Neal Caffrey one shots | White Collar

Werewolves of New York (part one)

Just a short one but this will probably have multiple parts. This is a crossover with the TV show CHUCK but you don't need to have seen that to understand the story.

It had been a long time since Neal had changed into his wolf. Between going to prison and being confined to the busy city called New York, he hadn't been able to shift. He missed it. He longed to be in a wooded area, running around and hunting.

But now he was free of the anklet, he could go anywhere he wanted to.

So when Elizabeth suggested that they all go upstate to her family's cabin, it wasn't hard to agree.

The cabin was located in an isolated area, surrounded by miles and miles of woods. It was near a lake and Neal was already daydreaming of feeling the wind through his fur as he ran through the woods. The wolf inside him howled to be set free.

The only problem was that Peter and El didn't know about this side of him. Disappearing without them noticing would be the hardest part but he wasn't the worlds greatest escape artist for nothing.

On the way to the cabin, Neal rolled down his window and inhaled the fresh air. It smelled exactly like he remembered. Flashes of him and another wolf running through the woods in St. Louis shot through his head and he closed his eyes. That wolf used to be his pack, but now he was gone. The last part of his youth had died years ago.

"Neal, close your window. I don't want bugs in my car." Peter grumbled from behind the wheel.

"Oh, Peter. Let him. It must have been ages since he last breathed in the fresh air." El scolded her husband.

Neal smiled. Even though he was sad he wouldn't be able to run through nature again with his old pack, he had found a new one.

It was mid-July and the temperatures were rising. Neal was glad they wouldn't be in the city as there was a heatwave forecasted. Being out in nature with a lake nearby seemed a far better option than being in a city with little to no cooling breeze and stifling air conditioning.

They dropped their suitcases in the cabin and while Neal went to his room to change into something more comfortable, Peter went outside to start the barbeque.

El was busy cleaning the patio when Neal walked out again.

"I'm going for a walk." He announced to Peter who turned to eye him suspiciously.

"Wait a few hours and we can all go together." He said.

"Peter! Can you help me with the lighting?" El called.

Peter's attention shifted and Neal took that as his cue to slip into the woods.

He walked a few minutes before shifting into his wolf form. He shook his black fur and huffed, letting out an excited howl. It felt good, he could finally let loose the frustration he'd felt after being cooped up in the city for so long.

He started running, his nose in the air as he sprinted through the forest. He smelled rabbits, deer and other animals. He chased after a few rabbits for fun.

Eventually, he reached a beautiful meadow. There was a small river with a waterfall. In the late afternoon light, the water seemed to glow a soft orange colour.

His ears twitched as he listened to the sounds around him as he drank from the river.

Leaves rustled on his right and he looked up. The wind picked up and a familiar smell hit his nostrils. Pack.

A black wolf similar to his own stepped out of the bushes. He bowed his head.

Neal sniffled the air, taking slow steps towards the other wolf. His emotions were clouded in his wolf form, but the wolf still felt excited to be reunited with its pack.

Neal raised his head, releasing a long howl.

The other wolf followed.

Then Neal pounced on the other wolf and they play wrestled over the forest floor until it was dark.

In the back of his mind, Neal knew he had to be somewhere, somewhere else. But the wolf in him wanted to play.

The two wolves ran through the forest, chasing each other. They ran after deer and hunted rabbits. They howled at the rising moon and wrestled.

"Neal!"

The sound rang through the forest and Neal stopped running. He raised his head, his ears twitching as he waited to hear the sound again.

"Neal?!" this voice was different. He knew that voice. It sounded close.

The other wolf watched him, its head cocked to the side. A soft bark escaped its lips.

Neal shook his head. He turned and ran in the direction of the voices. The wolf knew he had to come home to its other pack.

The pounding of paws behind him told him his playmate was following him.

"NEAL!" the first voice called out again.

Neal halted. He smelled the man, knew he was close by.

When the other wolf stopped next to him, Neal changed back. the wolf followed, showing a man who looked just like Neal.

Neal eyed his brother. His hair was longer. It was messy from being in wolf form and his torso was littered with scars that hadn't been there when Neal last saw him.

"Neal." The man said.

"You could've called me to say you're alive." That was all Neal replied with.

"Sorry." His brother smiled.

Neal rolled his eyes. "It's good to see you again, Bryce."

They both stepped forward, wrapping their arms around each other in a hug.

"So, who's been calling for you?" Bryce asked as he stepped back.

"My friends. I'm here on a weekend trip away from the city." Neal answered. "I- Uhm, I may have been gone a bit too long."

Bryce rolled his eyes at his brother. "Well then, you should go back to them."

"You're not coming?"

Bryce shook his head. "I'm not ready to come back to the land of the living just yet. But I'll meet you out here again tomorrow evening for a run."

"Fine. Don't do anything stupid." Neal said, eying his twin brother. The initial shock of seeing his brother alive had worn off during their run. Now he was just glad he was okay.

Bryce just grinned before transforming back into a black wolf and disappearing into the woods.

Neal shook his head and turned in the other direction. He could hear Peter yell his name in the distance and was already dreading the interrogation he was about to step into.

The wolf in him was satisfied, though, as it had found its old pack again. And as Neal walked into the cabin, the wolf howled happily.