Wolf Like Me

Fatin POV (Age 22)

Once they left college they moved back in with their parents. It was temporary, and Leah hated it. Though they tended to sleep over at one’s house or the others, due to their age and bond state, Leah and Fatin craved a place of their own to nest. 

They began looking immediately, searching for places in the city once Fatin landed an intern job in the social media department of a fashion company. 

“This one could do.” 

“Leah, it has no windows. You like windows to read by and it also has no space for your books.” 

“Yeah, but it would do.” 

Fatin ran a hand through her mate’s hair to soothe her. 

As the weeks passed, Leah grew more and more anxious about the need to find a place. Though she felt it too with Leah, as a mated omega, it was magnified. 

“It’s fine. We haven’t been looking for long.” 

“But-”

“I don’t start my job for another month. We will find something.” 

Over the coming week, Leah grew far more restless. Rana noted her agitated state and bought Leah soothing teas to try and calm her. 

“She’s struggling,” Rana said as Fatin came down the stairs that morning. 

“You don’t think I can see that?” 

Rana pushed a mug towards Fatin. “Are you going to let your mother help you or do you want to continue doing things for yourself? It’s not wrong to need help Fatin. I work in property; I can get you a place sorted as soon as possible.” 

“I want to find something.” It wasn’t odd, alphas felt a need to provide things for their mates themselves. Asking for help with those tasks felt like they had failed. Fatin did not wish to fail her mate on the first main thing to occur in their lives together.

“I’m not going to pick it out. But you should let me contact Samuel and get you some options to look at before they go on the general market and end up with hundreds of people after them.” 

“I-”

“Your mate is sick, Fatin. She is struggling, and you as an alpha cannot understand the need for mated omegas to nest. I understand you wish to do it all yourself, but Leah needs you to accept help with this.” 

With a huff, she chewed her cheek until it bled. “Fine. But I want options to pick from.” 

“You can give me all the things you’re looking for and I’ll relay it to Sam.” 

“Thank you.” 

“Now take this tea up to your mate before she starts crying again. The girls’ cheeks are already raw from yesterday.” 

Fatin spent the night while Leah slept beside her scrolling through every option Sam had emailed her. Many had major issues; lighting that Leah would find overbearing, positions on busy streets where it would be too loud for Fatin to work from home comfortably, a lack of space, or a feeling of soullessness. 

Eventually, she scrolled to one that she liked. It was a little out of their budget but it was perfect. There was a spare bedroom for if their parents or friends wished to stay, a place for Leah’s books, and a walk-in pantry by the kitchen big enough to convert to an office space. 

Getting up her email she messages her mum, smiling when two hours later, at five a.m. Rana replied. 

Rana: I can put up the extra money you need. Book in with Sam for a viewing. 

They do. Fatin booked it for that afternoon. 

She left Leah in bed, packing two duffle bags full of things into her car before Leah awoke. 

Leah strolled out at eight, peering into the garage as she stretched her arms over her head with a yawn. “Where are you going?” 

Moving to shut the boot, Fatin walked over to her mate and wrapped her arms around her. “We have a viewing. Mum’s getting breakfast on then we should get on the road.”

“A viewing?” Leah perked up for the first time in weeks, her anxiety easing through their bond. 

“Yeah. I can show you some pictures while we eat.” 

Leah nodded, letting Fatin drag her into the house. 

Though she already felt positive about the place she held her breath as Sam turned the key in the door.  

“I’ll let you two wander for a bit.” Realtors often left mates to look at properties alone, it was an intimate moment they didn’t wish to get between. Mates were more likely to buy something the more it smelled like them, and a realtor's scent would throw them off. 

“I know it’s kind of minimalist, but I figured we can thrift some warmer furniture.” She pulled Leah into the living room. “That wall is inset, so your bookcases could go in there.” 

Her mate silently wandered through the room, Fatin chewing her lip as she inspected it. Fatin loved it, the place felt comforting to her in a way she couldn’t explain. 

“The bedroom is huge,” Leah said. 

“Ensuite bathroom with shower, then there’s a second toilet next to the guest room.” 

Leah padded through, taking her time as she gazed out the window at the orange-leaved trees below. She loved nature, and this view had been one of the many reasons why Fatin hoped it would be a good fit for her mate. 

Her hand traced the pane of glass on the shower and then the table as she moved back through to the kitchen. 

Fatin’s acrylics drummed nervously on her bicep until Leah eventually turned and stilled them with a hand on her own. 

“How much is it? It seems expensive.” 

That was the main thing Fatin was worried about. “It’s a little out of budget but my mum said she would cover the extra.” 

“How much is a little?” Leah asked. 

“Three hundred.” 

Her jaw clenched as she processed the figure. “I’m not letting Rana chip in three hundred a month towards rent.” 

“It’s not that bad. She offered and we would be able to cover some of that once you get a job.” 

What Leah was able to contribute for now was the savings from her college job she had been stowing away in preparation for this, as well as some money her grandma had left her. 

“I’m not taking her money.” 

“Leah-”

“Can we leave?” 

