"What do you mean, he laid a c-claim on me?" I grumbled. "He has ignored me for weeks, Sean, weeks! He can't just-just s-s-suddenly come to me one day and a-act interested when he's a-an ass otherwise! ...He cornered me in the s-storage room! A-and the introduction he-he was standing right next to me!"

Sean shrugged and took a large bite of the chicken drumstick in his hand. I frowned as the grease dripped down his chin. I enjoyed my time with Sean, but he ate like an animal.

'He is an animal.' My wolf murmured.

Oh, stop it you. I used to miss the silence in my head before your remarks butted in.

She chortled. 'You'd miss me.'

I hummed a neutral tone, and she huffed at me.

Sean stopped his gross demolishing of the poor chicken leg and cleaned his fingers as he stared at me. "He's an Alpha wolf."

I gasped at his casual shrug. "And?"

He picked up the corn cob next, and I grimaced. "Alpha wolves are dominant. You're the submissive counterpart, I'm afraid, and his wolf will be so protective. He will hound him to claim you. I don't know why he hasn't yet. It's strange."

I frowned down at my lone piece of garlic bread left on my plate. "I-I-I don't understand him. If-if he wants to-to... reject me. W-W-why can't he just do it?"

He reached out a greasy hand to hold my own. "I'm afraid I don't know. I'm just head warrior, a gamma if you want the official title. I report to him and take his war orders. He's a silent one emotionally... I think... he can't cope with his emotions. His wolf is fighting his human, I noticed. I think you're gonna have to work around the possessiveness."

I huffed. "Mate bonds are too complicated for me."

"Nah, that's just your tiny brain." He chortles.

I shot him a glare and was going to fire back when a glass of cold water was placed beside me. I turned to see Molly giving me a small smile as she sat down beside me, a glass of water in her other hand for herself.

"Who's got a tiny brain and a mate problem?" She wondered.

I accepted her water with thanks and took a drink, glaring at Sean over the rim of the glass. "Apparently me."

"Ooh, you have a mate!" She squealed. "Who is it? Oh, my gosh, it's not my brother, is it? Is that why you're always together?"

Sean almost choked, and I chuckled at him. "No-no."

"I am most definitely not. If I was, she would be claimed by now and would not be leaving my bedroom." He shook his head.

"Sean!" We gasped in unison and I blushed.

"I'm just saying." He shrugged, gulping down some cola. "You're a lovely female, Nova. And your mate is throwing all the wrong signals."

I frowned at him, but feeling a goosebump-inducing stare on my back, I kept quiet.

Molly snorted. "Who is the so-called man?"

"Top secret." He stated. "Sorry sis but even I can't gossip this to you."

"Oh boo, what's the point in being my Gamma brother if you can't gossip." She pouted.

He chuckled, finishing his lunch. "You'll find out one day. When he either breaks her heart or falls for her. But he better do it quick, I tell ya."

I watched him stand and just caught the look he sent to someone over my shoulder. I narrowed my eyes as he walked away, Molly babbling on about how annoying he was.

I sneakily glanced behind me and when I saw who was staring, I spun back around. His hazel eyes were hard as he stared at Sean's departure, and I couldn't help but curse Sean's wind-me-up nature.

"Ugh, anyway. What are you doing this afternoon?" Molly grinned as we both stood to take our plates to the dishwasher.

"Uhm... I d-don't know. Maybe we-

Someone interrupted me when their body collided with mine. The two plates fell to the floor and smashed into pieces. I gasped but was thankful they did not shatter.

"Oh, my goddess! You need to watch where you're going, newbie!" The familiar harsh voice spat.

I frowned up at her, still unaware of her name. "I-I-I- didn't -

"Didn't what? See me? No wonder you didn't. You're tiny." She scoffed. "Why don't you be a good omega and tidy this up, yeah?"

Tears burned in my eyes as she laughed with her friends and strutted away. I glanced around the room to see about twenty wolves watching me, briefly seeing Phoenix march out of the room. It upset me he didn't stop to see if I was okay, instead choosing to follow the enemy out of the room. Molly placed a hand on my shoulder in comfort.

"Imma go beat that bitch up right n-

"No, it's okay. I'll just clean this up." I sighed.

She frowned down at me. "We, we'll clean this up."

I nodded with a sad smile, a couple of tears dripping down my cheek. I wiped them away with a sniffle and picked up some of the larger pieces. When I grasped some of the smaller ones, I felt a couple of them sink into my skin but didn't react to not draw attention more to myself.

"Are you okay?" Molly whispered.

I nodded again, staying quiet as we both piled the broken plates into a small bag and set it in the glass bin for the kitchen staff to sort out.

