Brynn's Beta

Elise Fagan--Part 1

Elise

I had been at the Silvercrest pack for almost a year and every day I thanked the deity that gave me this opportunity. I wasn’t even sure I believed in the Moon Goddess who was credited with the creation and existence of my species, but that’s because I believed in science, facts, and measurable outcomes. Already, I was a living contradiction—a person of science who lives in a magical, supernatural world. Still, if there was a deity, I was grateful she put me in this pack with Alpha Maverick Conway.

Alpha Maverick was so far superior than the other Alpha’s in the area, I almost hated to compare him. First, he was college educated with an advanced degree. Most Alpha’s inherited the position from their Dad and didn’t bother with education after high school. This created a closed, incestuous system that perpetuated bad practices and stymied change and growth. There wasn’t anything specifically wrong with the choice to take over a pack at 18, but there was benefit to expanding one’s perspective and learning basic business principles. Turns out, examining old practices and changing them was a huge benefit for the quality of life within the pack.

When my previous i***t Alpha attacked and killed Alpha Maverick’s dad and grandfather, I quit the pack, deciding that going rogue was better than being a part of a pack that would most assuredly get destroyed. I was not wrong, my entire pack with the exception of a few women and children were wiped from the face of the earth. I denounced and left the pack about two hours before the attack.

I was hiding out in a shitty motel in the nearest town a few days later when Alpha Maverick found me. He offered to buy me a beer and before we were halfway through, he was offering me a job as the new pack physician and I was accepting it. Maverick administered the pack oath in the middle of the bar and I became the newest member of Silvercrest on the spot and I haven’t regretted my decision for a single minute.

Most pack doctors largely delivered pups and set broken bones properly. Occasionally, there was something more serious, but with the rapid healing of werewolves, it wasn’t often. However, I had a burgeoning interest in the genetics of my species. There were always rumors about packs developing technology to safely change normals, mutations to develop stronger wolves, faster shifting, understanding the mate bond, etc. You name it, there was a rumor about it.

The one that interested me the most and made scientific sense was changing a normal. Once I was settled in at Silvercrest, I started networking with other pack doctors. Eventually, that networking paid off and I found a pack who was able to successfully change a few normals.

Around this same time, Alpha Maverick introduced his very human mate to the pack and things got busy, so I never followed up on the lead. After a few months, Luna Aspen asked me about changing so I reached out to the pack doctor. We began to exchange emails and the information was fascinating. After a few emails, the Moonvalley physician started to include a geneticist on our email chain.

The geneticist, Stuart, was quite funny and we ended up corresponding and becoming friends. At one point, I wondered if we were mates, but I quickly dismissed that thought. I was 28 and mateless, but thoroughly enjoyed my life. Because the wolf population is largely patriarchal, I was fine with my solo status. I didn’t want a mate who thought I should stay home and make pups for him. There was the added factor that I was quietly bi-s****l. Generally, anything outside the box of male/female couplings was also frowned upon in our world, so I kept my personal life just that—personal.

Most recently, the new Gamma Lia and I had been hooking up occasionally. She was amazing and I could see her as a long-term partner if we both remained mateless. After getting to know Alpha Maverick and Luna Aspen, I was pretty confident they were inclusive, but I was a private person by nature and didn’t feel the need to share my personal life on that level.

Once Luna Aspen decided she wanted to change, I was able to set up a visit to Moonvalley so we could examine their process. It was exciting for me. I loved to learn new things and the medical concepts behind changing a normal were fascinating and a great break from my routine. The closer we got to Moonvalley, the more frantic my wolf became. She couldn’t tell me what was happening, just that something was off. I desperately hoped that we weren’t walking into a trap. I had done extensive research on the pack as had Lia and Alpha Maverick. Everything seemed to check out. We also had a bunch of warriors with us and I knew that Alpha Maverick was a particularly strong Alpha and tremendous fighter.

After arriving at Moonvalley and settling into my room I invited Luna Aspen to tour the clinic with me. I liked her and we had become friends. She was a good nurse and worked hard in the clinic. Her attitude was matched to Maverick’s and she never pulled rank or expected people to treat her differently just because she was Luna. More than once, I noticed her cleaning an extra behind or helping a new mom with their shower—some of the more undesirable jobs in the clinic. Further, she had good insight into clinic operations and provided several useful suggestions.

As soon as we approached the clinic, I saw him. Stuart Gagnon, my mate. Instinctively, I grabbed Aspen’s arm and squeezed, needing the emotional support. I didn’t think Stu fit the mold of most guys, but I wasn’t sure. What if I was forced to reject him because he was prick?! That would suck. No wonder my wolf had been so restless. All the pieces fell into place and standing in front of me was a handsome, nerdy scientist who was the other part of my soul. I was mated to a man, which was pretty surprising to me.

Stu extended his hand, “Dr. Fagan, I presume. It’s a pleasure.”

I braced myself for what was to come and slowly extended my hand, “Stu? Stuart Gagnon?”

Stu grinned at me and my heart did a little pitter-patter. He was so attractive, “yep.”

A gasp escaped me when I took his hand. The tingles! They were there and they were amazing.

“I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. After the emails we’ve exchanged, I was curious as to the phenomenal mind behind them. Now I understand why I was so enthralled,” Stu explained.

I nodded as my words were slow to come, “I was curious as well. I’ve been so impressed with your research.”

“If you would permit me, could I give you a private tour of the clinic and perhaps review our updated protocol with you?” Stu inquired. “Maybe we can get to know each other a little better.”

I blushed a little, before finding my courage to face this situation (which wasn’t all that unappealing after all), “I would like that very much.”

