A Different Kind of She-Wolf

Layla

I found myself growing fond of the way the medical center was run. The staff was small, but they were dedicated. I also found myself liking Grace. She was a bit more reserved than me, embodying the quiet traits of an omega. But don’t mistake her silence for weakness. She was a force to be reckoned with, especially when it came to her beliefs and her work.

Grace was a strong woman. It’s a common misconception that quiet equals weak, but that’s far from the truth.

I could see Grace and I becoming friends. I liked her demeanor. Once she felt comfortable, she had a lot of questions for me. One of them was whether I had really been kidnapped. I didn’t see the point in lying. I told her the truth: yes, I had been taken against my will by Axel. He had simply picked me up, thrown me over his shoulder, and walked out like a caveman. Grace rolled her eyes and shook her head at that.

“Axel is worse than Harper. He’s loyal, strong, and a reliable alpha, but his manners leave a lot to be desired,” Grace said. I couldn’t help but laugh because I agreed. I did assure her, though, that I wasn’t here against my will anymore. I was Axel’s true mate, and I didn’t like where I was before. We spent a good chunk of time discussing my past and then I got to ask her about Axel, who she seemed to know quite well.

Harper and Axel were close, as beta and alpha usually are. Grace also shared how Axel had taken them in and protected them from those who had tried to force themselves on her because she was an omega.

I was disgusted by what she had been through, but relieved to hear that it hadn’t happened. Axel had stepped in and helped her and Harper out of that situation. That earned him some points in my book and made me happy to know this about my mate. Amidst our chit-chat, I learned about their plans for the hospital. They were considering adding a section for humans, not just for supernatural beings. I thought that was a smart move. Humans were still the majority and it would be a good source of income for the hospital.

I was already thinking about who I would recommend to work here. A few of them were from the North hospital. Why? Because they were good people who did their jobs well, even in a crappy place. I would also suggest that the patients there come here instead. At this point, I didn’t think anyone should be going to the North Pack’s hospital.

During lunch, I experienced my first taste of hostility. It wasn’t too bad, but it was a reminder that I would likely hear more comments like this. Grace took me out of the hospital for lunch. We walked a short distance to a small sandwich shop. Grace made it a point to show me everything. I really liked her.

As we were ordering lunch to take back, a few other she-wolves walked in. I immediately recognized what they were. One was a lycan, the other two were just werewolves. The lycan was the first to notice me, and she clearly wasn’t from the pack territory around here.

In most parts of a territory, you get to know the people well. Large packs have smaller pack dynamics within them. That’s just how it works. But all lower-ranking alphas would answer to Axel or Harper. They didn’t make the rules, they just enforced them.

“Excuse me, I don’t mean to be rude, but I have to ask. Are you Layla? Your scent is all over our alpha. Everyone’s talking about it,” the lycan female said. I swallowed to clear my throat and met her gaze.

“Yes, I am. I guess the scent is pretty obvious,” I said with a nervous laugh. She smiled and extended her hand.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Natalie. It’ll be great to have a luna. Packs always run smoother with a mated pair. It’s also better for us females to have our cycles regulated. Not all over the place,” Natalie said, laughing. I felt my cheeks heat up.

“Well, Melissa, looks like you can’t throw yourself at Alpha Axel anymore. He’s found his true mate.” This came from one of the other women who elbowed Melissa and laughed. Melissa looked like she had just bitten into a lemon.

I pushed aside the jealousy that crept up at the thought of my mate with others. What happened before we met didn’t matter now, unless he continued to see others behind my back.

If that happened, I would be FURIOUS. He would know it too. I would castrate him if he cheated. True mates were supposed to be impossible to ignore. Often, arousal outside of your mate didn’t happen once you were bonded. Now, I was starting to think about the fact that I hadn’t bitten him yet.

“I did not throw myself at him,” Melissa said defensively. She looked me over and raised an eyebrow. I just assessed her. I had a feeling this was going to be the first of many judgmental stares.

“I would have thought our alpha would choose someone stronger than an omega as his mate. How will you even keep up with an alpha like Axel?” Melissa asked.

“Melissa!” Natalie exclaimed. “This is our future luna, show some respect.” Natalie looked horrified that she would speak to me like that. It wasn’t anything I hadn’t heard before.

