Page 44 of The Alpha's Heir

“Honey, I’m home!”

I don’t know how long Aiden has been there, but my heart starts to pound in anticipation of his closeness. I miss him, I miss us, and I need him close to me.

“Aidy, talk to your mate. She misses you and it hurts her that you haven’t opened up to her.” My face reddens as Amber stalks out of the room shouting her instructions to her brother as she goes.

“You know I’m trying not to hurt her, I thought it would hurt her less to not tell her. I don’t want Lina to manifest anymore. I am trying to protect her,” Aiden shouts to his sister’s back.

To our shock, she turns back around and shouts in reply. “It’s hurting her that you are keeping this from her. Right now, she would rather be hurt by the truth than comforted by a lie, isn’t that right, Eva?”

Aiden looks at me to see my reaction, and I nod before lowering my head. He has tried to protect me and now I feel like I have infringed on his right to privacy.

“It’s okay, Aiden. I was worried you didn’t want to tell me; I didn’t realise you were trying to protect Lina and me. I wanted to support you, like you’ve supported me. But just tell me when you're ready and simply know that I’m here and I’ll always be here if you need me.”

“I’m going to find Preston, see you both later.” The door slams and I am more aware than ever that Aiden keeps his distance from me. He hasn’t opened my cell, and the distance between us feels like it grows and magnifies by the second.

“I found out a lot about my mother and father while I was away. I found things that I know would make you cry, and I just want to keep you safe.”

I stay silent, not wanting to intrude on what he has to say. I don’t want to discourage or encourage him. I want him to give me whatever he wants and just support him afterwards.

“My mother died. She died of a broken heart about a year after she was banished from here and from us, her children.”

The gasp is out of my mouth before I can stop it. “Oh, Aiden. I’m so sorry.”

“You, Summer and the baby are everything to me. I want to be the best mate, the best Alpha and, most importantly, the best father I can, because the thought of any of you suffering like my father allowed my mother to suffer breaks me apart inside.”

He opens the lock to my cell and walks towards me.

“All I ever want is you, us and our family. I would do anything to protect that. I’m sorry you felt pushed away. That’s the last thing I want. I’m sorry for being a dick.”

“I’m sorry I’m a hormonal, needy mess, Aidy. I just want us to share everything. I don’t want you to suffer alone, not when you have your family right here who love you.”

I wait until he opens his arms for me, but he goes one better. At last, I feel loved and desired as Aiden sweeps me up in his arms and kisses me.

“I’ve missed you so much, Shortie. I’m sorry I got weirded out about hurting the baby. I spoke to the pack doctor who assured me that it was perfectly safe, and we could resume our usual activities.” I bite my lip as my whole body fires up at his words. “Where’s Summer and when is she due back?”

“She’s with Mrs Moore and she won’t be back for a couple of hours.”

He picks me up and places me in the centre of our bed. “Good, that should be enough time for what I have planned."

My core gushes in sheer delight. Six months ago, I never would have thought I would be acting or feeling this way, both eager and yearning to feel the flesh of my mate pounding over and into mine. Now, it's my drug, my vice, and I will always be addicted to Aiden. I will always want more Aiden.

*** Aiden ***

When I finally returned home from Scotland, there was so much turmoil going through me that in my haste to protect Eva, I hurt her and made her question my feelings for her. Keeping a distance from her seemed the easiest way to protect her because I don’t want to pile on to the emotional baggage she already has, especially now she is carrying our pup too. She has enough challenges to deal with, like her pregnancy, the fact that her wolf has manifested, and that she is currently under house arrest. No, I will not add to her worries. I will deal with this alone.

Every time I get close to Eva, I break out in a cold sweat. Terror runs through me at the thought of hurting her or our pup. A simmering anger bubbles sporadically inside me and at times I feel out of control, and it scares me. What if I lose control around her? She is so vulnerable sitting in her prison, so petite and gentle that it terrifies me. The last thing I want to do is hurt her or frighten her. So, I decide that not telling Eva what I found out about my mother and father was the best course of action. All I have to do is keep my distance until I deal with my father. This proves to be impossible.

Roman chastises me constantly. You are an idiot, Human. Lies and secrets destroyed our childhood, you’re letting history repeat itself. Tell our mate what happened.

Although I have come home, I haven’t truly come back to Eva. I am holding back because I am afraid the beast from within me will emerge and she won’t love me anymore. For the first time in my life, I am doubting myself and who I truly am.

The anger seems to flare up without a moment's notice and the only thing that will ease it is my father’s throat in my hands. However, I am a mate and a father myself now. I cannot do anything to jeopardise that, and I need to keep my fury in check until I can deliver justice to the man who caused the painful and lingering death of my mother.

I stand in the hallway outside Eva’s cell and overhear her telling Amber how worried she is about us and I know from her voice that my actions have hurt her. I don’t want that, that is what I want to prevent and yet, I hurt her anyway. I hiss at Roman as he reminds me he told me so. I have to fix this. I must tell Eva why.

Amber leaves us alone, so I can open up to Eva as much as I can without falling apart or losing my composure. Her presence actually soothes me, and calms the rage that brews inside. It feels so good to finally be close to her, to bare my soul and still feel love and acceptance from her. Staying away from her is no longer an option.

My worries about hurting our pup were squashed by the pack healer. In fact, they encourage me to enjoy my mate because as the millions of other wolves would also testify, mating during pregnancy can be just as enjoyable. I just don’t want to hurt them, her or our baby.

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