"Let's go chill somewhere." She wrapped her arm through mine. "Need a plaster?"

"Hmm?" I asked, looking up from my hands. "I-oh no, I should h-heal fine."

"Okay good." She smiled, taking me to what I assumed was her bedroom.

It was all cream walls except for the one with the large, upholstered bed beside it. That one was pastel pink with a fluffy cloud lamp and a few photo frames on shelving. Her bedsheets were an immaculate white with pink flowers, her carpet a delicate cream colour.

I took my shoes off immediately, not wanting to ruin the carpet but also wanting to feel how fluffy it was. My room had a simple pile of carpet, so this was amazing.

"Wanna watch TV?" she asked as she jumped on her bed, patting the spot beside her.

I nodded, sucking the cut on my finger to will the bleeding away.

"So Nova... tell me about yourself." She smiled. "I wanna be your friend."

I chewed my lip. "I don't n-know where to start."

She laughed. "Hey, okay, so let's do 21 questions. Me and you, let's get to know each other. I'll go first. I'll start easy. What is your name?"

I smiled shyly. "Nova Hope James. You?"

"Molly Summer Williams. How old are you Nova?"

"Twenty. You?"

"Twenty-two! Not so far apart are we!" she grinned. "I noticed you stutter sometimes... is that like... a thing?"

I frowned at her but let out a short laugh. "Y-yeah. Kate says it's a t-t-trauma?"

She nodded, and I could see the questions in her eyes. "Your turn."

"Favourite colour?"

"Pink duh. Yours?"

"Green." I smiled. "Favourite...food?"

"Pizza." She faux drooled. "What about you?"

I frowned at the description. "I don't eat much. But I like strawberries... How long have you lived here?"

"All my life." She rolled her eyes. "Why did you move here?"

I paused, staring down at my lap. My hands subconsciously picked at the fabric of my top.

"Alpha b-brought me over when he visited for a p-pack h-he-health check." I sighed. "It w-was my f-fault... I-I spilt coffee on his shoe a-and I th-thought I was g-gonna die."

She paused, and the room fell into silence before she broke it with a boisterous laugh. "Oh gosh, that's hilarious. I would've paid to see that."

I poured. "They're scary."

She rolled her eyes but nodded her head. "They have every right to be. They've overcome a lot of enemies and as weird as Beta Charlie is, he's a tough guy-you don't mess with him."

"A-and Alpha?"

She shrugged and looked down at me. "He's hard to read. He tends to be closed off in his office. Many women try but can never get close enough."

I nodded and got lost in my mind. The silence was comfortable, and I turned to face Molly as she did the same. The bed squeaked under the movement and she giggled.

"21 questions aside. It's weird Nova... I haven't known you for longer than a day yet I feel I can talk to you about anything." She eyes me suspiciously. "There's a reason I don't have many friends, and that's because the women in this pack are hard to confide in. They're all strong, confident people. I'm a different breed of female."

I laughed along with her but noted the serious turn. "I'm glad you can confide in me. I've never had a f-friend before."

She pouted and placed her hand on mine. "What messed you up so bad, Nova? I hate to intrude, but as your newly appointed best friend, I am requesting to know everything about you so I can make you happy."

I smiled softly, staring at our joint hands in wonder. "I was an orphan... I was f-found washed up on pack...l-land around 3 years old. I was covered in b-burn marks and blisters that were scarring. Apparently, my p-pack Crescent Moon had been destroyed the day before and I just h-ha-happened t-to turn up there... I'm so..."

Her hand tightened on mine, and I continued. "I was just t-targeted all the time and I never even did anything. Th-They used to complain about my looks, my sm-smell and my mere presence upset them. I ha-hardly ate and they would not let me join in their t-t-training because I am w-w-weak..."

I sighed and stared at the blank wall beside me.

"Oh Nova, you are not weak. I don't know what you are talking about!" She cooed. "I mean, you have a certain essence to you I've not felt before. It's not dominant, but somehow... reassuring. Like a mother's hug feels."

I laughed through teary eyes. "Y-You have your own mum for that."

She laughed along with me. "Nah, my mum isn't like that. She expects me to be someone I'm not. Someone skinny and well trained. Someone strong and confident like the other girls. Like Sean."

"I think you're pretty exceptional."

She grinned. "Thanks... anyway, what's with you and my brother?"

I chuckled. "He's a magnificent wall to hide behind."

She laughed again. "That is true, his fat ass can protect even me from a bomb."

I spent the rest of the day getting to know Molly, a weight lifting from my shoulders as we laughed and chatted like normal people.

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