“Thank you for worrying about me.” She says a soft smile on her lips. She moves to leave but I stop her once more.
“I was wondering if you know where Deimos might be?” I ask her.
She thinks for a while but her eyes light up after she figured it out. “Ah, I heard Alpha Giovanni will be training with him at his private yard. It’s behind his house.”
I thank her quickly and head towards Giovanni’s house which is isolated from the packhouse. I smile and wave at the females on the way training with Elriam and chase some pups around playfully who call out to me. Despite losing their Alpha and Luna this pack has survived excellently under the rule of a young Alpha.
Heading into Giovanni’s house my ears catch the bawling of Gianna. I search for the source and I find her in the arms of an older female. The female sways the screeching pup hurriedly but it does nothing to calm her down.
As soon as the female sees me she startles but quickly bows deep head held low. I open my arms for Gia and the female hands her to me. As soon as Gia comes into my warmth she flinches and quietens startled by the change of scent but once settled starts bawling once more.
So I begin to sway a soft lullaby leaving my lips. I sing her the song of my pack. A song for pups. It’s a scared lullaby calling to the Moon Goddess. My feet move side to side and my body rocks slowly. My palm rubs her back and she finally calms down. Hiccups shake her body and she snuggles into my neck.
I keep singing turning around towards the backyard. As my eyes move up from Gia, I quickly stop singing. To find Deimos and Giovanni staring at me in awe. Giovanni’s eyes shift to the now sleeping Gianna in my arms whilst Deimos looks at me with a look I still cannot seem to decipher.
He looks at me as if he is happy but scared? He is excited but fear consumes him? I don’t understand this look but he often has it when I am with pups. His eyes never leave mine so I try to read his mind now that I can.
As I enter his mind, he flinches and quickly creates a barrier to his thoughts. My eyes widen to his reaction. Why? Why did you hide from me? Rather what are you hiding?
Deimos clears his throat and orders, “Let’s continue.” Giovanni nods in response and with one last glance at his sister he enters the spar.
As I look down at the sleeping Gianna in my arms I close my eyes and sigh in acknowledgment of my feelings that are rising to the peak. Yes, I want a pup of my own. I have been hiding this strong desire within me for years, perhaps that is the main reason I was urging Deimos to take me.
I want something only he can give. A family. I neither wished nor even hoped for a mate but the goddess gifted me one. And I know for sure she will provide me a family. But perhaps there would be a struggle with my male.
Perhaps I will gather courage and face him tonight. I might be walking on thin ice but I wish to know his thoughts on my desire. What can I do? I have become greedy.
“Get up!” Deimos screams as Giovanni struggles to stand on his feet from the ground he was just thrown on. He bleeds from the side of his face.
“G-Give me a sec-” Giovanni stutters but Deimos pays him no heed.
“You don’t have seconds in the damn war. You have to save yourself and your pack! Do you even understand this?” Deimos questions. His voice is loud and stern.
Giovanni looks up at his uncle, his eyes on fire. His palm fists the earth, gathering mud in his hands. Clenching his jaw he struggles to get up putting all his energy into his legs. His blood coats the side of his cheek dripping down to his neck.
“Faster Gio! Do you think your opponent will wait kindly and patiently for the Alpha to get back on his feet? By the time you get up, members of your pack will be slaughtered. You will not be-” Deimos instructs with experience for every misdoing of Giovanni.
“Don’t call me that.” My ears pick up Giovanni’s whisper as he cuts Deimos off.
Deimos stills and watches the juvenile calmly linking his arms behind his back. “Don’t call you what? Gio?” He asks.
“I said don’t call me that!” Giovanni snarls, fangs bare. His wolf ready to pounce. My eyes widen. I have never seen him get angry at Deimos. He was always calm and composed. He controlled himself with his uncle. I knew that. I saw that.
“Why must I do as you say… Gio?” My eyes snap to Deimos. Why is he irking him? Why is he angering him further? He told me a few days ago that Giovanni held anger and pain towards him. Giovanni was controlling it.
Giovanni’s body begins to shake out of rage as his uncle does not listen to his words. “Only wolves who are close to me can call me that.”
“And what am I to you, Gio?” Deimos questions calmly but he takes a protective stance. He knows Giovanni has no control left. Deimos is preparing for his anger.
A deep growl leaves Giovanni’s lips as he charges towards his uncle with full force. His rage finally taking control of his sanity. Deimos predicts his move and quickly dodges his oncoming fist. Giovanni moves quickly with full speed sliding through the mud with only one aim. To hit, to injure.
“You are nothing to me!” Giovanni screams as Deimos visibly flinches to his harsh words.