by Savage Rose
A long moment passed in silence, broken only by her quiet sobs and sniffles as she struggled to regain control over herself. It was slow going. Cheri stood, and she ached for the warmth of her comfort.
“You should have told me the truth sooner, sugar.”
“I know. I’m so sorry.” What else was there to say?
“Come on, let’s get you home.” What? Cheri’s impossible kindness cut deeper than any anger Lara had imagined.
“I can’t— I’ll shift if I have to fly.” As painful as all this was, it still felt remarkable saying that, sharing her fear with someone who could understand. She had felt so alone for so long…
“Oh… I think I can help with that,” Cheri said. Lara risked a glance at the woman, her dark, manicured hand extended to help Lara up, her face as sweet as her voice. Lara took her hand, finding herself less than steady on her feet, but able to stay upright.
“How?” she asked the woman, completely at a loss as to what Cheri was planning, but also, and more importantly, why she would bother.
“I know a guy,” came the reply, with the ghost of a playful smirk.
* * *
A private jet. Darrek O’Marley, Pornography Star Extraordinaire, has a goddamn PRIVATE JET. It was difficult to get her brain to register any other thoughts, not that Lara hadn’t tried. But standing on the tarmac, looking at the shiny, black, obviously phallic jet, she couldn’t seem to manage. Until the man himself emerged from the jet’s door at the top of the short flight of stairs. She hadn’t been sure what to picture whenever she found herself in a bout of jealousy at the thought of the actor who had made Cheri so protective, but it hadn’t been this.
The man was tall and broad, his thick muscles standing out even through his gray sweater and blue jeans. A short but full beard framed his cheerful smile, making his blue eyes sparkle. Long, thick, dark hair fell past his shoulders. He looks like HUNTER! It was no wonder he had been chosen for the part. He fit Cheri’s descriptions with almost frightening precision, almost as if she’d… Lara’s heart threatened to stop beating entirely, and she wavered on her feet, throwing an unintentional glare at Cheri, who was waving back at her friend, a composed smile gracing her beautiful face. He IS Hunter. A memory struck her… Cheri’s frightened voice admitting, I always find myself identifying with… with Hunter. Suddenly she had a whole new understanding of the relationship between the woman she wanted and the man Cheri protected.
“You must be Lara!” the man called, his voice a rich and resonant bass that carried easily as he trotted down the stairs and extended his hand to her. She took it, squeezing in a handshake, but he brought it to his lips instead, pressing a kiss to the back of his own hand. She blinked. The hell—? She let out a startled laugh, and he grinned, showing beaming white teeth with pronounced canines that gave him a distinctly wolfish air. But for all that, he was human.
“Mr. O’Marley,” she said, her voice cracking a bit. She wondered how much Cheri had told him.
“All things considered, I think you can call me Darrek. Cheri says you’re not much of a fan of flying.” Well, if she’d said even half of the things she’d learned about Lara over the weekend, it didn’t show on his face. His air of easy calm was infectious, although she was far beyond capable of actually being calm at the moment, she found herself relaxing regardless.
“Ah, yeah.”
“Well, no worries. I guarantee to give you a smooth ride.” Is he talking about the plane? He had BETTER be talking about the plane. “You’ll be back in Juneau before you know it.” Now there was a sad thought. She glanced back at Cheri, her heart beating against her ribs as if it wanted nothing more than to break free and stay. “Are you ready?” Lara swallowed hard against the lump in her throat and nodded. She ascended the stairs, her legs shaking, Darrek placing a hand on her back to guide her… she pushed down the urge to shrink away from his touch, still thinking about that guarantee he’d made and what he might have meant by it. She had no sooner sat in the cushy leather upholstered seat beside one of the windows than panic swallowed her whole, and she felt that insistent drive to shift overtaking her. She bolted for the door, nearly slamming into Darrek on her way.
“I can’t do this! I can’t!” she screeched, and Cheri ran to her, bounding up the stairs, her breasts bouncing hypnotically with the movement.
