Of Wolves and Men (13 page)

Roman cringed and held onto the truck door frame.

“What’s wrong?” Suzie stepped nearer. “Roman? Are you okay?”

“Suzie, go back to the ranch. I’ll take care of this,” Charlie said.

“Of what?” She raised her hands in a questioning gesture. “Is he sick?”

“Get in.
Get in!
” Charlie grabbed Roman and ushered him to the passenger’s side of his truck.

Roman moaned and doubled over. Charlie reached around to hold him from behind. “Fight it, baby, fight it.”

“I can’t.” Roman’s voice got swallowed down into a whimper.

“I’m sorry for thinkin’ of myself. I’ll help you. I don’t know how, but I’ll try.” He gripped Roman as tightly as he could and felt his body changing right under his grasp.

Roman dropped to all fours next to the truck.

Charlie heard a high pitched gasp and looked up to see Suzie’s eyes growing wide. “I told you to go!”

The clothing began slipping off Roman and he growled as he shook his furry body.

“Don’t get hit by a car, Roman. Get in the truck.”

Roman spun around, breaking out of Charlie’s grip, the transformation complete. His eyes were pure green and lit up from the ambient lights. He showed his teeth and bolted across the busy main street in front of the bar, vanishing into the tree line.

Charlie looked down at the pile of clothing at his feet.

He heard a noise and saw Suzie holding onto the fender, shaking. Charlie held her in his arms as she got over what she had seen. “Okay. Okay, Suzie.” He rocked her, calming her.

“Poor man. I can’t believe it. I understand why you were so against the leg traps, Charlie.”

“You can’t tell a soul, Suzie. Please.”

“No one would believe me.”

“I don’t know how this happened to him or how to help him.”

Suzie released her hold on Charlie and picked up the clothing. “If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes…” She trembled as she folded the shirt.

“Not a word.” He held up his finger.

“Not a word.” Suzie set the clothing down on the passenger’s seat of the truck. “Did he say how?”

“He thinks it was a Ute shaman.”

“How’s that possible?”

“You’re askin’ me?” Charlie shook his head and looked back in the direction Roman had run. “I don’t know where to begin findin’ out how to fix him.”

“Let me head back to the ranch. I have my laptop there. We can at least do a little research.”

Charlie grabbed her hand. “I can’t thank you enough.”

“I had no idea…really. No idea any of this was possible.”

“I still think I’m seeing things. But if it’s bad for us, how does Roman feel?”

“I can’t imagine.”

“I’ll meet you back at my cabin, okay?”

“Yes. I’ll meet you there.”

Charlie watched her walk to her car. He sat behind the wheel of the truck and followed her home.

~

Roman ran on through the woods in the direction of the ranch. Though he was in good shape as a man, having the stamina of a timber wolf was incredible. Using his sense of smell to guide him, Roman cut through the dense underbrush, stopping only at roadways so he didn’t end up road-kill. He trotted across a four lane highway quickly and kept making progress towards the ranch. He caught a strong musky scent and then the sound of something following him. He wheeled around and had a look, panting, his tongue hanging out of his mouth. His sense of smell caught it before his ears and eyes. A coyote was staring at him. Female.

Get lost.
He continued his journey to the ranch, hearing the female tracking him and not sure why or what to do about it. He didn’t want a dog fight. Other scents caught up to him. Territory.

That was it. He was crossing another marked area where he had not been before on four legs.

The noise behind him grew louder. He looked back to see the female coyote snapping at his heels.

You have to be kidding me!
Roman faced her, showing his teeth.
Look, lady, I’m bigger and
meaner than you, and I’m just passing through. So go away!

She took a bold snap at him.

He felt the hair rise on his back and exposed his teeth. A game of stalemate began and the female coyote circled him, sniffing and licking her nose.

He caught a very strong odor and felt his stomach churn.
Please tell me you’re not a bitch in
heat. Honey, I’m gay in any shape. And I’m not mounting you
.

Her menacing circling and body language became softer, less threatening and more courtship.

Roman resumed his pace to the ranch, but had a feeling his suitor wouldn’t give up easily. He had no idea how to rebuff a female coyote. It was easy for him when he was human.
Sorry, but
I’m gay.
Can he tell that shecoyote the same thing?

The distraction of having her literally on his tail, snapping at his hind legs, was pissing him off.

