"Well," Clay said. "I think this is as good as it's going to get."
He'd been lurking in his bathroom staring at the mirror, as though if he waited long enough, he'd magically become confident and attractive. Instead, the gray and white wolf flexed his brawny arms - the only thing he liked about the way he looked - then sighed and jiggled his protruding belly. He took a moment to reminisce about how trim he'd been when he graduated high school and started college. But that was fourteen years ago, and he'd been working as an accountant for the last ten of those. I really need to do some cardio... but fuck it. I hate running.
Clay sighed and gingerly pulled on a white tank top, avoiding his headfur that he'd spend an embarrassing amount of time taming, layering it with a satiny burgundy button-down and a well-worn pair of jeans. He popped in a pair of contact lenses over his amber eyes, blinking them into place, then checked his phone.
The wolf had agreed to go to a Halloween party that his work friend Dirk was holding. They had formed a casual, conversational relationship over the last few months, and the younger stoat had decided it was his mission to get Clay a date. Unfortunately for Clay, this meant Dirk had given his phone number to over a dozen different girls who were too young, too needy, and vastly too female to be of any interest. Still, the wolf wasn't ready to be out at work, so he kept politely declining the ladies, making up increasingly flimsy excuses each time.
He'd debated going to the party at all, but Dirk had insisted that he "get out and be social". Clay thought that sounded like a wretched idea, honestly, but Dirk was the closest thing he had to a friend. And he'd become something of a shut-in after moving to the outskirts of Denver. The city boasted a bustling night-life, but he couldn't bring himself to partake in it alone. Clay always froze up when he met someone new, and when he finally brought himself to speak, he always said the most bizarre things. Nobody wants to listen to someone ramble on about the intricacies of Celtic mythology at a party; that's plain boring. He knew he worked best when he had someone he knew around, to introduce him to people and break the ice for him. And so, seeing no messages, he texted Dirk.
"Hey, leaving in a few minutes. Party's at 8, right? And are you sure you want me to come still?"
A long several minutes passed with no response. Clay nibbled his lower lip and stroked his claws through the coarse fur on his arm, debating sending a second text. I'll give him ten minutes. He's probably busy, unless he's started ignoring me... Nope! The wolf shook his head rapidly, then spoke out loud to himself. "Not tonight, bad thoughts! We're going out, and we're going to have a good time!"
As he was defiantly tying his scuffed, casual sneakers, his phone finally chimed. Clay practically dove for the device, hoping it was... Yes! Dirk had replied at last. "Dude, you need to chill. Of course I still want you to come! There's a few girls I want you to meet, you should definitely take one of them home!"
"I don't think that's going to happen, but I really appreciate it. I'll say hi, though!"
"Man, you're never going to get laid with that attitude. When was the last time you even hooked up? You're boring, and that is a SHAME."
Clay stopped to think. He supposed he hadn't really put much effort into finding someone to date. Denver was a progressive city; it wasn't like he had to hide his sexuality, but something about the mortifying experience of letting someone in... An icy shiver rippled through his body at the idea. He was boring, utterly unremarkable, and he knew it. Nobody was ever going to write the epic saga of Clay, the chunky wolf from accounting. Still, Clay was aware Dirk was trying to get a rise out of him, and tonight, he decided to entertain him.
"I remember the last time I got some like it was yesterday. Picture it: France, 1924..."
The wolf smirked at his friend's reply. "LOL. Yeah, I'm calling BS. You've never been to France in your boring little life. Come on, you're like, practically a gray-muzzle already! Live a little before you throw out your hip or something old people do."
"For your information, my fur was always gray and white. I can't help it, I was born like this."
"Ya, you were born old! Stop texting me and get your ancient ass over here! I showed your picture to my friend Suze, she said she can't wait to meet you!"
Clay rolled his eyes, texting that he was on his way, then grabbed his keys and locked the door to his little house as he began walking. By random coincidence, it turned out that Dirk lived only five blocks away, and although the air was a nippy 37?, the wolf knew his thick fur would keep him perfectly toasty on the walk. He could barely see his breath, and he huffed out a breath, a shiver of excitement running down his spine. Clay loved the change in seasons, and the change from fall to winter was his favorite. The crisp, cool air invigorated him, and his ears perked up as he walked a little faster towards his destination.
Dirk's house was the largest one on the block, a two-story stonework affair with a garage built into the house on the first floor. Or was that the basement? Clay idly wondered which it was as he cast his eyes around the artfully zero-scaped lawn. Circular beds of multicolored rocks stood out among a backdrop of white quartz that glittered in the moonlight, the only plant life around comprising a pair of pine trees and some hardy yucca with a few cacti. He remembered the stoat being very emphatic about water conservation, so Clay wasn't too surprised to see the lawn devoid of green. There were a few scattered furs about the front yard, some smoking cigarettes or vaping, others on their phones talking or texting.
