Captive Of The Alpha
Chapter 44

Nebraska walked several paces ahead of Hades.

The way she was moving her shoulders and head to each side indicated to the alpha that she was not so much studying the passage around her as she was keeping portraits of the places they walked as if she would ever lose her sight again and need to rely on her other senses. Although she was not smiling, her scent told him that she was more than happy, grateful and pleased to be able to appreciate her surroundings clearly again.

He, on the other hand, was nowhere near half happy. The gout of doubt of what Layan had done to Nebraska still stung and stung in his pride, and more so when she dragged him away, dodging the conversation. Knowing him, the red-haired wolf hadn’t done anything according to protocol by the way they both reacted.

-Nebraska,” he called out to her, his voice full of authority and grave.

But the omega simply ignored him and walked on, this time with her back straight and tense, she had heard him, she just ignored him.

-He could tolerate a lot of things, but not being answered when he called was something that struck directly at his alpha sense.

And for the second time she ignored him and continued on her way.

Hades was about to call out to her a third time when he saw her stop and look over her shoulder.

-Until you call me with the proper tone I deserve out of respect, I will not answer you,” she said.

He stopped short. His words came softly from his mouth, though those violet eyes that now seemed more beautiful focused on him with a deadly coldness.

-Not even Rudoc spoke to me like that while I was queen, it was only after he was able to imprison me for childbirth that he was able to take advantage of me,” she turned fully towards him, “Don’t think that because you will be my husband and the wolf that marks me that you can speak to me or treat me as you please, Hades,” she frowned, “I am not a submissive she-wolf.

After Layan had kissed her, her body had begun an internal healing that only after two hours had almost completely recovered its energy. If she didn’t make her position clear from the beginning, history could repeat itself and she would not allow that.

Rudoc had been able to imprison her in one measly moment of weakness after a difficult birth of her first puppy and yet every time he visited her he had to deal with her, even after 50 years of torture, pain and barely any strength. If Hades imagined he could control her, as most wolves did with their females, he was dead wrong.

The alpha for his part had stood petrified in place. Layan’s words still echoed in his head over and over again. The part about him losing his place as alpha of his pack was the most pronounced and it seemed if he didn’t get strong that was what would happen. The she-wolf wasn’t one he normally had to interact with, already just being omega made her rare, leading a pack in the midst of a time of chaos and getting ahead with her renown made her more memorable.

-I won’t ask you to apologise to me, but I will ask you not to talk to me like that again. I will not be just your mate or a female at your side who will open her legs for you whenever you want, I will be the queen of the pack, your equal and the she-wolf you can lean on as often as you need,” her gaze softened to the neutral one she usually had, “So as I will respect you, you must do the same with me.

Hades didn’t nod, but the expression on his face implied that he had gotten the message clearly. She turned again and began to walk. He followed her with his hands in his pockets, mulling over her words. There was always talk of queen and all the rest of it, but until this point he had not realised the impact of her position on his life and how important she would be to both him and the pack.

They walked on for several more yards without exchanging words, fortunately he could already feel Nebraska’s mood returning to regular. Perhaps he had touched a deep sore spot by using that tone, one he didn’t usually use, he knew the reaction he was getting.

He sighed and pushed a branch out of the way. Layan had offered to give them a ride or escort, but they had refused. The distance was not very long between each mansion, they were strategically placed for any mishap and Hades knew a shortcut that made the way faster.

He knew that he would soon be able to transform, he had just come out of heat and usually needed a certain amount of time to do so. As for Nebraska, who seemed magically renewed, it should not be a problem. She either hadn’t noticed or was being considerate. For the moment they were just walking. That way he would let her adjust to her now recovered eyesight.

After crossing the small stream that served as a natural boundary between the two packs, Hades spoke to her again, this time only with the intention of conversation.

-You can ask,” he saw her turn her head doubtfully, “You said it yourself, you will be the queen of my pack, ask whatever you want.

She blinked and paused until he caught up with her and resumed walking. Her earlier discomfort and annoyance seemed to have vanished completely.

-If so,” Nebraska touched her chin in thought, “why is your zeal so strong?

This time Hades was the one who blinked, of all the existing questions she started with that one. Seeing his reaction she added.

-I remember my dad’s heat, my uncle’s, even Rudoc’s, and they didn’t look anything close to what you looked like, neither in heat, nor after heat. Did you know that you had a very high fever after fading? If it wasn’t for Layan I don’t think you’d be walking now.

He growled at the other alpha’s name and she raised her eyebrow.

Swallowing the lump of jealousy in her throat she prepared to answer him properly, she didn’t want to start fighting without barely formalising their relationship.

-It’s been that way since he was a child. Those of us with alpha genes in our b***d by nature tend to go through a pretty powerful rut. In my particular case it must be hereditary, but since the first one it has always been quite exhausting. I totally lose lucidity and even if I remember what’s happening, I can’t have control over my body- -Does that have something to do with it?

-Does that have anything to do with why you don’t have a puppy?

-Part of it does. If I were to knot with a she-wolf in my heat the percentage of me getting pregnant is 90%, but I have never wanted to do that, I don’t think any female would put up with three days of s*x that was a bit more violent than normal – he pointed to his fangs – I like to bite a lot during that period. So I always made sure to breed when the she-wolf was in heat, it was safer for both of us.

-Still you don’t answer me,” she seemed interested.

After regaining his sight he had realised that the image he had in his head of what he remembered was not distorted, rather, the real thing far exceeded the image in his mind. No wonder some people were ogling him. The beauty and sexuality in his face was sculpted with the finest chisel and those lips he had come into contact with were far more appetizing than they felt. Not to mention what was marked from the neck down.

-I’m not going to lie to you, I’m over 600 years old. I’ve been with the requisite number of females looking to have a puppy, I’ve always wanted one of my own or hundreds.

Nebraska felt her insides churn at his heartfelt statement, that wolf was longing for offspring of his own, she understood a little more of his desperation to be with her. His pained voice suddenly unsettled her.

-Maybe I’m not cut out to be a father,” he looked at her and smiled slightly, “Every time some wolf tried to give me that happiness, the child died or was simply denied the blessing of birth,” she found it hard to remember, “After I realised that it was me and that my essence was too strong, I gave up looking for a child.

-Until I came along,” she concluded softly.

-Maybe at first, the idea of you being an omega blinded me, but it hasn’t been that way for a long time. I wouldn’t force you to have one of my offspring if you didn’t want to, besides,” she left a sincere smile visible, “Now I have five puppies in return.