#werewolf!joel miller x fem reader

[misspearly1]

Day Thirty: Hunter/Prey - Werewolf!Joel Miller

Kinktober22 List

WC: 3.3K

(Please read) Warnings: 18+ Content. Minors DNI. Werewolf Joel Miller. Part of The Wolf and The Moon Universe. Established Relationship. Hunter/Prey. Elements of Fear. Smut. Unprotected PIV. Monster Sex. Multiple rounds. Oral (both F and M receiving). Knotting. Supernatural Abilities (telepathy, effect generation, mind reading). Fluff.

AN: Oh, this was a last-minute decision to write for Werewolf Joel, forgive me for that. I wanted some more monster sex in this storyline lmao. Some of you already know that I use a separate taglist for werewolf Joel, so if you aren't tagged for this update that is the reason why, my loves. I hope you enjoy the read.

-

A taste is all you had of the werewolf before growing an insatiable lust for more. The monstrous werewolf within Joel - you wanted to meet that side of him again and feel that supernatural loving touch you’ve longed for ever since that night in the ski-lodge. 

It’s no secret to you and Joel that it was an enjoyable first-time experience, but you’ve come a long way since then, come a long way with helping him control the shift during each and every full moon. The man doesn’t even need the chains anymore. He can just spend the night up at the cabin and fight the animalistic urges with the help of you keeping him occupied.

Lately however, you have talked with him about the monster he was once so afraid of letting loose. You talked about how much you enjoyed the sex and wanted to experience it again. It will be exhausting, and you’ll feel the ache for days, just like you did last time, but you want to feel that level of sexual exhaustion. And Joel does too. 

This is what brings you both up to the cabin this weekend. You’ve spent the last month talking it over, planning and prepping for a night of supernatural passion. This is the first time Joel is willingly going to shift back into the monster and you want to take it easy, for his sake and for yours. The urge to fully transform never leaves him, it’s always been there, but it’s always been you that could help him. You are his moon goddess after all. 

Sitting on the edge of the table with your legs between his as he sits on the edge of the sofa, you hand him a small glass of scotch and raise yours. “To take the edge off, babe. I can feel that you’re a little nervous.” 

“You and those powers.” He chuckles, clinking his glass against yours before lifting it to his lips. You mirror his actions, lifting your drink and gulping back the malty flavoured substance while watching his Adam’s apple bob up and down. The man is already growing a boner because you sat before him in your bra and panties, ready to bolt out the door and tempt the monster within to give chase. That’s the plan: to run like you are his prey. 

Lowering your glasses to the table, you lean forward and cup his cheek with your hand, delicately dragging your thumb across his lip and feeling the deep sighing breath that escapes him. It was laden with arousal and excitement, the sound euphonious and reassuring to your ears. Not only can you tell that he’s comfortable and looks forward to going ahead with this, but you can feel it too. The supernatural bond between moon and wolf conveys that message clearly. 

“Ready to have your world rocked?” Joel winks, parting his lips slightly to take your thumb inside his mouth and sucking seductively. You bite your lip with a blushing smile, always succumbing to the effects of his sexual charms with pleasure. His eyes dart down your body with a soft growl. “I can smell how wet you are right now darlin’, and I can’t wait any longer. Ten-minute head start, whaddaya say?” 

“Oh, how generous of you, Joel.” You tease. Removing your thumb from his lips and leaning in to kiss him gently, he tilted his head to the side, and you broke off to drag your soft lips along his jawline. You felt another sighing breath fan across your face, deep and heavily aroused, before you whisper directly into his ear. “I can’t wait any longer either. Five minutes instead-” You kiss his jaw quickly “-Starting now.” 

Pushing him back playfully, you stand and move towards the door, smiling at the sound of his hearty laughter. “Run, run as fast as you can.” You hear Joel say as you dart across the front porch and down the steps, breaking out into a quick sprint across the field. The big bad wolf’s comin, he whispers in your mind, and you fight the urge to giggle otherwise the cramp will slow you down. 

Once you reach the treeline, you keep going as fast as you humanly can while keeping your supernaturality out of this. Your abilities can help you get a huge lead on him, and if you really wanted to, you could disappear, blinding all of his senses to track you but that just takes the fun out of the hunt. You want the monster to hunt you down. 

Exhilaration courses through your veins and lights up your nerve endings with passion. The clock is ticking with anticipation as you wait for the first sign of his presence. That’s if he even makes his presence known. Joel can be sneaky; you’ve seen it with your own eyes before when he hunts in regular wolf form. It’s something he does quite often as it helps tame the beast inside, as if feeding his inner animalistic urges. But tonight, he’s hunting you instead and feeding the inner animalistic urge from the pretty little sounds you make with as many rounds of pleasure you can take. You look forward to the treatment, dream of it. 

Before you first brought it up with Joel, you were worried and unsure if he would even be okay with the idea of this, but you barely got the words out of your mouth before the man said yes. He didn’t need to read your mind to know what you wanted. He knows you inside and out by now, sometimes even better than yourself. 

At the sound of a twig snapping, you stop running and turn to locate the source, seeing the flicker of a shadow dart behind a tree stump. Instantly, you feel your heartbeat start to pick up. Even though you aren’t afraid, and you know you’re safe, it was still a spooky sight to see, especially in the dead of night with the full moon beaming down from the dark skies above. 

“Hello, Mr. Wolf.” You whisper and hear the faintest contented growl in return. He’s here, but he’s deliberately hiding himself and circling around your position, stalking you. Just out of curiosity, you stop blocking your abilities and let his presence seep into your body. It was extraordinary, feeling the predatory aura burning your skin with a thousand alarm bells ringing in your mind, century year old instincts telling you to run from your enemy. But you don’t. That’s the beauty of your bond with Joel. Wolf and Moon. Natural enemies to each other, but an unstoppable force of nature when together in alliance - especially when in love. 

As much as you aren’t afraid and love the thrill that he provides, one thing you weren’t prepared for was the eerie and chilling image of his monstrous face peering around a tree. Only his face, nothing else. You saw the fire in his eyes, the white glint of his canines and the human-like features highlighted under the moon's glow. The monster. You saw the monster, and it’s been too damn long since you have. It was scary. Not terrifying, just scary. 

And that little ounce of fear from you fuelled his instincts to take over. “Oh.” You gasp when he disappears behind the tree again, bushes rustling as he darts across far too quick for you to lock onto him. He’s quicker in this form, always has been. Quicker, stronger and bigger in every way. Joel’s messing around, just having some harmless fun, but the monster is teasing his target, toying with you. 

A quick burst of air swooshes past your back and you turn quickly to see his mighty tall dark figure dashing behind another tree. His face ominously peeping around the corner just a little before hiding once again. He’s really having some fun and is clearly enjoying himself. “Two can play that game, wolf.” You whisper before making a run for it in the opposite direction of him, continuing the hunt. Only this time, you couldn’t stop the fearful giggles from erupting when he growled deeply and took chase. 

Running with little effort to evade him, you grow more and more startled as his pounding footsteps get closer. It was an exciting type of fear hearing him right behind you and gaining ground but as much as you loved the game of chase, you pine for the pleasurable treatment he will deliver when capturing you. 

You came to an abrupt halt yet again, but that didn’t stop Joel’s antics to have some fun as he swept you off the floor with ease and kept running. He skilfully threw you over his shoulder and your eyes widened at the distance of the ground below. You don’t remember him being so tall, it was so long ago when he held you above his head and tongue fucked your cunt. The memory of it flooding your mind makes you squeeze your thighs together and sigh breathily, needily. 

Wondering where he was taking you as the terrain below begins to change from dirt to grass, you tilt your head with an intrigued smile as flowers come into your field of vision. All sorts of pretty flowers. It’s a whole summer blossom, bright and plentiful, rich with rays of sunlight from the daytime. And it smells heavenly too. The sound of trickling water reaches your ears, and you furrow your brows with confusion, not knowing this area as well as you thought you did. 

Gradually, he slows down and kneels to the floor before gently lowering you to your feet. The breath escapes you as you look at the monster directly in its eyes. In Joel’s eyes. They’re brown, not red. His expression softens as you reach out and hold your hands on either side of his face, your thumbs lightly grazing along his canines. It’s been too long, too long since you’ve seen this side of him, but the memories of that night in the ski-lodge come back flooding back tenfold. The human ears with pointy tips, the human nose and eyes, curled greying hair fading into thick black fur all over his body. The wide expanse of his chest, muscled pecs and biceps, veins in his neck and forearms, with long fingers and sharp talons. It’s been too long indeed, and you’ve missed the monster dearly. 

“Hey,” You smile. Leaning in to press your forehead against his, you plant a kiss on his cheek and watch as his eyes close with yet another deep exhaling sigh, laden with arousal and love. His big arms snake around your back, making you feel tiny as he crowds you into his chest and slowly lays on his back. The heat emitting from his body was so cosy and snug, it could lull you to sleep right here, right now, but the direction of his hands kept you awake with sexual need. 

Groping careful handfuls of your flesh, he hooks his talons inside your panties and tears them straight off your skin. You giggle as he moves you up his body, placing your sex directly over his face, but before he could have the chance to slither his tongue where you want it most, you pat on his hands. “Let me turn around, I want to take care of you too.” You offer, and he doesn’t refuse. 

Standing up and looking down with a smirk on your lips, you watch his eyes crinkle with his own smile, Joel shining through from the inside. You turn around and carefully position your knees onto his chest, gasping audibly at the sight of his supernatural cock staring back at you, already hard and leaking at the tip with pre-cum. You didn’t need to lean forward to take him in hand, he is so long and girthy, it was practically in your face already. 

The tip, round and bulbous just like you remembered, was an angry red and the rest of his length was pink, the bulb surprisingly a little larger than last time. You clench around nothing at the thought of him knotting you, remembering the sensation of it squeezing inside was making you even more wet than what you already are. Joel could see this right before his eyes as you hovered over his face and wasted no time in helping you out. 

“Oh, Joel.” You whine breathily upon feeling his tongue darting out to lick up your slit, as if gathering a taste of your desire before drinking it from the source. Wiggling your hips with request, you lean in to take the take of him inside your mouth, humming with the salty taste his spend leaking out onto your tongue. Even his pre-cum is plentiful. “Fuuuck.” You release him with a soft pop to mewl as his tongue slides inside of you. It felt like his cock, his human cock and it was so fucking good, breathaking even. 

While he fucks your pussy with his tongue, you take him back insde your mouth and continue to take as much as you can before it became too much. Which, shamefully, was not a lot. You wrapped both hands around the rest of his length and stroked while sucking him off, occasionally dropping down to caress his bulb and furry balls. 

The sound of him grunting beneath you was delectable, praising, and you moaned when he buried his tongue deeper, as if rewarding your efforts. Your peak was nearing quicker than you expected, you could feel the tension forming in your lower abdomen as he kept touching your g-spot with the tip of his tongue. There, you call to him telepathically and moan around his length, right there, don’t stop. 

He listens to your pleas carefully, giving you exactly what you asked for and continues to prod at your g-spot, drawing out the dirtiest noises you could produce. Rocking your hips over his face, you feel and hear his tongue sliding in and out of your cunt as he grabs your thighs so hard it’s bound to leave a mark later. Another bead of salt leaks out onto your tongue, signs that he’s nearing his peak too, and you stroke him a little faster while suckling the tip of his softly. 

“Joeel!” You break off momentarily to cry, your climax washing over your body and mind. Keeping your mouth open as you whine for him, your vision blurs with lust and ecstasy before creamy white ropes of his seed shoot out onto your tongue. It’s warm, so fucking warm and generous. 

Moaning together as you ride out the peak of your highs, you keep stroking him as he keeps swirling his tongue inside of you before he suddenly surges forward. Your hands darting out to stabilise yourself on the earth below, he removes his tongue and pulls away from your body. You look up and find what that source of trickling water was from earlier. It’s a little waterfall, and it was glowing with wisps of blue streaks in the water. The sight is beautiful to the eyes, distracting actually as he notches the bulbous tip of his cock at your entrance. 

“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” You yell out with each inch he buries. It burns and when you pulse around him, there’s barely any room left. He is filling you up that much. It aches, but your slick eases him inside. He stops halfway, waiting a few moments for you to adjust around him before thrusting forward, his bulb pressed firmly against your tight hole. 

“Oh God,” You croak, eyes rolling into the back of your head as you rest your cheek to the grass. He’s in your stomach. His cock is so deep that it feels like he’s in your stomach. Slipping your hand down your body, you palm your lower abdomen and feel the growth inside of you, feel how much he is filling you up and probably breaching your cervix. He waits again, as if savouring your warmth tightly wrapped around him before making a move until he feels you squeezing hard. 

“S-so good,” You whimper. Cheeks tuning a crimson peak as your eyes haze over with bliss, you rub nameless shapes on your swollen clit and feel another orgasm nearing quicker than the first. He holds a tight grip on your sides, nails digging into your flesh as he remains still and just watches you get yourself off on his dick, audibly enjoying it as he growls. “I-” You gasp, moving your hips back and forth a little for added pleasure. “I’m g-gonna c-cum.” 

Whether it be impatience or to make you feel out of your mind, Joel pulls out halfway and slams forward, his balls slapping your fingers on your clit. His actions knocked the breath out of your lungs and all you managed to utter was a pathetic little squeak. You brought both hands up beside your head, gripping handfuls of the grass to brace yourself as you nod for him to do it again. One, two and thrice more thrusts later, you brought to the brink of your orgasm before he set a slow and deep pace. 

“Joel...Nghh! Joel.” You pant heavily and close your eyes, feeling your cunt opening around him as he pushes forward and pulls your hips back, forcing his bulb inside. Sobbing whimpers escape your lips plenty until you feel it pop in and your eyes spring open with release, sending you over the edge into the pools of euphoria. The heat explodes in your cervix, his cum filling you up with so much cum that it oozes out of you, leaving a messy trail down your legs. 

“Holy shit.” You breathe through your climax, reaching an intense level of pleasure mixed with pain. He’s so deep, too deep, but you want every last ounce of his spend. The sounds he made from behind you were rich with satisfaction, guttural grunts and growling groans escaping his lips with closed eyes while enjoying the intoxicating feeling of knotting you. 

A few moments pass by before he carefully pulls out, watches his cum spilling out of you before sliding back inside again, his bulb slipping in as well with ease. Over and over again, he did this until you came again for him. You were steadily approaching exhaustion, feeling the ache already settling into your muscles but you wanted more, needed more. It was as if you couldn’t get enough. 

“Joel,” You whimper his name, the sound of your voice resonating your needs to him. He pulls out and you reach around your back for his arm, to which he gives and helps you up off the ground before turning you around to face him. “I’m cold.” You whisper tiredly before burying your face into his neck and basking in his warmth. Using your abilities, you form a blanket and pillows out of thin air, making a bed for you and him to lay on. 

Once he lays back and pulls the blanket over you, the heat is too strong to fight against. You were so tired, but wanted to feel him inside of you, to sleep with his fullness buried to the hilt in your cunt. “Oh,” You moan softly upon feeling him notch at your entrance and ease his way inside. There wasn’t a need to tell him, he heard you loud and clear. It was paradise. You were in paradise. His fur felt like an extra padded blanket, keeping you so incredibly warm that it was homey and snug. 

Rising and falling over his chest gently with each breath he took, seconds is all it took for you to fall asleep to the sound of his heartbeat directly against your ear and hours passed by like minutes before you felt him moving beneath you, disturbing your slumber with his slow-grinding movements. Little grunts awoke you, and the sensation of his bulb popping inside your cunt once more with another plentiful creamy white load brought you to orgasm. 

And once you had come down from your high, he would fill you up again.

-

Werewolf!Joel taglist:@kirsteng42 @marydjarin @extraneous-trip @dins-cyare @supernaturalgirl20 @supernaturalgirl @joelsflannel @luvmeijii @hb8301 @squidwell @hb8301 @superawesomegeek @trickstersp8 @scorpio-marionette @formulafun @tanzthompson 

[toomanystoriessolittletime]

Claimed

Summary: While on the run from raiders and their twisted game of hide and seek you get saved in the last minute by a creature you only thought existed in books. You knew you should be scared, yet you could not find it in you as you looked into the warm brown eyes of a wolf that seemed way too human to be a monster, letting him have you and your body, letting him claim you. Waking up in a cabin the next morning you think it was all a dream, wanting to move on until Tommy and Joel Miller find you in that cabin, offering you to stay in a town called Jackson.

Pairing: Werewolf! Joel Miller x fem. reader

Rating: E

Wordcount: 5.4k

Warnings: monster fucking (dub con -> enthusiastic consent; basically she's really into it once she's awake) angst, threats of SA, violence, death, smut (Somnophilia; oral sex f receiving; unprotected sex, knotting, cumplay), successful breeding, so much guilt, fluff, Joel is bad at feelings

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You were cold. Cold and hungry. Exhausted and, most of all, scared. 

You didn’t know exactly how long you had been running. The four men pursuing you had found you and your group a day (or three?) before, had killed everyone except for you, telling you to run for your life after stripping you of most of your clothes. 

Like some sick fucking game. 

Then again, ever since the outbreak, everything seemed to be a game of life and death. It wasn’t long until humanity showed its ugly face, and (mostly) men lived out their sick, primitive fantasies without the fear of any kind of punishment. 

You could hear them outside, laughing and snickering, fantasising about the sick things they would do to you if they found you. How they would decide if you were allowed to stay alive and become their pet, or if they would kill you. 

The sun had set hours ago, the only light source outside the full moon high on the cloudless sky. You were hiding under a trapdoor in a barn that looked like it might collapse the next time it rained. Though if you had to guess, you think it’d snow before it rained. 

It had to be November by now, Wyoming cooling down to a fucking freezer overnight, your teeth clattering as you shivered. 

They had only left you in your shoes and underwear. You had picked up an old jacket as you ran into an abandoned cabin the day before. Then you found a thin blanket that you currently had wrapped around your cold legs, the smell coming from it making it hard to breathe without feeling nauseous. 

Your fingers were wrapped around a rusty piece of metal you had found down here, not really knowing if you’d use it on the raiders or yourself before they got their hands on you. 

Though the thought crossed your mind that you being dead probably wouldn’t stop them from…

You closed your eyes, taking a deep breath. In your head, you hummed the lullaby your mother used to sing to you whenever you felt anxious as you were growing up. 

You didn’t dream of seeing her again one day anymore. You buried that hope after twenty years of whatever life you had lived since the outbreak. You liked to imagine she had a quick death once things started going downhill. You had been on vacation with your best friend in New York City when it all happened. You still had no idea how you made it out of there alive. 

“Come out, come out, wherever you are…” one of the men mocked you, his voice way too close for comfort. You wrapped a hand over your mouth, trying to be as quiet as possible in hopes he would just move on and leave you here to… probably die from hypothermia. Still a better death than what they had planned. 

You heard the footsteps getting closer before there was an earth-shattering scream outside, followed by growling. 

“What the fuck is going on there? Did the bitch cut your balls off, Clark?” The men who must be standing right above you right now yelled outside. There was a roar followed by a howl outside, and you closed your eyes. 

“Clark? Will?” The man above you called out, but there was no answer. 

“You better not be fucking with me, you assholes,” he said, his footsteps moving away from you. You allowed yourself to release a shuddering breath, pulling the blanket tighter around you. 

Another scream outside, followed by a loud howl, before there was only silence. 

Minutes went by, and you were pretty sure whatever was out there had probably killed the men that were after you. Yet you couldn’t bring yourself to risk getting out of your hiding spot to seek shelter somewhere else. Or find another blanket. 

You had no idea how to survive out here on your own. You hadn’t eaten in two days, only barely found something to drink while running. 

Maybe whatever was out there would make your death quick, and you could rest. The thought of getting a good night’s sleep made you sigh as you felt your mind slowly slip into darkness. 

Yet before you could let your mind rest, the trapdoor above you was ripped open, and you jumped, suddenly blinded by how bright the moon illuminated the night. You blinked against the sudden light, gasping when you found a creature looking down at you, big brown eyes fixated on you. 

It was standing on two legs, fur covering the whole body, the teeth sharp, reflecting the moonlight. 

It looked like a wolf. A huge fucking wolf, yet there was something human about it. 

You should have been scared, you should have been screaming, but somehow you didn’t, overcome with the feeling of being safe the longer you looked into its eyes. 

“You’re so pretty,“ you mumbled. “Are you here to kill me?“

The creature’s eyes widened before his massive head shook from side to side, as if saying no. You smiled softly at that. 

“You’re a good doggy,” you sighed, your eyes slipping closed. And you could swear the last thing you heard was an amused roar before your mind slipped into unconsciousness. 

You felt…. Warm. 

You didn’t know the last time you felt warm, which left you to the conclusion that you must have died. 

You were lying on something soft, surrounded by warmth. 

A satisfied moan slipped through your lips in the next moment, still half asleep, and you felt your body shuddering. Your hands ran over your body, your fingers slipping down your stomach before your eyes opened slowly, looking down just in time to see why you woke up, your pussy throbbing as an orgasm rushed through your body, making you arch your back and cry out as you looked between your thighs to find big brown eyes looking up at you. 

You thought you dreamed the wolf you remembered saving you before, but it was him. 

“You’re… You’re real…“ you whispered, your hand hesitantly reaching out, your fingers meeting the soft fur of the animal between your legs. It was real. He was real. The wolf was real, and he was here, and he was…

The wolf seemed to lean into your touch, his eyes seemingly trying to communicate with you, his expression torn before he growled, his eyes closing. 

“Oh shit,“ you whispered, slowly noticing that you were stripped completely naked, big strong and furry arms wrapped around your thighs, keep you lying on the mattress beneath you. 

You should be scared, you know you should. Yet you weren’t. Instead, you felt the safest you ever did. The big nose of the wolf nuzzled against your pussy, and you moaned quietly, your chest heaving as you took a deep breath. 

You should fight, run, scream, yet you wanted more. 

You wanted this creature to own you, to claim you. To be his. It seemed like the only thought in your mind the longer you looked into its eyes.

The wolf kept his dark eyes on yours, his cold nose nuzzling against your pussy until you felt his big tongue lick through your slit. 

“Oh fuck,“ you let yourself fall back down against the ground, the hand that had been touching the wolf coming up to your breast, squeezing it, playing with your nipple, noticing something… sticky on your chest. Bringing your fingers up, looking at them and the creamy substance on your fingers, your eyes found the wolf, finding him watching you intently. 

The long warm tongue kept licking you almost softly, the wet nose rubbing over your clit. 

Keeping your eyes on his, you brought your fingers to your mouth, your tongue darting out to taste it. The wolf growled, his eyes seemingly getting even darker as you tasted what you thought was his cum. You hummed, licking your fingers clean, the wolf’s tongue moving faster, making your legs twitch.

His big claws dug warningly into the soft skin of your thighs, before his tongue forced its way inside your pussy. 

Your lips parted as you cried out in ecstasy, the feeling foreign yet so fucking good as the big tongue of the wolf moved inside of you.

Biting your lips, you tried to keep quiet, panting for air as his tongue brushed over something inside of you that made you cry out in pleasure. 

“There… Fuck… Right there,“ you whined, trying to move your hips under his grip, but he growled, his tongue fixated on that one spot inside of you until you moaned loudly, your whole body shaking as you came hard, soaking the wolf between your legs as you squirted for the first time in your life. 

With your chest heaving, you slumped back against the mattress, panting as you tried to process what just happened. 

The wolf licked you clean softly before his claws let go of your thighs. You opened your eyes, watching him when you felt his tongue licked over your upper thigh, only noticing now that one of his claws must have nabbed your skin, drawing a tiny bit of blood he licked off. 

You were watching him, your eyes widening as the wolf slowly got on his feet, towering above you in his full height. 

He was breathtaking. Literally. 

Your eyes dropped to his cock, leaking with pre cum and standing proudly against his stomach. 

It was… definitely not human. 

It was dark red, at least 9 inches long. You probably could not close your fist around it, the girth was too big. But it was the knot that made you suck in your bottom lip, worrying. 

He was breathing deeply, his eyes fixed on your form, almost pleading to you, but you did not know for what. 

“It’s… It’s okay,“ you whispered, slowly sitting yourself up. It was almost like the wolf was shaking his head. 

“It’s okay. Take what you want.“

The moment those words slipped out of your mouth, Joel knew he had lost the last bit of control he had over his actions. He got on all fours, his face hovering over you and your beautiful eyes. 

You didn’t know the inner fight he had put on for hours since bringing you here. 

Joel was a man who always made more than sure that whatever he did with the person he was with, they were giving him enthusiastic consent before he touched them. 

But right now, Joel wasn’t a man. 

He was a creature of the night, his instincts reduced to his animalistic primal needs. 

He had made you cum twice before you even woke up, high on your taste, wanting more and more. Fuck he had even jerked off, shooting his cum all over your body like the animal he was. 

He’d never fucked anyone in this form before, and while a part of him hated the lack of control he had over how he behaved right now, another part was ready to be inside of you.

“Mhhh….“ he heard you hum, your fingers stroking through his fur, and Joel was sure he’d purr if you continued to touch him. 

But his cock was aching, and you were oh so soft and wet. 

And ready to breed. 

He leaned down, his nose nuzzling against your neck, inhaling you deeply before he looked deep into your eyes, ready to take what was his.

The wolf began to lick your upper body, focusing on your breasts, making you whimper, your fingers pulling on the fur of his arms. Slowly you let your hand slip down your body, your eyes widening when you came in contact with his cock, gasping softly. 

The wolf looked up at you, grunting as you tried to wrap your hand around it, your hand too small.

You felt the wolf lick your cheek, and you looked up at him, wondering what he was thinking. 

Taking a deep breath, you laid back, parting your legs for him even wider. 

The wolf was actively looking between your pussy and his claws, and you wondered if the man inside him would be putting his fingers inside of you if he was able to. He closed his eyes as you guided his cock towards your pussy. 

“Try to be gentle, yeah? At least at first…“ you hummed and sucked your bottom lip between your teeth, your eyes falling shut as the tip of his cock entered you ever so slowly. You stopped breathing. You didn’t know if it was seconds or hours until your pussy was stretched around his hot cock, the knot just outside of your pussy. 

He waited until you relaxed, letting you get used to his size.

The wolf leaned down, his fur brushing against your skin, looking deeply into your eyes before he bottomed out and began to move. His cock slowly dragging through your walls, the foreign shape stretching you out and hitting all the right spots.

You held on to the broad shoulders of the creature fucking you slowly.

“Harder,“ you moaned quietly, trying to move your hips up, but the wolf growled, pinning you against the ground. He stilled inside of you before he pulled out of you. 

Before you could react, he had you turned around, pulling you up so you were on your hands and knees, his cock entering you from behind in one hard thrust, making you cry out. 

He fucked into you deeply, pumping his cock inside you, his claws holding on to your hips, keeping you where he wanted you. 

“Oh fuck,“ you cried out, letting yourself fall down to your elbows, your head falling against the mattress. 

The wolf howled, and you felt his cock throbbing, the pointed tip kissing your cervix, making your legs shake. 

You felt so fucking full, his cock stretching you just right. 

“I’m gonna cum,“ you whined, meeting his thrusts, and you screamed when you came, clenching around his cock. Fucking you through your orgasm, he leaned over your body, his fur brushing over your naked back. Aftershocks of your orgasm were still running through your body when you heard the wolf growl, the cock inside you seemed to get even bigger before he howled, his knot pushing inside of you, filling you with his cum and keeping it inside of you. 

You felt his strong, soft arms wrapping around your middle before he slowly pulled you to your side, his cock still stuck inside of you, steadily filling you with his cum. 

Breeding you. 

You shuddered at the thought, feeling him lick your neck softly, pulling you even closer, keeping you warm.

The last thing you remember thinking before you fell asleep was that you wished you’d known his name…..

When you woke up, you found yourself under a mountain of blankets. Your memory was a little foggy, but you knew someone… or something had saved you. And from the soreness you felt all over your body, you were beginning to think you did not dream of the wolf who had taken you last night. 

Your lips parted as you realised there was a fire cracking in the small fireplace. You sat up, looking down at yourself, noticing that you were now wearing a soft Flannel. You brought the fabric up to your nose, surprised when you found it smelling clean with a hint of… wood. It reminded you of how your uncle had smelled when he returned from his job at the local wood factory. 

“Hello?” You called out, silence meeting you. 

There was a full bottle of what looked like water next to the old sofa you had slept on. Opening the lid carefully, you smelled it, confirming it was water. It could be drugged, your mind provided. But you were too thirsty to care, almost chugging the whole bottle down before slowly pushing yourself up to stand. 

You were wearing thick wool socks, your legs still naked. You brushed your fingers over a mark on your inner thigh.

Confused, you began to explore the room. 

It had been cleared out, but for some reason, you did not think someone actually lived here. There was, however, food on the table. Just a can of old beans and a fork. 

Narrowing your eyes, you eyed the can, your hands gripping the back of the chair that was tucked against the old wooden table. Looking down at your hands, you had grabbed something soft, finding yourself looking at an old, worn pair of sweatpants. 

You began to feel like you were in the twilight zone, waiting for someone to jump out of a corner. 

For him to find you in whatever form he was this morning. 

Sucking your bottom lip in, you looked around again before you slowly slipped your legs into the sweatpants, finding them way too big. But they were warm and soft, and you sighed in relief. 

Which didn’t last long, because you heard voices outside. 

Frantically looking around, you found the rusty piece of metal you had with you when you had hidden the night before, grabbing it. 

You moved behind the door as silently as possible, the voices coming closer. 

“We’re not here to kill you,” someone called out. A man. 

You heard that before. 

“I know you have no reason to trust us. But we’re here to help.”

He could smell her. 

Her and her flowery scent that seemed to drive him to insanity ever since he crossed it two days ago. 

Due to his… other self, his senses were always better than those of an average human, but in the week leading up to the full moon, they seemed to sharpen even further. It was why he and Tommy always went out on their monthly trip to the radio tower that lasted three days when they really just used the full moon to hunt down infected and people who would potentially bring harm to Jackson. 

He had been tracking three men, raiders, their scent full of adrenaline and arousal, when he came across your scent. Frightened, dehydrated, but so flowery and sweet that it was the only thing he could think about. 

Still in his human form, he had seen you, almost naked, running frantically through the woods. Away from them. 

He had kept an eye on you, the animal in him taking over, his urge to protect you taking over. Yet he waited until the next night, his wolf form making him stronger, to take your attackers out one by one, making it as painful as possible. 

And then you were in his arms. Cold, unconscious, yet so so beautiful.

He brought you to the cabin he and Tommy had cleared out the month after he got to Jackson, setting you down on the couch. 

Pulling a blanket over you, he was thankful for the fire Tommy must have lit when he had been here earlier, carefully putting another log of wood into the fire to keep it going. 

Making his way back to you, he was overcome with the urge to have you back in his arms. Carefully, he pulled you against him, and you seemed to seek his warmth, your fingers digging into his fur. 

Looking out, he counted that he had around three hours until the sun came up, and he’d change back to his human form. 

He knew he should have left you there. He should have gone out, leaving you safe and unharmed. 

He wished he could blame everything that happened in the cabin on his wolf side. The wolf side knew he had to have you because you were ready to breed. It’s why you smelled so sweet and irresistible for him. You were ovulating and ready to bear his offspring. But Joel was still inside. He knew what he was doing. And he tried to stop initially, but it was a fight he quickly let himself lose, getting lost in you. And the worst part was he enjoyed every single second. The way you held on to him. The way you tasted. The way you looked when you came. The way you smiled as he pumped you full of his cum, just before you passed out again. 

Joel sighed, following his brother as he approached the house slowly. Joel could smell you. Adrenaline cursing through your veins.

“I’m Tommy, and this is my brother Joel,” Tommy stopped in front of the house, holding his hands up. 

“We come from a community not far from here. We have water, electricity, food…”

Joel’s heart seemed to stop the moment he heard your voice. 

“How do you even know I’m here?” You asked. Tommy’s eyes found Joel’s. 

“We have cameras set up around the patrol route, and we saw you on one of them,” he lied easily. 

Joel and Tommy had talked about what to tell you. Tommy knew from the moment they met up after the moon disappeared, smelling you all over him. 

He did not ask questions when Joel told him they had to go get you from the cabin. 

They both had their fair share of things they weren’t the most proud of, both as humans and werewolves. Tommy knew better than anyone else how hard it was to keep yourself in control when all the monster in you wanted was to claim someone. 

It was how he met Maria.

Thankfully it all turned out for the best in the end, but still, Joel felt like a fucking monster. 

The door opened, and you stepped out carefully, holding up the piece of metal he had found you with last night in front of you. You were wearing his shirt. 

Mine. 

His pants.

Mine. 

He could smell himself all over you. 

Mine. 

He wondered if he was still dripping out of you.

“Cameras? You… You know how I got here?” You asked, your heartbeat quickened. 

Tommy shook his head. 

“No. The cameras only activate once you’re inside the cabin.”

“Oh,” you nodded, hesitating.

“Did you…. See something weird?”

“Just you pretty much passing out,” Tommy lied again. 

“Weird,” you whispered to yourself, but both Joel and Tommy could hear it. 

“So… what do you say? Care to join us?” Tommy asked. 

“I… I should not trust strangers. But these last days have been… I’m still not quite sure how I survived…” you shook your head, your arms hugging yourself. 

“You are welcome to wait out until patrol gets here. My wife will be with them, she’s kind of the leader of our little community,” Tommy said.

Your heartbeat slowed down. 

“You’re married?” She asked with a small smile. Tommy nodded, his smile wide.

“Married and about to become a dad. Well… still a couple months to go, but, yeah.”

You nodded. 

“What about your brother? Joel, was it?” You asked. 

There was something familiar about the broad man standing just behind Tommy. He hadn’t looked at you directly once, but something told you you knew him. 

“It’s complicated,” he said, and a shiver ran through your whole body, hearing his voice. 

You swallowed. 

“I haven’t heard that since college,” you joked. 

“You went to college?” Tommy asked. 

“Yeah. I was 19 when the outbreak happened,” you said. 

“Did anyone make it?” Tommy asked. 

You closed your eyes, shaking your head. 

“Whole family is dead. The people I was with… Raiders killed them before they made me…” you shook your head, missing the way Joel’s whole body stiffened as he tried to control his anger. 

“I’m so sorry,” Tommy said, and you sighed. 

“Well. I should have learned not to get too attached to people. It’s a luxury nowadays to have someone.”

“Maybe you’ll have more luck in our community,” Tommy winked, and you took a deep breath. What other choices did you really have?

You were tired and weak, and maybe you had hallucinated having sex with a… wolf? 

Because if they had cameras inside the cabin and last night really happened… You felt your cheeks growing warm, a throbbing between your legs. 

You looked at Joel again, his eyes now on you. Brown eyes that seemed to look right into your soul, making you part your lips in a gasp.

Was it him?

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, not looking at you again. 

“What do you say, darlin’?” Tommy asked, and you did not miss the way Joel’s head snapped to look at his brother, glaring at him. 

Tommy smirked. 

“I think I would kill for a hot shower,” you said with a small smile.

“When are you gonna stop hovering like a mother hen and go tell her?” Joel almost jumped as he heard his brother’s voice behind him. He was hiding out of sight from you, watching how you helped Maria with some garden work. 

It had been 16 nights since he had you, 15 days since you moved into the house next to his, and it had been pure hell. Being so close to you but not touching you. He took care of you in his own way, from afar. Meals showing up in front of your door, so he was sure you ate. Sending his brother over to fix up the house, because he did not know if he could hold himself back if he was so close to you. 

He had done some reading the day before, not understanding why he felt like this. 

Now, there wasn’t, like, some kind of How to be a Werewolf for Dummies book around, but what he found made him realise that you probably were his mate. He never felt like this before, his body physically hurting when he did not know where you were. 

He wondered if you felt it, too. If you felt the changes…

“Tell her what?” Joel grumbled. 

“You could start with telling her that you’re sorry that you behaved like a dick, then start with explaining to her that once a month you turn into a werewolf and that yes, it was you that fucked her. And then you could congratulate her that she’s pregnant,” Tommy listed, and Joel growled. 

He had known he had bred you the moment he had changed back the morning after, his guilty conscience killing him ever since. 

Not only that he took advantage of you, no, he claimed you, bred you, and it took everything in him not to make you his officially. 

Joel shook his head. 

