing the whites of their eyes. Charlie spotted the wranglers staring at them from where they were working, wheeling manure from the barn. They kept making the sign of the cross as if Charlie and Roman were possessed.

“What’s that all about?” Charlie shouted at them. JP spun on his heels, holding a shovel. “You okay, Charlie?” “Yeah. Just tell them fellas to stop treatin’ us like we’re

demonic.” Charlie looked down at his and Roman’s handholding. After the conversation with Phil, Charlie didn’t know if his relationship with Roman or his morphing into a wolf was what was causing the wranglers to be nervous. He worked his hand out of Roman’s grasp on the pretence of lifting his hat off his head and combing his fingers through his hair.

“Sorry, Charlie. I’ll have a talk with them.” JP went back to his manure shoveling.
Charlie led the way to the front of the ranch house. He kicked the snow off his boots and looked back at Roman. “I assume you’re as hungry as I am.”
“I don’t know what I feel anymore. I’m numb.”
He had no idea how to answer Roman, not wanting to push him into a worse mood. He opened the door and took off his hat. “Connie?”
“I was wondering how long you two could go without a meal.” Connie stepped into the room, wiping her hands on a towel. “Come on. Get some food in you.”
Charlie took off his coat and hung it with his hat on the rack. “Thank you, darlin’. We’re starvin’.”
Harley made a beeline for them from another room in the house, barking his head off.
Roman opened the front door and Charlie used his boot to maneuver the frantic dog outside. He nudged him out, shutting the door quickly and entered the kitchen, washing his hands at the sink. “Sorry we missed breakfast. What time is it?”
“You need a watch, Charlie.” Connie laughed and put two plates loaded with food on the table. “It’s nearly noon. The boys should be joining you any minute.”
Roman took his turn at the sink, sniffing the air.
Charlie sat at the table and removed a roll from a basket, buttering it up. “Mighty fine meal, Connie.” He inhaled the hot pulled pork and baked potato. “I’m sorry I missed the girls this mornin’.”
“Suzie’s flight should be arriving in Boston by now.” Connie handed Charlie a gravy boat. “Here’s some extra sauce if you need it.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.” Charlie poured it over the pork. He glanced at Roman. “Yer sure quiet.”
Connie smiled. “He’s too busy eating. Is it good, Roman?”
With his mouth full he nodded. “Mm.”
Vernon was the next to enter the kitchen. “So? What did you find up the mountain this time?” He took his usual place.
As Charlie finished chewing and sipped from a glass of water, he heard the other three men coming into the living room.
“Whoa that smells good!” Goat came into the kitchen nose first, rubbing his hands together.
“Wash up!” Connie pointed to the sink.
Butch waited his turn, standing behind Charlie and putting his hands on his shoulders. “You doin’ good, Charlie?”
“I’m fine, Butch.” Charlie took a quick look at Roman for his reaction.
His cheeks still full as he gobbled his meal, Roman stared at Butch over Charlie’s head.
Connie brought plates of food as the men sat down.
Charlie heard Roman sniffing in the direction of Butch. Charlie inhaled but only smelled Butch’s cologne, deodorant and sweat from his work.
Before Butch went to wash his hands, he caressed Charlie’s hair softly. A second later, Charlie got a kick under the table from Roman.
“Ouch!” Charlie gave him a tired look. “If you turn I will never forgive you.”
Roman sat up, immediately looking at Vernon, who was not smiling.
Charlie continued where he and Vernon had left off as the others joined them at the table. “Anyway…I hate to talk of such morbid things, Vernon, but that shack me and Roman found may be a crime scene.”
“No!” Butch sat on Charlie’s free side. “What did they find?”
“A body.” Roman wiped his plate clean with his bread. “Any chance for seconds?”
Connie took his plate. “You have one hardy appetite there, Roman. I like a man who can eat.”
Goat made a noise of approval and smiled.
“Go on, Charlie.” Vernon pointed at him with his fork.
“I don’t know much more.” Charlie waited as Connie gave Roman his second helping. “The local state homicide unit is up there now.”
“That tour group is coming after lunch.” JP wiped his mouth with his hand.
“You can take them up the east side trail,” Butch said.
“Yeah. That’s what I’ll do.” JP nodded, eating another bite of pork.
“How many cars are up there on the west trail?” Vernon asked.
“A whole bunch now,” Charlie said.
“Five.” Roman tore his roll in half, using it to mop up his gravy.
“There ain’t no way the tour is not going to see that on the way up.” JP poured more water into his glass from a pitcher with lemon slices floating in it. “Plus there are a few squad cars in our lot.”
“Just say it’s a filming for a reality show.” Roman shrugged. “Everyone loves that.”
JP nodded. “All right. I’ll give that a try.”
Charlie finished the food on his plate and Connie took it, asking, “Another helping, Charlie?”
“I have a feelin’ you baked somethin’ sweet. I think I’ll wait for that.” He rubbed his belly and gave her a smile, then touched his nose. “I can smell the sugar.”
Connie patted Charlie’s hair. “I made a pineapple cream layer cake. It’s settin’ up in the fridge.”
“It’s his wolf sense of smell.” Butch laughed. “I can’t smell nuthin’ but pulled pork.” Butch leaned against Charlie’s shoulder and whispered, “And you.”
Charlie spun to look at Roman, who had heard easily.
“Is he trying to bait me into getting angry?” Roman asked.
Butch sat upright and blinked. “Huh? No. I didn’t say nuthin’.”
“If either of you become a wolf, you’ll be taking your meals elsewhere.” Vernon frowned.
Connie began bringing plates of cake over, removing empty dishes and serving the dessert. “Why don’t you all shut up and eat. You boys talk too much.”
“I like her.” Roman took a big mouthful of the creamy layered cake. “Mm! Holy crap, Connie.” His expression became slightly orgasmic.
Charlie felt his cheeks grow warm from Roman’s expression and tried his dessert. “That is damn good. You outdid yourself this time, Connie.”
“Plenty more where that’s from,” she said.
Goat rubbed his hands together eagerly as Connie served him and JP. “I love working here,” Goat said, stuffing cake into his mouth.
“Yeah. I do too. Wish I still could.” Charlie felt guilty for neglecting his duties.
“You do your best, Charlie. We’ll pick up the slack.” Butch ate a bite of cake and moaned. “Connie, this is the best one yet. Better than the apple cake you made for Thanksgiving.”
She finally sat with them, dabbing her dewy forehead with a tissue and tasting the cake herself. “That is nice. I’ll keep that recipe.”
Charlie noticed Roman staring at Connie with a solemn expression. “You all right?”
“She reminds me of my mom.”
“When’s the last time you saw your mom, Roman?” Connie asked.
“Long time ago.”
Charlie rubbed his shoulder. “I hear ya. I know it’s been a while for me too.”
“Don’t lose touch with family, fellas.” Vernon used the side of his fork to scrape the last icing on his plate. “That’s all ya got in the end.”
Charlie wiped a tiny spot of butter cream off Roman’s lip. When Roman leaned towards him as if he wanted a kiss, Charlie nudged him back gently. “Later, wolf-man.”
“Grrr…” Roman grinned wickedly.
“On that note.” JP stood with his empty plate and brought it to the sink. “I’ll see about getting the horses saddled for the ride. Six. Right, Vernon?”
“Yes. All first-time riders.”
“I got it. Thanks for the meal, Connie.”
“You’re welcome.”
Goat stood next, doing exactly what JP did, leaving the room.
Charlie stacked his and Roman’s plates, but Butch ended up taking the pile to the sink. “Thanks, Butch.”
“No problem, Charlie. See ya later.”
Once Vernon and Connie stood up from the table, Charlie said to Roman, “I think we need to see what them homicide boys have found.”
“I have a better idea.” Roman touched Charlie’s crotch. “The scent of your balls is making me crazy.”
“Roman!” Charlie stood from the table and hoped no one heard. “Thank you, Connie. Much obliged.”
“My pleasure, Charlie. Dinner’s at seven.”
“We’ll be here.” Charlie nodded politely to Vernon as he left the room. The minute Charlie drew near the front door, he heard Harley barking at his approach from the other side. Once Charlie put his hat and coat on, making sure Roman was ready, he opened the door. “Okay, dog. The house is yours again.” Charlie slipped out, using his boot to push Harley inside, and closed the door. “I sure do wish I could ride my horse.” He looked at the group arriving for their trail ride, piling out of a minivan. The tourists pointed at the patrol cars in the lot and JP and Goat were there to greet them and pacify their worries.
