by GA Hauser
Charlie brought the saddle to a wall peg and hung it up. Butch was scraping out the ice from Scout's hooves.
When Roman moved closer to help, one of the horses reared and slammed into a wooden wall with a loud bang, making all four of the animals panic.
"Roman!" Butch said, avoiding a kick from his horse. "Can ya just go? Ya smell more like a wolf to them than a person."
"Jesus." Roman sniffed his hand. "I can't smell it."
Charlie tried to settle the animals down again, but he was almost as bad as Roman was in that department at the moment. And Butch's frustration was evident.
"All right." Charlie removed the bit and bridle from the anxious gelding slowly. "I'm not even goin' to try to clean their shoes, Butch. I'll get a kick to the head."
"I know." Butch picked up his horse's back leg and worked on the ice again.
"Bye." Roman crept to the door so he wouldn't startle the horses.
When he left the animals were slightly easier to deal with. Charlie managed to get them all out of their saddles and bridles and brought them to their stalls until Butch could tend them, brush them down, and make sure they were free of ice and packed snow.
He adjusted his cowboy hat and observed Butch settle Scout into his stall.
"I need to get the other horses inside," Butch said.
Charlie nodded. "I can at least do that."
"You scare 'em up the mountains, I will kill you."
"Nope. I'll send them this way. Promise." Charlie headed outside and looked up at the sky, which was cloudy and there was a slight chance of more snow.
Feeling tired, Charlie moved to the paddock, opened the fence, swinging back the wooden gate. Then he walked to the farthest end of the corral and stood there. The small herd of eight horses trotted out of the paddock and directly into the barn. He followed them, making sure Butch was able to get each one into their stalls as they huddled close to each other, as if in defense mode.
Although he made them nervous, Charlie took hold of their halters and one by one, brought them to their stalls, making sure they had water and food.
Once they were closed into their stalls, Charlie shook his head. "This really sucks."
"Tell me about it." Butch tossed the pick he had been using to clean the ice into a tack box and took off his gloves so he could rub his face. "If you and Roman are goin' to terrify the livestock, I need help."
Charlie didn't want to hire someone full time, not when he could be doing the work himself. "If when we get back from Heber, I…we…still have this problem, we'll talk about it."
Butch shook his head as he left the stable, muttering, "Why? Huh? Why is this bullshit back again?"
After picking up the basket of eggs, Charlie shut the light overhead and followed him. He wanted an answer to the same question. It just didn't make sense.
~
Roman stood in front of a full length mirror, topless, and inspected his chest. A slight residual pain was present, but the mark was gone. Roman stared into his own eyes, seeing the wolf inside him clearly now.
He gasped and spun around.
The man with the sword had shown himself in the reflection.
"Who are you!" Roman yelled, looking around the room. "Show yourself, you coward!"
He heard a low growl and it made the goose bumps rise on his arms. Roman backed up and made for his duty pistol, which was on the dresser. He pulled it out of its holster and gripped it tightly. "Show yourself! What do you want?"
Something moved. Roman could see it out of the corner of his eye. He spun around, aimed the gun and it vanished. "Chicken shit." Roman inspected the bedroom, gun raised and ready to fire. He ended up pointing it at himself in the mirror. Behind him a figure stood, holding a sword, but not threatening, the point lowered down to the floor.
Roman spun around again, aiming his pistol but the man had vanished. He snarled in frustration and faced the mirror, lowering the gun. Again it materialized.
"Who are you?" Roman asked, softly, but growing angry…which made his body react badly.
When the man's lips moved, his voice was out of sync with the words, as if he were watching a video that had been dubbed. In a strange frequency, that made Roman wince, he heard, "Your Alpha."
"My…?" Roman narrowed his eyes at the image and again, whipped around, his hand sweaty on the gun grip, seeing nothing. "My what? My alpha? What the fuck does that mean?" Roman looked into the mirror again.
"Roman?" Charlie's voice was outside his door.
The door opened and Charlie poked his head in. Charlie opened his mouth to speak and then spotted the gun.
Roman walked to the dresser and put it back in its holster.