“She’s gonna hate me. And fuck… A baby? I’m way too old to raise a child…”

“I don’t know, big brother, you’re doing a great job with Ellie. Any kid would be fortunate to have you as their dad,” Tommy said surprisingly softly. 

Joel took a deep breath, watching you wave Maria goodbye as you walked down the street towards home. 

“Okay,” Joel said, straightening his shoulders before he followed you home. 

You were surprised when you came home and did not find food on your doorstep, if you were honest. You had asked Maria if finding food was normal. It wasn’t.

You had a suspicion as to who it was leaving it, but you had not found the confidence to ask him. 

It was like every thought was filled with Joel since you saw his eyes. And even though it sounded insane, you were almost certain that the wolf from the night who claimed you and the man who seemed unable to look into your eyes afterward were the same person. 

He felt familiar, like you knew each other, and it was getting harder each day to not be with him. You had never felt like this before, pining over a man who was not only much older than you but who you had never really talked to before. 

Shaking your head, you stared at your reflection in the mirror before you washed your face. Tomorrow, you would start working at the greenhouse, and you wanted to make a good impression, which was why you decided to go to bed early. 

You were brushing your teeth when you heard a knock on your door. Frowning to yourself, your body buzzing as if it knew who it was, you spit the toothpaste into the sink before you pulled the shirt you had from the cabin over your head and walked towards the door. 

His eyes were on you as you walked over to your door, a nervous flutter in your belly as you slowly pulled the door open. 

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before he looked at you, his jaw flexing. 

“Hi Joel,“ you said quietly, your hand wrapped around the side of your door. 

His eyes seemed to soften as he looked at you. 

“Can… Can we talk?“ He asked. 

Taken by surprise, you nodded. 

“Would you like to come in?“

He could hear you in your kitchen, cluttering as you prepared him some tea. You had only been in this town, this house, for a week, and it already felt more homey than the house he lived in for the last years. Ever since Ellie moved out, he did not like spending time alone in his house. Something was missing. 

You were missing. 

“I hope you like peppermint,“ you said as you came back into your living room. He didn’t, but he would never tell you. 

“Thank you,“ he said, nervous all of a sudden. 

You sat down on the other side of the couch from him, pulling your legs against your chest as you looked at him. 

“What did you want to talk about?“ You asked. 

He took a moment to think about what to say, not really sure how to start. 

“Is it about the… the night we met?“ he heard you ask carefully, and he turned his head to look at you, surprised. 

“I thought it was a dream at first. How I woke up during the night. I thought I might be losing my mind, but… But I wasn’t, right?“ you asked. 

He took a deep breath, before he shook his head. 

“You weren’t. I.. I saved you. I killed those… monsters, only to…“

He felt your hand on his. 

“Is that why you were ignoring me? Because you…“

“I took advantage of you! You smelled so sweet, and you were so soft… And I usually can control myself, I know what is happening, but I couldn’t around you. I had to… I have to have you. It’s like…. “

“Like you don’t feel whole when you’re not around me? Yeah. That’s how I feel too,“ you said quietly, and he raised his eyebrows in surprise. 

“You do?“

You nodded. 

“You’re not… scared of me?“ he asked.

You giggled, slipping closer to him. 

“Joel, you saved my life, and then you made me cum four times. Was I a little out of it? Maybe. But I don’t regret it.“

“Good… That’s… That’s… good…“ he mumbled, closing his eyes as he felt your warm hand on his cheek, turning his head towards you. 

“You’re so pretty,“ you mumbled, and he chuckled. 

“That’s the first thing you said to me that night,“ and he was still surprised about it. 

“It’s true. It’s… I always knew there was more out there than just us. Well and walking mushrooms that are trying to kill us. And I might have read my fair share of fantasy books.“

“Yeah?“ he asked, his hand coming to rest on your thigh. You nodded. 

“It’s hot,“ you shrugged before you leaned in and kissed him softly. 

He rested his forehead against yours, breathing you in. 

“I have to tell you something else,“ he said. 

“What?“ you whispered. 

“The reason why I couldn’t control myself was because my senses are heightened when I’m in my wolf form. And I… could smell that you were ovulating, which is why everything in my head screaming at me to… breed… you….“

Your lips parted, and he could practically hear you processing what he had just said. 

“And… And…. Would you… Would you know if you bred me?“ you asked. 

He nodded. 

“Then I guess I should tell you that twin pregnancies are common in my family line,“ you said.

He huffed a laugh before he felt you climb into his lab. 

“I think you should take me out on a date,“ you mumbled. 

“Yeah?“

“Yeah,“ you nodded, before you leaned in and kissed him. 

[thyme-in-a-bubble]

boo! surprise bitches! i'm doing kinktober this year! finally doing it! bet you didn't see that one coming, did you hehe 🕸

there is a good mix of both short and long stories coming your way throughout this (and i will also still occasionally post other fics this month that aren't related to this). also, a handful of these fics are darker in nature, thought it was fitting for halloween, so remember to read the warnings, if there's something that's not for you then please, as always, be kind to yourself and don't read the story.

masterlist | join my taglist

day one | sore

stepbro!sirius black x cheerleader!reader + dubcon massage

day two | don't smile

steve rogers + throat fucking + size kink

day three | stuffed

devil!eddie munson & angel!steve harrington + tentecles + double penetration in one hole

day four | a little fashion show

best friend!stiles stilinski + lingerie

day five | stay still

peter parker + bondage

day six | hold up, let me record this

jj maybank + tittyfucking + sextape

day seven | the palace guards

guards!poly!marauders x princess!reader + secrets relationship

day eight | it’s practically like we’re down there with them

mob boss!bucky barnes + exhibitionism

day nine | keep that pretty mouth shut

tommy shelby + keep quiet quickie

day ten | I couldn’t find it in me to wake you

poe dameron + somno thigh fucking

day eleven | I just want you a little longer all to myself

matt murdock + secret office sex

day twelve | nothing more than a toy

rafe cameron + using you like a toy to masturbate with

day thirteen | I still got a few rounds left in me

boxer!steve rogers + bathtub sex

day fourteen | open your fucking mouth

dark!wild west cowboy!joel miller + gun kink

day fifteen | tiny

miguel o'hara x fairy!reader + extreme size difference

day sixteen | the wall between us

cult member!steve harrington + fem glory hole + breeding

day seventeen | be a rebel, be bad, stay here and cuddle with me

spencer reid + aftercare

day eighteen | pleasant pile of pillows

brother's best friend!james potter + pillow humping

day nineteen | ring ring

sam winchester x reader x bf!dean winchester + phone sex + cheating

day twenty | window

perv!neighbour!billy russo + voyeurism

day twenty-one | say yes

fiancé!bruce wayne + possessiveness

day twenty-two | i can think of something better than that

bucky barnes + anal

day twenty-three | double check

dark!professor!ben solo + power imbalance + manipulation

day twenty-four | maroon

vampire!remus lupin + biting + blood kink

day twenty-five | i want you

pirate captain!miguel o'hara + sex as payment

day twenty-six | teamwork

pro football team!avengers (bf!steve rogers, bucky barnes, pietro maximoff, clint barton, sam wilson, tony stark, thor odinson) + gangbang

day twenty-seven | my little flower

din djarin + fantasy au + cockwarming

day twenty-eight | hysteria

doctor!aleksander morozova x hysteria patient!reader + historical au + fuck machine

day twenty-nine | can't fight the moonlight

werewolf!bucky barnes x gf!reader + predator/prey + monsterfucking

day thirty | magical mimic

eddie munson x witch!reader + magical mutual masturbation

day thirty-one | you can’t put it in

stepbro!peter parker + halloween pussyjob

© 2023 thyme-in-a-bubble 

[juletheghoul]

a/n: I started writing fanfic when I was in my teens, typing away into the night as a way to feel connected to my faves. Eventually I stopped, maybe convinced myself that I'd grown out of it, but that definitely wasn't the case. Truth is the stories have always been there, and I've always wanted to tell them. I'm happy to have found my way back to fanfic, back to the sense of community and all those other amazing fucking stories that I've read here. I've been lucky enough to have my things put on rec lists and now I want to make one of my own. I've been compiling a list of submissions, along with some of my faves and I offer them up to you, humbly. This list in no way encompasses all of the masterpieces I've read, just doing my best with the shitshow that is my memory lol. I am beyond lucky to have reached such a wild milestone, thanks for following along-please enjoy and show these creators some love!

Story recs;

Each story will have it's own warnings**

Jack Whiskey Daniels;

Under Marula Trees (Jack x F!Reader) by @deadhumourist

Cognitive Dissonance (Jack x F!reader) by @prolix-yuy

The Cowboy Next Door (Jack x virgin!freader) by @ikissdin

Javier Peña;

Learning to Live (Javier Peña/f!reader) by @wheresarizona

Fear and Loathing (Javier Peña x F!Reader) by @joels6strings

Lie to Me (Javier Peña x DEA Agent fem reader) by @iamskyereads

Mailroom Crush (Javier Peña x f!reader) by @littlemisspascal

Girl Next Door (Javier Peña x f!reader) by @babybugwrites

Teach Me Tonight (Javier Peña x F!DEA!Reader) by @storiesofthefandomlovers 

Dieter Bravo;

Funny Girl (Dieter x F!Reader) by @radiowallet

Stay on the Screenplay (Dieter x F!Reader) by @jazzelsaur

Love Triangles (Dieter Bravo x Female Reader) by @littlemisspascal

Morning (Porn star Dieter x Porn star reader) by @write-and-buried

Dave York;

Appreciation (Dave x F!Reader) by @pedropascalsx

My Girl (Dave York x f!reader x Francisco “Catfish” Morales) by @foli-vora

Family Fun Series (Dave York x F!Nanny!Reader x Carol York) by @absurdthirst

Rare (Dave York x fem reader) by @ezrasbirdie

Din Djarin;

Take Me to Church (Din Djarin/Reader Western AU) by @frannyzooey

Vibes (Din x F!Reader) by @mandoblowmybackout

Boxer Din Series (Boxer Din Djarin x Masseuse Fem!Reader) by @djarinsbeskar

Like a Moth to the Flame (monster!Din x F!reader) by @the-scandalorian

A Brush of Life (Hades!Din x f!reader) by @charnelhouse

Pero Tovar;

Ego & Black Powder (Pero x F!Reader) by @psychedlic-ink

The Wolf Series (Werewolf!Pero Tovar x F!Reader) by @absurdthirst

Frankie Morales;

Weeknights (Frankie Morales x F!reader) by @frannyzooey

Please To Meet You (Frankie x F!Reader) by @intheorangebedroom

Still of the Night (Frankie xF!reader) by @foli-vora

Joel Miller;

West (Joel Miller x Third Person Female) by @radiowallet

September (Joel x f!reader) by @wheresarizona

Pedro Across The Street (Calls)

Good Things Take Time (PATS x f!reader) by @oonajaeadira

Masterlists;

@novemberrain-writes - masterlist

@thisishellfire - Pedro masterlist

@foli-vora - masterlist

@wheresarizona - masterlist

@frannyzooey - masterlist

@oonajaeadira - masterlist

@psychedelic-ink - masterlist

@nexusnyx - masterlist

@wardenparker - masterlist

@loversandantiheroes - masterlist

@whiskeynwriting - masterlist

@pedros-mustache - masterlist

@writer-darling - masterlist

@mothandpidgeon - masterlist

@littlepadika - masterlist

@pedropascalsx - masterlist

@absurdthirst - masterlist

@just-here-for-the-moment - masterlist

[misspearly1]

Chp1 || Chp2 || Chp3 || Chp4 || Chp5 || Chp6 || Chp7 || Chp8 || Chp9 || 

Pairing: Werewolf!Joel Miller x You (F!Reader)

Summary: Looking back on how your life has turned out this far, you often wonder if you got more than you bargained for when finally finding your safe haven within the walls of Jackson. They have it all; food, shelter and electricity, but what else did you come to discover that lives within this thriving community? And how did that discovery change your life?

WC: A little over 10k

Warnings: 18+ Content. Minors DNI! A little bit of Angst in this fic (with a happy ending). Elements of fear. Smut. Unprotected PIV. Monster Sex. Oral (F receiving). Knotting. Maybe slight dubious content? But I will warn it just in case. Mentions of Nudity and Nudism. This is Monster!Joel, therefore he is a little out of control, but not too much. If you think I have missed anything in the warnings, don't hesitate to call me out on it and I will fix my mistake, thank you my loves <3

AN: Oh... Wow-wow-wow. It's been a while building up to this, but it's what I had planned to write all along. If anyone has missed/forgotten about the little snippet of what to expect in this series with Monster Joel, here is the link. Without further ado, let's jump into it. I hope you enjoy the read my loves <3

Running through the forest with a beating heart ready to jump out of your chest, you run like your life depends on it. You should be in Jackson right now, should be far away from Joel Miller on the night of a full moon just like he warned you, but you couldn’t help your curiosity to know what he goes through. 

You only wanted to help, only help him through this night of pain and make it easier for him, but instead, you let the beast inside of him catch your scent and he broke free from the chains. The werewolf on a full moon isn’t the werewolf you’ve seen in Joel before. It’s different… he’s different. You should have stayed home and listened to Joel’s warnings because now, a monster hunts you with an insatiable hunger, impossible to be satisfied until it gets what it wants. 

You - the monster in Joel wants you. 

Earlier That Day 

Waking up this seemingly normal Thursday morning, there was nothing normal about it as you knew what today is; today is the day of a full moon, it will rise at midnight, bringing its powers over Joel and Tommy - the werewolves of Jackson. 

You’ve been in the cabin for the last two days, the very same cabin where Joel suffers a night of pain in the basement, bound by chains, but he brought you back to Jackson late last night and Tommy came out to head back up the mountains with his brother. That’s where you began to understand how severe it is for them both on a full moon. 

Sleep didn’t come so easily for you when laying in your own bed without the warmth of Joel beside you, it felt bizarre. To spend two nights in bed with him, feeling like it’s where you belong, like you belong with Joel, to then spend a night in bed on your own, feeling lost and out of place. Something wasn��t adding up, it’s like there was something magical happening, something supernatural. 

After laying bed for hours last night trying to figure out what exactly that was, you came to remember a very small detail that could have enormous meaning. The full moon. Joel and Tommy found you in the forest on the night of a full moon - and they were in control. The Millers only shared a little of their experiences of what happens on this night once a month because it’s traumatic. They shared that it’s painful, terrifying and uncontrollable. 

Joel made you swear yesterday when he brought you back to Jackson that you would stay here and wait for him to come back tomorrow, but what if you can help? You knew about the different moons of the year and helped them understand why it’s different for them each month, but what if you can help with other things too? Like making this one particular night of every month more bearable for them? 

Something was gnawing at you to help them. Intuition was driving you to get out of bed this seemingly normal Thursday morning and go back up into the mountains to help Joel and Tommy. It can’t be a coincidence, nothing is ever a coincidence anymore. You realise now that everything happens for a reason. It’s fate. Fate drew the wolves to you that night, fate spared your life and brought you to safety. It was fate that has guided your every step, all you have to do is listen to it. 

However, you can’t just leave Jackson, that’s going to cause problems and you can’t take another day off work. Melinda was kind enough to give you two days off instead of one. You have to go back today, make your appearances and act like everything is normal, when it isn’t. It isn’t a normal day today because as soon as nightfall's and your shift is over, you’re sneaking out of Jackson. 

Stepping out of the shower, you moved towards your closet and got dressed while also packing a little bag of clothes. You’ll need to be careful about your plan tonight, you need a horse and a way to sneak past the gates without being seen. During your brief time working as wall duty, you know that Mark will be working the wall tonight and with a bit of luck, he may let you out without saying anything to Maria. You haven’t yet had a chance to talk to Maria since learning about Joel and Tommy being the werewolves, and it’s best that you stay clear for now anyways because you can’t face the woman while planning to disobey her. 

After grabbing a quick snack to eat, you leave the house to make your way to work with your backpack of clothes and other items to help you travel. No one will ask why you have a backpack, people will just assume you’re bringing food to work. Making your way through the snow, it came down heavy again last night and the small group of people tasked to clear it all away were working double time this morning. The main streets were cleared already, but because it came down heavily last night, the streets lined with houses need to be cleared too. Thankfully for them, they have two horses pulling a wagon to help lighten the load of work. 

Turning the corner to the main square of Jackson, the restaurant doors were just opening. A couple of the windows were still covered with cardboard and all of the mess had been cleared away since that night the bandits breached the walls, however the evidence of their raid remains. Bullet holes in the walls or floor and cardboard windows were left behind because of them. The restaurant is still up and running, but it has suffered. Hopefully with time, you and everyone else in Jackson can help bring it back to what it once looked like, maybe even better. 

You greet Tracy and Jack when pushing past the doors, while also thanking them for taking the morning shift to help Mel prepare. Heading into the kitchen to drop your backpack in the small room at the back for peoples belongings, you then greet Mel who was just walking up the basement stairs, carrying two heavy bags of vegetables. “Here, let me grab these.” You rush over to her, reaching for the bags. 

“Oh thank you, child.” She beams, swiping a hand across her forehead. Mel had worked up quite a sweat carrying the vegetables up the stairs and you apologised for not getting here sooner, to which she brushed you off and damn near scolded you for apologising in the first place. “Nonsense. You got here just on time, sweety. I’m just not as strong or fit as I once was ten years ago.” 

“I don’t think any of us are.” You laugh while bringing the bags over to the table for her. “We’re all comfortable and cosy here in Jackson. It’s natural for us to unwind and settle down when we feel safe.” 

“Yes, I suppose that’s true.” Shrugging, Mel agrees and even shares a laugh, although it was only brief as you remind yourself of the sacrifices people have made to make this place as safe as it is, especially the people who have lost their lives when danger has shown up at our gates. You remind yourself to be grateful of the things Jackson provides, of the things Joel and Tommy do to make this place safe. That’s one of the reasons why you want to help them, they do so much for you and the community, and you want to return the favour by helping them in any way that you can. 

After sharing a brief catch-up chat with Mel, you make your way through the kitchen door with a small book and pen in your hand, ready to take people's orders. You’re ready to get back to work, to get back to your normal life, even if you are juggling with a second life of knowing about werewolves. As the day passes over, you meet and greet a lot of residents, all who express their apologies for the way you were treated in the past. Some people even admitted their mistakes, while other people were apologising on the behalf of others. It was sweet, you appreciated that they would do that for you and it made your shift breeze over a whole lot easier. Even when Eugene came in and gave you a courteous nod, that was most surprising but you liked the respect he was giving you now. 

In the late afternoon, you had a half hour break before coming back for the evening service and took it upon yourself to visit the horse stables near the wall, just to scope out the area and see what you will have to do in order to sneak past without issues, and hopefully see Mark. You’re holding onto a whim of hope that he will help you out, but if not, you’re going to be a bad friend and say that he owes you one for saving his life that night when climbed down from the wall to retrieve the moose you killed. It’s wrong to use that to get what you want, but you’re adamant that it’s for a good cause. It’s to help Joel and Tommy, and you would explain that if there wasn’t a need to hide their secret. 

Approaching the stables and looking up to the small watch-towers along the wall, you couldn’t see Mark there but you did see someone else. Someone you didn’t exactly want to see and have hoped to avoid. It was Jake, he was there, and he started to climb down after noticing you. Sighing, you pull yourself together and brace for the awkward conversation that is coming. You can feel it. 

“Hey.” Jake calls, breaking out into a light job to meet you at the entrance of the stables. Returning a small ‘hi’ to the man, you didn’t exactly want to talk to Jake, especially not after Joel struck him in the face on your behalf. He still had a bruise, it wasn’t bad, but still, there was a bruise along his jawline, reminding you of what he did and why Joel did what he did. 

“How are you? I noticed you were gone for a couple days.” You noticed, or checked up on me? 

“Yeah, I’m okay. Just spent some time outside of Jackson.” Nodding to him, you furrow your brows for a second with confusion as to why he took notice that you were gone for two days. After the humiliating treatment Jake received from Joel, you didn’t think he’d ever want to see you again, and Joel did warn him to stay away from you as well. 

“I um…” Faltering with his words, Jake palms the scruff of his neck like he was nervous. “I just wanted to say that I am sorry - again, and I hope that you and I can someday get past this.” Yeah… me too, Jake, me too. You nod once more, thank him for his apology and turn to walk through the stables, acting like you were greeting the animals and petting them, when you were really picking one out to take later, however Jake follows. 

“Hey, so uh.. What are you doing later after work?” He asks and your face contorts. Why the fuck is he asking that? What is he doing right now? Your silence only worsens the awkwardness as Jake reveals what he has in mind. “I thought maybe I could walk you home and we could have a chat or something.” 

“Jake.” You sigh, turning around to face him. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do here, but me and you..” Pointing to the air between you both, you shake your head with a thin lipped smile. “That won’t happen. It’s never gonna happen again between me and you, and besides… I’m seeing someone else.” 

“Who? Joel?” Scoffing, Jake crosses his arms and expresses a look of disgust. “But he’s an asshole, who threatened me by the way and told me that I can’t come near you again. What do you see in a guy like that?” 

Fighting back the urge to smile, you really wanted to say ‘everything’. You see everything in Joel and he makes you feel like the only girl in the world. When you’re with him, everything feels right. Even when he pissed you off and hurt your feelings, he made you feel a certain type of way. Like the attraction simmered beneath the hate. “Joel is an asshole - that I agree with.” You laugh lightly to Jake, cheeks blushing a little. “And he shouldn’t have threatened you, but he’s a good man, Jake. He’s a good man inside and out, you just have to see through the wall he puts up.” 

“But… I thought maybe me and you could be friends again at the very least.” Sighing, Jake drops his arms at his sides, looking bummed out. You weren’t really friends to begin with, it was just sex and it was only one time, but you felt pity for him and thought of something that could be beneficial to your issue about leaving Jackson tonight without being seen. 

“Do you really want to try and make things right between us?” You ask, stepping closer so that no one could hear what you were about to say next. “There won’t be a me and you, Jake, but we could be friends if you help me out with something…” When his brows rose with intrigue, you knew you had found your plan to sneak out. “... I need to leave Jackson tonight with a horse and without being seen.”

“What, why?” Shaking his head with those questions, it instantly made you worry if he wouldn’t go through with this and actually snitch on your plans to leave. The last thing you want is Maria to find out, she would certainly do everything in her power to make sure you stay. 

“All I can say is that it’s important that I get to Joel… No one can know about this, Jake. You can’t tell anyone.” He ponders in thought for a few seconds, and as the silence grows, so do your doubts that he will go through with it, however he looks over his shoulder like he is weary of anyone hearing him. “Would you…” He lowers his voice to a whisper, “Would you have a word with Joel if I do this for you? I don’t want him punching me for helping you out.” 

“Yes-yes!” Practically jumping on the spot with victory, you thanked Jake and nodded profusely. “Yes, I will tell Joel that I put you up to this, I will take all the responsibility - now, how are we doing this? Won’t the workers on the wall see us leaving?”

“There’s another way out.” Jake shakes his head, explaining the plan and what to do. “I have patrol duty later, I’ll be back around the same time you finish work. Just head to the east side of Jackson on Lowell street. The last house at the end, right beside the wall, it’s empty and in the backyard, you’ll see a loose plank marked with an X. The teenagers use it to sneak out all the time.” 

“Right, ok.” You nod, hearing him loud and clear and understanding exactly what you need to do. “Thank you for this, Jake. I really appreciate your help.” 

“It’s the least I can do, gorgeo- Sorry.” Cutting himself and apologising for calling you gorgeous, Jake got ahead of himself and forgot that you were Joel’s lady for a second. You smile, understanding his mistake and pat him on the shoulder to reassure that it was okay. “I gotta go back to work, but I’ll see you later.” 

Waving him a goodbye, you make your way back to work and continue acting like everything is normal. You still had some time to spare so you ate something out of the restaurant before picking up your little notepad and pen again to take more orders. The evening service would fly over and before you know it, you will be outside and on your way to the cabin to help Joel and Tommy. 

An hour into service, you get a little surprise when Ellie comes into the restaurant and sits in your section of tables. “Hi.” She greets you with a smile, then asks what is on the menu tonight. 

“Nothing special I’m afraid, kiddo.” You shrug with a laugh. “Mac and cheese, cold sandwiches or soup.” After picking out the mac and cheese, you asked what drink she would like and she asked for a glass of water. “Sure, you got it Ellie. I’ll be right back.”

Heading into the kitchen, you told Melinda to serve up one bowl of mac and cheese while filling up a tall glass of water. Ellie doesn’t come here often, only on the occasion with her family members. This is the first time you’ve seen her here on her own. Making your way back to her table, you were curious as to what she was getting up to tonight without Joel being here. “How are you doing? You know, without Joel or Tommy around, are you okay?” 

“Oh yeah.” The young girl jokingly puffs a sharp breath of air past her lips, as if she was insulted. “I’m staying with Dina tonight, don’t worry about me, but thank you, Y/N.” Nodding to her, you didn’t want to pry and come across as overbearing to Ellie, she is a young adult after all and can take care of herself, though you can only imagine how much Joel would be worrying for her if you put yourself in his shoes. 

Going back to the kitchen to retrieve her food, you came back out and saw another girl sitting on her table with a tall young man. “Hey.” You greeted the newcomers when approaching the table, lowering Ellie’s food before turning to them to ask. “Would you like me to take your orders?” 

“I’ll have what Ellie’s having.” The girl speaks out, smiling to Ellie from across the table before reaching her hand out. “I’m Dina by the way, and this is Jesse.” 

Taking her hand and shaking it once with a smile, you introduced yourself then turned to Jesse, offering a hand out to him. “Nice to meet you Jesse.”

“Likewise.” He replies, taking your hand and shaking it while nodding twice. “You’re Joel’s lady, right?” 

“Jesse!” Both Ellie and Dina yell out in unison, the both of them lowering their heads with a small bout of nervous giggles. Jesse widens his eyes with a shrug, oblivious to what he has done so wrong, and so were you, but you found it funny and laughed it off. “It’s okay, I suppose you could say I am Joel’s lady, but maybe you should ask him that question instead.” 

“See?” Jesse turns to his friends, hands held out like he was defending himself. “I told you they were dating. Ya’ll were too afraid to ask-” Dina nudged Jesse before he could finish his sentence, then looked up at you with sorry eyes. “Forgive us for speculating, we just haven’t seen Joel act this way before and guessed that you had something to do with it.” She says with a cringing smile. 

“Oh - that’s quite alright.” Laughing, you understood why they may have felt intrusive to ask about you and Joel. Your relationship with him is in the early stages, you don’t even know if you’re his lady or not, but you have to admit that the attraction has been there for a lot longer. If anyone has noticed any differences in Joel, it would be his own daughter and her friends. “Ok slick, what can I get you for dinner now that we got that out of the way?” You ask Jesse, playfully putting him under the spotlight. 

“Um… I’ll have a cold sandwich. Thank you.” Smiling at the way his cheeks redden a little, you nod and tell them both that you won’t be too long with their food, and as you walk away, you hear Dina and Ellie laugh at Jesse's expense, with the young man laughing about it too. She has a good pair of friends right there, you can tell. 

After gathering two glasses of water and bringing them out for Dina and Jesse, you went back to the kitchen and helped Melinda prepare their food. It was slow this evening, not many residents came in to eat so you could offer a hand in the kitchen to help get their food out quicker. Once everything was done and served up, Mel held the door open for you and even shared a smile with you at Ellie, Dina and Jesse giggling at each other. Images like this remind you of all the good that Jackson brings, three young adults who can live out their lives like they should be able to. The danger remains outside, not within these walls. 

“Order up, guys.” Still smiling as you approach their table, Ellie’s laughter dies off as she brings you into their conversation to ask. “Y/N, settle something for us. Jesse is trying to convince us that there were people who used to walk around naked twenty years ago. Me and Dina call bullshit.” 

“Nope, he’s telling the truth.” Giggling at their appalled expressions, you often forget about how much the young ones don’t know about the old world. Nudist communities aren't exactly at the top of the list for vital information to learn these days. “It’s called Nudism. People would go about their everyday activities, but just without clothes.” 

“But why?” Ellie asks, to which Dina chimes in with her own questions. “Would they walk around the city nude? In front of thousands of people?”

Looking across the floor and seeing that you had no one else in your sections of tables, you leaned back on the table behind you and couldn’t believe you were about to explain nudism to Ellie and Dina, and maybe even Jesse. He looked intrigued to know just as much as the girls did. “No, I don’t think people who practised nudism would walk around big cities or small towns naked. It was a community of people who I think would meet up at discrete locations so they could hang out and just be free of their clothes.”  

“I heard it was so they could have orgies.” Jesse speaks up, making Ellie and Dina groan and say ‘ew’. 

“I mean, they might have.” You shrug, shaking your head. “I don’t really know. I’ve never met a nudist, but I heard and read about their practice, and from what I gathered, they are just regular people like me and you, who just like being nude. There are a whole list of reasons as to what it personally means to each individual, so I can’t answer it for them.” 

“I might become a nudist.” Jesse smirks, leaning back in his chair, hoping for a reaction out of Dina and Ellie, which he got when both girls broke out into laughter, barely able to contain themselves. They plead with him, still laughing, but pleading that he never walk around Jackson nude. 

Adults, but will forever be kids at heart. Shaking your head and laughing sweetly at their innocence, you enjoyed sharing this conversation and watching their reactions to learning about some of the things that used to happen in the world twenty years ago. When the door opens with a few more residents coming inside for something to eat, you excuse yourself to Ellie, Dina and Jesse then get back to work. 

The evening quickly passes over as you keep yourself busy with the residents and occasionally stopping at Ellie’s table to chat, but once they left and said their goodbyes, you cleared up your last table and were ready to leave. Only thing left was to say goodnight to Melinda, however the direction you need to walk in is the same as hers. Lowell street is only a couple over from Mel's, you remember it because it’s one of those streets that are eerily quiet and it would surprise you if anyone stays there. 

“Hey Mel, do you mind if I walk with you tonight? I’m seeing a friend a couple streets over from yours.” Lying has become a regular thing in your life, but if there is one person that you absolutely hate lying to more than anyone else, then it is Melinda. You wish you could tell her about the werewolves. You see her as an open minded woman, wise and understanding. A strong feeling inside of you guarantees that she would accept Tommy and Joel for who they are, but you made a promise to keep their secret, therefore you have to lie to her, even if you hate it. 

“Of course, sweety. I would enjoy the company.” She preens. Grabbing her keys and waving goodbye to Tracy and Jack, you walk out together and close the door to the restaurant before locking up. The woman then turns to face you, holding her arm out for you to link, which you accept with a smile on your face. 

Walking along the streets together, arm in arm, enjoying the peaceful silence of the night, you stop at Mel’s corner and unlink your arm to lean in for a hug. “Goodnight. I’ll see you tomorrow for work.” 

“Don’t be out all night long, my child.” The woman laughs. Hugging you back with a gentle squeeze when suddenly you are struck with an overpowering ache in your head. The pain was that intense, it made you gasp and cling onto Melinda briefly as your knees buckled. “Y/N, what’s wrong?” She worries, pulling back to look at you but the pain vanishes. Like it wasn’t even there, it disappeared into thin air. 

“I don’t know.” Struggling to find the words, you don’t even know how to explain to her what you just felt. “It’s like I had a sudden headache but it’s gone. It was just a couple of seconds.” 

“Could be a thunderclap, I used to suffer with those, dear.” Melinda explains. Rubbing reassuring hands up your arms, her lips form into a warm smile as she continues to look into your eyes for any signs of pain. You could tell she is looking to see if you were playing it off like it was nothing, but you were being truthful. It came within seconds and disappeared just as quickly. Maybe it was a thunderclap headache. “I’m okay, I promise.” You reassure, easing her worries. “It just took me by surprise, I’ve never had one of those before.” 

“Yeah, they ain’t nice at all.” She nods, and you agree. It wasn’t nice. Giving her another quick hug while promising for a second time that you were okay, you gave Mel a kiss on the cheek when pulling back and said goodbye. Instead of hurrying to meet Jake and make your sneaky escape out of Jackson just yet, you waited on the corner of Mel’s street and made sure she got home safe. Her house was the second one down thankfully and she even stood at the door to wave at you before heading inside. 

Continuing your walk along the next two streets, you walked briskly until you saw the sign stating ‘Lowell’ and turned the corner to see a lonely looking house at the very end. It was adjacent to the wall of Jackson. You break out into a light jog and notice that all the houses you pass were empty. No one lives in this street, just like you suspected, and it was perfect considering no one would see you. Once you reached the house, you opened the gate that led to the backyard and made your way down the narrow path. You didn’t need to see the loose plank marked with an ‘X’ as Jake had already slid it to one side and was peeping through, waiting for you. 

“Hey.” You jerk your chin outwards, greeting him. Slipping through the gap in the wall, he moves towards his horse with you and hands you the reins. “Take it easy out there and please be safe. I don’t want you to die.” 

“I won’t die.” You retort with a curt laugh. Reaching out and laying a hand to his shoulder, you gently squeeze and reassure him. “I’ll be okay. I’m just going to surprise Joel, that’s all. I can’t exactly surprise him if he knows I’m coming, can I?” 

Nodding, Jake releases the tension in his shoulders and sighs. “Okay, but still, stay safe out there, and take care of my horse too.” 

“Of course.” You affirm. Dropping your hand and moving past Jake, you mount his horse with ease and thank him one more time for his help before commanding the horse to move. You don’t have the time to stand around and chat. It’s nearly ten pm and you have two hours to reach Joel before the clock strikes midnight when the full moon rises. 

You need to reach Joel and Tommy before then. 

-

Approaching the treeline as the cabin comes into view, your journey has been treacherous through the snow so far but you made it. You made it safely and you made it on time too, however you’re well aware that Joel and Tommy will worry with the sound of hoofbeats approaching and you call out for them. “If you can hear my voice, it’s just me out here and don’t panic. Everything is okay.” 

Y/N, why are you here? Joel’s voice is the first to enter your mind, sounding agitated and distressed. I told you to stay in Jackson. Leave, it isn’t safe. Leave now - please!

The sound of pained groans urges you to command the horse to trot faster towards the stall around the back of the cabin. You need to see Joel, to tell him and Tommy about what you learned. They can control their shifts on a full moon. It’s possible, they have done it once before. After settling the horse inside the stall and closing the gate, you rushed to the cellar doors and opened them up. Instantly, you are struck with heat, sweat and the sounds of metal chains clanking together. Bracing yourself for what you’re about to see, you push aside your own emotions and head down into the darkness. 

“Joel..” You breathe, a sound mixed with relief and sorrow. The man was drenched in sweat, blood dripping from multiple areas across his body. The chains were thick, and excessive, bounding him to the wall by his neck, arms, torso and legs, but that’s not all. The chains were wrapped with spiked silver, which was puncturing his skin. It was overkill. Why does he need to be chained up like this!

Gliding across the floor towards him, the veins in his neck protrude as he tries to push his head away from the wall. You lean up on the tips of your toes, laying your hands to his shoulders and closing the gap. “Joel.” You moan his name this time, not with pleasure, but with distraught. Kissing you back fervently, his chest rises and falls with each deep inhaling breath, his hands ball into fists as he yanks on the chains, wanting to hold you desperately. Eyes springing open and glowing red, he breaks the kiss and throws his head back with a gurgling grumble. “Y/N, leave. You need to leave.” 

“I’m not leaving. I came all this way because you and Tommy can control your shifts.” You explain, then look around the room for Tommy, your heart breaking for a second time when your eyes land on him in a dark corner. He was unconscious. Shackles around his wrists, neck and ankles, he too was chained to the wall, but he didn’t have spiked silver around the chains. “What’s wrong with him, is he okay?” Immediately worrying for his safety, your attention is torn back to Joel as he growls and yanks on the chains. 

Fire blazing eyes burning out of control, the sweat rolls down Joel’s body as he stares right through you. It’s like he wasn’t even there - something else was trying to take over. “You need to leave.” He grunts. Eyes rolling into the back of his head and his arms thrash against the chains. “I can smell Jake on your darlin’. You need to leave… I can smell Jake and it’s making me angry.” 

“Jake helped me.” Shaking your head, you step closer and reach out for Joel to explain. “I wouldn’t be here right now to help you through this if he didn’t help me sneak out of Jackson.” 

