When Sara had heard the fateful news that her protector's puppy had died, again she knew what was going to happen. So she was not impressed to see him run off splintering the window and getting lost in the trees surrounding the huge mansion. What did impress her was Siran stopping her by grabbing her arm.
Sara could swear that every hair on her body stood on end. Fear, panic and the memory of those hate-filled eyes in her direction. She wasn't afraid of Siran as such, but of his total rejection, as it had happened that night and had made her cry until that morning, making her eyes hurt.
So she had run away as soon as possible so as not to hear him again. If he hated her she would rather it was only in her mind. His words would destroy her and at that moment she had to stay strong. She was Hades' support and she couldn't break.
So he transformed and ran on her trail.
The alpha had used her ability to move quickly so she was sure she was far from there. But his scent was strong, exuding a dense tide of pheromones. It wouldn't be hard to find him. And so it was.
Hades was sitting with his head in his arms next to his secret place. That small space surrounded by plants and a beautiful mirror of water that did not ease the pain inside the sobbing wolf's chest. Sara's heart broke.
Hades was too good, too benevolent a wolf. He had his way of doing things, but always looking for the best for everyone and only asked for a puppy in return. A light to brighten his days. The happiness of being parents that was always denied to him.
And that was the first time Sara wished, with all her might, even more than Siran was her mate, that Hades would find a she-wolf who would make him happy. Not knowing that her wishes could be heard.
***
A week had passed since what had happened. And as it always happened, Hades had already fully recovered from his loss, or so it seemed. The truth is that he hid his pain deep inside and showed his best face. He was the alpha of the pack. He had to be strong for many and not stay complaining in a corner, no matter how much it hurt.
Siran was no better off either, although the situations did not compare. But unlike Hades, the reason he was in an internal dilemma was because Sara was completely ignoring him. Rather, she was running away from him. If he used to see her just for the fun of it, now he couldn't even find her when he was looking for her. As if he detected her scent and vanished.
That made him in a very bad mood, and he was already in a sour mood.
-What's wrong Siran? -Hades asked without looking up from the documents in his hands, You are frowning more than usual.
Siran had not noticed this fact.
-It's nothing alpha Siran said a little reluctantly.
But Hades knew him quite well after several years working together. A faint smile appeared on his lips, apparently it was his turn to work as cupid before someone else got hurt.
-Hey Siran, you should give congratulations to Sara he blurted out right off the bat.
The beta looked at him blankly.
-Why would I do that? Is there a recent event for it?
-Well the alpha crossed his fingers in front of his face, My little girl is going to engage with a wolf to bond with him. Her rut is coming and she intends to make a stable relationship.
...
-What? -was the only thing Siran could say after hearing that.
-Yes, my friend. Sara is a young and beautiful wolf and she needs a male by her side to support and pamper her, and since you are giving yourself airs of superior wolf she looked elsewhere said Hades categorically knowing the consequences of his words.
-Are you playing games with me? -growled the beta unconsciously.
-Yooo, not at all a mischievous grin appeared on the alpha's face.
But it was enough for Siran to drop the papers in his hand on the tycoon's desk with a jerk and walk out the door transforming. Hades guffawed for the first time in days. It was time for something more lighthearted, and an engagement would be a rather nice thing to do.
Siran ran through the corridors of the pack where several wolves stuck to the wall so he wouldn't run into them. It wasn't normal to find the beta so upset and even less so in his wolf form in the middle of the mansion. But Siran didn't care about that. His mind was full of something else.
Hades' words kept repeating over and over in his head.
Commitment?
Partner?
With another wolf?
No, that would not be allowed. It couldn't be. And his mind clouded over.
***
Sara was conversing with a wolf in the gardens of the mansion when she felt a strong scent that enveloped her, making her legs petrified. She looked to the side and shivered. A huge cream wolf was approaching in her direction. Its eyes glowed dangerously.
-Siran? -his voice trembled.
What did he want, to finish that day? The wound on his arm was gone, but it still throbbed where the claws had pierced the skin.
-What is it Sara? -The wolf that accompanied her asked, standing protectively in front of her, although if it was the beta coming towards them there wasn't much he could do. One command and he would retreat.
As happened when Siran was only two meters away and transformed so fast that his bones creaked.
-It's time for you to get lost the beta growled at the wolf that was vaguely protecting Sara.
He looked over his shoulder and mumbled a Sorry and with his pale complexion ran off. Sara stood in place swallowing dryly. She had never seen Siran like this. So human and so wild at the same time. His fur still held the golden coloration of his coat, his normally arranged hair was messy with locks over his forehead giving him a completely different look than the usual straight wolf. And those eyes, hell, they were so scary how intensely they looked at her.
She wanted to get out of there, but stayed strong.
-What do you want? -he plucked up courage.
I was just uselessly delaying the moment. Let it come once and for all, it would hurt anyway. It was better to get out of it now and start over. That was what I had talked about with Hades.
Siran's hand wrapped tightly around her to keep her from escaping.
-Is that cowardly wolf the one you're going to bond with? -Siran's words were rude and loaded with jealousy? It completely disconcerted Sara.
-He... he... he... I didn't know what to say. I didn't understand what was going on. Siran had never behaved like this before.
So strange, so impulsive, so... so... so...
-I will not allow it the beta growled completely euphoric, as if panic invaded his chest, I will not allow that after so many years behind me you stop looking at me so easily for a wolf who is less than me. I will not give you to anyone.
And before Sara could assimilate what was happening, what the wolf was saying, Siran's arms drew her to his bare chest and his lips sought hers. Sara was petrified at the first contact with the wolf's mouth.
Her brain stopped working. And she could only surrender to the sensation of being touched, kissed by the beta, if only for a few seconds.
Siran's mouth was warm, warmer than she imagined. His lips sucked hers softly, however possessively, as if wanting to memorize the shape of them. Sara hesitated whether to respond and only after a few seconds did she let her instinct take over and followed him by opening her lips slightly. Siran's tongue was soon inside her mouth licking and devouring every little nook and cranny as their saliva mingled and their pheromones enveloped them.
Only when he was satisfied with the deep kiss, the wolf parted his head slightly with a trickle of saliva between them, letting their breaths intertwine. Sara could see how the wolf's eyes were shining now, but in a different way and they were just... beautiful.
-Sara, you are mine. Remember that and he smiled slightly pleased. Everything had turned out better than he had remembered.
The she-wolf gasped at his words, then lifted one leg and slammed it right into the wolf's crotch. Siran fell to his knees groaning and looking up at a blushing Sara.
-So many years behind you and now you come to me with that she shouted at him, Well, you'll have to beg me a lot to make her yours, Siran. Suffer a bit of your own medicine. Ahhh, I'm upset.
And she turned and walked back toward the herd leaving a Siran on the ground more confused than anything else.
Wasn't she in love with him? And he had just agreed to be by her side. So what was this reaction?
***
Sara burst out laughing, lying on top of her husband, totally naked and panting after a round of sex. Siran ran his hand down her back affectionately.
-Do you still remember that? -The wolf buried his hand in the tangle of hair all tangled up after the recent activity.
-Of course I remember she smiled and laid her head on the wolf's chest, Your face was a poem that day when I rejected you and Hades kept teasing us.
-Hades tricked me. He told me you were going to get engaged Siran protested.
-And well he did, otherwise you would never have proposed.
-Even when you hit me and rejected me? -Siran raised an eyebrow.
-It was nice to see you try to convince me to be your partner and be your current wife he leaned over to Siran and placed a soft kiss on her lips as she melted into his arms, But that's a different story.