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As a note to the reader, while characters in this story are over eighteen, the narrative contains descriptions of bondage, anal and oral sex, and body modification. If any of these acts offend you or are illegal to read where you reside, please move on. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Chapter 17: Exposure
Jeff and Dave moved through the forest as they tracked their latest prey - a deer they had seen in a glade. They had left Jake back in the cave to look after the kids. Jeff had taken to accompanying Dave on his hunts now as a respite from the care of the young wolf cubs. As they prowled on all fours, the crunch of leaves and snap of twigs pierced the tranquil forest air. Jeff's pointed ears twitched, his heightened senses instantly on alert. He stopped as Dave's muscular form froze in place as well.
"I smell," Jeff whispered urgently.
"Humans!" Dave replied with a soft growl. "They are near."
Dave's blue eyes widened.
"Shit, I thought we were safe out here."
The two turned and looked back at the forest's edge, only yards from their position. They could hear excited voices moving closer. Jeff's heart raced as he caught sight of two hikers through the foliage, smartphones raised.
"Oh my god, look at them!" a hiker exclaimed. "They're like... werewolves or something!"
"You got that on film?" the other one replied.
"Fuck yeah, I do!" the first hiker replied.
The hikers' excited voices echoed through the trees.
"We're gonna be famous! Wait 'til everyone sees this! I'm uploading this to YouTube right now!"
Dave instinctively pulled Jeff closer, shielding him with his larger frame. His mind raced.
"Should we attack?" Dave asked.
"No," Jeff replied. "We run!"
They both took off. Their bodies moved swiftly through the trees and bushes. Their bestial forms allowed them to transverse a distance far quicker than any human had ever run. Eventually, they slowed and stopped as they neared their cave to catch their breath.
"We should be okay now," Jeff said.
Dave bristled.
"Safe, Jeff? They were filming us, man! Our secret's blown! We are screwed!"
Jeff placed a steadying paw on Dave's shoulder, feeling the tremble of agitation beneath his fur.
"I know. But we can't panic. We need to think. We have some time."
Jeff and Dave arrived at the cave to see Jake making a meal with the three wolf cubs at his paws. As he turned to greet them, he could see the concern on their faces.
"What?" Jake asked.
Jeff's chest tightened. He turned to Dave. Jake's eyes were wide with fear, his slender frame trembling.
"Humans," Dave gasped.
"They filmed us," Jeff added. "And they are uploading the video to the internet as we speak."
"Shit!" Jake responded, his voice cracking. "What do we do now? They will be after us. We'll be hunted and experimented on - again! What about our kids?"
Jeff pulled Jake close, running a comforting paw through his fur.
"We won't let that happen," he said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "We'll figure this out together."
Dave paced, his muscular form taut with nervous energy.
"We need to move now. Find somewhere deeper in the forest where they can't find us."
Jeff nodded, his mind racing.
"We should track them down, take their phones by force if we have to," Dave growled low in his throat.
Jeff considered this, weighing their options. His primal part yearned to give chase, to eliminate the threat. But the human part knew better.
"No," he said finally. "That would only make things worse. Besides, the video is probably out there. We need to disappear and lay low until we can figure out our next move."
Jake nodded, a glimmer of determination replacing the fear in his eyes.
"We could set up some false trails around here to lead them away in different directions, and then we could take the Jeep and drive somewhere safe."
Jeff smiled, pride swelling in his chest.
"That's my clever boy. Dave, you know these woods better than anyone. Where's the most remote spot you can think of?"
As Dave described a hidden valley miles away, Jeff felt a spark of hope. They were in this together, three mates and three pups against the world. Whatever came next, they'd face it as one.
As they packed up the final provisions in the Jeep, the three could not imagine the new frenzy that was occurring around them.
"Bizarre Beast-Men Spotted in Ouachita National Forest" ran one title.
Social media was trending with #OuachitaBeastMen.
The fact that one of the hikers was the son of a law enforcement officer only caused more issues. Soon, the video was being assessed by the state police, who were keenly aware of the experiments of Dr. Reed West, a man paralyzed from the waist down who was currently on trial for murder and depraved actions against humanity.
By the evening, groups of men had been assembled to assess the beasts' threat and determine if it was a hoax. Helicopters had been requisitioned to help.
"Experts are baffled by this unprecedented discovery. Are these creatures a new species? A government experiment gone wrong? Or an elaborate hoax?"
Their family was in danger.
Dave paced, his muscles taut beneath his skin.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck. We're screwed."
"Dave!" Jake growled as he helped the three wolf pups into the Jeep, "not in front of the kids!"
Dave rolled his eyes.
"They can't understand what we are saying! They are more wolf than human!"
"But they can understand your body language," Jeff replied as he put a paw on Dave. "Calm down and get in the Jeep. We have enough fuel to get us to that place you talked about. From there, we can hide the vehicle and continue on foot."
