One

Chapter 15

"Royal sweetie, you hold onto pappa's hand tightly, okay?"

Royal looked up at his pappa and nodded, knowing that he'd be a good boy. His pappa's hand was a tad too big to fully grab onto, so instead he latched onto his pinky and felt the man's hand wrap gently around his.

"That's my good pup." His dad grinned, ruffling through Royal's hair before pointing out the beautiful fish in their tank at the nearby restaurant. "Look at those Ro, aren't they pretty?"

Royal followed where his dad pointed and smiled, a dimple appearing in his cheeks. He nodded quickly, enraptured by the shimmering fish before his papa gently shook their entangled hands.

"I remember that we promised a certain someone we'd get him an ice cream if he was a good pup." He sighed, shaking his head "If only I could remember who I promised that to..."

"Me! You promised that to me pappa, I'm the good pup!" Royal crowed, wiggling with excitement. His papa and daddy laughed, shaking their heads in amusement before they walked on.

Royal widened his eyes pleadingly when his dad sighed "Weren't we supposed to eat first and then have deserts? You're going to spoil the pup's hunger darling."

Turning slightly, his pappa simply cast his mate a cheeky grin. "Good behavior deserves to be rewarded. Besides, it's still early enough that we can have dinner later today."

His dad smiled, "Well, I'll go and grab us some treats while you and the pup take a quick bathroom break." He looked down at Royal with a bemused smile, "You know, to avoid our ice-cream cones melting because we have to go potty."

Royal nodded, remembering all too well how the last time his soft serve ice-cream had become a sad pile of mush by the time he was done.

The young pup obediently followed his pappa, eager about his promised treat. Yet the second his papa moved around the corner, where the bathroom facilities were, things changed rapidly.

A man lunged into view, punching his papa right against his jaw. The force behind the blow sent him flying, partially yanking Royal with him before a firm hand latched onto his nape and yanked back.

He squeaked in pain, little hands unable to hold onto his pappa's hand as he was lifted and carried off.

There were shouts, people screaming and the sound of feet landing heavily on the paved road. Royal screamed for his parents, hearing them respond in the distance before claws sank into his flesh.

"Make one more sound and I'll fucking snap your neck, you hear me?" A venomous voice hissed in his ear before Royal was shaken when he squeaked in pain. "One sound, you hear?"

Royal froze up, unable to make a sound simply because of the fingers that wrapped around his throat. Threatening to choke him out if he didn't obey.

The sounds quieted down behind them, the sudden cool alerting Royal to the fact that they were now in the woods. A snap of branches ahead and Royal looked up fearfully, feeling his eyes brimming over as multiple strangers approached.

"Did everything go according to plan?" One of the men asked, reaching out to grab a firm hold of Royal's chin and lift it to meet his eyes.

Royal's breathing hitched with fear as the sickly amber gaze burned in his own. He remembered that his dad spoke of when a wolf was in charge and averted his gaze on a whimper, like he was taught to do.

There were a few eerie chuckles as the man holding Royal snickered, "The Omega bitch holding him wasn't aware of the ambush before Trevor punched him in the face. He's running around to make a fake trail as planned. He has just enough product to remove his scent before coming here."