Three

It was a fitful night of sleep, plagued with dreams of being watched by glowing golden eyes, stalked by huge black shadows, and marked by long, glistening Lycan fangs. Nightmares, really.

I awoke amidst one of being surrounded by long, thick fur, black as night, and kicked and struggled at the blanket, crying out. It brought both Mike and the nurse rushing in, then shaking their heads at me.

"Well, good morning," Doctor Mike said dryly, "Sleep well?" He didn't really sound like he wanted an answer, so I didn't bother with one. Checking over my more superficial wounds, he seemed satisfied, though didn't spare much of a glance at my neck, with the nurse in the room.

"The radiologist should be in soon," he said, unwrapping my ankle and bending it carefully in different directions, "If she gives you the all clear, you'll be fine to go. No training for a few days though," he looked at me sternly then, "or long runs." His meaning was very clear.

Hearing the door, he stuck his head out of the room, speaking to someone outside. A few minutes later, Doctor Ava, the pack's main radiologist, came in, clicking her tongue at me. "Laila!" she said chirpily, "You're not usually so clumsy, you need to be more careful, especially with your first moon coming up!"

I could feel Doctor Mike's eyes on me then, making me quite uncomfortable. I just hoped he didn't go to the Alpha, speculating about my potential mate. It couldn't possibly be true, anyway. Werewolves didn't get mated to Lycans, and they viewed us with no small amount of disdain.

I nodded at Ava, forcing a smile, "I'll try, Doc, it was just a silly mistake, that I don't plan on repeating." That was as much for Mike's ears as for hers, and by his small nod, he seemed to understand. Ava gave her head a small shake, but smiled, "Luckily for you, the bones all look fine. You can head out as soon as Doctor Mike okays it."

He nodded, left and came back a moment later, handing me a small amber jar, "Ointment. Three times a day, for three days. Keep it wrapped, and see me after that, so I can clear you for training again."

Ava nodded approval and gave me another warm smile, leaving the room as I pushed myself up off the bed, grabbing my shoes. Only one would go on over the bandage, but it would do until I got home. Mike gave me another stern look as I left, offering him and the nurse a quiet, "Thank you."

Heading out the door, it all seemed like a typical morning for our pack. Except Sarah, who once again was very eager to be friendly, as she spotted me walking awkwardly away from the med building, with one shoe. Coming over and linking her arm through mine, she pulled me towards the pack house.

"Laila, how are you? Is it feeling better?" she asked, and I nodded, giving her a small smile. "Yeah, it is. Thank you, you really helped me out last night," I said, cautiously hoping this newfound amicability would continue. It would be nice to have one less person to need to be on my guard around.

She beamed at me, "Of course, I'm glad to help," she said, opening the packhouse door for me and laughing as my stomach growled loudly. "You really need to join us for breakfast," she said, and it sounded like the best idea ever just now, so I nodded. "Breakfast sounds - and smells - amazing," I said, adding with a grimace, "Plus I need to let someone know I'm off training for a few days, Doc's orders."

Sarah laughed again, shaking her head, "You always did love training a little too much, Laila, but we can let Trev know." I smiled, and joined their table, Trev and Sarah both insisting that I sit and let the other Omegas bring my food and take my dishes.

It was actually pretty enjoyable, even if not the kind of conversation I usually enjoyed, being a little too heavy on the gossip. Sam, my older brother, caught up with me as we all left afterwards, heading our seperate ways. Putting a supportive arm around my waist as we walked, he gave me an odd look. "Hey there, hobbles," he teased, "Where were you last night? And what was that about?" He looked over towards Sarah and her friends, "You going all mean girl on me?"

I put an arm around his back, and scrunching up my nose, I shook my head, and we both laughed. "No way, Sammy, she's just been.. weirdly nice," I said, "She helped me to the med building last night, when I sprained my ankle. Mike wanted me to stay until Ava checked it over this morning."

