Full Moon Family Pt. 03

Here is the final chapter of the Full Moon on Friday story series. I'll level with you, it takes a weird turn at the end. As always, thank you so much for reading my work! Similarly to previous chapters, this is a gay romantic drama with mentions of supernatural elements but no actual werewolves. Everyone involved in sexual situations is well over 18 years old. All characters are mine. I hope you enjoy!

Full Moon on Friday: Full Moon Family

Chapter 3

September 2029

8 Days to the Full Moon

Three weeks had passed quickly since Aric, Darin and Callie had returned home. First thing after unpacking and getting Callie settled in the second bedroom, Aric scanned the adoption papers into document editing software. He made sure to remove signatures, dates and notary stamps. Then he sent the edited document to their attorney, who had looked over the papers and confirmed that as far as she could tell they were legitimate.

She asked who they had gotten to prepare the papers and why they hadn't used her firm. They had been using the same attorney for everything from their marriage documents to their estate planning for the last five years, so they had been ready for this question. Aric told her that everything had been prepared by the child's family, which is why they wanted to run it by her to make sure everything looked correct and in proper order.

Enrolling Callie in school had been fairly simple, and she had been steadily coming out of her shell. Teachers and administrators loved her, and she had made a couple of friends, whose parents weren't absolutely insufferable. She gradually grew more comfortable with Darin and Aric, naturally warming to Darin more quickly. Aric didn't take it personally, knowing the bond they shared as werewolves. Not to mention the fact that he rescued her from a terrible situation. Besides which Aric was still working on feeling comfortable interacting with Callie.

The adoption papers sat in a folder on Aric's desk in the spare room they used as a combo home gym and office. He and Darin saw them every day, but Darin never mentioned them. Aric thought about it constantly, taking his time deciding what to do, how he felt.

On a random Friday night, after an easy workday with just one door install, Darin was making dinner in the kitchen while Aric and Callie worked on a Lego set together. Quiet music played over the speakers which Darin hummed along too as he followed the recipe from their dinner kit. A sudden knock on the door interrupted the family's now familiar evening routine. Aric smiled as Callie looked up at him from where she sat on the floor clicking little pieces of her set together.

"Aric will you grab that please?" Darin said. "I'm watching the peppers cook."

"Sure pup," Aric said. "I think you're gonna like this, Callie."

She looked up curiously and followed him to the door. Callie squealed when he swung it open.

"Grammy Claire! Poppa Jim!" Callie jumped into Claire's arms.

"Oh! My goodness! You've gotten so big in just three weeks!" Claire exclaimed.

Aric stood to the side and his parents came into the house. Darin came around the corner quickly, wiping his hands on a towel.

"Mom! Dad! What are you doing here?" he asked.

He closed the distance between them quickly as the front door closed behind them. Hugging them each briefly he looked over at Aric.

"Well, Jim has some appointments at the hospital Sunday, so we thought why not make a weekend of it," Claire said. "We've got a room at the Holiday Inn down the street a ways."

"Oh, we could have cleared up the spare room for you," Darin protested.

"Well..." Jim glanced at Aric.

"I asked them to come up and uh... well look after Callie tonight and tomorrow," Aric said, his face flushing slightly.

"Oh... why?" Darin asked.

"I have a surprise for you," Aric said. "After dinner, mom and dad are taking Callie to the movies then back to their hotel for the night."

"I brought your favorite game, puddin'!" Jim said. "No way you'll Skip all my Bo's this time!" Callie clapped.

"What movie are we seeing?" she asked excitedly.

"Any movie you want sweetie!" Claire said.

Darin put his hands on his hips.

"Not sure that's the best move. You might want to narrow it down or you'll be seeing the latest horror flick. This kid is weird," Darin smiled down at her.

"You're weird!" she snapped back with a smile.

Darin scoffed and rolled his eyes, though he had to admit he loved the sass she was gradually becoming more comfortable showing to them.

"Well, you're right on time, I was just getting dinner going!" he said.

Jim shuffled into the living room and settled in a chair near the Lego set where Aric and Callie joined him. Claire followed Darin to the kitchen to help with dinner, despite his protests.

After dinner was finished and the dishes washed or loaded in the dishwasher, Aric produced a duffel bag with a sparkly unicorn on it. It was full of Callie's essentials for a sleepover. She shouldered the bag and gave each man a hug and kiss goodbye.

