Wolf Like Me

Leah POV (Age 7)

Leah Rilke liked three things at lunch: peace, a book, and the cheese sticks packed by her mum. (The rest of her lunch, not so much.) 

Unfortunately, Fatin Jadmani had a way of encroaching on all three of those things. 

Quietly she sat, her nose pressed into a queer fantasy tale that was much too advanced for her age. She turned the page, smiling contently at the story as it unfolded before her. It was a land of rich greenery, steeped in wonder and-

A fry. 

A single greasy fry landed on the page, making Leah want to scream. 

Quickly she peeled it from the page, searching for the person responsible only to find no one looking her way. It was as if the thing had simply fallen from the skies above like some heinous potato omen. 

Using her frayed jumper she patted the book, wincing when stains were left on the page- entirely unremovable ones. 

“No,” she whispered. This was a library book, and if there was one thing Leah was particular about it was returning books in the exact condition they were lent to her in. How could she possibly explain this? 

After frowning at the splodge for what felt like minutes she began reading again, turning the page and losing herself to the words within. The fry was mostly forgotten. 

Leah loved reading wolf high fantasy. She had a love of kings and queens and badass women sitting upon thrones and finding the love of their life. A noble and bold king or queen, ready to take their soulmate’s hand in marriage. To rule alongside them perfectly balanced by their bond.

It was beautiful. 

Another fry hit the page.

This time she groaned, picking up the fry and standing as her eyes roamed the canteen. Again, everyone was chatting with their friends and being far more social than herself. Since she was a toddler, she had always been on the outskirts of friendship. Leah, as most adults put it, had the vocabulary of a middle-aged person. 

Never fitting in, she took to losing herself in pages; ones where people were far happier than herself. Stories of people meeting their mates in high school or at work. Scientists who fell in love. Astronauts on a mission together. Elven wolf queens. The possibilities in pages were limitless.

Sadly, real life never quite met those expectations. Leah chucked the fry at the table in rage, sinking into her seat. She pulled her knees to her chest, turning the page again. 

Moments later two fries hit her square in the face.

The criminal had been sussed out this time; Leah saw the smirk on Fatin Jadmani’s face. Her nails, which were painted haphazardly in bright green, still hung in the air from the release. 

It was this sinking feeling. One Leah always hated that loomed any time she knew she didn’t fit in. To be messed with by the most popular alpha in their school was soul-crushing on another level. She winced, quickly burying the rage when she knew she couldn’t dare say anything back. 

No if Leah, a dorky omega, talked back to her of all people she would be ridiculed. 

Leah shut her book as a tear dripped down her cheek, placed it in her backpack, and hopped off the chair heading for the bathroom. 

More tears fell as she stood in front of the sink, using paper towels to blot at now ruined pages. It felt like a crime; Leah had damaged a library book and she had no way of explaining this. The librarian was an alpha and scared the heck out of every child no matter their status. One look would leave you trembling with goosebumps on your arms.

It had taken Leah six months to build up the courage to go there the first time, hiding behind the leg of her teacher. She had come so far but now she feared she was right back at square one.

“Are you okay?” 

Leah stilled, her own tears melding slightly with the grease on the page. 

“I’m fine.” 

“You’re crying.” 

Face reddening in embarrassment, Leah pushed the book into her bag and forced herself into a stall- shutting the door to get away from her. 

“Leah,” 

“Go away.” 

“I didn’t mean to upset you.” 

“You ruined my book.” 

“I’ll buy you a new one. My parents are rich.” 

Leah knew that. The Jadmanis were almost like wolf royalty, leaders in any industry they took to. “You can’t buy a new one. It’s from the library.” 

“Oh.” 

“Just go.”

“Leah I-” 

“Please go.” 

Much to her relief Fatin did leave. The alpha exited through the door in complete silence, the only reply heard was a small sigh that left her like she was defeated or torn up by Leah’s sadness. 

When it came to the last period, she was hungry. 

Leah normally only ate a little at lunch, not liking that it detracted from her reading time. So, when she ate even less -nothing- and had also skipped her breakfast this morning, her stomach began to lurch. 