“I’m gonna…” Joel leans forward, pressing his damp covered forehead to yours as he breathes a struggling breath across your face. “I’m gonna kill him, baby. I told him not to go near you, I’ll kill him for letting you come out here. You don’t understand, Y/N. It’s not the same on a full moon, I’m not the same… I’m a monster.”

“Joel, you’re not a monster, don’t say that. I’m only here to help you. It’s okay baby, you won’t hurt me-” Cut off by the sounds of his throaty cries, it shook you to the core to hear him in so much pain. You never thought you’d hear Joel yell out like this, it was frightening, spine-chilling. Tears welling up in the corners of your eyes as your mouth falls open with terror, he throws his head back again and roars. It was so powerful, you stumble backwards and hold two hands over your ears, shielding them from the vibrations. 

Tommy said that Joel can hurt you if he roars loud enough and that’s all you could think about as you ride it out. Once he stopped, you looked up and didn’t recognise Joel’s eyes. They were dark, cold, blood red. You watch as his chest expands, fur growing so rapidly that it bulges out from his shirt, yet he still looks at you with merciless eyes. Opening your mouth to call his name, he cuts you off with a deep vibrating growl, effectively snatching your ability to speak, however both your attentions were drawn to the sound of a bolt dropping on the floor. 

Suddenly Joel’s eyes fill with fear, his breathing quickens as if he was panicked while he watches the bolt bounces towards your feet. The silence was palpable between you both. Joel staring at the bolt like it was your doom, the man tears his gaze away to look you in the eye, managing to spill one word past his lips. “Run.” 

Voice laced with warning, not only was the man who promised he would never hurt you telling you to run, but your intuition was screaming the same thing. Scrambling to your feet, Joel’s rapid breaths is replaced with heavy grunts and you turn swiftly to run back up the cellar steps, immediately breaking out into a sprint as soon as your shoes meet the snowy ground up above. Just hearing the pained roars of him transforming into a wolf drove you to run faster and when you reached the treeline, you heard the audible sound of chains breaking free with a begging command entering your mind. Keep going and don’t stop. 

Heeding Joel’s warnings, you didn’t stop and kept running through the trees. Fear should be the only thing you feel for him right now, but you don’t. You still believe you can help. Joel’s in the middle of transitioning and he is talking to you telepathically, telling you to run. That has to mean something. The fact that he has that little control to warn you means something. “Joel.” You call for him between heavy panting breaths. “Joel, you can control it, I know you can. You’ve done it once before.” 

You don’t understand, Y/N… It can smell you and I can’t control what it wants. 

It? Why would he refer to himself as it? What does he mean! Thoughts running loose, you pick up your pace when hearing Joel roar once again, only this time the moon above emerges from the clouds and shines bright. Round and full, it gleams down over you, as if it was shining a light on the wolf's dinner.  Joel won’t eat me! He won’t! You reason with yourself, that thought is absurd. With only the sounds of your own beating heart and thundering footsteps hitting the ground, you were certain that Joel managed to fight back the primal urge to shift and slowed down to rest. 

Leaning against a thick tree stump trying to steady your breathing, your chest burned and you could even taste a little blood. The cold is affecting you, it’s physically hurting your lungs. You need to find someplace safe and warm. The ski-lodge. Moving away from the tree with that thought, you know it isn’t too far away from the cabin and continue running through the forest, however the sound of a branch snapping over your shoulder brings you to a stop. You know you shouldn’t, but you turn around to locate the noise and see what caused it, and as soon as you do, you immediately start running again. 

Two glowing red eyes locked onto you between the trees, eyes that belong to something you don’t recognise. Several times now you have seen Joel in wolf form, even watched the man transition, but not once have you seen him stand on his hind legs, peering around the stump of a tree, as if he was hiding, hunting. Joel isn’t in wolf form, he’s something else, it’s something different - monstrous. 

Running through the forest with a beating heart ready to jump out of your chest, you run like your life depends on it. You should be in Jackson right now, should be far away from Joel Miller on the night of a full moon just like he warned you, but you couldn’t help your curiosity to know what he goes through. You only wanted to help, only help him through this night of pain and make it easier for him, but instead, you let the beast inside of him catch your scent and he broke free from the chains. 

The werewolf on a full moon isn’t the werewolf you’ve seen in Joel before. It’s different… he’s different. You should have stayed home and listened to Joel’s warnings because now, a monster hunts you with an insatiable hunger, impossible to be satisfied until it gets what it wants. You - the monster in Joel wants you. That’s what he meant when he said ‘I can’t control what it wants’. 

Pushing on through the forest, your legs aching as you desperately try to find the ski-lodge, you notice an obstruction up ahead and follow while the beast behind you continues his hunt. You know Joel’s inside there somewhere and you hold onto his promise. You won’t hurt me. You say in your mind, hoping it could break through to him. I trust you, Joel , I know you won’t hurt me. 

Breaking through the tree line as he growls, you dart across the open land in front of the ski-lodge and rush inside the entrance, fully prepared to come face to face with him. Joel is hot on your heels and picking up speed, he could have captured you long before now, but the very fact that he hasn’t tells you that he has some control. It may only be a small amount, but he does have some control over the monster that took over. You know he does. 

Halting your escape and standing in the middle floor of the ski-lodge, between the old wooden tables with parasols, you wait and prepare as Joel closes in. You didn’t turn around to see, but you could hear and feel him entering the ski-lodge. The vibrations beneath your feet grew closer as did his huffing breaths. You focused on it, on the man you know that is inside and held no fear. You should be fearful, anyone in their right frame of mind would be terrified of the monster that approaches, but you aren’t. 

Startled by his heavy footfalls landing right behind you with an audible thump, the breath bellowing across your body came down from above. Joel is towering over you right now, you can tell. Eyes remaining open, still with no fear, you look ahead and fight the urge to turn around and look at him. The best thing to do is stay still, part of Joel is an animal right now and you don’t want to alarm him with any sudden movements. I’m not afraid of you. You say, reminding him of his promise. I know you won’t hurt me, so I’m not afraid. 

Closing your eyes when feeling a cold wet snout pressed to the back of your neck, you tilt your head to the side, almost inviting him in to take a deep inhale of your scent, however he pulls away suddenly and you open your eyes. Black fur enters your vision on the right side, and there's a lot of it too, as the monster moves around to stand before you - showing you its face. Your mouth falls open with a soundless gasp as you look up. 

Standing stall at an incredible height, he hunched over to look down at you, but that wasn’t the most shocking thing. It wasn’t the face of the regular wolf you’ve seen many times, it was different, more human like. Eyes still glowing blood red, the furry skin around his eyes crinkles expressively, and his nose was shorter, not long like a snout. His ears were pointy, and instead of being at the top of his head, they were at the side, where Joel’s human ears would be, and his hair was most bizarre. It was Joel’s human hair fading into fur. Grey strands laying over his forehead, his face maintained human like features, though he was still something otherworldly to look at. His teeth weren’t normal, he had four long canines, two on the top row of teeth and another two on the bottom row of teeth, and they were razor sharp too. 

“Joel?” You whisper his name, taking a gamble if he could hear you or not. He hasn’t spoken a telepathic word since saying ‘it can smell you’, and the only response you got now was sharp huff and his eyes lowering between you both. Lowering your eyes as well, you make a surprised sound when finally seeing other parts of his body. You could see the veins in his neck, the skin was thin like a human would be and although it was dark and hairy, it wasn’t thick fur like a wolf. He actually had a chest, you could see his pecs and the muscles in his biceps, however his hands were large with long fingers and talons for nails. They, too, were razor sharp. 

Gaze lowering further as you see something move in the corner of your eyes, you stiffen with astonishment when realising the thing that moved was his manhood. That’s what he was looking at, he was watching his cock grow and it was just as monstrous as he was. It had the similar features as a human cock, but not completely. The head was round and bulbous, pointed at the tip with creamy white droplets of pre-cum dribbling down the side of his pink length, which was about the side of your arm, however the girth was… painful just to look at, making your legs squeeze together, and the most peculiar thing above everything else is that it looked like he had two sets of balls. A sizable pink bulb at the base of his cock, with two heavy furred balls beneath that. It may resemble some human-like features, but the monster's cock was supernatural in every way. 

Gasping with surprise when his hand reaches around to hold his length, you look up to be met with his eyes closed and a low growling breath fanning across your face. A whine escapes his lips and you freeze with disbelief. Is this what it wanted? Is that what Joel meant when he said he can’t control what it wants? Asking yourself these questions in your head, he opens his eyes to look at you and takes a step closer, however you take a step back and it causes him to release the grip on his cock and reach out for you instead. 

Two clawed hands wrap around your waist and lift you off the floor with ease, feeling as light as a feather in his grasp. You held onto his forearms as he continued to lift you higher, the action making you panic. “Joel.” Whimpering his name, you look down with confusion in your eyes as he buries his nose between your legs. The pressure lands on your most sensitive area and you moan unintentionally. “J-Joel… W-what are you doing?” You ask, wondering if you should start being afraid. 

Eyes widening when he hooks his top two canines inside the waistband on your jeans, your mouth falls open but no words roll off your tongue as you watch him tear the fabric effortlessly. Your jeans and panties were torn right down the middle, exposing your sex completely in the most revealing position. Fear is what you should feel, what any right minded person would feel, but right now, your body betrays you as he is met with the sight of your glistening folds. You’re wet - so fucking wet. Somewhere at some point, you were aroused and the werewolf knew it. He could smell it. 

Looking in your eyes as he closes the gap teasingly slow, you shudder when his face meets your cunt and his tongue delves into your slit, causing your back to arch with a mewl slipping past your lips. You couldn’t control your reactions, your body betrays you for a second time as it just feel so fucking good. Tongue warm and wet, it was a large appendage, licking up and down your pussy before stopping at your quivering hole that was gushing with desire. 

Joel - or the monster - slurps your juices like it was a beverage before slipping his tongue inside. The breach felt the same as a cock and your legs part, granting him easier access. You couldn’t stop him, you wanted this and moaned when his tongue slid inside of you, twisting and caressing your velvety walls. Your hands reach out and land on his, wrapping around his long fingers with a tight grip to balance yourself as the pleasure was intense. He was fucking you with his tongue, burying his face between your legs and using his nose to stimulate your clit as he shakes his head side to side. 

“Fuck-Joel!” You whine. Legs slowly clamping together as your climax approaches, he lowers one hand from your waist and wraps it around your thigh, bending your leg at the knee to pry them apart for him, which only gives him more room to bury his tongue deeper. “Oh my fucking God.” Tossing your head back, your vision blurs as you stare at the ceiling in bliss. He was twisting his tongue so deep inside of you, it’s an excessive amount of pleasure you’ve never felt before. Your desire literally drools out of you, coating his nose, mouth and chin, even your leg. You could feel it running down your inner thigh. 

Unexpectedly fighting for a breath of air, it was snatched from your lungs as your orgasm reached its peak. Your legs wriggle against his grip with the stimulation. White static covers your vision as you writhe and moan a string of broken incoherent sounds, and when he growls, the vibrations send you into overdrive. Pleasure ripples across your body, bringing with it a fiery heat spreading across your chest, burning your skin with lust. Your eyes close with a pleading mewl. “Joel.. t-too much, it’s s-sensitive.” 

You cried for mercy, but to no avail. If Joel even wanted to stop, he couldn’t as the monster continued tongue fucking your cunt, overstimulating your little bundle of nerves. The clawed hands around your waist squeeze you to stay still and take his pleasurable punishment. Small whines and whimpers bubble up from your throat before you scream with the sudden rush of liquid shooting out of your cunt, completely drenching his face. Now, he finally slowly comes to halt, as if getting you to squirt was the goal. 

Removing his tongue, you gasp from the loss and already start to miss it before he slowly drags it up your folds, licking you clean. You look down to see that he was still looking at you, red eyes stuck to your face like he enjoys watching you unfold. The wolf smirks while experimentally slipping his tongue inside again, the action making your eyes close and arch your back again, but before you could prepare for another round of his oral punishment, he removes his tongue once again and lowers your feet to the floor. 

Your legs buckle instantly and he holds on while laying you down on the floor. Bending your knees and closing your legs together, you run a hand down your body and stop just between your legs, feeling your cunt and how it throbs for more. Gasping, you lift your head as the werewolf places two hands on your knees, pulling them apart to thrust his cock through your folds. He was lubing himself up, using your desire to coat his length, already knowing that the stretch was going to be tight. His size was phenomenal, too big for you to handle. 

Holding the back of your thighs to bend your knees to your chest, he positions the large pointed tip of his cock to your weeping entrance, but before he could roll his his forward, you dart your hand out to his stomach and stop him. “Joel… j-just take it easy on me baby.”

Grimacing when the monster takes over and inserts the tip inside, the first breach feels like Joel’s length. It was manageable, pleasurable, though that was just the head of his cock, there was so much more to come. As the werewolf groans deeply, pushing inside a little deeper before pulling back, he pauses before moving any further, the hesitation making you search his eyes for Joel. You know that’s him doing that. 

You lean up on your elbow, reaching out to palm a hand across the side of his face with a breathy sigh of his name. The skin around his eyes crinkles, as if he were narrowing his eyes, like Joel was coming through. Tilting his head back a little and emitting a soft howl, you smile at the sound and pull on his neck to bring him closer. You wanted to press your forehead to his, however the action caused his length to push inside. “Holy shit, holy shit!” Panting through the pain, his girth was stretching you open like nothing you’ve ever felt before. It was only inserted halfway, yet you felt so fucking full of his cock. It was too much and not enough at the same time. 

Gently pulling back, leaving only the tip inside, you know Joel is slowly regaining control as the pace remains careful. He was inching deeper and deeper with each thrust until finally, he was buried to the hilt, almost breaching your cervix. Holding himself there for a few seconds as you pulse around him, he puffs heavy breaths across your face, the monster eager to move, but Joel holding back, helping you adjust. “I see you baby.” You moan with another smile, nodding for him to move. “It’s okay, Joel. I’m oka-ohh fuck!”

Pushing deep, that bulb presses against your entrance before he pulls back with a whine. You hold onto his biceps, the breath caught in your throat as he snaps his hips forward, setting a slow and deep pace that fills you up each time he buries himself inside. A string of grunts come from Joel as your whimpers build louder and louder. The sting has long subsided now and only pleasure remains. It felt good - so fucking good to be filled with his monstrous cock. 

“Holy fuck!” You gasp when two clawed hands dig into the flesh of your thighs, almost breaking the skin as he drives his hips forward, groaning loudly with that bulb hitting your entrance. Trying to ease it inside, you’re not even sure it’s going to fit, but he seems adamant to try. You can feel yourself adjusting, opening up to make it fit. He pulls back with a sharp inhale and you toss your head back with a mewl as he surges forward, pushing deeper and deeper until it pops inside. The werewolf howls loud in tandem with his warmth exploding inside, sending you over the edge into the pools of ecstasy. “Joel, I’m coming!” You scream to the high heavens above. 

Gripping his arms and digging your nails into his skin as the moans erupt from your throat, you can feel his cock literally twitching inside of you as he spills hot ropes of his seed into your womb. That alone was enough to make you climax together, however he wasn't finished. Grinding into you, spilling more and more of his cum, there was so much of it, too much of it in fact as it was oozing out of your pulsing cunt, leaving a creamy white puddle between your legs. 

You breathe through your high, slowly coming down from the other dimension you floated towards as his cock softens inside of you. Gradually, your focus comes back and the first thing you notice is the werewolf shrinking. Joel is transitioning. He’s becoming human again. Pain filled groans bellow above as his fingers scrape along the floor beneath you. Bones snap, causing him to fall down on top of you, heaving heavy breaths of air and skin slowly re-appears. Human skin. His summer tanned back, body flush with sweat that stuck to yours, Joel had transitioned, even though there are hours left of the full moon. 

“Baby? Are you okay, talk to me.” Holding a hand to the back of his head, you thread your fingers through his damp hair, rubbing his scalp reassuringly. Joel’s breathing steadied before he pulls his head back from your neck and looks at you with the red fading from his eyes as the hazel brown takes over. “Y/N…” He croaks, voice laden with exhaustion and fatigue. Closing the gap, you kiss him on the lips like it was the very first time again. Fervently, passionate and needy. 

“Thank you.” Sighing heavily into your mouth, he repeats those two words over and over again while peppering kisses all over your face. Joel holds a hand to the side of your face, brushing his thumb across your bottom lip and shakes his head. “You were right Y/N. You helped me and Tommy control our shift on the last full moon, and you did it again tonight with me. Something is…” 

Something is different about you… 

The Next Day

Waking up in a soft bed, wrapped up in Joel’s arms, you brush your fingers across his jawline softly, careful to not wake him up just yet. You fell asleep last night in the middle of him saying something to you, exhaustion had caught up with you too after experiencing sex with a monster. It took a lot out of you. 

However, you don’t view Joel as a monster, not even on a full moon when he transitions into something different. You knew he was capable of controlling it, he just needed something to help him focus on the human side and maybe that was you. It could have been you or the attraction he feels for you, or even the promise he made, but whatever it was, it helped Joel take control. You made the right choice to head out here and help him… but where is here? You wonder while looking around the room. 

Not recognising the room you were in, it wasn’t the cabin, the walls had different décor. Lifting your head from the pillow and following the beam of light, you were surprised to see the main street of Jackson through the blinds. I’m home? How did I get back here? Wondering silently, the next question you ask yourself is about the time. You have work today, you should really be getting in a shower and meeting Mel at the restaurant. 

Prying yourself out of Joel’s hold, he lay dead to the world in a deep state of sleep and didn’t even bat an eyelid when you climbed out of the bed. He’s just as exhausted as you, and he must have brought you home last night. Gosh, I hope Tommy and the horse are okay… I’m sure Joel brought them back too. 

You walk across the room and towards the bathroom with those thoughts, passing framed pictures along the way; pictures of Joel and his family. This is Joel’s house, he brought you back to his home. 

Entering the bathroom and turning the shower on, you climb inside and relish in the warm water soaking into your body. The ache evaporates from your muscles, however there was a lasting ache between your legs - a good ache, reminding you of the peculiar night you had with Joel. Knowing that he wouldn’t mind you using his shower, you reach down for the bar of soap to wash your body, but are startled when two arms circle your waist. “Jesus!” You jolt, standing up straight with a giggle. 

“Sorry darlin’.” Joel apologises then lays a few kisses along your shoulder. Taking the soap from your hands, he runs the bar across your stomach and breasts, lathering up a good amount of your skin before using his hands to rub it in. Moaning, you rest your head back to his shoulder as the spray of the shower runs down on your body like rainfall, washing away the bubbles. “Are you okay, Y/N?” He asks, sounding concerned and remorseful as his lip trembles. “Last night, I didn’t… didn’t h-”

“No, absolutely not - don’t think for a second that you hurt me.” Opening your eyes and gazing into his with a serious look on your face, you meant every word of that statement. It’s the truth. “I know when I first laid my eyes on you in the forest, you weren’t going to hurt me Joel, that’s why I stopped running when I reached the ski-lodge.” 

“But how, Y/N? How did you know that…” Joel gulps and closes his eyes to relieve the sting. “How did you know that I wouldn’t hurt you darlin’, when I didn’t even kno-” He chokes on his own words, barely able to finish his sentence as he holds you tight. “I didn’t know if I could control it.” 

“Don’t ask me how I knew.” Shrugging, you shake your head at the man not knowing how to answer him. It’s just as simple as belief. You knew Joel would be able to control himself because you believed he could. “I just knew you would, handsome. I knew you’d find a way to break through.” 

“I didn’t find a way though, doll. You did - it was all you.” Placing a thumb and forefinger to your chin, he holds you gently while looking into your eyes with a mixture of confusion and wonder. “Don’t you remember what I said last night? Something is different about you. Y/N… I shouldn’t have been able to control my shift, I’ve never been able to control it for the last twenty years.” 

“Joel.” You laugh nervously, furrowing your brows. “W-what are you saying exactly? I don’t understand.” The long pause he took fills your mind with worry. You, just like him, were confused. It’s like he was hesitant to say what he really thinks and the longer he took to answer you, the more your patience grows thin. “Joel, what is it baby? What’s wrong?” 

“Y/N.” Joel gulps as he searches your eyes for answers. “The only thing that can control my shift is the moon - and you have controlled it twice now darlin’.” 

What?... What the hell does that mean?

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Werewolf Joel Miller: @kirsteng42 @marydjarin @extraneous-trip @dins-cyare @supernaturalgirl20 @supernaturalgirl @joelsflannel @luvmeijii @hb8301 @squidwell @hb8301 @superawesomegeek @trickstersp8 @scorpio-marionette @formulafun

[misspearly1]

Chp1 || Chp2 || Chp3 || Chp4 || Chp5 || Chp6 || Chp7 || Chp8 || Chp9 || 

Pairing: Werewolf!Joel Miller x You (F!Reader)

Summary: Looking back on how your life has turned out this far, you often wonder if you got more than you bargained for when finally finding your safe haven within the walls of Jackson. They have it all; food, shelter and electricity, but what else did you come to discover that lives within this thriving community? And how did that discovery change your life?

WC: 16.3k

Warnings: 18+ Content, Minors DNI. Enemies to lovers. A little bit of angst. Mentions of Anxiety. A little bit of violence (Reader and Joel get mad at someone). Lots of sexual tension and teasing. Smut. Foreplay. Unprotected PIV. (Stay safe ya'll). If I have missed anything in the warnings, do please call it out for me my loves.

AN: Okay my loves, this is a big chapter lmao. There’s a lot of fiction here and some backstories to characters. Some things have came from the web, TV shows/Movies I have watched, and there are some things that I just made up myself. I hope you enjoy darlings. I don't think the next chapter will be as big. (This chapter was hard to post, tumblr kept bugging out on me 😭)

The moon up above lights your way ahead as the trees whisper a direction for you to follow. 

There’s a light breeze amongst the snowy surroundings you find yourself in, but your intuition is blowing a gale. Weirdly, you do not feel lost. You feel like you’re on the right path, listening to the whispering winds and letting your gut instincts guide the way.

You shouldn’t even be out here to begin with, but Joel drove you out here. His stupid accusations drove you out of Jackson and now your boots crunch their way through the sea of snow, searching for something. 

You don’t even know what you’re looking for, but anything is better than taking the spotlight of Jackson’s traitor. You couldn’t stand being there for a second longer and acted in the heat of the moment to leave. It’s for the best anyways.

Bringing a hand up to your chest with a wince, the tightness was fading now but the fact it was still there proves just how hurt you are from what the townsfolk said about you. 

Their voices linger like a dark cloud hanging above your head. ‘You’re one of them’, ‘your people killed our people’, ‘Jackson doesn’t welcome you’ and lastly, but most painfully, ‘you caused this’ - that one came from Jake, it hurt the moment he said it and it still hurts now like an open wound. 

It hurts because you actually believe that it’s true. It can’t be a coincidence that the very same group of bandits that chased you through the forest showed up at Jacksons gates one month later and breached the walls. They followed you and tore the chance of safe haven from your grasp. You were just starting to settle, people of Jackson were warming up to you, but now they all see you as a traitor. 

Halting your walk to ease the burn in your calves, you also needed a moment to breathe through those arising feelings of a panic attack. It wasn’t as powerful as the one you had two hours ago in the streets of Jackson, but you could feel it coming and you wanted to stop it beforehand.

The stress and anxiety around the situation still remains and you need to rid your mind of all bad energy. You need to stay focused on your path, which right now is showing a trail in the snow. Your gut was telling you to follow the trail, so you did.

Even though the snow is heavier here, it’s effective with reflecting the light in all directions, therefore lighting the way through perfectly at this time of night. There was an obstruction up ahead, just barely visible as it peeks between the tree and the closer you got, the more details you could make out.

It was a building, the backside of a building. The snow was covering the windows so you weren’t able to look inside, but after placing a hand to the wall and walking around till you found the entrance, your mouth fell open with surprise. 

Library. You found the library. 

A mountain of snow covering the entrance hid the sign, but you saw it as clear as day. This is the library - Eugene's outpost. That would mean you’re on the creek trails and there’s a ski lodge around here somewhere, you remember reading about it on the notice board yesterday.

Turning slowly on the spot, you looked around to access the surroundings and saw that the path continues through the trees with what looks like a main road at the end. You squint your eyes to focus on the objects in the distance. It looked like cars. Snow covered cars dotted here and there in the middle of a snowfield. 

There might be a town nearby to tell you where you are, but first things first is checking out Eugene's hideout. Intuition brought you here for a reason and curiosity to know why made you turn around and approach the entrance.

There’s no way Eugene is regularly using this outpost, you have to climb over the little bank of snow to reach the doors and they were cracked open enough for you to slip through, but certainly not enough for a man of Eugene’s size. 

You could just leave this place and move on, you’ve left Jackson and your investigations are obviously over with, but something drew you here and that’s got to mean something. Walking through a white blanket of snow with any direction to walk towards and you just miraculously stumble upon the library? That isn't a coincidence. That’s a sign. 

A sign sent from who? You wonder while walking through the library and still letting your intuition guide you. Walking past a chained door that was covered on the other side, you stop at a copier room at the back of the building and look through the window to see another door leading somewhere else.

You had a choice here: leave and forget about ever finding this place or smash the window and give in to what your gut is screaming at you to do. A break lay on the floor by your feet and that was just another sign you followed.

Picking it up and throwing it, the glass shattered and you climbed through to the other side. Then you walk towards that door that leads to the unknown, but stop to look at a little pendant hanging from a board on the wall. ‘Eugene Linden. 000314’ is what the engraved markings read, it’s a firefly pendant, shedding a little more light on who Eugene is or was. 

Reaching for the handle, you push through to the other room and immediately take note of how it’s just another section to the library. A kids area with toys and books. Ok…Don’t give up just yet. Your brows furrow with determination as you take a step inside. Walking past the pile of dusty toys and books, you round the corner and see a bed beside another small room. The door was covered and chained from the other side. 

“This is what Eugene’s hiding?” You sigh, scratching your head. It’s just an outpost, nothing special. A bed against the wall, a couple cabinets, a small table with a portable cooker on the top and clothes in the corner, and they were definitely Eugene’s clothes. You could tell. 

In the last two hours you have led yourself to believe that you’re on the right path walking through the woods and have found the library for a reason, but there’s nothing here. It only looks like a place for Eugene to rest. It looks like that. Perching your hands to your hips in thought, you wondered if this was just a front for something else and walked into that little room with the chained door. 

There was a small weapons station and a generator. There’s cables running through this room and into the next, with multiple lamps sitting around and a mini fridge. Suppose that’s what the genny is for?

Reaching for the chain, you figured there couldn’t be any harm in using this outpost for an hour or two before moving on. A little rest, some food and drink then you’ll move on through the trail in hopes of finding a town, maybe even the ski-lodge in case there is anything there worth checking. 

You’re quite disappointed that there wasn’t anything here, you thought Eugene was hiding something for sure but it doesn’t matter anyways because you’re not hunting the identity of the werewolf anymore. You left Jackson and all of that behind.

After getting the generator up and running, you walked back into the room where the bed was and tilted your head with a confused expression to your face. The floor lit up. Light was shining through the gaps in the wood. 

Standing above it and kneeling down slightly to look inside, three prominent colours peeked through the gaps. White, blue and yellow. That’s a basement and there’s something down there, it looks like plants of some kind. Focusing on all of the cables that ran along the floor, you could see some of them splitting off to different sources but a double cable zip tied together ran along the floor towards the entrance you came in from. 

You followed the wires, expecting it to lead you back into the copier room but you were wrong. It leads towards a bookcase in a dark corner. It’s very easy to miss, you completely overlooked it when you first entered but now the light glares through from the other side, lighting it up clearly for you to see now. It’s a trap door - a secret entrance. 

After noticing the markings on the floor - another thing you missed - you walked towards the bookcase and held onto the side to slide it open, however it was harder than you thought it would be and you struggled. Grunting and huffing as you tried with all your might to get it open, it still wasn’t budging, so you place your back to the wall and bring a foot up instead. 

You closed your eyes and gritted your teeth through the strain you were putting on your ankle, yet it still wouldn’t move. Dropping your foot with defeat, you sighed with exhaustion and started looking at the books instead.

One of them could be hiding a switch. You thought while rummaging through the shelves, however the quiet sound of a floorboard creaking behind you immediately put you on high alert and you turned quickly to throw a book at whatever it was. 

“Oh shit, I’m sorry!” You cringe, pulling your hands over your mouth. The book smacked Tommy in the face, even though he didn’t flinch or stumble back at all from the contact, you still felt bad for doing that to him. “Um… Why are you here?” You ask, wondering how he even found you to begin with. 

“I could ask you the same thing.” Sighing a chuckle, he smiles a genuine smile, although his eyes scream sorrow, then Tommy clears his throat with a soft shake of his head. “I came looking for you, to bring you back, Y/N.” What? Why would he do that? I can’t go back there. “I can’t force you to come home sweetheart, but I want you to know that there’s always a place for you in Jackson - always, no matter what.” 

“Your people hate me, Tommy.” You retort, dropping your gaze to hide how much pain those words brought you. “Two, maybe three people in Jackson actually took the time to get to know me and see that I am not a threat to them, but the whole town hates me. Why would I go back to that?” 

“Because they don’t hate you.” He takes a careful step closer, not wanting to make you feel any more uncomfortable than you already were. “What they said about you came from fear. They didn’t mean it and you have more than three people who care about you, sweetheart. I’m here aren’t I? I care about you.” 

“Jake…” You shake your head, gulping back the lump in your throat. “Your wife, your brother, that group who circled me and blamed me for what those bandits did. They all hate me. Everyone heard the things they said and you think I’m going to be welcomed back with open arms? I won’t be. People will talk, they’ll stare and judge Tommy. All I want is a place to call home.” 

“Jackson is your home.” Tommy takes another step closer. Standing right before you now, he carefully places a finger under your chin and lifts your head to look at him. “Me an’ Joel have a lot of explaining to do. What he caused with those rumours isn’t forgivable and I understand if you don’t ever want to come back to Jackson because of it, but could you find somewhere in your heart to give me a chance to explain?” 

You furrow your brows with both intrigue and confusion, but before you could ask any of the sudden questions you now have, Tommy moves closer and reaches for something behind you. “I want to show you something.” He says, slipping his fingers behind the bookshelf and unlocking the door before pulling back to look at you. “I’ll explain everything, answer any questions you have and you can decide if you want to come back to Jackson or not, deal?” 

Nodding to him, you understand what Tommy is about to do and it’s something you’ve been wanting to know for the last month. The werewolf. He’s going to show you what’s in this basement and share everything he knows.

“What about Joel?” You ask out of a sudden thought crossing your mind. “Does he know you’re showing me this? His rumours are the reason I’m out here anyways, it could have been avoided if he just told me about the werewolf.” 

“I know.” He nods, expressing a remorseful smile. “I don’t like people knowing about it, my brother is just trying to protect us.” 

Mouth slowly falling open, a thousand thoughts rush through your head as Tommy opens the bookshelf for you then steps back to pull a rag over his mouth and nose. “I can’t go inside. Wolfsbane is what’s down there, Y/N -” He avoids looking into your eyes, shaking his head. “-It will kill me if I go down there, I can’t go with you.” 

“Oh my God.” You gasp. Not knowing what thing to focus on first, the fact that you can smell the aromas coming upstairs, spicy and sweet, described just like wolfsbane, or the fact that Tommy is the werewolf. Your mind entered an overwhelming state of confusion and disbelief. You didn’t think he was the werewolf, your suspicions landed on Eugene and you directed all of your attention on him. 

The sound of Tommy's choking coughs snap you out of it and you ask with worry. “Is this stuff harming you? Should we move?” 

“I should move but you can go look if you wa-” The man couldn’t even finish his sentence as you close the bookshelf and wrap an arm around his bicep. Walking into the copier room and closing the door, Tommy sat down on a chair underneath an open window and removed the rag to breath in the fresh air. 

“Tommy, start talking.” You take a seat also, holding your hands to each side of your face, still in utter shock and disbelief. “I don’t want to hurt you and I don’t plan on hurting you either. I only ever wanted the truth…” Breathing a sigh, you lower your hands and shake your head. “A-are you really saying you’re the werewolf? You’re not lying to me… All this time, it was you?”

He nods, watching your brows furrow and lips move like you’re about to ask a million questions, but you couldn’t manage to spill a single one as you processed what he’s saying. A thought crosses his mind and he acts on it, in hopes of showing you the truth.

Holding your eye contact, Tommy’s eyes begin to glow and he watches your expression soften. Two soul penetrating hazel brown eyes, glowing like gold. You’ll never forget the eyes of the werewolf. The werewolf that saved your life. 

“It was you…” You whisper, lips trembling. “You saved me from the bandits and brought me to the wall for Joel to find me.”

“Um, not quite.” Tommy shakes his head, eyes returning to normal after he blinks. “Joel was there too, but you either don’t remember or you didn’t see him.” Your expression conveys your lack of remembrance and Tommy doesn’t waste a second to explain. “My brother got there before me, sweetheart. He’s a lot faster than me, and a lot stronger too.” 

“Wait-wait-wait..” Holding up a hand, you were growing more disoriented by the second, learning an overwhelming amount of information. “What exactly are you saying Tommy? Joel was there too, he’s a lot stronger and faster than you? What do you mean?” 

“He means I was there.” Joel answers, his voice vibrating through your body as he moves to stand in the doorway leading into the copier room. “I heard you whimpering as you ran. I could even hear your heartbeat, Y/N. It was pumping out of your chest.” Joel looks at his brother briefly before looking back at you. He even smirks a little at the way your eyes were popping out the sockets. “I got there before my brother did because I’m stronger and faster.”

“Holy shit…Your eyes.” You gasp for a second time in the space of five minutes. Joel’s eyes were glowing red. Like two rings of fire burning into your soul, they were beautiful yet terrifying at the same time, and he found it amusing when confirming your thoughts out loud. “Me and Tommy are werewolves Y/N. Both of us were there that night. My brother brought you back to Jackson while…. While I took care of those assholes who chased you.” 

“W-why...Jesus why lie?” You raise your voice, feeling like an idiot. “And what about Eugene?! Is he a werewolf too?” 

Both Joel and Tommy chuckle at that remark, but the younger Miller stops immediately after seeing the look on your face. “No, it’s just us as far as we know, but Eugene knows about us.” 

“But you let me spend this last month thinking I am crazy!” You snap, pushing your chair back as you stand. “I get it. It’s a secret you don’t want people knowing about, but you!” You point an accusatory finger at Joel. “You have stopped at nothing to gaslight me into thinking that what I saw wasn’t real.”

Turning to Tommy as he tried to intervene and calm you down, you pointed at him too. “And you’re no better! You could have told me. I just wanted to know that it was actually a werewolf that saved my life and it wasn’t all a fucking dream that I made up to deal with the trauma - excuse me for dealing with a near death experience like a normal human being while you two think it’s funny!” 

Blowing past Joel, you exit the room and make your way towards the exit. Tommy moves off his seat to follow you, but Joel holds his hand out and shakes his head, stopping him. “No, this is on me brother, I should fix this.”

“Joel.” Tommy calls after his brother, then sits back down with a pessimistic sigh. “She hates your fucking guts right now.” 

Tommy uses his abilities to listen to his brother breaking out into a light jog, chasing after you out of the library. He could hear two sets of boots crunching in the snow, then the sound of your sniffles as fought back the tears when arguing with Joel.

Your emotions were powerful, Tommy took note of that the moment he met you that night in the forest. He feels everything you feel. The man didn’t have to focus on the conversation between you and his brother to know what’s going on out there, just focusing on the powerful emotions you were emitting told him enough. 

You are hurt and angry, hesitant. You feel lost, unsure if you should trust Joel because the next emotion Tommy feels is… lust? It’s very brief, like a flickering light in a blanket of fog, but it was there for a second and gone in the next. Tommy felt it and as soon as he did, he blocked everything out as you talked to Joel. 

“Just leave me alone, I don’t want to listen to your useless apologies.” Ending the argument, you turn to walk away but Joel grabs your hand and pulls you back to him. He was holding you so close that your breasts pushed up against his chest as he shook his head. “Well that’s too bad because you’re gonna listen to my apology anyway - I am sorry for what I did to you.” 

“Like I said, it’s useless.” You shrug, trying with everything you’ve got to hide how you really feel to a werewolf that can fucking sense it. He can feel what you feel, you know he does but instead of smirking like the usual big-headed asshole that he is, Joel only nods in agreement. “I know. I just wanted you to know that it was never my intention to get the town to turn on you like they did. I may have fucked up my chances with you and I can live with that, but don’t leave your home because of me, Y/N.” 

