A different take on the traditional M/M werewolf romance topic: less romantic, less traditional, more disturbing and with conniving wolves, vampires and submissive marines.

Comments or requests for more of Meta (& the Marines) can be emailed to Meta.JohnAR@gmail.com.

Depending on reception, I will post more chapters.



And if any military boy wants to start a MetaPack, let me know ...








JAR




Meta & the Marines



CHAPTER 16


Foul lake smell hit his nose. He turned around to check what was causing it. Far back was Sam. He looked miserable. It was evident he'd been in a fight during spring break with his left eye showing the yellow of healing tissue and skin. He kept his head down so people wouldn't see it clearly, but whenever he looked up to check what the teacher was writing on his pad -- which got projected on the big screen -, one could clearly see it.

When Sam noticed Colt was observing him, he quickly returned his attention to his own notes, capturing them in the old fashioned way with pen and paper.

Some months ago Colt would have interpreted this gesture as rejection: a cute boy not interested and actually appalled by Colt's interest. But he had learned in the meanwhile. Colt still found Sam attractive, but he was not really his type. Too young, too slim, too odd. So his observing was not sexual interest but concern.

Sam had never contacted him despite Colt's invitation. Originally, he'd attributed this to the fact Prime had been too intimidating when Sam wanted to talk with Colt. Maybe Sam had indeed been interested in Colt in ways more than just accounting, and when seeing Prime had told him he had no chance to get into Colt's pants, he didn't pursue the connection further. But now Colt felt there was more behind this than he had originally thought. He didn't just feel it; he smelled it. The lake scent was off, stale and void of any life as if it hadn't been replenished by fresh water for a long time and algae were taking over. The orange hint he picked up last time was completely gone. It was clear Sam didn't have a good time, based on everything Colt knew about wolf shifters so far, and it was clear that this wasn't only due to the super boring accounting class they had to go through right now.

And bored Colt was. He couldn't get excited by the accounting treatment of different leasing contracts, distinguishing between financial and other leasing forms; and the foul smell from the back didn't help.

He was actually surprised he picked up the scent so clearly. Normally, he could only smell his wolves, and vampires. He cringed. But he couldn't pick up other wolves; that's why Prime always had to tell him whether somebody was just a pitiful human or a wolf shifter. And on this campus there were a lot of wolves. And a lot of the female wolves wanted to get into Prime's alpha pants.

Maybe he was learning to pick up other wolves' scents. He wasn't sure whether he liked that development or not. Of course, knowing more about other people always helped; but it also scared him a bit. He knew his old world had crumbled when he learned about vampires and wolf shifters, but so far he'd thought that was such a fringe element like Australian platypi or deep sea octopuses: everyone knew they existed but you could live your whole life easily and fulfilled without ever seeing any of those creatures. Recognizing wolves on a daily basis and frequently would not allow him this approach anymore.

When the teacher flipped through a gigantic book, which seemed to be the GAAP bible, to find the page he was referring to in his lecture, Colt turned around again to face Sam.

Sam seemed to notice he was being watched, looked up briefly and quickly back desperately pretending to make notes.

Colt got the impression Sam was afraid to interact with him in any way. He was puzzled about why. Prime could be intimidating but currently he wasn't here. And it was unreasonable for Sam to think that even establishing eye contact in class would earn him Prime's wrath. Though, Colt did understand that no wolves wanted to get on the wrong page with an alpha shifter.

Shit.

`Maybe it's completely different,' Colt realized. He was grateful the teacher talked about the history of accounting standards regarding leasing given the explosive growth of the practice in the Eighties, which lead him to digress with the pseudo-intellectual argument that accounting is actually a reflection of all management trends in objective numbers.

None of that was true, Colt felt. And objective numbers didn't exist, he knew, but he didn't see any reason to have that argument with the teacher geek. If objective numbers existed, Enron and the banking crisis wouldn't have happened. Accounting was more like a rug that was designed to keep things hidden. And depending on what shape or size the `thing' was, which had to be hidden, the rug changed its form and size as well. Accounting basically was heavy make up to cover the beating from your husband.

Shit another thought.

`Let's get structured here,' his brain insisted. `Maybe, he doesn't want to talk with you anymore because he not only thinks Prime is your boyfriend. He surely must think Prime as an alpha wolf is top, which automatically makes you, my little dork - man, could his brain be condescending -- an alpha mate. Exactly what you didn't want to become: the small cute little thing; an alpha mate kept safe and pure for the alpha wolf to fuck into oblivion and to breed pups with.'

Colt sighed. Sometimes he wondered whether his brain had a mind of his own. He frowned at this statement and didn't pursue it further. Maybe the drug trip had finally made him schizophrenic. Or maybe he's been schizo in the first place. Not that he didn't have enough problems already.