Roman hooked his finger through one of Charlie’s belt loops and led him down the path.
The sense of duty to work was strong in Charlie, but another urge was beginning to win out. “If I worked for me, I’d fire me.”
“You wouldn’t. You’re just going through a temporary setback.”
Charlie opened the cabin door, seeing the ash in the hearth. “I’ve been neglecting more than my work. This place needs a good once over.”
“Later.” Roman closed the door and locked it, backing Charlie up to the bedroom.
“And laundry.” Charlie shook his head at the disorder. “I’m usually more responsible. This ain’t right.”
Roman picked Charlie up and tossed him face up on the bed, leaping on top of him. Roman squirmed on Charlie, rubbing their hips together.
Charlie’s hat fell off his head and rolled to the floor. Roman knelt up and unzipped his pants, lowering them. Right after he did, he tugged Charlie’s down his thighs.
Skin on skin from their waist to their knees, Roman continued to seduce Charlie, pushing his jacket off his shoulders and kissing him.
Charlie got caught up in Roman’s passion, opening his mouth for Roman’s tongue and sucking on it inside his mouth.
Roman sat up abruptly and yanked Charlie’s jeans down his legs, pulling them off with his boots. Next he dropped his jacket and shirt to the floor, removed his pants and returned to burrow his face into Charlie’s crotch.
Getting halfway in removing his jacket and shirt, Charlie whimpered and stayed still. Roman was licking and sucking the skin of his balls and inner thighs while massaging his stiff cock. The urge to go completely wild, flip Roman over and fuck him hard was making Charlie squirm.
As if Roman was taking his turn at asserting his dominance over Charlie, he used both hands to spread Charlie’s legs wide and let out a low growl as he nuzzled into his groin. Chills rushed up Charlie’s spine. He clenched the bedding in both fists and watched Roman’s expression of lust as he ran long wet tongue laps from Charlie’s crack to the base of his cock.
Charlie’s breath was caught in his throat at both the sight and sensation of the act. His urge to come, to mount Roman was taking over, and right behind it was the yearning to change. The wolf in him wanted out again.
Rolling his head side to side, moaning and keeping the animal inside him at bay, Charlie said, “You’re drivin’ me crazy.”
Roman’s dark eyes glowed bright green as he stopped to stare at Charlie, panting like a wolf.
Charlie couldn’t describe the surge of excitement in him at that moment. He sprang up and grabbed Roman, throwing him face down on the bed.
Roman snarled but soon submitted to Charlie’s alpha male dominance. He lay still, his back expanding from his deep breaths.
Shaking and forcing himself to not give in to the desire to turn canine, Charlie grabbed the gel and barely functioned as he spread the lube on Roman and his own cock. He threw the tube back into the open drawer and with one arm wrapped around Roman’s hips, he hauled his ass off the bed. Roman whimpered and offered himself, getting to his knees.
Charlie aimed his cock at Roman’s rim and pushed the head of his dick inside. He closed his eyes and bit back a howl of pleasure. Shutting out the creeping pain in his mid-section as the intense emotion and carnal need sought to make him morph into a wolf, Charlie thrust inside Roman wanting the climax and to claim Roman as his own.
Roman arched his back and hissed a breath between his teeth, clenching the pillows in both hands. Charlie hammered into him, allowing the climb to an orgasm to flow without edging it or holding back.
As Roman gasped and tensed his muscles, Charlie reached around and found him stiff and dripping pre-cum. He gripped Roman’s cock, lying against his sweat-soaked back, and fisted him as he fucked.
When Roman let out a noise that was close to being animalistic in nature, Charlie felt his own climax building to release. As he pumped his cum into Roman, he felt Roman’s cock pulsating and cream filling his hand.
Instantly Charlie was hit with agonizing pain. He roared to fight it and held Roman tightly as Roman collapsed under him on the bed. Roman’s grunts turned to small huffs of air as he recuperated.
Charlie pulled out, dropping beside Roman, forcing himself to not change, not allow the extreme emotions to push him into the abyss.
Making the effort to slow his respirations and avoid touching anything with his sticky hand, Charlie stared at the ceiling and wiped his face with his forearm. Roman rolled to his side with a grunt and looked as if he too had just fought a battle. As the sex became affection and love, Charlie watched the strain leave Roman’s expression, softening as he recovered.
Charlie reached for him and curled him into his arms, lying underneath Roman’s weight. Saying nothing, they rested, Charlie feeling their two powerful hearts beating as one.
~
Roman heard a ringtone and recognized it as his. He motivated himself to get off the bed, giving Charlie a kiss and standing, holding the wall to steady himself. He dug through a pile of clothing and put the phone to his ear. “Hello?”
“We’ve recovered a body,” Phil said, “It looks like a female, mid-twenties, dead for a few days.”
Roman looked at Charlie who sat up on the bed, listening.
“It appears her face has been painted red and she was buried with some kind of animal skin and feather headdress.”
At the news Roman felt the blood leave his cheeks and sat down. “What?”
“The coroner has her on a gurney. I want you to take a look and see it before they take her away and do an autopsy.” Phil inhaled deeply. “We’re in the parking lot now.”
“Okay. Be there in a minute.” Roman closed the phone and staggered to the bathroom.
“Did he say a red-painted woman?” Charlie followed him to wash up.
“Yes.” Roman felt bile rise in his throat and pain fill his gut. He turned on the water in the sink and splashed his face.
Charlie cleaned himself up with a washcloth and Roman could see his hands shake. “What does this mean, Roman?”
“I don’t know.” He finished in the bathroom and picked his clothing up from the floor, dressing, trying to stay calm.
At the door, Roman handed Charlie his coat and put on his. He left the cabin and hurried his way to the parking lot.
Phil was talking to the men in suits. He spotted Roman and his face became grim.
“Where is she?” Roman tried to keep his emotions under control but it was a struggle. Charlie stood silent beside him.
“Over there.” Phil pointed to a van.
Already catching the smell of rot, Roman caught up to the coroner as he stood beside the van.
Phil said, “Let Agent Burk have a look at the body.”
The coroner opened the back door and climbed in, Roman stifled a gag at the potency of the stench to his keen senses. He reached for Charlie and they both got into the back of the van with the gurney. The coroner opened the body-bag’s zipper at the head and peeled back the plastic.
Roman gasped as Charlie had the same reaction.
“It’s her!” Roman became overwhelmed with the smell, covering his face with his hand. Charlie staggered out of the back of the van, falling to his knees and retching.
Though Roman could barely tolerate the reek, he forced himself to look carefully. With his coat collar over his mouth and nose he asked the coroner, “Cause of death?”
“Not sure. She was eviscerated, but I don’t know if that’s preor post-mortem.”
Roman inspected the red paint and headdress. No mistake, this was the same woman who had haunted him and Charlie and had been at the scene when he was overcome with fumes the day he was changed into a wolf.
Roman leaned closer and when the corpse opened its eyes, he jolted against the inner wall of the van with a bang and shouted out in terror. He clamored his way out of the back and fell into the fresh snow in front of the ranch house, gagging and trying to fight the urge to morph into something.
Phil raced to Roman’s side. “What happened, Roman?”
“She opened her eyes!” He used the snow to rub on his face, trying to cool down and stop the pain.
“What?” Phil coughed in shock. “Roman, she’s a decaying corpse. You must have imagined it.”
“Roman.” Charlie tried to help him to his feet. “Come on, partner. Hang in there.”
Roman struggled to stand, holding onto Charlie.
Phil walked back to the van and asked the coroner, “Did you see her move or open her eyes?”
The older man gave Phil a look of dismay. “No, Agent Dean. I did not see her move or open her eyes.”
Roman’s mid-section was churning. He was losing the battle and he knew Charlie could sense it. Charlie’s grip on him tightened.
“That smell,” Roman grimaced as he spoke. “I’ve smelled it several times in my career, Charlie, but it’s never been so potent before.”
“Wolf nose.” Charlie tapped the tip of his own nose. “I can smell everythin’ for miles. I swear it’s the most distractin’ pain in the butt.”
