Duke’s POV

“Daddy! Help me! I’m stuck!” I was just trying to enjoy my cup of coffee while getting the rest of my paperwork done when my kid starts screaming at me. I rush over to the sound of his crying, and try not to laugh at the sight of my son trying to pull his underwear off his head.

“How did you manage to do this pooper?” I questioned him.

“My name is not Pooper, Daddy!” He stopped struggling to cross his arms at me. I pulled the underwear off his head and he whined as a complaint.

“It sounds close enough to Pooper, to me” I shrugged and he glared at me, but went to hug my legs. I picked him up and held him close.

“No! My name is Cooper! You’re being a meanie, Daddy!” He complained into my neck. I rubbed his back, then finished getting him ready for the day.

I remember the day that Cooper came into my life 3 years ago now. I was about 27 years old. My estate is located pretty far away from town because town is where people are. My wolf and I prefer to be alone, and don’t really care for anything. I was marking my territory in my wolf form when all of a sudden this fluffy little thing came barreling towards me. I may or may not have growled at it in an attempt to scare it off. It just whined and tried to play with me. I looked all around for the little pup’s mother, but she was nowhere to be found. I carried the squirmy pup home, and he immediately snuggled into me. I tried to kick him away, but no matter what I did, he wouldn’t stop following me around. Even when he shifted.

As much as I was annoyed by the invasion of my home, I was also worried. How could someone abandon their baby who couldn’t be more than a few months old? I spent the whole week learning how to care for a newborn baby, and looking for any sign of its parents. After a week, I just accepted that I had to take care of this baby and he's been mine ever since.

“Daddy is not being a meanie. Daddy is preparing you for the real world Coop” I carried him into my office and put him down in front of my desk. He opened “his” drawer which contained a few coloring books and some crayons, and pulled them out before laying on the floor and getting lost in his own world. This is how our mornings typically go, depending on how willing to behave Cooper is. I enjoyed the peace and quiet, along with the occasional “Daddy look!” from Cooper.

Unfortunately our serenity was shattered by a loud knock on the door, “Alpha! There’s urgent news!”

I am the Alpha of the McAlpine pack, and therefore am reluctantly equivalent to royalty. I opened the door to see some of my advisors along with my beta.

“Alpha McAlpine. We have worrying news about the Banfield’s. It seems that one of our merchants has reported that he overheard members of the council planning an attack of sorts against us in the near future” Of course they are.

“I see. Increase patrol for now. There is no need to cause a ruckus or show signs that we are alert right now” They nod before rushing off.

The Banfield’s are a literal royal pain in the ass. We were once close allies until both Alpha’s had a crush on the same omega,and what started off as friendly competition to see who gets the girl turned into war. I could care less about the rivalry, but it seems that the Banfield’s love stirring the pot. Well if it’s a war they want, it’s a war they’ll get.

I take pride in the McAlpine pack being one of the strongest and most influential in the world. I have high standards and demands, and my pack works hard to meet those demands. We have won many battles and wars, we have lost a lot, and so it pains me that I must put my pack in danger all for some petty family feud.

“Daddy look! I drew you as a horse! Look you have a really long mane” I blinked as Cooper shoved a piece of paper right in front of my face.

“I don’t see it” I told him after analyzing what looks like a worm with legs.

“See. Right there. It looks just like you” Wow, if that’s the case I’m a lot uglier than I look.

“No wonder I don’t have an omega. Right Coop?” I picked him up and sat him on my lap.

“Right Daddy!” I don’t think he even knew what I was asking, but he wanted to agree.

Jules’ POV

I am sick and tired of being stuck in this room all day long. I mean who am I? Rapunzel?! My parents finally tell us that we are going on a trip, and I thought that was my chance to explore and get out of the estate. I was very wrong. Instead I was just locked away into another room in the place that we are staying at.

My parents seem to think that I’m too precious for anyone to see, and try to corrupt. Their little jewel. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful that they love me, and want to keep me safe, but I feel like a prisoner in my own house.

I guess I also don’t help in terms of denying that I couldn’t protect myself if I needed to. I’m very slight, and short, and I embody the little princess stereotype. That’s right. Dresses and all. My parents both wanted a daughter, but unfortunately could never have one, so they decided that I was their last child. They actually thought that I was going to be a girl according to all of the old wives tales, so they bought all of the dresses and stuff for a baby girl only to be surprised with another boy. I am an omega though, and unfortunately many male omegas are discriminated against and persecuted, so my parents decided to pass me off as a female to protect me from such a fate.

I honestly don’t mind it. It’s all I’ve ever known, and it makes me feel pretty and beautiful. Nobody outside of my family, and personal maid know that I’m a male, or even know that I really exist. I’ve been hidden away from the world and it seems like I’m going to be locked away forever. I mean I’m already 16 years old. I’m practically an adult. I should at least be allowed to leave my own house and make decisions for myself. I don’t think that’s too much to ask. It’s not like I’m going to run away with the first Alpha that I lay eyes on.