`So basically he thinks I'm a little bottom riding the big alpha cock. Given he is an omega, he might have hoped for Colt to be top,' Colt summarized with a little smile. Prime was right, he had changed so much. Now boys accepted him as a top. He liked that thought.

Husband beating.

Was Sam being beaten by his abusive boyfriend? Did he learn about Sam's attempt to connect with Colt? So, was Colt the reason Sam got beaten up? Or was he getting ahead of himself taking himself as too important? Maybe the black eye was just a result of a spring break party gone wrong. But why would Sam be so scared to make eye contact with Colt? Disinterest could be explained by Prime's alpha aura, fear not really. He needed to talk with this guy, otherwise he'd never be able to concentrate on GAAP approaches but be always distracted by foul lake stinks.

"Don't forget next time we have a senior manager form KPMG joining us to share with us his latest thoughts on leasing contract accounting, which is his specialty," the professor pointed out when he realized it was time to close class. He was obviously upset about himself that he lost too much time skimming through the book, telling side stories and entertaining himself philosophizing about accounting's mirror function to society, so that he didn't have enough time to cover the subjects he wanted to cover.

Colt was grateful, though. At the end he had survived another accounting class. Only 16 more to go. `I will die of boredom eventually,' he surrendered himself to his inevitable fate.

He rushed to the exit making sure he left class before Sam. When Sam finally came through the door, Colt approached him without hesitation. He noticed the boy tried to avoid him, but Colt was faster. "Hi, Sam. How's it going?"

"Fine. Just busy, that's all."

"You never messaged," Colt pushed further, clearly noticing the boy became more and more stressed. The lake stink became unbearable as if the feces of a whole city had been dumped into it.

"Ah, I thought you were too busy, so I worked by myself. Making progress," the smile was fake. Very fake.

"Oh, good for you. Wouldn't have minded to hang out, though."

A hint of a smile appeared quickly, but it froze when two guys who looked as if they'd played linebackers since they had been born approached them.

"He, Sammie, ready for the game?"

"Need to go," Sam whispered and turned to the two oafs. "Sure, let's go." However, he could barely control the trembling in his voice.

"Bye." Colt was a bit disturbed but turned around and wanted to leave the building. Only in the corner of his eyes he observed how the two big guys boxed Sam in as if playfully pushing him around and quickly disappeared into the men's restrooms. Few seconds later a confused punkish guy left the room, obviously having been told by the oafs to get lost.

Colt hesitated for a moment. He held up his nose. If he had thought the lake smell had been terrible before it had gone worse by several notches. In the not too far distance he picked up CE's reassuringly present soil scent.

He turned around aiming for the restroom himself. It was normal one had to relieve oneself after two hours of advanced accounting boredom.

While he typed on his phone, he `innocently' walked into the restrooms more quietly than he would have done normally. The fatter of the two guys pushed Sam into the arms of his fellow oaf, who replicated the move. Sam's stuff lay on the dirty restroom floor, some papers had moved into the empty stalls.

"You mutt, we told you not to talk with this dork anymore," the fatter guy growled. He wanted to bitch slap Sam, who successfully avoided the hit, just to be pushed again into the arms of the second guy.

Colt knew now Sam's black eye wasn't a bar brawl or an accident, but the results of bullying by his own pack.

"And when one of us wants to hit your omega ass, you take it, bitch," the smaller one with the unusually long dark hair and beard threatened. His black T-Shirt sported some Harley Davidson club logo.

Colt cleared his throat and asked coolly: "What's going on here?"

"Get lost!" the Harley Davidson club T-shirt said with disgust.

"Sorry, but I have to take a piss ... and this is the men's restroom and not some boxing ring." Colt was somewhat surprised about his audacity. He challenged two guys, each of whom could beat him into needing years for recovery.

"Not right now," the bigger guy shouted with a snort. He had a ketchup stain on his "No, Mam" sweater.

Colt wrinkled his forehead in feigned confusion and opened the restroom door as if to leave. He noticed how Sam's face turned white with terror. However, he didn't leave, just pointed his finger on the writing at the outside of door, well knowing people outside would now be able to hear anything which was going on in the restrooms. Even the oafs should get that. "Well, the writing on this door says otherwise. It is a restroom. And I have to take a piss. So I suggest you take your little testosterone demonstrations somewhere else."

For a second he thought the two bullies would attack him as they approached him. Once he realized they weren't taking the risk, he was sure they would `accidentally' push him into one of the open stalls on their way out. But they just growled angrily and passed him without any stupid actions. Just when they wanted to leave through the open door, CE appeared.

Colt smiled. CE looked as if he just wanted to take a leisurely piss, but he could smell the enforcer was full on and ready to attack. And it was obvious the two wolf oafs noticed that as well. Only when both of them dropped their eyes to look at the floor, basically acknowledging their lower status, did CE intend to let them pass moving his big body out of the door.

