Growing Wild With You
(CONTENT WARNING: This work features explicit sexual content, themes of dubious consent, and unconventional sexual relationships. Additional tags include: Monsterfucking/Teratophilia, Feral Behavior, BDSM.)
Chapter 1: The Lazy Savior
A beast steps into the store, a red fox with a rather saturated coat. I tense up, the fox sniffing at the air and glancing over all the manga lined across the shelves. I should welcome them, but… they're huge! My hands get all clammy as I slide off the stool and give myself an excuse to ignore them, checking the large order on the shelf. Except, I'm still stealing glances every chance I get. My coworker Dominic returns from the back, saving me by welcoming them himself. The fox is so tall I didn't notice the woman beside them, stepping out to introduce herself. It's a bit unusual for a beast to be interested in manga, but maybe they're accompanying the woman.
Beasts have lived alongside humans for decades, intelligent creatures that can speak and control their instincts. They might be smarter than us, and their influence and participation in society have changed things for the better. It's normal to see beasts in public, but ever since I was a kid I've been incredibly intimidated by them. The intense look in their eyes, their massive size, their gleaming fangs becoming visible every time they talk… I shake my head, clearing it before I think too hard about that.
The woman comes to the counter after picking something out, the fox following her. I steel myself and get back on the stool, conversing with a smile. My nerves spike as the fox gets closer, pressing their head against hers like a form of embrace. As I'm scanning the volumes she brought, I catch out of the corner of my eye her turning to the fox to whisper something into their ear. Their ear twitches in response and a small affectionate growl parts their lips, startling me enough that I accidentally scan a volume twice. Thankfully neither of them seem to notice, and I correct it as the woman plants a kiss on the fox's snout.
"Th-that'll be twenty five," I say, awkwardly interrupting them.
The fox speaks this time, their voice deep and guttural like most beasts are. "Right." They unzip a pack tied around the top of their leg with their teeth and dig into it, producing a set of notes and presenting them to me. My hands shake like crazy as I accept the cash from their teeth, putting in the cash register. I nearly sigh with relief after they take the change from me and the woman takes the volumes.
"I love your hair by the way!" the woman calls out as they leave.
"Th-thank you!" I reply.
Interspecies relationships are completely legal, but it's not so normal that you see them everywhere. A lot of people still find it weird, but weird are exactly the people that would frequent a shop like this. It's not unusual for customers to come in buying our adult interspecies manga, but an actual couple? They looked so happy and comfortable with themselves even right in front of me. It's hard to imagine, my stomach churns at the idea of being seen at all.
Once the couple is out of sight, I lay my head over the counter and sigh. "Dominicccc," I groan.
"What's wrong?" He comes over cracking a smile, clearly a stupid joke on his mind. He's a reliable coworker, his short curly hair always perfectly groomed and his face immaculately handsome for the customers he greets. He's easily the most normal looking of the two of us, what with my emo clothing and circles under my eyes so dark I could be mistaken for a raccoon. He's just as much of a nerd, though. "Did that girl invite you to a party or something?"
"Oh, shut up," I snap back tiredly. He constantly makes fun of my introversion. At least I've been around Dominic enough to be moderately relaxed talking to him. "You know I get nervous around beasts…"
"What, was that fox rude to you?"
"No, they were massive! Like…" I raise my arms to exaggerate. "Huge!"
He laughs, this concern of mine always humorous to him. "C'mon, Joy, you've gotta get over that. They're not gonna get gobble you up or anything."
I grumble, holding my face in my hands. "Could you just watch the store while I take a break? I got so shaky…"
"Alright, alright, but I'm taking a break right after you're done."
"Okayyy… Thank you." I make my way to the back, sitting in the break room and taking out my phone. There's nothing interesting on the news, but it's relaxing to sift through. The Savior in White is on the news again, a white wolf with a red bag that does public service around the city and saves people from accidents sometimes. He never explains why he does any of it, but he's like our city's biggest beast celebrity. I can't say I've ever seen him myself. I'm not sure where he lives, or if he's simply an ethereal being that shows up whenever people are in need. Once my nerves are finally settled I get back to the counter and let Dominic have his break.
After about ten minutes another customer finally enters the store. Their white fur glistens in the afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows, so mesmerizing I don't fully process what I'm seeing. A red bag is wrapped around his leg, exactly like the pictures on the news. His fur is starting to become thick around his neck and jaws because of autumn coming, every step of his calculated and deliberate. The wolf looks back and forth before his yellow eyes settle onto me. I'm dumbstruck as he approaches, probably taller than I am standing. He stops at the counter, staring at me so directly I can't will myself to move or do anything.
He speaks, his tone of voice so neutral it's hard to interpret an emotion. "Joy?"
My hair stands on end, goosebumps crawling across my skin. "Y-you know my name?" I ask, almost at a whisper.
