Farley & Wolf - 1. Chapter 1

A soft breeze rustled through the leaves of the forest, gently playing nature’s nightly soundtrack. Overhead, the full moon’s luminescence gave an ethereal glow to all that it touched. Small creatures skittered through the underbrush, unaware of the danger lurking close by.

Amber eyes flickered, darting left, then right, before focusing on its target. Prey. Food. Good. Dark gray fur blended seamlessly with the shadows. The wolf’s ears twitched as its prey moved closer, oblivious to its inevitable fate. As the buck drew near, the wolf’s haunches tensed in anticipation. Instinct took over, and with the grace and speed it was born with, the predator seized his chance and sprang forward, closing the distance in a matter of seconds. Sharp teeth latched onto the deer’s neck, expertly piercing the jugular.

Three more wolves emerged from hiding, snarling and snapping at their struggling prey. The animal tried to twist and kick, but with its lifeblood pouring onto the forest floor, the effort was futile. One final, pitiful bleat accompanied death as the deer stilled.

Victory tasted like molten copper as the alpha wolf tore into the soft underbelly, staking first claim. Mine. The rest of the pack held back until their leader took what was his, then they descended, rendering the once majestic buck into a shredded carcass.

When they had eaten their fill, the wolves threw their heads back in unison and howled, alerting the rest of the forest to their triumph. With their bellies full, the alpha led his pack to their den, where they curled up against one another. The alpha lay apart from the rest, guarding the entrance to the small cave they had claimed as their own. A satisfied sigh escaped as his eyes closed. Safe. Sleep claimed him.

The moon traveled across the night sky, chasing the constellations until the horizon turned from black to ashen, then gradually lightened as sunrise painted the sky in shades of purple and blue. The alpha wolf’s eyes opened as the colors changed from indigo to crimson. Night relinquished its hold, and day ascended in a blaze of orange, pink, and gold. Blue skies heralded the beginning of a new day. It was time to secure their territory.

The wolf stood, stretched his body, and then shook. Fur flew in all directions. He turned and issued a sharp bark. Wake up! His pack stirred. They repeated the stretching and shaking process, and, tails wagging, they greeted their alpha with licks to his face, cleaning the dried blood left over from their kill. Once finished, they took off, following their leader to a river where they quenched their thirst. The surrounding forest was bursting with life. Sunlight caught the shimmer of scales from fish darting near the surface of the water. Above them, the trees played host to a symphony of bird calls and squirrel chatter. They heard the yips of a fox family playing in a nearby meadow.

Setting off at an easy lope, the alpha’s paws ate up the ground. The forest gave way to open land, stretching wide before ending at the towering mountains in the distance. They followed the edge of the forest for miles, occasionally stopping to piss out a pungent claim of what was theirs. The alpha slowed when strange creatures came into view on the horizon. The pack stilled when the sound of thundering hooves drew closer. They watched as the two-legged creatures atop horses herded cows and steers into a shallow valley bursting with succulent wild grass.

Man. Danger.

A deep rumble burst from his chest, issuing a growling command to his pack– get back! Silently obeying, they fell back into the cover of the trees. His pack watched as he trotted away to investigate this threat. Seeing humans was not new. The pack’s previous encounters taught them to be cautious. They had already lost one of their own to an explosive sound, followed by their packmate dropping to the ground, bleeding out until she was dead. They couldn’t afford a repeat of that situation.

Stealth was a trait the wolf had long since mastered. His paws barely whispered as he tread lightly along the perimeter of the valley, staying low, hiding in plain sight. He settled downwind, underneath a thicket of overgrowth on the edge of the forest, close enough for the various scents of the herd and humans to reach him. Remaining ever vigilant, his amber eyes surveyed the scene. The herd grazed in the middle of the open field. Two humans and two dogs guarded their stock. The dogs remained on either side of the herd, ready to keep any stragglers in line. One human rode his horse next to the other, and odd sounds made the alpha’s ears rotate back and forth. Watch.

He looked on as one of the humans rode off in the direction from which they came, leaving the other to stand guard with the dogs. If his belly wasn’t full, the alpha would have been tempted by the scent of fresh meat. As it were, he merely observed, stowing away pertinent information for a future hunt.

