V.L. Locey: #Wolves

It`s time for Tuesday Tales.

Welcome back! “Mother” is our word this week. Today I’m sharing snippets from my new M/M shifter romance, An Erie Uprising, which will be the final novella in the Lake Erie shifter series.

In this excerpt, Templeton is fleeing the scene of a rebellion bomb that has just destroyed the OTTER (Office for Transmogrification Registration) building where he worked. He’s desperate to get back to Lupei Manor and check on his parents and Mikel, as well as the others who call the manse home.

This story may have gay erotic scenes, strong social issues addressed and mature language. If those things offend now is the time to move onto another Tuesday Tales blog. Thanks for stopping by!

I curled into a ball, stuffing my nose under my tail, and tried to keep my brain active. It was a short ride, and thankfully so, for as scattered and shaken as I was, I’d been having trouble focusing on staying awake. When the truck bounded and bounced in and out of a pot hole, I squeezed myself back between the kegs a bit more and waited. The door on the rear opened and light flooded the back. I grimaced at the sunshine. The driver was whistling. I hunkered down, belly flat to the icy cold flooring. The keg I was hiding behind moved. I arched my back and stamped my feet. The driver took one look at me and dove out of the back of the delivery truck cussing like a sailor.

Long nails scrabbling for purchase, I hustled my fuzzy ass out of that truck, hit the ground with a ‘Fwump!’ and then took off in the direction of home. Running down the road I warmed up, my thoughts got a bit clearer, and my worry grew heavier. Once I smelled familiar land – and the heavy scent of wolf – I left the roadway and used the rocky shore of Lady Erie to guide me back to Lupei Manor.

The looming mansion was shrouded in fog as a cool front rolled over the still warm water. I paid no heed to the mist or the gargoyles sitting so high above. I hit the doors at a dead run, leaping and scratching, chattering wildly, trying to get someone’s attention. After a moment, it came to me that I could shift and turn the damn door knob, which I did. Eru was standing on the steps running a feather duster along the hand-carved balustrade when I ran inside, panting madly, my backside bared to her gaze. As was my frontside. She screamed and shoved her pointed face into the feather duster. I cupped my genitals and bellowed for Rugby. As soon as I saw him rushing down the stairs, I spoke to him.

“Find me some pants – and some brandy - and then meet me in the library,” I said while backing away from the tiny girl with her face firmly buried in ostrich feathers. Rugby took Eru by the elbow and led her back to the second floor. I turned tail and bolted to the library to wait for my trousers and my loved ones to arrive. Loved ones! By Fenris, my parents! What had become of them? I dove for the old black phone sitting on a petite little side table just outside the library. The dampness of the keep was creeping through my bare feet and up the back of my thighs. Lifting the handset from the cradle, I spun the dial several times and bounced from one foot to the other.

When my mother answered I nearly wept. “Mom, are you safe?”

“Templeton! Oh, thank the Elders!” I grimaced at the old saying. “Your father has been calling your mobile phone ever since the news about the offices came over the radio.”

“I’m fine. Just a little shaken. Mom, I want you and dad to throw some clothes into a bag. I’m going to send Rugby to fetch you and get you on a plane.”

“Templeton what happened at the OTTER office? Mikel? Is he safe? They’re saying it was a rebel bomb. Do you know anything about that? Why? Why do people have to blow things up? Why can’t they just all get along?”

“Because change always comes with loss, Mom. Please, get some clothes packed. Rugby will come get you and take you to the airport in Erie. Fly down to Texas and visit Cousin Felicity.”

“But Templeton, those hog-nosed skunks are always so uppity.”

“Mom,” I had to inhale to calm myself. “Just go to Texas. I’ll pay. I need to know that you’re safe.”

“Okay, Templeton, we’ll go visit Felicity. Promise me you’ll stay far away from all this uprising stuff.”

“I’ll do what I can about the uprising, Mom.” She sighed so I assumed that she’d been placated. “Now go pack. Rugby will be there in thirty minutes.”

“Call me when this unpleasantness is over.”

“I will, I promise. Give Dad a hug for me. I love you.” I gently replaced the handset into the cradle. The major domo stepped out of the shadows to my right, clothing draped over his arm. I never flinched. I guess once one has had a bomb go off twenty feet from him, an elderly Elven halfling appearing out of nowhere loses its shock value.

