Layan had felt fear in his life several times, like when he was a part of the Great War and lost his parents, when he took over the rule of his pack with hardly any experiences, like when his sister went into madness, when Nebraska almost died in front of his eyes. But none of those times compared to now.
With the fear of helplessness.
Yes, helplessness,,, because she could do nothing to comfort the wolf who cried hugging her furry neck. He had kept his wolf form and apparently Priscilla didn't mind because she held him as if his life depended on her. He didn't know what had happened but it must have been something bad enough during those two days for him to wake up crying.
He never imagined that some day like that would come. Priscilla looked so strong, so determined of herself that it was hard to take in the image unfolding in front of him. She was emotionless although lately she was hinting at slight changes in her character that he had noticed and had not mentioned, such as getting annoyed with him.
He tilted his head and rubbed his nose against her dark hair letting out a bit of his pheromones to soothe her, enveloping her. Apparently it was working as she began to sob more slowly until it became a mere sound. Eventually the grip on him loosened and he sensed that she had fallen asleep again.
This time he felt her bond so he was not as alarmed as before. Those two days had made him reflect on many things, perhaps too many, among them that this she-wolf should be part of his life.
Priscilla's face was streaked with tears while her eyelids were swollen, but at least her breathing was steady. For a moment Layan thought he would lose her and that had terrified him so much he had almost touched that edge that drove them to madness.
He knew it was a complicated process that they had to adjust to each other. They had personalities that clashed but life was never easy and even less so for a wolf as complicated as a and a she-wolf as stubborn as her.
She gently licked the flushed cheeks until the tears were removed. The slightly salty taste was a pleasant stimulus on his taste buds and made him shiver. Slowly he regained his human form until he lay with the she-wolf's head on his arm. The other wrapped it around the narrow waist and pulled her tight against him. The curvaceous body adapted to his with an ease that almost made him moan.
They had slept together since she had snuck into his room but this was the first time he realized that even though she was small in comparison to his large body, every part of Priscilla fit his physiognomy, as if she were part of himself. Little details like those that he had not noticed before and now, from another perspective were so striking.
The hand that rested on the female hip moved softly over her skin, running over her waist, her torso, her shoulder until it searched for his wounds that had not closed, instead it had strengthened the bond between them, although until it knotted and all the toxins of her body were deposited inside the she-wolf the bond would not be truly complete and their minds united.
If he had been told some time ago that he would be in that situation he would laugh. He had always been thought of as a lone wolf who would never marry, but since he had seen the way Nebraska and Hades lived, envy had sort of bubbled up deep inside him.
What would it be like to love someone with all your soul?
What would it be like to be loved?
Those were questions he asked himself when he was all alone, maybe it was time to let go of the ties and find out. He hugged Priscilla tighter, inhaling the strange and delicate scent of lilies coming from her and closed his eyes. He had not rested long enough to remain conscious. Taking care of the she-wolf had been exhausting.
Now she could rest at least a little.
When Priscilla awoke she felt a pleasant warmth enveloping her protectively. She opened her eyes slightly. They hurt a little and so did her body. Had she cried? She didn't remember well. She only knew that a wrenching pain had lashed her chest as soon as she had decided to let go of her desire to make Layan hers and put other priorities above it. Even now it came back to him in pain but this time he didn't cry. Tears solved nothing.
He stirred to find that he was in someone's strong arms. At first he didn't believe it but then he realized who it was. She wanted to smile but it only made her pain greater. The wolf was asleep but his scent enveloped her differently than the previous times. It was as if it wanted to permeate her body and mark her.
Her neck throbbed and she brought her fingers to the area noticing that the mark there was even more pronounced. It had bitten her again, no wonder when she was trying to subdue Liam she hadn't been able to finish sealing him inside her at the cost of her life.
Layan was overriding her powers.
And that time he had done it in the most forced way possible. If that was the case she was in trouble. How would she fight Liam if every time Layan touched her she was left so vulnerable. The thought of the alpha not touching her was a bad taste in her mouth. Right now it was extremely comfortable and pleasant to lie next to him without him rejecting her.
She bit her lower lip and rubbed her face the large torso. The arms around her moved to embrace her even more.
-Did you wake up?- Layan's voice was barely a whisper against her head before he kissed her- Let me sleep some more, I'm tired- he snuggled her more against him before her breathing became steady again.
