Wolf Like Me

Fatin POV (Age 17)

She was fucked.

Well and truly, catastrophically, colossally, fucked. 

In fact, Fatin could go down in a plane across the ocean and be relatively less screwed than she currently was. Because at least if she ended up stranded, she would not have to retake her math test. 

“Fatin, open up.” 

“I’m dead.”

“You’re awfully vocal for a corpse,” Leah said through her door. 

“Yeah, well the afterlife is a bitch.” 

“Don’t even joke about that,” Leah groaned, turning the handle.

“I didn’t say come in!” Fatin complained into the pillow she was faceplanted into, spread out like a starfish on her bed- ever the one for dramatics.

Leah rolled Fatin onto her side, then wrapped her arms tightly around her from behind. 

“I’m the big spoon!"

“Not today.” Leah wrapped her arms around her harder, the feeling comforting as Fatin’s anxiety quelled a degree. 

“Want to tell me why I’ve felt your emotions all morning? Or perhaps why you haven’t been answering your phone?”

“Not particularly.” Fatin rolled the other way, burying her head into the darkness of Leah’s neck, cloaked by her mate’s hair. 

She had taken this test three times now and failed it each. Her teachers were lenient, wanting her to get into Juilliard, but there was only so much that they would forgive. 

As Mr. Matthews handed her the last test with a poor grade marked in the corner in bright red marker, Fatin felt her stomach plummet. 

It wasn’t as if she wasn’t trying- and that was the embarrassing fact. Regardless of how much effort she put into this damn subject, Fatin was doomed by the powers that be to fail. She was meant to support her mate, but it felt awfully like she was failing at such right now. 

If she couldn’t pass math, she wouldn’t get into Juilliard or a good college; and Fatin wasn’t sure what she had of worth in that case, other than music. There weren’t any subjects she flourished in, getting decent but certainly not incredible grades in most. 

Her talent lay in her hands and the bow that stared at her now from across the room- mocking her. If she couldn’t pass… all those years… it was for nothing. Worse than that she would be letting her mate down. 

“Please, what’s up?” 

Fatin sniffled, the anger turning to a bleak low that left her feeling vulnerable. “I failed Mr. Matthews' test again.” 

“The math exam?” 

“Yeah.” 

“How much did you fail by?” 

She sighed into her; Fatin’s exhale shook as she burrowed deeper into the comfort of her mate. “A lot. I wasn’t even close.”

“Did you study?” 

Fatin gritted her teeth, but Leah seemingly felt her hurt as she held her stronger. 

“I’m sorry. Of course you did. I know how much you wanted to pass it.” 

“Kind of pointless though, huh? Can’t even get through the multiple-choice section.” 

“His class is hard.” 

“You got an A.” 

“I guess I’m okay at math.” 

“You’re good at everything,” Fatin snapped. “Sorry, that was bitchy.” 

“It’s okay. I get it. Do you have your graded paper?” 

“Why? Do you want a laugh? Because it’s guaranteed to give you one.” 

Leah sat up. “Where is it?” 

With a groan, Fatin buried her head into the pillow again. A muffled, “Desk,” left her lips. 

Eventually, after stewing in her misery for another fifteen minutes and ignoring Leah anytime she asked her a question, she sat up. 

“Ahh, she’s risen.”

“You’re such a dick wad today.”

Leah raised a brow at her, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “And you’re so sweet and loving today. Now, go shower, then when you get out, we’re revising.” 

“Leah-”

“Go shower. I need to make some notes and you’re face looks sore. Take a minute for yourself and when you get out, we can study.” 

“So demanding,” Fatin grumbled as she stood. 

“You love it.” 

Fatin spent twenty minutes in the shower. Perhaps she was procrastinating but she really didn’t want Leah to see her for the failure she was. 

“I’m amazed you didn’t come out with pruned fingers after that.” 

“You made tea?” Fatin asked, her question was answered when she saw the two mugs. Her room smelled strongly of cardamom, the wisps of steam carrying the scent skyward as Fatin’s nose crinkled. It was her favourite whenever she felt low. 

“Yeah, and sandwiches. Figured you hadn’t eaten yet today.” 

She straddled Leah on the chair, arms wrapping around her neck as she leaned in to kiss her. 

“As much as I’m enjoying this,” Leah rasped. “We need to get you a passing grade so hop off before I get distracted.” 

“You know I’d learn a lot faster naked.”

“Hilarious. Drink your tea and we can make a start on fractions.” 

“Kill me now.” 

It turned out Leah had a way of explaining things that didn’t leave Fatin confused. Whenever it did, Leah tried a different explanation and ran through some practice questions- explaining each step. Things Fatin normally overthought, that made her brain hurt, weren’t as complex when explained by her mate. 

“Stop overthinking, you’re doing good.” 

“I could have gotten each one wrong.” 

Leah took the paper from her hand glancing over it. “Two out of ten wrong and you were close. You just messed up which numbers you put outside of the bracket which is good in a way because you know one of them needed to go there.” 

“My brain hurts.” 

Laughing, Leah pulled the paper from her. “Fine, you should have a break anyhow.” 

“A break?” 

