Part 8

Benton was in awe as they left the forest surrounded house. All the trees were at least two hundred years old, and remarkably healthy. Ray owned a house the size of a city block in the middle of an old growth forest. The place was plantation style with willows and other hanging trees. There were flowers in constant bloom on the trees as the last warm days slipped in to the cool night. Fireflies floated up among the dense trees giving a magical quality.

Sweet smells from the flowers and the plants filled his refined senses as he walked with Ray down the trail towards the Festival as Ray called it. Samhain night was magical here he had said, and from what he could see already in the waning sun, it was truly paradise. The moisture hung in the air giving it a cool feel and a musky taste.

"Swamps. We have the mosquitos and other blood parasites sprayed for. That is why you are not turning in to one bright red swell." Ray waded through the cool grass along the trail, letting his tail brush the hip high stalks around.

Benton watched and longed to touch that tail. The gold stripes in the blonde fur matched the crazy hair of his beautiful man-tiger. As they walked he barely registered the world around him, his eyes only for the majestic creature in front of him. He felt an emotion swell in him that he had not dreamed of in over two decades. It was so odd, he almost had no name for it. Content, he was for once content, or he would be soon if he had his way, especially if he had his way with a certain younger were Tiger.

Ray occasionally looked back and blushed at the appreciative glances he was getting from Ben. "It is only a little bit further." He felt calm and comforted, despite what he now knew. Tomorrow he would deal with his friend's death, tonight he was going to have fun!

Drum beats were heard first as they drew near the dark clearing. With-out their having realized the sun had set, and the fires at the Samhain festival was driving them nearer. Next came the flutes, pipes, and other wind instruments, last of all the string instruments above most the Dulcimer and Fiddle.

Smells of swamp water, lake mist, bon fires, and the forest filled the night to mix with the already sweet smell of the moon flowers, Jasmine and Gardenia among them. The Harvest smells were in the air to. Fresh melons and fruits were everywhere as they drew near, the meats had yet to be caught or were waiting for them to be cooked.

Snatches of voices drifted across the meadow to them as they entered under an arch of vines and bound tree limbs. Flowers and ivies lines the clearing like an enormous gazebo. All this combined with the joyful singing and shouts of the people, made Ray feel drunk. He gave in to the temptation of the beat and started to move in rhythm, dragging a protesting Fraser with him.

Soon the music took on a sensual feel as people started to pair off. Ray still had Ben in his grasp when another's voice broke through his stupor.

"Well this is a surprise, Stanley Kowalski."

Ray froze in mid motion, his back straitening like a ramrod. "What do you want, Vecchio?"

Ray Vecchio laughed as Kowalski turned to face him. "Just to say, good luck, you're gonna need it, Pollack."

"Same to you, Squid face."

"Now boys, can't we behave more civil around here?" A short blonde woman came up between them, placing a hand on each of their shoulders, but favoring the balding man. "This is not a night of fighting, but merry making and Joy bringing. Besides, save it for the race, remember, winner get's to be my next mate, and I am already in heat."

"Okay, you be ready Stell." Ray Kowalski turned to Ray Vecchio. "May the best man win, and then may he beat your ass later Vecchio."

Vecchio was about to lunge at Ray, his hazel eyes flashing blue. "Wait until the race Ray, then we will see who is better. Come Stella, beautiful, we have other things to discuss."

Benton watched all with a dispassionate gaze until he saw Ray's face fall as Stella snubbed him for the other Ray. His hand clasped Ray on the shoulder gently then pulled back before Ray could shrug it off. "What is that all about?"

Ray looked down as he waved off as if he could block the emotions before looking up at Ben's concerned eyes. "It all ties in tonight, we have this big festival every year..."

"Not that! Well not just that, but the whole coolness towards you. I do not understand their attitude towards you."

Ray looked away as a mist started to form in his eyes. "It is nothing." A gentle hand under his jaw made him look in to Ben's sincere eyes.

"It is not nothing, Ray, I care about it, about you."

He spoke in such a gentle manner, Ray felt tears come again. This time one ran down his face over a cheek, right in to Ben's hand. Benton bent his head forward and kissed the tear off Ray's face with tender lips.

