Black wolf in the night, sitting by the river, impatiently pacing, his reflection from the water showing the ruby color in his fur, in his eyes.

The sound of an umbrella unfolding against the breeze and with a heavy thump, a bat-creature landed on him.

'Love the wings, Bru. I'm green over here.'

'More like red.' Heath untangled himself from the pretzel knot of bodies that was his own and his former taggie. 'What happens to be the emergency?'

'It's not an-'

'You only ask for me when its very important. I know you enough. I might be stupid but I'm also smart.'

'That's exactly my problem!' Justin snarled. ' I met you first! I saw you first! And you reject my love for someone who doesn't deserve you, who insults you and treats you badly.'

'I've never once been made to feel inferior and that's why I stay, because I'm happy.'

Justin grumbled and growled. Forget the wings, NOW he was truly jealous.

'Yeah but quit rubbing lemon pepper in my open wounds, okay?'

'Jay Geeeeeeee, I love you too, but I CAN'T the way you want, sorry.'

'Sorry meaning pathetic? yeah then you're right.'

'Jayge.'

'Never mind. I've got other problems besides your thief of a husband.'

'You're having a child.'

'You sensed it?'

'Yeah.' Heath shrugged at Justin's startled face. 'Blood smell.'

'Oh. Damn. I should've guessed.'

'I'm happy for you.'

'Opposite of me. it's a mistake, a burden.'

'But you LIKE children!'

'yeah but I don't WANT one! this...mistake is going to be in my way, ruin my life, keep me from having fun. And I won't accept it.'

'What are you going to...you're not...'

'I'm thinking. Go away. Leave me alone.'

'I won't abandon someone I care for when they're hurting.'

'You have before. That's why I'm single and you're with HIM.'

'Oh Jayge, don't-'

'turn and walk from me before I rip you to pieces, I swear I will.'

'jay Gee.'

'GO!'

human face and dark dangerous eyes and ruby tinged black fur.

Frustration, envy, lust and hatred.

The wolf in the night.

Sitting.

Waiting.

The body beside him, snoring, the sound of bellowing mooing bison, wasn't George at all but he loved it anyway.

minus the snores.

two big hands melded together to crush the handful of beef and onion crisps into near powder, salty on his palms and from that Wade created a crisp crumb mustache on his beloved's sleeping face.

'ran out of cheese flavor?' the form shifted, came more awake, grinned.

'And roast chicken, yes.'

'Neat, I'm a brunette again.'

'Only your upper lip. I can't speak for the dirt on your face.'

'It's my facial hair!'

'More like red mud, dried.'

'Another bit of sarcasm from the expert.'

'Always.'

'Maybe too much.' another smile to make any cloudy day turn to bright sunshine.

'what's the wild child furious about this time? Besides the obvious.'

'I already told you it IS the obvious. I almost hate we ever met, it angers him so.'

'He'll have to get used to it.'

'He never will. Would...would you?!'

'If we never...yes I DO sympathize but his attitude isn't helping any of us, himself OR Andrew.'

'Yeah.'

'Besides you're my uce and no Were or human, nobody can alter my feelings.'

Crumbs over the pillowcase.

a salty taste in the mouth, ocean water taste but not.

'We're meant for each other, you and me.'

'I.'

'Me and I. hey that doesn't sound right!'

'Precisely.'

'Want to feel a kick?'

Hands instinctively covered cloth over flesh, protection.

'I'll apologize a million more times to not be, I didn't mean to insult your parents, it was a joke.'

'Not THAT kick...hold your hands out.'

'Are you going to bite me?'

'Every other weekend.' Justin smiled though bitter inside. 'Here, feel.'

Hands dropped away, leaves in cold weather, dying and leaving the tree.

'I...what?!"

'It's exactly what you think it is.' a lowered voice became a growl. 'Unfortunately.'

drew was too mesmerized to hear the anger. 'I'm impressed.'

'happy?'

'Yes. very. astounded. Excited. thrilled.'

'great.'

Fury softened to despair.

He'd made a mistake and now he had a burden to deal with.

He had done what he'd never wanted to do, create a Pack.

screwup, problem, burden, mistake.

Little mistake, bound to grow into a big one.

His own Pack.

Plus future generation on the way.