20

I was—unfortunately—right, and the next meeting David told us about was going to be on Wednesday. We learned that from the website, and there wasn't another one scheduled.

So it was then or then .

We would make it work or just swoop in and round people up since we had enough to do that. Now that we had the name of the doctor, I wanted him and his office first. He would be easy to break and get us names and more, but we were going to do it quietly as if he was in trouble for not paying his taxes.

He was taking money under the table to do bad things so yeah, the IRS was pretty good at sniffing that out. It made the most sense.

But before that and my work, apparently I was needed as Alpha. Nothing shocked me more than finding out several of the women of the pack were in the lobby of the FBI office to talk to me Monday morning.

And what I heard made my blood boil. Not just at the men who had been involved, but the women who had told them to let it go and not make a big deal of it. The fact they told their daughters or younger members of the pack to just accept bad behavior disgusted me.

So I was a sarcastic shit in my seething rage kind of way.

I worked on what I needed to in between what was coming in and reviewing other things. I sent the women on a few errands for me and told them what I was plotting, glad when they were on board to help since I was seriously busy.

But in the end, it needed to come from me as Alpha.

Once work was officially over—which was sort of an oxymoron for the FBI—we set up in one of the unused meeting rooms. Ashley and her friends handled the tech side of it, but a few of our techies realized something was going on and gave us a hand.

Behind me on the whiteboard were a few things written that undoubtedly gave them a hint that I was pissed and what I was working on should be good.

And there was a PowerPoint presentation that would come on with the video in a split screen with me. I was ready when they gave me the green light we were recording. They could edit the video later, but there probably wasn't much to be done, and I certainly wasn't going to care enough to do any retakes.

"I'm Alpha Sera, and before any of you are allowed on our pack lands again for the joint full moon functions, all of your Alphas will assure me that you have watched this video. It's called ‘Periods for Pricks.'" That was half of what was written behind me. "It has been brought to my attention that some of the men of the pack and guests have had some issues.

"Apparently, you're a bit squeamish about wolves who are on their periods during the full moon and that you have to deal with that." I turned and slapped the other board where I had writing. "Grow the fuck up. That is the main message of this video along with education, but I want you to hear me that the answer is you need to grow the fuck up.

"The women of the pack or any shifters do not need to change how they handle their bodies and needs for the very normal thing of menstruation. You need to—say it with me now — grow the fuck up ." I slapped on a hostile smile and nodded. "You are only here because of a woman who menstruated and then had your stupid ass.

"You want to know what's gross? What we go through to pop you idiots out. That's gross. What happens to our bodies to give you life is horrific. And what came out of your asses later that we have to clean up. By the gods, it's—I haven't grown nose hairs since. They all withered and died. And the gross belly button alien we had to deal with.

"Oh, and the cream for your penises to protect them from the diapers. I'm still traumatized from having to do that and be in charge of that. That was all gross. My period is not gross. You don't understand gross if that has your delicate, fragile sensibilities shattered because someone took out a tampon around you.

"Or you saw pads in clothes when they undressed to shift. That's just life. And the fact that any of you—you all chew into animals and get blood all over the damn place and you're going to cry about a damn pad? Fine, the prey don't, but even some of them eat meat so raw I gag. But you know what I did?"

I went back to the board and slapped it.

"Yeah, I grew the fuck up and dealt with it. And so will all of you. Because we ignore your damn boners because you're excited to shift or you're so damn happy you got to chase and eat squirrels while you ran around. We were mature and ignored it. You didn't . And I plan on having words with a bunch of you because we know what really happened.

"You wanted to get a moment to be pervs and check out the hotties who had to get naked in front of you. That's how you were paying such close attention to notice what was going on when they handled their needs off to the side. Anyone want to argue with me that we aren't supposed to do that? It's against the code of being shifters, right?

