Years ago
Nicolas left Alan and Noa in their respective rooms after spending hours trying to get them to behave like decent puppies. His father had given explicit orders that he did not want anyone inside the mansion that night and, unable to get them out, had confined them to his room before the sun went down.
His younger siblings loved to rile him up and have him scold them, drawing his attention at all times. He couldn't deny that they were adorable when they did that and he always ended up smiling and giving them a kiss on the top of the head. He was a tremendous babysitter, in the absence of a mother and almost a father, he was the only person to give them affection.
He left the room of the youngest of them and went to his. He was exhausted. Dealing with the problems of his pack, which were overlooked by his older brother, with whom he barely exchanged words, his father and the upbringing of his brothers had brought out more than one gray in his chocolate-colored hair. He had just come of age, his first 50 years, but he felt like he had lived 200.
He sighed and closed the door behind him. He pulled off his leather jacket, breathing in relief to rest, when he remembered that he had left some important papers in the study and would need them tonight. He went out again and walked down the great hall receiving the cold night breeze by only being covered with a shirt and it was not advisable to go back now for the jacket, if his father found out that he was prowling, whatever it is, he would surely be upset .
A small cry reached his ears. It was weak, very far away.
He looked around and couldn't smell anything or anyone, the mansion was totally deserted. He heard the crying again and followed it intrigued.
Where did it come from?
Another new puppy in the pack?
He was not informed that any wolf was about to give birth. The incessant crying led him into a cave hidden in the catacombs in the most austere part of the mansion. He hesitated a moment before entering, although he ended up entering only a few meters, it was not possible that no one was in that abandoned place.
His father's voice echoed far away and he was not alone. He sneaked in a little further, stopping when the trail started to get harder to follow. Something was wrong. The musty smell was so strong it clouded his sense of smell, but still there was something there that attracted him. He would have to ask Liam what this place was. He was a wolf who had been in the family too long, he was sure there was no mystery to him. The crying became louder when the squeak of what must have been some abandoned door was heard.
Sounds echoed off the walls, crying, gasping, and screaming. He could detect the fragrance, so to speak, of blood. His body shook and his claws began to come out without understanding why. An urge to go inside to keep moving and discover that he was beyond the darkness was so strong it stunned him. There was something calling him, urging him to continue.
Footsteps were heard in the background and he hid behind a stone hiding himself as best as possible, skipping dirt on his body to hide his scent. The pack alpha emerged from behind some stones followed by the pack doctor. A newborn puppy, in her arms.
***
Present
Nicolas sniffed the air in the middle of the forest. Nothing, there was nothing. No sign of other individuals. Doubt, uncertainty, and anger blossomed inside him. He couldn't believe he had been fooled. He walked quietly with some hope that it wasn't, because if not more than one life would be doomed. He had staked everything on this attack, the freedom of his mother, his pack, his family.
In the distance the branches creaked and he went on alert. The four wolves behind him looked at each other and bristled.
Amid the darkness of night, where the moonlight barely penetrated the lush roof of leaves, a large and majestic figure made its presence.
The five wolves of the gray pack unconsciously stepped back. The animal before them commanded respect from every inch of their being. Its very black fur glowed despite being lost in the dark, its size above average, the muscles that were marked in its thick legs and chest and those two silver orbs that differentiated it from any of its kind. Hades, alpha of the silver pack, was simply impressive.
Nicolas lowered his ears and tail in an involuntary act of submission, despite being a prince and standing out for being among the strongest of his pack, he could not be compared to him. He hadn't even been so intimidated when he had to intercede and fight with his father not to kill Noa, that fateful day when he disagreed with him. He shuddered just remembering it, his father had ripped his throat, not a fatal wound, but bad enough to put him in bed for several months. Despite his quick recovery, the scar on his neck was the living mark of his father's "affection".
Hades advanced on him. Behind him the footsteps became louder. A set of at least 50 wolves appeared.
Nicolas felt his emotions stir inside him.
That night was going to be hectic.