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.

Warning: this story may contain incest themes.

Four

We pulled apart from our kiss and we heard Hephin say, "Will you two join us in the study?"

Elepan had left our room. Hephin wasn't there, so I assumed there was an intercom.

"We are on our way," Luke said.

He took my hand and we walked back to the study.

"Sit please," Hephin said.

We sat on the sofa. Then I decided to sit on Luke's lap. Hephin and Dag smiled as I did it.

"Dag told you about people paying to have bear children for them." I nodded. "At the same time, there are many older couples in Alephin's Techupawa pack who would like them. It isn't easy to decide whether to carry a baby for a friend or for someone willing to pay billions." I nodded. I could definitely understand that. "How many babies do you think you might be willing to have for others?"

I looked at Luke.

"That's up to you, baby," Luke said.

"I really don't know," I said. "I do want to contribute to the pack, and I'm willing to do what you think is best."

"I sure wish I knew what that was," Hephin said.

Luke chuckled.

"One thing I'm worried about is having you change into a bush while you are pregnant. Would you lose it?" Hephin asked.

That never occurred to me.

"If we were designed to be able to change shapes, wouldn't that be a major design flaw?" Luke asked.

Dag nodded his head slowly.

"I can't help but think you are right, Luke," Dag said. "Pregnant Vin-Ta shift into their wolves and back without harm to the baby. It sounds more difficult to become a pregnant bush-" Hephin started laughing. "But they knew what they were doing. I think that if shifting that way would kill the baby, then your body would simply not allow you to take that shape. In the legends we have of the Shusheen, they abhorred killing."

That made sense to me. Especially if shape shifters had trouble having kids.

What we were talking about was important, but I was extremely aware of Luke's erection. I wanted it. Then I remembered we were in a pack. I lifted up and aimed it at my hole. I dropped onto it, slowly. Luke sighed.

"I'm pleased to see you do that, Tom," Hephin said. "We just got rid of a prude who was living here. We don't need another. There is no place in this pack or my grandfather Alephin's pack where you can't have sex with your mate. If you want to eat while sitting on his lap with his cock is inside you, do it. My grandfather actually gets irritated by people who only have sex behind closed doors. He actively encourages public sex. I've seen him lift a woman up on a table and eat her.uh, yick." Dag laughed. "Then, of course, he tries to kiss me." Luke and I laughed. "It ruins my appetite, but Alephin believes in regular sex for everyone, not just mated couples. He encourages single people to have sex with each other, to reduce aggression. He even plays matchmaker. If they still aren't getting any, he has sex with them. It works. Dag told me that many packs have constant fights between the young adult men. Just about everyone is happy in Alephin's pack. Also, there really isn't a distinction between gay sex and straight sex in Alephin's pack. Alephin likes it all, and he is the role model for the young wolves. There are very few men who aren't mated in Alephin's pack who would turn down a blow job, if you wanted to give them one. Most of them would be delighted to fuck you, too. And that's in public. You don't need to worry about people being offended by sex between men. They watch men having sex with each other all the time, including their Alpha."

"Will they...will Luke get propositioned?" I asked.

"No. Not once people know you are mated. Vin-Ta take their mates very seriously. They would be afraid you would kill them for even suggesting it."

"And that has happened," Dag added.

"So are the men in Alephin's pack bisexual and the ones in yours gay?" Luke asked.

"No. Most of the men in my pack are bisexual, too. Even my mate is bisexual. They just chose to follow me when I started my own pack. I'm gay though, and so are a couple of my pack members."

"Luke is bisexual," I said.

"I'm gay now. The thought of a woman turns my stomach," Luke said. "My memories of especially good times with women seem like they happened to someone else."

"I have a question," I said. "I have this urge to be covered with, um, Luke's cum. Is that a wolf thing?"

"Yes," Hephin said. "I wanted Elepan to cover me a couple of times a day, at first. Your wolf wants everyone to know you are mated, now, and wolves think in terms of scent. I think it's the wolf version of a wedding ring."

"That's common with pack Vin-Ta," Dag said. "It isn't common with non-pack Vin-Ta, except as a fetish. Non-pack Vin-Ta aren't influenced by wolf behavior unless they are in wolf form, and even then, there is very little instinctual behavior. So it's a pack Vin-Ta behavior."

I nodded.

Luke began thrusting up into me, as I moved on him.

"Is the money important to you?" Hephin asked me. "I mean what you would be paid for bearing a child."

"It isn't to me," I said. "Luke?"

"Not a bit," he said. "You are all I need."

"I would like you to bear my child, Tom," Dag said. "At some point."

Hephin turned and stared at him. He looked shocked.

"OK," I said. "I'm happy to do it."

"You never mentioned wanting another," Hephin said.

"It wasn't because I didn't want another. I want your next pregnancy to be easier. No more triplets for a while. If you knew I wanted another, you would give it to me, as soon as you could. You have enough people, including members of your pack, to help. I didn't feel comfortable requesting a second one from you when so many Vin-Ta desperately want one. Your next four pregnancies are already scheduled. You've just about chosen your fifth and sixth. I'm not in a big hurry for another, but it would be nice if both my kids were close in age to each other."

"I like the idea, Hephin, I would rather have Dag's baby than a stranger's. He helped us when we needed it, and he is family," I said. "Also, I'm a coward. I value safety, above all. It just sounds safer to me to not have anyone outside the pack involved. I'm willing to do that, but my preference is not to appear in advertisements on the web."

Luke chuckled.

Hephin sat there in silence. He seemed annoyed. I hoped I wasn't making it worse.

Dag pulled Hephin into his arms. Hephin sighed.

"Please don't be angry," Dag said to Hephin.

"I just wished you had told me. I feel like you hid your desire from me," Hephin said.

"I know you, Hephin. You would have squeezed mine into your schedule, wouldn't you?"

Hephin sighed.

"Probably."

"I didn't keep it from you because I didn't want you to know. I did it so your life would be easier," Dag said.

"Oh, Dag. I love you."

I watched them kiss. I decided my mate needed a kiss. I turned to him and he knew what I wanted. Luke's tongue was in my mouth before our lips met. He held me tightly. I stroked his cheek while we kissed. Then I began moving a little on his erection, just enough to give him some pleasure.

"Tom?" Hephin said.

I pulled away and smiled at Luke.

"Love you," I mouthed.

He smiled.

"You mentioned staying hidden. You aren't going to be hidden for long, even if you only have Luke's child. Another pregnant male is big news. People in Alephin's pack will talk about it to friends and relatives outside the pack. As a matter of fact, I would like to introduce you to Alephin, before you get pregnant-er. I invited him here. He should be here soon."

I got nervous.

"You'll love him," Hephin said. "You may think he's obsessed with sex, but he is someone you can trust, completely."

Elepan appeared with a very attractive man. He was just wearing a pair of shorts. His shoulders were broad and his abdominal muscles were visible through the black hair on his belly. In fact, he was covered with hair.

