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A Biography of a Human

Chapter Forty-Two:

“Tactics"

“There is much talk in the Imperial Center of the human favorite. Not only has he saved the Alpha from death in the plot against his life by the favorite of his father, but the great Alpha as departed the capital for a resort in Yalta, taking this human with him but leaving his legal mate behind."

“During the last message you all inquired if this human may be a human born in our Grand Republic, and if that was so, if this human could have some kind favor to us in the court affairs. Unfortunately, that which I have managed to gather, is that he is not of our lands. He is believed to have hailed from an island in the Pacific and was captured in a raid."

“What I did find was that he grew up with three foxes, so its very possible this human could be well disposed to our kind. Perhaps the Senate could bestow a gift to this lofty child of Adam and Eve since he has been promoted to higher station in the Alpha's grand seraglio?"

-Diplomatic report on the current goings in the Imperial Lupine Capital to the Senate

The warm scent of citrus veiled in a woody spice filled my senses as I sat cross-legged on a large cassock, clicking my wooden prayer beads between my fingers. Misty clouds of incense wafted though the darkened chamber as I was meditating, the scent lingers to my memory even now; a gift sent to me by my fellows at Gernan Monastery. Much was on my mind since the passing of Kun, for how could it not weigh heavy on me?

The mourning period passed, giving Ulric time to go hunting in the grounds of the lodge. The occasional blow of a horn followed with howls in the distance from my chambers signaled the success of it.

“Sounds like they got a kill!" Yosef stated as he agitated the plate of smoldering incense, the action of which issued forth newly-formed clouds of fragrance that wafted through my candle-lit chamber. Silently nodding, I muttered an agreement.

“You know Yosef, incense is useful in other ways?" I said mindlessly, sitting up from my seat, having finished a session of mediation. “It can also be used to disguise scents and pheromones from those prying noses of the Chimera."

I continued on while gilding along the chamber's carpeted flooring and drawing near to the windows, “If you want to throw off one with a good handle on their snouts, burn incense or wear perfume."

“Odd thing to say Xander…" Yosef said with amused confusion.

Turning around to face my friend while smirking gently, I spoke, “You know how mediation can make one's mind wander in such ways. How many times have I had to endure you coming from your own with information on flanking maneuvers from out of nowhere?"

Turning back to face the window, I looked out from my quarters down into the small courtyard plaza, “I don't like Ulric hunting. It scares me how easily someone can assassinate him and make it look like an accident. Bless Muni, for Jao not being a threat anymore. I know he would jump at a chance to arrange an arrow misfire on my wolf."

Before I could voice my worries further, a wolf maid came in, announcing that lady Ainu was here to bid her morning report. I had forgotten how I wished for her and the others to report to me after they were sent to Ulric when heat came upon them.

Bidding her to be ushered in I took a seat on a platform and welcomed the she-wolf into my domicile amicability. Niceties and ceremony to begin with then getting to the point of her report. She recounted rather awkwardly what went on during the night previous, almost fearful that saying such things would upset me.

“To be blunt, Lady Ainu, please just say it forthright, unless you wish to stay here for the evening trying to frame what occurred in the politest way possible."

“Forgive me, sire."

“Now, did his Imperial Majesty insert?"

“Yes, Sire."

“Did the imperial knot inflate?"

“Yes, Sire."

“Fully, as to be coupled to you?"

“Yes."

“Did his Imperial Majesty spring seed into you?"

“Yes his Imperial Majesty did."

“How many times did you feel the imperial seed spring inside you?"

“I am unsure of that, prepares three times?"

“How long were you coupled?"

“Nearing to a half of an hour."

“Ah, wonderful! You did well, Lady Ainu. With the favor of Canis you just may bear fruit of an Imperial Litter very soon. I know your health is weak so please take good care of yourself in these times of waiting. I shall have the proper food sent and oversee your condition until its is finally confirmed you hold an Imperial Litter or not."

Lady Ainu spoke then with some rather intriguing possession of knowledge regarding anatomy and medicine, “Yes, Sire. I will be careful to stay away from any musk deer products and basil, I am very aware of those and some others being quite a potent abortifacient in high dose," I never knew she processed such knowledge, which made me wonder how she kept on getting ill with things such as food sickness when she clearly knew what was what.

After Lady Ainu departed I wrote up the bulletin of the information to be sent back to Lupercal via the horse relay courier. I knew it would get there in an hour or a little over. I knew that Dowager Nu would be quite pleased with such information after the sudden passing of Consort Kun. Imperial Mate Gao'ao will no doubt be seething at such news of a possible birth coming.

Then I summoned the Deputy Imperial Physician wolf that accompanied us here while his superior stayed behind at Lupercal. He rushed in, initially believing I was having issues as he brought his box of medical tools and vials. When I told him of Ainu, the very name caused his ears to raise in a rather agitated slant.

