"Why?" Olivia wasn't sure why she asked that question, but she was intrigued to hear his response. Barba had never really shown her he trusted her. Sure they worked together and he has been there for her since the start, but he kept himself guarded. She knew very little of him.
The alpha frowned. "Why what?"
"Why do you trust me?" She tried pulling her hand back, only to feel his grip tighten.
"I don't think I have had anyone question why I trust them." He chuckled softly. "There are many reasons as to why. I have seen your compassion toward others. The passion you have doing what you do. You always put others ahead of yourself. These are qualities of someone I am willing to trust. The other reason has to do with the fact that you haven't run off on me."
"Still sinking in." She laughed.
"Aaron is on his way back with the others." Lifting her hand towards his lips, he kissed the back of it. "If you don't wish to do this, I will take you home. There is no rush."
"N-no." Taking in a few deep breaths, she gave him a confident nod. "I want to." Just as they took a step for the door, she stopped. "What are we doing exactly?"
Jerking his head towards the door, he grinned. "Meeting the pack." Leading her through the door to the backyard, he held her still. "They won't harm you."
Olivia wasn't sure what she was expecting to see, but this was not it. Breaking from the tree line was Aaron with multiple wolves behind him. And they just kept coming. Wolves of every color and size trotted out from the woods. She stiffed as they continued to get closer, nearly yelping when they each took a whiff of her.
"Relax, they are memorizing your scent." Barba leaned in close to whisper in her ear. "They will not harm you with me here." He held their entwined hands out in front of them. Each passing wolf would take a sniff and walk back into the house. After the last one passed by, they began to walk back out shifted, and changed. "This is Olivia Benson."
Giving them a nervous wave, she squirmed under their intense gaze. "Hello."
A younger female stepped forward with a stern look, but one look from Barba and she suddenly broke into a large grin. "Finally another woman. We are severely outnumbered by the males." Looping her arm around Olivia's arm, she hauled her towards the rest of the females. "Come, I'll introduce you to the others."
Angelous walked over to Barba, his eyes watching the female as she was paraded to the others. "I thought she was not to know?"
"Yeah well, that went out the window when Elliot sent his wolves after her." Aaron approached them from behind. "They were going to take her by force if she refused to go. I assume they believed she would be alone. Either that or they were just plain stupid."
"Is she going to be staying here?" Angelous asked. "You know the pack will follow orders without hesitation, but having a human within the ranks is pushing it. Most are still weary around them."
"I am aware of that." Barba growled. "I brought her here because-"
"It was the only safe place to explain to the woman that what she saw was real. And not her mind going crazy." Aaron moved to block Angelous's view of Barba. The beta was pushing the little tolerance the alpha had at the moment. "Besides, may I remind you what she is to you and the pack?"
Angelous stepped back from the growling alpha, lowering his head in both submission and apologies. "No need alpha."
"Go see how patrol is doing." Barba ordered.
Waiting for the beta to be out of earshot, Aaron turned to him. "What did you tell her?"
"Our history. Answered a few questions she had."
"Did you include the subject of mating?"
Barba refused to look at the man. "There was no reason to bring that subject up."
"No reason?" Hotch hummed, trying not to laugh at his friends. "So, she still doesn't know about the claim? Do you not trust her?"
"She wouldn't be here if I didn't." Barba sighed, his eyes following her closely. "Benson is a proud woman. She dominates everything she does. Including a male-dominated job. I don't think she will be thrilled to hear I have 'claimed' her."
Hotch raised a brow. "You're scared she will reject you."
"You wouldn't?" He snapped. "A rejection isn't some painless process."
"I am well aware of what rejection does to us." The agent shudder at the reminder of said process. "But you won't know until you tell her. Who knows she might be into being claimed by a strong alpha male."
Barba cringed at his words. "Don't say that again."
"Rafael!" Athena waved her arms frantically in the air for the alpha's attention. "We are going for a quick walk, mind if Olivia tags along?"
