Chapter 13: Fur and Skin

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(My rescue dog is finally heartworm free. You can tell that she's happy about it.) 

Arron's mind was still not wanting to register what they were telling it. His mother was his mother and his father was his father. That's how it worked. Of course, he knew that there were some shifters who could reproduce with members of the same sex, but that was ridiculously rare and wouldn't happen to him. His family was normal besides his stunted growth.

When they got to the vet, Arron was still out of it and didn't bother swatting at Rylan for carrying him into the office with his lion's teeth. The vet was just signing out his last patient when he noticed them.

"I have a feeling something went wrong?" He asked.

Jordan wrote Arron's name down on the sign in sheet, then nodded as he faced the vet.

"We need a disruption pill."

The vet's eyes widened as his pen paused on the chart he'd just gotten out.

"A disruption pill? Why would he need such a thing?"

Jordan cut straight to the chase, but thankfully they were the only ones left in the office besides the vet.

"He had sex with a guy and stopped producing pheromones. We called his mother asking if this has happened before, and she said no, but that his father was a rare cross-shifter."

That seemed to get the man's attention. He quickly jotted down several quick notes before turning and motioning for them to follow him to an examination room. Jordan took Arron from Rylan once inside after a slight growling match, which Rylan obviously lost. He then set Arron down on the cold examination table.

"Alright, I got it." The vet said after digging through some packages in one of the drawers next to the sink in the small room.

He took the small pill out of its wrapping and pressed it against Arron's lips.

"Open up. Just a quick pill, then we're done."

While Arron didn't mind pills and took whatever his mother told him to, the current situation just didn't feel right. His instincts were on overdrive telling him to keep his mouth shut, even though he definitely didn't want, nor could he afford, a kid right then.

"Arron, come on. It won't hurt or anything. It'll just stop anything that might be happening that wasn't supposed to."

When the vet pulled his hand away, Arron hissed. His animal side didn't want anything to do with the pill.

"Jordan, can you hold him please?" The vet said as he turned around and did something with his hands and the pill. When he turned back around, Arron was already in Jordan's arms with his scruff held tightly. Aw, man, is that peanut butter? That stuff was a pain to spit out. He remembered his mother having always put his pills in that stuff when he was young because he tended to spit them out without knowing that they were helpful.

"Alright, let's get this finished." The vet said as he grabbed a tongue depressor and gently forced Arron's mouth open. His cheetah bit the thin piece of wood repeatedly, but it wouldn't break.

The man was quick with the coated pill and had it stuck in the back of Arron's mouth with the peanut butter before he could react any further. His cheetah immediately opened its mouth wide and shook its head, trying to dislodge the glob of food.

It felt like it was finally coming loose when a sudden deafening roar forced his cheetah to pause abruptly, startled by the loud noise. It didn't get a chance to even turn and look at Rylan, who had caused it, because the boy's hands were already clamping down on his mouth. He didn't hold back any force, either. Arron couldn't stop himself from accidentally biting his own tongue.

"Rylan, enough!"

Arron could tell that Jordan was about to shift, but when the door slammed open and Erin stormed in, grabbing Rylan's now naked self by the neck and tossing him clear out of the room, everyone seemed to freeze. Jordan's mane was nearly full, even in his human form, and several whiskers had already sprouted on his cheeks and nose. He had to take several deep breaths before the features disappeared and he was able to calmly address everyone.

"Rylan. That was inappropriate and you are grounded for the rest of the week."

"But dad, the game is tomorrow!" His son protested.

"Guess you'll be missing it. Better call the coach and tell him that your behavior will be the reason one of their best offensive players will be at home doing homework and chores instead of playing that night."

Rylan growled but didn't argue, knowing better than to make a fool of himself even further, and especially in front of the sudden elephant in the room.

Jordan turned toward Erin, who had also partially changed. There were deep, gray wrinkles around his eyes and small tusks formed on either side of his nose. Thankfully, he had better control over his beast than most teens, or the office would likely have been damaged much worse than just the dented wall where Rylan's body had hit.

"Why are you here?" Jordan asked.