“Is something wrong with Lady Ainu?" I asked, clearly surprising the wolf with having picked up on his subtle lupine body language. He tried to dismiss himself, but I raised a hand to halt him and pressed further.

“She's-she's a bit confused?"

“What do you mean, confused?"

“She bothers me and my superior countless times saying she is ill with something when we can't find anything. We are badgered by her all the time, in fact she was snooping around the apothecary this very morning and then proceeded to demand I diagnose her with something. I spent an hour trying my hardest to get out of that situation."

“What are you trying to tell me?"

“Only if you swear this never gets out…" nodding my head in agreement, I turned to Yosef as the wolven physician followed suit and Yosef also nodded to the vow of silence. The wolf faced back to me and spat it out of his muzzle what he thought.

“She's a stable lunatic, I feel, that and a lying one."

“That's quite the claim."

“It's not without merit and even the Chief Physician feels the same. I once found her intentionally ingesting things that would make her ill! Of course, she claims she had no idea that it was dangerous but what wolf in their right mind eats ivy of all plants? Not only is it bizarre for anyone to think, 'Yes, I will have a bowl of ivy leaves today,' but it causes mild digestive issues which were in line with her complaints."

“Ivy, how could you tell?"

“Aside from a half bitten ivy leaf on the floor I noticed when performing a bow to her, her tongue was green and the very stuff was wedged in her teeth. I confronted her on this and she reeked of the smell of being caught guilty, but she said that eating ivy as a small meal was normal in her family, that it was a clan tradition," before I could get a word in, the Deputy Physician went on, looking me seriously in the eyes, pupils fully contracted into pinpoints as wolves do when serious.

“I can say with all my information of medicine that any wolf clan that has a custom of eating ivy regularly would have died out centuries ago."

Processing this rather interesting information, I thanked the Deputy Physician and bid him departure with further promises of this matter not being told to anyone. I told Yosef to try and find a low-key wolf to slip into Ainu's staff and keep watch on her and to report to me on anything.

I was unsure of her even being truthful about being in heat. I've heard some herbs and even heard of she-wolves in heat selling bottles of their own scent to be used to be used as love perfumes. If she is really in heat, I worried she would endanger the litter with this delusional madness she has.

As I was voicing my thoughts, Yosef chimed in with a thought on this. “Isn't the Deputy Physician mated to the cousin of one of the other wolf ladies you brought?" Was this real or was it a plot to take down Ainu by a jealous rival?

“Have the Deputy Physician watched too, just watch everyone!" I muttered, frustrated and reduced to rubbing my temples and desiring to return to my meditation and chanting. Though returning to that did not last long, for Ulric sent a summons later when evening began to come over and the lamp keepers set out on their tasks of lighting up all the lamps.

I debated sending Yosef alone to say I was having a headache, which was half-true but then thought how I should not be so selfish and how seeing Ulric would lighten my mood and make me feel better in the end.

Passing through the hallway in the direction of the Imperial Chamber, Yosef and I passed a wolf commander wearing the martial sigil on his dressings. He gave a curt bow and made sure to advert his eyes towards as he passed by.

Initially, I was unaware of who this wolf was when familiarity suddenly stuck me. It was Captain Baopash, the Imperial military tutor and advisor to Ulric. He had been serving as this role since Ulric was Crown Prince, acting as Gernan's adjunct when the former was Chief Tutor to Ulric. All I knew about him was that he was an Alpha loyalist and not a crony of Titus.

Seeing him here and now was unusual. I found myself becoming slightly unnerved when I found myself called so shortly after him leaving. I feared some incident had might had happened that required Baopash to give advice.

The sole reason I remember this at all was the sense of tension of some military affair having broken out. Raids by the nomadic wolf tribes, rebellion and such. At the same time I felt as if I would have found out before if this was the case, for reports of build up should have been present.

Picking up speed and pushing open the Imperial Chamber doors, the answer came when I entered the chamber.

A table was set up with basic landmarks and rivers, all made of components able to be mixed and matched for different layouts of geography. Hills and mounds of various sizes carved from wood and lacquer, silk ribbons of blue for rivers, and mats of differing shapes and patterns with embroidered trees as forests. The landscape laid out was of a river with some hills on one side. A lone bridge of cast bronze acted as the crossing and on each side colored and segmented blocks acted as troops of soldiers.

Ulric, showing all the hallmarks of annoyance, circled the board, his ears held low and a low grumble emanating from his snout as he tried to figure out how to move, “I've been trying to win this game, but no matter what I fail. I send cavalry to rush the bridge but get pushed back and have to reset. This is my forth attempt at trying to win."

Now the reason for Baopash being here was explained to me and it was not, as I feared, some momentous event of high politics such as war or invasion.

