Captive Of The Alpha
Chapter 51

Siran and Leoxi met them at the entrance. Although the beta’s face showed no alteration, his fist-like hands and slightly scowling brow implied to Hades that he would punch him in the middle of the nose if he stood the right distance away. Such was the confidence they had in each other.

-Sara,” he nodded to the she-wolf and let her work her magic, calming her husband.

-Brother,” Leoxi hugged him with a pat on the back, “Future queen,” he bowed his head slightly and turned his attention back to his twin to shout, “What’s wrong with you, may I ask? We almost pulled our hair out trying to restrain this beta who couldn’t be spoken to because he was so tense from so much paperwork. Don’t disappear like that again, at least say where you’re going.

Hades smiled and lifted his shoulders indifferently. He, his beta and his parents were the only ones who could speak to him in that tone and not flinch.

-I missed them too.

-You’re hopeless,” Siran protested and strode back into the mansion, dragging his wife who had become entangled in his arm. He’d get over it later, that’s what his protégé was there for, she had him eating out of her paw.

Scandalous footsteps were heard on the first floor and the smell of those three people reached Nebraska who had to hold on tight with her legs plus Hades’ arm behind her back to keep from falling to her knees as Alan and Noa threw themselves around her neck hugging her. Behind appeared Nicolas with a relieved expression and black marks under his eyes.

Nebraska stroked their heads before kissing them.

-I’m fine guys, Hades and I had some business to take care of, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” she repeated the excuse Sara had told them to calm the herd down.

First she took the face of the youngest of the three and caressed his cheeks with her thumb.

-I was not wrong, all three of my sons are beautiful.

-Ma, perhaps you,” Nicolas leaned closer with a surprised face as he caught sight of the defined iris in her eyes.

-Can you see? But see well? Really?” Alan couldn’t hold his attention, still wrapped around Nebraska’s waist.

She nodded softly and Nicholas couldn’t help but smile in gratitude for all the good things that were happening in their lives after they had joined that pack. He turned to Hades and bowed sharply.

-Thank you alpha, I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for us.

The older wolf took his hands out of his pockets and brushed the hair from the crown of Nicolas’ head, causing several strands to come loose from his long braid.

-You don’t have to treat me with so much respect, after all, you will soon be my official family.

The three boys looked at him wide-eyed, along with someone who stood at bay in the doorway.

-Nebraska will be my queen, she will marry me in a few days, we have already decided, and I will of course adopt them as my puppies,” he said.

A silence reigned until a deep voice broke it.

-To manipulate us like our father?

More than one turned to the speaker and received a disapproving growl from Leoxi.

-Rodrigo,” the scolding tone used by his mother chilled even her other children.

Hades put a hand on her shoulder to reassure her.

-Nebraska,” he turned to her, “Go with Leoxi and your pups, I want to talk to Rodrigo wolf to wolf.

She nodded her head with a frown but still obeyed him, she didn’t want an argument now.

Hades stood in front of the younger man with a smile that showed nothing but happiness.

-You and I have some things to sort out, and then I’ll do it with your sister. We’re going to be a family, and I like family matters to be clear-” Rodrigo didn’t reply.

Rodrigo didn’t reply, just stood his ground without saying anything. He followed Hades to his office but didn’t sit down. He clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. Only when the alpha insisted did he proceed to do so with the desk in between.

-I know you grew up with your father, and I can imagine all the things he might have said to you,” the elder began, “Your life may not have been easy, but this is a different place.

-What can the alpha know about another pack?

Hades realised he was dealing with someone bred to be surly. Or maybe not.

-You’re right, I don’t know, I can’t imagine what these years could have been like for you. I can’t even understand how you felt not being raised by your mother, because I’ve never been in that position,” he studied his expression, which at the moment was grim, “That’s why I want to understand you.

Rodrigo opened his eyes. Those words had never been spoken to him before.

-Why, isn’t it easier to ignore me or send me away so I don’t bother your perfect life?

Hades leaned back in his chair.

-I look like someone who would do that. Your mother will soon be my queen, and I promised to adopt ALL of you,” he stressed the last word, “But not by name. If you are to be my puppies, I have a responsibility to take care of you and give you everything you need. As well as to know if anything makes them uncomfortable or if they feel unwell.

-We are not substitutes for your puppies,” the cruel phrase made a vein throb in Hades’ forehead.

That was a very sensitive subject but he let it pass. Like his mother who didn’t know what pleasure was until recently, this young man didn’t know what affection or affection was. He was sure Rudoc didn’t give it to him properly or perhaps didn’t even make the effort to do so.

-I don’t want substitutes. I want puppies like you to be at your mother’s side, taking care of her when I am not at her side doing so. I am nothing like your father. An upbringing should be strict but not to the point that you can’t open yourself up to others. I want you to open up Rodigo, tell what’s overwhelming you, you’ll feel all that weight you’re carrying will go away.

He loosened his cold mask and Hades knew he was gaining ground.

-Have you ever thought of doing what you love, of socialising with those you love, even your own brothers? They talk about you, they’d like to spend more time with you. Your mother also shared that concern with me.

-I’m sure they want something from me.

Hades snorted.

-We’re not all looking for something in return when we give affection. Being social is part of our nature, living in a pack is part of our instinct, if you isolate yourself you’ll only kill yourself slowly, that’s why I want you to talk to me, you’re a smart and capable wolf, don’t waste your life like that-” Hades snorted.

Rodrigo squirmed in his seat. In just a few minutes the alpha had said more words to him than his father had said to him in all the time they had lived together. Even the way she addressed him, the way she smelled, everything was different. He felt no hostility towards him, only a calmness that enveloped him little by little and made him remember when he was a little boy and wanted his mother’s arms to cuddle him. Something he never got.

He bit his l*p and also his hands.

-My father… he wasn’t good to us, maybe when we lived there and didn’t know anything else we thought it was right, but now here, we realise it wasn’t what we thought.

Hades heard him calmly, he had started to let it all out, he would just let it go, though he saw him raise his head with a slightly pale face. A bomb was about to drop.

-I… I always knew… that my mother was alive… and where she was locked up.