Captive Of The Alpha
Chapter 33

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

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

She stroked the bite mark on her hand. That night when Rudoc had tried to mark her after the wedding, she had refused, and it was precisely this skin that had suffered. It had covered the back of her neck before he could bury his teeth and the pain she had felt was the worst in her short life, not even everything after that 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 Hades had thrown her to the bed she had frozen in panic, yet she knew she couldn’t avoid it this time, she needed the mark to escape death. This alpha seemed halfway better than her mind had known, she hoped that bubble wouldn’t burst or she would be forced to kill him with her own fangs, she had already tried once and almost succeeded, a second time wouldn’t make a difference. She would not allow anyone to abuse her again, let alone her cubs.

Two days had passed since the sentencing by the time Leoxi knocked on her bedroom door and Alan let him in. Apart from Nebraska, her three middle children were present as they were every chance they got. Leoxi smiled and bowed, announcing the change of sentence, at which she took a deep breath.

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

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

It would be a problem if they knew the facts in detail. She just hadn’t left out the part about him joining Hades, changing some of the facts about how they had come to that conclusion.

Of course Alan and Nicholas hadn’t bought half of it but they didn’t want to push her, she would have her reasons, or as she had 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.

Noa’s eyes widened as her guts rumbled. She looked at her mother with doubt and impatience, if she didn’t want them to come down, they wouldn’t do it.

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

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

-He pointed his finger at her and she raised an eyebrow.

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

-I join Alan in this,” Nicolas took Noa by the arm and they stood next to his brother, “You will be the alpha’s next mate and you were a queen so the image is fundamental,” he said.

-I don’t think it’s appropriate to say anything about the issue of the union with Hades until he confirms it, I don’t want to get into more trouble,” she stood up pulling her hair back, “But you’re right, do wonders with my image, I’ll give you the pleasure,” she said.

She pointed to the loose white dress that was comfortable for her, too casual and unsuitable for showing off. Her children smiled and Noa ran off, Nebraska knew where. Who else was she going to look for. Sara was the right person for these moments.

The bustle in the dining room was thunderous. 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. Hades’ pack had specimens to talk about for a long time and genes for an honourable offspring. Why the alpha had no mate was already in doubt.

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

Nebraska entered the dining room led by Nicolas. Sara had worked wonders again. This time she had pulled out a dark Prussian blue dress from who knows where just as tight and long, with thick straps that left her arms and neck exposed. Her loose hair combed to one side framed her face, and with her straight and firm posture, she had regained the air of supremacy of when she had been queen.

More than one had dropped their snouts when they had entered. The former members of the grey pack rose and bowed, and she greeted them with a tender smile that warmed several hearts. Liam was not around for all that, and that struck him as odd.

Leoxi approached them and directed them to their seats at a table smaller than the long ones occupied by the others, but with more plates, where he, the beta and his wife and Caesar were seated. One chair at the head was empty and they deduced that it must belong to Hades.

-I feel like I’m in a circus.” Noa spoke with a mouthful of roast chicken.

-That’s a good sign,” César smiled in front of him, “They have them in mind, you have no idea how much has been said about you.

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

For her part Nebraska felt that someone was focusing their attention on her more than was necessary. She lifted her face from what Alan was serving her and in the distance she spotted a red blur in the mist that she recognised instantly and tensed.

Layan smiled as he caught his eye. He snorted internally and gave a disguised wave, which she politely responded to with a shake of her 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.

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 of your pack,” the she-wolf bared her teeth and claws, “You come only to defile our people.

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

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

-Nebraska heard Leoxi and the rest of the table rise to intercede, she didn’t care, apparently there was someone who hadn’t passed the adjustment process positively. She raised her finger and pointed to the boy who had taken refuge in a trembling embrace around her leg, “I am your queen…”.