Chapter 6
Waverly and her friend Jeremy, a male omega, were sitting on the ground as they tried to catch their breath after two hours of intense training. Jeremy regretted staying and would not be back but he wouldn’t disrespect the Pack Alpha by leaving the training today.
Waverly was staring at the female Alpha as she walked between the pairs of fighters, gently correcting anyone who needed it. After her impressive fight with the pack’s best fighters most were happy to take her instruction, especially as she was respectful in her teaching and patient with those who had little to no experience.
Waverly’s wolf was very interested in the Redheaded stranger who’s warm, sweet, vanilla scent was distracting. She and her wolf Angel had never met anyone with such a mouth watering scent that Angel wanted to surround herself with but her human side scolded the wolf and herself when she saw the redhead give a soft, dimpled smile to a young beta named Rachel and she suddenly thought that the Alpha was a beautiful woman. She shook her head and forced their attention away to where Champ was standing, laughing with his friends, Pete York and Bryce Cooper as they threw filthy looks at the Rogue Alpha and she worried her lip.
‘If he doesn’t get back to training he’s going to draw attention to himself.’ Waverly said anxiously but her golden wolf snorted.
‘And he will deserve the next ass whooping he gets.’ The beast said. The wolf had begun to take a dislike of Champ in recent months, arguing with Waverly and trying to convince her to leave the man. It had almost worked but Champ had sweet talked Waverly into believing that Julian was somehow to blame for the wolf’s change of feelings.
The shiny sheen of Puppy Love had long since faded for Angel and she had stopped believing they should be together. Champ and his wolf were forceful and brutish. She couldn’t understand why her sweet, kind human side even wanted to be around him anymore. All he wanted to do was drink and have sex. He would tell he to shut up often and belittled her.
Angel tried to convince her that Champ didn’t really love her. He only was affectionate when he wanted something. He had only begun showing interest in her when it had been leaked that the omega could mate for love and that her Mate would be leader of the Pack some day. The wolf no longer believed Champ’s tale of how his wolf suddenly told him that Waverly was their True Mate and from that day forward he claimed her and made sure no one else was allowed to even try, despite the fact that until Waverly officially mated she could do anyone or anything she pleased in terms of casual sex.
Champ had tried to convince her to take his bite when she had had her first heat a few months previously and had even tried to bite her but he tried to pass it off as a joke when she genuinely become angry and left his bed mid heat. She knew he would try again on her next but she also knew her father had given her a gift in letting her choose her own mate and his only condition was that she wait until she officially came of age. She wanted to honour and respect that agreement and truthfully she ignored the uneasy feeling it gave her to think of a life of Champ, thinking it was just cold feet. Obviously she had never liked anyone else only him so obviously they were True mates.
‘You are too hard on him. He will mature when he has to.’ She muttered as Nicole told them all to return at noon the following day. They were to prepare for a forest run in human form and she warned them that she was setting the pace and distance. Waverly flinched when Champ scoffed loud enough for Julian and Nicole to hear him.
“Have you something to say?” Nicole asked him, her voice cold and dangerous and Waverly bit back a groan as her boyfriend laughed but she could smell his fear.
‘Fucking idiot.’ She heard Angel huff and couldn’t help agree when the male Alpha strutted towards her, trying to make himself appear bigger as he puffed out his chest.
“You can’t order me to do shit.” He growled tauntingly at her but his steps faltered as the redhead woman arched a brow.
“No? Are you quite certain of that?” Nicole asked, her tone full of warning. “You don’t think I could make you piss yourself without in even touching you?”
“No!” Champ scoffed and Nicole simply took a deep breath before releasing a terrifying snarl, one that made ever person there recoil away from the powerful domineering pheromones she directed at the moron. Champ was frozen in fear, whimpering and shaking before, to everyone’s disbelief or joy, he emptied his bladder and if ran down the left leg as many laughed. Waverly quickly stood and rushed to her boyfriend who shoved her away before he ran from the training area, everyone’s laughter ringing in his ear.
Waverly made to run after him but Julian told her to stay so she reluctantly made her way to her father who had Joined Nicole as everyone left.
“You didn’t need to do that!” Waverly growled up at her father’s employee, sure Julian would agree she had gone to far but much to the omega’s surprise the man gave her a short warning growl as Nicole tilted her head while she looked at Waverly calmly, intrigued by the fire in the omega’s eyes.
“Yes, Waverly, she did. As an Alpha of this pack Champ has a responsibility to protect us all but he is a worthless layabout. If he doesn’t wish to take orders from Nicole then I will punish him.” Julian warned his daughter who’s jaw dropped, she had never seen her father so serious and solemn.
“But Father-“ she started to protest but Julian held up a hand to stop her.
