Lucas stifled a laugh by burying his face into my shoulder as he quickly righted his pants and zipped up.
“No Aaron, I am afraid that you are incorrect.”

“Then what the fuck are you?” Aaron shifted slightly. It reminded me of a doe caught in headlights. Will he stay or will he bolt?

“We’re wereleopards.”

“What?!” Aaron incredulously stated.

Lucas shifted behind me. “Wereleopards. You know what a werewolf is, right? Well, we’re the much prettier kittier version.”

I stifled a laugh. “Very eloquent of you, dear.”

Aaron still looked at us as if we had each suddenly grown two heads.

I sighed. “You think I’m crazy.” It wasn’t a question.

“Werewolves? That’s explains a lot, but I’ve never heard a fucking wereleopard!”

I exchanged a quick glance with Lucas. “You know about werewolves?”

He nodded vigorously. “Sure do. It’s your typical when-I-was-young story. We were living on the wrong side of the tracks hanging with the wrong crowd. Typical boys thinking that they were all tough shit. The pranks were harmless at first.” He shifted almost guiltily. “Over time they become violent and the guys thought nothing could touch us. What you could call a new gang from another town came in and some of the boys started hanging with them. Things escalated quickly. I was no longer associated with them anymore, but you always hear the stories. One of the boys disappeared, and then his girl showed up with her throat torn out … ” Aaron shook his head.

I asked him quietly, “That’s when you found out about werewolves?”

Aaron nodded. “Ya. One of the guys showed up at my door wanting me to go with them. He had changed somehow. He just felt… off. He also smelled like he hadn’t showered for weeks, and looked it too. His hair had grown out, more than it should have, ya know. And it was dirty, and needed a good brushing. I told him to fuck off. After that, I never heard from any of the boys again. I was glad. Stories of people being torn apart began to surface, but then were hushed up.”

Lucas was looking over my shoulder and I felt him gently rest his chin on my shoulder. He made a soft noise. Aaron glanced at him. Lucas gripped his fingers even tighter on my hip.

“I remember that. Those weren’t merely people. The Council had come visiting due to the massive outbreak of gang violence within the wolves pack. Leopards for the most part lie low, unlike our… friends.” Lucas said the last as if even the word tasted vile. “We tend to fade into the background. We are more intelligent, more cunning, and continually love to learn. We try to keep relationships with humans, to continue living in the human world. They see that as a set back. We see it as progress.”

Lucas paused and took in a shaky breath. “I was still a kitt back then, but I remember that the leader of the wolves lead an attack on the members of the Council. They were brutal and vicious. They tortured the Elders until they got what they wanted. Those damn dogs came and swarmed our safe house. Thankfully, it was mostly empty. Even then, they raped and killed all men and women. I was the first to arrive …. “
Lucas let out a shuddering breath and through our bond that was still brand new, I saw glimpses and flashes of the horrific scene through his eyes. A cold chill went through my body. “That is of which you were referring too,” Lucas said in a monotone.

Aaron had a look of absolute horror on his face.

Me? Well, stick around and after awhile, the stories start to blur into one another, but I still hated that others knew of such violence. “Horrifying, isn’t it?” I stopped myself from shrugging. I turned my head to the side, my attention on Lucas. “You appropriate, now?”

Lucas didn’t say anything but stepped out from behind me. “Well this is all sorts of awkward. Though, I think it’s going to get more awkward if one of us doesn’t get back.”

I looked at Lucas and wondered what I was doing. I knew that I was getting myself into something, but looking at the man was looking right back at me, I suddenly didn’t care. The look in Lucas’ eyes was one of pure longing. It was almost one of sheer need. I felt myself harden once again and another wave of desire went through my body. I heard Aaron cough and that was enough for me to look at him. “Sorry, mate.”
Lucas walked away without a word.

“Everything okay with him?” Aaron asked looking concerned. “I mean, I know you guys just hooked up tonight, but I really don’t want to come between you two.”

I made a point of staring at him, tilting my head slightly. “He’s fine.”

“You sure? You don’t even know him.”

“I said he’s fine.” I paused and then stared at AaronI let the silence drag on for a long moment or two, knowing it was making him uncomfortable. “I want you to know that nobody is to find out about us, Aaron Kaufaux.” I stalked toward him, and watched as he stood his ground. I mentally added one notch of respect to his name.

“I’m not going to tell.”

“Good, because I’d have you for dinner.” I stared at him, and was mildly surprised to see he didn’t scare easily. I reached up as if too hit him, testing him.

“Oh knock it off. I think I can tell the difference between you threatening me and a wolf threat. What you said is a wolf threat.” He knocked my arm away from his body, and shook his head.

“How’d you know?”

“I told you. That friend that came for me, the one that was all dirty and needed a bath? That’s the exact same thing he said to me.”

I grinned. After a moment, he did too.