He did a one-eighty spin and bit her on the snout. She yelped but was not put off easily.

As he stood still, she sniffed at his back end. Roman didn’t want to hurt her, but he certainly didn’t want her hanging around. Her cold nose touched under his tail. He leapt up and gave her another snapping of his jaws. She immediately lay on her back in a submissive pose, pawing at his chest.

Go away! Find a coyote and not a man in wolf-drag!

Roman wasn’t happy about this waste of time. If he changed into a man now, it’d be a long walk. Being a crow at this moment would be helpful, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t control the changes.

With his coyote shadow nipping at his bottom as he ran, Roman caught the scent of the horses on the ranch. He knew he was getting close as familiar smells of the surrounding woods came to his sharp senses.

He slowed down and stood still, ears perked up. Charlie and Suzie were back, their vehicles parked in the lot in front of the ranch house. He peered over his shoulder and the female coyote was behind him, looking as she had staked her claim over him.

This is the last place you want to be, sweetie. These cowboys will trap, shoot, and skin you
. Since aggression did nothing, Roman nudged her with his nose to go away. He didn’t know doggie language for ‘Get lost’. He had no idea how to tell her she was in danger.

She stood beside him, licking his ear and mouth.

Stop. That tickles. Come on. Go away
. He pointed his nose downward and used the top of his head to push her back. She didn’t budge. Roman dropped to the ground to think things out, lying down and keeping his eyes on the action at the ranch.

She kept sniffing at him. Maybe his mixture of scents was confusing her. She stood over him, a paw on either side.

You dry hump me, bitch, and I’ll get violent
. Roman looked into her eyes.
Can’t you see what I
am? Come on. Go find a real mate.

Something startled her and she bolted into the woods. Roman stayed put, listening.

Suzie was holding a laptop, talking a mile a minute to Charlie, who was nodding his head as he walked to the cabin.

Roman stood and made his way towards them slowly. They entered Charlie’s cabin, turning on lights and closing the door. Roman put his front paws on the window ledge and watched.

Suzie set her computer on the coffee table, sitting on the floor beside it, while Charlie headed to the kitchen.

Roman could hear their conversation easily. Suzie was discussing how she and Charlie needed to speak to someone from the Ute tribe to see if they knew of any shaman’s curse.

Good girl
. Roman gave the area a glance and noticed JP and Goat heading down the path to their cabin. Roman vanished into the woods until they passed. A cold nose made him nearly jump out of his fur. Roman stayed still, sensing the coyote do the same next to him, as the men came closer, chatting about Charlie and his oral sex with a man on the trail. The way they laughed at Charlie angered Roman. He showed his fangs and became enraged. Charlie needed their support, not to be the butt of their jokes.

Just as they passed and Roman’s anger piqued he began to feel a change coming on. He shivered and lay on his back on the ground. Clenching his teeth to keep his moans of pain behind them, Roman rode out the agony of his body shifting shape. The coyote was licking him, as if she knew he was injured or sick. As Roman morphed into a man, he shivered and covered his crotch with his hand. “You happy now?” he whispered to the coyote. “I’m a guy. Go find a canine to fuck.”

Even in coyote language Roman could see she was terrified. Her ears went back and she bolted away into the darkness of the woods.

“Ew.” Roman raised his hand from his crotch. “That was seriously disgusting.” He slowly managed to get to his feet, holding onto tree trunks for balance. After making sure the coast was clear, he grabbed the doorknob of Charlie’s cabin, turned it and entered. Suzie nearly jumped out of her skin in surprise as Charlie returned with two cups of coffee from the kitchen. “Welcome back.”

“I need a shower. Bad.” Roman covered his crotch and walked to the bathroom.

~

“Be right back, Suzie.” Charlie followed behind Roman as he turned on the water. “Poor baby.”

“You don’t want to touch me at the moment. Believe me.” Roman stepped into the tub and scrubbed the soap all over his body, especially his crotch.

“Why? What did you get into? A cow pie?”

“Worse.”

“I asked Suzie to give us a hand. I mean, the cat’s out of the bag to her.”

“Can we trust her?” Roman shut off the water and Charlie handed him a towel.

“What choice do we have? She saw it all.” Charlie glanced down at Roman’s cock and low hanging balls. “Literally.”

