FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter Eleven - Partners

“Looks like you had a good weekend, Jesse," Alex said as he pulled his uniform from his locker.

“Yeah, the mountains are great this time of year," Jesse said as he buttoned up his shirt.

Alex couldn't help but notice how much Jesse had bulked up. He had always been fit, even before the academy, but now it was almost like he was a different person. If it wasn't for that mop of dark brown hair he barely kept combed and his bright blue eyes, Alex would say he was.

“I always had you pegged as more of a beach guy," he started to button up his own shirt, “especially after you got all buffed out."

“Well, it's a lot cheaper to buy land in the mountains than down at the beach," Jesse shrugged.

“Well, once you and your buddies get the cabin built, I'll come up and check it out."

“We'll just have to see." He smiled softly as he closed his locker.

***

It was a rather boring day at work, which is a good thing when you are a police officer. A few routine stops, following up on some existing cases, etc. There was now less than two hours left on their shift. That was, of course, when they got the call over the radio. It was a report of vandalism at an abandoned building. Officers Foley and Mercer were the closest unit, so they went to respond.

“Damn kids and their 'urban exploration'," Alex said as he pulled off the main road to an alleyway.

“Relax," Jesse sighed, “chances are, they'll scatter once they hear us coming. Worst case, we haul them down to the station for mommy and daddy to come pick them up."

“Why can't they pull this shit before lunch?" his partner grumbled as they approached the building.

They pulled up with their lights on up to the building. They could see the front door swinging in the breeze. Alex radioed in the situation before they got out to inspect the building.

“Think they all bugged out?" Alex asked as they carefully approached the door.

“Shh, I think I hear someone in there."

Alex pulled out his flashlight and shined it through the doorway.

“Police!" he shined the light across the empty warehouse, “come on out of there, slowly..."

Jesse put a hand across his partner's chest, “be careful, I've got a feeling on this one."

They heard a sound coming from inside the warehouse.

“Come on out, son," Jesse said in a firm voice, “don't be stupid and make this worse."

Alex caught a glimpse of something moving in the shadows. They slowly moved towards it, when a can was thrown their way, almost hitting Alex. He glared back into the shadows, taking off towards where the can had come from.

“Think you're funny, punk!" Alex yelled out.

“Alex! Wait!" Jesse said, running after him.

Something lept out of the shadows, knocking the flashlight out of Alex's hands. It rolled on the floor and illuminated his attacker. Alex couldn't believe what he was seeing. His first reaction would be that it was some kind of costume, but the wolf-like face of the creature was moving his lips, which pulled back as he growled, his eyes following every movement Alex made. Whatever it was, it was big. Sandy blond fur covered his exposed body, the rest was covered by a wife-beater undershirt and a pair of sweats. He stood on canine paws and although he was hunched down, Alex knew the creature would be taller than him if he was standing normally.

The creature lunged at Alex, and he reached for his pistol when a blur jumped out from the side, knocking the beast down hard against the ground. Alex blinked as he watched the two monsters fight like wild animals. He held his gun out afraid of what was going to happen next. The new beast was bigger, covered in dark brown fur and wearing a shredded police officer's uniform. The larger creature had an obvious advantage and soon had the smaller one pinned on the ground with his jaws around its neck, growling.

“Ok! I submit! Stop!" the smaller one practically squealed.

Hearing a very human voice come out of its mouth, only freaked out Alex more.

“Both of you! Freeze!" He shouted, gripping his gun tightly.

“Stand down, Mercer, It's under control." The larger one said after releasing the smaller one from its jaws.

Alex knew that voice. It was deeper and rougher, but he knew it. The name tag on the torn uniform confirmed it.

“Jesse? What the fuck?"

“Heh, didn't bother to taint your partner? Some friend you are!" The smaller one snickered.

“Quiet!" Jesse snapped back and punctuated with a growl.

The small one whimpered and folded back his ears.

“Shift back!"