The lone human dismounted his horse, removed its tack, and then his gear. The breeze brought an intriguing smell to the wolf’s nose. Earthy, musky, good scent. He had never been this close to a human before, and his brain quickly catalogued the information his senses sent to it. The sun journeyed across the sky, and the wolf felt the pull to move on. Quietly, he returned to his packmates, and they resumed their loop of their territory. As they neared their den, fortune was kind, and they feasted on a young wild boar.

As the days passed, the wolf found himself breaking away from his pack to return to the meadow to watch the human. For some reason, the creature fascinated him. He particularly enjoyed the sounds the man made when his lips pulled together, and air whistled out. The man also spent a lot of time talking to his dogs. The wolf had to be careful to stay downwind of the canines so as not to alert them to his presence. Occasionally, another human would arrive, but they never stayed long. Once, the wolf arrived and discovered the herd alone. He took advantage and boldly ventured into the man’s camp. His nose was assaulted by so many new smells that it was a bit overwhelming.

He inhaled deeply at a spot where the human had marked repeatedly. Not to be outdone, the alpha lifted his leg and let loose a stream of piss to leave his own mark. Mine. He reclaimed several spots that the dogs had marked too. Turning his attention to the herd, he mentally catalogued which of the beasts would make easy prey. There. A mother with her new calf seemed to be the best choice. Before he could assume his watch position, the sound of hooves approached. One of the dogs started barking as it picked up his scent. The decision to leave was an easy one.

Over the next few weeks, the alpha continued to venture out on his own to observe the human. His pack started to rebel. They demanded a leader. Things came to a head when he returned one evening, only to find the next oldest male standing in front of the den with his hackles raised in a challenge. The alpha pulled in a deep lungful of air, assessing the new scents within his pack. His female was in heat, and from what he could smell, the wolf challenging him had already bred her.

Even though he was in his prime and knew he could defeat his challenger, the alpha growled once in acknowledgement, then turned his back on the pack forever. The valley where the man and cattle had taken up residence was on the outer edge of his former pack’s territory. He knew they wouldn’t challenge his claim to the valley. He made sure to clearly mark his new boundary. It didn’t take long to establish his new den within a thick growth of brush at the base of a steep hill. Large boulders had rolled down from the top of the mountain, creating a nook that was perfect for a lone wolf. Den, home.

Over the next few days, he watched the man as he guarded his herd. The wolf was smart and soon picked up what the different whistles meant to the dogs. One sharp, piercing sound, and the dogs broke right; a sharp one with two short bursts sent them running to the left. Three quick bursts had the dogs crouching in place, muscles bunched and ears alert. The man often made sounds with his mouth, and soon the wolf recognized what sit, down, come, and stay meant. He found himself unconsciously sitting and lying down when the man issued that order to his dogs. He almost revealed himself once when the man had shouted, “Come!”

Time had no real meaning for the wolf. He marked its passage by the rising and setting of the sun and how warm or cold it was. He scented the change of seasons and acted accordingly. Currently, it was feeding season. The days were warm and long. It meant that prey was plentiful. As a lone wolf, he no longer needed to hunt larger game. The cattle were safe. For now.

If he had known what days and weeks were, he would have recognized that he’d been on his own for nearly a month. As it were, he moved through his days in the same pattern. Sleeping, hunting, and watching the man filled his time. On one of his hunting forays, he caught a scent that raised his hackles. He didn’t know what it was, only that it was wrong. The smell was rank. It carried a warning. Bad danger. Stay away. Whatever the odor belonged to, the wolf knew he needed to give it a wide berth.

That evening, he left his den to hunt. His nose led him further away from his valley as he followed the scent trail of a small, lone deer. Finally spying the animal, he froze and lay in wait. The creature was wary, its tail and ears constantly in motion. It took a while before the deer lowered its head to graze. That was its mistake. The wolf exploded out from his hiding spot, but before he could reach his goal, two things happened: he was tackled by something far larger than him, and the malicious smell he had encountered earlier assaulted his nose.

A sharp pain tore through his neck, and he tried to howl. He glimpsed something that looked familiar yet wasn’t. Then his world went dark.

