The air was icy. The jagged walls of frozen glass distorted the shadows caused by the few drops of water that used to run from the ceiling. The thin transparent floor threatened to shatter. Such an inhospitable, strange and lonely place where no one would like to be.
Slow footsteps broke the exhausting silence. The figure advanced through the various paths that formed a labyrinth as if this was his daily routine. The lights projected slightly reflected on the long strands of silver hair around the immense and imposing figure. Litus, alpha of the ice pack felt at home.
The wolf advanced confidently, that strange place had been part of his pack’s grounds for so many years that it had been lost within the family records but that did not make it lose its value as a treasure. His brother had always refused to go there. Being alpha of the fire pack, despite being twins they had totally different tastes.
Their steps were measured and soft, taking care not to break the thin layer of ice that covered the 30 kilometers of depth of that strange cave. No one knew its true origin, nor its full extent, but it hid deep secrets. One of them was what he now had in front of him. His dark green orbs lit up as he stood again in front of the pool of lost souls. It had been 10 years since he had last been there, along with them who had accompanied him.
The water had a grayish yet crystalline coloration. All around him there were several ice stones that made the temperature even lower in there forming a slight crystal crust trapping everything that could be inside. He knelt down and put his fingers on the surface and touched it carefully. He jerked his hand away and stood up in alarm. He swallowed dryly.
The supposed scab was gone, it had melted and the temperature of the water was several degrees warmer. He frowned and stepped back. The surface of the water began to move in various directions as if whatever was trapped in there wanted to get out but was it time?
He was worried, though his face only hardened. One of his current jobs was to keep that thing in and not let it out until it was in its best state, but it seemed it was too late to contain it. Perhaps they had gotten the predictions wrong so he just backed off further giving it space.
The pond’s movements weakened until the water was undisturbed. Suddenly, from the center, a shadow was cast approaching the surface from the depths. Its advance was steady and little by little it emerged. First the head covered with black hair, then the youthful face, the developed torso, the narrow waist, the rounded hips, the shapely legs and finally, the feet that approached the edge and came to a complete stop outside the pool.
The female figure raised her face framed by the soaked, long hair that contrasted with her totally empty silver orbs. Litus could only swallow dryly. It was an intoxicating yet imposing image. Despite being an alpha over 400 years old his knees urged to bend and show fearful respect but he didn’t, it wasn’t like that figure was imposing on him either.
The wolf unrolled the huge, thick cloak he carried in his arms and spread it out. He took a few steps towards the woman and covered up to his feet with it by tying it in front of her. He still couldn’t believe his eyes to have her in front of him, looking like that. The last time he had seen her she barely reached his waist, now, she was only a head below him.
-Open up, you’ve just woken up and your body needs to recover.
The woman turned her face towards him and gave a slight smile, a false one that at least broke the cold expression on her beautiful face. He didn’t mind her pretending, she had her reasons too clear not to be able to do it for real.
-Please, this way- he pointed the way although she ended up walking softly beside him adapting again to move her legs after 10 years frozen.
Her body felt brutally transformed in every way. Her fingers numb with no way to move them. Her back stiffened making it difficult to walk but still she did not stop. The cold and violent wind blew her face shutting her eyes. The alpha stood in front of her cutting the air current and she could open her eyes, again, the snow had splashed her red lips and dark eyelashes.
-Where do you want to go?- the wolf asked her, waving to the dogs behind him as they were getting ready to start their journey.
-Home,- was the only thing that came out of his lips.
***
Nebraska was standing next to her husband as she listened to the dramatic speech a wolf was giving in front of them and part of the pack in the central hall of the mansion. He was a young wolf and his tears belied his manly appearance. He was kneeling on the floor and begging to be picked up by the alpha Hades pleading how benevolent he was. But the she-wolf at his side despite showing no displeasure was tight-lipped.
Her fingers were slyly entangled with Hades’ and she gave him a slight shake of her head in denial. Her sixth sense was telling her that something didn’t fit his all-too-perfect story. Supposedly he had been expelled from Crystal’s pack where Asule, the oldest of them all, ruled and although he was known to be extremely strict there was no known case of violence as the wolf alleged. It was even the best located of all the packs in terms of farming and hunting lands, so that resources were abundant. And this was a fact known to all so the spectators were watching in confusion as their alpha went to the present, maybe he was telling the truth but no one could say anything exactly.
