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.

Sixteen

While Howard talked to Hephin, I saw Dregor was getting sucked. He caught me looking at him. He gave me a small smile before pulling his dick out of his cocksucker's mouth. He surprised me by walking over to me. His hefty erection swung from side to side as he walked. I didn't occur to me at the time that I was lusting after one of Hephin's men. Dregor had my full attention and I wanted him.

"How are you adjusting to pack life?" Dregor asked me.

The mental change of subject startled me. I realized I needed to look at his face. I looked up at him, but found myself looking at his erection, again. I forced myself not to look at his cock, but the rest of him excited me, as well. I wanted him to fuck me, and I started to tell him that. I stopped and forced my mind back in control.

"I don't understand sex," I told him. "As a human, I was uninterested. Now I'm interested, but I don't seem the same as other Vin-Ta. Alfonse here excites me, but he isn't my mate."

"Does anyone else excite you who isn't your mate?" Dregor asked.

I didn't know what to say. Should I be honest, or deny the truth? The truth was, both Les and Dregor excited me. If they weren't Hephin's pack members, I would have pursued them. I found myself looking at Dregor's erection, again. It had begun to drip. I groaned and came as I looked at his cock. I didn't touch Dregor and he didn't touch me. No one was touching me; my cock just started shooting.

I heard a snarl and something pushed me to the ground. I looked up at a very angry wolf. I knew with certainty that it was Hephin. I realized I had screwed up. I might have screwed up everything. Dregor put his hands on his Alpha and Hephin snarled and bit one of Dregor's hands. I stared in shock as I heard bone crunch and watched blood flow freely from the bite. It suddenly occurred to me that I might die. I looked up and saw Luke, Howard, and Alfonse, as well as Hephin's people looking at me. They all looked horrified. Hephin growled and I felt his mouth close on my throat. There was a sharp pain, and then nothing.

I was aware of voices. Shouting and screaming.

A voice commanded, "Everyone out." Then, "Shift for me, pup."

I was lying down on a hard surface. Strangely enough, the next thing I felt was hunger. Incredibly intense hunger. I opened my eyes. Alephin was looking at me. He looked furious. I smiled at him and he smiled back. Despite the smile, I could tell he was every bit as angry. The anger didn't seem directed at me, though. Luke was holding my hand. I smiled at him. Luke looked scared. I smiled at him and he seemed to relax.

"How do you feel, pup?"

"I'm starving. I feel like I haven't eaten in a month."

Alephin nodded. He bent down and picked me up. I leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

"I love you, too, pup."

We were still in Hephin's basement. Everyone else had left, except for Luke, who stood next to us. Luke stroked my cheek with his other hand. I held onto his other hand. Luke looked relieved. He leaned forward and kissed me. I held onto his hand, drawing strength from it. I could tell he was angry, but he was holding it in.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Hephin attacked you," Luke said. "He tried to kill you. Maybe did kill you."

I remembered, then. The memory was vague, though, like a memory of something that happened long ago.

I looked down and saw an enormous amount of blood and bloody things on the floor. There was blood on Luke's legs.

"Do you feel OK?" Luke asked.

"Just hungry. Very hungry."

Luke nodded.

"What is that?" I said, pointing.

"I think it's part of a kidney," Alephin said, stunning me. Whose? Mine or Dregor's?

Alephin carried me to the tunnel. I didn't see Hephin or anyone from his pack. Alephin put me down, but he took my hand. We walked to a motorcycle. Alephin put me on it, and then sat behind me. I leaned back against him.

Hephin joined us in the tunnel.

"I'm sorry, Tom. Terribly sorry. I mean that. It was a mistake. A terrible, horrible mistake."

I had no idea what to say. I thought he seemed serious, but I wasn't feeling charitable towards him. He didn't speak, again. If he had attacked me in anger, it was over. I saw no anger in his face, only unhappiness---or despair. I didn't know what to think. As I said, my memories were hazy and details were few. I remembered Dregor walking over to me, but hardly anything after that. What did I do that made him try to kill me? Had I kissed Dregor? If so, I had no memory of it.

"I left him under your protection and I've seen how little that means to you. I don't take killing my pack members lightly, Grandson. I will just tell you this: if you weren't my grandson, or if he had died, I'm not sure you would still be alive."

Hephin looked at Alephin in shock. A tear dripped down Hephin's cheek. Hephin nodded his head.

"What did I do? Why did you try to kill me?" I asked Hephin. "Did I attack you?"

