Little Orange Riding Hood

by Alastair

A werewolf would never protect a little girl who wanted to walk along the paths of the forest. He wouldn't hold her hand. Fairy Tale Challenge 2021

Today, she wore her orange hood.

Luffy chopped the next log he put onto the chopping block, but he continued to glanced over as she passed. The widow, Bellemere, had two beautiful daughters, but only one had come to live in the village proper. Rare though it was to see a woman who lived alone, she did. Nami made money by selling her stepmother's oranges to the villagers, but she had only moved last year before the winter.

His eyes trailed to her wide hips under a clean linen apron, but then he turned back to the chopping block. He placed another log and cut it clean in two.

The last thing he needed was to distract himself with thoughts of her, but Luffy could hardly help it. When he clutched the next log, he gripped it so hard, it creaked before he stopped himself.

Listening for a moment, he heard her console with a neighbor.

"That's dreadful. The woods have gotten so dangerous now."

"You're not going out today, are you? Been wolves tearing apart travelers. I'd hate to see anything happen to you out there, Fräulein Nami."

He looked again. She held a basket in her hand.

Luffy tensed.

Swallowing nothing, Luffy turned back to his chopping and tried to concentrate on his work. With all the trees being brought in, he was hard-pressed to keep up. He had to make money to eat the food to which he had grown accustomed. When his muscles ached so with exhaustion, he could not stop to think about the beautiful woman who entranced him every time she stepped outside. How he wanted to tear her hood off and rip open her dress before he bit into her-

His arms wrenched to a halt before he swung his axe again. He gritted his teeth. Had he kept swinging as he had been, he might have cracked either the axe or the chopping block apart. Luffy readjusted his grip and scowled at himself.

She would scream in terror if she knew.

And he couldn't allow her to know. Luffy would not wed any woman who was not one of his kind, but the desire for her gnawed at him. What would it be like to have a woman like her for his own?

His ear turned back to the conversation again, unable to stop.

The sound of her voice was little compensation though.

"What about Herr Luffy?"

Eyes bulging wide, he looked back at them before he could help himself. Several hundred feet away, Luffy watched the neighbor wave. Nami smiled at him and waved too.

After a moment, he lifted his hand, trying desperately to act naturally. They would just think he had glanced over by happenstance. Humans could never hear at the distance and pitch of what he could after all. There was no need to suspect him. He had simply raised his head at the same time.

Luffy tried to turn back to chop the firewood, but he could see her approach out of the corner of his eye.

With a hard swallow, he was surprised to see her come to his fence.

She leaned against the fence and smiled. "Herr Luffy?"

"Yes?" He adjusted how the log sat on the block and tried not to stare at her.

"I had an errand to run to my mother's, but Herr Hachi said that there's been a wolf attacking people on the roads."

His eyes trailed up and down her form while he wiped the sweat from his forehead with his shirt sleeve. "Ah, I've heard the same."

At a glance at the basket in her hand, he chewed his lip a moment. She sighed though. "It's dreadful, but I still have my errand to do. Would you be willing to escort me to my mother's house? I've heard you're quite the hunter. You could protect me."

Her warm smile made him swallow nothing. Women's smiles were not an invitation, and yet, he could feel hers pull at him. Prod.

"I ..." Luffy inspected what was left of his firewood pile and paled. Two more cuts and he would be done. He had concentrated so much that he had rushed through his work.

How fast had he been moving? Ace and Sabo would have called him a fool if they had seen him.

Luffy had no excuse now though.

"Let me finish this up, and I'll be right with you."

Her smile might have melted his worry then, but a gust of wind towards him raised his hackles.

Nami, the delightful woman who lived down the road and had besotted him for months now, was in her fertile phase.

---

Staying downwind was impossible.

Luffy trekked with Nami through the path in the woods and counted down the minutes. He was not certain where her mother's house was, but he knew the widow lived deep in the woods. It usually took Nami a full day to get there and back. She had no carts or horses like many in the village.

As he glanced at her, his nose twitched, and the enticing scent of a fertile female made him wish he had turned her down. This was a bad idea. He should have told her to ask someone else.

He could have done any number of things around the house.

Winter had just ended after all. Luffy could have patched the roof or gone out into the forest to get food for supper.

Instead of tearing himself apart for wanting to rip open her dress to get to her-

"You're so tense."

Luffy's head jerked, and he stared at her before he shook his head. "Ah, sorry. I'm just tired."

She smiled. "I bet. Someone told me he saw you sneak out at night once. Do you have a lady friend you're visiting?"

When he stiffened, she giggled, thinking she had hit upon the right idea.

He licked his lips before he cursed himself silently. A waft of her scent touched his tongue then, and he shuddered. The air tasted like the salt of skin and flesh, and it took all of him to just swallow dryly.

"Who told you that?"

Nami raised a finger to her lips and winked. "That's a secret. I wouldn't want him to get in trouble, would I?"

Luffy swallowed hard and wondered how he could get the answer out of her. His mind had slipped into ways that would surely not work. Torturing it out of her by licking her dirty little-

"I just like taking walks sometimes. When I can't sleep." When he thought about how close she really was, and the moon was out.

"Well, you don't strike me as the kind of man to do that sort of thing." Startled, he realized her eyes were tracing up and down him. "But then, I hardly know you at all. The villagers all say you're nice, but I think this is the most we've ever chatted."

Still stunned, Luffy pursed his lips. She had asked about him? "Ah ... winter was a little hard this year. I haven't gotten the chance to go out much."

"That's a shame, but now it's springtime," she said with a smile.

Nami's wink made him remember her scent and how it had become harder to walk normally.

"I uh ... yeah."

She pouted when he became quiet. "So you can start going out again ...?"

With a frown of confusion, he took another glimpse at her. Somehow, her eyes pulled this time, and he inhaled sharply before he could stop himself. She smelled like oranges and the rich, potent scent of heat.

He covered his nose without thinking and tried to quell the gut-punch of desire.

Luffy wished the wind would start to blow in another direction. It seemed to waft her seductive fragrance to him no matter where he stood. How could one wind blow so much in the thick copses of this forest?

She touched his shoulder, and he jerked back in alarm, gasping.

Nami stared at him, a bit hurt, and he winced.

"Sorry, you surprised me ..."

"No, no, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that." She adjusted her hood to pull it forward more.

Eyes wide, he scrambled a moment for words. "It's all right! I was just trying to watch our surroundings, you know? It's nothing."

He hadn't paid much attention to possible markings. Luffy was unfamiliar with this side of the woods. Having never gone so deep, he had not allowed himself to try to claim the area since Nami walked this trail.

The idea had been too tempting.

Because if this was his territory, then wouldn't that make her his?

"Right," Nami said after a moment and nodded with more confidence than before, but she eyed him sideways with a pout. "I keep forgetting there are wolves out here."

"That's why you asked me to come with you though."

Her cheeks flushed. "Yes."

He raised a brow and waited a moment for more, but she said nothing else.

"So when was the last time you saw your mother?"

"Ah, well, just a few weeks ago. I came to see her after the last snow melted. It wasn't as dangerous before ... or I wasn't aware of it anyway." A flash of concern crossed her face. "Do you think that you would be able to come with me again? Until the wolves are gone, I mean."

Luffy scratched his head and actually inspected the area of the forest they walked through. Packs of wolves were common to be sure, but they avoided people. Attacks sounded strange to him, and this area still seemed too close for a pack. "Wolves aren't the only dangerous animals in the forest. There are bears, stags ... men." Himself.

When he turned back to her, Nami's eyelashes lowered. "I've only seen one man in these woods."

Startled, he stared, and the wind granted him no favors as an errant gust swirled around them, for an instant, surrounding him with her aroma. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth to force himself to calm down. She did not mean what he thought she meant.

"I do a lot of hunting."

She was pouting again when he opened his eyes. Stopping by a tall, gnarled oak tree, she touched its trunk and peered up at the boughs before soft words tickled his ear.

"If only you would hunt something else."

His brow furrowed, and he opened his mouth to ask before he reminded himself that perhaps she had whispered that softer than he had thought. She had not intended him to hear. Still, it puzzled him.

Luffy stopped behind her with a fidget. As the wind blew through the trees, he bit his tongue as if it would stop his salivating. He twitched when she turned around to face him.

Nami smiled. "What's wrong?"

Jerking to a stop, he realized he had been approaching her without thinking, and he turned his head aside. What sort of expression had he worn? How much hunger had he shown her? Would she recognize it for what it was?

The idea that she might - that another man had looked at her like he wanted to at that moment - stood his hackles up once again.

"We should get going or we'll lose daylight."

"Right ..." She sighed before she began to walk once again.

He followed her like a puppy.

And the wind taunted him.

---

She grew quieter as they walked, but Luffy did not mind so much. Her words as much as her scent was driving him wild.

When he tried to reason out what she had meant, he found himself shaking his head and glad that he walked behind her now. She would not see him fighting with himself - with his urges. Except now, he also had a view of her lovely, swaying hips. Each inhalation was her scent. Luffy did not breathe air. He breathed her.

His jaw tightened.

Nami's hips rocked side to side in a rhythm he couldn't hear. She peeked back at him from behind her hood, and his gut dropped as her tongue slicked out to wet her lips.

They were just dry. Nothing else.

As she faced forward again, Luffy released a slow breath and tried to look elsewhere. It was a warm day. The sunlight illuminated the spring leaves growing in, and the light played with the orange of her hood to make her appear brighter. Another breeze brought her scent to him, and he winced, realizing he had been distracted for only a moment.

He couldn't take his eyes off of her any longer. Worse yet, he could feel his arousal grow. The more he tried not to think about it, the worse it became.

Nami stopped in the path and put her hands on her hips. He swallowed hard and stared at her waist before he dragged away his eyes.

When she turned to him, he tried to watch the forest instead and breathed shallowly in an attempt to slow down the urge to throw her to the ground. If he breathed her in any deeper, he would have more than trouble on his hands.

"We should have lunch before we go any further." She lifted her basket.

Luffy nodded woodenly. "I am hungry ..."

She smiled, and he watched her a moment longer before he huffed. A glance around showed him a small clearing nearby, so he headed over to make a show of checking for tracks. As he had thought though, nothing had been here recently due to his approach.