 *****

A gentle puff of air ghosted over him. The coolness kissed him in a way he’d never felt. His eyes flickered open, squinting as the brightness of the early morning sun hit them. He shivered, surprised at the sensation he felt. Cold. He tried to sit up and fell over. Looking down, he panicked at the sight of his furless body. As he flailed on the ground, he yelped as his skin was scratched by twigs and small stones. His limbs scrabbled before he found purchase on his hands and knees. This felt wrong. What happened? He threw his head back and howled in frustration. Even the sound was out of place, foreign to his ears.

Instinctively, he licked at the small line of blood that surfaced on his paw.

Wait.

What was wrong with his paw? He blinked as if doing so would change what he saw. His paw looked the same as the man’s. He immediately investigated the rest of his body. His fur was gone, replaced by skin. Paws had become hands and feet. He felt his head, running his fingers through what was left of his fur. Long, shaggy strands touched his shoulder. As the need to piss became evident, he stared at his cock. It now stuck out between his legs, unprotected.

He was human. He still felt his wolf, but the beast had retreated to the far corner of his psyche.

Even the way he thought was different. Images assaulted his brain, and he shook his head as he tried to make sense of what was happening. He heard a familiar voice. Calm. Be calm. Breathe. His wolf was still there. Taking a deep breath, he tried to stand like he’d seen the man do. His legs quivered. It took several tries, and the sounds he made were eerily similar to the man's when he was shitting, but at last he was balancing on his back paws. His wolf pushed forward to correct him. No. Legs. They’re called legs.

The need to piss couldn’t be ignored. His cock stuck straight out. He tried lifting his leg but wobbled and stumbled. The art of balancing was not in his wheelhouse just yet. Frustrated, he just let go. Piss sprayed out directly in front of him, and as the pressure released and his cock softened, it went in all directions, including down his leg. He grabbed the appendage and managed to direct the last of the stream onto the grass without drenching his feet.

He lifted his head and sniffed the air. He couldn’t smell the usual scents of the forest. Everything was muted. The normal, crisp scents that told him what was happening around him were gone. He couldn’t make out any squirrels, rabbits, or birds. Even the normal background smells, like pine and grass, were a fraction of what he was used to. How could he hunt if he couldn’t scent properly?

As these thoughts went through his mind, he realized that, while his sense of smell had diminished, his vision had become sharper. He saw colors in a way he had never imagined. His long-distance vision was crisper, and he could make out a bird flying high above him.

His heart raced as he realized he needed help. Find man. Yes, he needed the man, but could he trust him? Tentatively, he shuffled his feet, putting one in front of the other like he’d seen the man do. His arms windmilled as he fought to balance. At this rate, it would take forever to get back to his valley, but he had no choice. His jaw clenched as he tried again. Each step was a small victory. Soon, he was able to walk without looking like a newborn fawn on gangly legs. He set off in the direction of his den.

It took much longer as a human than a wolf to cover the distance to his valley. The shadows were getting long as it came into view. The herd of cattle lowed as they settled in for the evening. Wispy tendrils of smoke drifted skyward from the fire in the man's camp. A tantalizing aroma of whatever the man was cooking drifted toward him, and his stomach growled, spurring him on the remaining distance. He stopped just at the edge of the forest where the shadows concealed him.

Warily, he watched the man stirring something in a pot above his fire. A rabbit turned on a spit above, succulent juices oozing into the meal below. Without thinking of the consequences, he stepped forward, and a twig snapped beneath his foot. He winced and froze. The man’s head whipped around, and his eyes widened.

In an instant, the man was on his feet, reaching for the long stick that made a loud noise. His wolf growled. Run!

Just as he started to turn, the man called out. “Wait!” He placed the long stick on the ground. One of the dogs that guarded the herd caught his scent and ran toward them. The man whistled the command to sit.

Immediately, the wolf-man sat. The human did a double-take.

“Who are you? Are you hurt? Are you lost?” The barrage of words confused him. It was enough to spur his wolf into action. Change!

A strange sensation started at the base of his spine and spread outward. Muscles contorted. Bones snapped. Fur sprouted. The range of color in his vision diminished. He felt like a wolf once more.

The man’s eyes went wide. His dog whined. “Holy shit! You’re a wolf!”

The wolf stood. His golden amber eyes blinked once. Then he turned and ran.

