The Lycanthrope Club - First Night

Author's Note: This story directly follows The Lycanthrope Club: Book II. It recounts Melinda and Phillip's rendezvous in the Pinebrook Nature Preserve on Phillip's first night as a werewolf. Until now it has only been available on print editions or full-color PDF editions of Book II. It is now available to Patreons here. 

It gets a little...R-rated at places but nothing you couldn't get away with on HBO. Enjoy!

Melinda glanced over at Phillip. He was quietly staring out the side window. Frowning, she scanned his resigned expression for some sign of emotion; some hint of anxiety, anger or excitement. Seeing none, she turned back to the road. 

They approached a three-way stop intersection. Melinda slowed the car to a halt and looked around. The worn, graying lanes ahead, behind and to the left were clear of traffic. She peered down at the car radio clock. Though barely past five the light was already fading. The western horizon was little more than a bright orange streak beneath a restless grey sky. She could make out an expanse of trees a ways ahead and the yel-low lights of Pinebrook to the left. She hesitated a little while longer and, after confirming there were still no approaching headlights, turned to Phillip. 

"Are you feeling okay?" she asked. 

Phillip stirred. 

"Uh, yeah," he said, clearing his throat. 

Melinda tapped her fingers on the wheel. The soft rumble of the idle engine hung in the air. 

"It's just..." she began. 

"Yeah?" 

"Well..." 

"I'm listening." 

"...Ah, never mind," said Melinda. 

"No, no, hang on," said Phillip in a concerned voice, sitting up. "What's up?" 

Melinda bit her lower lip. 

"You just seem sort of...spaced out," she said. "I know this is really, really weird but I wasn't expecting this." 

There was an awkward pause. 

"Well, what were you expecting?" said Phillip, shrugging. 

Melinda sighed. 

"Sorry, sorry, that came out wrong," said Phillip quickly. "I mean, I just don't know, Melinda. This is uncharted territory." 

"Yeah," said Melinda softly. 

"Look, I, uh, I honestly don't know how I feel," said Phillip. "A little anxious, I guess, but...well..." he trailed off. 

Melinda said nothing. 

"Let's just get to the preserve and see how things go from there," he said finally. 

"Yeah," repeated Melinda. 

Melinda released the break and tapped the gas pedal. The car roared to life and they continued along. 

A mile or so later the road started curving to the right, bringing them closer to the forest. Phillip watched the mixed greenery of pines and broadleaves roll by. 

"Alright, look Melinda," he said, turning from the window. "We've been over this. There's no reason to assume I'll...we'll go crazy." 

"There was no reason to assume Yvette or Sophie would," observed Melinda. 

"You said that Yvette was, er, really depressed and angry at the time and Sophie was literally off her meds." 

"Yes, but there's another factor at play here," said Melinda grimly. 

"Christ, Melinda, just because I'm a guy-" 

"It's probably nothing," said Melinda. "But it's still...well," she chuckled humorlessly, "Uncharted territory. Please don't tell anyone I said this, but I'm kind of relieved the girls outnumber the boys." 

"Well, shit, I don't know," said Phillip, throwing out his arms. "Maybe you just should have just tied all the guys to a tree to be on the safe side." 

"We considered it," said Melinda.

"What? Seriously?" said Phillip incredulously. "I was joking." 

"I wasn't," said Melinda matter-of-factly. 

"Then...why didn't you?" 

"We couldn't afford that many chains," said Melinda, cracking a smile of genuine amusement for the first time since they had entered the car. "And even if we could have we weren't sure they would hold every-one. I mean, look at Sophie and Yvette. That and..." 

"Yeah?" said Phillip. 

"We gave it a lot of thought and decided it wouldn't have made much of a difference," continued Melinda. "Best case scenario, it would have been a waste of money and effort. Worst case scenario, it would have only been a temporary fix to a much bigger problem. That, and tying or locking up all the boys wouldn't have been good for morale. People who are emotionally unstable tend to behave unpredictably or even violently after they transform and have trouble controlling their transformation." 

"...Define emotionally unstable," said Phillip slowly. 

"I don't know, Phillip," sighed Melinda. "To the point of needing medication or...being rejected by your best friend. Major stress." 

Phillip considered this. 

"Do you ever have trouble sleeping, Melinda?" he asked suddenly. 

"Uh, yeah, every now and then," said Melinda. "Most people do." 

