Page 39 of The Alpha's Heir

She looks at us all, and obviously isn’t waiting for an answer because she walks towards the packhouse so she can meet Eva.

As we approach the stairs to the cells, loud voices can clearly be heard and Gamma Max is trying to diffuse whatever the situation is and is failing miserably.

“Get out, I don’t want you here. Please. Just leave.”

“Eva, it’s important to your father that we get along. I want to get to know you.”

“Not right now, I’ll tell father when I am ready. I already have a mother, a fat lot of good she is, and Summer doesn’t need any more confusion right now.”

“Come on now, ladies, there is no need for this to turn nasty.”

“FUCK OFF!”

“Don’t speak to him like that and don’t swear in front of my daughter!”

“Guck ock…”

“Give me a couple of minutes first please,” I apologetically ask Elder Esme. For fucks sake! I put out one fire and there is already another one simmering away.

The scene in the holding cell is exactly what it sounded like. Eva is in her cell, red-faced and pointing at Luna Lydia, who is in the holding area with Gamma Max, who is carrying Summer, and Summer is repeatedly chanting, “guck ock, guck ock.”

“What’s going on?” They all start talking at once until I shout again. “If you’re going to keep arguing, can you leave? The council representative is here and wants to ensure the cell is secure. She needs to speak to Eva. I don’t know what your disagreement is about, and quite frankly, I don’t care. There is enough shit flying about- “

“Chit, chit!” My little girl shouts proudly. Eva glares at me, and if looks could kill, I would be dead and buried now.

“Please don’t kill me. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to swear,” I plead with Eva before she can say anything.

“We will discuss this later, Alpha. Luna Lydia, it was lovely to meet you, but I think it would be best if you returned to my father now. Max, could you please take Summer to Mrs Moore straight away? Sunshine, give Mummy and Daddy a kiss and be a good girl.” It’s heart-breaking watching Summer kiss her mummy through the bars of her cell. I kiss her too and ruffle the soft brown curls of the crown of her head. She giggles in response as she places a sticky wet kiss on my cheek and whispers, ‘daddy bear,’ to me.

After everyone leaves, Eva stares hard at me. “Are you determined to give her the mouth of a sailor? She’s two years old and she now knows three swear words.” I hold my hands up, the last thing I want is to upset Eva or Summer. I’m wound up like a coil, I’m stressed and on edge and I am worried sick, but Eva doesn’t need to see that right now. She needs me to be strong and keep her safe. She needs me to stop swearing.

“Shortie, I’m so sorry. I will make more of an effort with my language. I don’t know what happened. It just slipped out.” She finally stands in front of me; the bars of her cage are the only things in our way.

“I know you’re stressed out. It's hardly ideal, but her little mind is like a sponge, and she seems to sniff out swear words like a bloodhound.” We stand toe to toe, if the bars weren’t in the way, I would have her in my arms and half naked by now.

“I know, I’m really sorry, Eva. I have to tell you something else. I sort of blabbed about you being pregnant too.” She actually growls at me. My little innocent, loving mate is growling at me.

“For fuck's sake, Aiden!” she shouts at me, but I capture her chin before she moves away. A flash of silver in her eyes tells me that Lina is close to the surface.

“Lina, thank you for allowing my pup to grow. I promise to do everything in my power to save you.”

Eva’s eyes widen in shock and surprise and when she smiles, I know Lina has persuaded her to forgive me. “Sweetheart, I’m so sorry. I’m not coping very well, am I? I need my Luna back by my side. The council is willing to place you under house arrest until our pup is born. Elder Esme needs to talk to you and then they want to examine the cell.” I lean forward and place my lips next to hers. “Please forgive your idiotic mate, he might be stupid, but he loves you,” I murmur to her.

“Of course, I forgive you, but next time we have a baby, I’m not telling you until we are through to the safe part. You can’t hold your own piss.” As I kiss her, all the familiar stirrings of desire wash over me, but Eva pulls away before it’s even begun. “I think we have guests, Alpha.”

I look around and, sure enough, Elder Esme, Amber and Preston are standing behind me, enjoying our show.

“Well, I can see you have no trouble controlling your wolf when provoked, Luna, and boy did your mate provoke you today. Everything seems to be under control. Luna Eva, I would like to arrange an appointment for next week and, so long as the cell meets the criteria of the council, your self-administered detention should suffice until your pup is safely born. Congratulations, by the way.” Elder Esme rips off a piece of paper and asks Beta Preston to escort her back up so she can leave.

“Congratulations to both of you,” Amber chokes out on a sob. At first I believe it to be tears of happiness on our behalf, until she speaks again. “I just wish I were going to be here to see it.”

“Go and hug her,” Eva instructs me with tears in her eyes too. “Amber, don’t worry, we are going to fight this, we won’t let anyone hurt you, will we, Aidy?”

“No one will ever hurt you again, little sister, I give you my oath.”

*** Alejandro ***

“We keep drawing a blank and until we talk to the werewolves, we won’t get any further. We can now rule out Salma’s brother. We know he is clean as a whistle.” My brother crosses off ‘Jose’s Bastard’ from our whiteboard. We are sitting around the large mahogany table in the conference room of my father's office. The air is thick with smoke and the table is littered with short crystal balloon glasses from which we have all imbibed too much brandy.

---