He sat on the log on the edge of the glade with a sigh. Not tired, but mentally exhausted, Luffy tried to take this moment to clear his thoughts, however, Nami sat beside him. His nose crinkled, and he looked away too late. A snarl began to form on his features, unable to stop the rise below. Her scent mocked him. She was in heat, but he would not take her.

If he moved away now though, how strange would that seem to her? Wasn't it already odd that he would not face her?

"It's a lovely day out at least. A lovely, warm breeze ..."

Her side touched his for a moment, and Luffy told himself that it was just an accident. People who sat by each other might brush up against each other all the time. However, then her soft body pressed against him harder. His eyes bulged.

Luffy counted the seconds under his breath. The wind swirled around him, and he would have lurched to his feet, but her hand touched his thigh.

"How ... hungry are you, Herr Luffy?"

He inhaled.

Nami's hand slid up. "I'm sorry if I'm being forward, but I've seen you watching me."

With a wince, he swallowed hard. "I don't know what-"

"I've been watching you too though."

Her sweet breath touched his cheek and mingled with her rich fragrance. For a moment, he was too stunned to process her words, but then his head whipped around to gape at her. Nami's inviting smile - it was inviting him! - filled his vision. She touched his abs. Just touched, and he groaned through his teeth before he could force his throat to stop.

"Fräulein Nami, this is a dream come true, but right now is not a-"

When she tiptoed her fingers to his chest as her brown eyes peered into his, Luffy let his teeth clack shut. "You always look like you want to take a bite out of me."

His throat cracked. "That is not my intention. You just ..."

"I would not mind." She winked.

Luffy clenched his teeth before he grabbed her wrists. "Fräulein Nami, you don't-"

"Please ... don't go yet."

His nostrils flared, unable to help himself from tasting her on his tongue. How could she smell so indulgent? Luffy leaned in before he could stop or think. Her finger pressed between their lips in the next instant though, and he squeezed his eyes shut. He ached from the effort to keep from biting her pretty fingertip.

Nami stroked across his lips. His eyes shot open, and he began to shake.

"I can't-"

"Stay with me."

With a growl, Luffy lunged away and ripped out of her grasping fingers as he wheezed. Except, now her scent was on his mouth.

He licked his lips, and his teeth clanked shut.

"Don't tempt me!"

"Herr Luffy?" Her skirt whisked while she stood, and she pressed against his back. He knew if he turned around now, his arousal would be apparent, but so would his growing fangs. Nami's breath touched his ear while his eyes slowly rolled back. "What about my temptation?"

Luffy paled when her hands pressed against his abs. One went up.

The other went down.

"Oh, Herr Luffy, how big you are."

When he turned to her, she took a step back in alarm, but he pulled her against him. He was stunned that she didn't slap him outright then, but instead, her hands tightened on his tunic, and he swallowed nothing. His fangs felt huge in his mouth. If he said anything, it would reveal them to her though.

He kept his lips closed, but this forced him to breathe her in. Luffy shook as his hands began to grope down her back.

Her lips parted. "You're so strong ..."

His breath hitched, and more of her powerful aroma drew him in. Luffy growled as his hands closed on the globes of her plump cheeks. He ground against her hip and sighed as the release of endorphins rushed through his body. While his erection swelled, his trousers grew too tight.

"Herr Luffy?" Her whimper brought him out of his haze. His eyes widened when he saw her red face. Nami touched her cheek even as she reddened with a moan. "You're hurting me."

Luffy's grip softened. His lips trembled with his attempt to keep them closed, but he yearned to apologize. He shook harder, but then she licked her lips. She glanced down, her eyes moving slowly before they peered straight back into his, and he felt his own cheeks bathe in crimson.

He was going to take her. Her scent spoke to him in his bones. This was the woman he would bathe in his seed.

Now.

With a snarl, he flung himself back. Luffy gritted his fangs and held a hand over his nose as his nostrils flared as his body contorted. She was right there. His lips bared as his nails lengthened into claws. He scratched into his face, but blood only trickled for an instant before the scratches healed in the next moment. Without the moon, he couldn't transform all the way, but with his body in such a state - torn between taking her and running - he couldn't control himself, so he kept his head down, eyes wide as he begged to go deaf. If he heard her scream, he didn't know if he would weep or jump for her.

When he looked at her, she smiled though. "I thought so-"

Dimly, he saw the dagger flash. He caught the hilt before it could sink into his flesh. A bright blade reflected the sun into his eyes for a moment, showing it was interlaced with a shining metal shaped into what appeared to be the roots of a tree. The acrid scent confirmed its silver make, so he flung it away where it embedded into the log behind her, hilt-deep.

"-werewolf."

Nami gaped, eyes growing impossibly wide

A Wolfjägerin.

For a moment, he fought his growl and want as she gaped and stepped back. His lips curled, but tears started to stream down his cheeks.

"Run!"

Her jaw dropped, confusion in her eyes, and he crouched on his heels. Luffy rocked there. His eyes shut, he closed his hands over his ears, and his teeth bit deeply into his lips to keep his mouth secure.

It would not help.

"Get away from me!"

He could still smell her.

Even through his hands, he heard her feet move. The beast in him twitched to lunge. He counted instead. Luffy tried not to think it was like counting for the game of hunter-and-prey he had so long ago played as a child. An inhale and a gust of wind brought her salivating taste into him. His fangs dislodged from his lips and he tasted the air for her through his blood while his lips stitched back together.

Luffy growled before he gave chase.

Nami was just on the edge of a crest, but he had smelled her first, and he darted straight for her. His heart pounded when she turned and ran with a cry. She skidded down the other side of the hill as he reached the top. Something made him stop, and he closed his eyes to smell her more. He drooled as her fertile scent filled his nose and mouth with the flavor of desire.

Her ploy might have worked on him except for that scent. How many other werewolves had she seduced to be close enough to stab them in the heart like that? It was clear that she had no idea her body was going through this wonderful time though, but he would fix her problem soon.

His love of the hunt held him back. Nami ran through the woods into a thicker grove, and he ran his tongue over his lips to taste her on the air before he growled deep in his chest. When she disappeared for a full minute, Luffy burst down the crest.

He swiped a trunk to mark it, but he paused in the brush to smell a tree she had touched in passing. Had she leaned against it to look back or rest? Her scent lingered though and made his hunt easier than it already was. She was not a stalking huntress, but an ambush predator which made her run clumsy. But the anticipation fed his lust.

Luffy groaned before he dragged his claws deeply into the trunk. His forest. His tree. His mate.

Tracking through the thicket, he sniffed the leaves her skirt had brushed over. He stopped over a space where her handprints had landed. She had tripped in her haste. It muddled her scent, but couldn't hide her completely. Luffy hovered over the muddy puddle and breathed her new aroma through his mouth before he chased again.

While he weaved between the trees, he only stopped long enough to mark and leave heavy gashes into the trunks with his claws.

He spotted her high in a tree and smiled. As he had discovered earlier, the whole front of her dress was covered in mud. Luffy's eyes met hers high above as he rested a clawed hand on a trunk.

She gasped and flushed when his claws crunched into the tree bark before he sliced down like a knife through butter. He waited, sniffing her fresher scent here. Would she come down when she realized it was futile? Or would he have to come after her? Luffy knew exactly which one he wanted. Either way though, he would have her at last.

Nami squirmed on her seat though, and the wind granted him the delightful fragrance of her loins. She had grown hot during her run. The salty stench of sweat only added to his desire. He would lick it all clean. Mud, sweat, and pussy.

When she did not budge from her position, Luffy growled and stalked the base of the tree. He smirked as he looked up her skirt though her seat on the bough blocked him from seeing anything else. Even so, she closed her skirts when she realized what he was doing. Nami's face burned, but so did his appetite. Her scent grew richer.

With a growl, Luffy thrust his claws into the trunk to climb toward her. She gasped when he began to scale the tree, and she firmed her jaw before she leaped. Shocked, he dove for her and rolled as he hit the ground with her in his arms.

A gust of her scent surrounded him. Her fertile aroma hit his nose, but so did something else - the damp, hot scent of sex.

She whimpered and scratched at his chest. "Don't bite me! Please, if you have any humanity left, don't bite me! You were crying, weren't you?"

Luffy trembled with her plush form against him, and that smell on his tongue. He moaned deep in his chest, and her eyes widened for a brief moment as he pressed against her hip again. No biting?

He could eat her without biting her.

When he pulled her hood down, Luffy gaped. Somehow, her hair was a thousand times more vibrant than the color of her hood. She shone like the sun. He couldn't keep the sun, but his gut tightened. Perhaps, he could take the sun for a moment though.

As he laved his tongue up her throat, she squealed something that sounded like a wordless strangle. Luffy grasped a breast and plump cheek in either hand while he ground her into the forest floor. Nami's nails dug into his back then, and she panted quickly in his ear while he swirled his tongue along her jugular. One bite, and she would be his completely.

However, he would only bite when she begged for it.

"Herr Luffy!" She hissed when his tongue lapped up to her jawline. Her heart hammered away under his tongue. "Please ..." Nami's voice became a breath across his lips as he stared into her vibrant eyes. "You don't want to bite me ... do you?"

With a slow smile, Luffy licked over her lips, and she moaned, quivering under him before she opened her mouth. Her tongue touched his, and he groaned as he accepted her surrender. Nami lapped up his tongue before it tapped against his lips.

He twitched, snuffing and enjoying the aroma of her combined sweat and musk. Her body compressed underneath fit into every dip of his muscles. How lush could a woman be?

Grasping her hood, he tore it away before he gripped the top of her apron and shredded past it. She eeped and hiccuped, and her breasts bounced with every tear of the cloth in his way. He ripped apart her dress and paused long enough to stare at her clean slip underneath. Dirty hands grasped her breasts through the shift, and she moaned and arched to his touch. Luffy growled in approval when her bosom molded to his fingers. Her nipples pricked to his palms, and Nami writhed.

"I - I haven't ..."

Luffy drooled and ripped her shift in half, laying her naked body before him. She froze and turned her head aside, but her eyes stayed on him while her face heated.

The waft of her heat stench filled his nostrils. Dazed, Luffy wavered over her body before he descended. When he spread her legs, Nami cried out and attempted to push his head away, but he thrust his tongue inside. As she moaned, he circled his tongue into her pussy and growled as her real flavor touched his tongue. Her sex was richest here of course, but the deeper he reached, the more that she squirmed, and her scent somehow intensified. His hormones and her pheromones urged him on.

