Werewolf Boyfriend: Dante (rough draft)

A few of your friends want to take a camping trip, they’ve been begging you to go, especially since your family has a nice camper. You used to love camping, used to go every chance you could. Something happened a few years ago that changed your mind and made you afraid of the woods.

Your dad and brother were hunters, so they took hunting trips as often as they were allowed. During the fall, when you and your mom had more time off, you’d often go on family trips together. It was always fun, and you enjoyed the campfire and food more than anything. While your dad and brother were out doing their thing, you had lots of time to do some personal stuff you didn’t get to when life was busy. You liked to use charcoals to draw, sometimes you even attempted to write songs and play guitar.

The night in question though, you were half asleep by the fire. Your mom and dad were cuddled up, and your brother was out in the woods. Even though the camper had a bathroom, he was adamant, for some reason, about using the ‘great outdoors’ as his bathroom, like God intended.

It sounded assignin to you, but as long as you neither saw or smelled his God’s Intended shits, you were fine. That night in particular though, he was taking his dear sweet time. You knew he had been flirting with someone a campsite or two over, so you got the idea in your head of playing the role of annoying sister.

You left the campsite, going along the small path behind the camper that went between the different campsites. It was dark so you had your phone out as a flashlight, leading you up the path you figured he had gone towards. Only thing was, the campsite was empty, it looked like the people had left already. You were contemplating heading back when you heard a noise. It sounding like grunting and slurping. Maybe you had popped out a campsite over, you thought, and really, your brother’s intended spot was just a hop over.

You followed the found, readying your camera just to torment your brother later. You were close to the campsite, but the sound seemed to be coming from off the path. In a moment of idiocy you chastise yourself for now, you followed. The sound you had thought was perhaps the sound of your brother sloppily making out, was starting to sound a bit more ominous. There was a snarling to it, a deep breathing.

The moonlight illuminated someone hunched over on the ground. They suddenly went still and sat up, turning to look back at you. This person was huge, an absolute monster. They were wearing what looked like a pretty thick fur coat, although it seemed kind of ratty. You kept your phone up recording as the scene looked creepy and unreal.

“Sorry about that!” You apologized quickly. “I didn’t mean to bother you. I was just looking for my brother.”

The person stepped closer and you saw that they appeared to be in an all body costume.

“Oh wow! That’s so cool.” You came closer to them. “I knew the trailer park down the hill was having a costume party. I didn’t think anyone still made costumes like this accept for, well, just in case you are I’ll be quiet.” You reached up to touch the fur. It felt slightly damp. “It looks so life-like.” You then notice nothing seems to be moving, or it feels too tight to the body. “How much did this cost you?” You heart began to pound, nerves rose, yet you couldn’t seem to let go. You looked up at their face, feeling cold to the gut. Their eyes blinked, the lip curled, and inside you saw wet tongue, drool, and sharp teeth.

“Well then,” you voice squeaked. “I’ll just...let you to it.” You took a few steps backwards before you turned and sprinted back to your family’s campsite. As you raced home your brother was there, so you shoved passed him and hid yourself in the camper.

After that, you had refused to go on anymore camping trips, family or not.

“Come on, how about a cabin?” Your friend, Miri, suggested. “You don’t have to do anything, just stay in the cabin, which is surrounded by other cabins.”

“Stop pushing,” you huff. “I wouldn’t force you to spend the night at the aquarium.”

She frowns. “Seriously, what happened?”

You still have the video on your phone, just to prove to yourself you aren’t crazy. The whole thing is captured, your stupidity, the werewolf, everything. It was something you could have posted for the world to see, but part of you was afraid that, if you did post, the werewolf would find you and gobble you up like Red Riding Hood’s granny.

“Bears,” you lie. “I am afraid of bears.”

Miri pouts. “Bears are a myth, you know that.”

You glare at her as she breaks into a huge grin. You smile along and shake your head. “Seriously, Miri, it terrifies me. Cabin or tent, I would still probably hide away.”

