Read Online Of Wolves and Men by G. A. Hauser - Free Book Online Page B

He heard snuffling and could see a shadow move past the bottom of the door.
    “Great. Now I got a wolf the size of God-fucking-zilla in my bathroom.” He threw his coat and hat down in anger. “What do I do to change you back, Roman? Tell me. I don’t get this.” Charlie sat on the opposite side of the door, leaning his head against it. “I’m tired, babe. So tired. I don’t know why you came to me. I don’t know nuthin’ about nuthin’. I’m just a simple cowboy from Utah.”
    The snuffling noises changed to something more human-like. Still, Charlie was not about to open the door. “All I want to do is take a piss and wash up. And I can’t do that with a timber wolf in my bathroom.” Charlie laughed sadly at the absurdity of his own comment. “Man, I am truly cracking myself up. And not in a good way, mind you.”
    “Charlie.”
    “Thank fuck.” He stood and opened the door, peering in. Roman was on the floor curled up in a ball, looking like he was crying.
    Charlie knelt down and brought Roman into his embrace, sitting with him. He sniffed his hair and through the shampoo scent he caught that musky smell he was beginning to understand.
    “Unreal. You smell like a wet dog. I kept trying to figure out why that smelled familiar.”
    “Great. What a turn on.” Roman held Charlie close.
    “You going to tell me what the hell all this is about?”
    “I need to tell someone. I can’t deal with this alone.”
    “If I get you out of here and on my bed, will I be fighting a wolf?”
    Roman blinked, his green eyes so painfully lost, Charlie melted. He caressed Roman’s black hair, petting it away from his forehead.
    “I can’t control it. I mean, I can a little, but not really.”
    “Well, ain’t that a comfort.” Charlie shook his head. “Come on then. I have to take my chances.” He stood, taking Roman with him. “Let me wash up. Okay?”
    “Yes.” Roman made his way to the bed, slightly unsteady on his feet.
    Charlie shut the door to urinate and get ready in private. He looked at himself in the mirror and noticed he was filthy from the night’s work. He stripped off his clothing and stepped into the shower. Giving himself a quick wash, he filled the room with steam. Charlie then dried himself off and caught something strange in the mirror’s reflection. He jumped back and looked behind him. Nothing was there. He wiped the mirror off and shouted out in fear before he could prevent it.
    Roman rushed in. “What happened?”
    Charlie wasn’t sure he knew. He pointed to the mirror and couldn’t believe what he had seen.
    As if he understood, Roman deflated. “Great.” He scuffed his heels to the bed.
    Charlie gave the mirror a last look, shut the light and joined Roman on the bed. “I don’t even want to ask you to start at the beginning. I know it’s a long tale.”
    “You look as tired as I feel. I’m sorry about earlier. But that stupid Jack Russell is a pain in my ass.”
    “Yeah. That’s Harley. But he don’t want nothin’ hurtin’ our ponies. You have to give him some credit.”
    “I would never hurt an animal.”
    “Then it wasn’t you that cut up that deer?”
    “Hell no.”
    “Do you know who it was?”
    Roman appeared grim. He tilted his head to the bathroom. “Her.”
    “Her.” Charlie had no idea who Roman meant.
    “You see that…that face in the mirror?”
    “If you can call it a face.” Charlie shivered.
    “I think it’s a shaman. You know what a shaman is?”
    “I’ve heard things. This area is Ute land.”
    “Smart man.” Roman tapped Charlie’s head lightly. “I need you, my intelligent man.”
    “I have no connection to that tribe, Roman. I know very little.”
    “I’ll tell you something else.”
    “I know you have a lot more to tell. I know.” Charlie stifled a yawn.
    “All right. I’ll leave you with this to think about before I either turn into something stupid, or you fall asleep.”
    “What?”
    “I’m an ATF agent and there’s no