Fatin bit back the tears and nodded. 

Leah POV

When they returned in the evening Leah felt annoyed and broken. She had gotten her hopes up for that place, it was perfect but of course it came with a catch. Leah was ready to be independent, and rarely asked for money. She came from a family where every dollar mattered and three hundred to throw away every month on them was more than she could ask for.

Truthfully she would have felt bad asking for fifty. 

“How was the place?” Rana asked. “Sam said you wanted to think it over.” 

“It’s no good.” Her shoulders slumped as she sipped her drink. 

Fatin had gone for a drive around the block which was her way of dealing with her anger and pretending like they were not arguing. However, Leah was aware that anytime Fatin ‘went for a drive’ she was pissed or hurt. From the emotions welling in her chest, she knew this time it was both.

“Was there something wrong with it?” Rana asked. 

“No, it was perfect.” 

Rana frowned and took a seat opposite her. “Fatin told you about the cost?” 

“I don’t want you spending that on us every month. There will be other places.” 

With a chuckle, Rana shook her head. “My whole family chipped in for my first place with Samad. Aunts, uncles, cousins. None of us came from money but everyone wanted us to have a place.” She gave Leah’s hand a squeeze. “We are lucky enough now to have money we do not need, Samad doesn’t need another watch or a car. In fact, if he buys one, I’m going to be yelling at him once more. We do not expect the money to ever be paid back, it is a gift. I’m sure your parents’ family put in gifts to help them get a place too.” 

They had. Both sets of parents had, even now Leah’s grandad often sent them money to help cover Leah’s school trips or clothing. 

“We don’t need somewhere that big. It’s excessive.” 

“Leah, you need a guest room. Though I don’t think you’re having children anytime soon there may come a time when that space is needed. Wolves can settle into nests for years, and you and Fatin have been mated for so long that children may be expected sooner. When did you want to start a family if that’s something you want?” 

Leah had thought about that excessively, not that she would ever tell Fatin that. She craved it, even now. A small her and Fatin running around. To be able to help them with homework or take them to sports. 

“Probably mid-twenties. When we’re twenty-six or seven and have settled into jobs. It’s costly, and we will barely be able to cover rent as is.” 

“Well, say you grow attached to your apartment. It’s harder for wolves to move once they nest. Me and Samad have moved four times but that’s a lot for wolves, and we only moved for work.” 

“We can just move again. It’s fine.” 

“And if you accidentally get pregnant? Wolves hate the idea of moving while or soon after pregnancy. We go into an intense nesting state.” 

“We could put the crib in the living room.” 

“Leah-”

“I know. But three hundred is a lot.” 

“Here’s the thing.” Rana sighed. “I want you and Fatin to be in a safe neighbourhood with space. Every apartment Sam sent was over your budget but you two unfortunately aren’t like other wolves. Other wolves can move freely. You and Fatin have been mated for over a decade. It’s rare and it’s unexpected but because of that, you two can’t act like other wolves your age. Because of the bonds age you will get tied to a place, you will nest, and you will want a family at some point. I love you both and we have the money there to support you. You are family. I want the best for both of you and having you somewhere practical is a necessity. It’s not three hundred blown on silly things, it’s something you will need for a long time. It’s also rent-secured for eight years which means they cannot rent it to anyone else for that time. It would be yours as long as you want it.”

“It’s rent secured?” 

“All the options Sam sent to her were. It’s dangerous putting mates in a place they could get evicted from when attached.” 

She swallowed thickly, running her finger around the rim of her mug. “I think I hurt Fatin by telling her I didn’t want it.” 

“My daughter is a very proud alpha who wants the best for you. Unfortunately, all alphas are a little dramatic. When Samad showed me a house I hated he brooded like a disgruntled toddler for a month.” 

Leah gnawed on her lip. “It was a lovely apartment.” 

“Spacious?” 

“Very. And the view was nice. It wasn’t too loud, and the lighting was just right.” 

Rana smiled. “Want me to call Sam?” 

With a nod, Leah relented. 

Fatin arrived home three hours later; reddened eyes alerting her to the fact that she had been crying. She knew better than to call it out, her mate was proud and often pretended to be unbothered. Though she was always unsure why Fatin hid it, Leah could feel much of her emotions like her own and knew whenever she was struggling. The stone face Fatin presented the world with did little to hide things from her mate.

“What did you want for dinner?” Fatin asked, voice gravelly. 

She walked over, pushing Fatin against the island as she kissed her deeply. Everyone was out, something Leah knew as she tugged Fatin up to her room. 

“Babe, I love you, but I don’t feel like-”

“We move into the apartment in two weeks.” 

“What?” 

“Rana called Sam, it’s ours. The seller agreed twenty minutes ago we just need to get the paperwork in order.” 

“But you said-”

“I changed my mind. I love it, and realistically we have to think about our future. Paying more now will make life easier later on.” 

Fatin tugged Leah so that she straddled her lap to catch herself. 

“We got a place?” 

“We got a place,” Leah echoed, ducking down to kiss her.