I pulled off Luke and stood as the man entered the room. I was embarrassed as I became erect. There was a huge bulge in the man's shorts. I shivered as I thought of his erection. Then I felt motion behind me. I saw Luke begin to transform into a wolf. Luke rolled onto his back as the man walked into the room. I found myself changing, as well. First I was looking at the floor, then up at the ceiling, too. I hadn't wanted to do that. My wolf took control. The man smiled at us, and I could tell he was pleased. I was certain this was Alephin. Our wolves knew it before I did. I saw him push down his shorts. Then I looked at his large, dripping erection. I trembled, or my wolf did. My wolf was responding to Alephin the same way he did to Luke. I was very confused. The man squatted over me. I found myself licking his erection. I licked the shaft, before focusing on the tasty head. Luke rolled over and began licking Alephin's erection with me. I was glad Luke was helping me. Our tongues rolled over each other's while we pleasured the Alpha. I licked Luke's muzzle, briefly, before returning to the Alpha's erection. I don't know how long we licked, but I know licking his cock made me happy. I had my mate next to me and I was completely contented. We probably would have done it for hours, if given the chance. Occasionally, the Alpha would sigh in pleasure, and that made me even happier. Eventually, his semen shot out of his erection. It coated our tongues. I loved the taste, although Luke's was tastier. We continued to lick the head as one spurt after another shot out of the Alpha. Luke's muzzle was soon coated with the thick, white fluid. While Luke licked the head of the Alpha's erection, I licked the semen off Luke's muzzle. Luke got up. I wondered where he was going. He moved behind the Alpha. He pushed his muzzle in the Alpha's butt crack. He began licking. The Alpha moaned, again. I watched the Alpha pull his cheeks apart, as Luke licked his asshole. I returned to licking his erection.

"Are you going to keep that up all day? I wanted some of your cream," I heard Hephin say.

The Alpha laughed. It was a deep, throaty laugh. I found myself trembling.

"Oh, you are as adorable as your cousin!" the Alpha said. He wrapped his arms around me, briefly, and I realized he was talking to me.

"Stand up," he commanded.

I found myself changing back to human. When it was done, Luke stood beside me. I looked at him. He looked worried.

"Love you," I mouthed to my mate.

He smiled and put his arm around me. Then he moved part way in front of me. He was ready to protect me, if it was needed.

I looked at Hephin. He seemed annoyed. That had to be why Luke was acting defensively. I started to worry.

"I didn't invite you here to poach my members," Hephin said.

"I didn't come here to poach your members," Alephin said.

Alephin walked over to Hephin and pulled him into his arms. They shared a steamy kiss. Not only that, but Hephin began stroking Alephin's hefty erection. I could still taste Alephin's semen. I was embarrassed to find myself wanting more.

The tension in the room evaporated. I reached for Luke's erection, and stroked it, as we watched the two Alphas make out. Luke moved behind me. I felt his cock at my hole. He pushed inside me. It felt heavenly. I was even hornier than I had been when Alephin arrived. Luke began fucking me, while he pulled on my nipples. I leaned my head back against him. Luke wrapped his hand around my dick and stroked it, while he fucked me. A minute later, I groaned as I shot more semen onto the floor.

Hephin pulled away from Alephin.

"Are you sure he's my cousin?" Hephin asked.

"Yes, from his smell. If I didn't know better, I would say he was your brother."

"Well, they responded to you much more than they did to me," Hephin said.

"I think your wolf wants single males, Hephie baby. He was probably fairly indifferent to them. Did he want them to fuck him?" Alephin asked.

"No. He liked them, but that's all."

Alephin nodded.

"That's all they would be, then. Friends. You don't have pack members just because they are friends. Well, you can, but it is a bad idea. They aren't compelled to obey you and those who are compelled will resent that. Pack members should be people your wolf controls. Otherwise, you aren't their Alpha."

"But the non-pack Vin-Ta in my pack aren't compelled by my commands," Hephin said.

"Your wolf controls them a different way, Hephie."

"With love," Dag said.

"And sex," Alephin added. "And you wouldn't be having sex with them.

Hephin nodded.

"It complicates things," Dag said. "The only really safe place over there right now is your house, Alephin."

"Well, there's plenty of room in my house. It feels kind of empty without Hephin and Elepan," Alephin said.

It sounded like we were going to be living with the Alpha. That sounded like an honor to me.

"What just happened?" Luke asked.

"You both just joined my pack," Alephin said. "Enthusiastically, too. I accepted you."

I felt guilty, although I hadn't intended to leave Hephin's pack. But it sounded like it was meant to be. Hephin didn't seem angry anymore.

"I'm sorry, Hephin," I said.

"Don't worry about it, Tom. I think Granddad may be right. Besides, our pack is rich enough. You can be more help in Alephin's pack. You are just going next door, and you are welcome to come over here whenever you want. Quite a few of Alephin's pack members who are on the waiting list for a baby come here daily to help out with housecleaning, baby-sitting, and things like that. And we spend about half of our time over there. We are two packs, but one family. You are still part of my close family, since we're cousins."

Hephin smiled at me. I smiled back.

"Alephin, I asked Tom to give me another child," Dag said.

"Did you agree?" Alephin asked me.

I nodded.

"I am paying five billion for it," Dag said. "I expect Tom wants to do it for free, but I insist."

I gulped. Alephin grinned at me.

"Is that enough, Tom, or do you want to hold out for more?"

I groaned and it sort of morphed into a laugh.

"It's plenty, but I want some of it to go to your--our--pack. Is there a standard amount?"

"No. It's your money, Tom. It is customary to contribute, but the amount is up to you."

I looked at Luke.

"Half?" I whispered.

"I have absolutely no idea," he whispered back. "But if you earn that for every pregnancy-"

"We earn," I interjected.

"That much for each pregnancy, and their security needs improving, maybe more. We could probably live on one billion."

I laughed.

"Oh, I don't know! I might want to buy another car or a bicycle."

"We want to give half of it to the pack, Alephin," I said.

Alephin grinned.

"That's very generous of you. I appreciate it and the rest of the pack will, too. I have some projects that can move forward, now that we have the money."

"Dag, why don't you breed Tom before I take them to their new home. Maybe kissing Hephie will keep you hard enough."

"We were going to use artificial insemination," Dag said.

"I may be old-fashioned, but I don't think a baby should be conceived using a turkey-baster. It may be necessary some time, but I don't think this is one of those times. What do you think, Dag?"

Dag sighed.

"I agree, in principle. But I don't know if I have any alternative. My body only responds to Hephin."

"Well, try. Maybe sucking Hephin will let you fuck Tom. And you might try concentrating on having a baby, rather than having sex."

Dag nodded.

"That's a good idea."

"Tom, I want this wolf to breed you once." Alephin said, in a deep voice.

I began trembling. Alephin put his arms around me.

"It's all right, pup."

He stroked my hair. I hugged him.

"Whatever you want, Alpha."

He kissed me on the forehead. I practically melted on the spot. Then I felt the Alpha's erection. I was proud I gave it to him. I began stroking him.

"Later, pup," he said to me. "Later, you can have all of me you want."

I nodded.