He squeezed her thighs when she tried to close her legs. She bucked with every deep plunge inside. As he looked up at her wide, aroused eyes, Nami licked her lips and squeezed her own breasts. Luffy buried his tongue, and his nose pushed into her labia to snuff deeper. The salty sweet juices never ceased, and she screamed a raw, primal sound into the forest while her pussy constricted around his tongue.

When he pulled back, a silver line of his saliva and her slick on his tongue, Nami's face exploded in color. Embarrassed, she covered her mouth and eyes, but she peeked through trembling fingers when he peeled his tunic off to reveal hard abs and the crossed scar left from a failed Wolfjäger.

Licking his lips, Luffy pushed his trousers down just enough to free himself, and her eyes popped.

"What is ...?"

His thick knot, in reaction to her delicious heat, was in full force, and her eyes would not leave it. The underbelly of his cock touched her pussy, and he thrust against her wet lips with a growl of yearning. When she squirmed, Luffy snarled and spread her legs wider, making her go still with a moan.

He leaned over her and growled into her throat. Her squeak drew his tongue out, and he lapped at her neck with a sigh while he lifted his hips so his cockhead touched her entrance. Nami twitched again, and he growled low in his chest until she whimpered.

She panted in his hair, gasping and trembling when he began to push inside. Heat surrounded his glans and all composure was lost.

Luffy slammed into her body, and she screamed. He smelled fresh blood, and his cock hardened while she squealed. For a moment, he wondered where the tiny animal under him had come from. Nami shook and scratched up his back while her pussy wetted his cock. His knot threatened her entrance with every thrust, but he rode her with only his shaft for now and panted while his prey began to writhe.

After a while, Nami bucked back against his hips, and he shuddered while she squeezed him. Slippery with her pussy's juices, Luffy began to press down tighter and groaned when her eyes seemed to pop as his knot invaded her body. Her tightness did little to deter him - it only sucked him deeper. When Nami twitched and moaned, he savored how her pussy clenched tighter around him. Licking his chops, he grunted and looked down at his knot halfway into her tight passage before he jerked down with a snarl. His knot impaled her.

Nami squeaked, and her tongue laved about as a stupefied expression took over her face. Luffy rolled his hips, and she gasped.

Growling, he withdrew his knot, and she tried to pull on his hips. "Don't stop!"

She was his.

Luffy gripped her hips before he stood and brought her hips up with him. She gaped in surprise when he leaned over her body. Her face flooded in crimson, and she tightened in reaction to the new position while he crooned to her. Nami's eyes bulged, and he plunged his knot relentlessly inside.

Her frame convulsed, shock fading into bliss while he ravaged her pussy into a slobbery mess. Nami scratched down his forearms with a squeal, and her eyes rolled back while her legs coiled around his waist. He felt her tug on him, but his hips moved faster than her legs. Each plunge drew his balls up, slapping against her sweet rear, and Nami began to whimper to him. She screamed something, but a roar in his ears blocked out everything.

Nami was his. He would claim her as his bitch, and she would beg for more until she carried his babe. Luffy's hands slid to her waist, squeezing possessively before he shoved his knot as deep as it would go and released with a howl while his knot swelled.

A scream broke the rush of blood in his ears. Nami panted as tears escaped the corners of her eyes. With a twitch, he began to stroke her clitoris as his cock pumped his seed into her. While his knot bulged in her heavenly pussy, he couldn't move, and when she tightened on his knot, he hissed, feeling his cum raid her womb quicker.

Something inside wondered if the tears were from pain, but then her moan tickled his ear.

"Herr Luffy!" That was all, but it was music.

He pinched and stroked her clitoris while his cock pulsed and sent thick jets into her. The tight seal of his knot kept it all inside until she shrieked. Her pussy, wet with his cum and arousal, constricted onto his knot before she leaked with his seed as she threw her head back with a cry. Luffy watched her in her throws of orgasm, groaning before he howled again.

At the end, Nami's body slumped to the ground, and Luffy kneeled to lap up her back when she rolled over. She panted and huffed before she whimpered as he entered from behind.

"Ah!"

---

When she finally stood, she wobbled as if on newborn fawn legs. Her uncovered sex bared to him caused him to lick his lips before he dragged her back against him. Nami gasped as he buried his face into her neck.

She moaned as he nuzzled and licked. "Please ... don't bite me!"

He smiled against her skin. "Later. You still smell incredible, Fräulein Nami."

With a gasp, Nami tried to twist around, and he allowed her before he pressed her bosom against his chest. She flared with heat. He couldn't tell if it was anger or mortification, but she bit her lip. And that was hardly fair.

"What - what got into you? I've never had ... you ..."

"You've never had anything like me before?" Her lips pressed together with a hot flush and pout, and he chuckled before he began to lick over her cheek.

As her lips parted in a gasp, he lapped at her lips while she writhed on his lap. "Herr Luffy, we - you're a werewolf. I can't be-"

"And you're a tasty, sexy human." He moaned as he pulled her onto his lap more, and she straddled him.

Nami squeaked when he rose against her once more. "I'm a Wolfjägerin!" Her proclamation turned into a squeal while he trailed his tongue up her throat. "I'm supposed to catch you!"

"Mm, congrats. You have."

He would worry about whether there was another Wolfjäger later. Luffy had to tame this one first.

"But what went wrong?" She breathed faster as his cock pressed into her folds. "This never happened before!"

"I could tell." As he thrust into suctioning heat, Nami melted. His hand pressed against her lower back as she started to move on her own, and he smiled into her shoulder with a shudder. What a good bitch.

Nami whimpered and rocked faster. She looked down where his knot pushed against her pussy entrance. His skin prickled when she thrust down onto it on her own, and he grunted, but held still for her to let her have her fun while her incredible body bounced over his. Luffy grasped her hips, but he only stroked her in approval.

"I can't stop." She whined and leaned back while her hips moved faster. Her pussy continued to swallow his knot with every rock of her body, and he ground his fangs while he resisted his release. "You've ruined me!"

That sent a pleasing wrack of pride through him. He smirked, and she writhed.

"What is this thing!?" When she slammed her hips down, Nami stopped and squeezed around his knot, causing a growl in his chest.

"My knot. It really loves your pussy. Doesn't your pussy love my knot and cock?"

She squeaked, and her eyes rolled about as if to search for an answer elsewhere. "Love ...? This isn't love!"

"But it is!" Her eyes widened and she trembled when he licked his lips. "I wanted you ever since I first saw you. I want to love you like a man."

Nami's hips started to move again, seemingly without her realizing. "That's not true! You were hunting me!"

He eased back and watched her body thrust down on her own. His cock and knot disappeared inside every time. "I wanted this."

With shaky hips, Nami stopped, but she slipped down and pushed his knot inside. For an instant, his vision blurred as she stayed. She wriggled. "That's a lie ... Why - why couldn't I kill you?"

As he gazed into her brown eyes, Luffy groaned while he tried to keep his head straight. With all of her bouncing, it had loosened his tongue, but he thought he could keep his thoughts in line before he burst. "You're fertile right now, and it made me rut! Your sexy trick worked on the others because your sweet scent wasn't sending them into a frenzy! I could've seen that throw a mile away."

"Fertile ..." Nami twitched, shaking over him before she moaned and circled her hips down onto his knot. "I'm not an animal in heat! You're - you're a murderer, and I'll stop you!"

Luffy chuckled and grasped her hips while his knot began to swell. As he held her still, he felt his seed pump into her body. When her eyes began to widen, he knew she could feel it fill and stretch her womb, already so full. "Wasn't me, Fräulein Nami."

"What ... what are you doing?" Her eyes wavered with a sheen of tears.

Gritting his fangs, he resisted the urge to hold her perfect pussy onto him, but she hadn't pulled off yet. "Cumming into you! I want to give you my baby!"

"I'm supposed to kill you." Nami's arms caught herself as she fell forward, and her breasts jiggled in his face.

His claws scratched up the ground beneath him rather than her, and his nostrils flared. "You don't have your dagger, Wolfjägerin. Try to kill me later."

She trembled. "Ngh! Herr Luffy, please!"

He lapped up a nipple, and her eyes darkened in lust while his tongue made circles around her areola. Nami moaned when his knot bulged, and he grinned. "Do you want to cum again?"

Eyes filled with tears of pleasure while she quavered. "Please!"

When he sucked on her nipple, Nami clamped around him. As she tightened, his eyes drifted shut in bliss while he overfilled her body. Her pussy throbbed with her arousal, and she squealed through her climaxes, squeezing him dry.

Luffy wrapped his arms around her when she passed out, and he smiled in deep satisfaction.

---

Her cheeks flushed red, and she glared at him to dare him to say anything while she tried to pull her dagger out of the log. Luffy just watched with a smile. She had packed a fresh outfit in her basket, so he didn't have a show of watching her jiggle around anymore.

Day dimmed into night though, and they had to finish their journey at least. He nibbled at a crust of bread while she ducked her head to avoid showing her blush.

"Do you need help?"

She sniffed. "As if you'd help. I'm going to try killing you with it, remember?" Gripping the hilt, Nami pressed a foot against the log before trying to yank with a grunt that he tried to ignore.

"You sound really sexy right now ..."

"You shut up!" With a snort, Nami dropped the hilt and inspected how far she had gotten the blade out, but it didn't seem to have budged much at all. She wilted then, covering her hot face. "What am I going to do? I have to send a letter for more silver weapons, but by the time I get it, you'll be long gone!"

Luffy raised a brow. He hadn't left yet after all. "I'm not leaving you with my baby."

"I - I'm not that fertile thing right now! You didn't impregnate me!" When he answered with a grin, she fumed and spun around to head for the path. "Go ahead and laugh then!"

With a pout, he watched her a moment before he gave a hard tug on the hilt. The silver blade glinted red like blood in the sunset light before he threw it in front of her where it pierced the dirt. "There. If you can't pull that out, I can't help you anymore."

She froze and stared down at the hilt before she glowered at him. "You'll run the moment I take it out."

"I told you. I'm not leaving you."

Nami touched her belly a moment before whirling about to grab the dagger. She sheathed it though and stomped down the path. "I'm not carrying your - your babies!"

