Captive Of The Alpha
Chapter 26

Nebraska was taking small steps and could now stand on her knees without them buckling on the spot, it still hurt, but she hid it from Noa and Alan who were doing their best to help her recover as quickly as possible.

At the other end of the room, Nicolas was sitting with some papers that he was looking up and down, with data from his former pack and now belonging to Hades, staying on the side was not in his personality and he had asked the alpha to at least let him organise the records of his wolf family.

-Ma, be careful, don’t rush, you’re doing fine,” Noa held her with one arm around her waist, watching her every move.

-You’d think I was her little girl if you keep talking like that,” the she-wolf joked for the first time in years.

The instinctive connection between mother and pup was stronger than any separation that could exist, and proof of that was her children’s acceptance of the fact that she had just appeared in their lives. Though she couldn’t say the same for two she had yet to see. There were always exceptions, and even more so when they had a father who contributed nothing to their relationship.

-Rodrigo and Catalina, how are they?

Silence reigned in the room. Alan helped his mother to sit up and knelt down, taking her hands in his. The omega could feel his palms starting to sweat and she caressed them to calm him down.

-Ma, I know it can be difficult, but we have to give them time, Rodrigo, let’s just say that their soul is more than contaminated by pa’s beliefs, I trust that later on their relationship with you will improve but we can’t guarantee it at the moment. Besides, the alpha has his eyes on him and he can’t come and go freely so he’s more than a little annoyed – his brother was so cold that even his gaze hurt, being in the same room with him, even without speaking to them, could be suffocating.

-As for Catalina,” Nicolas sat down next to her and kissed his mother’s temple, he had found he liked doing it, “Let’s say she’s a little different,” his other two brothers nodded, “We don’t know why she’s like that, but she’s reluctant to see you. She’s very unpredictable and unstable and even though she’s our dear little sister we have to admit that she’s even more difficult than Rodrigo.

Nebraska shook her son’s hair and smiled.

-You don’t have to worry and decorate the situation with rose petals. I was gone for many years and I know that things have changed and that Rudoc took it upon himself to tarnish my image and that is something I will live with. You don’t have to carry the burden of hiding things from me to make me feel good. I’m not that weak,” the boys looked at each other hesitantly, “Remember I was queen, this is just a drop in the bucket of worries.

-Ma, how can you be so strong,” Noa squeezed the hem of his shirt.

She took his hand and caressed each of his fingers.

-Because I have you.

-Alan searched for answers.

-More than the air I breathe. The only reason I didn’t end my life in that place was because I knew that one day I would get out of there and be reunited with you, for the moment I could only protect you from the shadows.

Nicolas wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her hair.

-Thank you, ma, for not giving up.

Nebraska was surprised by that sentence and an innate happiness invaded her.

-Thank you, ma, for being here.

Nebraska decided to walk on her own as her children retired to their rooms to eat, due to the preparations for the new members to join the large dining room. Plus there was the small matter of being the offspring of an alpha like Rudoc, branded with so many nasty nicknames they couldn’t count them.

He left the room to walk down the corridor. In the room despite being large there were many obstacles that she could not define and always ended up with bumps.

Her eyesight, better than before, still focused on almost nothing and although the silhouettes were more defined the colours blended together. She took a step forward, letting go of the wall, and grabbed hold of it again. He needed more strength if he was to walk without support. Using the wall as a guide he took several slow steps until the muscles in his legs warmed up and it became easier.

Without foreseeing it something appeared in front of his foot, a piece of wood perhaps, and he fell forward. She tried to catch herself but her hands slipped until something stopped her from the impact. Nebraska raised her head and did not identify the silhouette that held her, but the smell and the longing of many years.

She grasped the arms that held her and straightened with their help, unable to get any words stuck in her throat.

-I see you are better, mother,” the voice of her firstborn, Rodrigo, made her heart throb.

The omega stepped forward and wrapped her arms around the tall wolf’s chest.

Rodrigo didn’t expect that reaction and just let her do it, arms on either side of his body.

-At last,” she sobbed softly against him, “At last I can see you again, it’s been so long.

He felt no response from his son. He was stiff as she showed longing for him.

He broke away and sat up, holding onto the wall. It was to be expected. She was sure Rodrigo would not welcome her with open arms. She had to admit that his rejection was more painful than anything that had gone through her body over the years, she couldn’t compare it to anything.

Someone’s heavy footsteps sounded behind the omega and she could tell whose scent came with great intensity. His sense of smell was recovering faster than the others.

-Glad to see they were able to effect a family reunion,” Hades stopped next to Nebraska, like an owner, demarcating their space.

Rodrigo frowned, clenched his fists, and held back.

-If you’ll excuse me, I’ll leave.

Hades didn’t order him to stay, even if it was disrespectful to leave without greeting the alpha. He watched him turn and disappear two doors down.

-I see you can walk now,” the wolf ignored the subject, the situation seemed tense between them and him, he would just stay out of it, he wasn’t going to intercede in a matter where he had no experience, just for the moment.

-Yes, Noa and Alan have been helping me,” his voice sounded muffled, disappointed.

-Well, you’d better. I hope you’re ready,” he grabbed her waist and pulled her to use his body for support. With one finger he wiped away the single tear that had escaped from her eyes and wandered down her cheek, to bring it to his lips and taste the salty liquid.