My mate promptly lifted me to bed when it had gotten far too late at night. My anger was still simmering under my skin for my mate. Regardless, I burrowed myself against my alpha, feeling ease seep through both of us. Days had passed since then and we were completely out of all the food we had bought from the market. I asked my alpha if he would like to go again, and though he was still somewhat wary, he agreed. This left me with making a list of things we needed to do and buy. I'd want to buy things gradually, the essentials before comforts.

My alpha was currently out front, tilling the vegetable garden, neither of us wanting to waste perfectly good vegetables my alpha had grown himself; though I did start helping him with planting more.

I was re-checking the list when I felt it. A cramping pain in my belly. It came and went, but I froze at the table. It was a precursor to having my heat. I had felt something similar the day before, but I had brushed it off as crouching for too long in the vegetable garden. With it happening while sitting here and doing nothing, I knew I had been wrong. I bit my lip, hurrying to the bathroom.

For one day an omega will bleed, letting the omega know that a heat would be arriving in a few weeks. That their body was getting ready to have their mate's seed in order to create a life. Wolves who went through heat sympathized with the human females who bled for a much longer period of time. Callan's Grandfather had the foresight to have many wet wipe packs for bowel movements, but that was the only means of wiping. Otherwise it was into the shower or a dip in the river with your bar of soap. There were lots of bars of unscented soap.

I needed to make sure this wasn't a false alarm though, reaching behind and within myself, the tips of my fingers coming away red.

I flushed brightly, hurrying to the pile of rags I had made; Callan perfectly fine with me doing so since we had new clothes to wear instead.

I ripped up one of the shirts, folding it multiple times so it was thick. I slipped it into my underwear, gasping and hunching over at another cramp rippling through my belly. I whined low, wrapping an arm around my belly, slowly walking into the kitchen. There were no hot water bottles I could use and definitely no pain medication I could steal. I filled the soup pot with water, turning on the stove so it would boil. I was going to improvise.

A lone lemon was sitting on the counter, making me chuckle softly. My mate was very wary of the yellow fruit. Once I saw the water had started to boil in the pot, I carefully poured some into one of the mugs. The two dishes and two cups in the house were made of a ceramic; I assumed his grandfather had bought them before Callan was even born. I squeezed some of the lemon into the water so I could sip on it as well, shuffling my way to the living room.

It was late afternoon and I was going to be very thankful once these blasted cramps left me. I was holding the cup by the rim, not wanting to burn my fingers, enjoying the lemon scented steam that wafted up. Suddenly, the sound of my mate's axe clunking onto the ground caught my attention. I heard the pounding of feet from outside and then the front door swung open with my mate looking wild-eyed.

"Omega!" Callan cried, startling me, making me have a death grip on my mug; the boiling water sloshing slightly.

"Cal–"

"Omega where are you hurt? What happened? What is this? Why does it smell of lemon? I smell blood," Callan's words tumbling over each other as he sniffed me everywhere, his hands gently poking and prodding me. I huffed at his antics, but my lips could only curve up into a besotted smile.

"Callan, my alpha, I'm fine. It's normal," I said gently, trying to shuffle away from my very overprotective mate.

"Is not fine! Omega is bleeding!" Callan nearly gasping in horror. I rolled my eyes at him, trying to stop my smiling.

"Cal, honey, let me go sit down first and I'll explain it to you," I chuckled. Callan scowled at me laughing at his worry, but fussed me onto the couch. He just as quickly grabbed the duvet from the bedroom, tucking it around me and fluffing one of the bed pillows for me to lean against. Dear Goddess I was in love with this ridiculous man.

Callan's hands didn't seem to know what to do with themselves for a moment, making me huff and tell my mate to sit. Callan sat promptly so he was on the floor in front of me, pressed up against the couch. I tucked a corner of the duvet against my belly, my shirt far too thin to protect my skin from the burning heat of the mug.

I pressed the cup against my belly, sighing in relief at the warmth it brought and tension it released. Opening my eyes, I saw my alpha eyeing the steaming mug, looking back up at me with worry.

"This is for me to use since I don't have a hot water bottle," I said, Callan looking confused.

