A/N: Hi guys! This chapter includes a pretty detailed description and explanation of the Wolf Pack dynamics, for those who are confused :)
Chapter 3
"Wait, she's coming over tomorrow?" Ruby asked, as she sipped her rum and coke. It was Friday night, and Regina and Ruby were enjoying their usual Friday night ritual of drinks at the local bar, The Rabbit Hole.
"Yes. Tomorrow afternoon." Regina said, sipping her gin and tonic, smiling widely into her straw.
"Who's idea was this get together?" Ruby asked, prying for more information.
"It was hers actually." Regina answered.
"Who texted who first?" Ruby asked, shooting questions at Regina.
"She did. I wanted to give her space, not be overbearing. She still seemed freaked out when she left after the last Wolf's Night." Regina said.
"Yeah, she did. She seemed fine when we were running and hunting. But once morning came she was skittish again." Ruby said, taking another sip of her drink. "I still think she's scared of me. I can't imagine why. I'm as harmless as a bunny." Ruby said.
"I eat rabbits, remember." Regina smirked, laughing.
"Haha, very funny. I'm trying to be serious here, Miss Mills ." Ruby scolded, making Regina laugh even harder.
"I'm sorry, Miss Lucas . Please continue." Regina laughed, taking a sip of her drink.
"Like I was saying, I'm as harmless as a small animal that neither of us like to hunt." Ruby said, causing Regina to laugh quietly. "I don't know why she's so scared of me." Ruby said, clearly feeling upset that Emma was still scared of her.
"You have to remember, Emma has never met another Wolf until she met us. She doesn't know anything about our culture or Pack dynamics. This is all very overwhelming to her." Regina explained, trying to help her Best Friend feel better.
"Yeah, I guess." Ruby said, pouting slightly. "Then why isn't she freaked out about you?"
"Well, first of all, I'm her Alpha." Regina said, sipping her drink. "And second, if you remember correctly, she literally ran screaming from the diner when I told her that I had a penis so we could mate."
"Yeah, ok. You have a point there." Ruby laughed.
"I'm sure she'll come around in due time." Regina said, finishing her drink. "Another round?" Regina asked.
"Hell yeah! But just one more. We don't want you hungover when your lady comes over" Ruby winked, as Regina rose from the table to order them another round of drinks.
"SOO…."Ruby said, after a few minutes with their new drinks. "Do you think you'll…you know…tomorrow?" Ruby asked, winking.
"RUBY!" Regina scolded. "We are just going to talk tomorrow. Explain everything. Answer her questions. That's all. I doubt we will even kiss." Regina said, slightly embarrassed at Ruby's question.
"Hey, that was a legitimate question." Ruby winked. "As your Chosen Beta and Best Friend, it is my duty to remain vigilant on all matters of my Alpha's life." Ruby laughed.
"I'll be sure to inform you promptly, should certain events transpire." Regina laughed, as they finished their drinks.
"Alright, Madam Mayor, I think it's time to get you home. You need your beauty sleep before your lady comes tomorrow." Ruby laughed, as they made their way out of the bar and into Ruby's car, heading towards Regina's house.
"In all seriousness." Ruby said, after she pulled into Regina's driveway. "Good luck tomorrow."
"Thanks, Ruby. I'll call you tomorrow after she leaves to let you know how it went." Regina said, hugging Ruby goodbye, making her way into the house.
"I hope this isn't too forward for me to say, but, I am really excited to see you tomorrow." Regina texted once she was inside the house and successfully changed into yoga pants and an old sweatshirt. She settled on the couch and started flipping through the channels while she waited for Emma's response, suddenly afraid she might have scared the timid woman off again.
"I'm really excited to see you too!" Emma responded a few minutes later. Although Regina wanted to keep texting Emma, she decided to leave it as it was, only sending those two texts, to keep from scaring Emma away, when suddenly a second text came through.
"Have a good night, Regina. I'll see you tomorrow!" Regina read, quickly responding.
"Good night, Emma. See you tomorrow!" Regina smiled, as she tossed her phone aside, focusing once again on the television, her mind wandering to her beautiful Omega, counting the hours until she was to arrive.
Regina woke up early the next morning, too excited to sleep any longer. She practically jumped out of bed and hurried downstairs to make herself a light breakfast, too nervous to have anything heavy, before beginning to prepare the dinner she was planning to cook for her and Emma.
After everything was prepped and all the dishes washed, dried and put away, Regina still had way too much time before Emma was supposed to arrive. Regina, in an attempt to keep herself busy, decided she needed to change the sheets on her bed, as well as the bed in her guest bedroom, even though no one had slept in that bed and the sheets were most certainly clean. "Just in case Emma wants to spend the night. I want to make sure the sheets are clean" Regina thought, as she threw both sets of sheets in the washing machine, making her way back upstairs to remake both beds. Two more loads of laundry later, all three washed, dried, folded and put away, Regina decided it was a good time to shower and get dressed, knowing she'll probably change her clothes a hundred times before she found the perfect outfit to wear for Emma.
Showering quickly, Regina found herself standing in front of her closet, wrapped in a towel, hair dripping down her back, agonizing over what to wear. She couldn't wear any of her work clothes, they were too pretentious and nothing like her actual personality. She didn't want to wear anything too fancy, since this was a casual meeting, but she didn't want to wear anything too casual incase Emma might think she wasn't taking their meeting seriously. In the end, she decided on a pair of jeans, tight but not too tight, and a grey sweater, one that hugged her curves without revealing too much.
The next decision was what to do with her hair and makeup. Emma had seen her with her hair straightened, but truth be told, Regina didn't particularly like straightening her hair. She much preferred her natural curls, but realized people take her more seriously with straighter hair. Leaving it to naturally air dry, Regina pondered her makeup for the day. Usually on weekends she never wore makeup, but today was a special occasion, one that might warrant the cosmetics. Too much makeup might make Emma think she's trying too hard. Not enough and she might think she's not trying enough. In the end, she decided on a very light, natural look, lining her eyes and applying mascara, skipping the eye shadow, and picking a light color lipstick that almost looked like she wasn't wearing any at all. Just subtle enough to show she's trying.