"And gents," Colt called them. CE blocked the door again with a slightly quizzing look. "If I ever see a black eye on Sam again, this recording will be with the campus police. I'm sure they have something against bullying on campus. -- You should know by now I love doing that undercover recording thingy, shouldn't you?"

If eyes could kill, Colt would have died multiple deaths in this second. He felt the Harley Davidson shirt guy even started his shift. For a second his teeth became longer and some bones broke.

A threatening growl by CE stopped the nonsense within a second.

"Not a good move to shift within a campus building, boys," Colt said. He enjoyed the looks of the three Chestnut pack members, as they realized Colt knew they were wolf shifters. "So do we have an understanding?" he pushed.

"Fag," the bigger oaf wanted to say, but CE's growl became aggressive now. Even Colt was taken aback by the level of energy. "Clear," the Harley Davidson shirt said rushing outside when CE had stepped aside.

CE stepped into the restroom, closed the door and leant against it so nobody could come in.

Colt turned to Sam, who tried to collect some of his papers from the filthy floor. When Colt bent to help, CE uttered an unappreciative growl. In his view, his pack Meta should not crawl on toilet floors. And Colt agreed. "You okay?"

"Kinda," Sam answered with a hoarse voice. "I guess I should thank you."

"It's okay ... worried?"

"Yeah. Those oafs might stay off me now but my gamma will make sure I'm sore for the next weeks." Sam stopped hiding his mouth with his hand as if that could unsay what he'd just divulged.

"I know you're a shifter. Prime told me. Your secret is safe with me," Colt comforted him.

"Thanks. I better go now. The longer Carl has to wait for me, the nastier he'll get." He grabbed all this stuff and wanted to leave, but CE didn't step away from the door. "Please," Sam begged Colt.

"Okay. But you should get help. You can't accept being treated like this ..."

"If you know shifters, then you know that's not so easy. -- Please, tell the enforcer to let me go."

"Okay. But think about it," Colt insisted, giving CE a sign with his head to open the door.

Sam whisked through the barely ajar door and ran as if the devil was chasing his soul.

"I know," Colt addressed CE on the way out of the restroom back to their house, "Prime is going to go bonkers over this."

CE smiled. "I'm sure he doesn't like you playing Mother Theresa for bullied omega wolf shifters."

Colt chuckled. CE's statement had been full of admiration and support. Not surprisingly, as CE also had a warm heart for the weaker, who needed protection not bullying. He wondered whether all enforcers were like that; or whether most were big meathead bullies and CE was the exception.

"Well thanks for having my back there," Colt briefly touched the neck of the big guy rubbing it, although he need to stretch a bit to reach him.

"You know, it's part of my job description," CE responded not unexpectedly as if remembering a similar scene in his past. "And I know," he continued chuckling to himself, "you're going to tell Prime to get lost when he chews you out."

"Yep, being a Meta has some advantages, one doesn't have to put up with the alpha male beating his chest bullshit."

"Maybe you shouldn't say that to Prime," CE added in a jocular mood.

"Seriously, what's going on in this pack?"

"It's traditional despite being academic, although those goons didn't look like it. Any physical weakness is frowned upon and inviting bullying by higher ranking wolves."

"That's happening to Sam?"

"Looks like."

"What can he do?"

"Get bigger to fight for himself. Accept it. Or run away maybe finding a more accepting pack."

"Like you did?"

CE looked a bit confused, nobody had ever implied he couldn't fight for himself. "Not really, I was kicked out by my pack because I wouldn't be mated to the female my dad had chosen for me. They never hurt me physically as I've always been strong to stand up for myself."

"That was courageous ... I meant leaving your pack is so tough for wolf shifters."

"It was shit ... I was in hell until I met Prime in the Corps. Funny story by the way, we got into a bar fight ..."

Colt rolled his eyes. "Of course, an introduction during Tea at Five would have been severely out of character."

"Anyway, you know me now, Meta. It would have never worked out with a female. The pack would have realized I couldn't dominate a female, as an enforcer should, so I'd have lost my standing anyway. So I didn't have too much a choice other than to leave or accept being humiliated for the rest of my life."

Colt nodded. He hadn't realized how tough this must have been for him. "Are you still in contact with your pack?"

"Only with Will, my younger brother, briefly in the past. Secretly. If they find out he might get kicked out. And he is a good enforcer, all married and already with two strong pups, who will become enforcers or enforcer mates as well."

"And your parents?"

"And my father doesn't know me anymore. He was relieved I left without a fit and didn't bring more shame over his enforcer family by being unable to impregnate a female. And my mother does what my father says as every good wolf female would."

"How old were you when you left?"