Erin straightened his shoulders, standing face to face without much fear of the head of the local lion pride. He may be young, but even teen elephants were a tough match for adult lions. Either way, Jordan didn't seem interested in a fight. He probably didn't like that his son was thrown, but it was probably a suitable punishment for hurting their house-guest.

"I heard a roar and could smell Arron." Erin said calmly.

"I see. Well, he is fine." Jordan replied.

Erin didn't seem to quite think so as he walked into the examination room and reached over to check. Arron didn't hesitate to jump into his arms and mew, since the peanut butter had been unintentionally swallowed.

"Give him here, I'm going to take him home." Jordan said.

Erin turned toward the vet instead of the lion shifter, ignoring Jordan for the moment.

"What did you do to him?"

The older man had just finished writing something down on his chart when he replied.

"We gave him a pill he didn't want to take, that was all."

"A pill?" Erin asked, confused.

"Yeah, bastard. He had sex with you so we had to shove a disruption pill down his throat. The little shit threw a fit."

"Rylan!" His father yelled, immediately making the kid shift and bolt down the hall.

Erin frowned and turned back to the vet.

"So you guys are trying to tell me that he actually got...?"

"We aren't sure, but due to circumstances in his family history, we thought it was for the best." Jordan replied.

Erin sighed and snuggled the cheetah in his arms, then pressed a kiss to his fuzzy forehead.

"It's okay. I'm not too sure a chelephant would have worked out."

Hybrids weren't unheard of, especially between similar animals shifters, but most were only attracted to those of the same species. His body must have just not gotten that memo. With a quiet grumble Arron nuzzled Erin's cheek and gave it a small lick before he was handed over to Jordan.

"Next time he needs to take a pill, make sure your son doesn't hurt him or I'll have to beat him up at school and ruin his reputation."

Arron felt his jaw drop at the threat, thinking that Jordan was going to go after Erin for it, but the older lion shifter just smirked, then laughed.

Huh?

"I'll be sure to keep that in mind. Although, he could use a good beating."

"Well, if he comes home with a few bruises, you know who to thank, then."

With a nod, Jordan said goodbye to both Erin and the vet, then carried Arron outside for a very quiet ride home. Rylan had evidently run home, no doubt upset about the situation that had occurred, even though he'd deserved to be yelled at.

As the car pulled up to the house, Arron quickly hopped out the moment he could and stretched his legs for a moment before being scooped up again.

"Rylan!" Jordan shouted into the house as he opened the front door.

An annoyed Rlyan stomped around the corner as they walked inside, tugging on a T-shirt.

"You're still watching him tonight, and if I hear that you've done anything to him when we get home..."

"Yeah yeah, I get it. Don't touch the midget." Rylan all but hissed.

Jordan growled a warning but Rylan just went into the kitchen around the corner. Arron could hear him digging around in the fridge seconds later and sighed.

Well, as long as he leaves me alone I can manage. Worse comes to worse, there's always the spot beside the washing machine for the night.

"Call me if anything happens." Jordan said to Arron.

That is assuming that I can change back or dial a phone with my paws.

Arron gave him a curt nod instead of trying to argue in gibberish, before he was set down.

"Rylan, make him some dinner."

There was a quiet growl in response from the kitchen.

"Alright, see you later, Arron."

The front door closed moments later, leaving him and Rylan alone in the house together. He honestly just wanted to run and hide right then. Save himself some fear and possible injuries that were sure to come at some point.

"Hey Spots!"

And so it begins.

Arron gave him a quiet mew in response but only crept a few steps toward the entrance to the kitchen, getting just close enough to peek inside.

"Do you like peas?" He asked with a glance over his shoulder, making Arron's left ear perk up a tiny bit.

He quickly shook his head, earning a smirk from the lion shifter.

Wait, why is his shirt off again?

Not that he really minded, though he did prefer fully clothed lions, even with the automatic six pack they seemed to sport as teens and adults.

"What? Don't like veggies?"

The smirk on his lips made Arron want to lie, but for some reason he pinned his ears to the side and shook his head again.

"Good, you'll be eating plenty tonight, then."

I hate you.

"TV's already on, go sit on the couch till I call you."

Yes sir, oh great master fluff butt.

"I know what you're thinking."

Good!