"It is okay, I am here."

Ray nodded as he pulled back a little. "Years ago when we were kids, Stell and I were close. She hung out with our group, Dief, Frannie, Stell, Jack, Louis, and Me. Vecchio was one of the popular kids, his younger sister Frannie, hated his guts. Stell was the only one of our group that actually liked him. He and I had hated each other since the first grade when I started school here. My mum and dad both died in an accident so the Lieu raised me in their house.

"Anyways, it was the summer we graduated from the local high school. Vecchio had been at college for two years. He came back and Stell was all over him. She and I had been going steady since he had left two years before, she and I were going to get married. Or so I thought.

"Jack and Louis were teasing me about how I wasn't good enough for a common slut like Stell, Frannie defined me against them, and Dief just stayed silent the whole night. We heard Stell and Vecchio going at it in the back of his car, big fancy thing, he had, and still does have a lot money. My family left me the house, the land and a trust to pay for the taxis, that's it. Everything else I gotta work for, that wasn't good enough for Stell.

"So we hears them going on like a couple porn stars and I lose it. I took a bat to his expensive car and to him. Stella dropped me like a bad habit right then and there. God help me I cried, begged her to take me back, me the bad ass, second only to Dief cried like a baby. She laughed, gut busting laughed at me. I stormed out of there, leaving a stone cold Vecchio and his sister to beat the hell out of Stell. Frannie god bless her heart, stood up for me at every turn.

"There was nothing I could do, my future was a wreck, and I had no one to love. Lieu had a job in the city at that time and I was on my own. So the boys and I got drunk. Frannie joined us about an hour after the incident. She tried to apologize but I just told her I loved her. She took it the wrong way and slugged me. I kissed her for it and set her strait. Louis decked me for that. She and he were an item. Jack was waiting for the right one, he later came after Louis died. Frannie was inconsolable for nearly two years, thank god she had Ma for her and the kids.

"Anyways, back on topic, Dief and I were the only ones left that night about two in the morning. We were sitting on a log over looking the lake, drinking Lieu's strawberry wine and skipping stones. I don't know who made the first move, but he tackled me and pinned me against the log. He ripped my pants in his haste and took me there over the log. Afterwards he took off running, I didn't see him ever again, but he left a note on my pillow saying he was sorry. The stupid bastard thought he had raped me."

Tears were cascading down his face as he looked to the sky. "He never did anything I didn't want him to do. They never knew the real reason he ran, but he stole money from his dad and the brewery to get out of the state and for that the wolf clan never forgave him. I paid it all back with interest, so there is only the actions he has to pay for. I say eighteen years with your calming influence evened it out." Ray looked down at his feet to hide his emotions.

Benton's face assumed a look of questioning. "What do you mean?"

Ray looked up with a hopeful expression. "I mean a man of such good nature, kind, loving, and pure." A tiny smile lit his face.

Fraser let out an amused chuckle. "I am far from pure, Ray."

For a minute the were tiger seemed to study his very soul. "No you're not, you are as pure as the driven snow." He made a motion towards Fraser's eyes. "No hints of yellow in the snow atall." This time Fraser released a deep belly laugh.

"So back to this festival, what is it all about, I was under the impression that Samhain was used to bless, purify the livestock and the fields for fertility in the spring. Also to celebrate a bountiful harvest in the name of the deities."

Ray nodded impressed. "It is, but with our kind it is so much more. We celebrate more than just purity tonight, but a fertility right that is usually associated with Beltane in the spring. Unlike Humans, the were clans have always celebrated our good fortune here on this night. Many of our kind our conceived on this very night. Ones born on this night are considered blessed by the gods to be virile or fertile." At this he waggled his eyebrows before both broke into fits of laughter.

"What are the festivities then, if not a traditional by Human standards?"

"Let's see, there is the usual Samhain tricks for the kiddies and people who like them, such as bobbing for apples, pumpkin carving, pie contests, drawings for the contest winners, then there is the competitions for livestock and garden harvests. I have some entered in the garden for Lieu, him and his gourds. Then there are the contests for those with the skills, archery, darts, wrestling, water dunking, and wood working skills, which is more along the line of competitions, but is still considered a contest of skills.

