Animal

3

Alfred's smile briefly faltered, "Choice provides comfort. If you agreed to someone's hand just because they could 'provide' for your son, there wouldn't be much comfort. Haven't heard any input from you, Vladimir. What do you say about all of this?"

Vladimir glanced up from where he was twiddling his thumbs.

"Well, in our packs we're the same rank," he said, "and I don't care that he's not rich."

"Not even employed," Remus said through his teeth, "fresh out of college with no job offers. What does he have a degree in? Liberal arts?"

Vladimir shrunk, "Technology management."

Alfred whistled, "Don't worry, Mr. Vargas. He'll get a job and get rich in a few years. Everyone needs a guy who knows that now."

"Um... sirs," the maid said, "Ekaterina and Nikolai have arrived."

Romulus perked up from where he'd been trying to be swallowed by the armchair, "Well, invite them in! Of course. I tell this lady-"

"Romulus, shut up," Remus groaned.

Ekaterina walked in, Nikolai behind her with his head bowed. She sat down in the chair that Romulus directed her too, Nikolai sitting beside her. She gave a small smile to Alfred. He smiled back. Remus grumbled something to his brother.

He clapped, standing up, "Well, now that everyone has arrived, the groom shall now state his case to the father of the bride."

Nikolai looked up at Remus, gulping.

"I, um," he stuttered, "I understand I do not have very much to offer this family, being as they are incredibly rich, but do try to understand that I have many qualifications that would make me an asset to have. Not only would the marriage between me and your son bring our families closer, and stop the unnecessary fights that regularly occur between our clans, my pack is also involved heavily in-"

"Drinking?" Remus cut him off, raising an eyebrow, "And believe me when I say, we don't want Braginski blood in our family."

"Then it might help that I'm a Hinova," he gave a small, uncomfortable smile, "and that my alpha mother has many connections in the shipping trade, and my omega father has connections to law."

"Connections to law being your drunk Head of House?" Remus replied. Ekaterina sighed.

"Despite my father's incredible knack for drink, that doesn't stop him from being one of the best lawyers in the state. If you ever have legal trouble, you would want the rates that he applies to family," Ekaterina smiled, "and trust me, I know you want the rates after little Sebastian gets put back on parole."

Romulus bristled. Alfred stepped forward, making his presence more known.

"My cousin might not have the blood or employment or home you would prefer for your lovely omega son," she said, "but that doesn't mean his connections are bad. Especially compared to you, still living off your fathers dwindling inheritance, and the drug trade you've been getting beaten out of."

"Oh why you little," Alfred put a hand on his chest, stopping Romulus' actions. Remus wasn't quite bristling- in fact, at some point, he'd started nodding along to what she was saying, but he could still tell he believed the jab at their father's inheritance had been slightly out of bounds, yet still true.

"What is wrong, Romulus?" Ekaterina asked, tilting her head, "Can't handle the truth? My dear Hinova-Braginski cousin can offer you so many connections because the Braginski clan built themselves from the ground up, instead of on the backs of others, riding a high that will eventually all come crashing down."

Romulus growled, a deep rumble that rippled all throughout his chest before seething through his snarling mouth like cigarette smoke. Alfred pushed back on him a little harder, feeling a shiver run up his spine. Despite his old age, Romulus was definitely in shape.

Remus frowned, pulling back and bowing his head.

"Move, omega," Romulus growled, and Alfred began growling in turn, pushing with all his strength. Romulus took a step back, glaring down at him as if he was some sort of bug.

He hardly registered what had happened as he felt the punch connect to his eye. His ears rang to the point he could hardly hear, his mouth pulled into a breathy hiss. He'd been hit hard enough to definitely cause a bruise, and blood dripped into his eye from where his eyebrow had been slit.

He heard yelling. He looked at his attacker, who was still standing and growling at him. Remus held his brother's arm, trying to drag him out of his frenzy. It wouldn't work. Alfred smiled, a far off look in his eyes as if he was reminiscing, and Romulus rushed him once more.

He didn't get another hit in. Alfred moved as if he was a constrictor, wrapping around his enemy and moving in and out, tangling him in his own body before he landed a final, downing strike to his throat. Romulus fell, clinging to his bruising throat.
Alfred looked over at Remus.

"Your agreement to the dowry?"

"Confirmed."

"Perfect," Alfred said, nodding his head to Vladimir, who embraced his father, crying, before running over to his groom.

"I wanted to see how long it would take until the jackass over there got pissed off," Remus gave a crooked smile, "much respect to your work, Katya. You make our drug trade look like child's play. I have respect for any omega who can manage to do it better than us alphas. Good on you, too, Alfred. If you want, I can get the maid to clean your wound."

"I'll live," he replied, giving a small bow, "I will be staying with the groom until the wedding is confirmed. What is your timeline?"

He hummed, "I want him married before the moon rises full. I can do it in two days."

He looked over at Katya.

"Three days."

"Deal," Remus said, looking over to his brother, "thank you for agreeing to offer a dowry. Your connections will prove extremely useful. They might even make it possible for us to merge our trades-"

"Don't get ahead of yourself," Ekaterina smiled, and Remus laughed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Of course," he said, "I will see you in three days. Vladimir, please stop kissing your fiance, we have to get your clothing fitted immediately."

Vladimir, sobbing, nodded, before running into another room. Remus grabbed his brother by the ankle and dragged him into another room before the maid escorted them back to their cars. Kiku trailed behind the two talking omegas with Nikolai, still playing animal crossing.