Roman shut off the engine of his SUV and began feeling extremely ill. Above him the snow fell and spun around like a miniature tornado, in dizzying spiral flakes. He had no idea how he had made it home. The drive was a blur now, and he touched the pistol which was in a shoulder holster inside his leather jacket. “Fuck!” Roman looked through the windshield. The clouds opened, just a gap big enough to see the full moon again. Pain overcame him and he grabbed his stomach and curled up, hitting the steering wheel as he cringed in agony. ~ Charlie looked out of the front window at Roman’s car. The headlamps were off and yet he was not emerging. He felt Butch stand beside him. “Is he on his way in?” Butch asked. “No.” Charlie moved to the front door and opened it. He looked out, feeling the icy wind and snow hitting his cheeks. Up above, the full moon showed its face and made the clouds glow with an eerie light. A chill rushed over Charlie’s skin and he rubbed his face to rid the sensation of nausea. “I’ll go out and see what’s up.” Butch reached for his coat on the rack. Charlie stopped him. “Let me. Go watch over dinner.” “You sure?” Butch obviously appeared concerned. “Yes.” Charlie took his coat off the stand and put it on as he walked outside, the snow already mounting on the ground and coating their evergreens and the dried grass. After a glance over his shoulder, seeing Butch watching him from the open door, Charlie stood near Roman’s car. He was just about to open the passenger’s door when white fangs and glowing green eyes attacking the inside of the glass, scaring the life out of him. Charlie jumped back, holding his chest. Then it hit him. “No! Oh, God no!” Inside Roman’s car was a wolf, jet black and huge. It chewed at the glass as if trying to get at Charlie, showing its canines and snarling. “What the fuck?” Charlie shouted. “No!” “What happened, Charlie?” Butch yelled from behind. Charlie held up his hand. “Don’t come out here! Ya hear me?” “Charlie!” Butch put on his coat. “I mean it!” Charlie glared at Butch who stopped what he was doing and looked upset. Charlie crouched by the SUV door and stared into the cab at the massive wolf, seeing Roman’s clothing scattered on the seat and floor, a gun in a holster, and his ATF badge in a heap. “Why? Roman, why?” Charlie shivered in terror. Two years had gone by and they had thought this curse, or whatever the hell it was, had been lifted. Did they think about the ranch and the first time they met? Yes. Constantly. Back then Charlie hunted Roman in wolf form, thinking Roman was killing deer, cutting out the hearts and was in some way part of a ritual sacrifice. But that couldn’t have been further from the truth. Roman had been a victim of a cult, not the perpetrator. Charlie touched the glass. The big wolf teethed at it from the other side, making squeaking and snarling noise. “Calm down, Roman.” Tears came to Charlie’s eyes. “Ya know if ya keep freaking out, ya won’t change back.” The black wolf sat on the passenger’s seat and began licking the glass window between them. Charlie slowly touched the handle of the SUV door, seeing it wasn’t locked. The big black wolf’s ears perked up at the sound. Before Charlie opened the door, he heard the crunch of the gravel behind him. “Oh no.” Butch had come outside. Charlie spun around towards him. “Git in the house!” Roman went mad, biting at the inside window, showing his large white fangs. “No! Charlie! This was done! How did this happen again?” “Butch! I had him calm! Git inside, now! An’ don’t come out ‘til he’s himself. Ya got it?” “What about you? Should I get the shotgun?” Charlie glared at him. Butch held up his hands in defeat and walked back to the house as the snow fell heavier. “Jus’ sayin’, Mosby. Ya know how he gets when he’s like this.” Charlie waited for Butch to enter the house and close the door. Once again he tried to calm Roman down. “Babe…sit and stop biting the fucking car.” The big wolf’s ears flattened out and he sat, panting, his green eyes glowing. The heat from this big furry creature was steaming up the SUV’s interior. Charlie began lifting the car door handle and it opened, slightly. Roman sat up and stuck his nose at the opening, snuffling. “Don’t you bolt. I am not takin’ a damn horse out to find you naked and shiverin’ in this snow. Ya got that? So, stay!” The