Layan heard the whole story and didn't know if the outrage he felt was at what had been done to Nebraska, or at the way they had manipulated all the wolves, including him. Everything had worked almost as Liam had planned and that only made the blood boil inside him.
Nebraska could feel how rage was present in that wolf. Not in vain he was considered the strongest within the Council and almost always gave the last word. It flaunted his name even though he had never really seen it in action. She settled back on the bed but groaned again and brought her fingers behind her back to feel a huge scar forming.
-Don't move too much- Layan pursed his lips worried -I don't know why but I can't heal the wound on your back. It is deep and the tissue closes slowly, I think it will leave a big scar - for a wolf having scars was something totally rare, especially because of its rapid regeneration. Nebraska attributed this anomaly to the change that Liam had undergone and the toxins in his fangs, which meant that the situation was not as easy as it seemed.
She listened to how the door opened and a head with red curls in an uproar shyly peeked out. Layan's face underwent a rapid transformation.
-Come honey, I want to introduce you to someone- he said to the newcomer with a smile.
Leila closed the door behind her and went to the bed in doubt. Seeing a scene where there was a wolf sitting with only a large nightgown that covered what was necessary and her naked brother only covered up to the hips with the sheet was something that implied certain situations. Although she did not smell in her the essence of his brother; there was another, just as powerful that moved possessively across the pale skin of that wolf and seemed impossible to disappear. Reaching her brother's side, she sat on the edge and he put her arm over him.
-Leila, I present to you Nebraska, current wife of Hades and queen of the silver pack, and your savior- he kissed his sister on the temple, happy that she was accompanying him -She was the one who brought you back to my arms, from madness-
Leila's eyes widened with a spark within them that Nebraska found pleasant. She quickly noticed the similarity between those two brothers, their hair, their eyes, even their features, there was no doubt that the blood that flowed through their veins was the same. But she had to admit that although that wolf, due to her age, must be older than her, she could pass for one of her children very easily, that did obviate some lines of expression marked on her face caused by the long stay in madness.
Leila crawled over to her and sat back on her heels, holding her hands with hers.
-Thank you- she whispered shyly -I don't know how to thank you-
Nebraska felt nostalgic and the image of her children that she missed flew through her mind. Smiling slightly, she rubbed her head, ruffling her hair more.
-You don't have to thank me, but could you hit your brother in my place, the idiot kidnapped me, forced me and then refused to kiss my feet for my help-
Layan's jaw nearly dropped thinking that the grudge Nebraska could feel had long since vanished, nothing further from reality. That wolf kept them under her sleeve to come with her sword drawn when the situation warranted it. Leaning forward, he covered his sister's ears and pulled her back again.
-Don't mind her, little sister, you didn't hear anything-
-Brother- the shyness had disappeared and her head leaned back with narrowed eyes -Is it true that you did all that? -
A bead of sweat crossed the temple of the mighty wolf who felt helpless before those two wolves.
-I'll explain later- he tried to lighten the situation- I promise-
Nebraska felt for a few seconds relaxed with the scene but knew that she would not be able to enjoy that tranquility. Layan was magnificent. She was sure that if she were his wife, he would take care of her as if she was something sacred, but she had given her heart to someone else. He hoped that anyone who was to share his side was worthy of how great he was. But for the moment she had more important matters to handle. With her face serious again, she pursed her lips and leaned down.
-Layan- the wolf looked at her stopping his sister -I need a favor-
***
Hades was sitting behind his desk clenching his hands until his knuckles turned white. He had recently woken up only to find out that he had been poisoned, that Rudoc had escaped with Liam and Catalina and Nebraska had not been left behind. The mark on her neck had reinforced their bond so she knew two things. First, that she was alive, second that she had not betrayed him. But the murmurs among the members of the pack did not say the same.
Sara did not speak of the subject and tried to deal with her now adopted children. Siran hadn't rested in days and was showing exhaustion and Leoxi looked like a caged beast wanting to cut off someone's head. Still he trusted her. Nebraska had given herself to him, had entrusted her with her body, her children, her pack, so she didn't believe that everything they said could be true. Still he had no idea where she might be. He had forced his mind trying to open a channel of mental communication between them but failed, his queen had to be unconscious so that the contact could not be made.
He bit his lip until it bled. He cursed that day when he had let his guard down. Caesar had been reluctant to tell her how they had kept him and Rodrigo from succumbing to death, and although he had refused, in the end he spoke. Hades required all his strength not to grab him by the neck and strangle him. He didn't understand how they had allowed her to go to such extremes.
-Alpha- Siran was standing in the doorway of the study with heavy breathing, the dark marks under his eyes indicated that he was on the verge of collapse- Please come, it is urgent-
Hades ran down the hall and leapt over the balcony, falling gracefully onto the first floor floor to find the body of a badly injured person and nearly his entire pack surrounding him, while Caesar held back the bleeding that would not stop. His body was also shivering and his skin was almost melting into the splattered snow.
-Alfa Hades- he spoke almost unintelligible coughing blood- Please do something-
The wolf knelt in front of him and took his pulse. He saw Caesar shake his head indicating that no matter what he did he couldn't help him; they were losing him so he had to hurry.
-Speak-
-Our alpha- he coughed and filled his lungs with air -Our alpha was killed- a collective exclamation followed his words and Hades raised his head silencing them all- The iron herd has fallen and everyone is being controlled, whoever resists will follow the same destiny-
Hades felt his fangs grow inside his lips.
-Who was it?- And later he would ask him if he had time for the details of how he could control the wolves, that was unheard of.
-It's someone ... I saw ... here,- her words trailed off for her eyes to turn lifeless white.
Caesar closed his eyelids and looked at his alpha who was thoughtful. The only person he knew who was from his pack and who could bring someone under control was Nebraska, but could he believe it was her? He shook his head trying to push those thoughts away but only made someone else repeat them.
-Maybe it may be that our queen did it- a wolf said from behind and several looked at him.
-We have all seen his power- another mentioned -You heard him, he said he could control other wolves-
-Then the queen has betrayed us,- another muttered.
Hades got up to shush them when a small cub stepped in front of him and screamed at the top of his lungs.
-The queen is good- a silence fell in the room and some recognized it, it was that puppy that she had saved and the first time they had seen the power of the omega be used.
-The queen is good,- the puppy sobbed.
-That's true- another wolf a little older who had been during his tenure came to his defense -When our pack was in crisis, she herself took her food ration so that we all ate something. The queen is benevolent, and loves the herd, hates death and likes everyone to live in peace-
-Please do not judge her without knowing the true facts- a she-wolf took the child in her arms, she was also from the old pack -They may be suspicious because they do not know her, but despite always being serious, the queen feels even more that we-
The other members present, especially those who were from the original silver herd, kept quiet and embarrassed in a way. Hades was proud of the way his wife and queen were remembered. He understood the distrust of his wolves, it was normal because the fusion carried a transit, which had been accelerated.
-So?- A wolf still insisted -Who could have done that?-
-It was Liam- the door opened letting the cold and snow let in those seven individuals, five guardian wolves, Layan and Nebraska at the head -He is the cause of everything-