After taking far too long agonizing over what to wear and how much makeup to use, Regina finally tucked away her favorite pair of slippers and made her way downstairs in her bare feet, starting a fresh pot of coffee, when there was a knock on the front door. Rushing out of the kitchen, Regina took a deep breath before opening the door, not needing to check who it was. Emma Swan stood on the other side, still a little shy, wearing the red leather jacket she had been wearing a few weeks ago for Wolf's Night.
"Hi!" Emma said, smiling as soon as she saw Regina on the other side of the door. "I'm sorry I'm early. I was just….umm….really excited to see you so I may have driven a little too fast to get here." Emma said, shyly.
"That's more than alright, Emma. Please come in." Regina said, stepping aside to let Emma enter the house. "I just put on a fresh pot of coffee, would you like some?" Regina said, offering to take Emma's coat, hanging it in the hall closet.
"Yes, please." Emma said, following Regina into the kitchen. Regina quickly poured the coffee, being careful to hide her shaking hands.
"Uh, are you hungry? I could make us something fast. I have some fruit I can cut up. Or maybe we could order something from Granny's, but then Ruby would probably come over and we wouldn't get a word in edgewise, so…" Regina started babbling, not realizing how nervous she actually was until Emma touched her arm suddenly.
"I'm ok with the coffee." She said, taking a sip, smiling. "You, uh…you look really nice today. I like your hair curly like that." Emma said, instantly blushing.
"Thanks. You look really nice as well" Regina smiled, suddenly feeling less nervous. "Why don't we sit in the den. It's a little too chilly outside, when we don't have a full coat of Wolf's fur to keep us warm." Regina chuckled, leading Emma out of the kitchen and into the den. They made small talk for a while, asking each other how their week was, and how Emma's drive from Portland had been, until Regina finally addressed the elephant in the room after a few moments of comfortable silence
"So I guess we should start with your Wolf education." Regina laughed, causing Emma's eyes to widen. "I'll try to go slow so as to not overwhelm you. We can start with the easy stuff first."
"Yes, please." Emma said, shifting on the couch.
"We'll start with Pack dynamics. There are three types of Wolves. Alphas, Betas, and Omegas. Betas are the most common type. Betas are able to mate with other Betas or Humans, but their pups-"
"Their pups?" Emma interrupted.
"Their children. We call our children pups." Regina answered.
"Gotcha. Sorry." Emma said, a little embarrassed she didn't know that.
"It's ok. Please, ask me any questions you have." Regina smiled, sipping her coffee. "So their pups can only be born a Beta or Omega. If a Beta mates with a Human, their children will not be born Wolves, only two Wolves can create another Wolf." Regina said, paused, making sure Emma was absorbing this information.
"That makes sense. No half-breeds." Emma answered.
"Yes, exactly! Ruby and Granny are both Betas. Ruby is my Chosen Beta. Alphas choose a Beta to act as their personal advisor, and second in command when they take over the Pack." Regina explained.
"Like the Hand of the King?" Emma asked, suddenly shy that her nerdiness was exposed.
"Yes, exactly like being the Hand of the King." Regina answered, as Emma's face widened with shock that Regina was up on her Game of Thrones trivia.
"So you chose Ruby to be your Hand?" Emma asked, trying to process everything.
"Yes. I chose her when we were both in our twenties, before I took over as Pack Alpha. She's been my Best Friend since we were kids." Regina explained.
"You mean since you were pups." Emma said, showing her grasp on the new vocabulary.
"Yes, since we were pups." Regina laughed. "So, Ruby is my Chosen Beta, and Granny is our Pack Elder. They are the older generation of Wolves, mostly Betas and sometimes Omegas if their Alphas have died, or even Alphas and Omegas if they have chosen to step down and abdicate their seat as Pack Alpha. Since our Pack is so small, Granny is our only Elder. If you ever need to know something, chances are Granny knows the answer." Regina laughed.
"I got that impression." Emma said, smiling. "How big is your Pack?" Emma asked.
"Three. Just myself, Ruby and Granny. You makes four, if you choose to join our Pack, that is." Regina said, sadly. "The majority of the Pack left after the previous Alpha passed away."
"Oh. I'm sorry." Emma said, resisting the urge to grab Regina's hand in support.
"It's ok. I can't force people to stay if they don't wish to." Regina said, smiling, changing the subject. "Next up, Alphas." Regina said, after taking a sip of coffee.
"You're an Alpha, right?" Emma asked.
"Yes." Regina smiled, glad that Emma was starting to grasp everything. "Alphas are the leaders of the Pack, and can only be a direct descendant of another Alpha." Regina explained.
"So, one of your parents was an Alpha?" Emma asked.
"Yes." Regina smiled. "My father was Alpha before me, and his father before him. Our lineage dates back to the 1800's." Regina paused for a moment to collect herself. "I took over as Alpha after my father passed away five years ago. That's when the rest of the Pack left, leaving Ruby, Granny and I."
"Oh." Emma said, not knowing what else to say.
"Once again, it's ok. We may be small, but at least I know everyone is here because they want to." Regina smiled, continuing. "Alpha's pups can be either of the three types, either another Alpha, a Beta or an Omega. However, Alphas can only mate with an Omega. Their Omega, to be precise." Regina explained, waiting for Emma to process everything.
"And I am your Omega?" Emma asked, her voice sounding small.
"Yes." Regina answered, smiling at Emma. "And I am your Alpha."
"Ok…" Emma paused, collecting her thoughts. "But how do you know?" She asked.
"Well, for starters, my Alpha Penis started to grow the night we first met." Regina said, blushing slightly.
"Wait, WHAT?" Emma asked, shocked.
"A female Alpha lacks certain accessories needed to create a child. Therefore, when she meets her Omega, assuming she and her Omega are both already of child bearing years, her Alpha Penis begins to grow. Mine began growing after that first night we met in the forest. It continued growing each night we spent together as Wolves until we woke up together a few weeks ago. It hasn't grown since then, so I assume it's fully grown." Regina blushed.