"18 years and one day. The day before I was supposed to mate."

"And when did you meet Prime?"

"5 years later, 4 years ago. In San Diego, he was shipping out and had too much to drink. So the Shore Patrol was called to contain him. Man, can he fight."

Colt felt a lot of admiration and devotion in CE for Prime, as one would expect from an enforcer.

"Better fighter than you?"

"If we battled for life or death, he would kill me in the end. He's faster and has more stamina. He will wear me down eventually, even if in the beginning I would have a chance, after 30 minutes, I'd be toast."

Colt smiled. "Every thought of getting in contact with your father?"

"No, he forbad it. And he would get into trouble with his alpha. It's better this way."

"Does he know you're doing fine?"

"Not sure. He can always Google my name and would find info about me. Even a few pictures of me as an SP sergeant. But I'm not sure whether he does."

CE opened the door to their house and let Colt enter first.

Colt turned around and hugged the surprised CE.

"What was that for?"

"Just to let you know I care for you a lot, and I hope I can make you a bit happy despite your tough times in the past."

CE's eyes became watery. "Thanks, Meta. Believe me I'm very happy where we are. You and the pack are my family now; and it's better than in my dreams ..."

"I heard there was a commotion in the restrooms today," a dry voice interrupted them. Prime had come back.

Colt smiled at CE, asking himself how Prime had found out so quickly, but turned to the upset Alpha and wanted to say: `Yeah, tried to fuck a guy in a stall,' but responded instead: "Prime, let's talk about something I've been thinking of lately ..."

CE smiled and disappeared not wanting to get caught in between the argument of his Alpha and his Meta as much as he loved both of them.


"A wolf is closing in," CE said.

They had a leisurely Sunday afternoon, watching Prime and Brian playing on the Xbox. Colt shook his head once in a while when he looked up from his e reader and CE gave `helpful' comments to the two racers.

"Oh man, Prime, you drive like girl," CE fake insulted his Alpha.

"Oh yeah? Maybe we should race next."

"Well, first you need to win against me, big badass wolf," Brian insisted putting all his body into the remote to push his blue car ahead of Prime's red.

"Going to smoke your nice little cherry ass, boy," Prime spat out, but quickly realized he might have crossed a line with Colt. But as the young man didn't take the bait, he concentrated again on beating the shit out of the cute blond Mormon boy.

"I think he's heading to our house," Prime confirmed CE's observation about the wolf. He put the remote aside, ignoring that his car drove into the spectators on the screen disqualifying him for the game.

"Chickening out?" Brian teased.

"Not now, Beta." Prime's voice was all business and alpha.

Brian dropped his grin, tensing his body and CE's senses seemed to go into overdrive.

"CE, stay close to the Meta."

"Aye, aye, Sir," marine training coming through.

"Brian, open the door, check what he wants."

"Done."

"I'll be right behind you."

Colt didn't like that he was kept away from the door like a fragile doll, but he'd learned it didn't make sense to challenge his Alpha when it came to the pack's and his safety, just to satisfy his ego.

Voices came from the front room, but Colt couldn't hear what was spoken, but he knew now who the wolf was.

Sam. The lake scent was still unclean but not as stinky as some days ago. And when he concentrated he even picked up a tiny hint of orange.

Then Prime came back with a concerned face. "Sam's here. The guy from your accounting class," he explained unnecessarily as if to give him time to think.

"Okay. What's the problem?"

"He was beaten up again and ran away from his pack. He wants to join us."

Colt swallowed. Seemed he screwed up this time.

CE asked the obvious question: "Does he know our pack is ... different?"

"Meaning the Alpha gets it up his ass?" Prime spat out in unusual rage.

Colt exhaled to calm himself down, approached the highly upset Alpha and put his hand on the big red man's lock. "Prime, please."

"Sorry, Meta. I wasn't intending to be disrespectful," Prime tilted his head.

Colt sighed inwardly and slightly bit the offered neck. A satisfied growl was his reward.

"Will it create war with the other pack if he joins us?" Colt asked.

"Unlikely. He is totally unimportant," Prime answered, now calmer. "They'll go through the motions but not invest themselves in it." He nearly sounded disappointed that he wouldn't be challenged by the other alpha for Sam.

"Okay. Then how do we deal with that `purity' issue?" Colt couldn't believe he had to ask this question as if he was a tribal chief in Afghanistan ensuring the virginity of all unmarried girls and women in his donkey village.

"Not negotiable," CE insisted, "but we can check that."

"How?"

"I'll show you," Prime answered. "But first we need to decide whether he could join us ... I mean, Colt, what do you feel in there?" Prime put his big hand on Colt's scrawny chest feeling the heartbeat.

Colt was confused. "Feel? Not sure. I feel sorry for the guy. I wanted to help."