Phil asked Roman, “You’re sure she moved?”
“She opened her eyes.” Roman swallowed his nausea at the odor, which seemed as if it was on his clothing, in his hair and sinuses.
Phil climbed into the van with the coroner.
“She ain’t gonna do it in front of him.” Charlie rubbed Roman’s back under his jacket, keeping him centered and human.
“No. She’s not. Who is she, that’s what I want to know.” Roman made a sound of disgust and pressed his nose into Charlie’s hair. “I have to smell you. It’s making me sick.”
“I often wondered how animals could smell carrion for miles. Now I know. Damn. That is nasty when it’s so strong.” Charlie held Roman tight.
Roman inhaled Charlie’s scent and spotted Phil and the coroner hopping out of the van. Phil approached Roman, his expression grim. “Roman, I think you imagined it. That corpse is decomposing.”
“Any ID on the body?” Roman tried to focus on Phil’s cologne, Charlie’s shampoo scent. Anything but the rotten stench.
“No. They’ll fingerprint her and run her through AFIS and NCIC.”
The coroner shut the back door of the van and started the engine.
Even as it left the parking lot, the scent did not lessen in Roman’s nose. “You better hope she’s dead, or your coroner will be the next victim.”
Phil’s eyes widened. He hurried to a patrol officer. “Follow him to the morgue.”
The cop jolted at the order and quickly got into his patrol car, speeding out of the lot.
One of the homicide detectives walked over to where Roman, Charlie, and Phil stood. “What was that about?”
“Just making sure he gets where he needs to go.” Phil took out his phone and put it to his ear.
The detectives told Phil, “We’re heading back to the office. We’ll let you know if we get any leads.”
“Okay.” Phil nodded and said, “Nick? Where are you?” into his phone.
Roman felt Charlie trying to steer him clear of the parking lot. He stopped resisting and walked with Charlie to the paddock where the horses were munching on the hay that had been scattered for them. They snorted and perked up warily at their approach.
“I need to smell somethin’ else.” Charlie tilted his head to the horses. “They smell a hellavah lot better.”
Roman rested his arms on the fence, then his head on his arms, closing his eyes. He felt Charlie move and heard his boots crunching on the melting snow and gravel.
When he looked up, Charlie was inside the horse paddock. ~
Spirit perked his ears forward at Charlie’s clicking noises.
“Come on, boy. It’s me. You see me.” Charlie reached out his hand, trying to connect once more with the horse he loved. “Don’t be scared. Come on, partner.”
He heard Butch say, “Try this, Charlie.”
Charlie turned to see Butch standing next to Roman, holding a carrot. He took it and held the end to coax the nervous animal.
The other horses whinnied in fear and trotted to the far end of the open pasture.
“Spirit, come on, boy. You know who it is. I know you do.”
Spirit reared but didn’t bolt. He snorted, showing the whites of his eyes.
Charlie stopped moving, getting the sense the horse would not take the treat.
Butch passed him up, catching Spirit’s halter at the cheek, and urging the horse to approach Charlie. “Come on, ya stubborn mule. He’s your man. You know that. He just smells a little different.”
After a glance at Roman, who was keeping still, his dark eyes shining like flames, Charlie took a step towards his horse. He extended the carrot as far as he could reach.
Between his advance and Butch dragging the horse closer, Charlie was able to just about feed him. Spirit flapped his lips at the tip of the carrot.
“I got him, Charlie.” Butch tightened his hold on the halter.
“Get ready. I can see he’s goin’ to rear up again.” Charlie moved slowly, carrot first.
Spirit’s ears twitched, lay flat back, then perked up again.
Charlie kept him distracted with the carrot, and as Spirit reached to nibble it, he touched Spirit’s nose. Spirit took a bite of the carrot, munching it, nodding his head as Charlie kept in contact with him.
“You got him now.” Butch began releasing the halter.
Charlie held it, allowing Spirit to finish the carrot. Once they had accomplished that, Charlie began rubbing his horse’s nose and mane. “It’s me, boy. You know it’s me.” Charlie felt a lump in his throat. To him, this was a huge step in getting back his life. He had to ride to take the tourists up the mountain and to work the ranch.
“You figurin’ out I’m not goin’ to hurt you?” Charlie relaxed as Spirit did. The big chestnut gelding flapped his lips at Charlie’s jacket, trying to bite it affectionately.
“All right. I won’t harm you. You know that.” Charlie rested his forehead on Spirit’s neck and knew he’d be lost if he left the ranch. What if Roman asked him to go to Reno with him? What was he going to do?
“Bring him to the barn, Charlie. Saddle him up.” Butch, now standing beside Roman, propped his boot on the fence.
Roman was still as stone, staring at Charlie. But Charlie didn’t know where his mind was at. He imagined it was on his predicament and the corpse who blinked at him.
Charlie led Spirit closer to the fence. The minute Roman straightened his back, Spirit panicked and jerked away.
“I got you. He’s just a man, big fella. Not a real wolf.” Charlie gently urged the horse to walk closer. “You don’t have another treat, do ya, Butch?”
“There’s a box of sugar in the barn. Hang on.” Butch jogged off.
Roman said, “You love that horse.”
“I do.” Charlie scrubbed Spirit’s white blaze. “We been together since I came on here. He’s a good worker.”
“It’s hopeless between us, isn’t it, Charlie?”
Instantly Charlie felt a sharp pain to his gut. Spirit reacted and blew out a powerful snort.
“Here’s some sugar cubes.” Butch reached out his hand. “Roman, try an’ feed him one.”
“I’ll pass.” Roman stuffed his hands into his pockets and walked down the muddy trail to the cement path, headed towards the cabin.
The emotions ate at Charlie until he began to double over, holding his stomach. Spirit reared and broke Charlie’s hold on his halter, joining the rest of the herd at the far end of the enclosed area.
“Charlie…” Butch tucked the sugar into his jacket pocket. “Spirit ain’t the only one who don’t want you to leave.”
Charlie clung onto the fence rail, struggling with the intense pain. “Butch…I can’t…” Charlie clenched his jaw and tried not to collapse on the muddy ground.
Butch rushed to help, walking Charlie to the gate and getting him outside the paddock. He led Charlie to the empty barn and sat him on an overturned pale. Crouching before him, Butch clasped Charlie’s hands in his. “What can I do to keep you here an’ not change?”
The distraction of Butch’s touch, his scent and kindness was already bringing Charlie back to normal. He took several deep breaths. “I’m okay.”
“He don’t want you to work here.” Butch used his knuckles to caress Charlie’s cheek. “What will you do?”
Another wave of pain flashed through Charlie like a knife. “Stop. Don’t talk about it.” Charlie closed his eyes and held up his hand.
Butch cupped Charlie’s jaw in both hands and forced Charlie to look into his eyes. “I’m fallin’ for you, Charlie Mosby.”
“You’re not.” Charlie exhaled a long slow breath. “You’re just horny.” Charlie added, “I can read your mind, Butch. Stop it.”
“I want you to. I want you to know what I think.” He tightened his grip on Charlie’s face.
“I can’t kiss you.” Charlie felt Butch closing in on his mouth. “I can’t.” The guilt and struggle to decide on the course of his life overwhelmed Charlie. This time he couldn’t fight back.
He cried out from the agony and fell to his side, writhing on the dried hay and dusty ground.
“No! Charlie, do not turn wolf on me!”
Charlie shook off his clothing and his tail pointed straight up. He showed his teeth as Butch fell back on his rump from the threat.
“Don’t run off!” Butch warned. “Charlie, it’s too crazy out there!”
Charlie snarled, making his way to the open barn door.
“Do not race off. I’m tellin’ you it’s a bad idea!” Butch stood, trying to coral Charlie, his arms spread wide.
The urge Charlie had to attack Butch was great. He wanted to bite him, to knock him to the ground. Anger burned in Charlie over the imminent departure Roman would surely make.
“Don’t you bite me, Charlie Mosby!” Butch seemed to see it coming. “I am not turnin’ into one of you.” He backed up, hunched over, his arms out to defend himself. “You go into a stall and calm down. Ya hear?”
There was no way Charlie was going to get locked up. He knew if he bolted towards the door, he’d be free to run.
Butch’s attention became distracted as he appeared to be looking for a way to rope or confine Charlie. Charlie took advantage of his roving eye and bolted up the trail, sprinting through the soggy snow into the woods.
Chapter 15