With a grin, Arron sauntered over to the sofa and hopped up. Law and Order was on, and it was a pretty gruesome scene. Just what I wanted to see before dinner.

He settled in and was contently watching the most scary part of the show where they were sneaking up on the bad guys with their guns drawn, but were possibly in an ambush situation, when he felt a light tap on his shoulder.

It was pretty embarrassing how loud his cheetah managed to yowl from surprise. He also didn't think that he could jump so high. When he dropped back down, it was right into a pair of strong arms, attached to a maniacally laughing lion shifter.

You suck.

"That was awesome, Spots!"

If he wouldn't be pummeled for it, Arron would totally pee on him for revenge.

"Dinner's ready, time to eat." Rylan said between chuckles.

Arron was promptly carried to the dining area and plopped down onto the table in front of a huge dish of peas.

Disgusting.

"That face is priceless."

His ears pinned back and he hissed up at Rylan, knowing that he couldn't hurt him without getting into more trouble.

"What a scary little pussy. Gonna bite me with those tiny toothpicks?"

Arron opened his mouth to hiss again, but when he did, a pea was tossed inside.

"Oh come on, they aren't that bad." Rylan said, his grin still in place.

Says you!

Arron quickly spat the thing out. Though it didn't taste quite like a regular pea, he wasn't going to chew it and completely test that thought.

"How about this. If you eat half of that plate, I'll leave you alone for the rest of the night?"

His eyes narrowed at the suggestion. Was it worth it? Sure, he didn't like Rylan, but would he even keep such a deal? Heck, he'd probably just laugh and toss him in the toilet when he finished eating. With that in mind, Arron grumbled and shook his fuzzy head.

"Alright, fine. Here..."

Rylan reached over to a plate of steak that quickly got Arron's attention. He speared a piece with his fork and nudged it against Arron's mouth.

I can just have it? No traps, peas, or toilets?

With the utmost hesitation, Arron opened his mouth and took the small piece of meat between his little teeth, making sure to watch Rylan for any type of hostility as he did so.

This is strange.

"Here, have some more." Rylan said with a smile that made Arron shiver.

This has to be a trap of some sort.

He backed up a few steps to the edge of the table, looking at Rylan suspiciously. He took a few bites of the steak Arron had just been eating, then a long drink of water.

"Sure you don't want anymore? I'll eat the rest if not."

Uh, well, I am really hungry and if he's eating it...

With a quiet mew he scooted closer and pounced on the fork after it stuck another piece of meat. His tail flicked back and forth quickly as he devoured the small morsel, then grabbed another from the plate.

"Hey now, you eat off a fork. Here, Spots. Open your mouth."

Arron pouted, but opened his mouth so that Rylan could feed him another piece of steak. Once he finished that, he opened his mouth again, silently asking for more. Sure, it kind of sucked to be fed like a baby, but it was really good food and he was hungry, so that was that. He was on his sixth piece of steak when he realized something. The fork had paused in his mouth, and when he blinked open his eyes after having closed them for a second, he was looking slightly down at Rylan.

Why does he look so hungry all of a sudden?

Before he realized what was happening, the remaining food was on the floor and he was pinned beneath a very heavy Rylan. His head was just at the edge of the table where he was lying on his back. Arron knew that it was a dominance display and him possibly shifting on the table, and thus being higher than him, had possibly triggered his lion.

Teenage shifters. Fun.

Biting his tongue, Arron just decided to lay still until Rylan calmed down. Only, it didn't seem like the guy was relaxing at all. In fact, his teeth were getting way too close to Arron's neck for comfort.

"Rylan, calm down. I submit."

There was no way he could risk fighting him. He knew where cheetahs stood against lions, and his was a pipsqueak.

Rylan seemed to slowly come back to himself after a few tense minutes and got off of him, and the table. Arron didn't even think about sitting up, but instead rolled to the side to drop to the floor, easily landing in a crouch.

He remained there, waiting, until he heard the scraping of a fork against a plate and sighed. Rylan glanced at him when he finally decided to stand, but Rylan's aggression was gone. Instead of a growl, he mumbled out a few words before returning to his meal.

"That weird mow-hawk looks terrible and I mashed peas up in the steak sauce just to mess with you."

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