"Luke, I order you to allow it," Alephin said.

Luke changed into a wolf and rolled over on his back. I laughed. I got down and rubbed his belly. His tongue lolled off to one side.

"I always wanted a dog, growing up. My parents wouldn't let me have one," I said.

Alephin, Hephin, and Dag all laughed.

"Let's try it this way," Alephin said.

"Dag, if you don't mind, lie on your back on the floor. Hephin can block your vision while you suck him or just kiss. Tom, I want you to fuck yourself on Dag's cock." Alephin said the last part in the deep voice. It made me shiver. "Suck your mate, while you do it, but don't forget to wish for Dag's baby when he breeds you."

I nodded.

Luke shifted as Dag lay down.

"Hephin, will you sit on my face? I want to rim you," Dag said.

"That sounds good. Why don't I stroke you while Tom rides you? Maybe my hand will help keep you hard."

"That sounds perfect, dear," Dag said.

Hephin stroked Dag until he was very hard.

"Wait a minute! I have Luke's spunk inside me," I said. "Lots of it."

"Oh, of course," Alephin said. "Les!" Alephin shouted.

A man ran into the room.

"What is it, Pop?"

"Help Tom rinse out. He is going to have Dag's baby and he is full of his mate's spunk."

"Sure. Come on, Tom."

I walked out of the room with him.

"Did you two join Alephin's pack?" Les asked.

"I guess so. I didn't realize what was happening."

"Well, the wolf decides, not the man."

"I didn't know I was a wolf, or had one, until this morning."

"You are adjusting really well. I have known people to think they lost their minds and it's a hallucination."

"I felt like a round peg in a square hole all my life. I suddenly feel normal."

"That's good," Les said.

I wondered if I was like Elepan and used scent for cues. Maybe humans didn't produce the scents that said they were family, or friends, so I felt uneasy, or frightened all the time.

Les led me to a bathroom. We passed smiling men with erections. I knew they liked me. I knew they wanted me, too. It had to be smells making me feel that way. It was a very friendly place and I felt completely at ease, walking naked in a stranger's house.

"Sit on this nozzle."

I did.

He turned a knob, and I felt warm water enter me.

"Lift off and let it drain. Then repeat it, twice."

I did. A minute later, it was all over. He handed me a towel, and I wiped myself dry.

"It sounds like you are going to be living in Alephin's house. We were spying," Les said, laughing.

"Yeah. I feel disloyal to Hephin, though. He accepted us."

"Don't worry about it. I am certain Alephin is delighted. Hephin will get over it. Pop was right. Hephin's wolf was fairly indifferent to you. Hephin had already mentioned that to us before Alephin showed up. He was worried about what that meant. You're his cousin and Alephin is his grandfather. You have something major in common, as well--pregnancy. I think you will probably be good friends, and if Alephin is right, and he always is, good friends is all you would have been here."

I nodded as we rejoined the others.

Luke was very erect. That was a relief. So were Dag and Alephin. My eyes went to Alephin's cock. I gulped. I heard him chuckled. I was embarrassed.

"So you can become a lobster, maybe," the older Alpha said. "You are as red as one."

I laughed, nervously.

"Can I talk to you alone, for a moment, Alephin?" I asked.

"Of course."

He took my hand and led me out of the room. We entered a bathroom and Alephin shut the door.

"You feel guilty about lusting after me," Alephin said. "You are trying to force yourself not to look at my cock. You are afraid you are disloyal to your mate. You are wondering whether it would be better to stay in Hephin's pack. You are worried that you are having Dag's baby while you are in my pack."

I stared at him, with my mouth open. I wasn't even aware of all of that, but it was absolutely true.

Alephin took me in his arms.

"It's my own fault for being so sexy," he said.

I pressed my face in his chest. His smell calmed me.

"I want you to admire my cock, Tom. I want you to lust after me, Tom. I want you to give me orgasms. Lots and lots of them. These things you are worried about, make me happy. You should never feel guilty about making anyone happy, especially not your Alpha. Also, you could use a little self-confidence. Tom the man, needs it. Your wolf has a different disposition from you. There is nothing that makes a wolf feel more secure than regular sex with his Alpha."

"How is my wolf different?"

"Did you notice how quickly he began licking my cock? There was no hesitation."

I nodded.

"So is he more outgoing?"

"Yes, compared to Tom, the man. What he did was perfectly normal. I have trouble imagining you doing it. Let's see."

Alephin pulled his shorts down. His erection flopped down. I stared at it.

"See what I mean?"

I nodded.

"I guess you are right."

"Of course, I'm right. Don't act so surprised. It's bad for my ego."

I smiled.

"I'm worried about being a good mate. Maybe my wolf doesn't, but I love Luke very much."

"Your wolf isn't worried because he is a good mate. You are. It's your lack of self-confidence. What you feel isn't abnormal. You have a new mate. You just found out you are Vin-Ta. You just found out you can bear children. I'm not saying you are doing badly. It's natural to feel unsure when your life is changing so rapidly. I just want to help you. Don't worry about Luke. I know wolves. His wolf accepts whatever I choose to do. If I fucked you twice a day for the next hundred years, he would accept it. He wouldn't resent it, he would just try to make sure you smelled like him, as soon as I finished." Alephin sighed. "I had several conversations with Hephin, exactly like this one. He felt unfaithful to Elepan. I actually have a sense of d‚j... vu over it. You are so much like him. If I didn't know Rince didn't have another child, I really would think you are his brother. But you are not an Alpha, and you are older than Hephin.

I didn't know what that had to do with anything.

"Tom, I lust after Rince, Hephin, and now you more than anyone else. Maybe your body is just responding to my lust for you. Now that there are three of you, I can see a connection. I'm starting to think that my body wants the three of you because all of you can give me pups."

"I would be proud to give you one, Alephin."

"I know, baby. But that would make my mate unhappy. We must never do that. Sex, though, is another matter. I want to get my cock inside you and I will. You are mine, Tom."

I looked at his cock.

"Do you feel that?" he asked.

"No, but I'm looking at it."

Alephin laughed. He took my hands and placed them on his cock. I wrapped one around his cock and held his balls in my other hand.

"I meant do you feel like you belong to me."

I looked at his face and nodded.

"We can have as much sex as we want. If my lust for you is causing you to lust for me, sex is our only course of action. If we refrained from sex, your sexual frustration would be taken out on your mate and other pack members. I won't allow that. I told you I lust after you. I will be having sex with you regularly. That is a certainty. That is part of the reason I want you living with me. As far as your mate goes, he was licking my cock as enthusiastically as you were."

That was true.

"He may just want to join us. That happens a lot in my pack. I have three-ways with mates every day. Not all of them. Some of my mated couples are strictly monogamous, but it is common. I don't want to force him to participate, but I don't want to exclude him, if he is interested."

I nodded.

"I order you not to worry about your feelings for me. You will express them to me, and you will not worry."

I shivered and nodded.

"I order you not to worry about your mate being jealous."

I shivered, again. He held me tightly, until it stopped.

"I love you, Alephin."

