Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2014 09:55:56 -0500
From: Vic James <vicjames2@hotmail.com>
Subject: Being Pack Chapter Four

                           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.


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