"It's something you can put boiling water in to without burning yourself."

"Water can make you burn?" Callan asked curiously, looking at the water dubiously.

"Yes. It is a different type of burn from fire. You know how you see the bubbles when you make stew? When you see water that has gotten so hot from fire, it starts to boil, and create steam," I said, indicating to the whisps that were coming from the mug.

"Oh. Grandfather tried to explain when I asked, but was hard for me to understand. Knew not to touch," Callan said, "Smells of lemon, why?"

"Lemons are good for flavor, remember? When you drink it, it can help with your throat and your tummy. The best for your tummy is a plant called peppermint, and the best for your throat is honey with hot water."

"You call me honey sometimes," Callan said, cocking his head, ruffling his hair right next to where my arm was holding the mug.

"Honey is a food that is very, very sweet. Like my soft alpha," I giggled. Callan promptly shifted his head so he could scowl at me.

"Honey will be something fun to learn about. How it's made and all that," I said softly. I switched to my other hand to hold the mug, so I could use my free hand to comb through my mate's sweaty tresses.

"Omega, omega I smell blood. Why is not bad. Don't understand. Not hurt?" Callan's voice so soft and sounded so scared that my heart hurt for a moment. He didn't know what was going on with me, never having encountered an omega before. Just gazing at them from afar when his Grandfather taught him about pack.

"Did your Grandfather tell you anything else about omegas?"

"Just about slick and mating. Not much else," Callan said, nuzzling against my side. I could hear him sniffing me, making me blush. My mate was something else. It took most alpha's to be up close and personal to scent that an omega was on their Bleed Day. Betas didn't have noses that were as good as an alpha's and other omegas had a sense when another omega was on their Bleed Day. My alpha was clearly outside and working in the garden, able to scent it the moment I passed in front of the door.

"My alpha, it is normal. For an omega, it happens regularly. Sometimes randomly. We call it a Bleed Day," I flushed, my alpha listening intently, "it means that my body must bleed for a whole day to get ready."

"Ready?"

"For my heat, my alpha," I whispered, shyly looking at my alpha through my lashes. My alpha blinked in shock, his own cheeks starting to turn pink.

"Oh."

"You know of heats?" I asked, Callan nodding quickly.

"Heat is dangerous to an alpha. Makes them lose their mind. Can hurt omega if it is not their mate. Grandfather says, can join with mate whether on heat or not. Does not always need to be to make little one," Callan said, shyly fiddling with his fingers. I breathed out a sigh of relief with that. Heats were definitely dangerous for non-mated pairs.

"If you are mated with me, my alpha, another omega's heat will not make you lose your mind so easily, " I said, cupping Callan's cheek who looked relieved at my words, "I would love to have sex with you whether I am on my heat or not. Whenever we are ready," I said gently. I knew it was partially a lie. My heat made it impossible for alphas to resist the scent of an omega. Especially my alpha who was my mate. My alpha had already surprised me though with being able to scent my bleeding; I even told him so.

"Does word sex mean to join?" Callan asked sweetly. I nodded, smiling softly.

"There are different ways to say it. Sex is the all encompassing term. Everyone knows what you mean when you say it. We can figure out what we like," I said. Callan was looking at me curiously, but I knew if we started going down that rabbit hole we'd both get very horny and now was not the time for that.

"Whenever I have my Bleed Day, it means my heat will come in a few weeks. I want to share it with you, my alpha. I want you to claim me," I whispered. I saw my alpha's eyes drop to my neck and I knew that he knew what claiming was.

"Is it normal I want to claim now?" Callan asked and I nearly swooned right there.

"It is my alpha. Just as much as I want to claim you. It is strongest though when we are mating," I replied honestly. With all the hormones, pheromones, and the fragile soul bond we would have before the claiming, all of it combining together at our peaks cemented our bond for life.

"I am happy omega wants to claim too," Callan smiling dopily, making me croon at how adorable he was. I nuzzled against his cheek, my mate seeming to have relaxed now.

"Will feel better tomorrow? Hurts a lot?" Callan asking, seeming to want to touch my belly but holding himself back.