Leah tugged Fatin out of the chair, pushing her up against the wall. It felt cold against Fatin’s back as her mate towered over her, looking smug. Whenever Leah took charge of situations it always made her uncomfortable in a good way. A known ache Fatin was slowly coming to terms with as desire, caused her eyes to light gold. 

“Leah-”

“You did so well with the first set.” 

“Yeah?” She felt the pride swelling in her chest.

Instead of answering, Leah leaned in to kiss Fatin. Rather than catering to her whim, she took charge and held Fatin’s hip as she sighed into her mouth. 

Leah’s tongue found her own, and Fatin’s hips lifted against her; feeling like their roles had been reversed. 

Occasionally it happened, and Fatin loved it. It was always when it was needed, when she was vulnerable Leah would get this look in her eyes and a sureness to the way she held her shoulders. She would slip into that protective role and ease Fatin’s worries. 

Though normally she did so with a strong hug and positive words. 

This… was fairly new. 

Lips found her neck and Fatin whimpered as Leah sucked a bruise into her skin. She hissed as teeth found her skin, gripping her as Leah bit down. 

“Shit Leah.” 

“I hate it when you feel low,” Leah admitted. “I always wish I could do more.”

“You always do more than enough,” Fatin said, pulling her down to her lips again. 

As soon as her breath was ragged, Leah pulled away. She lifted Fatin, carried her over to the bed, and placed her down. Rarely did Leah have strength like that, which confirmed the fact Fatin’s vulnerable scent had briefly altered their bond roles. 

“Right, let’s start on the next lot. If you get those right, I’ll take you out for food.” 

Fatin grew flustered, nodding as her cheeks heated. Fucking hell what was happening to her? “Thank you.” 

Her mate rose a brow, a cocky one, one that Fatin wanted to kiss off her face. She loved it, but she also wished it was her that would soon again be back to caring for Leah. 

“Stop worrying,” Leah said as if reading her mind. “You know whenever this happens it’s rare and brief.”

“It shouldn’t happen at all.” 

“Actually, commonly it does. Alphas often face issues that can cause scents to change briefly.”

“It’s embarrassing.” 

Leah shook her head, lifting the paper. “Actually, I love you equally either way.” 

Growing flustered once more, Fatin cleared her throat and lifted her paper. 

Secretly she kind of loved it too. 

When she passed her exam the next week her scent returned to normal. There was no longer a vulnerability to it and Leah seemed to relax knowing that. Leah slipped back into her normal blushing self and Fatin was once again the one raising a cocky brow. 

“Your father hates it when his scent changes,” Rana said as they sat on the sofa watching television. 

“What are you talking about?” 

“I saw Leah acting... differently towards you this week. Some wolves are more susceptible to fluctuations in hormones. Whenever your father gets low enough, our roles occasionally reverse. It’s rare and no one else can tell but over the years it’s only brought us closer together. We both understand each other’s feelings more because of it.” 

“It’s a nightmare. I’m meant to protect her.” 

“That’s guised misogyny and you know it,” Rana said. “Because more men are alphas than omegas, there have always been stereotypes and expectations. Alphas shouldn’t cry, alphas must have the main job, all that rubbish.” 

“Mum!” 

“You know it’s true. When we had you, we were surprised and worried; either you would turn out like the alphas that everyone despises, or people would mock you. Being a female alpha is hard enough and you were outed by the age of seven. It’s a tricky world out there.” 

“Leah is worth it. I wouldn’t change her or my standing for the world.”

“I know, but you also have to know the alpha expectations are utter crap.” 

“Did you just swear?” 

“Yes. So you know I mean it. The same way they pin omegas as useless, someone to stay home and sit around idly all day. There to provide a hot meal or kids at the end of an alphas working day,” Rana grumbled. “Neither you nor Leah fits the stereotypes- just as you shouldn’t. They’re outdated and we raised you better. Leah is forthright and knows where she is going in life just as you do. You’re both perfectly balanced. Of course, Leah is quieter but since you were young, she has helped you through more than I can list.” 

“That’s Leah for you.” 

“The same way I help your father. But occasionally scents do change, in some wolves more than others. It’s temporary but you shouldn’t fight it or get angry with it. Your mind at that moment feels vulnerable, and it’s your scent's natural stance to protect you the way it knows is most effective.” 

“Leah shouldn’t have to do that for me.” 

“The same way you shouldn’t have to do that for Leah. I know her scent has changed before when I’ve been around, and you’ve taken to handling it well.” 

“I just worry. Leah already does so much, being there for her is the one thing I have. Even that seems small in comparison.” 

“You both do worlds for one another. Don’t worry about that.” 

“I worry that if I don’t get into a good school, I’ll hold Leah back. I only get a place with her if my grades are somewhat close.” 

“If either of you receives low grades, I’m sure you would just choose a more accessible school that wanted you both. Sometimes that happens, life is life. As long as you both try, and put in the effort, it doesn’t matter what the results are. You’re still showing you care. Leah doesn’t expect you to be brilliant at everything.” 

“Leah is brilliant at everything.” 

“She’s not, and we both know that. You both have your strengths, yours is just clearly not math.” 

“Rude.”

“You get that from me you know? I’m awful with it.” 

“Great, I’ll hand your name on to Mr. Matthews when he complains next.”