“Shhh, I’m here, sugar. You’re alright,” Cheri soothed, her arms wrapping around Lara, letting her sink into the soft, warm embrace. “Now listen, sugar,” she murmured, her mouth brushing Lara’s cheek as she spoke, making her shiver with useless want, “I’ve been your friend for a year now. That isn’t going to change. You have a fiancé waiting for you. I’m your friend, sugar, and I’ve got to get you back home. I’ll stay with you the whole flight if you want, alright?” Lara clung to Cheri, knowing there was no other choice. Her course was set. It had been set before she’d even left Alaska.
“Uh, yes? Please?” she pleaded through fresh tears. Cheri squeezed her tight, then drew back, taking her hand as she had so many times and leading her back into the jet. Darrek watched them both with extreme interest, shutting the door behind them.
“I’ll let the pilot know we’re good to go. Make yourselves to home. The bar is all stocked up, and there’s a bed in the back if you… discover a need for a little lay down.” His meaning was undeniable this time, and Lara blushed hotly, swiping the tears from her cheeks. “I’ll give you two some privacy,” he added, going into the cockpit and closing the door.
“So that’s Hunter Black,” Lara said softly, hoping Cheri would be up for the distraction. The woman sat in the seat Lara had leapt from only moments before, patting the one beside her. Lara sat obediently, fastening her lap belt as she saw Cheri do the same.
“In the flesh,” Cheri agreed. “What do you think?”
“He’s just how I pictured him. Not how I pictured Darrek, though.”
“Really? And how was that, sugar?” Cheri inquired, flashing Lara a soft smile.
“More of an unlikable jerk.” Cheri laughed. “Clean-cut, maybe a suit, definitely not in possession of his own private jet.”
“He’s done well for himself,” Cheri said simply.
“How did you meet him?” It was a question she had asked herself over and over, especially since Cheri’s response to that question during the panel.
“Oh… Well… His talents extend past pornography. I met him when I was searching for a photographer for my pin-up shots, and we got on really well. He’s also… he designed my… my strap-on.” Lara’s eyebrows rose with alarming speed. “He’s the only other person who has ever known about that particular… interest of mine. I was really in need of a friend back then, and he’s a good one. We look out for each other.” Just like she had done with her little gay werewolf friend. And maybe what she’s doing for me now?
The rumble of engines roaring to life silenced them both. Lara clutched the leather armrests fearfully, fighting back the need to shift. Then Cheri’s hand clasped hers, just as tight. The realization of their shared unease made Lara smile.
“Thank you for this.” She wished she could express it more eloquently, but at least she’d said it at all. Cheri nodded with a tight smile. As hard as this is for me, this must be so much harder for her. I don’t deserve her. I never did, and I never will.
The turbulence was minor, and before long they were headed homeward, just as smoothly as Darrek had promised. The real turbulence, as it happened, was taking place inside Lara as she thought over her options, or lack thereof. She wanted Cheri. She would always want Cheri. But she couldn’t turn her back on her family. They were counting on her. And she couldn’t break Alexander’s heart. He was a good man, a good wolf, and he didn’t deserve that. Cheri didn’t deserve this either.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you, Cheri.” The woman let out a long sigh, then turned to Lara.
“My friend… he told me his pack was small. He was expected to marry into another pack to forge an alli
ance and produce… children. Is that… is that what you’re doing?” Lara hesitated, then nodded. She shouldn’t have been surprised. It was a common enough expectation for smaller packs. Still, knowing Cheri’s dear friend had faced such a harsh reality eased something in her heart. “I can’t stand in the way of pack law. I… we can still talk online, stay in touch and maybe even write together, but I can’t… I don’t think we should write romance anymore,” Cheri said, her eyes fixed on her hands. It broke Lara’s heart, the obvious truth Cheri spoke.
“Okay,” she agreed, her voice hollow. At least she wasn’t losing the closest friend she’d ever had. She’d screwed up enough things for several lifetimes.
The flight was short, and the landing was just as minimally worrisome as takeoff, not that it kept Cheri and Lara from clutching each other’s hands. But after the jet had come to a complete stop, Lara found herself unable to get enough air no matter how much she tried. She was gasping for breath, eyes squeezed shut, claws pushing from her fingertips. Cheri unbuckled herself and knelt before her, flinging her arms around Lara’s waist.