"Be good," Darin whispered in her ear as she hugged him.

"I'm always good," she whispered back.

He pressed a kiss to her hair.

"Yes, you are," he confirmed.

As soon as the door clicked closed Darin turned to Aric.

"What's the surprise?" he asked.

Aric smiled.

"There's a bottle of wine on the rack. A 2017 Syrah from Barrage Cellars. Why don't you open that and pour a couple glasses?" Aric put his hand to the small of Darin's back directing him towards the pantry where they kept the wine rack. "Meet you in the living room with the surprise."

Darin prepared the wine wondering what Aric had planned. He popped open the bottle of wine, the rich, delicious aroma winding up his nose. After grabbing two glasses he took everything to the living room, placing the glasses on coasters he filled each wine glass and waited for his husband to return.

Aric came into the room with a grin, a folder clutched in his hand. Darin's heart squeezed in his chest, but he didn't allow his racing mind to run away with him. Aric sat on the couch next to Darin and put the folder between the two wine glasses.

"First a toast," Aric said picking up his glass. Darin followed his lead and lifted his own glass while he side eyed the folder. "To you, my love. The best thing to ever happen to me."

Darin flushed and they clinked glasses, sipped, then Aric pecked a quick kiss on Darin's lips. Aric took one more sip of his wine then set the glass down, picking up the folder once more.

"This is for you," he said. "I wanted to do a big elaborate speech, but... I couldn't think of anything poetic enough."

He handed the folder to Darin. Darin set his glass down and opened the folder. Inside were the adoption papers, the adoptive parent's names, their names, were meticulously written in Aric's careful clear printing.

"What is this?" Darin whispered, his eyes pricking.

He had been trying to take it one day at a time with Callie, to enjoy the time they had before whatever more permanent solution presented itself. He had reined in his hope, held it back with a determined fury.

"The adoption papers pup," Aric said quietly. "For our... for our daughter."

His voice cracked on the words. Darin stared up at him, holding his gaze. He brought a hand to Aric's cheek.

"Aric," he began. "Are you sure? Really, really sure? There's no going back. Not for me."

Aric nodded. He knew what he wanted. Now that he had been thinking it over for three weeks, living life as a dad and a co-parent with Darin for that time, he realized that even though it was hard and really scary, it was also one of the best things he'd done.

"I'm really sure Darin. Besides being with you, I've never been more sure of something," Aric said.

"I... I'm..."

Tears streaked down Darin's face, and he closed the folder quickly before they landed on the documents. He put the folder on the coffee table and pulled Aric into a frenzied kiss.

Aric smiled, returning the kiss enthusiastically. Darin crawled forward and straddled Aric's lap, kissing him more deeply, holding his face with both hands.

"Oh my god, Aric, I love you," he said in a whisper.

"I love you, pup," Aric said.

Darin pressed his lips to his husband's again plunging his tongue into his mouth, a low moan sounding in his throat. Aric's hands moved over Darin's back, sliding under the hem of his shirt. Aric pushed it quickly over his head, tossing it to the side, then rested his hands on his hips. He dragged his tongue down Darin's neck nipping lightly at his collarbone. He took one nipple into his mouth, tracing it with his tongue.

Darin moaned again and held Aric's head over his peaking nipple. Aric's hand traced up to the opposite nipple, his thumb rubbed over it in slow circles, bringing it to a hard point as well. He switched sides rubbing the spit slicked nipple with his other thumb. Darin's fingers laced in and out of Aric's hair. He brushed his hands over his shoulders and began to tug and bunch Aric's shirt up in his hands.

Aric paused his licking and biting of Darin's nipples long enough to have his shirt pulled over his head and tossed to the side on top of Darin's. Aric pulled Darin down to him hugging him close, pressing their chests together. He buried his nose in the crook his neck and inhaled deeply before slowly kissing and sucking up his neck back to his lips.

Darin moaned as the sensations flowed through him, fluttering down through his stomach and thickening his cock. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so deliriously in love, which only seemed to intensify the lustful feelings as his hips started to roll over the hard lump forming beneath him.

Aric sighed out a long shuddering breath, his hands moving back to Darin's hips pressing them down harder over the growing bulge of his manhood. Darin lifted himself for a moment and slid one leg out of the sweatpants he wore then the other before settling himself back on Aric's lap. He tucked his fingers into the waistband of the gym shorts Aric wore bringing the front down just enough that his hard cock sprung free of them.