"Some nights when I really need a good eight hours' sleep - like the day before a big test or concert - I start worrying. Only natural, I guess, but it's hard to fall asleep when you're worrying about something. Then before I know it it's two in the morning and I'm still wide awake. I start worrying that I won't get enough sleep, which only makes me even more nervous. It gets later and later and I get more and more anxious and, well, it just builds on itself." He paused. "Do you see where I'm going with this?" 

Both teenagers were silent. Outside, it grew darker. 

A faint orange light appeared in the distance ahead. At first it was partially obscured by the trees but as they continued along the road, the light was revealed to be a solitary street lamp illuminating a tiny picnic area. There was a parking lot adjoining a narrow grassy lawn with several metal tables set into raised concrete beds. A pair of box-like barbeque grills on stood a couple yards east of the tables. 

Melinda pulled into the empty parking lot and shut off the engine. 

"Well, here we are," she said, pocketing the keys. 

"Uh, yep," said Phillip uneasily. He glanced out the window. "Never been to this park before." 

"It's, uh, one end of a nature trail that runs along the preserve," explained Melinda, unbuckling her seat-belt. "Not a lot of people know about it. It was a mess when I first found it so me the rest of the girls cleaned it up." 

"Isn't that the rangers' jobs?" 

"Pinebrook Recreation and Parks," said Melinda, opening her door. "But there were budget cuts or something so we volunteered. We use these sites to stash our clothes and gear at night and volunteering looks good on a college application, so it's win-win." 

As Melinda climbed out of the car an all-too familiar tingle ran across her skin. She gazed upwards and saw that the clouds had parted. The moon was fully visible. She turned to Phillip, half-expecting him to be staring up at it as well. He was, in fact, staring at her. 

"Oh, uh, do you have everything?" she asked, blushing slightly. 

"Yeah," he replied, pointing at his backpack with his thumb. "Sorry." 

"What are you apologizing for?" she asked, shutting her door. 

"...Nothing, I guess," he said, shutting his own. "Sor-..." he stopped himself. 

Melinda stepped around the vehicle and joined him. 

"Alright," she said. "Let's do this." 

Phillip proffered a hand, which Melinda accepted. The two teenagers walked along the narrow asphalt strip and up into the park. 

"Let me get my light out," said Phillip as they approached the treeline. 

He reached into his pocket and produced a small flashlight. He flicked the tiny device on and it projected a pale blue light, illuminating the path before them.

"I remember that thing from the dance," said Melinda. 

"Yeah, it's a souvenir from New York," said Phillip, nodding. "I'm kind of surprised it's lasted this long." He paused. "Melinda, about Sophie..." 

Melinda said nothing. She gazed down at the grassy turf, still walking. 

"I feel bad that I never noticed her," he said. "The more I think about it, the more obvious it be-comes. She was always in the background, always saying hi to me, always watching me." He shook his head. "She seemed...seems like a nice person." 

"She is," said Melinda after a considerable pause. "A nice person who's had a tough time of it." 

"Maybe if I had just taken the time to talk to her she would have never gotten caught up in all this bullshit," he muttered. "I mean, everything worked out in the end, but it would have spared her a lot of grief." 

"So, you two would have been a couple?" said Melinda quietly. 

"No!" protested Phillip. "At least, I don't think so," he added carefully. 

"You don't think so?" said Melinda dryly. 

Phillip sighed, aware he was entering dangerous territory. He collected his thoughts and spoke. 

"I wanted to meet you the moment I saw you on the soccer field, Melinda," he explained. "I wanted to go on a date with you the moment I met you, Melinda. I've never felt this way about anyone before and I don't feel that way about Sophie, then or now. If I had met her and gotten to know her before I met you...maybe there could have been something. But it's not the same." 

Melinda stopped suddenly, causing Phillip to lurch forward. She turned and gazed into his brown eyes with her own emerald orbs. She reached up with her free hand and gently touched his cheek. 

"Thank you, Phillip," she said softly. 

Phillip smiled. 

Hand-in-hand, the two strode across the lawn and approached the nature trail. It was a narrow dirt path, barely wide enough to accommodate two people. A small metal sign tacked to an aluminum pole stood by the entrance. It warned visitors not to litter, camp, or hunt in the area. Phillip couldn't help but chuckle as he read it. Ahead, the branches and leaves obscured what little light remained; were it not for the full moon the forest would have been pitch black. 

