5 Puppies For The Alpha
Chapter 43

Lukyan walked several paces ahead of Dante.

The way he moved his shoulders and head to either side indicated to the alpha that he, rather than studying the landscape around him, kept portraits of the places they walked, as if he would ever lose his sight again and need to rely on his other senses. Although he was not smiling, his scent told her that he was more than happy, grateful and pleased to be able to appreciate everything around him clearly again.

He, on the other hand, was nowhere near half happy. The gout of doubt of what Lucian had done to Lukyan still stung and stung in his pride and more so when he dragged him away, dodging the conversation. Knowing him, the red-haired wolf hadn’t done anything according to protocol, the way they both reacted proved it.

-Lukyan called out to him, his voice full of authority and grave.

But the omega simply ignored him and kept walking, this time with his back straight and tense, he had heard him, he just didn’t pay the slightest attention to him.

-Lukyan,” he called again this time, through gritted teeth, he could tolerate a lot of things, but not being answered when he called was something that struck directly at his alpha sense.

And for the second time he ignored him and continued on his way.

Dante was about to call her a third time when she saw him stop and look over his shoulder.

-Until you call me with the proper tone and the respect I deserve, I will not answer you,” she said with dignity.

He stopped short. Her words came softly from her mouth, though those violet eyes, which now seemed more beautiful to him, focused on him with a deadly coldness.

-Not even Sylas spoke to me like that while I was queen, only after the birth when he was able to imprison me and take advantage of me did he succeed,” she turned fully towards him, “Don’t think that because you will be my husband and the wolf that marks me that you can speak to me or treat me as you please, Dante,” she frowned, “I am not a submissive wolf,” she reminded him, much to the alpha’s embarrassment.

After Lucian had kissed him, his body had begun an internal healing that after only two hours had almost completely restored his energy. If he didn’t make his position clear from the beginning, history could repeat itself and he would not allow it.

Sylas had been able to imprison him in one measly moment of weakness, after a difficult birth of his first puppy, and yet every time he visited him he had to deal with his resistance despite 50 years of torture, pain and barely any strength.

The alpha for his part had stood in place petrified. Lucian’s words still echoed in his head over and over again. The part about him losing his place as alpha of his pack was the most pronounced and it seemed that if he didn’t get strong, that was what would happen. The omega wasn’t one he normally had to interact with, already just being omega made him rare, leading a pack in the midst of a time of chaos and coming out on top with his renown made him more memorable.

-I won’t ask you to apologise to me, but I will ask you not to talk to me like that again. I’m not just going to be your mate or someone at your side who will spread your legs whenever you want, I’m going to be the queen of the pack, your equal and the wolf you can lean on as often as you need,” his gaze softened to the neutral one he usually had, “So as I will respect you, you must respect me,” he laid out the guidelines for the relationship carefully and very firmly.

Dante didn’t nod, but the expression on his face told her that he had gotten the message clearly. He turned again and began to walk. Dante followed him with his hands in his pockets, mulling over his words. There was always talk of queen and all the rest of it, yet until this point he hadn’t realised the impact the position would have on his life and how important it would be to both him and the pack.

They moved on for several more metres without exchanging words, to his reassurance he felt Lukyan’s mood return to normal. Perhaps he had touched a deep sore spot by using that tone, one he didn’t usually use, he knew the reaction it provoked.

He sighed and moved a branch out of the way. Lucian had offered to drive or escort them, but they had refused. The distance was not very long between each mansion, they were strategically placed for any mishap and Dante knew a shortcut that made the way faster.

He knew that he would soon be able to transform, he had just come out of heat and usually needed a certain amount of time to do so. As for Lukyan, who seemed magically refreshed, it shouldn’t be a problem. He either hadn’t noticed or was being considerate. For the moment they were just walking. That way he would let him adjust to his recovered sight.

After crossing the small stream that served as a natural boundary between the two packs Dante spoke to him again, this time only with the intention of conversation.

-You can ask,” she saw him turn his head doubtfully, “You said it yourself, you’ll be the queen of my pack, ask whatever you want,” she offered, trying to smooth over the previous acrimony.

He blinked and paused until she caught up with him and resumed walking. His earlier discomfort and annoyance seemed to have vanished completely.

-If so,” Lukyan touched his chin in thought, “why is your zeal so strong?

This time Dante was the one who blinked, of all the questions out there he didn’t understand why he started with that one. Seeing her reaction he added.

-I remember my dad’s heat, my uncle’s, even Sylas’, and they didn’t look anything close to what you looked like, neither in heat nor after heat. Did you know you had a high fever after you faded? If it wasn’t for Lucian I don’t think you’d be walking now,” he commented, totally intrigued.

He growled at the other alpha’s name and Lukyan raised his eyebrow.

Swallowing the lump of jealousy in his throat he prepared to answer him properly, he didn’t want to start fighting without barely formalizing their relationship.

-It’s been that way since he was a child. Those of us with alpha genes in our b***d by nature tend to go through a pretty powerful rut. In my particular case it must be hereditary, but since the first one it has always been quite exhausting. I totally lose lucidity and even if I remember what is happening, I can’t have control over my body,” he explained, feeling ashamed of losing control.

-Does that have anything to do with why you don’t have a puppy? It was a total mystery to him that such a virile wolf had no offspring.

-Partly, yes. If I knot in my heat, the pregnancy rate is 90%, but I’ve never wanted to do that, I don’t think someone would put up with three days of s*x that was more violent than usual,” he pointed to his fangs, “I like to bite a lot in that period. So I always made sure to breed when it was the wolf’s rut, it was safer for both of us – he tried to be as explicit as possible, he didn’t want any misunderstandings between them.

-Still you don’t answer me,” Lukyan insisted interested.

After regaining his sight he had noticed that the image he had in his head, of what he remembered, was not distorted, rather the real thing far surpassed the image in his mind. No wonder some people were ogling him. The beauty and sexuality in his face was sculpted with the finest chisel and those lips he had come into contact with were far more appetizing than they felt. Not to mention what was marked from the neck down.

-I’m not going to lie to you, I’m over 600 years old. I’ve been with the requisite number of females looking to have a puppy, I’ve always wanted one of my own, or hundreds,” he stated his dream sincerely.

Lukyan felt his insides stir at her statement so full of feeling, that wolf was longing for offspring of his own; he understood a little more of the desperation of being with him. His pained voice suddenly unsettled him.

-Maybe I’m not cut out to be a father,” he looked at him and smiled slightly, “Every time some wolf tried to give me that happiness, the child died or was simply denied the blessing of birth,” he found it hard to remember, “After I realised that it was me and that my essence was too strong, I gave up looking for a child,” sadness tainted his words.

-Until I came along,” he concluded softly.

-I may have been blinded by the idea of you being an omega at first, but it hasn’t been that way for a long time. I wouldn’t force you to have a cub of mine if you didn’t want one, besides,” he left a sincere smile visible, “Now I have five cubs in return.