Wolf Like Me

Leah POV

Leah swallowed audibly as she hid in Fatin’s arms, inhaling her scent that had changed greatly since they mated. 

Whilst others would not immediately note the subtle variation, Leah scented every bit of difference: the aged oak scent, the musk, and the tiny bit of Leah’s scent that mingled with her own. It left her clambering even closer to Fatin than usual and struggling to part with her for too long. 

“We’re gonna be fine babe,” Fatin said, pressing a kiss to her hair as she pulled her closer; protectively encasing her in strong arms. 

“I’m not worried,” Leah said, voice wavering. 

Fatin snorted, putting some distance between them so that she could shoot Leah a look that said she was still an awful fucking liar. 

“Fine, I’m a little worried. A teeny bit.” 

“It’s gonna be fine.” 

“As if you aren’t worried about your mum too.” 

“Yes, but I don’t have to worry about that until this afternoon.” Fatin’s face fell in shock when the door to Leah’s house opened, revealing not Maryann or Kurt, but her own mother. 

“Rana?” Leah asked, confused as Fatin’s mother’s arms wrapped around her. 

“My favourite daughter-in-law.” 

“Your only daughter-in-law,” Fatin stated, jaw working with the realisation that she would be dropping her bomb now also.

Over the years Rana had been clear to Fatin that she was under no circumstance to ‘knock Leah up until they were of mating age, married, and financially settled in a house where they could raise a pup’. Whilst Fatin had some of that under her belt, they certainly weren’t married or financially secure yet.

“Come in, your parents are in the living room. I said I’d answer the door because they’re eating.” 

“Kiddos!” Kurt said, placing his cake down as he stood and wrapped his arms around his daughter. 

Leah froze, hoping none of them would observe the change in her scent as they hugged her and Fatin. 

“Come take a seat on the couch.” 

She took a seat next to Fatin, curling up against her side as she inhaled her scent; hoping to centre herself slightly. The woody tones eased her anxiety slightly, but it was nowhere near enough to stop the whole tidal wave of it.

Fingers squeezed her own tightly and she looked up to meet her mate’s reassuring smile. 

“What are you doing here?” Fatin asked. “I thought I was seeing you tonight?” 

“Well, your dad is out on business again. Kurt said that you were heading over here and asked if I wanted to head over. Your brothers both have soccer and my house showing got cancelled so it seemed a waste to miss you and make you split your time between us.” 

Fatin was breathing heavily through her nose, letting Leah know that she wasn’t the only one panicking. 

“Oh.” 

“Is that not okay?” Rana asked, confused. 

“No, it’s fine. Great. I missed you.” 

“I gathered,” Kurt said. “You don’t normally stop by on such little notice, we figured Lee was getting homesick again.” 

He stood, walking to the kitchen. Yet, when he returned, Leah felt the colour drain from her cheeks. 

There in his hands sat two glasses of wine. 

Really, she should have seen this coming; occasionally her dad splurged when they returned and got a good bottle of red wine. It was a treat that they both normally loved. A treat that somehow went forgotten the entire trip down, and now Fatin had tensed like a statue beside her. 

“Here, your ma and I visited the farmers market and went a little wild seeing as though our girls were coming back.” 

Fatin took hers, then released Leah’s hand so that she could take her own. 

“Is it any good?” Kurt asked. “We grabbed a cheese it pairs with too.” 

Fatin took a swig, swallowing and smiling brightly- though it was strained. “It’s great.” 

“Leah?” 

Nervously she peered at her dad, chewing her lip. She placed her glass down on a coaster that sat to the side of her, staring at the wine like it had royally screwed her over.

“Are you okay babe?” Fatin asked. 

Leah nodded slowly. “We actually came down because we needed to talk with you,” she said, voice shaky.

“Oh?” Rana said, all their eyes darting between them. 

“A few weeks ago, we hit our wolf puberty.” Fatin rested a hand on Leah’s knee, letting her thumb caress it.

Their parent’s smiles were bright as they congratulated them; hitting it was quite the milestone, and often went celebrated with parties or small gatherings. 

“We’re so happy for you. Not too bad I hope?” Rana replied. 

Leah curled into her side, re-joining their hands as she closed her eyes. 

“You’re okay.” Fatin ran her hand through her mate’s hair, nuzzling her head. 

Though Leah had an awful lot to be thankful for, so many amazing days making love to her mate where she enjoyed it all, there was still the before. Memories of hours of pain she couldn’t describe. Pain she still tried to talk through with her therapist.

Whilst Leah knew none of her other wolf heats would be anything like that -not even close- there was still trauma that lingered from her moment on the brink of death; making her worry that it would happen again. 