Hades squeezed his forehead, he could smell the nervousness coming from the wolf but he didn’t know exactly why. There was also another scent, a strange one and one he couldn’t identify masking the true scent of the intruder.
-Please alpha answer me, I want to know what I’m going to do in my future,- the wolf crawled closer to him but stopped when he heard a growl from Leoxi who was on one side of his brother, Siran stood on the other side of Nebraska without losing movement.
-We must find out your position well. I’m not denying that you can join the pack, anyone can be part of the family but I can’t do it simply because you say Arisu is being cruel. You know that accusing an alpha without proof is against wolf law- his tone was authoritarian.
-I know it alpha, I know it very well, that’s why- a smile came from the lips of the wolf who hid his face between his hair to move fast afterwards- that’s why I don’t mind doing that- the wolf threw himself quickly against Hades taking out a knife so sharp that even he hurt himself and lashed out without fear.
Leoxi reacted as always fast and stepped between his brother and the aggressor. Hades had thrown Nebraska behind him and they all began to growl as the attacker stopped in the middle of the road and fell to the ground giving a loud scream clutching his head.
-What is this?- he felt like his head wanted to collapse -AHHHHHHHHHH- get out of my headaaaaaaaaaa- he writhed on the ground until with a final scream he went blank-eyed and stiff. His breathing was light but steady. He had gone into shock.
Leoxi went over and knelt down but something made him turn his face as he heard a sharp voice.
-Don’t worry, he’s not dead, I just put him to sleep.
All eyes turned to the petite woman who walked among them after entering the door unnoticed. Covered by a thick cloak, only her head and very long black hair were visible. She stopped next to the body smiling at him with the same smile she had given to that alpha, only this time to her uncle.
Nebraska came out from behind Hades and walked towards her, his face disfigured with shock.
-Priscilla?
-I’ve come home, Ma.
+++++++++++++++++++Priscila, 4 months
Hades was smiling lying on the bed with his puppy lifting her up on top of him with his arms. The little girl smiled with the movement and moved her little hands trying to grab her father’s face. The alpha kissed one of her fingers entertaining her while his wife took a bath so she could rest. He had been taking care of the puppy all day and she didn’t want to leave his side, but she had responsibilities with the herd that she insisted on fulfilling, in addition to taking care of her other children.
He feared that she could collapse at any moment, so in the evenings he assumed the role of full-time dad, since during the day and with the new reorganizations he had very little time to take care of his entire family. Something that sometimes had him in a bad mood.
He spent more time with Siran than with his own wife. Even Nicolas was more visible to him as he helped him with different issues. The wolf could be a good beta in the future if he put his mind to it, he was sharp and alert minded, just like his mother.
He heard the shower turn off and smiled at Priscilla.
-Your mother is coming that way,- the girl smiled wider at this sitting on her father’s chest, -But let’s not disturb her too much she should rest.
The girl nodded her head and Hades blinked, frowning slightly.
-Pris, you will be calm, won’t you?- he tried again and the girl responded with another nod of her head and a big smile.
Hades’ expression froze and he touched his daughter’s still very short hair kissing her forehead. He swallowed dryly.
Nebraska came out of the shower wearing a large pullover of his and drying her hair feeling more relaxed when she saw her husband’s face and reached over climbing onto the bed and touching his arm. The little girl as soon as she felt her and stirred crawled over to her mother’s lap and lay there.
-Hades, what’s wrong?
The alpha looked at her and then at her daughter.
-Have you noticed anything strange about Pris lately?
She shook her head, holding Priscilla, pulling up one of her sleeves and taking out her breast to feed her.
-I don’t know what I can call strange,- she settled herself crossing her legs and leaning her back on the cushions he put on the back of the bed, -I never had the chance to raise my other children so I don’t know what can be strange about a baby,- she told him sincerely, -Is there something wrong with Priscilla?
Hades denied and kissed her bare shoulder.
Nothing, my she-wolf, it’s just my imagination. Don’t mind me,- but knowing Nebraska he knew she must have swallowed his words, sure he hadn’t convinced her but she didn’t insist.