Charlie entered the room and looked around. "Please tell me you were practicin' dry-firin'."
"No." Roman sat on the bed and rubbed his face, trying to keep a level head.
Charlie sat beside him, leaning on his shoulder. "Butch is lettin' Vernon know we're going up there tomorrow."
"Okay." Roman rested his head on Charlie's, trying to find comfort.
"Come 'ere, baby." Charlie cupped Roman's jaw and brought him to his lips.
At the contact, Roman turned to face Charlie and they lay down on the bed together, kissing. Charlie touched the naked skin at Roman's neck and shifted on the bed to get closer. Roman began unbuttoning Charlie's flannel shirt, opening it wide on his chest. Charlie shrugged it off and went for Roman's zipper, their passion heating up. Roman shifted on the bed and stripped off his lower half of clothing as Charlie did the same. Once they were nude, Roman dragged Charlie under him, so they were lying lengthwise on the bed. Roman straddled Charlie and righted their cocks, rubbing against Charlie's pubic hair and swirling his tongue around Charlie's in their mouths.
Under him, Charlie moaned and ground against Roman.
"Wanna fuck you," Roman said between their lips.
Charlie grabbed Roman's hair and pressed their mouths harder together, whimpering and writhing on the bed.
Roman broke the kiss and sat up, over Charlie, looking down at his fit body, sculpted chest and powerful arms. His vision was drawn to Charlie's brown pubic hair and stiff blushing cock. Roman lowered down on the bed and enveloped Charlie's cock into his mouth. Charlie thrust his hips up and held Roman's head tightly as he fucked his mouth.
Roman inhaled Charlie's scent like a drug, and held the base of his gorgeous cut cock, sucking to the tip. Breathy gasps came from Charlie as he drew closer to a climax, his leg muscles tensing and thrusting upwards.
Roman tasted his pre-cum and moaned, sucking harder and faster, meeting his lips with his hand as he jerked Charlie off simultaneously.
"Roman! Yes!" Charlie gripped the bedding and arched his back, gasping and stifling a roar of pleasure.
Roman's mouth filled with Charlie's cum and he hummed as he held it on his tongue, milking Charlie for more. As Charlie recovered, Roman knelt up, feeling more like a top predator each day the wolf lingered inside him. He spread Charlie's legs and went for Charlie's rim, using the slippery cum in his mouth to lubricate his man. He forced Charlie's thighs apart, and pointed his cock at his wet rim. They met gazes.
Charlie was drenched in sweat and panting to catch his breath. Roman thrust in.
Charlie hissed out a breath of air and closed his eyes, his fingers clenched to the bedding. Holding Charlie's knees, Roman fucked him, staring at the connection, the contrast between his jet black pubic hair and Charlie's light brown. Roman thought about edging the climax but didn't, since another sensation was trying to overtake the pleasure.
He kept his gaze on the penetration and came, huffing out air and staying still, feeling his cock pulsating in the hot, tight hole. Charlie moaned and closed his eyes.
Roman thrust once more and pulled out, feeling the drops of sweat run down his temple and pits.
Then something pinned him to the bed, on top of Charlie. The force was so strong, Charlie had the wind knocked out of him and he made a noise of pain.
Roman tried to get to his elbows, to lean upwards to get away from the pressure, but he couldn't.
His neck was being held tightly, as if someone had their hand around it, and his legs were being forced apart. At the sense of being violated, Roman went wild, fighting an invisible foe.
Charlie was trapped underneath him, struggling to gain air and pushing against Roman's shoulders to move him away, but Roman was trapped.
"No!" Roman felt something between his legs and went into a cold panic. Pain seized him instantly and he yelled out in agony and dropped on Charlie as the pit of his stomach pinched and twisted.
~
After Butch finished his chores he entered the house and removed his coat, hat, and boots, intent on a shower and food. He was surprised Charlie wasn't in the kitchen cooking lunch, or dinner, or whatever they needed to eat. It was after three and he was starving. "Charlie?"
He walked down the hall when he heard noises. At first Butch assumed Charlie and Roman were having sex, but as he drew closer to their bedroom door, it sounded like something else. Something bad.
