Without Reservations

warm furry body. They were both almost asleep when toenails clicked against the linoleum floor of the laundry room. He heard the panting and caught scent of a stinky—been outside playing—puppy.
    Then Chay yelped.
    The yelp was followed by a fierce immature little growl.
    Chay yelped again and jumped up.
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    Keaton opened his eyes in time to see Pita go rolling across the floor, ending up on his back against the dryer. He looked back at Chay.
    Chay sat up, rubbing his ear with his paw.
    Keaton burst out laughing.
    Chay glared at him.
    The puppy, however, got up and pounced back at Chay, his tail wagging. Apparently, Chay being in wolf form didn’t bother the pest at all. He wanted to play. This time he got a mouthful of the fur on Chay’s chest, growling and shaking his head.
    Keaton sat up. He couldn’t stop laughing. He wondered if Pita realized it was Chay and then decided he most likely did, because Chay’s scent smelled the same. Which was probably what made the pup think it was playtime. Chay always laid on the floor to play with him.
    Chay growled and gathered the pup in his mouth by the scruff of his neck, and brought him to Keaton. He dropped Pita in Keaton’s lap and nipped Keaton’s chin.
    “Okay, okay. I’m sorry, it wasn’t… Hell, yes it was funny. Sorry…” He started laughing again.
    When he finally got his mirth under control, he got up. He ended up having to lock Pita in the laundry room with the dog gate because he wouldn’t quit pouncing on Chay. First, it was Chay’s ears, then his tail.
    Chay became seriously agitated, so Keaton had taken pity on him.
    He cleaned himself and Chay up, changed clothes and got Chay some clothes for the morning. Keaton drove them out to pack land in his Impala and parked in a stand of trees next to Joe Winston’s car. Chay had told him about the place the other day. It was secluded and no one ever messed with their cars here. “Well, we’re here. Is anyone supposed to meet us?”
    Chay shook his head.
    “We’re on our own?”
    Chay nodded.
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    “Okay then. Let’s get going.” He got out and walked around to the passenger side. He opened the door for Chay and tossed his keys and wallet underneath the passenger seat. When Chay exited, Keaton sat in the passenger seat and started taking his shoes and socks off. He looked up and noticed Chay watching him. He smiled, reaching out and petting his mate’s head. “Listen, Chay, there is something I forgot to tell you.”
    Chay cocked his head to the side.
    Keaton took a deep breath and pulled his shirt off. He should have brought this up earlier. He hoped like hell it didn’t freak Chay out. “In wolf form and in man/wolf form, I can communicate telepathically.”
    Chay’s eyes widened.
    “Yeah, sorry. I guess I should have told you sooner. It’s just that it’s kinda weird. I know not many people can do it and well…if it freaks you out, I won’t talk to you like that.”
    Chay came forward, putting his front feet in the car, and raised his head to lick Keaton across the cheek.
    He sighed his relief and hugged his mate’s neck. After a moment he stood up and finished undressing. He closed the car door and shifted quickly. Fully changed, he glanced up and saw Chay watching him.
    He tilted his head and then realized Chay was expecting for him to
    “talk” to him. If he could have smiled he would have. He wagged his tail and walked over to Chay, running his head up under the taller wolf’s chin. “Well… Where to? You know this area better than I do,” he sent telepathically to Chay. He held his breath, waiting for Chay’s reaction.
    This wasn’t something most wolves could do. His father and he could communicate back and forth, but other wolves without the power could only hear him. His brother had always hated for him to speak to him like this.
    Chay, bless him, licked his muzzle, then nudged him in the shoulder and took off running.
    “Hey, wait up.”
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    Without Reservations
    They played and explored for several hours until they finally caught a rabbit to share. Several times during the night it felt like someone followed them, but there was no scent. Whoever it was stayed downwind.
    He asked Chay about it, but Chay couldn’t smell anyone either. It was probably some of the younger wolves playing with them.
    Finally, around two or three in the morning, Chay