Page 16 of The Alpha's Heir

Answers

*** Amber ***

I am sitting facing my mate, my brother, and my brother's mate. Their mouths are moving but everything starts sounding distorted after they inform me they have a possible location for my mother.

She was in Scotland. Just a couple of hundred miles away. Until they said where she might be, it had been easy to imagine her as just vanished, nowhere. But now I knew where she had gone, I needed to go and see her.

I stand up mid-conversation. “Amber, sweetie, do you understand what Aiden is telling you?” Eva asks me soothingly.

I nod in reply. “I’m going to find her and demand some answers. Are you coming, Aiden?”

My brother hesitates and I am impatient to know why.

“Don’t you want answers Aiden? I need to go and find her now and find out why… Why didn’t she want me? Why didn’t she want us?”

The tears stream down my face, and I hate that. I hate that I am showing weakness because of her. Preston stands but doesn’t touch me; instead, he waits for my permission and right there in that moment I know I could never, ever live without him. I wouldn't want to.

Accepting his embrace, I allow the tears to engulf me, the hurt, the pain, the rejection flowing out through my tears like poison being extracted from my very soul.

“Of course, I want to go, Amber. I want the answers we both need to put this to rest. I can’t just leave the pack, plus you have your trial in two weeks’ time. Is now the right time?”

Of course, it’s the right time. There may never be another time.

“Aiden, I am going with or without you. I might not get another chance.” The pain that flashes in his eyes makes me regret my rash statement. My big brother, the big fierce Alpha, is worried about me. “Please come with me, Aidy, I need you.” He nods his agreement and I run to my big brother and cuddle him in thanks.

This will potentially be my last jaunt as a free she-wolf, but I need these answers. The only fly in the ointment is Preston. My lovely Preston. I wanted to spend this time with him, I wanted to show him how much I loved, cared, and respected him in case it was the last chance I could freely give it all to him. I wanted to spend every day making love to him and memorising every inch of his body, his face, and his mind, so I could replay everything over and over if I was sentenced to imprisonment.

As I meet his hazel eyes, I know he is hurting. He is afraid this is the last chance for us to be together, but he also knows how much this means to me.

“Come back to me, Red, okay, just come back to me.” The lump in my throat, formed of suppressed tears, threatens to choke me.

So, it is arranged. Aiden and I will leave the following day to travel to Scotland. Preston will run the pack and Eva will assist. Tonight, Eva has the opportunity to select a Gamma on a trial basis. If not, Aiden says he will appoint one.

I spend the whole night before I leave in Preston’s arms. I want and need him to know how much I will miss him, how I wish we could spend forever like this.

I need to think about us, our little cocoon and the promise of what could be should I make it through this trial. I want to forget the world and lie with the love of my life. Maybe these moments will comfort me and keep me warm if I don’t make it through.

Maybe that will be enough to keep Preston comforted and warm too.

*** Eva ***

I am bereft that Aiden is leaving but he assures me he will be back in two weeks’ time because of Amber’s trial. In the meantime, I must choose a temporary Gamma wolf to protect me and Summer should we need it. I have a vision of a glorified babysitter impatiently waiting around for me and my daughter to complete innocuous tasks in safe places. I have been resisting needing someone to ‘protect’ us, but I can see the worry and feel the anxiety in Aiden and I want to reassure him so he doesn't worry while he is away.

Aiden presents three candidates: all massively brutish men with bulging muscles and ferocious grimaces on their miserable faces. “I said I wanted someone nice,” I spit at him through gritted teeth.

He grins and whispers back, “Looks can be deceiving, Shortie!” Which confirms to me he wi trying to tease me. Two can play that game.

“Yes, looks can be deceiving. After all, I thought you were hot and sweet and kind, but I see now you are a bad boy!” His eyes go wide as I nibble my bottom lip, and I notice his position shift. I hope his cock hardening makes him feel uncomfortable. That is his punishment for teasing me!

“Could you all introduce yourself to your future Luna and tell her a bit about yourself so she can make her decision?” The first guy steps forward. He looks really mean with a hook nose and sallow skin. His eyes remind me of little black beetles.

“My name is Cohen, I am 32 years old, mated, and my mother's father was a Gamma in another pack. I have been part of the Gamma guard since I left academy training.” I give him a nod of acknowledgement.

The next man takes a step forward, and his teeth and gums threaten to jump out of his mouth. He would scare Summer. “Luna Eva, I am Craig. I have worked as a scout and investigator and as a Delta wolf. My mate rejected me, and I have no use or desire for a chosen one. I am dedicated to my work first and foremost. I am 29 years old, and I like to go fishing in my downtime.” Yikes. He is scary. No, he will not do.

“Thank you, Craig,” I say while giving Aiden the evil eye, I will give him an earful for that suggestion. Finally, the last man stands forward. He has sandy hair that softens his hard stare, and he gives me a little smile before starting to talk. My body physically relaxes as he speaks to me, his presence is calm and soothing.

“Hi future Luna, I am Max. I am the cousin of former Gamma Ellis. I just wanted to be upfront about that. I am 35, so I’m a bit older than these guys. I am unmated and I trained under my uncle for as long as I can remember, until his death a couple of years ago... I would be happy and honoured to be your temporary Gamma.”

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