The Season Of The Wolf

Almost There

It's been three weeks of waiting around for Mickey to come challenge Eli or try to steal me. Roxi has not left my side the whole time. She goes to her other classes in school, but she always has another wolf in my other classes look out for me. It's as if they've accepted her as their Beta's mate. They listen to her and she has made a lot of friends within the pack.

Aside from that, we made progress with my wolf on the night that we had s*x. I can now hear her breathing, growling, and purring. Sometimes, she'll whisper things, but I can't tell what she's saying.

Roxi and I have kissed a few times and cuddled and gotten emotional closer as well. When those things happen, Callie responds positively. If anything else happens, she growls or whispers. The breathing that I hear is just when nothing is going on.

I'm sitting at my desk and just working when a voice interrupts my mind babble.

"Ms. Gray?"

There's a sweet little girl with glasses standing in front of my desk.

"Yes, Mary? What can I help you with?"

She leans over the desk and unbuttons the top button of her shirt. She removes her glasses and bites her lip.

"Could we work something out for my last test? I know you have something going on with Roxi. What's the difference?"

"Excuse me?!"

I stand up and she straightens back up.

"What did you just say to me?!"

I give her glasses back to her and escort her to the principal's office.

"I was just speaking the truth."

"What you were saying was inappropriate, suggestive, and just plain rude."

I see Roxi headed my way and give her a look saying, go home.

"See? You just spoke to Rock without using any words. You two have some kind of relationship."

"We don't. Even if we did, it wouldn't be any of your business."

We get to the office and Mary goes in to speak to the principal. He sends her out and she just smiles at me. It's a smile you would see on a monster just before they start hunting you down.

"Ms. Gray!"

"Yes, Gretchen?"

"I need to see you in my office."

"Okay."

I walk into her office as she closes the door.

"I want your things removed before noon tomorrow."

"What?!"

"Mary has accused you of propositioning her and having an inappropriate relationship with one of your students."

"She's lying! She came into my classroom and asked me to "work something out" to raise her grade on her last test! Why would I bring her down here if I were the one in the wrong?!"

"Naomi! It is my job to take the side of the student! I'm sorry, but you and all of the kids from your "tribe" need to transfer schools. You can probably teach at the reservation school."

"What do those kids have to do with anything?"

"The student you were accused of having s****l relations with is a part of that tribe. We have had too many problems at this school that have involved your kids. Now, pack up your desk."

"This is bullshit!"

"Leave my office!"

"Okay, I will report this misconduct to the board of education!"

"Ms. Gray, it's Louisianna. Do you honestly think the board will believe you? We all know that you aren't really a "tribe." You're a pack. We don't listen to wolves." She all but spat in my face.

"Well, you can take your coven and shove it!"

"H-how could you tell?!"

"I'm a were-witch."

"Leave. My. Office. You abomination."

I stomp out and slam the door so hard it could fall off the hinges.

"f*****g full blood witches! Where do they get off acting like wolves are beneath them?! Also, excuse the f**k out of me for being born the way I am!" I'm quietly griping to myself while packing up my classroom.

I mind link Eli.

Me: Send some Omegas to help me pack up my classroom please.

Eli: What's wrong? Did you get fired?

Me: Yeah. I guess the principal has had it in for me since I was hired. She said we could take all our wolves to wolf school. She's a witch and apparently I'm an abomination.

Eli: Okay, well, we can figure something else out. I'll send a few Omegas. Do you want me to send Roxi?

Me: Don't send her, she's part of the reason. Well, our relationship is anyway.

Eli: Okay. Also, we have company, so hurry home.

Me: Let me guess, a certain rogue has shown up?

Eli: Yep.

Me: Of course. How could he NOT show up on the day I lost my job?

I'm just so damn angry and I hear a growl in the back of my mind.

If you have enough energy to growl and eavesdrop then maybe you should just return.

*growl* *indistinct whispering*

I pack up the rest of my things and let the receptionist know that I'll be back for the desk, lamp, and organizers that I bought with my own money. She reminds me that I need to have them out by noon tomorrow.

I nod and leave with the omegas following me with boxes in their hands. Mary stayed to watch the whole thing. I am absolutely mortified. Even though, I could put the stuff in my car by myself, the omegas insist on helping. I stop at McDonald's on the way home and finish off an entire 20 piece with large fries all on my own. I was stress eating.

I drive home and when I pull into my driveway, I have a small panic attack. I steady my breathing and get out of my car. I carry my stuff in and once I have almost all of it in the house, Roxi comes downstairs.

"Hey, what's all this?"

"Nothing. Just don't worry about it."

"Are you mad?"

I don't answer her and get two more boxes out of my car. She follows me.

"Naomi! What the f**k is wrong?!"

