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."