The small one nodded. Alex couldn't look away as the monster shrunk and changed back to nothing more than a lean punk kid with sandy blond hair.

“Jesse, what the hell is going on!"

“Alex, I'll explain everything, but first," he got to his feet and drug the kid up with him, “We deal with this lost cub."

“I ain't no cub!"

“Really, you're what, sixteen?"

“Seventeen!"

“Yeah, you're a cub, and I will be speaking to your parents and alpha about this. Where do you get off attacking a police officer? Not to mention raising a racket in here."

“Hey man, we need some space to cut loose...and I was just trying to scare him!"

“Look what happened!" He smacked the kid on the back of the head. “If it was a pair of humans that responded you'd have been shot! Bullets don't have to be silver to kill you if enough are pumped into you," he turned to Alex, “pat him down, and grab his cell."

Alex holstered his weapon and nodded, still not believing much of what he was watching. He found a wallet, keys, a phone and a pack of gum on the kid.

“What's your name, cub?"

“Sean..."

“We don't want this on the books," Jesse said softly to his partner.

“You think?" Alex handed over the kid's phone, “What the hell are you guys?"

“What does it look like we are?" the kid smirked. “Ever seen a werewolf movie?"

“Werewolves?"

“Just wolves," Jesse said with a sigh, “it's kind of insulting to call us werewolves."

He looked at the phone and saw it was locked. He handed it over to the kid.

“Your choice, either get me a parent or your alpha on the phone."

The kid sighed and unlocked the phone and selected his mother from the contacts. Jesse took the phone back and held it to the side of his head. It looked almost comical to Alex, the phone was nowhere near Jesse's pointed ears.

“Hello ma'am, this is Officer Foley speaking...Oh yes, your cub is in trouble...I found him with some other cubs, causing trouble in an abandoned building...Yes, ma'am, but there is more...he attacked my partner while shifted...No, ma'am, he's human..." Jesse sighed, “that's not the point. If your son was human, we wouldn't be having this call, his tail would be down at the station facing charges, or worse, in an ambulance bleeding out from a gunshot...You can speak to him in a bit...No, I will not be taking him down to the station, I'm not going to be the wolf who lets this out of the bag...Yes, ma'am, I will be in touch to follow up on this...Alright, you can yell at your son now."

Jesse handed the phone back to Sean, and Alex could hear the growling coming over the phone already. Alex shook his head and handed back his things.

“Go. Home. Now." Jesse said, bearing his teeth and growling slightly.

Sean took off running for the door.

“Jesse, the kid is gone, now tell me what the fuck is going on?"

“Alex, we need to call this in."

“And what exactly do we tell them?"

“That the perpetrators fled the scene before we arrived. We write up the report as just a simple bit of trespassing and petty vandalism."

“I can't believe you are asking me to cover for a punk who tried to attack me."

“I'm not asking for the cub, I'm asking for my race. We were almost wiped out once, and the last thing I want is to have to choose sides in a fight."

Alex looked at Jesse, really taking in his wolf form fully.

“Jesse, you should have told me about this..."

“How do you tell your best friend you've suddenly become a wolf?"

“Wait...When you got all ripped a few weeks ago..."

“Yeah," he sighed, pulling off what was left of his shirt, “that was my first day back after I was tainted."

Alex narrowed his eyes. “Tainted?"

“Made a wolf."

“And that mountain trip, with your buddies?"

“A trip with my pack. We were working on a responsible place to cut loose, unlike those cubs. You were right though, I am more of a beach person, but the mountains are better suited for us."

“Some cop I am," Alex shook his head, “I didn't pick up on any of this."

“I was actively trying to hide it from you." He placed his dark brown furred hand on his partner's shoulder.

Alex looked at the hand, but he didn't pull away. “Can you, ah, turn back to normal?"

“Both of my forms are normal," Jesse sighed, “but yeah, I'll shift back," Jesse closed his eyes.