"So, you haven't had that your entire life?" Emma asked, still trying to process the new information.
"No. I'm still getting used to having it there, actually." Regina said, blushing deeply.
"Oh." Emma said, feeling just as embarrassed as Regina.
"Now, while Alphas and Betas can be either male or female, an Omega can only be a woman." Regina continued once she collected herself.
"Because of the whole, having the Alpha's babies thing." Emma said, as a light bulb seemed to go off in her head. "So basically, an Omega's job is to pop out the Alpha's babies." She said, feeling hurt by her place in the Pack.
"No! Not at all. Far from it." Regina said, leaning forward towards Emma. "Yes, the Omega is the one who bears the children, but it is not her only job. Omegas are treasured and revered women, oftentimes held higher than Alphas." Regina stopped, racking her brain for a way to explain Emma's position to her. "If the Alpha is the King, then the Omega would be their Queen. She's a leader in all respects, just as the Alpha is. They often times take over as Pack leader if their Alphas become ill or otherwise unable to lead. They also take over as Pack leader if their Alphas pass away, and their heirs are not old enough to take on the role. On some occasions an Omega has become Pack leader when their Alphas step aside and declare them better fit to lead. An Omega is anything but simply a baby factory." Regina said, reaching for Emma's hand. "You would never be simply a baby factory to me. You would be an equal member, and I would always make sure you felt nothing less." Regina said, squeezing Emma's hand.
"Thank you." Emma said, in a quiet voice, squeezing Regina's hand back.
"Of course." Regina smiled, removing her hand from Emma's and sitting back on the couch. "Now, the next part is the BIG part. Mating." Regina said, seeing Emma's eyes widen at the words. "Would you like to stop? We can always pick this up later."
"No. I want to know this part." Emma blurted out, blushing deeply as she realized how eager she sounded. "But I think I'm going to need something stronger than coffee . ." Emma said.
"How would you like a glass of the best apple cider you've ever tasted?" Regina asked, walking towards a small bar in the corner.
"Got anything stronger?" Emma asked. Regina smiled and nodded her head, pouring two generous glasses of whisky and returning to the couch, handing one to Emma, both taking a strong sip.
"So." Regina said, taking a deep breath. "Alphas and Omegas can only mate when the Omega is in heat." Regina explained, stopping for Emma to absorb the information.
"So, we can only have sex when I'm…in heat?" Emma asked, stunned.
"Well, no. We can have sex whenever we wish." Regina smiled, happy that Emma referred to them as 'We' and not 'Alpha and Omega'. "We can only mate during your heat." Regina explained.
"Wait, what's the difference?" Emma asked, confused.
"Sex is simply about pleasure. Mating is so much more than that." Regina explained, taking a moment to compose her thoughts. "Mating is so much more than just pleasure. It's so much more than conception. It's about the melding of two people. When the Alpha and Omega mate, they combine everything that they are. Their souls become one. Their very essences are joined together. It's said that when an Alpha and an Omega mate, it is the most intense and euphoric experience any two people can experience, and when they have their First Mate, the first time they mate, it is even more powerful. The experience of an Alpha and Omega mating has been described as being otherworldly, almost magical." Regina explained, blushing slightly.
"Wow!" Emma said, shocked. "And that happens every time we mate?" Emma asked, causing Regina to smile again at the word 'We'.
"Yes. I believe so." Regina said.
"Sooo…what is a heat?" Emma asked, taking in all the new information.
"Heat is the point when the Omega is at her most fertile. It's the only time she is able to become pregnant, and the only time she can mate with her Alpha." Regina explained. "It occurs every three or four months as part of your natural menstrual cycle." Regina explained, watching Emma's face closely for any indication she's going to run away again. "Heat can last anywhere from two to four weeks, and builds in intensity as the weeks progress until you peak, which is when you are the most fertile and ready to conceive a child. Mating takes place when you are at your peak." Regina explained, sensing Emma was having trouble grasping the subject. "Have you ever noticed that, every once in a while, everything around you becomes more intense? Colors seem brighter. Smells stronger. Food tastes better. Your sex drive increases tenfold and no matter what you do or who you sleep with, you're never satisfied?" Regina explains, to a shocked Emma.
"Yes. And during that time, I'm constantly turned on, for weeks at a time. And things are…ummm…..wet….there….most of that time too." Emma said, blushing deeply at her confession.
"That's your heat." Regina smiled. "The wetness you experience is a result of over producing what's called 'Slick'. Our natural lubrication. Overproduction of slick is a side effect of being in heat. And the lack of satisfaction you feel is because, while in heat, satisfaction can only be felt with your Alpha…me…" Regina said.
"So, I've basically been waiting for you this whole time?" Emma asked. "Because, if I'm being honest, I've never been truly satisfied with any sexual partner I've ever had." Emma admitted.
"Yes, I'm sorry." Regina said, "And I too understand the feelings of dissatisfaction with sexual partners." Regina blushed.
"I guess it's good we found each other." Emma laughed, nervously.
"Indeed it is." Regina smiled, pausing to collect her thoughts once more. "Now, another aspect of heat is the release of pheromones. Female Betas also go into heat, and oftentimes choose to take suppressors, which blocks the production of their scents, as Beta scents will attract the attention of Betas around them. Which, depending on where in her cycle she is, could gain some very unwelcome advances, perhaps even violence." Regina explained.
"Oh. I've never taken anything like that. Should I?" Emma asked.
"No. Omega's scents are only detectable by their Alphas. Only I can smell your scent. And I can never ask you to do that." Regina explained. "You are…actually…in heat right now." Regina said, smiling.
"Really?!" Emma asked, wide eyed. "You can tell?"
"Yes. I could smell it as soon as I opened the door." Regina smiled. "And it appears to be triggering a rut in me." Regina started to explain, once again pausing to let Emma process the information.
"What's a rut?" She asked.