Melinda took the lead as they entered the forest. Phillip followed close behind, keeping his flashlight trained on the ground ahead of them. The trail narrowed and widened at places, winding around clusters of trees, down shallow depressions and up short hillocks. It was quiet - quiet enough that they seemed to be the only presence in the forest. However, every so often a snap or rustle of leaves would emanate from the gloom. 

"So, how much farther?" inquired Phillip. 

"We're almost halfway there," said Melinda apologetically. "We'll leave the trail soon and it'll be a half-mile or so until we reach the clearing. Be careful once we get off the path. It's way too easy to trip over a rock or bush." 

"You do this at least once a month?" said Phillip, shaking his head in disbelief. 

"Well, yes, but we usually transform as soon as we enter the forest." 

"Oh, duh," said Phillip, smacking himself on the forehead. 

A little while later Melinda took them off the path. Just as she had warned, the ground proved to be littered with branches, stumps, bushes, rocks and other debris that Phillip found very difficult to avoid trip-ping over. His flashlight projected a narrow beam that simply couldn't illuminate every obstacle ahead. Melinda, however, didn't seem to need it; she maneuvered through the dark with ease. Whether from familiarity, improved night vision or some combination thereof, Phillip wasn't certain. In any case it proved to be quite a trek. Phillip actually started to work up a sweat. He had donned a thick but inexpensive jacket, tatty yet serviceable heavy blue jeans and hiking books in anticipation of the cold. At first it had seemed a wise decision but now he was wishing he'd dressed lighter. 

A break appeared in the trees. The two teenagers stepped out into a clearing. It was roughly elliptical in shape, forty to fifty yards long end to end. The ground strewn with fallen leaves, grass and little else. A few stunted sapling lay scattered about and a curious mound of earth less than a foot tall stood in the center. Unobstructed by branches, the night sky was plainly visible above, as was the full moon.

Melinda took a deep, long breath and exhaled, her cheeks flushed but not red. She glanced back at Phillip, who was almost limping. His brow glistened with perspiration. She couldn't help but giggle at the sight of him. 

"Yeah yeah, laugh it up," he grunted, putting his backpack on the ground. "I really should get out more." 

"Well, that's why we're here," said Melinda. 

She walked over to the dirt pile, bent over and with a flourish pulled the plastic tarp off the mound, revealing it to be a small, shallow fire pit lined with stones. There were a few sturdy bags piled next to it that had also been concealed by the tarp. 

"So much for 'no camping,'" chuckled Phillip. "We starting a fire?" 

"Maybe," said Melinda, hesitating for a moment. "How do you feel?" 

"Uh, tired?" said Phillip, shrugging. 

"Just...tired?" 

"Yeah, pretty much." 

"Hmm, well, it's still early in the evening," said Melinda. "It'll probably be a while before you trans-form. In that case, we might as well." 

Phillip helped Melinda gather some kindling and half-burnt logs. They placed them in the center of the pit and Melinda lit them with a small butane lighter. The dry timber quickly caught fire. Phillip opened his backpack and laid a blanket on the ground next to the fire. 

"Ahhh," sighed Phillip, plopping down on the blanket. Melinda joined him. The couple were silent for a time. They just sat there together, staring into the flickering flames. Around them, the darkness grew. Stars appeared in the sky. 

Melinda tore her gaze away from the fire and glanced curiously at Phillip. An odd side effect of be-coming werewolf was enhanced emotional intelligence. Basically this meant Melinda could read most people like a book and Phillip's expression, seemingly tranquil, betrayed no small degree of trepidation. The journey through the woods had distracted him but now that he had had a chance to sit and think a while he was starting worry. Phillip was anxious. 

She turned back to the fire, biting her lower lip. He wasn't the only one worried about what might happen. However, ruminating about it could only make things worse. She needed to calm him down, divert his attention, distract him... 

Melinda's concerned frown slowly curled into a mischievous grin. She rose, languidly stretching her neck and arms. Phillip looked up at her in mild surprise. 

"Something wrong?" he inquired. 

"I think I'm going to go ahead and change," she said. "I'll be better equipped to help you through your own transformation this way." 

Before Phillip could respond Melinda reached down and pulled her sweater over her head, revealing her undershirt. 

