Disclaimer: I still don't own a thing.
Thanks to all my lovely reviewers:
Scottishwriter: I just have to ask- is that really your picture in your profile? That hair colour is awesome!!
Solana1: Don't worry my dear, despite some angst in between, I usually write happy ends. I mean, there's already enough heartache in real life, right?
66Witch: What shall I say…your encouraging comments are always a great inspiration for me!
11. Chapter
About one week had passed; it was the night of the full moon. Soon the moon would rise and Rock, Sam and Luke would transform for the very first time.
Needless to say the three were beyond nervous despite Tommy and Stephen doing their best to calm them.
"And it really won't hurt?"
"No, it won't hurt; it will merely tickle a bit when your fur grows for the first time. Nothing to worry about." assured Tommy patiently for the umpteenth time.
He sighed inwardly, wishing Merton was here with him, but for good measures he and the other humans had to keep a safe distance until the three had submitted and were safe to be around.
After all, there was still a residual risk that one of them would snap, and it was better to be safe than sorry.
Merton and Lori were equally busy at the moment to calm a frantic Mary and make sure she stayed away, the girl being even more nervous than her brother and her lover combined.
The blonde sighed, she too didn't like to be excluded, but unlike Mary she had learned in the past that there were some werewolf-related things that humans shouldn't interfere with unless one wanted to get hurt.
With a smile she thought back to the past week, her and Stephen had been all but inseparable. They've talked extensively, about their likes and dislikes, also about their respective plans for the future, to see if they would go together.
So far they only had discovered more and more things they had in common and no controversial subjects at all, given their tempo the odds were good that they would be mated even sooner than Sam and Mary. And that although until recently Lori could have never imagined committing herself that young, now she could hardly await it.
One week, and already she couldn't imagine her world without Stephen. Funny how someone she knew that shortly could turn her life upside down so quickly.
Up on his cliff Tommy's thoughts turned towards the born werewolf as well. In the short time that he knew him Stephen had already proven to be a good and loyal companion.
What was more, with his knowledge about werewolves and his calm and friendly attitude he would make an excellent second in command for the nascent pack, and the alpha hoped to keep him by his side for good.
Merton was already working on creating an ID and forging a social security number for their new friend, so with the beginning of the next semester he could continue his studies here in Pleasantville.
And thanks to yet more hacking (Merton) and some flirting with the secretary of the campus administration (Tommy) Stephen would share a room with Rock which was situated right next to theirs.
The black football player was more than happy about this for now he didn't have to worry about explaining accidentally wolfing out to a stranger, besides he needed a new roommate anyway since Ferryman had made it more than clear that he wanted to have nothing to do with his former best friend anymore now that he was a werewolf.
And the Lycantria native was glad that he didn't have to worry about someone noticing the vast gaps in his knowledge of the human world, or peculiarities in his life story like why he had no driving license.
The rising of the moon put an end to Tommy's musings; he as well as the others could feel the change instantly, suddenly there was so much energy in the air it seemed all but palpable.
Though where he and Stephen welcomed the feeling the others were scared by this alien sensation and all but shaking with fear.
"Don't be afraid, everything is perfectly normal" soothed a wolfed out Tommy the three. "Look at your hands, your claws are already growing, as is your fur."
"It really doesn't hurt!" exclaimed Sam amazed.
"But it sure looks funny – we're fuzzy all over!" laughed Luke.
Rock was speechless, feeling a mop of straight hair on his head instead of the usual close-cropped frizzy quarter inch.
While they were still laughing and gaping at each others appearances Tommy started to undress.
"Hey, how come we don't have a tail like you two….and why are you half naked?!"
"As bitten ones you won't grow a tail until you transform fully into a wolf for the first time. And I'm taking off my clothes because I need to take on my true wolf form for you to submit properly to me – and unlike in movies clothes don't transform with you."
"What exactly do we have to do anyway?"
It was Stephen who answered their question. "Easy, just like with real wolves or dogs you simply lie down on your back and bare your belly and throat to your alpha. He closes his jaws around your neck for a second in such a way that his eye teeth barely break the skin. That way it gets driven home to your inner wolf for good that he's your leader."
At this explanation all three newly-transformed werewolves tensed up; as much as they trusted Tommy, the picture of him in his wolf form ripping out Ariel's throat was still very fresh in their minds, and now they were supposed to bring themselves into such a vulnerable position!