"I love you, pup. I love all my pack members, but I love you more than most. You are sweet, beautiful, and eager to do the right thing and make others happy. How can I help myself? I want you to live with me. I may have to try harder to keep Rince happy, but that will be fun. If living with me doesn't work out, I will have another house built for you and Luke behind ours. It will be just as safe as mine."

"Yes, Alephin."

I hugged him, tightly. He was a big, sexy teddy bear, just like Luke.

"Feel better, pup?"

I smiled. "I do. I'm a little worried about the future. There have been so many changes. But I'm happy.

"Good! Now take my cock and get to know it. Study it. Admire it. I want to smell your lust."

I knelt. I ran my fingertips over it. Alephin sighed. I pulled back the foreskin and kissed the head. Then I pressed it up against his belly and placed kisses on the underside of it.

He sighed, again.

I rubbed my cheek against it.

"Can you smell my lust?"

"Yes, pup. It smells heavenly."

I took his low hanging balls in one of my palms and kissed them, before licking them.

He pulled me up. He put his arms around me.

"We'll finish this later. Dag can't keep an erection forever. He's seven hundred, after all!"

I laughed.

"You want to make people happy, don't you?"

"Yes, Alephin."

"You can make me happy by making me come, or even just admiring my cock like that."

I gulped and nodded.

"I can come hundreds of times a day. You don't need to worry about keeping me from my mate. I want much more sex than he does. That is partly because he is my mate and because I am an Alpha. But I breed him several times a day. He sucks me several times a day.

"Now, let's see what you have learned, pup. How can you make me happy?"

"Uh. Pick flowers for you from the side of the road?"

He laughed.

"Uh. No!" Alephin said.

"By making you come."

He grinned.

"You got it. Give me orgasms, pup. It's the best gift anyone in my pack can give me. They are what I want for my birthday and for Christmas. You can never make me too happy."

Alephin put his cock away. He took my hand and we walked back to the study. Luke smiled at me, while he stroked himself. I smiled at him. Hephin was sucking Dag while Dag rimmed him. Hephin pulled off him and began stroking the base of his cock. I squatted over Dag and sat on his cock, until I felt Hephin's hand. I began bouncing on his cock. I reached for Luke. He brought his cock to my mouth and I began sucking him, as well as I could, while I bounced. Alephin rubbed the head of his cock on my cheek, smearing pre-cum over it. I could smell the pre-cum and it smelled wonderful. But Alephin stopped and moved away from me.

I heard Luke groan. I didn't think it was because of me. I pulled off him. I saw Alephin was behind him.

"Push out, pup," I heard Alephin say to Luke.

Alephin was fucking Luke! I looked up at Luke. His eyes met mine.

"Love you," I mouthed. He smiled.

Luke's body began moving as Alephin began fucking him. I reached between Luke's legs and felt Alephin's cock as he thrusted into him. I felt the skin of Luke's hole and heard Luke sigh. I wrapped a hand and Luke's balls and swallowed my mate's cock. He instantly shot into my mouth. Luke began cursing as I swallowed. I didn't feel he was angry, though. I wasn't sure why he was cursing. Dag's cock was very stiff inside me. That was a relief. The Alpha wanted him to breed me. A moment later, I felt Dag's cock throb. He grabbed me and held me still. Hephin still sat on Dag's face, and Luke was still ejaculating into my mouth. I was amazed by how much cum he was feeding me.

I want Dag's baby, I said to myself. I want to give him a baby. Dag's baby. Do you hear, body? Are you paying attention? I laughed. Was I doing it right? I had no idea. I could feel Dag's semen inside me. I was going to be glad when it was gone and I smelled like my mate, again. Dag's cock softened and slipped out of me. I continued sucking Luke. He had stopped shooting, but then he groaned, and shot again in my mouth. Then Alephin groaned. He was breeding my mate. I looked at Luke. His eyes were closed and his mouth hung slack. He wasn't angry. I was glad of that. It was a little difficult to believe that my huge mate was allowing himself to get fucked, but I witnessed it, myself. Luke groaned again and I let go of his dick. I sucked on Luke's balls. Like mine, they were hairy, not smooth like Alephin's. I wondered why. I stood and watched Alephin pull out of Luke.

"Is it done?" Alephin asked me.

"Oh, yeah!" Dag said. "I had an intense orgasm."

"Good!" Alephin said.

"You all right, pup?" Alephin asked Luke.

"Yes, Alpha."

"Good. I won't fuck you again, Luke, unless you ask for it."

"Thank you, Alpha."

"Call me Alephin."

"Yes, Alephin."

"Why were you cursing?"

"I was having the most intense orgasm I've ever had, and I've had some wonderful ones with you," he said to me.

I smiled. I was relieved. I hugged my mate. He bent down and kissed me. When we pulled apart, I saw Alephin was smiling at us.

"Alephin, why are your balls smooth?"

He grinned.

"Rince shaves them for me. He likes them smooth. Why?"

"I like them." I looked at Luke. "Can I shave yours?"

"Of course."

I smiled and he chuckled.

"I already set up two bank accounts for you when you were accepted into Hephin's pack," Dag said. "I will transfer half the payment into your account, Tom, and half into Alephin's."

"I feel bad about accepting it, after you helped us."

"Don't, Tom. I mean it. That is what your service is worth. I know, because I set the price. You are going to be the mother of one of my kids, and you will be, long after I'm dead. I want you to have it."

Dag whispered in Hephin's ear. "Should I withdraw the ten million?"

Hephin whispered in Dag's ear. "I'm not sure. They got it for joining my pack, and they did join." Hephin was silent then. "Let them keep it. Tom is my cousin, after all."

Dag nodded.

I knew I shouldn't eavesdrop, but I could hear them, plainly. As I said, I have very good hearing. I felt bad about keeping the money, but I wasn't about to admit I could hear what they were saying. I learned when I was quite young that people didn't like being overheard. In fact, it made them angry, even though it wasn't my fault.

"Come on, pups. Let's go home," Alephin said. "Get your things."

Luke laughed. Our things were some bottles of water and beef jerky. We did pick up our clothes.

"That would be beef jerky," Luke said.

"That's all?"

"A couple of bottles of water," I added. "We left Tennessee in a hurry."

"Well, I'm make sure you get what you need when we get home," Alephin said.

"What do we do about my truck at the airport, Luke's van, and my apartment in Tennessee?" I asked.

"Do you want them brought here?" Dag asked.

I looked at Luke.

"I don't want my van."

"I don't think I would feel safe driving my truck out of the pack."

"You shouldn't do it, unless it's an emergency," Dag said.

"Will we need it at your pack?" I asked Alephin.

"Probably not. You can walk to just about anywhere, if you aren't in a big hurry. If you get tired, shift and run the rest of the way as wolves. Once you shift back, you won't be tired."

"What about our clothes? Wouldn't we be naked when we got there?"

"We can hold them in our mouths," Luke said.

I nodded.

"No. I don't need it," I said.

I thought about the things in my apartment. I had my photos of Bob on my phone. I had pictures of my parents, too.

