Disclaimer: Still, nothing belongs to me…

Thanks to all who wrote a review: 66Witch, WiseDraco, Scottishwriter, B.A.D.Child, Jeremy, Mrpointyhorns, Solana, Forsaken18, Siren of the Darknessflame, VandySkyXBridge, Black-Rose23, Medora Redtree, kyoudragon, Mouse Kaiser and vizzini13

I hope you all had a merry Christmas and a happy new year!!!

To answer Solana's question: No, Merton won't turn into a werewolf, he was bitten in one episode but cured before he fully transformed, hence he got lycanthropy-antibodies.

7. Chapter

Waking up on this morning was very similar to the day before, and yet so different. Again, Merton was cuddled half on top of Tommy, who had wrapped his arms all around him.

But unlike yesterday there was no awkwardness, no need for explanations. The two smiled at each other and shared a soft good morning kiss.

"You know, I'm really getting used to waking up like this…" murmured a still sleepy but happy jock, nuzzling his loves neck.

Merton sighed content and snuggled up to his lover further "I like it too. It's a good way to start the day."

"Yeah, but I know an even better one," smirked Tommy, and with one quick move he was lying on top of Merton, kissing him passionately.

The Goth moaned and pressed himself up against his friend; since both were still naked they could clearly feel each others rising excitement. A slightly callused hand found his way between the lower ones tights, started stroking and slowly pulling them apart.

Merton enjoyed this to the fullest and wanted to go on, but with a deep sigh he stopped his friend.

"We need to get up and dress."

Seeing the jock's uncomprehending expression, he added "It's almost noon, Lori is bound to come any minute."

Tommy groaned "Can't you send her home? Tell her I've got…don't know… some highly contagious werewolf disease, or…whatever, as long as she doesn't stay. I want to spend this day with you."

Merton smiled "I don't want her here right now, too, but you know how mulish she is. Lori would have the nerve to break the door open if we don't let her in. We'll sure find a way to get rid of her after lunch somehow. And now, get into your clothes; I don't want that lecherous blonde gaping at you."

Tommy grinned and started to put on his pants.

The two finished dressing just in time before a persistent knocking was to be heard.

"Open up guys, our lunch is getting cold and so am I!"

With a sigh, Merton opened the door and let a quivering Lori inside.

"Brr! Damn, it's really freezing out there! Here, our lunch, I hope it's enough "she said, handing Merton a family sized bin of fried chicken pieces from the hungry bucket. With a slight frown she sniffed at the Goth.

"Hey, have you baked cookies or what, cause you smell like vanilla all over."

"No, that's just a…uh... new sort of incense stick," stammered a red eared Merton, while Tommy tried his best to keep a straight face.

"Why don't we go upstairs and eat, I'm starving" said the jock, changing the subject before he would break down laughing and tell Lori what exactly she had smelled.

Although, that would probably be the fastest way to make her leave…and her face alone would be worth it´ he mused chuckling.

"Hem…Merton, why don't you go ahead and warm up the chicken, I've got something to talk about with Tommy in private."

Both boys looked surprised at Lori's request, but didn't suspect mischief from her friend. Hence Merton just shrugged, grabbed the bin and went upstairs.

"So, what's your problem Lori, I'm sure we'll find a way to help you."

The jock smiled reassuring at his friend, it was very rare that she admitted to need help, therefore he expected something serious.

"Oh, I have no problem; this is more about me helping you" she drawled with a wicked smile, slowly approaching the jock.

Tommy could feel his inner wolf stir, his hackles were rising.

"All the pent up tension of this mating moon, got to be really hard for you, only crappy incense and cold showers. I could help you to relieve the tension in ways the pale geek can't even dream of."

She reached Tommy and started to stroke his broad chest with a predatory grin.

He took a big step backwards to get out of her reach and said "Thanks for the offer, but no. I have already found my mate, and won't ever be unfaithful. For the sake of our friendship, let's just pretend that nothing has happened, o.k.?"

Tommy smiled nervous and hoped she would come back to her senses before this would get even more embarrassing.