After a moment, he smiled again and followed. This woman excited him too. He could play with the shy woman in heat later - she had a few days left of fertility after all - but seeing her flash of fire invigorated him. She would have to give him many children. Luffy didn't think he could ignore her heat cycle if she acted and smelled like this.

---

By the time they reached her mother's house, Nami trembled like a leaf. She was sore all over - from walking, running, climbing, and then his ...

Her cheeks blazed with heat again, and she glanced at him. Luffy had noticed of course and smiled with impish delight.

When the agency had sent her home, to find a werewolf here of all places, Nami had felt a deep chill in her bones. If anything happened to her mother and sister, she would not stop for anything until she found the monster that had done it. And she thought she had found the werewolf responsible, but he denied any killing.

She had seen him leave during the night on full moons though, several times. He had not transformed fully yet, but that was what werewolves did. They went out to kill. Almost every morning after, another murder had been reported. Attacks by wolves the villagers had called it, but Nami knew better. Her hand pressed against her stomach, and she shivered. Had she really been impregnated by a murderous werewolf? Worse, had she enjoyed it?

With a glance at him then, she frowned when she realized he was inspecting the orange grove with a twitching nose. She raised a brow as he sniffed the air and narrowed his eyes. What had gotten into him?

Her lips parted before she snapped her teeth shut. When he turned to her though, a frown creased his lips. "Fräulein Nami, there's another werewolf around here."

The color left her face. "Here?"

Nami ran to the door and burst inside. It was darker than usual when she came to visit, but Bellemere and Nojiko greeted her with surprised faces all the same. "Nami! I didn't expect you yet! What's ... oh, who's the handsome fellow?"

Just Bellemere and Nojiko inside. Relief swarmed her body as she studied the small house with a reddening face while her step-mother and step-sister awed over Luffy. He smiled and nodded, but he came in to touch her shoulder while his nostrils flared in searching for a scent. Unable to stop the blush, mortification threatened to kill her when Nojiko whispered to Bellemere and giggled.

Luffy's brow quirked, but he gestured out the door. "Have you had trouble with bears recently?"

"They're a real pain this year." Nojiko scowled and put her hands on her hips. "One knocked a tree clean over!"

"Nothing a big strong man might be able to fix." Bellemere winked, and Nami thought about all the dirt outside she could bury her head under. "Did you happen to bring anymore with you?"

He grinned at Nami. "How many men do you bring home, Fräulein Nami?"

Flushed, she slapped his shoulder. "Don't you suggest that!"

Luffy snickered, and Nojiko smiled behind her hand. Nami recognized that expression, but she couldn't stop her blush from spreading as her sister watched.

"Herr Luffy, thank you so much for escorting me here. I know you wanted to get back though, so-"

"Why don't you bunk here tonight? I heard wolves howling earlier. In the middle of the day of all times too!" Bellemere clapped her hands with a decided smile as Nami stared into nothing when she remembered Luffy's howls. "It'll be a little tight with all us ladies here though. Nami, you and Nojiko can sleep in the same bed for a night, right?"

Nami cleared her throat. "Ah, but Frau Bellemere-"

Nojiko beamed. "And we have a hot stew on the stove to warm a soul up! We caught a boar, so it's fresh boar stew."

As he turned slowly to the stove, he smelled deeply, and his tongue slid over his lips. Nami pointedly looked away. However, they already spotted her embarrassment. Bellemere and Nojiko's mortifying glances would kill her with the scandal of it alone. He was not some beau she had taken home to show off! Luffy was dangerous!

He accepted the bowl Nojiko gave him, and he sipped the broth first before a smile took over his face. "That's tasty!"

The fangs were gone, of course. They had been for hours.

Suddenly, he was the man from the village she had watched for months. Luffy, the huntsman and woodcutter with the ready smile who always lended aid to his neighbors. All the other unwed women brought meals to his door every other day or so, but he had not courted any of them. It had only endeared most of the ladies rather than give up though, so he had a steady supply of hot meals some weeks.

She had forced herself to keep away, only observing until she could draw him out, but all his smiles had lulled her into hoping that he was not her target. The meals had begun to slow down too. That was when she saw his glances - how hungry he appeared when he gazed at her. Neighbor ladies had called it roguish, but Nami had seen a starving wolf.

When she had stroked his body into the arousal she had not known would take her as well, Nami had held her breath. Part of her wanted that smile directed at her, for his hunger to be for her and not her flesh.

But dreams were only a fantasy.

He had torn at his own face to prevent himself from attacking her though. What else had he not wanted to do? Had he truly only wanted to mate with her?

"I wanted you ever since I first saw you. I want to love you like a man."

Nami's cheeks grew warm again, but she hid it in the bowl of stew Bellemere handed to her. For a short time, she ate with her family and their guest. His foot tapped against hers under the table, and she fought the urge to tap back.

---

Luffy rose when it was fully dark outside.

"You ladies should sleep in your own beds. I can camp outside tonight."

She felt his gaze, but she had grown more practiced in ignoring it. Still, Nami could feel warmth rise inside. For a while now, Nami had attempted to shake away the thought of him dragging her out of her bed to ravage her on the floor while Bellemere and Nojiko slept obliviously around her.

That was also why she hadn't spoken in anything but a high pitch, and thus kept quiet most of the evening.

Bellemere frowned though. "Nonsense. I can't let you sleep out there when there's bears out!"

He waved his hand with a grin, and laughed. "Nah, it's fine! I'm a hunter, so I can set traps and scare it away for you. It's the least I could do since you fed me!"

Shocked, Nami stared at him. He would scare the other werewolf away? Could he? Werewolves were thought to be pack monsters after all. Wouldn't he want to team up with the other beast and take out all three of the women while they slept?

Her face imploded.

Or did they want mates?

With a shake of her head, Nami stood. "Don't talk nonsense! You can't sleep out there with the bears!"

Luffy took her hand, and a tiny sound formed in her throat when he squeezed her hand with that smile. "Don't worry about me."

"Ooh! Herr Luffy, you're so forward! Cheeky, huh?" Nojiko grinned and winked at her. "Don't worry about this one, sis. I think he's a real woodsman, don't you think?"

"Who - who's worried about him!?" Nami whisked her hand back and shook a finger at him instead. "You're just going to make a mess of things."

Snickering, he turned to the door, already getting ready to leave. "Why don't you show me around then?"

Nami rose to go around him and headed outside. "I will then!"

Once the door shut behind them, she felt a flush of color all over her body. She had gone out willingly with him into the night. What was she thinking? His senses and abilities would be heightened at night - not even a Wolfjäger worth their salt could face off with a werewolf when the sun was down. Killing was easier during the day. A Wolfjäger would get close after confirming the nature of the beast and knife them in the back before they could smell the silver.

By following Luffy outside, she was practically dumping a bucket of blood over her head while naked. This would be his opportunity to bite her or kill her at last!

When she turned to face him though, Luffy frowned at the orange grove.

"It was in the house."

As he rubbed his nose with a frown, Nami gaped.

"What?"

Luffy, upon seeing her face, gritted fangs that grew longer as he spoke. "Don't worry. I'll protect my mate's family."

She shivered, pressing a fist to her chest, but she stared into his wild eyes, unable to break her gaze. This was not an expression she had ever seen from him.

"I'm not ..."

Nami's words died on her lips. As he clutched her arms, he leaned in to kiss her, and she trembled before her hands slid up his chest. They shook harder than the rest of her. He was so close, but could he dodge when he was this close? When her scent apparently heightened his abilities?

If she was to kill him though, would she ever feel this again?

His tongue thrust into her mouth, and she made a soft sound in the back of her throat. Nami tugged on his hair and moaned when he stroked her back and shoulders. Luffy sucked her bottom lip, pulling as she felt a low rumble in his chest. Nami melted.

When the door cracked open, she spun around with a hot face though and panted while Luffy pressed her back against his body.

"If you just wanted to snog, you could have just told Bellemere you could share a bed. Lots of ladies get pregnant before marriage these days anyway." Nojiko smirked at them while her hip and shoulder rested against the doorframe. "Of course, you could just sneak back into my bed in the morning and maybe she wouldn't know the difference."

He squeezed Nami's hips, and she fought that little sound in her throat while he hummed, his face and thus fangs hidden behind her. "We'll think about it. We really should get to work on scaring the bear away though."

As Nami pressed back against him, the tiny squeal in the back of her throat fled. Luffy's erection grew against her rear, and her only thought was of making Nojiko disappear. With that thing - that knot inside of her one more time though, she knew all reason would flee. What would she do if she couldn't kill a werewolf?

Nojiko grinned. "Stay warm out there, you two."

Once she was gone, Nami realized she had stood there like a poleaxed lummox while Luffy had ground tiny thrusts against her body.

She found words again, though she kept her voice down. "Herr Luffy, you need to secure the house! You can't do that while you're trying to fill me with babies, idiot."

He smirked. "That scent might drive him away though. I better use all of the weapons I have to make sure he leaves."

Nami smacked his chest, and he grunted a chuckle. "You can't just take me whenever you feel like it!"

"What about whenever you want it?"

Her cheeks blossomed, and Luffy grasped her hands to squeeze them again like he had before, but now his eyes seemed to harden. "Fräulein Nami, that scent is everywhere inside. He didn't just come in and then leave. He's sat at that table." Luffy gave a side-long glance at the home. "He's done a lot more than just eat too."

The color warmed her entire face, and for a moment she saw through him, stunned by the implications, but then she shook her head. "That's impossible!"

"Who else comes to visit here?"

She stared into his intense, black eyes before she pulled her hands away.

"Just an old friend."

His head tilted. "Your step-mother's old friend?"

Nami's mind spun. Bellemere and a werewolf? Genzo was a-?

"He - I've always thought they - but he can't be!" The kind, older man had been as a father to Nojiko and her for as long as she could remember. Did Bellemere know? She glanced back at the door before she shuddered when Luffy wrapped his arms around her.

"Widow Bellemere, huh? And her old friend doesn't go into the village much, does he?"

She froze. How had she never thought to ask Bellemere more about that? Had Bellemere only claimed to be married so no one would come calling? And Genzo had been rather quiet, and it was true no one seemed to know him ...

Nami felt like an utter fool then.

Fooled by a werewolf.

Her lip quivered before she thinned her lips with a cringing face.