“This place though is like a gated community for campers. Arnie’s grandmother uses it for crying out loud. No bears or masked serial killers are getting in.”

You roll your eyes. “Great, you mentioned serial killers, I’m sure as heck not going now. Why is it so important I go?”

“Arnie is inviting a friend, it would be even and less third wheel with you around. Plus, I wanna have an out in case Arnie tries to start something.”

“Seriously, break up with him, for real.”

This time she rolls her eyes. “Come on. Please? I need you.”

You agree to go, but only after having seen the place on line and seeing it more suburban than camp. The cabin is nice and big, and you’re able to get a room with a window that doesn’t face the trees.

You’ve never clicked with Arnie, he was always more Miri’s type. You were always the mismatched best friends, she was the pretty, perky girl in glitter jellies and butterfly clips, you were the gothy, geeky girl in your brother’s hand me down converses and patchy black dyed hair. Arnie was a typical jock, but at least he was nice. He and Miri had been dating since high school, and the best way you could describe their status was like one of those clap on clap off lamps. Recently though, they’d been entering a much more mature phase, but you still expected dramatics around the corner.

Arnie’s friend, Philip, was pretty much like Arnie. Some guy he met at the gym and hit it off with. The guy was cute, but you held no hopes of holding a conversation with him. That was, until the trip, where you got to talking about old kaiju movies. He was starting to seem pretty cool.

“Maybe we could go on a hike later,” Philip suggested.

“Nah, you won’t get her out of the house,” Arnie says. “She’s scared of trees or something.”

Miri pats his shoulder. “Bears, babe. She’s scared of bears.”

You grimace and look out the window. “Yeah, I only came this week as a favor to Miri. Outside that, I’m not a hiking or nature sort of person.”

Philip just smiles. “Good thing I shave. Wouldn’t want to scare you.”

Was he trying to be a dick or flirt? You couldn’t tell.

The first night in the cabin was fine, you were all tired from the trip so nothing much happened aside from eating and getting the place set up. The next day, Arnie suggested going swimming, maybe even rent a boat to take out onto the lake.

Werewolves could swim, you thought to yourself, but since the lake was wide open, maybe it would be safe for you to go. After coating yourself in sunscreen, you all head down to the lake. Taking first to the beach where you set up an umbrella and towels as your protective fortress from your number two enemy, the sun.

“Not going swimming?” Philip asks.

“Not right now, I’m waiting for the sunscreen to set in. After that, I’ll join in the water.” You take out your book and start to read while the others go on into the water.

As you’re reading you get goosebumps up and down your arms. A shiver trails up your neck, and when you look aside, you see the beach is starting to fill up with people. Across the way though, there’s a storage shed for the employees, and standing there is a guy just watching. You try to ignore him, but every time you look up he’s staring in your direction.

After a while, you get up and run to the beach to join Miri and the boys. You stick close to Philip as your cover, hoping the guy will go away and stop staring. Once you leave the water, the guy is luckily gone. Now though, Philip thinks you’re more keen on him than you are.

That night, Arnie starts a bonfire so Mirir can make s’mores. You’ve taken a shower, so when you come out, the man from the beach is there talking to Arnie.

“What’s going on?” You sidestep over to Philip.

“He’s just one of the maintenance guys who works here,” Philip scoffs. “Got all uppity about Arnie starting a bonfire without permission.”

You look back towards the man who is wearing a uniform t-shirt for the cabin rentals, a huge tool belt, and some ragged looking jeans. He’s quite tall and has curly dark hair that bleeds into his beard.

“Just an ass,” Philip grumbles under his breath.

The man turns his head while Arnie is talking to him and you flinch. The dark blue of his eyes is like ice, and you freeze in place.

“Sorry, sir, but you can’t start a fire here without alerting or obtaining permission from the front desk. There is a drought right now, you have to be cautious.” His tone is stern, voice deep.