"After that we have the feast of Samhain with those beasties caught by the archers, and what he have brought for harvest. Then there is the game hunt, the main event of the evening. The single men who wish a chance to mate with our alpha this night, usually a virgin, hunt a Nodalisk for its fur. They must catch the beast and bring its body back for inspecting by she who is queen." He made grand sweeping gestures.

"They bathe in the smelly blood of the god awful thing, then comes the crowning of the Samhain King/Pumpkin King/Jack Frost/Great Forest Spirit. He has too many names. Back to the dude, he lights the great purification fires on either side of the great arch towards the lake. We all must pass through for the blessing of Samhain, and fertility. After this the nannies and kids are driven home or to their slumber parties, most go out to the haunted ridge for the all night festival there. We adults pair off with the ones we wish to be with and watch. The King and his Queen mate in the middle of us on the altar of the Moon Goddess at the center of the meadow on the furs of her lover's bed. He will have to be a great hunter or else he will not get the chance to participate in the game hunt. So he has a lot of furs for them.

"If the Goddess smiles upon them, then their union will bare offspring. When they climax, we all give a great cheer for it is a sign that we will bare children for another year, another year our people will live on." A big smile lit Ray's face. "After that we..." He started giggling as his eyes lost focus and he remembered past feasts.

"And then what, Ray?"

"And then we have an orgy that would make the Romans blush."

"Ah." Heat spread up Benton's cheeks. "Yes, oh dear, I uh um, yes." He straitened up. "Well then, very good."

By now Ray was heaving with laughter. This promised to be one of the most memorable feasts yet.

Part 9

Ray was on the ground laughing as Fraser held the largest apple in his teeth. Unable to close his mouth or bite the apple, many pig squeals were heard from the crowd. Even Ray was not above the good natured ribbing of the former Mountie. It seemed the clans had allowed the man to be accepted for this night. For this, Ray was grateful.

Up next came the pie eating contest. Ray refused to enter, but he forced Benton, much to the man's chagrin. On his left were six kids to his right were two other men, both who's girlfriends were watching with Ray. In fact they were all pointing and laughing at the men in their bibs.

Ben narrowed his eyes at Ray, but let no other emotion show on his face. They were told to take their marks, and bent forward over their pie's. Each pie was made of vanilla pudding and cool whip on a crust, but to the winner went a choice of Chocolate Cream, or Lemon Murengue. Ray had told Ben to win at all costs, the Lemon was his.

The contest began with a shot from a pistol, but was cut short when a bird fell dead to the table. After it was plucked and added to the feast, the contest was resumed. Two of the kids put up stiff competition, but Benton and his magic tongue as was later dubbed, saved the day, and won him more than just a pie. He declined a second go, but agreed to come back for the finals.

As he came down the steps, he blushed at the appreciative glances he got from the women. However his face went pale white as Ray decided to clean him up, with his tongue. He relaxed when the thick purring started to rumble from Ray's throat. Ray's movements got some of the whipped cream on his face.

"Oh dear, Ray, you seemed to gotten some on you in your enthusiasm."

Ray licked his lips testingly. "So I have, care to help clean me up?"

Benton nodded as his eyes narrowed. He leaned forward and lightly licked away the cream. Giving Ray's lips a once over, he was surprised when they opened. Before either of them knew it, they were kissing, gently using tongues to map the other's mouth. A throat clearing to their right broke them apart.

Ray glared at the offending man for a moment then snorted as he embraced the tall black man beside him. Pulling back, he glared at the man who had cleared his throat earlier. "What the hell is your problem Dewey, ain't nothin you haven't done with Jack."

"Be that as it may, I didn't grab him like that on our first date."

Ray started choking to the point Ben thought they were going to have to call an ambulance. After he finally got in under control, he glared at the white man with blood shot eyes and red face. "You and he were fuckin' long before yer first date."

"Well that's just fuckin, kissin is another thing all together..." Jack's hand clamped over his mouth.

