Page 22 of The Alpha's Heir

“No, Luna. I will stand outside while you go in, but one of the other guards can stay and protect Summer.” Max is very forward. It's easy to see why Aiden thought he would be the best suited for the job. However, right now I just want to smack him in the eye for being so stringent.

I scowl at him, and he smiles back at me. “What are you smiling at?” I ask him. “I thought we could be friends but you’re too bossy.”

He laughs and this time it reaches his eyes. “I’m not here to be your friend, Luna. I am here to protect you from harm.” Well, there is no way to argue out of that one.

“Fine,” I tell him as I kiss Summer and tell her to behave. He follows me as I leave my own apartment and walk down the corridor to Preston’s and Amber’s.

I knock lightly and wait but there is still no answer, so I turn the emergency key and the door springs open. “I will be right here if you need me, Luna, just shout to me.” I nod to Max. He isn’t a bad guy, he’s just not as pliable as Aiden when it comes to getting what I want.

The apartment is in darkness despite it being daytime, and as I walk across the room to open the curtains, I fall over Preston, who is asleep on the floor. Unshaven, unwashed and dressed in dirty clothes, he stinks of stale drink and vomit.

“What the hell?” He shouts as I startle him awake. He pounces on me and pins me to the floor; I fear the look in his eyes, at least until he recognises me. “Eva? What are you doing scaring me like that?”

He quickly releases me and apologises. But all in all, the state of him, his clothes, the apartment, and the fact that he is so on edge confirms to me that something bad has happened.

“Have you heard something? Are Aiden and Amber, okay?” Preston looks at me with bloodshot eyes, straining to concentrate on me.

“…Evieeee! There you are, my new Luna, whatcha doing here? Did you bring some brandy with you?” Preston slurs his words and as he tries to stand so he can bow to me he falls a couple of times before giving up completely. He is as pissed as a fart.

“Why are you drunk in the daytime, Preston? And where have you been? I’ve been trying to find you.” My questions are fuelled by concern, but I stop my questioning when I hear him crying. His shoulders shake uncontrollably.

“I’m in shit, Eva, and I don’t know what to do. All I know is I love Amber and I can’t live without her, and I can’t keep her safe. I’m fucked no matter what I do. Nikki will see to it no matter what decision I make.”

In a confused state, I listen to him. I don’t know who he is talking about or what they have to do with him and Amber, but Preston is like a brother to me now. I want to help him.

“I don’t know what has happened, Preston, but I want to help you. Why don’t you tell me what has been happening?” He takes a deep breath and nods.

I take his hands and help him stand up.

“Yes, I think I had better tell someone what has been happening and then maybe you can tell me what the hell I’m supposed to do. Let me get a shower and clean up first. I feel rank.”

As he stumbles to the bathroom, I clear away the empty beer and liquor bottles and contemplate what it is Preston could have to say.

What could have possibly upset him so much?

*** Amber ***

We are given permission to cross the border but they keep our phones and weapons and we must travel the last part by horse.

The final leg of our journey is the most difficult and treacherous part of the whole trip. The rugged highlands of Scotland are some of the most breathtakingly beautiful and sinfully unpredictable and challenging terrain I have ever had to tackle.

It doesn’t help that I feel awful. I am not sure if it’s the distance between Preston and I, the lack of contact we’ve had or if I have a little bug. Whatever the cause, my stomach twists in knots. The further north we travel, the worse I seem to feel. I need my answers so I can go home to my mate.

Upon our arrival, Aiden and I walk into the main hall of the keep. The Alpha Laird is there, but there is no female. Where is my mother?

“Alpha Laird Rory, we have come here to reconnect with our mother-”

The Alpha Laird interrupts Aiden by coughing and raising his hand. His eyes never leave me. The expression on his face is unreadable.

“I know who you are and why you are here. Coral, your mother, was my fated mate and I feel like she has just walked into my hall again, just like she did all those years ago. You both have her eyes, but you look like her twin.”

When he looks at me, it’s with love and pain etched all over his face.

“I know you’re here for answers, although I did expect you both to come a long time ago. Your mother left you both memory boxes.” She left them for us, I think to myself. Does that mean she’s fucked off from here too? Has this been a wasted journey, a waste of the time I don’t have?

“Why hasn’t our mother received us? Surely she wanted to see us after all this time or is she sincerely that cold and unfeeling?” The contempt is apparent in Aiden’s voice as he speaks, but it's Alpha Laird Rory’s reaction to his words that captures my attention.

“You don’t know, do you? I told John, I told him so he could tell you both because I wasn’t in a fit state to travel.”

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