"Oh, fuck no." Butch rushed to his bedroom, picked up the twelve-gauge shotgun and then raced to the room where the men were. He threw open the door and pointed the gun.
A black wolf was on top of Charlie, snarling and snapping behind him, over its shoulder, as Charlie fought to get off the bed and away from the wolf.
"Roman! No!" Butch aimed the gun at Roman.
"Butch!" Charlie yelled when he saw what was going on. "No! It ain't Roman. Something's got him!"
Butch watched Charlie show his teeth, cringing in pain.
"Butch…" Charlie cried, "I can't…I'm tryin' but I can't."
"Can't?" Butch could not see what Roman was snapping his jaws at, but Charlie was right. It was behind Roman, not Charlie.
Confused at what was causing the chaos, Butch lowered the gun and went to touch Roman. Something immediately clawed his arm making him bleed.
Butch pulled back in alarm and aimed his gun again. "Git off him! Ya hear me! I will shoot!"
A blow knocked Butch to his ass and the gun fell to the floor.
Suddenly two wolves were in the room, and Butch watched them both biting at something he could not see. He backed up and dragged the shotgun with him. When he cocked it, he realized nothing was inside the barrel. It was unloaded.
"She-it!" Butch held the muzzle and began swinging the heavy wooden grip at the air. It hit something and he heard a whelp of pain.
He was knocked to his bottom again and something landed on him. It was so heavy, it pinned him to the wall and the gun fell from his grip.
Butch fought back, punching and kicking at the weight, and behind the invisible assailant both wolves were attacking it and going crazy biting and tearing.
Suddenly the weight vanished from Butch's body and he felt ice cold air whoosh by. The black wolf chased whatever it was to the window and snapped and snarled at it until it was exhausted.
Butch was in shock and sat still, looking at the shotgun on the floor. The tan wolf curled into a ball and went into spasms of pain as the black wolf sat on its haunches and panted heavily.
"I have lost my mind." Butch blinked and rubbed his injured arm.
Chapter 7
Charlie blew out loud breaths of air and was dripping sweat. He tried to sit up but the pain and dizziness was strong. As he came around from the change, he saw Butch leaning against the wall, holding his arm, and a black wolf, sitting under the window, panting, its pink tongue dripping saliva.
"Roman." Charlie begged with his expression. "Come back to us."
The big black wolf stood and shook out its fur, again and again.
Charlie knew Roman was trying to change back to human form. Suddenly the wolf dropped to the hardwood floor and whelped in pain.
Unwilling to witness the transformation, Charlie crawled over the floor to Butch who was watching, his eyes wide, his jaw hanging open. "What happened, Butch?" Charlie held Butch's hand and could see three red scratches down his forearm, all beading blood.
"God!" Roman cried in pain, "Fuck!"
Butch said softly, "That is so fucking nasty. Charlie, Roman needs ya more than I do."
Charlie looked over his shoulder at his lover. Roman was in a fetal position shivering.
Charlie met Butch's eyes and felt on the verge of tears. "I can't do this again, Butch. I can't."
"Ya have to, Charlie. For him." Butch tilted his head over to Roman, who was pale and lying on the floor.
"Don't move," Charlie told Butch and made his way across the room on his hands and knees to Roman. He caressed Roman's hair and rubbed his shoulder. "I'm here. Roman, keep your head about ya. Calm. Okay? Calm."
"He tried to fucking rape me." Roman showed his teeth, shaking and pale from fear.
"Who did?" Butch sat up in alarm. "Charlie?"
"No." Charlie shook his head at Butch and tried to get Roman into an embrace. "Calm. Please. Hold me. Hold me, Roman."
"Was it that guy?" Butch asked, scooting closer.
Charlie looked back at Butch as he drew Roman into an embrace. "What guy?"
"The…" Butch didn't answer, as if he were afraid.
Roman asked, "Then you saw him too?"
"Yeah."
Charlie didn't believe Butch. "What'd he look like?" He felt Roman's breathing soften and caressed his hair and back lovingly.
"Big fucker. Dark hair. Muscular. Carryin' a big ole sword."
