Leader of the Pack - 3. Chapter 3

Dr. Graff placed his hands on either side of the podium and flexed the muscles of his one good leg.

Jason arrived early and looked around for familiar faces; there were several including a very special one, "Hey George, I didn't know-"

At the sound of the familiar voice, George pivoted on his artificial limb, and then faced the leader of the pack with a forced smile.

"That you would be here, or that you would be addressing the masses," concern furrowed Jason's brow.

"Of course I would come when extended such a polite invitation, Jason," George said sarcastically, "why wouldn't I?"

Jason shrugged rolling his shoulders and nodding his head toward George's metal appendage, "I dunno, I just thought."

"Thought what," George snapped, "That I wouldn't show up because of the..." he tapped his leg.

"Yeah," Jason nodded grimly, "that's why, well that and all the stuff that happened after."

"Well, that's behind me now," George reassured his once friend with a pat on the shoulder.

"Can it truly ever be behind us, George, it is an awful large thing to overcome you know?" Jason asked, sounding more alone today than he had the last time they had parted, not that long ago.

George nodded sagely at his friend and smiled, trying to reassure him that everything had worked out for the best, even if they both had lost something important in the bargain.

Reluctantly, Jason accepted George's word, his smell said he spoke the truth, and if there was one thing he knew he could trust beyond anything else, it was his sense of smell.

The conference went as planned by the committee with the speakers giving their speeches and a nice buffet type lunch.

Later that night after the conference ended for the day and before the moon rose fully, they met again.

Jason came to George's room and together they retired to the patio to sit on the stone bench that was hidden by the shrubbery.

"George, I'm not over it," Jason began, indicating the artificial limb, "I just can not seem to let it go."

"I know, Jason, I know," George crooned softly in the waning light, "but it's done and it can not be undone."

"Will you join with me now, George, can we just be like we were before?" Jason asked, his amber eyes reflecting their need more strongly than his words ever could.

"Ah Jason, how can I resist you, you are my heart and my soul, you always have been don't you know?"

"Don't resist, let me love you please, just don't resist me ever again; I don't think I could live with myself."

George relented, accepted his fate, and closed his eyes, waiting for Jason to consume him.

Jason slid up to George, ran his hand over his good leg, up his back to his neck where he caressed for a moment before moving in.

Heartbeats later their mouths met, their tongues entwined and their souls leapt playfully at each other in recognition.

George felt the change begin deep within himself, and for the first time since his accident, he didn't fear it. To aid things along he began to remove his clothing, and with a final human glance at Jason, he removed his left leg.

He shuddered at what he knew was coming and how Jason would respond, but he didn't fight it, not this time, not ever again. It had been so long since he had welcomed the change, too long, some would say, and he would have to agree if he had bothered to ask them. But he hadn't asked them, and now he lay breathless on the patio floor next to a worried seeming Jason who had slid effortlessly into lupine shape and was now licking his face. George nuzzled his once lover and licked his muzzle, now he enjoyed the freedom of being wolf again.

"Come run with the pack," Jason urged George to his feet, well aware of his handicap.

"I shouldn't go to the pack, Jason, you go to them; you belong with them just as they belong with you."

"I want you with me," Jason whined, unwilling to give George up again now that he had him back in his life.

"You are their leader, now," George stated flatly, void of emotion, his head hung low.

"And you used to be, we would be good together, George, they will accept you back," Jason argued with him, trying to make him see things his way.

"Used to be, Jason, past tense," George chided softly, "there is a reason why new leaders are supposed to kill old leaders you know -- so we won't be around to cause problems."

"I don't care, George, I still want you with me," Jason complained, "I didn't choose to be leader any more than you chose not to be leader any more, they need you -- I need you."

Jason growled deep in his throat when George refused him, since he had taken over the pack he had been forced to do things he didn't like to do and if it meant doing something he didn't like to do to get George back, so be it.

George was a little older than Jason, and just a little more mature, however, he knew that sound.

Jason would not accept no for an answer and honestly, he wasn?t sure he wanted to tell him no. In fact, he wanted to say yes, and so he did, "I will run with you."

"And the pack too, George," Jason was adamant about including the pack, because they needed George's wisdom and guidance.

"And the pack too, Jason," George finally gave in as he struggled to his feet.

Jason howled the good news to the pack that waited not too far away, George was coming home; his lover was back. Grinning wolfishly, he ran ahead, but he kept looking back over his shoulder to make sure that George was keeping up, that he was able to keep up.

George followed with a wobble, running three-legged would require practice, but with luck, he would have all the time he needed. Jason would see to that, George had sacrificed a lot for his pack, now it was time to give some of that back -- beginning with a welcome home party.

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