"I don't need anything from my apartment, either."

"I'll take care of it," Dag said.

I hugged Dag.

"Thank you!"

Dag hugged me back

"You are welcome. And thank you. I have the strongest feeling that you are pregnant. If not, we will try again."

I smiled and nodded.

"How many do you want?" I asked. "Kids, I mean."

I heard Hephin groan and Alephin chuckle.

"I do wish you hadn't asked that," Dag said.

I was surprised by his response.

"I don't understand," I said.

"When you buy five, you get the sixth one free," Luke said.

I looked at him. He was joking. I laughed and the others did, too.

"Let me talk it over with Hephin, Tom."

"How soon will we know if I am pregnant?"

"About a month, maybe sooner. If you have two, I think we can safely assume one is mine."

Alephin turned to leave. Luke took my hand. I pulled away and hugged Hephin.

"I am going to need so much advice!" I said.

He laughed. "I know! I'll see you over there, soon. Probably in the morning."

I nodded.

I took Luke's hand and we followed Alephin. For security reasons, I'm not going to say what happened. But we ended up in a concrete tunnel. There were several cars and electric bikes. Alephin got on a bike, so Luke and I each got on one.

"You don't want to ride with me?" Luke asked.

I grinned. I got off mine and got on his, behind him. I groped him.

"You're hard," I said, as I rubbed the lump in his pants. "This is better," I said.

He chuckled.

Alephin took off, I guess. I was busy rubbing Luke's erection. After a moment, we jerked forward, and then took off after him. I looked around the tunnel. It was hard to estimate how fast we were going, since I was looking at concrete walls on each side. The bikes were silent. The tunnel wasn't bright, but there was plenty of light to see that there was nothing to see. The lighting was overhead and the only thing on the ground was a stripe, marking off two lanes.

I slipped my hand inside Luke's shirt. I felt his chest. I kissed his back while I tugged on one nipple.

"Happy?" he asked me.

"I am. Really, happy. I have you and no one knows where I am. I don't even know. All I know is that we are in Texas, within driving distance from Houston."

Luke laughed.

"You are with me. That is all that matters," Luke said.

I sighed. It was true.

"We should have taken a car. I could have sucked you while you drove us there. I may attack you when we get there."

"Horny?"

"I am!"

We got to the end. The bike stopped and I climbed off. I was nervous. I took Luke's hand and felt better. We followed Alephin. He led us up stairs and we emerged outside. We walked into a house. It was not a mansion, like Hephin's house. It wasn't any nicer than Bob's parents' house. We stopped in what I guessed was the living room.

"Rince?" Alephin called.

A man came into the room carrying a toddler.

"Rince, this is Tom and Luke. They are joining my pack."

"Oh. I thought."

"It didn't work out."

Rince nodded.

"I'm not surprised," Rince said.

"This little guy is Cephin," Rince said.

I reached for his hand.

"Hello, Cephin."

"Hullo."

"We have two sons together," Alephin said. "Cephin and Meliwa."

"Mel is still sleeping," Rince said.

"Rince is my son, my mate, and Hephin's father. He gave birth to both Cephin and Meliwa."

"I'm glad to have someone around who can answer questions."

"You do."

"Rince, we believe Tom is pregnant with Luke's child and Dag's."

"Dag's? How did that happen?"

"Oh. If you don't know, I need to explain the facts of life to you," Alephin said.

Rince laughed.

"I wondered why you didn't have a pumpkin patch!" Rince said.

Luke and I laughed.

"Dag asked Tom to give him a son. Tom agreed. Dag paid five billion-" Rince shook his head. "Tom is giving half to Techupawa Pack."

"Wow! Way to go, Tom!" Rince said, grinning.

"Why don't you two sit?" Alephin said, pointing to a couch. "I'll be right back."

Alephin took Rince's arm and they left the room. I waved goodbye to Cephin. He waved back.

We sat. Then I got up and sat on Luke's lap. I leaned over and began kissing his neck.

"What? I heard Rince say.

I pushed my fingers in my ears. I didn't want to overhear Alephin's private conversation. Luke looked at me oddly.

I whispered, "I could hear them talking. I don't want to eavesdrop on them."

Luke pulled one finger out. "I would like to know how Rince really feels about it," he whispered. "If he's just pretending he wants us here."

Luke was right. We did need to know.

I listened.

"No. Of course I don't," Rince said.

"Will you try?" Alephin asked.

"Oh, Alephin. I'll get used to it. Even if you have as much sex with him as you did with Hephin."

"I don't think Tom and I will be having as much as Hephie and I had, but I don't know that. I would rather not say no."

"I didn't know you knew how to say no," Rince said.

Alephin laughed.

"Believe it or not, I did turn someone down, once."

"Oh, lord! I can't imagine what must have been wrong with them for you to say no."

"I'll tell you. She never bathed. Ever."

"Yuck!" Rince said, laughing.

"Can you hear them?" I whispered.

"Just laughing."

I nodded.

"Rince seems OK with it," I said.

"Good."

"Alephin was saying he will want to have a lot of sex with me."

Luke nodded.

"He is the boss."

"And you are OK with that?"

Luke nodded.

I kissed Luke. I'm not sure if Alephin and Rince continued talking, or not.

"Let me show you to your room."

I pulled away from Luke and smiled at Alephin. I got up and then Luke did.

Alephin showed us a nice bedroom with a kind sized bed and a very large bathroom.

"This used to be Hephin's," Alephin said.

I nodded.

A little boy ran into the room and grabbed Alephin's legs. Alephin squatted.

"This bad little boy is Meliwa. Mel."

I squatted.

"Are you bad?" I asked him.

"No! No!"

Luke and I chuckled.

"No. He's an angel," Alephin said.

Alephin picked him up and put him on his shoulders.

"Wee!" Meliwa said.

"Please don't wee on your Dad."

Luke and I laughed again.

"You are very tall for your age," Luke said to the little boy.

Meliwa nodded his head, excitedly.

"Are you hungry?" Alephin asked us.

"I'm starving," Luke said.

"So am I."

"I'll take you to the canteen. When you are walking around outside, I want a minimum of two security guards with you at all times."

"How do we get them?"

"Hold on."

Alephin left the room, ducking at the doorway to keep Meliwa from hitting the wall or door frame.

I sat on the bed.

"I smell Hephin," I said.

"Yeah. Me, too. Maybe we should get a new bed."

I nodded.

"Did it bother you being fucked by Alelphin?"

"I was barely aware it was happening. It was like the first time we had sex."

"When you were a dog," I said.

He laughed.

"A wolf!"

"OK. A wolf."

"Anyway, I knew it was happening, but my wolf was in charge. He didn't mind at all, and I came hard."

"How do you feel about it?" I asked.

"I'm glad to be in this pack. I like Alephin. If that was the initiation ritual, it could have been worse. I did get a really good orgasm from it. It's done. Knowing everyone else has done it, makes me feel better about it."

I did, too. He seemed to radiate goodwill.