“I’m losing my mind, Charlie. I have to get out of this stupid curse.” He rubbed the towel over his head while Charlie used a second one on his back.

“Let me get you something to wear meanwhile. Seeing you naked would give anyone a hard-on.

Including Suzie.”

“Do you have sweatpants? Getting into your jeans was nearly impossible.”

“I do. Stay put.”

“Sit. Stay.” Roman exhaled loudly. “Getting a cold, wet snout in the balls. What more can they do to me?”

“Huh?”

“Nothing. Go.”

Charlie didn’t even want to ask. He left Roman and dug through his drawers, returning with a pair of sweatpants and a tshirt.

When he entered the bathroom to give it to Roman, he was pinned against the wall and kissed.

Charlie grunted at the surprise and dropped the clothing. Roman gnawed up Charlie’s neck to his jaw. Charlie was going to mention Suzie in the next room but Roman’s touch was too arousing to stop. “Will this turn you back?”

“I fucking hope not. I’m done being a dog for the night.” Roman unfastened Charlie’s belt and then his button and zipper. He exposed Charlie’s cock from his clothing and kissed him.

Charlie held onto Roman tightly, deepening the kiss as his length was fondled and tugged.

Roman held both their cocks upright together, and fisted them. Charlie broke the kiss. “Oh, I gotta see this.” He looked downwards, widening his stance for balance. Both of them watched as Roman used two hands to jerk them off.

Charlie was soon coated in sweat and gasping for breath. The sight of their dicks pressed side by side and being given a handjob was too good to be true. “I’m there,” he said, squeezing Roman’s shoulders. Roman increased the tightness of his grip and the speed of his fisting.

Charlie’s cum sprayed out like a fountain of cream, running down Roman’s knuckles. Roman’s cock erupted a second later, adding to the oozing cum. With the semen as lube, Roman gave both of their dicks a slow massage. Charlie cupped Roman’s head and opened his mouth, sucking on Roman’s tongue as he panted and recuperated.

“Uh. Guys?”

Charlie backed up from Roman’s kiss. “Yeah, Suzie?” Charlie grabbed a towel and handed it to Roman.

“The shamans from Ute are only healers and they don’t call them shamans. You sure about the tribe, Roman?”

“No. I’m not sure about anything.” Roman washed his hands and dragged the sweatpants up his legs as Charlie tucked himself into his jeans.

“We’ll be right out, Suzie. Sorry.” Charlie straightened his shirt and handed Roman the t-shirt.

“That was so good.” He pecked Roman’s lips. “I have got to get you straight, ‘cause I want that every day.”

“It isn’t good because I’m straight, babe.” Roman’s smiled wryly.

“You know what I mean.” Charlie checked his appearance in the mirror quickly then asked,

“We ready?”

“As we can be.”

He opened the door and found Suzie sitting on the floor cross-legged, sipping from her cup of coffee. “What do you know about the incident, Roman?” she asked.

“You want a cup?” Charlie pointed to the coffee mug.

“No, but I’m starving. You have any food?”

“I’ll find something for you.” Charlie headed to the kitchen, listening to Roman as he spoke.

~

Roman sat on the sofa and ran his hand through his damp hair. “I remember a woman’s face. It was painted red with white and blue stripes.”

“The shaman legends are mostly from eastern Europe.” Suzie sipped more coffee. “The local tribes have medicine people, but I’m not seeing anything from the Indian Nations that could turn you into something not human.” Suzie scrolled down the computer screen.

“Can I have a stab at it? I have a little research experience.” Roman caught the scent of eggs frying and heard his stomach grumble.

“Sure.” Suzie scooted over.

Roman picked up the computer. When was the last time he had access to one. And a phone!

“Charlie!” His unexpected shout scared Suzie and she jumped.

“What?” Charlie rushed into the room, a plate and spatula in his hand. “You changin’? You need me to open the door?”

“Can I borrow your cell phone?” Roman held out his hand.

“In my coat pocket. Over there.” Charlie walked back to the stove. “Your omelet’s done.”

“Thanks, babe.” Roman dug through Charlie’s pockets and removed the cell phone, he flipped it open and paused to remember Phil’s number. Rubbing his face, he struggled. He held up the phone and punched in the numbers, putting it to his ear. A loud metallic tone sounded, then a recorded message, “The number you have reached has been disconnected…if you feel—”