“No, nothing you can say will change my mind.” The man said with determination. He hated to upset the girl but he had to put his pack first. “if he wishes to have any sort of prospects in this pack he will have no choice than to grow up and drop his ego. Now I have a task for you.” He added kindly before looking at Nicole. “please find Nicole a vacant cottage as close to the Pack House as you can.” He said before indicating For the Alpha to follow his daughter but paused before pulling a pouch of coins from the small satchel tied to his waist and handed it to the redhead. “An advance, I’m sure you’ll need to purchase some items. You may also hunt freely while here and take anyone to your bed but only if they consent.” He warned her and Nicole gave him an angry look, she would never dream of forcing an unwilling women. He gave her a knowing look. “I have to say it aloud. I Want nothing misconstrued.”
Nicole nodded and followed Waverly who had already walked away. She caught up to the brunette who was walking so quickly the Alpha suspected the omega didn’t want to be in her company to long. Rua wanted Nicole to make the omega stop so they could speak.
‘what exactly are we going to talk about?’ Nicole asked the Red, shaggy beast who smirked.
‘About how she should drop Pissy Pants and spend some time with a proper Alpha?’ the animal suggested and Nicole began to choke slightly on her own tongue, making Waverly look back at her but she still looked angry.
‘RUA!’ Nicole gasped in her mind but the wolf only chuckled until the human rolled her eyes. “she’s the Pack Alpha’s daughter! Show some respect!’
‘He said you could-“
‘Ah! No! He didn’t mean his daughter. You know that!’ she scolded before they stopped at a small one room cottage about 30 yards behind the Pack House. It was obvious that no one had lived here for some time as the interior was covered in a thick layer of dust and cobwebs. There was a small fireplace and a narrow cot was pushed against a wall. There was a roughly made stool and table but otherwise the house was empty.
“I trust this will serve you needs?” Waverly snipped but the Alpha nodded.
“Yes. This will do fine. Thank you, Omega Charles.” Nicole said and Waverly walked out without another word, leaving the Alpha to her own devices. The omega would go and check on her boyfriend.
Nicole didn’t know where to start as she looked around the room and figured she would need a bucket of water, soap and a few rags so she walked outside and over to the market. Everyone was still staring at her but she kept her head down while making her purchases. Julian had been generous and given her enough so as well as what she needed to clean, she bought herself a couple of cheap, course wool tunics and another pair of breeches as well as some vegetables and spices. While she was here it would be nice to be able to make something tastier then she could when she was on the Safe Road and a small pot to cook in Before she made her way back and rolled up her sleeves. Her ratty, old tunics were ripped up and put in the bucket with the water she had gotten from the creek that ran through the village, the water was pristine.
For the next hour she washed down ever surface, having to change the water in her bucket multiple times as it had become black and filthy from the dust and dirt. Once that was done she went into the woods and looked for standing deadwood for her fire and snapped thin trunks like they were twigs until she had a good stack of logs and made her way back before scrubbing out her bucket and filling it with fresh water one last time.
Inside she put the logs down and took her knife from her bag to shave wood from the thinner logs for tinder and using it to split them into kindling before striking her flint to create a spark that quick turned into a roaring fire with her careful management. She was an expert at fire starting after all these years. On the road, when she had to, the Alpha would collect any discarded fur or wool she came across from animals shedding, collected pine resin which she would melt and mix with crumbled dry leaves and fur to form them into little balls which would catch fire in even the worst weather.
She washed herself in the bucket, getting all the grime off of her before changing her clothes and excitedly prepared the fresh tomatoes and spinach. The only vegetables she ever really saw were carrots, potatoes and onions and that was normal only when she found an inn who would serve her a basic stew with other questionable ingredients. Best not to be thought about if you wanted to enjoy a rare hot meal that wasn’t just plain meat, usual rabbit or pheasant Spit roasted with the odd mushroom she was certain was edible from her childhood education, dandelion greens, nettles and berries. It seemed such a small thing but vegetables she hadn’t eaten since her childhood had been something she couldn’t have afforded on the road. The markets on the safe road charged rogues like her extortionate prices for only the most basic things. She had had to do without.
She knew this reprieve was temporary and before long she would be back on the road so she would need to be sensible. If she was careful with her wages, the money she earned was enough to keep her sustained for years. She could buy new boots, a better cloak and she would be able to rest to a degree she couldn’t when she was sleeping in a cave. However, she couldn’t resist just this once to treating herself and as she was to be treated the same as the Pack members no one tried to stop her or over charge her. She giggled to herself before stopping and looking around to make sure she was alone. She hadn’t giggled in years but she felt slightly giddy.
Rua was less than impressed with the meat free meal but she knew her human deserved to have something delicious their mother used to make.
After her dinner she decided to have an early night. However someone else had other ideas as there was a knock on the door. She stiffened and sniffed the air. Wynonna and Eliza. Where they here to cause trouble? She wondered as she opened the door.
Both women were grinning at her and Nicole gave them a questioning look.
“Red, come on, we are buying you a drink.” Wynonna said. “You impressed the fuck out of a lot of people today.”
Nicole wasn’t quite sure she trusted the beta woman but Rua told her to relax and have fun. It wasn’t as if she couldn’t protect hers so Nicole followed them to the tavern.