Headlights stretched across the gravel as Rocky pulled into his new driveway. She leaned into him and they kissed as if they'd done it thousands of times. It warmed him from the inside and he wanted more.
"Easy Alpha," she said and shoved him gently.
"Come by tomorrow morning and I'll see about introducing you to Anne."
"Your Cherokee landlord's name is Anne?"
"Yep. Why?"
"I guess I was expecting something else."
"You won't be expecting her, no matter what you're expecting. Bring your thickest skin," he said.
"Will do."
He opened the car door and stood with his bag of Ibuprofen, then turned to look at her through the window. She rolled it down.
"I can't tell you what today meant," he said.
"I know. See you tomorrow."
The car lurched as the transmission shifted into reverse and she left without another word. Jason watched the headlights disappear and took his over-the-counter drugs in the house. He popped a couple in his mouth and cupped his hand under the kitchen faucet for a drink.
Peanut butter sandwiches and milk for dinner sounded wonderful as he hadn't eaten with Rocky. He got to work fixing the food and poured a tall glass. All was devoured in seconds.
The sparseness of glassware in the kitchen, and furniture throughout the house pleased him. It was less for him to break. He was also glad that most of the items were new and would be easier to replace than if the home had been furnished with antiques. He was also happy about the lack of carpet-only a few small remnants that he rolled up and stuck in the closet of his bedroom. Any blood stains would disappear into the old hardwood if he cleaned them properly, but washing them out of carpet was a chore he hoped he would never have to repeat.
His shoulders and knees were sore. It happened at the beginning of the change. The joints loosened up and began to shift inside his skin, preparing for the metamorphosis. The pain killers helped, but only took the edge off. It was the longest part of the process although it had grown shorter over the years. His first change took two full weeks. The last change had only taken eight days.
Next would be his hair. He had taken to shaving most of his body like a swimmer. Whatever hormones caused hair growth followed the joint pain which was followed by his canine teeth. His own teeth were somewhat pronounced to begin with. His jaw would widen, and the fangs would grow between them, turning his human teeth somewhat and shifting them outward. It was a painful and slow process.
The twisting of his bones and the change in color and size of his irises came at the end, just before his consciousness shifted, making him more animal than man.
He had it all planned out. There were things he would need to bolt down. Dishes and glasses, a coffeemaker that would go into the hall closet, safe from his primal form. He might even remove the cabinet doors in the kitchen as he had broken some in past transformations. Broken doors were expensive. Broken windows were expensive.
The next morning, Anne was coming for the rest of her money. He would ask her about meeting with Rocky.
Jason lay down on the bed Anne had prepared for him in the small bedroom. It hugged his body well enough and he drifted quickly. Icy gray eyes stared at him behind his eye lids. They seemed to be smiling.
White darted and danced ahead of him. Their pups were grown and his routine had become hers. She went with him daily to the stream to watch the family. The father had returned with a kill. Several rabbits and other small creatures had been skinned and their meat smoked over the ever burning fire.
The human mother fashioned a blanket and some clothing for the tiny child, some warmer items for the impending winter. It cooed and giggled as she tickled its feet and then wrapped them in the animal skin.
Blue lowered its head and uttered a deep growl. Gray turned quickly and without thinking, charged him, gnashing brilliant teeth. His message was clear to his challenger. White pranced by, proud of her mate.
Blue continued to antagonize, and Gray worried the humans might hear the commotion. He took the argument toward the woods, driving his opponent deeper into the trees. It worked until Blue charged, striking and gripping Gray's shoulder with massive jaws.
The desire to howl in pain was great, but Gray resisted and bit back, harder and deeper. Blue showed neither fear nor pain. Gray reared back and batted at the younger wolf with both front paws, then followed with a powerful bite across the blue wolf's face. A fang on his lower jaw pierced Blue's eye and tore the lid free. He yelped and backed off, pawing at the wound.
Gray paused, then struck once more to drive his point home, biting at one of Blue's legs. The younger wolf, bested, limped into the trees.
The alpha watched until comfortable his challenger was not coming back and then returned his attention to the people. Somehow they hadn't heard the scuffle. Their life carried on just the same, fifty yards beyond the edge of Gray's woods.
Pale green eyes watched him watch them. Then she spoke.
"I'm glad I found you," her voice said.
Gray turned, searching for the source of the words to find Rocky. She changed from human to wolf form in front of his eyes. The transformation was quick, like time-lapsed film, but he found it beautiful.