His tilts his head. "It's on your name tag."
I actually look down at myself before remembering where I am and what I'm supposed to be doing. "R-right! I-I'm so sorry, I-I—" my face is so hot I have to cover it with my hands for a moment. "W-what can I do for you?"
He exhales in a short burst, but I can't tell if it's a snort or not and his voice doesn't change. "I'm here to pick up an order."
"O-oh, what's your name?" The Savior in White's actual name isn't well known, but I only have one order behind the counter.
"Fern."
It's much more toned down than I expected, but it lines up. "R-right, I'll get that for you." The box is high on the shelf for some reason, and I'm too short to get to it easily. I get on my tiptoes trying to pick it up, but I can barely make it budge. Crap. "U-um, sorry, I'll have it for you in just a s-second— Whoa!" In my effort to pull at the box my hands slip and I fall backward, expecting to hit the counter. Instead, I fall against something soft.
"Careful," Fern says, his voice reverberating against the back of my head. He caught me against his chest, having put his front paws up on the counter. "Are you okay?"
My shoulders tingle, never having so much contact with a beast before. I lift myself back up, so nervous my words aren't coming out right, whirling back and forth and unable to meet his eyes. "Y-yes, I, y-yeah I-I'm…"
"Don't strain yourself." He reaches for the box, the coarse fur on his neck tickling my face for a moment. He grabs the straps with his teeth and picks it up, bringing it back down to the counter and leaving me with a huge blush on my face. "Are you sure you're okay?"
I gulp but it's completely dry. "Y-y-yes, sir."
"Am I free to go? I've paid for it in advance."
"Y-yes, but, um…" He tilts his head at me again. It might be weird to ask this to a customer, but this feels like a special case. "Can I ask what this is for? It's such a big box."
He actually answers rather quickly. "For the orphanage. I picked out some of the trendiest manga to give to the children."
"O-oh, really?"
"It's what they wished for." The inflection in his voice is as emotionless as ever, like this is a regular duty he performs. "Have a good day, Joy."
"Oh, y-you too." He takes the package and leaves, my eyes lingering on his large fangs for a moment. Even Fern's tail is incredibly fluffy as he leaves. Once I finally sit back down in my stool I realize I'm shaking all over. That was terrifying, but also… I can't get the feeling of his fur out of my head.
Dominic finally comes out of the break room, takes one look at me, and misses his pocket while putting away his phone. "Oh my god, are you okay?" he asks. "What happened?"
"I-I… I…"
* * *
It's a cool September day, the wind blowing so hard that it's forcing leaves off the trees already. The city is as beautiful as ever, bustling with all kinds of people and beasts. My apartment is close enough that I can walk home, and I've done it so regularly I don't need my cane unless it's a bad day. My apartment block is on a peaceful street, the smell of the local restaurants often wafting through the window. It's on the third floor, and once I close the door behind me I sigh loudly.
"I'm home…" I say to nobody. Work is the most socialization I get in my week. The rest of my time is taken up by reading manga and watching TV because I have nothing better to do. The routine is pretty regular, changing into my most comfortable clothes, making some cheap food, and lazing on the couch. The place is small but it accommodates me fine. I just manage to absorb myself in a show long enough to stop thinking about my encounter with Fern when the doorbell rings. It's probably my only friend Kumiko giving me a surprise visit, because nobody else ever comes to my door. I shuffle toward the front door and open it, rubbing my eyes from the exhaustion of the day. What I see instead nearly gives me a heart attack.
"Hello, Joy," Fern says, sitting right in front of my door.
I nearly slam the door in his face but moving at all is prohibitively difficult right now. It's really him in the flesh, fur shifting in the breeze. "W-why are you— H-how did you— What!?"
He yawns, his entire set of teeth showing before his jaws snap shut again. "After my delivery I followed you home."
I take a nervous step back. "Y-you're stalking me!?"
"That's a strong choice of words. I wasn't sneaking around, you simply never look behind you."
I don't know how I'm supposed to reply to that. He says it with such sincerity, his expression never changing for a moment. Is this normal for him? "M-my bad," I say, calming a bit. "What did you want with me?"
"May I come in?"
I hesitate, fighting between my uneasiness and Fern's respectable reputation. Surely if he wants something from me it's important, right? "O-okay." I hold the door open for him and he thanks me as he passes by. Once I close the door and watch him look around the living room, I remember with a shock what's stored in my bookcase. I rush to it as inconspicuously as I can and pull the interspecies smut off the shelf, holding them behind my back as I address Fern. "S-sorry, it's a little messy in here. S-so what was it that you need again?"
Fern detaches his bag and sets it on the floor. Then, he tests the rug in front of my TV and lies on it, taking up practically the entire walkable space of my living room. With his head resting over his leg and his eyes closed, he says "I'd like a nap."
