Being Pack

Being Pack

By Vic James

vicjames2@hotmail.com

Copyright 2014 by Vic James

http://www.vicjames.com

If you enjoy this story or the other stories at Nifty, please make a donation at: http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html

This story is fiction. None of the characters are based on real people. You can see a list of my stories at http://www.nifty.org/nifty/authors.html#vicjames

This story takes place in the same universe as my stories Plan of the Shusheen and Son of a Wolf. It takes place immediately after the events in Son of a Wolf. Plan of the Shusheen explains how three genetically-engineered shifter races were created.

Warning: this story may contain incest scenes.

Twelve

I woke up between Luke and Howard. I lifted my head. It still hurt, but not nearly as much as before.

I lay there, remembering all that had happened. I wondered if it had been a migraine headache. My mother had had a few of those. It was the first time, I'd had one, though. I wondered how she was, my mother. Thinking about her made my head hurt more. I thought about the Blob that Ate Detroit. Was I the blob who ate my babies? I had no idea. Of course, I wasn't at all sure I was pregnant. Maybe I thought the wrong things when I had sex. Who knew?

I thought about Dutch and Eddie. I was very aware of the fact that they used to be my mates and no longer were. It didn't hurt, but it was strange. I trusted Alephin absolutely, though. If he thought it was a good idea, then it was. What would happen if I shifted into a blob when I was seven months pregnant? Would the babies die? If I had no control and shifting killed the babies, I didn't want to get pregnant, again.

"How do you feel?" Luke asked me.

"I'm scared. I still have a headache, but it isn't as bad."

"Don't be scared," Howard said. "We will keep you safe."

"How long was I asleep?"

"A couple of hours."

"How are Dutch and Eddie?" I asked. I was afraid to find out.

"They are fine. They took their things and moved back to Dutch's house. Alephin told them you are allergic to them," Luke said.

I lay there and absorbed that. I tried not to, but I started laughing. It made my head throb, painfully. That helped me stop laughing.

"That is the most ridiculous thing I ever heard, I think, but since I am the Blob that Ate Whatever, who am I to say?"

"I almost laughed when I heard it," Luke said.

Howard chuckled.

"Alephin announced it to the pack," Howard said. "On the PA system."

"Oh, god!"

"He ordered the people in the house to forget what they saw you do. Then he told them you had an allergic reaction to Dutch and Eddie that made you swell up and almost killed you. If anyone remembers any part of your shape-shifting, they will think it was an allergy that made you swell up into a blob."

It made perfect sense. I lay there and started crying. Luke wrapped his arms around me.

"It's all right. Everything will be fine," Luke said.

"Even the two babies?"

"What two babies?" Howard asked.

"We think I was pregnant."

"Oh," Howard said.

We were all silent.

Fate had taken me from my parents, in a way. Now it appeared to have taken my children away from me. It was poetic justice, but that didn't make it less tragic.

"You don't know that you lost them," Luke said. "Can you imagine how small they must be?"

I sighed.

"Maybe that's true, but what if I'm eight months pregnant when I involuntarily shift?"

"We will keep you safe enough that it won't happen," Howard said.

"I was safe when I was holding Dregor's baby. What if I stub my toe? Will that make me shift? What if the phone rings suddenly or I am surprised? What happens if I almost drop one of my own babies?"

I was very, very depressed. Not as depressed as when Bob died, but almost that much. Then I got mad at myself. Some people had real problems. Their spouses died in car wreck and their children of cancer. My life was incredibly privileged compared to most people in the world. It was wrong to complain.

"Do you think I should try to keep from getting pregnant? I will be so unhappy if I kill them accidentally."

"I think we should wait and see if you are pregnant before we decide that. If you still are, then you won't have to worry," Luke said.

"Do you feel up to swallowing a pain pill?" Luke asked me.

"I'm not nauseous right now."

"I'll get it."

Howard stroked my forehead.

"Oh. That's very nice."

I closed my eyes.

"Here you go," Luke said.

He handed me a pill. I put it in my mouth. I took the glass of water he held and drank it.

The bedroom door opened. It was Alephin.

"Do you feel any better?" he asked me.

