This is the second half of the previous submission I posted. Together, they function as an overall continuation of my Wolf on the Field series. If you haven't already, Please check out the full series, starting with chapter 1: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/20765988/

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"What's wrong?"

Josh eyed Derek suspiciously, noting how his hair was matted against his forehead and his skin was damp, as if he had been sweating profusely earlier. Using his sense of scent, he could detect something beyond perspiration, but couldn't exactly determine what it was. He suspected it was anxiety. Derek's inability to stare him in the eyes longer than ten seconds further reinforced it.

"Nothing," Derek said back. "I'm not feeling myself today." He fingered at his coffee cup before picking it up and drinking his black coffee. In that moment, Josh observed Derek's face shift to irritation, before dropping his cup back down on the table and snapping, "You know, there is something wrong. I know nothing about you. Zero. You show up and pretty much blindside me into wanting you, when I don't know what - " Derek motioned between them with his hand. " - what this is!"

Josh bit his lip softly, carefully thinking over his words before speaking. "So you think what we have is built on nothing."

"Is that a question?"

"More of an observation."

"What we have is two weeks of you entering in and out of my life when you feel like it, and never mind if there was a chance for you to actually show the world we're together."

"So you're saying you want me to come out as gay and openly say you're my boyfriend?" Josh eyed Derek suspiciously. "I know for a fact you're not ready for that kind of scrutiny just yet. You barely can handle talking to me about...certain things."

"That's another thing! We can talk about *other* things too. That's not all we have going on in our lives. I play football and never once have you asked me how practices or games are going. I mean, next Friday we have a massive game against Griffin. If we beat them, that would be the first time in five years, and I think we're going to do it. If you ever bothered to ask, I'm a starter for that game."

Josh stared Derek in the eyes, deadpan, without any emotion on his face. "Next Friday," he muttered, looking away for a moment. "You don't seem to get it. You can't play next Friday, and you know why."

"That's not going to stop me," Derek retorted, knowing next week was to be another full moon. "I've thought it out."

"Oh you have? Well, I'm so glad about that," Josh replied sarcastically.

"It never happens before midnight, so I'm good. I play no later than 10:30, so I'm in the clear. Gives me 90 minutes to go to a safe zone...and yeah."

"Cutting it really close, don't you think?"

"I can't miss this game," Derek said defiantly. "If I drop out of this game, my football career is done."

Josh grimaced, knowing the reality of their affliction, knowing the reality of their shared affliction. He folded his hands on the table and stared at Derek. There was only one way to handle the present circumstance: "I'll be at your game next Friday," he said to Derek.

"I didn't invite you."

"I'll still be there to support you, even if it means I'm ignored." Josh leaned in, pressing his face against his hands to conceal his irritation at Derek's demeanor. "You tell me that you want someone to be more of a presence, and right now...right now I'm trying. If you want me to suddenly bolt up and hug you in the middle of a crowd, you are sadly mistaken. I'll be there for you and I'll support you, but on one condition: You immediately head off with me into the woods after the game. I know a place that'll be safe for us. I've gone there before. It's important we do that cause...cause maybe you forget, but we lose any semblance of control on full moons. I know you're new at this and think it's just an inconvenience, but it's not. It's your life. Get used to it. You know how many swim meets I've missed out on cause of this. It is what it is. If you're truly talented, you'll persevere beyond the obstacles."

Josh immediately tensed up, knowing he needed to speak a hint of truth to earn Derek back. He needed him, truly. "Listen," he started, not wanting to confess much. "I've made mistakes and done things some would say are wrong."

"Like what?"

"Things. Character flaws, if you will." Josh hesitated before proceeding. "I didn't meet you for Homecoming because a friend died and I was at the hospital."

Derek immediately felt a wave of guilt. The entire time he had presumed Josh was being passive with him, when he was actually suffering. Worse, Derek awarded his boyfriend by immediately sleeping with his best friend upon the first instance of attraction. He felt traitorous. He tried to maintain his composure as he asked, "What happened?"

"Car accident," Josh responded. "Lost control. Hit a tree." He inhaled deeply, worried he'd be caught in a lie. "I really don't want to talk about it," he quickly added. "What I do want to talk about is us, what we can do to build our bond. If it means coming to your football games, fine, but come to my swim meets when they start up." Josh smiled and winked at Derek, who stifled a smile back. "But seriously, you need to start taking the full moon seriously. We need to plan accordingly for next Friday."

Derek nodded in silence.

~~~~~~

Connor sat in his car, staring ahead at the park scene before him. He lit a cigarette, inhaling deeply. He loved the burning sensation of smoke in his lungs, before exhaling and filling his car with smoke. He sat back, closing his eyes for a brief moment, thinking back to a time when he was once able to fully feel at ease. No longer was that sensation of peace present in his life.

He heard the car door open and he looked to the passenger door as he viewed Josh Handler seat himself in the car, slamming the door shut.

He pouted his lips and held up his pack of cigarettes. "Smoke?"

"I'm good."

"Okay," Connor replied, flicking the ashes from the end of his cigarette. He looked back in front of him. "So I've been informed you have a new friend."

"I don't have any friends."

"You'd like me to believe that, wouldn't know." Connor shrugged. "Though you may be right. You're a paradox. I like that about you." He turned to Josh, noting his stern face refusing to look back at him. "It's tough not having any leverage, I know. However, you know as well as I that I excel at identifying outliers."

Connor took another long inhale of his cigarette, speaking as the smoke billowed from his nose and mouth. "I'll be nice today, since it's a beautiful day and all. All you need to do is answer one question for me. Just one."

Josh stared at Connor with murderous contempt in his eyes. "What's the damn question."

Staring coldly at Josh and speaking with a low tone, "You're not the only werewolf in this town."

Josh continued to stare, almost wishing to not respond. "Come on, out with it," Connor prompted, motioning towards himself with his pointer and middle finger. "Confirm to me what I already have figured out...then..." He motioned outside of the car with his hand. "...then you can enjoy the rest of your day."

Josh looked away, recognizing defeat in this moment. He looked at the view from the passenger window. "No," he muttered, hoping Connor wouldn't be able to hear.
"No, I'm not alone."