"It's basically the same as heat for you. But in addition to the rest of the effects, I could eventually become very protective of you, and perhaps even aggressive towards anyone whom I think may be a threat. My rut is triggered by your heat." Regina explained, shifting slightly on the couch. "I have read that eventually, we will become irresistible to each other. Well, even more so than usual." Regina added, waiting for Emma to process.
"So, basically, you experience the same things I experience, the whole time?" Emma asked.
"Yes, I believe so. I've never experienced this before, so it's all new to me. It's your turn to educate me." Regina laughed.
"We do it together." Emma smiled, leaning towards Regina.
"Yes." Regina smiled. "We do it together." They smiled at each other, falling into a few moments of silence, as Regina allowed Emma to process all the information she just received. "Do you have any questions for me?" Regina asked after a few moments.
"Umm…so…pregnancy. How long will I be pregnant for?" Emma asked, suddenly shy again.
"Our pregnancies are the same as Humans. Nine months long" Regina answered.
"And giving birth? Do I have to give birth as a Wolf?" Emma asked. "Sorry, these questions are weird."
"Don't be sorry. Childbirth is the same as Humans. We are actually physically incapable of giving birth in our Wolf form." Regina answered.
"And the babies…pups…they look normal too? They aren't born with fur and tails, right?" Emma asked.
"No. They look Human. A pup doesn't experience their first shift until after their tenth birthday." Regina explained.
"Yeah, I guess it was around my tenth birthday that I shifted for the first time." Emma recalled.
"It's really a special time in a young pup's life. A rite of passage for them. I'm so sorry you had to experience all that alone, with no information or idea what's happening." Regina said, turning her gaze to the floor.
"It's ok. Better late than never, I suppose." Emma laughed.
"There is one more thing I need to tell you." Regina said, her gaze once again falling to the floor.
"Ok. I think I can take a little more." Emma laughed, sensing Regina's changing mood, trying to lift her spirits.
"You have the choice to be with me. Just because you are my Omega and I am your Alpha, doesn't mean you have to choose this life. You don't have to choose me." Regina said, taking a deep breath. "I can't make you choose me. I won't make you choose me. But know I choose you. I knew the moment I felt you shivering in my arms. I knew the moment you wrapped your arms around me later that day in the kitchen. I think I knew the moment I looked into your eyes that night we met in the forest." Regina said, pausing to collect herself, not allowing herself to cry in front of Emma. "But I won't force you to be with me if you don't want to. You can walk away right now, and I will completely understand." Regina said, a hitch in her voice, as she fought to keep the tears away.
"Regina…" Emma said, moving to sit next to Regina on the couch. Regina kept her gaze on the ground, unable to look at Emma without crying. "Regina, look at me." Emma said, grabbing Regina's hand, as Regina slowly turned towards her, lifting her head slowly. "I choose you." Emma said, cupping Regina face softly, brushing off the tears that now fell freely down Regina's cheeks. "I may not fully understand everything. But the one thing I know for certain, is that I choose you! I think I chose you before I even met you." Emma said, leaning in slowly, pressing her lips against Regina's, sharing their first kiss. Emma was the first to pull away, a smile across her face that matched Regina's. "I heard you talking to Ruby the other night. About how you were afraid I wouldn't choose you. My heart broke hearing you so upset. I'm going to do everything in my power to never hear you upset like that again." Emma said, as she wiped the tears that now freely fell from both of their eyes.
"Emma…I don't know what to say." Regina whispered.
"Don't say anything. Kiss me." Emma said, as green eyes met brown. Regina pulled Emma into a deep and passionate kiss, rendering them both breathless. "But we need to take things slow though. I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything." Emma said, as she caught her breath.
"Yes, of course!" Regina said, her heart pounding in her ears. "Why don't we start with dinner?" She said, standing up to make her way to the kitchen to put dinner in the oven.
"Mayor Mills?" The intercom chirped in Regina's office. Regina sat at her desk, sighing heavily.
"Yes, Miss Boyd?" Regina responded.
"There is someone here to see you." The intercom responded again. Regina pinched the bridge of her nose, not in the mood to entertain anyone, especially those who wanted to complain to her.
"Well, do they have an appointment?" Regina answered, in her harsh and strict Mayoral tone.
"No, they don't." Regina's secretary responded, sounding a little intimidated by Regina's tone.
"Well, what is their name?" Regina responded, clearly annoyed at this point, not in the mood to play this guessing game.
"Emma Swan."
"Send her right in!" Regina said, immediately after hearing Emma's name over the intercom, her tone instantly changed to a lighter happier tone. A tone that warranted a confused look on her secretary's face.
A few moments later, Emma walked through the door, as Regina was rushing forward to greet her. They instantly fell into each other's arms as soon as the door was closed behind them, Emma pulling Regina into a deep kiss.
"Hey!" Emma said, after they pulled apart from their intense kiss. "You know you're kind of a hardass. I think you scared your secretary." Emma laughed.
"Yeah, I know. I need to be strict with people for them to take me seriously. Many people aren't thrilled with a female Mayor." Regina said, leading Emma into her office.
"Sorry about just showing up. I finished work early and I wanted to see you. So I decided to surprise you. I stopped at the diner and Ruby told me where your office was." Emma said, her shyness coming through once again. "I hope that's alright."
"It is more alright. I certainly was surprised." Regina smiled, taking a seat behind her desk, while Emma took a seat in front of it. "And I wanted to see you as well! I'm glad you came." Regina said, shifting through the papers on her desk.
"You're busy, I should go." Emma said, starting to stand up, but suddenly compelled to sit back down.
"Nonsense. I've been trying to think of an excuse to leave work early today." Regina smiled. "I just have to finish a few things before we leave. Shouldn't take more than a few minutes." Regina said, going right to work, signing forms, scanning the words written on them. Turning to her computer, she quickly started typing away, composing a few emails, sending them off quickly, scanning her inbox for any last minute emails that needed her immediate attention, before shutting it down, closing the lid and unplugging the power cable. Tucking the computer into her briefcase and tossing a few file folders in with it, making a pile of the remaining papers before standing up and walking towards Emma, leaning in for a sweet kiss. "See. All done. We can leave now." She smiled, walking towards the coat rack in the corner, grabbing her coat. Emma wrapped her arms around Regina from behind, before she could get her coat on.