"So you little shits were stepping out of line and then had the balls—stupidity really—to then whine and moan that they were on their periods and you had to see that, deal with it. You didn't deal with shit . You saw something. Oh no. You poor dears. Let me check you're okay after I kick your ass all over the place."

I moved to the table and gestured to the array of period products that I'd had Ashley pick up for me.

"Now you're going to really learn more than what I'm sure you did during your two seconds of women's health you didn't pay attention to in high school." I picked up the first tampon and opened it. "This gets inserted in us and pushed up as basically a plug to keep a shedding uterus under control and absorb that gross ."

I pushed the plunger and showed them.

"This applicator can't be flushed. So whichever genius said that—you're extra stupid. Pads can't be flushed either if you like your plumbing and house."

I went through the line talking about flows and showing the different sizes. Then the different pads, menstruation cups, and even overnight period underwear.

"Now, since this is educational, I'm going to overshare for those of you who might need a bit of advice," I told them, holding up a normal, super, and super plus tampon. "I start with normal, most of my period I use super, but for those couple of heavy days or overnight, I use super plus. The size of tampon needed does not mean the woman is a whore or loose.

"The rule of thumb is if you're bleeding or ‘leaking' around your tampon in a couple of hours, you need to go up a level. If it's uncomfortable to take out after a few hours, you need to go down a level. Same with pads, but I find them uncomfortable given my job and activity level. I have only tried the menstrual cup twice and I didn't like it.

"I felt it, and while I've heard that means I need to try a different brand, I haven't had the spare time to get into it all. We're busy as women. Sometimes busy dealing with idiots, so unfortunately you might need to get used to that. If they're stupid with you, come to me, and I promise I have a doctorate in how to handle stupid men and I will smack sense into them."

My lips twitched when a few of the women snickered or tried to smother a laugh. Glad this was having the intended effect.

"Now, hopefully, you now understand a bit better about this completely normal and natural process that happens to women every month. I would have thought it wouldn't be an issue with people who were half animal and all about natural everything—including some of you scratching behind your ears and sniffing butts.

"Apparently, some of your idiotic male DNA couldn't be helped. My other beef is with the women who told some of the young women to leave this alone or let it go." I snapped one of the tampons in my hand without even meaning to. "I don't know what generation you're from or what—actually, I don't care. Please keep your stupid quiet going forward.

"We don't accept bad behavior in this pack. We don't allow men to treat women badly or demean us in any way so a ‘fuss' isn't kicked up or whatever. No, we spank the idiot men. Repeatedly, if needed. I also have questions about the men in your life that you thought it was something shameful or to be hidden because they had pads in their panties.

"Because I thought we were more evolved than that being part animal. I grew up human and was still in that mindset. My husband recently wanted to be intimate during my cycle and I was dumbfounded, absolutely flabbergasted that he even wanted to shower with me. I reminded him of my menstruation and he chuckled that I worried over that.

"He said it was the most natural thing in the world and the reason I would be able to give his son a sibling one day." I smiled when a few of the women swooned a bit. "He didn't care. He takes care of me during it and washed me during my yucky period you boys are ready to faint over having seen proof we have them.

"So again…" I went over to the board and tapped it. "Say it with me. Grow the fuck up and become men. Ladies, if the men in your life don't behave this way, you might want to think about getting new men in your life. Truly. Because our menstruation is no joke."

I nodded when the women glanced at each other.

"I was human first. My period is worse as a shifter. Supe birth control is at least five times worse than it was as a human. It sucks. It sucks massively . And we suffer through that so you can have sex and not babies before you're ready, you spoiled little shits. Should we put a rule into place where you all get snip-snipped?

"I wouldn't be shocked that there isn't some sort of supe vasectomy, but I'm rich, and I think I'm going to fund that research. You boys deal with that instead of us suffering every damn month. I was uncontrollably vomiting and thought I was practically dying during my first dose of the birth control. It's horrible .

