To say Zorra was being bitchier than usual lately was an understatement.  She was starting to get downright aggressive. 

Sargasso was orbiting closer in the direction of Solar, and the hideout was heating up.  As a native of Fichina, she and warm weather did not get along…  Not that she was getting along with anyone as of late.  The higher temperatures managed to trigger her heat cycle, and it was driving her fucking crazy.

She couldn’t remember the last time she got laid— actually, yes, she did.  In fact, she remembered it better than she wished.  She hadn’t slept with anyone since the night before Falco up and disappeared.  That had been years ago, and the bitter memory left her even more agitated than her raging hormones.  She had no desire to get involved with anyone else, even if her body begged otherwise.  She swore to herself she’d be fine.  She figured she’d just ride it out like she had somehow managed to do in the past...

That was far easier said than done.

It started as more frequent bickering with the other members of the Star Wolf crew.  Ranting at Leon a little longer than usual for failing to cover her ass during a dogfight, snapping at Panther for being a little too friendly towards her in the mess hall, eventually escalating to chewing out and shoving random thugs for not watching where they were walking as she stormed through the space zone.  It was largely ignored.  Sargasso wasn’t necessarily crawling with upstanding citizens.  Nastiness was the name of the game.

Wolf had noticed her behavior.  One would have to be blind not to, and he still had one good eye.  Frankly, he found it humorous at first.  She was a smart enough girl that she knew better than to open her snout around him, and most of the others deserved it.  It amused him to see the feisty little furball put hardened criminals in their place.  Yet as much as he admired spunk, one thing he didn’t tolerate was poor performance.  Whatever had crawled up her ass had thrown her off her game.  Even the slightest slip-up from one of his best men— or women, in her case— could cost him, and nothing… Nothing came between him and his money.

“Lenoir.”

Wolf’s booming voice echoed through the hanger the moment she jumped out of her Wolfen after a particularly rough mission, causing her fur to stand on end.  She spun around with a scowl.

“Yeah?”

“Get your tail to Command,” he barked.  “Now.”

Zorra’s ears went flat and her tail hung low, but her paws were balled into tight fists by her side.  She didn’t argue.  She just left the hanger, avoiding the smug gazes from Leon and Panther as she did.

On the other hand, Wolf took his sweet time meeting her there.  He intended to let her simmer, to waste her time since she almost wasted an entire job with her bullshit.  If she knew what was good for her, she’d use that time wisely to cook up a damn good excuse.

Eventually, he strolled into the command center where he’d sent her to wait.  The moment the doors slid open his nostrils flared.  He realized he could smell her before he spotted her leaning against the wall, brooding. The weeks of aggression suddenly made sense.

The bitch was in heat.

The doors shut behind him, effectively sealing him in there with her pheromones.  The scent wasn’t overpowering, but it was unmistakable.  He was surprised that it took him this long to notice it, but he supposed she had been keeping her distance.  He couldn’t help the low growl that escaped him as he ran a paw over his face.  In all his years of running a crew, he’d never had to have this conversation, especially not with a lady.  He couldn’t have this.  No matter how good she was, he couldn’t have this little problem of hers causing a distraction for herself or others.

He walked over to a cabinet on the wall opposite of her, pulling out a bottle of liquor and a glass.  After pouring himself a finger’s worth, he tossed it back before facing her.

“When’s the last time you got laid, Lenoir?”

Zorra scoffed at the blunt remark and opened her mouth to protest, but he wasn’t having it.

“Don’t give me shit, Lenoir,” Wolf stopped her before she could start.  Her snout snapped shut and she shot him a venomous glare, which he returned.  He sat the empty glass down, the stalked over to where she stood.  That scent of hers was maddening in close proximity.  If he were a weaker mutt, he’d already have this problem of hers solved.  It took great restraint, but he kept his cool as he towered over her.

“These past few days, you’ve gotten sloppy, aggressive.  I didn’t hire you to be a liability,” he continued.  “Thing is, I honestly don’t give a shit how long it’s been or how you get this out of your system, but I suggest you figure it out fast.”

“How?” she growled.

That tough act of hers didn’t fail to get a chuckle out of him.

“You’re one of, if not the only female around these parts,” he said.  “You’re telling me you can’t find a single person on this big ass space station willing to rut against you?”

She just glared up at him, causing him to raise a brow.

“Or are you that picky?”  He reached up to pinch her cheek, and she quickly knocked his paw away.  He couldn’t fight the predatory grin that forced itself onto his face.  For as tough as she acted, she was still a cute little thing.  “You know, you’re adorable when you’re pissed, kit.”

The narrowing of Zorra’s eyes wasn’t lost on Wolf, nor was the flattening of her ears.  He tested his luck, allowing his paw to return to her chin to scratch it.  This time, didn’t swat at him or flinch away.  He leaned in closer, bringing his snout to her ear.

“If you’re really this desperate, I wouldn’t mind helping you out with this little problem of yours.”

She didn’t answer.  She didn’t need to.  He could smell the answer on her.  Judging by the way she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, she realized that too.