"I should go before he comes back, but I don't want to leave you here while you smell like this." Luffy began to squeeze her hips. Nami flushed and pressed her face into his chest. How did he make this feel so natural? Wasn't he fooling her too? She told herself that she should go find a good, proper man - not horrifying monsters that lurked in the night and stalked little girls.

But could a werewolf hold her like this as long as Bellemere and Genzo had been together? Every scrap of training she could remember jumbled with how Luffy had taken her earlier. With each thought of how she might take him down came Luffy's opposite reaction in how he would claim her again and retrain her for other purposes.

Was this what had happened to her step-mother?

When she looked into his eyes, his eyes burned into her. "Fräulein Nami?"

"I - I need to make sure. If it's him, then maybe it's ..."

She bit her lip hard then, tears rising.

Would it ever be all right though? Werewolves were evil, killing monsters. Nami couldn't just decide on a whim that one was better than the others. They didn't hold women in their arms or whisper into their ears. A werewolf would never protect a little girl who wanted to walk along the paths of the forest. He wouldn't hold her hand.

Cupping her cheek, Luffy kissed her chastely. "Then we'll say hello when he comes."

"Idiot." Nami grasped his ears and yanked him down to kiss him.

Luffy scooped her into his arms with a growl and carried her into the orange grove while she squirmed. Nami gasped and moaned when his tongue began to make patterns on her throat. Her fingers dug into his hair while fear spiked in her heart. His teeth were so close. If he bit down, she didn't think she could ever live with herself. How could he?

"Please, please, don't bite me ..."

"Just that?" His tongue boldly lapped up to her jawline with a growl. "That's easy, my little Wolfjägerin. What else do you want though?"

Her body throbbed with heat, but she covered her mouth to stop herself from speaking. She didn't trust anything she might say right then. He had ruined her, and she wanted more.

When they reached the outside of the orchard, she froze as his fangs grew. While he licked his lips, his fangs peeked out, but he only put her down on her feet. Luffy clutched her hips so tight, she moaned.

"Tell me what you want."

His groin pressed into the dip of her thighs and Nami shuddered. "Don't tear my dress this time."

With a chuckle, Luffy stroked down her back and began to undo the cords of her apron. "How do you want it though, Fräulein Nami?"

He dragged her skirts up and grabbed her rear, a cheek in either hand as she hissed. How was she supposed to answer that? She shook under his touch and grasped his tunic into her hands before she yanked it off of him. His wolfish grin through the hole of his tunic gave her pause, but she tossed the garment away before smoothing her hands over his broad chest.

"Do you want to ride on my knot again?" Her body tightened at the thought.

"Yes!"

She scratched down his chest, feeling the dips of his muscles and soft ridges of the huge scar. Something or someone had hurt him badly enough to leave a mark. Nami only knew of one kind of weapon that could do that, and one rested on her hip still.

Hesitating, she stared at the large X before she lowered her head to kiss the center tenderly, and then her tongue slipped out. As she stared into his heated gaze, Nami read no hate or fear even though her face heated in embarrassment. She swirled her tongue around a nipple while she undid the laces of his trousers, and his fingers slipped into her hair under her hood.

Nami pulled his trousers down and blushed. His erection stood proudly in her face, and she thought she could see the knot at the base throb. Her lips parted, and she shuddered as his salty aroma invaded her mouth before she sucked onto the tip. A salty, bitter flavor hit her, and she slipped her tongue into the folds of his foreskin, slowly pushing it back. When she gazed at his face, his eyes rolled back, but he kept trying to watch her, his chest heaving.

With a moan, she sucked and cleaned his head and foreskin. Thick, cloying salt filled her mouth, and she gasped before she slipped her tongue into his slit to lap at his precum.

"That's amazing, little Wolfjägerin."

She twitched, red with sheepishness, and she pulled her mouth off. "I just ..."

"Don't stop." Luffy stroked her cheek with a groan. "Show me how much you can fit inside. I already know what your pussy can do."

His fingertip only caressed her cheek from ear to mouth, but it felt like he was pulling on her. As his finger trailed closer to her lips, so did she lean toward his cock again. Nami swallowed him with a whimper as she looked down his length to that knot.

Had she not wanted it in her?

When he grunted, Nami thrust her mouth onto him, wrapping her arms around his hips as she moaned. For a moment, he touched the back of her mouth, but her lips coiled around some of his knot. It was so much thicker than the rest of his shaft that she could not quite suction properly, but he rocked into her mouth.

"Yes, that's a beautiful mouth!" One thrust lodged his cockhead into the back of her throat for a moment, and she tasted his rich precum on her tongue. Her throat relaxed before she made a swallowing motion which made him growl. "Turn around, little Wolfjägerin!"

Her body throbbed, but she took her mouth off. Nami leaned over onto one hand while she reached back to pull up her skirts with a tremor. Luffy thrust his tongue into her body with a snarl, and his long tongue slurped the juices she hadn't noticed. How hot had she gotten while sucking on him? She broke down into moans and scratched at the earth while he wreaked ecstasy in her pussy.

Nami's hips bucked back, and she sobbed when his arms wrapped around her thighs. A pleasant growl made her pussy quiver around the length of his tongue. He sniffed into her lips, little puffs of air hitting her wet flesh while he worked her into a lather that he lapped up.

That made her remember though, and she panted. "That's dirty! I'm not a bitch in heat, Herr Luffy!"

"I'll just fuck you like one then."

As he crouched behind her, his tip pressed against her entrance, and Nami moaned. "You're going to break me ..."

"Is that what you want?" Luffy's breath hit her ear, a husky whisper that made her shiver.

She squeaked.

"Yes."

The werewolf took her in one thrust. Her toes curled as his knot spread her wider than she had ever dreamed possible before today. She was still sore, and yet, his heat inside somehow eased it. His knot ground into little places inside and made her hips rock back, but he grabbed her hips to keep her still before he began to delve into her. Nami whimpered when he did not include that beautiful knot, and she writhed for more, but his hands overpowered her movements.

"He - Herr Luffy!"

His hips sped up, but the knot only teased against her entrance. Nami squealed as he rocked into her.

"Tell me again."

She sobbed, not sure what he was talking about, and she squeezed around his shaft. "Cock ... knot! Herr Luffy, please! Don't tease me!"

Luffy slowed, and his tongue coiled around her ear. "Tell me what you want."

"Fuck me! Break me with your knot!"

His knot slammed into her again, and she cried out as he set a hard pace inside. He grunted and snarled over her head, and her eyes bulged at every deep spread. Nami choked on a moan, mind breaking away as a hot rush of energy ripped through her.

And then his knot ballooned inside of her. She squeaked, and her legs shook as her orgasm peaked, her body contorting while she writhed against his hips. The hot spread of his seed poured into her, and Luffy growled over her head when her pussy couldn't help but constrict. Nami quivered when he reached around to squeeze her breasts, and weak to his touch, she squirmed her hips back while he found and pinched her nipples.

Thought was gone. Nami lost the high, but his hand ravaged her nipples. His breath caressed the back of her neck as her hips rocked on him and his knot. He pulsed with heat. Part of her wanted to scream that she was already full, that he could stop pumping more sticky juices inside, but she craved every touch.

Luffy pulled on her nipples through the cloth, and the rub of fabric on her teats caused a deep moan to break out. She squished on his knot, and a tiny needle of thought entered her mind.

He really was trying to impregnate her. Nami began to pant, flushing when her pussy squeezed around him tighter still.

"Herr Luffy ..."

Nami scratched at the ground with a whimper. His fingers tugged at her teats, and she broke again for him. Luffy's seed loaded inside as her body writhed, lost on the waves of pure satisfaction. Soon, the seal overflowed, and she panted as it dribbled onto the forest floor. His fingers slowed while he kissed over the back of her neck.

"A little bit longer." Luffy sighed into her hair and snuffed into her curls with a grunt. "You smell incredible."

As she twitched, he wrapped one arm around her waist to keep her up, still deep inside, and Nami quivered as her upper body failed her, needing to rest her head. "Herr Luffy, please, you're not done? I - I'll really get pregnant then."

"If I pull out too soon, it'll hurt you." His lips pecked over her neck and shoulders. "And I don't ever want to hurt you again, Fräulein Nami."

She flushed when she remembered. "You just want to chase me down." He smiled against the back of her neck, and his knot grew in size. Nami hissed as her eyes rolled up in pleasure. "Ngh!"

"You loved that though."

Squirming on his knot, she opened her mouth, but she could only manage another whine.

Hot breath touched her ear and cheek. "I didn't smell any fear at all. Just how wet you were when I caught you."

"That ..." Nami couldn't deny it any longer. Every last shred of hope for anything other than her werewolf's knot deserted mind, body, and soul. "I love it! I want it until I can't move anymore! Fuck me! Bite me!"

Luffy breathed over the back of her neck, but she couldn't tighten any further. She just prayed that her family hadn't heard her begging.

The snarl that ripped out of Luffy's chest made her eyes pop. For a moment, she tried to go limp and still. Her body still ached in want even as he growled over her. Once she glanced over her shoulder though, she froze.

He bared his fangs across the small clearing. Luffy had seen or smelled something - his nostrils flared, and she felt claws prick at her skin through her dress.

When she tried to pull away, Luffy gripped her hips, his voice low. "Don't. You'll hurt yourself."

Nami shivered as her face became a mass of crimson. He was still filling her with seed. Suddenly, she realized that she did not know whether this was a biological part of being a werewolf or a man. She was certain men did not have this knot at least. It was from the beast in him.

His lips graced her ear. "Don't move. The other werewolf is near."

She realized she had twitched again. Nami whimpered, shaking while he growled low in her ear, and she wished that it didn't make her feel so warm. He shuddered then, and Nami bit her lip as his knot and cock stopped pouring into her and deflated. When he pulled out, he situated her skirt to cover her better.

Her side thudded to the ground once he was out, and Nami twitched while he rubbed her hip. When his seed seeped out of her body, she blushed from the sticky sensation on her thighs. His eyes never left the forest though. Luffy tied his trousers back into place before he bent to kiss her cheek.

Swallowing nothing, their eyes met, and his black eyes bore holes into her. "Come on. We need to-"

"Bastard! How dare you touch her!"

