The Wellington Supernatural Summit and Team Building Retreat

Chapter 6 - Bunkmates

Viago couldn't sleep.

Part of that was because he wasn't entirely confident in the sunlight-blocking capabilities of the blanket fort under the bed. Part of it was because he found himself staring up at a buckle in the mattress of Anton sleeping above him. The mattress was old and sagged down so much that if he so much as hefted his hips a little, he'd bounce off the werewolf.

It didn't help that all he could taste in his mouth was the man's blood, and the air was thick with werewolf scent mixed with dust and the wood-burning stove.

It had been a very long time since anyone had courted Viago Von Dorna Schmarten Scheden Heimburg. In fact, this may have been a first. He'd been the one courting, either in his human days, or as he hunted for victims. But this was something different, modern. He really didn't know how to handle it. Especially as he most certainly had never been in a courting situation with a man.

Vampire orgies didn't count.

Eventually, his body forced him to sleep, full as it was with difficult-to-digest deer blood with spicy werewolf blood dessert.

—

"Good, er...evening!"

Viago's eyes shot open. He turned to the side to see Anton hanging over the bed, his face upside down.

Anton was smiling broadly. "It's safe to come out. Come on."

Viago heard the werewolf hop off the bed, and suddenly he thrust his hand out to help him out.

Viago shifted awkwardly and then was hauled to his feet by the surprisingly strong werewolf. A cloud of dust followed him. The dandy sneezed in the most delicate, effete way.

"Aw, I'm sorry. We should have set you up properly before we stuck you under there. I'll work on it today. Night. I'm not used to this night cycle yet." He brushed off Viago's clothes as best as he could. "Did you sleep all right?"

"Not fantastic, if I'm being honest. I kept thinking I felt the sun. The blankets have many holes in them."

"I have some ideas on how to make things safer. And we'll give everything a good scrub. I found some vinegar under the sink."

It was then that Viago realized Anton was still holding his hand from when he helped him up from under the bed. He was still smiling at him in that dopey, earnest way of his.

Viago realized why it felt kind of strange. He was used to seeing the werewolf in alpha mode, enforcing the discipline of his pack. There was a lot of barking and growling, both literally and figuratively, when the other wolves were around. But on his own, the man was more like a friendly golden retriever, eager to please and good-natured.

Not knowing what else to do, Viago patted the top of Anton's hand, then gently released it. "I am a bit concerned that Jeremiah has not returned." He disengaged from Anton to peer out the window. "I think...I may need to scout. The blood I had yesterday should allow me some time as a bat without much trouble."

"Are you sure? That seems a bit...risky?"

"They can't still have snipers set up. There is too much woods and it is very dark. I will be very careful, I promise." Viago kept looking outside, but then he felt eyes on him. He turned back to see Anton with one hand in his pocket, the other rubbing the back of his neck. He looked concerned.

"If you're sure."

Viago could tell it was everything the werewolf could do to not insist he be the one to do the scouting. But as a hunter, he knew that the tactical math on him scouting on foot just didn't work out.

"At least leave me your jacket. I'll clean it up..." Anton said as he stepped forward to gently push Viago's jacket back. His hands slid back over his shoulders, and he leaned in, eyes bright and warm.

Viago looked him in his big puppydog eyes and swallowed. "Anton...can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"Why...a vampire? As we both know, our kind, before Stu, we have always fought. Protected our territory from one another."

Anton slid his hands down and around Viago's waist. He ran his hands in slow circles and smiled in a way that Viago found suddenly very charming. The man's scent shifted like it had before.

 "Well, look. I love my pack. I love my kind. But werewolf men really only come in one flavor. I don't know if it's the change that makes them that way, or if it's instinct for who we initiate versus who we kill. And that is...well, masculine in a very particular way. I..." he smiled a little shyly, then said plainly, "Bros. We're a bunch of bros, not to put too fine a point on it."

"And you do not like the...bros?"

"I love 'em. As mates. Great group of guys. We have a lot of fun. But do I want to have sex with any of them?" Anton wobbled his head. "Yes. Well. Sometimes we do get carried away, especially when the moon is full. But that's not the same as being with someone."

"And what about the werewolf ladies?"

"I don't like ladies," said Anton quite quickly and definitively. "Nothing against them, of course. Deep admiration for the women of my pack. They keep us all together. Keep us in line. More than the alpha, if I'm being honest. But for romance? Sex? Nah. Not my thing."

"Oh," said Viago, a bit shyly. "But that doesn't..." he noticed that Anton had gotten closer and was now fully embracing him. "...why a vampire?"

"You're asking why you?'

Viago nodded.

"Well, humans...we know the problem there. Even if they're cool like Stu was before we changed him, they're so delicate. And they don't really understand our ways."

Viago nodded in agreement. "This is true."

"And it's not vampires. It's you. I mean, I admit, I've found some other vampires attractive. You wear something other than plaid button-ups and jeans, for one. You've got style. And there's the romance around your kind. The danger."

"I suppose..."

Then Anton leaned in and nuzzled up against the nape of Viago's neck. "Can I tell you a secret?"

Viago nodded.

"You might not like the way we smell, but..." Anton whispered and sniffed along his neck, "...we love the way you smell. You don't smell like food. So much does, you know."

"What..." Viago got up the courage to set his hands on Anton's hips. "...what do we smell like?"

Anton gently pushed him up against the wall of the cabin, pulled back, and said, "Sex. Though you'd never get the others to admit it. Especially the straight ones."

"I see. Well, thank you for being honest, Anton. I know there has been a lot of mistrust between our kind. And it's nice to...–"

Before he could finish his thought, Anton closed the gap and kissed him again. This time, Viago was a bit more prepared, and he returned the kiss. Given the other man was quite literally part animal, he was expecting things to escalate quickly. Instead, he seemed to be enjoying the kiss for what it was. He felt Anton's tongue in his mouth, felt it flick over his fangs. Viago returned the exploration, though his tongue had to go further back to find the subtly pointed teeth.

Eventually, Anton was the one to pull back. He growled in a way that demonstrated desire rather than threat. His eyes were hooded and he reached up to trickle fingers along the side of Viago's head and back behind his ear. "You'd better go and scout, or we're going to lose the whole evening. Our friends are still in trouble, after all."

Viago nodded. "Yes..."

For a moment, Anton kept him gently pinned against the wall, then reluctantly pulled back.