"Yes. I still have a headache, but it isn't nearly as bad as it was."

"Good."

Alephin sat down.

"The doc thinks it was probably triggered by stress. You were upset when it hit, weren't you?"

I nodded.

"I was worried about becoming a blob, scared that I might not be safe anymore, and worried that Dutch and Eddie would be hurt."

Alephin nodded.

"Everything is fine, now," Alephin said.

"Are they unhappy?"

"Making sure they are happy is my job, not yours. But they don't appear to be upset at all. I told the pack to be extra nice to them because they lost their mate. They'll be the center of attention for a while. They will enjoy that. They have each other, too. That is what they wanted all along. If it bothers you, keep remembering that they were your mates by accident."

I nodded. I stopped quickly, though. It made my head hurt.

"I want you to spend the day at Hephin's tomorrow. The noise here won't do you any good at all. You need to remain relaxed."

"How does Hephin feel about me going to his house?"

"He suggested it," Alephin said.

I was surprised, but happy.

"How does Dregor feel about me? I almost dropped his daughter."

Alephin smiled.

"He doesn't remember. But if he did, I am certain he would be very pleased to know you would do anything to keep his daughter from being injured," Alephin said.

I sighed. That did seem like a better way to think of what happened.

"I want you to try something, Tom."

"Of course, Alephin."

"Try shifting into yourself without a headache. Picture yourself, but without pain."

"OK."

I closed my eyes and pictured myself as I saw myself in the bathroom mirror. I never had a headache in the bathroom. I felt something. I opened my eyes and smiled.

"The pain is gone!"

"That is wonderful. Now you know what to do if you have another migraine."

I nodded.

"I'm starving!" I said.

"You must feel better," Luke said.

"Why don't you go get Tom something from the canteen?" Alephin suggested. "I don't think he should go outside right now. People believe Tom almost died."

"What would you like?" Luke asked me.

"A really big steak, a baked potato, broccoli, and a salad."

"I can get it, if you want to stay here with Tom," Howard said.

"That would be great," Luke said.

Howard left.

"We have the tortilla chips you wanted," Luke said.

I smiled and got out of bed.

"Should I stay in the room?" I asked Alephin.

"It isn't necessary. I sent Joyce and Betty home. Rince, Hephin, Dag, Alfonse, Luke, and Howard remember what happened. No one else does. If you must talk about it, do it in complete privacy."

I nodded. I didn't particularly want to discuss being a blob.

We walked into the living room. Hephin, Rince, Dag, Dregor, and Alfonse were sitting.

"How do you feel?" Hephin asked.

"I feel OK now."

"I had a friend in the army who had migraines," Dregor said. "He had them all the time."

"I hope Tom won't. But he knows how to get rid of them quickly, now," Alephin said.

Dregor nodded.

Luke and I walked into the kitchen. Hephin came with us, to my surprise. Alephin walked in a moment later.

"We've been discussing having you stay at my house," Hephin said. "The security is tighter and you can go outside over there, without worrying about having a security guard with you. Although, I guess Howard will be with you most of the time."

It sounded more like an invitation than a directive from Alephin.

"Also, if you shift without meaning to, it won't matter," Hephin added.

I sighed. Was that going to start happening? Was I going to shift every time I got frightened? If so, I was a danger to myself. I could just see myself changing into a blob in the canteen because someone dropped a dish. Alephin would be ordering his pack members to forget so often, they would all end up with amnesia! Would I be have to stay indoors to remain safe? That was a very depressing thought.

"Tom?" Hephin asked.

"Sorry. I was thinking."

Hephin nodded.

"Do you want to stay at my house?" Hephin asked me.

"I was kind of worried that you didn't like me," I told Hephin.

Hephin sighed.

"That's what Dad said. It's not you, Tom. You are probably starting to know how it feels to be carried along by events you don't control. You even obtained mates by accident!"

I was surprised, but that pretty much summed up my recent life.

"I do know how it feels. It's frustrating." Then I whispered, "I'm afraid to even hold a baby."