“It’s alright, sugar. We’re here. You’re home.” The words weren’t comforting, but her voice was, her touch was, and Lara finally calmed enough to take a full breath. She looked down at the beautiful, curvaceous woman in her lap… everything she’d ever wanted. Cheri’s eyes met hers, shining with unshed tears, and for a long moment they simply held each other’s gaze, heat and tension building between them.
“I don’t want to go,” Lara said, her voice cracking.
“I don’t want you to go, sugar,” Cheri answered. Darrek entered, the ready grin on his handsome, bearded face wobbling a bit as he took in the women’s emotional embrace.
“Well, if you’re not going to use the bed, Cher, I’m taking a nap,” he said, his joking tone soft as he passed them and gave them back the privacy he hadn’t meant to invade. Cheri unfastened Lara’s seat belt, making butterflies rampage violently in her stomach. The woman returned to her chair, looking defeated and exhausted.
“I should go,” Lara forced herself to say. It felt like she was controlling someone else’s body, as she rose from the seat, grabbed her bag, and walked stiffly to the door.
“Wait! Wait!” yelled a deep male voice. Darrek suddenly bounded in like an excitable puppy and jumped between her and the door. “I’m going open this door, Lara, and you can go marry your four-day-fiancé if you must, but I’d hate myself forever if I didn’t do this,” he said, his words rushing in a boisterous preamble as he suddenly swept her into his arms and gave her a bear hug that lifted her more than a foot off the ground. She let out a startled yelp, and struggled for a moment, then all the fight left her and she hung there, letting a giant, goofy, likable porn star hug the bejeezus out of her. He set her carefully on her feet and swung the door open, just like he promised. She took a bracing breath, sparing one last longing glance at Cheri who was sitting in her chair, looking out the window, tears making shining streaks down her plump cheeks.
“It was so good to finally see you in person,” Lara murmured, and Cheri choked back a sob.
“You too, sugar,” she managed. It’s over, Lara said to herself as she descended the short staircase and headed to the airport, her bag slung over her shoulder. She was an hour later than she’d expected to be, but there was a chance her parents were still waiting for her.
“Lara!” Nolee Hunt called, the smile on her face vanishing as she took in her daughter’s appearance. Brady nodded once to himself, as if she was somehow confirming something he had been thinking. Had she missed something here? What was going on? Nolee tucked Lara’s hair behind her ears, studying her face. “I know you don’t want to do this, Lara, but Alexander isn’t so awful, is he?”
“No, Mom, he’s not. It’s just… been a hard weekend. I’m looking forward to a good night’s rest.” Brady took her bag and loaded it into the back of their dinged up blue sedan.
“Well, you’ll need your rest,” he said, shutting the trunk. “Big day tomorrow.”
No fucking kidding. Lara pretended to sleep on the ride back to Douglas, knowing she couldn’t answer the questions her parents no doubt had for her. No, Alexander wasn’t so awful, but he wasn’t Cheri. The woman who she’d given her virginity to, who had taken it with such tenderness and reverence. The woman who had shared so much of herself only to find they shared so much in common. The woman she had grown to love.
* * *
The night air felt glorious running through Lara’s fur. It was a feeling she never grew tired of, even now, sitting on the small forested hill outside the large log home her pack had built, her heart shattering into pieces so small she doubted they could ever fit back together again. Her ears flitted back as she heard someone approaching through the underbrush downwind of her, but she didn’t have the strength to turn, to see. She didn’t have the strength for anything but sitting here and mourning what she’d lost even though she was never meant to have.
“Want com-pany?” asked a soft, familiar, halting male voice. Alexander. She did turn, and her bleary eyes immediately registered his half-wolf state, just as she currently was. Had he done that on purpose, or did he too notice the soothing properties of this best-of-both-worlds form? He made a strikingly handsome wolfman, gray-brown fur lightening to white down his chest and abdomen, his clawed hands strong and capable, that same sweet wolf face she remembered.
“Did my parents send for you?” she asked, working hard to keep her tone light and conversational. He shook his head.
“I… had them… call me u…en you g-got back.” He was still struggling with those trickier sounds, Lara noted. He was so precious.