One stood out in particular; a short, wiry panther, dressed in black slacks and a black button-down. He had a cigarette in one paw, and was tapping on his phone with the other. That's a lot of black. It works for him, though. Cute kid; makes me wish I was an intern again. Clay would've walked right past him, but he was standing right in front of the door, which meant... Oh, no. I have to talk to him! Shit! The wolf took a deep breath to steel himself and stepped up to the panther. "P-Pardon me..." Clay said hesitantly.
The panther kept tapping away on his phone, ignoring Clay. The wolf's eyebrow twitched, and he glared. He could understand people thinking he was weird, but ignoring him completely? That's just rude! "Hey! Hello?!" Clay raised his voice, flinching as he felt some onlookers turn to stare at him.
The feline lazily looked up. "Huh? Did you say... something..." Their eyes met, and Clay watched the cat's nose twitch as their pupils grew wide and round. "Oh. Shit. Hey there. Uh, sorry, but who the hell are you?"
Clay broke his gaze away as he bristled. "Excuse me? I'm trying to get inside. You're blocking the door. Please? I'm supposed to be meeting Dirk." He began sidling around the panther, squeezing his way towards the entrance.
"Wait!" The sable-furred cat flicked his cigarette into the rocks, then smoothed some invisible wrinkles on his half-tucked shirt. "I'll go with you! It's a big house, and there's a ton of people here. I can help you look for him."
"Did he hire security or something? Who are you?" Clay frowned as an awkward pause grew between them, and his anxiety raced. Shit, if he hired security, I just royally pissed off the bouncer! Is that who this guy is? Aw, man, I'm making an ass of myself. I should go home; This was a mistake, I never should've -
"Isaiah! My name's Isaiah," the panther blurted out, holding out his paw for a shake. "Sorry! No, I don't think there's security; I'm here for the company."
The wolf clasped Isaiah's proffered paw and shook it. The panther's grip was surprisingly firm for his lithe build, though his paw was cold. Little flakes of snow drifted down, too warm to stick to anything, but it was a reminder that Colorado weather was, if nothing else, predictable. The trick-or-treaters that Clay had seen as he walked wore thick, puffy jackets, and earmuffs or hats completed the ensemble. Several kids had been whining as their parents forced them into the winter garb, complaining that their costumes were ruined, which had made Clay chuckle. Then, he realized that he'd been holding Isaiah's paw for almost two full minutes, and immediately released it.
"Sorry! A-About your hand, I mean. I uh..." Clay sheepishly rubbed a paw along the back of his head, looking down at his feet. "No, yeah, I don't have a good reason for that. I got lost in my head a little bit. My bad."
The panther laughed gently, and the wolf noticed for the first time how deep Isaiah's voice was. It rumbled like thunder, sending a shiver down his spine. "Don't worry about it." Isaiah leaned in to whisper in the wolf's ear. "I enjoy holding paws with cute guys, anyway."
Clay's ears folded back as his face flushed with heat. "Oh! Okay, I guess? Ah, l-let's go find Dirk! Right... right now..." The wolf reached for the doorknob, still maneuvering around the unmoving Isaiah, and had to almost hug him to get to the door. Fortunately, he got it open without being too awkward around this incredibly forward feline, but then a blast of stiflingly hot air, combined with a throbbing bass line, assaulted his senses.
The varied scents coming from the house overwhelmed his sensitive wolfen nose. There was the crush of people grinding against each other with their assorted colognes and perfumes, the astringent scent of various alcoholic beverages that had either been imbibed or spilled, and the sweat from the heat of all those furry bodies packed against each other. And Clay's ears weren't spared either; the speakers dotted throughout the house pounded out a high-energy dance beat, and he wondered how expensive Dirk's door was that he hadn't heard all this before he'd opened it.
Clay flinched back, as if slapped, and his fight-or-flight response surged his body with adrenaline. Everything in him screamed to turn around and run, to leave the party and never come back. He could make up some excuse to tell Dirk. Tight spaces made his skin crawl, and he didn't particularly enjoy heat or loud noises either, not with his thick fur and sharp hearing. He mumbled something to Isaiah about not being up to a party after all, and that he was going to go. Clay didn't even consciously think about what he was saying. He simply wanted to leave, to get out, to sprint away until his lungs couldn't take any more. He couldn't be here, not tonight, not with all these people. "I've really gotta go. Sorry, I - "
Clay's racing thoughts calmed as two cool paws wrapped around his own. "Dude, chill. You just got here! Here, put these on." Isaiah pressed a pair of headphones into his paw. "You've got good ears, don't you? I'm sure this is a lot. Those are noise canceling; it won't be perfect, but it should take the edge off."
