Page 8 of The Alpha's Heir

“Luna, you shouldn’t be here, the Alpha won’t like it,” he tells me in rising agitation, anxiety evidently building within him.

“The Alpha knows I’m here, I asked to speak to you. Our Alpha is waiting just outside.”

His eyes widen with concern, but he sits back down and offers me the other chair.

“I should have come and spoken to you sooner, Ellis, but I was afraid.” He lifts his head so his eyes meet mine and I offer a small smile. The haunted look in his eyes tugs at my heart.

“I never wanted you to be afraid, Luna. I just wanted to give you to the Alpha so they could see I was worthy of my father’s position.” For a moment, I let that sentence sit between us.

“Ellis, I am a person, I am not something to own and to give. Surely you can see that now?” A light blush covers his cheeks, and he lowers his head. His light hair flops forward, making me think he needs a haircut. “You can’t treat others like that, Ellis. How would you like it if I gave you to a stranger?”

He mumbles something inaudible, causing my temper to flare. This boy needs a firm hand.

“Do not mumble. If you are going to talk to me, look at me and speak up so I can hear you.”

“I wouldn’t like it. I am sorry, Luna. I didn’t mean to hurt you, or your little girl.”

Happy with his apology, I nod in acceptance.

“Thank you. I know you didn’t mean to hurt me, Ellis. I just needed you to acknowledge that you did. That's how we know you have learned from this and can be assured that you will never do anything like this again. I don’t want you to go to prison or lose your throat, but your Alpha cannot allow his wolves to run around acting as they please with no repercussions. What you did was stupid, Ellis, and as a Gamma wolf, you should have known better.”

“Yes, Luna. I see that now. I was trying so hard to prove to Alpha Aiden and Beta Preston that I was ready to take on my father’s job, but I can see now that they were right. I wasn’t ready, I was too young and foolish. My father would be ashamed of me. I know my mother is.” His shoulders slump as he takes his head into his hands.

His regret is evident now he understands why it was wrong to act the way he did. He looks like a lost little boy, not a defiant thug or a monstrous wolf I need to fear. Just a boy who made a stupid mistake. I cannot live knowing his imprisonment or loss of life is down to me.

“Change your plea. Stop this now, Ellis, accept responsibility and agree to complete the course and I will speak on your behalf. I will plead for leniency.” I hope I am getting through to him. There is very little else I can do to convince him to do the right thing, not just for me and the pack, but for himself too.

“Your Luna has shown you bravery, compassion and understanding, Ellis. At least acknowledge what she is saying to you.” I snap my head to the door to where Aiden stands. The light glowing around him makes him look like a god. His legs braced apart, his muscular and strong arms tensed but hanging by his side and his alluring green eyes full of determination. He doesn’t look at me but at Ellis.

“Yes, Alpha, sorry, Alpha,” Ellis responds immediately. “Luna, I think it may be too late, we are halfway through the trial.”

Feeling panicky, I look desperately at my mate. Surely, he can do something? He is the Alpha of this pack after all. “This is what you want, Shortie? Will this make you happy?” Aiden asks me seriously.

I nod at him. “Yes, that is what I want. I am ready to put all this behind us and move on to the future, to our future, Aiden.”

“Ellis, my recommendation to the board will be for you to be stripped of your position and for you to attend a compulsory rehabilitation course, on the basis that you change your plea to guilty, that you make a full public apology to your Luna and accept full responsibility for your actions. Do we have an agreement?” Ellis stands to take his Alpha’s hand.

“Yes Alpha, I agree, I agree with your terms.” They shake hands and Aiden turns to address me.

“Come on Shortie, we have a panel to persuade.” He takes my hand and kisses it before pulling me from the room.

“Luna Eva. Thank you, thank you for trying to help me, and again, I am really sorry that I hurt you.”

Having faced my fears, I feel better in myself. I just hope it is isnt too late to stop the trial now.

“Sweetheart, I am so proud of the way you handled that. You are becoming a great Luna to our pack.” My face heats up at Aiden’s compliment. The worry I had that he might see me as weak or over-sentimental for wanting to help Ellis has been needless, he has been nothing but understanding.

“I feel better for having talked it through with him. In fact, if you have a little time later, I’d like to try and shift again.” He pushes me up against the wall, taking me by surprise. Desire ripples throughout my body for my mate and Lina purrs in delighted contentment when he kisses me hard, mating his tongue with mine. His hard body presses against mine and my blood burns as if it is on fire as it pumps through my veins, making me feel feverish with yearning for him.

“To be continued, my Luna. We have a mission to complete first,but goddess be damned, you get sexier and sexier by the minute.” I laugh as I jog away from him and his teasing.

Aiden tells the panel he needs to speak to them, and I am so glad he is on my side and taking charge once again.

“Alpha Aiden, the panel is about to resume and complete the trial, can this wait?” Aiden shakes his head at them, and I admire his nerve and his tenacity. He is the ultimate leader.

Pride bubbles up in my tummy as he takes control. I still cannot believe he is all mine.

“It would please me and your Luna if you would hear us out. We do not wish to proceed with the trial. Former Gamma Ellis has agreed to change his plea, make a formal public apology and attend the rehabilitation course. He will, of course, be stripped of his status too.”

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