Two days later, he lost the fight to stay away. In the late afternoon, the wolf trotted along the tree line. He spied the man on the far side of the meadow with the dogs. He dropped his gift next to the cold embers of the fire pit and retreated into the thick brush. Soon after, the man returned alone, having left the dogs to do their job. His footsteps faltered upon seeing the freshly killed rabbit lying on the ground. A smile pulled at his lips as he glanced around.

The wolf watched as the man built a fire. The wood snapped and crackled as it took hold. Next, he skinned and gutted the rabbit. He tossed the innards towards the thicket where the wolf hid. The scent of fresh blood mingled with the man's scent. It pulled the wolf out of his concealment. He devoured the treat, then licked his chops and looked at the man. The man nodded, then deliberately turned his back to tend to the rabbit. It was a sign of trust.

“I’m glad you came back. Thanks for the rabbit.”

The wolf’s ears pivoted at the words. Somehow, he knew what they meant. He watched as the man prepared dinner. It took a while, but finally, the rabbit was done. The man grabbed a bag and poured a measured amount of kibble into two bowls. He added some of the rabbit meat and vegetables he had cooked to accompany the meat. Three short, sharp bursts of air beckoned the dogs from their posts. Their hackles raised when they spotted the wolf.

“Settle,” the man commanded. He turned to look at the wolf. “Maybe, if you shift again, they’ll accept you.”

The wolf blinked. Shift? He didn’t know how he did it the first time. All he knew was that since that night, there was something else inhabiting his mind. Something that could transform his body. He could hear the human within whisper, “Let me out.”

Once again, he felt his muscles stretch and contort as his bones popped. This time, he managed to remain upright on his two feet.

“Hello, Wolf.”

“Wooolf,” he echoed. His vocal cords produced a growly rasp as he spoke his first word.

The man pointed to the log on the other side of the fire where a blanket lay. “Sit.” Then, he fixed two plates and handed one to Wolf, which he gratefully accepted. When the man handed him a metal stick with a rounded end, he shook his head, not knowing what to do.

The man nodded and said, “Spoon.” He showed Wolf how to use the utensil to scoop up some of the stew. Wolf watched as he blew on the hot meat and vegetables before shoving the spoon into his mouth.

Wolf copied his actions, and soon his belly was full.

Every time the man touched something, he said a word. Wolf would repeat it, quickly picking up the names for things around the man’s camp. After adding a couple of dozen words to his vocabulary, he pointed at the man.

Smiling, the man pointed at himself and said, “Nick.”

Wolf bared his teeth, mimicking the way Nick did. He understood it was a human form of approval. In the distance, he heard a victory howl. His old pack had made a kill. He felt the pull of his wolf, and with a few pops and cracks, he stood on four paws. With his tail wagging, he chuffed and set off into the woods, feeling the need to run.

Over the next several days, he and Nick developed a routine. In the morning, they each did their own thing. Wolf would hunt small game while Nick tended his herd. Most of the time, Wolf would bring his catch to the camp so Nick could cook it for their evening meal. Wolf would change into his human form, and they would practice new language skills. As the nights grew cooler, Nick gave Wolf a pair of pants and a shirt. It wasn’t as warm as fur, but his human form appreciated it.

It wasn’t long before Wolf was able to understand basic conversation. Each day, he got better at interpreting what Nick was saying. Nick would read stories, which helped improve his vocabulary. It still felt weird to use human vocal cords, and it was disconcerting to discover that he couldn’t howl or growl the way he wanted to. Nick noticed his frustration when his dogs growled a warning at a lumbering bear getting too close to camp. Wolf’s accompanying growl didn’t sound real.

“What’s wrong?” Nick asked.

“Growl not right. Howl not right. Being man not right.”

Nick nodded. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through. I think I would freak out if I woke up as a wolf one day.”

“How you think this happened?” Wolf had an idea, but he didn’t have the words for it.

“Well, there have been rumors of a large wolf hunting in the foothills of the national park. It’s really rugged terrain, and not many people ever go there. Some people have said it’s a werewolf.”

“What is werewolf?”

“It’s half-man, half-wolf. Although in all the stories I’ve ever read, it’s always been a human who gets bitten and turns into a wolf. I’ve never heard of it happening like it did to you.”

Wolf pressed his lips together. He had the same thought, but didn’t know how to name the creature that bit him. All he could remember was that it was extremely large and smelled horrible, like something was rotting from within. The creature resembled a wolf but stood on two legs. It had been half-wolf, half-human.