The change seemed to happen everywhere at once. As Alex watched his partner's muzzle shrunk back into his face and his paws shifted back into flat feet. Jesse's fur seemed to shrink back down into his skin. His tail shrunk back in and his ears moved back to the side of his head as they changed in shape. His muscle mass decreased back to what it had been back in the locker room. Jesse opened his blue eyes again and sighed.

“You're staring at me," Jesse smiled slightly.

“Uh, sorry!" Alex turned away quickly, “It's just..."

“Hard to look away? Yeah, I know, I still get a kick out of watching Mary put her fur on."

“Mary too?"

“Heh, she's the one who made me a wolf." He smiled. “Alex, I have a duffle bag stowed in the trunk of the cruiser, it has an extra uniform in there, could you get it for me?"

“You thought this might happen?"

“Our population is growing, and becoming a wolf doesn't make you a good person. I figured it was only a matter of time before we had a run in with a wolf."

“We've been friends since the academy, why did you keep this a secret from me?"

“I don't know...I mean I'm the only wolf on the force."

“Are you sure?"

“Everyone else smells like humans, so yes. I've been torn about it. Mary said I should have just invited you over and tainted you, but I couldn't do that behind your back."

Alex took a step back, “Why would she even think of doing that?"

“Because you are our friend. In some ways, what that cub said was right, I've kept this gift from you."

“I don't want it."

“I know that's what you would say. I also know that if I did, you would be happy with the change. It's been tearing me up inside," he let out a laugh, “it's actually more of a relief just having you know the truth now."

“So you're not going to bite me or anything?"

“That's not how it works really, but no, I won't taint you unless you ask for it, and neither will anyone in my pack."

“Let me get you that bag."

***

Alex and Jesse finished up their paperwork before clocking out. No one at the station questioned their report. There was an uncomfortable silence between them as they changed back into their civilian clothes.

“Alex," Jesse said as he closed his locker door, “If you want to talk more about this, you know where to find me."

“Yeah," he finished tying his shoe, “Give my best to Mary, ok."

“I will. See you tomorrow."

Alex drove back to his apartment. He grabbed a beer out of the fridge and sat down on the couch, not bothering to turn on the TV. After a long drink he looked over at a picture on the end table. It was from Jesse and Mary's wedding two years ago. Alex had been his best man. As he looked at it, part of him wondered what Mary looked like as a wolf. He turned his attention to another picture of himself and Jesse right after their graduation from the academy.

Jesse was his partner, and his best friend. And wolf or not, he had taken out Sean before he got hurt or had to hurt the kid. Alex shuddered, how close had he come to having to shoot a seventeen year old kid? Who cares if he was a growling wolf, still just a kid. The reason that death wasn't on his conscience was Jesse. As much as he asked in covering up Sean's little escapade, Alex realized Jesse hadn't said anything to him about keeping the wolves a secret. No threats, no begging. Jesse had just trusted Alex with the secret.

He drained the beer in several large gulps before getting up to get another. Alex looked at the small table and pair of chairs that were in there. He remembered sitting there with Jesse, a bottle of whiskey between them. Alex had lost his mother to a stroke, and Jesse was there with him the whole night. He stood by him with his family at the funeral. He ran a hand through his light brown hair.

“Damn it, Jesse, why didn't you just tell me..." Alex whispered to himself, how do you tell your best friend? You just tell them. It's not like you couldn't just prove it to me...

He went back to the couch with his beer and flopped down.

What did he say? It's been tearing him up inside. That sounds like Jesse, won't ever force me to do something, even if it is in my best interest, Alex cranked open the can, 'you would be happy with the change,' he said. Mary said he should have done it, hell, even that punk kid said as much. But he didn't. At least I know now, Alex took a long drink, he kind of looked good like that in his fur. The wolves are less scary when you know what they are and they aren't charging you down, he smiled, that makes him his own canine unit...hell, that's how he knew those kids had that bag of weed on them last week! Alex chuckled, He's still my friend and he's still a cop. That's what matters.