I went over to Ulric's side and tried to convince him such stress was unneeded and how it was just a game. He responded on how he wanted to be a real Alpha like his ancestors and know how to command wolves in battle. My attempts to assure him that Alphas don't need to be tactical geniuses fell deaf on him. I tried to bring up the first Alpha of the Jhou Alphate, reminding on him not being a great war leader but that of a reformer. I received only a paw wave of dismissal in response, followed by a remark of how he wanted to be a war leader.

“A real Alpha of the olden days," valor and might, packs clashing and non-wolf invaders being turned away by packs unified in glory. Blazing armor and shining swords. War-horse hooves pounding on the ground like the rushing of thunder.

I knew clearly what caused these thoughts, the hunting in the landscape was the clear suspect of these desires in him.

In our love, it was easy to forget he was still young. Ironic to state that for I myself was young as well, though my experiences in the wilds had left me with clear impressions as if I had lived an entire lifetime. Ulric was younger than me by some six years and trying to convince anyone of a youthful mindset of qualities other than martial glory is like telling a child to walk rather than run.

Wishing to help, I found myself unable. In-depth military matters escape me. I had tried to learn these affairs, such as reading the wolf military manuals in Gernan's study when I was a youth and asking Yosef, who had a fondness for this. Unfortunately, I always found myself getting lost in the tactics, weapons, and formations. Gernan once laughed at me for thinking quantity was more important that quality when I made a foolish statement on logistics.

I possessed some basics from Gernan but any more was lacking, and I did not feel fully confident in myself. I always preferred to put trust in able-minded persons rather than myself in such affairs, Yosef being a good example of the type.

It is fitting that it was Yosef who came as my savior in this moment of failing. When Ulric started to lament his political impotence in conjunction to his failings at war planing, I feared this was going send him into a sullen episode again.

Yosef then came upfront and spoke, “Imperial Alpha, may I make a suggestion on your strategy?"

Ulric, with his ears down, looked initially unimpressed and to my great annoyance acted arrogantly, “A human servant? How could you know anything about this?"

“ULRIC!" I shouted, startling Ulric as his pupils narrowed into pin-pricks. I had initially wanted to give his muzzle a slap but held my temper for this was not the place for this. The fact I was even thinking this astounded me, for if I pulled this on an Alpha I did not know I would lose my head.

“I am just in a dreadful mood..." Ulric professed as I gestured to Yosef to continue and say what he had to say.

“Ulric, I thought you had discarded that form of yourself, the arrogant princeling. Come, Yosef, speak your mind and show this haughty wolf he is wrong!"

Yosef stepped forward and, looking at the board, began speaking.

“Your Imperial Majesty, Alpha. If you move your archers to the hill you can fire upon the troops guarding the bridge. With this shock done, you send in your heavy cavalry across in a rapid thrust. This, in good coordination with the hilltop firing, will serve as a double shock that should be enough to take the bridge and gain a stronghold across the river. Your opponent will likely then make a tactical retreat seeing the loss of the bridge," having finished his suggestion, Yosef did a curt bow as Ulric thought about what he said, rubbing the chin of his muzzle.

“I never thought of that. That could work and throw off Captain Baopash at last," Ulric replied, a sense of confidence having returned to his canine countenance. He asked how Yosef knew such things and Yosef responded, telling of his habit of reading military histories and manuals.

Ulric called out to a minor ursine eunuch, “Go to the warehouse and fetch one of my grandfather Alpha Lycan's enameled daggers to me."

The eunuch bowed and withdrew. Ulric, turning to us, reveled his intention to award Yosef with it, saying how Lycan was a great Alpha and equally great leader of armies and it's only fitting. Yosef attempted to protest but Ulric would hear none of it, reminding him of how his grandfather possessed many daggers, “You act as if I am giving you his imperial crown, this is but a small trifle."

With that, Yosef put up no more protest, and just in time for the ursine functionary to draw into the room again, bearing a small box in his large paw which he handed to Ulric who then gave it to a kneeling Yosef as I looked on happily. Yosef gave his thanks and due to the hour of the night, we withdrew.

Ulric tried to ask if I could stay but I reminded him that Lady Shui was in the prime part of her heat on this night. Ulric looked to the side, disenchanted at the prospects at not having me that night but a duty in the form of a wolfess for a bed companion.

I reminded Ulric of Jao and his father and how he prevented an issue for a decade and how that should not be repeated, “Little wolf, most of these girls you will see only once or twice, but me? I will be here always. Remember that," those words assured him and I noticed his fur was relaxing and not as awkwardly tense.

With that and a bidding of goodnight, I withdrew with Yosef, who trailed besides me carrying his imperial prize. I knew Lady Shui would soon tread the same path and without moments passing I caught sight of her being led down the same hallways. Passing each other we both stopped, she bowed and paid her obeisances.

Checking her over, I nodded approvingly to the Head Eunuch, who was guiding her to the Alpha's bed. All was in order, her shoulders had been dabbed with Ulric's urine in the proper places and no doubt above her gateway, and dressed in a loose-fitting garment for ease of removal.