"If you ever doubt that or have questions, I will gladly kick you in the stomach every time I see you. And before some of you say I'm exaggerating or overreacting— I'm not . I have been kicked in the stomach. It absolutely feels like that even when I do hydrate and all of the warnings to behave before our periods.

"All of my Alphas will get those period pain simulators and learn how to use them before putting them on every male in the pack. I've used them, and I can tell you that the highest level is not high enough for the cramps and pain I experience now on the supe birth control. I suggest the other Alphas we have alliances with who use our lands do the same. Strongly suggest."

I went on for a bit more and outlined why they were stupid men but mostly just wrapped up.

"Oh, and I suggest those who had the problem or didn't handle it appropriately by backing up the young women of my pack make sure to apologize. Soon." I walked over to the board and smacked it for the last time. "Take this to heart, or I will kick your asses all over my lands. Good talk."

Everyone there died when I was done and I simply shrugged. I had no patience for idiots.

It did lead to a conversation about having some fancier porta potties brought out to the pack lands and look into maybe putting in some bathrooms like the park districts had. Not just for that but… Life.

And then the men could handle disposal if they were going to be such babies.

They edited the video and put it all together while we had dinner and I kept working. They did a great job, and I approved the final version to go out.

I should have been shocked by the call I received the next morning but honestly, with the boys club of the FBI, I really wasn't.

I was just annoyed.

"Hold on one second," I told the asshole and put him on hold before he could even respond. I called the HR manager I'd talked to in DC who'd made it clear that she wanted me to involve her after my issues with the boys club that had happened with Brian's promotion. She was dedicated to working up the chain and getting rid of that toxic shit.

Yes. Please.

Luckily, she was able to take my call, and I filled her in before warning her I was adding Galvin. She chuckled and told me to go right ahead.

I was fairly shocked Galvin could take my call, but it was probably just a good time between meetings. I thanked him and warned him there were others on the line before bringing all the calls back together.

"Okay, so now that I've looped in a few people about this topic, could you repeat what you just lectured me about?" I drawled.

"You didn't say you were putting me on hold to—this isn't something you needed to bother others for and—"

My eye started twitching. "Oh no, you don't get to call and lecture me on something that's none of your business and certainly not your place and now try to turn it around that I'm the problem when I'm calling you on it. You have no reason to directly contact me given your role, and I'm very certain you have no standing to reprimand me for anything. Ever.

"And certainly not about what I do in my private time or how I educate my pack . That was a video on a supe channel for supes. The fact you gossips already all know about it and have passed it around and you immediately call me to lecture me that the FBI has a problem with me publicly speaking about my damn period is an issue.

"I'm sorry you and whomever else you speak for—and I'm damn sure you shouldn't be speaking for the whole FBI or as their mouthpiece—are offended that I talked about tampons and my damn flow. But I would like to say the same thing I did in the video. You need to grow up. Seriously, you are too old to be this big of a baby and really act this inappropriately.

"On top of that, I have spent my entire career hearing too much information of men. I know more about Viagra and the side effects than I ever should and not be a medical professional. How do I know this? I work for the FBI, and apparently men can say whatever they want in the office, but I need to be censored on my personal time.

"One of my instructors at Quantico was bitching about it and how his wife got tired of his boner, the stuff worked so well. And when I told him that I didn't think that was an appropriate conversation topic given the time and place, he told me to take my Midol and not be such a sensitive baby. So we can talk about my period in the FBI if it's to mock me.

"But education and putting fools in their place? Oh, hell no, right? That's not allowed. I can name five people who have trouble getting it up because of their blood pressure medication, talking about it in meetings like nothing. That's fine but not my menstruation? On my personal time. Are you having a laugh, or are you on medication that you don't hear how ridiculous this is?"

"You've made your point, Thomas, but you don't have to get hysterical about all of this and make a scene when you could have calmly said something," he snapped.

"I'm not hysterical. I'm not even raising my voice. A woman isn't hysterical because I call you on your crap which is why I brought witnesses because if I told you it was crap with just the two of us, you would have walked away and said I'm hysterical and a pain and a bitch like the others, and I'm over that. I don't get paid enough to deal with this crap.