"Oh. Thanks? I... well, thanks." Clay slipped the earbuds in, and there was a brief hum as the surrounding sounds quieted. He breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, my God. That's so much better."
"Yeah!" The panther's deep voice was muffled slightly, but still loud enough to hear without straining. "Now come on. Let's find Dirk for ya."
Clay stumbled as Isaiah slid past him, tugging at the paw that the panther had regained a hold on. Surprised at the unexpected closeness, the wolf allowed himself to be led through the crowd. Isaiah seemed to have a knack for dodging people, and Clay was relieved to avoid bumping into anyone.
The front door opened into a small room with a switchback staircase leading to the upper floor. A hall to the left of the stairs led to a living room, with another sitting area through an entryway to Clay's right. The panther led him up the stairs, where a short hallway held a closed door on either side to the left, one door immediately to the right, and open doors on either end of the hallway. Clay caught sight of a pair of sinks and a toilet through the left-hand door before being whisked away to the open door on the right.
The wolf barely could squeeze into the bedroom, there were so many people in it. But, sitting on the bed, one arm each around a pair of girls, sat Dirk. The brown-furred stoat saw the looming wolf enter and immediately beamed at him. He said something, but Clay couldn't hear over the chatter of the partygoers and his borrowed headphones. Isaiah pulled him closer regardless, and finally, the wolf stood before his friend.
"Clay!" Dirk shouted. "Man, I thought you'd have been here a while ago! Where've you been hiding?"
Clay ears burned. "Oh, well, I got caught up talking to Isaiah here." Reluctantly, the wolf pulled his paw from Isaiah's. It hadn't really been that long, but he'd enjoyed the simple touch. Damn, am I really that lonely? He only wanted to guide me through the house. But... he was flirting with me earlier, right? Or am I reading too much into things? He shook his head, smoothing his headfur down. "It's, ah, a little loud in here, isn't it?"
"Come on, old man, it's a party!" Dirk clapped the shoulder of the girl on his right. "This is Suze! She's been waiting for you all night."
The wolf spared her a courteous glance. She was a pretty enough doe, he supposed. She was definitely Dirk's type: big boobs, soft fur, a speckled brown and white pattern on her face. Unfortunately for Suze, she lacked a... well. She wasn't a guy, was she? But that wasn't her fault, and his friend didn't know his preferences because he'd intentionally stayed silent on the matter. His previous job ostracized him for his orientation, and he'd been the butt of constant snide jokes. HR hadn't seemed to care, and because he'd been working in the South, he'd put up with it. When the opportunity arose to switch to a new employer in a more gay-friendly state, he'd leaped at the chance. It was a nice pay bump, and he'd enjoyed being able to go to gay bars again, but he simply couldn't risk this wonderful new job by being the only openly gay man on the team. Sadly, that meant he didn't have a good way to get out of talking to Suze, not with her standing right in front of him.
"Hey, good to meet you." Clay smiled as best he could as butterflies danced in his stomach. He hated talking to new people, but this was exactly what he'd signed up for. Oh well. Guess I'd better get this over with as fast as possible.
"Hey there, big guy." The doe twisted a caramel-colored curl around a willowy finger as she looked out from beneath her bangs. "What are you dressed up as?"
"Oh, um..." Clay choked. "I didn't have time to put together a costume. This is just, well, me."
"Well, you look good, Mr. Big, Bad Wolf," she purred. Suze reached out to trace a finger along the bulge of Clay's pecs. "You wanna get a drink with me?"
Okay, she's... very forward. At least I got what she's looking for, I guess? "A drink sounds pretty good," he replied honestly. "Let's go - "
"I'll go with you!" Isaiah cut in, clapping a paw to the wolf's shoulder. Clay jumped; he thought Isaiah had left by now.
"S-Sure, the more the merrier?" The wolf spoke hesitantly, but was glad that he'd have someone else to do some talking. Isaiah seemed like the extroverted type, so Clay thought that perhaps he'd be able to foist Suze off on the panther and get out of talking entirely. "You want to lead the way?"
Isaiah smiled and nodded wordlessly, turning and walking into the crowded hallway. The wolf watched him walk, observing the sway of his hips. Is it my imagination, or is he showing off? Not that I mind - that ass... Halfway down the hall, the panther turned and raised an eyebrow, smirking, and he mouthed the word, "Coming?"
