How many months have you been on the road with them? Has it been two or three Moons? The Pack leaders would scold you for losing track of months, but in your defense, you can feel which time of the month it is. Between your natural body clock and the supernatural shifts with the full moon, you know what part of the month it is, you just have forgotten which month.
The air is still warm and pleasant as Betty continues to drive from small town to small town. You hadn’t been to this part of the country. When you left the mountains and forests, you came onto mostly straight ribbons of highway, cutting through farms, ranches, and orchards. It feels so good lying your head back on the seat, with the top down, letting your hair flow behind you. It’s almost like running in wolf form, but you cautiously guard your thoughts so Alice nor Betty scold you again about ‘thinking too loudly’.
It’s the New Moon. when have the most control over shifting. This week you can stay human if you want and even sleep in a bed. Maybe that’s what you need tonight? When Betty pulls into a truck-stop to refuel, and let Alice get some snacks, you ask her. “Betty? Do you have plans on where to stop for the night?”
She watches the readout on the pump and also keeps an eye on Alice. “Not Really. There is a good-sized town up ahead. I thought about calling ‘Al’ to see if there are any of my people here. I don’t want grab snacks in someone else’s territory.”
At that point Alice dances out of the convenience story with an armload of sugary drinks, candy, and beef sticks. She is dancing like a little kid, which with her blond hair and small frame, she could pass as, or maybe she shifted again to look younger and smaller?
“Alice. Did you pay for all that?” Betty asks as she finishes and puts away the nozzle.
“Yes, Mama Leech” she responds like a spoiled brat, and showing a hand full of bills and change. You look at her with a skeptical eye. “Where did you get the money?”
Before Alice can answer, Betty says. “Don’t ask, let’s just go.”
“Yes. I ha-ve my snacks! No-thing for the Leech and no-thing for the Wolf-ie.” Alice sings as she hops in the front passenger seat. You realize that Alice probably conjured up money. You aren’t sure how long a demon’s magic money lasts, but you agree with Betty and climb in back.
As the sun is going down, you see it shimmering on the wide river as you cross. You remembered that rivers were the economic lifeblood of countries in the past century but you had never crossed over one so wide. Looking out, you see small boats and barges moving up and down, but then you realize they must be huge because they are so far away on the river.
As much as you enjoy wolf form, you also enjoy evenings when you don’t have that hunger burning, nor the itching of your skin. When those feelings happen, transformation is the only thing that makes it better. But transforming is painful as it happens. Your bones snap and repair, your muscles stretch and rip, and hair grows everywhere. When the transformation is done, the pain is gone, but the hunger is there. It is nice to have a night without it. The Pack leaders taught you that as you age, you will control it better, and deal with it easier. But on Full Moon nights, you almost lose all control. No sleeping in a bed on those nights.
The sky goes from blue, to light orange, and eventually to purple as the almost invisible circle of moon sets on the horizon along with the sun.
Betty pulls up to a chain motel. Not too fancy and not too cheap. “Do they have any available rooms?” you ask.
Betty smiles. “You really weren’t paying attention while I was driving, were you?”
You shake your head as you grab your backpack.
“I called ‘Al’ while I was driving and asked him for a hotel and some local contacts. He made the reservations, and would get back to me later with the rest.”
“Do you trust Alice in a room of her own?” you ask looking to the demon who now looks like a 10-year old boy eating a chocolate bar.
‘He’ holds out his hand to Betty. “I want to stay in your room Mommy. Big Sister smells funny, like a wet dog.” ‘He’ then sticks his tongue out at you, which is still long and forked. You shake your head following them in. Betty gives the front desk her information, and confirms two room, next to each other. One with two double beds and one with a single queen. “I wanna be a queen.” Alice says like a spoiled brat.
You look at ‘him’. “Little Brother, only girls can be queens, you would have to be a king.” As the woman behind the front desk smiles and hands Betty the room keys.
In your head you hear very loudly “I know all about Queens. I’ve known many a boy or man who was a queen.”
You take your card from Betty and go to your room. Alice starts skipping still holding on to Betty’s hand “I’m gonna be a Queen, I’m gonna be a Queen.” ‘He’ sings.
As you get to your room, you look at them, “So shall we meet up for dinner?”
“Not tonight Lucy. When ‘Al’ calls me back, I might be busy.”
“And what about ‘Little Brother’” you ask.
“I’m going out to pla-y and you’re not in-vi-ted.” ‘He’ sings.
“Whatever.” You respond.
Your room is the standard hotel room, with a queen bed, small bath room, mini-fridge, and other amenities. You sniff the air, smelling cleanser, and fresh laundry. As you put your pack on the bed, you notice the small binder, with the hotel’s name on the cover. Aside from the TV channel list and miscellaneous phone numbers, you find a list of local restaurants and a strip-map. Apparently there is a national chain wing place, and the usual other fast food restaurants all within walking distance. “Chicken wings and a beer. I like the sound of that.” You say aloud to yourself. “But let’s grab a shower first.”
Stripping off your t-shirt, jeans, and underwear, you throw them into a laundry bag. “I’ll ask Betty about hitting a laundromat again.” There are times when you wished you had Alice’s powers. She creates whatever clothing she wants to wear, and changes her looks to fit her mood. Tonight a 10-year old boy, tomorrow a 65-year old woman, or whatever she thinks will be the most fun.
The water in the shower feels so good. It’s nice and hot as it flows down your body. The water pressure isn’t great but you’ve had much worse on this road trip, and it is much better than bathing in mountain stream with members of your Pack.