Hephin's response surprised me. He put his face in his hands and sobbed.

"I think it was because you lusted after Dregor," Luke said.

"Do you agree, Alephin?" Luke asked him.

"Yes. You just lusted. During an orgy, where lust is expected," Alephin said.

I sighed in relief. I was glad I hadn't done anything terribly wrong, that I just couldn't remember.

"I don't know how to handle lust," I said to Alephin.

"I know. You'll be safe in my pack. You can lust after whoever you like. Mind you that if they have a mate, you won't be having sex with them, but lusting is free. Most wolves would be flattered than a beautiful, young pup found them desirable. Even my mate Rince would be flattered."

"It was the wolf," Hephin said. "He took over. I was barely aware of what was happening until it was over."

Alephin remained silent. I didn't seem to have a wolf. There was only one voice in my head---mine, so I had no idea whether controlling a separate wolf personality was difficult.

Alephin wrapped one arm around me and we took off. I looked back at Hephin. He stood there watching us drive away. Luke was right next to us, but I didn't see Howard or Alfonse. Or Dregor. What had happened to him? I suddenly remembered that Hephin had bit him, and there had been all that blood on the floor. Was it Dregor's or both of ours? Was it my fault Hephin had bit him? I wished my memories were clearer. I didn't remember doing anything at all with Dregor, but had I? I did remember wanting him, but he was Hephin's and I wouldn't have tried to take Dregor from him. Was Dregor dead? If he was, how could I ever forgive myself if I was the cause? I suddenly felt exhausted, and very, very depressed. There no longer seemed any chance at a friendly relationship with Hephin.

I sighed. I didn't understand the rules. I had come to think of the pack as being the place I belonged. But I wondered if we should leave and become a family outside the pack. I would have Luke, Howard, Alfonse, and the security men to keep me safe. I could afford more men. I thought about Hephin. He seemed so young to me. Very young and very sad. If we had stayed in Tennessee, he wouldn't be sad and he wouldn't have tried to kill me. I had come between Alephin and his grandson. How could that be a good thing?

"You weren't at fault, Tom," Alephin said. "I can feel your guilt. You shouldn't have any."

I wanted to believe him and he was my Alpha.

"Is Dregor all right?" I asked.

"No," Alephin said curtly. He didn't elaborate and I was afraid to hear more. Instead, I cried. It was just too much. Too much had happened to me.

We dismounted the bikes and walked into Alephin's house. Alephin carried me to the clinic, where the pack doctor, Doctor Adams was waiting. He drew blood, took an x-ray, and gave me an ultrasound test of my abdomen. Luke held my hand the whole time. Alfonse kept a hand on my shoulder, and Howard stroked my hair, occasionally.

"This is his liver," then doctor said, pointing at a display. "It is smaller than I would expect, but appears undamaged. Here is his remaining kidney. Here, where his other kidney should be, is this small lump of tissue. I'm not sure if it is what is left of his kidney, or if his body is building a replacement. In any case, he can live with one kidney. I was more worried about his liver, but shifting seems to have repaired the damage. Blood tests will tell us how functional it is. I'm curious to see whether it will remain this size or grow larger. I can't find his spleen, unless it is this spot here, but I'm not worried about that. I don't see any internal bleeding."

Doctor Adams turned to me.

"How do you feel? Are you in pain?"

"No. Well, hunger pains."

"Is it OK for him to eat?" Luke asked.

"Yes. Shifting seems to have repaired the damage, but he burned a hell of a lot of calories doing it, I would imagine.

"I want you to come back tomorrow morning for another blood test. I would like one each day for the next four days. That will tell us how functional your organs are. I want you to get plenty of sleep and stay on a high protein diet for the next few days. Eat as much as you want, but don't exert yourself."

"Thanks, Doctor."

"You're welcome. Too bad your new hospital isn't built yet."

I smiled at him.

"I've got to have some food!"

"I'll get food from the canteen," Alfonse said.

"Get him a steak. A big one," Alephin said.

"Two! And a chocolate shake, or three," I added.

Rince walked into the clinic along with Howard. Howard was carrying a bag of potato chips. I grabbed it and began stuffing my face.

"How are you?" Rince asked me. "How is he?" Rince then asked Alephin.

"So far, so good."

Rince looked at me.

"I'm so sorry, Tom."

I nodded to him.