She hated math. Truly hated numbers; the things made far less sense to her than words. Numbers had curious patterns and equations that weren’t immediately apparent. It took riddles to work them out.

Leah hated riddles. She liked things clear. Apparent. Concise.

When a grape hit her textbook, she froze.

Immediately she knew who it was. 

Leah wasn’t rich like Fatin. Her parents couldn’t afford after-school clubs and hobbies which was another reason why she loved books. The library was free; something for her to love and cherish. 

But this book was not free.

Her parents had worked for it.

“You absolute butt head!” Leah yelled across the class, taking everyone by shock. The girl rarely spoke, let alone above a barely audible pitch. It meant when her voice carried loud and harsh across the class to where one Fatin Jadmani sat, everyone took note. Heads whipped around so fast they would need to fear whiplash.

“Leah Rilke.” The teacher yelled, leaving her ducking her head. “Outside, now!” 

It was through a great deal of tears that Leah explained what had transpired, her teacher doing her best not to laugh when she immediately recognised the signs. Finding one’s mate before college was very rare. Some did but it was like winning the lottery. For two seven-year-olds to have already found their mate was shocking but also greatly warming to the adults who knew more than they were yet to understand.

“She keeps ruining my books and they’re expensive.” 

The teacher was also aware that Leah was right. She didn’t come from money, and these things were pricy.

“Fatin Jadmani, Principal's office, now.” The woman paused resting her hand on the small girl’s shoulder. “You too, Leah.”

Leah had never once been to the principal’s office and never planned on doing so again. 

Nausea swirled in her stomach and her hands trembled, head ducked as their parents came in; both sets of them looking awfully angry. 

“I was working. This had better be a true issue, Mr. Daniels,” Fatin’s mother said.

“I can assure you; it is.” He neatened out the paperwork in front of him. “Fatin here has been throwing food at Leah Rilke today and has ruined two of her books.” 

“We can pay for new ones. That’s hardly an issue, kids will be kids.” 

“That’s not the only reason why you’re here.” He asserted. “Fatin why were you throwing your food at Leah?” 

Fatin shifted uncomfortably in her seat, legs swinging and jaw set. “I was doing her a favour. She never eats lunch; she’s always too busy reading.” 

“Could you perhaps not throw food at her?” Rana chided.

“She needs to eat!” Fatin yelled, angrily, eyes glowing gold in a warning.

The parents took a step back, looking at each other with wide eyes. Gold eyes were not to be expected in a wolf so young, besides those protective of a mate. Normally the first signs of gold eyes were found in teens coinciding with the first hormonal change.

However, as Rana looked into her young daughter’s eyes it became clear why the food was being thrown. “Oh,” Rana mumbled, shocked. “I can see there is an issue now.” 

“It’s certainly not a first for me but it’s also not something I’ve dealt with often. I would suggest perhaps moving Leah next to Fatin in classes to avoid the possibility of a lost eye to grocery projectiles. It would also benefit us if Leah did eat something at lunch.” 

“Leah, why have you been skipping lunch?” 

“I eat my cheese sticks!” 

“That’s not a meal kiddo.” Kurt shook his head. “You need to eat.” 

“I don’t get why-” Leah huffed angrily. “Why am I the one being told off when she threw food at me?” 

Rana had to hold in a laugh as she looked at her future daughter-in-law; a small girl in a jumper far too large for her frame with a Star Wars bag sat in front of her, laden with books to the point that the zip could no longer be done up.

“Honey, neither of you are in the wrong,” Rana spoke. “But we will replace the books.” 

“You can’t replace it, it’s from the library.” Leah was crying again, and Fatin immediately got up from her seat to wipe the tears from her face with a tissue. 

“I’m sorry. I’ll go to the library for you and explain. I will sort it for you.” She was an alpha; Fatin had a natural instinct to protect Leah from everyone including the librarian who also scared the hell out of Fatin too.

“Then why did you throw food at me?” 

“Because you were hungry,” Fatin argued. “You need to eat.”

