5 Puppies For The Alpha
Chapter 32

If there was one thing Lukyan had learned over the years, it was that tears solved absolutely nothing, so shedding them was in vain. Instead, he had many things to think about and do. One of them was the state of his relationship with this alpha who every chance he got mentioned to him that he was his.

He couldn’t deny that he had a lot to thank him for, he had done more for him and his pack than anyone else; even if the price was his body, which would soon lose even its independence.

He stroked the bite mark on his hand. That night when Sylas had tried to mark him after the wedding, he had refused, and it was precisely this skin that had suffered. It had covered the back of his neck before he could bury his teeth and the pain he had felt was the worst in his short life, not even everything that followed could compare.

The canine venom designed to leave the mark on the neck, where his omega gland lessened the pain of the action, had penetrated the wrong skin. The mark would never go away and would be a constant reminder of her miserable past life.

Moments before, when Dante had thrown her onto the bed, she had frozen in panic; still, she knew she couldn’t avoid it this time, she needed the mark to escape death. This alpha seemed halfway better than his mind had known, he hoped that bubble wouldn’t burst or he would be forced to kill it with his own fangs, he had already tried once and almost succeeded, a second time wouldn’t make a difference. He would not allow anyone to abuse him again, let alone his pups.

Two days had passed since the sentencing by the time Dimitri knocked on the door of his room and Axel let him in. Apart from Lukyan, his three sons were present, as they were whenever they could. Dimitri smiled and bowed, announcing the change of sentence, whereupon he took a deep breath.

-What are you talking about, Ma?” Fallen had risen from the chair where he always read papers and looked alert.

-Nothing, something between elders,” the wolf answered quickly before the alpha’s twin could respond.

It would be a problem if they knew the facts in detail. He just hadn’t left out the part about joining Dante, changing a few facts about how they had come to that conclusion.

Of course Axel and Fallen hadn’t bought half of it, but they didn’t want to push him, he’d have his reasons, or as he’d said, that was grown-up stuff.

-They can also go down to the dining room, all the conditions are ready and the new members of the pack can join us. A good feast has been prepared,” the twin invited.

Sasha’s eyes widened as her guts rumbled. He looked at the omega with hesitation and impatience, if he didn’t want them to come down, they wouldn’t.

-Thank you Dimitri, we’ll be down in a few minutes,” he bowed his head in respect to the wolf and thanked him for his actions.

The door was closed again by Axel and he turned to his mother.

-She pointed her finger at him and the wolf raised an eyebrow.

-That’s no way to talk to your mother, young man,” he didn’t reproach him, rather he seemed amused, he was in a better mood now than he had been in the past few days.

-I’m joining Axel in this,” Fallen took Sasha by the arm and they stood next to his brother, “You’ll be the alpha’s next mate and you were in the position of queen of the pack so image is paramount.

-I don’t think it’s appropriate to say anything about the whole Dante bonding thing until he confirms it, I don’t want to get myself in any more trouble,” Lukyan stood up pulling his hair back, “But you’re right, do wonders with my image, I’ll treat you,” he enjoyed treating his pups; he wanted to all the time he was away from them.

He pointed to the baggy white outfit, comfortable for him, too casual and unsuitable for showing off. His children smiled and Sasha ran off, Lukyan knew where. Who else was he going to look for. Bastian was the right person for these moments.

The bustle in the dining room was deafening. At least a hundred people were clustered around long tables. Big, burly wolves, some handsome, some not so handsome, but still manly. Stylish, elegant, lusciously curvy wolves. Shiny hair and full lips. Dante’s pack had specimens to talk about for a long time and genes for an honourable offspring. Why the alpha had no mate was already a mystery.

The contrast with the newcomers was stark, most of the males had already recovered and the pups outnumbered the adults, yet their appearance was improving with impressive speed.

Lukyan entered the dining hall led by Fallen. Bastian had worked wonders again. This time he had pulled out a dark coloured shirt and trousers outfit where the shirt was rolled up and the first button was open, revealing part of his arms and slender collarbone. His loose hair combed to one side framed his face, and with his straight and firm posture, he had regained the air of supremacy of yesteryear, when he had been a tycoon.

More than one had fallen silent when they had entered. The former members of the Grey Pack rose and bowed, and he greeted them with a tender smile that warmed several hearts. Ryan was not around for all that and that struck him as odd.

Dimitri approached them and directed them to their seats at a smaller table, smaller than the long ones occupied by the others, but with more plates; where he, the beta and her husband and Edgar were seated. One chair at the head of the table was empty, and they deduced that it must be Dante’s.

-I feel like I’m in a circus,” Sasha spoke with a mouthful of roast chicken, “Everyone’s looking at us.

-That’s a good sign,” Edgar smiled in front of him, “You have them present, you have no idea how much has been said about you,” he said enigmatically.

Fallen looked around and most eyes were focused on his mother, after all the last time she had appeared in public she had not looked memorable.

For his part, Lukyan felt that someone was focusing their attention on him more than necessary. He lifted his face from what Axel was serving him on his plate and in the distance, through the haze of his gaze, he spotted a red spot that he recognised instantly and tensed.

Lucian smiled as he caught her eye. She snorted internally and gave a disguised wave of her hand, which he politely responded to with a nod of his head and ignored.

The sound of breaking glass and a female scream interrupted the hitherto pleasant evening.

-What are you doing here, you mangy puppy? You don’t belong here, go away,” threatened a high-pitched, unpleasant voice.

A small boy crawled backwards across the floor with tear-stained cheeks and hands smeared with what was surely some food.

-Wretch, you and all your pack,” the she-wolf bared her teeth and claws, “You come only to defile our people,” she continued, insulting.

She was about to pounce on the puppy when a slender body stood in her way. Lukyan could not tolerate violence, least of all against someone innocent. He had moved so fast that his sons couldn’t see him and had stopped in front of the cub.

-Who the hell are you,” the she-wolf shouted in exasperation.

-Lukyan heard Dimitri and the rest of the table rise to intercede, he didn’t care, apparently there was someone who hadn’t passed the adaptation process positively. He raised his finger and pointed to the boy who had taken refuge in a trembling embrace around his leg- I am his queen.