“You heard my conversation with my mother?” I asked while shaking out then stepping into a clean pair of dark blue khakis. He handed me my spare spectacles which I quickly slid on.

“Yes, Master Reed. I’ve already made the reservations for the flight to Corpus Christie and used Master Lupei’s black American Express.”

“Good man.” I pulled an old sweater over my head. “Get my parents on that plane. I’m entrusting you with their care.”

“I shall deliver them safely onto the airplane. Master Reed?” My head popped out of the sweater’s stretched neck. “Is it true that a bomb detonated in town?”

“Yes. Yes, it’s true.” I touched the scab on my cheek. “Things will never be the same for any of us here in the manor. Now go. I’ll go rouse the rest. May the Elders… I mean may the gods of the North watch over you.”

*~*~*

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Tuesday Tales

It`s time for Tuesday Tales.

Welcome back! “Life” is our word this week. Today I’m sharing snippets from my new M/M shifter romance, An Erie Uprising, which will be the final novella in the Lake Erie shifter series.

In this snippet, we get enjoy the homecoming scene between our hero, Templeton Reed, a skunk shifter, and his life mate, Mikel Lupei, the alpha of the Lake Erie pack.

This story may have gay erotic scenes, strong social issues addressed and mature language. If those things offend now is the time to move onto another Tuesday Tales blog. Thanks for stopping by!

Rugby, Margaret, and I sauntered down the grand staircase. I gave the portraits of Vaclar Lupei a sour look, something I did every time I passed Mikel’s hateful father. Eru and Mrs. Dunrite, our Dwarven halfling cook, waited off to the side of the stairs. Rugby hurried to the front doors, pulled the massive things open, and bowed deeply to the four massive wolves padding through the doors. Dead leaves whipped into the foyer, skittering over the smooth marble floor. Eru and Mrs. Dunrite gave the pack a curtsey. The largest wolf, a gorgeous brindle the size of a chest freezer, dashed up the stairs and leaped on me. Wet, muddy paws resting on my shoulders, Mikel’s heft knocked me to my backside on the staircase. Then the licking began.

“Oh, Mikel, stop, stop! This is a new suit. Ha-ha! Ah, no, get your tongue out of my ear.”

He lapped at my face and then, as gently as if I were a new babe, took my wrist in his mouth and tugged ever-so-tenderly. I got to my feet then knelt on the stairs to embrace him. His head rested on my shoulder, long snout snuffling in my hair.

“Let’s take this to the library. Rugby has some snacks and your clothing laid out in front of the fire.” The chilly air blowing in disappeared when the major domo closed the doors. Mikel chuffed an affirmative and then loped off, his plush tail wagging gently.

I stopped to pet each wolf – Havel first as was fitting his station as a Lupei - and then Eddie and Dave. Each licked my fingers then Havel rushed up to greet his lady love while the other two pups padded off to do whatever it was they would do. I suspected David, our big brown wolf, would end up down by the lake. He and a certain merman had grown quite close over the summer months. How that would go I couldn’t guess. And Eddie, our scarred member would probably end up trailing after Eru, with whom he seemed quite smitten.

Mikel had beaten me to my second favorite room in this old manse, our bed chamber being the first. When I entered the huge room, I found him standing in front of the hearth, naked as the day he had been born. Oh, but the light of the fire did marvelous things for him. The firelight made his reddish-black hair glow. He turned to look at me as I shut the door. A smile pulled up the corners of his lush mouth. I stood by the door, slightly muddy and disheveled, and simply admired him. He was a tall male, thick with muscle, long-legged, and endowed with a tremendous cock which even now was standing stiff and ready. I wet my lips as my eyes roamed over my life mate.

“Two weeks from you is too long, Templeton,” Mikel said. It was good to hear his voice again. I adored the slight Slavic accent that flavored his speech.

“I feel the same,” I replied then motioned to the rolling cart filled with treacle tarts, hot coffee in a thermos, cream and sugar, and two heavy mugs. “Mrs. Dunrite baked those for you just a few hours ago.”

“They look delicious, but not nearly as tasty as you. Come to me, Templeton. Leave your clothes on the settee with mine. You won’t need them for some time.”