***

The week went on more or less normally. Knowing the truth about his partner, Alex now noticed all the small things he had missed before. The way Jesse would sniff the air almost constantly, the way he could react to sounds Alex couldn't hear. Then there was the amount of food Jesse ate, most of it protein. Alex said nothing about his partner being a wolf, and Jesse didn't bring it up either. Thursday, the end of their work week arrived and after a thankfully boring day they were clocked out and getting changed.

“So," Alex said as he pulled off his shirt, “Are you and Mary heading up to the mountain's tonight?"

“No, we're staying home this weekend, we have a barbecue planned for Saturday."

“Hmm."

“You got any plans?"

“I don't know, ask me tomorrow."

“Want to get a drink before we head home?"

Alex raised an eyebrow, “I thought you quit drinking."

Jesse shrugged, “I can have a little without hurting myself."

“It's alright, Mary would kill me if you got sick."

“Probably," he chuckled, “well if you want to do something tomorrow, just give me a call."

“You got it man."

***

Alex spent the night alone in his apartment. The TV was on, but he wasn't watching it. His mind kept going back to Jesse. Everything they had done for each other over the years. And how alone Alex would be without him. As he finished the last beer in his fridge, he had made his decision.

Alex didn't call, instead he showed up at Jesse's house Saturday morning. He knocked on the door. It took a while, but Jesse eventually answered it in a bathrobe.

“Hey, man, sorry I didn't call first."

“Don't worry about it, come in." He stepped aside and let Alex in.

“I'm sorry, were you taking a shower?"

“No, I was just in my fur when you knocked." He said, shutting the door.

“Oh, sorry I made you have to ah...change."

“Shift, and it's not a big deal. Not like I have to hide it from you, unless it makes you uncomfortable."

“No, I mean, it's your house, besides, it was just...the surprise of it all the other day. Go ahead and be yourself."

“Well, that's good to hear," Mary called out from the kitchen.

She stepped into the doorway in nothing but her fur. Mary's fur was a deep brown almost black, though it was slightly lighter under her chin and down her chest. Her body was firmly toned and she stood a few inches higher on her paws. Her muzzle was shorter than he remembered Jesse's being.

“Hey, Alex, long time no see."

“Yeah, ah, you're looking good," he tried not to stare, but failed miserably.

“I like to think so, want some coffee? I'm afraid it's decaf though, now."

“That's fine, I should probably cut down anyway."

Alex turned around and saw Jesse had tossed his robe and shifted back. He put his furry hand on Alex's shoulder.

“What can I do for you?"

“I just needed to talk to you."

“Ah, guy talk," Mary said after pouring out the coffee, “I'll be in the bedroom if you two need me," She patted Alex on the shoulder and gave her mate a quick kiss as she left.

Jesse pulled out a chair and sat down, Alex did the same thing, just staring at his coffee for a bit.

“So, what do you need to talk about?"

“Jesse, you're my best friend, you have been for years. I know I'm still dealing with all of this and probably being a jerk just staring at you and Mary."

“Don't worry about it, you'll get used to seeing us in our fur."

“Maybe, but anyway, I don't want to lose you as a friend."

“That means a lot," Jesse reached out and squeezed his hand, “I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I wanted to, I just well..."

“Yeah, I know," he took a sip of his coffee, “I've been running it all through my head the past week. We went through the academy together, been partners for years, you are practically a part of my family."

“You know Mary and I think of you the same way. Me being a wolf doesn't stop us from being friends."

“No, but what if," he looked away for a second, “what if shit goes sideways between the wolves and humans?"

“Alex..."

“Come on, you know it could happen, otherwise we would have hauled that kid down to the station."

Jesse sat silently.

“Jesse, if things do go down, I know which side I need to be on," Alex gripped his friend's hand tightly.

Alex watched the smile that spread across Jesse's face.

“You're serious?"

Alex nodded, “I spent all night and the rest of my beer thinking about it. What do I have to do?"

“Stay here a second, I need to get something," Jesse got up quickly and bounded out of the room.

