Page 34 of The Alpha's Heir

Roman, on the other hand, is spitting mad. Tell everyone else to get in the cells and let Shortie have the run of the packhouse. He whines and sulks until I remind him that Eva wouldn’t want that for everyone else.

As we reach the border of our lands, my bond with Eva feels stronger. I can feel her terror; however, there is also an overwhelming joy mixed in there too. I like to think that is because I am almost home and she is overjoyed about seeing me. That is until Roman laughs at my self-indulgent thoughts and starts howling in my head. What’s so funny? But he doesn’t tell me, he just continues to howl excitedly.

The whole pack comes to welcome me home and it takes too long to get down into the basement to the cells where my love is.

As I try to tune in to her emotions I realise she is no longer scared, she is filled with contentment. Now I am confused.

I race down to the cells and call out to her. “Eva, are you there?” She doesn’t respond, so I enter the holding room. Eva is asleep in a rocking chair. She holds her tummy protectively in her sleep. I wonder if she is hurt.

“Aiden?” Her sleep-filled voice calls out to me and I open the cell to get close to her. By the time I have the lock open, she is up out of the chair. She jumps at me and cries when I hold her tight. “Thank God you're home. I missed you so much.”

“So, what’s all this? When I heard that my Luna had moved herself into the cells, I thought there had been some sort of mistake.” She smiles at me before resting her head against my chest. “I missed you millions, Shortie. I missed you more than I could tell you. I have so much to tell you but first, I have a request to make of you.”

I pull her over to her narrow bed.

“How are we both going to fit in that?” I wonder. “How did you fit on that?”

Her eyes sparkle in amusement. Goddess, I have missed that.

I look into her eyes as I hold both of her hands in mine. “I found out some stuff that really made things about our life together clear. I accept both you and Summer, and I want to be her daddy, properly and legally. I want to adopt her so we can be a proper family. I claim her as mine. I want to make it official as soon as possible.”

Eva drops my hands and for a second, I am worried I have upset her until she thuds against me, pulling me tight into her arms. “Are you sure you are ready to be a daddy, Aiden?”

Is she kidding? I am delighted and honoured to be Summer’s daddy. “I really think I am. I love her, Eva, she might not be my flesh and blood but she is my little girl.”

She still hasn’t said yes, and I haven’t forgotten that, but I want this to be given freely and not coerced. “What about when we have a child together? Will you still love Summer and want to be her daddy then?”

I consider her question before I answer her. “Yes, I will always treat her as my own, and another child will not change that. They will all be our children.” Roman howls in my head, he’s acting very jovial for us to be home.

“Good. Good. We should do that soon then.” We share a smile, but her eyes are twinkling. I had expected her to be a terrified wreck. But… My Eva is happy.

“What has you smiling so much?” I ask her when she continues to grin at me.

“I have dreamt of this moment since we mated. I have dreamt of the moment I got to give you this news. The last time I gave this news, I was completely shot down, but I know this time will be different.”

My heart is pounding: this can only mean one thing. Eva is carrying my pup; I am sure that’s what she means and as Roman continues to celebrate in my head, clearly already aware of our happy news, I wait with a grin. I wait so she can have her moment.

“Aiden, we’re having a baby. A pup. Lina has just told me I am pregnant.” Up until that moment, I had thought I would be happy that I was going to be a father and that Eva was expecting our child.

Happy doesn’t come close to how I feel right now. Happy doesn’t come anywhere near the elation and joy brewing inside me. For the first time in my life, I cry actual tears of joy as I thank my goddess for blessing me. I kiss my amazing mate who quite simply glows with her own happiness.

I thank her repeatedly and tell her how much I love her.

I try to take her to bed to show my appreciation until I realise we are still in the cells.

“You cannot stay in the cells, Evangelina. I won’t fucking have it. You will live like a queen while you have my pup growing inside you, and no arguments.”

When she looks at me with those beguiling blue eyes, I know I’m beat. Eva will do exactly what she wants, and I will help her and nothing I say, or command, will change that.

“I’ll have the boys bring in a bigger bed.”

*** Amber ***

I am emotionally and physically spent. The past ten days have drained me of every ounce of strength I had and the past 36 hours with Aiden have been a nightmare. We were both worried about our mates and the pack, as well as our confusion and heartache about our mother.

The whole pack comes out to welcome Aiden back home safely. He’s never been away from home for this long before and the pack are in high spirits at his safe return.

I look about but I cannot see Preston. As the pack Beta Wolf, he should be here at the helm but, as I desperately search, panic fills me. Where is he?

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