Nick cleared his throat. “Do you remember what happened to you?”

Nodding, Wolf told him what he could remember.

“Hmmm, it sounds like the werewolf that bit you was sick or something. Maybe the rotten smell was a sign of illness, and that’s what made him bite you. He couldn’t find a human.”

Wolf shuddered at the thought of the werewolf discovering Nick. He didn’t think the outcome would bode well. It would be better if he stayed in camp at night, rather than in his little den. Nick’s dogs were no match for a werewolf.

“I stay here. Protect you.”

Nick’s brows drew together as he shifted on the log he sat upon. “How bad was this thing?”

Very fucking bad.

“Very bad.” Wolf left out the swear word; he wasn't surprised that his wolf had picked up the habit.

“Okay. I’ll make room in my tent for you.”

Sleep with Nick. Yes. Wolf felt his non-existent tail wagging.

Wolf’s language skills had quickly improved. He and Nick talked about everything. When Nick said a word that Wolf didn’t understand, he patiently explained it. He also used his phone to show Wolf pictures of things that were hard to explain, like cars and trucks. After seeing the pictures, Wolf wasn’t sure if he ever wanted to ride in one.

“I’ll go hunt. You need to keep the dogs closer, too.” Wolf knew it was easier to replace a few cattle than a trained herding dog. Calvin and Hobbes earned their keep, and they were excellent at their jobs. His wolf enjoyed taunting them, trying to lure them away to play, but while they were guarding their herd, they wouldn’t take the bait.

Nick nodded. Satisfied, Wolf shifted and set off into the woods. He came across a flock of geese sleeping on the bank of a large pond, immediately crouched, and stilled. Inch by inch, he slowly crawled closer, targeting a large gander with its head tucked under his wing. He shot forward, and with a flurry of feathers erupting in every direction, he clamped down on the long neck. A pitiful honk was all the goose managed before its neck broke with a loud snap.

The rest of the flock had scattered, leaving behind feathers and pungent blobs of shit. Wolf trotted off, heading back to the camp. When he arrived, he strutted proudly with his head held high. See? I brought food! Nick rewarded him with a smile and a scratch behind his ears.

After a succulent dinner of roasted goose and vegetables, they sat by the fire as usual and listened to the sounds of the nighttime forest. Before going to bed, Nick called the dogs and commanded them to stay. Calvin and Hobbes lay down next to each other to stay warm.

I want cuddle puddle!

Wolf’s wolf was a persistent bugger. As he crawled into the tent behind Nick, his wolf’s nostrils flared, trying to get a better scent through his human’s inadequate nose. Get closer. Sniff him!

“Shush.”

Nick looked back at him. “I didn’t say anything.”

“It’s my wolf. He’s a pain in the ass.”

Nick chuckled. “Does he talk to you?”

Wolf shrugged. “Not so much talk as speak his mind. He doesn’t have– what’s the word? To stop things from coming out?”

“Filter. You mean to say your wolf doesn’t have a filter?”

Nodding, Wolf said, “Yes. That’s it. He has no filter.”

“What did he say to you?”

“He wants me to sniff your ass.”

Nick blinked twice, then roared with laughter. When he finally calmed down, he wiped the corner of his eyes, “Oh my god, that is priceless. I kinda wish your wolf could talk to me when he comes out.”

His wolf preened.

Wolf rolled his eyes. Asshole.

You’re jealous.

I’m the one sleeping with him.

Wolf felt his wolf trying to push through. He pushed back even harder.

Now who’s the asshole?

Nick cleared his throat. “Uh, is there a problem?”

“Nope. No problem.”

The nights were getting cold, and Nick’s tent was quite small. Wolf was bigger than Nick, and with two of them in the tent, there wasn’t a lot of space. There was a thick layer of soft padding protecting them from the hard ground. Nick’s scent was strong in the tight confines, and Wolf felt his wolf sigh. He wanted out so he could scent the man properly. There was only one sleeping bag.

“Ok, then. Um, we can share the sleeping bag if you don’t mind. It gets pretty cold.”

