Page 7 of The Alpha's Heir

“She took my mate; I am repaying an eye for an eye. I want her mate as my justice. I will give you two nights to think it over. Meet me at the borders of our lands in two nights' time with your answer.”

When she looks into my eyes, I notice hers are dark brown, not green and sparkling like my mates. Before I register what is happening, she smashes her lips against mine and thrusts her tongue into my mouth.

I throw her away from me angrily. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“Hurting your mate in any way I can. You can lessen her suffering, or you can make it one hundred times worse for her. Give serious thought to my… suggestion, Beta Preston. I will see you in two nights.”

Open-mouthed, I stand there in a state of dazed, confused shock as she runs away.

It takes me double the usual time to get back to the pack house and Delta Billy moans at me for taking so long, but I am too distracted to care.

I would do anything for Amber. I want nothing more than to secure her future for her, but I want that to be a future with me. I want her more than anything in this world.

The thought of her losing her throat or rotting away in a prison cell physically breaks me. I don’t want my Red to have to go through all that, and Nikki seems pretty sure she has the sway to have Amber convicted and punished.

So, what do I do? Accept Nikki’s offer and reject Amber, but I will know she is free and happy, or do I refuse Nikki’s offer and risk a future without Amber, a future where Amber suffers or is sentenced to death?

No matter which way I look at it, there is a very big chance that I won’t get to be with my love in the future. And without Amber, I don’t see any future at all.

*** Aiden ***

There is a short recess after Amber gives her evidence but Eva doesn’t want to move from the Chambers. Anxiety rolls off her and I don’t like it. I want her to be happy and content here with me, not worried or concerned and certainly not scared.

“Aiden, I need to speak to Ellis,” she tells me and the haunted look in her eyes breaks my heart. She hasn’t spoken to him or seen him since he abducted her, and I know she is afraid, so I don’t understand why she is asking to talk to him now.

“Why? Why would you want to talk to him? He kidnapped you, he hurt you and frightened you. Summer ended up in a stranger's home because of him, Eva.” I know I’m starting to rant but I am outraged on her behalf, and if I’m honest, I don’t know what good can come from her facing him.

I want to protect her; it's my job to protect her.

“Aiden, he’s a boy. I would feel guilty for the rest of my life if I didn’t try to reason with him to get him to understand why his actions affected me. They are going to sentence him to death and I do not want that on my conscience. Please, Alpha. Please let me talk to him.”

She only has to look at me and call me Alpha and I crumble. “Okay, okay! But I will be with you. I do not want him to hurt you anymore than he already has, Eva.” Goddess be damned, she is shaking her head at me.

“No, Aiden. He won't talk freely with you there. I need to do this alone.” I let out a growl of frustration, I don’t like this one bit.

“Compromise with me, Shortie. How about we meet halfway? I will wait outside with the door open so I can come to you fast if he starts anything.” She contemplates her decision and reluctantly agrees.

I leave to arrange the meeting for her and return to find her and Amber whispering to each other. The relationship these two have built makes me so happy.

“Eva, we can go and talk to him now.” My sister shakes her head incredulously and part of me agrees with her. Ellis had his chance and he blew it.

I hold her hand until we get to his holding cell, and I kiss her hands and tell her I will be right outside. She needs only to raise her voice or mindlink me. Roman howls and snaps unhappily. He doesn’t think this is a good idea since he can’t protect our mate from outside the room, but I need to let her do this for her own peace of mind.

As she walks into the room with the man who brought her harm, my heart rate accelerates and I know I will not know a moment's peace until I see her safe again.

*** Eva ***

Shock washes over Ellis’ face as I walk into his room. I only realised how young he is when I saw him sitting in the Chambers.

In my mind, I have been so afraid of him and of what his actions have snowballed into, that he has become an almighty rabid werewolf, something sinister and cruel and evil.

However, now that he’s in front of me, I can see he is just a young man who made a stupid mistake. A young man who needs a firm hand and more guidance.

I continue to look over at him, noticing how young and vulnerable he looks, and yes, I’ll admit: my mothering instincts kick in. The situation remains the same as I have been too cowardly to confront him.

Until now.

Yes, he has been stupid and reckless, and he deserves punishment. However, for a young wolf like him, isn’t losing his prominent position within his pack, in such a public way, enough punishment?

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