Prime was not convinced.

"The only thing I know is I can smell him. Lake and oranges, like you guys ..."

Prime's eyes widened. "Fuck, why didn't you tell ..." He stopped in his tracks. "Sorry, I guess ... Sorry, Meta." He looked at the floor.

"Fuck it, Prime. Tell you what? That I can smell him? I thought I started to be able to smell wolves now like I can smell vampires."

Prime shook his head. "Maybe, but you can only smell us and him."

Now Colt's eyes widened in recognition. "Holy shit, does this mean ...?"

Prime nodded his head. "Yep, in case he's pure, you just found us a new pack member."

"And what do you think, Prime?"

"Not my call, yours. But we're an unusual pack, so I'm not surprised Fate has decided to go that way. Once he's accepted, I ... we all will develop the same feelings towards him as for each other currently," Prime explained.

"Okay, then let's do it."

Prime hesitated.

"What?"

"Let me handle this please. I would ask you not to intervene even if you feel it's strange what's happening," Prime asked carefully, knowing he'd already been insubordinate twice today.

"Understood. I won't freak out if you do dirty wolf stuff," Colt chuckled. He quickly kissed Prime on his mouth, so he couldn't respond to the challenge. Colt playfully slapped his ass and said: "Get going."


Sam's face was swollen, his hair too long and unkempt. His eyes tired and full of sorrow. Even his clothes looked torn. "Good afternoon, Colt," he said respectfully, not looking into Colt's eyes, but on the floor trying to be as submissive as possible.

"Hi, Sam. What happened?"

Sam shook his head as if not wanting to answer.

"Mutt, do you know who Colt is?" Prime asked threateningly in his full alpha voice.

Sam started to tremble at the sound and nodded. "I think, Alpha."

"What do you think?"

"He's your mate." Sam's body tensed as if he expected an attack. He basically told a wolf pack alpha he's a fag, being mated to a boy.

"You're wrong," Prime said. His voice becoming a little bit less threatening.

"Yes, Alpha," Sam answered, although it was obvious he didn't understand.

"Are you a virgin?" Prime asked.

"Alpha?"

"Are you a virgin, mutt?" Prime's alpha voice was back.

"No, Alpha. I mean ..."

"What?"

"I mean I had sex with girls, but ..." Sam seemed to be close to collapse. Colt's instinct was to intervene, but he'd promised Prime to stay out of it.

"Have you ever fucked a bitch?"

Colt cringed.

"No, yes, I mean ..."

"Are you a complete air head?" Prime closed in on the young dark haired boy, who jerked but didn't move away from the big marine, well knowing that would have made his fate worse. "Simple question, dickhead, did you ever put your pitiful excuse of dick into a cunt?"

Colt swallowed. For a moment he was grateful never having had Prime as a superior.

"No, Alpha, I only ate them out."

"Gross," Brian commented.

"Did you ever get sucked by a bitch or a fag?"

Colt exhaled at the term, but again he didn't say anything.

Sam shook his head.

"Did you spank your monkey?"

"Alpha?"

"Wank? Jack off?"

"Yes, I mean ..."

Prime lost it. "Are you too stupid to answer simple questions? What should this pack do with such a moron?"

"Yes, Alpha. Sorry, this wolf is stupid." For some reason this statement took all the fury out of Prime. It seemed Sam had been through a lot to react like this, calling himself stupid.

"So have you masturbated?"

"Yes, Alpha."

Prime's face was disappointed. No purity then.

"... but," Sam continued. "I never really came. I can't really get stiff. That's why I ate the bitches."

"Gross again," Brian couldn't help himself it seemed.

"Have you ever got fucked?" Prime continued his ruthless interrogation.

Sam's face showed every shade of pink as if some deep secret had been revealed in front of half of the world. "No, Alpha, never."

"Well, we'll check out whether you tell the truth, mutt, and if not you will leave from here with even more bruises. Understood?"

"Yes, Alpha." And to everyone's surprise, he continued: "Alpha, if Colt isn't your mate, and he's not a wolf, may I ask why he's your pack?" Sam seemed to regret his audacity for a second forcing himself to look at his worn out sneakers again.

Now CE turned drill instructor, running towards the `recruit' shouting: "Shut up, you sorry excuse of a wolf. When the Alpha wants to hear your girly voice, he will ask you. Otherwise keep your face cunt shut. Do you copy?"

Colt was reminded of Full Metal Jacket and felt so sorry for little Sam, but he knew his pack would never hurt the boy, irrespective of how much they tried to intimidate him right now. And that was already much better than what Sam's current pack was doing.

"Sir, yes, Sir," Sam shat himself.

"Don't fucking `Sir' me, mutt," CE continued his show, basically spitting into Sam's face so close was he.

Sam hesitated. "Understood, enforcer." CE was satisfied and backed off.