I try to ignore her and she grabs my arm to turn me towards her. I yank my arm out of her grip. A few of the wolves nearby have stopped to look. I snap.

"You wanna know what's wrong?! Everything!"

"What do you mean?!"

"Haha! What do I mean?! You're asking me like you don't know what I'm talking about!"

"I don't know!"

"God!! You are so self-absorbed sometimes! I try to put you first because we're supposed to be mates, but it seems like you mainly care about yourself!"

"What the f**k?!"

I throw my hands up, my boxes landing on the ground.

"I don't know why I try!"

"What is WRONG?!"

"I tried to keep my distance until you're 18, but you had to get closer. YOU needed the physical connection! I tried to be patient with you, but you push me and push me! I told you what happened to me and it turned into lust filled s*x! Come ON!"

"If I'm so much of a problem, then just reject me!"

I start pacing and pinch the bridge of my nose.

"Damnit, Roxi! I don't want to reject you! I'm not your parents or your old pack! I just want you to see things from my point of view!"

"Well, something else is bothering you, what else did I do wrong?! Huh?!"

"I got fired today! I turned down a human girl's proposition of quid pro quo. I wouldn't f**k her to make her grades better! You know what she said?!"

"What?"

"She didn't understand the difference between her and you! I couldn't even explain it to her because she's not supposed to know about wolves! Not that I actually am one! I'm a witch wearing a damn costume!" I gesture to my stomach. "I'm a fat ass that can't get stressed out without eating a s**t ton of McDonald's! I shouldn't even have a mate, let alone one that's so much younger than me! I'm 24 and you're almost 18! I'm a f*****g pedophile!"

"Calm down, Naomi! I don't think you're a pedophile."

"But I do! For f**k's sake, can't you just let me be angry?! I always have to push down my emotions for everyone around me! I get to have emotions too! I'm f*****g valid! Oh! I also have to come face to face with someone that I haven't seen for 8 years and completely destroyed me!"

She tries to comfort me and I just push her away. There's now a crowd around us.

"Are you guys enjoying the show?! Your Beta isn't a Beta and shouldn't be one! Find someone else! I'm f*****g done!"

An older version of a familiar face breaks through the crowd.

"Oh, you have balls! You really wanna approach me when I'm heated?! I'm not 16 anymore, Micheal! I can't believe I ever called you a friend! You don't even deserve to be alive!" I bare my canines which I shouldn't be able to do.

"Naomi, your teeth." Roxi looks at me with concern.

"What?!" I whip my head around and spit the word out.

"Your canines are showing. Is that supposed to happen?!"

I feel my teeth with my hand and an amused smile spreads across Michael's face.

There is no Callie! This voice is the wolf side of your soul, but it's all you. Turn. Run.

I levitate off the ground and my eyes roll back in my head. I feel my bones shift and fur grow out of body. Soon, I'm a full wolf, pacing, ready to pounce.

Micheal moves toward me and Roxi inserts herself between us. I stop pacing and look up at her. Most wolves can't speak if they're in their wolf form, but I must be special, because I speak.

"I'm sorry, Roxi, but this is my fight."

The whole pack is gathered there by now and they look completely stunned.

"Did you just speak?" Roxi turns to me and asks.

"I guess so."

"Well, you're right. You aren't 16 anymore, so come and get me. I'm right here." Micheal says, causing me to snarl at him.

Eli steps forward.

"You came here to challenge her and not me?"

Micheal nods.

"What are your stakes?!" I say through bared teeth.

"If you win, I'll leave forever. If I win, I get to stay. I will become an Omega and not try to reclaim the title of Gamma."

"If I win, not only will you leave forever, but if I see you back here, I'll kill you."

"Deal."

"Deal."

With that, I take off into the woods. I mind link Eli and tell him that we can duel tomorrow at sun down.

Soon, I hear someone following me and I immediately know it's Roxi.

We run for hours and once we get tired, we go back to my house. When we get in, We shift back. I guess, I left the door open.

We're standing there naked and I see Roxi eyeballing my completely naked body. She steps towards me and puts her hand on my abdominal scars.

"I love you."

"What?"

"I love you, Naomi."

I don't respond immediately.

"I love you and every scar on your body. I love every scar on your soul. I love every little thing about you. I know that I can be self-absorbed. I'm learning how to love because I was never really shown that. Just try to be patient a little longer. We're almost there. You've made progress with me. 2 months ago, I would've never said any of this."

Roxi puts her forehead on my chest between my boobs. I put my hand on her bare back.

"I love you too."

"We're almost there, Naomi."

I walk her to the stairs and we get dressed.

When we're done, we sit down on the couch and order a pizza. I kiss her forehead.

"We're almost there." I whisper against her forehead.