“Will that take long?” Arnie scoffs. “My girl really wants her s’mores.”

“You’ll have to come down to the front desk to find out.” He says, walking towards you as he begins to leave. His eyes linger on you but he leaves without a word.

“Man, what bullshit,” Arnie scoffs. “Just gonna be for an hour at most! What could that hurt?”

“The stove inside is gas, you can just roast marshmallows over the eye,” you suggest.

“What fun is that?” Philip chuckles. “Just go on and go now, Arnie. Take Miri with you and buy her a shirt at the gift shop.”

Arnie gets a smirk on his face. “If you wanna be alone, be a man and just say so. Fine, we’ll go, just make it worth my time.”

Philip grins then starts putting logs back where Arnie had built the fire before. It had been doused with sand by the park employee.

“So, tell me about this fear of bears,” Philip teases. “How did it start?”

“I watched a nature documentary as a child,” you fib. “From there it just grew like kudzu.” You look around, hearing Miri laughing in the distance.

“Got anyone to protect you from the big bad bears of the world?” Philip stands up, taking off his shirt despite the lack of effort stacking five logs took.

You look him up and down, yes his body was pleasing and you had the same taste in movies, aside from that you felt nothing other than annoyance at how overly eager he was.

He comes up to you, sitting down and moving his chair close. You could easily make this a one night stand sort of thing, but he’d have to be super quiet during so you could imagine someone else as you got your jollies.

Philip’s arm rests around your shoulders and he sighs with content. You just roll your eyes and move along with it. You start to roll your eyes as he attempts to hold your hand, but hen he grabs your wrist instead and places your hand in his lap, your jaw drops.

He then whispers into your ear. “Come on, just us here. I’ll yell if I see a bear.”

“Is that your fucking dick?” You say through clinched teeth.

He smirks. “Like it?”

“Let go of me! Gross!” You shove him off and keep your hand elevated. “What the fuck?”

“What?” He stands up, stuffing his cock back into his shorts. “I thought you were into it!” He follows you inside the cabin where you wash your hands at the sink.

“Did you ever think to ask?” You snap at him. “I don’t want dick pics and I certainly don’t want your half hard brain smooshed in my hand.”

Philip scowls. “Oh please, you were all over me yesterday. I didn’t think this was something I had to think about.”

“It is ALWAYS something you have to think about.” You walk towards the front door, walking off the porch and onto the road.

“Hey, come back!” Philip comes after you.

“I’m going to go meet up with Miri and Arnie, but leave me alone.” You pick up the pace to get away from him, but he still grabs your arm.

“There’s no reason to make a scene. I’m sorry, come on back.”

“Your apology isn’t wanted now!” You try to shove him off.

Philip is starting to laugh. “You are acting so ridiculous. Every guy does it.”

“They shouldn’t!” You slap him and his smile fades. His grip on your turns rougher but as that begins to escalate someone cold cocks him from the side.

You jump back and look up at your savior. It’s the staring guy from before. He shakes out his fist as Philip sits on the ground holding his head.

“Dude! What the fuck?”

“The lady said to let her go. I figured once she slapped you, you would get it, but apparently common sense isn’t your forte.” he comes up to you, placing himself between you and Philip. “I saw your friends at the gift shop, I’ll walk you there.”

“What about him?” You ask urgently.

He grins. “Want me to hit him again?”

“Nah, thanks for the offer though.” You let him walk beside you to find Miri and Arnie. “Your hand okay?”

He lifts his hand and shakes it again. “It’s fine. I’ve hit harder things than him before. I know you’re staying with him, you gonna be okay?”

You shrug. “Hopefully.”

“If he tries to do anything again, you can call the front desk and I’ll come kick his ass personally.”

“Who do I ask for?” You chuckle.

“Dante.” He holds his hand out.

You take his hand and shake it. “Sorry, I’ve been calling your creepy since yesterday.”

He nods. “I get that a lot. I have resting bitch face, but like, resting serial killer face.”