Roman sat on the sofa, his feet up on the coffee table, staring at the fire in the hearth. The cell phone in his hand, he did what he hadn’t done since the incident at the abandoned factory a week ago. He reconnected with his friend in Reno. Not an agent, a friend.

“Roman! What the fuck happened to you? I called your mom and she said you’d been kidnapped, then after you called her, she thought you were in some mess with the ATF.”

“Tom, you don’t want to know.” Roman ran his hand through his hair. “And if I told you, you wouldn’t believe me anyway.”
“Have you been fired?”
“No, I’m in Utah.”
“What kind of case are you working on?”
“Originally it was an assist to the local agency. But now? I’m hanging out at a horse farm.”
“Hanging out? Convalescing? What?”
He’d been friends with Tom since college, was the best man at his wedding, godfather to his son…
“I’m going to tell you, but please, don’t react or say anything to get me emotional.”
“Roman…Jesus, what happened?”
He opened his mouth to reply and heard Butch pounding at his door.
“Roman! Charlie’s changed and has ran up the trail. Roman? You in there?”
“Shit.” Roman stood off the sofa and opened the door.
Butch realized he was on the phone and stopped talking.
Roman saw all of Charlie’s clothing in Butch’s arms. “This is really getting old.”
“What?” Tom asked, “What’s getting old? Roman, who’s there with you?”
Roman stared into Butch’s eyes as he spoke to his good friend, “Expect me at your place for Christmas, Tom.”
“Liv will be thrilled. We had no idea what happened to you.”
Butch’s expression hardened, but he stayed quiet.
“Looks like I won’t get to explain it this time. I have to go.”
“Okay, Roman. I can’t wait to see you again.”
“Me too. Bye.” He hung up and stared at Butch. “What do you want me to do about it?”
“Are you kiddin’ me?” Butch stepped into the cabin. “You don’t care about him at all? Are you just usin’ him?”
Roman turned away, staring at the fire.
“Son-of-a-bitch, Roman. If you don’t want him, tell him.”
A jab of pain stirred in Roman’s gut. “I don’t know what to do. He doesn’t want to leave here, and I have to get back to work or I’ll lose it.”
“You’ll lose him. That’s what you’ll lose. Are you helpin’ me find him or what?”
Roman knew sometimes you had to let go of the ones you loved or they would grow to resent you. “No. You go.”
“Suit yerself!” Butch stormed away, slamming the door.
Roman tried to swallow back his emotions. Losing Charlie was not what he wanted, but hogtying him and dragging him to live in a big city would kill Charlie. The cowboy needed to live on a horse ranch in Heber, Utah, not waiting in a downtown condo for his agent lover to come home, pacing, trapped in the four walls.
“Fuck.” Roman grabbed his stomach and clenched his jaw. “No. Oh God, I can’t take this!” The more he railed, the stronger the pain became.
His knees buckled and he fell hard to the wood floor, curling into a ball.
~
Charlie stood at the edge of the reservoir, surveying the area. His nose high in the air, he was smelling everything at once and listening to the sounds of the wind in the tall trees, bird calls echoing in the woods, and distant vehicle noise from the main road in front of the ranch. He spun around to hear JP returning from his tour outing, bringing the group back to the stable and a hot meal. Charlie licked at the cool water of the reservoir, tasting the refreshing liquid on his long tongue.
A hawk landed a few yards away, taking a drink as well. They stared at each other, but Charlie had no idea what the relationship was between hawks and wolves. He was beginning to understand wolves, however. The order of wolves. Alpha dogs and submissives, what’s good for the pack, what’s good for the individual. Whether he was canine or human, this ranch was his home.
If he could convince Spirit he was still Charlie, he could get back to his work, just like Roman. Control it and function.
Charlie jumped at the flap of the hawk’s wings as it took off. He listened for more noise and heard male voices, far in the distance. Charlie caught his reflection in the still water. He wasn’t sure he hated being a wolf. It satisfied a deep craving he had to be free to explore.
Roman was a city boy. Charlie could sense his mind wander, his anxiety over being ‘trapped’ on a ranch. Though he couldn’t read Roman’s mind, he knew Roman wanted to be back in his designer attire, his world of high tech gadgets and his uniform, badge, and gun.
“Charlie!” reverberated in the distant hills.
Butch was searching for him. He listened to see if Roman’s call came. It didn’t. Using a quick but easy gait, Charlie stood where he could see Butch, but knew his tan coat made it difficult for Butch to spot him.
“Charlie!” Butch called, cupping his mouth, atop his pinto horse.
He sat on his haunches, sniffing. He’d have to hunt for meals. Kill small game since he was alone. Not a part of a pack. He may be trapped, shot from helicopters by the men who wanted to exterminate his species from the planet. He may be attacked by a cougar, gored by elk, mauled by bear.
“Charlie! Where are you?”
What was worse? Surviving with nature, or having his heart ripped out of his chest by a man he loved who would leave him. He’d be outwardly whole but inside, he’d be like one of the deer that had been sacrificed, his heart removed from his ribcage. Unable to trust again, to love anyone, angry at himself for complicating his life, for loving a man and not a woman. For changing the course of his life—a life he had planned, thought he knew.
A wash of Roman’s scent hit him. Charlie licked his nose and blinked, trying to decide if it was Roman or just his recollection of him. The touch of Roman’s skin, his taste. The way Roman devoured his crotch before lovemaking…his jet black hair and sensual eyes…
Charlie stood and felt the fur rise on his back. He grimaced and licked at his fangs.
Making love to Roman, hearing Roman in orgasm…holding him in his arms at night…
Charlie yipped and howled in pain, curling into a ball.
“Charlie!”
Hoof beats thundered in the barren woods
Roman’s love…his invitation to share his life…
Gasping for air, Charlie cried out as the pain became intolerable.
“Christ! I thought I’d never find you.” Butch leapt off of Scout and secured him to a branch as the horse shifted and vocalized his fear of Charlie. “I got yer clothes.”
The sound of rustling, Butch approaching, mixed with the horse’s nervous fidgeting. Charlie was spent and lying on the ground. He opened his eyes to see the tall swaying evergreens.
“Come on, partner. Get some clothin’ on.”
Charlie covered his face and sobbed. He was lost. There was no winning in this war. Only sacrifices and losing. And being a wolf or crow intensified the loss of his freedom when he was once again human.
The more he caved in emotionally, the more pain he felt.
“No. Charlie Mosby, you have to pull yerself together.” Butch shook him. “You stay a man, you hear?”
Charlie tensed all his muscles and yelled at the top of his lungs from his anger and pain. A flock of starlings took off in a flurry of wings. Pine needles and wet snow fell around them.
“No! You stay with me! Ya hear me?” Butch gripped Charlie’s arms and shook him violently. He slapped Charlie’s face and Charlie went wild in fury. He lunged at Butch and threw him to his back, kneeling over him, snarling.
Butch’s eyes were wide as he huffed for air, lying still.
Scout reared and stomped in fear.
“Charlie, don’t hurt me.”
Seeing a single tear run from the corner of Butch’s eye, Charlie let go his rage. He dropped down on Butch limply and held him. “I’m sorry.”
“I know. I gotcha. I gotcha, Charlie.” Butch embraced him, squeezing him tight.
~
Roman paced. Caged. Trapped. He stood on his hind legs and looked out of the window, licking the cool glass. He snuffled around the room, nudging his pile of clothing and sneezed. He went into the bedroom where the scent of Charlie was strongest. He hopped on the bed, sniffing the pillow where Charlie laid his head. Roman rubbed his snout on it, rolling on the scent, paws in the air. Growing weary, he lay still, listening. He could hear the tourists leaving, giggling of females, vehicle doors closing. He glanced at the digital clock. It was nearing five. He was hungry. He was always hungry.
Lying on his side, he stared at his big black paws. He spread his toes as he stretched, then went limp against the bedding engulfed in Charlie’s aura, as if he were with him.
Roman sighed but it came out a low whimper. He heard JP and Goat talking as they passed the front of the cabin. Roman’s ears twitched, pointing like satellite dishes to the sound.
He should have gone with Butch to find Charlie. Weren’t his actions pushing those two men together?
Did Butch and Charlie belong together?
Roman spun quickly to his feet and leapt off the bed. He pushed the door with his front feet, snapping at the doorknob.
His ringtone sounded. He stood over his clothing, poking his nose at the noise. A few soft bites at the pocket of his pants and it rolled to the floor. Roman tried to use his paw and teeth to open it up. It tasted nasty, and he recoiled and licked at his lips in distaste. The ringing stopped as voicemail picked up.
He slumped down to sit near it, staring at it. The fire crackled behind him. Looking back at it, he felt the warmth on his thick fur and panted as it heated him up. If he left, he would miss Charlie. But after seeing Charlie with his horse, Roman didn’t know what was right any longer.
Did he really expect Charlie to leave the ranch? To become the waiting Mrs. Roman Burk as he vanished for weeks, going on ATF SWAT missions? It was why Roman had never considered a serious relationship. Why he had done nothing previously but had sex and left.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
He wasn’t supposed to fall in love.
Roman yelped at the pain. He snapped his jaws at nothing, trying to stand it.
Who was he kidding? He couldn’t live without Charlie. Not now. Not after all they had been through.
He toppled over and howled as the pain ripped him to shreds. His canine vocalizations morphed to a human groaning in pain. As it subsided, he panted, coated in sweat, lying on top of the hearth rug. Slowly he sat up, forcing himself to stop thinking grim thoughts. He spotted his phone and picked it up, checking who had called. It was Phil. He put the phone to his ear to hear the message.
“We got an ID on the body. A missing person from Salt Lake City.”
Roman sat up anxiously.
“Nick contacted her family and found out she had been on the streets, into drugs and prostitution. And easy target for a cult. Call me.”
Roman pushed buttons on the phone, rubbing his gut as more pain began to develop with his anxiety. “Phil?”
“Roman…did you get my message?”
“Yes.”
“We have an address where she supposedly flops. Nick is getting a warrant as we speak.”
Roman looked at his clothing, piled by the door. He still felt shaky so he stayed put. “Did the family shed any light on her regarding witchcraft?”
“No. They were completely stunned when they were asked about it. I think she’s been a runaway for a while. I doubt they knew what she was up to.”
“I need to come with you when you serve the warrant.” Roman struggled to his feet. “Send a unit to get me.”
“I’m not sure if that’s a good idea.”
“Phil, come on. What if you stumble upon the cure? You won’t even know.”
“And we don’t need a wolf on the scene.”
“Phil!” Roman winced as his anger enflamed his mid-section. He took several deep breaths. “Take me. I demand you take me. What chance do I have if you don’t? The woman who did this to me is dead.”
“Let me run it by Nick. I’ll call you back.”
“Please. Phil. If he says no, tell him to call me personally.”
“Okay, Roman.”
Roman hung up and recuperated from the pain. He dressed and put on his coat and shoes, opening the front door. The evening was mild. It was drizzling, melting the snow. He closed the door behind him and touched the phone in his pocket, hoping things worked out.
When he walked past the ranch house, he spotted JP, Goat, Butch and Charlie, bringing the horses into the barn. Charlie was on the far end of the paddock. His presence sent the herd towards the open barn door where the men led them to their stalls.
Roman watched Charlie work. In his element. Surrounded by his friends and the horses he loved.
Though emotion sought to overwhelm Roman, he choked it back and stayed strong.
Charlie noticed him immediately. Once all the horses were inside the barn, Butch gave first Roman then Charlie a glance, then entered the barn.
Charlie walked to where Roman was standing.
Roman said, “You reek of Butch. Have a nice sexual bout?”
“I didn’t make love to him.”
“Sure, Charlie.”
“He was kind enough to look for me.”
Roman battled his insides for control. “Phil called. They got an ID on the dead woman.”
“Who is she?”
“She’s a runaway-turned-prostitute. Obviously picked up by this cult. They’re getting a search warrant for a residence she was known to stay at.”
“Okay.” Charlie stuffed his hands into his pockets, the drizzle soaking his brown hair.
“I asked Phil to see if I can go. Hell, if there’s a chance I can get rid of this curse, I need to be there.”
Charlie narrowed his eyes as he stared into the distance.
“You want to go? In case we can both get cured?”
“I don’t know.”
“How can you not know? If there’s a chance we can get well, we need to take it.”
“You go. I’m okay.”
“Charlie.” Roman didn’t think there would be a debate. “You want to stay like this?”
“Like I said, I don’t know.”
Roman’s phone rang. “That’s Phil or Nick.” He took it out of his pocket. “Hello?”
“Roman?”
“Yeah, Nick.”
“No way. I am not having you on the scene.”
Roman’s anger flashed like lightning in his veins. He grabbed his stomach. “Don’t do this to me, Nick.”
“It’s my call.”
Roman knew Charlie could hear the entire conversation though he was acting like he couldn’t. “Nick, this could be a chance for me to get rid of this.”
Charlie flinched and took a step away, as if Roman had said, get rid of ‘him’.
“I can’t take a chance with you, Roman. We’ll let you know if we find anything or any person that can fix you.”
“Nick! No! Don’t you get it? How many chances do you think I have with these people?” Roman doubled over and the phone dropped to the ground.
Charlie picked it up and held Roman around the waist. “Hello?”
Roman struggled to calm down, hearing both sides of the conversation.
“Charlie?”
“Yeah, it’s me. Look, you have to let Roman go. Just keep him on the sidelines. Ya know?”
“Why are you on the phone? He’s changing right now, right?”
“No. He’s not. He’s still here. I just wanted to put my two cents in.” Charlie rubbed Roman’s back. The pain subsided slightly, and Roman exhaled and stood straight again.
“I know how much you guys need to get this resolved. I’m not trivializing it. But bringing a wolf-man into Salt Lake City, where the population is over a million, as opposed to Heber which is ten thousand…”
“I know. I do. Honest. But if you don’t let him try to get well, you may be takin’ his last chance from him.”
Roman melted inside. If he thought he loved Charlie before, he knew he did now.
“Sorry, Charlie. I can’t. I have to go. We’ll be in touch.”
Charlie frowned. “I tried.”
“You did. Thank you.” Roman kissed him and it felt so nice.
It was Charlie who stepped back, glancing around in paranoia.
“I have one more option.” Roman called Phil. “Phil?”
“Yes?”
“What’s the address in Salt Lake City?”
“Are you trying to get me fired?”
“Please.”
“Fine. I’ll text it to you. But stay out of the way. Okay?”
“I owe you my life.”
“Sure. You tell them that at my hearing when they fire my ass.”
“They won’t. I’ll behave.” Roman caught Charlie’s incredulous look. He winked at him.
“Okay, Roman. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Roman hung up and stared at the phone, waiting for the info.
“I expect you’ll be needin’ a ride.”
“Yeah. You up for it?”
“Looks like we’re gonna need a human driver, in case.” Charlie looked over his shoulder.
Butch was looking back from the barn.
“Yes. We do.” Roman felt his phone vibrate, and read the information on the text.
Chapter 16