"But, in answer to your question, if I had to choose between getting fucked once and being in this pack, or not getting fucked and not being in it, I would definitely choose getting fucked."

I nodded.

"Everyone else hasn't done it," I said.

"Oh! I just assumed when you left with him."

"No. We talked.

"Well, you will probably enjoy it. I know you like the way Alephin looks."

"Does that bother your wolf?"

"Hmm. No. He likes the way Alephin looks, too."

"Neither one of you can breed me until tomorrow night. If you want to fuck me, and I hope you do-" Luke chuckled. "You'll have to wear a condom until then."

"Makes sense."

Alephin came back and handed each of us a card. 'Techupawa Security,' it said, with two phone numbers.

"Do they know about us, yet?"

"Yes. I called them, just now. You can also just yell 'guards' if no phone is handy or there is an emergency."

"Alephin, if you don't mind, I would prefer to get our own bed," Luke said.

Alephin frowned. Then he sniffed.

"Oh! Hephin!"

I nodded.

"Sure. I'll call the pack store and have them send one over. I should have thought about the smell. It should be here by the time you finish eating."

Alephin pulled out a phone and called someone. He matter-of- factly pulled his cock out of his shorts and pulled my face to it. I gulped. I stared at it. It was almost as beautiful as Luke's. I pulled the foreskin back and licked the head. Alephin tasted very good. I took him in my mouth, and began sucking him. Luke began sucking me.

Alephin was talking on the phone, but I wasn't paying attention. He stroked my head and I got a thrill from that. I wanted Alephin's cum. I didn't know if that was me, or my wolf who wanted it, but I didn't worry about it. Alephin had told me not to.

I was happier when I heard Alephin sigh.

"That's real nice, pup."

I felt proud of making the Alpha happy.

"I'm going to take them to the canteen," Alephin said. "Are you hungry?"

"Yeah. I could eat. I'll come with you. Let me tell Joyce or Edith we are leaving," Rince said.

He didn't seem upset that I was sucking his mate. That was a relief. Alephin sighed again as warm semen shot into my mouth. I moaned at the taste. I began swallowing. I caressed his smooth, low hanging nuts and he sighed. I was pleased that I was making him feel good. Soon it was over. Too soon. I pulled away.

"Oh, look at face!" Alephin said. "That is a disappointed wolf! Don't worry. I'll let you suck me again, later, if you want. Luke, the next time we do this, you can fuck your mate while he sucks me."

"Thanks, Alephin," Luke said.

I walked behind Alephin and knelt. I pulled his furry cheeks apart and began licking his hole. I smiled as I heard his moans of pleasure. Alephin's ass tasted like nothing I'd ever tasted. Not in a disgusting way. On the contrary, it tasted terrific. I reached around and felt for his cock. Luke's hand was there, stroking Alephin. I resumed licking his ass.

"Here are our guards," Alephin said.

I stood. Two men were standing in the doorway.

"This is Luke," Alephin said, "And Tom. They will be living here."

The men nodded to us. They looked very serious. That made me feel safer. They were obviously professionals.

Alephin got his phone out. He dialed a number and then said, "There is a pack meeting in the canteen in one hour." I heard his voice coming from outside the house. It was a PA of some kind.

"Let's go," he said, as he put his phone in his pocket.

Rince joined us and we left the house. We were accompanied by four security men. They surrounded us. We walked down the sidewalk from the house. I looked around. It looked like a street in any town, except that there were more trees. I could see there was a wooded area behind the houses across the street. We started walking. A few people greeted Alephin and he waved at them. We passed four people who were naked. I wondered why those four were naked when the others we saw weren't. Then I guessed they had shifted and were going after their clothes. No one seemed to think it was odd, and that was nice. A couple of blocks away, we came upon businesses.

I looked at Luke. He looked at me.

"All right?" I mouthed.

He put his arm around me and smiled. That was a nice answer.

"This is the pack store," Alephin said, pointing at a building without a sign. "You can buy anything you want. If they don't have it in stock, they will order it for you. You don't have to pay. Your bank account number is already on file and they will all meet you at the pack meeting after you eat. Next to it is one of our gymnasiums. You might have to make an appointment. It gets busy sometimes. You don't have to pay to use either gym.

"Tomorrow, I will ask Hephin to show you Driar Lake. It's beautiful and a good place for picnics, swimming, and sexing your mate."

I grinned at Luke.

"This building is the pack porn theater. It's a good place for single pups to have sex. There aren't enough young females, so it's mostly young males having sex with each other. You two could get the action going in there if you had sex inside. Let the other males watch, while they smell your lust for each other. It will encourage them to have sex with each other."

I looked at Luke.

"You like video stores," I said.

"Used to," Luke added.

"You want to?" I asked Luke.

"It might be fun."

I nodded.

"Why aren't there enough young females?" Luke asked.

"There are always more male Vin-Ta than female," Alephin said.

"Why is that?" Luke asked.

"We think it's for the same reason females aren't very fertile: to keep us from breeding ourselves into starvation. With humans, after three generations, the oldest begin dying. But we live much, much longer."

We walked by another building.

"My son, Les, who you met, sucks cocks in that building. I'm so proud of him. He makes so many males happy. He and Rince are my only sons who spend much time trying to keep the pack running smoothly, and Les isn't even in the pack, anymore. Les is a sweetheart."

"Should I be jealous, mate?" Rince said to Alephin.

Alephin pulled Rince into his arms and they kissed, passionately. When they pulled apart, Alephin's cock was out of his shorts and dripping. I stared at it. I found myself licking my lips and stopped. I looked up at Alephin and he winked at me. I looked at Luke. He bent over and kissed me.

We continued walking.

Alephin turned around. He walked backwards, as he asked, "What are you going to tell your parents?"

I sighed.

"I thought I would tell them I got a job in Texas. But they might want to visit."

Alephin nodded.

"Do you want them to visit?"

I knew I should say yes. They were my parents. But how would I explain anything to them? I was a pregnant shape shifter. A gay one at that. I didn't have a job. That would be complete fiction.

"Not really. I don't want them to think I'm dead, though."

"Were you close?"

"No."

"That makes it easier. I'm afraid that sooner or later, you are going to have to exit their lives, and later won't be easier. It is inevitable. They will notice that you never grow older."

"I hadn't even thought of that. But they can't come here, and I don't want to go there."

He nodded.

"Faking your death is the easiest way. Dag can arrange that with one phone call, if you decide to do that. Or I can do it for you. I don't allow non-Vin-Ta here, Tom. Even if you decide you want them to visit, I won't allow it. Our security measures won't allow it. It's for your safety, as well as ours. You would have to leave the pack lands and meet them somewhere nearby. That would put your life in jeopardy."

I nodded. Then I sighed.

"I don't know what to do."

"Let me take care of it, Tom," Alephin said.

I looked at Luke.

"There aren't any good options," Luke said. "I had to do it."

I nodded.

"OK, Alephin. You'll call Dag?"

"Or I'll tell him in person. He may be over here tonight."

I nodded.

"That path takes you to the closest lake," Alephin said, pointing. "That building there has fishing supplies, if you like to fish."

