Benson's apartment
Barba stood at the entrance of her apartment. He may be an animal, but manners were still a part of him. He waited until Olivia gestured for him to walk in. Following her into the living room, he wondered about the unit. It was a small, yet cozy place. Sniffing around he picked up on Noah and Olivia's scent, along with the scent of an unknown male. It was faint, which meant he didn't live in the unit. Stopping at the door of her bedroom he took a whiff of the air around him. He'd forever deny it, but it brought some joy at not picking up any other scent but Olivia's. Stepping back to the living room, he took a seat by the breakfast bar.
"Mom, do we have a bowl for water?" Noah was waist-deep in one of the cabinets.
"Here." Grabbing a plastic Tupperware, she filled it with water and handed it to him. "On the balcony Noah."
"What about a food bowl?" He placed the bowl just outside the balcony door. "I'm sure he's hungry."
"How about you get started on your homework instead." Olivia chuckled. "I'll get dinner going and then we can see what to feed him."
With a slight groan, he grabbed his bag and pulled the worksheets. "Already doing it."
Barba felt odd being in her apartment. Let alone being treated like a common house pet. He was a werewolf for crying out loud. A myth. He wondered what she would think or how she would react to finding out about him. Would she be scared? Reject him? It was something he couldn't get off his mind. He also knew she couldn't find out. That would be putting his pack in danger and ultimately hers as well.
Humans couldn't be trusted with their secrets.
Tossing the pasta into the boiling water, she glanced over at her son. Noah laid over the dog's stomach while working on some worksheets. The dog surprisingly laid still, letting Noah do his thing. His green eyes darted over to her from time to time. Letting them be she continued with her task.
Drawing in a deep breath, he let it out with a huff. Noah giggled at the slight movement, running his hand gently over his head.
It was small, but surprisingly it felt like home. Sitting by the breakfast bar, he watched them go about their tasks. Noah was laying over him like a plush toy and he was letting it happen. Olivia worked her way around the kitchen prepping dinner. He wondered how long it will take them to figure out he wasn't a dog.
Feeling the small hand run over his head and down his neck, he exhaled deeply. It reminded him of what he has lost. Of what he was unable to keep safe. He missed the home life. And although it was not his to take, he would be selfish tonight.
A knock broke through the comfortable silence. Barba raised his head with a groan. The unfamiliar scent of a male invaded his senses. It was the same one he picked up in the bedroom. A growl bubbled at the bottom of his throat, as he adjusted himself to lay on his stomach. Noah remained unbothered, still laying over him.
"What smells so good?" Brian shrugged his coat off and tossed it over the recliner.
"Supper." Olivia walked past him, rushing to the cooking food. "How was work?"
"Tucker is really riding my ass." He sighed. "He wants to run an-" Bryan froze at the pair of bright green eyes staring back at him. "Liv?"
"Yeah?"
"What is that?" He gestured to the animal.
"Stray Noah picked up." She shrugged. "Holding onto him until we find the owners."
'I am not a stray.' Barba grumbled, laying his head back on the ground.
"Stray wolf?" Brian was slightly nervous at how close it was to Noah.
Olivia snapped her head up. "Wolf?"
"Yeah." He pointed at the animal. "That's a bloody wolf."
"There's no way. I thought he was a shepherd of sorts." Olivia walked around the bar, looking down at the wolf. "Are you sure?"
"Yes!" Brian yelled. "Get animal control, you need to get rid of him."
"No!" Noah wrapped his arms around the wolf's neck, glaring up at the man. "Mom said we could keep him until his owners come. For now, he is mine."
"That thing has no owners." Brian argued. "Where the hell did you even manage to find a wolf?"
"The park." Olivia shrugged, not nearly as bothered as Brian. "Look, he has to belong to someone. It's too domesticated not to."
"It's a wild animal, Liv." Brian eyed the wolf with distrust. "You can't trust it around kids. One wrong move and it will snap."
'Out of the two of us, I'm sure you're the worst one.' Barba growled.
"See!" He yelped.