"Exactly!" Hephin said. "My wolf wants to be in control, but I have about as much control over things as you do. So he is usually in a bad mood. He lashes out. I try to deal with it, but- --sometimes I don't do a very good job at it. I also think my wolf sees you as a threat. It's ridiculous---I know you have no interest in challenging me for anything, but we are very similar in a lot of ways, and my wolf knows it. He was furious with Dag over the baby you may give him. I understood on an intellectual level why Dag never mentioned it. It made perfect sense. But my wolf saw it as a betrayal. As much as I wished it didn't happen, my wolf's moods affect mine."

"Wouldn't it upset your wolf to have me stay over there?"

"I don't know. He may come to realize you aren't a threat. We do have a separate building you can live in. I thought we would put you there and see how things go."

I looked at Alephin.

"Not only is it safer over there, but all my pack members won't be asking you about your allergy," Alephin said. "Once it is old news, people will stop talking about it."

I nodded.

"Luke?" I asked him.

"It's fine with me," Luke said. "Should Tom avoid Les?"

"You don't need to avoid anyone, but sex with them will upset my wolf. I've told them, so it won't be a problem."

I looked at Alephin.

"If you think it is a good idea, it is fine with me."

Alephin nodded.

I sat there thinking about Hephin's house and the land around it. It was safe because it was a cage. It was completely enclosed on all sides, even on top. I was no longer free to walk wherever I wanted. I remembered being out in nature in Tennessee. I had loved everything about it. The plants and trees, the animals, the hills, and the lakes. It seemed like nature and I had gotten a divorce. Hephin was still talking.

"You can even practice flying outside over there, if you want."

I smiled. That sounded fun. Then it occurred to me that flapping my wings inside my cage was not exactly a pleasant image. My smile disappeared.

"I would like to try. How much do I need to keep secret over there?"

"They all know you can change into other shapes," Hephin said. "They can all be trusted. They wouldn't be in my pack, if they couldn't."

Alephin nodded.

"OK."

Alephin stood. He took my hand.

"Come with me, Tom. I want to speak to you in private."

I followed Alephin into his study. He sat and I sat next to him.

"I can sense your unhappiness. Is it about Hephin?"

"No, Alephin. It is about shifting involuntarily. If it happens again, will I have to stay indoors for the rest of my life so no one will see? I shifted into a blob because I was scared. I scare easily. I always have. I feel like a human bomb, about to go off."

"Are you worried about losing contact with the members of my pack?"

"I'm not sure what you mean?"

"What do you feel you are losing?"

"Oh. Nature. Outdoors seems dangerous."

"Well, it isn't necessarily. You can go outdoors with your security team, once it is assembled. You might need to avoid Driar's Lake, because it is so popular. But there are other lakes on the pack lands. There is a lot of nature here. If you involuntarily shift at the lake, or while hiking, or even sunbathing, who will know?"

I hadn't thought of that.

"That is why you will have a security team. You wouldn't need them if you never left your house."

I smiled at him.

"I feel better."

I glanced at his crotch.

"I can tell," he said.

Alephin pulled his cock out and I bent down and began sucking him. Alephin sighed and leaned back on the couch. After a moment, he pulled his balls out of his shorts.

"I know you like those," he said.

I pulled off him and laughed.

"I do! I love them."

Alephin grinned.

"My balls love you, Tom. My cock loves you, and I love you. When you are depressed, come see me. After we've made love, I guarantee you will feel better. Look at my cock, pup."

I looked. Precum was oozing out in a steady stream.

"Can you see how much I want you, pup?"

It was running down, into his pubic hair. I licked it up before swallowing his cock. He tasted even better than before, if that was possible. His precum was more pungent than Luke's, and it was very satisfying. I sucked for a couple of minutes. But I realized I needed more. I needed a fuck and a kiss from my Alpha. I pulled off him and stood up. Alephin slowly stroked his cock while I pushed my pants down. He grinned at me. I climbed onto him and sat on his cock. I gasped in pleasure. It felt as though his cock was coming home. I pressed my mouth to his and got the kiss I craved from him. His tongue was home, inside me, too. I ran my hands over the parts of him I could reach.

He pulled away from the kiss.

"Oh, yes, pup. I love your lust. You can never lust too much for me, Tom. I want it. I crave it the way you crave me."

I nodded.