Nebraska settled back and let her daughter eat as much as she wanted. Breastfeeding created a bond between the two of them and she had caught her precious one looking at her with those huge silver eyes that reminded her of her wolf.
-She’s asleep now,- Hades announced to her minutes later taking Pris in his arms from Nebraska’s tired ones who obliged.
The alpha led her towards the crib that his children, Noa and Alan, had painted for their younger sister and had different landscapes more elaborate on the part of the younger one and more awkward on the part of the older one. It was impressive to see how excited they were about their sister. They had lost one, Catalina, and even though she only had half the same blood running through her veins, they never talked about it.
Hades verified that the cub was completely asleep. She would not wake up even if the pack was attacked in the next six hours so he returned to bed to find Nebraska waiting for him with a certain twinkle in her eye. He walked over and hugged her kissing her forehead, her eyelids and leaving a soft kiss on her lips.
-Rest, you’re trying too hard,- he told her only to be pushed off and she mounted him with a serious expression on her face.
-Rest? I won’t do that when I have other plans in mind,- she removed her clothes over her head getting totally naked on the wolf sitting on top of the pronounced erection that was quickly between her buttocks, -And for the record I’m not in jealousy– -Neither am I,- Hades said.
-Neither am I.- Hades smiled and pushed her down on the bed, leaving her under him.
A sound from their baby made them stand still and fix their attention on her until they verified that she was still asleep.
-They hadn’t been able to enjoy each other for almost a week so their lividity levels were skyrocketing and as he sat up and saw his wife in a delicious state he knew they wouldn’t be sleeping that night either and not for work.
Hades clenched his septum in his office. Siran who was going over some papers approached him and felt the back of his neck. A specific point that made the alpha let out a sigh.
-Every time you do that I lose all the strength I have,- his head fell between his arms on the furniture.
-Rest a bit, alpha, you look really tired.
-Sure, I had the best night of my life, do you think I’d rest?
Siran snorted under his breath knowing what his alpha meant. He treasured every intimate moment with his queen as if it was a special one, no matter how many times they got together or where. The beta never imagined the towering wolf’s level of romanticism, he kept it pretty well to himself, but you only had to see how he treated his pups and his she-wolf to realize how much he loved them.
-Sleep at least the necessary hours,- he sighed.
-It wasn’t just my she-wolf that kept me awake,- Hades buried his cheek in his palm, -How much do you know about the puppies’ development?
-A little more than average,- he replied, organizing other papers. If you need advice I can ask Sara to tell you what she wants.
-No, I don’t want to talk about this with Sara, I’m sure she will tell Nebraska and maybe it’s just my imagination.
The younger wolf paused in alertness.
-The princess is in some kind of trouble,- he called her by the nickname everyone in the pack called her by.
Hades was slow to nod.
-How long does it take a cub to understand what we say and respond concisely?
Siran cocked her head to one side and began to process in her mind.
-About a year old, when their brains begin to have the first hints of instinct, before that they were only guided by smells and colors. The growth of a puppy was quite slow until the first 5 years and then it is so accelerated that at 10 they already have a considerable reasoning.
-Hades nodded, still hesitantly, -Yesterday, something happened.
Siran took a seat in front of him, frowning and listening to him carefully.
-Nebraska was taking a bath and I was with Pris, I told her not to disturb ma she was tired, what do you think Pris did?
-If she doesn’t tell me alpha I won’t be able to know.
-He looked at me and nodded his head, not once but twice when I tried again.
The beta touched his chin.
-I’ve never heard of any case before of a puppy reacting at such a young age.
-What worries me most is that Nebraska told me about her and I could sense her shortly after she consumed the alphas blood, I think that plays a very important role- Hades dropped back in the big seat.
-Maybe alpha she will be stronger than a normal wolf, maybe even some of the alphas blood is inside her. Maybe that’s why that’s her reaction- Siran could only draw that conclusion. No one had ever taken the blood of the alphas before as Nebraska had done, so it was all an unknown world to them.
It was known that after the birth it took the omega about a month to walk again as her body weakened considerably. Hades did not sleep thinking that he could lose her but incredibly, after that time she got up as if nothing had happened. Of course, everyone could notice that the strength gained after that meeting at the Council had completely vanished. No one talked about it and it was concluded that she had metabolized the blood.
Perhaps they had been wrong.