"Brian, that 'wolf' has been lying there for the past hour. He hasn't shown any signs of aggression towards Noah." Olivia wasn't about to condemn the animal for something it hasn't done. "He's fine for now. Besides like I said, it probably belongs to someone."
"Just keep your gun close by." Brian muttered. "First sign of aggression shoot it."
Rolling her eyes, she grabbed a piece of beef and crouched in front of the wolf. Brian warned her not to get close to it with food. She of course didn't listen to him. "Here you go."
Barba looked up at her hand then at her and back. 'Why am I doing this?!' Leaning up he took the piece from her fingertips. 'Needs a little salt.'
"Some wild animal he is." Olivia teased her date.
Much to his annoyance Noah refused to let him out of his sight throughout the night. He sat at the door of the bathroom as he showered. His back to the tub, growling at Brian at one point for attempting to enter the bathroom. After the bath, he laid on the floor by the bed, as Olivia read him a story. He even waited until Noah's breathing evened out, indicating he had finally fallen asleep.
Sneaking out of the room he trotted into the living room, finding Olivia and Brian snuggled up on the couch. 'I'm going to be sick.' Walking to the front door he scratched at the bottom of the door. 'Someone wanna open this?'
"What's that thing doing now?" Brian grumbled.
Ignoring his tone, she glanced into the foyer. "He wants out. Probably has to go to the bathroom."
'Let us not talk about my necessities and open this door.' Scratching at it once more, he jumped back as it was open. 'See you Later Detective.' Giving her a look over his shoulder, he trotted out of the building.
Stopping at stairs just outside the building, he glanced up as a single drop of water fell on his muzzle. 'I'll be smelling like wet dog.'
'So, you're Rafael.'
Barba glanced down to find a white wolf at the foot of the steps. 'I am.'
'I have heard so much about you.'
'Good for you.' He remained put at the top of the stairs. His tail stayed low, but his hackle was raised.
'I'm Elliot.'
Barba growled lowly. 'The new alpha.'
'You can say that.'
'I would think an alpha knows better than to step foot into another's territory.' Barba lowered his tone. 'You are far from home.'
'I am searching for an old friend of mine.' Elliot replied taking a whiff of the air around them picking on the familiar scent. 'It appears you know her as well.'
The alpha's ear twitched. 'Who might that be?'
'Was that a rhetorical question?' Elliot growled.
'Do I have to answer that?' Deciding on dropping the false friendly mask, he glared down at the alpha. 'What do you want with Benson?'
'She's a very dear friend of mine.' Elliot stepped up a few steps, before stopping at the loud growl. 'Is there a problem?'
'Yes, Benson is off-limits to outsiders.' He snarled.
Elliot chuckled. 'You have no idea who you're talking to. She and I go way back.'
'She's off-limits.' He stepped down to stand nose to nose with the alpha. 'Come near her or her son, and we will have a problem.'
'What's she to you?' Elliot was not stepping back. 'She's not a part of your pack. She doesn't carry your scent.'
Barba clenched his jaw, his brain trying to come up with a justifiable reason. 'She's mine.' The words were out before he could stop them.
'Yours?'
'Both her and her son will bare my mark.' Why the hell can't he stop talking!
Elliot growled loudly, raising to his full height. 'Your mark?'
'Hard of hearing?' Barba tsked. 'Benson and Noah will bare my mark. She will become a part of my pack as Luna.'
Damnit Rafael stop talking!
'Olivia can not-'
"Rafa!" Enzo called from across the street. A few other pack mates stood behind him. "We've been looking for you all day." He eyed the white wolf, a growl slipping past his lips. "Everything alright?"
'Yeah.' He narrowed his eyes at Elliot. 'Just letting the new alpha know where he isn't welcomed.'
Elliot knew better than to retaliate against the alpha, with its pack in the area. Instead, he stepped back, admitting defeat this round. He waited for so long to be able to approach Olivia, he wasn't about to let anyone take her away.
"What was that about?" Enzo asked.
'I don't know.' Barba sighed. 'But he is after Olivia.'
"Detective Benson?" Enzo frowned. "Think she knows about us?"
Barba shook himself. 'Doubt it. She thought I was a dog for a moment. Brought me into her apartment with no hesitation. I swear that woman is too trusting.'