In the dark, eyes glowed gold in the forest, and Nami pushed herself up to press against Luffy to be between them. She pointed her dagger toward the eyes. Her blade wavered in her shaky grip and glittered moonlight back in ripples of the interlaced silver. The shadow in the woods froze, but she recognized the figure. Nami had known his voice. Tears threatened her eyes again.

"Herr Genzo?"

When Luffy wrapped his arms around her, she shook as a growl echoed in the woods. They had sent her to kill a werewolf, but did it have to be him? Why him?

Genzo snorted, but he shifted from foot to foot then as if undecided or confused. "You're not Arlong."

Her eyes widened, and her mouth worked wordlessly until Luffy stood. She scrambled to her feet as well, but kept her dagger up.

"I'm Luffy. From the village."

"I know you. You're the one that chased that bastard out. I'd thank you, but-" a snarl shredded through the air "-I'm not in a grateful mood about now, brat. Why don't you crawl back to your territory and leave Nami here alone?"

She fought her blush. How much had he seen? "Herr Genzo, I'm a grown woman! Don't talk as if I'm-"

"You shush! You don't know what you're talking about! Grown up? You're - you're my little girl!" When Genzo broke into sobs, she gritted her teeth with a groan. "How dare a dastardly brigand like him touch you!"

"Herr Genzo ..." Nami rolled her eyes. She wanted to stop him from the heartache, but the more she watched him in the dark, the more she began to wonder if the killing werewolf could really be him. After a moment, her brow furrowed however as her mind stitched some ideas together. It was her only lead at that moment. "Who's Arlong?"

Genzo froze, and his shoulders hunched before he stepped out into the moonlight. Now, his enraged face appeared more clear for her at least. "You don't have to worry about that sort of thing! Run along back to Bellemere, and I'll get rid of this-"

Her eyes flared. "Herr Genzo!"

Both of them jumped, but she refused to tamper her voice.

"If you insist on treating me like a child, I have no course but to turn it on you! Quit your temper or I'll head right back to the village with this brigand and you won't get to see Bellemere's grandchildren!" Beside her, Luffy grinned widely until she glowered at him, and he at least hid it behind his hand then. The incorrigibleness of men!

"Ah, but, Nami, I-"

"Not one angry word, Herr Genzo! You know I hate bullies!" Nami stamped her foot then, but dropped her dagger at last with a hard flush.

Finally, he seemed to see it. His eyes widened for a brief moment before a strangely proud grin began to form. "A Wolfjägerin? Have you told your mother?"

She gaped at him. Her shoulders hunched, and suddenly she remembered what Luffy had said earlier. Bellemere had a werewolf visitor who apparently did more than just pay her a visit. Just where or how had she met said werewolf? The harsh blush that took over her face could not be pushed aside as Nami realized that the only thing that made sense was what had happened with her and Luffy. They had met on a hunt.

Bellemere had been a Wolfjägerin too?

When she glanced at Luffy, she realized how that grin of his might also be taken. It slipped away when her eyes narrowed.

Nami cleared her throat. "She doesn't know. Besides, I came here for a - a mission."

Genzo straightened then and frowned. He studied the dagger again, and she hurriedly snatched it up to sheathe it. "I see. I suppose-" for an instant, his face contorted in rage when he glanced at Luffy, but it smoothed over "-that this one is better than the other."

Nami shared a look with Luffy. "The other? Is that this Arlong?"

"Forget I said that! It's not any of your business!"

Luffy put a hand on her shoulder, squeezing. "If he's killing people, it is her business."

With a scoff, Genzo rubbed one of the scars on his cheek, but he tempered his words. He had apparently taken her threat of no visits to heart. "Just stay away from him. If you want, I can try to - I can scare him off."

Her brow furrowed as she realized how strange those were. An older man with horrible scars across his body and face, Nami began to see those same scars in a new light. She remembered when he had returned one day with them. It had been before she had left to make her way in the world - before she had become a Wolfjägerin. He had never told her where they had come from, but she knew only silver could harm a werewolf.

Genzo would chase him away when he had silver? How had Luffy done it? She flushed when she recalled his own large scar, but the wounds were different.

"No, you're not, Herr Genzo."

When his eyes flashed in anger, Nami unbelted her dagger and stepped forward to press the sheathed blade into his hand. His mouth snapped shut, and he stared at her. "Nami?"

She tried to avoid Luffy's gaze, but his eyes seemed to burn into her back. "Apparently, I'm not exactly in any condition to fight a werewolf, but you two ..."

"With him?" She jumped when that came from two mouths, and they glowered at one another.

Luffy's lips curled like he was about to eat something unpleasant, but he lifted his chin. "If it's the same guy, I can chase him off easy."

"If it's Arlong, he has a silver blade to deal with you." Genzo's eye twitched then, and he shook his head. "But then I don't know what made him leave either. He ..."

For some reason, Genzo looked at her, and Nami's brow creased, confused until he tossed the dagger to Luffy.

"You take care of him."

He caught it, but threw it right back. "I don't do daggers. I'm a woodcutter really. Got a silver axe?"

Genzo smirked. "In fact, we do."

---

Back home, she peeked inside with a knock, cheeks burning when she remembered Nojiko. "We're back ..."

"Decided to come sleep inside then, Herr Luffy?" Bellemere sat up before she gave a start. "Genzo? What're you doing here?"

"Herr Genzo!" Nojiko flung her blankets back and leaped to her feet to hug the man. "Come in! It's cold out!" She stuck her tongue out at Nami gleefully, already assuming what Genzo might have stumbled across, but Nami's expression made her stop short. "What's wrong?"

Nami took a deep breath. "Frau Bellemere, Herr Genzo said you have an axe we could borrow."

She glanced between them, her eyes narrow before she sighed and threw back the blanket. "I see then."

Nojiko pouted. "Isn't there an axe outside?"

Genzo patted her dagger on his hip as if not realizing he had done it. "It's a two man job." Nami couldn't stop her grimace for that. Here she was, trained to take out werewolves, and yet biology prevented her from fighting. The reminder was not appreciated. "We could use another axe though. Some tree is blocking the path."

"You could take care of that in the morning. What's the rush?"

Bellemere had already pulled a trunk out from under her bed though. She stroked the top before she popped it open. "Well, if it's quicker with two men, it doesn't have to wait until morning." As she rose to hand Luffy the axe, she winked at him. "I bet you're about as strong as Genzo. You two will make quick work of it, right?"

With a deep flush, Nami pulled her eyes away from her stepmother when she glanced her way next. She knew!

"We will. We promise." Luffy chuckled and patted the axe cover.

"Stay safe." Nami congratulated herself for not squeaking, but when he turned to stroke her cheek, the blush was impossible to fight.

"I'll see you soon."

She pouted when he grinned at her. "You better."

When Luffy kissed her cheek, Genzo snorted. "Hurry up, sprat."

His eyebrow quirked, but then he winked at her. Nami followed them to the door, giving Nojiko a frown as she waggled her eyebrows at her. How could she tell her that it wasn't like that at all? She was not saying goodbye to a sweetheart going alone with her father figure who both appeared like they might have a long talk. Not entirely.

Luffy's eyes flashed gold in the moonlight before they both ran. As a howl split the night, Nami clutched her fist to her chest.

Turning back to Bellemere, she shivered and resisted the urge to find a damp cloth to wash herself. It was too late for preventing anything at any rate. "I think I should lie down."

"Well, before that, a package arrived for you."

Her mother dug under her bed again, and the crate she pulled out was long, but not wide. It reached up to her waist. Nami stared at the symbol on the carefully sealed crate and smoothed her hand over the wolfhead eating a full moon.

"Why didn't you give this to me earlier?"

"Your friend seemed to be sniffing around too much for my liking." Bellemere smiled. "But if Genzo likes him, I'm sure he must be a nice boy."

She had noticed him smelling the house. Of course, Bellemere would. Nothing ever went past her.

"I don't think he likes him exactly."

"He trusts him enough then. Take your pick."

Nami opened the crate after a moment, and her brow furrowed at the heavily sealed wax paper that covered the box underneath. Along every crease, sealing wax covered the edges of the paper. What was it protecting? Her fingers came away with a shine before she tore into it and found a fine wooden chest underneath. Hands shaking now, she cracked the long case open.

---

Luffy would have liked to have not said a thing as he tracked the grounds Genzo showed him. He had not seen another werewolf in a long time, and the idea of not needing to hide it usually freed his own tongue, but he had no illusions that Genzo was going to be agreeable after he had caught him balls-and-knot-deep in who was practically Genzo's daughter.

However, he did surprise Luffy. "I remember when they finished building London Bridge."

He stared, not sure what to say to that. "You do, huh?"

"Was about four hundred years ago now. What's the earliest thing you remember?"

His eyes widened then as he realized what Genzo was getting at, but Luffy scratched the back of his head with a frown. "I don't really do well with dates and names of stuff."

"Try me." Genzo smirked.

With a pout, Luffy scratched his cheek before he sniffed at the area and tried to concentrate. He turned back to the tracks, and his nose twitched when he caught an old whiff. Days old though. How useful would it be? "Really, I don't do that. Maybe ... uh ... who's the king now anyway?"

"Calls himself the Holy Roman Emperor actually. Ferdinand the Second. You should keep up with names at least."

Luffy shrugged and moved on to the next clearing. The old scent was the only thing he had to go by. At least, it smelled like that other werewolf. He thought it might anyway. "I don't really care about kings though. Besides, the earliest thing I remember is trees and the ocean."

Genzo hummed as he rubbed his chin and waited for more, but when Luffy said nothing else, he snorted. "Nothing else? That's vague, isn't it?"

He tasted the air a moment before he grimaced. The scent was still too old. Where was this werewolf? Luffy changed the subject. Genzo likely just wanted to avoid talking about their common link, but Luffy didn't care for beating around any bushes. It was time to jab at the bush instead and then give it a good shaking.

"Are you going to bite Bellemere? You look the same age as her now. Not that biting her when she was younger would have turned many heads."

"She doesn't want to be bitten."

"I see." Luffy winced.

However, he didn't say what Luffy thought he might. "Bellemere could never conceive. That's why she adopted the girls. I brought them as babes to her - they were orphaned by bandits on the road."

"Is that why she says no then?"

"I think so, but I haven't asked in a while. Maybe she's changed her mind in twenty years." Genzo laughed before it cut short. "You should ask Nami when her mind's in the right place."