Unbeknownst to them their reluctance was fuelled not only by fear but also by their already arising inner wolves who didn't want to submit at all.
Stephen and Tommy realised this and knew they had to act fast or they would loose them.
"We've got to hurry, it's only fifteen minutes until midnight" whispered Stephen to Tommy.
"How about we show them how it's supposed to work, that way they see that there's nothing to fear…I mean, if it won't harm you, since you're already a beta, right?"
"No, it would harm me none, but…" Stephen swallowed nervously. "You see, right now I'm kind of everyone's beta but a personal claim like a submission mark would change this irrevocably. You would be stuck with me forever."
Tommy chuckled "The way you put it you make it sound as if this were a downside. I mean, you're a great guy, loyal and trustworthy. I liked you from the moment I first saw you, when you spoke up for my mate."
The alpha smiled at the others surprise. "I was up here on this cliff that night, watching, and preparing myself for the fight. And I was truly impressed when you talked back against Ariel although you knew you were chanceless, but risking to get killed yourself. It really takes a lot of courage to do such a thing."
Stephen gaped at the taller in wonder, ok so it wasn't the first time that someone had praised him for doing something but for the first time it sounded genuine; Tommy truly appreciated him and wanted to have him in his pack.
Stephen smiled; it was a nice feeling, being wanted for a change instead of merely being tolerated.
"O.k, then let's do this."
Turning to the others, Tommy announced "To show you how it's supposed to work and that there's really nothing to be afraid of, Stephen and I will give you a demonstration."
Then, he quickly dropped his boxers, kneeled down and within seconds turned into his wolf form.
The three gasped at the sight of the gigantic beast and whimpered in fear.
Stephen however simply lay down, barred his throat to the huge animal and didn't even try to struggle as it closed his mighty jaws around his neck.
Sharp teeth tightened for a second and the onlookers held their breath, for a moment convinced that the small beta would end just like Ariel, but then the wolf raised his head, revealing a nearly unharmed throat.
Six pairs of eyes watched amazed how the feral-looking creature gently liked four tiny drops of blood off Stephen's skin before standing back from the lying young man.
"See, it's totally harmless! So who's next?" Stephen said lightly, almost jokingly, despite the gravity of the situation, to ease the others. The wolf sat back on his haunches and softly wagged with his tail, trying his best to look non-threatening.
Rock stared incredulously at the animal. "Tommy? Is that really you under all the fur?"
A little bark and increased wagging answered his question.
He swallowed nervously but stepped forward determinedly and lay down in front of the wolf. Shutting his eyes tightly Rock tried to prepare for the pain he was sure to come.
He heard the wolf approaching and felt his warm breath on his throat, then a wet sensation across his neck, followed by a slightly raspy tongue. Rock was getting confused 'Is he licking my throat clean before he bites me or what?'
A friendly nudge of a muzzle finally made him open his eyes again.
He looked up into golden amber eyes of the wolf that was only inches above him, but strangely he felt no fear anymore.
No, what he felt was a deep-rooted connection, a sense of belonging.
"See, that wasn't so bad now, was it?"
Rock looked over to Stephen and immediately felt the same connection. "Actually, I didn't even felt it…no pain, I mean."
"Well, what did you expect; he barely pierced your skin! Besides, our saliva has really strong healing abilities if we want it; hence those little wounds are already completely healed."
Rock stood up to make room for a still nervous-looking Sam and was surprised that he didn't felt connected to him too, or to Luke for that matter. Sure he could somehow sense them, recognise them as fellow werewolves, but…different. 'Kind but not kin' as his grandma would have put it.
That changed the moment the wolf's fangs closed around Sam's throat, he could feel the shift in his perception, Sam as well was now …friend, companion, brother….pack. The feral, primitive term was oddly fitting.
Rock took a deep breath, trying to figure out what else had changed, for him as well as inside him.
He became aware that he could think far more logical now than right after his transformation, also the mad urge to run into the woods and follow the scent trail of the deer that had drunken from the lake earlier that evening had dwindled considerably.
Ok, he was still hungry, but more after something from the hungry bucket then something four-legged out of the wood.
In hindsight it was both frightening to realize how inhuman he had become, if only for a few minutes, and what an enormous effect this submission ritual had on him.