“Your chances?” Scoffing, you shake your head slowly at him. “What chances, Joel? There wasn’t any to begin with. You made it very clear how much you didn’t like me when we first met in the clinic and therefore I do not like you either.” 

“Darlin’ don’t lie to yourself, I am a werewolf.” He smiles briefly, then looks down to your lips, holds his gaze there for a moment then looks back into your eyes. “You know how powerful your emotions are? It’s more than the average person let me tell yer.” Joel chuckles dryly, rolling his lips together. “There’s been a moment once or twice now where I could have kissed you, fully knowing you would have liked it but… I’d much prefer you to kiss me instead, in your own time when you’re ready.” 

“Um-hum.” You agree to disagree with what he is saying. There has been a moment where you wanted to kiss Joel, but right now? Now isn’t the time - you’re still too upset with him over the things he has done.

Pulling away from his grasp, he lets you go and you continue your walk along the trail. You want to forgive him, but you’re not quite ready to just yet. Time is needed for you to get over it and process everything that has happened in the last twenty-four hours.

“Go get Tommy, we’re leaving.” You yell over your shoulder, hugging your jacket to stay warm. “I don’t know how to get back to Jackson on my own.” 

You may be upset right now with the Millers, more with Joel than anyone else, but going back to your home in Jackson sounds like a great idea. Werewolves are real, two of them saved you from death and you did find a safe haven after spending a long time searching for it. None of it was a dream - all of it was real and you can finally let it rest now that you know the truth. That’s all you wanted, the truth. 

Walking to the end of the trail, you waited for Joel and Tommy to catch up as the direction to go in next was lost on you. Left, right, or straight ahead were the options and you looked at all three, wondering if that intuition you had early could take a guess for you. Going straight ahead felt right for some reason, you don’t know why of course, but something felt right with that direction. 

You turn to check on the men upon hearing their boots wading through the snow, but tilt your head in wonder as to why on earth Tommy was walking by himself with clothes in his hand. Where is Joel? You wonder. 

I’m right behind you, but don’t freak out when you see me…please.

Shrieking, you stiffen like a rod with the presence behind you, it was casting a shadow in the snow in front of you, but what is most surprising is the sound of Joel’s voice that didn’t enter your ears. It came through your mind.

Tommy approaches as you still stand on the spot, apparently frozen in place, and he chuckles warmly. “Don’t be so afraid, girl. I know we look scary as wolves, but Joel looks like a cute cuddly dog, I promise.” 

Joel growls with that comment from his brother and you feel it blow across your back. It makes you gasp, but your eyes remain glued to Tommy’s face, more particularly at the way he tilts his head back to look at his brother behind you. How fucking big is he? You wonder again, completely forgetting that they both can hear your thoughts. Tommy laughs again and his eyes lower, then he then looks at you. “Turn around and you’ll see for yourself.” 

“You and your brother are not normal people, and that’s not even including the fact you’re werewolves.” You jibe out of nervousness, turning around reluctantly, the first thing that came into view was black fur. It was so dark, like the infinite darkness of the night sky up above. Joel’s fur shone bright like a star against the white snow all around him, it was soft and fluffy. Then you looked at his face - the face of a wolf. 

He was laying down on the floor, hiding his true size but his head was large and his ears too, they were pointing upwards as he looked up at you. Strands of greying fur around the eyes and mouth, with a big shiny snout, it was bizarre to look at an animal that is so expressive and beautiful, yet equally terrifying at the same time.

And it’s even more bizarre that this animal is Joel. He looks magnificent, magical. And his eyes were most extraordinary. Bright neon red with an expanded black pupil in the middle, they were mesmerizing to look at, like they were sucking you into a comfortable trance. 

If it wasn’t the warm cloud of air exhaling from his nose, you wouldn’t think he was real. Still looking up at you as you stare with fascination, Joel doesn’t blink or move a muscle, he just remains as still as a statue until your heart settles back to a normal beat. I ain’t that terrifying, am I? He asks, unintentionally startling you as you jolt with surprise. 

“Stop that.” You retort, looking between Joel and Tommy. “Don’t read my mind and stop talking to me telepathically, it’s freaky.” 

“As you wish.” Tommy holds a hand over his heart, pledging his promise and when you look back down to Joel, he winks, the action bringing a small smile on your lips, however you digress with the last issue at hand. “Okay so this is what you look like as a werewolf laying down, but… How tall are you? Tommy was damn near looking at a giant behind me just a moment ago.” 

Now Joel finally moves, starting by bringing his two paws out just in front of your feet, which were abnormally large, and very slowly stands up. Your neck cranes backwards and your eyes widen with shock. Eight foot tall easily, maybe even nine.

It was incredible how tall he is as a wolf. You felt puny and small compared to him and it really made you realize how weak you are. It’s a good thing you never wanted to hurt the werewolves and start a war because it’s a war that you’d surely lose.

“Thank you.” You blurt out, looking into Joel’s red eyes then over to Tommy’s normal, human eyes. “Thank you for saving my life and thank you for telling me the truth about you both. I’ll keep your secret, but Joel-” You look back at him, holding his eye contact with a serious tone of voice. “-The next person that comes along who knows about a werewolf in Jackson, don’t make the same mistake twice. Make up a believable lie or tell them the truth, but don’t ever do that shit again. You hear me?” 

Bowing his head slowly with closed eyes, he whispers ‘loud and clear darlin’, before lifting his head again and turning around to lead the way home which was surprisingly straight ahead. You were right earlier about which direction to take. I have a good sense of direction. You thought, and forgot for a third time that the men can hear you, though they didn’t really show any interest. 

You feel more at ease now accepting the brothers and their supernatural abilities, but it makes you wonder if they have ever listened to you before. You have a lot of conversations in your head and have said some things about Joel before too.

He probably did listen to my thoughts, and most likely is now. You narrow your eyes, watching Joel like a hawk for any tell-tale signs that give himself away; however he gave none and still showed no interest in what you were thinking, but that didn’t convince you at all and you wanted to test it again, just for your own amusement. 

Tommy is the better werewolf and I bet he is stronger too. You think with a smirk on your lips, yet there still was no reaction from Joel. Wow, his fur is grey in a lot of places. I guess his age shows through the wolf side of him too. Poor old dog. Still no interest or reaction, but you stifle a giggle from all the enjoyment you’re getting out of this. If Joel is listening, you know that he is biting his tongue to stop himself from replying to you. 

A cold breeze puts a stop to your games as you shiver and hug your jacket again. It’s well after midnight by now and you have another two hours to go before reaching the gates of Jackson. Laying in a warm bed buried beneath two blankets sounds perfect right now and you wished you could get there quicker. 

“Y/N.” Tommy calls your name and you look over to see him shaking off his jacket. “Here, take this.” You tried to protest, worrying that he is going to be cold but he reminded you that he is a werewolf that is constantly running a high temperature. “We can handle the cold, don’t worry.” 

Nodding, you close your eyes briefly to relish in the heat of his jacket. It felt like it had just come out of the dryer and it stayed like that for a while too. For a moment you started to work up a sweat, but as his warmth faded from the fabric and the cold started to work its way back, you were satisfied with the temperature that wearing two jackets brought, keeping you nice and cosy.

As the first hour passes, you yawn excessively with exhaustion setting in your bones and that apparently was enough for Joel to take action. He stopped walking and leaned down to bite the back of your jacket gently before lifting you off the ground to put you on his back.

Kicking and complaining the whole time he did this, his next words silenced your grumbling. You need to rest, Y/N and besides, this poor old dog can manage carrying you home. 

Oh, so you were listening… You smile bashfully, shaking your head. The offer to carry you home was nice, although it felt a little funny to be on the back of a wolf, as if you were riding a horse, but it’s a lot bigger, warmer and fluffier. Looking down to Tommy, you wanted to see how high up you are, but were surprised to see that he wasn’t there. 

A branch snapping behind you catches your attention and you turn to see him coming out of the trees - as a wolf, carrying two sets of clothes with his teeth. The sight of him walking alongside Joel really emphasized the size difference. Tommy is a big wolf too, but Joel is much bigger. 

“So, is it the older you are the bigger the wolf you are?” You giggle, watching the way Joel and Tommy glance at each other and roll their eyes. They didn’t answer which only fuels you to make another remark, though this time you moved closer to Joel’s ears to ask. “Or does it go by how much of an asshole you are?”

Ha ha, very funny, Joel fake chuckles then warns, hold on tight darlin’. 

Gripping his fur just in time, he starts running alongside Tommy and you gasp with a rush of adrenaline flowing through your veins. The speed was phenomenal. The trees were blurry as they passed you, like you were going fifty miles per hour in a car down the highway. It was exciting and a little frightening too. 

On a hot summer’s day you probably would enjoy this as the breeze blows through your hair with the sun beating down on your skin, but right now it’s just making you colder. Joel didn’t need to read your thoughts or wait for you to ask, he could feel all the emotions you were feeling and slowed back down to a comfortable pace again. 

If anyone were to be out in this neck of the woods at this time of night - which isn’t uncommon nowadays - then they would be in for quite the surprise seeing two werewolves with a small human riding on the back of one of them.

The image surely looks weird, and it feels weird too but it’s starting to grow on you. Joel is soft and comfy, prompting you to run an explorative hand through the fur on the back of his neck. You just wanted to see what it feels like and it was a nice sensation on your fingers. And Joel liked it too. 

You could tell he liked it from the way he tilted his head slightly, as if leaning into your touch, and from the low humming growl emitting through his body beneath you. Then, the man took it upon himself to tell you how much he likes it. Keep doing that, darlin’, he says, making you blush as you scratch his neck for a couple seconds then pull your hand back. 

On your right, Tommy was looking at you with an expression you can only describe as smirking. Eyes narrowed with the corner of his lip pulled back into a smile, he huffs dryly and looks ahead again. It was just a scratch, you have hardly forgiven Joel yet, and are making the most of teasing him wherever you can.  

Time flew by much quicker with the help of Joel carrying you home and before you knew it, he and Tommy stopped just before the treeline outside of Jackson. We’re here, hang on and let me help you get down. Says Joel as he slowly lays down to the floor so you can jump off without breaking your ankles. Once your feet hit the snowy ground below, both of them went off into the trees then shrunk down to their regular human forms and got dressed. 

Seeing Joel and Tommy’s faces brought a familiar and comforting sensation. Their wolf sides were interesting to see, but their human forms are what you’re used to. Together, you three emerge from the treeline and walk across the field towards the gates of Jackson and when the doors open, you are met with a commotion of worry and joy. 

It was a crowd of people, at least twenty, all bombarding you with questions regarding your safety and if you were okay. A welcome back party that you didn’t expect, but greatly appreciated. Amongst the crowd of course was Melinda and she pushed way to the front to grab you by the arms then pull you in for a tight hug.

“Don’t you ever do that again.” She whispers into your hair, squeezing the air out of your lungs. “I’ve been so worried about you.” 

“I’m so sorry, Mel.” Apologizing as she pulls back, she brushes the hair away from your eyes to look at you. The woman smiles then scrunches her nose as she shakes her head. “I forgive you. So long as you’re home safe and you’re staying here.” 

“I am.” You nod, moving in to hug her again. Over her shoulder stood Tracy and Jack, both expressing an empathetic smile. “Glad to have you back.” Jack says, with Tracy adding to that. “How on earth did you not freeze to death out there? You must be so cold.”

Explaining everything that happened to Mel, Jack and Tracy, you left out all of the details about Joel and Tommy being werewolves of course, and they in turn explained what happened in Jackson after you left.

Maria gathered everyone into the church and shared that two people had died from the raid. Martha and David, an elderly couple who didn’t make it to their basement in time when the alarm was sounded, they unfortunately died at the hands of the bandits and a funeral is being held for them tomorrow. 

You expected bad news, but this is far worse than you imagined. It brought you a great deal of pain knowing that two innocent people lost their lives. And you couldn’t stop the guilt either. The bandits followed you here and you lowered your head in shame, however Mel placed her thumb and forefinger to your chin, lifting your head back up. “This - is not your fault, my darling girl. The bandits followed one of the patrollers home. You aren’t the reason for Martha and David’s death. The scum who raided our community are - not you, okay?” 

“Oh… That’s awful Mel.” You sigh, shaking your head. “Is the patroller okay? Has anyone spoken to them and told them that it’s not their fault either. I still feel so bad.” 

Mel cringes, as if she was reluctant to say what she really wants to say before a voice you recognise steps forth from the crowd. “It was me, the bandits followed me home.”

Jake - it was Jake who stepped forward. “I blamed you for this because I couldn’t handle the guilt, but I confessed as soon as I heard you left Jackson.” He apologizes, but unfortunately for him, you were too overwhelmed with a mixture of emotions to care - one of them being anger. 

Moving away from Mel’s arms, you couldn’t stop yourself from acting on your heat of the moment impulses as all you wanted to do was slap Jake across the face. That fucking asshole joined in on the crowd to blame you when he knew he was the one who led the bandits here!

Jake fanned the flames to the raging fire of blame people put on you just to save himself. You were furious and out of control, but seconds before you reached his position, a fist came out of nowhere on your right and punched Jake on his jaw. 

Joel was the one who delivered that punch and Jake fell right down on his ass, holding a hand to the already bruising skin, however Joel didn’t stop there. He knelt down to be at Jake's level before delivering some harsh words on your behalf. “Everybody makes mistakes son. I can forgive you for the bandits following you here, but putting the blame on her is spineless behaviour -” Joel leans in to whisper a threat. “-don’t ever go near Y/N again.” 

Some of the things Joel said was a tad too far compared to what you would have said, but Jake nods three times quickly then looks at you, still holding his jaw as he apologizes again. He then pulls himself off the ground and hastily walks through the crowd with two friends at his side, checking if he was okay.

You felt sorry for him after the humiliating treatment he had just received from Joel in front of a crowd of people, but you can’t deny that a small part of you found it so fucking sexy seeing Joel defend you like that. 

“Goddammit. Why did you do that?” The voice of reason sighs with frustration. Shaking his head with disapproval, Tommy walks over to his brother and mutters a few quiet words into his ear, no doubt reprimanding him for punching another resident in Jackson.

Joel nods to his brother then turns to walk away, and a little pang of sadness strikes you then as you wanted to speak to him, to thank him or maybe ask what he was thinking by doing that. 

I can still feel your emotions, you know. Joel says, bringing a small smile to your face. I’ll come see you later, we’ll talk then. 

Nodding, although he can’t even see you doing it, you turn to Tommy and ask what will happen now. “Will he get in trouble for that?” 

“I wish.” Tommy laughs, then shakes his head. “I told him to go fix his mistake. Maria has probably told that kid it isn’t his fault and now Joel has just made it his fault in front of everyone.” 

“Yeah, I see your dilemma.” Sighing, you scratch the back of your head looking for a way to help but nothing comes to mind and instead, you apologize for possibly making things worse than what they already were, however Tommy shushes you. “N-hm. None of that now, girl. You don’t have anything to apologize for. I told you when we first met, Joel just expects the worst in people these days.” 

“What you really mean to say is that he’s an asshole.” You retort with a laugh, to which Tommy nods in agreement and laughs too. “And that wasn’t the first time we met, remember?” Nudging his side, it was like a little inside joke you have now that you know about him being the werewolf that saved you. 

After saying your goodbyes to everyone, you started walking down the street to make your way home. Thankfully in the winter months, the sun doesn’t rise as early and you can have a lay in tomorrow without the disturbance of light blaring through your window. Mel ordered you to take the day off, which is funny because you’ve only worked there for three days now, but you accepted her order without any complaints nonetheless.

A day off sounds good, you have a lot of questions for Joel or Tommy about werewolves that you’d like to know about; too many to answer in a little chat with the older Miller before tucking in for the night, who was currently sitting on your porch steps waiting for you. 

“Hey.” You say before taking a seat beside him. 

“Hi darlin’.” Joel replies, playfully nudging his knee into yours, then the man sighs and turns to face you. “Go on, spit it all out. I know you’re dying to ask.” 

“I don’t know which one to ask first.” Shrugging, you turn to the side also and lean against the post on your railing. “Just… I don’t know, start from the beginning and tell me whatever. I’ll ask questions as they pop into my head.” 

“Does this mean I’m forgiven now?” Joel wrinkles his lips with raised brows, to which you quickly reply. “No. I still hate you.” 

“Alright, fair enough.” Joel chuckles and leans back to get comfy. You could have the best poker face in the world and be an expert liar, but no emotion or scent gets past the werewolf inside of him.

Things haven’t changed, he still doesn’t mind waiting for you to feel ready to kiss him. Your pace is best as he is already on a slippery slope with you at the moment. Scratching the back of his head as he thinks where he should start, he figures he should start from the beginning - his first shift. “Me and Tommy have the werewolf gene in our family, and he activated his gene first when he killed a man…” 

As he trails off with the events in his life, you sit quietly and learn through his way of telling a story that Joel and Tommy come from a long line of werewolves and the gene is activated when killing another human. His grandpa activated the gene in world war two and spent the rest of his life in a cabin up in the mountains, away from society and Joel’s father made his way through life and died at the age of seventy - without activating the gene, however with the world ending and the dead rose to life, the Miller brothers had been dealt a hand they never thought they would. The death of Joel’s daughter. 

Not only did you learn that Joel had a daughter before Ellie, you also learned that she died at the hands of a Fedra Officer who followed his orders to kill. Tommy shot that man to save Joel from death and therefore activated the werewolf gene. A question did pop into your mind, but you held off asking it out of respect. The way Joel’s voice shook as he shared that time of his life with you, withheld you from the urge to know her name. You didn’t want to focus on the subject around his daughter as he moved on from it to explain how he activated the gene. 

“Two days after, I killed a man out of rage.” He lowers his head in shame. “The guy was trying to steal our stuff and I could have fought him off without hurting him, but…” Joel shrugs, avoiding your eye contact. “But I wanted to hurt him and I did… I just didn’t stop.” 

“I can understand why you did it, but I can never understand how it feels to lose what you’ve lost.” You say softly, reaching out for his hand to reassure him, which he took and returned a gentle squeeze, reassuring you that he is okay before pulling his hand back and moving on with the story again. The loss of his daughter is still sore to talk about, you can tell, and you won’t push him for answers. Joel can tell you in his own time. 

“So anyways.” Joel sighs, trying to remember where he left off. “Me and Tommy shifted for the first time that month with the rise of the full moon and it was… it was just awful. We were scared and confused, in a lot of pain and we had zero control over our bodies for the entire night. Full moons are always bad, even now we can’t control our shifts on those days of the month.” 

“Wow, really?” You ask and Joel nods in reply. “I’m sorry that you both have to go through with that each month. Is it still painful?” Joel nods again, but this time sharing when the next full moon is. “You won’t see me and Tommy on Thursday. We’ll be away from Jackson when the full moon rises on that night.” 

“Oh.” You sigh, understanding a little more just how bad it is for him. “Will you both be okay though?” 

“Look at you, worrying about me.” Joel chuckles, leaning in a little while briefly looking down to your lips. “Yeah. We’ll be okay darlin’, just got to get through the night then we’ll be back Friday morning.”

“That’s good - good to know.” You whisper, using a phrase Joel used on you once with a smirk on your lips as you move back. He was leaning in, sneakily trying to close the gap to kiss you. Thinking this was as good a time as any to cut the conversation and head to bed, you stood from the porch and said goodnight. “I still have questions, but I’m ready for my bed Joel.” 

“So…” He stands also, speaking with a teasing tone. “I’ll come back tomorrow? You know, to answer all those questions for you.” 

“Maybe, I don’t know yet.” Returning the playful tone, your answer is yes, you want to know more about him but teasing him for now is fun. “I’ll let you know tomorrow. If you knock and I don’t answer, then maybe another time.” 

Shaking his head at you as he laughs, he bites his lip and whispers seductively. “Babydoll you do understand that I not only feel your emotions but…” He leans in to whisper, “But I can smell your pheromones too. I’ll be seeing you tomorrow when I knock on your door.” 

The man pulls away from you and walks down the steps of your porch, leaving you breathless and shocked. You’re aroused right now, and Joel can apparently smell that. I wonder what else a werewolf can do? You think to yourself as you head inside your house, to which Joel replies. I’ll show you all the things I can do tomorrow. He chuckles sinisterly, making you shake your head at him. You liked it, but you won’t admit that yet, not until you’ve had your fill of being angry with him, however his next words made you gasp with shock. 

I can see your dreams if I want to darlin’. 

Blushing as you walk up the stairs into your bedroom, you climb in bed and close your eyes with a smile on your lips, wondering about all the abilities that Joel has. His ability to see your dreams is most interesting as the memory of the wet dream you had about him last night pops into your mind. You wonder if he saw that. Acting like you aren’t attracted to him obviously doesn’t work as he knows. The werewolf within knows how much you’re attracted to Joel. 

Is it so wrong to make him wait though? You’re not ready just to forgive and forget so easily. A large part of you wants to kiss him, to feel his lips on yours and his hands on your body, but another large part of you is still angry. It’s like you forget about all the things he has done when you’re in his presence and only the good parts remain. There’s a warm aura around Joel and you wrap yourself up in it whenever you're with him. You often forget that he is an asshole and have to remind yourself. You should hate him - but you don’t. 

You understand Joel. You understand the reasons for his actions a lot more now, even if he did make you upset and leave Jackson thinking that you’re not wanted here. But you are wanted here. This is your home. Everything feels so right. Laying in your bed right now after the conversation you’ve shared with Joel on your front porch, you feel right where you belong. It’s almost too right…. 

Like you’re here for a reason. 

The Next Day

Making the most of your day off today, you didn’t plan on spending all your time in bed and are almost at your destination five miles out of Jackson with Tommy. Joel is tagging along too, he and his brother are going to show you all there is to know about their werewolf capabilities. And in order to do that, they need to be out of Jackson away from the people. The secret must be protected. 

You have had some time to think about it, and it really makes you wonder why the Miller’s don’t just tell the community their secret. You believe everyone would have an open mind about it and come to accept their differences. They might be terrified at first - just like you were - but having two supernatural wolves protecting Jackson is a huge advantage in this world. 

Joel and Tommy are like two unsung heroes. No one knows what they really do to protect the people living here in the community, not even you know. You’ve only known about the werewolves for a month and don’t know the extent of what dangers the two brothers put themselves in front of to protect Jackson. However, today you might get to know a little more about what they do. 

The destination is the ski lodge way up in the mountains. The first stop where you all will take a break and feed the horses before moving on. Your questions couldn’t wait any longer and the first one was why. “Why are you taking me so far out?” You ask Tommy, then make a joke. “Did Joel convince you to leave me there to die?” 

Giggling to yourself as the men chuckle, Tommy shakes his head and answers your question. “There’s a spot we use up there, it’s remote and out of the way. We aren’t taking you there to leave you, but we could leave Joel there instead if you want.”

“Yeah, I think I’d like that.” You nod, giving Joel a sideways glance and the man looked at you unamused with your plans today. Joel thought he’d be coming over to your house, sharing all that he knows in the privacy of your living room, however your bright idea to invite Tommy on a trip beyond the walls drove a pin in his hopes to get a kiss from you. 

You know yourself that you will cave and kiss Joel if you and him stayed in your home, talking about everything. Getting out of the house and out of Jackson with Tommy helps keep your mind off thinking about how Joel’s lips feel on yours. You and Joel know you will end up kissing each other, and all he is waiting for now is a moment alone with you, but you’re not going to give it to him. Just to be the asshole for a change. 

“Up ahead gang, we’re almost there.” Tommy points a finger. Looking to where he was pointing, you saw the ski lodge at the top of the hill on the edge of the mountain. It doesn’t look high, but when you turn around and look behind you, a pit in your stomach weighs heavy with fear. 

“Scared of heights?” Joel asks rhetorically. Sensing your fear, he already knows what you’re feeling right now and looks behind him with a shake of his head. “Don’t think too much about the height. It’s got a nice view up there and you’ll like it darlin’, I promise.” 

“Thank you.” You smile briefly then urge your horse to trot faster. Joel’s intense lingering gaze was doing something to you and you needed to move on quickly before falling into a trance. Approaching the entrance of the ski lodge, you pass the lift on your right and look up with amazement in your eyes. You’ve never been to a ski lodge before or seen what the lifts look like. There were two empty glass carts sitting at the top with a strong cable leading down the mountain. 

The ski lodge itself had a lot of glass windows, therefore allowing a lot of natural light to spill inside and providing a beautiful three-sixty view of the surroundings. After bringing the horses inside the entrance, you walk through the doors and take a look around. Above your head just as you entered was a sign reading ‘Bison Trail Ski Lift’, to your left was a long counter top with signs up on the wall stating what food and beverage items they sold, and on the right was a souvenir stall, selling shirts. 

This place is out of commission of course, there’s no one around anymore to take your order and to buy the shirts from, but there was a sentiment of nostalgia around everything you looked at. You simply enjoyed envisioning what it would have looked like back in the day with people walking through here with mugs of hot cocoa in their hands, or lining up for the lift outside wearing their winter gear. An experience you never had twenty years ago, but enjoyed thinking about now. 

This place was beautiful and a perfect place to stop for a break. It may be out of commission, but it’s still in good use for you, Joel and Tommy. Continuing through the building, you walk down the steps into the seating area. It was a large space with multiple places for you to choose where to sit. A table with magazines on the top and a patterned rug underneath beside three sets of sofas sat in front of the window and it looked nice, however you wanted to move to the back of the room and get a better view. 

Walking past another bar where people used to buy drinks, there were lots of wooden tables with parasols in the middle across the floor, all kept neat and tidy, giving you the sense that this place has either been taken care of by Joel and Tommy, or it’s just never had any visitors in the last two decades. The place was dusty, but not dirty. 

After finding a nice set of tables and chairs by the window at the far back of the room, you leaned on the window ledge to look out and beyond. As far as the eye could see, you saw nothing but miles upon miles of nature in all of its glory. Trees overgrown after years of replenishment, though they’re covered in snow, you can see specks of green and brown peaking through.

The terrain is substantial, wide open valleys with a vast amount of space and in the distance there was Jackson sitting in the middle of it all. You could see the tall wooden walls surrounding the town. Even from way out here, it still looks like a little bustling city. 

“Told you it had a nice view.” You smile at the sound of Joel’s deep voice behind you. He pulls out a chair and takes a seat while you continue to gaze across the land before your eyes, humming in agreement with him. He was right to make that promise, you do like the view up here, even if the height is a little worrying. 

Holding back your reaction as two glowing eyes appear in the glass window, it was Joel’s reflection from behind you and it made you feel a certain way seeing it. He was leaning back into his chair to put himself in your view before making his eyes glow then slowly look down at your body.

When your eyes met in the reflection, you couldn’t stop the blush from burning your cheeks. The way he was looking at you was like a man starved and you were a meal, ready to be devoured. Joel crooks a brow, dragging his tongue across his bottom lip ever so slowly, still looking at you with glowing red eyes. 

“Tommy.” You smirk while calling his brother's name. “Are you coming to join us or what? I want to know why your eyes are different from Joel’s.” 

Turning around and looking at Joel, who now showed his human coloured eyes while shaking his head at you, Tommy makes his way over to join you both at the table with a large flask and three small cups. He unscrews the cap and pours out some coffee into each of them before leaning back into his chair. “I’m not too sure what exactly made his eyes change but it’s only when we’re together that they’re red.” 

“It’s because I’m the boss, little brother, that’s why.” Joel chuckles. Taking a cup from the table top and leaning back into his chair also. After sharing a brief laugh with them both about that comment then taking a sip of your coffee, you lower the cup to ask. “What do you mean when you’re together? Haven’t you always been together?” 

Both men shake their heads and it’s Joel that answers, sharing a little about the gap in the last twenty years where he was apart from his brother. “In the beginning, my eyes glowed the same like Tommy’s, but it was around the fourth or fifth shift that they turned red instead. They stayed like that for years, but when we got into a disagreement-”

“It was more than a disagreement.” Tommy interjects, cutting his brother off to laugh about it before quieting down again to let him continue. 

“When we had that argument that became too much and Tommy left me all on my own-” Joel laughs, returning a playful insult to his brother. “-My eyes went back to their original colour and they stayed like that for years until I was reunited with Tommy and the red came back.” 

“Wow. That’s weird.” Frowning, you know as much as Joel or Tommy at this point, but the only thing you could think of was the book Ginny gave you and what it said inside. “Could it be because you’re a pack when together? And Joel’s the leader?”

Watching their faces twist like you just said the moon is made of cheese, you roll your eyes and sigh. “I have a book back home. I don’t know how much of it is actually true, but some of the things in there have been true so far. It mentions things about wolves in packs having a leader.” 

“Well I don’t deny that Joel is more of a leader.” Tommy agrees, looking at you as he pays a compliment to his brother. “He’s always been that way. Always taking charge and guiding me, although a lot of the time we disagree.” 

“You’re brothers, that’s what brothers do.” You say before taking another sip of your coffee. Thinking about the book and what you read, you remembered reading something about Alphas, Omegas and Betas, therefore prompting you to ask Joel. “Do you think you’re the Alpha werewolf? That could be why your eyes are red.” 

“I don’t know, darlin’.” Shrugging, Joel lowers his coffee and leans forward to place his elbows to the table. “I don’t particularly care about how or why my eyes are red. I just do what I gotta do to keep me and my family safe. Besides, you think they’re hot, so that’s good enough for me.” 

“Oh my God.” You scoff, turning away to look out of the window as Joel and Tommy laugh at your rosy red cheeks. The game of tit for tat between you and him continues, but at least now you’re not at each other’s throat ready to kill each other. It’s fun and sweet, even if you are the centre of attention right now feeling called out. “That isn’t fair you know.” Whining about it jokingly, you turn to look at them both. “It’s not fair that you can read my mind, and I do remember asking you to stop that.” 

“Sorry.” Joel and Tommy say in unison. The younger Miller looks to his brother, holding a hand over his mouth to hide his smirk while Joel hides behind his cup of coffee. You narrow your eyes, watching them carefully as it looks like they were talking to each other without moving their lips. When Joel chokes on his coffee to break out with laughter, you shake your head at them both and ask. “What are you saying? I can tell you’re talking to each other, I ain’t dumb.” 

“Oooh, look at you. Suddenly you’re the expert on wolves.” Joel taunts between laughter, while Tommy buries his face into the palms of his hands. Waiting for them both to get it all out of their systems, you liked seeing this side of the Miller brothers. They both looked so comfortable and happy, laughing at your expense together like a pair of kids. 

What you liked most is that two days ago the steam would have been blowing out of your ears with annoyance being laughed at by Tommy and Joel, but now it’s so very different. It didn’t feel wrong in the slightest and it even made you giggle just listening to them both. After they settle down again, you move on with the conversation, but Tommy asks you a question instead. “Tell us a little about you, what was Y/N’s life before the world ended?” 

“Oh, um… I worked at my mom's store.” You smile with the memories flashing behind your eyes. “It was nothing special I suppose, but I loved every second working with her.” Joel and Tommy remain quiet with smiles on their faces as you continue. “She would find all these broken antiques and trinkets to fix up before selling, and it’s funny, you know because when I was really young, I thought her skills were like magic - I used to think there was no way my mom could fix that.” You laugh fondly, feeling a pang of sadness. “But she did. She fixed everything she found, made it look pretty again and sold it. My mom brought all those broken things back to life again… and she was magical to me.” 

Clearing your throat as a lump begins to form, you move on and share where and what you were doing the day of the outbreak. “I was with my mom - thankfully, and we were just about to open the store for the day when a crazed woman threw herself into the window.” You shake your head, looking at Joel and Tommy. “She wouldn’t stop throwing her head against the glass. Blood was everywhere, her eyes were… gone. And uh, anyways the glass began to break and I had a really strong feeling to get out of the way before she made it inside. So I took my mom’s hand and I ran with her… We didn’t stop running and that’s all we ever did, right up until she died eleven years later.” 

“I’m so sorry.” Tommy reaches across the table, offering his hand. Wiping the stray tear away from your eyes before taking his hand, you reassured him that you were okay. “Thank you, but I’m okay - really. My mom died in her sleep, and if you ask me that’s the best way to go.” 

“Sure is, darlin’.” Joel whispers, nudging his leg into yours from underneath the table. A small gesture that you appreciated from both men. It hurts to talk about these things, but it also feels good to say it out loud and get it off your chest. Taking a deep breath inward to collect yourself, you release Tommy’s hand and smile at him, showing them both that you’re okay. 

“So yeah. That was me before the outbreak.” Digressing with the story of your life, you share what happened after your mothers death. “I was on my own for a couple years before coming across a community in Idaho. I stayed there until someone got a little lazy with their job one day and a stalker got inside.” Joel and Tommy sigh, both understanding the severity of that mistake. “I’m sure you can picture what happened after that, but I ended up on the road again, looking for a place called Jackson that has big sturdy walls, providing food and shelter for survivors. And I found it six months later - just not the way I thought I would.” 

“You got more than you bargained for.” Tommy makes a light joke, easing your blues. “You came looking for Jackson and found two asshole werewolves instead.” 

Unanimously agreeing with that statement, all three of you share a light amount of laughter over Tommy’s comment. It’s true, you did get more than you bargained for, but you wouldn’t change how things have played out. It’s perfect. Everything is perfect. “I found my safe haven here.” You say, nodding to them both. “I know Jackson is where I’m supposed to be.” 

After finishing off your beverage of hot coffee and chatting some about your lives, you all prepare to get back on the horses and continue your ride to the next stop. The next stop is a cabin further up in the mountain, completely hidden away from society. Tommy shared earlier that he and Joel use that cabin during the night of a full moon. A place of rest after running wild for hours. 

Wondering why they wanted to bring you there, you quickly understood why when emerging from the trees and seeing it for yourself. The cabin was lavish, looking as if it was taken right out of a magazine and out here. Two padded swings sat on either side of the front porch and it looked beautiful on the outside. With lots of windows to provide natural light inside, the A-frame roof was covered in moss, giving it that naturistic touch, which paired beautifully with the dark mahogany wood. 

Following Joel and Tommy around the back of the cabin, there was a small stable to put all three of the horses inside. After they are safely put away, you walk around to the front and take a seat on one of the swings. “Okay fellers.” You clap your hands together, showing them that you’re ready. “Tell me why you brought me here. What do you have to show me?”

“You wanted to see what we could do, so let me show you first.” Joel chuckles, walking across the small field towards the trees. When he stops at one of the smaller ones, he looks at his brother and you with a smirk before pulling his hand back and punching through the bark. Mouth falling open, aghast with his supernatural strength, the wood began to splinter apart and the tree groaned on its way down to the ground, landing with a heavy thump. 

“Wow!” You grin, looking over at Tommy beside you, who wiggled his brows with pride in return, but when looking back to Joel, he asks if you were ready to see him shift and take a moment before nodding. The distance between you and him wasn’t that far away, but you lean forward to focus as his chest begins to expand, tearing the fabric of his shirt. Joel’s face slowly disappears and the furry face of a wolf takes over as he continues to grow legs with huge paws. It happened in the blink of an eye, yet you saw every millisecond of it with astonishment. 

Our voices hold great power, Y/N. Says Joel as he lowers his head like he was ready to pounce. Hold on a second, you’ll feel what I mean. 

A moment later, a vibration slowly ripples through your body, startling you. It didn’t hurt or feel uncomfortable, it was just startling. “What was that?” You ask, to which Tommy replies. “It was a growl emitting through your body, a quiet one. Joel could hurt you if he roars loud enough.” 

I would never hurt you, Y/N. Joel whispers in your mind, lifting his head as he begins to walk towards you. Sitting at the base of the steps in front of you, he had to lay down for you to see his face as he was taller than the roofing on the porch. Tommy takes a seat beside you, explaining each of his and Joel’s werewolf abilities in detail. “We’re more enhanced than the average human, but when we shift, the powers we have are amplified even more. We’re already strong and fast, but we become more when we’re a wolf.” 

“Yeah, I read about some of this stuff in that book back home.” You nod to them both, relaying what you already know. “Enhanced strength, speed, smell, healing and health. You and Joel, from what I understand, should never get sick. Is that right?” 

“That’s right.” Tommy nods, then leans back with a laugh. “But there is more to learn than what that book has written. “Our bite and scratches are infectious. We can kill a human with a nasty fever if we scratch them.” 