He came back with a small vial and Mary in tow. Mary leaned down and nuzzled Alex against his cheek. She felt so soft and warm against his skin.

“I'm glad you decided to join us," she said softly in his ear, “you won't regret it, not for a second."

“I still don't know what I have to do."

“You don't have to do much," Jesse opened the vial and sprinkled some of the crystalline powder into the cup of coffee."

“What is that?"

“Essence, dear," Mary said as Jesse stirred the coffee with a spoon, “It's what we use to taint a human, well, usually," she turned her head slightly towards her mate, “do you want to do this by yourself?"

“I think so, yes."

“I will just wait in the bedroom until you two are done then," she tousled Alex's hair before leaving the partners alone.

Jesse pushed the mug towards his friend, “You just have to drink this. The essence will take hold quickly and..."

“And I'll be a wolf, like you and Mary," he looked down at his mug, “Does it hurt?"

“Only if you leave your shoes on," he smiled.

Alex chuckled nervously before picking up the mug he brought it to his lips and sipped it. Nothing tasted off about it, other than being decaf it was a normal cup of coffee. He took another sip.

“When you're done, you might as well strip down, we can go out on the couch. It will be more comfortable than here.

“When will I know it's kicking in?"

“You will feel an intense itch right at the base of your spine."

Alex quickly downed the hot coffee wanting to get things over with. He followed Jesse to the living room. He sat down on the couch and pulled off his shoes and socks. Jesse sat beside him on the couch, right beside him. Alex put his hands on the bottom of his shirt, but hesitated.

“What are you worried about, we've literally taken showers together."

“Yeah, but..."

“Unless you want to shred those clothes in the next few minutes, you better take them off."

Taking a deep breath, Alex pulled his t-shirt off over his head. He stood up and loosened his belt. Just as Alex unbuttoned his fly, he felt the itch Jesse had mentioned. He stopped what he was doing to scratch it.

“Damn, you weren't kidding," he said as he scratched furiously at his tailbone.

“Yeah, at least it only happens with the first shift."

The itch faded enough for Alex to finish pushing down his jeans and shorts. He sat back down on the couch still slightly embarrassed by his state. Alex could feel Jesse's fur brushing against his side and was surprised how nice it felt. Jesse put his strong fury arm around Alex's shoulders.

“Things are going to get...intense. Don't try to fight it, just give into the wolf."

Alex started to feel flushed even though he was sitting on the couch buck naked. He became more aware of Jesse, his arm over his shoulder and his body against his side. It felt so good and he wanted more. He turned and looked at his friend. Alex slowly put his hand on his chest, feeling the soft brown fur under his fingers.

“It's ok," Jesse leaned in closer, “I want you to touch me."

Images and urges flashed past Alex's mind. He found himself leaning in closer.

“Let go," Jesse whispered.

Alex listened to his friend and did just that. He pressed his lips up against Jesse's muzzle, moaning into his mouth as he kissed him. Jesse pulled him up onto his lap as they kissed. Alex grew more desperate grabbing and squeezing every part of the wolf he could reach. Straddling Jesse's legs he rubbed against him. Jesse held him tightly, his claws scratching at his skin. The sensation of the claws only further fueled Alex. His already fit body began to swell as his muscle mass increased. Alex raked his newly formed claws down Jesse's chest. The wolf arched his back and growled with pleasure. Light brown fur started to sprout on Alex's back and chest. It quickly began to cover his now heavily muscled body. The sound of bones popping could be heard over the growling coming from both of them.

Alex wasn't even thinking as he pushed him down on the couch roughly. His tail was starting to grow out the base of his spine as he flipped Jesse over onto his stomach. Jesse pulled himself up onto his knees and lifted his tail. Alex pressed the tip of his pink shaft against the tight bud. Grabbing Jesse's hips tightly he thrust in past the ring. The fur had spread and covered his body nearly completely as he started to rock his hips back and forth.