"Uh, Melinda?" 

"No way I'm ruining another set of clothes," explained Melinda, taking off her shoes. 

"Oh, uh-...yeah," stuttered Phillip, turning. 

"Why are you looking away?" said Melinda, still grinning. 

"Uh, just...giving you some privacy," said Phillip, staring into the woods. 

"Fine, look away. Or don't. I don't mind," teased Melinda. 

Phillip's face, already red from exertion and the heat of the fire, now resembled a ripe tomato. Though he didn't dare move from his spot his eyes kept shifting in Melinda's direction, almost as though they were trying to pull him towards her against his will. Melinda, meanwhile, had discarded her sweater and undershirt and was unbuckling her belt. She looked over at Phillip and, smirking, kicked her shirt in his direction. It landed right at his lap. Phillip instinctively whirled around and then goggled. Not only was Melinda wearing nothing but her bra and jeans but she had turned and bent over. Her ample rear was bobbing mere feet away from his face. She glanced over her shoulders at him, smiled sultrily, and slowly pulled her pants down her legs. Her toned, milky flesh gleamed in the gentle light of the full moon, accentuating her silky black undergarments.

Melinda picked up her pants and tossed them on the blanket with the rest of her clothing. She gazed down at Phillip, hands on hips. 

"Tsk tsk, so much for privacy," she said, grinning. 

"Wow!" said Phillip, overawed. It was all he could manage. 

But Melinda wasn't done yet. She turned so that her back was to Phillip, reached around and unclasped her bra. It fell to the blanket. When she turned to face Phillip again she was hugging her chest. Lips pouted, she slowly lowered her arms and revealed her pert breasts. Phillip broke into a manic grin. Melinda then slipped her thumbs between her panties and wiggled out of them. 

She was naked. 

Phillip opened his mouth, shut it, and then opened it again. No words were forthcoming - only a sort of ecstatic whimper. 

"You're the best girlfriend ever," he finally croaked. 

Melinda smiled. 

"Alright," she said, shivering slightly in the chill of the evening. "This next part might get a little freaky. I'll understand if you look away." 

Melinda took a step back, shut her eyes and tilted her head slightly. Suddenly, her entire body tensed. Veins and arteries bulged beneath her skin. She flexed her hands, alternately splaying and curling her fingers. Then, there was disconcerting crack. Her digits twitched then abruptly expanded like fleshy balloons, forming bizarre, paw-like appendages tipped with stubby claws. There was another surge of growth. Her palms thickened into leathery pads while her claws narrowed into sharp points. Tufts of black fur erupted along her arms and spread to her chest, torso, head, legs and feet, completely covering her nude body. Her hair, mean-while, grew from a messy bob-cut to a mass of wild ebony locks that extended to the small of her back. 

Melinda grit her teeth. A low growl issued from her throat. Phillip watched on in amazement and horror. 

Melinda grew three feet in almost as many seconds, rapidly packing on muscle and fur. Her knees jutted forward as her legs adopted a hook-like posture. A furry tail slipped out from between her buttocks. Her head, relatively untouched by the transformation, suddenly changed shape, becoming broader, longer-jawed, lupine. Her petite nose darkened and grew out her face, forming a muzzle while sharp white fangs appeared along her lips. Black triangular ears replaced her pink curved auricles. 

The changes ceased. 

Melinda howled. Her voice was different - deeper, more powerful and not quite human. She stopped, shaking her head as though fighting the urge to continue. Then, she turned to Phillip and opened her eyes. Not only had they changed from green to yellow but now gleamed with an inner light. Literally. Phillip remembered reading somewhere that many nocturnal animals had eyes that reflected light thus giving the appearance of glowing in the dark, but it was clear Melinda's eyes actually emitted their own. It wasn't the first time he had seen Melinda's werewolf alter ego but was first time he had noticed this. 

"Hmm...took a little longer than usual," said Melinda absently, her voice still noticeably deeper and huskier. "Then again, it's not every night I have a captive audience," she added slyly. "Call it performance anxiety." 

Mesmerized, Phillip rose from the blanket, walked over to Melinda and hugged her. Melinda lowered her head and nuzzled his head. Her tail wagged back and forth. 

"I love you, Phillip," crooned Melinda. "I know we've only known each other for a couple of months but it feels so right." 

She paused, waiting for a reply. "Phillip?" 