Suze grabbed Clay's paw and dragged him from his stupor into the hallway. The pounding music seemed to have gotten louder, and its pulse thrummed behind the wolf's eyes, the beginnings of a headache echoing in his temples. They wound their way through to the kitchen, where colorful cases of cans and bottles crowded the counter. There were some nearly empty pizza boxes as well, and Clay absently wondered how long they'd been sitting out. He decided that it didn't matter, because it was pizza, and snagged a slice to munch on as Isaiah leaned in to shout in Suze's ear. "What're you having, gorgeous?" The panther winked at her, and she fluttered her eyelashes at him.
"Gimme an IPA!" she called back, and leaned into Clay's side a little harder. "And get Mr. Wolf one too!"
"Uhhh..." Clay said hesitantly. He really didn't like bitter drinks; he thought that he'd much rather have -
"Here you go!" Isaiah handed the doe a silver can with a bright green logo printed on the front, and Clay got a dark brown bottle, dewy from condensation, with a green apple on the label. Isaiah wrapped a paw around the wolf's neck, pulling him in to whisper, "I thought a sweetheart like you should have something sweet to drink, too. You like cider, right?" Clay smiled; this was exactly what he wanted! Then he jumped as the panther blew a cool puff of air into his ear before pulling back and gesturing to the back door.
The trio traipsed into the backyard, and when Isaiah shut the sturdy sliding door, the sudden lack of music was a balm to the wolf's throbbing ears. There was only a single bulb lighting the fenced-in yard, with a fire pit in the back corner furthest from the house. A handful of people stood around the fire, not seeming to pay attention to each other. One deserted corner held a couple of lawn chairs and a small table; Isaiah led the other two over to it.
"So, you two having fun?" The panther scooted slightly towards Clay, accidentally brushing his shoulder against the wolf's.
Clay sensed a rush of warmth in his cheeks at the touch. As he cursed his solitude - seriously, when had he gotten so touch-starved? - he took a pull from the ice-cold cider in his paw. The refreshingly tart, crisp flavor made him smile, and he relaxed somewhat. "Yeah. The company's pretty good."
Suze wrapped Clay's arm with both of hers, and she pulled herself close, batting her frankly oversized brown eyes at the wolf. "You can say that again. Hope you don't mind, it's kinda cold out. Keep me warm, big guy?"
Clay suppressed a sigh. She was bolder than any girl he'd had to fend off before, that was certain. "Ah, well, there's a fire going," the wolf observed. "That should help."
"Yeah! Let's get closer." Suze pulled him away from Isaiah and closer to the fire pit, staring up at him. "Mmm, isn't this romantic, Mr. Wolf?"
"It's actually Abernathy?" Clay said, flinching. "It's Clay Abernathy. Calling me Mr. Wolf is sorta... insulting? It'd be like me calling you Ms. Deer."
"Oh, I don't mind if you call me dear," she purred, running her hands up and down Clay's arm. "You're pretty strong, aren't you? Bet you could pin me down easily, yeah?"
Clay's stomach turned. Not only was she forward, she apparently already had a specific scenario in mind; one that the wolf was not fond of, to boot. He wanted a soft, caring relationship, not some alpha-wolf dom/sub fantasy. Fortunately, Isaiah swooped in to save the day.
"You know, I'm pretty strong too. Check it out!" The lithe feline flexed his arm, and a surprising amount of muscle bulged beneath the rolled-up sleeve of his black-on-black embroidered button-down. Suze released Clay to take hold of Isaiah's arm, giggling as she poked and prodded the muscle. "Stronger than I seem, right?"
Clay watched a flash of green play across his vision as he watched Suze grope the panther. It must've shown on his face, because Isaiah beckoned the wolf closer as he flexed his other arm. "Don't be shy now, Mr. Wolf. You wanna see how strong I am, too?"
Blinking, Clay's mouth quirked up at the corner as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He hadn't enjoyed Suze's lustful crooning of the phrase, but the playful, almost teasing way that the panther called him "Mr. Wolf" stirred something in him. Downing the rest of his cider in two long pulls, Clay stepped up and put a paw on Isaiah's bicep. The muscle was firm, rounded, and cool to the touch. Absently, he massaged it a minute before his common sense took hold and he realized he was groping another man - in public! - and that maybe this wouldn't help him maintain the illusion that he was straight. Clay released the panther's arm immediately, his face flushed with heat. "Ah... yeah, man, you're pretty fit. You work out a lot?"