"Never be afraid to take what you need from me, pup. Les has sucked me during pack meetings. By the time I shot in his mouth, a quarter of the pack was having sex. It was a great meeting!"

"I don't think I'm quite bold enough for that!" I told him. "But I will take what I need. I promise."

I felt his nipples through the hair on his chest.

"Do the others want to rim you as much as I do?"

Alephin grinned.

"I don't get rimmed nearly enough, Tom."

I smiled at him.

"I'll spend more time at it, then."

Alephin kissed me, again. When I pulled away for air, he picked me up and let me fall on his cock. I groaned. He repeated it. I watched his muscles flex as he did it. He was the most masculine man I had ever seen.

While he fucked me on his cock, he asked, "Have you tried to change your scent?"

"I don't know what you mean?"

"Smell me, and then imagine you smell like that. I want to see if shifting is only visual, or whether it can be olfactory, as well."

I bent down and sniffed Alephin. I closed my eyes and imagined I smelled the same. I felt something happen. I wondered if I had just changed to look like him. I opened my eyes. Alephin was grinning at me.

"You smell like me."

I sniffed my arm. I did!

"That is great news. You may not need to hide at all. You can change your appearance and scent and I can introduce you as a new member of my pack. You would be free to roam around and do whatever you want. No one would be looking for the new you or asking awkward questions about your allergies."

"Wow! Would it work?"

"I don't know. We need to find out if it requires effort to remain in a shape. Do you want to try it?"

"Oh, yeah!"

"Close your eyes and imagine you have a heavy beard like mine. Give yourself green eyes and make your nose look like Dag's."

"There is a face I can always picture. Let me try that first."

"Sure. That's fine."

I closed my eyes and pictured Bob. I felt the change. Then I wondered if it would hurt looking at Bob in the mirror. I could talk to him, but he would never answer back. Still, it was easy to picture. I gave myself a moustache, though. Bob had grown one, once and didn't like it. His was kind of wispy. I made mine a little more substantial. I wanted to sound like Bob, but I wasn't sure how to do that. I just told myself to do it, not knowing if that was good enough. I wondered if I could smell like him. I thought I remembered how he smelled, not that I'd paid that much attention. After we'd been camping and hiking, we both got a little ripe. I tried, anyway.

"How do I look?" I asked, opening my eyes.

"You look like someone I haven't met," Alephin said.

"My name is Bob Eastman," I said. I sounded a little like Bob. Maybe. I decided to give myself a different last name. Bob's last name was Turner. Calling myself Bob Turner while looking like him just seemed---dangerous. I thought I was probably being silly, but it just seemed right. Eastman was the last name of my last boss at my old job.

Alephin grinned.

"Glad to meet you, Bob. Do you like my cock, too?"

I laughed.

"I love it even more than Tom does!"

Alephin laughed.

"Good! There were several hours today when Tom completely ignored it!"

"Hey! You weren't here and I didn't know where you were!"

He laughed.

Alephin resumed fucking me. After several minutes, he asked me if I wanted his load in my ass or mouth.

"My new mouth needs to be christened."

Alephin laughed.

"Or inseminated, anyway."

I climbed off him and took him into my mouth. I bobbed on him for about a half minute before he came. I tugged on his nuts, while his cock fed me Alpha cum. I looked up at him. He winked at me. I was happy. We had a strange relationship. There was nothing paternal about it. I supposed he was a lover-friend. I knew I could tell him anything, the way I had been with Bob. It was wonderful having Alephin as a friend I could depend on to give me great advice. I was in love with him and we had great sex. That made him my lover. I concentrated on the taste of his semen. I considered it a treat, which I figured no one would understand. But then I remembered Les saying how much he loved it, and Alephin telling me that Hephin drank about sixteen ounces a day of it. I had company, as far as my love for his stuff, went. He finished shooting. I let go of his cock and stood up. Alephin stood and pulled his shorts up.

"Let me get Luke. Wait here."

"OK."

Alephin pulled his shorts up and left the room.

I put mine on and sat back down. I finished swallowing the last of his spunk.

Luke walked into the room with Alephin and frowned.

"Tom told me you would fuck me. Are you ready?" I asked him.

