*Warning: Strong Language*

Sitting up on the edge of the bed, he rolled his shoulders. He stretched his arms and legs. The energy needed to flow. It'd been a while since he transmuted.
He stood up. Pulling the shades aside, he looked out the window. A hint of purple sky above a beautiful tree line and under twinkling stars. Fond, familiar, but bitter memories came back as his eyes traced it all.
This pack had taken good care of him in his time of need, not knowing he'd bring his curse. He had taken care of them best he could in gratefulness and to ease his guilty conscience.
How he regretted arriving. How he regretted leaving. How he regretted coming back.
With a yawn to fill his sleepy lungs, he pulled on a pair of compression shorts.
He made his way down the stairs. Organizing his day in his head, he walked down the hall to the kitchen.
It hit his nose.
His feet nearly tripped over themselves. He froze.
That addictive scent was fresh. It was caressing his nose. In a moment of weakness he closed his eyes and breathed it in. His heart started pounding. Already he missed it when he had to breath out.
At a slower pace, he rounded the doorway into the kitchen.
Danny was sitting at the table, one cheek stuffed full. He seemed to be in a daze. Eyes glazed over as he stared out the window. When he stepped in he saw his body flinch. Instantly his beautiful scent had an acidic undertone. That made his chest hurt. He didn't like how scared of him he was.
But it was for the best. Keep him at a distance.
Danny stopped chewing. His eyes settled on him. He swallowed whatever he'd been eating. A meek smile appeared on his face.
“Sorry, I was really hungry. Didn't mean to wake you. Me and quiet aren't really friends.” He weakly laughed.
He looked him over. Even though his hair was cut short, it still had a wild bed head to it. He was in an oversized and obviously worn out sweater. Pajama pants with what he figured to be some sort of super hero action print lay lose on his crossed legs.
He was the epitome of handsomely adorable.
He gripped the molding. It was a chore to keep his face neutral.
“You didn't wake me. I'm up to do territory rounds.” He tried to keep his voice even.
Danny perked up.
“Really? Can I go with you?” He nearly squeaked.
His innocent charm was going to be the death of him.
He frowned slightly.
“Don't you have class?”
“Yeah, but later on Fridays, not till eleven.”
“What about work?”
“Nope, after class.”
He ground his teeth as he thought.
How was he going to focus with him around?
He was already stressed out enough as it was.
“Please? I've never been on one before. And you're the best at it, I wonna learn from you.” Danny's soft plea broke his train of thought.
Those chocolate eyes were looking so hopeful.
How could he say no?
“Alright.” He sighed.
“Sweet!” His grin was shining.
Danny hoped up from the table and started pulling off his sweater.
Like lightening he jerked his body away from the kitchen. He couldn't watch that. It would make him want to help strip him down past his boxers. Lick that scent right off the skin of his neck so he could taste it.
In frustrated anticipation he waited outside the front door. He tried to focus on the brightening sky.
A blur of black and gray bolted past him. He watched Danny run in playful gallops across the front lawn. He stopped to look back at him. The gold glowed in sparks from his brown eyes as his ears pricked up. His nose wiggled at the end of his muzzle.
“Common Chris! Aren't we gonna go?” He called as his fluffy tail waged.
His puppy excitement almost had him smiling.
With a breath he transmuted and trotted over to him. Danny kept prancing around him in circles as he walked along. His scent had lost it's acid. It's brightness kept rolling in crushing waves over his nose. He willed himself to keep disciplined.
“So what do we do first?” He finally asked, at last walking beside him.
“Why hasn't your dad taught you this?” He replied.
He watched his ears twitch.
“Dad says he wants me to focus on school. He thinks it's more important right now.”
Odd. Human integration was just supplementary to being a wolf. Not a replacement.
“Aren't you going to be pack leader eventually?”
“Yeah, I guess. I mean, I hope so. Unless someone stronger usurps me.” He mumbled.
“How does he expect you to be a strong pack leader if he doesn't teach you this stuff?”
“He said he'll do it when I get my degree.”
“This stuff takes years to perfect. You're way behind.”
He saw him look at him out of the corner of his eye.