Giving Shui statements of fortune upon her womb and that the Alpha's seed may bloom inside her and give her much wealth and fortune, I let her depart as I continued on the way to my chambers. Once we passed out of earshot, Yosef drew close and whispered with an astonished tone, “How can you stand such things without jealousy."

“Ah Yosef, I'd rather have the others destined to Little Wolf's bed be of my choosing than a potential snake laying in wait to pounce upon him with bewitching ways," it was the truth, and was something Jao had failed at. For if he allowed Wuffrim to have others for the use of offspring rather than putting a stranglehold on access, Nu might not have been a threat to him.

“Furthermore, since I am the highest ranking member of the harem here, I have privilege of being able to select them. In Lupercal it's handled by the Alpha Dowager and to a lesser extent Gao'ao, Her Majesty."

“Still, this is remarkable restraint!"

“True but you lived and grew more than I did in our old monogamous human lifestyle. I was from aged six exposed to it as custom in regards to the Alpha," Yosef, further interested, asked if Gernan had a harem. I laughed at the thought of that.

“Oh no, Gernan, no. But I've known some well to do wolves having them. Mostly those who wish to expand their noble clans. The wolves are an odd mix of monogamy and polygamy depending on the circumstances."

Upon returning to my apartments dimmed by the evening light, I rested on cushions to removethe heavier aspects of my dressings in readiness for slumber as Yosef tucked his gift into his stash of personal belongings.

As it was fall and Ulric's birthday was drawing near, provisions were made to hold a subdued feast here in Yalta as it was fully expected. Ulric never enjoyed much birthdays due to his near fatality when he was poisoned.

Ulric, attended by me, and the three Ladies of the harem I had selected to come on this trip were seated around a low floor table upon couches as light music played from an upper mezzanine inside the chamber for acoustic range. One glimmer of happiness in the wolf's countenance and his pride was revealed when it was told that the meat served was from his own hunts. Lady Ainu repeatedly ask the severs if a list of allergies were in any of the dishes served.

The chamber stands in my memory for how lovely it was with its small painted dome over hangingour small meal. Frescoes to resemble branches of a tree made up the form of the dome from which hung ropes holding lit lanterns. It did not exactly match the rest of the décor of the room and I asked Ulric about it. He did not know, so I asked a wolf lady attendant who also did not know and who went out inquire if anyone did. When she returned it was with a middle-aged ursine eunuch who said the room was originally built on order of Lycan who originally had it all woodlands decorated with the now uniform and plastered columns having been carved to look like natural trees and would blend into the paintings of branches that decorated the dome. Alpha Wuffrim II had been the one to issue the redecorating and the dome was merely given a painted border to set it apart from the new décor.

Ulric looked around as if to imagine what the chamber originally looked like and his lupine eyes showed he was approving more of that scheme than the current one. Ulric mused that he wished to one day revert the chamber back to the design of his hallowed grandfather. The elder Ursine made a mention of how the original pillars were still present, cased in plaster of the current ones. With that, he withdrew and left us to return to our meals and music on this date of my Little Wolf's birthday.

Its a strange thing to write about but the memory of this scene is quite vivid to me. Perhaps it was the fact that it was a calm moment after such chaotic events earlier in the year?

Not much occurred during the rest of the Imperial Sojourn. Fall became winter and the hunting activity ceased. It had been planned that the New Year would be celebrated in Yalta, secluded in privacy. Reports on the capital came to me in varied sources: Maria, her husband Boris, Dillian, Elyk, and also that one wolf official who was courting my patronage, Saab Quong; and even my adoptive wolf sisters kept me abreast of everything. It gave me a full range of points of views which is the best when getting news on any kind of goings-on for you can easily be lied to by just having one.

Apparently Selene was overstepping her carefully defined role as time went on and slowly encroached on the Alpha's prerogatives superficially. Both Dillian and Saab talked about how Selene was slowly moving her throne closer and closer to the Alpha's by each audience until it was just an arms reach from it. Saab was more restraint in his telling, for I was keeping him in the dark about exact details, and he was unsure what my my relationship with Selene was. Dillian though, told it full. Elyk, in his position in the palace armor-smith, spoke of Selene having her honor guard given sets of armor made from the same stock and décor as the Alpha.

I should also say that Selene sent reports to me thinking I was her person. After all, she had secured my entrance into the harem by influencing Alpha'a Mate Gao'ao, so she felt I was her partisan. Just as Gao'ao thought I was hers because Selene put the idea of me in her head as if it was Gao'ao's own. It was all a tangled web and I was honestly bemused that Ulric's other sister Princess Neaera was not in this mess, instead keeping to herself, which may or may not have been a tactic unto itself.

Selene spoke in her message about how Ulric was young and needed guidance and support, that provisions should be kept in the wings. This was rather ludicrous, for Selene was the same age as Ulric, being they were born in the same litter; yet she was speaking as if she was the more mature one.

