Family Secrets
by Damn'd One

For some us, growing up and listening to our grandparents’ stories of events and family from the “OLD COUNTRY”; our hearts become endeared to that distant past.  But like the winter sun, our loved ones’ memories of those places and times become faint.  With so many coming from the chaotic areas of central Europe at the turn of the century; The results of two world wars... the iron curtain of Communism; And now the scarring of ethnic cleansing even the most impassioned find it difficult at best; To re-discover the truth of their birthright.

For the persistent, there is no surprise; to others horror is to be found.  But they all find that no one is immune to their family heritage.  No matter how one tries to disassociate themselves; No matter how alien or bizarre it is.

For some it’s the abusive drunk, or traitorous coward whose bones hang in the closet of antiquity.  For others though; It’s the most unspeakable, by modern standards.

To those who endear themselves; there are times when a glint of spring arrives to illuminate the subject.  For Janice, such a sunbeam illuminated a world that was thought eternally lost; and bound only in the vividness of the fading imagination. 

Janice’s time of discovery came when her Air Force Reserve unit was mobilized for Bosnia.  A Captain in the nurse corps; She was raised with a family history that was, at best, said in short pithy blurbs.  With her scientific education, and environment she chalked much of what she was told to; A dimming memory of fantasy.

Her ‘awakening’ came when she finally was able to find her lost family.  Discovering them in a small remote village in the Yugoslav mountains.  At first they where cynical of this outsider; But as time went on acceptance was gained.  And over time Janice was tutored in her families true nature. 

“ The CBC for room 414 and the lateral for 422 are on your desk doctor.” 

“ Thanks Janice, see you when you get back.  Hope you have a great time at your family reunion.”

“ Oh.  I know it’ll be great.  I just hope I get there on time.”

“ You know; It’s wonderful you invited Keith.  That was a terrible mauling he took from that wild dog.  Did he get back to work yet?”

“ No, not yet.  He goes back next week.  It seems that the Fire department can’t work with one less paramedic on duty.”

“ You know something else Jani.  You two make a good couple.”

“ Now don’t you start too!  Just because we are dating doesn’t mean anything.  Oh my gosh; gotta run, bye!”

As Janice emerges from the hospital, she takes in the mid summer warmth; Smiling as she glances at the cloudless pristine blue sky.  “ Yes, lots of time.  And it’s going to be a beautiful night.”

Driving into the mountainous Appalachian countryside her mind could not be taken off what is going to happen these next few days.  The knowledge that soon she will be with her family, and friends made her even more impatient.  “ The hormones are starting.” She smilingly thinks to herself.  “ Steady girl; just a few more miles.”

Arriving at her secluded home; She stops to take out the mail, and then the long drive down the dusty road. Opening the door to her parlor, Bram arrives, her pet timbershepherd.  Jumping on her shoulders, the huge animal licks her face in welcome home.

“ Not now!”  Janice smilingly pushing away the affectionate animal.  “ There will be time for this later.” 

As she walks through the house, looking through the mail, and listening to the answering machine.  She removes her clothes.  Stopping at the hallway mirror she looks at herself and demurely smiles.  Her hands softly caressing her body, feeling the first subtle signs of change.  A hint of skin darkening.  A soft velvet fur, just slightly visible between her legs, and stomach.  What appears as polyps growing in two rows down the front of her body.  Walking towards the sink she feels a protrusion growing between her cheeks.  As she reaches behind her fingers detect the small nub of her tail forming, and pushing out.

Raising a glass of water to her mouth; the glass hits four long objects.  Looking out the window, she casually runs her fingers through her long hair; Feeling her ears beginning to point.  Smilingly she looks at Bram; “ Well it’s time to meet the family.”  And she walks out the back door into the heavy woods behind her house; Bram running and prancingly leading her farther into the woods.

As she walks she thinks back to when she was ‘enlightened’ to what she truly is.  The training, and discipline needed for the transformation.  The ancient ones’ patient guidance; in bringing out her true nature.  The first transformation; Oh how painful it was.  The scratches just as Keith, she too endured; as they held her down.  But the feeling afterwards.  The freedom of animalistic desires.  Then it became orgasm.  How she would transform at will for that freedom.  But now it is different.  It’s the yearly clan reunion.  Today, and for the next seven there is no choice.  We all transform this day.  This day we initiate those who have chosen to be as us.  To be family; and yes Doctor Parker was right.  Keith and I will be together.  We will marry, and have children.  And he will be officially installed into the clan this night.

As she walks on, she feels more change; the nub has grown out farther.  The fur has grown somewhat.  The knuckles of her hands begin to ache, curling under into the palm of her hand.  Her walk is a little more difficult as Janice shifts her gait to the balls of her feet.  In the distance she hears familiar voices.  Laughter of family and friends.  And again her mind is thrown into reminiscence.

Nearing the now sacred grove she remembers bringing this knowledge back from Bosnia.  Meeting with those of her family who could remember her great grandparents.  But getting very little information.  Only how her great grandfather, and great grandmother would leave and go into the woods for days on time.  But the tellers where too young to understand why.  How the practice ended when he was killed in a Pennsylvania coalmine. And ending the promise of the ‘secret’ when they too came of age then came the violent years as Central Europe was choked into darkness.  And all contact with the family lost; until now.

Janice probing ever so gently; Ever so covertly.  Testing, feeling her family for those who would accept what she knows; and is.  It took awhile but several aunts, cousins, uncles, accepted their true fate.  Even her brother, and two sisters.  The hours and days of mental preparation, and yes even intercourse; to bring those outside the bloodline into the pack.  But they all came across.  The pack grew, and is still growing. 

Finally, Janice finds herself at the grove, looking out into the small lake of familiar faces. She quietly thanks uncle Slodabon who instructed her into her position.  On how to bring the wolf out.  And how to bring those from outside in. 

The group looks at Janice in calm quiet.  Then openly cheer the pack’s alpha female.  Janice smilingly hugs, and kisses those around her.  She chats momentarily with the others of the pack.  Smiling, and touching each other in greeting.  She looks as they are in the beginning stages of transformation.  Then all fall quiet again as Keith walks into the grove.   Smilingly they shift their gaze to Janice. 

Both walk towards the middle of the grove; in the center they embrace, and lip lock for a long time.  When they stop the crowd claps in unison, as a tall stranger walks to them. 

“ Uncle Slodabon; this is Keith.  The one who asked me to marry him.”

“ So Keith.”  The tall man booms in authority, Voice thick in the Slavic dialect; “ You want to marry my Janice?  Do you know what you must do for this honor young man??”

“ Yes!  And I accept what ever must be.”

“ Then my son.  Let it be so.”  As he looks out over the sea of changing faces Slodabon lifts his changing arms to the sky; He faces the rising full moon and let’s out with a howl of affirmation.

Just as the echo dies out, the pack falls to the ground, some in embrace, others kneel to accept the transformation.  Human moans, slowly give way to animalistic growls.  The sound of bones snapping in transformation, the sight of feet and hands elongating out.  Claws pushing through skin.  Faces pushing out into the form of wolves.  Fur growing, covering the elongating bodies.  The men, their penises growing into sheaths, and the penis of the wolf growing inside that. 

The animal lust, and desires pushing away the human inhibitions.  Then the orgasm of transformation is over.  The pack stand on their re-formed hind legs looking at each other.  Smelling each other.  Then to Janice, and Keith.  Lowering themselves into the submissive stance.  To the pack’s alpha female; And new alpha male.

With a yelp from Janice and Keith they get up, and run into the forest.  To hunt, feed, breed.