"Now strip."

"Alpha?" Sam looked up briefly in disbelief. And Colt gave Prime pretty much the same look.

When CE approached him again threateningly, Sam quickly responded: "Yes, Alpha." He lifted his worn thin grey T-shirt exposing several blue bruises and a few cuts on his lean upper body. This boy had not been treated well, Colt realized again, anger building up. He wanted to hug Sam, but kept in the back. He wasn't sure what Prime was up to.

Sam slipped out of his old sneakers, while unbuckling his belt dropping the well-worn jeans. Cheap white boxer shorts and short grey socks were all what was left on the thin boy.

Prime growled like a dog with rabies. "When I say strip, I mean strip, asshole!"

Sam nodded and pulled off his socks, and finally his boxer shorts. He tried to hide his privates facing four clothed men in front of him.

Now Prime started to get out of his clothes to Sam's surprise. And Colt started to get an idea about what was going to happen.

It showed in Sam's eyes that he admired the strong physique of the Alpha wolf. But his mouth nearly dropped to the floor, when he saw Prime naked in front of him, including the wide tattoo, the lock and the plastic cage. His face openly displayed how many questions he had, but he'd learned his lesson to keep his mouth shut.

And Prime shifted.

Colt closed his eyes and tried to suppress the unsettling sound of breaking bones. When he opened them again he saw Prime's glorious golden wolf in front of him. His green eyes looked at him so devotedly, that Colt wanted to bend down and hug the beautiful wolf. But he knew it wasn't the right time, when CE said: "Scumbag, put your hands behind your back. We're not interested in your tiny thingy. Open your mouth and don't say one thing. Don't move or this alpha wolf is going to have you for a snack. Is that understood?"

"Understood, enforcer," Sam lifted his arms, exposing his small privates and opened his mouth.

The beast approached him. Colt smelled Sam was scared, but the boy didn't move when Prime's wolf got on his hindlegs and put his forelegs on Sam's shoulders. Sam was struggling with the weight on him, and his instinct was to run away from the big alpha wolf, but he stood still. Prime's long tongue dashed out, licking Sam's face. Even when the tongue licked Sam's lips and teeth, the boy didn't flinch.

Colt saw from the corner of his eye that Brian and CE were impressed with the boy's determination.

It seemed the wolf had enough of Sam's mouth, jumped off his shoulders and put his nose into Sam's pubes. Sam jerked and wanted instinctively to protect his privates, but a threatening growl by the wolf stopped him before he could do something stupid. The wolf sniffed above Sam's little dick, between the balls and the thighs and in the back towards the hole.

Colt realized how sick this scene must have looked to innocent bystanders.

When the wolf moved back, CE barked: "Turn around." Sam complied. "Bend over," he did so. "Spread your ass with your hands!" CE ordered. Sam hesitated for a second but decided not to push it and did as ordered. Again, the wolf put his muzzle into the young man's body, sniffing his ass.

`Now this is what dogs do,' Colt thought, making a mental note to tell Prime at the right moment. The redhead always got so agitated when somebody compared wolves and dogs even remotely.

Once the wolf was satisfied he briefly looked at Brian, who picked up Prime's clothes, and disappeared into the bathroom, where Prime shifted back based on the noise of breaking bones.

"Get dressed," CE ordered with a little warmth in his drill instructor voice.

Sam nearly fell over pulling on his boxer shorts. Silently he put on the rest of his well worn clothes, including the jeans with the many white spots which made him look actually like a cool boy.

When he'd slipped into the sneakers without bothering with laces, Prime came back. His face was still a bit wet. "Had to clean my mouth from that mutt stink," he said slightly nodding to Colt to let him know Sam was pure. He raised his eyebrows in surprise, as he'd have thought this cute boy would have seen quite some action in his teenage years. At the same time he wondered how Prime's wolf could smell whether a man had had sex or not, but this wasn't the right moment to ask.

"So, Sam, ..."

`It seemed he was worthy of a name now,' Colt thought listening to Prime, who continued when the young man briefly met the Alpha's eyes, "... still want to join our pack?"

"Yes, Alpha, if you'll have me. I'll work very hard, Sir. I won't be a burden to your pack."

Prime winced a little bit, but the young man didn't notice.

"Still want to know why Colt is in the pack?"

"Yes, Alpha, if I have a need to know, Sir."

"You do."

Colt grabbed a clean glass from the sideboard and filled it with some water.

"You do know this a gay pack?" Prime asked. His voice betrayed the fact he hated to have to say it. It had never been important to him, only to other wolves.

Sam smiled for a little bit, but froze completely, when Colt handed him the glass of water. He quickly looked at Prime, who nodded.