"Jack Huey, this here big mouth is my domestic partner, Thomas Hewey." He offered Benton his free hand, but drew it back with a yelp to cradle his other hand. "Son of a bitch, Thomas."

Dewey spit and made an overt display of retching. "Nasty. Do you wipe your ass with your hand sans tp?"

"No, that's why I got your tongue!"

Ray grabbed Benton's arm and dragged him away from the bickering couple. "C'mon Frase, lets leave the love birds alone. Coupla sick nasties if ya ask me. Then again I grew up hangin with Jack, so what does that say about me?"

"I believe it says a lot on your character to not let such things as petty as sexual practices interfere with friendship."

Wide blue eyes were staring at him with wonder. "Ya really do talk like that. What do ya practice this shit in front of a mirror in order to school yer face?"

"I do not understand what you mean?"

"Yer a freak, Frase."

"Ah, thank you, Ray."

"You are welcome, now let's check out that dunking booth. I hear they are looking for a jerk to dunk."

"Are you suggesting that you might be a good jerk?" Benton regarded his companion with an appraising look. "You might pass for a sour puss, but never a jerk, you are too short to be a jerk." He said it with such a serious look, Ray slapped him and stormed off. A smile found his sore features as he ran out to find the sulking man.

Over head in the night sky the stars shown through the billowing trees as they swayed in the breeze. He found Ray staring up at them with a light smile. "You know Frase, there are so many of them. Every time I look at them I wonder if there is some one out there for me. I always thought Stella was the one. Lately I have not been so sure. May be there is no one for me."

"I don't know Ray, I like to think there is at least one person in all the world for some one. On a world with billions of people to choose from, what is stopping you from making that choice?"

"Fear I guess. Most of us are not allowed to leave the county, it's not safe out there for our kind."

Benton nodded as he brought Ray up close to his body, wrapping his arms around the wiry man from behind. Ray settled up against him with a sigh as Fraser rested his chin on his head.

"See those kids and those women over there?" He pointed towards a group of six kids, two babies, and three women. Ben nodded. "That is Frannie Welsh, she and Lieu married about three years ago. Since then she has had a set of twins and another set on the way. The other hellions are Louis' brats, but he loves them all the same, he did with me to. The other two women are Cassie and Ma. Cassie is engaged to a punk named Zuko, needless to say her fathers are livid."

Another nod, then he waited for something more on her parentage, but nothing more was forthcoming. "So she was adopted?"

"Yeah semi adopted by James, but the whole 'I'm a grown woman you can't order me around' got in the way and she moved out. That was about a year ago, now they are okay again. Her birth father, Tom Cat, would be here tonight, but he has a litter on the way. James is about to have a major meltdown over the stress of all the other kids, and Cassie combined. I lost count after number five. Those two are worse than rabbits about such things."

Ben didn't miss the wistful tone in Ray's voice. "That's why you are doing it."

"What?"

"The race. You want kids of your own."

Ray nodded, there was no use trying to hide his feelings. "Yeah, I wanted them for a long time, just Stella always said no. So I had to patiently wait and bide my time for a chance like this."

"Why wait for her, why not have them with some one else?"

A snort was his reply. "Have you seen my house?"

"What is wrong with it?"

"I'm poor, Benton. I've got no money and the only reason the government hasn't stolen that from me, is because there is an ancient trust set up for my family by my ancestor Dalin what's his name. It pays the taxes which get raised each year, yet some how the money is always enough to keep uncle Sam away. I don't question it, just accept that there will be money there to keep it in my family. But that is the problem. I have no family. There is no heir to my family. If I have no legal heir in the next year, then I can kiss the trust good bye. Call it insurance to keep the house and land in the family. We can't sell any of it, and we can't develop any more than what already is, not that I would. So I am broke and in my world that doesn't attract a mate. I will lose the house and my life if the trust is taken away. If you haven't noticed, there are no bums in Chicago Lake. You either make a living, or you end up as soil. So you will excuse me if I want a family." He pulled out of Fraser's arms and stalked off again, this time Fraser let him go.

Part 10

Benton missed the next few events as they passed. He simply wandered among the people as meeting and greeting. People he never even would look twice at stopped him and told him the old bits of information about Dief or Ray. About how close the two were in their younger days. It was even speculated they had been lovers for a time.