As much as he wanted to be the one to cuddle up with Nick, Wolf knew his furry half could keep the man warmer than he could in his human skin. “I can let my wolf out. He’s used to sleeping in the cold. It’ll be warmer for you, but he’ll sniff you. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Nick chuckled. “It’s okay. If that’s what he needs to feel comfortable, so be it.”

Wolf’s wolf practically leapt to the surface. Wolf commanded, “Behave.” As his bones cracked and popped, Wolf knew his wolf would be in a better position to protect Nick. His keen senses would be on high alert. They’d learned their lesson.

As Nick settled under the sleeping bag, the wolf inched his way closer bit by bit until he was snuggled up against the man’s side. He nudged Nick in several places, inhaling deeply. Mine.

Wolf awoke as the sun started to rise. Before his wolf had a chance to fully wake up, he pushed through and changed. His wolf grumbled. Wolf scoffed. You had all night.

You suck bear balls.

The wolf had picked up Nick’s slang quickly. Nick continued sleeping, blissfully unaware of the scuffle between the two. Wolf ignored his beast and got as close to Nick as he could. The man’s ass nestled perfectly into Wolf’s groin. It didn’t take much for his cock to come to full attention. Wolf slung his arm around Nick and, in return, felt him grind his ass against his cock.

Nick turned over, wide awake. There was no hiding the stiff dick that rubbed against him. Eyes the color of the summer sky looked at him. He was surprised when Nick’s lips pressed against his. He knew what a kiss was, as Nick had explained it when reading a story. Wolf moved his lips and then used his tongue to taste. It made his cock throb. Nick let out a little grunt.

Wolf gasped when Nick reached between them to grasp their dicks. Holy shit! His wolf was enjoying this too, and holy shit was right. Nick’s grip tightened, and his hand went faster. The base of Wolf’s spine tingled like the air felt during a storm right before lightning struck close by, only there was no storm outside. Instead, it was inside, and it felt like a thunderclap as his dick exploded. Wolf’s back bowed as his release hit. His reaction set Nick off, and Wolf felt the hot streams land on his chest and belly. Their mingled scent was strong. Nick panted and released his grip. Wolf took his sticky hand and licked it clean. Their combined taste pleased his wolf. This was so much better than breeding a she-wolf.

“My wolf liked that.”

“Just you’re wolf?”

Wolf grinned. “I liked it too.”

Nick propped his head on his elbow. “Does your wolf have a name?”

“Why would he have a name?”

“Everyone should have a name. I should have asked you if you had one before I started calling you Wolf, but it fit, so I didn’t think otherwise. Is your wolf separate from you?”

It took a moment before Wolf could think of how to answer. “Yes and no. My wolf is part of me, but he is like my other half. He has his own thoughts, and we share our physical bodies. He is part of me, and I am part of him.”

“He needs a name. It’s confusing calling both of you Wolf.”

“I don’t know many names. You name him.” With those words, his wolf perked up. Wolf could feel his wilder half wiggling with excitement.

Nick bit his lower lip. “Hmm. We could go with Max or Rex. Lobo means wolf. Brutus is good, but I’m not sure if any of those fit. He seems more fun. He needs a fun name.”

Wolf’s wolf sneezed, and he shook his whole body.

“He doesn’t like any of those. He wants a fun name.”

“Okay, then. My favorite comic when I was a kid was For Better or For Worse. The dog in that was a goofy Old English Sheepdog named Farley.”

Immediately, his wolf began to prance. Yes! Yes! I want Farley. I’m Farley!

“He likes it.”

Like? I love it! Our Nick named me Farley. Why didn’t you ever think of naming me? What good are you?”

Zip it. Wolf didn’t need Farley giving him shit. He wanted more of what he and Nick just did.

“Awesome!” Nick said. “So, did you enjoy what we just did?”

“Yes. I want more. What is that called?”

Me, too!

Back off, Farley. It seemed like having a name made his other half bolder.

Nick laughed. “It’s called sex. There’s a lot more I can teach you.”

“Yes. That, please. More.”

More. More. More. More. More!

Wolf and Farley agreed.

The next several days followed the same pattern. Nick would tend to the herd after breakfast. Wolf would set off to hunt. Most of the time, he was successful, and when he wasn’t, Nick had canned goods to fall back on. Farley enjoyed playing with Nick. Occasionally, Calvin and Hobbes would join in if all was quiet. Farley knew the area, and his senses were keenly attuned to his surroundings. Evenings were spent by the fire until the embers dwindled. After, they would retire to the tent where Nick schooled Wolf on sex. He became much more comfortable spending time as a human. Farley was content as long as he got to have his cuddle puddle time at night.