There was no response. 

"Phillip?" repeated Melinda, slightly irritated and slightly concerned. 

It was then that she noticed the intense heat radiating from his body. 

"I don't...feel so good," said Phillip weakly. 

Melinda peered down at him. Indeed, Phillip looked even worse than when he had emerged into the clearing after the hike through the woods. 

"I think it's happening," said Melinda, taking a step back. "The transformation." 

"Shit," groaned Phillip.

"Okay, don't panic," said Melinda in a reassuring voice. "Take your clothes off before you rip out of them." 

"But-" 

"Do it," barked Melinda. 

Phillip gulped and nodded. He pulled his jacket over his head and, after a brief struggle with the sleeves, threw it to the ground. His sweater and undershirt were easier to deal with and soon followed. Chest bare, he squatted, reached down and started untying his shoes. His efforts became more frantic as his body temperature rose. He yanked his shoes and socks off and then turned his attention to his pants. After fumbling around with his belt buckle he fell back, lifted his legs into the air and pulled off his jeans. Despite the urgency of the situation Melinda couldn't help but snicker at the sight of him sitting there in nothing but a pair of plaid green boxers. 

"Jesus, Melinda, come on!" groaned Phillip. 

"Sorry!" yelped Melinda. "Fine, um, I guess you could leave them on if you want," said Melinda. "But they might...pinch." 

Red-faced, heart-pounding against his chest, Phillip looked up at Melinda and down at his crotch. 

"Screw it!" he snarled, already tugging at his boxers. 

Melinda cupped her mouth to stifle another giggle as Phillip stripped out of his underwear. He stood before her completely naked save for his glasses, which he promptly discarded as well. Melinda's nose twitched. Without his clothes on his scent was much stronger. Oddly enough, she found this far more enticing than the sight of his nude form. 

Phillip groaned again. Despite the cold he looked as though he had just stepped out of a sauna. His hands were particularly inflamed; his fingertips had swollen to the size of overripe grapes and were almost the same color. 

"No, this isn't...I can't..." babbled Phillip, shaking, sweat dribbling down his febrile skin. "Some-thing's wrong!" he yelled. "It shouldn't hurt this much...you gotta get me to a hospital! Now!" 

"You're going to be fine!" said Melinda firmly. "I know it hurts but if you stay focused it won't be as bad!" 

"How the fuck am I suppose-...AAAAHH!" he screamed. Phillip fell to his knees. 

Trembling, Melinda extended a paw and then hesitated. Moving with surprising speed and agility for a creature of her size she circled around Phillip, bent down and wrapped her massive, furry arms around his convulsing body. 

"We're going to get through this," she whispered into his ear. "No matter what happens I'll be here for you. Breathe, relax..." 

Phillip didn't reply, though his breathing grew steadier. Suddenly, there was a horrible crunching sound. Phillip howled in pain. Melinda didn't have to look down to know what happened; she could smell blood dripping from Phillip's hands. Claws had burst forth from his fingertips. She held him tighter. 

A series of disquieting cracks and pops filled the air as Phillip's arms stretched and contorted. Melinda felt his biceps, triceps, and deltoids expand, growing steadily larger. Likewise, his heaving chest inflated with every breath he took. Scrawny muscle rapidly gave way to thick slabs of meaty sinew. Previously nonexistent abdominal muscles embossed themselves against his flat stomach while his pectorals tightened, hardened and swelled with power. Fur grew along his shoulders and neck, intermingling with Melinda's own. 

Phillip whimpered as the transformation traveled down his body. He nearly tumbled to the ground as his legs cracked and buckled forward. Sensing that kneeling was becoming uncomfortable for the changing teenager, Melinda carefully lifted Phillip to his feet. Then, something brushed against Melinda's inner thighs. Blinking in surprise she glanced down and, blushing, turned so as not to impede Phillip's new tail. When she looked back up she found herself staring at Phillip's back rather than the crown of his head. He had grown three, maybe four feet in height. He was now taller than Melinda, who was herself eight foot! 

The transformation entered its final phase. Melinda shut her eyes and pressed herself against Phillip's increasingly massive body, praying that everything would turn out alright. She had gone through the same transition so many times she could picture it. First his skull would change, followed by his nose, muzzle, teeth and ears. Terrible, visceral sounds of snapping bone and tearing flesh filled the clearing, punctuated by Phillip's screams. Like Melinda, his voice deepened and acquired guttural undertones. Suddenly, he lurched back and howled. The power of his throat was so great that Melinda's ears rang for a second or two after it faded away. Then, it was over. 