After eating dinner with the rest of the household, Charlie stood beside Butch as he opened the door to his truck.
Butch said, “You two don’t change on me, ya hear?”
“We’ll try our best.” Charlie climbed in the driver’s side as Roman did the same on the passenger’s side. Charlie sat in the middle of the bench seat. He didn’t leave the ranch much, except to get supplies for the horses. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been to Salt Lake City. It was less than two hours drive, but he had no need to go.
“You know how to get to Interstate 80, Butch?” Roman asked, a piece of paper with directions on it on his lap.
“Yup.” He started the truck and drove out of the parking lot.
Charlie looked at his gas gauge. “When’d you filler up?”
“Yesterday. I had JP do it when he drove back from Doc McMurray’s office.”
“Good.” Roman shifted in the seat.
Charlie could see he was nervous. “Deep breaths, Roman.”
Butch spun to look at him. “We’re not even a mile from the ranch!”
“Shut up.” Roman snarled.
“Son-of-a-bitch. I knew this was a dumb idea.”
“You boys both calm yer asses down.” Charlie placed a hand on each of their legs. In the dim cab, he slid his fingers to Roman’s crotch and caressed him lightly. Roman relaxed, slouching in the seat. “Atta boy.”
He caught Butch peeking. Butch immediately thought, Sure would like you to do that to me.
Charlie knew if he could hear it, so could Roman.
“Do what you want, Charlie.” Roman rested his elbow on the door and head in his hand.
“I’m like a slice of ham between two crazy pieces of horny bread.” Charlie blew out a breath at the joke.
“He said do what you want.” Butch took Charlie’s hand and stuck it on his crotch.
“I am insane. I am truly insane.” Charlie cupped both bulges and stared out of the windshield as Butch merged onto I-80.
Since no one was talking, Butch turned the radio on. Roman coughed sarcastically at the selection of country and western songs, but Charlie’s hand between his legs kept him quiet.
Nearly two hours on the road, Roman read from his directions. “Stop for a minute. Pull over.” He took out his phone as Butch pulled into a parking lot of a gas station.
Charlie went to remove his hand, but Roman snatched it back and stuck it on his balls.
“Phil? I’m close. Where are you staging?”
“Two blocks south of the location. You can’t miss us. Come in from the south as well.”
“Copy.” Roman shut the phone. “Go down to that light and turn right.”
“Now it’s my turn to get nervous.” Butch drove slowly, waiting for more instructions.
Charlie immediately spotted a cluster of dark armored units and men gearing up.
“Don’t stop right up on them. They don’t know who we are yet.” The minute Butch rolled to a slow speed, Roman hopped out.
“I’m sittin’ right here, Charlie. That looks like a damn army.” Butch shut his headlights off.
“You got that right.” Charlie turned off the radio and opened the window so he could hear everything going on around them.
“What will Roman do if he’s cured? Head back to Reno?”
Charlie didn’t know the answer to that question, but he had to be prepared to let his lover go.
~
“Phil.” Roman found him in the darkness by his scent.
“Gear up.” Phil tilted his head to one of the trucks.
“You got the okay?” Roman felt his heart jump in excitement.
“Yes. A reluctant nod. Just shut up and get your armor on.”
“Yes!” Roman pumped his fist. He tore open a duffle bag and put the vest over his head, fastening the Velcro straps. He dug deeper into the bag and asked Phil, “Where’s my gun?”
“Don’t push it. I’m already out on a limb if you turn furry.”
“Fine.” Roman wasn’t going to argue. He was thrilled he was going.
Nick waved them to gather round so he could give his instructions. “Right. Knock and enter quick. Watch the perimeter. And if you smell chemicals, back out, abort.”
Roman said, “I’ll smell it a mile away.”
“Start sniffing.” Nick gave him a warning wag of his finger, “And you hang back. You got it, Agent Burk?”
“I got it, Agent Hoffman.” Roman glanced back at the pickup truck and gave Charlie a thumbs-up. Charlie waved in acknowledgement.
The men entered an armored unit and rode the two blocks to the house. Roman kept inhaling deeply, but inside the vehicle all he smelled was men and ammunition.
The SWAT vehicle stopped and they silently filed out, surrounding the perimeter of a small home, lit from within. Roman stood beside Nick, who used hand gestures to signal the entry team.
“No chemicals, Nick.” Roman inhaled. “But I smell something slightly sweet.”
“Talk fast, Roman. We’re about to move.”
“It’s okay.” He nodded.
Nick waved his hand.
A deep voice announced, “Police! Search warrant!” Next a boom of a ram hitting the front door echoed in the calm neighborhood, followed by, “Show me your hands! Get down on the floor!”
Roman and Nick raced to the open premise. Inside a group of people were lying on their stomachs, being handcuffed by agents as a team searched the house.
The group was in the midst of performing a ceremony of some kind. Roman looked around the room for clues. One of the men who were on his belly met his eyes. “You’re him.”
Roman jolted and crouched down. “Who am I?”
“The red witch turned you.”
In the noise Nick shouted, “Hang on! Quiet down.” He asked the roving team, “Is the house secure?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Go on, Roman.” Nick gestured for him to talk to the man. “Get them out.” Nick waved.
“Wait!” Roman stopped him.
“Roman, we need to interview them separately. This is a homicide investigation.”
Battling the pain in his gut, Roman gripped the man by his shirt and sat him upright. Behind him the suspects were being led outside.
“Can you change me back?” Roman tried to read the man’s thoughts. There were too many voices in his head to focus.
“We were doing a cleansing ritual.” The man nodded to a smoking bundle of twigs. “Sacred Sage.”
“To cleanse what?” Roman glanced around him as each suspect was being evacuated.
“To cleanse what the red witch did to you.”
“Nick!” Roman called out but his excitement was causing him pain. “Nick! Get back here!”
“Roman, I agreed to allow you on the scene. But as lead agent I have to do my job.”
“Tell him what you just told me.” Roman pointed to Nick.
“We were just doing a cleansing ritual to fix what that witch did to this man.”
“Nick, come on!” Roman fought the coming change.
Nick appeared conflicted.
“How far were you in the ritual?” Roman asked. He spotted men beginning to turn the home inside out. “Hold it! Do not touch anything!”
They checked with Nick. He nodded to the uniformed men. “Step outside.”
When only Nick, Roman, and the one man were left in the house, Nick knelt beside the man whose hands were tied in flex cuffs behind his back. “You better tell me what’s going on now.”
“Ophelia found a book of spells.” The man tried to scratch his nose with his shoulder. “She had us doing animal sacrifices and experimenting with strange toxic potions. She went overboard. We were scared to death of her.”
“Who killed her?” Nick asked.
“I don’t know. Something dark. I don’t think it was human.”
Nick gave Roman a look of disbelief. “This is why I want to interrogate them at a police station.”
Roman held out his hand for Nick to be patient. “The ritual you were doing now was to reverse this curse?”
“Yes.”
“How? I was seventy miles east of here.”
“We wanted to try.” He shrugged. “We weren’t going to hang around at the reservoir. Her incantations were stirring up Native American spirits. They were not happy. So when she got killed we got out of there.”
“Who buried her?” Nick asked.
“We did.” He looked sheepish.
Roman tapped Nick and dragged him aside. “Please. I have no other choice. Let them just finish this spell and then take them.”
“Tell me you are not taken in by this bullshit.”
“For crying out loud!” Roman yelled, “I’m a wolf!” He doubled over in pain.
“All right. Do not change now, Burk, or I’ll have to lock you in a patrol car with a K9.”
“Please. Give them five minutes.” Roman inhaled deeply and fought the pain.
“Fuck.” Nick balled his fists. “Hang on. Just hang on.” He stormed out.
Roman held the wall to stand straight.
“I’m sorry, man. I had no idea she could do what she did.”
“How sure are you that this spell will reverse it?”
He raised his chin to a book open on the table. “There. Look at that page.”
Roman sniffed the burning sage as he walked closer. It felt good to inhale it, which surprised him. He leaned over the open clothbound volume, wrinkled as if it had been wet and dried out, stained, dog-eared, and old. He found mixed with the text, diagrams and runes. A drawing of a wolf and crow were depicted. He read the spell, which was in italics, inside his head. He felt light-headed and nauseated from it.
He backed up, looking away from the book.
Nick led the group of suspects inside. They were still cuffed behind their backs, but he was allowing them to continue.
“Get Charlie. Now,” Roman ordered.
~
“Uh oh.” Butch reacted to an officer jogging to their truck which was parked close to the house they had entered.
Charlie jumped out of the passenger’s side. “What happened to Roman?”
“He wants you there now.”
“Did he change?”
“No.” The man returned to his unit.
Charlie and Butch followed. As he went, Charlie could smell the burning sage and it made his stomach growl.
He stopped short from going in. “What’s inside?”
“Hopefully your cure.” Nick reached out for him.
“Go, Charlie. You got nothin’ to lose.” Butch nudged him.
Charlie wasn’t so sure. Perhaps he had everything to lose. He stepped inside. A group of people were seated on the floor in a circle.
“Charlie.” Roman gestured Charlie closer.
“I don’t know, Roman.” Charlie had no idea he wouldn’t have time to think things through.
“Please.”
He made his way to Roman, who stood beside an open book and a burning bundle of sticks.
With the SWAT agents standing guard, one by one the flex cuffs were cut off of the individuals.
Charlie’s nerves were making his stomach knot up. Roman held him close.
“Let’s get this charade over with,” Nick said.
A woman asked Roman for the book. “Please…I need it.”
Roman gave it to her.
“Hold the Sacred Sage.” She took the book and placed it on the floor near burning candles.
Charlie watched Roman hold the smoldering herb as Phil, Nick and the rest of the team stayed perfectly still.
The group held hands completing the circle.
The woman took a deep breath and read, “In the name of all ye spirits of the earth, wind, darkness, and light. In the name of the Sacred wolf and crow…of the red witch who cast this curse against these mortals and who ever shall cast them into a curse…with the burning of the Sacred Sage let the curse be banished. What was done unto them, be gone. Undo the pain of their transformation.”
Charlie began to sweat and feel weak. He gripped Roman, but Roman was unsteady on his legs as well.
“Be it now undone,” the woman read, “By the light of the stars and heavenly bodies, remove the curse. Reverse the sign of the wolf and crow, and let them return to their human souls…
“Lift this venomous curse and allow them to enter the sacred place where peace and love rule. Accept our pain in what was done, and our apologies. Disperse the evil, set free the wolf and crow spirits and all be gone by morning’s light.”
Charlie hit the floor with his knees and choked. He heard a thump and Roman had dropped, out cold beside him.
“Are you done?” Phil knelt by Roman, trying to snap him out of his swoon.
She shrugged. “It’s all I have.”
“Let’s go. Take them out now.” Nick pointed to the door. “Get a medic unit here.”
Charlie rubbed his face in exhaustion. Butch was allowed inside and hurried to comfort him.
“Talk to me, Charlie. You feel anything?”
“Just sick.”
“Roman.” Phil smacked Roman’s cheeks lightly. “Wake up.”
Roman opened his eyes groggily. “Did I oversleep?”
Charlie caught Phil’s shake of the head.
“What a waste of time.” Phil hauled Roman to his feet while Butch helped Charlie to stand.
“Charlie?” Butch walked him outside to the fresh air. “Are you cured?”
“I don’t know.” Charlie watched Roman being helped outside. He met his eyes and waited.
“Is he coming home with us?” Butch whispered.
“That’s what I want to know.” Charlie suddenly realized he couldn’t hear anyone’s thoughts. It was silent inside his head but for his own. Maybe it had worked. If it had, he wondered just how much of himself he had lost.
Chapter 17