“Oh…” Your face contorts, cringing at the thought of what that would look like. “Only as a wolf or can you infect someone in human form?” 

“Just wolf.” Tommy replies, shaking his head. 

Sitting on the front porch together and sharing a long conversation, Tommy and Joel recite all of their abilities and everything they know about being a werewolf. You were growing more speechless with everything they shared, learning so much more than you could ever possibly fathom. Pain transference; the ability to absorb and alleviate pain from other people or creatures and can even heal, meaning Joel or Tommy could heal your injury or absorb your pain if you were hurt. 

Dream accessibility; Joel and Tommy can visibly see what someone is dreaming about, or they can give someone a dream too. The younger Miller shared his experiences of helping some of the children in Jackson when they were having nightmare troubles, while the older Miller remained silent. Which you picked up on right away, considering Joel didn’t tell you last night that he can give you dreams, not just see them. We’ll talk about that later. Is all you said about that to him. 

Memory transference; the ability to transfer (give or take) memories by inserting claws into the nape of an individual's neck. They could literally erase someone's mind if they wanted to. Empathy is amplified too, that’s why they can physically feel what other people feel, but that’s not all. Tommy shared that over the years, he and Joel have come to notice specific differences every month, some are substantial, while others are subtle and barely noticeable. 

“Well, what are the differences, what do you mean?” You ask, tilting your head with intrigue. 

“Fire is one of our weaknesses, but one occasion a fire broke out in my kitchen and I could hold my hand inside it.” Tommy explains, before looking at his brother. “After I put the fire out, I brought Joel over and held a lighter under his hand. It didn’t affect him either, but it should have.” 

“Was the month May?” A small smile spreads across your face with wonder. You have some knowledge about the moon and wonder if the things you learned as a child growing up correlates at all. After Tommy spent a moment trying to recollect if the month was in fact May, he nods with furrowed brows, curious to know what you know. 

“In the month of May, the moons that rise each night is known as the Fire Moon.” Still smiling as you share that information, the dots connect just like you thought they would and you took pleasure in explaining to them both how you knew this. “My mom came across this antique brass moon dial when I was younger. It was a clock, but instead of the numbers, it had all twelve different full moons of the year. May is the Fire Moon. I remember it clearly because I cried when she sold it.” 

“Do you remember them all? What about June?” Questions fleeing out of his mouth eagerly, Tommy could hardly contain his interest to know them all. “When May is over, the weakness of fire comes back, but then we can detect when someone is truly bad on the inside.” 

“Mirror Moon.” You laugh, shaking your head with disbelief. “The eyes are the mirror of the soul. You and Joel can see someone's soul in June or be immune to fire in May. This is just incredible!” 

Going through the twelve moons of the year and listening to everything Joel and Tommy can remember happening to them over the years, you learn more and more with each passing second. January in the Ice Moon, and it’s apparently one of the two months in the year where they both feel cold like a regular human does, every other month they go right back to normal, running a high temperature again. 

February is the Storm Moon, and Joel remembers on many occasions over the years being able to detect a storm coming in that month, not just physical ones, but mental ones too. Tommy agrees with him, reciting a time in Jackson when he suddenly got a strong urge to put Jackson on lockdown and sound the storm alarm. People thought he was crazy, but seconds after everyone got inside, the clouds above turned dark and a hurricane blew over.

March is the Wind Moon, and they both noticed how much faster they can run, as humans and as wolves. April is the Wild Moon, and they develop a connection with the animals in the wild. July is the Ghost Moon, and they each have noticed how the colour of their fur blends into the surroundings, almost making them invisible. August is the Lightning Moon, which provides Joel and Tommy immunity from electricity, another weakness that is lifted for one month. September is the Singing Moon, and it amplifies all of their powers. October is the Blood Moon, which unfortunately makes them aggressive, more so when they are in wolf form - and it also explains why Joel was acting like such a dick, you arrived here last month in October. November is the Frost Moon, the other month of the year where they actually feel the cold like a regular human. 

And finally, the last month of the year, December, is the Oak Moon. Suppose they saved the best for last as the experiences they’ve had over the years in that month are the most bizarre. Not only does their fur change to white, but on Christmas day, they can’t shift at all, and when the full moon rises at the end of that month, Joel and Tommy actually have the ability to control themselves, meaning they don’t have to travel far away from Jackson to get through the night as a wolf. 

Still chatting away to Tommy and Joel like there was no tomorrow, the time had gone completely over your heads and only upon noticing the afternoon sun lowering did you all realise. It was time to go back home, however you wanted to see inside the cabin. You’ve spent all your time out here, excitedly absorbing lots of information about werewolves and moons. 

“Can I see inside before we go?” You ask, looking through the window behind you. The inside looked just as beautiful as outside. The furniture was pristine, the ornaments handmade and decorative touches homey. As Joel and Tommy look at each other, nodding here or shaking their head there, you realise that they're having a telepathic conversation and wait until they're finished. 

“Would you like to stay the night?” Tommy turns to you with an offer that you can’t refuse. “I’ll radio Maria and let her know that we’ll be back tomorrow morning.” 

Nodding, you take him up on that offer and are about to jump out of your seat to hurry inside, however Joel shifts back into his human form, flashing his nudity to you. “Oh, Jesus Joel.” You panic, quickly tilting your face to the side as he walks up the steps. “You could give a warning before you do that, you know.” 

“I did.” He chuckles menacingly as he walks into the cabin. “But I only warned my brother, not you.” Because I knew you’d like what you saw darlin’, he whispers that part telepathically, eliciting you to shake your head with denial as the corners of your mouth pull into a smile. He was right, you did like what you saw. And all you can say is that he is big in all the right places. 

Heading inside with Tommy, you shook off your thoughts about Joel’s manhood for now and thought about how nice this cabin is instead. The lounge was cosy, although the room was a little cold, Tommy got to work right away and moved over to the fire to get it started while you looked around. 

You liked the layout, it was all open planned. An L shaped kitchen with a dark grey marble island in the middle and three bedrooms, each with their own bathroom and shower, this place looked more like a vacation home than a place for Tommy and Joel to ride out the night on a full moon. 

“How come you guys don’t tear up this place?” You ask while walking into the kitchen, making yourself at home by opening up the cupboards - which were empty of course. 

“Because we chain ourselves up in the basement.” Tommy answers before muttering a string of foul language under his breath after burning his fingers on the fire. “It’s too dangerous for us to be free roam on a full moon.” 

Understanding that, you then wonder how bad it gets for them. Joel shared a little about it last night, but you can’t help your curiosity to know how bad they are on the night of a full moon. Maybe one day when they’re comfortable enough, they will tell you about it, but for now, you won’t pry the information out of them just because you’re curious. 

As you round the corner of the kitchen leading to the hallway, you look at the slightly open door at the end of the hall and make a surprised sound when seeing a very naked Joel in the reflection of a mirror. He was getting dressed and you know you shouldn’t be watching him, but you couldn’t tear your eyes away. The man looks good from behind. His back is wide and tanned, chiselled with muscles, and his ass was really nice. Perfectly round and plump, however his legs prompted you to lick your lip. Thick thighs and strong calves. Joel Miller had a good looking pair of legs.

Quickly moving away before you are caught, the chances are that Joel already knows you were looking - he was probably hoping for it - but you didn’t want to let him have that satisfaction of catching you in the act of drooling over his body. The sound of static stole your attention and you turned to see Tommy messing around with the TV. “You have electricity up here?” 

“Yeah. It’s pretty neat right?” Tommy points to a big black device at his feet and you have no idea what it is. “Portable power source. It comes with a solar panel too, which is really handy.” He explains, talking enthusiastically like he was a child and that was the best toy ever. “It won’t produce a lot of power, but enough to keep you and Joel entertained while I hunt our dinner for the night.” 

Oh shit. What? Alone with Joel, in the cabin by a fire… that can’t be good. 

“Oh Tommy,  are you sure?” You ask nonchalantly, acting like dinner wasn’t a big deal when you’re actually starving. “I don’t want you to go through the trouble.” 

“Nah, of course I’m sure.” He stands, waving it off. “Besides, I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.” 

Nodding to him, you take a seat on the sofa and kick off your shoes to get comfy as he calls out to Joel, letting him know that he’s going out to get dinner. “Alright. Do you need my help?” Joel asks, and you sit there silently praying to a God above that Tommy says yes. You can’t trust yourself around Joel, he’s too damn handsome and all you can think about is climbing on his lap, which is exactly what he wants, while you want to torment him. 

“No, I’ll be alright.” Dammit. Tommy turns to leave, saying that he will be back soon as he exits the cabin and jogs across the field. Now, you’re all alone with Joel. Pulling the throw from the back of the sofa over your legs, as if that could even hide how you feel right now, you sink into your position and watch an episode of Friends on the TV. You could see a boxset on one of the shelves and it made you smile to think that Joel or Tommy likes the show. 

Light footsteps creak their way towards you as Joel joins you in the lounge, taking a seat on the sofa you’re on. “You like Friends?” He asks, raising his brows. “Tommy likes this show.” 

“Yeah, it’s good.” You reply, already feeling the burn in your cheeks as your eyes lower to look at what Joel was wearing. Pyjamas - he’s wearing pyjamas, but not just any old kind, the loose fitting plaid pants with a sexy sweater kind of pyjamas. He looked so good in them, good looking and comfy, inviting you to cosy on up next to him. Thankfully, his gaze was fixed on the TV so he didn’t pay attention to the way your eyes kept flicking over to him, or at least you hoped he wasn’t paying attention. 

Eyes darting to him when he moves, your heartbeat rose with the way he opened his legs and leaned back into his position. Joel’s just getting comfy, like you did, but you couldn’t help stare at his natural bulge poking out from beneath his pants. Jesus his legs. Those goddamn legs that you want to sit on and feel tense beneath you as you kiss him on the lips.  Your arousal was palpable, electrifying the energy between you and him right now, you could feel it, however he acted oblivious. You know that he knows. Joel knows you're turned on right now, but he isn’t acting on it. 

You wonder if it’s out of respect or nervousness. He knows you want to be mad at him for the things he did, and the thought of him holding back from kissing you out of respect only makes you hornier. Just like the latter. Thinking that anxiety to make the first move holds him back makes you more horny too. Both possibilities were arousing, but one thing you know for certain is that your panties are damp right now and that bulge in his pants is growing. He’s turned on too. 

Joel shifts his position, trying to relieve the throbbing ache between his legs while keeping his eyes glued to the TV, but you had completely abandoned watching the TV and instead chose to watch him suffer. This was cruel for the man and you loved every second of it. Your heart was still beating fast as you let your thoughts loose, thinking about how much you’d love to climb on his lap right now, straddling his thigh to get yourself off while he plants kisses on your breasts. 

Even closing your eyes to picture how it would look, you smirked when hearing cough awkwardly. As much as this was torture for Joel, knowing that you want him but he can’t have you, it was torture for you as well. You do want him. So fucking badly. Not caring any more, you were blinded by lust and sighed with your thoughts. I forgive you, Joel. 

The man instantly turns to look at you, his wanton eyes glowing like fire, you watch as his chest rises and falls with each deep breath. Joel looked like he was fighting a war inside of him, holding himself back from launching across the space between you both and tearing the clothes right off your body, however he didn’t do any of that. Instead, Joel exhales shakily while patting his thigh. “C’mere babydoll.” 

Moving across the sofa slowly, you watch as his hands ball into fists, still holding himself back from doing what he really wants to do. You throw a leg over him, sinking down onto his lap and feeling his bulge press into your clothed core. Firm and growing bigger by the second, the sensation it brought was a good feeling, but not nearly enough. You wanted more. 

“I’ve thought about this for too damn long, girl.” Joel sighs, gaze lowering to take in your beauty. Seeing and feeling you sitting on him like this is driving him up the wall. It gives him all but a taste of what you feel like in his proximity where your heat is directly over his crotch, however it isn’t enough for him either. “Take your pants off.” 

The order in his tone sends a shiver up your body, igniting a fire of lust to blaze across your skin. Popping the button on your jeans open, then pulling down the zip, you move back to stand between his legs and take your sweet time shimmying your pants off. A daring smile appears on your lips as you watch Joel adjust himself with each inch of skin you reveal. His eyes, still glowing red, expand with hunger at the sight of your panties. A simple figure hugging white high leg panties with a sizable damp spot at the crotch. 

“Hmm.” Joel closes his eyes with a deeply contented hum, inhaling your sweet aromas as if his nose was buried in your cunt. The sound of you stepping out of your pants and kicking them across the floor opens his eyes again, but when he sees you reaching for the waistband of your underwear, he shakes his head slowly. A silent demand for you to keep them on, however you smirk and hook your thumbs under the fabric, teasing him. 

Pulling it down enough to reveal your mound, you could visibly see how much he wants you as his jaw clenches and just as his mouth falls open with anticipation of what your pussy looks like, you quickly turn around and giggle. Your giggles were abruptly replaced with a gasp as two strong hands land on your hips, yanking you back into his lap. Joel now had you in his arms, his cheek pressed against yours as he looked down at your body, letting his fingers roam free and the first place he went for is the waistline of your panties. 

The man pulls them up with a finger, smiling at the sight of your cunt from this angle. Your desire glistens, leaving a beautiful mess everywhere. Letting go of underwear, they snap back against your skin, eliciting another gasp to spill from your lips and just as you tilt your face to protest, Joel places his lips on yours, replacing your complaints with a moan. He slips a tongue inside your mouth, swirling it around to provide distraction as he rests his palm on your lower stomach, fingers slipping under the fabric of your underwear.   

Your breathing becomes heavier with need, a need to feel his fingers where you most want them, but Joel had plans of his own to tease you. Payback for teasing him, you suppose. Grabbing your legs and lifting them over his, so that you were spread perfectly for him, he then brought your hand down to your underwear and broke off the kiss to deliver his next order. “Play with yourself, darlin’.” 

“Huh?” You act shy and oblivious, but Joel can see right through your performance and smacks your inner thigh before palming the sting. “You heard me.” He softly whispers against the shell of your ear, slipping fingers inside the crotch of your panties but making a clear point to avoid the area you really want him to touch. “Play with your pussy Y/N. I’ll give you what you want soon enough.” 

Clenching around nothing, you could feel your slick drooling out of your hole, desperate to feel his fingers or his cock stretching you open. You nod, closing your eyes with a sigh as he peppers kisses on your neck then you do as he commands by slipping your hand inside your underwear, fingers instantly landing on your little swollen nub. A surge ripples through your body with a heat blossoming in your chest from the contact. Tension begins to build in your abdomen as you rotate the pad of your finger around your clit, but you stop when Joel moves his position from beneath. 

“Keep going.” He grunts, hastily working his pants open to free himself. “I didn’t say stop darlin’. Keep going.” 

Moaning, you continue rubbing your clit and eagerly await as he pulls his pants and boxers past his ass. His cock springs free, slapping the hand inside your panties. “There, that’s better ain’t it.” Joel coos, smirking at your way your eyes are transfixed on his length. “Now you can see what I’m going to fuck you with.” 

Using your free hand, you reach down between your legs and Joel sighs against your neck, thinking you're going to take him in hand, but you don't. Instead, you pull your panties to the side and look at him with pleading eyes. “Please - I want you now baby, I can’t wait.” 

“Fuck.” He breathes, eyes returning to their normal colour as he nods. “Ok darlin’.” 

Your pleas broke Joel’s commanding façade, bringing out the human of him. Kissing you on the lips as he notches the head of his cock at your entrance, your face contorts from the breach then you both moan in unison as he pushes inside, burying himself to the hilt. “Goddamn! You’re fucking tight baby.” Joel groans, tossing his head back to relish in the feel of your velvety walls squeezing him. You were still flicking your fingers across your clit and your orgasm nears. 

“I’m c-close.” Whimpering, you continue to pulse around him, full to the brim with his cock. Joel is big. Girthy with an above average length, he was buried so deep you could feel his balls. “Please move.” You beg, breathing out a moan. “I’m gonna cum, Joel please move.”

Placing his hands under your legs for leverage, the man lifts you up off his cock, leaving the tip inside before sinking you back down again. You bend your knees with a mewl, holding onto the arm of the chair as Joel continues to lift you up and down like you weighed nothing to him. You do weigh nothing to him. He held onto the back of your thighs with a bruising grip, listening to your moans grow louder each time he sank you down onto his dick. 

“Fuck! F-fuuck! Joel, I’m comi-” You stutter, unable to spill the words from your mouth as the tension in your stomach breaks and your climax takes over. Casting a blanket of white static over your vision, your cunt squeezes around him with a vice-like grip, feeling every vein and ridge. Joel grinds into you carefully, easing you through your high. “That’s it, let it all out darlin’. I got you.” 

Lowering your legs and placing your feet to the floor between his legs, your breathing begins to even out as you tilt your face towards Joel and capture his lips in a kiss. A hunger for more quickly rises, a need to make him cum is what you’re craving. To hear him fall apart. Still kissing Joel, you hold onto the sofa and brace your feet on the floor before lifting your hips up then sit back down. “Nngh!” He grunts with a shuddering inhale as you repeat your actions, finding the right pace. 

“My pussy feels good, don’t it?” You whisper, smirking against his lips. “So warm and tight.” 

Slamming your hips down onto his lap, thrusting his cock in and out of your cunt, Joel could barely form a sentence to reply. His mouth falls open, hands grasping at your body to keep himself together as you continue to fuck him. A burn forms in your thighs accompanied with a cramp in your stomach, the position was giving you a workout and your skin stuck to his, yet you didn’t stop, not until he gave you what you wanted. 

“Cum for me, Joel.” You mewl what you want. Resting your head back to his shoulder, he brings a hand up to your throat and holds it there gently while kissing your neck. Body jerking with the pad of his finger landing on your clit, he rubs nameless shapes while grunting into your ear. “You first babydoll.” 

Your movements faltered from the pleasure he was inflicting. You’re still so sensitive from your last climax, it was painfully good, and you can feel yourself unravelling again. Sinking down and burying him deep inside of you, your walls pulse around him as you moan his name. Joel takes over for you, rocking your hips back and forth to grind himself through your high. You were squeezing him too hard, damn near pulling the orgasm out of him. 

“Shit! Baby, I’m coming.” Joel warns, lifting you off his cock a second before hot ropes of his cum shot out, coating your folds. Still coming, he glides the tip through your slit, painting a mess all over your pussy. His warmth felt amazing, only you wished you could feel it paint your insides. 

Savouring the post coital bliss for a few moments, reality begins to kick in and you voice your worries to Joel of being caught. “We need to move. Your brother might show up any moment now.” 

Joel wraps his arms around your stomach, chuckling into your neck as he shakes his head. “He ain’t coming back darlin’”

Before you could even ask, Joel stands with you, pulling your shirt and bra off along with his shirt, dropping all them to the floor. Placing his thumb and forefinger to your chin, he tilts your face to meet his lips in a kiss, walking you towards his bedroom. Once your legs meet the edge of the bed, he lowers a hand to line himself up at your entrance and thrusts inside, knocking the breath out of your lungs and stealing your ability to speak. It’s just me and you staying here. He says telepathically, lowering you to lay down on your stomach before pounding into you from behind. 

I have you all to myself for the night, darlin’. 

Two Days Later

Running through the forest with a beating heart ready to jump out of your chest, you run like your life depends on it. You should be in Jackson right now, should be far away from Joel Miller on the night of a full moon just like he warned you, but you couldn’t help your curiosity to know what he goes through. 

You only wanted to help, only help him through this night of pain and make it easier for him, but instead, you let the beast inside of him catch your scent and he broke free from the chains. The werewolf on a full moon isn’t the werewolf you’ve seen in Joel before. It’s different… he’s different. You should have stayed home and listened to Joel’s warnings because now, a monster hunts you with an insatiable hunger, impossible to be satisfied until it gets what it wants. 

You - the monster in Joel wants you. 

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Tagging

Werewolf Joel Miller: @kirsteng42 @marydjarin @extraneous-trip @dins-cyare @supernaturalgirl20 @supernaturalgirl @joelsflannel @luvmeijii @hb8301 @squidwell @hb8301 @superawesomegeek @trickstersp8 @scorpio-marionette @formulafun

[misspearly1]

Chp1 || Chp2 || Chp3 || Chp4 || Chp5 || Chp6 || Chp7 || Chp8 || Chp9 ||

Pairing: WereWolf!Joel Miller x You (Female Reader)

Summary: Looking back on how your life has turned out this far, you often wonder if you got more than you bargained for when finally finding your safe haven within the walls of Jackson. They have it all; food, shelter and electricity, but what else did you come to discover that lives within this thriving community? And how did that discovery change your life?

WC: 4.2k

Warnings: 18+ Content. Minor DNI. Not a whole lot of warnings here folks. Joel is still being an ass to reader. If you're squeamish about hunting, I would pass on this one as there are mentions of dead animals. 

AN: Ooooh, ok ok ok. I'm liking the way I'm taking this story. I hope ya'll like the little twist in this chapter, but do not fret as all shall be revealed as the story unfolds. Much love, folks. ❤️

Watching the snowflakes landing on the tips of your fingers as you held your hand up in the air, you cherished the moment of peace and harmony you had being able to admire the fluffy white substance.

Misery, sickness and the chance of death is usually accompanied with the harsh winter months, but living within the safety and comfort of Jackson provides all the better and more appreciative qualities to winter - like admiring the pretty little snowflakes dissolving on your fingers. 

A month has passed since you moved into Jackson, and although it was an adjustment at first trying to sleep without the need to be on constant guard, you have found your place within the community comfortably. Maria insisted that you take all the time you need to find work suitable to your skillset, but after thirty days of rest and settling in, you are finally ready to give wall duty a try.

How hard can it be? You guard the wall and if you see anything suspicious, radio call for backup. It sounds fairly simple and it's not like you won’t be prepared, you’ll have weapons and ammunition in case there's any trouble. 

Wall duty sounds like easy work. You assume and smile at the sound of innocent giggles from behind you. Kids running rampant and playing in the snow, it was nice to see the young ones living the lives they should be and it made you wonder about your own childhood memories too, but they felt like a distant memory, bringing a pang of sadness for only remembering the turmoil and violence that this world gave you. “Next up!” The butcher yells, pulling you out of you away from the saddening revelation that you cannot the childhood you had before the outbreak.

Stepping forward and flashing Stanley a smile, the man didn’t always smile back but you cared very little as you lifted your sack of fresh kill off the slushy ground and placed it on his blood-stained table. Three rabbits - one of them white, which was a bitch to catch given surroundings - two ferrets, one badger, a squirrel and last but not least, a big meaty beaver.

Hoping to cash them all in for a nice chunk of tokens, you have your eye on a little ornament sitting atop of a stall down the road a ways. Maria set up a whole range of festive activities this week considering the snow only began last week. Activities such as setting up a street market during the daytime this week and next, then watching the kids decorate the large Christmas tree tomorrow evening before turning the lights on, as well as the winter themed cookout in the restaurant or the winter themed dance that’s being held in the church on Saturday night. 

There was lots to do this week and it’s been busier than usual for everyone, including you, but first you wanted to try and get as many tokens as you possibly could to grab that little ornament and possibly a book from Ginny’s stall with anything regarding mythological creatures. You still haven’t solved the mystery of who the wolf is, but maybe now with a book full of information, you can find out who it is that saved your life that night in the forest. “I can give you twenty-five tokens for the whole lot.” Stanley cuts through your thoughts with his absurd offer. 

“What?” You retort, shaking your head. “No way. There’s at least forty, maybe fifty tokens worth of clean kills here-” stopping yourself midway, you point to the white rabbit and cringe. “Yeah ok. Maybe this isn’t so clean but the rest are worth a lot more than twenty-five tokens.” 

“Thirty tokens.” Stanley countered. His face was cold as steel and his voice emotionless, but you tried your hand at haggling with the man. Narrowing your eyes and standing a little taller, as if you could even intimidate a six foot tall middle aged man with an impressive white beard, you looked down to items and took the beaver away. “Okay. Twenty-five tokens it is, Stanley.” 

The badger was lean and slim, much like the rest of the small carcases, but the beaver had been beefing up for the winter. A clean coat that can be used for pelts and a lot of meat on its bones, you know that this one is by far the best out of the bunch, and it’s the one that Stanley wants the most.

You almost broke your poker face when watching him stroke his long beard, looking down at the animals once more before looking up into your eyes. He was contemplating it. Although your expression remained blank, in your mind you were already cheering for your victory. “Forty tokens.” He broke and countered with his final offer. “But take the rabbits back. I have too many of them.” 

“Deal.” Sealing it with a handshake, you swapped the beaver for the three rabbits and claimed your forty tokens. With a goodbye nod to Stanley, you finally allowed yourself to smirk with your victory, eliciting the man to huff before you walked away chuckling. It was indeed a great bargain. You now have three rabbits to barter and tokens to spend. 

Heading for the restaurant first, you met Melinda inside and traded all three rabbits for a medium sized tub of beef stew with two fluffy oven baked dumplings. That woman knows how to cook and you know she’s going to whip up something real nice with those rabbits for the winter cookout, so everyone wins in this scenario. Keeping your tub of food for wall duty tonight, you placed it inside your bag carefully so as to not let it spill and continued down the street to buy your ornament and hopefully a book with answers about supernatural wolves. 

After finding the ornament amongst all the others on the table, you pointed it out and handed twenty-five tokens over to the old woman minding the stall. Rather pricey yes, but it was worth every single token as you lifted it up to inspect closely. It was a cloaked woman sitting with the moon in her lap, looking magical and beautiful with her bronzed coloured skin, which paired well with the purple cloak tied together with leaves around the neck. The ornament itself was large too, just big enough to be placed at the centre of the mantle on your fireplace. 

You’ve had your eye on this all week since the street market opened and it’s going to pair beautifully with your dreamcatchers hung on the fireplace. Crafting the dream catchers yourself, you plan to paint your concrete hearth black with little specks of white, to make it look dreamy like the stars above. Just little TLC touches you have made to make your house a home. After thanking the old lady for keeping the ornament for you, you then moved on to the next stall to find a book. 

“Hey. Me again.” You laugh bashfully to Ginny with a small wave. She waved too, and smiled, but didn’t speak. Ginny doesn’t talk a whole lot and she is an exceptionally beautiful woman. The type of beauty that intimidates you, but you often wonder if she doesn’t know how beautiful she actually is. When she does speak, she is soft with her voice and a hell of a lot more shy than you. 

Nominating her as the official bookworm of Jackson when seeing her collection of books for the first time, she spends more time reading than any other activity. A lot of young adults around Jackson are caught doing the usual rebellious activities, but Ginny doesn’t. She tends to hide away in her own comfortable little bubble.

Either that or she is just really good at not getting caught in those rebellious activities. These are just assumptions you’ve made after meeting her a handful of times and seeing her around town always by herself, but taking advantage of the mutual sheepish nature you both have, you enjoyed the quietness while browsing over the collection of books she was willing to give up. 

There were a lot of educational books, but none regarding information around wolves, or fictional wolves, and the small selection of fiction were action and adventure, romance or children's books, thus causing you to hit a wall. Until you saw that Ginny had a little bag by her feet filled with more books. “Hey, Ginny. I’m looking for fantasy books, like fairy tales and folklore. Do you have any?” Looking down to that bag of hers while you asked, she nodded and lowered down the book she was engrossed with. 

Lifting the bag up and rummaging around inside, she pulled out an old weathered book and your eyes widened with how thick it was, but seeing the title ‘The Bible of Mythological Creatures’ caught your attention the most. Information about a supernatural wolf would certainly be in there, and you had to have that book. Whatever the cost. Wondering what that cost could be, you looked up to Ginny with a smile. “What can I give you for it? I only have fifteen tokens, but I’m guessing those are books that you don’t really want to give away.”

“Yeah, but I brought them along in case someone can offer me a good price.” She shakes her head, but rolls her lips in thought for a solution. “How about you give me fifteen tokens and an extra ten everyday this week? I don’t want to go beyond the walls hunting or scavenging things for tokens, but I would like to buy something from another stall.”

“Yes. That’s perfect.” Nodding to her, you handed the tokens over and took the book, promising that you’ll be back tomorrow. “Thank you, Ginny. I won’t let you down.” You already had ideas on ways to repay her for this. As well as hunting for more animals, you could bring in some supplies and get more tokens. Sixty-five tokens for one book may be high, but you like Ginny and appreciate that she was willing to put her trust in you to pay her back everyday. 

Saying goodbye to her and turning to leave, you accidentally bumped into someone's chest. It was like a brick wall, strong and sturdy, causing you to stumble a little. “I’m sor-” You were about to apologise, but lost the ability to speak as it was Joel Miller looking down at you through half lidded eyes. Tommy was there too but you didn’t take notice of him just yet as your sole focus was attached to the way Joel's chest puffed out with an annoyed sigh. With one raised brow, his jaw clenched as he maintained your eye contact, staring at you with disgust. 

Jesus. Settle down, it was an accident. Scowling at the man for his actions, your facial expression spoke for you as Joel shakes his head with a tut and moves past you, purposely brushing your shoulder. “Hey Y/N, how’yer doing?” Now you finally noticed that his brother was there, and the sound of his voice greeting you halted your urges to confront Joel. 

“Hi, Tommy. I’m doing okay and you?” Replying to him nicely, you can’t say you ever have the same tone of voice for his older brother. Joel still doesn’t trust you, he still believes that you’re working for the bandits, which is just ridiculous. A whole month has passed and the man can’t seem to understand that you’re not a threat to Jackson. This is your home now, and he has to get used to it. 

“All prepared for your shift on the wall later?” Tommy asks. You liked that he made an effort to talk to you, unlike his brother who was currently muttering something under his breath over your shoulder. ‘Mistake’ is all you could make out, and simply because Tommy told Joel to knock it off, you know that his comment was aimed at you. Oh how your blood boils because of one man. “I’m all set, Tommy. Thanks.” You smile, ignoring his brother's mumbling. “See you later.” 

Tommy returned the goodbye, but as you walked away, you heard the man reprimanding his brother for the way he talks to you, and that kept the smile on your face. It felt good to have someone in your corner, especially the leader of Jackson's husband. Those accusations about you working for the enemy had somehow spread around the community and it didn’t take a genius to know who it was that started it.

Maria and Tommy snuffed out those rumours immediately, reassuring their residents that you aren’t working with bandits, but you still get sceptical looks from others. That’s Joel’s handy work. He simply couldn’t accept that you aren’t the enemy and took it upon himself to make others believe that you are too, but you’ll show him and the community of Jackson that you are one of them. 

Tonight you’re going to breeze through your shift on the wall and show everyone that you can play your part in protecting them, that you’re a part of this town and you’re here to stay.  

*tick tick tick tick*

Sighing as you look at the watch on your wrist, it’s just gone four seconds past midnight and your shift on wall duty has dragged exceptionally slow thus far. 

Underestimating just how boring this job would be, you’re glad that you brought some things along to keep you entertained. You ate the beef and dumplings as soon as you started four hours ago, and are now enjoying a snack while reading through The Bible of Mythological Creatures, where you also underestimated just how many mythical creatures there are.

Considering zombies are a part of mythology and infected people with the same characteristics roam this world now, you’re wondering what else in this book could be true. If werewolves are real, then are banshees, vampires and hellhounds real too? I hope not. You think to yourself upon remembering the creatures you’ve seen in this book so far. 

Although this chapter of the book was full of information, there was too much information from too many sources for you to narrow down your search. There were traces of wolves dating back centuries from all over the globe in many different cultures, each with different origins and explanations, however there were a few points that were consistent throughout. A lycanthrope is either born from a cursed bloodline, or they’re bitten, but who? You ask yourself before lifting your head from the book and gazing across the open plains outside the walls.

Who in Jackson could have been bitten or born into the bloodline? And if they are born into it, are there more? Most of the community are families, what if there is a whole family of werewolves living inside these walls. You had too many questions unanswered and no one to talk to about this. Who would even believe that you have seen a werewolf. What if it was just a regular wolf and I dreamed everything? 

Self doubt got in the way during your thought process. You tried to think back on that fearful night one month ago, remembering any and all small details of that person you saw in the forest. After coming face to face with the wolf and you passed out from shock, you fought hard to open your eyes once more and watched that wolf shift into a human. The next time you awoke, you’re in a clinic room within Jackson, and that can’t be a coincidence.

Someone in Jackson brought you to the wall before scurrying off just in time for Joel to find you laying in the grass. You weren’t dragged there. You were carried. Carried by someone who is warm and strong. You remember feeling safe wrapped up in their arms, but it still brings the question on who that could have been. Joel crossed your mind as a suspect. His story sounded shady and he certainly fits the criteria of a werewolf being big, burly and mean, but that person who you saw in the woods didn’t match Joel’s features. That person was slim, and they were naked too as a matter of fact. Probably tore their clothes from the shift, you assume.

Crossing Joel out but keeping him in mind for an associate, you suspect he knows about the wolf or maybe even knows who it is, hence his problem with you. You’re curious and you know too much. That’s why Joel is an asshole. Either that, or he is just an asshole for the fun of it. You’ve done nothing wrong to the man and you’ve seen the way he is with others. Politely spoken, caring and compassionate, but you don’t receive any of that treatment, which further emphasises your assumption that Joel knows about the wolf. He has to.

Looking back down to the book upon feeling your brain spiral out of control, you licked the tip of your finger and turned the page, but gasped in horror at the images in front of you. Two soul piercing eyes glowing amber from the page reminded you of the wolf's eyes that you saw and you slammed the book shut. They felt familiar. Too fucking familiar. Like you’ve seen them before. 

Deciding to give reading a break for now, you focus your attention on your job and look for any anomalies along the wall, however you caught something moving in the corner of your eye. It was something grazing along the tree line, but it was too far to see. Grabbing the long rifle that Tommy loaned you, you lifted it up and looked through the scope. The hairs on the back of your neck stuck up like tendrils as you immediately thought of the wolf, but it couldn’t be. Wolves don’t have antlers. Those are some big antlers too.

Narrowing your eyes, you watched the animal closely while reaching for your radio. Mark was on wall duty tonight too, but he was further along the wall in post two. You want that animal, it’s gonna provide those sixty five tokens for Ginny, maybe even more. “Hey Mark, answer me a question.” You say into the mic then wait for an answer, and when he came back asking what your question was, you clicked the button once more to speak. “I got a big buck in my line of sight. Will you cover for me while I go out and get it?”

“You sure you don't want me to go out there and get it for you?” The man offered, bringing a smile to your face as you contemplated it. Honestly, that sounded a lot better. Mark is bigger than you and stronger too, he’d have a much easier time bringing the buck back, however the shot is going to draw attention and you need to warn Maria beforehand. “Yeah, I’d like that if it isn’t too much trouble for you, but first let me check that it’s okay with the boss.” 

“Yes. That should be fine, but I’ll stand by for confirmation that Mark is back safe.” Maria answers after you explain your plan to kill and capture the animal. Understanding her need for reassurance of yours and Mark's safety, you lined up your shot first and gave a warning through the radio before firing. The sound whipped across the land before you like a boomerang and you heard the thud of the bullet landing from all the way out here.

Reporting every step to Maria, you watched Mark climb down from his post and sprint across the field towards the trees, however his voice then came through the radio with surprisingly good news. “Y/N, this ain’t no buck. It’s a moose. A big ass moose.” 

“What? No way?” You reply, excitement of the news evident in your voice, but the thought of him struggling to bring the dead animal back crossed your mind. “Shit. Moose are big right? Can you manage it by yourself Mark?”

“I’m most likely gonna need a hand.” He admits, unashamed. Maria’s voice cuts through the radio next with a demand for you to keep him in your line of sight while she sends someone along to help Mark. Confirming her order, you did exactly as she asked and kept Mark in your line of sight while waiting for the help to arrive, however a second sight of movement in the treeline caught your attention and you flicked your rifle across to inspect it. Eyes widening with fear, you grabbed the walkie and yelled down the mic. “Mark run!!” 

It was the wolf, running with speed directly for him.

Firing off a round and missing the wolf by a long shot, you ignored the pleas from Maria asking what’s wrong and abandoned your post to help. The man was already running across the field when your feet touched the ground below. He heeded your warning seriously and took zero chances on waiting to find out why he needed to run. Mark acted exactly like you expected him to. Like his life was on the line. 

