5 Puppies For The Alpha
Chapter 37

The smell of sandalwood, honey and something else. The overly sweet mixture cloyed Lukyan’s consciousness, and he debated whether to wake up or remain unconscious.

-How long do you intend to sleep on,” the deep voice of the russet-haired alpha caused him to put his feet on the ground and snap his eyes open, only to replace himself in a room, even more luxurious than where he currently slept. Unlike, this place he didn’t know, nor did it seem to have Dante’s elegant style.

He sat up on the cold floor and the weight of the shackles around one of his ankles made him shudder so much that he had to use all his willpower not to vomit.

-You look like a puppy on the verge of collapse,” he heard him laugh at him and looked up at him with his claws out ready to defend himself.

Unfortunately for him, the shackle that imprisoned him was heavier than the ones he knew of old and painfully tighter. The mere sensation of the metal against his skin made him remember every single moment he had spent in that dungeon, the days alone on the verge of madness, the continuous rapes, the pains throughout his body as each of his pups in his belly was consumed by each one of them, not being fed by conventional means. Every instant was engraved on him and that had made her what she was today, but to remind him of it was to play dirty.

-Where am I?” she tried to be reasonable, she needed to know his location first before any movement, if he was still in Dante’s mansion sooner or later he would be found.

-In my castle,” his hopes shattered like thin glass.

His castle? Where the hell was his castle?

He had details that it was to the north, with boundaries adjoining Dante’s grounds. Still, far enough away.

-How, how did you get me out?” he looked terrified at the mere fact that he wasn’t safe and without his pups.

Lucian got up from the velvet couch, too ornate for his taste, and sat on the edge of the bed; being less than a metre away from him who remained kneeling on the floor without much chance of moving.

-I have my ways to achieve my ends, beautiful,” she grabbed his chin. Lukyan wanted to let go, but the grip was firm and made his face look fuzzy, “But I don’t have much time with you so, what we came for,” he seemed determined to achieve his ends.

Lukyan hid the trembling that threatened to shake every part of his being. He might be afraid, but he would not show it.

The wolf brought his face within inches of his.

-I told you, I need a favour. After you do it you can go and do whatever you want,” he guaranteed.

-And if I refuse,” he tried hard, he wanted to know what he was fighting against.

.

Lucian’s hand ran along the edge of his cheek and moved to his neck, caressing the nape of his neck.

-Are you sure you want to refuse? Your body is at my complete disposal and you are an unmarked omega, what if by accident my teeth get buried inside you,” he had taken advantage of her reaction and the last words had been spoken in her ear.

Lukyan did not move, but turned her eyes to meet his out of the corner of her eye.

-Would you start a quarrel with Dante over this? He declared me to be her future husband,” she commented coolly, displaying a certainty he was far from possessing.

Lucian returned to his previous location, though he kept stroking the ends of his dark hair.

-My pack is far stronger than Dante’s, do you think I would lose, and besides, no one in the Council dares to challenge me,” he continued with arrogance.

Lukyan was about to retort, though he thought it wiser to remain silent. He should not provoke him or his life alone would be in danger, and the last thing he wanted was to involve more people in his problems. He was tired of others depending on his decisions, that weight would kill him before he knew it.

-All right, if I do what you want, will you let me off the hook and not make this any bigger? -he returned resignedly.

-You have my word, at least on my end of the bargain, the rest is up to Dante,” he agreed.

Lucian had seen the way the alpha looked at the omega and was sure he would not stand idly by. Until this point he himself hadn’t realised how dangerous he could be when he was bored.

Reaching into one of his trouser pockets he pulled out a key and unlocked the shackle leaving his leg free, with an already purple bruise around the ankle. She grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet.

-Follow me and don’t try to escape, I have wolves everywhere and they won’t hesitate to tear the head off anyone who isn’t one of the pack,” his words were calm, but the hint of menace did not leave them.

Lukyan followed him down a long corridor until he came to an iron door at the end of it, which had several locks. The atmosphere felt heavy and stuffy and he found it hard to breathe. His heart was pounding nervously telling him that there was nothing good behind the door.

Lucian touched a few mechanisms and the door slowly opened, letting out a musty smell, as well as the sound of a roar. Lukyan stepped back, but was stopped by the alpha’s hand that stopped him and dragged him inside, against his will.

The darkness inside was broken only by the light of small candles on the verge of melting. The room was all dishevelled, the curtains torn, what should have been a beautiful carved wooden bed was, all over the room, in pieces. Both the shelves and the objects that once stood on them could be found everywhere.

In the gloom of one of the corners, a thin, hairy body moved heavily, rising to its full height. Ribs were marked where the brownish-looking fur had been shed, paws swollen and those characteristic crimson eyes that chilled to the soul.

Madness. That wolf had lost control, and from the state in which Lukyan perceived him, he realised that this case was not so simple.

-The favor is that you use your power and bring this wolf back to sanity,” he asked, knowing it was an almost impossible demand to meet.

He opened his eyes in shock.

-I think this is out of my hands,” he felt the wolf move to alertness and let out another growl. The scent it gave off was strong, almost dizzying.

For the first time Lukyan thought, not of his children, not of his pack, but of the protection he had felt at Dante’s side every time he guarded him, even when he wasn’t conscious of himself.

Lucian squeezed his hand tighter and pulled him to him.

-You don’t want to do this? You know what’s at stake,” he threatened, but the wolf felt a hint of desperation.

He saw him swallow hard and frown.

-At least tell me who I’m dealing with,” the alpha’s desperation made him curious.

-Ah, him,” he raised a hand towards the wolf who seemed about to leap at them, “Lukyan introduced you to Ellar, my brother.