One brisk afternoon, after Wolf skinned two fat squirrels, they heard the sound of hooves approaching. Wolf quickly shifted and hid in the brush. He was still instinctively wary of humans. The horse approached at an easy lope. The tall man astride its back looked at ease in the saddle. Wolf listened closely to their conversation after the man dismounted.

“Hey, Brody,” Nick said as he stuck out his hand. The other man grasped it firmly for a couple of seconds. Wolf’s eyes narrowed, and his wolf growled.

“Hey, yourself. How’s it going?”

“It’s going good. We’ve only lost one heifer, and the rest of them have fattened up nicely.”

Brody nodded. “Good, good. The boss’ll be happy to hear that. He’s set the roundup date for next week. I’ll be bringin’ a couple of guys up to help get them back to the ranch. The herd on the south side didn’t fare as well. Micha lost fourteen, plus seven calves. Whatever got them shredded them to pieces. It was the damnedest thing.”

Wolf didn’t like the sound of that. He hoped it wasn’t the creature that bit him.

Brody didn’t stay long, and after he left, Wolf shifted back. Nick stoked the fire so he could cook their evening meal.

“We need to talk about why Brody was here.”

“What is a roundup?”

Nick sighed. “It’s when a few ranch hands come and help move the herd back to the ranch. Then they’re culled. Some will go to auction, and the rest will stay in the pastures close to the ranch house for the winter. I usually look forward to getting back to civilization, but not this year.”

Wolf touched Nick’s knee. “Because of me?”

“Yes. I don’t want to leave you here by yourself.”

“I don’t know if I can live in your world. Farley needs to be free.” Wolf could sense Farley’s hesitation. They wanted to be near Nick, but they also knew they needed to roam the vast forest. Instinctively, Wolf was sure that if others found out he was both man and wolf, their freedom would vanish.

“I understand.”

“We will find a den close to your ranch and visit.”

Nick’s head dipped. “Yeah. I guess that’s the best plan.”

The next week flew by. Nick had Calvin and Hobbes bring the herd closer to his camp. He checked on them frequently, searching for any calves that may have trouble with the long trek back to the ranch. He told Wolf it would take three or four days to move them. They couldn’t rush the cattle as it might stress them too much, which could cause them to lose weight. That would decrease their value at auction.

Their last night together was spent in each other’s arms. In the morning, when Farley sensed the other ranch hands approaching, he pushed forward and rubbed himself all over Nick, marking him. With a final lick, he bolted into the thick brush before the other men could spot him. He watched intently as they helped Nick break camp. Calvin and Hobbes were eager to get started and immediately took off running at Nick’s whistling command. Soon, the herd was ambling across the meadow, heading out of the valley.

Wolf let Farley have control as they followed along. At night, they stayed alert, dozing occasionally when fatigue set in. All hell broke loose on the third night.

Nick and his crew were settled in their tents, sleeping, when Farley caught wind of a familiar rank odor. Immediately, he was alert. He bared his teeth and growled a warning. The ominous beast growled back even louder. The sound woke the men, and they stumbled out of their tents with shotguns cocked. On the perimeter of the camp, the horses reared and whinnied in fear, trying to break loose from their tethers.

Nick saw Farley and the werewolf squared off, their hackles raised. “Don’t shoot!”

“What the fuck is that thing?” one of the men hollered.

The creature turned its attention toward the voices.

No, no, no! Farley barked to try to refocus its attention on him. It was a futile effort. The werewolf caught the men’s scents and rushed forward.

Nick was closest. The beast leaped and its jaws latched onto Nick’s shoulder. Farley bolted and sank his teeth into the back of its neck. It was enough to startle the creature, and it shook itself fiercely, trying to dislodge the wolf, but Farley hung on tight. In a last-ditch effort, the werewolf flung himself backwards, slamming Farley into the ground. The wolf yelped, then lay still. The werewolf stood and shook himself, then turned his attention back to Nick. A gun went off, and blood sprayed from the thing’s shoulder. It was now enraged and stalked toward Nick. A second blast missed. The third caught its upper leg, causing it to falter. With another shake, it pressed forward.