Barba shrugged. "I'm not her keeper. She's free to do as she pleases." Seeing the woman scurrying away with Olivia in the middle of the pack, he called over two patrol wolves. "Keep an eye on her. Anything happens, you come to me."
"Not her keeper." Hotch laughed, dodging the head slap aimed at him. "You're already acting like a mated wolf."
"I am not." Turning on his heels, he walked back into the house and straight for the bar. "Am I?"
"Well, I mean, you have the overbearing protective thing going on." He waved his hand around Barba. "The females are already trying to form a bond with her." Seeing the look on Barba's face, he scoffed. "You think that walk was just because they needed to stretch? After a run."
"Shit." Tossing back his drink he ran a hand down his face. "Let's just hope none of them let the claim slip out."
"They are women Rafael, don't get your hopes up." Dodging the glass cup tossed at him, he watched it shatter on the floor with a laugh. "Such a child sometimes."
"Did you have the pack trial postponed?" Barba needed a change of subject before he wrung the man's neck.
Hotch nodded. "I did. When exactly are you going to reschedule it?"
"Tomorrow. Just need to make sure Benson and Noah are safe."
"Noah?"
"Her son."
"She has a pup? Divorce?"
He shook his head. "Never married. Noah is adopted."
"What about ex-partners?"
"Don't think I have to worry about them." Sucking on his teeth he sighed.
Hotch leaned against the bar, motioning for Barba to serve him a cup. "Why is that? Who is the ex?"
Sliding the glass of scotch towards him, Barba served himself. "Ex-detective Brian. He works Undercover now."
"And you say he is no threat?" Hotch questioned. "The man is a UC."
"Not a threat." Barba repeated. "Half the pack works between PD and feds. He'd be gone before he becomes a problem."
Hotch laughed. "Already have a handle on that one."
"Somewhat."
"And why about Elliot?" Hotch suddenly switched to a more pressing issue. "You must make a move."
"I can't start a war right now."
"The bastard has marked and attacked your pack-mates and has attempted to take your mate. What more does he need to do?"
Barba sighed. "We will set up a meeting with the alpha. If we can not solve this peacefully, then there won't be any choice but to claim that side of his territory."
Olivia:
You would think she'd be freaking out at the moment or at least tensed, walking into the forest with a group of she-wolves. Who had the ability to tear her apart within seconds. Yet she did not. In fact, she has never felt as safe as she did at that moment.
Athena had her arms looped with hers, holding her closely. Her other hand was grasped by a young teenage girl's hand. A handful of the females chattered happily around her, while the rest had shifted and were prancing around like young pups.
"Why are they so far behind?" Olivia had noticed the two wolves trailing behind them.
Athena glanced over her shoulder. "That's Jason and Kili. Pack mates. Rafael must have sent them to keep watch over us."
"Does he always do that?" Olivia asked.
"Sometimes, although I believe this time it's more for you than us." She laughed at the confused look she got. "Alone we have limits of what we can handle. As a large group like now, they aren't needed."
"What is it like?" She blurted out.
"What's what like?"
She motioned to one of the wolves. "Being able to shift into one of them?"
"Oh." Athena laughed. "It's different for everyone, but the common denominator would be freedom. Feeling the wind in your fur on a run is one of the best feelings. The dirt under your paws connecting you to the earth is-" Loud growling and snarling caught the she-wolf's attention.
Looking towards the front Olivia saw the moment a smaller dark gray wolf and a large brown wolf circle each other. The grey wolf made the first move, running full speed at the brown one with a loud roar. her aim was for the throat only to miss it by a few inches. Landing on her feet, she did a quick 180 and clashed head-on with the brown wolf. The larger one jumped over the gray one, dodging the bite to her leg. Turning quickly she grabbed a hold of the gray one's back. Biting down hard, she brought the smaller wolf down to the ground with a hard thud. Olivia stood back as Athena rushed to the duo.
"What the hell has gotten into you, Sarah?!" Athena growled forcing the rest of the females back. The last thing she needed was for Sarah to get attacked by the rest of the pack. "Shift back!"
Doing so, Sarah shoved the brown wolf off her. "She challenged my authority!"
