Xo Novel
93
Although Alpha King Larry’s wolf howled with excitement, he knew better than to let himself get too carried away with it. The savage instincts within him told him that caution was always necessary, especially in a world as treacherous as theirs.
Judging by Alpha Wade’s recent abnormal behavior, the hairs on Larry’s back stood on end. It was clear that his fellow alpha was afraid of their pack taking away the precious pups. While Larry held a certain fondness for the young ones, he also had his own moral boundaries. He couldn’t let sentimentality cloud his judgment.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.
But Wade was an old friend, a comrade through the ages. There was no reason for Larry to sink his fangs into the situation and tear it apart.
With that in mind, his primal urges subsided for a moment as he calmed down and sidelong glanced at Wade, a calculating gleam in his eyes. “Wade,” Larry growled out, his voice deep and commanding, “tell me, how long have we been comrades in this unforgiving world?”
Wade let out a fierce snarl, a mixture of frustration and defiance. “Don’t try to guilt-trip me, Larry! Your silver tongue won’t work on me!”
Larry clicked his fangs impatiently, a low rumble escaping his chest. “Over fifty years, my friend. Consider the countless battles we’ve fought side by side. The trust we’ve built. Tell me, has the chasm between us become so insurmountable that we are now enemies?”
Alpha Wade was shaken, his fierce gaze never wavering despite the turmoil inside him. But he couldn’t deny the truth in Larry’s words.
“I know you’re enraged by Alpha Kilian’s actions, just as I would be in your place. Do you remember the torment I endured when he left me broken and hospitalized? When he shattered the ties that held us together?” Larry’s words cut through the tension, a raw reminder of their shared pain.
Wade couldn’t forget the sight of Larry, broken and wounded, lying in that sterile hospital room. He had visited him often, a silent witness to his suffering.
Larry’s voice grew firm, laced with determination. “I stand with Nelly in this matter. I cannot condone Kilian’s actions. Even if these pups truly belong to the prestigious Morris lineage, I promise you, Wade, that I won’t strip them from your grasp.” His eyes held an unwavering resolve, his loyalty clear and true.
Wade froze, his intense gaze locked on Larry’s unwavering stare. Trust was a fragile thing in their world, but Larry had always shown himself to be a wolf of honor.
A flicker of disbelief crossed Wade’s face, his voice tainted with doubt. “Do you speak the truth, Larry? Or is this a game, a ruse to deceive me?”
Larry’s snarl was fierce and honest. “You know me, Wade. We have walked this path together, through countless moons and brutal nights. Have I ever given you reason to doubt my loyalty?”
Wade’s hesitation wavered, his facade cracking beneath the weight of their shared history.
Larry sensed his friend’s internal struggles, his cunning mind piecing together the fragments. “You fear for Kilian, don’t you? You worry that he will come for the pups.”
Wade simply lowered his gaze, his words swallowed by the heavy silence that hung between them.
Larry’s voice softened, a touch of understanding coloring his tone. “I know. Kilian has always been a wild card, a wolf with no purpose beyond his own desires.” A wry chuckle escaped Larry’s lips. “Handsome, wealthy, and capable, but devoid of any true substance.”
Wade couldn’t help but roll his eyes at Larry’s unusual way of badmouthing his grandson.
“I don’t ask for you to surrender the pups, nor do I ask for forgiveness for Kilian. I simply ask for an answer. Once, I worried about Kilian’s inability to carry on our noble lineage. But now, knowing he has pups of his own, I can leave this world without regret,” Larry confessed, his eyes burning with a fierce determination.
Wade’s frown deepened. “Don’t fill my ears with such misguided sentiments!”
“I speak the truth, Wade. I won’t tear them from your grasp. They will have one more wolf to love them, to protect them from the darkness. Your concerns, my friend, will not come to pass. As for Kilian, if he dare harm them in any way, I will show him no mercy.” Larry’s voice held a whisper of a growl, his eyes burning with a fiery resolve.
Wade was moved, the doubt that had clouded his mind slowly dissipating. “I don’t mind if you spend time with the pups, as long as Kilian doesn’t make an attempt to take them away.”
Larry seized the opportunity, excitement bubbling up within him. “So, the rumors are true. They truly bear the blood of the Morris lineage?”
“Nelly hasn’t told them the truth yet, so tread carefully, Larry,” Wade warned, his voice a low growl.
Larry’s sharp mind pieced together the situation, his thoughts aligning with the purpose of Kilian’s unexpected visit. He made up his mind. “Worry not, my friend. I won’t bring any trouble to your door. I stand firmly with Nelly. Our family is blessed to have two remarkable pups to carry on our lineage. I feel… grateful.”
Wade had never seen the elder wolf look so genuinely delighted in a long, long time.
As Wade opened his mouth to reveal the hidden truth that there were, in fact, three pups Larry leaped to his feet with a burst of energy. “Come, let’s return!”
Wade’s confusion was evident as he asked, “Return? Return where?”
“To see my precious great-grandpups, of course! You have the privilege of seeing them every day, but I am not so fortunate. I must see them now!” Larry declared with a newfound vigor, gathering his belongings and rushing towards the exit.
Wade, mindful of Larry’s frail health, hurried after him. “Hey! Slow down, old friend!”
But Larry’s sheer excitement propelled him forward, deaf to Wade’s calls.
Dashing into the ward, Larry’s wolfish eyes danced with joy as they fell upon Ben and Donna.
Donna, her senses as sharp as any true-blooded wolf, immediately noticed a new presence. “Great-grandpa, is something the matter?”
Larry approached them, a tender smile on his aging face. “Nothing at all, little one. What might your name be?”
“I am Donna Jackson,” she replied, her voice clear like a wolf’s howl.
“And what of you?” Larry asked, turning his attention to Ben.
“I am Ben Jackson,” Ben replied, a sense of curiosity lingering in his amber eyes.
Though Larry found their names lacking in the grandeur that befit their lineage, his love for them burned fiercely, undeterred.
“You both are truly delightful!” Larry exclaimed with tears of joy, his hand gently patting their heads.
His actions spoke far louder than words ever could.
Nelly glanced at Wade, her eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and concern. He could only helplessly lower his gaze, battered by conflicting emotions.
Even Kilian, observing from the sidelines, felt a spark of hope ignite within him. To see someone so enthusiastic about his pups warmed his heart.
Realizing that he had nothing to offer, Larry’s voice cracked with remorse. “I apologize, my pups. I came empty-handed. But fear not, I shall have gifts delivered to your den soon. Is there anything you desire?”
Donna pondered for a moment, seeking permission with her gaze. Nelly nodded reassuringly, granting her silent approval.
“I would love nothing more than to dine with you, Great-grandpa, and revel in delicious food,” Donna said, a radiant smile gracing her face.
Larry’s heart swelled with delight, his happiness evident in his wolfish features. His gaze then shifted to Ben, curiosity shining in his aged eyes. “And you, young one?”
Ben mulled it over, his gaze flickering between his family and Larry. Finally, he gave a hesitant but determined reply, “I would like to hear stories, Great-grandpa. Stories of our family, of our heritage.”
Alpha King Larry’s eyes lit up, his voice filled with joy. “So be it! I shall regale you with tales of our bloodline, my precious great-grandpups.”
In that moment, the bond between the generations deepened, the intricate tapestry of their werewolf lineage destined to endure. The weight of history and the yearning for a brighter future intertwined, leaving Larry and Wade in awe of the legacy they had forged.