As we walked, I tried to think of a better option for my parents. I couldn't. Alephin was a lot wiser than me, so he was almost certainly right. And Luke had realized right away that he had to sever contact with his family. It just hurt to think of them suffering over me. But the fact was, the only thing I could talk to them about was the weather! Or themselves, which I'd had enough of, before I left home. That was always self-inflicted drama. 'Your father did this!' or 'Your mother did that!' I couldn't tell them where I lived, what I did, where I worked, who my spouse was, who my friends were, not a blessed thing.

We continued walking. Luke took my hand and I smiled at him.

"Love you," I mouthed.

He mouthed it right back.

"I was adopted, but your family is Vin-Ta," I said to Luke. "You should tell them."

"That isn't as easy or as obvious as it sounds," Alephin said. "For one thing, they might not believe him. For another, it is possible only one of his parents is Vin-Ta. If the Vin-Ta parent shifted, they would grow younger, while the other continued aging and died. Are your parents close, Luke?"

"Yes. Very."

"Think it over, but don't assume they will be grateful. They might be grateful, but they could be devastated."

I sighed.

Alephin and Rince were only wearing shorts.

"I wish you were wearing less," I said to Luke.

All of them laughed at that. I hadn't meant it humorously.

It really was a small town. We passed a few people who either spoke to Alephin or nodded. He said 'See you at the pack meeting," to most of them. But he pulled one young woman into his arms and kissed her. He lifted her dress up and stuck his hand in her panties. I could only imagine where his fingers were. I realized my mouth was open, and I closed it.

"Whew!" she said, as we walked on, after Alephin was through.

"Do you know that woman, Alephin?" Luke asked.

I laughed so hard my side hurt. Alephin, Rince, Luke, and even a couple of guards were laughing, too. Rince laughed the longest.

"She looks familiar," Alephin said, and we all laughed some more.

We walked into a wood framed building. "Techupawa Canteen" was painted on the glass door.

"Follow my lead," Alephin said.

I looked at Luke. I had no idea what Alephin meant. Luke shrugged.

Alephin kissed a waitress and then introduced us to her.

"Alice, this is Luke and his new mate, Tom. They just joined the pack."

"Hi, guys. Nice to meet you," she said. "Is that what the pack meeting is about?" she asked Alephin.

"Yes."

I stood there wondering about Alephin's 'lead'. Were we supposed to eat the same thing he did? Say the same thing? Sit the same way? I had no idea! What if he ordered something disgusting, like spinach?

Alephin led us to a table. The four of us sat. The guards stood around us.

"Let me get menus for Luke and Tom," she said.

"I'll have the usual," Alephin said.

"What's that, Alephin?" Luke asked.

"A three pound steak, two baked potatoes, broccoli with cheese sauce, and as many beers as he has time to drink," Alice said, automatically.

A three pound steak? And beer? I had never drunk it; I had never drunk anything alcoholic. But I would follow his lead, as best I could.

"I'll have the same as Alephin," Luke said.

"I'll have the same, but only one potato and a one pound steak," I said.

I wondered if it was safe for me to drink beer, being pregnant. Surely Alephin would understand.

"What can I get you, Rince?" she asked.

"I'll have a chicken-fried steak sandwich and a beer."

"Got it."

She turned and left.

I leaned over to Rince.

"Do you know if I can drink beer?"

"I'm sure you'll be fine, as long as you don't have more than one or two a day. I would give it up in about a month, though."

I nodded.

"What does it taste like?" I asked him.

He stared at me.

"You've never had beer?"

I shook my head.

"Well, don't start now," he said to me.

"Alephin said to follow his lead," I whispered.

Rince laughed. He stopped, then he started laughing, again.

"I'm pretty sure he meant at the pack meeting."

"Oh."

"Do you want to change your order?" Rince asked me. "You can eat anything you like, even Luke."

I laughed.

"No. I just won't drink the beer."

Alephin looked at us. I could tell he was wondering what we had been talking about.

Rince pulled out his phone and began typing. Alephin pulled his out and read it. Alephin burst out laughing. I guessed Rince IM-ed him.

Luke was sitting across from me. I wished he was next to me.

"Can I sit next to Luke?" I asked.

"I should have thought of that," Alephin said. "Of course."

We moved to a larger table. I moved my chair next to Luke's. He put his arm around me. I leaned against him.

Alice came by with our drinks. She smiled at me.

"Can I have a small salad with ranch dressing?" I asked her.

"You sure can."

"Do you want another drink?" Rince asked me.

"Yes. I'll have iced tea. Sweet."

"Got it."

Rince took my beer and put it next to Alephin. Alephin smiled at me.

I still didn't know what his 'lead' was, though. Then I forgot all about it. Luke pulled me into his arms and we kissed. After that, I sat on his lap. I ate my salad from it. When the rest of our meal came, I started feeding both of us. It was a lot of fun. I cut a piece off his enormous steak and held the fork in front of his mouth. He took it and chewed it.

"I know you are having fun, but people are starting to show up for the meeting," Alephin said.

After that, we fed ourselves.

'As much beer as Alephin can drink', ended up being three glasses. I was surprised.

The canteen was full, with most people standing, by the time we finished. A lot of them were talking each other, but I didn't try to pick up individual conversations. They were all looking at Luke and me. I was pack Vin-Ta, there was no doubt in my mind. I was sitting on Luke's lap and felt perfectly comfortable around complete strangers. Then I realized that wasn't true. They weren't complete strangers the way humans would have been. I knew things about these people. I knew none of them wished we weren't there. None of them were thinking I was an idiot, or retarded, or Bob's boyfriend. I was Luke's and I didn't mind that they would know that. Both Luke and I were welcome. I wasn't aware how I knew it, but I knew it with certainty.

Alephin stood.

"Folks, this is Luke and his mate, Tom. They just found each other last night."

Lots of people began talking to each other. They were all smiling. They were almost all variations of 'isn't that nice?'

"Luke has been kind enough to make an extremely generous donation to the pack. And by extremely, I mean more than two billion dollars."

"Billion, Alpha?" a man asked.

"Yes," Alephin said.

Everyone in the canteen started talking. I knew what Alephin's 'lead' was. The story seemed to be that Luke was wealthy. It wasn't a lie, it was just wasn't the whole truth. I thought about it. It made sense. If people thought the money came from Luke, my secret could remain secret, at least for a while. Of course, I knew I might be wrong. If Alephin mentioned I was pregnant, I would be wrong.

"This means we will finally be able to build that hospital we have wanted for decades."

People started cheering and clapping.

I looked at Rince.

"Is that a big deal?"

"We have to go to human hospitals, now, so yes, a very big deal."

I leaned over and kissed Luke's cheek.

"Needless to say, I expect all of you to recognize them and help them out if they need it. Neither one knew they are Vin-Ta until this morning. They've entered what is to them, a strange, new world and we want them to feel welcome."

People started clapping. I smiled at Luke.

"How are they mates when they are both men?" a man asked Alephin.

