CLAIMED BY MY BODYGUARD

Ember's breath

After another intense training session with Martinez, Lara trudged back to the omega chamber in the pouring rain. The midnight thunderstorm added an intense backdrop to her already fatigued state.

The continuous training after the full moon had taken a toll on her and getting back was even tougher.

Entering the omega chamber, soaked and covered in mud, Lara made her way down the hallway to her room. The other omegas, who had wolfed out tonight and were currently still in the midst of changing, shot pitying looks at her and knowing glances with their friends as this had on for quite a while now.

Lara ignored them, pushing past the judgmental gazes as she headed to her room. Knocking on the door, her roommate Anna opened it after taking a moment.

Taken in the sight of Lara's muddy and wet clothes, Anna questioned her, worry evident on her face.

"Jesus, what the hell happened out there?" Anna asked, surprised.

Ember, still groggy from sleep, interrupted with a grumble, "Can you guys shut up? Some of us are trying to get some sleep."

Ignoring Ember's protest, Anna explained to Lara,

"They split up, Luke and her so she spent the whole evening drowning her sorrows in booze. But that's not the point Lara. You need to stop forcing the wolfing out process. It's something that happens at it's appointed time. It's natural. Even Ember hasn't wolfed out yet and she isn't stressing herself about it. You shouldn't too."

But Lara shoots back at Anna, saying, "It would work Anna. I've told you a million times. I just have to keep up with my training. I know it will work someday," dismissing Anna's concern.

The tension between the two friends grew, teetering on the edge of an argument. Anna, genuinely worried for her friend, implored, "you should reconsider Lara," but Lara responds quite provoked. "I don't want to talk about this right now Lara. Just let me rest."

"Do you even know why he's pressuring you to wolf out Lara?" Anna asked, concern in her eyes.

"I already told you, Anna," Lara responds, "I'll ask him next time we meet."

"And when's that happening Lara? Because i don't see it happening anytime soon," said Anna in response as tears gradually wells up in Lara's eyes.

"He hasn't shown up, talked to you or at least encouraged you to continue the torture he subjected you to for over two weeks now.

Lara, overcome with emotion, couldn't help but start crying, causing Ember to wake up fully, witnessing the emotional scene unfolding before her.

Anna, sensing Lara's distress, pulled her into a comforting embrace, despite her dress being stained with mud, reassuring her saying, "It's going to be okay, Lara. I didn't mean to tell you this way but it's the truth and you have to accept it. No man should treat a woman this way, just because she's not from a high-ranked family."

Still sobbing, Lara received support not only from Anna but also from Ember, who descended from her bed, her drunkenness disappearing from her eyes as she approached her best friend.

Placing a hand on Lara's shoulder, Ember advised her saying, "you'll be alright Lara. You just have to tell Adam that you aren't interested anymore. At least let him feel some remorse for his actions. We might be the lowest ranked members in the werewolf community, but we are also happy and it's better we keep it that way."

Anna, adding to Ember's words, chimed in, "Ember's right, Lara. Tell him you're not interested."

The three of them stood in an impromptu huddle, embracing each other as Ember offered words of wisdom. "We'd always be here for you Lara. No one should make you feel less."

As the storm raged outside, the trio discovered comfort in one another's company, their connection strengthened by shared challenges and a commitment to seek joy despite the obstacles encountered as omegas in the werewolf community.

"What's that smell?" Anna teased with a mischievous smile as minutes had passed and the hug starting to feel awkward.

"It's Ember's breath," Lara responds laughing as Ember playfully hit her, retorting, "No, it's your mud dress."

"Oh no, Lara, you got mud on my shirt too!" Anna exclaimed, upon realizing that the mud on Lara's dress had also stained hers and their laughter filled the air.

After drifting into a peaceful sleep, unaware of the mischief brewing around her. In the midst of her dreams, Ember gently shook her awake. As Lara opened her eyes, the soft morning sun greeted her and to her surprise, she found both Anna and Ember holding pillows, mischief glinting in their eyes.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Lara mumbled, realizing she was the target of their playful wake-up call.

But before she could protest further, they both exclaimed in unison, "Last to wake up, Lara!"

Pillows swung through the air, and suddenly, the room erupted into a full-blown pillow fight. Laughter filled the air as all three friends engaged in the playful chaos.

However, their laughter was abruptly silenced when Claire, the head of the female omega ward, knocked on their door. "Do you three not have anything to do today?" she questioned.

Anna quickly responded, "We do," followed by Ember chiming in, "We're tidying up." And Lara adding, "We'll be out, ma'am."

As soon as Claire left, they all burst into laughter again. But their joy was short-lived, though, as they heard footsteps approaching. They silenced themselves until the footsteps passed, and then the laughter resumed.

The three friends swiftly prepared for their daily routine and contribution to the pack for shelter. As Lara dressed, her gaze fell on a potion provided by Martinez. It was nearly empty and a sudden longing to consume the remaining drops tugged at her but then, she remembered the comforting words of her friends.

The decision wasn't easy for her as she knew the consequences if the Alpha rejected her. She would become the subject of mockery among the jealous omegas in the ward especially those who weren't on good terms with her.

Lost in her thoughts, she heard her friends approaching, probably because she was wasting time. Panicking, Lara quickly drank the last drops of the potion, tears streaming down her face. She wiped her cheeks and joined Anna and Ember, feigning a smile.

"Hey, Lara, you ready for today?" Anna asked, oblivious to Lara's internal struggle.

Lara nodded, still grappling with conflicting emotions. The trio ventured out, ready to fulfill their daily tasks for the pack.

As days went by, Lara struggled inside, putting on a front of normalcy with her friends. Even amid laughter and togetherness, she couldn't escape the overwhelming anxiety that consumed her.

Taking a rare break, Lara decided to meet Martinez. She yearned for an audience with Adam, hoping to bring down the intensity of her training sessions that were draining her physically and emotionally.

Her life began to feel scripted, a monotonous routine of work, training, and potions. Night after night, she invested herself tirelessly in training after working all day and it was making life pretty miserable.

Halfway to the medical part of the pack's mansion, Lara heard her name called from behind. Turning around, she sighted her best friends waving at her.

Waiting for them to catch up, Anna quickly inquired, "Hey, Lara, where are you heading without us?"

Ember chimed in also, "Another potion, huh? We noticed the quantity left in your shelf this morning."

Lara in response decided to lie again denying, "No, not another potion. I'm going to make it stop."

Anna and Ember stood there, momentarily speechless. Then, without saying a word, they enveloped Lara in a tight embrace.

Anna whispered, "You can do it, Lara. We believe in you."

And Ember added, using their own playful words, "Go get it, tiger! You've got this."

Feeling a surge of motivation from her friends' support, Lara headed into the medical ward, knowing that her true intent was to plead with Martinez to ease the intensity of the training sessions. The thought of confronting the Alpha still loomed over her and she yearned to have a chat with him.