Luke's mouth dropped open. I laughed.

"It's me, Tom." I said to him.

"The face looks familiar," Luke said.

"It's my best friend Bob's face."

"Oh, yeah. I remember seeing it in a photo."

I nodded.

"Tom will be using this face when he is outside," Alephin said. "I will introduce him as a new pack member. People can assume Tom is housebound. Meanwhile, Bob can go anywhere he wants."

"Hey! That sounds like a great idea," Luke said.

Alephin nodded.

"I'm Bob Eastman," I told Luke, hugging him.

"I'm pleased to meet you, Bob. But I'm not sure I want to kiss you."

I chuckled.

Alephin headed out of the room.

"Come on."

We followed him. All eyes turned to me.

"This is Bob Eastman," Alephin said. "He is joining the pack."

Rince frowned. I assumed he was wondering how I made it into the house without him knowing.

"Where is Tom?" Hephin asked.

"Bob is taking the place of Tom."

Rince grinned. I guessed he caught on first. I looked at Howard.

"Tom?" he asked.

I nodded.

He got up and walked over to me. He sniffed my shoulder. I smiled at him.

"You've done a great job," he said. "You even smell different."

"Good. I don't have to worry about going outside, either. Absolutely no one is looking for me."

"And if you change accidentally in public, you can change identities, again," Luke added.

I nodded.

"How are you going to explain Bob wandering around with Tom's mates?" Dag asked Alephin.

Alephin looked at me.

"I'll say that Bob is Howard's biological mate. They just found each other. Howard still works for Tom, so that gives Luke an excuse to be with them. They are friends."

"I told Dutch and Eddie that Howard was a new mate," I said to Alephin.

He nodded.

"Tom changed his mind and asked me to unmate them when we realized Bob was Howard's biological mate. No one will find that the least bit unusual. Bob would not want to share Howard with Tom. And Howard would want only Bob."

Dag nodded.

"I think that covers it," Dag said.

"Tom's steak is here," Howard said to me.

I grinned.

"I'm starving!"

I walked into the kitchen. I was hungry before I shifted into Bob. I pulled the food out of two plastic sacks. Luke and Howard sat on each side of me.

"Are you happy about this?" Howard asked me.

"Yes. I am. There really was a Bob Eastman. He died, but so did Tom Black, as far as any humans know. But how do you feel? Do you still think of me as your mate?"

"I feel weird. I know it's you, but I don't feel attracted to you," Howard said.

"How do you feel about it, Luke?" I asked him.

"I'm fine with it. We won't be able to have sex in public, but that is fine. I won't worry as much about someone kidnapping you."

I nodded.

"It doesn't sound like I will be having public sex with Howard, either," I said.

"Hold on."

Howard got up and walked back to the living room. He came back with Alephin.

"I don't feel attraction to Bob. Can you do anything without hurting my bond to Tom?" Howard asked Alephin.

"Hmm. Let's try this." Then in his command voice, Alephin said, "Tom looks like this sometimes. He is your mate no matter what he looks like."

Howard shivered at little.

"I think it took," Howard said.

I leaned towards him for a kiss. Howard kissed me. He pulled away grinning.

"Much better. Thank you, Alephin."

"Luke, I don't think you will need the same booster, since he is your biological mate."

"I still want him," Luke said.

Alephin nodded.

"I still want you sleeping at Hephin's. It will be awkward for me to explain why I suddenly have new pack members living in my house, and I don't want to set a precedent."

I nodded.

Alephin left and I began eating. Howard and Luke ate chips.

I pulled out my phone and took a selfie. It would make the shift easier each morning if I looked at it. Then I wondered why Bob would have Tom's phone number. I sighed. I had a feeling it was going to be more complicated than I originally thought.

Hephin came into the kitchen.

"I've sent Alfonse to my house. He is going to start sleeping there tonight."

"I guess we can, too," I said.

"That's fine," Hephin said.

Hephin was staring at me. I started to get a little uncomfortable.

"I would like to try changing into other shapes. I don't know if I can, or not, but I have the other race's blood in me, too. How do you do it?"

"I just picture who I want to look like in my mind. I concentrate on the image and I guess, wish for it."