Charlie sat atop Spirit, looking out at a herd of horses. Butch was riding Scout, trotting around the field with a black and white border collie at his command.

It wasn’t Heber. It wasn’t butted up against federal land with a pristine forest and reservoir, but it was over two hundred acres in Washoe County and his.

Butch’s whistles guided the talented dog, who dropped to lay down when the horses were moving towards the barn.
Not sixty-five, just a dozen horses.
No more of Connie’s home cooked meals.
Life was about compromise. Give and take.
The sun was setting and the sky was awash with pink and orange cirrus clouds. Charlie spurred Spirit to follow the last horse down the hillside. He dismounted and removed the saddle from Spirit’s back.
Butch walked Scout in, hopping off and closing the barn door.
They gave each other a warm smile as they prepared the animals for the night.
~
Roman sat at his computer at his office in Reno, tapping keys. His phone rang so he hit the speaker button and said, “Agent Burk.”
“Hiya, handsome.”
Roman smiled brightly and picked up the receiver to speak privately. “Hey, cowboy.”
“You comin’ home for dinner? Or?”
“Comin’ home, partner.” Roman chuckled. “What’s cookin’?”
“Butch and me are grillin’ some steak.”
“Yum.” Roman noticed a co-worker handing him paperwork. He took it and nodded thanks to him, putting it on his desk. “We have booze in the house or you need me to stop?”
“Always good to have more booze on hand.”
“Got it.”
“All right then. I’ll see you soon.”
Roman rocked in his chair, staring at the computer screen. “Love you, Charlie.”
“Love you too, hot stuff.”
He hung up and got busy typing, doing what he could before he headed home.

Driving down the rutty driveway of the four bedroom ranch house, Roman lowered the volume of the news on the car radio and parked behind Butch’s pickup. He grabbed the plastic shopping bag with beer and wine in it, climbing out.

Before he went to the front door, he inhaled the clean air and looked around the front yard. Strings of white Christmas lights were spiraling up their small evergreens and hanging like icicles from the gutters of the house. Roman instantly felt like he was home. With their plans to go to Tom’s for Christmas, it even began to seem like a real holiday to celebrate. Time off. Good friends.

He tried the knob and door was unlocked. “Honey, I’m home,” he sang musically.
Charlie was in the kitchen at the sink. He dried his hands and headed to Roman for a kiss.
“Where’s our boy at?” Roman set the bottles on the table.
“Out back firin’ up the grill.”
Roman took off his jacket and held Charlie’s jaw for a good passionate tongue kiss. Charlie moaned and embraced him, rocking in his arms. In a tease, Roman showed his teeth and snarled seductively. “Wanna fuck you.”
“When don’t you?” Charlie pressed their crotches together.
Roman threw his head back and howled like a wolf.
Charlie joined him.
Butch rushed into the kitchen his eyes wide. “No! Are you kiddin’ me?”
Roman laughed. “Just joking.”
“Don’t do that!” Butch pointed his finger at him.
“Um, you didn’t put the meat on the grill yet, right?” Charlie asked, swaying with Roman gently side to side.
“I know better.”
“Good. Be back in a minute.” Charlie held Roman’s hand and led him to the bedroom.
Roman caught the look of lust in Butch’s eyes. He said to Charlie, “He wants to come. I mean, to cum.”
“We did say that he could one day. That was part of the deal.”
“Is today the day?”
“Up to you, Agent Burk.”
“Oh, Butch?” Roman craned his finger at him.
Butch let out a, “Yeeha!” yell and raced towards them.
“You do realize he’ll be craving more of this once he’s had a taste, Charlie.” Roman removed his gun and badge, placing them on the nightstand.
Charlie took off his shirt. “Is that right, Butch?”
“Been a month since we bought this place and moved in. I thought you both forgot.” He ripped off his clothing and threw it on the floor quickly.
Roman had a look at Butch naked. “Nice cock, cowboy.”
Butch ran his hand over his stiff dick. “I am so ready for this.”
“I think we have an alpha wolf in the room.” Charlie opened the nightstand and set out items they would need.
Butch leapt onto the bed that Charlie and Roman shared. “Come get me.”
Roman shook his head at the irony. “Two’s a pair, three’s a pack?”
“Three is unbelievable.” Charlie scooted next to Butch, and Roman relaxed on the opposite side of the nineteen year old.
“What do I do?” Butch turned his head from Roman to Charlie nervously.
“Watch and enjoy.” Roman reached for Charlie across Butch and brought him to his lips to kiss. He heard Butch’s breathing quicken. He ran his hand up Butch’s thigh towards his crotch and deepened his kiss, sucking on Charlie’s tongue.
Butch whimpered, staying still under them, watching.
The minute Roman wrapped his palm around Butch’s cock, Butch began humping it. He felt Butch touching his chest timidly.
“I can’t hold on. I can’t.”
Roman fisted Butch’s cock and felt it pulsating. Both he and Charlie stopped kissing to look. Ribbons of cream spattered Butch’s chest and abdomen.
Charlie smiled at him. “I remember those days. Comin’ before I even got started.”
“I think it’s time we got started, Charlie.” Roman allowed Butch to climb off the bed to wash up. Before Butch left the room, he paused and looked back.
Roman lay face up, opening his legs for his man.
Charlie gave Butch a wink and used a good dollop of gel on both him and Roman. Butch leaned against the door frame, his gaze glued to their act.
Charlie rolled Roman’s legs backwards until his ass was accessible, then he scooted closer.
As Charlie consummated their love, Roman gave Butch a sweet smile. “You’ll find your man one day, cowboy.”
Butch let out a long soft sigh, resting against the open door.
Charlie pushed deep inside Roman, balls deep. He stilled his hips until Roman had relaxed. “Go for it, Charlie.”
Holding Roman’s knees, Charlie rode Roman until he was grunting like a rutting buck. Feeling Charlie’s cock throbbing inside him, Roman snarled in delight, gripped Charlie’s face and brought him to his mouth.
They went crazy sucking and lapping at each other’s mouths as Charlie thrust his hips against Roman.
Butch retreated to the bathroom as their vocalizations began to get canine in nature.
Charlie growled and threw back his head as he came.
Roman panted, boiling with heat as his lover gave up his load. When Charlie pulled out, he dropped between Roman’s legs and sucked his cock, drawing him in deep and hard, pulling suction to the tip.
Roman roared and raised his hips off the bed, thrusting as deep as Charlie would let him enter his mouth. The climax rushed up quickly as Charlie used the lube to massage in and outside Roman’s ass.
Just as he came, Roman opened his eyes. Charlie met his gaze, swallowing as he did, and his stare was like two high beam headlights in the night.
Charlie released Roman’s cock from his mouth and crawled up Roman’s body to his lips. They lapped gently at each other, whimpering from the bliss.
As Charlie’s weight and sweat mingled on his skin, Roman inhaled his scent. They were still wolves, but only he and Charlie knew it.
And they were going to keep it that way.
The End
About the Author

Award-winning author G.A. Hauser was born in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, USA and attended university in New York City. She moved to Seattle, Washington where she worked as a patrol officer with the Seattle Police Department. In early 2000 G.A. moved to Hertfordshire, England where she began her writing in earnest and published her first book, In the Shadow of Alexander. Now a full-time writer, G.A. has written over sixty novels, including several bestsellers of gay fiction and is an Honorary Board Member of Gay American Heroes for her support of the foundation. For more information on other books by G.A., visit the author at her official website. www.authorgahauser.com

G.A. has won awards from All Romance eBooks for Best Author 2010 and 2009, Best Novel 2008, Mile High, and Best Author 2008, Best Novel 2007, Secrets and Misdemeanors, Best Author 2007.