Darin lifted himself again up and over Aric's dripping dick, pressing his own hot cock to his husband's stomach. He moved his ass crack over Aric's shaft. Aric groaned, precum dripping liberally from his slit slicked up the crack intensifying the delicious gliding sensation.

"Hhaahh, Darin," Aric moaned.

He wrapped his arms around his husband's torso and began to thrust slowly through his crack. Darin moaned and rubbed his balls and his own dripping cock against Aric's stomach.

Darin pumped his ass over Aric's cock a few more times before he pulled away and dragged his tongue down his neck, biting quickly at his nipples. He was quickly on his knees pulling Aric's pants off, holding his cock firmly in his hand. He planted his tongue at the base of his slick, hot cock and dragged it up mouth open, eyes locked with Aric's.

Aric panted watching Darin lick up the length of his dick. He noted the elongated and sharpened canines, briefly realizing it was only about eight days till the next full moon. The thought sent a little thrill through him. He pushed his fingers through Darin's hair, then traced a thumb over his jaw as Darin closed his lips around Aric's tip, sucking off the precum that had pearled at his slit.

"Ughhnn, Darin," Aric groaned.

His head fell back, and he pushed his fingers through Darin's hair again. Darin slowly took the entire length of Aric into his mouth, the tip tapping at the back of his throat. He brought his mouth up quickly letting the precum and saliva drip freely from his mouth. Aric grunted as Darin dropped over him again, taking him in quickly. His tongue pressed firmly to his shaft.

"Hhoh god, god, fuck," Aric groaned.

Darin sucked on his glans, swishing his tongue around it, flicking through the slit, loving the salty drip in his mouth. Aric's hips bucked, thrusting him past the tip.

"Oh, fuck, yeah, pup, oh god," Aric moaned.

Darin moaned as he brought his mouth completely over his cock. The tip slid past his throat and Darin choked making a little gagging sound, tears slid from his eyes.

Aric let out a moaning, whimper at the gagging sound and Darin smiled, knowing he was rapidly being pushed past the edge. His fingers wound into Darin's hair, pulling him up and pushing him back down as Aric thrust his hips. Darin dropped his jaw, holding his pointed teeth back as he gagged and sucked on Aric's cock.

"Ughh, oh god! Don't stop, hhahhh! Deeper, take my cock. Ahh Fuck! Down your throat!" Aric ground out between his clenching teeth.

Darin's head bobbed quickly now, following his order and taking Aric's cock deep in his throat, until he felt the swelling, pulse of his husband's orgasm rolling up his dick and splattering cum at the back of his throat.

Darin swallowed with a moan as Aric's cock spurted into his mouth three times, each with a little less force than the last. Aric cried out with each pulse, gripping hard at Darin's hair, staring down at his husband, whose hands were braced on his hips. Darin swallowed one last time, licking up the length of Aric, sucking the tip clean.

Aric panted and lifted Darin a little, pressing him back against the coffee table. He tapped his knees slightly wider as he put two fingers into his mouth. Darin half laid across the coffee table, Aric's wine glass just off to the side of him, watching as his husband pumped his fingers into his mouth.

He grabbed Darin's dripping, throbbing cock with his free hand pressing his thumb through the precum that beaded at the tip. Darin moaned as Aric spread it around the swollen head, bringing his hand slowly down the hard shaft, then back up again causing more precum to pearl and roll over the slick surface.

Aric pulled his fingers from his mouth, licking his lips to catch the string of saliva that trailed from them. He palmed Darin's balls, massaging them for a moment. His head fell back with a moan as Aric pressed his wet fingers back across his perineum and around his hole.

"Hhhhahhh, Aric. Ugh, baby yes," Darin groaned.

Aric breathed out a long sigh, one hand still pumping slowly over Darin's cock, and two fingers pressing to his asshole. The fingertips popped into his hole, and he whimpered out a moan.

"Do you like that pup?" Aric leaned close to Darin, lightly licking up his neck.

"Uughhh, yeah, fuck!" Darin groaned.

Aric smiled and pressed his fingers farther slowly until they were buried deep inside his lover's hole. He slowly pumped them in and out to match the pace of his hand on his cock. Darin's cock dripped liberally, and he tried to buck his hips, but Aric was moving so slowly.