"Thank you, Colt." He emptied the glass completely in seconds and wanted to put it back on the table, but Brian jumped in and took it, ensuring Colt didn't have to do it. It was nearly amusing to see how Sam was confused about this little detail, then he returned his attention to Prime saying: "Yes, Alpha, I'd hoped that. I'm gay."

Colt winced when he realized Sam's body seemed to prepare itself for a beating when Sam came out. But he knew that would have happened if Sam had uttered this sentence in his current pack.

"Understood, pup," Prime said nearly endearingly.

Colt smiled. Obviously, Prime's disposition to protect his pack was taking over and started to include Sam. Otherwise he'd have stayed with `dumbass' instead of the caring `pup.'

"Colt, Sir?" Sam asked carefully.

Brian chuckled and CE acknowledged Sam was still standing.

"What do you know about metas?" Prime asked.

"Nothing really, Alpha. Heard it was kind of a science fiction figure for packs in the future. My pack members always made fun of that idea. Like about beaming in Star Trek, or about weak humans or female omega wolf shifters who had to give it up to everyone."

CE growled. When Sam thought he'd said something wrong, CE smiled, if only for a second, to reassure him.

"Well, Sam. We have a meta in this pack. And our Meta is Colt," Prime stated quickly. He approached Colt and tilted his head in a submissive gesture.

Colt understood what Prime wanted to show Sam and playfully bit Prime's neck, pulling forcefully at the chain to get Prime close to his mouth. This time he would have a hickey again.

"Do you understand what that means, Sam?" Prime asked giving Colt a slightly reproachful look as he'd noticed Colt's boner caused by this public display of submission. `Really now?' it seemed to say.

"Not sure," was Sam's honest answer.

Prime seemed to like it. "Brian," he ordered.

"Prime is our Alpha, Sam, but ultimately Colt is in control when it comes to the long term decisions for this pack. Prime will lead the pack but always based on Colt's guidance."

Sam nodded, he even smiled a bit. For a second Colt thought he liked Colt being in control even more.

"This also means our submission is ultimately to Colt. And the Inner Circle of this pack will always be fully focused on him. That's why we wear his tattoo," Brian shifted up his sleeve to expose it briefly, "his chain," pulling it out from the T-shirt, "and the cage which keeps us pure."

"Like on Prime?" Sam asked.

"Yes. If you join this pack and if you get accepted by Colt and our Alpha to the Inner Circle, you will wear these marks as well."

Sam smiled. It obviously confused the men in the room giving him strange looks, but the dark haired boy with the healthy complexion despite all the signs of beatings and neglect smiled as if he'd just met Santa Claus. He turned to Colt, made a step towards him. When Sam realized getting closer would make CE intervene, he stopped, looked at Colt and declared: "I would wear your marks with pride and do everything to be worthy of them, Colt." He dropped his eyes to the floor.

In this moment a refreshing scent of a spring morning around a lake in the North filled the room competing with the intoxication of a Florida orange orchard. Colt inhaled closing his eyes sending out his own waterfall and wine scents. Strawberries, cherries and plums joined in. Colt swallowed. He had to concentrate as his dick demanded immediate attention.

"Good, I guess that means you're still willing to join the pack."

"Yes, Alpha."

"And what would be your role in the pack?"

"Sir, whatever Colt and you decide," Sam answered submissively.

"And what would you like the role to be?" Colt opened his mouth for the first time. He expected a scalding look from Prime, but the Alpha just observed Sam. Now that it was about the long-term structure of the pack and Prime had done his role vetting the new recruit, it was Colt's right to intervene.

"Colt, I know it sounds presumptuous ..." Sam hesitated.

"Spit it out," Prime demanded.

"I always wanted to be an enforcer for the Alpha," Sam said quickly making an instinctive step back to avoid punishment.

Colt lifted his eyebrow. He instinctively looked at CE, who made a bit of a face.

"I see." Prime said as neutrally as possible. "Brian, please take Sam to the kitchen and give him a beef sandwich and something to drink. Come back so we can discuss what we do now. And Sam."

"Yes, Sir?"

"Do not leave the kitchen until we tell you to."

"Understood, Alpha."


When Brian came back he had beers for the wolves and a Diet Coke for Colt.

"Colt?" Prime suggested.

"I would like to get CE's opinion first, if that's okay."

They looked at the big enforcer, who had gulped half his beer down already, looking a bit guilty.

"He's a nice kid. Gone through too much shit for one life. Would like to beat up his Alpha for neglecting him so much. If it was me, we should take him on."

"Softie," Brian teased him lovingly hitting him with his fist.

"Still not hurting," CE answered as usual.

"Could he be an enforcer?" Colt asked.

"He's fast, we saw that. He reacts quickly even in his human form, he runs fast in his human form. I think if we feed and train him properly, and support him with supplements, he could do it. But he'll always be more like a destroyer type than a battleship or cruiser. At least that's what it looks like today."