"I will definitely feel better tomorrow and it only hurts a little bit. Sometimes it can hurt a lot, but I'll be okay. Go finish up the chores so we can have dinner and read, okay?"

Callan didn't look like he wanted to leave me though, but with me shooing him away he reluctantly left. I promptly napped on the couch after an hour of reading my novel, knowing that usually made me feel better. We'd have to postpone going into town until the day after, my alpha perfectly fine with that. He was my living shadow whenever I moved. I had to go order him to go do things so he would stop panicking and give me some space. My alpha had even forgone reading for the night, wanting to snuggle with me on the couch. Which ended up being ridiculous and I refused to believe his words when he said he was fine. His face was pressed against my belly which left part of his legs and feet to dangle off the other end of the couch.

I could only sigh at his antics. I was on the last few chapters of the romance mystery novel, absently combing my fingers through my alpha's hair. The popping from the fireplace was calming and my steaming mug of lemon water had long gone cold and was by the side of the couch.

"Oh!" Callan said suddenly, popping off the couch to go to the bedroom. I grumbled at my heater leaving me, even if the fireplace was a nice addition. Callan came back, holding the clothing bag against his chest. I carefully moved from my laying down position to sitting up, looking at my alpha curiously.

"Wanted to surprise omega," Callan said, shuffling closer to me, plopping down on the ground at my feet. He held the clothing bag tightly in his hands, looking up at me with his warm amber eye.

"Surprise?"

Callan nodded, his eye darting to the floor as his large fingers fiddled with the flimsy bag.

"Wanted to give omega gift. Never gave anyone a gift before. Hope, hope omega likes," Callan whispered. I laughed happily, pressing my hands to my cheeks, my smile lifting them high.

"Alpha! A gift? You got me a gift?" I couldn't stop myself from gushing, snatching the bag from my alpha who had shyly offered it to me. I was very curious since it was in the clothing bag, feeling the weight was different from that of clothes.

I opened the bag, gasping. I dragged my finger against the back of the smooth finished brush, seeing it very well made. I pulled out two bars of soap, one smelling of vanilla and lemon, the other of wildflowers and honey. The soaps had a small paper square wrapped around them, a bow made of twine holding it down; the paper said the ingredients were all natural. I felt tears brim my eyes. The last was a small bottle of shampoo that smelled like the wildflower and honey soap.

"Soap smelled nice. Smelled like the fruit before I knew it was lemon," Callan grumbling about the yellow fruit, "Omega likes? Is okay?"

"It's perfect!" I shouted, tackling my alpha in a hug, crying softly. Callan rubbed my back, pulling me away with worry.

"Why crying if it is not bad?"

"These are happy tears silly!" I laughed, burying my face against his neck, sniffling, "oh alpha! I am so happy. You bought them for me."

I couldn't help but hold the items against my chest, Callan kissing me softly. We both went off to bed since it had gotten late, but not without me brushing my hair first. I had been making do with the comb but the brush was phenomenal! Callan seemed to enjoy my hair all fluffed from the brush too, making me laugh. As we laid down to sleep, I felt my mate's warm hand press against my belly, my smile never leaving my face.

————————☆—————————

The next day was spent with me washing with the wildflower and honey soap. I scrubbed my hair clean with the shampoo, knowing that washing it with water only did so much. My alpha had rumbled happily at the scent, nuzzling against my neck. It took a while for him to agree it was nice though, since it covered up my omega scent from him. With his powerful nose he got over it pretty quickly.

I had to have brushed my hair at least a dozen times, Callan just smiling at me, happy that he had made me so happy. My bleeding had stopped as I had promised, Callan no longer a giant ball of worried nerves. It was sweet though.

As I was brushing my hair for possibly the thirteenth time that day, I sighed at how long it was. It really wasn't my style, but I knew my alpha could have cared less. I pulled out the smaller hunting knife my mate kept in the bathroom for his beard and for his own hair. It was kept sharp superbly, just like all the knives in the house. I hummed as I turned my head this way and that, taking pieces and cutting them. I ruffled my hair a bit, since it was extra wavy from being damp. My second shower of the day since I loved the soap. I also liked making sure there was nothing left from my bleed.

