Hades expected anything but that confession.
Rodrigo for his part felt all the weight suddenly vanish, but he could only see how the alpha in front of him did not move although his eyes had turned a more intense and cold silver. His fingernails had grown longer and were digging in hard, splintering the wood of the palm rests.
He swallowed hard, he had confessed what had taken away his sleep since his mother had been rescued. But maybe it hadn't been a good idea. His father was right, it was better to keep quiet. Forever.
-Why didn't you do anything?- To his surprise the alpha remained in the same position and despite his change in appearance, his voice remained in the same tone.
-Because what would I do? -That answer only made Hades narrow his eyes containing his wildest part, remembering his own words -Until recently the only thing I knew about my mother was that she had abandoned her pack and that she used its power for her own benefit. That was the punishment she deserved-
Hades took a deep breath feeling how the tips of his canines began to break the skin of his tongue.
-Do you think her capable of that?- He raised an eyebrow.
-It was the only thing they told me since my father began to take care of me- he saw him bite his lip -So when I realized that Alan's birth was not the product of one of his lovers as father said, I followed him, and I was aware of the truth-
-And still you didn't do anything-
-Would you have done something if you spend most of your time confined, with people who criticize, judge and punish every step you take and constantly tell you that the person who brought you into the world is a whore who only wants wealth and exploits the pack-
Hades was silent for a few seconds. Rodrigo's life had been harder than it appeared, he was not his father's favorite as his brothers believed, he was just an ornament with a strong discipline so that he would not embarrass the alpha. A simple puppet for his purposes.
The color of its eyes diminished and its claws and teeth retracted.
-And what do you think now that you know the truth and everything your mother has done for the pack? - He was aware that he was already aware of the real story.
Rodrigo felt more comfortable seeing the alpha return to a calm state.
-That my father is a son of a bitch and that he deserves more than the punishment they gave him-
-In that I agree with you but it was a decision of the Council, for the moment he is not being given water or food and we have him confined in one of the cells of the that faces the sun. I hope his skin is charred- the image of when he first saw Nebraska and the state she was in made his blood boil -Well done puppy- He smiled slightly -Do you feel better?
Rodrigo blinked in confusion.
- Aren't you going to punish me? -the question dislodged the alpha.
-Why would I do it?-
-I knew that my mother's death was a lie, that she was confined and what my father did to her. And still I didn't do anything to stop it-
-You said it yourself, what would I do if I were in your place? And I can only answer that I would act the same as you, I am not going to lie, but I am nobody to judge, you were not to blame-
-But...-
-Do you want to continue with the matter? I am the type of wolf that I like to conclude the topics when I decide to do so-
Rodrigo ran backwards without understanding why he was not being punished. He had done something wrong, he had done a lot of damage, and not being punished was something that had him out of place. This was not how he had been taught that things worked. This place was truly different from anything he knew.
-So is it okay for me to forget this? -
-Don't forget it- ordered the alpha calling his attention- Keep it in your heart and get stronger-
Rodrigo's eyes filled with tears for the first time in years.
-Maybe I can be forgiven so easily. My brothers and my mother will not accept me once they know what I did. Could you hide it from them? -
-I can't- his answer paralyzed the child -If you hide it from the main victims, you will be the one who will not be comfortable. Leave it to me, I have my ways of doing things-
Rodrigo hesitated, but finally agreed with his head.
-I have a question for you-
-Tell me alpha- after that intense conversation where he had dropped all his walls he felt incredibly lighter but still nervous.
-Your brothers told me that when they were preparing to escape to inform me of the situation they found you and they say that you sent soldiers after them-
Rodrigo made a slight grimace on his confused face.
-Why would I do it? I remember that they told me that they had discovered where our mother was, but I did not want to continue talking to them so they would not involve me. If someone found out and punished them, they would surely beat them but I would be sentenced to death if our father found out that I also knew the secret. But I didn't send anyone after them. They're my siblings. It also took me by surprise to learn that they had escaped-
Hades was now the confused one.
-So who could it have been? -
-Sorry alpha. I have no idea-
***
Hades let the wolf go to reflect on these last few minutes, while he was thoughtful. That last thing they had talked about seemed simple and unimportant but his instincts told him not to ignore it.
He sighed and looked at the papers on the table. His beta had done a very good job of lightening the work, even so there was a small lump that needed attention. He wanted to get some sleep, but there were things he shouldn't put off for later. He would end that while he thought about how he would broach the issue at hand with his future family.
***
Hades walked down the hall after the clock told him dinner time, the normal bustle of the mansion was concentrated in a single point, the dining room and he knew that the entire pack was gathered having a party and he had not been notified of the fact. It wasn't that it bothered him, he liked eating in company.
He was sure that Sara was the promoter of that, she used to make those banquets because she knew that he would feel comfortable. What didn't quite fit in was the intense smell of alcohol that reached his nose. He watched as a young wolf passed him with an immense barrel swinging in his hands.
He stopped turning when he realized who it was.
-Alpha, welcome- The boy with many freckles bowed as much as possible with a smile.
Hades raised an eyebrow at the blush on his cheeks.
-I see they are abusing the pantry-
The boy shook his head happily.
-The beta Siran allowed us to drink today, he said we could have a good time because you are back. You can tell he's in a good mood-
And look at what a good mood. Hades thought to himself. Siran was not a consumer of alcohol and was just as strict with those around him. He claimed that it made them more indomitable than they already were. On the other hand, Sara was another story, she had an innate resistance to get drunk, whatever she took and her husband liked to indulge her.
-It's fine, it's fine for today, that wine has been in storage for a long time and it's time to give it a good time-
-Yes alpha, thanks, but come quickly to the dining room, or you will miss the best duel of the whole pack-
-Grief? Grief of what?-
-Of course to see who can take more. We never thought that someone so young was capable of beating Commander Leoxi apart from Sara-
Hades felt his body tense, he couldn't imagine that some of the Nebraska puppies were drinking, only the two older ones were of the age to do so with supervision. He passed the boy and walked quickly towards the dining room. But his surprise was good when he entered and what he saw was not what he expected, on the contrary and the impression was even greater.
His future wife was with a jug of wine that she drank almost to the bottom, as quickly as if it were water, and next to her was his twin almost at the same par, that is not counting the at least five empty jugs on the table, three on the side of the she-wolf.
Best of all, the rest of the pack including his beta, protege, and cubs just incited the duel with screams and ruckus.
What the hell had happened in the hours he was away?