"Aaahhh, faster baby, fuck, faster," Darin whined.

"Hhmmm, you want it faster?" Aric growled at him.

"Yeahhh, please, faster baby," Darin panted.

"Since you asked so nicely." Aric nipped lightly at his earlobe.

"Yeeeaahhh," Darin drawled out as Aric's hands began to move more quickly. "Oh, fuck yeah! Make me fucking cum! Yea-yeahhhh! Hhhhaa YES! AH!"

Darin's cock spurt two rivulets of cum up his stomach. Aric groaned watching him cum. He lifted his hand to his mouth, licking his cum off his skin. After pulling his fingers gently from Darin he held his hips still and traced his tongue over his stomach and still twitching cock.

"Oohh, my god Aric," Darin grumbled.

He climbed onto the couch and cuddled up with his husband.

"Good call on mom and dad babysitting," Darin said. Aric chuckled.

"Yep, we've got until tomorrow afternoon," Aric said.

7 Days to the Full Moon

Aric woke the next morning, curled around a still sleeping Darin. They were both naked from all of last night's activities. Regardless of the number of times they had ravaged each other the night before, Aric woke with a raging erection. He pressed his hips forward against Darin's thighs. The smaller man moaned, but didn't stir. Aric kissed his shoulders and neck, rubbing his cock continuously against his husband's thighs. He groaned as he ground against the muscle and finally Darin stirred a little.

"Enjoying yourself baby?" he grumbled.

"Hmmm, yeah," Aric panted.

"You're so horny for me," Darin said sleepily.

"Always," Aric said.

He pushed his hips forward again with force. His dripping, swollen head popped between Darin's thighs, rubbing on his husband's balls.

"Oohh, Jesus," Aric groaned.

He pulled his hips back till his tip was enveloped between the warm muscles of Darin's thighs. He flexed as Aric pulled through them, causing the larger man's body to shudder as he gasped in a breath.

"Fuck, keep doing that," Aric panted at Darin's back.

"OK," Darin panted back.

He reached down to his own erection and stroked over the hot hard shaft quickly. Aric groaned and pushed forward again.

"Oh, fuck, you feel so good."

Aric's hands traveled all over Darin's skin as he began to thrust between his thighs more quickly. His breath became even quicker as he held Darin's hips firmly against him. His hips rolled fast and hard. Suddenly Darin arched in his own orgasm, he cried out, his cock spurting on the bed sheets, his ass thrust backwards against Aric.

"Oh fuck, fuckfuckfuck! Hhhhgggnnnn, YEAH!" Aric called out.

His cock burst as it pushed through Darin's tensed thighs. Aric moaned as he continued to move his hips relishing the sensations rolling through the tip of his overstimulated cock. Finally, he stopped moving, breathing deeply. He kissed Darin's shoulders again. Darin turned to face him, pulling him close, kissing his lips.

"Good morning baby," he said.

"Good morning pup," Aric replied.

October 2037

7 Days to Full Moon

Darin stared out the window waiting for Callie and Aric to get home. He hadn't wanted to send Callie to school that morning, but Aric had insisted, just like he'd insisted that he go to work.

This virus was freaking Darin out. It had spread so fast through Russia and Eastern Europe. Now it was plowing through China and India, he had no doubt that it would be in Western Europe, the US in no time.

Every report was so vague about what the virus actually did, only adding to Darin's paranoia. Russia had gone dark so fast. The infrastructure failed before anyone could post anything on socials. There were no videos of the victims, no reported death numbers like there had been years ago with Covid or the resurgences that followed. The news would simply report cases popping up here and there and then sudden radio silence.

"Fuck, come on," Darin growled, tapping his elongated fingernails on the windowsill.

The full moon wasn't for another week, but he could feel it in his bones, the growing aggression, the wild impulses. He crossed his arms tightly across his chest, his nails bit into his skin through his sweater and he could feel his teeth sharpen to points. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths, counting slowly to ten and back over and over until he felt himself get back under control.

When he opened his eyes, Callie was standing in the driveway with her boyfriend Anthony. Her arms were wrapped tight around his neck, and they were kissing... very enthusiastically. Anthony's eyes were open wide in surprise, his hands barely touching Callie's hips.

So much for that new sense of calm, Darin thought as he snarled and rapped hard on the window.

