Page 66 of The Alpha's Heir

“I forgot to tell you: I got Luke’s number for you. I told him that you just wanted to talk, and he said that was fine.” She writes down the number and passes it to me. “I hope this helps you both so you can move on. Ryan did a job on the two of you.”

I take the number and as soon as Ale is safe, I will call Luke and finally clear the air between us.

After a couple of hours, there is a knock at the door, and it's a surprise to see Max. “The Alpha told us what happened, and Melanie wanted to come and sit with you both if that’s okay, Luna?”

“Of course, Max, bring her in.” Max smiles at our easy acceptance of his mate and I am thankful that Melanie has been mated to a kind and gentle and understanding wolf like him,

Max returns up the steps and carries Melanie back down. “Hi”, she greets us meekly, but I haven’t had a chance to thank her yet or to tell her how sorry I am for her loss, so I stand at the bars with my hands outstretched waiting for Max to bring her to me.

“It's great to see you up and about, Mel. I hadn’t had a chance to say thank you to you for what you did. You saved my little girl's life, and I will be thankful until the day I die for what you did.” I embrace her, the woman I once thought of as my foe, my biggest enemy, but now consider my daughter's saviour. “I’m so sorry about your baby, Mel. Aiden has people looking for Junior and we will get justice for you and your baby. I promise you that.”

“Thank you, Eva, and to both of you for letting me come and sit with you. Go on, Max, leave us be. Come back later for me, okay?” I can’t help but smile when Max kisses her against her temple and Melanie blushes in reaction. They are falling for each other and fast. That’s how it is for werewolves. When you know, you know.

“I know you’ve probably got a million questions about Max and me but I just need to pass this message to Salma first.” She lifts a white envelope from her pocket and hands it to Sal.

Sal reads it and lets out a sigh. “Thank God. They’ve got the bullet out and have cut out the corruption, now they have to sew him up and hope for the best.” She starts to cry with relief. “The stupid idiot has me weeping with relief. I’m going to kill him when he's out of surgery!”

We laugh along with her, her joy evident at Ale being safe. “So, tell us and you and Max, he seems to be smitten with you, Mel?”

Melanie blushes again. “I’ve never met anyone like him, he’s just so… I mean I like him, but you probably think this is too fast and that I’m just jumping from one man to another. But Max is different. This is… special.”

I can see myself a few months ago when Aiden came into my life. I couldn’t comprehend how strong my feelings were for him after such a short period of time. “Mel, that’s how I felt about Aiden. When you know, you know. And no one would begrudge you a bit of happiness. Max is a good man, and he will take care of you.”

“This is the first time he has left my side since the accident. I know I’ve been high on pain relief, but he is so amazing. Last night though, I think he was trying to make me laugh. He told me he was a werewolf!” Salma and I look quickly at each other and then look down, and the smile falls from Melanie’s face. “Wait, you know something. Oh my God, is it true? Is Aiden one too?” She looks shocked but not repulsed or disgusted, so I nod slowly to her.

“Yep, Max and Aiden are werewolves. And I’m one too,” I whisper as I lower my head.

“Really? Was he telling the truth? So, is it true then about the mate’s bond and everything?”

I nod to her but to my dismay, she starts to cry. “Mel? It's okay, Max isn’t dangerous or anything, he won’t hurt you, I promise.” Melanie takes her hands from her face and looks up at me and I realise she is smiling.

“He’s mine and I am his… He wants us to be together, he wants us to be a family. I can’t believe it!”

Having found the love of my life in a similar way, I understand how lucky she is feeling right now. The Moon Goddess has honestly blessed us all.

*** Preston ***

After taking Marissa’s body to the morgue, I inform her sister of her death and explain what happened. Her sister looks like she expected this, and my blood runs cold as a result .

“It wasn’t a healthy relationship. He used to beat her and abuse her. I’m not surprised it ended like this, but at least she is free from him now. Tell the Alpha I thank him for being so swift with his justice. I will speak to him tomorrow at the pyre.”

When I return home, Amber is already in bed. Her vibrant red hair is still wet from the shower. “Are you sleeping?” I whisper to her, and she shakes her head at me in response.

I strip out of my clothes and shower quickly and then climb into bed with my love and hold her close to me. “I’m right here if you need me. I’ll always be right here.”

“Preston, I just want to concentrate on the future now. This is over, he’s gone, and he’ll never take up any more time and space from my life.” I kiss her forehead; her words have never made me happier.

“We have so much to look forward to Amber, starting with our Mating Ceremony this weekend. We have our whole lives to plan. What do you want to do first?”

She looks at me with wonder, looking younger and carefree now. The strain of the past and her trial had put years on her and now it is gone, she is a young woman with the world at her feet once more.

“Can we have a holiday soon? Just you and me?” I laugh at the sparkle in her eyes. We won’t be able to leave just yet, not while Junior and Nikki are still out there and while the Luna is still under home arrest, but hopefully soon I can give my love everything her heart desires.

“Once Eva is allowed out of the cell, we will, but right now, Aiden needs us both.” In the back of my mind, I hope that Amber will be carrying our pup by then.

She pushes back against me. “I love you, Preston, I can’t wait for the weekend to tell everyone else too.” I kiss her goodnight.

“I love you too, Red. I always have and I always will.” Within minutes, she is sleeping and once she hits a deep sleep, I crawl out of bed and continue to make more arrangements for our ceremony this weekend. I want this to be spectacular. I want Amber to know how much she means to me.

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