Lea was sitting in the pack doctor's office. She marveled at how it was like a human hospital. She longed to see the lab. She could look into the differences between a natural werewolf and her DNA after her change.
But of course, that isn't why she was here. Royden was right. She did need to see if she was able to have children now without risking them or herself.
Royden was sitting with her and holding her hand. His steadfast support, his belief in her, and faith in their wolf's abilities gave her the strength to be here. She wondered if she would have had the bravery to have taken this step without him.
Yes, she started her journey here with the hope that her change would make having children possible, but she feared that all it did was make her into a werewolf. She loved her wolf; she was so strong and sure of herself.
Then she realized, did her wolf have a name, or was it hers as well?
'I do,' her wolf told her.
'I'm so sorry,' Lea apologized, 'I should have asked before, most definitely long before now.'
'Lea you have gone through so much. I have no animosity against you.'
'What's your name?'
'It's Sophia,'
'The Greek word for wisdom,' Lea said, 'which makes complete sense as to your advice since we found each other.'
"Lea," Royden touched her cheek.
Lea blinked and turned to him. "Yes."
"That was a long talk you were having with your wolf."
"Yes, I finally realized that I didn't know her name."
"You've been through so much the last couple of weeks. Not to mention that this is all new to you. You wouldn't have known that our wolves have their own identities."
"You were born into this life. You know your wolf's name. Why haven't you told me mine would have her own identity?"
"To be honest, I didn't want to overwhelm you with too much too soon, then you immersed yourself in the library."
"That's true. I suppose I still have a lot to learn."
"Alphas," a tall African American man walked into the outer office. He stood around an inch shorter than Royden she guessed from her angle. His hair seemed to be purposely tamed back.
Royden stood and moved to him and shook his hand. "Jared, thank you for seeing us this quickly."
Jared waved off Royden's words. "Please, it's an honor to attend to you and our new Alpha."
Lea stood as well and moved next to Royden. "Truly, it is appreciated considering the last-minute call," Lea said.
Jared smiled at Lea. She couldn't help but smile back. He reminded her of her favorite actor. He was tall, maybe 6'3". His hair was cut short and styled. His eyes though were beautiful sea green.
She reached out and shook his hand. Royden let out a low growl. Lea turned and shook her head at him. As if to say she was just being courteous, not testing the goods.
"Let's head back to the exam room," Jared said and turned to lead them back.
They followed him and he motioned them into the first room. Again Lea was struck at how it was like being in a human doctor's office. The exam table, the counters, the swabs, everything identical to the human version.
"Go ahead and get on the exam table Alpha Lea," Jared said and pulled out his paper and pen as she complied. "So what brings you in today?"
Lea hesitated, she never spoke to anyone other than Royden about this. She felt her bravado leaving her. Then Royden touched her shoulder and silently encouraged her to go ahead. Taking a deep breath she turned to Jared.
"I need to know if I'm able to carry pups."
There she said it. Albeit very quickly, like pulling off a bandage, but she said it.
"Can you tell me why you would be concerned about not being able to have pups?" Jared asked.
'Tell him everything Lea,' Sophia encouraged. Taking another deep breath Lea started from the very beginning. How she never was able to conceive with her first husband, the test results, her doctor's prognosis, and probable results if she were to get pregnant.
Then she told him about her experiment, how she had changed herself into a werewolf with the hope that she would be able to have children. She also told him of her fear that it didn't do anything to change her condition, but it did give her the gift of her wolf Sophia. At that, she heard Sophia agreeing that she also saw Lea as a gift.
"I see," Jared said as he was writing down everything, "The first thing that I would suggest is that we do an ultrasound. Let's look and see if anything has changed."
With that, he left the room.
A few minutes later Jared walked back in wheeling the ultrasound machine. He handed her a gown.
"I'll wait outside," he said, "Let me know when you are ready."
"Thank you," Lea said
"Thank you, Jared," Royden said as he left.
Lea stood for a moment. 'Sophia?'
'Yes, Lea.'
'I'm scared,' she confessed.
'I know Lea. This step is needed to ease your mind. Until you see it, you won't believe it. That's just who you are.'
Lea snickered, 'How'd you get to know me so well so quickly?'
'We are a part of each other. When you turned and Luna sent me to you she revealed all of who you are so that I can be your protector, your other half.'
'Hmm,' Lea thought on this for a moment, 'Seems a bit one-sided though.'
"Lea," Royden's voice yanked her out of her conversation with Sophia.
"Sorry, we did it again, didn't we?"
"Yes, but the look on your face was starting to concern me. You looked a bit upset."
"Not upset, just maybe a little irritated."
"Why?"
"Luna let Sophia know everything there was to know about me when I turned. Why would I not be allowed the same gift?"
"Luna may still grant you that. It could also be that she wished you to adjust to being a wolf now. To get to know Sophia at the same time as understanding what it means to be a werewolf and the relationship between you and Sophia. It's different for you as you were not born into this life. We will learn together."
Royden wrapped his arms around her and soothingly ran his hands rhythmically along her spine.
Lea moaned at the pleasure it brought to her to be in his arms. "I'll always love this feeling won't I." She said.
"As I will my love," Royden agreed. "Now get changed so that we can get those answers for you."
"Ok," Lea changed out of her blouse & slipped on the hospital gown. When she was done Royden let the doctor back in.
"Ok Lea," Jared said, "Go ahead and lay down on the table."
Lea sat on the exam table. Jared moved the ultrasound machine closer and flipped it on. He put a clear gel on the wand then turned to Lea.
"As I'm sure you know, this is going to be cold for a moment. Please raise your shirt a bit and lower your pants just a little."
Royden growled.
"Royden," Lea said and caught his attention, "It's ok." With that, she did as he asked. Not so much as to cause a problem for Royden.
Jared placed the wand on Lea's lower abdomen and searched around her pelvis as he watched the monitor.
"You said your wolf told you that your changes included you being able to have children?"
"Yes."
"Well, it seems that she is correct. I see nothing here that would put you or any pups in danger."
Lea burst out crying at the news. She felt Royden's arms go around her to soothe.
"Shh, my love."
"Children Royden, I can be a mother, have your son or daughter now."
"I'm glad I was able to put this worry to rest for you." With that, Jared began cleaning the wand.
"Thank you, Jared," Royden said then turned back to Lea.
Once Jared left the room Lea got dressed. They left and headed back to Royden's office. Lea seemed to feel lighter. Like her whole world had changed in a matter of minutes, and indeed it had. Her dreams were getting closer to reality.
She moved to the window and looked out to see the other families. Children playing with each other. 'Ours Sophia, we can be a mother. We can stand here and watch our pups playing just like this.'
'Just as I said Lea,' Sophia agreed, 'Luna would not have lied to us.'