You lather up the washcloth and scrub all over. Your face, your neck, around your breasts, your stomach, between your legs, and then down your legs. Truck-stop showers have better water pressure, but this feels more private. Using the complimentary shampoo, you thoroughly wash your hair. Your fingernails scratching your scalp as you work the lather. You silently chuckle at that, thanking whatever Higher Power there is, that you don’t have your claws.
After you rinse and dry off, you look in the mirror. Life on the road hasn’t been bad. You’ve encountered runaways and drifters who look so much worse. Thankfully you have Betty and Alice. If you would have stayed with the Pack, you’d probably look the same. Maybe have a little of that “biker slut” look that so many of the Pack bitches eventually develop. No, you look like a hiker, toned, healthy, and slightly tanned.
Pulling on a pair of denim shorts, a t-shirt, and your sneakers, you grab your wallet, cellphone, and room key. Time for some chicken wings.
As you get closer, you smell deep fried chicken and old beer. This place looks just like in the commercials, with large screen TVs showing various ball games and sports. Most of the customers look to be other people staying at the hotel. You sit at a small table, and look at the menu as you take a quick glance at the truckers, tourists, and travelers. “Blend in with the Three T’s.” your Pack leaders once told you.
The waitress comes up “What can I get for ya’?” She asks. You sniff the scent of sweat, perfume, and hair spray. She has apparently been working all day.
“I’ll have a plate of wings, extra spicy, a glass of dark beer.” Thinking that will help block the various scents you are starting to pick up.
“Be right back” She says, turning and checking on the family at the next table over. “Are you folks doing alright?”
You turn your attention to the game. It’s baseball. You’re not really sure who’s playing, but the announcer is just rattling off game statistics. Before the change, you probably couldn’t have heard any of it, nor smelled the sunscreen coming from the family at the nearby table.
That was one of the nice things about traveling with Betty and Alice. Betty has a scent like spiced wine or incense, along with whatever expensive cologne she wears, and Alice has a light smell of sulfur. At first it was a little off putting, but you think that’s why Betty keeps the top down.
A tall, dark beer is set down in front of you. You say “Thank you” to the waitress and take a sip. The roasted malt smell is what you really wanted. The flavor is good too, but the smell is a good distraction until the wings arrive.
A moment later, you notice Betty and a man walk in. He’s dressed like a businessman or a banker, just getting off of work, with the neck of his shirt unbuttoned and his sportscoat over his shoulder. Both of them have that spicy wine scent.
“Can we join you or should we get our own table?” a thought loudly enters your mind. Instead of thinking back at her, you stand up and wave them over. You still aren’t practiced at using ‘mind speech’.
They come over. “Lucy, this is Joseph. Joseph, this is Lucy, one of my two traveling companions.”
He reaches for your hand and kisses the back of it. “Happy to meet you.” When he smiles you see his long canines. Sharp enough to cut skin.
“I ordered a plate of wings. Would you two like something?”
When the waitress shows up, and they both get the boneless wings with extra spicy sauce. Instead of beer, they both order bottled water. “I might get a snack later, and most of them already have alcohol in their blood.” She thinks at you, as Joseph nods and smiles.
“So, are you both going for ‘snacks’ together?” you ask, aloud. This is the first time you’ve had two vampires together.
“We might. Truckers are always easy. We have to be a little more cautious about tourists, especially families.” He says as he sips his water.
Betty places her hand on Joseph’s “He’s local and his territory covers this and the next county. I told him we are just passing through, and with the New Moon, you won’t need any special arrangements tonight.”
When the food arrives the discussion continues about “life on the road” but Joseph is really curious about being a werewolf. He doesn’t know any in the area and you are the first one he has encountered. He compliments you on your clean, woodsy scent. He then blushes. Apparently Betty thought to him that all werewolves have a faint smell of forest to them. “I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just that..”
You nod, “Compared to the smell of deodorant, sweat, and sunscreen, it’s a pleasant scent. You don’t have to apologize. Both of you have that incense, spicy wine scent.”
After eating, Betty excuses herself and heads towards the rest rooms.
“I know that we just met, and I know that it’s very forward of me, but I would like to take you somewhere and make love to you. Not drink from you, but feel the animal passion within you during sex.”
“What about Betty? Weren’t both of you going to get a ‘snack’?”
He nods towards the restrooms. “She’s already found one. Has she shared her mental projections with you?”
You slowly nod. “She has done it a couple of times. I’m not really good with this telepathy thing.”
He softly places his hand on yours, “I could teach you more about Mind Speech.” The voice in your head is soft and musical. It feels warm and inviting. You feel a gentile tingling, almost like the wolf is stirring. Not enough to wake up, but enough to make you hungry again, and not for food. “Oh, so should we continue this back at your hotel room?” His voice silently asks you. Nodding, you take his hand, and pick up the check. He shakes his head. “Betty will take care of it. If she wanted you to pay, she wouldn’t have picked up a snack before we left.” He says aloud with a wink and a smile.
An impassioned grunting fills your head along with the feeling of your pussy being filled. Not your vagina, but obviously Betty’s. “Yes, I’ll pay the bill. I’m almost done.” Her voice moans in your head, and then silence.
The waitress sees you and Joseph get up. He quietly says to her, “Our friend in the restroom said she will pay. If she doesn’t, call my office and we’ll settle up tomorrow.” And he hands her his business card.
She smiles and winks at him. “I know who you are Joseph. I’ve seen your ads in town.”
Outside, you ask “Your ads?”
He hands you a business card. “Joseph Smith, Esq. Attorney”. “Now shall we go to your room?”
(Come back tomorrow for Part 2.)