Beta Bully (F/M) Autumn Patreon Exclusive (Patreon)

Walkies II - Luca POV

Puppy. Luca’s soul-mate was a puppy.

He hadn’t been able to hold back from peering around the tree trunk at her. He couldn’t believe he even had to walk around the tree to find her. The urban myth was true then: omega actually got smaller in wolf form than their human form.

A tiny, fluffy puppy had been cowering behind the bark. Black eyes watched him warily amongst the softest brown fur Luca had ever laid eyes on. This was not the fur of a wolf that ran wild. Darcy looked domesticated compared to every other wolf Luca had known. The kind of dog you’d carry in your handbag.

And now she was laid out on her side on the one puny patch of grass amongst all the dirt, leaves and tree roots. Sunning herself with her eyes closed and feet extended out, presenting her delicate toe beans to the air. Her soft belly was an ever so slightly lighter shade of brown than the rest of her fur and it beckoned him over. Darcy wouldn’t take well to him nuzzling into it, he could already sense it. He still approached, though.

Stood over her, she somehow shrank even further within his shadow. She puffed a breath out, pulled in her sweet little feet and rolled out from under him, back into the sunshine. Despite the huffing, he wasn’t reading any actual annoyance from her body language, so he followed her across. She jumped up, ears pricked and her butt wiggling just a little, but he could tell she was having fun. She ran through his back legs and he gave chase, slowly and gently. Pretending to take a nip at her feather of a tail and following her round and round the green.

Darcy toddled to the shaded section of the grass, panting. Luca followed, watching her tiny tail bounce ahead of him. When she stopped, he stopped right behind her. When she sat, he did too. When she growled at him, he jolted with surprise. It was quiet, but had a defined rumble to the tone. A real omega growl. He wondered how many people in the Pearl Claw had ever heard one. He wiggled backwards, giving her some space, and she spun on her tail and dove straight back into his fur as though the growl had come from someone else. It was precious.

She was hiding in his stomach and nervously pawing the ground, so he nuzzled the top of her head comfortingly. Hoping she would take it the way he intended.

After a few moments, it seemed to have worked. Darcy turned away from him again, but kept herself sat almost in his lap. And then she stayed there. Luca looked between her and the forest a few times, wriggled his hips to keep from cramping up, and tried to enjoy whatever it was Darcy seemed to like about doing nothing. His body was itching to run wild.

Dark eyes glanced back at him and he took his chance to suggest they get moving again. Luca bumped the back of her head with his nose and she reluctantly raised her back legs.

After a few timid steps forwards, the shivers of restrained energy burst out and he couldn’t hold back at her pace anymore. He leapt over her and into the undergrowth ahead, ripping bushes and branches with his body.

The best part of running in his wolf form was pushing himself faster and faster until the wind was whipping through his fur and cooling him as quickly as he could sweat. It was the only way to truly clear his brain. That, and kissing Darcy.

A collection of scents halted him in a skid of dirt. A patrol squad were ahead. He recognised the scents enough to know they were guards, but not enough to name the group members. Either way, he didn’t want them running into Darcy without him.

Luca hesitated for a moment, sniffing experimentally to check they were definitely heading in his and Darcy’s direction. Confirmed. Luca turned back on himself and rushed back to the tiny wolf picking her way through his trail.

He looped Darcy, giving her a once-over with eyes and nose, before taking his place at her side. She moved in line with him and it brought a prideful gait to his walk. His soul-mate was matching his step, walking at his side like a natural.

The patrol squad burst into view, making enough noise to scare away every bird in a mile’s radius. Luca frowned disapprovingly. They all put the brakes on at the sight of him. Behind them, a much larger wolf followed leisurely. Beta Oli entered the area and pushed them aside to take the helm. His eyes were on Darcy in an instant, and the rest of the group were all staring without shame. Beta Oli sniffed in her direction and Luca felt her shift backwards in response.

Beta Oli closed the gap between himself and Luca and tilted his nose in an awkward greeting. In wolf form, communication was made through small movements and sounds. It wasn’t all that eloquent, but it got the job done.