“Our Dear Ulric's pups are very young," and, “Uncle Titus is very arrogant, he acts as if he is the leader of the Imperial Clan," on first reading, it would have appeared she was extolling Ulric as head of the Imperial Clan, but in its mood it felt as if Selene was wishing to cast herself in that role.

“The strongest and most dominate wolf rules, gender does not matter, only if the Alpha can wield the sword and call to pack matters," that was the maxim of wolf tradition and Selene was very much acting as that, I felt. Of course, 'Alpha' in that quotation means anything from head of the family to leading a state.

Tellingly, along with her message was a small chest of golden claws, just for further impact in case. I accepted, as it was in my interest to keep well with Selene and I gave half to Yosef for his own use on what ever he wished to use them on.

I should also note that I went with Ulric during one of his Hunts. I did not stay secluded up in the villa the entire time. I had spent near a decade in the wilds of Afika with Gernan, I knew what the outside looked and more importantly felt like. Nonetheless, it was grand being with Ulric, my wolf, among the rocky crags of the mountains and the coast of the rolling sea.

As much as in embarrasses me to state this, I also, at last, learned to ride a horse by myself. Thank Canis learning does not take long for I would have been shamed if it was and looked a total buffoon as Ulric steadied me on the saddle with Yosef nearby, only the three of us in the curtained-off perimeter provided for members of the Harem to get a private retreat from prying eyes. The winter air felt cool upon my face and I was glad of the warmth my riding kaftan provided, its gilt buttons keeping away the chills and insulated with lining of sable fur. Sable and ermine being that fur which was given to humans in favor by the Alphas.

Steering my steed with the leather reins, I needled through the horses of the Alpha's armored honor guard that circled Ulric. I trotted horse up right next to him, near shoulder to shoulder with his. I now was confident in my riding ability but knew my limits and not to push them with any feats of sport. I was always in awe of the elite wolf horse archer corps, whose renown was the envy of the world. This awe was only enhanced by my actually riding a horse myself.

Ulric looked down to me from his higher mount and beamed, his blue eyes behind the snout shining and freed one paw from his rein and held it out for me to hold it. I did not hesitate and took his in mine and let his furred fingers wrap around my smooth ones. We slowly trotted on our horses, hand in paw. The outing was on a trail winding trail that would lead to the beaches.

Ulric's muzzle leaned in, his whiskers brushing against my ear lobe in matching with the movement of out rides, “I love you, Xander…" it was a whisper of pure sincerity. I felt myself alight in fuzzy warmth, not in embarrassment but rather that of true pure love and affection. I pulled back when I turned to him, blushing still, and blew him a kiss.

The wolf leaned in again, this time not as extreme but enough to be closer to me, and I did as well to match his. He spoke, “You're my human, my spring time, my daylight. The one who brings joy to my being," he recited in light poetic melody and furthered when we both halted our rides for this little moment. “You are the cupbearer. My Ganymede to my Zeus."

It would have been lovely to have matched him with some poetic verse of my own, but I was overcome with the sweetness of romance and emotion. Flustered and filled with pleasant loveliness, I could not even manage to make my mind come up with much other than blurting out all my affection, “Oh Ulric you saved me! You plucked me up like Zeus did to that Phrygian shepherd boy. From the pit's desolate torment, you lifted me aloft into the sky and now I am truly content by your side," it was not as much as his words but it was what I felt in my being. He smirked ever so slightly in the corner of his muzzle.

“I saved you? Have you forgotten? Had you not been here I would be dead and Jao would be dictator of the Alphate," we both shuddered at the though and I did not even want to think about the what ifs about that at all.

“Little wolf, lets not talk about that, I am very much afraid of losing you like I did everyone else before in my life"

Ulric looked at me with compassion, understanding fully what I meant for he thought he would never see me again. Then a sense of determination filled me, a power, a force in my soul; all fear and worry departed me in the light mist facing the light of the sun.

I looked up and stared straight at my Little Wolf, the Imperial Alpha of the great Kutlar Dynasty and vowed to the Heaven, Earth and all that may be, “I will never let you go. I may have lost everything before, my natal family, my foster father Gernan. I have lived and died twice with those. But…."

“This time, I _ won't _ allow it to happen again! I will do anything to keep this forever, to keep us forever. Jao tried to and I stopped him and I will do it again!"

In that moment images, faces came forth from the fog of the conscious mind.

Siao…

Gao'ao…

Titus…

Selene…

Nu…

All of them.

They harbor ill will to my Little Wolf to varying degrees. I won't let them ruin me. I won't let them bring us down…family ties be dammed, they all see Ulric as a puppet and not an Alpha. I will make him a real and true Alpha and they all will either bow and howl to him, or die fighting his rights to assert his position. I swore to it!

