Hidden Desires

Drunken Thoughts

As Tanya made her way through the village, the tension in the air was palpable. She couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, of being judged by the packmates who still viewed her with suspicion and mistrust.

Lost in her thoughts, Tanya rounded a corner and found herself face-to-face with a group of higher-ranked wolves. Their eyes lingered on her blonde, wavy hair, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and disdain.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" one of them sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "A pretty little Omega, all dolled up and ready for attention."

Tanya bristled at the condescending tone, but she refused to show weakness in front of her tormentors. "I don't want any trouble," she replied evenly, her voice steady despite the fear that churned in her stomach. Her hair was to her knees, she knew it didn't fit in at this rugged camp but she didn't have a way to cut it.

The wolves exchanged amused glances, their laughter echoing through the narrow street. "Trouble? Oh, I think you've found it, sweetheart, The Alpha may think its worth taking the chance but I think you're just a spy they sent to slut your way to the packs secrets" another wolf taunted, stepping closer until he was mere inches from Tanya's face.

Ignoring the taunts, Tanya tried to walk away, but before she could take a single step, the wolves grabbed her by her hair, yanking her back with a force that made her cry out in pain.

"Where do you think you're going, Omega?" one of them growled, his grip tightening on her hair until she thought her scalp might tear.

Tanya's heart raced as she struggled against their hold, but their strength was overwhelming. With a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, she realized that she was completely at their mercy.

Suddenly, one of the wolves produced a knife, its blade glinting in the dim light. Before Tanya could react, he brought it down with a swift, merciless stroke, slicing through her long, blonde locks until they fell in a tangled heap at her feet.

Tears pricked at the corners of Tanya's eyes as she watched her hair fall to the ground, the weight of the loss crashing down on her like a ton of bricks. But through the pain and humiliation, she refused to give her tormentors the satisfaction of seeing her break.

With a defiant glare, Tanya straightened her shoulders and met their gaze head-on. "Is that all you've got?" she spat, her voice trembling with anger and defiance. "Cutting my hair won't break me. I'm stronger than you'll ever be."

The wolves exchanged uneasy glances, clearly taken aback by Tanya's resilience. But before they could respond, a commanding voice cut through the air, freezing them in their tracks.

“Whats going on here?”

Alpha Elliot Finch stood before them, his expression unreadable as he regarded the group of higher-ranked wolves with a cold intensity. Though he made no move to intervene, his presence alone was enough to send a chill down their spines.

Without a word, the wolves released their hold on Tanya and slunk away, disappearing into the shadows of the village streets. They knew when Elliot was pissed and for some reason he was pissed at them for tormenting Tanya. Left alone with the Alpha, Tanya struggled to suppress the whirlwind of emotions raging inside her. She had never had anyone actually help her before, intentionally or not.

But as Elliot's gaze met hers, she saw something flicker behind his eyes—a glimmer of understanding, of silent solidarity. Though he had not intervened to stop the attack, Tanya knew that he had seen the injustice of their actions, and that knowledge gave her a sliver of hope. He seemed to have strong morals for someone Rory said was Cruel, and Cold.

With a nod of acknowledgment, Elliot turned and walked away, leaving Tanya standing in the empty street, her heart heavy with the weight of what had just transpired. But as she reached up to touch her newly shortened hair, she felt a spark of determination ignite within her. She couldn't just let him go, she needed to tell him how much she appreciated what he did.

She may have been battered and bruised, but she refused to let her tormentors win and feel down about it. With each step she took, Tanya vowed to rise above the challenges that lay ahead, to prove herself worthy of her place among the warriors of the Finch Pack, no matter the obstacles that stood in her way. Attacks like this would probably keep occurring until she was strong enough to stop them herself. That was the way the pack worked after all, the strong win no matter what.

Heart still racing from the encounter, Tanya hurried after Alpha Elliot Finch, her steps quick and determined. She needed to thank him, to express her gratitude for stepping in and putting an end to the humiliating ordeal she had just endured. With each stride, she felt a growing fondness for him—Elliot was the first person to ever really try to protect her, to stand up for her when she needed it most.

As she caught up to him, Elliot glanced over his shoulder, his expression unreadable. "Alpha Finch, I—" Tanya began, but Elliot raised a hand to silence her.

"Please, just call me Elliot, being addressed by my title constantly gets a bit annoying" he said, his voice softer than she had expected.

Tanya nodded, grateful for the gesture of goodwill. She knew he was just trying to make her feel more at ease, whether in hopes she would give up more information or because he genuinely wanted her to feel better she was not sure. "Elliot, thank you," she said earnestly. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't intervened back there."

Elliot offered her a small, reassuring smile. It really didn't fit with the image of him she had in her head. "It was the right thing to do," he replied simply. "No one deserves to be treated the way you were."

Tanya felt a lump form in her throat at his words, touched by his kindness and compassion. "Thank you," she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

Elliot regarded her for a moment, his gaze lingering on her face. "Come," he said finally, gesturing toward his dwelling. "Let's talk, it doesn't have to be about the Mulligan Pack, you just seem like you might need an ear to talk to."

With a nod of agreement, Tanya followed Elliot inside, her heart still racing with adrenaline. As they settled into the cozy interior of his home, she couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort wash over her—a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time.

He poured her a drink, before downing one himself. He poured them each another drink and before long they were both severely intoxicated. Tanya's stomach burned from the liquor as they got to know each other, not noticing that he was the only one asking questions.

Seated across from each other, Tanya and Elliot talked late into the night, sharing stories and laughter as she opened up to him in ways she hadn't with anyone else before. It was easy to forget her shame as she told him about her parents dying of drug overdoses, and that Rory was probably f*****g that b***h Rebecca that he chose over her. He watched her talk smirking at the way she talked with her hands when she got excited, not nearly as drunk as he pretended. He couldn't help but think she was cute, she had an innocence not found in the women of their pack. He found it refreshing, she was like a Pomeranian.

As the hours slipped by, Tanya felt a deepening bond forming between them, maybe they really could be friends. And as she looked into Elliot's eyes, she couldn't help but acknowledge how attractive he was. Whereas Rory has blonde hair, he has this dark reddish brown hair that reminds her of Embers when the light hits it, it's beautiful. His eyes were greener than hers, she was almost jealous.

As Elliot smiled at her she realized she had said that all out loud. He didn't admonish her, seeming to find her drunken compliments entertaining.

“I kind of want to kiss you, but that would be wrong of me. I barely know you, but I really want to and I think it would be fun. I wouldn't know I've never been kissed before because who would want to kiss an orphan I mean I'm broke and live in a SHACK, I'm not exactly a catch and you don't know me you probably don't even want to know me but you have to to make sure your pack isn't being put at risk by me-”

Elliot silences her with a kiss, his tongue exploring her mouth. She wasn't prepared for the kiss, and nearly fell back on the couch. She felt butterflies in her stomach as he pulled away. She knew it was a mistake and she had to leave before he realized it too.

“I'm sorry I was blabbering, this was fun but I should go. Thanks for the drinks, I really had fun!”

She runs out without waiting for a response. She barely makes it home before collapsing on her cot and sleep overtaking her.