"Why the hell did you go along with it?" Enzo asked. "You could have been discovered."
'It was supposed to be a one-time thing. I got wrapped up in the moment.' He glanced up at the apartment. Something was telling him to go back. 'I'm going to stick around tonight. Something tells me he might try again.'
Enzo scratched the back of his neck with a grumble. "For a man that says that woman is nothing, you sure are going through a lot of trouble for her. So, what if that alpha wants her? He has the right to claim a mate."
Barba cringed at the word. 'What I do shouldn't be your concern. Go home, I'll stay here.'
"Don't you have work tomorrow?" Enzo sighed.
'Since when did you become my handler?' Walking down the stairs, he turned into the bushes next to the stairs. They were large enough to hide his body from anyone walking by.
Enzo rolled his eyes at the stubborn alpha. "Alright, I'll have a set of clothes out for you." Ushering the other back home he glanced once more at Barba.
It was strange seeing him so concerned over an outsider. Especially when that outsider was a human. Barba's past was filled with pain and hurt. Much of that pain and hurt was brought on by humans. He made it his goal to ensure the pack was limited with interaction with the humans. Which nowadays was nearly impossible to do, but they tried. It made him wonder who that woman was to their alpha. Why the sudden care to protect her from harm?
Barba sneezed for the fifth time. The dirt was tickling his nose with each breath he took in. Usually sleeping out wasn't an issue, but he preferred the forest floor. This was nothing but mulch and altered dirt. Hearing the door open, he perked up at catching her scent.
He thought back to what he told Elliot. 'Her and Noah will bear his mark.' How stupid could he truly be? Now he needed to find a way out of it. He found himself whimpering at the thought of backing out. But what the hell was he supposed to do? He couldn't very well go up to them and bite her and Noah. But he made the mistake of staking his claim over them. The moment he spoke those words, Olivia and Noah became his responsibility. At least until he found someone to mate with. For now, should anyone want to try and claim her as well, they would have to go through Rafael. He perked up at seeing her step out into the night. She looked around before stepping out completely. Her scent once more wrapped around him.
Olivia wrapped her sweater tighter around herself, taking a seat on the steps. In her hand she held a warm cup of coffee, the steam clear in the cold night. The warmth fought the coldness off her hands.
'Is that all she drinks?' Barba huffed, causing another sneeze chain at the lifted dirt.
Olivia stiffed at the weird noise that caused her to jump up. "What is that?" Leaning over the railing, she was surprised to see the wolf looking up at her with sight green eyes. "Hello."
Barba groaned at seeing her big doe eyes looking down at him. 'So much for the perfect hideout.' Crawling from under the bush, he shook the fallen leaves off him. 'What brings you out here?' Taking a seat beside her, his eyes scanned the street in front of them. The occasional pedestrians were walking by, but other than that it was empty. A stray dog passed by running off after noticing Barba by the steps. He always found that amusing.
"What are you still doing here?" Olivia tilted her head towards him. "Shouldn't you be out eating rabbits or maybe a cat?"
Barba scoffed a growl. 'I like to think I have higher standers than that.' He stiffed at feeling her hand land on the back of his neck and slide to his back. 'A little warning next time.'
"You ever feel powerless in what you do?" Olivia suddenly asked. "No matter how much you try, it seems you failed either way."
'Most times.' Seeing the look of pain in her eyes, he found himself whimpering. Against his better judgment, he laid his head on her lap. It was the only thing he could think of to cheer her up.
Like any pack animal, wolves are physical beings. They require physical contact at all times between pack mates or close friends. It didn't matter whether they were upset, hurt, angry, or even dying. The sense of just having someone next to you was enough to ease us. Sadly it was one of the many things Barba had trouble with. Only a selective few had the clear to touch him. And it seemed Olivia was becoming one of those selective few.
He closed his eyes as she ran her fingers through his coat. A delicious shiver ran down his spine. 'You need to stop.' Still, he made no movement in getting up. It was as if she had a hold on him both mentally and physically. At that moment he was sure that if she asked him to jump off a building, he would. Why do you ask? He didn't know.