I was broken out of my trance by the feeling of finger pads caressing my check. Ulric face was there and looking lovingly at me, “If it came to it, I would give up my Empire for you."

“You won't, I will not let them" I mused within the private safety of my own mind still determined and I meant it.

I meant it...

One day in the early spring while still at Yalta, a grand procession was seen at distance from one of the watch towers of the villa making it's way down the avenues and heading towards the Villa. It was mother, Dowager Nu herself, making an unannounced trip and no one expected it. Dowager Nu had grown rather unnerved being away from Ulric and controlling him as an extension of her brother Titus's premiership and I had no doubt that this was done with his silent approval.

With her arrival being spotted and her coming to the gates of the villa being only an hour away, the place became a mess. I gave out orders to the wolf ladies I had selected to dress in their ceremonial garb without delay. The carpets were rolled out in the open courtyard and the gates quickly swung open. The entrance portico into the manor house were draped in streamers, and all of us were now ready, all lined up in rank and file by its sides. Just in time for the procession to reach the villa and the carriage of the Alpha Dowager, circled by wolf standard-bearers and all that was in the retinue befitting her rank as Imperial Matriarch of the Kutlar Clan.

Ulric was waiting at the front in his role as the dutiful pup. Dowager Nu came out, stepping from her carriage in rich traveling clothes. My Ulric walked to his mother and she extended her paw for her son to give it a dutiful lick to welcome his mother's unexpected arrival.

Seeing that it was now proper, I walked forward, heading the handful that made up the harem delegation and paid my homage to the regal matron wolf, kneeling and uttering a salute while keeping my head down till she bid me up, “Ah it's you, Iskander, you are looking lovely today."

“Thank you, Imperial Mother, this loathsome one does not deserve such a comment from your illustrious muzzle."

She grumbled a hum, “Crafty one you are, good with words," of all those in the Palace, it was Nu that knew me well. I worried she would never make an error and always be one step ahead of me.

“Come in, mother, the breeze is growing quite cold," Ulric said, the wolf looking downtrodden as his mother spoke on about how she came to accompany her son back to the capital now that spring was in bloom.

In this span of time while watching mother and pup walk up into the columned portico, an out of breath wolf followed up and just managed to slip through the towering turreted gate before it shut up again. The wolf, looking at me, rushed to me and handed me a message and after a panting, spoke, “The Chief Eunuch sent this! Alas, I was not fast enough, the Alpha Dowager was too quick, she took the fastest horse along with her guards and only took to a carriage during the last leg!" this explained two things: how she was so fast and why I got no warning of her coming.

“She took a horse?" the wolf nodded. “Yes sire, she put on riding trousers and sprinted out with little fanfare," I chuckled, finding the image admirable, she was full-on wolf and still embodied her ancestor's ways.

I opened the message and read it while still out in the palace plaza. Dillian informed me about a lot despite the information being late. He said how Nu was quite agitated at the events in the capital and was becoming quite unnerved at not having Ulric in direct contact with her. Titus and Selene were openly insulting each other in the audience hall and she accused him of having desires on the throne and Titus shouted the same back at her, this was the day before Nu departed like she did.

Gao'ao was adopting Prince Bakti, finally pushed to that action after seeing and being startled by Selene, for Selene was speaking of how, I quote, “Canis forbid that fate be decreed upon my brother, but if such comes to pass, he has no adult pups and of those he has not one is an official heir and Her Majesty the Mate has yet to sire a litter!" this was the remark that set off the shouting match between Titus and his niece.

Alpha Dowager Nu was installed in her very own wing of the villa and the first night was her and Ulric having dinner together, just mother and pup. I felt somewhat happy about that, I knew full well that if it was all three of us Nu would make the whole evening quite awkward as she likes to do with me. I supped alone that night, even though I could have had a small dinner with the wolf ladies to discuss matters.

Though I was bothered by wondering what was being discussed by mother and pup, no doubt cowing him. Or not, Nu is an enigmatic she-wolf and I wondered to myself, “Where does she even stand in the affair of Titus and Selene, her bother and her own daughter?" what a choice to be faced with and being how she is, I could not even begin to put forth a possible answer myself to that question in hand.

Unable to take it much longer, I shot up from my divan, taking a reading Yosef by shock, “I can't take it anymore, him being alone with her likely doing all manner of mental games on him!" was what I said in a huff, marching up to the doors of my chamber, kicking the door open and sprinting out down the dimly lit hallway while white moonlight poured in from the windows along its length.

Yosef stumbled up and ran behind me shortly afterwards, unnerved at my agitation. I was foolish, I can see now. Nu was well aware of her effect and knew that I how go all antsy over this and maybe expected this. I lost all my senses when I came to the chamber in which the Alpha and his mother were dining and rushed passed the guards and barged my way in with the littlest of comments to anyone I passed by. I came into the room where both wolves were seated at their table eating and looking at me.