"People, present company included, tend to think of Hephin as an adult. But he isn't old enough to drink or to vote. He's a teenager and not a particularly mature one. Like a lot of teenagers, he is not inclined to think about consequences before action. I know that doesn't help you, and I don't want you to think he is trying to justify his actions. He knows he did a horrible thing. He is trying to figure out how he can eliminate his wolf, permanently. He hates the thing."

Alephin snorted.

Alfonse had stopped to listen to Rince. He turned and left the clinic.

"Does a person's wolf ever act against the wishes of the person?" I asked.

Both Rince and Alephin nodded their heads.

"He should have remained in control," Alephin said. "Especially since he has an Alpha wolf. Both Rince and I have told him that often enough."

I agreed, but I felt a lot more forgiving of Hephin at that point. Hephin, the human. I supposed it was his wolf that I should blame.

The potato chips were making me thirsty.

"You can go now," Doctor Adams. "But don't forget to come in tomorrow."

"We'll remind him," Luke said.

I climbed off the table and stood up. Luke bent over and picked me up. I grinned at him.

"Have I told you I love you, lately?" I said.

"Not since you died," Luke said, grinning.

We all laughed.

"You'll stay in your old bedroom for now," Alephin said, as we headed back to his house.

I thought about what Luke said. 'Since I died'. I had died and Alephin brought me back to life, somehow. I wished Alephin had been around when my best friend Bob died. He might have been able to heal himself by shifting.

We got back to Alephin's house. Howard gave me some peanuts and a glass of milk. They really made me feel better. I was still hungry, but I was also tired. I lay down and immediately fell asleep.

I woke slowly. The first thing I noticed was the hard ground beneath me. Then the sun on my face. Someone had their arms around me. I assumed it was Luke. His erection pressed against me. From the feel of it, we were both naked. I reached behind me and felt the cock. It wasn't Luke. Luke was bigger. I opened my eyes and looked around. We were in a sleeping bag at a campsite I didn't recognize. From the trees, I could tell that it was probably not Tennessee. For one thing, I saw some palm trees mixed in with pines. I guessed it was Florida or Alabama near the coast. As I flipped over, I heard a mumble. Then I gasped as I looked at Bob's face. My butt felt wet. I wiped it with a finger and looked at it. It was semen. I wiped my finger on the sleeping bag. Had Bob fucked me? But it couldn't be Bob. Bob was dead! Dead or not, Bob opened his eyes.

"Good morning," Bob said.

"Good morning, Bob."

Bob smiled.

"You sure were right, Luke," Bob said.

I looked around for Luke.

"I don't see him."

"See who?" Bob asked.

"Luke, of course."

Bob chuckled. Then he sighed.

"Now, I'm afraid you will get your memory back. And be mad at me for fucking you."

I tried to figure out what was going on. I didn't understand anything.

"On the other hand, if you got your memory back, you could tell me how you found me. This park isn't popular."

I didn't know what he was talking about. But somehow I knew it was because of alligators. Bob's erection rested on my leg, and right then, I had more interest in it than in his story. I reached for his erection and Bob sighed. I began stroking it.

"Nice," he said.

It had to be a dream, but if I could be with Bob, again, I hoped it was a long dream.

"Did you enjoy fucking me?" I asked him.

Bob laughed.

"Couldn't you tell? Like maybe by the fifth time I did it? Like I told you, it was much better than fucking a woman. It's funny. I always had a feeling you were gay, because you only wanted to be around me. But I was always certain I was straight. I fucked a couple of women, but it never wowed me. I figured it was because I didn't love them. Now, I'm guessing that we have both been gay all along, and I met my lover in kindergarten."

I wished Bob was my lover, but he was dead.

I stopped stroking him to run my fingers over Bob's erection. He shuddered. I rolled him onto his back. I held his cock up and sat slowly down on it. Bob shuddered as he entered me.

"Unbelievable!" he said. "Damn, Luke! What am I going to do when you get your memory back?"

"Why are you calling me Luke?" I asked, as I fucked myself on his cock.

"You told me that was your name, yesterday."

"I'm Tom."

Bob grabbed my waist and held me still.

"You remember now?"

I nodded.

Bob closed his eyes.

"Do you still want us to be lovers?"

"Yes, Bob."

He asked me what he was going to do when I got my memory back. I wondered what I would do when I woke up and lost him, again.

I ran my hands over him. I could smell him. He smelled wonderful. I knew then why he was so hairy. He was Vin-Ta, according to Alephin. I leaned down and kissed him for a minute.

"You are so sexy, Bob."

He smiled.

"Marry me, Tom. Please."

I looked in his soft brown eyes.

"Why did you pretend to die?"

