The Alpha’s Heir
Chapter 12

*** Melanie ***

My body doesn’t feel like it belongs to me anymore. In between the surgeries I had and the pain killers and numbness, I just feel like a sack of meat that is tortured by my thoughts and feelings. I wish for oblivion. I wish for drugs so powerful I won’t feel anything. But if anything, I feel more pain. I don’t think there will ever be a moment in my life when I will be free from pain. Not now.

Max, who is Eva’s bodyguard, hasn’t left my room since I was brought here. I have told him a couple of times that he can leave but he just ignores me. I know there is something strange about this place and the people here too, but I cannot be bothered to find out what it is right now.

When the doctor comes to check on me during his rounds, he mostly speaks to Max and the small parts I do catch don’t make any sense to me.

I hate the looks of pity and sympathy that are invariably sent my way. I think I preferred it when they all looked at me in disgust for being the woman carrying Eva’s ex-husband’s baby.

I would take a million of those hateful and judgemental looks right now. I would take every insult and insinuation if it meant I could have my baby back. As soon as my thoughts turn to my baby, I try to block them out. If I don’t think about it, then it can’t hurt me. If I don’t think about it, then for a couple more days I can simply pretend nothing has happened and everything remains unchanged.

“Melanie, would you like a drink?” Max’s voice steals my attention. He has such a lovely voice. It sounds smooth and soothing. His whole demeanour is cool and calming. I am bound to be well enough to be discharged soon and then I will return home on my own, but for now, it is nice to think this man actually cares for my welfare.

“No. Thanks,” I reply and his eyes flash with annoyance and concern. I try to turn but my tummy is still sore from the surgery and the angry puckered cut that is held together rather gruesomely with thick black stitches itches and pulles, constantly reminding me that I have been relieved of my spleen.

“Melanie, you need to eat and drink so you heal.” His voice caresses me in a way I don’t deserve. I don’t deserve sympathy or understanding.

“I’m okay. Max, why are you still here? Surely Eva and Summer need you. You can go, you know. I’m a big girl.” He looks back at me, hurt, and as he grits his mouth together, I notice a little tick along his strong jawline. He is really controlling himself.

“I’ve told you. I’m here because I want to be here. With you.” He spits the last two words out. I want to be weak and just accept this man’s kindness, but who is he to me really? Why would I waste my time getting attached to another man? Nothing but trouble comes from me being attached to the opposite s3x and, therefore, I need to keep reminding myself that no matter how much I could use a friend like Max, he isn’t going to stay around.

He isn’t mine to keep, and I have no intention of infringing on another of Eva’s relationships, even if it is completely platonic between them.

Eva. She called me, and I ignored the call. Max tries to relay her messages, but it just hurts too much. I finally started to feel like I could belong in a small corner in someone’s world. The concern she showed me and her willingness to allow Summer to bond with me had given me some of my self-respect back. I want to be a better person and being friends with Eva seemed to ignite that.

Now, the purpose behind it all is gone. I have no reason to encroach any further into this woman’s life. It’s like I am losing part of my family as well as my baby.

I can’t stop the silent tears that fall when I think of my baby. She was everything I was holding on for, my chance to redeem myself and make something of my sh!tshow of a life. She was so precious and now she is gone.

When he sees the tears that fall noiselessly, Max stops nagging me about having a drink and holds me. He holds my hand and strokes my head and although most of the words he whispers to me don’t make any sense, my broken heart seems to glow from the inside out from the tenderness he shows me. No-one has ever cared for me like this. And yet, this stranger, this huge, handsome man, gives it so freely to me, a person he doesn’t even know.

“It’s okay, I’ve got you. It’s going to be okay, but you must take care of yourself, Melanie. You have to eat and heal and become strong again. You have to fight.”

I think of my sons, my beautiful little boys, and I know he is right. I am just so heart broken right now, so filled with loss and anger and guilt and confusion. I ask WHY? Why me, why my baby? But deep in my heart, I know the answer. This must be my punishment. This is my penance for wrecking a home. This is the price I have to pay for the despicable things I did to Eva and Summer.

“Why do you care, Max? What does it matter to you?“ My voice is whisper-soft, so he knows there is genuine curiosity and no malice in my questions.

