Page 15 of The Alpha's Heir

Eva’s face lit up when I told her what Summer had called me and then quickly filled with concern. “Are you okay with that, Aiden, or do you want me to tell her to stop?”

I can’t believe she’s even asking me. “I love it, Eva, I just wanted to give you the heads up in case you didn’t like it. You know I want to adopt her and raise her with our other pups. You know I love her.”

“Ryan never let her, he never let her call him Dad or Daddy or anything. It always made me sad. She loves you like her daddy, and you do everything that a daddy should for his little girl. She obviously feels comfortable calling you it.” Her eyes fill with tears, but she looks happy.

“Why are you crying, sweetheart?” I ask her as I hold her to me. My girl is overcome with emotion following our conversation.

“You’ll never know how much it means to me that Summer has you in her life. Thank you, Aiden, thank you for stepping up and loving her like you do.” My sweet girl, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“She makes it so easy, Shortie. She is so incredibly cute and full of joy.” She smiles now.

“That’s why I named her Summer Joy. She was supposed to be born in the autumn, but she came early, and she is the joy in my life.”

That was when we finally established that Summer is a werewolf too. She wasn’t premature when she was born, Eva obviously had a werewolf pregnancy, which is shorter than a human one.

“Come on, sunshine girl, I will take you to the creche today while mummy finishes getting ready.” Summer giggles in delight as I carry her on my shoulders. Eva quickly kisses her goodbye and tells me she will meet me in the foyer of the pack house in fifteen minutes.

I drop Summer off and go back to meet Eva. Together, we walk to the Chambers of Justice for, hopefully, the final time.

“You are quiet today, Shortie, is everything okay?” I know she’s nervous, but she seems really subdued now.

“I’m just thinking, that’s all. I’ll be glad when this is over.” She places her head against my chest and fills me with tingles and yearning and warmth and love. “How about you, Aiden? I know you’ve got a lot on your plate too. Don’t keep it from me, I want to be here for you too.”

“We'll talk about my worries after this bloody trial. I might have to leave the territory for a few days.” Her shock-filled eyes meet mine. “We can talk properly later, right now we have to deal with this shit show.” She gives me a thin smile as we are called into the Chambers.

The head of the panel stands. “We postponed this trial yesterday as the defendant, Ellis Devine, former Gamma, has decided to change his plea. Please rise.”

Ellis stands up. “I, Ellis Devine, Former Gamma, wish to plead guilty to all charges.” There is a collective gasp and talking in the gallery nearby before the head of the panel calls for order.

“Former Gamma Ellis, we will accept your guilty plea on the condition that you make a full apology to the future Luna and your Alpha for your actions. You will be required to go back to the position of Gamma-in-Training once you have completed a compulsory six-month rehabilitation course. If any of these conditions are not met, you will be ousted and declared a Rogue. Do you agree?”

Ellis holds his hand up to the Moon Goddess Scripture as he says, “I agree.”

It's over. It's finally over. Eva, still holding my hand, tries to hug me and I laugh at her wrapping us up in knots.

“I am glad that’s over with, although it's only two weeks until Amber’s trial starts.” I try to get Eva prepared for what is to come. Amber will be tried at the Silver Shore as a neutral territory to both of us, The Onyx River, and the complaining pack, The Moon Stone. Dread fills me every time I think of her trial.

We make our way back to my office and when I get there, Delta Billy informs me that one of the scout wolves has returned. He sends him to my office to give me my messages.

After observing the usual greetings, I ask him what he had discovered.

“Your mother was registered with a pack in Scotland. We did not get a confirmed sighting, but we believe she is now mated to a Scottish Alpha Laird.

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