Page 36 of The Alpha's Heir

*** Salma ***

Walking back to the games room, nerves bubble up inside me. I hope Ricky isn’t scared and I hope he doesn’t shun me. He is a mini papa, my papa lives on through him.

Tony tries to reassure me. “He knows about you, Sal. He knows he has a big sister who doesn’t know about him yet. He asks about you and says his papa told him about you.” That confirms papa would definitely want me to take over Ricky’s care. I steady myself; I can do this. He’s my little brother, my family.

Ale opens the door for me, and my legs feel shaky as they carry me into the room. Ricky frowns in concentration with his tongue sticking out but he quickly smiles again when he sees we have returned.

“You came back, do you want to play? I’m going to have a go at Plants Vs Zombies now.” He’s trying to hand me a controller for his game and Ale nudges me forward.

“Is it okay if we have a little talk first, please, Ricky?” He looks up at me with big brown eyes and shrugs.

“Okay, but will someone please play a game with me after we’ve talked.” Laughter stirs inside my chest; he’s going to be a blast, this little brother of mine.

“Okay, you strike a hard bargain, but I’m sure one of us will play some games with you soon. Can I sit down?” Although he nods his head to say yes, a note of suspicion grows in his eyes. That will steer him well in the future as a Mafia boss.

I sit beside him, leaving a space between us but turning my body to face him in a way I hope seems open and friendly. “Ricky, my name is Salma. I’m- “

“You finally came! Papa said you would come.” He launches himself at me, hugging me tight and my eyes fill with tears of both joy and sadness. Why didn’t we meet when papa was alive? He could have seen us together himself.

“I would’ve come sooner, but I only just found out about you Ricky.” The wetness from his tears seeps through my jacket and onto my shirt.

“I thought you weren't going to come. I was getting kinda worried.” I hug him tight to me. I did not know about this little boy an hour ago, but now that I do, I love him wholeheartedly and will protect him with my life. He is my flesh and blood.

“Well, I’m here now. Everything is going to be okay. Ricky, this is my husband Alejandro. Ale, this is my little brother, Enrique.” Ricky looks up at Ale warily, but when Ale smiles and offers him a fist bump, Ricky grins at him as he bumps back. It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

“You got married? Papa said he wanted you to get married but you were being a mule about it.” I can’t help but laugh, he obviously means I was being as stubborn as a mule or mule-headed. A wonderful, muddled recall straight from the mouths of babes.

“Ricky, my boy. Your sister wants to take you home with her. What do you think?” My little brother stands and struts over to the other Mafia boss.

“Uncle Tony, of course I’m going home with her, that's what papa said. Thank you for looking after me.” And like a little Don in training, he holds out his tiny hand to Tony. Tony laughs loud and richly.

“It was my pleasure, boy. Now, remember we are allies, okay? Don’t forget your lessons and listen to your sister.” Ricky nods his agreement.

“Can I bring all my stuff? My computer and my clothes.” As I assure him that he will have his possessions brought to him, Ale goes with Tony to make arrangements to get Ricky’s stuff.

Left alone with my little brother is the ideal time to get to know him. He tells me all about his life, his games, his school, his friends. He tells me how sad he’s been since papa died. “Mi mami, she just wanted to be with her boyfriend, and he didn’t like me.” My heart rate increases. This is an awful position to put him in, but Ricky could be a link between us and our papa’s killer.

“Did you meet your mami’s boyfriend? What was his name again? JR?” Ricky nods his head.

“I met him a couple of times. He was younger than mami and I don’t think he liked kids,” he tells me with a look of disgust on his face.

“We are staying with Ale’s parents at the moment, but we’ll soon be settled in our home. You will live with me, and I will look after you from now on. I promise.” He jumps into my arms again, this little boy who, at the tender age of seven, has already lost so much, who just needs someone to love him, someone he can depend on.

I am more than ready to step up to the plate.

*** Junior ***

It never once crossed my mind that I would end up on the run, a rogue from my own pack. It has always been my destiny to become the next Moon Stone pack Alpha. My whole life has been spent training for it and then, bang from nowhere, my father produces this stupid little whore and declares her his Alpha heir and successor. Well, I don’t fucking think so. I’m not going to simply step aside while some bastard of a human slut takes everything that is mine. I will snap her pretty little neck myself before I ever allow that to happen.

Nikki comes to seek me out and offer her support. I am now certain once word gets out that the rightful Alpha heir had been shunned by the old man for a usurper, a vile little creature raised as a human who knows nothing of our world and customs, nothing of our traditions, has no training and absolutely no understanding of what it meant to be a Moon Stone Werewolf, they will flock to me and declare me their Alpha because, for all intents and purposes, I am. As more of the pack pledges their allegiance to me, I will challenge my father for the right to take his place.

Nikki has interesting information about my father’s bastard daughter. Apparently, she has a Dire Wolf. As soon as Nikki informs me, I report it to the Werewolf Council. That should keep everyone busy for a little while.

Dangerous beasts that threaten the exposure of our world and the safety of others are subject to the law, and by not declaring it to the council, my father, his bastard, and her mutt of a mate were all in violation of those laws.

By my calculations, the council will be dealing with the annoying issue of my father's illegitimate spawn. That does make me happy in some ways, but in other ways, it saddens me. I want to rip her throat out in front of my father to teach him a lesson. How dare he overlook me, his son and heir?

My plan is to get onto the Onyx River land, kill Eva and reclaim my position. Now, with Nikki joining my cause with her weird Red Mage power, I have found a way to get in.

“I’m sorry, Alpha. She is unreachable at the moment. I think she’s in the cells at the Onyx River packhouse, we have to wait for her to come out into the open a bit.” Well, that was better than I anticipated, I thought she may have exaggerated her tracking skills but it up

Nikki will be very useful to me in my quest for dominance over my werewolf pack, but this has caused tension between Dominga and I. Dominga is jealous that a young and attractive woman has made a pledge to help me. She also doesn’t see the point in challenging my father if we are going after Jose’s firm. However, our grasp on the Mafia is lessening by the day now that she has abandoned her brat.

I love Dominga but she is draining me. I have sacrificed a lot for her. My fated mate; the safety of my pack; my position as Alpha heir and my position in a pack. I am officially a rogue now, thanks to her impatience. The woman needs to calm down and let me do what I do best, which is dominate. I don’t think I can take another day of her moaning and whining about Nikki coming on to me. If I want Nikki, I will fucking have her. As it goes, she’s a bit of a strange one and she freaks me out, so I don’t want to go there, but no matter how much I explain this to Dominga, she still obsesses about it, convincing herself that there is something going on between me and Nikki.

“Have there been any threats against the pack from the Mafia, Nikki?” She shakes her head, no, which does make me laugh. I poisoned a powerful Mafia Don, and got away with it. “I have informed the council about the bastard bitch’s Dire Wolf. The officials should be crawling all over them by now. Hopefully, they’ll execute her, which will weaken Alpha Aiden. Through his grief, he will leave Amber unsupported so you can get your justice. Do you want her dead or imprisoned?”

“I want to torture her, Alpha. I want to torture her until she begs me to kill her.”

Maybe Nikki could be a match made in heaven for me after all! I’ve never felt as turned on by a woman’s words as I do right now.

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