“Girls… maybe you should sit down again, and your parents can have a chat with you?” 

“Yes.” Maryann sighed. “I think that would be best.” 

“I’ll give you all some space then.” Mr. Daniels stood awkwardly, not wanting to be around for this. 

“Do you want to…” Kurt started looking at Maryann and Rana.

“Girls, when you get older sometimes you find someone who is meant to be your person in life.” Rana smiled down at them.

“I know what a soulmate is.” Fatin scoffed. “I’m going to marry the guy from Disney with that cute blonde hair.” She grinned. 

“Fatin.” Her mother paused. “You know that soulmates can be girls too, right?” 

“Obviously,” she drawled. “Duh.”

“Did you know it’s a natural instinct for wolves to want to provide for their mate?” 

“Yes. Like how dad buys you a new perfume each month even though you haven’t finished the last.” 

Rana laughed awkwardly. “Yes and no. That is true, but also natural instincts like: providing shelter, warmth, food, and drink.” 

“Oh.” Fatin frowned. “I didn’t know that.” 

“Do you ever read?” Leah groaned. 

“Leah Anne Rilke. Cut it out,” Maryann chided. 

“Which would explain why you feel so mad about the fact Leah doesn’t eat her lunch. Why your eyes are glowing like that.”

“What are you…” Fatin sat, confused. “Oh, you mean it’s an alpha thing?” 

“It’s an alpha thing that’s only aimed toward soulmates,” Maryann clarified and both girls’ eyes widened. 

“Ew,” Leah groaned. “No.” Fatin was cute, and she perhaps did have a small crush but everyone did. Fatin was popular. But she was also horrible to Leah. 

“What do you mean ‘ew’?” Fatin spun in her chair. “I’m cute, even Ronnie Derick said so. And I’m like a cello genius. You would be lucky to have me as your soulmate.” 

Caving in on herself Leah tucked her sleeves over her hands. “Can I go please?” 

“Leah,” Maryann pleaded. 

“I just want to go home.” 

Fatin’s eyes were glowing, worried and irritated at the rejection of her mate. 

“Leah honey, what’s wrong?” 

“I just want to go home.” She felt nauseous like her world was spinning and tilted ajar. Everything was too much: the noise, how warm she felt, and there were too many people in this tiny office where she was being told off for reading.

Maryann nodded, whispering an apology to Rana who simply laughed.

“They’ll figure it out. They’re only seven. Kids will be kids.”

The next day Leah again sat by herself on her usual empty table, a new book nestled in her palms. 

This time it wasn’t one fry. 

An entire tray of food was placed in front of her face by an upset-looking Fatin. “Eat.” 

“I don’t want to.”

“Eat,” Fatin instructed, eyes glowing in a way that had Leah ducking her head and reaching for a chip. 

Fatin smiled, taking a seat opposite Leah.

“Why are you sitting here?” 

“You’re my mate.” Fatin pushed a fry into her own mouth. 

“No, I’m not.” There had to be a mistake, there was no way that someone like Leah was Fatin Jadmani’s mate. In a novel maybe; but never in real life. 

“Yes, you are.” Fatin grinned triumphantly as Leah continued to eat.

“Your friends are all over there.” 

“I don’t care,” Fatin spoke around a mouthful, crumbs spraying across the table. “I got you these.” Fatin placed a bag on the table. “To say sorry. I’ll go to the library with your book too so that I can tell her it was me.”

“I don’t want-” 

“You’re sweet. But I’m an alpha.” 

Leah grumbled out a response, not wanting to admit both of those things brought her butterflies and comfort. “Fine.” 

“Now open the bag.” Small hands pushed it towards her, and Leah reluctantly opened it up. 

There were many books, eight, none of which she owned but by authors she adored. Some were others in a series she had already begun. 

“How did you know what to get?” 

“Our mums have been talking. I picked out the top two though.”

The top two were reads targeted at their own age and whilst simpler in language than she would usually go for, she appreciated them nonetheless because Fatin had picked them out.

“Thank you” 

“No problem. Now eat.” Fatin grinned. 

“Fine.”