Nick kept backing away, but the creature gained ground. It slashed at Nick, and its claws connected with his chest, leaving four large gashes. Nick cried out in pain and fell. As the beast loomed over him, Farley’s eyes opened. Seeing his Nick in peril, Wolf pushed forward and jumped onto the creature’s back. The muscles in his arms bulged as he wrapped one of them around its neck and squeezed with everything he had in him. The beast snarled and gnashed its teeth, but its effort was in vain. Pulling on Farley’s strength, Wolf jerked his arm, and with a loud SNAP, the werewolf’s neck broke. It slumped to the ground with its now lifeless eyes staring skyward toward the full moon.

Silence pressed in on all sides as they tried to process what had just happened.

Finally, Brody looked at Wolf and spoke. “You were a wolf.” It wasn’t an accusation. He merely stated the truth.

Wolf nodded.

“He saved my life,” Nick said as blood oozed down the front of him.

“Jesus Christ. You’re hurt.” Brody turned to another man and barked, “Get the first aid kit!” The guy ran to his gear and came back with a white box with a big red cross on the top. Nick shucked off his shirt. Wolf winced when he saw the unsightly wounds. They weren’t bleeding profusely, but the gashes were wide.

“These should be stitched up, but I don’t know what kind of germs and shit that thing had,” Brody remarked.

Nick nodded. “Wash ‘em out real good and disinfect the hell outta them. Leave them open and cover them with some bandages.”

“It’s going to hurt like hell,” Brody told him.

“I know.”

Farley whined as Wolf watched Nick’s wounds get cleaned and disinfected. Worry gnawed at him, not knowing if it was the werewolf’s saliva that had changed him or if the wounds it inflicted on Nick would affect him.

While Brody worked on Nick, the other men donned thick work gloves and dragged the werewolf’s body to a nearby ravine and rolled it into the thick brush below. It landed with a loud thud.

Wolf added wood to the dying embers, and soon a roaring fire was going. Suffice to say, no one was going to get any more sleep that night. Someone checked on the horses and cattle. The dogs guarding the herd had done their job and pulled them into a tight group.

The men sat by the flames, grateful for the warmth. No one spoke. It was hard for them to wrap their heads around the idea that mythical creatures were real. Wolf sat next to Nick and pressed himself against his man, needing the reassuring touch.

Finally, Nick addressed his friends. He put his hand on Wolf’s knee. “Wolf is a shifter. He can change between human and wolf. His other half likes to be called Farley. We need to protect them. No one can know what he can do.”

I’ll rip them to shreds if they do.

“I don’t think anyone would believe us even if we tried to tell somebody,” Brody said. “But you have our word. We won’t say anything.”

The other guys nodded their agreement.

As soon as the sky lightened enough to see, they set off, pushing the cattle until the ranch came into view. The dogs separated them and herded the calves into a separate corral to be sorted later. Some would be branded and kept, while others would be sold.

In the distance, Farley watched as everything settled into place. He whined when he saw Nick go into the ranch house. A few hours later, Nick came out and sounded the whistle he only used for Farley. The wolf trotted across the empty field of tall grass and followed Nick. When the man got into his truck, Farley sat. Nope. Not getting in that death trap.

Nick drove slowly, and Farley followed until they stopped next to a cabin about a mile from the main house. Nick hopped down, and Farley let Wolf take over.

“I spoke with my boss. I had to tell him the truth. He’s agreed to let me use this cabin for the winter. You can come and go as you please. Nobody will bother us.”

Wolf poked his head in the door. The cabin was cozy. The main area was open and housed a small kitchen and living area. An open door at the far side revealed a bedroom. There were plenty of woods for Farley to roam.

“I think we can be okay here. I don’t want to leave you.”

Nick smiled. “I don’t want you to leave either.” He slung his arm around Wolf and pulled him into a tight hug before leading him inside.

Home, Wolf thought.

Home, Farley echoed.

Later that winter, when the local ranchers held their social gatherings, they often remarked that they heard two wolves howling in the distance. Nick and Wolf kept silent, but within them, two magnificent creatures bided their time until they could run free amongst the trees and meadows where they belonged.