"Not too much; It's mostly good genetics." Isaiah smirked at the incredulous stare on Clay's face.
Suze was still hanging off his other arm, laughing the entire time. She'd clearly had more to drink beforehand as she slurred her words. "Beer's empty! I'mma get another one. B'right b-back." The deer stumbled off toward the house again, leaving the pair alone in the snowy night air.
Clay watched her amble away, then turned to Isaiah. The panther was beaming at him, and for the life of him, he couldn't figure out why. An awkward silence loomed large between them, and Clay scrambled to make small talk. "Uh, so... aren't you cold out here? It's even snowing a bit; I've got the fur and fluff for this, but you're so... tiny?" His voice came out as a strangled squeak at the last part of his sentence, and his stomach knotted itself in anxiety.
Isaiah stepped in close to the wolf, grinning. "The cold doesn't bother me. Unless you're saying you'd like to warm me up, Mr. Big, Bad Wolf?"
He only had a moment to gape at Isaiah before the panther closed the gap between them, nuzzling against the soft muscle of Clay's chest and wrapping his arms around the wolf's rounded waist, as the larger man to freeze. He breathed deeply through his nose and sighed contentedly. "Mmm. Yeah, this is everything I'd hoped it would be. Damn, you even smell incredible." The panther looked up at Clay and smiled. "C'mon, get into it. You need a hug."
Gradually, Clay's frozen muscles thawed, relaxing bit by miniscule bit. Stiffly, he placed an arm around Isaiah's shoulders, and squeezed, pulling the hard-muscled cat against himself. Isaiah purred with pleasure, and the low rumble made Clay's face burn hotter than a blacktop in July. "You're, er... you're really enjoying this? Just... hugging me?"
"Mmhmm." The panther nuzzled against him again as he began rubbing his paws along Clay's back. He tilted his head up suddenly, a gleam in his eye. "Hey, do you want to get out of here?"
Clay's mouth went cottony. "I-I, um, well, you see, I - "
"Who's ready for another round?!" Suze crowed, returning with several bottles hanging between her fingers.
Clay jerked away from Isaiah, shoving hard against the panther. He winced for a moment, afraid he'd knocked the cat down, but quickly realized that Isaiah hadn't moved an inch. Odd. I'm way bigger than he is. He must have incredible balance, I guess? The feline, unfazed by Clay's behavior, smiled broadly at Suze. "Yeah! Our Mr. Big Bad Wolf needs another drink! Or... three? Damn, girl, how many did you bring?"
The deer had, in fact, brought six IPA's, two for each of them. They chattered idly as Suze downed both of hers in record time. Clay, disliking the bitter flavor of beer but not wanting to be rude, followed suit to get it over with. Isaiah handed the wolf one drink Suze had brought for him shortly afterwards, and suddenly Clay was four drinks deep in just over an hour.
How long has it been since I drank? Clay hiccuped, his muscles loose and his face and paws flushed with warmth from the alcohol. Ugh, I guess it doesn't matter. I've always been a cheap date. Heh, date... I wanna go on a date with that sexy-ass cat over there. Too bad he seems to be interested in Suze.
Isaiah sat in a lawn chair, and Suze had ended up perched in his lap. He was stroking her back, and she was giggling, wriggling around on the cat. Clay experienced a strange combination of jealousy and betrayal. Hadn't Isaiah been flirting with him earlier? Maybe the cat was bi? He couldn't tell, but when Suze leaned in to kiss Isaiah and they started making out, Clay's ears started burning and he turned to leave. "Well, this has been an... experience. I think I'm going to head out now."
He turned, bracing himself to walk alone through the party, when a strong, chilled paw wrapped around his wrist. Clay heard Isaiah's voice from behind him, a low, husky rumble that made the wolf shiver. "Hey, wait up, gorgeous. Don't go yet. Please?" His request sounded sincere, somehow, but he had to understand that wolves didn't share, right?
Turning again, Clay forced a smile. "Hey, you seem to have your hands full. And I don't get what all that flirting earlier was about, but I don't appreciate being yanked around. If you were really interested..." The wolf sighed gustily, shaking his head. He pried Isaiah's fingers from around his wrist and shook his head. "Nevermind. It's not important. But for the record? I think I could've liked you."
The alcohol was really getting to him, he thought. Clay knew he was a lightweight, but he'd drank those bottle down in record time. He had a slight pang of guilt, saying all this to Isaiah, but the panther was a jerk! Still, that stricken look on Isaiah's face as he looked between Clay and Suze gave him less satisfaction and more anxiety. Isaiah opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water, stammering unintelligible syllables out.