He could only smile and nod in agreement as they prattled on. As time went by, he began to worry about Ray, the man had simply disappeared on him. Worry was starting to grip him when he sensed something off behind him. Following his gut, it lead him to a small clearing on the edge of the woods where both Rays were talking animatedly.

"Come on, just this once..."

"Absolutely not Stanley. I would rather see her dead than in your arms."

"I need this, I want this. This may be my last chance, no scratch that, it is my last chance. There is no more after that."

"I said no!"

Kowalski looked away for a moment as his eyes flashed. "They are taking the house, Vecchio." He waited for any reaction, none was forth coming because Ray Vecchio was already gone. Ray sat down on his haunches, lowering his head to his knees.

As Fraser drew closer he could make out the sounds of crying. Gently he crept in to the meadow so as not to make a sound. In a matter of steps he had Kowalski in his arms. The smaller man tried to brake free, but he only held on closer.

"Let me go!"

"No. Not until you tell me what that was all about?"

Ray shook Ben's hands off him, but they were back again in an instant. "Do you wanna hear how big a loser I am? How I am losing my house because I can't get laid?"

"I thought you had another year."

"I do, to have an heir, tonight is the deadline for conception." He turned in Ben's arms and looked him imploringly in the face. "I have to win that race tonight, it is my last chance. If I lose, with it goes my house and any chance I have at having a family of my own."

"Surely there must be some one else who can..."

Ray shook his head. "There is no one else. There are but a few breeders among my people, and most are taken or of an age where they can not breed. Stella is one of the only Breeders left that has no fixed mate. The other three are pregnant."

Benton held him close as he let the tears fall. "Something has occurred to me. Yesterday when we ran into each other, you told your cousin about him expecting your support. What support, and why would you be cousin to a wolf?"

"My mum was the only one of her litter to survive. Her mum died in child birth. Her dad married a wolf, mixed marriages usually produce no offspring, but when an alpha wolf and Royal tiger mix, the children come out always wolf cubs. Mum had three sisters, only one of them was able to reproduce, hence my cousin Tyler. That woman was a force to be reckoned with, she made the ground tremble with her mere presence in her day. She has since retired to the back ground to aid her powerful son, the only child of Jeserith Creed, a local bad ass. He broke pack law at a pack council, they ate him for it. It was only my family's power that prevented them from killing his entire family.

"My family holds a seat on the council, though it is occupied by Lieu, I can take it any time I want. Tyler needed another vote in order to allow him to choose his new mate, since his last one skipped town two years ago. Last night I gave him that chance. Tonight he will announce and take his new mate in front of the pack. This union will produce a child, and secure our family line. If I fail to produce an heir, it will revert to my second cousin at the age of ascension. At least it will not fall in to the hands of Vecchio like so many other things of mine."

"She was never yours, Ray. You merely thought so."

"A guy can always dream, can't he Frase?"

Benton nodded as he cleared his throat. "Yes he can."

In the night their lips met once more. They broke apart at the sounds of horns blaring in the distance. Ray offered him a chagrined smile. "Hunt's on. Wish me luck, beautiful."

Breathlessly he watched as Ray ran off. "Luck be with you, and god speed, Ray."

Part 11

Forty men had gathered at the center of the wooded clearing. Ranging in ages from twenty to sixty-five, all were there to prove their worthiness of the gift of life. The right to reproduce was their reward. Failure meant another year of no children for some, for others it meant the end of their line.

All were silent in the solemn moments before the hunt. Tonight an enemy's existence would be ended for the sake of their continued existence. They would celebrate his loss as any true warrior lost on the battle field in a honorable fight. There would be no more life for this creature, only the certain doom of being what it was.

A great battle cry rang out from the men as they charged off after the scent of the Nodalisk, and so it began!

They ran in packs through the trees, each searching for the Nodalisk's unique scent for their own. Soon they were divided up in to groups of young and old, the young looking out for the others in order to get a leg up and possibly turn an advantage to their own. The elder ones keep to themselves unless they sought the aid of fellow.