His scent. 

It hit Melinda like a freight train. She snorted and shook her head in a daze. Phillip's musk, his aroma, it was just so...so... 

She managed to restrain herself. Trying not to breathe through her nose - a difficult feat for a werewolf - she slowly opened her eyes. 

Phillip's pelt was grey. Light grey, in fact - almost silvery without looking elderly. She found herself gently gliding a paw along his shoulders, feeling the fibers of his hair run between her digits. 

"Phillip?" she said apprehensively. 

There was no response. Phillip's shoulders slowly rose and sank as he breathed. 

"Phillip?" she repeated, this time louder. 

"Yeah, yeah...I'm okay." 

Phillip's voice had gone from a tenor to a rich baritone. Steeling herself, Melinda slowly lowered her arms and stepped back a couple feet. Phillip turned to face her. Melinda's jaw dropped. 

In truth she had half-expected to see some kind of hulking, lupine brute, particularly after feeling how much he had grown. Yes, he was taller than her, but also leaner. She actually had an inch or two on him in terms of raw muscle yet his physique was still quite masculine. Undeniably masculine, she noted as she gazed downwards, blushing. Her questing eyes traveled up his body. His fur was lighter around his tight, sinewy stomach and torso. His nose and muzzle were short but sharp, a mask-like pattern of darker fur encircling his eyes, which had turned yellowish-brown. His hair - or the fur around his head, Melinda still wasn't sure what to call it - had lengthened considerably and turned pure white. It shone gently in the alabaster radiance of the moon. His ears were noticeably large and long, drooping forward slightly. Though his face bore traces of his human self there was something else there - a strange, quiet nobility she had never seen in him before. Or maybe it had been there all the while. 

"Melinda?" intoned Phillip. 

Startled, Melinda quickly wiped the drool from her mouth. 

"Is that you?" she whispered in awe. 

Phillip stared down at his paws, flexing his padded, clawed digits. 

"I guess so," he replied. He gazed down at his feet - now digitigrade - and took an experimental step forward. He wobbled a bit but managed to retain his balance. 

"Whoa," he said, looking back up at Melinda. 

"You...didn't pass out," she said, astounded. 

"Huh?" said Phillip distractedly. 

"The first time I...come to think of it, the first time any of us transformed, we blacked out," said Melinda. "The strain is just so...well, you felt it. It's anything but pleasant." 

Phillip considered this. 

"I did feel a little faint towards the end but I don't think I blacked out," said Phillip. He grimaced. "It hurt like hell, Melinda. "It felt like I was being torn apart from the inside." 

"I'm sorry," said Melinda, ears folded back. 

"Hey, don't apologize," said Phillip. "I was really starting to freak out there until you stepped in. Jesus, I don't even want to imagine going through that alone." 

"Yeah...it wasn't easy," said Melinda quietly. "We didn't have someone to guide us through it." She smiled. "I guess it makes all the difference." 

The two were silent for a moment. Suddenly, Phillip turned his head in the direction of the woods. He sniffed the air. 

"Oh my God," gasped Phillip. "I...all these smells...I can smell the road! Charcoal! Oil! The car! Your car! And animals, I think." He snorted and shook his head violently. "How do you-" 

"You get used to it," said Melinda calmly. "Pretty neat, huh?" 

"Neat? It's unreal," said Phillip in wonder. 

Phillip breathed deeply through his nostrils and exhaled, his muscular, furry white chest expanding and contracting like a bellows. He continued sniffing for nearly a minute and then froze. He slowly turned to Melinda. Saying nothing, he took a single, lumbering step towards her. Then another. There was a strange look in his eyes. 

"Phillip?" said Melinda uneasily. 

Phillip didn't respond. He seemed fixated on Melinda, almost entranced. Suddenly, he lunged. Melinda yelped in surprise and raised her paws to catch him or, if necessary, hold him back. Fortunately, the former proved to be the case. 

"Sorry," muttered Phillip as he clung awkwardly to Melinda. 

"It's fine," said Melinda, her face inches from his. "Walking on two legs takes a little bit of practice." 

Melinda hoisted Phillip back on his feet. She tried to step away. Phillip didn't let her go. 