The tall black shivered at the thought of what would have become of him if not for Tommy, or even worse with a lunatic like Ariel as his alpha.
By now Luke had submitted too and was wearing the same surprised and jubilant grin as Sam and Rock before.
Stephen grinned at them. "Ok, now that you're all save I would say its time to go to the others, before Mary goes into hysterics from worrying so much." Luke and Sam chuckled at that while Stephen looked over to his alpha questioningly.
"Go ahead, I'll be following you as soon as I'm decent again" said a humanoid again Tommy who was hurrying into his clothes for the night was getting chilly.
Within minutes he was dressed again, though before he followed the others he felt that there was one thing left he had got to do.
Standing tall and proud up on his cliff he howled at the moon, triumphantly reclaiming his territory for all the world to hear.
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Mary was pacing back and forth, slowly but surely getting into a tizzy, when finally the sound of snapping twigs alerted her to the return of the others.
She was just about to hasten to meet her beloved ones as the little group stepped into the clearing and hence into view. What she saw made her stop short; all four were sporting fur and had glowing eyes.
Yet she could easily recognise them, Luke's fur was the same dark brown as his hair and his before brown eyes held now a yellow tinge, turning them to rich caramel.
Sam's reddish-brown locks were now a flowing auburn mane, and his eyes…Mary gasped.
She had always loved his bright emerald eyes, but now they seemed to all but blaze, as if a golden fire was burning in their depths.
Without realising what she was doing she stepped nearer, drawn to him like a moth to a flame. The next thing she knew she was in his arms, kissing him and running her fingers through his silken strands, not caring the least about fur, fangs or claws.
When they broke apart panting heavily she realized that Merton had been right, no matter how he looked right now this was still her Sam.
Lori smiled inwardly at Mary's reaction upon seeing her friend as a werewolf for the first time, seemed as if someone else beside her was developing a soft spot for werewolves. Not that she could blame her; Sam did look gorgeous with those green, slightly golden-tinged eyes.
Nevertheless, to Lori, nothing was more beautiful than the sandy-brown furred werewolf whose honey-coloured eyes looked at her with so much love and adoration that it took her breath away.
Merton smiled at the four lovebirds whilst studying the features of the fledgling werewolves, marvelling the most at Rock's colouring. While his fur was unsurprisingly still dark, though more anthracite than black, his before dark brown eyes were now a sheer yellow, creating a stark contrast to his dark skin.
Then a howl rang out through the night as Tommy proclaimed his sovereignty over his territory.
Stephen didn't hesitate, threw his head back and happily answered the howl, whereas the recently transformed looked at each other uncertainly, but in the end they too followed the urge to respond to their alpha, though their howls were still a bit shaky and unsure.
For Tommy up on his cliff it was an indescribably feeling to finally have someone answering his call, turning his lone cry into a true moon song. He could feel his inner wolf perk up at the joint howls, a warm, contend sensation spreading through him as his innermost craving to have a pack was satisfied at last.
Unbeknownst to Tommy, howling together not only deepened the bond to his beta's further but also triggered before dormant alpha-instincts to awake, urging him to protect and care for his pack.
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Tommy and Merton stumbled inside the lair, kissing each other passionately while trying to get out of their clothes as fast as possible without actually ripping something.
Roughly twenty minutes ago the moon had gone down, turning Luke and the others into humans again which meant that Tommy could finally leave them alone for the night.
Watching Lori and Stephen as well as Mary and Sam being all over each other the werewolf was desperate to be alone with his mate.
Thankfully Mary had decided to stay with her Sam tonight, so no one would disturb the two lovers who were both more than eager to use the opportunity to spend some quality time together.
In next to no time Merton found himself pinned naked against the wall, helplessly whimpering under the onslaught of Tommy's skilled hands wandering all over him. Golden eyes flashed in the dimness before him, a voice growled "Mine!" sending shivers down the Goth's spine as his legs were spread and lifted.
Merton didn't resist but wrapped his legs around the werewolf's waist, not surprises at all that tonight's events brought out his lover's dominant side. Soon, moans and growls were echoing through the lair.
On the other side of the room a little light at Merton's pc was blinking, signalling the arrival of a message. It was a mail from Lycantria, tagged as important.
The subject line read: Coming tomorrow.