“My dick is still visible.”
“Yeah so? Everyone here’s seen it.” He picked up his cell phone and began typing out a text, then then went into the closet and pulled out a relic of his past—the old orange hoodie he’d worn when we first met. “I cleaned it.”
“I thought you said—”
“I said a lot of things. I’m startin’ over. It’ll be our smells, and our pack’s. Once you turn, you’ll love that smell, because it’s everyone. It’s home, ya know?”
That made me smile. There was something I’d wanted to say to him for so long, but I was always too afraid. I was still afraid—after all, I’d said it once before only to have it end in pain.
Roscoe grabbed me by the arm and led me into the living room before making our way out into the back yard. Darryl was already outside standing near a newly made fire while staring up at the waxing moon. He wasn’t wearing any clothing either, but that wasn’t unusual.
“Man, what a night,” he said before turning back to me. “Not gonna dress up—in anything?”
“I think we’re gonna have us Halloween at home, and I got a surprise fer Cody.”
“Okay, I’m worried,” I said while following Roscoe over to the fire. Once he sat, I took the spot next to him with Darryl on the other side.
Roscoe grinned, a few of his sharper canines glistening in the light of the flames.
As the minutes passed, one-by-one, the others arrived, each removing their costumes and clothes before taking their places on the grass around the fire. Blake, Randall, and Steve playfully shoved each other a little too close to the flames, knocking over the logs causing an ember to land on Austin.
The large werewolf screamed while rolling on the ground, smothering the burning fur. With a snarl, he charged at the other three while shouting all kinds of curse words. Adam, Darryl, and Roscoe burst into laughter as the four scuffled in the dark away from the group.
“I’m actually shocked they managed to remodel the house without destroying it,” Darryl said before straightening the logs,adding a couple more to the fire. He looked up at Adam. “How’s Austin doing?”
“He still has some issues, but we’re working through them.” He turned in time to see Austin holding Steve in a chokehold. “They’ve all been helping him. He hasn’t had one of his episodes in a while, and whenever he does, we know how to calm him down. The terrible shit he went through isn’t just gonna disappear, but he knows he’s safe, and that’s really all he needs.”
“What about you?” I asked. “It seems like we don’t ever get a chance to talk anymore.”
He paused for a moment and smiled. “I’m in a good place, too.” He pointed to Roscoe. “You two say the L word yet?”
That familiar pang in my stomach returned, and I looked away. Roscoe opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by a woman’s voice.
Willa led the way, her bare white skin almost glowing in the moonlight as she skipped through the grass, her perfect breasts bouncing in time with her cadence. Mosavi followed closely, also naked. They both took their places by the fire.
“Okay, so why are we all naked?” I asked.
“Because it’s fun and natural,” Willa said, shaking her chest playfully at me. “Embrace it, you two.” She glanced over at an uncomfortably annoyed Mosavi before looking back at me. “He doesn’t often go out without clothes either.”
“Only animals do this,” he grumbled.
Willa turned back to her husband. “Do I look like an animal to you?”
He huffed in annoyance before letting out a defeated, “No.”
“Well, looks like everyone’s here,” Roscoe said before turning back to the other four still scuffling. “You guys, get over here. I got some good stuff.” He pulled out a familiar pouch and gave that signature shitty grin.
“Oh, hell no!” I shouted, starting to stand, but Roscoe snatched my arm, pulling me back down.
“I second that motion,” Mosavi shouted, trying to scoot away from the fire, but it was too late. Roscoe grabbed a handful of the herb before throwing it into the pit.
The flames erupted into a deep blue as thick white smoke poured outward, engulfing us all. The effects were immediate, turning the darkness to neon day, colorful hallucinations fluttering around us.
“Mmmm,” Roscoe hummed, contentedly closing his eyes while swaying from side-to-side. “Shoulda brought some music.”
“I’ll grab the guitar,” Darryl said, attempting to stand but stumbling before falling back to the ground. He lay there, sprawled on his back for a solid minute before muttering a slurred, “Never mind.”
“I hate you so much,” Mosavi said through his teeth, his dangerous glare fixed on Roscoe. “I just want to…” Slowly, his facial expression went from hostile to the same squinty-eyed laughter the others were experiencing. “I just want to hug you until you stop breathing.”