"P-Phillip?" said Melinda, bewildered. 

Phillip gazed deeply into Melinda's quivering yellow eyes. She could feel the warmth of his breath upon her cheeks. 

"Your scent," said Phillip softly, pulling her closer. "It's...incredible." 

Melinda's heart fluttered. Blushing, she tried halfheartedly to push him away. However, Phillip's own scent infiltrated her senses again. It had been strong before but now it was overwhelming. Raw, musky, earthy, salty and sweet all at the same time. It made her head spin and her body shiver with desire. Melinda stopped pushing Phillip and embraced him. 

It wasn't their first kiss, but it felt like it. Passionate sighs and moans filled the clearing as they locked lips, their long canine tongues caressing each others' noses and rolling around in each others' mouths. In truth, their muzzles made kissing a little awkward as their jaws were not level with their faces, but neither seemed to care or notice. It was quite a while before they stopped. 

"You're perfect," whispered Phillip into Melinda's ears. "A dream come true. You're everything I could ever wish for. I love you." 

"You're magnificent," murred Melinda. "I love you, Phillip." 

The couple kissed again, this time more slowly but far more lovingly, tails wagging behind them. Above, the full moon shone in the night sky. 

Phillip pulled away, still holding her by the shoulders. 

"Do we...?" he murmured, breathing heavily. 

"I...do you want to?" said Melinda, immediately understanding. 

"Do you want to?" 

"I..." Melinda shivered, suddenly unsure. She wanted more. She really did. Every instinct was telling her to leap ahead, consequences be damned. Yet somewhere in the haze of love, lust and passion a tiny voice of restraint was making itself heard. Marshaling every last ounce of her willpower, Melinda stepped away from Phillip, who looked at her with sad, pleading eyes. 

"Just...hold on," she said, struggling to collect herself. "I...we can't." 

"Melinda, please," whimpered Phillip. 

"Just...hang on," she said, finally forming a cogent thought. "You transformed a minute ago." She smiled weakly. "I'm not saying no, Phillip, but if there's one thing I learned over the last year it's that you can't let instinct rule you. I...have some surprises planned for you tonight and I don't want them cut short, okay?" 

Phillip stared at Melinda just long enough for it to be uncomfortable. Then, he nodded, sighing. 

"Fine, sorry," he murmured, shoulders sagged. 

"Aww, don't give me that look," said Melinda. "The night is still young." 

Melinda walked over to the fire pit and pulled something from out of the tarp. It was a large duffel bag. Phillip watched as she unzipped the bag and rifled through its contents. A few seconds later she pulled out a large rectangular object. 

"I brought this out here a week back," she explained, holding it up. "Good, it hasn't cracked." 

"Is that a mirror?" said Phillip. 

"Yep," said Melinda gleefully. She flipped it around. "Presenting the new and improved Phillip Dodd." 

Though the fire was dimming there was still more than enough light to see his reflection by. Phillip's mouth opened as he gazed upon his image. He raised a paw and gently stroked his ears and long, flowing white mane. He stepped back a few feet, this time far more smoothly. Though covered in fur his tight, wiry muscles were plainly visible. Phillip rubbed his stomach and hissed in amazement. He ran his left paw along his right arm, feeling his nearly melon-sized bicep bulge beneath his skin. Melinda watched him pose from behind the mirror, amused and not just a little aroused. 

"...Do all guy werewolves end up looking like male models?" he said at last. 

"Maybe," said Melinda. "Maybe you'll end up being the ugliest one." 

"Melinda!" protested Phillip. 

"Kidding, kidding," she laughed. "Yes, Phillip, you look great." 

"Well, sort of," said Phillip. "If you're into hairy guys with tails." 

"Hah, as I remember it you were into hairy girls first," teased Melinda. 

Phillip chuckled. 

"Alright, alright," said Melinda, lowering the mirror. "That enough narcissism for one night, young man." 

After putting away the mirror she opened one of the other bags and produced a large plastic carboy. It was full of water. She opened the cap and poured its contents on the embers. Thick grey smoke rose into the starry sky. Phillip wrinkled his leathery nose. 

"Let's go for a run," said Melinda, stuffing the empty carboy back in the bag. "You'll feel better afterwards, trust me." 

"Um, I guess I could try," said Phillip. "But I'm still getting used to walking." 

