Hunter was staring at the TV screen, as Grayson had left another DVD going. A mecha themed anime from the 80s had begun its opening sequence. As a team of heroes in matching suits gazed off into the distance, yellow lyrics hovered at the bottom of the screen.
“It’s complicated.”
Grayson crossed his arms. “I saw you at twice your size as a wolf-human hybrid the other night and didn’t soil my pants. I think I can handle anything after that.”
That brought back Hunter’s smile, if only for a moment. 
“Okay.” Hunter could feel his eyes watering again. He supposed being weepy was better than wanting to punch everything as he did after some shifts. And talking with Grayson the day before had been therapeutic. So at the risk of appearing even more vulnerable, Hunter swallowed his pride, wiped his eyes and began to share just a little bit more.
“So pack life is probably nothing like you’re thinking. We don’t live off the land or run around at night hunting.” He leaned back against the wall. “We have a cul de sac.” 
“All the homes on Canis Drive have Lycanthropes in them, but not everyone there is one. My Mom, and a couple others are human, or born without noticeable  Lycanthropy traits. J-Just the same, they’re considered part of the pack. We all go to work and school together. It’s like every other neighborhood. Except the parents on the block have a phone tree for making sure everybody gets locked up once a month.”
“It’sss almost like a huge family. There’s always a bunch of people in your house, like to the point that my friends might as well have been my siblings. When I was little I thought we were at least c-cousins, even though we looked nothing alike. The elders are treated like everyone’s grandparents, and you may find yourself watching someone else’s kids. The only exception to this, are the Alphas.” His expression hardened. “The Hayes family.” 
“On the surface, the Hayes are like any other well-off whitebread family in upstate New York. Descended from Irish immigrants, made their money the hard way. Rich but nouveau riche. Allowed in the country club, but mocked behind closed doors. The fangs probably didn’t help. Anyhow, werewolf Alphas. So, they’re a little different than your common Lycanthrope. A little bigger, a little stronger, and lot scarier. They have this weird thing we call the gaze.” He paused. “It’s like brainwashing. If an Alpha tells you to do something, or suggests something, you want to do it. You might try to fight the urge or ignore it, but it just gnaws at you until you give in and agree with whatever it is. And the whole Hayes family was Alpha. No humans.”   
“Ciaran Hayes is the mayor, elected through the gaze, no doubt. His wife Holly is also Alpha, from a pack down south. She runs the neighborhood watch, and she knows everything about everybody. Their older son, Noah went off to college. But their younger son Colton…”
Hunter’s hands balled into fists. “Because of him I can never, ever go back to that place.”
“Colton.” Grayson looked at his lap. “Sorry. I think I saw that name on your phone screen last night. He called last night before I left.”
“Of course he called last night.” Hunter closed his eyes. “He calls every night. He texts everyday. He can send a damn carrier pigeon if he wants. I’m not answering him.” 
He looked down at his trembling hands. He had growled out that last bit. 
Hunter took a few deep breaths. “O-Okay. I’m gonna have to change the subject. The last time I thought about Colton, I threw my phone out the window. And thanks to that, my room is always freezing, and I know a nasty bill is coming my way any day now.” He laid back on the bed. “I think between my stupid AWOL Dad and my disgusting, vindictive ex-boyfriend I’m developing issues. But let’s not play shrink right now. Let’s talk about something else, anything else.”
Grayson glanced down at him. Hunter definitely needed to decompress, but perhaps now wasn’t the time to tour his psyche. 
Hunter stared up at the ornate glass light fixture positioned in the middle of the ceiling. The mattress dipped slightly as Grayson leaned over him. He pressed one hand against the mattress, and one knee between Hunter’s legs, keeping the wolf pinned down.
“We don’t have to talk.” The suggestive tone of Grayson’s voice was coupled with a gaze that was almost primal. Hunter’s breath hitched. The room seemed to darken as Grayson blocked out the light source above him. When Grayson didn’t move, Hunter closed his eyes and waited. Just as he felt Grayson’s breath ghost over his lips, the doorknob turned, and he pushed him away, a little too hard.
Grayson, tossed onto his back, looked up as Arif stepped into the room.
Arif was clearly wearing an outfit from the previous day. His lime green button-up polo shirt disheveled, his dark slacks were wrinkled, and his expensive loafers were scuffed. He kicked them off and sat on his bed, rubbing his temples. “Oh my God, could you turn that stuff down? Those whiny voices are killing me!”
Grayson continued to watch him from his upside-down view. “Yes, hello Arif. What’s it been, a week since we saw each other?”
Hunter finally got up from the bed, alarmed. “Grayson, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to push you so hard. Are you okay?”
Grayson sat up. “Nope. I’m definitely not okay.” He sat on the floor beneath Hunter, legs crossed. “But I suppose a kiss could make it better.”
Arif pulled a bottle of water from under his covers. “Wait, you’re gay? You don’t watch me sleep, do you?”
Hunter stared at him in disbelief. That had to be a joke.
Grayson gave Arif a look over his shoulder. “You have nothing to worry about. First, I’m not a predator. Second, you’re not my type.”

His frosty demeanor reminded Hunter oddly enough, of Serena Song.
Grayson rose from the floor and crossed the room to turn down the volume of the intergalactic battle taking place. “There. Is that better?”

“It’s a start.” Arif unbuttoned two buttons on his shirt, frowned at Hunter and buttoned it again. “Do you want to get me an aspirin from the kitchen? Extra strength.”

Hunter looked him over. He knew a well-bred idiot when he saw one. Maybe that was the running theme of the Marconi residents? Upper class kids? It made sense. 
Grayson pulled his cellphone out of his pocket. “I’ll be right back.” 
“Get the aspirin.” Arif insisted.
 Grayson put the phone to his ear. “Hello Uncle. What’s that?”He stepped out of the room.
With Grayson gone Hunter was now the subject of Arif’s interest.
“Why are you wearing sunglasses indoors?”
Hunter flopped back on the bed and sighed. 

The door opened again, and Grayson poked his head in. “I’m sorry, I have to go check on my cousin. I’ll be right back, okay?”
“Aspirin!” Arif commanded, snapping his fingers.
Hunter felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. He had a new text message. 

Suits coming your way. Stay focused.

He didn’t recognize the sender’s phone number. “Okaaaay.” He slipped the phone back into his pocket. “Whatever that means.”
 Whatever mood he had going Grayson was gone, a third wheel had appeared and ruined it. But there was no escape. Hunter didn’t have the energy to go back out onto the campus. Still, he tried to salvage what was left of his Saturday. When Grayson eventually returned (with aspirin!), they settled for marathoning the Ghoulie Getter movies.
For several hours Hunter let himself be absorbed into the world of Ghoulie Getters, a pair of movies from the 80s following a family of exterminators that, through a series of misunderstandings, were hired to exorcise a mansion full of numerous ghosts and goblins.
Despite seeing the movie multiple times, Hunter still laughed at the jokes, got caught up in the teenage daughter's romance subplot, and was sad to see the shenanigans end when the family closed the netherworld portal under New York City.
Martina and Sumire appeared in the afternoon with not another quiche, but a hefty shepherd's pie comprised of beef, cheese, gravy, onions, and mashed potatoes. The idea of so many calories in one dish frightened Grayson at first, but Hunter coaxed him into having a small square for dinner.
The rest of the night was spent watching the Ghoulie Getters cartoon. The animation was full of mistakes, and the voices were off.  However, Grayson’s adoration was obvious, and his little anecdotes made everything a little more entertaining. Stuffed and warm, Hunter nodded off early in the evening. Grayson attempted to wake him up several times, but Hunter eventually rolled over and went under the covers.