After catching sight of the wolf’s golden eyes over his shoulder, you kept on running and watched as they disappeared into the shadows. “Mark, go back and bring more help.” You yell while passing the man and picking up your speed. Maria’s voice came through on your radio again, and yet you still ignored her demanding pleas while approaching the treeline.

Just past the bush, you could see the moose laying on the ground, but beyond that was the wolf's tail swishing side to side as it trotted away. I knew I didn’t dream the whole thing. You think as you recognise the features on the wolf. Black furred and supernaturally big, it’s the same one you saw that night, and you know that there is a human inside. “Y/N, don’t you do it.” Another command came through your walkie. “Don’t you dare go inside. Wait for us to get there.” It was Joel demanding you to wait, and it was another demand that you ignored as you entered the treeline. 

Who are you protecting, Joel?

Leaving the church in Jackson with your head hung low, you’ve just received the most humiliating reprimanding of your life from Maria for disobeying her command, and her brother in laws too. 

You followed that wolf for a couple yards before the Millers caught up with you and escorted you back to the community. Though you persisted about following the trail that led to a dangerously big threat - a human that poses a great risk to Jackson if they should ever develop a desire to kill the residents - Maria and Tommy didn’t believe that it was a supernatural wolf. It was just like you guessed it would be. They thought you were crazy.

Joel however, his actions throughout the whole ordeal only confirmed your suspicions. Not once did you mention werewolf, or else people will really think you’re crazy, but he did that on his own accord while belittling you for your actions tonight. A slip up maybe? Joel definitely knows who it is, and he is certainly protecting their identity, but even though you were feeling ashamed after the man managed to turn everyone against you, your hunger to find the truth didn’t waver.

Leaving the church with a plan of action in mind, you’ve been investigating this the wrong way. Joel is your lead suspect. He will lead you to the wolf, and then you can prove to Maria that there is a bigger threat here in Jackson other than your ‘disobedient nature’, but it was as if the man himself knew you had a plan as he followed you out of the church, telling you to get your shit together. You just have to get one more word in, don’t you Joel?

“Why?” Halting your walk and turning around, the temptation to bite back took over your ability to restrain yourself, and even Joel looked surprised that you retorted. It caught him off guard, yet he narrowed his eyes with the faintest smirk on his lips. “Why?” He repeats your words, perching both hands to his hips while raising one brow. You’re not dumb, you know he’s giving you a chance, a chance to keep quiet and walk away but you’re way beyond the realms of rage to do that now.

“Yes, why should I get my shit together?” You smile. A genuine teasing smile with enjoyment in your tone. “Especially when I know what you’re trying to do here.” 

“And what do you think it is that I’m trying to do here, huh girl?” Joel grumbles, his tone of voice deep, but underlined with your last warning to back out, however you know you’ve got under his skin. Really got under his skin this time, not like before where he was using intimidating tactics to get you to back off from finding the truth, which would work on others if they were in your same predicament. But not you. You’re done with being afraid and defenceless. And Joel will soon come to see that. Not answering his question, you left the man standing in the street with only a wink before turning to make your way home.

A small gesture that lets him know without a need for words that you’re onto him and you will not be getting 'your shit together'.  

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Tagging:

Werewolf Joel Miller: @kirsteng42 @marydjarin @extraneous-trip @dins-cyare @supernaturalgirl20 @supernaturalgirl @joelsflannel @luvmeijii @hb8301 @squidwell

[misspearly1]

Chp1 || Chp2 || Chp3 || Chp4 || Chp5 || Chp6 || Chp7 || Chp8 || Chp9

Pairing: Werewolf!Joel Miller x You (F!Reader)

Summary: Looking back on how your life has turned out this far, you often wonder if you got more than you bargained for when finally finding your safe haven within the walls of Jackson. They have it all; food, shelter and electricity, but what else did you come to discover that lives within this thriving community? And how did that discovery change your life?

WC: 6.4k

Warnings: 18+ Content. Minors DNI. Enemies to lovers. Little bit of the love triangle trope between Joel, Reader and Jake. Even more sexual tension between Joel and Reader. Mentions of wet dreams. This chapter has an angsty ending. Mentions & descriptions of a panic attack.

AN: Oh wow, okay. I am loving the way I took this chapter myself. A little bit of a rollercoaster with emotions, but I promise it will all come together nicely. Alsooo, I hope you like that ending ;), I can't wait for the next chapter! Enjoy my loves.

Holding your trembling hands over the indentation of snow in your backyard, you shake your head with disbelief. What the hell… it was here? 

You trace your fingers around the shape with widened eyes. The werewolf was here. You’ve had a personal visit at some point during the night, the evidence of the fact couldn’t be more clear. Angrily swiping it away, you stood from the floor and quickly exited the back gate of your yard. You’re late for work and it’s only your second day, but a home visit from the werewolf isn’t going to stop your investigations. Especially not when Joel orchestrated this. You just know that it’s him behind this little tactic. He said that he can’t convince you to let this go, so he tasks the wolf to frighten you into letting it go instead. When will Joel learn that you won’t be terrorized into keeping quiet? 

Huffing with annoyance, you tried not to let it bother you too much and hastily made your way to work. Melinda needs your help with prepping breakfast and you don’t want to let her down. It’s too early in the morning to be thinking about Joel Miller and the werewolf anyway, you had your fill of thinking about them last night while working. 

Just shrug it off, Y/N. Today is a new day! 

Hugging your jacket as you rush along the dark streets of Jackson, the winter mornings were getting colder and you couldn’t wait to be inside the kitchen where it will most definitely be warm. Though, I think I’ll regret it in the summertime. You snicker to yourself with that thought, then wonder if you would even still be working there next year. 

Excluding the cons of working last night, you really enjoyed all of the pros. Melinda, Jack and Tracy are great company to have working alongside you, the food and drinks are a delightful perk, and the experience of working with the residents isn’t all that bad, misusing the whole deal with the Millers and Eugene of course, but everyone else is wonderful. You wouldn’t oppose the idea of working here long-term. 

Maybe it’s meant to be.

Turning the corner to main street, you hurried toward the warm glow of light slipping out of the restaurant windows with the smell of food already pungent in the air, it was smoky with hints of salt. Bacon! 

Mouth salivating with the smell, you looked forward to a portion of breakfast for yourself before serving the residents of Jackson and pushed through the front door eagerly. Wiping your snow clad boots across the bristles on the welcome mat, you preen at the sound of Melinda's warm voice greeting you. “Good morning, my dear.” 

“Morning, Mel. How are you?” You ask before walking across the floor and joining her at a table. She had a set of teacups sitting on the tabletop beside a steaming teapot, baby blue coloured embellished with white polka dots. It was pretty, and it smelled heavenly too as delicately floral and citrus scented aroma entered your nostrils. It was hot lemon tea; a nice and sweet beverage to sip on during a cold winter morning. 

“I’m well, love. Thank you.” Melinda smiles. Leaning forward into her chair, she reaches for the teapot. “Would you like some?”

“Oh, I thought you’d never ask.” You titter with an eager nod of your head. “Yes please, Melinda.” 

Making light conversation with the woman, you each just simply enjoyed the warmth and serenity that comes with a morning cup of tea and a chat before work. You could definitely see yourself working here long-term so long as Melinda is here too. 

Clearing up the table and heading into the kitchen to eat some breakfast, you practically swallowed it down before starting to peel the potatoes. You had a long day ahead of you and hoped that it would be as successful as last night towards your investigations. 

The more you work here, the better your multitasking skills will improve. Keeping tabs on Joel and Eugene while working as a waitress would either fry your mind or strengthen it. Though, you’d much prefer the latter. 

A little while later, Melinda took some of the freshly peeled potatoes and started preparing the hash browns. Once your task is done, your next job is to get all the tables and chairs set up. Tracy and Jack would be showing up shortly; they’re your new work mates, who’ve been here longer than you have and are thrilled to have you onboard. 

With your generous offer to come in early and help Melinda today, they were able to get an extra hour's rest in bed. You don’t mind, you also like having an extra hour rest in the mornings, especially during the winter months. Who likes getting out of a warm comfy bed and into the cold anyways? 

Soon after Tracy and Jack showed up to work, the residents of Jackson quickly followed with each and everyone of them patiently awaiting their breakfast to be served. Keeping yourself on your toes, you were not so patiently awaiting for Joel or Eugene to arrive. The closer it was nearing lunch, the closer you were to giving up hope that they would ever arrive. Maybe they’re skipping breakfast today? 

Sighing with that thought, the sound caught someone's attention and eclited him to ask what’s on your mind. Jake? What is he doing here? “Oh, not much. Just have a lot on my mind, that’s all.” You turn to face him.  

“All good things, I hope?” The man shoots you a playful wink, sitting himself in your section of tables purposely to see you this morning. Oh… He’s flirting with me. Ok, get your head out of the gutter Y/N.  “Yeah, it’s good things on my mind.” You smile, brushing a piece of hair out of your face. The night you shared with him was rather heated and passionate, and you enjoyed every passing minute with Jake rolling around in the sheets. It can’t hurt to pursue something with him, can it? 

Memorizing what he wants for breakfast, you notice the way he looks down to your lips multiple times with a smile on his face. It makes you blush and think about what he did last night that made you moan pleasurably, then quickly snap out of it. Clearing your throat, you nod to him and repeat his order. “Milky tea and two eggs over easy with a hash brown. You got it.” 

Pulling your gaze away from his enticing smile, you turn on the spot and roll your eyes at the sight of Joel’s smirking smile. He must have come into the restaurant from out of nowhere and he, too, sat in your section of tables. Right beside Jake in fact. “Good morning, sir. What can I get you?” Greeting him with a blank tone, you bit the urge to smirk with the way you addressed him. Using ‘sir’ without an ounce of respect, you could see that Joel picked up on your sarcasm, but he returned the favour by acting all nice and polite. “Morning, sweetheart. I’d like the usual please.” 

Before you could even open your mouth to make some snarky reply about what his usual order is, the man held up a finger and tuts. Like you were a fucking child, Joel tuts at you. “Just ask Melinda, she knows what I like for breakfast.” 

You hum and walk away before losing the urge to say something. This back and forth squabbling is going to result in you and Joel being at each other's throats before breakfast is even over. Heading into the kitchen and relaying the orders to Melinda, you made your way back out with a pot of tea in one hand and a little cup of milk in the other. Joel’s an idiot if he thinks you're serving him his hot drink first. He can wait. 

Back at Jake's table, you were met with another enticing smile and flirtatious remarks while you poured out his drink, and with Joel’s eyes burning two holes into the back of your head. Why are you sitting there! Why not go to Jack's section, or Tracy's?... Oh. Your eyes with realization. You just now realized that there’s a high likelihood he knows about you and Jake last night. If the wolf was there during the same time Jake was, then it would have heard what went down in your bedroom and considering Joel is now sitting right beside Jake, tells you that the wolf had shared all that he learned with him. 

Does Joel care? Is that why he’s sitting near Jake? Making your way to the kitchen with those pondering thoughts floating around in your head, you grab the pot of coffee and head back out to serve Joel’s drink. It can’t be a coincidence that he is sitting in your section of tables this morning. Sure, last night was just sheer luck, but today your section has changed and Joel could have chosen anywhere inside the restaurant to park his ass, but he chose to park it on the table right beside Jake. 

“What are you playing at?” You mutter under your breath, approaching him reluctantly as he was smirking at you again. A devilish kind of smirk - one that can only mean trouble. Pouring out his coffee and ignoring his smile, disgust furrows your brows when he asks how you slept last night. You tear your gaze away to look at him, but stop yourself from making a mistake as he wasn’t even looking at you. 

Eugene was on the next table over and Joel was talking to him, not you. Although, you still think that question was aimed to rile you up, you’re just glad you caught on quickly and didn’t give the reaction he was looking for. Glancing over to Eugene, you stuck to your job role as a waitress and asked if he’d like any coffee as well, which he did and you poured out a cup for him too. Though he didn’t want any breakfast. 

You heard him talk about not catching a wink of sleep last night as it was too noisy at the ‘outpost’ and his topic of conversation caught your attention, so you listened as Joel replied, asking him ‘how it is looking out there’. They’re talking about somewhere outside of Jackson, but where? You wonder while walking away. Without a reason to stay anymore, you didn’t want to bring on any suspicion of your eavesdropping, but thankfully there was another resident sitting at a table nearby and you listened as Eugene reported that the snow was getting heavier, but otherwise all quiet. There’s very little infected roaming around. 

Taking orders while trying to listen to a conversation was difficult, but you managed to catch them saying something about patrol and library. Maybe there’s a library on one of the patrol routes? Which could also be this outpost that Eugene was referring to? Keeping these questions in mind, you finished taking the residents order and went back to the kitchen to relay it to Melinda again and gather food while you’re there. Jakes and Joel’s breakfast will be done by now. 

After serving it up to them both, you couldn’t linger around as more people spilled into the restaurant and you had to keep up with the flow. Tracy and Jack were doing great, you watched as they came in and out of the kitchen frequently, checking up on all of their tables but not too much, while your section was just now starting to get busy. You need to be doing great too. Visiting tables and the kitchen a few times, you came back out to see Jake waving you down. He had finished his food, but rather than just getting up to leave like everyone else does, he wanted to say goodbye first. 

“Hey gorgeous, I gotta go to work. Thank you for breakfast.” He stands from his chair, planting a chaste kiss to your cheek, which took you by surprise. The chances of pursuing something with him look promising. “It’s my pleasure. You stay safe out there, ok?” You smile, and with one final wink and an affirmative nod, Jake pulled away to leave, however as you began to clear up the table, you lifted your head and caught him looking back at you, still with a smile on his face. The action makes you blush all over again, but before you could enjoy feeling giddy and desirable any longer, the one and only Joel Miller ruins it. 

“Can I get some more coffee?” He asks, actually sounding genuinely polite for once. Turning to face him, you were about to ask Eugene if he’d like another but he wasn’t there anymore. “Sure, I’ll just be a moment.” You say to Joel before heading into the kitchen to grab the coffee pot. 

There is only half an hour left before breakfast will be over and you can go home for a little break. Tracy and Jack were going to help Melinda prepare lunch in return for you coming in early this morning, and even though you’d really enjoy a little relaxing time within the comfort of your own home, you figure that the break could be more beneficial towards your investigations by looking at Jacksons notice board. It’s listed with all the patrol routes and who is on them, therefore you might find some answers to those questions you had earlier about the outpost. 

Returning to Joel and serving his coffee, you naively hoped that the transaction would be swift but you were mistaken as he chose this moment to talk to you. Unsurprisingly starting the conversation off about Jake. “That guy seems nice. Is he treating you well?”

“Who?” You act coy and shrug. “Oh, you mean Jake? I only just met him yesterday, but yes, he treats me nicely, sir.” Muscles pulling your lips into a thin smile as Joel quirks an eyebrow, he was either intrigued by you addressing him as ‘sir’ for a second time, or intrigued about Jake. 

“Ah, that’s good - good to know, darlin’.” Joel lifts his mug to sip the substance obnoxiously loud while maintaining your eye contact. The man was smirking again, you can see the corners of his mouth turned upwards which was simultaneously turning up your confusion as to why he even cares if Jake is treating you well. Oh my God.. Is he jealous? 

Holding a hand over your mouth and failing to stop the giggle slipping past your lips, you shook your head as Joel lowered his mug. “What’s so funny?” He smiles, and it catches you off guard. It was genuine. A small toothy grin that deepens the crinkles around eyes, and his eyes were so fucking soft too. They felt warm and enticing to look into you. The way Joel smiles took you by complete utter surprise. Because it’s real and it’s beautiful too. 

“Nothing.” Diverting your attention away from his lips, you shook your head at yourself for getting distracted. That smile of his can’t charm me! Stay focused… “Is there anything else I can get for you, Joel?” You ask, and when he mutters a very soft and small ‘no darlin’ in reply, your gaze pauses at the way his lips moved when he used his pet name for you again. The southern drawl rolling off his tongue and dripping right into your ear like sweet honey from one simple word. Snapping out of it with a nod, you walk away into the kitchen again and that was the last you saw of Joel that morning. 

And you were thankful for it too because you're having issues with the way your body reacts to his smile. Not long after Joel left for whatever he had to do today, you were ready to take that break and left the restaurant to go straight for the notice board near the school. Reading the board and learning that Eugene patrols the creek trails and ski lodge, with Dina and Bonnie, this is the only lead you have that can suggest where to look for this outpost of his. Maybe Jake might know something about patrols? 

Cringing with that question popping into your mind, you should really get to know the man more if he is going to be laying in your bed again. Last night was just a one night stand, but seeing him this morning was surprising - a nice kind of surprise. You had thirty minutes left before getting back to work and took this opportunity to take a walk around Jackson, to really get to know the area that you call home. It’s been over a month now since you arrived and there are still areas that you haven’t visited yet. 

Walking past the school window and smiling at the little kids inside listening to their teacher attentively, you carried on down the street and past multiple lovely looking houses on the way. You didn’t realize how big Jackson actually was. There were rows of streets that were busy, and other rows that were dead quiet. Fifty plus families apparently live here in Jackson, but does that include the loners like you? People who are on their own and don’t have any family? It makes you wonder how many residents are actually living here. Last night, it felt like there were nearly a hundred people at the restaurant, but maybe there are more. 

Passing through a gated cemetery, you stopped and quickly hid behind a tree when seeing Tommy and Eugene talking outside one of the entrances. Two guys having a conversation in the street isn’t out of the ordinary, but considering they’re suspects of yours and Tommy was actually yelling at Eugene about something, it sparked your interest to listen. 

Carefully moving closer without being seen, you managed to reach another tree at a distance where you can just make out what they were talking about. Tommy had stopped yelling now, but he was still talking loudly and he was telling Eugene to back off and let it go. “But Tommy, it’s your brother who you should be telling to back off. Not me.” Says Eugene, to which Tommy replies with a scoff. “Oh I fucking know that. He’s become a real pain in my ass since she arrived.” Are they talking about me? You wonder and then continue to focus on their conversation. 

“Who are we spying on?” You jump with fright when someone whispers deeply into your ear. Turning quickly and ready to strike whoever it was, Joel caught your hand before it could land on the side of his face. “Shit, I didn’t mean to…” You panic and begin to apologize, but quickly remember the hate you have for the man and answer his question. “Spying? I’m not spying on anyone. Now give me my hand back.” 

“No. You were about to hit me, and I want that apology you didn’t quite finish.” Joel retorts, smirking and still holding your wrist as you try to pull your arm back. His grip was strong, but not painful. “And you were definitely spying on someone, darlin’.” 

You make a surprised sound when he leaned in to peep around the tree. Your eyes zeroed in on his chest chair and how his skin is lightly golden in color with a fading summer tan. Jesus, he smells good. Why do you smell so fucking good? Asshole men like you should stink! 

Pulling back, but still not letting your wrist go, Joel laid a hand to the bark of the tree above your head and looked down at you with a teasing look on his face. “You know, Maria won’t be too impressed with you spying on her man.” 

“Oh, and let me guess. You’re going to have great pleasure telling her about this, and she will have more of a reason to hate me.” Yanking your arm back again, this time Joel let go but his gaze alone was enough to keep you standing where you are. You could have moved away if you wanted to, but weirdly, you didn’t want to. You wanted to hear what he had to say first. 

“Maria doesn’t hate you. Hate is a strong word, sweetheart.” Joel mumbles, unblinking as he still looks down into your eyes. It was bizarre how those stupid eyes of his had a hold on you, like you should move away but you didn’t want to. “And I won’t tell her about this if you don’t want me to.” He whispers softly, the sound of it driving you up the wall.  

“Why would you do that?” Speaking your inner questions out loud, you already had an idea as to why Joel would do that for you, but you didn’t want to believe it. He’s just trying to woo you over, to make you believe that he can be all sweet and nice. “If you think the way you have been acting today is going to make me forget what an asshole you are, then you’re wrong Joel - I don’t like you.” 

“Sure about that, darlin’?” Joel leans in, placing a carefully calculated hand to your hip which sparks a heat in your body. Slipping that hand around to your lower back, he slowly pulls you into him while closing the gap between your face and his. “I think you do like me Y/N, but hate that you do.” 

“Joel, let go of me…” A small whisper slips past your lips, lacking the usual assertive tone. It felt so wrong, yet so good at the same time. Good because his hand feels nice against your lower back, warm and firm, keeping you flush against his chest. Good because the hands you have placed to his chest give you a sense of his strength beneath your fingertips. Good because his heart was beating fast, as if he were excited or nervous to hold you in this way when his lips are seconds away from yours while gazing down into your eyes with lust. That felt so good, but it’s wrong because you hate Joel. You’re supposed to hate him and you should hate what he’s doing right now, but instead, you hate yourself for enjoying it. 

Tilting away from his kiss, you pushed on his chest and broke free from his entrancing hold on you. He called out for you, but you ignored him. That’s what you should have done to begin with. Wooing you over is just another tactic he is using, it doesn’t mean anything so why are you foolish enough to fall for it? 

Getting back to work and feeling disappointed at yourself for getting aroused by him, the rest of your shift breezed over and before you knew it you were walking home, ready to call it a day. After locking your house, taking a quick shower and jumping into bed, you fell asleep but even your dreams were bombarded with the sight of Joel and you woke up on the brink of an orgasm. Trying to sleep after that was a problem as every time you closed your eyes, the one and only Joel Miller was there.  

Outside however, was the red-eyed werewolf sitting in your backyard once again. 

The Next Day

Mentally preparing yourself for the evening service, you haven’t seen Jake or Joel at all today, but now it seems that the both of them have decided to come into the restaurant quite late for some dinner. Two men are sitting in your section of tables with both of them looking for where you are as you peep out of the kitchen window and you ask yourself - what ever did I do wrong to deserve this? 

Heading out there with a brave face after taking too long trying to gather the courage, you walked towards their tables and already faced your first difficulty. Who’s order do you take first? They were both smiling and patiently waiting as you slowly approached. Joel slightly leaned over the table with two arms laid across the top, looking into your eyes in a way that you wished Jake would look at you. He was leaning back into his chair, looking you up and down with his legs spread and a hand held over his crotch. 

You want to go to Joel, but you choose the opposite and take Jake's order first and the feeling you had on your back felt terrible. It felt like disappointment, like Joel was disappointed you didn’t choose him. “I’m doing okay.” You answer Jake after he asks how you were doing. “What can I get you for dinner?” 

“Just the soup tonight, gorgeous.” Jake looks up at you with a smirk on his lips, but leans in close to whisper. “I’d like to walk you home tonight, if you’re up for it?” Understanding what he was really asking for under that question, yesterday you would have answered with an immediate yes, but today is different. “Um… I’m actually hanging out with a friend tonight. Maybe some other time?” You lie, feeling ashamed at the way Jake's face drops. 

“S-sure, of course.” He shakes his head, chuckling nervously. Expressing a smile to him before turning to take Joel’s order, he made it easy on you and how you feel right now by telling you what he wants. “Just a cold sandwich with hot coffee. Thank you, darlin’.” God, why does this suck! 

Walking off into the kitchen and grabbing the coffee, you had time to pour Joel’s drink while Melinda took care of the food, but when you came back out with the pot, you saw that Jake wasn’t sitting in his seat anymore. “In the restroom.” Joel shakes his head with another smile after noticing your despair. He remained quiet while you poured out his coffee, but thanked you for a second time when you were finished. This kind and polite Joel is throwing you off and you had to ask. “Why are you so hot and cold with me? You can’t be an asshole to me, then act all nice and sweet, ok? Just pick one and leave me alone.” 

Walking away just in time with Jake exiting the restroom, you blew through the doors of the kitchen and placed the pot of coffee down with enough force to catch Melinda’s attention. “Uh-oh. Who’s out there complaining about my food?” She jokes, abandoning her job for a moment to come over at your side, however after looking up through the window, she sighed a little ‘oh’ and squeezed your arm reassuringly. Which confused you a lot more than what Joel is right now, why did she say oh like she understands what’s going on out there? Is it that obvious? 

“I remember a time, a long time ago now, where I had more than one man after my heart.” Mel begins with her way of calming you down. She always knows how to say the right things to you as a small smile appears on your lips. “It was fun and I felt like I was something special...” Yeah, I kinda feel like that right now. “...But it was also difficult and very confusing too.” Um-hum. I’m with you there, Mel. 

Looking up and meeting her gaze, it was like all of your problems disappeared. She was standing there with open arms, welcoming you in for a hug that you really needed right now. “I feel like my emotions are betraying me.” You mumble into the warmth of her chest. She feels like home. Like the mother you lost to this world. “I know I’ll figure it out eventually, but it’s so damn confusing and I’m doubting myself all the time.” 

“I understand, my child.” Mel kisses the top of your head once before breaking off and holding her hands to each side of your face. “The heart whispers certainty, but the mind screams doubt. You just have to find a way to tune out the noise.”  

Smiling with that quote from Mel, just hearing her say something like that was reassuring even though it didn’t solve your problem. She, herself, was reassuring you, she’s a good woman and she’s good to you. Mel walks over to her station and grabs two plates of food before bringing them back to you with an order. “Go get 'em, girl. You only have one life, so make the most of it and have fun.” 

You take one step out of the kitchen before being halted with surprise and confusion. Neither Joel or Jake could be seen sitting in their seats, and even Mel stepped out of the kitchen door to ask where they went. “Shit. They wouldn’t, would they?” You panic, instantly thinking that they’re outside fighting over you or something, surprise halts your movements for a second time when the lights cut off and an alarm that you’ve never heard before is sounded. 

“Oh God, Y/N.” Mel now panics, grabbing both your arms. “Let’s go. We’ve had a perimeter breach.” 

What? What does that mean? Unable to even spill the question from your lips, Mel is ushering you and every other remaining resident in the restaurant towards the bar where Seth is already waiting by a trap door leading to the cellar. “Quickly everyone.” He demands, urging people inside before climbing in last and locking the door behind him. That alarm was still going off and it sounded horrifying, like something they would use in a time of war. 

Three long and painfully disturbing minutes go by before that alarm is stopped and silence falls over the room. It was spine-chilling. Not knowing who or what has breached the walls, or how many there are, you all waited by a little radio in the corner of the dark room for the all clear signal that didn’t come. What you got instead was gunfire. A thunderstorm of bullets raining down all over Jackson, you could hear some of them ricocheting through the restaurant above and it was torture hiding away, waiting for the storm to pass over. 

Earlier thoughts of who or what has breached the walls of Jackson were answered when a group of thumping footsteps ran into the restaurant above you, hollering and cheering over the food they found. It wasn’t infected. It was people, marauders, trespassers. People breached the walls of Jackson, they were the ones waging war on the streets of your home, and they are the reason you are down in this cellar, uselessly fearing for your life amongst your friends and co-workers. 

Mel’s hands wouldn’t stop shaking as you held them, Tracy was crying into Jack's shoulder and Seth held onto a double barrel shotgun with it pointed towards the trap door while another person held their gun towards the kitchen door. The only other way inside the cellar, or out of this cellar, is through the little box window above the sack of potatoes at the back of the room, a place you looked for immediately when you came down here, thinking of an escape route ahead of time. And with these men above you ransacking the restaurant, that escape route looks like it’s going to be used very soon once they see the trap door or kitchen door. 

Just as the thought popped into your mind to suggest climbing out of the window before you are found, a commotion upstairs drew everyone's attention to look up and listen. The men were running across the floor yelling about another team needing help. They were leaving, their footsteps were fading and soon you were left with only silence again. That painfully anxious silence remained for thirty long minutes before the radio lit up with an order. “Jackson, this is Maria speaking. Please report to the church. We are safe, the threats have been neutralized, but I repeat, it is urgent that you report to the church. Thank you.” 

“Oh shit.” Seth sighs with distress, lowering his head. Everyone in the room lowered their heads, all with a melancholic look on their face. “What’s wrong?” You ask out of misunderstanding. Shouldn’t they be relieved? It’s over. The worst of it is over. 

“There are casualties.” Melinda murmurs with tears in her eyes. “And Maria needs to make sure the rest of us are accounted for.”

Now fully understanding why they all had that sort of reaction, you too lowered your head with a subtle nod to Melinda. You wished you never asked. The thought of your own people dying because of the very same men that were above you not so long ago made you sick to your stomach. You couldn’t even believe that it had happened to begin with. How did they get past the walls? Who are they? 

Walking up the steps of the cellar and into the kitchen, you were met with a disarray of food and equipment all over the floor. They made a mess tearing up the place. The dining floor was just as bad, but out on the streets was the worst. Bullets and blood painted the ground below. It looked like you stepped into the aftermath of a warzone. Walking towards the church and stopping at a group crowded around someone laying on the floor, it wasn’t a resident of Jackson thankfully, but your heart drops when realizing it was bandits - the very same bandits that chased you through the forest. 

They were wearing the same clothing and brandishing the same weapons, a long blood covered machete lay beside that man on the floor that people were crowding around. They stopped to gawk at the dead man who terrorized Jackson and you stopped to catch your breath. Your chest felt tight and your head dizzy, however your panic attack was interrupted as someone in that crowd turned to face you with a stabbing comment. “This is all your fault! Joel accuses you of working with the bandits and now this happens?” 

“Yeah!” Another bystander joins in, adding to the hysteria. “That can’t be a coincidence. You’re one of them! You brought this to our streets!” 

More people joined in to yell how they agreed and it felt like you were being singled out, made to feel small and at fault for this tragedy. Suddenly that panic attack came back tenfold and your ears began to burn with a loud ringing noise penetrating through your mind. You could barely inhale to breath, and exhaling what little breath you could take burned your chest. The sounds of them yelling shrouded you in darkness and blame, so much so that you couldn’t hear anything else. 

You couldn’t even hear Maria or Tommy trying to settle them down. You couldn’t see how the leaders of Jackson were defending you, telling the residents that you had nothing to do with this. Hell, you couldn’t hear your co-workers arguing with those people, ready to fight the mob. Melinda included, she was going crazy for you, but you couldn’t see that. All you could see was Jake amongst the small crowd blaming you for this, and Joel standing back with regret and grief torn across his face. That’s all you could focus on; the pain that they’re both causing you. 

Taking a few steps forward, you felt like you were tumbling down and pushed through the crowd to make your way home. You didn’t want to be in this situation any longer, it’s excruciating. Joel looks up at you with a hand reaching out, like he fucking cares how you feel right now. He is the one who accused you, it’s his fault people are blaming you right now. “Congratulations” You scowl and purposely bump into his side as you pass. “You got what you wanted, asshole.” 

Everyone settled down soon after you left. Maria and Tommy took the residents inside the church to make sure everyone is accounted for and deliver an explanation of what really happened tonight. The bandits followed one of the patrollers home, they breached the walls and attacked when Jackson least expected it. This cleared your name and that small crowd who hounded you felt remorseful for what they did, but it didn’t matter anyways, you weren’t in the church to hear it. The Millers and your co-workers thought about you in the next hour while getting the residents back into their homes and extra security set up along the walls. Tommy thought it would be best that he be the one to tell you that your name is cleared and no one blames you anymore. 

However you weren’t home. Your front door was ajar, food in your kitchen was cleared out and clothes in your closet were left on the floor in your bedroom. You weren’t home, you were gone, and Tommy had never felt so fucking angry in his life. Walking out of your house and straight towards his brother, that anger only grew with each step he got closer to reprimanding Joel for the cause of his actions. His actions that made you leave. 

Rage is a powerful tool; it can be useful at times, especially when you need it the most, but it can also be blinding. It can blind you so much that you could lose all sense of control and only see red. A blinding fit of rage soaring so high and so strong that not even the ones you love most can bring you back down to earth. Once you reach that certain point of no return, you just pray that no one is standing in your way when the storm passes and you come to. 

Tommy fears he is reaching that point as he opens the door to his brother's home. “You goddamn piece of shit!” His voice ripples like thunder. Standing by the doorway, eyes dark and burning with rage, he glides across the space separating him and Joel. “Do you even know what you’ve done!” The man’s breath heaves as he fights the primal urge that was ripping its way out of his body and mind.

Balling his hands into fists and even breaking the surface of his skin to push back that urge to let the beast take over, he shed a drop of blood with droplets of sweat rolling down his temples, but it was of no use. It’s too late. Tommy can feel the rage boiling over the edge. “Y/N’s gone. Are you happy now, Joel? That’s what you wanted right? You goddamn animal!” 

The last thing Tommy saw before losing all sense of control was his own brother's eyes glowing two red rings of fire - then, all hell broke loose.

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Tagging

Werewolf Joel Miller: @kirsteng42 @marydjarin @extraneous-trip @dins-cyare @supernaturalgirl20 @supernaturalgirl @joelsflannel @luvmeijii @hb8301 @squidwell @superawesomegeek @trickstersp8 @scorpio-marionette

[misspearly1]

Chp1 || Chp2 || Chp3 || Chp4 || Chp5 || Chp6 || Chp7 || Chp8 || Chp9 || 

Pairing: Werewolf!Joel Miller x You (F!Reader)

Summary: Looking back on how your life has turned out this far, you often wonder if you got more than you bargained for when finally finding your safe haven within the walls of Jackson. They have it all; food, shelter and electricity, but what else did you come to discover that lives within this thriving community? And how did that discovery change your life?

WC: 9K

Warnings: 18+ Content. Minors DNI. Little bit of angst (With a happy ending). Smut. Unprotected PIV. Praise Kink. Dirty Talk. Anal Play. Fluff. 

AN: Yassss, we’re getting there loves! The next chapter is the last, and I’m sad that it’s coming to an end, though I’m desperate to work on my oneshots. Hope you enjoy this chapter darlings, I know I did <33

“I love you Mel…” Joel heard you whisper through the tears before you brought two hands up and laid them around the old woman's head and face. 

“Jesus…” He manages to blurt through the sudden flash of light, it was bright and warm, but so bright that he could barely see you and Mel standing on the patio. Moving forward with panic, it was his brother who stopped him by bringing an arm out and shaking his head. “No, don’t… don’t disrupt it.” 

The man relaxes then, understanding a little more, but not enough to be fully reassured that whatever you were doing isn’t dangerous. The light was coming from your hands and inside that light was something dark. The more Joel focused on what it was that you were actually doing, the more he could see that you were taking the darkness away.

The darkness within Melinda’s brain - you were taking it. “Christ.” He breathes while pushing through his brother's grip, trying to see more. “Joel, don-” Tommy tries to warn, but Joel cuts him off by grabbing his brother's arm and pulling him close to look at you - at your face.

Your eyes were open, though the colour had disappeared and white had taken over completely. Skin glistening with sweat, that darkness inside Melinda’s head grew smaller and smaller as it was traveling up your arms. “What is this?” Joel asks, completely enamoured by your abilities. “You’ve read the book. Talk me through it, what is she doing right now?” 

“Energy absorption maybe and I haven’t read everything yet.” Tommy shrugs, showing just how little he knows regardless of what he learned from the memoir so far. He moves past Joel, taking a closer look at you and Mel. The older woman had her eyes closed, as if she were unconscious. Her arms remained at her side, body relaxed and slumped over ever so slightly, but you were moving. Your lips were moving, like you were mouthing words. And both brothers instantly had the same idea to listen to your thoughts, but as soon as they did, they jumped back and held their hands over their ears. 

Screams penetrated their ear drums all at once. The noise was so loud, it was deafening and blinding all of their senses, but it was you screaming, though it didn’t sound like your voice. Sounding like a cacophonous horrifying cry filled with pain and suffering, Joel and Tommy had all but a sample of the agony you were putting yourself through. The words you were mouthing were ‘too much’. You were screaming internally, putting intense amounts of strain on your body and mind and damn near killing yourself to save Melinda. 

“Tommy!” Joel manages to roar just one word over the noise in his mind, and it was enough as his brother heard him loud and clear. You are killing yourself. Pulling himself up off the floor, it felt like an invisible, but powerful, force was pushing him back and Joel dug his feet into the ground, drawing the power from the wolf inside to run at you with his brother doing the very same thing. 

Wrapping his arms around you, Joel tears you away from Melinda and tackles you to the floor, while Tommy catches the old woman before she falls. You begin to fit and convulse in his arms, your eyes completely black now instead of white. Skin ashen and covered with sweat, he calls your name repeatedly, but you don’t hear him. Joel turns to his brother, looking for help as he is the only one who has read parts of the book, however the expression on his face conveys very little faith. Tommy doesn’t know what this is or how to help. 

