Selene's new home

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the dense forest. Akira knelt on the ground, her fingers delicately brushing through the underbrush as she gathered herbs for her healing salves.

"Just a little soup won't do some harm," she muttered, "They will have to manage this before I can get back to the market," she grunted.

A soft cry broke her train of thoughts.

She paused, her heart skipping a beat. The cry echoed again, clearer this time. Akira tilted her head, straining to listen. It was a pup’s cry.

“That is the sound of a pup,” she murmured to herself, squinting her eyes against the light coming from the ray of the sun as she focused on the direction of the sound.

Curiosity piqued, she stood up and moved cautiously through the trees, her heart racing with a mix of concern and determination. The cries grew louder, more desperate, urging her to hurry. Akira’s instincts kicked in; a pup needed help, and she would be damned if she let it suffer alone.

She walked through the tangled bushes, trying to find her way, using the voice as some sort of guide.

"What is happening? Why would a pup be crying all alone in the middle of nowhere?"She wondered.

Finally, she spotted a small, creature covered in a small white shawl, nestled beneath the branches, its tiny body shaking with each whimper.

“Sweet goddess! Who would do this to a pup?” Akira gasped, her heart aching at the sight. The pup’s skin was matted and dirty, and it looked so small and vulnerable lying there all alone. She shook her head in disbelief, feeling an immense wave of pity wash over her.

Without hesitating, she knelt beside the pup, her heart filled with tenderness. “Hey there, little one,” she said softly, her voice a soothing balm trying her best to calm the child.

She reached out and gently scooped the pup into her arms, cradling it against her chest. Its tiny body felt warm and fragile against her, and Akira could feel its heartbeat racing as if it knew how close it had come to danger.

“It’s okay, don’t cry,” she whispered, brushing her fingers through its fur. “I will take good care of you. You don’t deserve to be treated this way.”

The pup looked up at her with wide, innocent eyes, its cries subsiding as it sensed her warmth. Akira smiled gently, feeling a rush of protective instincts surge within her. She couldn’t leave it here. Whatever had happened to it, she would do everything in her power to make sure it was safe and loved.

"Your mother didn't do the right thing by just abandoning you in the middle of nowhere! Doesn't she have some motherly instinct or love within her?" She shook her head in disgust.

Standing up, she adjusted the pup in her arms, feeling a sense of purpose swell within her. “Let’s get you home, shall we?” she said, already picturing the cozy nook she would create for it by the fire.

----

As Akira stepped through the door of her cozy cottage, the familiar scents of home wrapped around her like a warm embrace. The fire crackled softly in the hearth, casting a golden glow that felt inviting after the coolness of the forest. Before she could fully take it all in, her children came rushing toward her, their faces bright with curiosity and excitement.

“Mother! You’re back!” her youngest, a boy named Elias, exclaimed, his eyes wide with happiness.

“Did you find anything interesting?” chimed in Aria, her eldest daughter, who stood beside her father.

Akira smiled at their enthusiasm but felt a pang of nervousness as she held the small pup closer to her chest. “I did find something very special,” she replied, her voice laced with nervousness.

Demetrius, her husband, stepped forward, brow furrowing as he noticed the tiny creature nestled in her arms. “Whose pup is that?” he asked, his tone a mixture of concern and disbelief.

“I saw it all alone in the middle of the forest. I didn’t have the heart to just leave it there,” she sighed, brushing her fingers through Selena’s soft skin.

Demetrius raised his brows, crossing his arms. “Then when did it become your responsibility? You could have left it there! Do you know the reason the mother or whoever decided to leave it there?”

“That is so cruel, Demetrius! No mother has the right to leave her pup all alone just because she had something to do!” Akira replied, a hint of frustration and annoyance creeping into her voice.

“Mother, this might get us in trouble,” Aria spoke up, her tone serious. She glanced at her father, sensing the tension brewing.

Akira shook her head, determined. “Nothing will happen, okay? We are just Omegas living our lives; no one will come for us,” she assured them, trying to mask her own anxiety.

“This is not a good idea, Akira!” Demetrius persisted, his voice firm but with a hint of worry.

“Please, Demetrius, it is such a little pup, and it has no one. We cannot leave it alone,” she begged, her eyes pleading.

“Let her live with us, please,” she added, her heart aching at the thought of this little pup being abandoned again.

Demetrius sighed, his expression softening as he weighed the situation in his mind. He looked at the pup, it seemed so little and so innocent, he felt guilty for his words earlier.

After a long pause, he finally nodded, reluctantly. “Okay then, we can let it stay,” he agreed, the tension in the room dissipating slightly.

Akira’s heart soared with relief and gratitude. “Thank you so much,” she said, her voice filled with joy as she carefully handed Selena to him.

Demetrius cradled the pup gently, a small smile breaking through his stern demeanor. “But you must take care of it, Akira. It’s a responsibility, not just a pet.”

“I know what this means, trust me Demetrius. I am so ashamed that her mother would leave a little pup all alone! So because of that, I will make sure she is not lacking anything, anything at all."

As she moved to the kitchen, she quickly prepared a small bowl of food for Selena. She filled it with warm milk and set it down, watching with delight as the pup eagerly lapped it up. “See, little one? You’re safe now,” she cooed, feeling her heart swell with affection.

The children gathered around, watching with wide eyes as Selene drank. Aria knelt down beside the pup, a smile lighting up her face. “She’s so cute! Can we name her?”

“Well, I already have! I already named her Selene,” Akira said, pride lacing her voice.

Elias giggled, reaching out to pet the pup’s head. “Selene is a nice name!” he exclaimed, his enthusiasm infectious.

"From now on, please consider this sweet little angel your sister. We are all she has now, so treat her with love, and with respect. Treat her as if I was the one that gave birth to her."

"We understand mother," Aria laughed, "Can we play with her?"

“Of course,” Akira replied, her heart brimming with happiness as she watched her children interact with their new family member. “But first, we need to make sure she’s comfortable.”

With Demetrius’s help, they set up a cozy spot near the fire, lining it with soft blankets and a few cushions. As she stood over her small 'crib'

, Akira felt a sense of peace wash over her, knowing she had made the right choice.

Demetrius stood beside her, "You did a good thing. You are such a wonderful person, please raise her right."

"You have my words, she will be raised as one of my very own."