Nebraska was holding her daughter's hand while Rodrigo and Nicolas accompanied her. Hades was in front chatting something with Noa and Alan and seemed amused as they were constantly laughing. The wolf shook his head at them as if they were very young puppies and it seemed to embarrass them. The omega smiled slightly. That was what he had imagined for a family. A father for his children and full happiness as a wife.
Hades had had work constantly so sometimes they could only meet for lunch and dinner and after catching up on what each of them was doing and asking if they needed anything, he would go back to his chores. At night he would fall almost dead in bed and there were times he would let her bathe and massage him. He didn't mind doing that at all. It was true that a little more than 7 years had passed since the great tragedy but time was measured in a different way in wolves, so much so that the years passed as if they were days.
There were still after-effects of those events and although they had managed to restore the iron pack and locate all its members, they still did not have a leader. There was no one who met the necessary expectations as alpha. Although there were rumors of a she-wolf being trained by Layan who might soon take the place of queen. That would lighten some of the Council leader's burden of running two packs.
Nebraska pulled into the back of the mansion's immense courtyard. That afternoon, after Hades was able to escape, he knew he had proposed to take them out for a run. He wanted to show Priscilla what the transformation was like even though she was a few years away from developing. Wolves didn't reach their capacity until they were about 15 years old, but with how advanced the girl's development was, it was better to be cautious.
Unlike puppies her age, Priscilla was already walking at 6 months, talking perfectly at 8 months and could read on her own by her first birthday, when wolves began to show signs of this at 3 years of age. In addition, the change was already visible in her body. She looked like an even taller girl for her time and with more mature features. It was as if her growth was fractionalized to a quarter of the normal time, anyone could say she was at least 10 years older than she really was. Internally it was something that worried both Hades and Nebraska, although they didn't comment on it to other people except for Caesar. He was aware of the situation and investigated without obtaining many results.
Every day that passed the alpha had to recognize that Priscilla looked more like his mother, even so there were details that differentiated them, they were beautiful, each in their own style. He felt blessed by all the affection he was receiving in these years. Four wolves that as much as they helped him they got him in trouble, a little wolf that in spite of getting annoyed with him sometimes, with a simple kiss she excused him and a formidable wife that supported him at all times unconditionally and to whom he would give the world if necessary.
-Smile like a fool, alpha- Alan teased after noticing that this one watched Nebraska and Priscilla sit on the grass.
-Hades leaned against him without using all his weight, -Do you have any idea of a corrective for him,- he folded his arms and smiled a wolfish grin at him.
Alan tensed and ran against Nebraska hugging his neck.
-Ma, they want to punish me,- he acted like a little puppy, that always worked.
-Hades, what did you do to him?- Nebraska scolded the alpha, stroking her son's cheek.
-Ma, it was Alan's fault,- Rodrigo commented in his ear.
-I know, but you don't say anything,- she answered him in the same way.
-I think you and I need to have a serious talk tonight,- he pretended indignantly.
-Yes, seriously- Noa passed by the side making a grimace- We know very well what you talk about when the door is closed at night. That's why you won't let us sleep with her.
-Noa- Nicolas reprimanded him after his words stupefied his parents who only had their mouths open- We will have our chance to kidnap our mother and have her for us, don't criticize the alpha's hoarder-
-Puppies, take care of yourselves, your sister is here,- scolded Nebraska embarrassed with Hades and covering her little one's ears, her sons had truly gained too much confidence when interacting with the alpha in the last times.
The males teased as if that was part of their routine. The atmosphere felt really good. Priscila didn't understand their comments and just kept smiling sitting on Rodrigo's lap.
-Well, let's go for a run, I have work in the afternoon and I need to clear my mind. Hades stood up and took off his shirt.
The boys looked at each other and nodded their heads, running with the alpha had become a really challenging task. The wolf had agility worthy of his muscular ability and long strong legs and their goal from the first time they had done it was to pass him. Noa and Alan had even used their tricks trying to bring him down but he was too fast and only ended up taunting them.
Rodrigo gently set his sister down next to his mother before leaving a kiss on her head and joining the group. The five wolves were soon naked transforming their bodies, letting their pelts be covered in thick fur and all their wolfish features appear. Hades was the fastest to do it, the older he got the easier the transformation became.
He remembered his early years and cursed being what he was. His mother had always supported them as his father was really busy with the reunification and thanks to her the pain was more bearable, but still they were not good memories. The bones were breaking, shrinking, stretching, changing and the muscles were changing and it was all sent directly to her brain. At this point she didn't even feel it anymore but her children were still dealing with it as it took them a considerable time to get to their original form.
You could tell they were siblings, they all had similar fur, with the occasional spot to differentiate them, as well as their height. Noa was the smallest of them all but the little devil was by far the fastest of the group, which annoyed Alan who could never pass them. Nicolas despite being the second brother was the biggest and tallest, maybe because he was always training when he had some free time with the aim of having the strength to protect his brothers. As for Rodrigo, his fur was the darkest and his size was medium despite being the oldest. Hades had decided that he should train him more.
-Love, I'm going to run with the puppies,- Hades turned to her, checking her daughter's stable condition for the last time.
-Not all of them are puppies,- Nebraska corrected him.
-It's easier to speak in the plural and besides, they don't mind,- she raised her shoulders even though Nicolas and Rodrigo's frowns indicated that they didn't agree with that, but it was already a lost battle, for Hades they would always be her puppies even if their blood didn't run through her veins.
Nebraska watched them leave and turned to her daughter stroking her hair. Priscilla always liked to be touched so she smiled when she rubbed her head.
-Your older brother made a mess of your hair,- Rodrigo had insisted on learning how to do her hair after seeing Nicolas do it, -Let me fix you up for when they come over.
-Yes, ma,- Pris ran over and stood in front of her.
Nebraska untied the trail of awkward braids and a warmth ran through her. Her son was slowly blending in with her family and doing his best. Despite all the worries she felt she could breathe easy at least for now. She braided Priscilla's hair again and kissed her head and hugged her. Her daughter had a soft scent, almost jasmine-like, soothing and light that made her want to melt into it, and it immersed the omega in an incredible tranquility.
-Ma, I'm hungry,- Priscilla played with her mother's fingers, -We can have something to eat while Pa comes back.
-What do you want to eat?- Nebraska looked where the males had gone, knowing it would take at least an hour for them to return, they were always so excited and Hades took the opportunity to give them a tour of the herd.
-Whatever you give me is fine- a scent came to her that drew her attention away from her mother. A delicious scent that was better than all the food they could give her.
Nebraska sighed, her daughter was undemanding about some things. She turned to look in the basket they had brought with way too much food. There was everything from rolls, to a piece of meat that Hades and Alan had insisted on after coming to the conclusion that they would need protein.
-Pris, do you want something sweet or savory?
She waited for her daughter's response, but it never came.
Nebraska opened her eyes in alarm and turned around to find only a lump of cloth on the floor. She was alone.