Page 33 of The Alpha's Heir

My orders echo around the room in a roar. “Lock down the borders now and protect your Luna. I am going to fucking strangle that son of ours, Lydia!”

*** Preston ***

Eva insists that I take her directly to the cells. She is terrified and it shows. “I can’t put you in a cell; you haven’t done anything wrong and you’re my Luna. Aiden would fucking kill me.” But for such a tiny person, Eva’s command is intimidating.

“You will lock me in this cell, Preston, you will lock me in and keep everyone safe from me until Aiden gets home and helps us find a solution. Do it now.” I feel as low as a snake as I lock my little Luna in the cell. She should be resting in her room, being waited on, not waiting in a cold cell like a criminal. “Now I need you to organise help to make this place look nice and inviting. Summer will be home soon, and I don’t want her to be scared when she sees me.”

I quickly arrange for all Eva’s stuff to be brought downstairs, leaving Gamma Max with her to ensure she isn’t scared or feeling unsafe. I then call Aiden and tell him everything in detail. He promises to be home within a day and assures me I am right to do whatever Eva asks of me so she feels safe.

Later that evening, I visit my parents and speak to them about Eva and what happened. As I tell my mother, her eyes light up. “Do you know something about Dire Wolves, mum?” I ask her, leaning forward as my interest piques.

“When I was a teenager, just before I met your father, my mother was a pack healer and we had a woman with a Dire Wolf and I remember my mother saying, ‘kill it with love’. She basically had to help the young woman heal from the pain that caused the manifestation in her wolf and as each issue was addressed, the wolf returned to its normal size and ability.”

That sounds a lot nicer than some of the suggestions I have heard about excising her wolf, or simply killing the wolf. Those methods all run the risk of harming or killing Eva too, and I cannot and will not let that happen.

When I return to the packhouse and check on Eva, I am overcome with emotion as I spot her sleeping on the narrow bed inside the cell that is now kitted out with her pillows and duvet. Max had placed Summer’s bed next to her mother’s but outside the cell, so only the bars separate them. Eva and Summer sleep peacefully, clinging to each other’s hands.

Gamma Max stands as I enter. He looks ready to sleep on his feet, so I tell him I will take the first watch and he can relieve me in four hours. He gratefully accepts.

As I sit guarding my Luna and her pup, I think about my mother’s words and about all the things Aiden has confided in me about Eva. To heal all her trauma was no small undertaking, it could take months, years even but now she has her wolf and we know how loyal that wolf is to her human counterpart. I would feel awful killing that wolf. I have to convince both Eva and Aiden to try my mother’s way. Lina deserves a chance; she did, after all, manifest into a Dire Wolf by protecting Eva.

Eva stirs in her sleep. “Preston, is that you? Go and get some sleep, I am perfectly fine here with my little girl.” I shake my head no, and she smiles at me. “And you called me stubborn! When will Aiden be back?”

I watch her as she yawns again, her eyes already starting to close. “He’ll be back just after lunchtime tomorrow. Try and get some sleep, Eva.” As she slips into a deep sleep, I whisper my thanks to her. She really came through for me today and I will be eternally grateful to her for that.

I will do whatever it takes to support Eva the way she has supported me. I pledge my position as Beta to that.

*** Eva ***

I wake up in the cold cell and worry that Summer will feel the chill. However, when I look down I can see someone has kindly covered her in some pelts and she will sleep soundly for hours all snuggled like she is. She sighs in her sleep and I am thankful that she has taken all this disruption in her stride.

I, on the other hand, feel sick. Really sick, and I worry about all the shock and strain I have been under. As I heave over the toilet, sweat beads on my brow and my stomach churns. I worry about my little girl catching whatever I have because I have most definitely caught a bug.

No, you haven’t. You know what this is, Eva. It’s the first time Lina has spoken to me since her shift.

Lina! I missed you. Are you okay? I ask her quickly, forgetting what she is trying to inform me about.

I am scared, I knew I had manifested but that was frightening even for me. I had to manifest though, Eva, I couldn’t let you wilt away. Not when it was in my power to help you. The human broke you down, but once I sent Summer to you, I didn’t need to manifest as much because she gave you a reason to be strong and to carry on.

As I contemplate what Lina is telling me, I start to heave again. You sent Summer to me? Lina chuckles at me.

Yes, I sent Summer. The human wasn’t worthy, but I allowed his seed to give us Summer because he was going to break your spirit. A child was the only way to teether you to this world until we met our mate. I couldn’t stop our mate's seed even if I wanted to.

Her words sink in. Lina… Am I? She continues to chuckle away at me.

Yes, only just, that night in the forest before he left. We must keep the silver bangle on and not shift again. We have to protect our pup.

I’m having a baby. I’m having Aiden’s baby. Love and hope and happiness rise from my chest to mingle with the terror and fright I have been feeling.

Don’t worry, Lina. This is The Alpha’s Heir. I will protect this little bundle with my life.

This complicates matters. I don’t want to lose Lina, she is a part of me, and she protected me. Although I didn’t know she was there, she has been the one constant throughout my life, and I have no doubt in my head that if she hadn’t sent Summer when she did, I would be dead, either by Ryan’s hand or my own. I owe Lina my life, and that means I owe it to her to find a way to save her.

For now, for both Lina and I, our collective priority is our pup, we have to do whatever is in our power to protect this pregnancy. This is Aiden’s child and heir, this child is loved and wanted, and I will not jeopardise that for anything.

*** Aiden ***

The closer to home we get, the more restless I become. I just need to see Eva and make sure she is okay. Preston told me she had banished herself to the cells to keep Summer and the pack safe and although I am raging my sweet little Shortie is in the cells, I am also overwhelmingly proud of her and the sacrifice she is making. She doesn’t realise it, but she is nailing being a Luna.

---