He didn't say anything.

I pulled off him and scooted down to look at his erection. Bob was circumcised. I had seen his erection before, but I had never wanted it. I placed kisses on it and earned a sigh from Bob. I swallowed it. Bob gasped as I began sucking him. I fondled his balls while I sucked.

"I don't know how you can do that! I was just in your ass!"

A minute later, Bob cried out as he shot in my mouth. I continued sucking him. I wanted to make him come again and again. But when his orgasm ended, he pulled me up and kissed me. Our arms wrapped around each other.

After we kissed, I sucked him, again. After Bob came, he shook his head.

"I don't understand why you can make me come so many times."

"It's because we are mates."

"You mean friends?"

"No. Lovers."

I sighed as Tom swallowed my dick. I could tell it was his first blowjob. It was painful. It felt like he was lightly chewing my cock. I lost my erection and he gave up.

"I can't do it."

"You just need practice," I told him.

"If you marry me, I'll practice all the time," he said.

I smiled at him.

"Tom?" a different voice called.

I opened my eyes. I was in Alephin's house, in bed. I sighed. I was sorry the dream was short, but I got to see Bob, and that made me happy. I felt buoyant, like a giant weight had been lifted from me.

"Hephin is hysterical," Luke said. "Do you want to talk to him?"

It took a moment for everything to fall into place.

"Sure. I'll talk to him."

Luke called him. Hephin walked into the room. I could tell he had been crying.

"I'm so sorry, Tom!"

I could feel hatred radiating from Luke and Howard. It surprised me, but I realized it shouldn't have. Alfonse looked angry, too. I looked at Hephin and gathered my thoughts. He seemed genuinely remorseful. I realized that while my mates were angry, I wasn't. That really didn't make sense to me, but I looked at Hephin, with his red eyes and tears dripping and---I just wasn't angry. As a matter of fact, I felt happy. I knew it had nothing to do with Hephin. I had seen Bob again. I felt like we had a reunion and he was happy and doing fine. It was a dream, but I had new memories of Bob. In Florida. With alligators nearby. It wasn't just a rehash of old memories. Thank you subconscious! I thought.

Hephin wiped his eyes, again.

"How is Dregor?" I asked him.

He began crying again. After a moment, he spoke.

"I don't know where he is. He left. I don't even know if he is safe. He might be bleeding somewhere."

Hephin sobbed. He was definitely more miserable than I was.

I looked over and saw Alephin standing in the doorway. His face was expressionless.

I got out of bed.

"It's OK, Hephin," I said to him. I hugged him. After a moment he hugged me back. "I forgive you."

"Do you mean it?"

"Yes. But I would like to know why. You said it was the wolf."

"That's no excuse," Alephin said.

I looked at Hephin. He nodded.

"He took control and attacked before I even knew what was happening. I---I had been drinking. That kept me from getting control in time to stop him."

"And that's no excuse, either," Alephin said.

I knew it wasn't. My parents were always using that as an excuse for their behavior. But maybe Hephin would learn from the experience.

"I'm not so sure you should forgive him so easily," Alephin said.

I looked at Luke. He seemed less angry. So did Howard. Alfonse seemed about the same.

"What would you have done if you killed him?" Luke asked Hephin.

Hephin sighed.

"Probably killed myself. If Dregor is dead, I may still do it."

Alephin shook his head.

"Can you three forgive him?" I asked my lovers.

"I guess if you can, we should," Luke said. "I don't want to live over there, though."

Howard nodded his head.

"I have got another location ready for you," Alephin said to me.

I nodded.

"Go find Dregor," I said to Hephin.

He nodded.

"I plan to. I wanted to apologize to you, first."

I hugged him, again.

"My parents were always getting drunk and hitting each other. When they sobered up, they apologized. But they were back at it the following evening," I said to him.

"I don't plan to drink anymore," Hephin said.

"Good," both Alephin and I said at the same time. I chuckled.

"So we're OK?" Hephin asked.

I nodded.

"I'll make it up to you somehow," he said.

I shrugged. I didn't need anything. Then I thought of something.

"The babies. I guess they died."

"It's possible," Alephin said. "But it's too soon to see them with ultrasound. That's why I didn't ask Doc Adams to check on them."

I sighed.

Hephin hugged me again and left. I wasn't sure how I felt about him. I really did forgive him, but I wasn't sure I wanted to be friends. It was going to be awkward if I forgave him but Luke and Howard didn't. I really hoped he found Dregor soon.