Both Rays were independent of the entire group. They kept an eye on the stragglers, and the other, but continued on their own. Each followed a trail, yet both knew the other might be on the right one as their own the decoy. The trick was to discover which was which, and turning it so that no one else knew.

Clad only in breech clothes, and limb jewelry to drive the Nodalisk from any hiding place from the clanking metal, the strove forward. In the distance they heard the panicked calls of the Nodalisk.

It had heard them coming!

The thrill of the hunt spurned them on inspire of the danger. All they knew as the chase, it was in their blood, who they were. The shrill cries of their prey only set them harder on its trail.

Ray Kowalski saw his chance, and sped up crossing Vecchio's path, spraying the other man with his scent throwing him off the trail of the Nodalisk. Vecchio screeched in anger as he hissed at Kowalski. Ray ignored the fallen man and continued on faster. He was close, he could already taste the scent of fear on the wind.

In a clearing the creature turned around spooked. Ray ignored his reaction to tear the creature to pieces, or was it a man? Too late he realized his mistake and Vecchio was on it. The Nodalisk tossed Vecchio in to the trees and started off again.

Not waiting for a second chance, Kowalski took off in pursuit of the creature. They were mindless killing machines. All the Nodalisks knew was to kill. So why did Ray feel an aversion to killing it?

This was not the first hunt he had been on, this was his sixteenth to be exact. So why did this one bother him so much? Why did killing the ancient enemy bother him?

During his introspection Vecchio had taken the lead again with a few of the younger men at a close second. Trying to put it out of his mind, he pushed on. He had a race to win and a prey to catch. This was for the sake of his family, the sake of his house. Last of the line of the purest golden tigers. He was going to be the last of his kind.

No!

He couldn't be the last of his kind, not if he had to kill every beast between here and hell. Pressing on he followed the others in to a clearing where he heard the death cries of the beast.

No.

He was too late. Vecchio was covered in the blood of the dead animal and cheering with the young men around him. When he caught sight of Ray, he made a shooting motion.

Ray Kowalski was the last of his line.

The line screamed in his mind as he stood there listlessly as the joyful young men around him shouted their catch. He watched as Vecchio tore the clothes and things from its body for trophies of the hunt. A cerulean dragon's heart dagger was one of the items he placed on his belt.

Drifiting off, Ray ignored the men around him and walked back towards the festival. He had lost, in a month's time he would lose his seat on the council to Vecchio, he already lost Stella to Vecchio, and he would soon lose his house to Tyler. At least Tyler would allow him to stay on the land.

Tears streamed down his face as he walked the long ways around the camp to be alone in the sanctuary of the clearing again. When he got their, Benton was waiting for him. Neither spoke, just sat their on the log holding the other as tears ran down his face. It was over.

Part 12

They had brought the smelly body back and Stella had applied the blood to the bald pallet of Ray Vecchio. He had applied to her face and they were busy kissing in-between dousing the other. He was crowned with leaves and berries from ivy. She was give a similar one of flowers and honey suckle.

After they were covered in the blood of the Nodalisk sacrifice, they joined hands and grabbed the twin torches. Walking as one, they headed towards the great arch and lit the great bon fires on either side. Stepping through the smoke and incense, they kissed again.

A shout rang out as the others started up in an old song. Kids joined hands, arms swinging and followed the happy couple through the sacred flames of Samhain. Followed by the adults, the last through the sacred arch were Fraser and Kowalski.

Like the walking dead, they clung to one another and ignored the glare and triumphant jeers aimed at them from Vecchio and Stella. Soon the kids were rounded up and sent off on their way to the family events. Vecchio then grabbed his new mate and carried her to the altar in the center of the ring of the meadow. Laid out were his furs that his mother and sister had brought with them. A pillow of finest silk and lace supported Stella's head as Vecchio laid her down.

Kowalski was to afraid to turn his head and watch. So he clung to Fraser instead. As her moans and cries of pleasure filled the meadow, Ray collapsed. Fraser picked him up and wrapped his body around him. His legs wrapped around Fraser's hips gave them a more intimate grip.