His lips pursed, unable to argue that. "I don't exactly have a choice now. Someone interrupted us." He grinned to himself when Genzo's fangs gritted audibly.

"Anyway, I don't think it's a good idea. You two look young. She's a Wolfjägerin besides. They know her name and face. They'd hunt her down if they found out. Nami could never go back to them. Like Bellemere. I've protected all of them so far, but now the girls are growing up."

Luffy eyed him with a frown and considered. "What are you hiding from Nami?"

Genzo's lips curled, turning away. "Caught onto that, did you? Well, I caught this Arlong fellow watching Nami when she came into womanhood. I tried to chase him away myself." He touched the scars on his face. "It didn't go well. Which is why I'm surprised you could chase him away. He had a silver sword."

"So it is the same werewolf. Well, you can't hurt what you can't cut. Besides, I tossed it over a waterfall." After a moment, he straightened from a track and rubbed his chin.

A fresher scent caught his nostrils. The other werewolf was close. Luffy twitched and rubbed his nose before he lifted a finger to Genzo. He was about to use the signals he had learned as a child in the forest with his brothers, but stopped himself. While Luffy wondered how he would share information without words, Genzo crouched behind him.

With a frown, Luffy kneeled as well. Genzo made marks in the mud then that Luffy tried to understand, but all he could really tell was that perhaps he wanted to surround the other werewolf. It would not be the worst plan, but Luffy wondered if he had put the trees into mind or not. After a moment, he just nodded before Luffy pointed out the general direction from where the scent seemed to be coming.

When he leaped into the boughs of the tree above him, Genzo gaped, but he trekked silently ahead once Luffy began to trace the scant tracks from far above while he moved across the canopy.

Luffy loosened the strap of the axe at his belt, but didn't draw it yet. The acridity of the silver might alert this Arlong if he caught wind of it. Of course, if he had his own silver blade, Luffy would smell-

He drew short, eyes wide when an acidic scent touched his nose. Luffy swung under the branch, and a silver blade slashed out from the dark. His legs wrapped around the bough to stay in the trees. The highground would do him better. As the figure passed over him, Luffy grabbed the branch so he could drop his legs. The momentum swung him back up onto his perch with a twist to face Arlong.

Crouched on another branch higher up, he smirked down at him.

"Old man!" Luffy shouted.

"What did you call - Arlong!" Genzo ran over and gaped at them in the trees. Luffy realized then that Genzo might not have much practice fighting in branches or the like as he did not make any move to join them.

The bit of distraction that had granted let Luffy unsheathe his axe. They could not have a drawn out fight. This had to be quick.

When he jumped to Arlong's branch, however, his axe's blade met air. Arlong jumped back to another branch before he lunged with his blade again. Luffy hissed when the silver laced blade sliced against the skin of his shoulder. A scratch, but it burned as if it would never end. As he dodged, Luffy fell to another bough where he caught himself, but he scrambled to another before Arlong could follow.

Once Luffy was upright on the limb, Arlong balanced onto his feet with a grimace, and Luffy followed suit. He didn't like that Arlong was still above him, but no branch was higher close by. Now, the fight would drag. Arlong had not been as cautious before. Luffy had barrelled through his defenses without much preamble and ousted him from this territory before that sword could become an issue.

He had been a cub in comparison. However, obviously, Arlong had been planning his return.

As Arlong sneered, his canines began to extend. His cracked nose and mouth elongated into a snout with a gnashing of fangs, and his tail swished behind him while clothing ripped. The fully formed blue-gray werewolf slashed at him with more speed.

Blocked by the handle of Luffy's axe, the two grappled with Luffy's back against the branch. Luffy growled before he snapped his own fangs while he transformed. The cut could only slow him so much, but Arlong was already changed, so he bit into Luffy's other shoulder, ripping a growl from his throat. He fought to keep the jagged sword away.

He couldn't afford to take anymore cuts from the silver blade.

The branch cracked under the strain of their struggle before they fell to the ground below, forced by the power and weight of Arlong.

Genzo, dagger drawn, stabbed for Arlong's back, but he swiped him aside with his claw before springing away with his jagged silver blade still in hand.

Licking his chops, Arlong pointed his sword at Genzo with a growl. "Didn't learn your lesson, did you? I thought I was being nice to my bitch for keeping your sorry hide alive."

Ruddy black snout growing, Luffy released a vicious snarl before he lunged to bite Arlong's wrist. Arlong did not drop the sword as he had hoped, but he kept the blade from swinging at Genzo. He rushed in to stab Arlong in the chest with Nami's dagger.

Eyes widened, Luffy released Arlong's wrist even as he grabbed his arm to keep him from swinging. "Too high! His left side!"

However, Luffy found himself face first in the mud. He rolled away before Arlong could slice with his silver blade. This was away from Genzo though. When he looked up, Genzo gawked at Arlong's face with the sword piercing through his chest.

"The heart is here, old man. You're younger than I thought if you didn't know."

"Old man!" Luffy rushed to Arlong and slammed full force into his torso. The strike made Arlong drop the hilt which left the blade in Genzo.

"And you, brat! I should've stood my ground! You were a fluke all along!"

Arlong slashed at his face with claws, raking into fur and skin that healed as soon as he cut into him. It felt like an itch rather than a scratch. Luffy sank his claws into Arlong's shoulders though and tried to gash down into his chest instead. The cut from Nami's dagger was still there. He could use that!

Luffy's eye twitched when the wind blew her scent to him, mixed with a strange musky tang of sulfur.

---

Nami's hand shook as she lifted the musket to her shoulder. She was grateful for the sight, but her stomach turned inside as she stared down the length of the barrel.

Two werewolves were trying to rip into each other beside Genzo's body. A silver blade burned in his chest, catching scant moonlight through the canopy. She bit her lip hard though while she concentrated on the others. Which was Luffy?

A huge black beast held the gray werewolf down, and her barrel swung from one to the other in indecision. Nami had just come up the crest to find them. If she wasn't ready, the one they were trying to kill would come for her before she could react. She couldn't falter - the werewolf had to die before it could get to her.

The note in the package had reminded her that she would not have time for a second shot.

Her eyes trailed back to Genzo, but she tore her gaze aside as her eyes stung. I can't do anything for him now. That werewolf has to die first!

She squinted out ahead, but it was so dark even with the moon to aid her. Nami tried to see if she could tell something - anything apart between the two fighting. Their wolven faces only frightened her, jowls and fangs bared in their snarls. The fur covered the scar on Luffy's face whichever he was. It might have been any of them. Her eyes drifted down, back to Genzo, but then she stopped.

The black werewolf had an axe sheath at his belt.

Nami cocked the musket and attempted to breathe evenly. Her heart seemed to want to explode out of her throat, and she thought back to the scant training she had received in the use of guns. She had not been a poor shot, but she also knew that she would have a better chance of hitting the correct werewolf if she were closer, and Luffy was not above him.

Luffy turned to her then, still struggling with Arlong. "What are you doing here!? Get away!"

A flash of anger lit under her, and her hands became steady. What use would hiding be if he lost? If that creature got away, wouldn't he come for her and her family anyway? Nami began to wonder at some of the deaths then. How many of the dead women had just been fertile? Did anyone check to see if they had been molested beforehand?

How many missing were now she-wolves for a deluded werewolf? For this one?

His efforts to keep the blue-gray werewolf down seemed to double, and Luffy's fangs bared down at him. Luffy pushed his claws into Arlong's chest, and the pained howl shook her.

Could he kill him like that?

Nami swallowed nothing. How much time did she have before she could try to do something for Genzo? Her finger twitched, but she couldn't pull the trigger yet. As she wondered if she could get closer, Arlong screamed before he shoved Luffy off.

Her eyes widened.

Arlong charged for her.

She squeezed the trigger, but he sidestepped the bullet. Nami gaped, and a blue-gray muzzle lunged to bite.

All at once, black filled her vision, but it was Luffy's strong back as he batted Arlong aside.

Arlong sneered and backed up to a tree. She searched either of them for a wound, but saw no red. He had dodged the bullet at half the distance. Was her scent really so powerful to increase a werewolf's speed?

Luffy's muzzle turned to her just barely, but his golden eyes were fixed on Arlong. "What was that?"

Nami shook before she stamped her nerves down. She could be terrified later. Luffy had bought her another shot. "If he's closer, maybe I could hit him."

"Closer?" He didn't gape at her, but it felt like he would turn at any moment to do so. "But what was it?"

"Just trust me."

If Arlong had gotten any closer, he would have had her.

She dug into her cartridge case. The note had warned her that she would have only one shot, but she had two werewolves to help her. And she could not dally any longer. If she could somehow get to Genzo before he bled out, maybe she could do something for his wound or at least be by his side.

Nami could hold his hand.

Tears stung her eyes.

"Herr Luffy," Nami whispered, "help me ..."

Luffy snorted. "Of course, I will."

When he dashed for Arlong, Nami pulled out the paper cartridge and opened the pan of her musket. Nami tried not to blink as something large flashed by her face. The two almost seemed to disappear. Black and gray blurs danced on the edge of her vision. She deposited some of the gunpowder and then closed the pan.

She lifted the musket so it pointed to the sky. With a deep breath, she poured the gunpowder and silver bullet into the barrel while her hair whipped from the speed of the werewolves around her. A clack of teeth near her ear made her gasp, but she stiffened rather than twitched. If she shook, she would lose gunpowder. Something scratched through her sleeve, but it was the arm that held up the musket.

A thought tickled in her mind as she pushed the paper into the barrel. Nami brushed hair aside that had whipped into her face, and, taking the ramrod out, she thrust it inside the barrel to tamper the paper down against the gunpowder and bullet. They were a whirlwind around her. Her skirts flapped around her legs. For a moment, she wondered just how fast they were moving. How many times had she heard the impact of bodies?

Growls and snapping fangs and tearing of flesh filled her ears when she sometimes only saw teeth or claws. Luffy was keeping him back, but that terrible thought returned. She replaced the ramrod and tried not to think.

Nami blinked away tears to keep them from blurring her sight. She cocked the flintlock musket and aimed forward.

They moved so quickly, at first, Nami wasn't sure if Luffy had noticed that she was ready. That thought reared its head again, but she stamped it aside. She would deal with it if it came to it. Her hands trembled for one instant though as the werewolves stuttered to a halt.