Callie leapt away from Anthony and glared up at the window, her eyes flashing deeply yellow for a second. Darin bared his teeth without thinking and jerked a thumb over his shoulder. Callie scowled but turned back quickly to Anthony pecking a chaste kiss on his flushed cheek.

Anthony glanced nervously up at the window where Darin watched and waved a little. In general, Darin liked the kid. He was dorky and sweet and treated Callie like a queen, but a surge of rage rose in his chest, and he almost flipped the poor kid the bird. Instead, he gritted his teeth and waved back, not managing to muster a smile. Anthony turned quickly and started to walk two blocks to his house where he lived with his single dad.

The front door slammed behind Callie as she walked into the house.

"Hey!" Darin shouted, stalking towards his daughter.

"Don't start with me daddy," Callie spat.

Her nails were long and sharp, eyes still flashing.

"You can't do that so close to the full moon. You could have really hurt him," Darin said trying to keep his voice low, controlled.

"It's never happened before," she snarled, more growl in her voice than before.

"You're 15 now Callie. Things change for werewolves at this age," he insisted. She dropped her backpack next to the door with an angry huff. "You've seen the scars I've left on dad and that's after years of learning to control it. You have to be careful."

Callie sighed deeply and shrugged out of her coat, her shoulders slumped, and her nails began to round again.

"I know, I know," she said. "I just..."

Darin shook his head, taking another deep breath.

"Come on kiddo, hungry? Let's find something to eat."

He led her to the kitchen, reining in his own anger. He pulled some cold pizza from the night before out of the fridge and plopped the box on the counter.

"Hot or cold?" Darin asked.

"Like this is fine," Callie moped.

Her mood swings always threw him for a loop. He knew what it was like growing up as a werewolf, but he also knew it was slightly different between the sexes. His sisters had been nightmares growing up, but he'd just steered clear of them. Now that he was trying his best to raise a daughter, he wished he'd paid a little more attention.

He put a careful arm around her shoulder and drew her close to his side. She picked up a slice of cold pizza and bit it, resting her head on his shoulder.

"What's going on hon?" Darin asked quietly as he also picked up a cold slice.

"I'm just... Are you sure Anthony can't come with us to Grammy's?" Callie pleaded.

"I'm sorry darlin', but no. You know why, it's not safe for him," Darin said with a sigh.

"But dad and grammy are always there when we change and they're fine," Callie said.

"That's because dad is my mate and we've been around both of them for so long. We're blood bonded to them," Darin said.

"How do you know when someone is your fated mate, daddy?" Callie asked quietly.

"Oh, sweet girl, I don't mean to sound harsh, but... if you have to ask, they're not it," Darin said.

He smoothed her hair and tucked a chunk behind her ear.

"That... sucks. I like Anthony," she said quietly.

"I know hon. It's OK to have fun, but we just need to be careful," Darin said.

The slam of a pickup door brought Callie's head back up.

"Dad's home!"

She ran to greet Aric. Darin smiled. He and Callie still had a deep bond, but she seemed to be an absolute fool for Aric.

"Hey my girl!" Aric boomed as he walked in.

He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him tightly. She pecked a kiss on his cheek.

"You ready to go?" he asked.

"I just got home and so did you! Can't we relax a little?" she whined as she followed Aric into the kitchen.

"No, sorry baby girl. Go get packed right now."

He tried to smile to take the harsh tone from his words, but she noticed it anyway.

"Why?" she asked a tad fearfully.

"What's going on?" Darin asked as Aric walked into the kitchen, setting a stack of folded cardboard boxes on the counter.

"I heard it's in Arizona," Aric said. "We need to go."

"Arizona?! How?" Darin asked.

When they woke up this morning the US was shutting down all travel, all boarders. He didn't understand how it wasn't here this morning and now it was.

"They didn't shut it down quick enough. Flights, travel," Aric waved a hand. "Apparently, we lost communication with China, India and the UK last night. There're rumors of horrific shit all across Africa, it's definitely in Mexico, so no surprise it's popped up in Arizona," Aric said.

Callie's eyes were wide.

"What? What does that mean?" she asked.

"It means you need to go get packed my girl. Essentials only, go on," Aric said, clapping his hands to urge her on.

Darin's face had gone pale. He watched Callie rush to her room to pack a suitcase.

"Baby, where did you hear this?" Darin asked. "The news hasn't reported any of that."