"On two legs," said Melinda smugly. 

After making certain the fire was out, she carefully placed the tarp back on top of the pit, turned and dropped to all fours. She padded up to Phillip like a big floppy dog. 

"See?" she said, cheekily brushing past him. She turned around and sat on her haunches. "We can walk on two legs but our bodies are better suited for this." 

"How do I...?" 

"Just get down on all fours." 

Phillip slowly lowered his body and, after a moment's pause, fell forward. He stood there for a moment, uncertain. He glanced at Melinda, who gave him a nod of approval. He extended his front right paw followed by his left rear one. He hesitated. 

"Stop thinking about it so much," giggled Melinda. "If you fall, just get up and try again." 

Phillip took a few, shaky steps forward. Then, as though a switch had been pulled in his brain he trotted around the clearing on four legs as though it were the most natural thing in the world. He turned and gave Melinda a big toothy grin. 

"I can't tell if this is cool or freaky," he said. "Little bit of both." 

"Hah!" 

Melinda cantered up to him and motioned towards the forest with her head. 

"Here's the deal," she said. "Normally we'd hunt our meal but game is getting scarce. Instead, I stored a couple dozen pounds of steak in a cooler a few miles north of here." 

"That...does sound pretty good," said Phillip. 

"We'll have a little race to the meat," continued Melinda slyly. "If you win, I'll do anything you tell me to for the rest of the evening. If I win, you have to do whatever I tell you to." 

Phillip stared at Melinda. His grin was now so wide it threatened to overtake his face. 

"I told you I had a surprise in store," said Melinda. "Good things come to those who wait." 

"I think I win either way," said Phillip. 

"We'll see," said Melinda, smirking. "Okay, onetwothreereadyset go!" 

Melinda bolted into the forest, leaving a trail of upturned leaves and dirt in her wake. Phillip stood there in shock. 

"Hey, no fair!" he growled. He scampered after her. 

Melinda laughed as she wove nimbly through the trees, leaping over rocks, ducking between bushes. Phillip trailed behind. He was nowhere near as agile as her nor as speedy but was determined to catch up. 

The forest seemed far less dangerous and obscure to Phillip now. His keen lupine eyes penetrated the gloom like searchlights. What was black as pitch now appeared only to be slightly dim. His tufted ears picked up the slightest sound. As for his nose, well, he could already tell where Melinda had stashed the meat and could have probably followed her by scent alone. He could also feel the enormous strength and power brimming in his new body. Phillip's confidence rose. He accelerated, bounding through the woods after his distant target. He gained a few feet but Melinda knew the terrain and had far more experience. 

"You're going to have to do better than that!" called Melinda. 

Phillip snarled and redoubled his efforts. The terrain blurred past him as he ran. Rather than dodge around bushes and other soft obstacles he started barreling through them. Branches and thorns tore at his head and flanks but couldn't penetrate his thick pelt. He gained a couple yards, lost them, then regained them but try as he might he simply couldn't overtake her. 

He could see and smell the promised cooler now. Unfortunately, she still had a commanding lead over him. Sighing, Phillip accepted defeat and slowed to a canter. He was growing tired and his stomach was growling like mad. Besides, Melinda wouldn't make him do anything particularly unpleasant. 

Right? 

The cooler was sitting in a small clearing propped up against the base of a large birch. Phillip stumbled in from the woods, panting, his long canine tongue lolling from his mouth. Melinda was leaning against a pine a little ways from the cooler, arms folded. She looked infuriating fresh. 

"You win," said Phillip, rising to his feet. 

Melinda cocked her head. 

"Oh, I won?" she said with mock confusion. 

"Well, yeah," said Phillip. "You got here before me." 

"I said we'd race to the cooler," said Melinda wryly. "I'm not technically at the cooler yet." 

Phillip stared at Melinda, looked down at the cooler then back at Melinda. The implication became clear. He tensed, watching Melinda owlishly. Melinda narrowed her yellow eyes but didn't move. 

The two leapt for the cooler simultaneously, colliding mid-air mere feet away from the red box. They tumbled to the ground and immediately started making out. 

"I-ahhhh...guess it's a tie," murmured Melinda between kisses. 

"Yeah," said Phillip, licking her neck. "We both win." 

"So, we have to do...whatever we tell each other to?" 

"Yeah." 

"You first."