Chapter 7
“Where did you learn to fight like that?” Wynonna asked the redhead who was sitting stiffly at a table with her, Doc, Eliza, Dolls, Kate and Mercedes, two more pack members who had also been at the training.
Nicole hadn’t relaxed fully but she had received a warm welcome from the friend group. She was also uneasy to be surrounded by rowdy, drunk people but those she was with at the table were good company.
“Uh... my pack took training very seriously. I kept practising.”
“Nah, no way!” Eliza argued. “That was some next level shit.” She laughed as the others agreed and Nicole huffed, knowing this was all good natured but she was starting to feel a little claustrophobic.
“Now, now, Miss Shapiro,” Doc spoke up and gave Nicole a smile that made his blue eyes twinkle, “I think it’s fair to say that Alpha Haught is also blessed with natural skill and talent that she has honed on her travels.” Nicole gave him a grateful look.
“But she made Chump piss himself?! Wynonna cackled before refilling Nicole’s mug. “which was incredible by the way. Can you teach us how to do that?” She asked so hopefully that Nicole couldn’t help the small smile that played on her lips as Rua sniggered, liking the beta woman.
“No, sorry. That’s all my wolf.” She said as the beast proudly puffed out her chest as Wynonna gave her an over exaggerated pout but they were all startled by the sudden smash of clay mugs on the ground as someone drunkenly fell into a table. The Pack members all let out a cheer and the female Alpha decided that was her cue to leave.
She said goodnight to her companions despite their protests. She had to be up before the sun and she needed to sleep. She thanked them and said goodnight before she made her way out of the tavern, ignoring the stares.
She walked across the village to her temporary accommodation but paused when she reached the door, she could smell the fresh scent of Waverly and Chrissy too. They were not long gone. She opened the door and on the table she found a folded, heavy quilt and a parcel filled with a cup, bowl, a spoon, all made of wood along with a loaf of bread, cheese and cured meat and A small cask of Ale.
Nicole didn’t know what to make of the items but she was grateful. She put the quilt on the cot and kicked off her boots before getting into bed. She fell asleep quickly.
In the Pack House Waverly and Chrissy were also preparing for bed after having dropped off Michelle’s gift to the Alpha. The Pack Omega had still felt guilty for how she had pushed the young woman and when Julian informed her that she moved into the vacant cottage near by Michelle had told her daughter to gather some items to make the Alpha feel more at home.
Waverly had reluctantly obeyed, Chrissy happily volunteered to help.
“what does she need?” Chrissy asked her friend as they looked around the Long House.
“Why are you asking me?” Waverly snipped and Chrissy rolled her eyes.
“Because you saw where she was staying. Did you happen to notice anything that she obviously needed?”
“No, Chrissy, I didn’t, I just showed it too her and left when she said she was happy with it.”
“Why are you being such a bitch about her?” Chrissy asked, really not liking this side of Waverly.
“She made Champ soil himself, in front of everyone and they all laughed at him. Even my father didn’t care!” the shorter girl growled as her eyes filled with tears. Champ had spent half an hour screaming at her before he kicked her out of the large bungalow he shared with many of his unmated friends. Now he was ignoring her.
Chrissy felt little sympathy for Waverly. She knew everyone disliked Champ and the Alpha man did himself no favours with his behaviour but only Waverly seemed blind to it. Chrissy kept her mouth shut, she didn’t want to fall out her best friend and sour the rest of her time here.
The found some items and made their way to the Alpha’s cottage, Waverly relaxing when their knocking went unanswered. Chrissy opened the door and told Waverly to leave the gift on the small table.
“Good thing we got her a blanket.” Chrissy said with a smile and looked at Waverly but the omega had already done so and was making her way outside quickly. “Waves? Are you ok?” Chrissy hurried after her friend.
The shorter woman had needed to get out of the Alpha’s place because Nicole’s scent seemed to be getting nicer and made her wolf bounce and scratch excitedly in her mind. Angel had never reacted to anyone like that and Waverly had angrily ordered her to stop as it was disrespectful to her Mate who was nursing his pride because of her.
“I am fine, I just don’t understand why people are fine with a Rogue coming in and bullying my boyfriend, praising her for it?”
“Waves, you are smart enough to know exactly why your pack are thrilled for Champ to be put in his place. He’s been a bully all his life. Even when we were pups. Remember how you had to kick him in the nuts to get him to leave me along when we were 7? You may love him now but you are one of the few. If Nicole can turn him into a more tolerable fenrir would that be a bad thing?”