Suddenly you stop moving and Joel snaps his attention back to you, looking into your dark eyes as your lips tremble with woundless words rolling off your tongue. Your eyes didn’t even look black anymore, they were shattered, torn and burned with wickedness. Inhaling shakily and moving your lips fast like you were chanting a silent spell, Joel watches you arch your back and twist your body. A faint whisper could be heard, small and hushed at first, but as the man leaned down and tilted his head to the side, he could make out what you were saying. “Get out of the way, Joel! Move now, move!” 

A higher powered, striking command all from a whisper, Joel couldn’t fight it even if he wanted to. Lifting his weight from where he was pinning you down, he pulls to the side and jolts with terror as you shot upright in your position, your back still arched and your neck tilted back as you look up at the sky. Your arms dart out at your sides, grabbing handfuls of the earth beneath you and he lowers his gaze to watch as that darkness finds an escape. 

The snow melts and reveals the grass, but it quickly changes as whatever you were releasing from your body, disfigures it. It looked like tar. Thick, soupy black tar bubbling around your hands and as soon as the blackness fades from your eyes, you take a deep screeching inhale for air, manage to call out for Joel then fall backwards as if you were knocked out. The man instantly scrambles to your side, shaking you by the shoulders to try and wake you, but to no avail. 

Fear rattles through his bones as he suspects the worst, but the sound of your heart reassures him. It’s steady, strong, healthy, but you aren’t moving at all. It’s like you're dormant. “Joel.” Tommy calls his name and he lifts his head to look. Seeing Melinda sitting up now with worry and confusion on her face, but that’s not all. The woman looks ten years younger. Her skin no longer wrinkled with age, it was flourishing and her hair was bouncy, blooming with colour. She brought her hands up and looked at her own skin with wonder in her bright green eyes. 

“H-how…W-what?” Mel mumbles. Shaking her head with furrowed brows, she then looks over to you laying in the snow and her eyes well up with worry. “Y/N.” She gasps. Moving away from Tommy’s arms, the woman lifts your head and lays it in her lap, palming her soft delicate hands across your face. “Silly girl, you could have killed yourself.” Mel whimpers, leaning down to press her forehead to yours. 

Joel lowers his head, feeling the weight of that pit in his stomach as you were so close to leaving this world. Mel had just said it herself, you could have died doing what you did. “We need to take her inside.” He looks back to the older woman when she said that, looking at her with questions. “Carry her up to my spare bedroom and Tommy-” Mel looks to the younger Miller then, laying out a list for him. “Go to the greenhouses and retrieve some Lavender, Goldenrod, Calendula and…” She pauses for a second to look down at you, as if she were waiting for something. The action caught Joel and Tommy’s attention and they both looked at you and listened. 

Rosehip, Sage and Evening Primrose. They hear your voice whisper quietly before Melinda repeats it. You were conversing with her telepathically. The woman didn’t even seem fazed with what the hell had just happened to her, or the fact that you were telling her in your mind to grab all of these flowers and plants. Melinda didn’t care that something was different about you, she only cared about your safety, and that reaction made Joel and Tommy look at each other with hopeful expressions. 

Melinda can be trusted with the knowledge of supernaturals. 

Moving up off the floor, Joel takes you from Mel’s arms and carries you into the house while Tommy quickly makes a move to gather all of those items you requested. You’re okay, but you’re not at 100% and you need those items to help you get there. Rest and a mixture of healing remedies will help get you back to where you want to be, but Joel now has a lot of questions. How do you know about those plants and their healing properties? How do you know that they, in particular, are most important? 

The man wonders what else you know or have learned because he is clueless. Joel didn’t know that these flowers and plants that Jackson were growing even had healing properties to help you. Sure, he knew some of them can be used to help a common cold when mixed into a hot tea or something, but judging from the way Melinda was pulling out all sorts of pots and pans from her cupboard, it looked like she was about to whisk up a batch of some magic potion for you. 

“What are you doing?” He asks, curious to know but the woman spins around and points a finger at him. “I thought I told you to take her upstairs, young man. Go on, get.” She says with an authoritative tone, although Joel could hear the love and concern underneath. “All will be explained in due time. Y/N is our priority right now so take her upstairs and lay her down Mr. Miller.” 

“Yes ma’am.” Nodding, Joel huffs a small chuckle and turns with you held in his arms as he carries you upstairs. Melinda calls out that it’s the first room on the right and that’s where he takes you. Opening up the door was a task, but once it was open, he smiled at the interior. Small, simple and homey. The four post bed with the sheet draped over from above was made of wood which matched the cabinets in the room. There was an old styled fireplace in the wall and the floor was laminated, covered with a large rug to minimize the cold. 

Walking over to the bed, he pulled the sheet back and laid you down on top of the covers. The house was already toasty and the duvet was made of a double thick material. He knows you will find it too hot and decides to use the thin fleece that was folded over the bottom of the bed. After Joel places that over your body and adjusts the pillow beneath your head, he pulls the sheet back over and moves towards the window to close the blinds. 

Joel then moves over to the mounted oil lamps at either side of the bed and lights them up, keeping it a low flame that lit the room with a warm glow. You looked cozy and snug, like sleeping beauty and the man took the seat by the bedside and roamed the expanse of your peacefully sleeping face with his eyes. Whatever this was that you were going through, Joel hates it - he hates not knowing how to help or what to do. He can’t take the pain from you because you’re not in any pain. You were before, but not now. 

As much as he hates to think or even say it, it’s like you’re in some sort of comatose state of rest and there's nothing he can do other than wait. Joel’s train of thought was disturbed by the sounds of his brother entering the house. He could hear Tommy walking into the kitchen, handing the items over to Mel before moving back towards the door to try and fix it. Joel pretty much blew the hinges off when booting it open. He’s shocked the thing is still hanging on, but if his brother can’t fix it - which would come as a surprise - then he will do it himself. It’s the least he could do for Mel, especially since she is the only one who really knows how to help you right now. 

Dead air fills the room as Joel filters out the noise from downstairs. Even with his super hearing, he could barely hear your breath, but your heartbeat rang through his mind clear as day. Still beating steadily, your mind however, was silent. Even when he tried calling for you, there was no answer and he hated that there wasn’t. Although it seems that you’re okay, the man just wants to hear your voice reassure him. It would lift the anxiety that was currently sitting on his shoulders. Those screams that he heard from you earlier were chilling and he wishes to never hear them again from you. They sounded demonic. 

Hesitantly, he leans forward in his chair and slides a hand across the mattress to reach for you, though he pauses briefly before actually taking hold of your hand and nothing is what he felt. Suppose that’s what scares the man most. Your emotions have always been so powerful, but he hasn’t felt anything since you held Melinda and took away whatever was eating at her brain. Joel saw only a glimpse of what you can do and it scares him - your supernatural abilities scare him. 

With a thought of helping you in this state by joining Mel, Joel began to move but your hand gripped his, essentially keeping him close. Feeling the way your hand squeezed his, it was as if you were pleading for him to stay with you, so he did. Joel moves the chair closer and brings his other hand across the bed to clasp both of them over yours, reassuring you with touch that he isn’t going anywhere. He may not be able to hear or feel you, but it seems as though you can hear and feel him. 

Your muscles relax with a faint sigh escaping your lips, and the noise was physical relief for him. No words could explain the emotions Joel felt in that exact moment. It felt like a tsunami washed over and flooded him with reassurance, then as the water recedes and his mind clears, it couldn’t be any more obvious about how he feels about you. 

“I love you, Y/N.” He admits, putting his emotions into words for you to hear. Even though it didn’t bring you out of this sleeping state that you’re in, it doesn’t matter because he knows you heard him. Tearing his eyes away from you as the bedroom door creaks open, Tommy and Melinda enter holding a large pot. The smell struck Joel immediately, making his face contort and nearly gag. 

It was a foul smelling batch of something, not at all what he was expecting it to smell like. “Okay Tommy, we’ll take it from here.” Says Melinda after the pot was carefully lowered to the floor beside the bed. Rolling up her sleeves and putting gloves on, she held up another pair and looked over at Joel. “Come here, young’un.” 

Tommy, who was currently pinching his nose, nods to his brother before exiting the room and closing the door. Joel now wonders what he and Melinda will be doing, but doesn’t object if it means helping you. Standing from the chair, he moves around the bed and shakes off his jacket, then begins to roll up his sleeves while Melinda lays a blanket across the floor just in front of the fireplace. 

After Joel had put his gloves on, Melinda requested him to lift you off the bed and onto the blanket on the floor. “I ain’t even gonna ask.” The man mumbles after looking at what's inside the pot. The texture of it is like mud, but the colour is mint green. Shrugging it off, Joel turns to you now and carefully slips his hands under your body before lifting you off the bed and once you are laid out on the blanket, Mel begins removing your clothes. 

Joel never thought he’d feel uncomfortable around you in your underwear, but the feeling he had while kneeling at your side didn’t feel good. You're almost naked, still unconscious and unaware of what's happening. “She knows.” Mel whispers, as if she had read his thoughts. She looks at him with a smile on her lips, nodding. “Y/N wanted you to be here. She knows what we’re doing, don’t worry son.” 

“What exactly is it that we’re doing, Mel?” Joel sighs, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. The woman dunks two hands into the pot and transfers a large glob of the substance onto your body. “We’re going to cover her body in this stuff then wrap her up in the blanket to make sure it molds.” 

“Why, what will it do?” Joel asks while grabbing handfuls of the substance from the pot as well, lathering up your skin with a hefty amount. Melinda holds another handful of the mixture over your face, but pauses to reassure Joel as he looks at her with concern. “The mixture is going to harden after we light the fire. The healing properties will be locked in tight around Y/N’s body and in three days she will break throu-”

“Excuse me.” Joel interrupts her with a scoff, eyes wide with disbelief. “Did you just say three days?... Y/N is going to be stuck like this for three days?”

“Yes.” Mel confirms before carefully covering your face and hair with the sludge. Joel’s shoulders sink while watching her cover your nose and mouth. How will she breathe? He asks himself, worrying for you. The man didn’t like what he was doing or what you were going through at all, but if it helps you then so be it. After your body was completely covered and wrapped tightly in the blanket, Joel started the fire while Melinda cleaned up any mess that got on the floor. 

“Would you mind if I stay a while?” He asks after everything had been dealt with and you were taken care of. “I don’t want to leave her right now.” 

“Stay as long as you’d like to, son.” Melinda places a hand to Joel’s shoulder with a gentle squeeze before pulling back and leaving the room. Now that he had another moment alone, he fell back onto the edge of the bed and buried his face into the palms of his hands. He’d do anything right now just to hear your voice. 

Rubbing his temples, the day had been long and exhausting for him. If he feels this tired, then he can’t even begin to imagine how you feel. “I’m sorry babydoll.” Joel looks up and talks to you, to the wrapped up blanket in front of the fire. “I’m sorry I didn’t take you seriously earlier. I know this is scary for you, I understand that now more than ever. Forgive me, darlin’.” 

Kicking his shoes off and pulling back the sheet on the bed, Joel climbs in and lays down to rest. The next three days are going to be hell without you, but he isn’t leaving. He’s going to make sure that he’s present when you break out of that shell. Consider it selfish, but Joel wants to be the first person that you see when you come out of this. 

The man falls asleep dreaming about you and other than a brief disturbance from the door opening with Melinda peeping her head inside to check on him, there weren't any more disruptions after that. Joel slept through the evening and night, all the way up until the early hours of the morning. The sounds of floorboards creaking broke his peaceful slumber and he stirs, however the sounds of something cracking open awakes him fully and he shoots up to look at you. 

The fire still blazed, but nothing about you had changed. The substance and the blanket was still wet, it hadn’t dried at all during the night. Sighing as he lay back down, Joel closes his eyes and relaxes once again. Light wasn’t slipping through the blinds yet so it must be in the early hours of the morning, much too early to get up and walk around the house when it isn’t his house to walk around in. Joel didn’t want to disturb Melinda, even though he’s fairly certain that she wouldn’t mind if he were to go downstairs and make a hot beverage.

Instead, Joel decided to think about you again, the images of your pretty eyes and beautiful smile in his mind soothing him back to sleep quickly, until he heard that cracking noise followed by the floorboards creaking again. Shaking his head at himself, he was annoyed at the tricks his mind was playing on him. Joel wanted to believe that those noises were you breaking free from the shell, but it wasn’t possible. Melinda said you’ll be stuck in there for three days and the thing hasn’t even dried yet. 

Tutting to himself, he turns over and ignores the sounds that aren’t even there, however the next thing he hears opens the man’s eyes once again. It was you, your voice whispering his name. The covers behind him ruffle, the bed dips like someone was climbing inside and then, he feels something soft against his cheek. A kiss. Dumbfounded with what on earth he was imagining, Joel reasons with himself and believes that he must be dreaming these things, but your kisses prove otherwise. He can physically feel them. 

“Look at me handsome, I’m right here.” You say softly, the sound of your voice damn near bringing the man to tears, however he can see that tightly wrapped blanket still laying in front of the fire. There’s no way you can actually be behind him. “Joel, baby please.” You persist, slipping your hand around him, the touch making blood rush to a certain area in his body. It’s a dream, it has to be, but he misses you too much to care anyways. 

Turning around ever so slowly, your hair is the first thing to come into view, then your eyes and lastly, your beautiful smile. Joel sighs heavily with closed eyes before re-opening them to see that you were still there, looking at him. “Hi baby.” You giggle softly, lips trembling as you lean in to kiss him. He kisses you back slowly and gently at first, but then it becomes fervent the more he tastes. You’re sweet, delicious. 

“Hm, babydoll.” He hums deeply. Your hands roam across his chest, drawing out the sexiest noises from him as he moves closer, desperately wanting more of your sweet tasting kisses. Cupping one hand over your cheek with his other hand on your lower back, Joel kisses you like it was the last time he’ll ever kiss you. This is too real to be a dream, therefore he has to ask you. “Darlin’, is this real, are you really here?” 

“Yes, and no.” You mumble while shifting your position to straddle his hips. Breaking off the kiss, you pull your shirt over your head then hook your fingers under his. “I need you right now, Joel. I’ll explain everything later.” 

“Okay.” He breathes with a nod. Removing his shirt while you remove your pants and underwear, he manages to reach for his belt buckle before you bat his hands away and do it for him. The little mischievous laughs escaping your lips bring a smile to his face. Whether this is real or not certainly doesn’t matter because it’s real for Joel. Once all clothes are removed, you sink down on his lap and grind your bare heat across his crotch, moaning from the sensations it was giving you. 

“Joel.” You whisper his name, directing his attention away from your glistening pussy back to your eyes. “Hm?” He jerks his chin out, licking his lips with a dire need to be inside of you and feel your warm clench around his cock, though you had someone on your mind to say. He can tell. Leaning down and resting your elbows to the pillow behind his head, your pert nipples press into his chest as you hold his gaze. “I heard you, baby - loud and clear.” You say with a warm smile, eyes beginning to gloss over. “I forgive you, and I love you too.” 

Shakily breathing into the kiss on your lips, he knew you heard him and was feeling euphoric to hear you say those three words back. Joel doesn’t know how this is possible, you’re laying in front of the fire wrapped up in a blanket and laying on top of him right now. He doesn’t understand, but he isn’t going to ruin an important moment in his relationship with you by asking all the questions he has. Instead, he is just going to relish every passing second of this magical experience with you because he doesn’t know how long it will last. 

“Mhm fuck.” Grunting as you take him in hand, Joel digs his feet into the mattress and holds onto your hips as you prepare to take him inside of you. He was preparing too. Bracing for that exquisite first thrust. After coating his cock with your desire, you notch him at your entrance then hold your hands to his chest. “Oh Joel.” You moan when sinking down, taking him all. 

“Christ darlin’.” Joel groans breathily. Fingers digging into your skin, he struggles to keep quiet as you slowly begin to rock your hips, but you toss your head back with a mewling reassurance. “It’s okay… No one can hear us outside of the sheet around the bed.” 

“J-Jesus…” Letting go of the moans he was holding back, Joel meets your actions halfway and bucks his hips up off the bed, hitting that soft spongy spot inside. “Fuck! Are you sure?” He asks through gritted teeth and when you moan an exceptionally loud ‘yes’ in response, he wonders what else you can do. “H-how are you doing that?”

“Handsome, you won’t even believe the things that I can do.” You whine with a naughty smile on your lips. Holding onto his biceps with a tight grip, you pick up your pace and begin bouncing on his cock. The tension very quickly begins to build in Joel’s lower stomach and his orgasm approaches with lightning speed. He fights back the urge to release, wanting you to cum first, but he couldn’t. It was powerful sex, like you were purposely drawing it out of him. “Darlin’, I’m gonna cum if yer don’t slow down.” He warns. 

“I know, I want you to.” You whimper while slamming your hips down onto his. “Cum inside of me, it’s gonna be okay - please.” Pleading and panting through the pleasurable sensations of his cock thrusting up into you, Joel sits up and wraps both arms around your back to pull you in much closer. The sweat clings to your bodies, sticking your skin together as you grind on him. Pressing your forehead to his, you breathe your broken cries into his face and dig your nails into his skin with your orgasm reaching its peak. 

“Joel!” You wail as he groans your name. Still grinding your hips into his, riding out your orgasm, Joel grabs handfuls of your ass with the over-stimulation on his cock. “Nughh! D-darlin’.” He babbles a strangled groan. Burying his face into your neck with heavy breaths, he bites the skin, thus causing you to arch your back with another cry of his name, yet your movements don’t slow down. 

Feeling another orgasm quickly approaching, it surprised Joel as he usually takes a small break in between each round, which is more so for your benefit and not his, however your supernatural abilities must have boosted your sexual energy because you were hungry for more. After your second orgasm blew through your body, your legs began to shake and Joel was surprised for a second time as you kept on for round three. Thinking he would take some of the load off you, he moves up onto his knees and you wrap your legs around his back. 

“Ready darlin’?” He asks, almost rhetorically. You know what he is about to do and you were ready for it. Joel holds onto the underside of your thighs and begins pounding into your cunt, drawing out the most pornographic sounds from deep inside of you. Your pussy squelching around his cock, squeezing him tighter and tighter, while you cried with pleasure. The man grunts deeply, getting high off your warm velty walls clenching around him, eliciting him to mutter filth against the shell of your ear. “Oh that’s it, Y/N. Take it, babydoll. Take my cock, that’s a good girl.” 

“Fuck!” You heave, scratching at his back as you gasp for air, but not before throwing back some of his own dirty words. “Give it to me, Joel or is this all you got?” 

Suddenly, Joel throws you down on the bed then yanks you around to lay on your front. The action makes you giggle before he pushes your face into the duvet with one hand, then uses his other to arch your back before thrusting his cock back inside of you. Mewling now with the stretch, the angle provided him to bury deeper and before you could adjust, he pulled his hips back then slammed them back home again, essentially knocking the breath out of your lungs each time. 

Using your body like his own personal fuck doll, Joel grunts and groans from above while pounding into your pussy, still speaking with a dirty tongue. “Wanted this, didn’t you?” He smacks your ass, drawing out a cry from you. “There you go, Y/N. Let me hear all those pretty sounds you make.” 

Gradually becoming a feral whimpering mess beneath him, you writhe against the bedsheets from his punishing pace of pleasure. Your hands grasp at the blanket with lewd sounding moans muffled into the covers. Just the sound of Joel fucking you was enough to get you off. The man sounded desperate to release himself inside of you again, but you know he wanted to discipline you with his dick for as long as he could before then. 

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” He growls, using strength to thrust harder. Balls slapping against your clit, the added stimulation was pushing you closer to the edge and yet, you still wanted more. “Babe.” You beg. Removing your hands from the blankets and bringing them around your back, you spread your ass cheeks, hoping he would pick up on what you want. And he did, loud and clear. 

“Oh, you dirty girl.” He teases before spitting over your puckered hole. You clench from the feeling, then relax again and prepare for the breach. Slowing down his movements, Joel rubs your tight ring of muscle with his thumb before pushing the tip inside. Your eyes screw shut with the sting, as if it were painful, but your body pushes back onto his hand, silently asking for more, which he gave. “Hm.. so fucking tight.” He says, burying his thumb right down to the knuckle. “Gotta work you open, don’t we darlin’? So I can stick my cock in there someday.” 

“Yes - yes we do.” You breathe, nodding anticipatingly into the blankets. Joel got to work with fucking you at a fast pace while removing his thumb from your ass then burying it inside again. The mixture of pain and pleasure was beautiful, making your eyes roll to the back of your head with deep, guttural moans erupting from your throat. It felt so fucking good, and a part of you wants his cock inside instead of his thumb, but you know it would be too soon. You need practice before reaching that point, and besides, Joel’s cock is huge, therefore it would definitely hurt. 

“Gonna cum for me, doll?” He requests. Looking down and seeing his cum spill out of your pussy each time he pulls his hips back, he loves the sight of it and wants to fill you up with more. When you don’t answer him, he snaps forward, thus causing you to cry out as you lift your head from the blanket. “Yes! I'll cum for you, yes!”

“Good girl.” Joel praises, then resorts to a slower, more gentle-like pace, grinding in and out of your cunt. Your orgasm approaches softly, taking its time as it ripples across your body, burning your chest with desire while casting a white blanket of stars behind your eyes, then Joel gasps sharply before blowing out a delectable breathy moan of your name, spilling his seed deep inside. You could feel him emptying himself, coating your walls with his warmth. 

“Jesus, that feels so good.” You whisper, pushing your hips back, which causes him to shudder with sensitivity. After gently removing his thumb, you gasp then moan from the loss when he pulls out of your cunt. Relishing in the post-coital bliss for a few seconds, you dart up and stop Joel from exiting the bed. “No, don’t.” You reach out, pull back to lay beside you and explain. “You’ll break the seal if you leave and I don’t want to go back just yet.” 

“What do you mean, darlin’?” He asks with furrowed brows as you both move to lay down at the top of the bed again. Resting your cheek to his chest, you look up into his eyes and explain what you can with the little time that you have left. “I’m supposed to be in that blanket by the fire, healing, but I used up some energy to come see you.” 

“How?” Joel chuckles, shaking his head with bemusement. His wonder and intrigue to know makes you smile, therefore you feel excited to share just a little of what you’ve learned. “Neither of us are really here right now. Our physical bodies are not here. We’re inside the spiritual realm, so if you move out of the bed, you’ll break the seal and we’ll both go back.” 

“But… Isn’t the spiritual realm the after life?” Joel asks, concerned to know exactly what you mean. He brings his hand up and holds your arm, as if you would disappear if he were to let go. “Sort of.” You smile with a shrug. “We’re in between right now. When I leave, you’ll go back to where you’re supposed to be and so will I.” 

“I-I don’t even know what to say.” The man shakes his head with disbelief, though he chuckles. “You’ve just explained it and yet, I somehow still don’t quite understand.” 

“It’s okay, I don’t fully understand any of this either.” You reassure and chuckle with him, but the moment is short lived as you feel your time running out. “I have to leave soon, baby. If I don’t get back in time, we’ll both be stuck here forever.” 

“How long do I have with you?” Joel sighs with dread, bringing his face close to rub his nose against yours. Pecking his lips a couple times, you smile and whisper that it’s just a few minutes. You wish it could be longer, but sadly, you can’t hold up the veil for too long and the last thing you want is to be stuck in between life and death with no way out. “I don’t want to say goodbye, darlin’.” Joel murmurs with closed eyes, the statement stabbing your gut. 

“I know, I do too.” You weep, holding back your tears. “I’ll be back, Joel - I promise.” 

Cupping the side of your face and holding you there, he takes his time with his kisses, remembering how each one felt. The fact that he and you are in between life and death right now scares the hell out of him. He could have lost you today and that thought alone makes the man want to hold onto you forever, but he has to let go so you both can get back to where you’re supposed to be. He doesn’t want to leave you, but he has to. 

“Don’t mope around me in this room, Joel.” You pull back and hold a hand to the side of his face, gazing into his eyes. “It’ll do you no good just waiting for me to come outta that thing. Trust me baby, you’ll be the first person I visit when I get out - no matter where you are, I promise you will see me first.” 

“Okay, darlin’.” He nods, understanding what you’re saying. You could hear him beating himself earlier and you don’t want him to be here doing nothing but twiddling his thumbs while he waits for you to heal. Keeping your promise in mind, he smiles reassuringly and places one last kiss on your lips. 

“Close your eyes, handsome.” You whisper, not wanting him to be afraid as you prepare to depart. You can feel his worry, it’s strong and powerful. When he closes his eyes, you kiss his knuckles once then disappear with a fading ‘I love you’. It physically pained you to leave him, but you had to. 

“I love you too.” Joel replies, shaking his head as he could no longer feel you at his side anymore. After a moment, he finally opens his eyes and sees the light shining through the blinds. It wasn’t daylight just a second ago, but the sun blared through now. Too focused on his surroundings, he didn’t even hear the footsteps outside the bedroom door and jumped when it opened with Tommy entering. “Oh, you are awake.” He jibes, tutting at him. “Didn’t you hear me call your name three times? God, I feel what dad did when he woke you up for school.” 

“Whatever bro.” Joel chuckles, shaking his head and climbs out the bed. “As I recall, you were just as bad as me.” 

“Yeah well, that was twenty plus years ago so get over it.” Tommy chuckles too then jerks his head to the side. “C’mon. Me and Mel made breakfast. You’ll be hungry I bet, considering you’ve been asleep since yesterday evening.” 

“Uh-huh.” He rolls his eyes at his brother, though he smirks too. As Tommy heads downstairs, Joel grabs his shoes and looks to the wrapped up blanket in front of the fire. A pang of sadness washes over him knowing that you’re in there and he can’t do anything about it, but still, he thinks about the promise you made and pushes those emotions away. You’re coming back, you promised him. 

After visiting the bathroom, he makes his way downstairs and into the kitchen, greeting a good morning to Mel and thanking her for letting him stay the night, to which she brushes off like it was no big deal. “No need to thank me.” She says, shaking her head. “It’s quite alright young man.” 

“I like you Mel.” Joel nods, looking down at the plate of food before him with hungry eyes. “You’re the only woman in my family who calls me a young man, not an old man.” 

“Oh, so I’m family now?” The woman holds a hand over her heart, conveying how honoured she felt. Joel chuckles, but he nods and expresses how sincere he was. “Y/N’s family is mine now too. She cares about you, Mel and so do I.” 

“Thank you.” Mel smiles, appreciating the bold statement he had just made, one that caught Tommy’s attention as his jaw dropped with excitement in his eyes. “Oh shit.” He gasps, looking between Joel and Mel. “Does this mean you’re marrying Y/N? Is my brother finally settling down with the right lady?”

“Hold yer damn horses. Who said anything about marriage?” Joel shakes his head while forking up mouthfuls of beans. He was really hungry and could barely wait to eat, though his brother had a hunger for prying into other peoples business. “Uh, as I recall, you just said that.” Tommy retorts, using his brother's prior words against him and still smiling like a big ol’ goofball as he quotes Joel. “Y/N’s family is mine now too.” 

“And?” Joel shrugs, still shaking his head. “I don’t see what you’re getting at.” 

“Uh-huh, alright Joel.” Tommy leans back into his chair, acting like he had stumbled across some big secret. Joel just ignores him and goes back to his food. Marriage wasn’t on his mind because it’s too soon to marry you, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t thought about it. Sure, of course Joel has thought about it and he knows you are the woman he will be marrying someday, but that day isn’t any time soon, not until he knows you’re ready for it at least. 

“So, did you finish reading that book?” Joel asks, changing the topic of conversation, to hopefully learn more about you and what it is exactly that you are - because you are different from everyone else, that’s for sure. “Is she really the moon? That would explain how she can control our shifts.” 

“Well actually, Y/N is a descendant of the physical embodiment of the moon.” Tommy reports, though after seeing the look on his brother's face that clearly displays that he has absolutely no idea what that means, Tommy explains better for him. “Selene was the name of the woman in that memoir. She was the physical embodiment of the moon, but she’s no longer around now as it was centuries ago, and now, Y/N is the physical embodiment of the moon - meaning, she is a goddess, a moon goddess.” 

“Wow… A goddess?” Joel leans back, taking in what his brother was saying. The man smiles, feeling a sense of pride for you. Just being in the presence of a goddess felt amazing, let alone loving one that loves him back. “That’s quite something. We’ll let her know carefully, I don’t want to freak her out.” 

“Um..” Tommy mumbles then looks to Melinda for help. Joel looks between them both, instantly picking up that there is something they’re not telling him, but he waits patiently for them to say it. “I think Y/N already knows.” Says Mel. She leans back too, as if preparing herself to explain. “When Y/N did whatever it was she did to me yesterday, I could see some things. I don’t think she intended for me to see them, nor did she mind, I just think she was overwhelmed and it somehow spilled into me” 

“Okay…” Joel nods for Mel to continue and share more. “Well, she had accessed a lot of information and learned everything there was to know about herself. So… We think she may already know.” She says. 

“That explains some things.” Joel nods again, understanding how Y/N could bring him to the spirit realm earlier, however Mel and Tommy now wonder what he means by that. After noticing their interest, he shrugs and explains the best he could. “Y/N visited me this morning. We were on some spiritual plane of existence, it was magnificent she could do that and also explains how she could do it.” 

“Dimensional travel.” Tommy mutters, smiling with amazement. “Gabriel reported that Selene could travel through the dimensions, amongst a whole list of other abilities, but I bet there is more that he didn’t know about.” 

“Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me, little brother.” Joel admits. Reaching for his coffee and taking a mouthful, he hums with the taste and thanks Mel again for making him breakfast, especially for his favourite hot beverage. The woman, yet again, waves him off, which makes him appreciate her hospitality even more. As Joel thinks about what he has learned from his brother, it makes him wonder about your bloodline. “You said Y/N is a descendant right?” He asks, and when Tommy nods, he asks another question. “So does that mean her mom was a goddess too, but when she passed on, Y/N became the physical embodiment of the moon?” 

“Oh shit.. Yeah.” Tommy sighs, thinking about the story that you shared before about your mother. He looks to Joel then and jogs his memory. “Do you remember what she told us that day up in the ski-lodge? About how she thought her mom was magical? I mean, it all makes sense, doesn’t it?” 

“Yeah.” Joel agrees, as does Melinda, who adds to the conversation with her own knowledge about you and your mother. “Y/N shared with me that her mom ran away from her marriage before Y/N was born because the father was aggressive.” 

Joel and Tommy look at each other with that piece of information and suspect there is a correlation. “Did Y/N say what happened?” Joel asks, knowing that it would be a personal thing to share, but he has a feeling that you wouldn’t mind if this correlation is correct. 

“Well um, from what she shared with me, I gathered that her father had suffered from depression after his accident. He had a collision on the road, killed a woman and her child, and unfortunately, became aggressive with Y/N’s mother after that. ‘Every month’, I recall Y/N saying. ‘Every month it would get worse and worse for my mom until she eventually had enough and left before I was born’.”

Again, Joel and Tommy look at each other with what they were learning. Without it being confirmed by you of course, the brothers can only suspect for now that your father was a werewolf too and he became aggressive each month with the shift. Gabriel said in his memoir that the Wolf and the Moon came together, what if they caused a lasting chain of events that brought all wolves and moons together? It would explain the suspicion that your father had the werewolf gene and your mother found him, then how you found Joel and Tommy. You have a connection with werewolves - natural enemies that attract each other. 

“What’s all the silence about?” Melinda asks, clearly picking up on Joel and Tommy knowing something that she doesn’t. The prior thought that the brother had about Mel, about how she can be trusted, came back to their minds. They wondered if they should share what they are and clue her in on the secret. “You know I am a mother, boys and I can clearly tell when you’re hiding something.” The woman scoffs and it was enough to make Tommy and Joel come to a decision. 

“Mel.” Tommy turns to the woman, reaching out for her hand on the table. She looks at him with concern and he hears in her mind that she was worried it was something terrible about you, not him. “There isn’t any easy way to say this so I’m just going to come out with it.” He cringes, looking to his brother briefly then back to Melinda. “Me and Joel are supernatural too - we are werewolves.” The woman bursts into a fit of giggles, shaking her head with disbelief. “Yeah right, and I’m a vampire.” She says, still, with disbelief. 

Until she looks at Joel and sees his glowing red eyes - then she believes. 

Two Days Later 

Anxiously pacing back and forth in Melinda’s living room, Joel was growing more impatient with each passing second. Today is the day you wake up, but you’re taking your sweet time with it and he physically cannot wait any more. 

“Good lord, will you sit down?” Mel snaps her book shut and looks up at him. “It ain’t doing you no good waiting around for her to wake up.” 

“Hm, that’s funny.” Joel sighs a chuckle then takes a seat on the sofa. “Y/N said the same thing.” 

“Us women think alike, you see.” Mel hums, leaning back into her chair to relax with a smirk on her lips. “We know how much men can be a pain in the ass sometimes.” 

Chuckling again, Joel appreciated Mel’s wit and humour, especially at a time like this when he needs it most. He wouldn’t be so worked up if it wasn’t nearing midnight. Approaching another day without you would be torture. Joel can’t explain why, but it feels so unbelievably terrible not having you here and his emotions are erratic. Still unable to feel your emotions, he’s in the dark and hates that he is. As the clock hand tick, tick, ticks around, he becomes testy again and taps his leg against the floor - which Mel notices and gives him a stern look. 

“Sorry.” He mumbles then lays his head back on the sofa with a sigh. “Guess I underestimated my strength to manage without my moon.” 

“Oh, that’s sweet, Joel.” Melinda babbles with a cheery tone. The woman blushes on your behalf, feeling the love and sentiment that Joel has for you. She simply loves love and it’s been nothing but pleasure watching you and Joel come together. Despite being natural enemies. That comment made the woman laugh when the Miller brothers explained everything and how you came to know the secret with all of your investigation work. 

She can’t lie that it took her by surprise and even scared her a little to find out about Tommy and Joel, but she had known the pair for years now and those little fears quickly subsided. It's what's on the inside that counts and she knows that they’re good men inside and out, however for as long as she has known Joel Miller, she has never seen the man so worked up like this before. Melinda can see how much he physically misses you being around. You provide more for that man than he even knows, but Mel thinks he is beginning to see that. 

When the clock passes midnight, she watches as Joel shakes his head with closed eyes and tries to reassure him. “Maybe Y/N just needs more time. You could stay the night again, if you like?” 

“Oh no, I couldn’t Mel.” The man shakes his head, feeling like a burden. “You’ve already provided so much for me these last coup’la of days. It’ll be okay, I’ll wait another half hour and if nothin’ changes, then I’ll head home.”

“Are you sure?” She asks, expressing again that it really was no big deal, but Joel assures that it was okay. Assuming that you do need more time, it would make sense considering you used up some energy to visit him. He doesn’t regret what happened that morning, not for a second, but he regrets adding more time into that prison cell you were encased in. 

As more and more time passes with no show from you, Joel had enough of waiting around and figured it would be best to head home. You promised you’d come see him right away anyways, and besides, it’s getting late so Mel would probably be heading to bed soon. That is if Joel hadn’t kept her up. 

“I’m gonna head home.” Joel says, standing up from the sofa. Mel stood too and he pulled the woman in for a brief hug. “Thank you for having me, Mel. I appreciate it a lot-” Pulling back, he cuts her off before the words could spill from her mouth. “I know, I know, I don’t need to thank you, but I wanted to nonetheless.” 

“Well, I thank you too.” Mel accepts his gratitude instead of telling him there was no need to thank her. Walking him towards her door, she waves him goodbye as he walks down the steps then closes the door. Alright, sweet. He’s on his way to you. She says with her inner voice, knowing that you are waiting for him. 

Thank you, Mel. You’re the best. You say, practically giggling with mischief. I made a promise to Joel, but I’ll come see you tomorrow. First thing in the morning, okay?

Okay, see you soon. The woman beams, missing the sight of your face too, but she knows that Joel has missed you so much more and needed to see you first. She understood. As Mel got ready for bed, you were at the bottom of Joel’s stairs waiting for him to get home. You planned to surprise him right from the start and it was only a half hour that you got out of the curing mold. Feeling like a new woman, you could feel the power radiating off you and plan to use it for good things, but right now, Joel is your priority. 

The man you love is your priority. 

As the door clicks open, you struggle to remain still as Joel enters with his head hung low. He didn’t even notice you, he was brooding about you not showing up. Smiling as he locks the door, kicks off his shoes then removes his jacket, he finally turns and his mouth falls open. “Y/N?” He asks, not knowing for certain if you were really here or not. 