Hello. Darcy? Interesting. You?

Beta Oli was asking if they were okay, and showing surprise at Darcy’s presence.

Hello. Yes. Fine. Darcy? Stay away.

Luca didn’t care if he was read as being rude, they were all showing too much interest in his soul-mate and in his opinion, Beta Oli should be setting an example for the others.

Understand. Sorry. This area?

Yes. Luca confirmed they were walking the area. You? This Area?

Me. Fine. This area? Yes.

Alpha?

Beta Oli rolled his eyes at Luca asking how Alpha Nico was. Apparently she was in one of her ‘I’m so busy that I’m going to take it out on anyone who dares to approach me’ moods. If she would allow Beta Oli to assist her more, maybe she wouldn’t be so busy. Not that it was Luca’s place to suggest, but Beta Oli clearly wanted to help his alpha and dear friend.

Patrol. Okay?

Yes. No danger.

Luca allowed his eyes to drift from Beta Oli for a moment, and a flare of anger heated his sweaty fur. The whole patrol squad were openly and gormlessly eyeing up Darcy. Their stares were intense, and he could suddenly feel Darcy burrowing into his side. Hiding from their shameless gawking.

Luca’s lips trembled, battling between baring his teeth and running the risk of spooking Darcy, or settling on a simple glare, which might not radiate the level of aggression he felt towards every single bonehead milling around behind Beta Oli. He looked back to Beta Oli, who tilted his head in question.

Them. Stay away. Omega.

Before Beta Oli could take any action, Luca turned his furious gaze on the idiots lined up behind him.

Stop.

A flutter of nervous energy ran through the group at his command.

Omega. Mine. Stay away.

All of them looked away immediately, but they continued to steal quick glances at her when they thought he wasn’t looking. Tomorrow, when Luca was back to work, he would be having words with all the guards about keeping their eyes and noses to themselves.

To see an omega in wolf form was a rarity, but his soul-mate was not a carnival attraction. She deserved to be respected out in the wild. Otherwise she might never settle into her wolf form. And that thought was crushing to him.

Darcy lowered herself to the dirt as though begging, and it snapped his heart into two sharp shards. He moved his paw over her to cover her completely with his body, and lowered until he was pressed to her back. Hiding her in his golden fur.

Beta Oli smiled. Luca didn’t return it, he was furious. The stupid guards had made Darcy upset and probably set back any progress they had made on their walk.

Sorry. Beta Oli repeated. Patrol. Goodbye.

Goodbye.

That’s right, he thought, go back to your silly little patrol and away from me and my mate.

Once they were out of sight, he lifted himself from Darcy and paced around her, shaking his fur violently in an attempt to calm down. He puffed out a long and slow breath, then heard a different rumble.

This time, it wasn’t a growl from Darcy’s mouth, but her stomach. He sniffed at her, checking she was hungry and not unwell. She huffed back at him and he knew she was fine. They took off back to their clothes, dressed themselves, and headed into the pack centre to pick up lunch.

The silence that followed them on the errand was comfortable, but Luca was burning with curiosity about Darcy’s thoughts on the walk.

“Did you enjoy it?” he asked as he spread the lunch they’d bought over the coffee table.

Darcy hesitated. “The scenery was nice,” she answered slowly.

“What about the run itself?” he pushed.

“I’m sure the exercise did me good.”

He stopped faffing with the sandwiches. “But did you like it?”

“I don’t know if that’s the word I would use.”

Luca sighed.

“It’s not your fault, Luca. I’ve never had that connection that you have with your wolf form. I’ve always known I was odd for not having the built-in instincts. It makes my wolf form almost… exhausting. Because I have to think so much to make up for the lack in natural cues.”

He forced a smile. “Well, thank you for giving it a shot. I had a really good time.” And he meant it, he’d had a blast playing in their most natural form. “Movie?” he suggested. It was supposed to be a self care day and he had wasted half of it with his own selfish wishes. At least they couldn’t go wrong with tv and food.

“Sure. You pick, I just want to cuddle on the sofa with background noise.”

Luca almost sighed with relief. “Perfect.”