"And I just got a damn raise. I am annoyed . I'm up to my eyeballs in corruption here from a police department and two different courts around here. A doctor. A whole office of attorneys it seems. So I am busy doing my actual job, and you apparently think it's your job to police my mouth about my damn body.

"Which it's not. I'm sorry someone's tighty whities got twisted because I told his wife or partner to leave his stupid ass if he doesn't handle her menstruation better, but then be better and grow up. And does DC have nothing better to do or no crime to handle? We can send them work from Chicago if you guys are so bored you're all sharing this video.

"Seriously, if you guys are that bored and not doing your jobs while I'm living in this office to upgrade it and handle all we have on our plates, I will gladly share. So I am annoyed that you have time to call me and bother me with this crap as well as think you have the right or authority to treat any woman in the FBI this way. Does that clear up my position on this?"

"Very well," the HR manager cut in. "And you are correct that there is no reason for him to be contacting you given your roles. He certainly has no right to be speaking on behalf of the FBI, and he didn't file anything through the appropriate channels. I believe it's because he knew how it would be handled. It will be handled that way now. Correct, Director Galvin?"

"Yes, absolutely," he said, his voice weird. "I will sign the formal write-up and whatever else you feel is best. I apologize, but I have to drop off the call for another meeting."

He did before we could say anything and then the other guy did mumbling that women were such a handful.

"They really shouldn't let me have a loaded gun around some of these assholes," I grumbled.

"I didn't hear that," she chuckled. "But I did hear what he said, and I believe this will do nicely to push him towards retirement. Especially since I wasn't done talking to you both and he just dropped off like that. So I'm going to go finish that conversation to his face so he can call me hysterical too."

"Glad to be of help," I chuckled darkly. I talked to her a bit more and then hung up with a sigh. I really, really didn't have time for this shit.

I was about to get back to what I needed to work on when my cell beeped with a text.

Brian: I love you so much, babe. That was great.

Sera: What was?

Brian: The call! Galvin was on a call with Monroe and me and patched you in thinking that you were joining late about the training. We didn't have time to stop him or say it was about anything else. We heard the whole thing.

Brian: He had to mute us. That's why he didn't say anything or chirp in. He was laughing at the chewing out you gave that asshole. We all were. Shit, you put him in his place so hard that—it was great. I love you.

Sera: Thanks.

Brian: What's wrong? You put that dick in his place.

I swallowed a sigh. I didn't have time for this, but I didn't want some other misunderstanding between Brian and me to form.

Sera: This bullshit has been my whole career, Brian. I get it was funny to hear me chew him out, but I'm still stuck on the fact that he thought it was completely acceptable to call me and chew me out.

Sera: It just makes me want to walk out the door and never come back that some guy I've never met in DC thinks he has the right and should tear into me about what I do as Alpha on my free time. It's great that it's now being handled under Galvin, but the rest of my career I just had to accept that. And I'm tired of all of it.

Sera: I'm tired of accepting things that should never have been allowed to happen to start.

Brian: You're right and I'm sorry he shit on you, especially when you're neck-deep in this big case. Galvin, Monroe, and I thought the video was amazing and exactly how to put idiots in place. So know those who value you support you and we're on your side.

Brian: I'm always on your side. I've never done more during your period because you always seemed uncomfortable at the idea. It never bothered me. Even when I was human. I want you in all ways and to experience everything with you.

Brian: Go kick ass and show these other assholes who's boss in Chicago, and I'll bring home a nice dinner and we'll have a quiet night when it's over. Just hang and watch a movie and hide all the bakery boxes from Dain. Sound good?

Sera: Yes, please.

That was exactly what I needed. Maybe a damn cartoon, and we could just watch with Topher and… Live. Have a night to remember why I fought so much and constantly put myself through so much.

I needed to remember that more often before I gave up.