Looking over at Aspen, she smiled and nodded encouragingly. I pulled my hand away from Stu and felt cold. I didn’t like it and I shook my arms out trying to feel warm again. Stu extended his arm, in a polite gesture and I slipped mine through. Helplessly, I leaned into him and took a sniff. He smelled divine! It was warm and familiar and reminded me of home. I heard that your mate felt like home, but I didn’t really believe it. How could a person invoke that type of feeling? I still wasn’t sure, but I wanted to try and figure it out.

Once we were inside, Stu pulled me into his office, “So …” he started.

“We’re mates,” I blurted out.

He chuckled, “Indeed. Are you … ok …?” he trailed off, looking concerned.

I’m sure my face was a picture of shock and my reaction was pretty abnormal. Most wolves recognized their mates and jumped their bones. I wanted to, believe me. Stu was so … pretty, and I really wanted him, but I was nervous. I couldn’t move forward until I knew what his expectations were.

“I … I’m just surprised. I’m 28 and kind of assumed I didn’t have a mate.”

“Me too. I’m 27 and had the same assumption.”

“I’m bisexual,” I blurted out, “my last relationship was with a woman.”

Stu chuckled again, “So am I … I actually thought I would be mated to a man.”

“Oh.” I looked at him, like really looked at him for the first time. His eyes were dark brown and beautiful. He had well-coffed sandy blonde hair and a lovely tan, even though we were in the north. I found myself staring at his lips and wishing I could taste them. They were plump and looked soft and I wanted them, and him.

“Do you want me to stay home and have a bunch of pups?” Might as well just get it over with. Surely, a rejection wouldn’t be too bad at this point.

“And waste your obvious talent?! Hell no! I mean I would love pups someday, if that’s what you want, but my work is flexible and I can work from home much easier than you … assuming you want to continue clinical practice.”

I sighed in relief and wrapped my arms around him, resting my head on his chest.

His hand came up and he stroked my hair. I felt his lips kiss the top of my head, “Were you worried about that? Your mate wanting you to quit your job?”

I nodded, “My last pack, before Silvercrest, was pretty backwards and it’s been a concern. Lots of our kind are still extremely traditional and conservative regarding the roles of women,” I mumbled against his chest.

Stu pulled back and cupped my cheek, “Before I knew you were my mate, I fell in love with your mind and how it works during our correspondence. Finding out you’re the other half of my soul is an incredible bonus to the feelings I already had.”

“You love me?” I was shocked. I enjoyed our correspondence and found Stu so interesting and funny, but I wasn’t sure I loved him, not yet at least.

“I do, I love you, Elise Fagan, my mate.”

I smiled at him, feeling at peace. I didn’t think it was just the bond, love was a risk, but we already had so much in common and had developed a solid friendship with our correspondence. Plus, the bond made me want him. In my medical practice, I trusted my gut and backed it up with science and research to make patient care decisions. The same principle applied here, I had our correspondence and previous interactions over email and now I had my gut, screaming at me to accept him.

“I Elise Fagan accept you Stuart Gagnon as my mate.” It was an old-school practice, but I wanted Stu to know I wanted him. I wasn’t ready to say the three little words, “I love you,” so this was the best I could do for now.

A breathtaking smile crossed Stu’s face, “And I Stuart Gagnon accept you, Elise Fagan, as my mate. Now, for the love of the full moon, can I please, please kiss you?”

I bit my lower lip and nodded. Stu’s thumb came up and pulled my lip free as he ran his thumb across my lip, leaving tingles in its wake. He leaned in and softly brushed his lips against mine. I parted my lips, sighing at the sensation as he deepened the kiss. My hands went around his waist and I pulled his hips towards me as he tilted my head to further explore my mouth. We kissed and kissed and kissed until we were both breathless. Stu’s lips were perfection and I couldn’t get enough.

As we pulled apart to catch our breath, Stu looked amazed, “wow,” he muttered, “you’re amazing.”

I giggled, “so are you.”

“Want to see my latest research and the results?”

Reluctantly, I nodded. I preferred to continue making out, but I was so curious. We headed to his work area which was an observation room connected to the pack’s “changing room.” Stu wrapped his arm around me as we looked at his latest protocol and the results from the last change. He was explaining the tweaks he had made for the normal who’s change we were observing tomorrow. We ended up spending several hours discussing the information, brainstorming, and dreaming about what the change program could become.

I completely lost track of time until my stomach started growling. Stu heard it and looked at me, “Oh man, I’m failing as a mate. Haven’t even fed you.”

I giggled, “You’re not! This was way more fun.”

He pulled me onto his lap, “I can think of a few things that might be more fun,” he smirked.

I leaned forward and gave him another kiss, “so can I, but food first. Isn’t your Luna hosting a dinner party tonight?”

“Yes, but I’m sure we could get out of it.”

“Stu,” I swallowed hard, “I’m so thrilled that we’re mates, but I …” I looked down at my hands, “I need a little time to figure this out,” I eked out a whisper, unable to make eye contact.

Stu’s finger went under my chin and he tilted my face up, “You need some time to analyze your decision and feelings, right?”

I nodded.

“I’m a little disappointed, but not surprised. I could tell from our correspondence that you are methodical in your approach and I can appreciate that. Know that I want you whenever, however you’re comfortable.”

I threw my arms around him and hugged him tightly, “thank you. Thank you so much for being so sweet about my hang-ups.”

“Always.”

With that, we headed off to dinner, where we spent the entire time being all flirty and giggly. I ended up going back to my room because I needed a minute to catch my breath and process.