"We just need to move," Jake said. "Now."
The forest enveloped them as they drove near the river and into the depths of the forest, a tapestry of green and shadow. All three had their heads on a swivel, using their enhanced senses to identify any danger. But all they could detect in the fading light was the rich, earthy aroma of decaying leaves mingled with the sharp tang of pine, creating a complex bouquet that told a story of life and death in the wilderness. They began to calm down as they drove on.
"It's been a while since we went on an adventure," Jake said as he cradled the three pups in his lap. "It's like we're in some epic quest game. Except the NPCs are all trying to capture us."
Dave chuckled softly.
"Only you could make this into a game, Jake."
Jeff smiled, grateful for the moment of levity. He reached back, squeezing Jake's paw.
"Let's just avoid any side quests, okay? We're on a strict main storyline here."
As they navigated a particularly dense thicket, the Jeep sputtered. Dave looked down and groaned.
"Fuel's out."
"We knew it would not last for long," Jeff said. "But we put a lot of distance between us and our old den, and I doubt they were planning on tracking tire tracks."
As the vehicle stopped, they piled out and unloaded what they could. Each had brought a backpack filled with provisions with them. Jake had made a sling to put around their necks from pieces of their sleeping bags that they could carry the pups in. It was close to 10 pm when they took the young ones, placed them into their carrying sling, and prepared to continue.
"We will have to continue through the night," Jeff said. "Are you two ready?"
Dave nodded as he rubbed Sky's head as she nuzzled in the sling around his neck.
"Yeah," Jake replied. "Teddy is already sleeping in his sling."
"Okay," Jeff replied, ensuring Duke was comfortable. "Let's go!"
Jeff's mind raced with plans and contingencies as they pressed on, but beneath it all, a primal part of him thrummed with anticipation.
They traveled silently until midnight, pausing at the base of a large rock formation with fresh water cascading down it. Jeff's ears twitched as they refreshed themselves, catching a faint sound in the distance. He held up a paw, signaling the others to be quiet.
"Helicopter," he whispered, his heightened senses pinpointing the direction. "About two miles northwest."
Dave's muscles tensed, ready for action.
"Think they're on to us?"
"Can't risk assuming otherwise," Jeff replied, scanning their surroundings.
His eyes landed on a shallow ravine to their left.
"There. We can use the terrain to mask our heat signatures."
Jake's paw slipped on loose shale as they scrambled down the embankment. Jeff caught him, their bodies pressing close. The world fell away for a moment, replaced by the intoxicating scent of Jake's skin and the rapid thrum of his heartbeat.
"Thanks," Jake breathed, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and arousal.
Jeff reluctantly released him, refocusing on their predicament. They huddled in the shadow of an overhanging rock, bodies intertwined for comfort and concealment.
As the distant thrum of rotors grew louder, Jake's breathing quickened.
"What if... what if we can't outrun them forever?" he whispered, voice cracking. "What if they catch us, put us in a lab or a zoo?"
The vulnerability in Jake's tone made Jeff's chest ache. He cupped Jake's face, forcing eye contact.
"Hey, listen to me. We're smarter, faster, and stronger than they could ever imagine. We've got this."
Dave nodded, wrapping an arm around Jake's shoulders.
"Yeah, man. We're a team. No way in hell we're letting anyone tear us apart."
Jake buried his face against Jeff's chest, trembling as the helicopter's searchlight swept past their hiding spot. Jeff stroked his back soothingly, his heart racing. When the sound of rotors finally faded into the distance, they collectively exhaled. Dave peered out, his heightened senses scanning for danger.
"Coast is clear. We should move while we can."
They climbed out of the ravine, muscles aching from the night's exertion. Jeff's eyes locked on a dense copse of trees ahead.
"There. It'll give us cover. We need to rest for a few hours."
Exhaustion hit them like a wave as they settled into their makeshift shelter. Jake curled up between Jeff and Dave, seeking warmth and comfort. The pups snoozing in their slings comfortably, unaware.
"I can't believe this is happening," Jake murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "Months ago, I was just a college freshman. Now, I'm a fugitive beast-man trying to protect my pups. What the hell is this world we live in?"
Jeff nuzzled Jake's neck, inhaling his scent.
"You're still you, Jake. We all are. Just... more."
Dave chuckled softly.
"Yeah, more fur, muscle, more..." he trailed off, his paw rubbing Jake's hip.
Jeff felt a familiar heat pool in his belly despite their dire circumstances. He caught Dave's eye over Jake's shoulder, a silent agreement passing between them.
"Whatever happens," Jeff said, his voice low and intense, "we face it together."
Jake nodded, his eyes shining with unshed tears.
"We are a family," he said, voice full of wonder and determination.
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