"Sean at work, his brother is in government. He's been feeding him information. He told him to get out of the city as far as he can go," Aric said, opening a box and folding the bottom together. "Where's the packing tape?"

"Fuck, fuck," Darin said, going to the junk drawer and pawing through it for the tape. "Good thing mom didn't head to Arizona last week like she planned."

Aric nodded and felt his gut twist. It had been tough to convince her not to go. She hated winter here and was leaving earlier and earlier each year. She got too achy in the cold mountain air.

"I'm grateful you convinced her to stay a while longer," Aric said, cupping a hand on Darin's cheek.

Darin nuzzled his palm, planting a kiss there before Aric pulled his hand away to tape up the bottom of the box.

"What do we do?" Darin asked.

"I'm gonna pack up all our food, you get us packed with essentials, then check up on Callie. Take your motion sickness meds," Aric said as he stacked canned food into the box he'd taped up. "I'm sorry pup, but we won't be able to stop when we get on the road. You good on sick bags?" Darin nodded.

"Got a new box last week," Darin said, and Aric nodded in reply.

"We're leaving in ten minutes. I already called mom and told her we're coming early."

~~

They arrived at the cabin in a record four hours. Darin had managed to hold out for most of the ride, leaning his head back on the headrest, staring at the horizon, but once the sky darkened and they were on the mountain he was grateful for the sick bags. Callie rubbed his back and Aric apologized for not stopping over and over.

Claire didn't meet them on the front porch when they arrived but waved from the kitchen window. Callie and Aric started unloading all the supplies they had piled into the back of the pickup while Darin disposed of his sick bags.

"Callie, what's this?" Aric asked, pulling a heavy duffel bag towards him.

"The photo books daddy and I made," Callie said quietly.

"My girl, I said only the essentials," Aric groused at her.

Callie's eyes sparkled with tears.

"Those are essential dad. Things are so weird right now. I can't help but think something really bad is happening. I want to remember what things were like before," she said her voice cracking.

Aric sighed out a breath and pulled her into his warm embrace.

"It's gonna be OK Callie," he said with no real conviction in his voice. "We'll be alright my girl."

He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and shouldered the duffel to bring it inside.

"Have you heard?" Claire asked after they had brought in most of the supplies and luggage.

"Heard what grammy?" Callie asked.

It was odd for her to greet them in such a way. Normally she would give Darin sourdough toast and tea, pulling Aric and Callie into hugs, but not this time.

"The virus is here," she said. "They reported five cases in Seattle."

"Oh fuck," Darin said as Aric shook his head.

"That was so fast," Callie whispered, her eyes glittering again.

She pulled out her phone and started to madly text Anthony.

"Let's get the rest of the supplies inside," Aric commanded.

"Dad, can I please, please give Anthony and his dad this address? Please?" Callie begged.

Aric pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing hard. He glanced at Darin who had a palate of water in his arms. He nodded imperceptibly, his eyes also pleading with his husband. Aric sighed again.

"Mom, do you mind if Callie gives your address to her boyfriend Anthony?" Aric asked.

He hated the feeling of passing the choice to his elderly mother, but it was her home, she was in charge here.

Claire wrung her hands and regarded Callie for a moment.

"When did you last see him sweetie?" Claire asked.

"Just like 5 hours ago, before we left," Callie replied.

"And he and his dad were healthy?" she asked.

"They were, if his dad was sick, he would have said something. This is freaking them out as much as us! His dad hadn't even gone to work in like a week, he was so freaked out. Anthony had to argue to go to school!" Callie exclaimed, her eyes flashing yellow.

Claire held up her hand.

"Alright, alright, you don't have to shout hon. I know we're stressed here," Claire sighed and stared down at the ground. Her eyes traveled to Aric, then to Darin before she spoke again. "Alright, they can come, but they have to sleep in the small cabin, it would be too cramped with all of us in one the main house."

"Thank you grammy, thank you! Thank you!"

Claire embraced her grandmother tightly, planting a kiss on her cheek then she frantically pulled her phone from her pocket and called Anthony.

The three adults sighed almost in unison when it was clear the kid answered Callie's call. Darin and Aric finished getting everything into the house, then Aric moved the truck, making space for a second car to pull in close to the cabin.

