Melody
"Alpha, we have news from the forte."
Dorian turned away from me to look at the guard. His hand held tightly to me as if he was holding me before I ran off.
"What news?"
The guard trembled and shifted from one knee to the other.
"Speak!" Dorian yelled impatiently.
"Alpha, the enemy's soldier has sent a message." The guard replied as he slowly got to his feet in Dorian's orders.
"How many times will you repeat that?" Dorian hissed.
He was irritated.
"Sorry. Forgive me Alpha." The guard coughed. "The enemies want to negotiate."
Dorian raised his brow and scoffed. "Do they want to negotiate?"
"Yes Alpha," The guard nods fervently.
"So, they got so scared that they now want to negotiate?" He smirked.
His eyes glistened with pride.
"Alpha they...."
"Go, tell them that I will not negotiate with them!" Dorian yelled and pointed towards the door, motioning the guard to go out.
However, the guard stood rooted with his head bowed and his lips trembled as he tried to speak.
"Alpha, we have to negotiate with them because...."
Dorian let go of my hand and grabbed the guard. "Who are you to tell me what to do, huh?"
I know that Dorian is usually cold to everyone apart from me and my pups, but the version of him that I'm seeing right now is one I have never met.
Why is he acting this way?
"I'm not dictating to you," the guard stuttered. "It's just.... that ...they have Giovanni and ....."
My ears perked at his words. Did he just say that the enemy soldiers have... Who?
"What did you say?" Dorian hissed.
His eyes looked like they would set the place ablaze.
"Alpha they ....."
"Did you say, Giovanni?" I asked, immediately jumping into the conversation.
Ignoring all norms and reasoning. I grabbed his hand, and I screamed.
"Did you say my Gio is... Where?"
I refuse to say it.
There's no way my son is with the enemies. I mean, he was just here. How did he get to the enemy's camp in such a short time?
How?
"Who has who?" Dorian's gruff voice was thick as he asked.
His voice echoed in the room, sending a jolt of fear to anyone within earshot.
"Alpha.... their leader has asked us to give you to him in exchange for Gi.... the boy," the guard immediately said.
He refused to say Gio and said the boy instead.
Was my ears deceiving me or what? I mean, did I just hear that right?
The enemy camp has my son and they want Dorian in exchange for him?
No. That can't be possible.
I must have heard wrong. I'm sure that Giovanni is just somewhere around and isn't stuck with the enemies.
Like, how in the goddess name am I supposed to accept that?
How do I choose between Dorian and my precious son?
I agree that Dorian is an adult while Giovanni is just a kid. However, handling Dorian to the enemies is a betrayal. I can't do that to him.
"Coward!" Dorian hissed. "How dare he!"
He marched towards the door and signalled me to wait there.
"I'll come too."
Aaron was holding Dorian's hand and refused to let go.
"No. Aaron, I need you to stay with Momma."
Dorian squatted and tried to convince Aaron. I was surprised to hear his voice. He sounded cool and calm, unlike the expression on his face.
"Momma can take care of herself, but Gio cannot." Aaron shook his head in refusal.
"I will bring Gio back," Dorian promised, but that didn't make me or Aaron feel relaxed.
He shook his head in refusal and immediately moved out of Dorian's arms.
"No. I'll go bring him back," Aaron insisted.
I signalled Claire to pick Aaron while I went in search of my son. There's no way I'd sit back and be relaxed while my son is in danger.
"Mel," Dorian called, but I pretended like I didn't hear.
I hastened my steps and kept moving. I won't have him talk me into staying back here while he goes to the forte alone.
"Melody," he caught my hand and marched to my front.
"I'll bring him back, Mel," he grabbed my shoulder. "I won't let any harm come to him."
Of course, I knew that Dorian would never let any of my pups come to any harm. However, I won't be at rest until I have Giovanni back in my arms.
The nerve of that animal to hold my son hostage.
"I'm not refuting that fact, Dorian, I just want to be there when you do," I shrugged.
"I can't put you at risk, Mel...."
"And I can't have you risk your life while I sit back and do nothing."
Seeing that I wasn't ready to back down. Dorian nodded and took my hand. "You have to stay behind me."
Even though I knew that I wouldn't hide behind him like a coward, I agreed nonetheless because I knew that Dorian wouldn't let me go otherwise.
"Of course," I nod and hurried forward, but someone grabbed my hand from behind me.
I turned slowly to see Aaron staring determinedly yet pleadingly at me.
"I want to come too."
All their lives these two have always been together. I never would have thought that a day would come when I'd have to save one while putting the other at risk. However, right now that is the only choice I have because as much as I know my pups, they would never stay put while their loved one's life is at risk.
Aaron will come after us just to save his brother. So, I'd rather take him along and protect him than have him go after we've gone...
"Alright dear," I took his hand.
Dorian looked at me and was about to object, but I signalled him and he sighed before leading the way.
Together we arrived at the forte holding hands. However, I was met with a surprise. Right there in a small room in the forte was a man with just one eye and a heinous scar on his face. His lips curled up as soon as he saw us and he stood up and bowed slightly as he said,
"Welcome brother."