Leila had smelled her brother and had run downstairs from her room. But the image she saw made her stand still before her brother and the woman who looked very familiar sharing an awkward situation.
-Brother who is she?- she was very much like Nebraska, but her hair was very long and black, her eyes were silver and her face was even more refined and beautiful.
A throb beat his heart. He had never met someone who could attract so much attention with her image and that was saying a lot after living with an albino she-wolf for a considerable time. He didn't like that and even less the way her bodily expression revolved possessively around her brother.
Priscilla for her part stepped away from Layan and approached the she-wolf.
-Hi. You must be Layan,- she smiled her usual fake smile at him, -And apparently you don't like me.
There it was again. Layan snorted. Priscilla didn't have a filter or perception of the environment to speak of. It was one thing to have no feelings and another to speak as if others didn't care what she was going to say.
She quickly walked over and stood next to her sister putting her arm around her shoulders. The movement was followed by Priscilla remembering that he had also done the same to her, of course before he knew she was who she was.
-Lei, this is Priscilla, the daughter of Nebraska and Hades,- he approached her and murmured, -Remember everything I told you. Don't say anything.
-Why wouldn't I say anything,- Priscilla raised an eyebrow reminding him that she could read minds and had heard for her what the wolf had told her, -Is my condition a secret?
-Priscilla, stop doing that. No one likes to have their mind read.
-Then talk to me directly, but if you don't like it I can make an effort although if I hadn't said it before a female of your pack would die out in the open- she bowed her head and glared at him with her silver eyes- I may be empty but my parents taught me principles and the pack always comes first. Isn't that right alpha?
The tone Priscilla used with Layan didn't sit well with Leila and growled at the puppy. Pris smiled at her again.
-You liked my mom better, didn't you? Don't worry, I won't hate you for that. I can't hate someone- she lifted her shoulders and the hair that was over her shoulder was slicked to one side exposing the bite on her neck.
Priscilla noticed how the she-wolf stared at her and frowned. Pris noticed her thoughts again.
-Before you think something you shouldn't, this was your brother's doing, just like the one on the back of my neck,- she pulled her hair back completely, leaving her in full view.
-Priscilla,- Layan scolded her.
She only changed the angle of her gaze towards him.
-I wasn't the one who thought she was a whore,- she blurted out as always calmly.
Her tone was so flat and neutral that she really sounded like a doll talking and that irritated Leila even more. She had noticed that this she-wolf was not comfortable with her presence. There was nothing she could do about it. He wasn't there just to play like she was noted to be, not doing much all day as the alpha's sister.
Leila growled at him. Why was someone like her there making her brother uncomfortable.
Layan ran his hand over his face. Priscilla really was something and he would have to teach her well all the pack rules, starting with that she had to respect both him and her sister.
-Let's stop this show- this time the one who growled was him and everyone flinched except Pris who didn't even flinch and smiled at him.
She knew that it drove him out of his mind and if he was upset he would touch her and there he would lose control again. The experience in the forest had been really intense for her first time but not unpleasant at all. She had liked it. Somehow it made her body feel a little alive and a little more.
-Everybody get back in position and wait for directions. Leila let's go inside. Priscilla, I'll show you what your room will be,- he looked at her seriously.
-Your room?- she hinted.
-No puppy, not my room. You are forbidden to enter there,- he declared and before she could protest he turned to lead his sister inside the castle.
Priscilla took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the smell of the place. The smell of pine and willows was strong due to the amount of trees in the area. It was a good smell, relaxing and one could get used to it. Since no one showed him the way he figured he should follow Layan but he could only take three steps.
Her consciousness was suddenly overwhelmed as if someone wanted to invade her. A blinding pain that petrified her assaulted her and she could only let everything go black without being able to do anything. What she was looking for was so strong now that she was so close. Damn.
Layan was going with his sister but stopped when he heard a sound behind him and turned around. Priscilla's body was now lying face down on the grass. Not moving.
***
Kei, Layan's beta walked through the door of his alpha's office. Despite the passing years his bearing remained the same. His blond hair trimmed in a military style and his dark clothing.
-Alpha,- he reported.
Layan lifted her head from her hands and looked at him.
-The she-wolf,- he asked.
-Rescued, she is already with her family.
-Who was responsible?
It was his brother-in-law's meat.
Layan clicked his tongue. He didn't like that kind of bestiality but they were wolves and they had their ways of settling things.
-Give them what they need even though it won't remedy anything and investigate every single member of the pack. Each one-
-Yes my lord,- Kei didn't know what the change in his alpha was about but he wouldn't reply. He never did and he knew Layan had chosen him for that. -The new she-wolf he brought?
Layan laid his head in his hand exhausted.
-She's sleeping,- he said, -The doctor only said she was exhausted and her body is still getting used to the change of environment. She'll wake up when she's rested enough, although sometimes I prefer her to stay asleep longer.
-Kei was amazed that a single she-wolf could break Layan's patience, an alpha that everyone thought was capable of so much.
-You wouldn't understand Kei,- he sighed, -She's something I can't control and it upsets me. I don't know what goes through her mind. And the worst thing is that I can't touch her too much without my body reacting because of the bond- -Do you want her or do you want her?
-Do you love her or do you want her?
Layan burst out laughing.
-Are you seriously asking me that question? How could I love her. She's Nebraska's daughter. There's a line I'll never cross and she won't be her replacement. I'm not that much of a beast.
-Then you want her,- said the beta, earning a growl from his alpha.
-It's because of the damn bond. He asked me for a month but if he keeps making things difficult for me I'll break it first.
Kei pursed his lips.
-The bond isn't everything,- he muttered.
-What did you say?- Layan was so focused that he barely understood.
In that case the beta shook his head.
-Nothing my alpha. It is late and I will retire. You should rest too.
-I will, Kei,- he slumped back in his chair and closed his eyes. He hoped that at least things with his sister would be easier and he would entertain Priscilla so she wouldn't be after him all the time but he was wrong. Leila didn't like the she-wolf and he couldn't force her.
It would be a really long month.
After a long hot bath Layan got out of the tub and dried himself off leaving his long hair damp. He wanted to cut it, when he wore it shorter it dried faster but his sister said she liked it and it looked better so not much could be done.
Just as naked as every night he lay down on his huge bed and relaxed against the soft mattress. He grabbed a sheet and covered himself up to his hips with it and let exhaustion overcome him. He hoped the next day would be better.
Soon after something stirred in his dreams and there were sounds but he thought it was just his imagination. All well and good until a weight unleveled his bed and soon it was on him. He opened his eyes with a start finding in front of him a pair of silver orbs watching him intently.
-Priscilla, what are you doing here?
She smiled at him.
-I came to sleep with my partner, alpha.