My hair no longer brushed the top of my shoulders, being cleanly cut to the base of my skull, a few pieces longer in the front to frame my face. I kept my side part where it was, liking the extra volume being on that side. I smiled happily at my success, taking a solid hour to make sure it was even to the best of my ability. I'd have to get a second mirror to know for sure though.

I heard my alpha come in through the front door, setting down wood and heading to the kitchen. Fall would soon be on us, but this time I was going to make sure my alpha had more than just a rabbit on his plate once it got to the tougher winter months.

I cleaned up all the hair I had cut, quickly tossing it outside. Callan was used to me opening the door randomly, as he would say, to get the dust rags clean too and to throw away rotted vegetables into the wooden composter his grandfather had built further from the house. Callan was just glad to be rid of rotten vegetables since the smell was rank, assuming that's where all bad vegetables went. There wasn't much in the way of trash that we had. The only plastic in the house being from the shopping bags and the small shampoo bottle. I was sure to toss any trash into the plastic bags so I could throw them into a recycle bin, at least, in town.

I hummed a little a song that usually got young pack children to calm down if they had been crying, a small purr leaving me at my mate's muscled back.

"I can do that Cal while you go shower. Sorry I was in the bathroom so long," I chuckled sheepishly.

"No worries omega. Glad you liked pres–" Callan freezing when he saw me. He made his way over to me slowly, making me wonder what he was doing. I smiled slowly at his fingers combing through my hair.

"Do you like it, my alpha?" I asked shyly. I mean it was my hair and I could cut it however I wished, but I did want to know what my alpha thought.

"Pretty omega," My alpha rumbled low, kissing me hotly. I gasped against his lips, moaning happily. I felt his fingers sift through my hair, kissing me over and over.

"My alpha, the food," I laughed, Callan grumbling against my lips, searing his lips against mine. I felt my belly ache at his kiss, pulling away slowly. His pupil was blown wide, knowing my eyes were the same.

"Go wash up so we can eat," I giggled, pushing him out of the kitchen. I flushed happily, biting my lip at how turned on my alpha was to my hair cut. Job well done even if that wasn't my intention.

We ate dinner peacefully, Callan asking me a few questions about the animals in the book we had bought. I'd rather have him understand land animals first before sea creatures, but if I needed to mix it up in case he got bored I would. I noticed that my mate kept looking at me, more so than usual, during and after dinner.

"Do you really like my hair so much like this?" I asked shyly, moving a piece behind my ear. Callan wrapped his arms around my waist, nodding as he nuzzled against my neck.

"Omega pretty no matter long or short. But like short," Callan said. I finished drying the dishes, turning so my chest was pressed against my alpha's.

"Cut hair too?" Callan asked shyly. I nodded happily, grabbing my mate's hand and placing him in the chair in the dining room. I had gotten the knife I had used earlier, my mate's hair still damp after his shower. My mate's hair was wild and it added to his ambiance of being ruggedly handsome. It was thick and it was cleaned regularly so it always had a nice shine. I'd like to buy some shampoo for him though, pretty sure he didn't want to use mine for whatever manly reasons he had.

I decided he would look amazing with a fade, and a deep side part to the right. I knew he was self conscious about the scars over his right eye, even if I always thought he was handsome; telling him as often as possible.

"Do you want it short, my alpha?"

"Do not want on my neck. Omega make look nice too?"

"Of course I will alpha!"

I got to work. I parted his thick hair where I thought it would look nice, using the comb as well. I decided some framing bangs on his right side would look nice. I cut his hair so it was even along the top and back, making sure it was cleanly cut away from his neck; using some soap to make sure the knife didn't accidently cut him. His hair was much shorter than mine, but as it started to come together, my heart kept speeding up. When I deemed his hair done, perfectly even thanks to my perfection issues, my sweet mate had obediently stayed still during the whole thing. I stepped back around, seeing him peek at me shyly.

An aroused scent suddenly left me in a wave, evidently hitting my mate straight in the face whose head snapped up in surprise. A low, heavy rumble left him, making me back away quickly. My face was on fire as I tried to control my scent. He looked so good though. He already looked like a gorgeous model, and now he seemed to be stunning. Who knew a haircut could do such a thing!?