"I missed you." Emma whispered into Regina's ear, causing Regina to drop her coat, reaching behind her to lace her fingers through Emma's hair.
"I missed you, too." Regina whispered, leaning into Emma's embrace, causing Emma to hold her tighter.
"I'm still in heat." Emma whispered, kissing Regina's neck lightly.
"Yes. You definitely are." Regina said, her heart beating hard in her chest. "I'm guessing a few days away from peaking, based on your inability to keep your hands off me all of a sudden." Regina smiled, turning around suddenly in Emma's arms.
Suddenly coming face to face with Regina, Emma pulled her into a deep and passionate kiss, slowly backing her up until Regina's back hit the wall, pressing her body against Regina's, leaving no room between them. Even though there were layers upon layers of clothes between them, Regina could feel Emma's heart pounding against her own chest, her heart beat matching her own. The kiss deepened as Emma's hands began to roam up Regina's sides, stopping suddenly just below Regina's breasts, Emma pulling away suddenly.
"Oh my god, Regina. I'm so sorry!" Emma said, her face turning red.
"It's quite alright, dear." Regina said, trying to compose herself, her heart still pounding in her chest.
"I'm starting to understand the whole 'being irresistible to each other' thing." Emma said, clearly embarrassed by her actions.
"Yes…I know the feeling." Regina said, still flushed from their kiss. "I think I'm going to have to warn Ruby that you're still in heat. She might need to keep her distance from you tonight." Regina laughed, fanning herself slightly to help calm her heart.
"Yeah. Might be a good idea." Emma said, blushing, as she picked up Regina's coat, helping her put it on. Regina crossed the room, grabbing her briefcase and purse, before leading Emma out of her office, closing and locking the door behind them. They made a brief stop at Regina's secretary's desk, handing her the remaining paperwork, asking her to file them before she left for the day.
"And one more thing, Miss Boyd. For future reference, Miss Swan is to have immediate access to me and my office, regardless of what I have scheduled or who I may be meeting with at the moment. Is that clear?"
"Yes of course, Madam Mayor." Miss Boyd responded, as she watched Mayor Mills and the mysterious blonde woman walk down the hall, their hands casually finding each other, their fingers lacing together as they reached the stairwell. Miss Boyd nodded when she saw their hands meet, understanding who this new woman was, and why the Mayor was so quick to allow her access to her office at all times.
Emma followed Regina the short distance from the town hall to Regina's house, parking next to her in the driveway, following her into the house, still feeling a little awkward, regardless of the intense attraction they felt for each other.
"So, Ruby should be here in a little while. We usually just have something light for dinner before Wolf's Night." Regina said, making her way into the kitchen. "I could…uhhh…make some grilled chicken and vegetables." Regina said, as Emma closed the gap between them, pulling her in for a deep kiss. "Or, I could just text Ruby to bring dinner when she comes over." Regina said, as she pulled apart from Emma to take a deep breath.
"Yes, I think that would be a better idea." Emma said, pulling Regina back in for a passionate kiss, as Regina pushed her against the counter.
"I better text Ruby before it's too late." Regina eventually whispered, fighting to pull herself away from Emma's lips. Returning to the foyer, Regina grabbed her briefcase and purse, searching for her cell phone, quickly texting Ruby to ask her to bring dinner for the three of them, waiting impatiently for her response, Emma's proximity to her driving her insane.
As soon as Ruby's response was received, Regina tossed her phone back into her purse, pulling Emma into the den, pushing her down onto the couch. Time seemed to stop as their lips found each other instantly, pulling one another into a deep and passionate kiss. They were so caught up with each other, that they didn't hear the front door open and close, nor did they hear Ruby's rather loud voice calling out their names while she walked through the house, dropping the food off in the kitchen before she searched for her Best Friend and her Omega.
"Holy Crap!" Ruby yelled, as she entered the den to find Regina laying on top of Emma, their hands under each other's shirts.
"Oh God, Ruby!" Regina said, instantly jumping off Emma, pulling her hands out from under Emma's shirt.
"I was calling your names. You didn't answer me." Ruby said, averting her eyes from the couple on the couch.
"No, it's alright. We…we didn't hear you." Regina answered, sitting on the couch, fixing her shirt. Emma sat up next to her, fixing her shirt, looking just as embarrassed as Regina.
"Clearly you two were a little preoccupied." Ruby winked, causing Regina to blush even deeper. "I brought burgers. We should eat them before they get cold. I'll give you two a minute." Ruby laughed, walking out of the den, making her way to the kitchen.
"God, that was embarrassing." Emma said, standing up from the couch, her face still beet red.
"Yes, it most certainly was." Regina said, her face the same color as Emma's. "We better go eat, before she comes back looking for us." Regina said, making her way towards the door. Emma pulled her in for one last kiss before they left the room, still red faced, and even more turned on than before.
Ruby snickered as they walked into the kitchen, take out containers set out on the kitchen table, bottles of water set out instead of their usual wine glasses.
"I thought you two could use some cold water to help you cool down a little. Things seemed pretty heated in there just now." Ruby laughed, causing the couple to turn beet red once again.
"Ruby!" Regina scolded, when she saw how embarrassed Emma was.
"I'm just kidding." Ruby said, cracking open her own water bottle, taking a large sip. "I'm happy for you guys. I really am." She said, as they all began to eat their burgers.
"I think this is a good time to warn you, Emma is currently in heat." Regina said, in between bites of her dinner. "Quite close to peaking we believe." Regina said, feeling the embarrassed energy coming from Emma.
"Well, that explains it." Ruby laughed. "I'll make sure to keep my distance from you tonight. Just give me a warning if you feel the urge to attack me though." Ruby said, completely understanding the situation.
"Oh yes, you will certainly know if and or when I intend to attack. I will do my best to keep control." Regina said, taking a sip. "This is the first time I'm experiencing a rut, so I don't entirely know what to expect."