“Yes, handsome. I'm here - really here.” You giggle. Standing up and straightening your back, Joel looked up and down your body in awe. You were wearing a dress. A white dress, elegant and sexy, hugging your figure in all the right places with a tiara made of flowers around your head. He couldn’t stop staring. Like seeing you for the very first time and falling in love all over again, the man simply couldn’t get enough of the sight of you. 

“These are what my ancestors would wear to represent the beauty of a moon goddess.” You smile, finally taking his eyes away from your body as he looks at your face. “I thought it would be fitting to wear them as I take you on a little tour.” Tilting his head with confusion, Joel sees the two bags packed by your feet and wonders what you have planned. Excitement floods his body and that smile of yours screams surprise. “I want to take you away from here for twenty four hours, on an adventure where I can show you everything that I learned. Only if you’d like to, of course?” You ask, to which Joel strides across the floor and takes you in his arms with a heated kiss. 

“Yes.” He mumbles into your mouth. “Yes. I’d love to, babydoll.” 

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Tagging

Werewolf!Joel taglist: @kirsteng42 @marydjarin @extraneous-trip @dins-cyare @supernaturalgirl20 @supernaturalgirl @joelsflannel @luvmeijii @hb8301 @squidwell @superawesomegeek @trickstersp8 @scorpio-marionette @formulafun

[misspearly1]

Chp1 || Chp2 || Chp3 || Chp4 || Chp5 || Chp6 || Chp7 || Chp8 || Chp9 ||

Pairing: Werewolf!Joel Miller x You (F!Reader)

Summary: Looking back on how your life has turned out this far, you often wonder if you got more than you bargained for when finally finding your safe haven within the walls of Jackson. They have it all; food, shelter and electricity, but what else did you come to discover that lives within this thriving community? And how did that discovery change your life?

WC: 7k

Warnings: 18+ Content - Minors DNI. Enemies to Lovers. More tensions between Joel and reader. He's still an intimidating asshole. Teasing and maybe even a little flirting too. Mentions of sex at the end, but not a lot of detail.

AN: Oh wow! Okay, the tensions are building nicely, not too much and not too little. I would say this chapter is focused more around Joel and Reader's progression, more is to come my loves. I already have a little written out for chapter four. Thank you <;3.

Ok, think, Y/N, think. You have The Bible of Mythological Creatures, a whole section on werewolves filled with information, but no strategy to find out who it is. 

Pacing around your living room and conversing with your inner voice, your whole focus was on finding the safest way to identify the werewolf - preferably a plan that won't kill you in the process. After the other night's debacle on wall duty, Maria is still deciding whether or not you can continue taking shifts. You’re not dumb, you know Joel is really the one who behind all of this.

You know that if you were to see the wolf out there, you’d abandon your post again to follow it, and Joel knows that too, but as that decision is still yet to be made, your schedule for the day has been spared. You don’t have work tonight, and you don’t have to gather tokens to pay Ginny back. That moose that you caught was in good condition, and Maria allowed you to keep it, which brought you one hundred tokens that you handed straight over to Ginny for the book. You’ve been spending the past two days off work focusing on one task like it was a mission. 

The werewolf. Identifying the werewolf is your mission. 

You already know their strengths, you’ve read the chapter four times over now and their strengths are burned into your brain. Super enhanced abilities such as hearing, strength, smell and healing, whoever the werewolf is, they’re a thousand times more powerful than you and you have to tread carefully. Weaknesses. What are their weaknesses?

That list is sadly a lot shorter, but they’re the only advantages you have. Starting off first is wolfsbane, which you already know is going to be an extremely tough plant to find, but luckily the second advantage on the list is fire. Simple and easy to craft, it is said to be effective according to that book, and last on the list is Silver. It slows down the healing ability of a werewolf and can even kill if penetrated through the heart. Bullets and arrow heads need to be crafted, but hopefully you shall never find yourself in the position to use them. 

Hopefully. Sighing pessimistically, you slump onto the sofa with your head held in your hands. I’m getting too far ahead of myself. 

Taking a pause to breathe through your sudden wave of panic, you lifted your head and looked through the book one more time. Instead of jumping the gun and preparing for a battle that’s not even there to begin with, you need to figure out the signs and symptoms that someone is a werewolf first. Just play it cool, keep a low profile and do your investigations quietly while gathering more information.

Lookout for the tell-tale signs that you’re dealing with a werewolf - you read this chapter again with a newfound sense of optimism - which are sudden spouts of aggression or cravings for raw meat, long and/or sharp fingernails, unexplained abrasions and scrapes along the arms or legs, excessive hair growth, exceptional speed and agility, and enhanced health. If a human is showing one or more of these signs, then you are likely to be dealing with a werewolf. Move on to the next page and learn how to defend yourself against a were-

Peeling your eyes away from the book and leaning back into your sofa, all of the vital information cycles through your mind on repeat. A headache was slowly beginning to creep its way in by now from all the reading you have done and the only battle you’re facing is your own mind trying to find a solution. You felt hopeless, but refused to feel helpless. Promising yourself that you wouldn’t be afraid anymore, you made a vow to never feel helpless again after all that life has thrown at you so far.

If infected creatures and bandits chasing you through the forest weren’t already bad enough to begin with, adding supernatural wolves into the equation was tipping the scale far too much. You can’t always live your life in fear, especially not after finding safe haven against infected creatures and bandits with an appetite to kill, but are now living with a deadly werewolf amongst the community. Jackson isn’t all that it portrays itself to be. It isn’t 100% safe, and it’s up to you to change that. 

Looking out the window and seeing that the evening sun had set for the night, you thought about having a relaxing bath before bed when you suddenly get an idea. A bright idea that’s beneficial for everyone. Maria’s decision about wall duty - you need to botch your chances of working the wall and get another job role, one that puts you in the heart of the community, up close and personal with the residents so that you can weed out the suspects.

The bar or the restaurant, that would be perfect. You’ll be working inside Jackson then, where Joel can be fooled into thinking you're not snooping around outside for the wolf that he is protecting. Pulling yourself up off the sofa with that thought, you grabbed your coat and headed out your front door. Melinda works in the restaurant, the old lady who you sold the rabbits to the other day, she might be able to help get you a job and what better time to try when the winter cookout is tonight. 

You were originally going to blow it off, but now you have as good of a reason as any to go. Maria will be there too and if she doesn’t approach you with her verdict about wall duty, then you are going to put forth your idea of working alongside Melinda in the restaurant instead. She’s a good woman, trustworthy and unsuspecting. Melinda won’t question why you want to work there, you’ve expressed how much you like her company and amazing cookery skills many times before.

It’s the perfect cover. You smile with that thought as determination practically carries you towards the restaurant. Turning the corner and hurrying down the main street, you can see families spilling in and out of The Jackson's BBQ. It was busy, hellishly busy, the type of crowd that would normally be too big for you to join in, but right now you aren’t focusing on the claustrophobia of it all, you’re focused on your mission. 

Your mission that has officially begun. 

-

“Sweet child, this is wonderful news!” Melinda preens before pulling you in for a suffocating hug. “I need all the help I can get right now and I’m so happy that you are the help.” 

Mumbling an incoherent reply into the woman’s chest, you laughed while patting her back. It was a lovingly strong type of embrace before she pulled away, giving you a chance to catch your breath. “It’s my pleasure, Melinda. I’m looking forward to working with you.” Gosh, I feel so bad.

Smiling through your lies, you didn’t like lying to her even if there was some truth to it. You do look forward to working with the woman, but you’re not here because you have a passion to work as a waitress. You’re here to spy on the residents of Jackson - Joel especially, considering he likes to come in here regularly for a coffee, and you only know that because you’ve been doing reconnaissance on the man since that night outside the church where you shared an interesting conversation. Or rather, it was you leaving the man speechless with your nuanced warning that you’re onto him. 

But he got you back though. Joel got you back for that the moment you entered the restaurant earlier looking for Maria. He came to you with great pleasure in delivering the verdict regarding wall duty on the leaders behalf. You were denied to work the wall again and there was no doubt in your mind that Joel had some influence on that decision, but you didn’t care anyways as it was exactly what you wanted in order for your plan to work effectively.

Understanding that he came to you with that news expecting a reaction, you gave him a little resistance to keep up with your act before walking off to find Maria, where you pretended to be upset about it and then very carefully recommended working with Melinda instead. The plan was playing out smoother than a jazz band. Maria and Joel didn’t seem keen until Tommy agreed with the idea and took it upon himself to persuade his wife on the job role. While you acted like the little innocent bystander during their hushed debate, you were actually taking mental notes on the way Maria and Joel didn’t like that idea much to begin with.

You haven’t even started working here yet and you’re already gathering information and leads. Maybe Maria doesn’t need much influence from Joel because she might know about the wolf too? Imagine that, the leader of Jackson and her brother-in-law protecting a rather dangerous secret. Does that mean Tommy knows too? Jesus, it could be all three of them protecting this secret from everyone.

Suspicions and motives were starting to build in your mind over Melinda’s chatting and you unintentionally blocked the poor woman out, not even hearing that she was asking you a question. “Hm? I’m sorry, what did you say? It’s a little loud here.”  You cringe, shaking your head at yourself for being so rude. 

“I could use your help now, child.” Melinda hikes up her shoulders with a pleading smile. “Please?” 

Nodding to the woman and chuckling at her attempt of puppy dog eyes, you couldn’t possibly say no to her and agreed to work now instead of tomorrow. In hindsight, it was probably a good thing as the majority of Jackson were here this evening and that would provide you a good opportunity to gather intel.

There were so many people that the main doors were opened up with extra tables and chairs set out on the street to accommodate everyone, and while you were tasked to look after the sections outside, it just so happens that the Miller family were sitting out there amongst one of the tables you had to mind for the evening. You can keep an eye on Joel, Tommy and Maria, and who they interact with in particular.

Surely they’d keep the person who is a werewolf close by. 

Following Melinda into the kitchen with those questions swirling around your head, you put on your best smile and acted proper for the ‘customers’ before grabbing a tray filled with different samples of food, each tagged with little flags. One of which had Melinda’s name written on, prompting you to ask her what delectable dish she had whipped up tonight. “Italian style braised rabbit with rosemary and mushrooms.” She reported back with pride in her tone. Scrunching her nose with a bright smile, she held two warm hands to each side of your face and unnecessarily shared her gratitude “I have you to thank for trading the rabbits, Y/N.” 

“No need to thank me, Melinda.” Brushing it off as no big deal, because it really wasn’t a big deal, you gave the old lady a wink and took a deep - confidence boosting - inhale of breath. “Wish me luck out there, I’m gonna need it.” 

“Knock 'em dead, honey. You’ll do just fine.” She yells over the excessive chatter while opening the door for you to exit the kitchen. That confidence boosting inhale was snatched from your lungs and your best smile was wiped clean off your face as you struggled to weave in and out of the tables.

Then, with three kids running right by your feet almost tripping you over, you damn near dropped all the food and had what felt like a thousand eyes on you during your little stumble. Ignoring the burning embarrassment in your cheeks, you looked down to the children's faces who looked up at you almost teary eyed for their mistake. “My, that was a close one, huh little ones?” You spoke with a sweet tone, begging to a higher power that these kids won’t burst into tears. “Oh, don’t let me spoil all the fun now. Go on, sweethearts. Take your time and be careful so that you don’t fall.” 

Sighing a literal breath of relief when all three of them shone cute little smiles before scurrying off to play again, you could still feel everyone's eyes on you. Some people here probably expected you to throw a fit or yell at those children. All thanks to Joel spreading a load of gobbledegook about you working with the bandits, it probably gave people an unfair pre-judgement about you.

Joel fucking Miller. You scoff while exiting the restaurant and seeing the man himself staring directly at you with a smug smile on his face. Honestly, at this point it wouldn’t surprise you one bit if he put those kids up to that little charade. It’s unlikely, they’re just mindlessly playing and having fun, but still, it wouldn’t surprise you if Joel had asked those kids to run right in front of you. Throwing wild accusations around in your head, you stopped at your first table and greeted three smiley middle aged women. “Good evening, ladies.” 

With five little bowls of food dished out onto their table with ease, you turned around to head back inside but halted when hearing someone click their fingers, then you clenched your jaw with annoyance when that someone spoke. Of course, it was Joel. Turning around and walking over to his table, you despised the fact that you smiled when asking him what he would like. You even felt disgusted asking him so nicely too, however he did have his family with him, and you don’t necessarily have any grudges with Tommy, Maria and the young girl at his side who you presume to be his daughter.

“We need more water. Our pitcher is empty.” Joel smirks, leaning back into his chair like he had just said fuck you to your face. It felt like he did. The man was definitely saying it with his eyes, you could practically see the words in his mind as he kept smirking. 

“Thank you, Y/N and you’re doing a great job by the way.” Tommy’s voice cut through the tension. It was like taking a hot knife through a cold stick of butter, instantly directing your attention to the man, you smiled and grabbed the empty pitcher. “Thanks Tommy. I won’t be long with your water, folks. Sit tight.” 

Turning swiftly and walking away, the steam was blowing out of your ears from Joel's taunting tactics. The man didn’t like that you wanted to work here, but it seems as though he has found a way to be okay with it now. He knows you can’t backchat, and you can already feel that he is going to take advantage of that with absolute pleasure.

Once you were in the kitchen, Melinda loaded up another tray for you while you filled the pitcher of water by the sink. The sight of her sweet smile as well as her praising reassurances that you’re doing a good job pushed aside your raging thoughts about Joel. It’s been twenty goddamn years since you worked as a waitress, but it all came back like a reflex.

Taking care of the residents was a piece of cake, as was putting up with the assholes like Joel. Taking the tray from her and heading back out there, weaving in and out of the tables again, you stopped just in time when those same three kids ran past your feet, and lo and behold, when you looked up, Joel was looking directly at you again, this time with a wink. I fucking knew it. I just knew you would do something like this Miller. 

“Hey, you kids like cake, don’t you?” Looking down to the three little gremlins, they nodded excitedly and you smirked with another little bright idea. Kneeling to the floor and bribing them with some extra cake later when it’s served, you simply bought their allegiance. They’re on your side now. Unlike Joel Miller, you won’t use little kids to get back at him. Oh no, you can do that yourself in your own way.

Children are honest, brutally honest too, they’ll tell you straight up how you look when you are a mess, and it was because of that honesty, or maybe your bribe, that prompted one of the kids to whisper into your ear. “It was Eugene.” Oh. So it wasn’t Joel after all? Narrowing your eyes with that, you nodded to the kid and moved him along. “Thank you. Go on and play, kiddo.” 

Standing up and walking away, a woman from a table to your right called your attention with an apology. “Hey, I’m sorry for the trouble. I’ll tell Billy to knock it off.” You appreciated that she wanted to apologize, but it wasn’t her fault or her kids and you waved it off with a smile, to show that there were no hard feelings.

However, just as you were about to walk away, you heard her call for Eugene and followed her line of sight to an exceptionally large, and really hairy man. “Gather the kids and bring them over here. They're running all over the place.” She yells and that man, Eugene, then nodded before looking at you and there was no doubt in your mind now that he is the one behind this whole thing. 

After he gathered the kids, he glanced over to Joel with a nod, which confirmed that not only is he telling these kids to run in front of you, but he’s working with Joel. Maybe he knows about the werewolf - or is the werewolf. He and Joel could be working together to try and intimidate you into keeping your mouth shut. That sounds plausible, but you have zero proof. It’s just a hunch at this point.

Walking back outside and taking the pitcher of water and the food to the Millers table, you didn’t meet Joel’s gaze once before turning around and walking off again. Inside the restaurant, Eugene stared at you as you walked by and when he looked over to Joel for a second time, that hunch was really starting to feel right. 

Eugene is a suspect.

As the night dragged on, you kept busy with waiting tables and making small chit-chat with your customers. Fortunately, there were more benefits to this job change than you anticipated there to be. People chatting with you and making their own judgements would clear your name. They can see for themselves if you’re working for the bandits.

One table besides the Millers even acted dry and curt with you to begin with, but not long after delivering excellent customer service, they began to ease up. You could physically see the residents of Jackson accepting you as one of them. You are one of them. This is your home now and you intend to play your part in a thriving, safe living community. And if that means working as a waitress while secretly investigating the Millers, then so be it. 

You only have the safety of Jackson in mind and it makes you wonder how many of them actually know about the wolf as you look across the floor. Seeing all their happy faces, interacting and chatting with their families while enjoying tasty food, you wonder who else is keeping that secret. You watched that wolf hunt those bandits like it was a sport. The speed it was able to move and the strength it had in order to tear apart four men in the dark, God only knows what would happen if the wolf decided to turn on these people here in Jackson.

Although you have an idea on how bad it could be, you don’t know for sure. Suppose that’s what you really want is reassurances. The werewolf was here before you, does it really mean any harm? Maybe not, but why hide it? Why hide such an incredibly big secret like that when the world isn’t normal anymore, the dead are literally roaming the streets outside. Bloaters and clickers are the freakiest - and the scariest - shit you’ve ever seen before seeing a supernatural wolf. 

Maybe it's because it could be someone in a position of power. Maria and Tommy are the leaders of Jackson, but there are others that are in positions of power here too. Like Joel and Eugene. Joel is the guy everyone looks to when bandits show up outside our gates, he trains groups of newbies how to fight and how to survive out there when on patrol and he’s a weapons expert.

Eugene’s exact job role is a mystery to you right now, but you can tell that whatever he does, it’s important. Sitting at the head of a table inside the restaurant, you watch and see how almost everyone here knows who he is and treats him with respect. Everyone treats everyone with respect, but Maria, Tommy, Joel and Eugene get a little more because of the positions of power they’re in. It’s like their tables are VIP and you can clearly distinguish those VIP tables. 

The Millers sitting outside right beside the Christmas tree. Eugene sitting inside right in the middle of the restaurant. Another table by the bar, all men with the same coloured jackets on that were wearing hardhats. Dam personnel you suspect. Even in the kitchen, Barney is the head of staff and he minds the whole of Jacksons food inventory, who is also hosting the food judging tonight. They’re all working together. The doctors, school teachers, stable hands, weapons handler, scavengers and hunters. Each and every job role you could possibly take on here, there is a boss that reports right back to Maria and Tommy.

It’s not abnormal, of course Maria needs all these other people in each department to help keep Jackson running smoothly, but it again makes you wonder who in each department knows about the werewolf. Can you even move an inch in this town without Maria or Joel knowing about it? They all could be keeping their eyes on you, and that thought alone is worrying. 

“Seth, give me a beer please. I’m desperate here.” Turning around to face the man behind the bar, you couldn’t look across the floor any longer as you felt eyes within the crowd on you. It was a nerve wracking feeling against your back. You could feel that you were being watched, and you just have to play the best role of your life acting like you don’t notice it. 

“I’ll let you have this one, but no more after that, okay?” Seth hands the bottle over, with a half serious warning as he chuckles. “It’s preferable that we don’t have drunk workers running around here, otherwise I’d share one with you.”  

“Ah, that’s quite alright.” Shrugging it off, you understand perfectly that you can’t drink while working. It doesn’t really paint a good image for others, especially the young adults who are the future of this place. Tossing back a couple really big gulps upon hearing Melinda calling for you from the kitchen, you left only a little in the bottle before thanking Seth and getting back to work. You like to enjoy the contents of a beer, not swallow it, however duty calls and your quick break was indeed very quick.

Making your way outside holding a tray filled with desserts, you served them up to your first table and took a quick glance across your section for anyone looking like they’re in need of your service. When you saw that everyone looked satisfied, you made your way inside again to gather another tray of desserts. On your way back however, that little kid Billy flagged you down to ask about his extra serving of cake that you promised him. It made you giggle, but a deal is a deal and you threw him a thumbs up. “Just a second, kiddo. I’ll bring it out for you.”

Gathering another tray full of desserts from the kitchen, but this time with three extra little bowls for those kids, you stopped off at their table first before heading outside. “Why are you giving the kids more?” A deep voice just behind your shoulders asks, bringing a smug smirk to your face. Purposely not answering Eugene right away provided the reaction you were hoping for as he raised his voice. “Excuse me. Who said you can bring out those desserts?” 

Bingo! Turning to face him just like everyone else did, the man instantly recognised the mistake he made and you jumped at the chance to make him look like a fool. Your way of payback. “What’s wrong sir? Billy, Sophie and Justin can’t get dessert like everyone else?” Smiling innocently, you scuffled Billy’s hair and laughed. “Just because they almost tripped me over, doesn’t mean they don’t get a treat-” Looking at his mother now, you brought her into the conversation too. “-As long as that’s okay with you, Mom?”

Judgy whispering filled the air within the restaurant now as everyone looked at the mother, and oh how pleasing it felt when she nodded and smiled at her kid. It was like kicking Eugene to the curb. Looking back at him now, just like everyone else, you smiled one of those ‘fuck you’ kind of smiles and asked. “Is there a problem here, sir? I’d like to get back to work now.” 

“No, ma’am. We’re good here.” Eugene replies, shaking his head with a fake smile. You enjoyed hearing the other tables gossiping amongst themselves about Eugene Linden having a problem with three little kids getting desserts. The sound was like music to your ears, but humiliation to his ears - which were burning right now as you passed him, but not before pausing briefly to whisper. “Don’t send kids to trip me over." 

Walking away with your head held high, you received a lot of approving smiles from all the tables you passed and of course, Joel Miller was wearing a scowl. He heard and saw what happened just now, but didn’t like it at all. Not only did you get a little payback against Eugene, but it was a little payback to the older Miller too. You’ve changed a whole new leaf since that night in the forest. You aren’t the scared helpless woman that you once were, now when you are pushed, you push back. 

“Y/N.” Maria calls your name, which came as no surprise. Looking over and holding up a hand to tell her you’ll just be a second, you finished up delivering the rest of your desserts before going over to her table to hear what she has to say. “What happened? Why did Rebecca's kids get extra dessert?” 

Oops, your little plan wasn’t as flawless as you thought. Act fast, Y/N. “Oh, I don’t know what you mean. I was under the impression that they were still waiting for their dessert, Maria.” You lie like an expert. You’ve had to lie quite a lot tonight but hopefully it won’t come back to bite you in the butt. “I’ll make sure it won’t happen again, sorry about that.” 

“You’ve been really busy tonight. Mistakes happen.” Tommy interjects, putting an arm across his wife's shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, Y/N. I’m sure the kids didn’t mind getting another treat.” 

“Thank you, Tommy.” You smile, appreciating his kindness right now under Maria's and Joel's intense stare. After glancing over the table and seeing that their pitcher was empty again, you ask. “Can I get you a refill? Ya’ll have been really thirsty tonight.” 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Joel grumbles, inserting himself into the conversation as he leaned forward and placed his hand onto the table. You looked down, seeing the way he balled his hand into a fist and looked up at you through narrowed eyes. It felt really good to get under his skin. Now especially in a public setting where you can judge the way Tommy, Maria and the young girl reacts to his attitude towards you.  

“Jeez, keep your hair on, Joel. She’s only making conversation.” The young girl scoffs before looking over to you and lifting the empty pitcher. “I’m actually really thirsty and I’d love a refill, thank you. Joel’s got a stick up his ass lately, don’t mind him.”

“Language, Ellie.” Joel sighs. Leaning back into his chair as you grab the pitcher from whom you now know as Ellie, you smile and toddle off to grab that refill. Over your shoulder, you could hear Tommy and Ellie say something to Joel about the way he was acting. Tommy has always seemed to be in your corner backing you up, and it was nice seeing Ellie was too, but it brings you back to think about the werewolf and if they know.

Why is Ellie and Tommy being so kind to you, when Joel and Maria are so cold? 

Heading into the kitchen to grab some more desserts, Melinda took the tray from you and asked that you grab some items from the cellar. “I’ll do a couple tables for you, hon. I need a sack of potatoes for tomorrow but they’re too heavy.” 

“Sure, Mel. I got it.” Loading up the tray and helping her out the door, you watched her for a second to make sure she was okay walking across the dining room floor. She was. In fact, Melinda did a better job than you and had no issues whatsoever.

Making your way to the back of the kitchen and heading down the cellar, you flipped the switch on the wall but no light came on. There was a flashlight laying on the top step and you figured the lights not working properly must be a regular occurrence. Using that as your only source of light, you make your way down the stairs to locate the potatoes, which were at the back of the room just under a little box window. 

Reaching for a sack of potatoes, Melinda wasn’t lying about how heavy they were as you had to drag it along the floor. There was no way you could lift it, not without breaking your back. Keeping the flashlight under one armpit and walking backwards, you chuckled at yourself for the struggling grunting noises you were making. A sweat was already beginning to break out across your forehead and you haven’t even reached the stairs yet.

Wiping it away with the back of your hand, you leaned down to grab the neck of the sack and began pulling back again, however a wall in your path stopped you from moving any further. A soft and squishy wall that can apparently breathe. Turning around quickly, you released the breath you were holding with a groaning sigh. “What do you want?”

It’s Joel.

“For you to stop playing stupid games.” The man got straight to the point with it. Standing firm with his hands held in his jean pockets, he towered over you in this angle. It was quite intimidating actually, but not in a scary way. Joel looked down at you through half lidded eyes, with a cold stoic facial expression. 

“I’m only playing the game that you started, Joel.” You retort with a scoff. Turning to grab the potatoes, there’s a whole lot you could say to Joel Miller, but you didn’t want to. You didn’t want to endure another bickering argument with the man, however Joel had a shitload of endurance for another round with you. Not moving from his spot and essentially blocking your path, you tilted your head and warned. “Get outta my way.” 

Holding your gasp when he took a step closer, you didn’t want to show that his move had an effect on you and acted tough. You aren’t scared of him, just on guard. “No.” He whispers, leaning his face close to yours. “Not until you tell me what I want to hear.” 

“And what is it that you want to hear exactly?” Heart thumping out of your chest as you ask that question, you know Joel won’t hurt you and weren’t afraid to push him, but you have to admit that it felt like an adrenaline rush to not back down from his proximity. If he thinks standing a little closer and acting threatening is going to scare you, then he’s mistaken. 

“Admit that you’re interested in me.” You laugh - actually laugh. Not believing the words that just came out of his mouth, you held a hand over your stomach to settle the happy cramp and shook your head. Joel was serious, really serious as his expression remained the same. 

“Yeah ok. I’m interested in you, Joel.” You giggle. Turning to face him as he quirks one eyebrow, you mirrored his action and leaned in close to show that you’re most certainly not backing down. “But not for the reasons that you think.” 

“Enlighten me.” Smirking as he whispers, you hated the way it bothered you. The way it got under your skin. Joel is still messing around - still teasing you. How fucking dare he ask you to quit playing games when he is instigating them all, though his mistake is misjudging your ability to bite back where you know it’s going to sting. 

“I want the werewolf’s identity Joel, and you know who he is - that’s why I’m interested in you.” Noticing the way his jaw clenches, you tilt your head to the side as a way to show how unbothered you were. He pushes, and you push back. You won’t allow him to believe that you can just be bullied into keeping quiet, because you won’t be. The only way he or anyone else can silence you is by killing you, and you know Joel won’t do that. Because he just gave himself away. “You like me, dont’cha?” You tease, puffing a sharp breath into his face. “I’m not like the others, I intimidate you instead and that drives you crazy.” 

“Oh you drive me fucking crazy alright.” Joel retorts, tone sounding dark and amused. Chest expanding in your face with a deep inhale, he chuckles and shakes his head. “But you don’t intimidate me, darlin’.” 

“No?” Still biting back to his replies, there’s nothing Joel could say now that can change your mind. You felt like you had the upper hand right now, and you took advantage of that in every way. Starting with your confident and cocky tone when back chatting to him. “I know I intimidate you. You’re scared about the truth coming out, which you know I’m going to find, darlin’.” 

Mimicking his use of the pet name, you smiled when he lowered his head with defeat. He likes it, there’s no denying that. “Sure you're going to find the truth, Y/N?” Joel asks, looking down to your lips while licking his. The man is fucking stupid, he is still giving himself away, while you were an absolute pro at hiding how his stance and proximity was making you feel. You hate Joel, but the sensation you're getting in your abdomen says something else. It’s just the thrill and excitement getting under his skin that was messing up your emotions. You’re high on feeling powerful and confident. 

“Yes. I am certain.” You nod, earnestly. Thinking about the suspects that you already have in mind, Joel doesn’t even understand how driven you are to find the truth, and that will probably be his downfall too. Accusing you of working with the same people that nearly scared you to death was his biggest mistake. It’s the root cause of your hatred for the man. 

“There’s no way I can persuade you to let this go?” Joel shrugs and when you nod in confirmation, he nods too. Using his eyes to search for any sentiment of regrets in your face, he was finally starting to see how serious you were and sighed. “Ok. Fine Y/N. You win.” 

Face contorting with confusion, you weren’t expecting that at all, and definitely didn’t expect him to take another step closer, practically pressing his chest to yours and slipping his hand around your waist. “W-what are you doing, Joel?” You stutter, breath escaping your lungs with surprise. Hands landing on his chest during the manoeuvre, it felt like a furnace beneath your fingertips. A hot and extremely muscled furnace, Joel is ripped under those clothes. Why do I want to see him shirtless!?

“I'm not doing anything, besides lending a hand.” He tuts, grabbing the sack of potatoes and throwing them over his shoulder like it weighed nothing before turning and walking away. “It’s like I said, Y/N. You win and there’s nothing that I can do to persuade you to let this crazy obsession with a make-believe werewolf go.” 

“No. No way, you don’t get to do that, Joel.” You whine and follow the man up the steps. “You don’t get to paint me as the crazy one here. You’re the one that’s crazy.” 

“What’s the matter?” Dropping the potatoes on the top step and turning to face you, he looked genuinely concerned for a second while looking up and down your body. “You sound frustrated, darlin’. Was it something I said?…” Then Joel smirks before placing a hand to the wall beside your head and leaning in. “... Or was it something that I did?” 

“Fuck off.” You spit, narrowing your eyes. Joel actually thinks his little move back there turned you on. It didn’t. It definitely didn’t turn you on. You were just… surprised, that’s all, but back to the main point. He can’t gaslight you into thinking that the werewolf is make-believe. You saw it with your own eyes and you’re not crazy. 

“You want me to fuck off, then I will.” Joel pulls back, holding his hands up. Looking down to the potatoes with a smile, he nodded and began to walk away. You thought that was the end of it, until he threw one last comment over his shoulder. “I’ll just stick to teasing you in your dreams instead, babygirl.” 

“Asshole.” Muttering under your breath, you heard him chuckling on his way out of the kitchen door and shook your head with annoyance. You were supposed to get under his skin, not the other way around. You had the upper hand, and you lost it. You felt confident and powerful, and now…Now you felt frustrated. 

Only frustrated?

Later That Night

Laying in bed with a throbbing headache and another entirely different kind of throbbing between your legs, you couldn’t seem to rid the conversation you had with Joel Miller from your mind. He’s an asshole. A pretentious smug asshole that acts so fucking big headed that he actually believes you were turned on. 

Ok, yes you did feel a little aroused but it was not because of him. It’s just because he is a man putting the moves on you which reminds you how long it has been since you felt desired. You were aroused because you felt confident and sexy - definitely not because of Joel Miller! And besides, you took care of that little arousal problem an hour ago, hence the throbbing sensation between your legs. You simply took care of a basic human need. You had sex with a stranger, a one night stand. 

His name was Jake, you talked with him over a drink before closing up the restaurant and he has a passion for food. That’s all you know, and cared enough to know. Adorning handsome facial features, he is tall and bulky with a sexy amount of hair leading down to his manhood, where he hid a rather pleasurable package beneath his underwear. His love making skills left a lasting effect on you, a satisfied effect and even a yearning for more. The sex was good. Really good actually and although you set out at first with zero intentions to take it any further, you and Jake wanted a no strings attached kind of deal, but if the opportunity arose to spend another night in bed with him, you wouldn’t turn it down.

I needed that. You nod to yourself with a smile. You needed to unwind and release years worth of sexual energy. After flipping the switch on your bedside lamp, your headache vanished into thin air and you rolled over to get some sleep. You need to open the restaurant at six am tomorrow and help the winner of the winter cookout - Melinda - peel lots of potatoes to make hash browns for breakfast, cheese and mash pastries for lunch and then mashed potatoes with gravy for dinner.

Closing your eyes, you were gracious that the only thing you saw behind your eyelids was Jake's face, particularly the way he looked at you when you climaxed. It was a look of adoration and pride, which made you feel as sexy as you are. Falling asleep with ease, your mind slipped into the land of dreams. 

However, unbeknownst to you were two glowing red eyes in your back garden looking up at your window. Two glowing red eyes that belonged to a werewolf - a different werewolf. 

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Tagging

Werewolf Joel Miller: @kirsteng42 @marydjarin @extraneous-trip @dins-cyare @supernaturalgirl20 @supernaturalgirl @joelsflannel @luvmeijii @hb8301 @squidwell @scorpio-marionette @trickstersp8

[misspearly1]

Monster Joel Story Concept

Snippet - Werewolf!Joel Miller x You

I’ve only touched lightly on monster fics, with my Max Phillips piece, The Receptionist (Vampire Max) and maybe True Loves revelation (Vampire Max). However, I’m going all out with Werewolf Joel. A story that I plan to co-write with my wonderful friend @pale-gingerale - a new, upcoming writer for Joel Miller, so please look out for her stories rolling out, I sure can’t wait for them 😁

This is a snippet guys, just a little taste for what’s to come in the future. Plus, it gives ya’ll a looksie to see if this is something you would be interested in. If it’s not for you, I apologize my lovelies, just scroll past it. I'm not going to tag my usual's in this, just in case it's something you don't like I'll reach out personally to see if you want to be excluded from any Werewolf Joel tags. Thank you 💜

Rough sex. You’re helping Joel with the regular, monthly transition and what comes with that transition. He is a monster here guys, so he’s a little out of it and everything is… bigger. NSFW and 18+ Content. No Minors!

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Joel towered over you while you lay on the soft, cushiony grass on the ground. Half man half beast, his body transformed nearly twice in size - something else grew too - as the moon shone down over his shoulder. He growled at you. Low and distorted like he was in pain.

But he wasn’t actually in pain, he was pained with a dangerously high sex drive, a huge, monstrous cock to accompany that. Undoubtedly, a high enough sex drive for him to ravage whatever is in sight like the animal that he is.

And you’re the one in his sight.

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Positioning his large, rounded tip of his cock to your weeping entrance, Joel snarls when sheathing himself fully. It burns. The stretch is phenomenal, delicious even as he opens you up like nothing you've ever felt or taken before in your life. His huge cock breaching your cervix as he bottoms out inside of you.

Removing himself slowly and shoving his hips forward, he grunted deeply while you writhed. It was pleasurably painful to take him, stretching your walls more to fit him perfectly. The sting begins to subside and finally, it’s all pleasure that takes its place and your eyes roll shut to relish in feeling so full.

Two clawed hands dig into your hips as he fucks your cunt without mercy. He’s a panting, growling beast behind you. Fucking your cunt like his own personal toy and all you can do is moan from his ministrations. Breath knocked out from your lungs each time he moves.

His bulb hits you each time, trying to ease it inside of you. Would he even be able to fit it inside? You’d find out soon enough because he’s pulling your hips back to meet his thrusts and that bulb is breaching your tight entrance.

You feel the intrusion, It’s almost in. Pulling himself out and spreading your folds, he surges forward. Continuously pushing and you cry. Wailing out when it slips inside, he howls. You can feel his cock literally twitching inside of you as he spills hot ropes of his seed into your womb and you cum with him at the sensation. Yet, he is still cumming.

There’s so much of it, too much of it and It’s oozing out of your pulsing cunt. You’re wrecked underneath him as his cock begins to soften. Easing himself out, you peel your head out of the grass and look over your shoulder. Collapsed onto the ground and shrinking back to his normal, human size, Joel reached for you with a soft, exhausted whisper, “Y/N…”

Going to him, he pulled you into his sweaty chest and buried your head into his neck. Kissing at your head, he mumbled “Thank you…. Thank you for helping me with this, darlin.”

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Author's Notes: Let me know what ya’ll think. Personally, I’m quite big on reassurances when writing smut, so I can't see this fic steering towards non/con. Not that I’m against it, I read them myself, however, I need that, ‘are you ok? Is this ok?’ and I’m sure ya’ll can understand that, lol. Thanks peeps! 💜