Callie reported that Anthony and his dad were packing up their food and essentials. Her phone vibrated with a text when the two left the suburbs.

"So, they'll be here in about 4 hours then," Callie said happily. "What do we do now?" she asked.

"We wait and see what happens," Aric replied, scrolling through news articles on his phone.

"What about the full moon?" she asked.

Aric looked at Darin.

"We'll figure it out darlin'," Darin replied.

"We're gonna be OK," Aric said. "This is far enough away from the city. It's so remote up here, I'm sure we'll be fine."

Epilogue: Time Passes Slowly

Anthony and his father never arrived. He had been texting Callie regularly, but the communication abruptly stopped. The next morning Callie suggested they drive down and see if they could find them, but Aric shut down that idea quickly.

"I'm sorry Callie, but my family is my priority. I wish they had made it, they still might, maybe they got lost or held up," Aric said. "But we're not leaving here."

When she appealed to Darin for a second opinion, he said he agreed with Aric. Callie stormed down the hallway to Claire's room and slammed the door. She stayed there for hours only allowing Claire to come in. Eventually she emerged with red, puffy eyes flashing yellow every now and then. It was another couple of hours before she would speak to her fathers.

By the end of the week the virus had raked its way across the States. News coverage slowed then eventually ceased. Cell phone service became spotty then non-existent when the power went out completely. There were evacuation orders, but Aric and Darin wondered where they could evacuate to. They stayed holed up in their cabin. Callie and Darin used the small cabin to transform in and didn't seem to be affected by the virus as wolves.

During the full moon phase, the two wolves patrolled around the property, taking out threats or scaring away strangers. They kept this routine and stayed at the cabin for as long as they could, living off their supplies, what Claire grew in her garden and what Darin could hunt in the woods.

Callie thought often of Anthony and always wondered what had happened to him and his father. For weeks she wished she could go after them, she had even tried to run down the mountain during that first full moon. Darin had stopped her, nipping savagely at her until she ran back into their territory closer to the cabin.

They lasted one year in the mountains, before Claire's fragile health began to deteriorate. There was discussion about leaving the cabin, looking for help, but Claire wouldn't allow them to consider it at all. She continued to waste away slowly until one morning Darin took a tray of food to her, sourdough toast and tea and found her staring out the window, the papers they'd used to block it lay in shreds on the ground.

"Mom?"

When she turned Darin saw her filmed over vacant eyes. She snarled at him, lunging suddenly. He brought the tray across her face before bolting from the room. He ran to the kitchen and grabbed a huge knife while Aric and Callie looked on confused and startled.

"Darin! What --" Aric began to ask as he ran from the kitchen.

He met Claire in the hallway and buried the knife in her temple as tears streamed down his face. He gritted his teeth against the howl of grief that threatened to spill from his mouth. His vision blurred as his mind seemed to momentarily leave his body. He felt as if he was standing off to the side watching as his body crumpled to the ground along with Claire's now motionless form.

Aric's wail of devastation brought him back into himself and he struggled back to his feet, prying his fingers free of the knife handle. Aric's hands were clenched in his hair and Callie stood behind him, biting the fingers of both hands as tears streamed down her face.

"Aric," Darin croaked.

He pulled him into a rough hug as the two men screamed their sorrow together. Aric ripped at his shirt and tried to push the smaller man away, but Darin had always been stronger. They went to their knees in an embrace weeping on each other's shoulders. Darin finally released Aric when the hysteria had passed and he crawled to his mother, cradling her head in his lap as she had done for him countless times over the years.

~~

They put Claire in the small cabin and burned it. They had talked about next steps and had decided to leave. It might be a dumb decision, especially since something in Darin seemed to have shut down after his emotional outburst with Aric. He wasn't mean or distant, just fundamentally different and Aric was at a loss on how to help. Maybe there was nothing he could do, perhaps this was just the way he was now.

In any case, the entire family decided they didn't want to stay at the cabin. The assault of memories every time they were there had been hard enough after Jim had died, and now that Claire was gone in such a brutal and traumatizing way, they all knew, there was no way they could stay.

So, they packed up what they had left, piled into the pickup and ventured back down the mountain to see what the city had in store for them.

Thanks again for reading! Sorry this ended on such a sad note, but it does lead into the next series I'll be posting. I hope you enjoyed Full Moon on Friday and that you'll stick around for what comes next! See you next week! xoxoxo, JS