Luffy held one of Arlong's arms back, his claws digging into Arlong's shoulder and arm to keep him steady. He grunted and snarled with the effort.

But he was behind Arlong. If she shot now, she would hit him too. Her fear was made manifest.

"Do it!"

Arlong's other arm flailed about, first rending into Luffy's arm before he tried to reach for her.

She shuddered though it was nowhere near her yet. When she stepped forward, Luffy's wolf eyes widened.

"Don't-!"

"Bite me!" Nami pressed the trigger when she pressed the barrel to Arlong's head.

She felt the warmth of the blood first.

Arlong's head splattered. Half of the fur on Luffy's face was soaked in red. For a moment, she wondered why warmth was coating her stomach. Pieces hit part of her face though, and that felt cool in the night air. Her fingers began to chill, and when Nami gasped, she somehow felt cold inside.

Dazed, she looked down, but Luffy grasped her shoulders. He made her look up. His dark eyes looked into hers, searching. With another gasp, the pain began.

The musket fell from her hands, and she grasped something that felt hot against her hands. What was it? Nami was so cold. How could what she touched be so hot when she was freezing? She tried to look around him, but then he sank his fangs into her shoulder.

Nami screamed when the new tearing sensation hit her. Luffy, forming back into the shape of a man, began to talk, but it echoed in her head uselessly. He was pushing his hands against her belly.

He pushed it all back inside.

She blinked, and a different forest stood before her. The trees rocked in the wind. It was cooler, but moss still coated the ground and trunks. Nami inhaled the scent of oaks and pines all around her.

Luffy's scent reached her - a musky aroma like fresh meat and tree bark with a salty tang.

Two boys in loincloths waved at him from a long expanse of water.

When she could see him again, Nami swallowed hard and sank to her knees to reach for her guts, but her trembling hands touched wet, bloody skin instead. She gasped before coughing hard, spitting up the blood she had already lost.

"You idiot! What was that!? Why did you get closer!?"

Nami lifted her head. Upon seeing his tears, she tapped his cheek before she jerked away. "Herr Genzo!"

His lips pressed flat, but he nodded and guided her to his side. She was stunned to feel her legs move. Something in her wondered at having any strength to walk.

She clutched Genzo's tunic and stared at the silver blade sticking out before she realized she wouldn't be able to touch it without harming herself anymore. Nami peered into Genzo's pained, pinched face. "Herr Genzo? Are you still there? It's me, Nami."

He grunted. "Nami ... you're all right ..."

Pushing aside her fear, Nami reached for the sword hilt, but Luffy grabbed her wrist. "Don't. He'll bleed out if you take it out."

Nami looked between them both, undecided. "But if we leave it in, he'll die too!"

"Maybe. If it cuts him more. Although it probably burns like crazy." Luffy squeezed her wrist then. "If it's through his heart, he doesn't have any chance though."

Genzo gritted his teeth. "You said ... through the left side. How do you know?"

When Nami stared in confusion, Luffy nodded. "Practice. Stab through the left breast, and they bleed out and die faster."

"Hngh. Good to know when I'm dying." Genzo shuddered when he tried not to laugh bitterly.

Nami paled, but she pressed her ear to his chest, careful of the silver sword. She listened closely. There was a heartbeat, but something sounded strange. Her brow furrowed, wondering if her heightened senses were coming in and confusing her. It didn't sound like it was below her ear though.

She glanced at Luffy. "I can hear his heart, but ..."

Luffy sighed and closed his eyes before he pressed his ear to Genzo's chest. Both men grimaced, but then Luffy's expression changed. He shifted to the center of his chest and then pressed his ear to his right side.

His eyes bulged.

"Rip your skirt. Press the wound!"

With a flush, she gaped, but then she whipped her apron off to hand to him. While Luffy pressed around the wound with her apron, Nami tore into her skirt to leave just her shift beneath. But she would tear that for Genzo as well if they needed it.

Luffy looked over the blade with a scowl. "Can you tell if it went through your back?"

"Can't tell much ... of anything, but ... I don't think so."

Nami stared at them, and hope wriggled in her. "What is it? Can we save him?"

"Maybe." Luffy still seemed stunned. "I've never seen ... his heart's on the right side! He - it's flipped!"

Genzo snorted. "So you were wrong."

"You're wrong! It's always on the left side! You're a weird old man!"

"Don't call me a weird old man!"

Nami growled. "Save his life already!"

Luffy blinked before he grinned. "That was cute. Do it again."

"Herr Luffy!"

---

When all was said and done, Luffy sighed and pressed his face into Nami's neck. She gasped in his ear, but her arms coiled around him.

"What are you doing!?" Genzo growled, still clutching his hand to his chest, but Luffy could only smell dried blood now. In the end, they had torn his tunic up as well. The fear of him bleeding out seemed to be over for now. "That's crude! She's barely dressed now!"

Luffy still did not understand the reason for all of the layers of clothes that humans had adopted. He could remember a time when only a single layer of cloth laid between people sometimes. The effort to wear from three to four or five layers seemed ludicrous except for winter.

With a snort, he opened an eye to pout at him from beneath Nami's chin. "She's got her shift."

Yet, when he looked at her, Nami was crimson. "Yes, well, we should head back now, I think. I don't have any changes of clothes out here." She pinched his cheeks, and Luffy paled. "And someone ripped my only other dress. Now I don't have any."

He would have told her he had no issue with that, but he didn't think she would appreciate it. "Right. Let's get back to Frau Bellemere."

She narrowed her eyes for a moment longer, staring him down before she sniffed. "I'm sure Nojiko might have something I could wear. She always had hand-me-downs before."

Nami pinched his nose, but he began to grin again.

Genzo, however, had different plans. "And what were you thinking anyway, young lady? You risked your life there and for what? That - that man?"

When her arms wrapped around Luffy's head, he grinned with a hum and closed his eyes. Her heart pounded against his ear - on the correct side! Genzo's body was weird. "I already asked him to bite me before." A glance up revealed to him that she was redder than a beet.

"You could've been killed though!"

Her jaw set then. "I didn't want to shoot Herr Luffy in the head either!"

His eyebrows shot up as a piece clicked into place. Luffy glanced at the corpse that laid in the brush, where half a man's head had been. That bang had rung in his head for so long, he had actually worried that the silver sound might ruin his hearing, but it had healed over.

"I've never seen that kind of weapon before."

With a nervous shrug, Nami turned away. "It's a musket. One of the newest versions."

"And it shoots out silver." Luffy frowned before he lifted his head to cup her cheek. "I do have to agree with the old man about one thing though. That's not exactly how I wanted to bite you."

Luffy smirked as her face infused with red, it even crept into her neck and chest with the heat of her blush. "That - that's your problem!"

Licking his lips, he eased closer. "It'll be your problem tonight."

Genzo's snort ripped in the air so loudly, the two jumped. "Let's just get back to Bellemere. I'm sure she's still up now that her daughter's run off into the wilderness."

With a darker face, Nami stood, and the three werewolves returned to the cabin in the woods.

---

Luffy waved to his neighbors as he passed them on the road. A few waved back when they recognized him. He looked behind him where the buck laid in the back - a large white-tailed deer he had gutted out in the field.

The sun was finally rising, and he could smell fresh pollen on the wind around him. Buttercups were blooming somewhere on the mountain, and the scent had followed him home on the wind.

When he reached their new home together, Luffy hopped down before he hefted the carcass onto his shoulder. That scent would stick to him for days if he didn't wash his clothes right, but he had forgotten some essentials before he had gone out hunting.

He closed the truck door with his hip.

"Nice catch, Luffy! What is that, an eight-pointer?"

"Ten I think!"

Upon reaching his fence though, he paused to partake of the aroma coming from inside. Everything was different now. But one scent had stayed the same.

He had followed her heady aroma through the paths of the village long ago when they had been newlywed. Luffy could still remember the morning of the ceremony. Her, plump with their first child, and wearing the best linen of the village. They had placed flowers in her hair and braided it to frame her face. Nami had still blushed even then.

Luffy grinned as he opened the gate to head to the side door first. She wouldn't want him to splatter blood all over her rugs and hardwood. He placed the deer on his work counter, but decided to peek inside.

The door connected to the kitchen, and he cracked it open.

"I'm home!"

In the kitchen, Nami looked up from her phone and smiled. "Welcome back."

A song played on the speakers, quiet enough to not irritate their ears, and Luffy nodded back into the garage. "You wanna see the deer I bagged?"

Nami smiled and stepped out to join him. "Mathilda's coming to visit."

"Is she bringing anyone else?"

"She said she has a surprise for us." Nami peeked at the deer. "Ooh, that'll fill up the freezer, won't it?"

Luffy nodded, but grinned. "Do you know what kind of surprise? Do they pitter-patter?"

"I don't know. She was more worried she had more little siblings on the way." Nami laughed at that. She seemed to search for something before she showed him the image on her phone of their firstborn. A picture of the raven-haired woman in the Louvre.

His grin melted into pure sunshine. Nami had told him that Mathilda looked entirely too much like her father. Luffy eyed Nami then with a grin that took her whole form in. "What do you think? Should we disappoint her?"

Her lips pursed, but she smiled back. "Do you think we have the time to get that kind of result?"

Luffy glanced at the deer in front of him and pouted. "Well ... when's she coming?"

"Mmm, she didn't say. That's a surprise too. She's going to stay the week."

"Good thing I caught this then. We'll have enough for everybody." He grinned. Luffy knew his daughter. She would have missed the taste of untouched meat - all of their kin complained of what was in the grocery stores. Ammonia, additives, and the like were not appreciated on the tongue of a werewolf.

She kissed his cheek and whispered in his ear, "Are you thinking about the next batch already?"

Smiling slowly, he leaned back into her warmth. "I was thinking about you in your wedding dress. How cute you were with your baby belly."

Nami giggled in his ear. She leaned in closer-

And a honk startled them both.

With a stunned expression, Nami turned to the open garage door, and Luffy guffawed as two rented mini-vans unpiled droves of their children onto the driveway.

"Happy Anniversary!" All twelve cheered.

Nami ran to greet them with a wagging finger.

He looked at the deer in front of him. "Well, now we don't have enough for everybody."