The G.A. Hauser Collection

Single Titles

Unnecessary Roughness
Hot Rod
Of Wolves and Men
The Order of Wolves
My Best Friend’s Boyfriend
Mr. Right
The Diamond Stud
The Hard Way
Games Men Play
Born to Please
Got Men?
Heart of Steele
All Man
Julian
Black Leather Phoenix
London, Bloody, London
In The Dark and What Should Never Be, Erotic Short Stories
Mark and Sharon (formally titled A Question of Sex) A Man’s Best Friend
It Takes a Man
The Physician and the Actor
For Love and Money
The Kiss
Naked Dragon
Secrets and Misdemeanors
Capital Games
Giving Up the Ghost
To Have and To Hostage
Love you, Loveday
The Boy Next Door
When Adam Met Jack
Exposure
The Vampire and the Man-eater Murphy's Hero
Mark Antonious deMontford
Prince of Servitude
Calling Dr Love
The Rape of St. Peter
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In the Shadow of Alexander
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The Action Series

Acting Naughty Playing Dirty
Getting it in the End Behaving Badly Dripping Hot
Packing Heat
Being Screwed Something Sexy Going Wild

Men in Motion Series

Mile High
Cruising
Driving Hard
Leather Boys

Heroes Series

Man to Man Two In Two Out Top Men

G.A. Hauser Writing as Amanda Winters

Sister Moonshine
Nothing Like Romance
Silent Reign
Butterfly Suicide
Mutley’s Crew

COMING SOON;

Happy Endings Down and Dirty
And now how about a quickie?
For Sam
Based on the characters of Leather Boys;
Devlin burrowed his face between Sam’s thighs. There was nothing as sweet as sucking on a man he loved like no other before him. Mouthing Sam’s balls, rubbing his face all over his body, hearing him moan. It was worth everything Dev owned.

Their playtime. Fantasies to make their hearts pound, their mouths water. Whose turn is it tonight? Dev loved that question. He won either way. And tonight, it was his. Sam. Big beautiful Sam tied up. Did it get any better than that?
Dev doubted it.
And there was no doubt Sam was in heaven. Just the moans and gasping were enough to let Dev know he was floating.
Pausing, having to look up at him again just to admire him, Dev caught his breath as he stared, and stared. Sam’s chest heaved with his excitement. His wrists and ankles tied to the bedposts, naked, vulnerable, and delicious. Sliding off the foot of the bed, Dev rubbed his hands down the leather jeans he was wearing. He was hot and dying to take them off, but that wasn’t the fantasy.
Sam opened his blue eyes with a look of longing Dev knew he would remember forever.
Wanting his mouth, Dev crawled up Sam’s body, slowly, a wicked smile on his lips.
“Ah!” Sam gasped.
“What?” Dev paused.
“Leather! Stick!”
Dev peered down. The leather of his jeans had stuck to Sam’s hot dick. Backing up, Dev decided the kiss could wait. He enveloped Sam’s cock instead, sucking to the base, whimpering in ecstasy. After Sam had writhed on the bed in anticipation, Dev allowed Sam’s cock to slip back out of his mouth. When he had the attention of those brilliant sky blue eyes, Dev whispered, “I love you, Sam. I always will.”
Sam’s response was a mixture of his lust and his adoration. “I know, babe. I feel the same.”
“For Sam…” Dev grabbed the base of Sam’s cock. This time he would make him come.
“For me. Ah!” Sam hissed, arching his back from the intensity of the approaching climax.
Once Dev had tasted Sam’s come in delight, he sat back and eyed him one last time. He knew, if he lost this man, he would never find a replacement. And he was right.

Other works by G.A. Hauser:

Capital Games
Let the games begin…
Former Los Angeles Police officer Steve Miller has gone from walking a beat in the City of Angels to joining the rat race as an advertising executive. He knows how cut-throat the industry can be, so when his boss tells him that he’s in direct competition with a newcomer from across the pond for a coveted account he’s not surprised…then he meets Mark Richfield.

Born with a silver spoon in his mouth and fashion-model good looks, Mark is used to getting what he wants. About to be married, Mark has just nailed the job of his dreams. If the determined Brit could just steal the firm’s biggest account right out from under Steve Miller, his life would be perfect.

When their boss sends them together to the Arizona desert for a team-building retreat the tension between the two dynamic men escalates until in the heat of the moment their
uncontrollable passion leads them to a sexual experience that neither can forget.

Will Mark deny his feelings and follow through with marriage to a women he no longer wants, or will he realize in time that in the game of love, sometimes you have to let go and lose yourself in order to really win.

Secrets and Misdemeanors
When having to hide your love is a crime…
After losing his wife to his best friend and former law partner, David Thornton couldn’t imagine finding love again. With his divorce behind him, he wanted only to focus on his job and two children. But then something happened, making David realize that despite believing he had everything he needed, there was someone he desperately wanted—Lyle Wilson.

Young and determined, Lyle arrived in Los Angeles without a penny in his pocket. Before long, however, the sexy construction worker nailed a job remodeling the old office building that held the prestigious Thornton Law Firm. Little did Lyle realize when he gazed upon the handsome and successful David Thornton for the first time that a door would be opened that neither man could close.

Will the two men succumb to the tangled web of societal pressures placed before them, hiding who they are and whom they love? Or will they reveal the truth and set themselves free?

Naked Dragon

Police Officer Dave Harris has just been assigned to one of the worst serial murder cases in Seattle history: The Dragon is hunting young Asian men. In order to solve the crime it’s going to take a bit more than good old-fashioned police work. It’s going to take handsome FBI Agent Robbie Taylor.

Robbie is an experienced Federal Agent with psychic abilities that allow him to enter the minds of others. You can’t hide your secrets and desires from someone that knows your every thought. Some think what Robbie has is a gift, others a skill, but when the mind you have to enter is that of a madman it can also be a curse.

As the corpses pile up and the tension mounts, so does the sexual attraction between the two men. Then a moment of passion leads to a secret affair. Will their love be the distraction that costs them the case and possibly even their lives? Or will the bond forged between them be the key to their survival?

The Kiss

Twenty-five year old actor Scott Epstein is no stranger to the modeling industry. He’s done it himself between acting jobs. So when his sister, Claire, casts him in a chewing-gum commercial with the famous British model, Ian Sullivan, he doesn’t ask any questions. He’s a professional. He’ll show up, hit his mark, say his lines, and collect his paycheck. Right?

Ian Sullivan is used to making heads turn. Stunningly handsome, he’s accustomed to provocative photo shoots where sex sells everything from perfume to laundry soap. Ian was thrilled when Claire Epstein cast him in the new Minty gum commercial. He has to kiss his co-star on screen? No problem. Until he finds out Scott is the one he has to kiss!

Never before has a commercial featured two men, kissing on screen. Claire knows that the advertisement will be groundbreaking, and Scott knows that his sister needs his performance to be perfect. As the filming progresses and the media circus begins around the controversial advertisement, the chemistry between Ian and Scott heats up and the two men quite simply burn up the screen. Is it all an act? Or, have Ian and Scott entered into a clandestine affair that will lead them to love?

For Love and Money

Handsome Dr. Jason Philips, the heir to a vast fortune, had followed his heart and pursued his dream of becoming a physician. Ewan P. Gallagher had a different dream. Acting in local theater, the talented twenty-year-old was determined to be a famous success.

As fate would have it, Jason happened to be working in casualty one night when Ewan was admitted as a patient. Jason was more than flattered and surprisingly aroused by the younger man’s obvious attraction to him. The two men entered into a steamy affair finding love, until their ambitions pulled them apart.

Now, one year later and stuck in a sham of a marriage that he entered into only to preserve his inheritance, Jason is filled with regret. Caught between obligation and freedom, duty and desire, Jason finds that he can no longer deny his passion. He plans to win Ewan, Hollywood’s newest rising star, back!

The Vampire and the Man-eater
Love at first bite!
Stock broker Brock Hart’s idea of fun was playing at the local gay nightclub every weekend with someone new. He imagined the Rules of Relationships didn’t apply to him, and his best friend thought his nonchalant attitude towards sex was crazy. Until one night his playboy image was put to the test.

Spying Brock in a crowded club, Vampire Daniel Wolf sets his sights on the handsome ‘man-eater’ businessman. Sparks literally fly, between the two, and with one bite from the sexy vamp Brock is hooked.

