5 Puppies For The Alpha
Chapter 25

Lukyan was taking small steps, already able to stand on his knees without them buckling on the spot, but they still hurt and he was hiding it from Sasha and Axel, who were doing their best to help him recover as quickly as possible.

At the other end of the room, Fallen was sitting with some papers that he was looking over from top to bottom, with data from his former pack and now belonging to Dante; standing on the side was not in his personality and he had asked the alpha to at least let him organise the records of his immediate family.

-Ma, be careful, don’t rush, you’re doing fine,” Sasha held him with one arm around his waist, watching his every move.

-You’d think I was her little boy if you keep talking like that,” the wolf joked for the first time in years.

The instinctive connection between mother and pup was stronger than any separation that could exist, and proof of that was her children’s acceptance of the fact that he had just appeared in their lives. Though she couldn’t say the same for two she had yet to see. There were always exceptions, and even more so when they had a father who brought nothing to their relationship.

-Matthias and Laira, how are they,” he asked.

Silence reigned in the room. Axel helped his mother sit up and knelt down, taking her hands in his. The omega could feel his palms start to sweat and stroked them to calm him.

-Ma, I know it can be difficult, we have to give them time, Matias, let’s say their soul is more than contaminated by pa’s beliefs, I trust that later on their relationship with you will improve, we can’t guarantee it at the moment. Besides, the alpha has his eyes on him and he can’t come and go freely so he’s more than a little annoyed- his brother was so cold that even his gaze hurt, being in the same place with him, even without speaking to them, could be suffocating.

-As for Laira,” Fallen sat down next to her and kissed her mother’s temple, she had found she liked doing it, “Let’s just say he’s a little different,” her two brothers nodded, “We don’t know why he’s like that, but he’s reluctant to see you. He’s unpredictable and unstable, and even though he’s our dear little sister, we have to admit that he’s more difficult, even than Matias,” she didn’t want to hurt her mother with the little girl’s disinterest.

Lukyan shook his son’s hair and smiled.

-You don’t have to worry and decorate the situation with rose petals. I was away for many years and I know that things have changed and that Sylas took it upon himself to tarnish my image and that is something I will live with. You don’t have to carry the burden of hiding things from me to make me feel good. I’m not that weak,” the boys looked at each other hesitantly, “Remember I was leader of the pack, this would just be a drop in the bucket of worries,” he reassured them lovingly.

-Ma, how can you be so strong,” Sasha squeezed the hem of his shirt. His admiration for the powerful wolf who had brought him into the world grew by the day. Next to him he felt dwarfed.

He took her hand and caressed each of her fingers.

-Because I have you,” the affection seeped into every word. His beloved children had never received a word of tenderness from anyone; they had grown up away from the love of the one who brought them into the world, left for dead, and from a father who did not love them. He was going to fill that deep void now, with the opportunity that life was giving him.

-How important are we to you,” Axel searched for answers.

-More than the air I breathe. The only reason I didn’t end my life in that place was because I knew that one day I would get out of there and be able to join you, for now I could only protect you from the shadows,” he added.

Fallen wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his hair.

-Thank you, ma, for not giving up.

Lukyan was surprised by that sentence and an innate happiness came over him.

-Thank you, ma, for being here,” he smiled gratefully.

Lukyan decided to walk on his own when his sons retired to their rooms. They were preparing themselves as the newest members to join the great dining hall. Plus there was the small detail of being the sons of an alpha like Sylas, branded with so many nasty nicknames they couldn’t count them.

He left the room to walk down the hall. In the alcove, despite being large, there were many obstacles that he could not define and always ended up with bumps.

His eyesight, better than before, still focused on almost nothing and although the silhouettes were more defined the colours blended together. He took a step forward, unclipping himself from the wall, and took hold of himself again. He needed more strength if he was to walk without support. Using the wall as a guide he took several slow steps until the muscles in his legs warmed up and it became easier.

Without foreseeing it something appeared in front of his foot, a piece of wood perhaps, and he fell forward. She tried to catch herself, but her hands slipped until something stopped her from the impact. Lukyan lifted his head and did not identify the silhouette that held him, though he did identify the scent and the longing of many years.

He grasped the arms that held him with his hands and straightened with their help, unable to get any words out, they stuck in his throat.

-I see you are better, mother,” the voice of his firstborn, Matthias, made his heart throb.

The omega stepped forward and wrapped his arms around the tall wolf’s chest.

Matias didn’t expect that reaction and just let him do it, with his arms on either side of his body.

-At last,” he sobbed softly against him, “At last I can see you again, it’s been so long,” the joy of the encounter turned to grief.

He felt no response from his son. He was stiff, while he showed longing for her.

He broke away and sat up, holding onto the wall. It was to be expected. He was sure that Matias would not welcome him with open arms. He had to admit that his rejection was more painful than anything that had gone through his body over the years, he couldn’t compare it to anything.

Someone’s heavy footsteps sounded behind the omega and he could tell whose scent came with great intensity. His sense of smell was recovering faster than the others.

-I’m glad to see you’ve been able to effect a family reunion,” Dante stopped next to Lukyan, like an owner, demarcating his space.

Matias frowned, clenched his fists, and held back.

-If you’ll excuse me, I’ll leave,” the coldness of his attitude destroyed the wolf’s few defences.

Dante didn’t order him to stay, even if it was disrespectful to leave without greeting the alpha. He watched him turn and disappear two doors down.

-I see you can walk now,” the wolf ignored the subject, the situation seemed tense between them and he would just stay out of it, he wasn’t going to intercede in a matter where he had no experience, just for the moment.

-Yes, Sasha and Axel have been helping me,” his voice sounded muffled, disappointed.

-Well, you’d better. I hope you’re ready,” she grabbed him around the waist and pulled him to use her body for support. With a finger he wiped away the single tear that had escaped his eyes and wandered down his cheek, to bring it to his lips and savour the salty liquid, “We’re going to see your pack.