“Oh god, that sounds awful,” you chuckle.

“I’ve been told I was like that even as a kid.” You come up to the gift shop and he stops. “Your friends should be in there, hopefully they’ll kick that guy to the curb for you.”

“If not, ask for Dante,” you smile.

“Exactly.”

You walk into the gift shop and explain what happened to Arnie and Miri. Of course, thankfully, Miri is livid. To your surprise though Arnie is ticked off too, but unlike Miri, he thinks Philip should stay, and I move into the bedroom next to theirs. Miri insists we send him packing, but Arnie asks where he would go.

This fight goes on all the way to the cabin, then erupts when Philip comes into the picture. Arnie smacks him and Miri threatens him within an inch of his life. Arnie makes him move his stuff and you go into the smaller bedroom next to the master bedroom. You had avoided it because all the windows faced into the woods.

“Jesus, I thought you two would hit it off,” Miri grumbles.

You sit back on the bed, which was another downgrade. You had been in a queen bed all to yourself, now, you were stuck with a twin. “I’m not blaming you, luckily all he did was make me touch it. I think he’s too stupid to realize anything.”

“Still, that’s disgusting,” she scoffs. “I’m so sorry.”

You shrug. “I’ll scald the skin off when we get home, it’s fine.”

The next day, you and Miri go to the picnic area together. There’s a small snack shop there, so you order some food and sit down to just talk and waste time. As you’re eating a chili dog, Dante drives up in a cart and goes to make an order.

Chili plops onto your chest and you cuss under your breath.

“You see his ass?” Miri murmurs to you. “It’s fat.”

You’re still trying to wipe greasy chili off your chest. “Excuse me young lady?”

She winks at you. “Look at it.”

“I was just sexually harassed, I am not starting a pattern of bad behavior. Even if his ass looks like pudding.”

Miri gives you a shove. “Isn’t he the one who hit Philip for you? All knight in shining armor?”

“More like knight with hairy knuckles.” You watch Dante, who seems to be playing like he hasn’t noticed you, even though your hand was just down your top collecting chili chunks.

“He’s thick, but like, even with a few extra pounds I bet he’s stay fine. Like Jason Mamoa.”

You roll your eyes. “How are we friends? I swear.”

Miri leans against you and giggles. “It would be a fun story to take him. ‘He punched a wanton slut trying to force his floppy peepee upon me, and we made sweet passionate sex under the full moon.’”

“No moons,” I scoff. I look up to see Dante waving and my face instantly smolders.

“Look at you!” Miri chides.

“I hate you,” you scoff as Dante approaches.

“How did everything go last night?” He asks. “No trouble from the pig?”

Miri perks up. “All is fine, but my friend was actually curious if there was anyway she could thank you at all.”

You glare at her.

Dante chuckles. “I don’t get to punch assholes much, so that was a pleasure in itself. You ain’t gotta do a thing.”

“Then when do you get off work?” Miri continues.

You lean over to look her in the face. “Once he’s done digging up your body from the side of the road.”

“Oh please, like you could kill me,” she chortles. “Maybe you could come over tonight and inspect our fire? We’re finally going to use that permission slip tonight, make s’mores, cold beer. You could make sure we’re doing it correctly.”

Dante smirks. “Only if I’m wanted there by all concerned parties.”

You bite back a smile and shrug. “Free invite, do with it what you will.”

“Maybe I will.” he turns when his name is called to pick up his order.

That evening, Philip is still sulking and kind of acting like a dick, enough so that Arnie is getting fed up with him. As the fire is being lit, someone is walking around the side of the cabin.

“What the fuck is he doing here?” Philip hisses to Arnie.

Dante just stares over at him before looking your way. “My invite still stand?” He asks Miri.

“Of course!” Miri invites him to join you at the table on the porch. After that, Philip disappears, probably going back inside. You end up talking with Dante the entire time, finding a chemistry between you that Philip lacked. He’s slightly serious, his humor dry, but he’s attentive and lets you talk more than he does.