Alfonse put the largest steak I'd ever seen in front of me. It was more like a whole roast. He took a chocolate shake out of the freezer and handed it to me. I started eating.

"When you finish eating, I'll show you where you can live," Alephin said.

"OK."

Alephin, Luke, Howard, and Alfonse sat at the table with me while I ate. The doorbell rang.

"That must be the pizza," Howard said.

He went after it. While I ate my steak, the others are pizza.

"Do you think he will go back to his original size?" Luke asked Alephin.

"Who?" I asked.

"You," Howard said. "You have shrunk."

"Shrunk?"

Alephin nodded.

"You are a couple of inches shorter than you used to be," Alephin said. "You lost---parts of your body. It shrunk, as a result."

Alephin turned to Howard.

"Probably. I knew a Vin-Ta who lost a leg. He regained it after he shifted, but he shrank quite a bit as a result. He regained his original size after a couple of months."

Howard nodded.

Alephin was silent for several minutes. He seemed deep in thought.

"Is everything all right," I asked him.

He shrugged.

"I don't know what Dregor will do. Or I should say, I don't know what Dregor's wolf will do. Dregor the man will probably forgive Hephin. Dregor's wolf may feel he has been kicked out of the pack."

"Will you take him in?" Howard asked Alephin.

"Absolutely. Dregor is a wonderful person. I don't love him any less for being in Hephin's pack. Les told me that they could all smell Dregor's lust for you, Tom. If he rejoins my pack, the two of you can have as much sex as you want. You can invite him into your family, if you want."

"I don't want to make trouble with Hephin," I said.

Alfonse snorted.

"My thoughts exactly!" Alephin said. "Losing a pack member and mate is a fitting punishment for Hephin. It is important that there are consequences for what Hephin did. He can never lose control of his wolf, again. If I hadn't gotten there as quickly as I did, you would have died, Tom."

I nodded. I could understand what Alephin was saying. If both Dregor and I forgave him quickly, Hephin wouldn't have much incentive to prevent the same thing from happening again.

Rince joined us in the kitchen.

"It's ready," he said to his mate.

"Good."

I wasn't paying attention to eating. I had a lot on my mind. I realized suddenly that I had eaten the entire steak! I ate the asparagus and potatoes that came with it, and then turned to my shake.

"Did the twister do any damage?" Alfonse asked Alephin.

"It took out one security camera and knocked down a few trees. That's all."

The doorbell rang, again. Rince got up to answer it.

As I was finishing my shake, Rince came back with Hephin and Dregor. Dregor had a bundle in his arms. I got up to look at it. It was a baby girl. Or at least I hoped it was a girl. She was dressed in pink and sleeping.

"She's beautiful," I said, softly.

Dregor nodded his head.

"Alpha, I would like to join---rejoin your pack," Dregor said.

Hephin looked sad, but not surprised.

"Are you certain of this? You should not make that decision in haste," Alephin said.

"I'm sure," Dregor said.

"If you feel the same way in two days, I will accept you. Will you release him, Alpha?" Alephin asked Hephin.

"If that is his wish."

Hephin started crying, again.

"What's her name?" I asked Dregor.

Suddenly, I realized that Dregor's baby's mother was Hephin. Hephin was losing both a lover and one of his children. It was no wonder he was crying.

"Julia," Dregor said.

"I'm going to put her in your nursery, if that is all right," Dregor said to Alephin.

"That's fine. You can let her spend the night, if you want."

Dregor left the room. I followed him.

He put his daughter in a crib in one of the bedrooms.

"Are you sure you want to leave Hephin's pack?" I asked him.

Dregor sighed.

"I know it's none of my business," I added.

"That's OK. Maybe it is your business. You were injured by him, too. The thing is, I don't have any desire for Hephin, anymore. The sight of him ripping out your throat and belly is going to keep me from getting a hardon around him for a long, long time. If you can forgive him, I can too, but that doesn't mean I want to have sex with him. That's a requirement in Hephin's pack. If my feelings change, then fine. But for right now, I don't want to be over there."

I sighed.

"How do you feel?" he asked me.

"Fine. I still feel guilty for lusting after you, but Alephin said I didn't do anything wrong."

"By the rules in Alephin's pack, you didn't. In Hephin's pack, you did."

"Well, I'm in Alephin's pack."

"Yeah. Me, too."

I found myself getting an erection. It was embarrassing. He was bent over, saying good night to his daughter. When he stood back up, he smiled at me.

"I like you, too, Tom."

I walked back to the kitchen. Dregor followed me.