Charlie lowered his head. "Yeah. That's him." He tried to get Roman to function, cupping his jaw and seeing Roman's faraway gaze. "Babe. Let's wash up. Okay?"
Roman slowly reached for the bed, trying to stand.
"When did ya see him, Butch?" Charlie helped Roman to his feet and made sure he was steady.
"Yesterday. In the reflection of my mirror." Butch looked down at his arm.
Roman took notice. He held Butch's wrist and inspected the scratches. "That bastard do that?"
"Yeah. Did you take the rounds out of my shotgun or did he?"
Charlie said, "Ya can't shoot him, Butch. So stop pointin' guns, okay? All you'll do is kill me or Roman, or put a hole through the house." He gestured to the bathroom. "We all need to wash up, and you need to tend that." He escorted both men to the master bathroom.
Once Charlie started the shower, he nudged Roman to it. "Go. Clean up. Let me disinfect Butch's arm."
"Let me shower first, Charlie. I was headed that way when I heard the commotion." Butch looked at his arm closely. "An' where's our food. Damn. I'm starved."
"It's been crazy here, boy." Charlie gave him a look of exasperation. "Go. Git cleaned up. Then I'll figure somethin' out."
"Okay." Butch left the bathroom.
Charlie stepped inside the bathtub behind Roman as he wetted down, sliding the shower door shut. He watched Roman wash his hair and they swapped spots. Roman appeared slow and exhausted.
"You okay?" Charlie tried to keep his emotions capped, but he was terrified.
Roman's top lip curled. "No. I'm not."
"Hush. Keep calm. I can't put up with this. I can't." Charlie forced himself to function and wash himself.
Roman snarled and clenched his fists. "He tried to fucking rape me."
"Alpha male, Roman. Of course he tried." Charlie rinsed off and moved so Roman could get at the showerhead and do the same.
"No one forces me to do anything."
Charlie could see Roman's green eyes begin to glow. "You calm down right now. Ya hear me? I can see yer gettin' yerself into a state. Now quit it."
Roman closed his eyes and let the hot water run over him.
Charlie felt sick and had no idea how they were going to fix this mess…again.
Roman shut off the water and rolled back the sliding door. He handed Charlie a towel and took one for himself.
"We need to fight him as men, not beasts." Charlie stepped out of the tub, rubbing the towel over his head and back.
"He wasn't
a man. He was a fucking wolf."
Charlie stopped what he was doing. "He…he was a wolf when you were a man?"
"Yes!"
Charlie held up his hand to stop Roman's rage. "Okay. Calm down. Okay." He could see it took all of Roman's inner strength to not blow up and become canine. "I didn't see a thing. I swear. All I felt was you land on me like a ton o' bricks."
"I couldn't see him either. But I smelled and felt him." Roman shivered, rubbing the towel up and down his arms and legs.
"Where on earth did he come from?" Charlie tossed the towel over the shower door.
"Earth? He didn't come from earth. He came from hell." Roman draped the towel over the rack and left the bathroom.
Charlie stood still, chills washing over his spine at the comment.
~
After his shower, Butch used peroxide to dab the three scratches on his arm. They weren't deep but they burned.
He heard the men's voices as they walked down the hall. Butch tossed the cotton puff into the trash and dressed in clean clothing. Once he was ready, he met them in the kitchen, Charlie opening cupboards and taking out canned soup.
"Did you call Vernon?" Roman asked, making a fresh pot of coffee.
"About?" Butch ran his hand over his damp hair.
"We're headed there tomorrow." Roman filled the carafe with water.
"Tomorrow? I thought you said Thursday. When did you change yer mind? Did you call the day workers, Charlie? Do they know?"
"No. I have to do that." Charlie opened up three cans of chicken soup.
"Then ya have to do that before I call Vernon. If we can't get someone to keep an eye on the place for a week, then…"
"We have to go, Butch." Roman sat at the kitchen table while the coffee brewed and Charlie heated up the soup.
"I know. Believe me." Butch sat across from him. "That's where this whole thing started. I know it's why you need to be there as soon as ya can."
"If it started there," Charlie asked, "Then why are we bein' haunted here?"