Chapter 16
Nicole walked into the tavern after spending the past 2 hours sitting on the shore of a nearby lake as she ruminated on her conversation with Isa.
She wasn’t a Rogue... she had a blood right to be Pack Alpha of her pack. She could have a pack and a home. Most importantly she could have a family...
Unless she failed to triumph over whatever was coming.
‘You won’t fail.’ Rua growled. ‘She told you to trust me.’ The wolf had added smugly, making her human roll her eyes.
‘We can’t be sure. We don’t know what’s coming.’ Nicole had said back. ‘we don’t know when or where it will happen. Where do we go next?’
‘Home. Back to the mountain. If our fate is to be believed whatever it is will find us one way or the other. And I am sure with the Gods’ help we will beat anything that comes our way.’ The wolf said confidently.
‘I hope you are right.’
When she got to the tavern she saw Wynonna arm wrestling with Dolls at their usual table while there other friends watched and loudly cheers for who ever they had bet a few coins on. Waverly had been cheering for Dolls, much to Wynonna’s annoyance but the omega stopped when she smelled the Alpha and she gave Nicole a bright smile before abandoning her spectating and walked to Nicole’s side and gave the bar man, Shorty, a hand signal.
He nodded and quickly put two mugs of stronger winter cider on the bar that Waverly took and handed one to the redhead who was looking closely at the omega. Was it just her or did Waverly become even more beautiful since they had met?
Waverly’s hair hung loose down her back in thick, luscious waves. Her eyes were crinkled at the edges and her smile was radiant, she seemed to glow with a lightness she hadn’t seemed to have before and she blushed prettily when she noticed the Alpha’s burning look. Their eyes met and Nicole suddenly wanted to kiss Waverly but before she made a move to do just that there was a loud bang and everyone cheered. The Alpha and omega started and looked over to see Wynonna climbing onto her table with her arms raised in victory.
Nicole chuckled awkwardly before Waverly gently took her wrist and tugged her to walk her over to the table where they sat on small stools.
They talked and laughed all night with their friends. The soldiers would miss Nicole and her teachings, her friendship and protection. Nicole had been mostly stoic when she with them but they all noticed that Waverly seemed to be the only one who could garner a small smile from the female Alpha who hung on Waverly’s every word.
“Join us tomorrow night.” Wynonna said to Nicole. The following night would be the full moon and their wolves were in charge. They would shift at sunset and be forced to stay in wolf form until the following morning. The wolves would run free as a pack
The past two full moons Nicole had hidden somewhere most could not venture as she had wanted to keep her wolf hidden but now it was different. It had been a long time since she ran with a pack.
“Oh yes, Nicole!” Waverly yelped excitedly and Nicole nodded, Rua wagging her tail happily as the Alpha smiled at the omega, happy to have made her smile again.
“You’ll come and visit right, Haught?” Eliza said and the Alpha slowly nodded.
“Yes. I will try.” Nicole swallowed thickly.
“where will you go?” Wynonna asked and Waverly saw Nicole freeze for a moment before clearing her throat.
“I don’t know, I guess I will just start walking and see what happens.” The Alpha said carefully. Truthfully she didn’t want anyone to know she was going to her Pack lands. She didn’t know why.
“Waverly, Baby!” they heard and Nicole could smell stale sweat and alcohol, able to tell it was Champ before she turned her head. She bit back a growl as the male Alpha wrapped an arm around her neck and pulled her into a rough, slobbering kiss.
Wynonna and Eliza faked gagged, Dolls rolled his eyes, Doc huffed as his moustache twitched, Kate and Mercedes made disgusted faces. Nicole’s jaws tensed as she looked into her mug until she noticed Waverly was desperately trying to get out of her boyfriend’s grip.
She reached up and grabbed the man’s collar before she yanked him back with a grunt without looking at Waverly, hoping she wouldn’t make the omega angry but instead the omega stood, bent down and whispered Thank you into Nicole’s ear before she walked over to a groaning Champ who was doing a wonderful impression of a turtle that got stuck on his back so she helped him to his feet before pulling him outside.