You’re getting drunk as the night wears on, Miri and Arnie are snuggled by the fire, while you and Dante continue to talk at the table.

“You know,” you sigh. “I really hate it out here. I mean like, trees and bushes and stuff.”

Dante just smirks. “You don’t like nature?”

“Oh god I love nature. I used to love camping. But nowadays I get so so so scared.” You slur, taking another sip of beer.

Dante nods. “Any reason for that?”

You wag your fingers for him to come in closer. “I always say its bears. People tenda let tha alone.”

He arches his brow. “Are you afraid of ghosts.”

“No! You got ghosts?”

He laughs and just shakes his head. “Tying to joke.”

“Oh, well, I ain’t.” You poke the tip of his nose. “You see, it sounds fake, but I got video and er’ything.”

Dante furrows his brows. “Of what?”

“A big woof.”

“What?”

You pa his shoulder like it will make your point come across stronger. “The full moon doggie.”

Dante clicks his tongue. “A wolf?”

You tug his shirt sleeve. “Yeah! But no! The one that...that movies make scary.”

He takes your beer away from your hands. “That’s enough of that.”

“I’m fine, I just get stupid. You wanna see the movie?”

He looks at you with that resting serial killer face of his. “What movie?”

“Of the full moon doggie. I’ve never showed anyone, but you seem cool.” You grab his hand and take him inside. You lead him to your room where you shuffle around for your phone. You fall over and Dante picks you up, helping you sit back on your bed.

“Easy,” he huffs.

“I got it!” You hold your phone up. “Let me show you the moon doggie.”

Dante grabs your hand, covering the screen of your phone. “I know what you’re talking about,” he says with a hushed voice.

You look at him bleary eyed. “You do? You seen one?”

He pushes your phone down. “Have you shown that to anyone? Posted it anywhere.”

You shake your head. “No. I was too afraid.” You feel more sober the more urgent his tone becomes. “Why?”

“But you haven’t deleted it?”

Your eyes dart over his face. “You’re being creepy again.”

Dante grabs the back of your neck and holds you stiff. “If I find out you ever showed that video to anyone, I will find you.”

“Hey,” your voice breaks. “Let me go.”

Dante takes your phone away. “You’ll get this back when you’re sober.” He lets you go and stands up. “Find me tomorrow.”

That’s the last thing you remember. You wake up the next day, groggy, foggy, and feeling dry as a bone. After a shower and a gallon of water, does the memory return.

“Hey uh-” You try to think up an excuse as Arnie and Miri look at you. “I uhm-” you still can’t think of anything. “I’m going.”

“Going?” Miri furrows her brow. “Going where?”

“Out,” you say slowly. “For ice cream. Want any?” You hate yourself, you really do.

You end up taking ice cream orders for Miri and Arnie then go to the front desk to find Dante. He tells you to meet him down at the beach, near the picnic tables. There are a few people about, but since it’s cloudy and threatening rain, there aren’t as many as there usually are. You see Dante though as he stands up from a table. As you approach he hands you your phone.

You look at your phone then him. “You didn’t look through it, did you.”

“No,” he grumbles. “I took it as collateral to make sure you would come today.”

You frown, feeling the hair at the back of your neck prickle up. You glance around, glad the workers for the snack stand are coming in, as well as the few people walking their pets around the beach. “Then why am I here? What do you want?”

He drops his arms down to the side and stiffens his neck. “Just last night you told me that you still have a video of me on there.”

Your throat clenches and it becomes hard to swallow. “But I’ve never met you before,” you say with a shake of the head. “I wouldn’t-”

He looks around quickly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Three years ago at Grover Camper Park.”

Your jaw drops and a cold sweat runs down your back. You take a few steps back and stare up at him as your skin goes icy.  “Oh.” You feel tightly squeezed so no air gets in or out.

Dante scowls at you. “Yeah, I’m the moon doggie.”