It hit me suddenly, my mistake in feeling unsettled, this is what SHE wanted. That bewitching wolfess, Nu, her expression going from surprised to amused fulfillment in a moment while Ulric kept his surprised expression. I was not even properly dressed, only wearing a night robe and I came in emitting all sorts of potent pheromones letting them and more importantly, her, read me like a book! Normally, I made habit of putting on perfume to mask such things.

I tried to back away and pretend to myself that perhaps if I turned around and left as if nothing happened they would think I was never here. Such childish thinking! Even if that was possible, Yosef, who had been rushing behind, did not expect me just around the corner and collided with me at full running speed, causing me to fall inwards with a loud yelp and making this whole incident even more of a moment. Then it was Yosef's turn to look up and around and see the Alpha and his mother, and to be deeply embarrassed as I just felt even more so. I was also quite angry in this moment and wanted to snap and scream at Yosef for making this worse, but held lest I make this worse. Furthermore, I caused this and he was just making sure I was okay.

Getting up and dusting myself off, Yosef helped me up. I looked around anxiously like a prey animal. It was her well-dressed chambers, in her wing, it was Lupine Filial Piety to have the child come to the mother or father. I was doing everything other than open my mouth and explain myself.

“Ah, Iskander! How funny! Me and my Pup were just speaking of you."

Ulric looked even more confused and turned to his mother “No we di-" I heard a kick under the table concealed by silken table cloth. Getting my bearings, I felt more in control with that hint, Nu was hoping for this and was trying to unnerve me but Ulric, my lovely Little Wolf gave me an inroad that Nu was acting. I also noticed a third chair at the table, I went and took it before she could continue her game by inviting me to sit, acting like she was surprised.

I looked at Nu, “I see you were expecting me," I humbly said as it was the she-wolf's turn to feel played, seeing me having recovered fully.

“Give the Concubine Iskander a plate, also give me another ewer of liqueur, I've finished this one," she said to a server in the room. When the plates came, Nu had to prompt her still confused pup to give over a piece of his food over to mine in of the custom of the Alpha giving portions of his meal to the pack.

The dinner went on in total quiet. The only thing of note was Nu downing one cup after another of drink and even asking for another ewer.

When Ulric yawned, Nu said how he should go to bed. Ulric brushed this off and looked at me, wishing we were alone so he could figure out what was going on. Nu was not taking it and responded, “I think you _ must _ sleep, my Imperial Pup," in a more demanding tone with clear slurring in her words. Ulric, seeing this and feeling at a loss, withdrew, looking fully defeated and leaving me alone with Nu and a few servants lined up around the chamber.

It was only eerie silence as Nu and I sat there. I did not eat much of what I was given and the dishes before me remained full. Only the flesh given to my plates from Ulric's own did I dare eat, everything else I only touched for show.

Her Imperial Majesty Nu seated on her dining throne and after several rounds of drinks, dismissed everyone in a slurred voice, her ears drooped and eyes glazed over. “Leave my entire wing, everyone, guards as well!" she said drunkenly, though I rendered it more concise and clear here for the sake of making sense. She gave me an unsettling gaze, not taking her huntress eyes from my form as I shifted in my seat, unnerved by a coming sense of something being wrong.

Her Chief Lady, a normally sure of herself wolf, looked extremely unsure of how to proceed, and she just stood there thinking that maybe this was just a mistake. Picking up on this, Nu's hackles bristled and the lips of her muzzle lifted to expose her two fangs, “LEAVE!" she shouted and pounded her paw against her table causing plates and bowls to jump as well as myself.

The poor she-wolf snapped around and began hurriedly calling and ushering everyone out, maids, eunuchs and the she-wolf guards were in a near state of panic.

Yosef, who looked steadfast in deifying the wolf matron's order, stood still. Wishing him to be spared any trouble, I gave him a look telling him to leave. He hesitated, but I gestured him to leave and he did.

Everyone had left, leaving a nervous me and an inebriated wolf as the only ones within her entire wing. I was at a loss of what as going to happen but deep inside me I had an inner knowing, as Nu stood up from her seat and made her way towards me. The look in her eyes was one I has seen before and I knew very well what it entailed.

The lupine Dowager grabbed me by the shoulders, she shoved her half-opened muzzle into my face and the reeking scent of liquor washed over me, causing my eyes to roll up from the fumes . She then leaned in and trailed her long, wet tongue from my chin to my forehead, all the while her hips were pelvic thrusting at me.

She was slurring her words to the point I was unable to make out most of the said things like, “You're so pretty!" and, “I want you!" it made me immensely uncomfortable and brought up the awful experiences during exile, things which I had thought were done with for me. Apparently not, for the Alpha dowager was now forcing herself on me.

Afterwards, I was dragged across the chamber roughly. Taking one paw off me, she punched open a wooden door with a loud bang and returned to dragging me with both paws. With my legs dragged behind me, I looked up and saw I was being taken was taken into a smaller side room; a small but richly decked bed chamber, clearly belonging to Nu herself.

