Layan walked slowly carrying the teenage she-wolf in his arms. Rarely in his life had he trembled as much as he did now. The saliva in his mouth was hardly passing down his throat and every time the memory of what he had done crossed his mind the symptoms became worse. He ignored his body's physiological reaction of wanting to squeeze the she-wolf tighter against him and give her protection. If only he hadn't bitten her he wouldn't be so strong.
An alpha always had a high instinct to take care of those around him, especially if they were young, but he had overdone it in more ways than one. HE HAD BITTEN HER. What was he thinking at the time. And not just any wolf, but Priscilla, the she-wolf who claimed him as her own. Didn't that mean she had recognized him. Surely that was what she would think once she woke up.
He had to make it clear to her. This had been an emergency measure. The bond would not be complete if they did not consummate their union, something he had no intention of doing. He would not touch her, he could not. As soon as he was sure she could be stable he would break everything that bound them. A throbbing crossed his chest at the thought of the face the she-wolf would make when he rejected her but he ignored it. This was no time for that, he couldn't give her what she wanted.
Part of the way he had carried her on his back in wolf form so by the time he transformed they were quite close to the mansion. At the entrance a she-wolf was pacing back and forth almost to the point of desperation. Her face serious and cold at the same time. Nebraska could die of worry for any of its members and Layan had already seen what she was capable of. Noticing this, she ran to them.
-She's fine now, she just needs to rest,- Layan told her, putting Priscilla down a little and holding her tightly for Nebraska to see.
The queen stroked her daughter's hair and breathed more calmly.
--Thank you Layan, I really appreciate it,- she said.
Layan smiled warmly at her.
-You know you can count on me for anything you need,- she said.
Nebraska raised her head and then focused again on her daughter. Hades was inside the mansion supervising the whole mess. Nicolas and Rodrigo soon joined their mother and the former carried her. Unexpectedly Layan felt an emptiness as the she-wolf was removed from his arms and growled as a result.
Nicholas blinked, settling Priscilla against him, but could say nothing. Layan walked past them in the direction of the mansion's interior. He ran his hand through his reddish hair shaking it vigorously. It was the noose, it was the noose, that was why the sensations were so strong. He had put the noose around his own neck, now he had to deal with the consequences.
After changing he stood in front of a window in the main hall. It had been hours since he had returned with the she-wolf and the feeling was still on his skin. The sweetish smell of flowers totally unlike any wolf still stung in his nose and the warmth of her body was hard to miss. His tongue caressed her fangs so many times it even pricked her. The taste of her blood was so different from his mother's.
Nebraska was strong for an omega, she was strange and a box of surprise to many. Her daughter was also unpredictable but in another way. Her strength was even in her blood. It was thick, hard to swallow as it stunned the senses but yet so addictive. He ran his hand over his face. He was going mad. Perhaps he should have sought another method.
He knew the effect of the brand. The longer it went on the more he wanted to touch her, to make the bonding complete, to make her his from head to toe, so care had to be taken when he bit down.
-LAYAN- a growl echoed behind him so loudly that I made him break his concentration and upset the wolves that were there as well.
Hades was coming down the stairs with heavy steps, his body seemed bigger and his face was disfigured in such an expression of fury that both his hands and eyes had transformed. He approached Layan so fast that he embedded him by the neck in the wall behind him and lifted him a few inches off the ground. The other wolf didn't make the slightest hint of doing anything. He stood still, he could imagine why he had reacted like that.
-Did you bond with my daughter,- he said, almost shouting gravely. The surrounding wolves lowered their heads and backed away in fear, it was strange to see their alpha so discomposed.
For his part Layan didn't even flinch, he was prepared for this. The grip on his neck was hard and annoying but he could resist it until the other alpha calmed down.
-Tell me a valid reason not to rip your throat out right here, I left it in your hands, I trusted you-
Layan raised an eyebrow.
-You wanted your daughter back safely,- the wolf said a little choked, -If I didn't control her, I couldn't do it.
Hades' grip became a little looser. He knew the elder was right, but he couldn't accept it, his daughter was a very young pup and Layan was very adult, besides he was Layan, the wolf who had also been interested in his she-wolf and besides if his daughter got involved with him he would take her away from his side, he wouldn't allow that.
-Undo it, remove your mark from her while you still can.
-I can't- Layan answered him sincerely- Believe me I want to do it, but then she will lose control, again- -Hades' hand trembled.
Hades' hand trembled this time until a sensation ran down his spine, one he knew all too well.
-Hades- Nebraska's hard, low and slow voice was heard in the room petrifying everyone present, if it was hard to see Hades upset, it was much more to do it with Nebraska and more so when she had her eyes completely blurred. A crushing sensation ran through them all- If you're going to fight do it later, my daughter is resting- his eyes narrowed, the muscles in the wolves' bodies were paralyzed- Both of you go upstairs, we need to talk- and with the same he turned and walked towards Priscilla's room.
Once the pressure on their bodies faded everyone could breathe. Hades dropped Layan who quickly stabilized on his legs. He ran his hand quickly across his throat. It had been worse the reaction provoked by the queen than by the alpha in front of him. Sometimes he wondered which of the two was more to be feared.
-Come on- Hades turned his back- Nebraska is upset, it's no good to keep her waiting- and headed off.
Layan sighed, something told him that it wasn't good what was going to happen, but he followed him anyway. They climbed the stairs without exchanging words and walked towards Priscilla's room, it was strange for Hades, since the puppy hardly ever used it, she always slept with them or with her siblings, so it was even stranger to find her lying on the soft bed with her eyes closed. Nebraska sitting on the edge settled the blanket over her before getting up and instructing them to sit on the couch in the huge room. She did so in the armchair opposite them. Her face too serious, her eyes cold.
-I'm not going to question what you did, Layan,- she began, -I know you wouldn't hurt Priscilla, but I want you to explain to me why exactly you marked her.
Layan settled down, trying to let his relaxed pose affect his surroundings a bit.
-He tried to kill himself- at the mention of that both parents tensed up- he ran straight to the confines of the herd, he had intentions of lunging. She was totally out of control, I managed to stop her in time but she wanted to escape. Her power was threatening to get out of control again and I could only bite her. I know the connotation that the bite has for us and the creation of the first part of the link but I did not do it with that intention Nebraska- he looked her in the eyes- Hades has never done it with you, I can imagine how you would react, but the mark gives us certain power over the females, we can control them if we want, although it is in rare cases after all the bond is so strong that the last thing you want is to hurt your counterpart- -You're telling me that I'm linking you with the females- -You're telling me that I'm linking you with the females, I'm telling you that I'm linking you with the females.
-She massaged her temples as if she was exhausted, and she was, she hadn't slept a wink all night.
-I didn't do it with any other intention, I'm strong enough to keep her power at bay whenever she gets out of control, at least for the moment. I promise that as soon as she is stable I will break our relationship, if that makes you feel better Hades- he looked at the wolf next to him who seemed calmer and who hadn't spoken so far- I won't lay a finger on her even if my whole body claims for this- he thought it convenient to say-.
-You know how Priscilla feels about you,- Nebraska's voice made him look at her again.
-Priscilla is a puppy, she doesn't know what she wants,- he answered her quickly.
-You're wrong,- that made the two wolves look at her. Nebraska was aware that this subject would have to be brought up sooner or later, since Priscilla had made it clear that he was hers, and not as a puppy, since she remembered her daughter as an adult wolf.