Page 85 of The Alpha's Heir

Epilogue

~~~ Three Months Later ~~~

*** Melanie ***

Today is Eva’s baby shower and I have been helping with the preparations. The place looks beautiful with pink, white and rose-gold decorations all around. We are having a traditional English afternoon tea party in the gardens and the weather is perfect for it. Plenty of people are attending and Eva is glowing.

“Thank you all so much for coming to help me celebrate, it won't be long until this little madam is joining us too.” I smile at my friend and Luna as she rubs her tummy, she has a perfectly oval little bump and a pang of longing rushes up inside me.

I moved here three months ago to be with Max but little has happened between us since then. We have kissed and we share a bed and a home together, but that is as far as it goes and I am starting to believe he has changed his mind about me. Sometimes, he can be really short with me, and he seems so grumpy now when he has always appeared so patient and understanding before.

I think I need to bite the bullet and ask him outright if he has gone off me. I want to take things further, I want to commit to him, I want to have sex… I want to have his children, but if anything, Max couldn’t care less.

Eva comes and sits at the table with me, Amber and Sal. “How is my little niece doing in there?” Amber asks Eva.

“She’s using my bladder as a trampoline. I don’t remember Summer being this active.” Amber laughs at her sister-in-law.

“What did you expect? This time the pup you're carrying has two Alpha werewolf parents. Of course, she’s strong and active… Aren’t you, Coral?” Amber talks to Eva’s bump affectionately. “I can't wait to start trying, too.”

“I’m so sick in the morning I can’t seem to get anything done. When does the sickness pass, Eva? I can't do this for another seven months.” Salma's usual tan complexion has a green hue to it at the moment. She recently discovered she is also expecting.

“I wasn’t really sick, I had a bit of nausea but I think it should pass soon, Sal. Just hold on in there, it’ll be worth it.” The normally glamorous and gorgeous Salma is looking tired and worn out since finding out she is going to be a mother soon.

“Well, I am so jealous of you both. I want to be pregnant too.” Amber looks wistfully at her own flat tummy.

“You two will be next, I promise,” Eva assures us with authority. I would feel comforted by that, but for me to get pregnant I would have to have sex with Max and Max hasn’t so much as touched me for weeks now.

“I know Preston is right, it’s the responsible thing to do to wait until the curse is broken before trying, but it's all I have thought about since our Mating Ceremony.”

“Are you waiting for the curse to break too, Mel?” Salma asks me directly and my face heats up with embarrassment.

“Not intentionally, no. I don’t think Max is interested in me in that way anymore.” It stings my pride when Amber bursts into laughter.

“You are kidding, right? Melanie! He is head over heels in love with you. I’m sure if you told him you are ready to try for a baby, he would be delighted by all the extra mating.”

“We haven’t mated. We haven’t done more than kiss. I think he’s gone off me. I’m scared to talk to him about it because… I’m in love with him, I want to be with him, and I love living here. What if he doesn’t want me anymore?” There is stunned silence around the table. When I lift my head to look at them, the three of them look back at me in shock.

“Melanie, this is a big miscommunication. I know for a fact that Max wants you. I can smell it whenever he sees you or is near you. He is crazy about you. He might be just about the dumbest wolf on the block for not realising you feel this way, but sometimes we have to take the wolf by the tail. Tell him. At least then you’ll know either way.”

"Besides, if he’s stupid enough to turn you down, the pack will kick him out and keep you instead.” I laugh at Eva’s interjection.

Before long, the men return to the baby shower and, despite my reservations about his feelings for me, Max stands behind me and places his hands on my shoulders and whispers. “You look beautiful, Honey, did you have a good time?”

I nod to him. “Yes, it was lovely. I’m tired now though, can we go home please?” We say our goodbyes and Max takes my hand as we walk back to the packhouse.

As soon as we approach our apartment, Max becomes rigid again. “Actually, I need to go and work out so I’ll just drop you in here and see you tonight.” He attempts to place a chaste kiss on my cheek, but I pull away.

“Please, come in, I need to talk to you.” If he didn’t look so comical, I would be offended, but Max... the big overgrown Gamma werewolf who is around double my size, is looking for a way out, his eyes fill with panic. Why is he so afraid of being alone with me?

“I do have to train. I have to keep strong to protect my Luna,” he reiterates as he backs up away from me.

“I think I should move back to my house. You obviously can’t stand to be in the same room as me. I don’t know what changed but… I can't do this.”

I run into the apartment and shut the door behind me before bursting into tears. My little bubble has popped and now I must move back home and the man I thought cared for me is just letting me walk away.

“Like fuck you’re leaving me!”

I didn’t hear him come in, but I hear him now. Max is furious! He stands in the doorway with a scowl that would frighten the devil himself. I pull out the suitcase from under our bed and start pulling my clothes from the wardrobe.

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