After a few minutes of this, the wolf rolled his eyes. "Whatever. I hope you have a good night. Seriously. Have some fun with Suze, she seems like your type. I'm going home."
It was a blur, leaving Dirk's house, walking back to his own, toeing off his shoes and stripping down to bare fur and boxers. Sighing deeply, he walked to the fridge and pulled out a hard cider of his own. He stared down at the label, wondering how the panther had guessed his favorite drink. Luck, he supposed. Plopping down on the couch, he slammed the beverage back and let himself drift off to sleep there in the living room.
...
He awoke to a pounding headache, sitting bolt upright on the couch. The room wasn't spinning, so he must've just pinched something. "Too damn old to sleep on the couch," he muttered, rolling his neck and stretching his back. He jumped when the pounding transferred to the outside of his body, eyes darting to his front door, where someone was desperately banging away on it. A glance through the window showed it was still dark out, and another glance at his phone said it was 2:36 in the morning.
"Damn pranksters." Clay stumped his way over to the door, undoing the latch and flinging it open. "You better be fucking dying, or I'm gonna - "
Isaiah toppled forward, and the wolf jumped back in surprise, almost letting him hit the floor before he caught the panther by the shoulder. Isaiah was soaked, too, his chin, shirt, and pants covered in something slick and wet. Water, perhaps? No, it was... sticky. He pulled his paw away, and it was red. He looked down and saw Isaiah's powerful jaws hanging open as he panted, glimpsing a peculiar double set of fangs; one normal, the other slightly bigger and rounder, definitely longer, and wickedly sharp.
"Fake vampire teeth. Of course." And that must mean the panther got himself covered in fake blood. Granted, it was an awful lot of fake blood, but at least he didn't seem hurt. With a sigh, Clay hauled the panther into his house, kicking the door shut behind him. Bringing him to the living room, he shook Isaiah gently, trying to get him to focus. "Hey, Isaiah! What the hell happened to you?"
"S-Someone..." he croaked out. The panther swallowed hard, his head tilting down to stare at the floor. When he spoke again, his words slurred. "I t-think s-someone drugged me..." The panther swayed, and Clay had to reach out to steady him again.
Clay's heart sank. "Wait, what? You mean like, at Dirk's party?!" He had to call Dirk, let him know about this, but first... "Look, man, is there anyone I can call to come get you? Or maybe the police - "
"No!" Isaiah's eyes were round and wide, ears folded back as he trembled. "No police. And no friends. Just me. Only me." The panther let out a bitter chuckle as his knees trembled, and he made to sit on the couch.
"Ah! No, you don't. I guess... you can sleep it off here, but you gotta get out of these clothes first. They're covered in fake blood, and you'll ruin my couch."
"Fake..." the panther looked down at himself and chuckled dreamily. "Yeah." He reached up and yanked on his shirt. It turned out that what Clay thought were buttons were snaps instead, and they popped right open. He wasn't wearing an undershirt, and the pants came off quickly as well, leaving a bemused panther standing in the wolf's living room in only a pair of wine-red silk boxers.
Clay helped Isaiah lower himself onto the couch, a paw placed between the panther's tightly muscled shoulders... No! You're not feeling him up, he's drugged! Damn it, man, get it together. Once Isaiah settled on the couch, Clay hurried to put the clothes in the wash, hoping that he'd be able to get the tacky mess out. When he returned to the living room, Isaiah was panting, his eyes wide open and fixed on the ceiling. The wolf put a paw to the feline's forehead and bit his lip as he touched Isaiah's cold, dry fur.
"Dude, are you sure I shouldn't take you to a hospital? You're freezing!"
Panting, Isaiah gasped out, "No! No hospital. Just need to eat."
Clay nodded. "Okay! I'll get you something to eat. Hang on." Isaiah turned his head, looking like he was going to protest, but the wolf was already bounding into the open kitchen. He scrounged around in his fridge, finding eggs, cheese, and butter. "Omelet it is," Clay muttered, talking to himself.
He dropped some wheat bread in the toaster, put a small skillet down to heat, then hastily cracked and scrambled two eggs. Once the pan was hot, he tossed a in a chunk of butter, smiling at the satisfying sizzle. Eggs went in next, and after they set, Clay sprinkled some cheddar cheese on one-half of the omelet and folded it over. After buttering the toast, he plated everything, giving a self-satisfied nod before bringing the plate over to Isaiah. "Here, I brought you something to eat. Can you sit up?"
