"And who is the beautiful lady beside you?" The mysterious woman asked, referring to me. She should be his grandma. They had similar facial structures.
"Gamgam, meet Isabella. She just moved into the pack." Her eyes darted to me as he introduced me. Her way her jaw was set reminded me of when I met Harry.
"And Isabella, meet my gamgam." I stretched my hands to shake her, but she refuted it. Instead, she enveloped me in a tight grip. She may be small, but she sure is a force to reckon with. Her tiny frame squeezed me to death.
I froze for a bit, clearly not expecting the sudden hug. But I soon melt into a hug, feeling safe in those arms. It reminded me of home, of my mom and her hugs. I leaned into it, pressing my nose into her neck as I inhaled her scent. She smelled of drugs and injections and of the hospital. But underneath all that, I could detect a hint of spice: rosemary, curry, and the likes.
She finally parted from the hug after a few seconds, after Harry had to tap her to let go. She continued staring at me, smiling for no particular reason. I had a hint of what she was thinking, but I was hoping it wouldn't be true.
"So..." she nudges Harry with her elbow as we come in front of a brown door. "Is she your girlfriend?" She asked, giving him a sly look.
"No gamgam. Are you too old for all these things?" He replied, somewhat amused. "We actually came to ask a favor from you. Besides, Isabella here already has a mate."
"Alright, alright, please do come in and make yourself comfortable and I will try and see what I can do for you."
"Thank you." We got inside, and made ourselves comfortable on the chairs. I removed the handkerchief I kept in my pocket, using it to dab at my face. I don’t know if it was the walk we took, but I was feeling hot. This was the first time I had experienced this, so I didn’t know what to make of it. We do have hot weather back at home, but it was nothing compared to this.
"Please, can you turn on the air coolers?" I called out, unable to bear it any longer.
Gam looked at me with narrow eyes, trying to process my request before she replied, "It is already on."
Oh. I couldn't help but feel a wave of disappointment and, of course, heat. I slumped into my chair, feeling dejected.
"Don't worry, we will just lower the temperature, right gamma?"
"Hmm... yes, we can do that." She reached for a remote on the table and pressed a button. A relaxed sigh escaped me as I felt relief when the heat began to dissipate.
"Better now?" He asked, grinning at my direction.
"Yes, thank you."
"So, Harry, what brings you here?" She asked, fixing the hair on her head.
"My friend here," he gestured to me, "is a graduate of anatomy, and she just moved to the pack recently, and she is getting bored. I don't know if there is any opening where she can work here.
"Hmm... So, you are a graduate of anatomy?" She asked, her eyes on her as if she was trying to peek into my soul.
"Yes Ma'am."
"Oh child." Her giggles echo across the room. "Don't be so formal. Just call me Gamgam, OK?"
"Yes, gamgam."
"So, child, did you work in your pack's clinic before coming here, or will this be your first job?"
"I've been working in my former pack. I was mainly helping with autopsy cases. But I can also treat wounds and fix broken bones. Honestly, I am basically good at treating common werewolf problems." I spluttered, trying to sell myself well. I said a short prayer to the moon goddess, begging her to help me.
I could literally go crazy if I spent another day inside, alone. This was unlike me, and for that reason, it made me miss home more. I was rarely idle at home. I was always on the go, and if I was, I wouldn't be this bored. I had work to do. I had friends to visit and just freedom.
"I will see what I can do. I will get back to you tomorrow. She replied, her voice disrupting my thoughts.
"Uhh?" I was so preoccupied with my thoughts that I didn't hear what she was saying.
Harry leaned closer to reach me before he whispered in my ears. "She said she would get back to you." I nodded my thanks to Harry, truly grateful for his help.
"Thank you for the help, Gamgam."
"It is nothing, child." She replied, waving me off. Harry got up from the chair and stretched his muscles before opening his mouth.
"We will be on our way, Gamgam."
"There go the children of nowadays. They don't even bother with their grandmothers again because they have grown." She lamented, sniffing as she pretended to wipe the fake tears from her eyes.
I tried to stifle my laughter as he cast a side glance at me, rolling his eyes at her words. "Don't start this game, it isn't going to work." He grunted with an unimpressed voice.
"Alright, let me not hold you back. Go enjoy your little date. She waved her hands as she tried to shoo us off like hens.
"Gamgam!"
"What?" She exclaimed, feigning ignorance. Crinkles formed around her eyes as her mouth curled into a smile. She was such a tease, and she enjoyed it.
"Goodbye, gamgam." I waved excitedly at her before Harry held my hands and led me outside, making sure to bang the door shut. I could hear her laugh from inside, clearly amused by her grandson's reaction.
"Whew! That is one thing off my list, so where to next?" I didn't really have a grand plan for today, except that I would count on rebelling against Richard. I didn’t know what to do now, so I had to ask Harry since he was the one that offered to take me on a tour.
"Hmm, I don't know, what would you like to do?"
"Don't ask me, I don't know. I am still new to the pack. Besides, you were the one that wanted to take me on this tour. So, this is the opportunity to show me all the goodness your pack has to offer."
Silence descended upon us as we made for the exit. He strokes his chin as he thinks deeply, trying to come up with an idea. Beads of sweat began to pool on my forehead as we continued.
I dabbed my face with the handkerchief I had snuck in my pocket. Something is happening to me, but I can’t place it. It should be the damn weather. My body is just trying to get used to the environment.
The temperature around me had suddenly gone up, and it was getting uncomfortable. I looked at Harry, trying to see if he was also feeling this crazy heat. But he didn't seem like he was feeling it, and if he was, he did a good job of hiding it. With nothing to do, I began to play a game called "stepping on white tiles." It is exactly as the name implies. I was just stepping on the white tiles. So far, I had managed to step on 34 white tiles when I heard a finger snap.
"I know just the perfect thing to do." Now I was curious, what is this perfect thing he is talking about? "When last did you let your wolf out for a run? In fact, since you got here, have you even gone for a run?"
Kiayra's ears peeked up at the word "run," excited about it. I almost felt guilty. I had my head so high in my ass that I forgot I hadn't let Kiayra out since we arrived. Should we go on a run? What do you think, Kiayra?
Yes, I would love to go on a run, but I would want my first run here to be with my mate. No unfamiliar male will get to see me before him.
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at her. There she goes again. SIMP
"Did I say something wrong?"
"W-what? I don't understand.
"You rolled your eyes at me, so I guess you don’t like the idea," he said with a dejected voice.
"Oh no no no, it is a great idea. I was just talking to my wolf. She doesn’t think it is a good idea. You know what, maybe next time? Besides, I think we should just head home. I don’t feel too fine.
"What’s wrong? He asked, his eyes scanning throughout the length of my body to see if there was anything wrong.
"It is nothing big. I promise. It is just my body trying to get used to the environment."
"Hmm, if you say so." He doesn’t look totally convinced, but he decided to let it go. We continued in silence, not the awkward type but a more comfortable one. Neither of us felt the urge to talk, and it was fine by me. I had to gather my thoughts.
"Luna Betty!" Harry grinned as he bowed his head to the woman in front of us. I froze as I locked eyes with her. SHIT!