"…What?" He must be joking, but I'm not sure if he's capable of that.
"For a few hours, at least."
"W-why are you napping on my floor?"
"The last person I was staying with kicked me out."
This isn't adding up at all. "Kicked you out? You don't have your own place?" He doesn't respond, more interested in sleeping than listening to me. "That doesn't make any sense, the government provides you with housing, all you have to do is—"
"Didn't feel like doing the paperwork," he says, yawning again.
"W-what!?" A volume slips from my hand and I rush to pick it back up. "B-but why, it would fix your problem!"
"I'm the Savior in White, I can impose on anyone. Until they get sick of me." He opens his eyes to look at me, gaze as divining as ever. "Are you going to kick me out?"
I clear my throat, struggling to hold eye contact for more than a few moments. Not only is he lazy, he's totally underhanded! I can't deny him outright, especially when he looks at me like that. "…N-no, I-I guess not." He closes his eyes again, done with this conversation.
There's no way I could live with a beast in here, but I'm too much of a coward to demand he leaves. Is he actually planning to stick around until I say something? He'll find out how weird I am sooner or later, and he takes up way too much space. How can I watch TV and lounge on my couch with him around? His body is huge, his claws are going to tear up the carpet, and his white fur is gonna get everywhere. His fur which was so much coarser than I thought it would be against my skin. So much of it clings around his neck and chest, masking the shape of his muscles in a warm blanket…
He sniffs, lifting his head with a hint of a growl on his breath. "What's that smell?"
I snap out of it. "I-I'll take out the trash later, g-give me a moment please!" I say in a hurry, rushing into the bedroom and shutting the door behind me. I shove the smutty manga into a random drawer and sit on the bed holding my head in my hands. What did I agree to? I don't know Fern at all and I'm still letting him stay. His behavior makes no sense, from his casual attitude about everything to his kindness in helping me earlier today. I groan, burying my face in a pillow. It's all so confusing and sending my stomach into somersaults. Is nervousness really the only thing keeping me from kicking Fern out? Even among beasts I've never met anyone like him before. Something is off about his calm exterior, but is finding out worth sacrificing my privacy?
* * *
The next day I give Fern a copy of my keys. The only time I get alone is in the morning when I get up for work, but once I'm home in the afternoon he's there, lazing around in the living room. Besides often complaining about a smell, he doesn't comment on anything. He would've left every evening after his afternoon nap to get food if I didn't offer what I have to be a good host. He doesn't do anything when I'm around, but I keep finding my fridge and pantry restocked when I get back from work. I was hoping to get to know him a little, but he's of such few words that by the end of the week I haven't gleaned any information from the stoic wolf. He seems nice enough, it's just that being around him is so awkward I've opted to read in my room and avoid him. Broaching any subject with him is a hurtle, and I swear I keep catching him staring at me. I suppose it's fair enough. I often take the opportunity to stare at him too, especially when he's sleeping. There's something melancholy about him that's hard to place. It could be my imagination.
On Friday I wake up late and rush to work, the manga store busier than it has been lately. Living with a beast seems to make the ones I meet at work a little less intimidating, but there's so many customers that by the end of my shift I'm exhausted. I should have brought my cane because I'm close to collapsing once I get home. I check my phone to see a message from Kumiko inviting me to all-you-can-eat sushi with her friends. I'll have to make up some new excuse to stay home…
I'm paying so little attention to where I'm going that I trip over something furry. I come crashing down on top of Fern curled up on the floor, his body breaking my fall and my head hitting his neck. I startle him awake so suddenly he snarls and jumps to his feet, flipping me onto my back and pressing his paw to my chest so hard I yelp.
"S-sorry! Sorry!" I stammer, his growling maw looming over me. "I-it was an accident!"
He blinks and seems to recognize what he's seeing finally, his growl subsiding. His voice is as calm and monotone as ever. "Oh, it's you."
"F-fuck…" I sigh loudly, trying to calm my hammering heart with deep breaths. This is the second time I've accidentally found myself so close to Fern, the earthy scent of his thick coat suffusing the air around him. "Y-you scared me, I thought I was gonna— Ah!"
He comes closer, sniffing at the side of my neck so closely his snout brushes my skin. I clamp my hand over my mouth, my face already getting hot. "I was having a nightmare…" he says absentmindedly, focused on something else. His paw doesn't leave me chest. Instead his claws grab onto me harder, doubling my heart rate. "That strange scent…" His warm exhale against my neck rolls into a low growl, and it sparks something in me so intensely I can't help but quietly whimper, muffled through my palm. "…It's coming from you."
I part my fingers to take a shuddering breath, already sweating everywhere. It's a struggle to keep my voice under control. "I-I-I can take a shower, I-if you let me g—"
"It's not that. I know exactly what it is. I can smell your arousal, Joy."