Loris smile contorted to an image of wild rage. "No?! What the heck does that mean, no one spurns me, never!!" she screamed madly, pulled out a little flacon and before Tommy could react she started spraying a huge dose into his face.

"I really tried this the nice way, but if you ask for it, I have to use my plan B."

Lori grinned when the jocks gaze became blank and his eyes started to glow yellow.

She locked the exit door and moved to lock the door that opens to the stairway, too, as Merton, who had heard her screaming, entered.

Of course he recognised the strong smell instantly, and even if not, his friends glowing eyes were a dead give away of what had happened.

"What have you done?!"

"That's none of your business, pale guy. Just leave us alone."

Lori was clearly unpleased about the Goths unwanted appearance, but that wasn't going to change her plans. Completely ignoring him she roughly dragged the hem of the werewolf's shirt out of his pants and started to grope the bared torso.

Even deep within trance, Tommy noticed that something was wrong, but he couldn't pinpoint what, let alone do a thing. All he could muster was a protesting growl.

The faint growl of his friend freed Merton from his shock about Lori's incredible deed; he grabbed both of her hands to stop her from going inside the jocks pants and shouted:

"Are you completely out of your mind?! Stop molesting my friend and leave this house right now!!"

Seriously pissed off, Lori brutally shoved him away, with enough force to knock him over.

Merton's surprised yelp was cut short when his head collided with the wrought-iron bed post; he passed out, blood trickling down his face from a gash on the forehead.

Lori only spared him a short look to make sure he was still breathing and didn't bother any further.

But the few seconds she had looked at Merton had been enough to turn the tables; hearing his mates yelp had cut through the werewolf's herb-induced daze like a hot knife through butter.

The smell of Merton's blood made him seethe with blind rage, emitting a feral snarl he grabbed Lori by her throat and flung her against the nearest wall.

Lori was totally caught off guard; automatically she tried to break the hold around her neck, but in vain.

The strong paws tightened their grip and lifted her up so that her feet were dangling in the air, she could barely breathe anymore and eventually stopped her futile struggling.

Utterly horrified she stared into the face of the raging werewolf, only inches away from her own, never had she seen him like that, teeth bared and eyes sparkling of fury.

For the first time Tommy Dawkins looked like the ferocious killer a werewolf was supposed be, and it was scaring her to death.

The werewolf screwed up his eyes and glared at her intensely, his snarling finally subsiding.

"Now listen closely, bitch" he growled hoarsely and dug his sharp claws into her skin to emphasize his words. "If you ever dare to hurt my mate again, I will kill you. I'll smash your bones and feast on your flesh. Got it?"

Lori could feel warm drops of her own blood dripping down her neck and nodded panicked.

He threw her across the room, making her land in a heap next to the door.

She scrambled onto her legs, opened the door as quickly as possible with her trembling fingers and skedaddled at full speed.

Lori run all the way home, despite the stitches in her sides, made sure to lock all doors and collapsed on her bed at last, with one hand clenching a big knife and the other some silver jewellery.

Her teeth still chattering she finally admitted to herself that with her plan to seduce a werewolf she had definitively bitten off more than she could chew.

Meanwhile in the lair, the werewolf had carefully picked up his mate and was holding him closely, gently licking his wound. Eventually Merton awoke, looking up into worried yellow eyes.

"Tommy? What has happened? God, my head feels like bursting."

When he got no other answer than a friendly whimper, the Goth belatedly noticed the still lingering scent of the Lycanamora herbs. He motioned for the werewolf to help him up, opened the window to air the room, and then dragged his friend upstairs with him.

Once inside the kitchen he grabbed himself an ice bag for his throbbing skull and waited for Tommy to un-wolf, in the meantime they started eating the fried chicken pieces Lori had brought along.

The first thing a human Tommy asked was "Are you o.k. buddy? Do you need a doctor?"

Merton smiled at his caring friend "No, my pig-head saved me, I guess. But can you please tell me what has happened down there, why had Lori gone nuts and where is she now?"