Colt wasn't really familiar with ship classifications. "Supplements?"

"He'll need to build muscle fast. Even if he won't become an enforcer and stay a pack omega, he needs to be able to defend himself outside so he doesn't become a permanent burden."

"Like me you mean," Colt joked. But Prime didn't like that at all and growled noticeably.

"Brian?" Colt ignored Prime's reprimand.

"I like him. He has stamina and guts despite everything he's been through. And he reminds me of me. If Prime hadn't picked me up after scaring the shit out of me, I'd be in a similarly terrible state. This kid was beaten, neglected. I'm sure he doesn't even get enough to eat. Traditional packs enforce submission of unwanted pack members like that. Look at his clothes, CE should beat up their alpha."

"Prime?"

"Your call, Meta. Can you smell him?"

"Yes, Prime. I can. He has an intoxicating fresh lake smell with ripe oranges. And I think I'm hard for him."

CE snickered.

"I guess you want him on board then?" Prime asked for confirmation.

"Yes, Prime. We, the pack, want him on board," Colt added.

Prime smiled like a kid with a new toy when he heard "we the pack."

"Brian, get Sam."


"Okay, Sam. Here's the deal," Prime started all business like. "We will take you on for probation for three months. You'll move in here as of today sharing the room with CE. You'll have three jobs over the next months: First, college. We expect that you do your best in your classes. I'm sure if you ask nicely, Colt will help where needed. If we learn you skip classes or that your grades are unsatisfactory you will be disciplined. Understood?"

"Yes, Alpha."

"Second job. You'll train with CE. Every day. He'll control your nutrition, your sleep and your exercise, with him or without him. You will obey without hesitation or be disciplined. Understood?"

"Yes, Sir. Thank you, enforcer."

"Call me `CE'."

"Yes, CE."

"And just to be clear, in case you don't meet our standards, CE will be disciplined as well."

Colt would have liked to record CE's facial expression to that statement. It went from `Great to have a new wolf in the pack' to `oh fucking shit, Prime is a nutcase' within one second.

"Third job: You're the lowest ranking wolf in this pack. I expect you to behave accordingly. Understood?"

"Fully, Alpha."

"Having said this, we will make sure you're protected from your old pack. We'll make sure you are fed properly, clothed properly and cared for. We only will discipline you when you do something wrong. We won't harm you. We'll make sure any injuries you might have right now are taken care of. Even if you don't wear Colt's marks yet, you'll be one of us."

Sam cried. "Thanks, guys. I'm sorry, I ..."

"It's okay," Brain said hugging the new pack member. "It's okay. I know how it feels. Been there ..."

"Really? I mean ..."

"Will tell you later. -- Let's get your stuff. I'll come with you. And welcome."

"No need, Beta. My stuff is outside. I would have never gone back to them."

"You'd have been without a pack if we hadn't taken you on."

"I know," Sam shrugged his shoulder, "but I saw no other way. I would have run. Joined the army or something."

Prime growled.

Sam jerked. Growls of dominant wolves normally meant beatings for him.

"A tip, Sam," Brian said. "Don't mention the army. CE and Prime are both ex-marines."

"Out of duty marines," CE clarified loud, "There isn't such a thing as ex-marine."

"See?" Brian chuckled.

"Understood, Beta."

"And call me `Brian.' `Beta' always reminds me of faulty software."

Sam laughed.

Colt got a warm feeling about how Brian and Sam interacted. He didn't need any more reassurance, but this showed how right their decision had been to take Sam on board.

"I guess I'll move Brian's stuff into your room, Prime," CE said leaving Colt and Prime.


"What are you thinking?" Colt asked Prime, who looked out of the window watching some birds on the fence.

"I don't like that you compared yourself to Sam regarding protection."

"But it's true."

"Not really. You are a human; you should be safe from wolves and vampires. It's not your fault you need protection. And sorry to tell you, you might need it for the rest of your life now that you're a Meta."

"Thanks, you really have a way to make me feel better. So it's Sam's fault he needs protection?"

"No, his pack's. And if we do it right, he'll be able to protect himself soon, he's a wolf after all."

"Understand. But I think I can help." Colt smiled. A nice devilish idea had just crossed his mind.

"Another famous fuck Mr. Mcfuckmyass Erickson plan?"

"Pretty much. When Brian is done send him to my room. We need to do bit of movie making."

"Okay."

"And on Tuesday we need to make a trip into the city."

"No problem."

"One more thing. Can you tell me who helped you to get the invites to the Alpha3 party?" Colt wasn't surprised about the answer. "Good, I think I'm going to make a lot of enemies in the next days. And the best thing will be that they'll hate me because they won't be able to do a fucking thing about it."