The whoops and hollers we could hear had Dad smiling as we got out of the truck. When we were close enough to see the bonfire, he laughed and gave me a push to join my friends. It was the last all-out gathering before school resumed, and probably the last time I would see my friends for a while. I was leaving tomorrow.It had been strange with Dad; good, but strange. We had talked, really talked, long into the night after we got home. I asked him all those questions I wasn't going to ask, and heard all the answers I wasn't sure I needed.It didn't stop there. Early in the mornings, we talked about food and finances, domestic household stuff. Every day after we ran together in the woods, and often during our runs, we'd discuss the wolf. During workouts, we shared ideas about fighting and shifting. I found myself motivated to work out with him. I didn't mind the soreness or the fact I had more bruises than our workouts had ever given me.We filled our nights with stories of Mom from befo
The wind whipped at me as I indulged myself for a few miles. I had taken my helmet off and allowed myself to be as much wolf as I could while controlling the motorcycle. This is the sort of brainless thing my dad would chew me out over, and something I'd always dreamt about doing. Right now, I couldn't resist. I had a clear, empty stretch of back road with no parent in sight.I couldn't wait to start my first day of work. I was looking forward to putting my education to good use. My new job suited me. There was an extensive range of chores involved. I'd enjoyed doing most of them at one time or another around the reservation.Dealing with the public is something that was also part of the job description. I worked seasonally at the old lava tubes back home and often did tours there; that's probably one of the things that helped me get this job. Being a Forest Ranger wasn't the highest paying or most glamorous job in the world, but it was hard to be a wolf and not appreciate the beauty
We took Derrick's car into town the following night after work. The two of us seemed to be working out well. It didn't take long before the new microwave was in the back seat; we stowed the mower in the trunk.Derrick pulled in at a coffee shop that had some tables outside. "One of my favorite haunts," he grinned. When I ordered a cup of tea, Derrick shook his head. "Aww, come on, Rick. Tea? Honestly? Real men drink coffee," he teased.The way he ogled the barista gave me an idea of why he liked the place. We sat down and got a bit of background on each other."The one thing I can't find around here is stuffed flounder," Derrick complained. "I could always find a decent seafood dinner in Maryland.""I'll have to catch you some mountain trout. Otherwise, it's elk for me," I told him."Elk? Don't tell me- mighty hunters, right?"We both laughed as I nodded."You got siblings?" Derrick asked. "I have two younger brothers and a sister. My brothers were happy when I moved out; it meant they
The guy in charge had one hand on Derrick's shoulder, stopping him from moving forward. He motioned with his other hand."Henry, Ed, give him what he's asking for. No weapons."Both guys threw a few knives off to the side. I grinned again, ready for them.The taller, lankier guy was built a bit more than me and came straight at me. I had a slight height advantage on him, but not much. As he took a swing at my head, I stepped into his embrace, ducking in under his arm. I latched my arm around his shoulder, lifting my feet to use all of my body weight to throw him off balance. As he stumbled, I swung my feet up over his other shoulder, making the tall guy land heavily on his back.I turned my momentum from the fall into a backward somersault that I didn't quite get to finish. The tall guy rolled after his fall and was practically on top of me. In my current position, I was able to bring my knees up, shifting my hips slightly to make my legs come in faster than usual, into a position tha
Over the next week, I began to settle into a routine of sorts.mDerrick and I ran a few miles every morning. He never understood my penchant for running barefoot. After work, we'd tussle in the back yard occasionally. Derrick spent a few hours at the gym house every weeknight, often coming home so sore I wasn't sure how he would get through work the next day.I only went twice a week for Ed to teach me about knife battles. I focused on my lessons and didn't do any other fighting. I often went home with shallow lacerations from Ed's attacks. I was in awe of how fast Ed wielded a variety of blades as we practiced with everything from shivs to my hunting knife.Mac, the big guy in charge, kept an eye on me. I could feel his eyes following my movements, watching my practice matches. Mac had something on his mind; he just wouldn't say what it was.I became familiar with most of the faces of the guys who worked out and practiced there during my lessons. They grudgingly tolerated me because
Oddly there weren't too many cars around.Derrick said a few of the guys ran taxi service bringing in small groups. Too many cars here would bring too much attention.Mac was at the kitchen table with a notebook, scribbling intensely, setting up the bouts. He faced a bunch of guys lined up across from him."Go meet the Doc," he hollered when he saw me, barely looking up from his notes.The doctor was an older guy about in his fifties. He was going through the inventory of medicines, prepping needles. I wondered what was in them, why he did this gig. I wondered how much he got paid for his services. I knew better to ask anything as I cleared my throat in the doorway."Hey, I'm your helper tonight."He turned around and gave me a look I couldn't decipher."Are you legal?" the doctor asked.I gave him a confused look."At least tell me you're twenty-one."I wasn't going to tell him I wasn't, not when my birthday was so close."I'm legal," I said with a grin.He just shook his head. "Why
The werewolf's reactions stymied me. I tried to figure out how to get him alone. I came up blank. Mac came to my rescue."I gotta lock up. Don't go nowhere," Mac said as he headed back in to lock up the clinic.I threw Derrick my keys, glad I had parked my motorcycle in the back. "You wanna bring it around?"That gave me the briefest moment alone with the other wolf.He spoke before I had a chance. He had dropped to his knees again with head bowed. The stink of fear rolled off him."Forgive me, Royal, for invading your territory.""What the hell dude," I hissed. "Stand up already and stop that shit. This place belongs to Mac, and you should know that. All these guys are human. They don't know about us. We need to go somewhere and talk. When we do, you're going to explain your behavior. Meet me at the gas station by the interstate after we leave here. I gotta take Derrick home first, so I'll be a minute. I hope you'll be there when I get there."Thankfully he got to his feet before Der
He followed me back to town. I debated but finally drove to my place. I told him to go clean up in the kitchen while I took a super quick shower. I slid on some jeans and a tee-shirt before I came out.He was still in the kitchen.I grabbed two of Derrick's beers and led the way out the back door. I chose a seat on the curb on the far side of the empty lots. As long as we keep our voices down, we should be safe to talk."Here you go," I said as I held out a bottle toward him. "It might be wee early in the morning, but I think you and I both need this."He didn't say anything as he took it, still not looking directly at me."I want you to know I'm not mad at you or anything. You don't have any reason to fear me."I had a feeling I could say that a hundred times, and he would still piddle on himself."Why don't you start by telling me what a royal is and why you think I am one."He took the cap off his beer and took a long draught. He looked like he was about to cry. It was so stupid. T