"It just feels that no matter how many we put away, more just pop up. Smarter than the last." She whispered. "There is no winning."
'Perhaps, but as long as there a people like you fighting, there will always be hope.' Barba whimpered. 'I just met you and I can already see the drive. The passion that drives you. That is something not many people have, nor is it something you learn. You are born with it.'
"You are quite the listener." Olivia smiled down at the large animal. "What are we going to do with you?"
'Nothing, leave me here.' He did a half shake trying to get her hand off him. Her touch alone was burning his skin.
Glancing at her watch she sighed. "It's late, should try and get some sleep."
Barba sat up watching her stand to walk back in. He was making his way back under the bush when he heard her call for him. 'You can't be serious.'
"Come on." She patted her leg trying to lure him in. "Or do you prefer sleeping in the dirt?"
'For a cop, you are too trustworthy.' He was ready to deny the offer when he caught movement across the street. A pair of blue eyes glared back at him. Jumping to the top of the stairs he walked through the door, tossing the wolf one last look. 'That wolf is very persistent in getting to you. We can't have that now can we.'
Following her into the unit, he growled at the lingering scent of Brian. 'I forgot he was still here.'
Seeing Brian still cozied up on her couch, she walked to the kitchen. 'How do you tell someone to leave, without making it seem as if you were kicking them out.'
Barba was startled at hearing her thoughts. Mind link wasn't uncommon between wolves, it was how they communicated. But one between a human and a wolf was unheard of. That privilege was reserved for mated couples. 'Can you understand me?' He got no response from her. 'So it's a one-way link? I can hear you, but you can't hear me. I seriously doubt claiming woul-'
"Liv, why did you bring that animal back in here?" Brian walked over to her cautious of the wolf. "That thing needs to be taken away to some zoo."
"He's fine Brian." Olivia gathered some raw meat left over from dinner into a bowl. Placing it down in front of the wolf, she ran her hand gently over his back. "Besides Noah likes him."
"You're going to keep it?!" He whispered loudly.
Barba jerked at the slight spike in her heartbeat. Nudging her with his nose, he glared at the man. Olivia's usual scent was mixed with annoyance and to his surprise fear. 'Think it's time for you to leave.' Stalking towards Brian with a rumbling growl, he herded him towards the door.
"Call it off!" Brian staggered backward, using the hallway walls to keep himself upwards. "Liv!"
"You make it sound as if I can control the wolf animal." She knew she should be worried about a wild animal, stalking her boyfriend but oddly enough she knew the wolf wouldn't hurt him. "Call me later." Opening the door, she waved a quick bye and closed the door. "Thank you for that."
'I don't like him.' Barba growled, leaning against her legs. 'He seems too possessive. Pretty sure he isn't your type either.'
"I'm going to bed." Petting him once more over the head, she glanced back at him. "Door is open so pick your spot."
He knew he shouldn't, but before he knew it he found himself standing in her room. Olivia was in the process of slipping into bed when she saw him. Barba was regretting the entire evening, just as she called him up on the bed. 'That's a bad idea.'
"You sleeping on the floor then." Shrugging her shoulder she laid back, picking up the book that laid on her nightstand.
Inhaling deeply he choked on the lingering scent of Brian. 'God that's revolting.' Jumping onto the bed, he nearly gave in to the urge of tearing her covers up. Instead, he opted for the less dramatic option.
Olivia glanced over her book to find the wolf rolling around her blankets. He continued to do so for a few moments, stopped to sniff the bed, and proceeded back to rubbing himself all over. "What are you doing?"
'I can't stand his smell.' He grumbled although to her it probably sounded like growling. 'Just a bit more.' Jumping to his feet he shook himself off.
"Proud of yourself?" She chuckled, trying to straighten out the wrinkled blankets.
'Very much so.' Falling over her legs he gathered his breath once more. His scent was now mixed with hers. Granted once he mated with her, it will be perm-he stopped mid-thought. 'Mate with her?' He growled at the wave of warmth spreading through his body. 'That claim will never go past words being spoken in the heat of dick sizing.'
Looking over at Olivia he didn't realize just how screwed he really was.