"I'm sorry, guys." Emma said, looking down at her fries. "Maybe I should stay in the backyard tonight. I don't want to cause a fight."
"Don't be silly, Emma." Ruby said, smiling. "You're one of us now. No one gets left behind!" Ruby added, making Emma smile.
"Thanks." Emma said, shyly, grabbing Regina's hand under the table.
"Plus, I know exactly how you feel, remember." Ruby said, causing Emma's head to perk up. "I can only imagine how bad it is now that you're near your Alpha. I would be surprised if I DIDN'T find the two of you tangled up together." Ruby laughed.
"Thanks Ruby." Emma said, relaxing a little, becoming more comfortable with Regina's Chosen Beta.
"Of course!" Ruby said, checking the clock on the wall. "Hey, why don't you guys take a few minutes of alone time and scoot upstairs to get ready for the run, and I'll clean everything up and meet you back here in say…fifteen minutes? You know what, make it twenty." Ruby said, eating the last of Regina's fries.
"Thanks Ruby." Regina smiled, standing from the table, still holding Emma's hand, leading her out of the kitchen.
"Anytime. It's literally my job to have your back." Ruby laughed. "And don't forget to pee before you come back down. We all know how Regina doesn't like to pee when she's a Wolf." Ruby laughed, as Regina and Emma disappeared down the hall and up the stairs.
As soon as they made their way into Regina's room and closed the door, Regina pulled Emma in for a sweet and loving kiss, what it lacked in passion it made up for with emotion.
"I'm sorry for jumping your bones." Emma said, after their kiss was over, sitting on Regina's bed. "I know I asked to take things slow. I just couldn't help myself." Emma said, embarrassed again.
"Please don't feel sorry. There is nothing to be ashamed of. It's a completely normal reaction." Regina said, as she sat next to Emma on the bed. "Plus, I definitely enjoyed having my bones jumped." Regina laughed lightly, trying to lighten the mood.
"It's just…I've never felt this way before. And it kinda scares me a little." Emma said, eyes filling with tears.
"What are you afraid of?" Regina asked, resting her hand on Emma's knee.
"It's not you, Regina. You're amazing. I've never felt this deeply for someone before. It's all so new for me, that I'm having trouble keeping up with these feelings, if that makes sense."
"I've never felt this way either." Regina said, wiping the tears from Emma's face. "This is all new to me as well." Regina said, cupping Emma's face lightly, her own eyes filling with tears. "We'll figure it out together. And we'll take it as fast and as slow as you need." She said, kissing Emma lightly. "If you ever feel uncomfortable, you'll let me know, right?" She asked, locking eyes.
"I promise." Emma whispered, pulling Regina in for another sweet and loving kiss.
"How did I get so lucky?" Emma asked, as they pulled apart.
"Destiny." Regina whispered, kissing Emma one last time before she stood up and made her way into the bathroom, leaving Emma alone on the bed, smiling, her lips still tingling from Regina's kiss.
"We…uh…we should probably start getting ready, before Ruby comes upstairs looking for us." Emma said, when Regina emerged from the bathroom.
"Now you're starting to understand Ruby Lucas." Regina laughed, unzipping her boots, putting them away in her closet, pulling out her heavy wool blanket. "You can take this one tonight, I can grab another one." Regina said, offering the blanket to Emma.
"It's ok." Emma said, pausing, fighting the urge to avert her eyes from embarrassment. "I don't mind sharing…if it's ok with you." She added.
"Of course it's ok with me." Regina said, kissing Emma lightly. "I'll give you some privacy to get undressed." Regina said, turning around, pulling the blouse out from her dress pants.
"It's ok. You don't have to." Emma said, with a little confidence, pulling her shirt over her head. Regina smiled, as she continued to undress, tossing her clothes into the hamper in the bathroom, while Emma neatly folded her clothes and stacked them on Regina's bed. "I guess I probably should have brought a change of clothes with me. I'll have to remember tomorrow night." Emma said, as Regina wrapped their blanket around both of them. Emma's heart skipped a beat as she held Regina close to her, their bodies fitting perfectly together, as if they were two puzzle pieces.
"You ready?" Regina asked after a moment, enjoying the feel of Emma's arms around her.
"Yeah." She answered, as they made their way downstairs, meeting Ruby in the kitchen, already ready for the first night of Wolf's Time.
The three made their way outside, as the last rays of sunset began to fade on the horizon.
"So, are we hunting tonight ladies?" Ruby asked, looking over at Emma and Regina.
"Yes, please!" Emma responded, excited at the chance to hunt again, as the last rays of daylight faded away. Regina kissed Emma once more, as the familiar clouds of smoke engulfed all three women, transforming them into their Wolf form.
Shaking their way out from under the blankets, the three Wolves stretch their legs in anticipation of their run as Regina tilted her head high in the air, letting out her customary howl, as Ruby and Emma joined in a few moments later, signifying the start to the first night of Wolf's Time. Listening until they heard Granny's howl from across town, the three Wolves took off at top speed, beginning their night.
Emma kept close to Regina through the entire night, never more than a few feet away from her Alpha, except for the few times Regina took off after a Rabbit, and Emma attempted to hunt her own prey. No matter how far they strayed, they always found their way back to one another, as if drawn to each other by a magnet. Ruby kept her distance from Emma, not wanting to spark any jealousy from Regina. Although Emma didn't catch anything, when it came time to rest and enjoy their prey, Regina once again shared her rabbit with her, even going so far as to make sure she got the bigger piece.
By the time the night was over, the three were completely exhausted, walking slowly back to Regina's backyard, crawling under their blankets, falling fast asleep within minutes. Regina made sure to give Emma a little nuzzle and a light lick on her face before she laid her head on the ground, gazing into Emma's familiar eyes, as they both quickly fell asleep. Regina instinctually wrapped her arms around Emma the moment they transformed back into their Human form, holding her close against the chill of the cool autumn air.
