-I've come home, Ma.
Nebraska couldn't believe who was in front of her eyes and approached her, holding her cheeks with her palms trembling.
-Priscilla? Is it really you?- her gaze roamed over her daughter's body, which despite being cold was full of life.
The she-wolf grabbed one of her mother's hands and kissed her palm.
-Yes, ma, it's me, I'm back,- her empty eyes focused on the beautiful face of the omega and then she leaned to one side and raised her hand.
Hades was so shocked that he still did not react. At this Priscilla left her mother and approached the alpha by gently touching his cheek.
-This is how you greet me after 10 years without seeing me, you can be really cold pa- she raised an eyebrow.
Hades cleared his throat before speaking.
-Leoxi, take care of him and interrupt him,- he said to his brother who was still not coming out of his trance as well as the rest of the pack members since they had all known about the pup's departure and in only 10 years she had come back as a full grown wolf who smelled like one, -The rest of you may leave,- he said.
The pack was about to leave the room as everyone was curious about the arrival of Priscilla but Hades' tone had no reply and in just minutes everyone was disappearing leaving the room empty, only with those two parents, their daughter, and the newcomers.
-Are you really Priscilla?- Hades asked in a deep voice.
-Yes, Hades, it's her,- Litus, who until now had remained at the entrance, advanced towards them, -I can assure you, I saw her myself coming out of the pond and believe me, she had the same face as you do right now,- he said.
Hades looked down from the silver-haired wolf to the she-wolf in front of him. Priscilla had changed so much it was impossible to believe. She was no longer his beautiful puppy. She was now a tall, slender, adult she-wolf with very long, hip-length hair as purplish black as his and with waves at the ends. Her face was much like Nebraska's, but even more beautiful, and that was saying a lot. High cheekbones, full lips without being overdone, curved eyebrows, almost jade-like skin that contrasted with how dark her hair framed her face.
He had even inherited her silver eyes that unlike before this time were like two blocks of icy cold ice that made him shiver. Plus those curved lips that didn't have a hint of happiness in them. Even her words were so icy that he could find no trace of the Priscilla of his memories. He knew it would be like this, he had been warned but he never expected the impression to be so strong.
He opened his arms and pulled his daughter tightly between them, squeezing her to his body. Her head buried itself in the curve of his neck.
-What have I done to you?- he wailed.
Priscilla held still with her arms by her body.
-Controlling my power- she answered him casually and the false smile grew wider- Nothing more- she stroked her father's back noticing that she was tense.
Litus moved to Nebraska's side and made a reference.
-Queen, she told me she wanted to come back as soon as she got out, I don't know the reason for that,- he said.
-It's because I need to talk something serious with father,- she separated from Hades a little, -Do you think it's possible?
The alpha read between the lines realizing that something wasn't right, especially because she had left early and nodded his head.
-Ma, I'll join you and my brothers later,- Priscilla bowed her head.
Nebraska frowned.
-What's so important that I can't know?- her instinct and all the years of experience being queen had helped her to read people and even more after Liam, -What are you hiding from me Priscilla?- she smelled that it was nothing good and if she didn't want to tell her it was because it was precisely about her.
Priscilla's smile vanished from her face leaving her expression totally devoid of emotions and that shocked the three big wolves.
-Ma, you want to break the surprise I have prepared for you,- she said dryly and then smiled again, -It's not a bad thing, but I need Pa's help for what I want,- Nebraska hesitated and then sighed.
Nebraska hesitated and then sighed unconvinced.
-I'll let your brothers know you're back,- he approached her to give her a kiss on the forehead, -I'm sure they'll be happy to see you, although Nico is not back yet, he's in the iron herd.
Priscilla raised an eyebrow.
-He's in the albino wolf pack,- she knew his name but didn't feel like pronouncing it.
-Yes, he was very interested in bringing her some documents from her father.
Priscilla remained thoughtful.
-He might be interested in someone- she remembered their meeting that time at the wolf door, or she could be wrong. Ten years had passed, many things could have happened.
The wolves watched Nebraska disappear up the stairs as Priscilla turned to her father with a serious face.
-I didn't want to alarm your mother so I didn't inquire further but there must be an important reason for you to be back before your time was up,- he approached his daughter and put his hand on her head, -I'm happy you're back but I'm more worried now, can you control your power,- he said.
Priscilla let her father's hand caress her crown even though she didn't feel anything. She acted like she was happy to be back with her family and had not told them anything so she wouldn't feel bad, but deep down she was just an empty shell who could say whatever she wanted and wouldn't care if it hurt or not. But at least she had the memory of what it was like to feel loved, even if it was irrelevant to her, it gave her an idea of how she should feel.
-Pa, don't worry, I'm fine, my powers are calm, my emotions are calm so they won't explode at any moment, besides they haven't fully awakened. Besides, even though I keep hearing the same voices, I've already locked them in a part of my mind and they are just an uncomfortable murmur, nothing more--.
And she wasn't lying, thanks to her efforts to overcome that torture in her mind now she could only read minds when she wanted to, and for the moment she had created a barrier, she didn't want to know what others thought of her, so the thoughts of her father or her mother were only merged among the others.
-More importantly, I want to ask you a favor- she raised her eyes slowly- but I'd like to ask it somewhere else- then she looked around- Here the walls have ears- and she didn't want anyone to know her true purpose.
The three wolves walked towards the study and minutes later Hades had his fingers so tight that his knuckles were white.
-You're still insisting on that.
-Yes- Priscilla replied calmly sitting comfortably in the middle of the velvet couch.
-Why does it have to be Layan, it can't be another wolf, someone from here in the pack for example?
-Because Layan is mine,- she declared.
Litus just sipped a cup of tea he had poured himself enjoying the argument-fight between possessive father and hard-headed daughter. He didn't even interfere.
-Priscilla, Layan is the alpha of another pack, you can't impose on him or declare him as yours.
-Yes I can- said Priscilla firmly- his blood runs through my veins- He is mine- she finished emphatically.
-Your mother's blood, mine, even Litus' blood also runs through you- Hades squeezed his septum.
-It's not the same thing- she raised her shoulders with disinterest- I knew the path the discussion would take and she had all the time in the world to argue with her father. Besides she had another goal in mind- Pa don't be stubborn, I'm going to Layan's pack whether you want me to or not, I just came to tell you so you wouldn't worry if you found out I had woken up-
-Priscilla- Hades wanted to scold her for her tone but it was useless, he couldn't do it and even less before his daughter's firm position that was worse than when Nebraska wanted something, only that the first one had inherited his stubbornness.
-Besides, Pa, Layan is the right wolf to teach me to control his own power that I'm sure he will soon awaken and I need to do something else, don't worry, it won't be taming him, it's something more important-.
Hades was shocked.
-Pris, Layan is the strongest alpha of us all, he is not just a puppy that you can have him eating out of your hands.
She smiled.
-She was so sure of what she was saying that at first she felt fear for the wolf and at second she sighed in defeat.
-And how do you plan to make him let you go to his pack? I can give you the certainty that he won't accept so easily. You know very well that he has no intention of having you as a mate. He's said it so many times that it's boring-
-No more than you pa, but we'll leave him there- Priscilla got up and approached her father sitting on his lap- My wolf leave him to me, when I tell you he'll be mine...-she kissed the alpha's cheek- he'll be mine-....
Hades trembled.