Waverly didn’t answer but she couldn’t disagree with her friend. Her boyfriend did need to grow up. She would leave him be tonight and speak to him in the morning. She really didn’t want her father to be disappointed in her when she made Champ her mate. Maybe her boyfriend would be cowed enough to be able to grow and learn.
She hoped so.
As Dawn rose the next day Nicole rode Firefly to the Pack boundary and continued to mark trees and boulders with her scent to tell everyone not to come beyond this point. As she rode she foraged anything useful and kept an eye out for anything unusual but after 5 hours she turned the horse around and made her way back to the village so she could settle the horse before she would lead the run. She would use this as another opportunity to patrol another part of the boundary and she planned to bring them over a mountainous area where they will have to climb as well as run and the scent of so many pack members would work as a boundary marker too.
She got to the training area and waited as noon ticked closer. pack members began to appear and Nicole saw the Pack Alpha’s daughter walking with Wynonna and her friends. She threw Nicole a hard look.
Waverly had tried to speak to Champ that morning but he Kyle York told her that Champ didn’t wish to speak with her at the moment. Unbeknownst to Waverly, Champ was in his room with another female omega.
Waverly felt sick. If Champ rejected her she would feel the mating bond break and that was apparently unbearably painful. Angel scoffed and told her she need not worry but Waverly growled at her wolf, believing that Angel had turned on Champ from Julian’s wolf’s influence. She looked around and couldn’t see her boyfriend anywhere.
When it seemed everyone who was planning on coming had arrived Nicole called for their attention.
“Everybody, line up single file. We will be running through the mountains along the Pack boundary. If anyone sees anything concerning tell me immediately.” She said before she led them into the forest.
Over the next three hours she had the Pack members train vigorously. By the time they got back Waverly’s legs felt like jelly and Wynonna was dramatically begging a panting Doc to carry her. Some pack members had already returned back after Nicole dismissed when it was obvious they were only slowly the others down but told them she expected them to work on the training exercises from the day before until they got back and she sent Eliza back to supervise and help them.
Nicole gave them all orders to return at noon the following day and walked towards Julian who had been watching the fighters train until she got back.
“You are certainly wasting no time with them.” The Pack Alpha chuckled as she watched his fighters lumber past him on heavy legs and some simply lay down at the edge of the forest as Wynonna let out another groan and pointed at her step father.
“she tortured us.” The beta whined as Waverly rolled her eyes as her sister’s antics.
The omega hadn’t run that much in a long time but she had to admit she had enjoyed it. Nicole was tough but she was quick to help those who struggled to traverse the rough mountain passes and she watched everyone carefully.
At one point as they climbed up sheer cliff face, about 20 ft while Nicole watched from the top and helped people pull themselves over the ledge Waverly lost her footing and skidded down on her front with a shriek but it was cut off when someone grabbed her out of mid air. When she looked up she was surprised to see the female Alpha who had jumped down and grabbed her with one hand, using the other hand to hold them up Like it was nothing.
Waverly had felt the air leave her lungs as Nicole easily climbed up with one hand until she got to the top and put Waverly down gently.
“Are you ok?” the female Alpha asked as Waverly looked her with a wide eyed expression, utterly shocked and speechless. She wouldn’t have been too hurt if she had hit the ground but the omega was still grateful and also impressed by the Alpha’s skill.
The small woman nodded and thanked her before the Alpha resumed her watch, ready to catch the next faller.
Angel had not shut up about Nicole since. The wolf was beyond impressed with the woman’s strength, speed and quiet power, how she was a good leader. How good she smelled.
‘Please, please stop, Angel. I don’t want to listen to you talk about another Alpha.’ Waverly whined. Honestly when Nicole had had Waverly in her arms it had made something tighten low in her gut but she figured it was fear and adrenaline from almost landing flat on her face.
However she couldn’t deny the Alpha’s scent, up close, was delicious.
“Waverly, your mother wishes to see you.” Her father told her and she nodded, eager to put distance between her and the gorgeous woman who was watching her closely.
“Where are Robert, Champ, and some of the other young men?” Julian asked and Nicole shrugged.
“Don’t know but they didn’t join us.” Nicole said before saying goodbye and going to wash and change. She was hungry.