Emma was the first to wake up, feeling Regina's body shiver slightly against her back, her arm held Emma tightly. She laced her fingers through Regina's, pretending to still be asleep as she heard Ruby begin to stir.
"Holy Shit! It's freezing!" Ruby said, as she sat up, wrapping the blanket tightly around her body. "Wake the fuck up! We need to go inside." She said, cursing loudly, causing Regina to wake suddenly, her body shivering a little more upon waking.
"I second that!" Regina said, as she kissed Emma quickly, helping her up off the cold ground, following Ruby into the house and closing the door behind them.
"Emma! Are you going to join us for breakfast today?" Ruby asked, as the three made their way through the house, stopping at the door to the den, the room Ruby uses to undress.
"Yeah. I'll be there." Emma smiled, as she felt Regina hold her a little tighter under their shared blanket.
"Excellent!" Ruby said, smiling. "You want the same as last time? Pancakes with bacon and sausage?" She asked, making a point that Emma knew she paid attention to her order from last time.
"Sure. And some of those breakfast potatoes too. They are delicious." Emma said, smiling, appreciating that Ruby remembered her order.
"You got it. I'll put your order in so it'll be ready when you get there." Ruby said, turning towards the den. "Now don't take too long, you two. Keep your hands to yourself, breakfast is waiting." Ruby giggled, as Regina and Emma made their way upstairs, and into their separate showers, intentionally keeping their distance, before they got caught up in each other again.
"Hey. Sorry I'm late." Emma said, as Regina opened the door, a huge smile on her face when she saw Emma standing there.
"You're not late. Ruby just got here." Regina said, closing and locking the door behind her, pulling her in for a sweet kiss. "You know you don't have to knock when you get here. Just come in." Regina said, her hand automatically finding Emma's, as they made their way to the kitchen, Emma dropping her backpack by the edge of the stairs.
"I didn't want to assume." She said shyly, as she entered the kitchen. The table was already set with three plates of chicken and vegetables, three glasses of red wine next to each plate. Emma sat down next to Regina, as they all started to eat their meal, Emma marveling at how good everything tasted, despite her own inability to cook even the simplest of meals.
"Do you ever get a little sad on the third night of Wolf's Time like I do?" Ruby asked Emma, attempting to get to know Regina's Omega.
"When I was living in Boston, right before I moved to Portland, and when I lived in New York City before that, no. I actually would dread Wolf's Time. There's no place to run in the big cities, so I would be forced to transform and stay in my usually small apartments. I wanted to run, but I couldn't, and on a few occasions, I completely trashed the place, trying to expel my built up energy."
"That happened to Regina and I once. We miscalculated sunset and ended up getting stuck in the house after we transformed. Even though this house is huge, we still ended up trashing the place for the same reason. Staying inside only seems to work when you choose to stay in, like Granny does." Ruby said.
"But since moving to Portland, and having the room to run, it's been better. And yeah, I guess I do always get a little sad on the third night. It's like you know you're going to have to wait another month to run again, and it feels like forever to wait." Emma explained, gaining an approving nod from Ruby.
"So, what do you do for a living, Emma?" Ruby asked, after a few moments of silence between them.
"I'm a Bail-Bonds Person." Emma answered, eating a piece of zucchini.
"Wait, so like a Bounty-hunter?" Ruby asked, engaging with Emma.
"Yeah, kinda. I track down the people who jump bail, and bring them in for trial. It seems my Wolf instincts allow me to track people down easily." Emma explained.
"And yet, you still can't catch a squirrel." Ruby laughed, poking fun at Emma.
"I was This Close last night." Emma laughed. "I'll get there soon." Emma added, finished the last of her wine, glancing over at Regina, who just smiled, enjoying the banter between her Omega and Chosen Beta. Regina's heart swelled with happiness when she realized how far Emma has come in the last few weeks, since they woke up together in the woods.
"Well ladies." Ruby said a few minutes later. "Why don't you two love birds head upstairs and take a few minutes together while I clean up, and we'll meet back here in twenty minutes like the last two night."
"Thanks Ruby." Regina said, standing and leading Emma out of the kitchen, their fingers laced together the moment they stood up.
"I missed you." Emma whispered, as soon as the bedroom door was closed behind them, pulling Regina in for a deep and passionate kiss, backing Regina into the room until she toppled over onto the bed, Regina falling away from Emma being the only reason they broke their kiss.
"I missed you too." Regina said, pulling Emma down on top of her on the bed, their lips immediately meeting for another deep kiss, one that seemed to last an eternity.
"Is it still going to be like this? When I'm not in heat anymore?" Emma asked, sliding off Regina to lay on her side next to her, her right arm propping up her head, running her left hand through Regina's hair, as Regina stared up at her.
"I hope so." Regina answered, noticing a sad shift in Emma's features. "I'm not attracted to you because you're in heat."
"Yeah?" Emma asked, her confidence waning.
"Yes, of course!" Regina said, locking eyes with Emma. "Heat doesn't create attraction. It simply intensifies what is already there." She explains.
"Really?" Emma asked, a little shocked.
"Did you really believe the only reason I was attracted to you was because you were in heat?" Regina asked, propping up on her elbows to better face Emma.
"Yeah…I mean…kinda…a little…" Emma said, looking down, embarrassed again.
"Hey, look at me." Regina said, guiding Emma's face to meet her eyes. "That couldn't be farther from the truth. Whether you are a Human or a Wolf, you are the most beautiful person I have ever met. And it has nothing to do with your pheromones or anything like that." Regina said, leaning in for a sweet kiss. "I don't ever want you to think otherwise." Regina said, wiping the stray tear that fell from Emma's eye. Emma didn't say anything, nothing she could quickly think of felt good enough. Instead, she let her lips express how she was truly feeling.
"We should get going. Sunset will be finished soon." Regina said, after a few minutes, not ready to part from their kiss, but not wanting to get stuck inside during the last night of Wolf's Time either.
"Yeah, you're right." Emma said, sliding off the bed.
They quickly undressed, and made their way back downstairs, their usual wool blanket wrapped tightly around them as they met Ruby in the kitchen.