At what point had Layan become so... affectionate?
That was something Priscilla wondered. When they slept she was the one who usually hugged him, he didn't pull away but rarely reciprocated. But now he was hugging her in such a way that she remembered when she slept with her brothers and felt so protected and loved.
A throbbing in her chest and this time it wasn't pain. It was something else. Different. A nice feeling.
Oh, feeling. Maybe these were wanting to come back.
Maybe, it was most likely. And I knew one thing. She would need them. To fight Liam he had to get stronger and his emotions were the key to making his powers more potent. Therefore, as soon as Layan awoke he would ask him to call Litus. The alpha had sealed his powers with his ice power when he was in the pond.
It was time for him to release them and with it a wave of feelings that were sure to overwhelm her. But she was sure she would be able to endure it. For she had no time to think about other things.
It was Liam or her, the two could not exist in this world and she would not let the bastard ruin the happiness of her mother and her family.
Layan, as loving as he was to her, would have to wait. And their bond, even more so. If she bonded completely she was afraid Liam would use her as a conduit to take over the alpha. Layan's mind was strong, very strong to the point of being able to stop even her from entering, but everything always has a loophole, she would not be her wolf's weakness. Already later, if she survived what was coming, and he wanted to complete the bond he would allow it, if not he wanted her close he would go back to his parents, he had a pack, she was not dependent on him.
So it was time to move the chess pieces. Liam's hours were numbered from that moment on, but he needed to strengthen himself in every way. But first she needed to be sure that the wolf would not get into the heads of those around her. In those moments she no longer trusted anyone, only Layan who she was sure Liam would not be able to control, so she would take preventive measures.
She closed her eyes and opened the channel. There was one person who could help her and that was her mother.
...
Nebraska was standing next to Hades as the two conversed with at least 5 other wolves about the food distribution for the celebration of the youngest of their pups, Noa. Nebraska wasn't too sure about the huge feast her husband was planning to throw, but seeing the excitement of her other children and even Hades himself, she didn't put up any resistance. It would be a week after her daughter returned from Layan's herd, so she would also participate and the family would be complete.
-Ma- she heard a voice in her head and suddenly the world around her began to blur. Although she kept still her eyes went completely white and her consciousness vanished to another place.
Hades was commenting on what he was planning when he noticed his wife's head fall forward.
-He called out to her, touching her shoulder, but received no answer, -Honey, are you all right?
But it was all the same and he was alarmed. The other wolves in the room stood up frightened by the state of their queen. The alpha took her by the shoulders and turned her gently towards him, noticing her emotionless face and her lost gaze. That image frightened him even more and he wanted to shake her when she suddenly blinked.
-Hades?- her voice was soft.
The wolf hugged her.
-Don't scare me like that,- he panted against her neck.
Nebraska was still a little dazed in his arms. She had just spoken to her daughter and it had been impressive the way they had done it.
-Hades,- she ran her hand down his large back, -I need to ask you a favor.
---
Hades walked down the hallway with a questioning face. His queen had told him that she had spoken to his daughter in a strange way. He believed it, Priscilla was powerful and they didn't know much about her yet. He would question her when he returned, what was it like to keep her father a secret.
He stopped in front of Leoxi's door, it was still afternoon and since it was his day off he had spent the whole time in his room. A rare thing for his twin. He usually went to visit his father or spent it drinking.
He knocked three times. He knew his brother was there. His smell was strong but... he wasn't alone.
Inside Leoxi raised his head and looked over his shoulder towards the door. He clicked his tongue and then made a silent signal in the direction of the person lying in his arms. Carefully he got up and reached for some garment to cover his nakedness.
He swallowed dryly and opened the door and closed it behind him, facing his brother. What he found before him was his brother's face, but not calm as usual. There was a grim expression and Leoxi knew he had already noticed.
-Brother, I can explain.
Hades narrowed his eyes.
--Get changed, you will leave for Layan's pack in the evening, Priscilla needs you to bring her something important,- he said in a dry tone, -But first straight to my study, I think there is another matter that is more important.
Leoxi broke out in a cold sweat. Hades was upset. That was not good. He saw him turn around and knew it was better to follow him, but before that he turned around and shouted in the direction of his twin's room.
-And Rodrigo, you're coming too.
Leoxi bit her lip, how the hell would they explain the situation to their brother, their alpha? They were in trouble.