Human Omegas
Bran turned onto the highway that would take them to Aspen Creek, when he noticed, Jessica was fast asleep. Bran thought it was interesting that this woman, who was so suspicious, would sleep so deeply alone in his presence. Although, Bran always was very good at hiding his true nature from everyone, except maybe from her. He felt the tickle of presence when she approached him for the first time, and his wolf perked up at the intrusion. It was first time sense his mother died that he felt what he did from her, although Jessica left the feeling a peace behind her, not the wicked control of his mother. His wolf, which was left out of control from the torment of his mother, quieted at her presence and Bran for the first time in centuries, felt quiet himself. He drove that way, having come to the conclusion that this woman was a human Omega, when she stirred and woke up. By the time she woke up, they were about three hours out of Aspen Creek. He had many questions for her, but realized that he would only feed her suspicion if he cornered her and never get answers. He would have to hunt slowly for his information, because she would see him coming otherwise, a revelation that had him annoyed and a challenge that had him eager. He smelt her embarrassment, as she realized that she had fallen so deeply asleep. She sat up and looked around, flattened her hair down, and leaned into the chair. He felt her looking at him, and was still so she could see what she wanted. Trust he thought was very important to her, and consistency would earn him that. Finally, she spoke to him.
"Sorry," she said "I guess I was more exhausted than I thought. Did I say anything?" He laughed at her, because she had said things. He would never be able to decipher what, due to the fact that she mumbled but he wouldn't tell her that. "Oh wow, was it that bad? Whenever I am stressed I talk in my sleep. Sometimes I say things that are less than polite" she said as she looked away. Her face was flushed again, like it was when he caught her poking around in his mind. Bran liked how human she was, and enjoyed observing her. "It wasn't that bad," he said teasing her. He smelt her relief, but again noticed that she didn't completely trust him. Bran didn't think it was his fault, but wondered who had damaged her to the point that she defended herself at all times.
"This place is vast" she said after a few moments, "and beautiful. I feel like it's going to swallow me up." She turned and smiled at him, perhaps her way of making him feel at ease. He felt her again in his mind, and concluded that she reached to the world around her this way, without thinking. He took a chance, and challenged her. "You know I can feel when you do that. It's rude." He said this to her, with some conviction, but not as though he was angry. He wanted to test her, see if she would confess what she was doing. The spicy smell of surprise flooded the Vee, followed by disbelief, then embarrassment. He smiled to himself, and waited for her to speak. "What is it you feel exactly?" she said. She didn't try to deny what she was doing, which told Bran she had control of her ability. She didn't know what Bran was, or she would have confessed everything to him. She thought she had some secrets to save, and was wise to return his statement with a question versus silence, perhaps get some information of her own. Bran smiled at her.
"I feel you poking around in my mind, what is that you're doing exactly? If you wanted to know something, it's polite to ask." Bran said again with just a little sting. He was trying to bait her to give up more information. She narrowed her eyes at him, and he could smell her annoyance with him. Then she took a deep breath and he smelt her calm as she reigned in her emotions. Impressive he thought, she had such control of herself. "I know my grandfather told you about his theories about our family line. He thinks it's a result of some fae influence, I don't know for sure. He neglected to tell me about you, however. You still haven't answered my question." She crossed her arms with the last statement. Bran didn't think she cared one way or another, what he thought of her, and just as he was going to give in, he smelt her guilt. He smiled; because he knew then he had her. He just waited. "I apologize for being rude" she said, and then looked out the window. To Bran's surprise, she stayed that way for about forty or so minuets. She seemed content to be lost in her thoughts, and her scents changed rapidly, despite her body language appearing calm. "It feels like a breeze. A warm summer breeze" he said to her finally. He couldn't help but let how peaceful she felt leak into his voice, and was surprised, to realize it was his wolf, that desired her to know. She looked at him hard in the face. He allowed it, because he too could understand why it might sound as though he was trying to court, or poke fun. He didn't know enough about her to continue this, and he grew angry at how carless he had been. He had no desire to open his heart to anyone, especially after Leah had left. He was prepared to unleash that anger on her, to scare her away permanently, but before he could she did the unthinkable. She reached out and took his hand. After a moment, she squeezed, let go and relaxed back into the seat. He understood now, that this is what part of her grandfather she carried besides his features. She carried his ability to see beyond what was obvious and accept all of who people were. He realized that she could feel his anger, and she, the intended victim, was willing to hold his hand and comfort him. It startled him so much; he just held her hand back and let her take comfort from the gift she was giving him. She seemed content to just look out the window, and he let her. Bran in all his years had never meet someone, besides, Mercedes, that has so quickly found a place so close to his heart, in such an aggravating manner. He hoped that she was not as apt to destroy his property as Mercy was and smiled at the memory of a bright yellow ball of smoking metal adorned the tree that served as a stopping post.
"What is that?" She said suddenly. He looked in the direction she was pointing, and saw in the distance a honey brown colored wolf. It was one of his, and was this far from home because he was patrolling. Bran wasn't sure how Jessica had spotted his wolf; no human should have been able to. He wondered if she was picking up parts of him, through the contact he had with her mind to mind. "He seems hungry," she observed, "I wonder why? There is plenty of wildlife in this area, right?" All good questions, Bran thought, and he sent a message to his wolf to go home.
SIDE NOTE:
While this story is my own, from my own thoughts and ideas, I did base the interactions with some characters and themes that belong to Patricia Briggs, author of the Mercy Thompson Series.