She planned on ending it with Champ there and then but once he was out in the fresh air he fell over against the tavern and slumped to the ground, unconscious.
Waverly sighed and rubbed her forehead in embarrassed frustration. Champ had made a show of her once again and they hadn’t so much as said hello to each other in the past few weeks and she knew the only reason he wanted her was because he was horny and she was in the vicinity. She had come to accept she had been very wrong about him. He didn’t care about her.
She huffed as she looked down at him and decided she would go home. She couldn’t take the disappointed looks she would get from her sister and friends and his behaviour left her feeling mortified so she went to the Pack House and was relieved her parents were in there quarters so she wouldn’t have to talk to them and tell them why she came home so early when they knew she had been with the others in the pub.
She and her father hadn’t spoken about her relationship with Champ since the day he had told her if she chose him she would not run the pack.
Angel wanted her to go back to sit beside Nicole, with her pretty face, calm nature and delicious scent, it made her feel safe being so close to such a powerful fenrir but she was already pretty cut up about the Alpha leaving and knew it was better to just call it a night.
Unbeknownst to her Nicole’s mood had also fallen low. She had hoped that Waverly would come back but she didn’t and the Alpha felt like her stomach was after dropping at the thought of the omega being in Champ’s bed. The Ale tasted bitter suddenly and she put the mug down, told the others she would see them the following morning for their last training session and got up to leave.
When she got outside she could smell Champ again and found him lying in a heap, passed out on the ground. She ignored her excited wolf when they realised that Waverly hadn’t gone home with the man. They wanted to know where the omega went but they could smell her scent marking her short walk to the pack house. Nicole was disappointed Waverly never came back but she was glad the omega was safe at home.
Nicole went to her cottage and got into bed with a heavy heart but fell asleep quickly. It had been a long day.
She dreamed of the forest, of the Safe road and of her old pack. She dreamed of Isa’s words. She dreamed of a fierce battle and she dreamed of Waverly Earp, smiling at her.
She woke up the next morning to a knocking on the door and smelled that it was Julian so she got outside of bed to open the door.
“Alpha? Is everything ok?” Nicole asked, looking behind him to make sure the village was quiet.
“I came to talk to you, before you leave us tomorrow.” He smiled. “I’m sorry if I woke you.” He added.
“No, i should have been awake. Come in.” She showed him to the small stool and sat on the bed facing him. He took a deep breath as he reached into the inner pocket of his cloak and pulled out a hefty coin purse which he then tossed at her.
“the last of you wages, with a bit extra as a token of appreciation for everything you have done for me and this pack.” He said with a fatherly smile. “Many of us will miss you.”
“I must thank you again for the opportunity. It’s been nice to be off the road.” She said softly as she put the coin sack on the bed.
“Pack Alpha Haught,” Julian addressed her, knowing she spoke to Isa, “You are welcome here at any time and should you ever need the help of the Angel Pack we will answer your call.” He said.
“I appreciate that, Pack Alpha Charles.” Nicole replied, accepting her new place in the world and the man grinned.
“Where will you go?”
“I guess I should go back to my pack lands, rebuild my village. I just don’t know how I’m supposed to rebuild my pack when I’m the last one left.” She said softly
“Well... “ Julian smirked. “you could find a Mate, have some pups.” The female blushed when an image of the man’s daughter flashed in her mind but she quickly shook her head to get the omega out of it as Julian continued. “anyway I also wanted to invite you to Run with the pack tonight.”
Nicole’s mouth fell open, she hadn’t done a Full Moon run with others since her puppy hood. On the full moon when they shifted into their wolves when the moon rose and were unable to have much control over their animals. They would be unable to shift until morning. It was for their wolves.
Rua and Nicole had spent every one hidden or sitting looking at the sky. Even since she had been here she had been alone in the forest. She felt a lump burn in her throat.
“Thank you, I would be honoured.” She said thickly and the man smiled before he left her to ready herself for the day.