A man walked into the kitchen. I knew I had met him, but I couldn't remember his name.

"Hey, Elepan!" Hephin said.

Hephin jumped up and hugged him. They kissed and I could tell how much they loved each other.

"It's getting late. I thought I would take the kids home," Elepan said, when they pulled apart.

"Oh. That's a good idea. I guess I need to head back, too," Hephin said.

Elepan held out his hand to me. I shook it.

"I'm Elepan, Hephin's mate."

"I'm Tom. I---"

I frowned. How should I explain it? I was a blob, now I'm hiding by posing as my dead best friend?

Hephin finished for me.

"It's a long story, Elepan. I'll tell you all about it at home. Tom, Luke, Howard, and Alphonse are going to be living in the apartment house. I'm not sure for how long."

Elepan looked at me, curiously.

"Why don't you finish eating, and then we can head back?" Hephin said to me.

I nodded.

I went back to eating. Hephin got up and knelt in front of Elepan. He pulled Elepan's shorts down. I watched Elepan's cock grow erect. Hephin swallowed it and began sucking his mate. Luke pulled his cock out and began stroking himself.

I gulped down the rest of my food. If I hadn't been so hungry, I would have skipped the food and had sex with my mates.

"I think I will get our things ready," Luke said, putting his cock away.

I nodded.

"Let's take snacks, too," I told him.

Luke left the room. Howard's eyes burned with lust. He pulled his cock out and let it rest on the table, after standing up.

"Now that looks like tasty meat," Elepan said.

I laughed.

"Much better than the steak," I said.

Howard grinned. He moved closer and put his erection on my plate. I laughed.

"No knives," he said.

Elepan and I laughed.

I bent down and kissed it. I picked it up and sucked on the head briefly. He tasted wonderful. Howard took it from me and put it away.

"I'll help Luke," he told me.

He left the kitchen. I was finishing my meal as Elepan cried out. I needed my mates. I craved sex. Alfonse would be with us, too. I smiled at the thought.

I got up and put my containers in the trash and recycle bins. Luke walked into the kitchen, then. He gathered chips and nuts to take to the new place. He put them in the sack that had come from the canteen.

Alfonse walked into the kitchen.

"Hey, Alfonse!" I said.

I hugged him. Then I remembered I looked different. I looked at his face.

"I'm Tom. I am going to look like this when I am over here, because of what happened earlier."

Alfonse nodded.

"Alephin explained it to me."

"I don't suppose you have your handkerchief, do you?"

Alfonse laughed.

"I do have one, but I'm afraid there is no semen on it."

"Damn!"

"There's plenty in my nuts, baby boy," he whispered. "I'm going to feed you all you want. I want to fuck you, too. Will you let me?"

I nodded. Alfonse grinned.

I reached down and felt for his cock. He was erect. I rubbed the stiff lump in his pants.

"I'm hoping this is more than casual sex," he said.

"It is."

I looked into his face. He was a lot older than the rest of us, but I thought that was a good thing. A thought suddenly occurred to me.

"I want you, but I think my wolf needs you. You are older and wiser than the rest of us."

Alfonse nodded.

"I'll take care of you, BB."

"BB?"

Alfonse grinned. "Baby boy."

I smiled at him.

He grabbed my hand.

"I was about to come. I want my cock inside you the next time I come."

"I'll get the kids," Elepan said to Hephin.

"Are you ready to head over there?" Hephin asked me.

"I think so. We don't have a lot of things to take," I said.

Luke walked back into the kitchen.

"We have everything ready," he told me.

Howard and Luke carried our things. We followed Hephin to the tunnel entrance. I hugged Alephin.

"What are we going to do about Bob and Tom when the new house is ready?" I asked him.

"I've been thinking about that," Alephin said. "Maybe we should have Tom housebound. Tell people he seldom leaves his house. He can make brief appearances."

"That sounds good," I said.

We walked down to the tunnel. There were carriers for the kids, hitched to two of the bikes. Dag, Hephin, and Elepan put their babies in them. Hephin looked at us.

"Ready to go home?"

I nodded and climbed onto a bike. We took off for 'home'.

If you enjoyed it and would like to read more, please let me know.