"Let me show you something," Alephin said. "Follow me."

We walked down to the tunnel. Alephin opened a door at the end. Lights came on in a large furnished room.

"This was used for equipment when the tunnel was being built. It's been unused since then. If you like, you could live here. It is right below my house and very safe," Alephin said.

We walked around, looking. Room dividers had been used to divide the space into a living area, a bedroom, a small bathroom, and a kitchen. It was like a very large efficiency apartment. It seemed safe but claustrophobic. There were no windows. It would be our third home in three days, and not only was that idea depressing, but the room was, too. I didn't know what to say. Living at Hephin's seemed impossible. I may have forgiven him, but what would happen if he lost control of his wolf, again? His wolf didn't like me, that was certain. I stared at one of the cement walls and wondered what to do. Was I so desperate to remain safe? It occurred to me that it could be considered the exact opposite of being outside with Bob in a sleeping bag---a place with no walls, versus a place of only walls. The place seemed to suck the happiness from my soul. I had no idea why it affected me that way.

Dag joined us. I hadn't seen him for a while. It turned out he had been away from the pack on business when Hephin attacked me.

"How are you?" Dag asked. "I just heard."

I sighed.

"I'm OK. I don't know if I still have your baby, though."

"Don't worry about that. We can have another. Considering what you've been through, you don't need to pretend you are OK if you aren't."

I shrugged.

"Where do I belong, Dag? In Alephin's house? On Hephin's property? Here, underground in a concrete bunker? Is this home?"

"I wasn't thinking of it that way," Alephin said. "But I see your point. We'll figure something out."

I smiled at Alephin.

Alephin pulled my mouth to his and kissed me. Without really being conscious of it, my hands pulled his cock and balls out. I stroked them as we kissed. When we pulled apart, I was happy. Alephin grinned at me.

"Now, you're OK," Alephin said.

I laughed. It was true.

"I love you," I told him.

"I love you, pup. And I really want to fuck you. But you need rest. Your body has been through a lot."

I nodded.

"Maybe tomorrow we can do something about the walls," I said. "It might not seem as claustrophic."

"That we can," Alfonse said.

"Alephin, do you mind if I speak to Tom privately?" Dag asked.

"No. I don't mind. Let's go upstairs," Alephin said.

Dag sat down on a sofa. I sat next to him.

"I don't know what to say, Tom, about the attack."

I shrugged.

"Hephin seems much more upset about it. He's practically hysterical. Are you suppressing your feelings?"

I thought for a moment.

"I don't think so. Nothing like that has ever happened to me. It's over and I'm glad, of course. It doesn't seem likely to happen again, so I'm just not thinking about it."

"If it helps any, Hephin really is miserable."

At first those words didn't make any sense to me. How could Hephin's misery help me in any way? Was it better that he was miserable than just being unhappy? What exactly did I want from Hephin? The answer popped into my head.

"As long as he doesn't allow alcohol to cause him to lose control, ever again, I will be happy."

Dag smiled at me.

"You are a good guy, Tom."

I smiled at him. I hoped that was true.

I looked around the bunker. Why was I afraid? Who was I afraid of? Some mysterious enemy? I had learned that you could be killed more easily by your friends than by enemies. But being killed hadn't stopped me. It hadn't even hurt. I could turn into a different person, a shrub, a blob of green goo (that would make anyone working at Area 51 deliriously happy), and finally an angel. I had no doubt I could change into other things. I had no reason to live in fear. Maybe I never had. I had never explored any of the pack land. I had never seen the lakes. I loved nature, and it was up a flight of stairs. That was where I wanted to be. I refused to let fear control me, anymore.

I looked at my hand. I imagined I was holding a pistol. I watched my arm grow slightly thinner, as a pistol took shape in my hand. Anyone watching that would not hesitate to step away from me. My security people could take over by that time. I was safe and I was not going to hide, again.

"Impressive," Dag said, as I caused the pistol to disappear.

"Will you do me a favor, Dag?"

"Of course."

"I had a friend, Bob Turner. He died before I met Luke. I found out he was Vin-Ta, but I don't think he knew it. I had a dream about him. It was very, very realistic. In the dream, he was living---maybe hiding in Florida. Could you find out whether he is really dead?"

"Of course. Was he cremated?"

"No."

"It will be very simple. He's in the coffin, or he isn't. I'll let you know what I find out."

"Let's get out of here. This room is just a bigger coffin."

Dag smiled at me.

The End

I hope you enjoyed it.