I, hoping to put an end to this, tried to reason with her as we both struggled against each other, a struggle I was losing due to the stronger frame of the she-wolf against my smaller human form.

“Matron Imperial Majesty! Please stop, you are not in control of your senses!" I muttered as I grew more desperate, even trying to move up a hand to give her a slap so I could stun her and run away. Despite being in a drunken state, her predatory lupine senses picked up on my aims and moved swiftly with her paws to restrain my hands.

I knew all I had to do was shout out and get someones attention and I was very close to doing so when in that very monument I came to a conclusion. Time seemed to pause for a moment and I took stock of what exactly was happening. My eyes cased down to Nu's groin. I knew I could not fully smell it, but I knew that she was exuding pheromones. The dowager was an extremely powerful figure, sibling of Grand Beta Titus. It was insidious but I stopped resisting, I stopped all ideas of calling for help and I looked up to the hungry eyes of Nu and whispered, “Yes…" that single word caused her eyes to flash wildly as if I granted her most precious wish.

“Oh, I want you…" I furthered in pretended sensuality, which in her drunken state she could not see any difference from the real thing. Seeing that now I was very clearly willing, she loosened her grip on my wrists, allowing me to pull at the ribbons of my garments, this very act causing the wolf to drop a pearl of drool from her lips.

It was difficult for me but I thought of Nu as a male to help me get myself physically aroused. Thankfully, female Anthros lacking breasts like human females, made it easier for me, to a very small degree. Furthermore, I needed to not be fully in the throws of passion, for I had an aim and a goal for this, which I needed to be alert to accomplish.

Gazing around for something which I could use for what I was thinking and catching sight of a loose handkerchief on a bedside table, I knew that I had what I needed. That is, once I was done and Nu was passed out after her orgasm.

Seeing that, I fell fully limp and let her carry me over to her bed. Her strength was nothing to be trifled with even when in an inebriated state. After all, she was not averse to acting dominate, being she left on horseback to come here. I willed myself to have an erection and to be aroused as she threw me on her low bedstead, which was made easier by the masculine looks of Nu.

What kept me going most was the prime opportunity this gave me! Looking up at the frenzied Nu as she started to untie and remove her bulky garments, she exposed her gateway. The puffy mound of tissue that was like it was folded upon itself, glistened wet from her arousal. To me it was a gift of the highest rank, a gift for me. Reaching out, I touched it, eliciting a growling moan. In response, Nu grabbed my wrist with her strong paw and held it there, forcing me to touch and caress it, forcing one finger inside its humid interior. The fluid was abundant, more than I was hoping.

She mounted me and began thrusting on me with no aim, just bumping into my pelvis, not even trying to even get my phallus inside her. She was too drunk to even get it correct. I, seeing as I did not have to even use my organ, paid less attention to trying to will it upwards and used my hands on her.

Drool dripped from her panting muzzle onto my bare chest, pooling in my navel and running around my nipples onto the linen of the mattress. The she-wolf's pelvis jolted and shook, increasing with each touch and insertion of my fingers into her spade-like organ as I felt her fluids increase even more until she, in total frenzy of climax, shredded down the bed curtains with her claws and punching down on a nearby pillow with her vice-like jaw in the action of tearing it in half.

Holding her howl, her eyes rolled upwards in blissful ecstasy, a nirvana of lust fulfilled, and collapsed on the bed besides me falling into a deep, panting sleep. I made sure to wait a bit before I started to move again, wishing her to be as deep in slumber as possible before I did anything. When I felt that was satisfied, I pulled from under her dead weight atop my pelvis, slowly and cautiously and tip-toed to the handkerchief, which was one part of my prize.

I was almost in a state of elation when, after having grabbed it and turned back to the form of Nu on the bed. My eyes focusing on her crotch, feeling as if this was too amazing to be true. Creeping over to her I buried the cloth half-deep inside her and waited with a sense of glee at such a gift given from her own lack of control in her drunken state.

Blackmail.

Blackmail, in the form of her potent lust-filled fluids was being absorbed into cloth, my new weapon was in the making, and when a good moment has passed I pulled it out damp and warm. The action of that causing a low moan from Nu but passed without anything more.

Thrilled, I threw on my own clothes and made my way out of her bedchamber. Before I exited though, I turned back to the collapsed form of Nu and spoke even though I knew full well she was not in the mind to hear it.

“You have just lost…you slipped…I now have power over you with this."

I would make sure to have my newest weapon cut into sections and hidden in separate sealed metal boxes out of caution. One with me and one at Gernan's Manor held by the monks. That way, I could be sure if one is taken I'll have another.

If Nu dared to attempt to interfere with me or try to bring me down, I would show her the contents of the box and let her know if she continues, my Little Wolf will see how she took advantage of me. Not just see…

But smell…