"Well, she basically proposed me to relieve tension´ by fucking her, and when I declined she wasn't amused to say the least. She screamed and started spraying something in my face…" the jock trailed off, grabbing himself another piece of chicken.

Merton nodded chewing, swallowed and said "That was an extract of the Lycanamora herbs; god knows where she had got that. When I entered the lair, you were already in trance and she started groping you."

Tommy eyes went wide. "And how did you end up lying on the floor?"

Merton smiled weary. "Lets just say I wasn't o.k. with her going for your pants and she wasn't pleased when I stopped her and wanted to kick her out. One good shove later my head met the bed post."

Tommy put his chicken leg aside and turned serious.

"When I heard your scream, and then smelled your blood, my wolf and I were going mad with fury. We attacked her without hesitation and" he faltered, looking terrified at his hands, as if his fingertips were still blood covered "hurt her, even choked her and promised to slay her if she comes near you again. I was so angry, I could have killed her!"

"But you didn't!" Merton interrupted his friends self accuse vehemently.

"Your wolf just protected what is his, and after what Lori did she can be glad she got away with just a few scratches. According to every source even peaceful werewolves react extremely violent when someone threats their own."

Tommy mused over what his friend had said; it seemed logical to him that his aggressive reaction towards Lori was triggered by his wish to protect Merton, but…wait a minute…

"What do you mean, my wolf protected what is his own?"

The Goths ears turned slightly pink.

"I'm sorry but I couldn't tell you about it before, it has to happen by sheer instinct, if it happens, that is, and any kind of warning would have manipulated the outcome, plus I didn't wanted you to feel forced to do it, but I'm glad you did, although we sure can find a way to reverse it if you don't want" a finger on his lips stopped his non-stop talking.

"Could you please explain this to me in a way I understand, and maybe take a breath from time to time, too?" chuckled the jock.

Merton smiled, took a deep breath and pulled the collar of his shirt aside, revealing a fresh, blood-crusted bite.

Tommy gasped; he didn't remember biting his friend.

"That was me?! But why did I hurt you? And why aren't you mad at me about it?"

"You didn't hurt me; honestly, I didn't feel any pain," he assured his unbelieving friend.

"This isn't a normal bite Tommy, it's a mark. If a werewolf is entirely content with his chosen mate and wants to keep it, he marks it. Basically you claimed me for yourself, to keep off others."

Tommy blinked "So we are connected now? How long does this mark thing remain valid?"

The Goth lowered his gaze to the floor, swallowed hard and whispered, barely audible

"Forever."

Looking up into the jocks blank face he added worriedly "but I'm sure we can find a way to reverse it, I understand that you don't want to bind yourself at this age, your still young, who knows what the future brings…"

Merton kept on talking, but his friend had tuned out right after the first word.

Forever.

Deep inside he exchanged an expressive glance with his wolf, a talk without words, and both were completely one mind.

The Goth stopped his monologue, irritated by the dawning of a strange smile on his friends face.

"Let me get this right, are you telling me that this marking of someone is like the werewolf-version of…a marriage?"

Merton shrugged helplessly with his shoulders.

"I'm sure we'll find a way for you to reverse it…" he started blabbing again, but the jock interrupted him.

"Do you wish to reverse it?"

The Goth was startled by this question, to say the least, he could only stammer nonsense.

Tommy grabbed both his hands, looked him deep into the eyes and asked with a solemn voice:

"Merton J. Dingle, do you want to carry my mark, now and for ever?"

Merton gasped, his eyes grew wide but he managed to answer in a surprisingly steady voice.

"Yes. I do."

The next second Tommy found himself in a bone crushing hug which he returned with all his heart.

Two pairs of lips found one another, and when they had to stop for a much needed breath Merton whispered into his lover's ear "What do you think, shall we go down and continue where this stupid blonde interrupted us this morning?"

The jock grinned like a Cheshire cat and replied "As my mate wishes."

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No, this isn't the end yet! There will be one more chapter, an epilogue of sorts...so please, stay tuned!!