Never did Brock ever imagine falling for anyone, especially not a man from Sixteenth Century England! The only problem is, he’s a vampire. Can love conquer all? It will be a challenge, but one Brock is up for, in so many ways.

Murphy’s Hero
Sometimes…being a hero isn’t about putting on a cape.
Alexander Parker has always been painfully shy and his job at the British Museum keeps him busy. Dedicated and serious, no one is more surprised than Alexander when the replica of a Greek warrior’s helmet he impulsively places on his head suddenly transforms him from mild-mannered clerk into something else entirely.

Adrian Mackenzie, the editor of a famous erotic gay magazine, is about to get the scoop of the decade. The crime ridden city seems to have a savior, a mysterious man who is righting wrongs, protecting innocents, and as luck would have it… is extremely hot.

When Adrian happens to stumble upon the Good Samaritan in action he falls hard and fast discovering love and Alexander’s true identity. Now, if he can only get Alexander to come out of the closet. But is the world ready for a gay superhero?

Let bestselling author G.A. Hauser take you on an unforgettable fun-filled adventure and discover the story that inspired Ewan Gallagher’s famous movie roll in G.A.’s For Love and Money.

Exposure
Exposure…the truth will set you free
In politics for twenty years, Senator Kipp Kensington knows that even a whisper of suspicion about his sexuality could jeopardize his aspirations for the Presidency. Kipp thought he could be content living a lie in a marriage of convenience. Then he met Robin Grant.

Leather-clad, motorcycle riding Robin isn’t accustomed to hiding what he is or denying himself who he wants. The instant he meets Kipp, the sparks begin to fly and what started as a chance encounter soon turns into a full-blown affair of sizzling proportions.

When the contract Kipp has had for nine years with his now alcoholic, bitter wife begins to crumble and he’s threatened with blackmail, the senator needs to make a decision. Should he hide who he really is in order to avoid losing his career, or reveal the truth and set himself free?

Mile High Book One in the Men in Motion Series

Divorced accountant Owen Braydon spends his weeks working in Los Angeles and his weekends in Denver with his daughter. Straight-laced and mild mannered, he normally looks at the weekly flight to and from Denver as an opportunity to get some extra work done. But then he found himself on the same plane as the luscious Taylor Madison.

Texas-born Taylor is from Denver, but for several months he’s been flying back and forth to Los Angeles where he works as a project manager on a major construction job. Charismatic and confident, Taylor is a man who knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. The second he lays eyes on bi-curious

Owen, he knows he wants him.
What starts out as a smoldering no-strings-attached initiation into the Mile High Club quickly turns into a weekly ritual that both men look forward to over all else. Soon their desire for one another deepens and both men find themselves wanting and needing more.
When a possible change in work assignments threatens to end what they have, both men are faced with a decision. Can the heights they soared together in the air be maintained on the ground? Only if Owen and Taylor are willing to cast aside their doubts, open up their hearts, set aside all inhibitions, and go the extra mile.

Cruising Book Two in the Men in Motion Series

Brodie Duncan expected to be taking a week-long Alaskan cruise with his girlfriend. But when she ended their relationship just moments before boarding, he ended up on the ship alone. Determined to make the best of a bad situation, Brodie considers a no-strings-attached fling. What he didn’t bargain for was a man as appealing as Julian Richards. Trapped in his own bad relationship with a selfish woman he was starting to resent, the charismatic Julian is shocked by his reaction to tall, dark, and handsome Brodie. Instantly attracted to each other, the men create enough heat on their trip to the Inside Passage to melt the Glaciers in the bay.

In the end, on a vacation full of surprises, Julian and Brodie discover that not only do they have strong feelings for one another, by Cruising they just might have found their soul mates.

Driving Hard Book Three in the Men in Motion Series
They met on the highway. It was the beginning of ride they’d never forget…
Texan Jude Rae Clark hit the road in his pride and joy, a jet black International big rig, searching for a new life after his divorce. Unfortunately the long, lonely hauls provided little comfort until just outside Houston on Interstate 10 a blue-eyed stranger asked for a lift.

Yale Law School graduate, Logan Bleau, set out to explore America and escape his past by hitching his way across country to San Francisco. When he meets up with a handsome stranger in his eighteen-wheeler, a physical attraction blooms and the two men end up taking a detour.

When what began as sexual exploration on the open road turns into something deeper, the pair find themselves reevaluating their lives and Jude is faced with a decision. Give up his career of cruising the highways or pass up on the love of a lifetime.

Leather Boys Book Four in the Men in Motion Series
Start your engines, mount up, and get ready for the ride of a life-time…
Sexy gay fiction author Devlin Young donned his helmet, black leather jacket, and jeans. Then he mounted his Kawasaki and set off for what he anticipated would be a wild ride to Sturgis.

There were thousands of motorcycles, thousands of men, but only one Sam Rhodes. When web-designer Sam Rhodes joined a local group called The Leather Boys, he wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but he knew what it was he wanted. Amidst the decadence and insanity of the monster event, all Sam could think about was what it would be like to share an erotic experience with the deliciously naughty Dev Young.

Never one to apologize for who he is, or who he desires, Devlin doesn’t understand Sam’s reluctance to openly explore their relationship or his wish to keep their liaisons confined to the darkness of their tents while at the rally. Then he crosses swords with a tough-as-nails biker who both taunts and tempts him, unleashing a potentially dangerous craving and pushing Dev to make a choice.

The Boy Next Door

Brandon Townsend and Zachary Sherman were best friends and next-door neighbors. Growing up together in a cozy suburban town in New Jersey, they were inseparable and thought nothing could tear them apart. Then one night something happened between them, something that brought them even closer together…

They didn’t anticipate that what began as youthful sexual experimentation would lead them into an affair of the heart that would rock them to the core. Nor did they expect the danger of being discovered and separated by their families. At the time, neither Brandon or Zach realized that life would give them another opportunity.

Now, ten years later, a chance meeting brings them together again. Let best-selling gay fiction author G.A. Hauser take you on an unforgettable journey. A coming of age story about faith, about courage, and about trust…you’ll never forget The Boy Next Door.

When Adam Met Jack

Attorney Jack Larsen may not have everything he wants, but between his successful career and best friend Mark Richfield, he’s content. But when Mark comes out of the closet only to declare his love for ex-LAPD officer Steve Miller, Jack is devastated. Months later and still wounded, he’s not looking to be swept off his feet, but it’s hard to say no to handsome

Hollywood hotshot Adam Lewis. Adam Lewis has made a name for himself representing some of today’s brightest stars. But when his business partner is accused of unethical behavior, he finds himself in need of legal advice. When Adam walks into the law office of Jack Larsen, it’s strictly business until he sets eyes on the powerful and sexy hero that’s about to rescue his reputation.

When Adam Met Jack is an amazing new novel by Amazon best selling gay fiction author G.A. Hauser featuring characters from Love you Loveday, For Love and Money, and Capital Games. It’s got the glamour of the entertainment industry, the drama of the courtroom, and the amazing passion that you’ve come to expect from every G.A. Hauser book.

Love you, Loveday

Angel Loveday thought he had put his life as a gay soft-porn star of the 1980’s behind him. For seventeen years he’s hidden his sexuality and sordid past from his teenage son. But when someone threatens Angel’s secret and Detective Billy Sharpe is assigned to his case, he finds himself having to once again face them both.

Since his youth Billy Sharpe has had erotic on-screen images of Angel Loveday emblazoned in his mind. Now Angel is there in the flesh, needing his protection and stirring up the passionate fantasies that Billy thought he’d long ago abandoned.

As the harassment continues and the danger grows, Billy and Angel become closer. What began as an instant attraction turns into an undeniable hunger that unlocks Angel’s heart. It’s a race against time as Billy tries to save the man of his dreams from a life without love and the maniacal stalker hell-bent on destroying him.

To Have and to Hostage
When he was taken hostage by a strange man Michael never expected he’d lose his heart…
Michael Vernon is a rich, spoiled brat with a string of meaningless lovers and an entourage of superficial friends. With no direction in life, he wastes his days spending his father’s money and drowning himself in liquor…until he crashes into a man even more desperate than himself, Jarrod Hunter.

Jarrod Hunter grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. Out of work, about to be evicted, and unable to afford his next meal, Jarrod thought he’d reached the end of his rope and was determined to take his life. Then fate intervened delivering him

Michael Vernon. Why not take him home, tie him up, and hold him hostage to get the money he needs?
Two men from two different worlds…one dangerous game. Trapped together in close quarters, Jarrod and Michael find themselves sharing their deepest thoughts and fighting an undeniable attraction for each other. As the hours tick by, the captor becomes captivated by his victim and the victim begins to bond with his abductor. This wakeup call might prove to be just what Michael needs to set himself free. To Have and to Hostage…sometimes you have to hit bottom before realizing that what you need is standing right in front of you.

Giving Up the Ghost
The visit from beyond the grave that changed their lives forever…
Artist Ryan Monroe had everything he wanted and then in a blink of an eye, he lost what mattered most of all, his soul-mate, Victor. Tortured by an overwhelming sense of grief and unable to move on, his pain spills out, reflected in the blood red hues of his paintings.

Paul Goldman thought he’d found the love of his life in Evan, his beloved pianist. Their mutual passion for music was outweighed only by their passion for one another. They were planning a life-time together, but then one fateful night Evan’s was taken. Drowning in sorrow, unable to find solace, the heartbroken violinist has resigned himself to a life alone.

Now it’s two years later and something, someone, is bringing them together. Two men, two loves, two great losses… and one hot ghost. Giving up the Ghost by G.A. Hauser, you won’t be able to put down!