“Jules, sweetie, it’s time for dinner” My maid and practically second mother, Niamh alerts me.

“Niamh, will I ever get to experience life?” I ask her dejectedly.

“Oh sweetie, what are you doing now? I promise that life will get better soon. I’ll be sure to take you out to the gardens tomorrow” She comforted me, but I knew that she couldn’t really offer me much more than that. I got up and hurried to the dining room where my parents and brothers all sat waiting for me.

“Ah there you are, Jules. Just on time. Your brother told me that he tried to take you out today yet you refused. I thought you were just complaining the other day about not being allowed outside?” My father asked me. Ugh Julian is such a rat for telling him that.

“Yes Father, Julian did ask me to accompany him today and I was delighted until I learned the nature of his outing” He encouraged me to continue, “ Julian decided that I would find fun in a hunting excursion”

“Julian! Why would you offer to take Jules to do something so dangerous? !” My mother spoke up and I subtly smirked at him. He knows that I hate hunting animals, but he always tries to force me to go with him.

“It was actually Jude’s idea!” Julian passed the blame to our middle brother who was too busy shoving his face full to retaliate.

“Still. You should know better. Both of you” She finished scolding them before asking how their trip went. Then they started talking about things that I had no interest in and I eventually asked to be excused before I fell asleep from boredom.

I walked into my chambers and plopped onto my bed. It’s such a shame that I’m at a new place yet I have no idea what it actually looks like. I looked out my window and realised that I could probably escape without anyone noticing. I waited another hour until things calmed down before climbing out of the window and running off. I almost got stopped, but luckily no one was really paying attention to the people going out. They really should get better security here. I never could have gotten away with this back home.

I wandered along the woods, following the river, until I heard some yips. I looked to the other side of the river and smiled at the sight of a pup chasing a butterfly around. It looked like it was no more than a few years old, and my heart melted at the cuteness. I tried to get a closer look, and stepped on a branch in the process. The pup stopped jumping after the butterfly and looked in my direction. I laughed as it cocked its head at the sight of me. I waved and its tail started wagging, and before I knew it the pup was bounding over to me. I was a little concerned when it jumped into the river, but the current wasn’t very strong and it crossed just fine.

“Hi little baby. What are you doing all by yourself? Though I suppose you could ask me the same thing?” It nuzzled into my hand, and rolled over. I giggled and rubbed his belly which turned out to be the right response as it squirmed in joy, “Oh you are so cute!”

I stood back up to look for any sign of the pup’s parents, only for the pup to start whining at me and demanding to be pet some more, and who was I to deny it? I guess I was so caught up in petting the puppy that I didn’t notice another wolf appear, until he was snarling at me.

“Oh you must be this little baby’s parent. I was so worried that he was lost” The huge wolf looked at me in confusion, but growled one more time before snatching the pup away from me.

The wolf shifted, and I blushed bright red as his nether regions were right in front of my face. He coughed and covered himself up with the body of the pup, before sitting down next to me. I took the time to take in his handsome features. He was most certainly an Alpha with the sheer amount of power rolling off of him. His hair was practically black, and he had the most piercing blue eyes I had ever seen on a person. If I was being honest I was almost oozing pheromones at the sight of him, and I had to control my wolf before I died of embarrassment.

“Who are you?” His voice was deep, but still smooth.

“Oh sorry about that. I’m Jules. I was just exploring and then I stumbled across this little cutie right here. I was trying to look for you or his mom, but I got distracted by rubbing his belly” I admitted with red cheeks.

“I’m Alpha Duke McAlpine, and this is my son, Cooper. Sorry to have troubled you, Miss” He grunted out, and I could tell that he really did not like apologizing to people.

“It’s fine Alpha. Cooper here just made my bad day into a wonderful one” I giggled at the pup who was trying to escape his father’s tight hold.

“Yes, well he may be cute, but he has the terrible tendency to wander, and other people might not be as nice as you” He explained and then looked down at his son, “They might snatch up little boys and eat them for dinner”

The pup whimpered, “Don’t worry Cooper, I don’t like the taste of puppies. So you’re safe with me. I should get going back now, but make sure to be a good boy for your Daddy. Bye Cooper. Goodbye, Alpha”

The pup licked me, and the Alpha waved at me, “Goodbye, Jules. Thank you for finding my son, I hope you get home safely. If I was a better gentleman I would walk you home, but I’m afraid I’m not much of one to begin with”

I smiled at him, “That’s quite alright, Alpha. I may or may not have snuck out anyways and it would look strange if a random Alpha appeared near the property”

He smiled at me, and nearly eradicated my heart, so I took the opportunity to rush back home before people noticed I was gone. Who knew that the outside was full of attractive Alphas, and cute pups? I fell asleep in contentment which I haven’t done in a while.