“It’s a valid question. Our luna needs to be able to stand by her mate and stand up for us. I have every right to question if she, especially as an omega, is capable,” Melissa said, standing her ground but blushing. I stepped forward and extended my hand to her. She looked at it, confused.

“Take my hand. I’ll show you my capabilities. It’s a valid question and I understand wanting a strong luna. Take my hand and I will show you,” I said. She raised an eyebrow and then reached out to take my hand.

She probably thought I was going to try and beat her physically or show physical strength. Melissa squeezed my hand hard, but she only got to squeeze for a second before she was on her knees. My grip was now the stronger one and I held her hand firmly but not painfully.

Melissa put her free hand to her chest and started breathing heavily. She was shaking and gasping for breath. After a moment, I let go of her hand and looked down at her.

“Being an omega doesn’t mean you’re weak. I’m a healer, and as such, I know how to unheal, how the body works. I’m willing to fight, and I also know when to hold back and when to push. That’s what a luna really needs. I won’t bow to anyone. If you want to belittle me or others, know that there’s always a price to pay. I’ll make sure everyone knows it too. Protecting what’s yours isn’t always about physical violence. Now, if that’s good enough for you, I’d like to finish my lunch.” With that, I grabbed my order. Grace stood there looking a bit shocked, as did the other two.

Melissa was still half-sitting on the floor, clutching her chest. She was visibly shaken. Good, let her tell the others so I don’t have to deal with this crap. I had never done that to anyone before. I didn’t have a reason to. I didn’t want to be a bully and threaten. But knowing Axel, I was going to have to show that I could push as hard as he could. Not that I wanted to.

“What did you do to her?” Grace asked me as we left and walked back to the hospital. I glanced at her.

“I made her feel what it’s like to have a heart attack. Don’t worry, she’ll be fine. I just elevated her heart rate and blood pressure for a moment. No damage. I’m just tired of being treated like omegas are weak, when it’s just our disposition that makes us seem that way,” I said.

“To be fair, physically we aren’t exactly the strongest,” Grace said, laughing. I shrugged.

“Physical strength isn’t everything. They have to touch me, and touching me is going to show them they’re not the strongest,” I told her.

“I like you, Layla. Axel needs a mate like you,” Grace said, smiling. Once we were back and finished our lunches, I only stayed another hour. I was feeling really on edge, like my skin was too sensitive. Grace noticed that my scent was changing, and I asked her to take me home. She did and stayed to chat a bit longer before leaving me alone.

I walked around Axel’s house. It was kind of cluttered, not dirty, just cluttered. It seemed like he had a habit of tossing things onto one armchair, creating a pile of random items. I picked up a jacket and inhaled his masculine scent.

Immediately, a rush of sensation coursed through my body. I moaned and put the jacket back down. It was so sudden, and my skin felt incredibly sensitive to the slide of my clothes. I felt hot and aroused, with a pooling sensation between my legs. I took a few deep breaths, but it didn’t help. My cycle had started. That’s what this was.

Suddenly, I felt an overwhelming urge to bolt. To sprint without a destination, to let my wolf out and roll around, marking my territory. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t even notice I was pacing the living room until I almost knocked over a few knick-knacks on the coffee table. My eyes were wide and sensitive, and all my senses were on high alert.

Where was he? Why wasn’t he home yet? My body was aching, yearning for him. I decided to try a cool shower, hoping it would help. I knew he’d be home by evening, and the sun was already beginning to set.

The shower didn’t help, and my own touch barely took the edge off. That was it—I couldn’t stay cooped up in this house feeling like this. My wolf needed to be free. I quickly scribbled ‘went for a run’ on a piece of paper, and before I knew it, I was out the back door. I couldn’t sit still, couldn’t stay in one place.

I remembered asking Grace about good running spots. Places where we were allowed to hunt. That’s where I headed. I let my wolf take over, shifting into her the moment I stepped outside. I was a white blur, disappearing into the woods.

I made a pact with myself to run for an hour. Maybe do a little hunting, then turn back. I knew Axel would have something to say if he got home while I was out. He was used to being obeyed, but I wasn’t about to stay cooped up if I didn’t want to. He’d just have to understand.