“Excited about tomorrow?” she asked, maintaining that casual tone as best she could. He glanced down, brow knotting for a moment, then he nodded and took her hand. Although she waited for it, no electricity shot through her, the way it always did with Cheri.
“I hope I can… make… ee-oo happy.” Cheri. I have to tell him. I can’t marry him while I’m carrying around this horrible lie.
“I’m more worried about making you happy,” she breathed, and he cocked his head innocently. She wanted to just forget it, try to justify her silence, to be the coward she was. But she could so vividly recall Cheri shaking with fear as she laid her deepest vulnerabilities bare, and there was no choice. She had to be brave too. “I’m not a virgin anymore,” she began, her stomach doing flip-flops.
“That okay, Lara,” he intoned, his halting voice still full understanding. “I-mm not either.” Somehow that surprised her. He seemed so shy and reserved, she had expected him to be as inexperienced as she was… or had been. She forced herself back on track, ready to tell him everything, hoping it wouldn’t destroy everything as well.
“Alexander, when I went to Seattle, I—”
“Lara!” Nolee ran at full speed through the trees to her daughter, her human body weaving and dodging with practiced ease. She grabbed Lara’s shoulder, urgency in her grip. “Something is in the forest! Change!” Lara’s pulse skyrocketed, and she locked eyes with Alexander, who looked just as terrified as she was. “Both of you!” Nolee added, throwing two piles of clothes down and stood guard, her keen brown eyes scanning the trees as the two young werewolves shifted as fast as they could.
Lara dressed herself with shaking hands that were still losing their fur, zipping up her tattered black jeans and throwing on the plaid button down shirt, which she simply crossed over her breasts, getting nowhere with her attempts to fasten the buttons. Alexander was having difficulty maintaining his balance as his legs continued shifting, and had only managed getting one leg into his jeans by the time she had pulled on her XtraTufs and headed deeper into the woods, stalking the predator that had mistaken her for prey. As she heard the crunch of hesitant footsteps, Nolee gave her a nod, and made a wide circle. Lara knew this move. Whatever was out there was going to be headed right for her in a moment.
What had begun as slow, cautious steps su
ddenly broke into a full-on run, complete with heavy, strained breaths, but as Lara listened, what sounded like the four footfalls of a particularly panicked bear became two distinctly different sets of two… Humans! Well, this is an awful lot of trouble to go to for two—
“Oof!” Lara exclaimed as something solid barreled into her, knocking her flat onto her back, her unbuttoned shirt sliding apart to reveal her breasts.
“Oh! Are you— I’m so sorry, miss, I— Lara?” The young werewolf opened her eyes to see Darrek crouching over her, his thick, expressive eyebrows lifted in surprise.
“Darrek!” Lara hissed, yanking her shirt closed again, sounding more upset than she was.
“There’s something out there! We’ve got to—” It was hard not to laugh at his completely understandable and yet totally off-base panic.
“I know there’s something out there. It’s my mom. She was trying to figure out who was in our woods. So… why are you in our woods?”
“Looking for you! Cheri— Oof!” His explanation was cut short as something barreled into him, knocking him over easily and sending that large, brown, curvaceous something reeling. CHERI?!? Darrek quickly darted out a hand, latched onto Cheri’s arm, and pulled her back, causing her to fall with unreasonable grace into his lap. Lara noticed she had changed out of her fancy dress and corset, and was now dressed in dark blue jeans, a blue sequined top, a short black leather jacket, and leopard ballet flats, easily the most sensible shoes Lara had ever seen her wear. Cheri let out a short, frustrated growl and slapped Darrek’s arm lightly.
“What did you do that for?!” the woman demanded, standing and brushing the dried leaves off her beautiful, round backside with one hand while the other clutched her purse protectively.
“I found her,” he chirped, gesturing with a casual thumb to Lara, sprawled out beside him, her eyes locked on the woman she never thought she would see again. Who she never should see again. Why had Cheri followed her? Lara sat up slowly, checking herself for injury. She felt fine, save for the sharp, stabbing pain in her heart, but she couldn’t blame that on the fall or Darrek. She rose to her feet, trying to think of what she could possibly say that would make any of this better. Darrek cleared his throat pointedly.