She made Fatin promise to bite her if her temperature ever didn’t drop again immediately. The pain was intense and ferocious, every part of her felt as if she were burning physically. 

“Breathe.” Leah calmed as soon as Fatin’s arms encased her. “Do you want me to do this alone?” Fatin asked quietly. “You can wait outside if it helps?”

Shaking her head, she pulled back. 

“Are you okay sweetie?” Maryann asked. 

“Yeah.” Leah frowned, thinking about how best to do this. “My heat wasn’t a good experience.” 

“Fatin didn’t go away, did she?” Rana asked, shooting Fatin a look. 

“No, no… she was there,” she added quickly, her hand holding onto Fatin’s for dear life. “Because we met so long ago, things didn’t go particularly well.” 

“Was it more painful than most?” Maryann asked with worry. 

“Fatin?” Leah prompted, her hands now shaking.

She nodded as if she could read Leah’s mind, kissing her nose before turning to finish for her. “Leah’s heat wouldn’t cool. Her temperature kept rising and nothing worked as it should, so she was at risk of death and in an incredible amount of pain.” 

Their parents looked horrified, Maryann covering her mouth as she choked back a sob. 

“She’s fine now, we called the doctor in time. But she got far hotter than she should have and was almost delirious when I found her.” 

“Are you okay now?” Rana asked, worried for her daughter-in-law. Rana was an omega too and understood the horrors of a first heat. She was unmated at the time so what she faced was hardly anything in comparison. 

“Yeah, I eventually cooled off.” 

“Did the doctor help? He really is the best doctor in the area Fatin, this is why I told you he was worth paying for.” 

“He helped,” Fatin said. “Well, like obvi he helped… but there was only one way to get Leah to cool again. There was no medication or other methods known.” 

Leah pulled Fatin’s hand to her stomach, their eyes glowing protectively as they felt their baby’s presence.

“Oh my,” Maryann said. 

“You’re pregnant?” Kurt asked.

“Yes,” Leah said. “About a month along.” 

“Fatin, I know I said I would kick your hind if you got that sweet girl pregnant when you reached your wolf puberty but I’m very proud of you right now. And you Leah, it must have been so much to go through even now.” 

“You’re proud?” Fatin asked, craning her neck. 

“You faced something truly terrifying, and now I have a grandbaby which I know neither of you felt ready for. This must have been daunting for you both.” 

“I’m proud of you both too.” Kurt smiled. “Thank you for protecting her. Leah, you did well making it through that- I do wish you'd have called us. We're always here." 

“Are you okay now?” Maryann asked. 

“I see a therapist and I’m getting there. Fatin’s been great and it was only around five hours before I cooled. The issue was that the pain was so bad I couldn’t even think to call Fatin. I was just lucky she sensed that I needed her and came home, but the pain was hell and I wouldn’t ever recommend it.” Leah winced. “Zero out of ten on trip advisor.”

“I would go with like, minus a million,” Fatin corrected. 

“Yeah, true.” She winced again, head dropping against her mate’s shoulder. 

“I’m glad that you’re okay now but you could have called sooner, we’re always here. Are you happy with your apartment still?” 

“We’ll need to move eventually but I’m weirdly tied to our apartment right now and I don’t think I’d be comfortable moving for at least a few years. It will hopefully do for now, but the doctor wasn’t sure if my heat will cause similar issues again. In which case our apartment would be too small for two babies.” 

“I was like that too, when I carried you. Your father and I needed to move but I was in a constant state of nesting and that home felt safe; it smelt like Kurt, and I knew the layout and where everything was. It’s normal for wolves to get tied to a place, it’s why Rana was so insistent on you both getting a bigger place as your first home.” 

“Yeah, I think it may be the same for me. I can’t think about moving yet but Fatin’s already started clearing things out of the guest room so we can use that. It’s not a home and it’s not entirely safe for a toddler with the windows but we’ll move in two or three years, right babe?” 

“Yes,” Fatin said, combing her fingers through her mate’s hair. “We’ll move as soon as Leah’s ready. Especially if we’re considering a horde of mini Leahs.” 

“Could this happen every heat?” Maryann paled.

“No, thank god.” Leah groaned, smacking Fatin who snorted. “On rare accounts three times. But for most wolves mated as long as we have been, the need for that is only there on the first one or two heats.”

“I can help when the time to move arises,” Rana added. “I know a few sellers in the area who owe me favours.” 

“Thank you.” Fatin smiled at her mother, the two exchanging a look Leah couldn’t infer but left Fatin rolling her eyes. 

“I don’t mind heading up to you to help get the room decorated and whatnot,” Maryann said. “Your dads can help with furniture too.” 

“See, all fine,” Fatin whispered against her ear. 

“Now, have you found a suitable OB/GYN yet?” Rana asked.