Page 79 of The Alpha's Heir

“I wanted to call you because I found out recently that… that it was you who asked me on a date and not Ryan. He told me that you had set us up, I got a text from you and everything saying you thought we would be great together.”

I can hear her making agreeing noises back to the inaudible voice coming from the phone.

“Yes, I know. Why didn’t you tell me? I did? I mean, well yeah, I suppose. I got Summer from it, and she is one of the best things to ever happen to me. No, I’m sorry too. I hope you’re happy, Luke. Yes, I have, I’m really, really happy, and incredibly lucky. Aiden… he’s amazing and we’re expecting a baby. All the best to you too, Luke. Bye.”

A warm feeling spread throughout my chest. I pop my head back into the living room and watch my girl as she watches television and laughs at the terrible jokes. “Are you feeling better, Shortie?”

Her eyes regard me with the remnants of her smile still there. “The best. I am finally free.” Those little words set my heart alight. Eva’s pain used to restrict us. I didn’t realise how much it weighed on her, and therefore us, until it was gone. My girl had been similar to a fish stuck on a fishing line. Her therapy has allowed her to be thrown back into the sea, free to swim and live and, most importantly, love again.

“Good. Now we concentrate on your pregnancy and our Mating Ceremony and on us.” My cock stiffens in reaction to the scent of her arousal which fills the room. Summer is still asleep in our bed, and I have been summoned to the hospital by my sister, and whatever happened overnight does not sound pleasant. I have also had an irate Max asking me if Melanie could continue to recuperate in the packhouse instead of the hospital. I have no idea what the issue is, but sooner or later, I am going to flip out if things do not start to calm down and fast. No one can accuse us of having a boring start to our relationship, that’s for sure!

“Lina is very happy and content. She has to wait until after our pup is born but she is finally ready to reveal herself to Roman so they can mate and mark each other too. His support last night sealed it for her, she adores him as much as I do now.”

Too right she does, I’m a catch! Watch out, human, they’ll both be fighting for me. Roman, the cheeky scoundrel laughs as I grumble.

Eva sits looking at me, biting her bottom lip, with a hint of a grin. “You know we love you too, Alpha. I cannot resist you.” Where has my little shy and timid mate gone? The strong and fierce warrior in front of me, with her teasing and flirting, is the same girl I fell in love with, but now she has shown me the strength she always had inside her. She isn’t strengthened by the suffering; she endured because she is strong. She always had that strength within her.

I sweep her up and kiss her, I want nothing more than a week in bed with my precious love, but her tummy rumbles and then Summer runs in. “To be continued,” I tell her and her eyes flash as she moans a little, clenching involuntarily as she does. I love the way she reacts to me. Every touch is exquisite and leaves me craving more and I know she feels the same.

“Mummy! Daddy!” Our little girl shouts to us, bounding into Eva’s arms. I know it’s been hard for them to be separated by bars. All they had was each other for such a long time. It’s good to see them able to hug one another without a barrier in the way.

“What would you like to do on your first day of freedom?” I am hoping I get to tease her some more but from the expression on her face, I can tell she already has some ideas.

“I need to get both Summer and I something nice to wear for Amber and Preston’s Mating Ceremony and I was hoping we could stop by the hospital to visit Melanie and Alejandro.” A pink blush covers her cheeks as she looks down timidly. Goddess above, she is so fucking hot! “I also hoped with you being the Alpha and all, you could arrange for us to have a scan so we can check that everything is okay with the baby?”

I pull her back to me, kissing her on the temple. “Whatever my Luna wants, my Luna will surely have. I will call them straight away. I can’t wait to see our little pup.” I am such a lucky man. I can hardly believe this is my life.

While Eva calls the seamstress and the hairdresser, I mindlink Max. He is already moving Melanie’s stuff to his apartment. She is not staying in that hospital while that creature is there, Alpha. I’m sorry, but no. My mate’s mental health is more important, and this could knock her right back.

I am perplexed. Is he referring to Alejandro? Mr Suarez is there as my esteemed guest; you will mind your tongue and show him the respect his station commands, Gamma.

I physically feel Max’s confusion. Alpha, I wasn’t talking about Mr Suarez, I was talking about the Mage that has been screeching like a banshee all night long. Nikki is in your hospital right now. And after her involvement in Melanie’s accident, I cannot keep her here. I don’t want to.

Nikki is in my hospital? Am I hearing this right? I quickly organise help for Max to move Melanie into his apartment, while also hoping Max has cleared this with Melanie.

I then call the hospital manager. First, I arrange for Eva to be assessed and scanned, and then I enquire about Nikki.

“She was brought in last night by Lieutenant Amber. She’s dying, Alpha.”

I need to talk to Amber, and I growl in frustration. There is never a settled moment. Not even just a little five minutes to exhale and bask in the last triumph before something else starts up. It's only going to increase now that I have agreed to be Alpha over the Moon Stone too.

It's a surprise to find Alpha Xavier and Luna Lydia are at my hospital when I arrive. Is there any fucker not in my hospital right now?

I need to get my ducks in line. My duties have been neglected for long enough. I need to take back control and be the Alpha I was born to be and, with my new Luna at my side, nothing will tear me down.

*** Xavier ***

My son is dead and although he was difficult and idiotic, my heart is destroyed thinking of the little boy I helped learn to ride a bike and of the young man I encouraged through his first shift. The tiny baby I cradled in my arms moments after he entered the world.

There is no doubt in my mind that he is dead. His new mate’s suffering confirms what we suspect and, despite the trouble she has caused, I am devastated that she is having to endure another bond breaking because of the untimely death of her mate, especially now she is carrying his pups.

Twins. The last set of twins born into my family were my younger sisters. The only thing that seems to be keeping my Lydia going at the moment is the thought of Junior’s pups, the future generation. She wants to move Nikki in with us so we can help her raise the babies, but Nikki has not coped with the breaking of the second mate bond in such a short period of time. The healers say she is dying and not even the promise of her babies can save her. Her heart and soul are irreparably damaged, and Nikki is already starting to fade.

“We can try to keep her comfortable and alive until her babies are born, but there are no guarantees she’ll make it to a viable gestation.” Despite the doctor’s warning, we have to try. These little pups are all we have left of our son, and they now represent our hope for the future. I don’t know if Lydia will survive without this.

“I know now isn’t a good time, but we need to keep her under guard, she won't be able to break her curse on our pack until after she’s had her babies. By then, it might be too late and we would have to complete the only other ritual that would break the curse." Amber squirms uncomfortably as she explains. I know she doesn't like having to discuss this as Nikki slowly and painfully fades from this life.

I decide to request a meeting with Aiden and my daughter to discuss all our findings and to finally combine the packs. I can't do this anymore. My heart can’t take much more of it.

Luckily, Aiden has finally been briefed on what has been going on while he has been caring for my daughter and is ready to get the ball moving as soon as possible.

By the end of this week, I hope to relinquish my position and concentrate on rebuilding some sort of ordinary world for me, my mate and hopefully the grandpups that will come to us.

---