"You don't have any authority." The brown wolf was now a tall brunette with stunning green eyes. "You're a pup and nothing else. No rank among the rest of us. Not yet anyway."
Before Sarah could lunge at her, Athena pushed her back. "Pull it together. This was meant to be a bonding experience with our alpha, not a chance for you to rise the ranks."
Glaring at the human she huffed. "I am of my father's blood. I am the only one with the right to claim our alpha! Not some human."
"I'd watch what you say." Adhara appeared beside Athena flanking the she-wolf female. "Rafael can not be claimed. He has already chosen his mate. You will be careful how you speak of her."
"He has claimed her by words only." Sarah growled. "I see no mark on her, nor do I smell him on her."
Olivia jumped back at the white-phased wolf walking past her. It was a beautiful color on the she-wolf. Her top coat was white as snow, but underneath that whiteness was a dark gray color. The wolf stopped giving her a bow of the head, before continuing on her way.
'It's true Rafael has not marked or mated with his mate, but he has claimed her. She is the one that will lead by his side. You knew this already.' The she-wolf growled at Sarah. 'You also know the laws that one must follow. And the respect one must have for both Alphas.'
"She is not my alpha!" Sarah was tackled to the ground by the wolf. Her paw pressed against the girl's chest, teeth bared as she snarled inches from her face.
"Sarah!" An older woman pushed through the pack of females, lowering her face and baring her neck as seeing the wolf. "Beta Sierra, please allow me to take her home. She will be punished for this."
"Mother?" Sarah gasped.
Sierra kept her eyes on the girl, stepping back with a snap of her teeth. 'Take her, but do expect a summoning from Rafael.'
Grabbing the girl by the back of her neck, she dragged her away from the group. "Wait until your brother hears of this nonsense. The shame you have brought down upon us."
Letting out a heavy sigh, Athena turned to check on the brunette that was attacked. "Are you harmed?"
She shook her head, regretting the action at the pain she felt. "Just a bite on the neck and a few scratches. Nothing that won't heal in a few minutes."
"Athena, why don't you take her back to the pack house." Adhara ordered. "Have them check her wound and make sure they heal properly."
Olivia offered both women a soft smile as they walked past her. "Is this something that happens often?"
Adhara shook her head. "No. Everyone is aware of their ranks in the pack. Sarah is going through puberty, so she's a little hot-headed right now. She just had her first heat, so she's a bit sensitive as well."
"Heat?"
"Yes." She peeked up at Olivia, biting her lower lip. Adhara wasn't too sure how to explain this to her. "We go through a cycle of fertility every month. It's sort of like a menstrual cycle. Only this one last three days and makes you crave your lover like a drug. It can be both pleasurable and painful, depending on whether you go through it alone or not."
Olivia was aware of how painful it was to crave someone. The touch of their hands and lips upon her skin. "What did she mean by 'claim on the alpha'? Was she talking about Barba?"
"Yeah." Adhara had really hoped that part of the conversation was missed. "Sarah is the daughter of the previous alpha couple that ruled this area. Before Rafael. Traditionally to keep the peace between the old and the new alpha, the new alpha would claim and mate with the old alpha's child."
"But Barba didn't?"
"No, for two reasons. Sarah was only a month-old pup when Rafael took over and he has no interest in her." Taking her hand, they continued on their walk. "Tell me, any pups?"
"Pups?"
"Sorry, I meant children."
"Ah." She would have to get used to their way of speaking if she planned to stick around. "A son. His name is Noah."
"I would love to meet him!" The woman smiled fondly. "For some odd reason, we have only been having girls. It's been years since a boy has been born."
"Is that a bad thing?" Olivia asked.
Adhaea shook her head. "For us no, not really. For an alpha like Barba or Aaron, yes. They need a male to keep their bloodline alive. An heir. If they do not produce a male, the line will die and another alpha will take claim of both the territory and pack."
"Rafael was right, there is a lot to learn and remember." Olivia muttered.
"It is." The she-wolf agreed. "But it's also easy to remember."
"I'll take your word for it."
