Chapter Nine- Acceptance

Shiro smiled warmly as Curtis came to him on his last day of the full moon. He opened the door to let him in. "Has your landlord approved?" he asked.

"Oh, yes. He is willing to allow you to move in. We just have to meet with him in the morning to discuss and sign a new lease."

"Not a problem." Shiro sniffed the air. "Do I smell raw steak?"

"You do." Curtis held out a bag and Shiro took it and looked inside.

"I don't think I would be able to eat this much in one night. If there was another wolf then it would be all gone."

"That is the idea."

Shiro stared at Curtis at hearing the tone of his voice. "What? Are you saying…you want me to bite you? But that would make you an evil werewolf."

"Actually, it wouldn't. I spoke to a werewolf the day we met and he told me the myth of good werewolves when I asked him. He said that if a good one bit someone, that person would be a good one too."

"That's interesting and it could explain why the alpha wanted me to be evil: Good ones could disrupt the humans' fear of them just by being themselves and telling humans of their weaknesses."

"The problem with the weaknesses is that they're the weaknesses of all werewolves."

"Yes. Curtis…how did you know of my silver weakness?"

"Oh. I was wearing a silver ring one day and I ended up brushing the arm of a werewolf. His ears turned pointed and a small red mark was on the arm. Lucky for him, we were alone at my station and there was some meat that was going to be thrown out. I gave it to him, he ate it, and the mark vanished and his ears returned to normal. I promised not to tell any humans he was a werewolf and I guess, in return, I wasn't killed or bitten."

"I suppose I could turn you if that's what you want. It's just my first night I did act like an evil one."

"I do want to be bitten and as it's been weeks since your first night, surely nothing but goodness lives in you now."

"Another good point. Well, let's set the meat up in the bowls and I'll set out more water bowls." Shiro exited the front and opened the back passenger doors and the two men got to work. Shiro kept looking at Curtis and couldn't help noticing that he was a handsome man; despite Iverson declaring Veronica as his mate, Shiro far preferred men and knew he was in the minority as far as sexual preferences were concerned thought same-sex couples were on the rise. But, I hardly know Curtis so I shouldn't think of him like that…or could I?

Unknown to Shiro, Curtis was looking at him a lot as well. He was different from the other werewolves and was distinctive in human and wolf form. His scar and white hair were attractive to him. The only thing was he knew very little about Shiro. I could ask him to talk about himself as well as being a werewolf. After all, we're going to be roommates.

Soon, both were in the back seat, the back folded down for more room. The sky darkened and Shiro gave a howl as he shifted to wolf form. His gold eyes, devoid of evil, turned on Curtis. "Now, are you sure? Once I bite, there's no going back."

"I'm sure but if I do end up evil, either kill me or knock me out."

"I'll knock you out," Shiro promised before seizing Curtis' arm and biting down.

Curtis cried out and then howled. He felt strength flow through him and his senses sharpening as he shifted into a wolf. He blinked his gold eyes at Shiro and his tail wagged. He craned his neck to see a large, strong body covered in brown fur. His tail wagged harder. "Wow, I look good."

"Not good. You look great." Shiro nuzzled the side of Curtis' muzzle who growled softly at the touch. Two stomach growls made Shiro pull back and both shuffled a paw. "Right. A lot of energy and calories are burned when changing."

Curtis turned to a bowl of meat and ate the contents while Shiro did the same. The taste of raw meat was pleasing to Curtis and he licked his chops as he licked his muzzle clean of blood. "So, I am a good one. I mean, I'm talking and aware of everything around me."

"Yes, you are good. If you weren't, you would think only as a wolf and be trying to get out of the car."

"Trying? Like I wouldn't?"

Shiro chuckled. "You probably would get out and I would have to have my car towed to have the door replaced."

"I felt my senses sharpen as I changed."

"You're also faster and stronger now. You're allergic to silver as well."

"Yes, of course. Any other weaknesses?"

"Wolfsbane. It makes us ill and dulls our senses until we get away from it."

"Silver and Wolfsbane." Curtis nodded. "Got it." He paused a moment. "Shiro, tell me about yourself."

"There's not much to say aside from preferring men to women though I do like women."

"What about that scar?" Curtis tapped his own snout.

"I got it a year ago in a knife fight. All things considered, I'm lucky that's all I got."

"Why were you in a fight?"

"I was defending my boyfriend as he was being mocked for loving me." Curtis nodded as Shiro lapped up some water. "What about you, Curtis?"

"I'm a pretty ordinary guy though I also prefer men to women."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I…liked it when you nuzzled me. It felt good."

Shiro panted at this response. "I'm glad you liked it. I was declared to be the mate of a female werewolf but we never got together, if you get my drift."

"I do. So…Shiro, could we be mates? I mean, I prefer men, you prefer men, and I find you attractive."

"Could we? Of course we can. I think you're a handsome man, er, werewolf. I'd like for us to be mates."

Curtis panted at this. "We'll be together for a long, long time."

"Oh, yes we will as we're ageless and immortal. Only heart impalement by silver and silver bullets can kill us."

"I understand." Curtis then yawned and curled up on the seats. "It's been a long day and I need some sleep."

"Go ahead. I usually feel sleepy after eating myself." Shiro licked Curtis' muzzle. "Good night, my mate."

"Good night." Curtis watched Shiro curl up before closing his eyes. His life had changed and he knew he would have to make some adjustments with one being to take time off from work every full moon and needing more raw meat than usual.

I can work with that. My thing is when Lance next drops by. He'll likely smell that I'm a werewolf too. If he asks, I won't tell him that Shiro bit me much less that I'm a good werewolf. Luckily, Lance mentioned the agreement between the packs so he'll assume that I belong to another pack.

Meanwhile, Shiro and I will get to know each other more and be comfortable as mates. Maybe, in the far future, we'll get married. Curtis managed a wolf's grin as he fell asleep, dreaming of a life with his mate and fellow werewolf.

The End