The panther nodded stiffly, then levered himself up into a sitting position on the couch. Clay offered him the food, but Isaiah wrinkled his nose at it before setting the plate on the nearby coffee table. The wolf sighed. "Well, it's all I've got. Oh shit, are you vegan or something? I'm so sorry, I didn't think - "
Isaiah shot to his feet in the blink of an eye, so fast that Clay barely had time to register that he'd moved. "I'm not vegan," the panther rasped, his voice low and husky. "And you have plenty of what I need. I'm sorry about what I'm about to do to you, but I don't have much time." He winced, clutching at his abdomen, grunting in pain. After a moment, he looked up again. "Look into my eyes, Clay."
The wolf blinked in confusion, but did as he was told. As his amber-colored eyes met the panther's, he realized Isaiah had to have contact lenses in. "Dude, you need to get those contacts out! How did you even get ones that big? I get the red irises, but the entire rest of your eyes are black."
With a snort, Isaiah's mouth quirked up at the corner, and he put a paw on Clay's shoulder. "You're calm. Calmer than you've ever been in your life. I'm going to bite you, and you will not struggle or scream." His voice was low, smoother than it had been only moments before, and Isaiah's eyes seemed to shimmer in the dim light.
A strange sensation washed over Clay, and his body relaxed, releasing a tension that he didn't even realize was there. But quick as a flash, it was gone, and his anxiety spiked. Did he say he was going to bite me? "What the fu-"
The wolf barely got the words out when Isaiah let out a feral hiss and lunged at Clay's neck. He gasped as the panther's teeth sank into his flesh, a sharp stinging sensation that made his eyes water. Clay almost tried to shove Isaiah off, but suddenly, the pain gave way to waves of utter bliss. He let out a strangled moan as his head swam, like it might pop off and float away at any moment. Tingling warmth spread from the bite to the tips of his fingers and toes, and he couldn't help but put a paw to the back of Isaiah's head, pressing the feline into his neck.
Vaguely in the back of his mind, Clay could tell Isaiah was sucking... something. The panther had bitten him hard, and he could feel himself pulsing underneath the bite. But why did it feel so damn good? The wolf's eyes rolled back in his head, and he sagged a little, but Isaiah wrapped his arms around him, effortlessly supporting the bulky wolf's weight. After only a couple of minutes, the pressure on Clay's neck released, and Isaiah began lapping at the bite with his broad, rough tongue. The pulsing sensation subsided, and Clay looked down, surprised that there wasn't any blood or open wounds; just some small patches of bare skin in the shape of the panther's maw.
Isaiah started purring and nestled his head on Clay's chest. When he spoke, he sounded lucid, and his voice was richer and clearer than it had been all night. "Mmm... thank you, Clay. You literally saved my life tonight. Alas - " He caught the wolf's hazy eyes and grasped his chin. Isaiah's eyes shimmered again, almost glowing this time. "You and I talked. I gave you a hickey, but I didn't bite you. You'll go to bed, and wake up in the morning remembering nothing else about my time with you at your house."
Clay thought Isaiah looked sad. He yawned, then blinked as the last of the rush from the bite left his body. "Wait... What? No! No, I will not go to bed! You didn't give me a hickey, you bit me, and... did you drink my blood?! What the fuck is going on?"
Isaiah flinched back, releasing Clay and stepping back a few paces. "What the hell...? Why aren't you compelled!? You're - "
Clay's vision whited out, and he found himself collapsing to the floor as his mind reeled. A scene grew in the vast field of white, and he latched onto it, dragging himself toward anything that felt like wakefulness.
He saw a bird's-eye view of a dark alley, where Suze had her arm wrapped around Isaiah's shoulder. He had her back to one wall, and the pair were kissing passionately. Then the panther caught her eye and whispered something, soft and deep. Suze went slack, tilting her head and exposing her delicate neck. Isaiah sank his fangs into the deer, just like he'd done to Clay, but this time, his body seized and he jerked back hard, ripping the flesh. Suze collapsed as Isaiah wretched, dark red liquid pouring from his maw and all down his front. Staggering, he wobbled out of the alley. Clay's vision faded again, and as he returned to the waking world, bile rose in his throat.
When Clay's vision came back, he realized with a start that he was lying on the couch, staring up at the ceiling. Isaiah hunched over him, biting his lip and fixing the wolf with a pained gaze. When the panther realized he was awake again, he quickly kneeled down, knees hitting the hardwood floor with a thud. "Oh, thank God! I'm so sorry, I don't know what happened! It's never like this, I swear; usually, it's just a good time. I didn't think I drank so much, I'm so sorry, I - "
Clay abruptly sat up. "Isaiah?" He said, quiet but firm. "Tell me what happened to Suze tonight."