Jesse pushed back against him with each trust, growling with his own need. Alex was lost in the feeling as his face stretched out into a long tooth filled muzzle. It was quickly covered with light brown fur that darkened towards his nose. He threw back his head and howled with his climax. Jesse joined in with him, their howls blending together. Alex fell backwards, pulling out of Jesse with a pop. He ended up on his back on the couch. His eyes were shut as he panted. Strange thoughts and memories worked into his mind. Jesse curled up against him, holding his friend as the memories took hold, completing his transformation.

Mary padded back into the living room. She smiled as she saw Jesse and their newest pack mate curled on the couch. Mary walked over and knelt down on the floor beside them. Alex sniffed the air around him. It was as though he had never used his nose before. Slowly Alex opened his eyes.

He smiled, Mary was right, I don't regret it.

“How are you feeling?" Mary said lightly scratching behind his ear.

“Mmm, even better now," he leaned into the scratch.

Jesse chuckled, “Mary gives the best ear scratches in the pack."

“Don't start that again," she shook her head, “it's just a scratch."

“Jesse," he gently brushed his friend's muzzle, “thank you."

“I'm sorry I didn't do this sooner."

He shook his head slightly, “I don't mean about tainting me. Thank you for trusting me to make the right decision," Alex gently nuzzled him, “and thank you, Mary, for letting him do that."

“Yeah, I admit, I wanted to taint you weeks ago and bring you into the pack, but Jesse insisted otherwise. I guess this was for the best in the end," she leaned forward and licked the side of Alex's muzzle, “welcome to the pack."

“When can I meet the rest of the pack?"

“I told you we were having a barbecue tomorrow," Jesse said, lifting himself up slowly, “though I think a lot of the meat won't hit the grill."

Alex found himself licking his muzzle at the thought of biting into a hunk of meat.

Mary slowly stood up, “we should call Terry and tell him you finally tainted Alex."

“They already know about me?" Alex said as he sat up.

“Of course, they're my, I mean, our pack. They know how important you are to me."

“Besides," Mary tousled his now longer hair, “his partner being a wolf just makes sense."

“I'll go call Terry," he got up off the couch, “he's our alpha by the way, I bet you're hungry, go and help yourself to the fridge."

***

Sunday morning, Alex and Jesse filed into the squad room with the rest of their shift. The Sargent had an odd look on his face as they took their seats.

“Alright, settle down. We've got a bit of a situation here." He pressed a button on a remote and the projector lit up, “We've been getting reports for weeks now of monsters running around."

There were a few chuckles in the room. Alex and Jesse exchanged a look, but stayed silent.

“Yeah, I know, just cranks, drunks, or scared old ladies. Then we got these sent into us," he pressed the button, and a few pictures scrolled across the screen.

They were shots of wolves. They weren't perfect pictures, it was low light and the wolves were running, but it was enough.

“Shit, man, can't they wait till Halloween?" Simmons called out.

A few more laughed at his comment.

“I don't know what is going on, we've got at least three different costumed freaks running around playing werewolf. And there have been a few daylight sightings as well, so it isn't just the night shift's problem," he snapped off the projector, “The last thing we need is the media getting involved with this, let's find these freaks and shut them down."

There was a murmur of agreement from the assembled officers.

“All right, moving on then..."

***

Alex handed a decaf coffee to his partner before climbing into the cruiser with his own.

“What are we going to do about this?" Alex asked.

“I don't know," Jesse sighed before taking a sip, “I guess we'll tell Terry."

“What about the other packs in town?" Alex closed the door, “they need to know about it too."

“I know. We'll do our best to warn them too."

“Looks like the cat is trying to wiggle out of the bag."

“It was going to happen sooner or later. Anyway, we got a job to do."

“Yeah," Alex started the cruiser, “Human or wolf, let's keep them safe."

_______________________________________

Original story and setting by Syntaxerror37

FA: https://www.furaffinity.net/user/sevencrown37/

SoFurry: https://sevencrown.sofurry.com/

Discord: therealse37

Bluesky: @sevencrown37.bsky.social