“When did you start doing this?”
“When I was ten.”
“Really!?” He said in surprised shock.
“Yeah.”
“No wonder you're so good.” There was a thoughtfulness to his tone.
He wanted to laugh, but he suppressed it.
“Do you know the territory border?”
“On webpage maps, yeah.”
“Maps aren't useful on the ground.”
“I know…”
“You need to start finding landmarks or making them. Leave scent trails for pack communication. The more often you do rounds, the more familiar you'll get. The quicker you'll notice if something is out of the ordinary. It also gives you an idea of prey patterns.”
“How often do you do yours?”
“Almost everyday.”
He saw him nod.
“Okay. Then…can I come with you as much I can?”
“Sure.”
“Sweet!”
It took longer than usual. Danny had a million questions. But they were good questions. Nothing too far off topic. Some even surprised him with how pointed they were. In the beginning he stuck to him like glue. By the end of the couple hours, he was wandering in a pretty wide circumference from him. He liked watching him sniff and explore. There was so much wonderment in it.
The higher the sun got in the sky, the more it's rays played across his glossy coat. The patterns in his fur perfectly highlighted his face, muzzle, and ears. There was more of a husky kind of design to it rather than wolf.
It was hard to look away. He wild beauty was stunning.
“That was awesome!” Danny exclaimed as they arrived at the driveway.
“It'll get old after a while.” He replied.
“How could it? The smells and sounds are crazy.”
“You'll smell and hear everything eventually.”
He knew he was looking at him.
“You don't enjoy it?”
He kept his eyes on the grass beneath his paws.
“When you're scared for your life, it takes the fun out of it.” He said quietly.
A bit of a lull as they reached the front steps.
“Yeah, I guess that would ruin it for any body.” Danny mumbled.
He watched him transmute as he went up the steps. His heart jumped and buzzed as he watched Danny's skinny but toned frame walk into the house. His butt looked amazing in his form fitting boxers.
He did the same and stepped through the door.
Despite wanting to keep Danny at arm's length, their time together this morning was chipping at his resolve. When he walked by the kitchen, Danny was pulling on his pajama pants. He kept going, reinforcing the distance between them. The urges were rising again.
“Hey, wait!”
He paused halfway up the steps. With a breath, he looked over his shoulder.
Danny was looking up at him. Sweatshirt halfway on. His facial expression soft but glowing. His scent had a pleasant sweet undertone. It was making his heart vibrate harder.
“Thanks…for doing all of that with me. I know I probably slowed you down, but…I really appreciate you taking the time to teach me.” His voice was quiet.
A deep emotion rose in his chest.
“You're welcome,” He paused, debating if he should say more,“…I…don't mind.”
Danny's lips pulled up into a full grin. Just as he almost lost control of preventing his own smile, Danny's face changed.
“Oh! Almost forgot. I won't be here tomorrow, got game night with the guys. So, I'll be at my buddy's house.”
He frowned, “You're not going on the hunt?”
Danny shook his head, pulling the sweater on completely.
“Dad won't let me go.”
He did a complete rotation on the step. With a squinted gaze he focused on him.
“Why?” He asked slowly.
Danny shrugged, his face falling.
“Probably for the same reason he won't let me do territory rounds.” He quietly replied.
“Do you wonna go?”
His face brightened again.
“Fuck yeah! I'd love to go!” He said with fervor.
That eager face pulled at him.
“I'll talk to your dad.”
His brow furrowed slightly.
“You think you can change his mind?” His voice was cautiously hopeful.
“I'll change his mind.” He said in certainty.
Grin back again.
“That would be awesome. Thanks…again.”
He nodded, and went back up the stairs.
As he got ready, agitation was rising in his chest. Seeing Danny deprived of what he was at his core made him angry. He was a wolf, why wasn't Byron letting him be one?
Pulling a cotton shirt and jeans, he grabbed his work boots. Settling on the stairs to lace them up, he heard a car starting. Pausing, he watched Danny's economy car pull out of the drive through the entry way window. He followed it with his gaze until it disappeared from view.
Shoving a couple pieces of meat into his mouth left in the fridge from the night before, he stepped out.