Isaiah blanched. "Uh, I d-don't know?" The panther's voice rose at the end, making it seem like he was asking a question. Clay glowered at him, and he seemed to wither under the wolf's gaze. "All right, all right... I guess tonight won't make sense otherwise. First, there's something I need you to accept for me. Vampires - " he took a deep breath. "Vampires are real. And... I'm a vampire."
He paused, waiting for Clay to react. When the wolf simply nodded and motioned for Isaiah to continue, he rocked back on his heels, placing a paw on the back of his sable-furred neck. "That... usually gets a reaction."
Clay rolled his eyes. "You bit me and drank my blood. That's pretty much sells it for me. Well, that and that weird shiny thing your eyes do sometimes. Is that your contact lenses?"
"What? No, I'm not... I'm not wearing contacts. That's just what my eyes look like when I'm using my abilities. You saw that?" Now Isaiah was frowning, peering in to inspect Clay with skepticism.
"Yeah? It's, like, really obvious - don't change the subject! Suze - what happened to her?"
Isaiah huffed out a breath. "Okay, well, I want to preface this by saying that I was drugged, do you understand?" Clay nodded slowly, and the panther shifted uncomfortably on his feet. "So, I hadn't fed in a while. I thought I'd go to the party and have some fun, pick someone up, have a drink - no, I mean blood; alcohol doesn't affect vampires the same way it does mortals - and then everybody goes home happy."
"I didn't expect you, or rather, someone like you. Mortals have distinct scents, it's like... wine? But usually the scent is muddy; it's hard to pick out any one thing. You - " Isaiah's nostrils flared, and Clay shivered despite his earlier show of bravery. The panther winced a little at his reaction and continued. "Your scent is the clearest I've ever smelled. It's stone-fruit, and berries, and warm spices. I've never known anything like it. And the way you tasted... oh, er, sorry. You probably don't want to know that." Isaiah scuffed his heel across the floor, picking at the claws on one paw as he looked away.
Clay watched the panther fidget, feeling a surprising amount of empathy for the vampire; he'd just been hungry, really. But he didn't have an answer yet. "I kinda want to know, actually. But, first, tell me what happened to Suze." The wolf tried to make his voice low and soothing, putting as much warmth into it as he could. He had to know if what he saw was real or not, and he was getting a little irritated at how Isaiah seemed to dodge the question.
The panther nodded absently. "Right, yes. Sorry. Well, after you ran away - was I really that repulsive to you? - I still needed to feed. I always prefer... enthusiastic, shall we say, participants. Suze was clearly into me, and though she very much isn't my type, blood is blood. So, we had a few more beers, and I offered to walk her home."
"Once we got a few blocks away from the party, I compelled her to stay calm and silent - "
"Wait" Clay interrupted. "What about the part about, uh, feeling good?" His cheeks flushed with heat as he remembered Isaiah's bite. "Did you hurt her?"
"Oh, no!" The panther's eyes went wide, and he waved his hands in a placating gesture. "No, that's just an evolutionary quirk, as it were. We release endorphins into the bloodstream when we bite someone. I'm told it's very pleasant, though I wouldn't know. But the pleasure that our bites bring is an effect all its own; I don't have to charm, or compel, anyone for that." He swallowed hard. "Though, um... yes, I hurt her."
Clay saw Isaiah's eyes fill with regret, and the panther looked down at the floor, unable to meet Clay's eyes. The wolf jumped when he heard a drop of something splash to the floor, and he looked to see droplets of water dripping from Isaiah's snout. "Hey, Isaiah, it's okay. Just tell me what happened. It'll be okay, I - "
The short panther snarled, shame edging his voice with heat. "I killed her." Finally, he looked up, and Clay saw his bright red eyes swimming with tears. "I killed her. I'm not supposed to - vampires aren't supposed to kill the ones they feed on; it's one of the biggest sins we can commit. And I don't even know how it happened! One moment, everything was fine, but then I started drinking, and I just... I just..." he hiccuped, and sniffled a bit before continuing. "It was like I was burning from the inside out. I reacted on instinct; I couldn't even think, and I - "
"You tore out her throat, and then you threw up all your blood." Clay said softly, his voice gentle.
Isaiah sucked in a shuddery breath. "Wait, wait. Just a moment. I guess you could've inferred how I killed her, that makes sense. But how did you know I lost my blood?"
"I, uh, saw it? When I passed out earlier. I had some kind of... vision, or something? It doesn't entirely make sense, it's never happened before. I - "
There was pounding again, but this time both men knew they were awake. They jumped and turned their heads toward the door.
"Police! Open up!"
...
To be continued...
