5 Puppies For The Alpha
Chapter 57

Lukyan advanced, holding Dante’s hand, along the carpet that ended at the foot of the small dais. On either side the members of the two packs merged as one. The faces of the Council wolves loomed around the dais, while above waited two people Lukyan did not recognise at first, for he did not recall having seen them before, but on closer inspection there were features that seemed familiar, such as the silver eyes of the male of the pair and the very dark hair of the petite, beautiful woman beside him.

-Are they your parents,” he asked quietly.

Dante nodded his head with a smile on his lips, proud of who he had with him. He couldn’t deny that he was strangely excited, he rarely felt this way. He felt Lukyan’s hand squeeze his and he returned the gesture with support.

The omega looked around slyly seeing four of his sons standing next to the beta at the front of one of the ranks. He was no newcomer to such celebrations. At his wedding to Sylas he had been so nervous that he found it difficult to walk properly and had to lean against his former husband.

He remembered the looks from most of the pack as if they were accusing him or pitying him for being tied to a mate at such a young age. The day had not been a pleasant one for him. Nerves had left his mind blank and hardly any of the events of the day were clear to him. Even when he had consummated the marriage with Sylas, he was fuzzy. The armour he had created that day had only grown stronger over the years.

But now, as hectic as this day had been, she wasn’t nervous. Next to Dante it was as if everything around him was right and he just had to go with the flow.

-You can at least smile a little, you’re at your wedding, not a funeral,” the wolf had leaned in slightly and commented in her ear.

Lukyan hadn’t noticed that his easy expression was as cold as ever. Dante was right, she had no reason to be so serious. Moments later her life would change again, perhaps for the better, so for a moment she thought it appropriate to shed her armour.

-I think you’re right,” her fractions relaxed and a faint but sincere smile left her lips that made her partner pause.

Dante could feel his heart suddenly thump in his chest and a blush to reflect on his cheeks. If she had thought he was beautiful, she had no words for now. He smiled at her in response.

-You should smile more often, she nodded.

-Just for today Dante, just for today,” Lukyan looked ahead to pick up his pace so the alpha wouldn’t see the gleam in his eyes. To be left so unencumbered, every now and then it was relaxing.

They reached the foot of the dais and were greeted with a bow by the other members of the Council. Although many would dismiss wolves as a savage race that only went with their instincts, the truth was that they were governed by strict etiquette in both respect and subordination. This ensured balance and discipline in all members.

Dante helped him up the two steps and they stopped in front of the couple waiting for them there. Closer Lukyan had to hold back a g***n of astonishment. Now he understood where the twins’ genetics had come from.

The father was even taller than them, not much, but it did make a difference. He had a hard, muscular body that showed through the shirt that he could be sure one size up wouldn’t hurt. His hair was long, tied at the nape of his neck and falling over his shoulder to his h**s, of a colour that could be compared to copper, and which contrasted with his silver eyes. His face, despite looking mature, was very handsome and manly and despite his feignedly serious expression showed his great pride in every pore of his being.

Beside him, his partner looked untarnished, sheathed in an elegant and demure red dress that did nothing to hide her slender curves. The first thing Lukyan had noticed was her hair. It was the exact copy of Dante’s, even the same length, framing her pale, beautiful face and those two huge, dark eyes, which swept up and down studying her, then smiled slightly approvingly.

Next to the alpha-smelling wolf, she appeared worthy of having been a queen and not inferior, even with her years of age. And yet, their body expressions and scents indicated that they loved each other like soul mates.

For a moment the omega wondered if he and Dante would look like that, years from now, and the idea did not repulse him as it had with Sylas.

-Father, Mother,” Dante bowed, kneeling on the ground before them, taking his mate with him, “As son and wolf I show you the person who will share the rest of your days with me.

Lukyan knew the entire ceremony. Sons had to show respect to their parents and the consent of their parents to follow the ceremony was crucial. Especially if it was the mate of the alpha and the future queen. In his case, having no parents his part would be omitted as he was excommunicated from this action, it only remained to see what his future in-laws would think.

-He complements my existence, and is the appropriate one to exercise the task of queen at my side. Fathers, give me your blessing,” Dante’s head was bowed and his eyes were closed.

Lukyan looked at him slyly. The only wolves an alpha showed such respect to were his parents and his mate. He knew that, but he had never expected such a solemn image from this wolf. The silence that followed his words was eternal. Both felt the weight of the gaze of both the Council and the older pair.

-I, Kaiser, progenitor of your being, give you my blessings for your wedding,” her father’s voice was sweet in contrast to his appearance.

-I, Aralia, progenitor of your being, give you my blessings for your wedding,” followed by a sharper voice, but with an authoritative tone.

Dante smiled, receiving acceptance from both of them. They hadn’t exactly known the pack’s situation until they arrived in the afternoon, and now they knew their future mate. He stood up and helped Lukyan to his feet. They bowed and turned to face each other. Bastian approached them with a red handkerchief embroidered with two handles in the middle.

They both took the one that was woven from both crimson cords and a lock of his hair that had been cut days before. The cords, as well as all the decoration and the dress, denoted the union and the fidelity of the b***d, the most important thing in the herd. The hair was carefully selected and the strands intertwined together, creating a piece that not only marked the wearer’s ownership but also left its scent all over his body.

Dante raised his head and searched Lukyan’s beautiful violet orbs.

-I will be your companion, and I will be faithful to you for the rest of my days,” he spoke those words in a warm way that enveloped the omega as he put on his handgrip and fastened it to his right wrist.

-I will be your companion, and I will be faithful to you for the rest of my days,” he replied with a slight smile and feeling gratified to put on the bracelet that marked him as his own.

Matias came up behind them and offered them a tray with a small bronze-coloured goblet that, by its worn details, indicated how old it was. That was the bonding cup. Dante and Lukyan cut a small line on their respective wrists and let a few drops of b***d mix with the liquid in the cup.

Dante offered it to his partner first. The omega took a small sip and then copied the wolf. He then took her hand and with a small bow between them they turned to the pack.

-As of today, the name of your new queen is Lukyan, my mate and the wolf that will bond with me,” said Dante before everything erupted in shouts and cheers, breaking the discipline they had up to that moment.

The omega watched as the faces of his former members lit up and shouted along with the others. They looked happy, but he was not so happy. Nerves began to rack him.

Now came two very complicated parts, becoming a wolf for the run under the full moon and the consummation of the marriage.

For the first time he didn’t feel able to face it alone.

He felt vulnerable.