As Stella and Vecchio climaxed a shout rang up, and the happy couple got up from the altar. Wrapping the skins and furs around them, they walked over to the fire. Now came the moment that had been the talk of most of the evening. The new mate of the Creed Clan.

Led out from the sacred groves of low hanging willows, wrapped in dark blue cloths, the tall figure walked with an air of hesitancy. Tyler walked in from the opposite side of the circle dressed only in a doe skin breech cloth and silver arm bands, he strolled up to his mate to be. He picked up the figure and laid the person on the altar.

Taking his time, he was gentle to open the cloak and bury his face in the warm earth toned skin of the neck. He stared in to the eyes of his intended, nodded and then took the figure over the altar. Cries of passion filtered through the groves as they finished. Howls from the wolf clans went up as Tyler wrapped his mate in the clothes again. Only then did he remove the face cloths, to reveal much to the surprise of everyone but one other there, John Kanin. John's dark eyes met with the blue of Benton's and he smiled.

Benton nodded and carried his own back towards the arch of trees and vines they had arrived through. Ray's hand on his arm stopped him from going through. Their eyes met and Ray nodded. Benton smiled.

Part 13

Fraser pressed Ray in to the cool moss as he ground their hips together. They ignored the sounds of the others in similar states of mating. Growing harder by the moment, he kissed Kowalski until the other man gasped for air. He couldn't help it, there was something so irresistible about this man.

Growling, he nipped at the smaller man's neck. He tasted good too. Smiling at his new discovery, Benton started to lick and bite his way across Ray's body. He ground his erection in to Ray's leg as he continued over his soon to be lover's body.

Ray was in heaven, he had wanted this. No he needed this, needed it to forget what was happening. He wanted to be at peace for once in his life, top be perfectly content with his life. Benton was about to give this to him and he would welcome the gift with open arms and legs.

His cries were heard by all as Benton took him in his mouth. The sucking and the motions of the experienced tongue were playing devil tricks on his body. All he could do was lay there and moan.

Benton could wait no more, all this teasing was playing havoc on his health. Freeing his erection from the bindings of his pants, through the laces, he settled down between Ray's legs. He slicked his erection with whatever it was they were providing and placed himself at Ray's opening.

Ray felt the probing member and looked up into Ben's eyes. An inner voice told him it was now, he was ready. He nodded with his eyes and hissed in pain as Benton shoved in him with one quick motion. Pants of breath were his way of dealing with the pain and the intrusion. As the aches subsided, he nodded again and Ben continued.

He pulled out and thrust back in, building a rhythm they could both adjust to. The tight heat that was Ray felt like it was swallowing him whole with each thrust. Each thrust a small part of him felt like it died, and he liked it. They were both grunting and moaning before long.

Ray's whimpers of pain were muffled by Fraser's cries of pleasure. A build up of pressure started behind their eyes and worked out from their. Benton closed his eyes and threw back his head with a shout as he came. He continued the steady thrusts until he was sure the last of his seed was spent and Ray had come to.

There were no more sounds of mating coming from the clearing. Instead almost all was silent, couples laid across the field tangled in arms drifting off or already asleep. Benton wiped the sweat off his lover's brow and kissed his barely responsive lips. Ray was completely out of it.

Finally pulling out, he kissed the man once more and pulled his breeches closed tight with the laces. Looking around, he noticed Vecchio slip off on his own and smiled. Time to finish his business here. Quietly he stepped through the mass of bodies and followed the way ward man.

He caught up to him at the base of a massive tree. He turned the pissing man around and lifted him by the throat. "I want what is mine." The perfectly reasonable tone was anything but.

Vecchio's pants went wet as he noted the yellow tint to Benton's eyes. He nodded and handed over the dagger.

"Thank you kindly." He was about to let the shaking man go, when he turned back to look him in the eyes. "You will leave Ray Kowalski alone, the same goes for your whore. I hear of either of you even so much as saying he looks bad in something and I will make what you did to the Nodalisk look like a game of hide and go seek. Got that!"

Ray nodded again as words failed him.

Benton nodded then tossed the balding man against the tree as he walked back towards the house where Ray lived. The walk was longer with-out Ray along, but he had to be this way. He couldn't afford to get attached. The house door was open, but he entered not caring. "Diefenbaker!"