"It's about time. I almost had to come upstairs to get you, and I really didn't want to walk in on the two of you again." Ruby laughed, as they walked into the back yard, Ruby pulling the door closed behind them. They only had a few minutes before the last rays of sunset disappeared and they were transformed into their Wolf form. In the usual fashion, Regina started the howl, shortly joined by Ruby and Emma, Granny's howl could be heard from across town, as the three took off into the forest, beginning their last night of Wolf's time.
They ran for hours, Emma chasing after every squirrel or rabbit that she saw, even attempting to catch a tiny chipmunk that crossed their path, but still wasn't able to catch anything. Regina and Ruby both decided not to hunt that night, out of respect for Emma, who was clearly becoming frustrated with her continued failure. Despite their lack of a midnight snack, the night ended with three happily exhausted Wolves, crawling under their warm blankets, falling instantly asleep.
"Ok…shower…then food…lots of food…and coffee….all the coffee!" Ruby said, as they ran into the house, shivering so hard her teeth were chattering.
"I second that!" Emma said, her arms wrapped tightly around Regina, holding on to each other for dear life.
"Good. Emma, are you joining us again?" Ruby asked, as they made their way through the house.
"Absolutely." Emma answered, squeezing Regina a little tighter.
"Great! Go shower. I'll see you guys in a little bit." Ruby said, disappearing into the den to get dressed. Emma went directly into the guest bathroom when they made it upstairs, stopping to press Regina against the wall in the hallway, giving her a deep good morning kiss.
They both took a little longer in the shower that morning, the warm water seeping in and warming them. As soon as Emma emerged from the shower, she ran back to Regina's room, "accidentally" leaving her bag in Regina's room, allowing her to get dressed and watch Regina get ready out of the corner of her eye.
"You can come in and keep my company." Regina smiled, when she realized Emma had been watching her do her hair for the last five minutes.
"Uhh…sure." Emma said, standing in the doorway of the bathroom, as Regina began to quickly flatiron her hair, removing her gorgeous natural curls that Emma liked so much.
Twenty minutes later, they were dressed and out the door, pulling into the small parking lot next to Granny's Diner, Emma's vintage yellow bug parked next to Regina's vintage black Mercedes, as they walked quickly into the diner, their stomachs growling. As if on cue, as soon as they walked in and sat at their usual spots at the counter, Ruby walked out carrying three plates of food, three cups of fresh coffee already set in front of them.
"Another successful Wolf's Night I see." Granny said a few minutes later, walking over to discover the silent women, eating as if they hadn't eaten in months.
"It certainly was." Regina said, nudging Emma's knee with her own.
"And it was Emma's first Wolf's Time with us." Ruby said, sipping her coffee with a smile.
"I was with you for the last night last month." Emma corrected, hiding behind her cup of coffee.
"That doesn't count. You came at the last minute. And it was only for one night." Ruby said, trying to steal Regina's potatoes, resulting in her almost getting stabbed with a fork.
"Well, here's to another Wolf's Time." Granny said, raising her coffee in a toast. "And here's to Emma's first full Wolf's Time with us." Granny added.
"To Wolf's Time." Regina and Ruby said in unison.
"To Wolf's Time." Emma joined in, raising her coffee to meet the other three.
"And to Emma." Ruby added, causing Emma's face to turn beet red.
"To Emma." Regina and Granny said in unison, Regina gently rubbing Emma's back as she continued to blush uncontrollably.
"Ok now, back to work girl! We have a business to run!" Granny said, taking the attention away from the shy Emma.
"And, as always, I'm running late as well." Regina said, checking her watch, moving to slide off the stool. "Ruby, I'll talk to you later."
"Back to the real world." Emma chuckled, as she pulled on her coat. "Ruby, thank you again for breakfast. Can I pay for this one at least?"
"Nope! Omega's don't pay." Ruby chuckled, clearing their plates and cups. "See you in a few weeks." Ruby added
"Thank you." Emma said again, turning to follow Regina out of the restaurant. Emma followed Regina to their cars, suddenly feeling very sad that she would be leaving to go back to Portland, and wouldn't see Regina again for a while.
"So. The holidays are coming up soon." Regina said, as they got to their cars. "I want to invite you to join us. It's nothing big, just the three of us. Granny usually cooks dinner, and I bake tons of desserts and we just eat and drink all day." Regina said, smiling.
"Oh…uhh….I don't know." Emma said, stuttering suddenly. "I don't know if I'm ready for the whole 'spending the holidays with your family' thing." Emma said, suddenly panicking at the idea.
"Hey, it's ok. Don't worry about it." Regina smiled, closing the gap between them.
"Really? You're not mad?" Emma asked.
"Not at all. We've only been in each other's lives for a month. I understand your reservations." Regina said, smiling at Emma, reaching for her hands.
"Thanks for understanding." Emma smiled a small half smile.
"Of course." Regina said, leaning in for a quick kiss. "We also have a small celebration during the Wolf Moon. It's a tradition in our Pack, dating back to the 1800's when the Pack was formed. I would like to invite you to that, as well. I would like to officially invite you into our Pack during that celebration, since it is our most sacred night of the year." Regina explained, hopeful that Emma would say yes. "Hey, take some time and think it over. You don't have to make any decisions now." Regina said, when Emma started to look panicked again.
"Thanks." Emma said again, the small smile returning. "I do have to get going though."
"I should be going too. I always get a little behind during Wolf's Time. Have to play catch up." Regina said, cupping Emma's face gently. "Will you text me when you get to work?" Regina asked.
"Of course." Emma said, leaning in for a passionate kiss. "Bye." She said, as she pulled away, unlocking her car and climbing into the driver's seat.
"Drive safe." Regina said, as she walked around to the driver's side of her car, climbing behind the wheel, watching as Emma started the car, backing out of the spot, and drove away, on her way out of town. As soon as Emma's car was out of sight, Regina started her own car, and quickly drove the short distance to Town Hall, already missing Emma.
A/N: Let me know what you think of the story so far!