He frowned at me, as though trying to read beyond my words, "And you're okay otherwise?" he asked softly. I gave him a reassuring smile and nodded, reaching up and squeezing his shoulder gently, "I'm all good, Sammy." He stared at me a long moment before nodding, "Good, cos you're a much better fighter than me, and trying to defend your honour would probably be painful."

I laughed loud at that, and he grinned at me. He always knew how to put a smile on my face, and I loved him for it. And for plenty of other things, too, of course. In honesty, it would be pretty damn hard to pick a better older brother. As we neared our small but cosy family home, my Dad came bursting out the front door, looking worried.

Before he even got a word out, I called to him, "I'm fine, Dad, don't panic," and Sammy laughed as Dad put his hands on his hips and shook his head at both of us. "Laila, I was worried! Where were you last night?! What happened?"

Sam patted his shoulder as he led me past him and inside, "Dad, chill, she just got torn to pieces, eaten up and spat out by our friendly neighbourhood Lycans, but Mike sewed all her bits back together, and she's here now to tell us all the grizzly details," he joked in his usual grisly humour, and I felt the colour drain from my face. He frowned at me suddenly, looking like he was about to ask something, but Dad cut him off, "Sam! It's not a joke, you know how worried I was!"

The bantered back and forth a bit, but I curled up on the end of the couch, feeling too unsettled to interject much. After a while, Sam grew quiet too, seeming to notice. Dad left a short while later, and he took the chair directly opposite, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees.

"Okay, what the fuck actually happened, Lails?" he asked, and I shook my head. "It was nothing serious, Sammy, just a silly misjudgment on my part," I said quietly, not meeting his eyes. But he wasn't fooled, "Then why did you turn white as a sheet when I mentioned Lycans?" he asked. I started shaking my head again, but he leaned closer, "This isn't a joke, Lails. Not if it involves Lycans. If they've been in our territory.."

He trailed off as I sighed, staring at him. If there was one person I could trust, it would be him, and he could see me considering it. "Lails.." he nudged, and I closed my eyes, rubbing my forehead. He waited, and I tried to find the words. "I was up by the river.." I started, pausing as I heard his sharp intake of breath, "Shit, Laila, are you completely insane?!" he asked, and I rolled my eyes at him.

"I like it there, okay, no one else goes there," I said defiantly. "For good fucking reason!" he said, looking at me incredulously, and I sighed again before continuing, telling him everything. He listened without much interruption now, until I was done, and he came to sit beside me, gently grabbing my chin and tilting my head away so he could examine my neck.

"This was last night?" he asked, and I nodded, "They're almost completely gone," he said, sounding surprised, "Still there, but you wouldn't notice with searching for it. Did Mike heal this?" I shook my head, "Mike didn't touch them, but he said they were almost healed then too."

Sam frowned at me, "Did the Lycan heal them somehow? That's too quick for a Lycan bite, especially for someone without their wolf yet." I looked at him and shrugged, none of us knew a huge deal about Lycans, as they certainly didn't mingle with our kind. "I don't know, it was only a little nip, and they licked it again after, so.. maybe?" It was Sam's turn to pale now, his mind clearly going to where mine had the moment the Lycan had licked my marking spot.

"Do you think.. is it possible.." he trailed off as I shook my head, "No.. I've never even heard of that happening, and why would they, even if it was somehow fated? They think all werewolves are well and truly beneath them." Sam stared at me for a long moment, still looking fearful, "I think they were just screwing with me, Sammy, and, I mean.. it certainly worked." He nodded sceptically, but didn't bring it up again.

Walking over to grab his training gear, he grinned, "We could head into town after I'm done, since you've got the day off?" he suggested, referring to the closest human city, Greenvale, about 90 minutes drive from here. We rarely got long enough in the day free for a trip there, so I nodded, returning his smile as he turned and left.

Grabbing the TV remote, I turned it on for company, laying down on the couch and only half paying attention as I channel surfed, my mind drifting again as I waited for him to return.