"Wha-a-at?" The shivering form of a young man wrapped in blankets came in to view from the kitchen with a large sandwich and donuts in his hands.

"Time to go."

"Di-i-id it werk?"

"Yes, they think you are dead, the Nodalisk is, and I got the dagger back. We can leave any time you are ready."

Diefenbaker nodded and set the food down on the floor. Quickly crawling out of the blanket, he changed back in to a wolf. 'You never said the damned meat lockers were so cold.'

"Well you shouldn't have been so careless and gotten killed by the Nodalisk before the hunt."

'Semantics, either way I was killed by the Nodalisk and we got what we came for. Plus the town is no longer looking for me, praise the gods for that.' Diefenbaker wolfed down the food before he headed for the door. 'Get the stuff and hurry up, I like Chicago Lake to visit, but Living here is unbearable.' The wolf started to go again, but Ben spoke up.

"He said it wasn't your fault."

'What?'

"He said he wanted it too, it wasn't rape. He was hurting that night and you gave him what he needed to go on. Thank you."

'Don't mention it.' Dief snorted and trotted out the front door.

Benton couldn't decide if he was going to be happy for his friend or sad. Either way it didn't matter, he could never come back here again, at least not in this life time. As he finished gathering their meager belongings, he wrote Ray a small note, thanking him for his hospitality and the wondrous evening. He signed it, with love, The Highway Man.

Part 14 - Epilogue

He ran a hand over the front of his suit with a small smug smile. It rested on the large lump for a moment as he looked at it in the mirror. Turning sideways you could barely make it out in the suit he wore.

"What are you doing Cousin?" Tyler's voice rose up from the door way to the large bedroom.

"Just looking myself."

"This recent development of narcissism is not necessary a good thing. What is the hold up, the council is meeting in five minutes and you are needed to prove your case to hold on to your seat."

Ray nodded, but continued to look at his reflection. "How is your mate, Tyler?"

"Fine, whiny bitch complains alot about back aches and foot pains."

Ray gasped in fake shock. "Do you kiss your lover with that mouth?"

"Among other places, and he loves it. Now what is the hold up?"

A faint smile crossed his lips. "Do you remember what happened a month ago?"

"Besides the whole Samhain feast, and Diefenbitcher showing up again only to get killed, yeah."

"Yes that, do you remember what happened after you knocked your John up?"

"Sure, you left with that Benton fellow."

"No, we didn't leave. We completed the ritual with the rest of you." He turned to his stunned cousin. "With each other."

Tyler put two an two together and got... "and that is the evidence you have for the council. You mean you are...?" He gestured with his hands to show a bulging stomach.

Ray nodded with a smirk, then turned back to the mirror as his cousin let out a whoop of joy. He stroked a hand down over the slight bulge of his stomach as his heart fluttered with joy.

Elsewhere...

'He says his name is Charlie, Charlie Turnbull. He is good at oh so many things, not to mention he has a mouth that can..."

"Diefenbaker!"

"What, just because I got me a sweet piece of ass that is willing to wait on me hand and foot, doesn't mean I have to feel bad about it.'

Benton nodded his agreement. "Fine, but his money is coming out of your cut of the profits."

'Fine with me, not like as a wolf I can use them.' He turned around and ran back to the shed off to the right of the garage to bring back with him a man in tattered clothes and greasy hair. 'Turnbull meet Benton. Benton, meet my lover, Renfield Charlie Turnbull.'

Blue eyes flashed at Benton as they shook hands. "A were cat Diefenbaker?"

Turnbull nodded. "I was bitten three years ago as a Canadian Mountie on loan to Wolf City Police Department..."

"Hey you, get yur ass back here!" A large fat man with a bat came out of the garage chasing after Turnbull and Diefenbaker.

Both were animals shared a look then took off. "Diefenbaker, what have you done?" Benton yelled at him as they ran for their lives.

'He was mistreating poor Turnbull. I had to get him away, plus he has a mouth that can suck the chrome off a bumper!'

"DIEFENBAKER!"