"Ask the Shusheen," Alephin said. "I don't make the rules."

A lot of people laughed.

"Not that one, anyway!" someone called out.

Alephin laughed. The Alpha seemed so incredibly masculine. I wanted him.

"Did you like it when we both licked Alephin?" I whispered to Luke.

He chuckled.

"More than I am willing to admit. Why? Do you want to lick him for dessert?"

I laughed.

"Yes. If you do."

"Sure. It makes the Alpha happy and he tastes very good."

I nodded.

Luke hugged me.

I reached under me and grasped his erection. He sighed.

"Luke," Alephin said.

"Yes?"

"Why don't you tell them a little about yourself? That way you won't have to tell each of them individually."

Luke told them about his life. He told them about thinking he was a werewolf. A lot of them laughed at that. How he dropped out of human society, basically. Then he told them how we met. How shocked he was when he realized he'd had sex with a man.

"You were straight?" someone asked.

"Yeah."

"How did it feel?" another asked.

"Tight," Luke said.

Everyone burst out laughing.

"My mate was a virgin, which made my wolf very happy," he continued.

"Oh! I'll bet!"

A lot of people agreed.

"I was a hundred and fifty-six when I met you, George!" I heard a woman say, after it quieted down a little. I almost laughed at that. I assumed he'd asked her why she wasn't a virgin.

"OK," Alephin said. "Now you, Tom."

I suddenly got nervous. I had never spoken to such a large group. I knew they liked me, but my fear had never been rational. I leaned over and smelled Luke. It calmed me. I realized I would have felt less nervous if Luke had covered me with his scent. His scent would surround me.

Luke hadn't mentioned my shifting to a bush and I was sure that was deliberate. Between sniffs of Luke, I told them how uncomfortable I had always been around people. How I didn't talk much and people thought I was retarded, even though my grades were higher than theirs.

"I was like that!" I heard a woman say to someone.

I told them I never had wanted sex before I met him, and because of that, I didn't know whether I was straight or gay. But when I met Luke, I knew he was the one for me. Then I told them that just his scent made me feel better and took away my fear, and how lucky I was to have him. Then I told them how we met. I told them how I'd always wanted a dog, and then met Luke as a wolf while I was camping. How his tail was wagging and how much I wanted to pet him. But that he had other things on his mind. The crowd went wild. I looked at Alephin and he was laughing, too. When it quieted down, I told them how much more at ease I felt around Vin-Ta than humans, and how proud I was to be in Alephin's pack. Alephin's grin broadened when I said that.

"Tom smells a lot like Rince and Hephin," a man said to Alephin.

"I noticed that. We are all related. Some of us closely. They probably shared an ancestor three, maybe four generations ago."

The man seemed to accept that. It was another example of Alephin telling the truth, but not the whole truth. We probably did share an ancestor four generations ago. We also shared an ancestor more recently than that, if Alephin though Hephin and I could be brothers.

"Where are they going to live, Alephin?"

"With Rince and me, at least for now. That's the safest place for them. They might eventually want their own place."

They all seemed happy about that. I looked at Rince. He was smiling, too, which was a relief.

"That's all I had to say," Alephin said. "I'll have more news for you soon. If you know anyone who couldn't attend the meeting, let them know what I told you. We will put it on the pack web- site tomorrow."

People nodded. I watched them slowly head towards the door.

When most of them were gone, Alephin said, "Who's up for dessert?"

"I am," Luke and I both said. We laughed.

"I'll have coconut cake with ice cream," Alephin said to Alice, the waitress.

"I'll have Alephin." I said.

Alephin burst out laughing.

"You sure will, honey," Alice said.

Everyone laughed.

"Actually, I'll have the same as Alephin," I said.

"Ditto," Luke said.

"You can eat me when you get home," Alephin said.

"OK!"

Rince just wanted ice cream.

While we waited, I asked Alephin something I had been wondering.

"How many Vin-Ta find their mate?"

"That's a good question," Alephin said. "The two of you are very lucky. I would guess it's under forty percent. About thirty percent of the wolves in my pack are mated. Some of the others will eventually meet their mates, but it could be a long time. If your mate isn't already in the pack, you have to go looking. Some people don't want to do that. They may be happy here, or have family they don't want to leave-kids, in some cases. We have more married couples who are not mates than couples who are. They may be content."

"Does each Vin-Ta only have one mate, somewhere in the world?" I asked.

"No. No one would ever meet them unless they spent their lives searching. A mate is someone you are completely compatible with, biologically. A person might be compatible with several people. Occasionally, a person with a mate meets another potential mate. They would feel attraction to each other, but neither would feel it strongly. Pheromones are doing it all. Attracting you to your mate and shutting them off around other people. You can look up my ideas about how the pheromones are, if you like, on the pack web-site."

"Has anyone ever had two mates?" Luke asked.

"Yes. Especially with Alphas. Alphas can create mating bonds through commands. An Alpha might have a mate, and take another, if his first mate agrees. That is pretty common in some countries, where polygamy isn't as frowned upon as here."

"If Vin-Ta have trouble having babies, how come there are so many young people here?" Luke asked.

"We consider under one hundred as young. People under a hundred generally look like they are in their lower twenties. Also, not every female Vin-Ta has trouble conceiving. Rince's mother, for instance, became pregnant the first time I fucked her. She was a virgin. Of course, she was partly of the second race of shifters. Maybe all of the female Vin-Ta who are fertile, have some of that race in their blood."

I nodded.

I wanted to research Vin-Ta.

"We need a computer," I said.

"You can pick one up at the store. We have a lot of models in stock. We're going there after we finish eating," Alephin said.

"I can smell your lust for each other. I want to remind you to wear a condom when you fuck Tom, Luke."

"I had forgotten. Thanks for reminding me."

"I assume you know this, but just in case, you can swallow Luke's cum today, Tom. You don't have to refrain from that."

"Oh, good!"

Luke chuckled.

"Is it?" Luke asked me.

"Yes!"

Alephin chuckled.

"I'm just going to assume you are a lot like Hephin. You like man-milk, don't you?"

"We both do," Luke said. "We both liked yours."

"Maybe Rince won't mind if I give you more, later," Alephin said, as he winked at Rince.

Rince shook his head, but he was grinning.

"Better them than who knows who? At least I will know where you are!" Rince said.

"I love you, baby," Alephin said to Rince.

"I love you, too. I always have," Rince said.

I rested my head on Luke. I was very happy.

Alice brought our desserts.

"I am going to get fat, soon, eating like this," I said.

"You might be surprised," Alephin said. "Shifting uses a lot of calories. If you do start to put on weight, just keep shifting until you lose it. You burn calories without exercising. You can lose three or four pounds in an hour or two."

I nodded. That was good to know.

"You are going to be hungrier than usual, because of the pregnancy," Rince said. "When your waist swells, it may be because of the babies."

I laughed.

"I forgot all about it! How odd is that?"

"It's your first pregnancy. It won't seem real until you can see it," Rince said. "I speak from experience."

We finished dessert and left the canteen.

If you enjoyed it, please let me know.