big wolf stood on the seat and shook out its fur. “Fuckin’ can’t believe we’re at this again.” Charlie’s heart was pounding. He had already been bit once by Roman as a wolf, two years back. He knew how painful it was…and…what it did to him. The neighbor’s dog was howling and going crazy, as if it could sense or smell the wolf next door. “Don’t jump out.” Charlie tried to block the opening, but it was absurd. A wolf as big as this one would topple him over easily. “Roman! Sit the hell down!” Charlie trembled as he yelled, terrified the curse was this powerful that, years after they had thought it was broken, it had returned. The big wolf made a circle and sat on the driver’s seat, panting and creating a steam cloud from its heat. Slowly Charlie opened the passenger’s door. He held out his hand as if it would stop Roman from knocking him down and bolting. Taking his life in his hands, Charlie sat on the passenger’s seat and closed himself inside. He and the big canine stared at each other. “Calm down.” Charlie kept his hand up to stop an attack. He spotted the handgun in its holster on the floor. “Roman, you have got to stop panickin’ and think of somethin’ to get you back to human form. Ya got that?” The big wolf made a noise and licked its chops. “How on earth did you make it home?” Charlie began gathering Roman’s clothing, moving very slowly so as not to get bit. Roman lay down, his paws on Charlie’s lap, letting out a deep wolf sigh. Charlie caressed him, holding him tight. “Babe, why? Did something happen at work?” He pressed his face into Roman’s fur, closing his eyes, remembering… Remembering the sensation of abandon and freedom he and Roman had while in wolf form. But— it was so unpredictable, that they ended up naked and freezing in the snowy mountains after changing back. They simply could not control the transformation. Not to mention, Charlie thought once the witch’s curse had been lifted…this chapter in his life was done. Gone. He sat up, wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and kept petting Roman’s black thick fur. “I made chili. Butch has a shot of whiskey poured for you.” Roman began licking Charlie’s hand. “And…I reckon we’ll spend a few days up at Vernon’s for Christmas. Don’t that sound nice?” A loud whine of pain came from the big wolf. Charlie knew what was happening. “Okay, baby. Hang in there.” The wolf backed itself up into the driver’s door and Charlie could see him convulse in pain. It was miserable to watch so he covered his eyes and faced the passenger’s window, which was now completely steamed up from their heat and the outside cold. The noise of whelps changed to “Oh fuck! Oh, God, no!” Charlie peeked. Roman, sat limp, slouching, naked on the seat, drenched in sweat. Blowing out a loud exhale, Charlie sat with Roman’s clothing on his lap, waiting for Roman to be able to function and get dressed. “What the hell happened?” Roman ran his hand back through his jet black hair, looking worn out. He reached for his briefs and put them on. “I have no idea. I simply left work, and it hit.” “How the hell did you drive home?” Charlie held Roman’s gun and cell phone as he managed to get dressed in the tight space. The neighbor’s dog finally shut up. “I have no idea.” Roman put on his coat and said, “I need to get the hell out of this car.” He opened the driver’s door. Charlie held the gun and phone, climbing out of the SUV, seeing the snow had accumulated even while they sat. The walkway to the house was covered. As they approached Butch opened the front door and his expression was apprehensive. “He goin’ to bite me?” “Don’t start.” Charlie nudged him out of the way and brought the gun and phone to the kitchen counter. When he spun back to look, Roman and Butch were staring at each other. “I said, stop it!” Roman took off his coat and hung it on the tree stand, brushing the snow from his black hair. “What the fuck, Roman?” Butch asked, throwing up his hands. “We gotta go through all this shit again?” “Shut up.” Roman snarled. “Butch, do not get him angry.” Charlie tossed his jacket on a chair and washed his hands. “Dinner’s done.” Roman left the room and Butch stood beside Charlie to whisper, “He’s done somethin’ to bring it back.” “No. No way.” Charlie dried his hands. “He hated it.” “Yeah? Then why now? Nearly two years to the day?”