“What do you remember? From the attack?” I try to think of that day. Was it three or four days ago now? But as soon as I try, my heart rate quickens, and my tummy turns in genuine terror. I can’t do it. I can’t think of that day, not now. “Shhh, okay, don’t think about that just yet. You’re safe here with me now. I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again.”

His answer puzzles me. I find comfort in the fact that he seems to want to be close to me, but his statement makes little sense. As soon as I am discharged from hospital, I will return to my desperate life, and he will go back to being Eva’s bodyguard. How can he stop anyone hurting me ever again?

“I know you don’t feel it like I do, but you’re my other half Melanie. You are my soul mate. I felt it when you came into Eva’s cell and the bond between us grows every moment we are together. I want to be with you. I want to get to know you, and for you to get to know me. I want us to be a family.”

Yes. So, Max is a crazy person. He smiles sheepishly at me after making his declaration. In another lifetime, I would have melted under his stare, but I’m too old, bloodied and scarred by my past for that now.

“Have you completely lost the plot, Max? You don’t even know me! Besides, the reason I’m here in the first place should have you running for the hills if you have any sense at all.”

A flash of shame and anger flares in his eyes. He’s such a complex man. I have no idea why my words would cause that reaction in him. “You are here in this hospital bed because you were attacked, and I failed to keep you safe. I let you down. It will never happen again.”

Well, now he’s really gone and done it. The tears aren’t silent or graceful. Max wipes my tears away with his large, calloused hands, and with the reassuring look he gives me, I completely unravel emotionally. Once my tears are completely spent for the time being, I rest my head on his shoulder, hiccoughing and sniffing like a child.

“I didn’t mean why I was in the hospital… I meant why I was here visiting Eva. Doesn’t it bother you what I’ve done?” From the way Max is treating me, I can tell he is an amazing man; a gentle giant and it would be so easy to fall in love with him. But I know the person I am, I am an accumulation of my past transgressions, and he deserves so much better than me. I don’t deserve a happy ending. I don’t deserve anyone’s kindness. I got what I deserved. I know many others will feel the same about my current position too.

“No. It doesn’t. I mean, it did, but your past is your past. I’m talking about our present and future. I know it will take time, and I can be patient. But you are mine and I have every intention of keeping it that way.” I should be offended that he called me his, but somehow it feels good that, despite my black soul, someone as good as Max can see a bit of light or potential in me.

“I don’t know what all this means, Max. I know something strange is going on around here and I hope you can tell me what that is when you trust me enough. But right now, I think my pain medication is giving me hallucinations. I think I need another nap.”

“Sure, you do, honey. You have a sleep and I’ll be right here waiting for you.” He pulls his chair closer to my bed and I am once again astounded that he wants to stay.

Max Devine is rewriting everything I thought I knew about men. Is he someone I can rely on? What if he is the rainbow at the end of the stormiest and hardest experience of my life? Do things like that really happen to people like me? I don’t know. All I do know is that right now, I need an anchor to hold me still and Max has more than stepped up to the plate. Maybe my story doesn’t end here. Maybe the future is still unwritten.

*** Max ***

People keep telling me to go home and rest, but they don’t understand. Nothing about the small apartment where my belongings are temporarily housed is home. Home is right here, right here with my fated mate. Besides, my wolf, Ray, will never allow her out of our sight. Not now, after waiting 35 years to find the other half of my soul and then her almost dying within an hour of meeting her.

I’m still having trouble believing that I have a mate. The hope of finding my own mate faded many years ago. As with most things, it seemed I wasn’t quite good enough to be blessed with a mate, just as I hadn’t been good enough to take over the Gamma position when my uncle died. I therefore embraced the bachelor life.

As soon as Melanie set foot on our territory that day, Ray was on edge, already sensing something was afoot. When my Alpha entered the dungeon, my stomach lurched as Ray shouted in my head MATE. MATE. My face reddened when I realised I had said it out loud too. The overwhelming scent of honey and the sight of the blonde-haired beauty took me completely by surprise. Surely this couldn’t be the Melanie that had an affair with the Luna’s ex-husband?

As she confessed her transgressions to my Luna and made apologies for her conduct, I wanted to dig this Ryan up from his grave and f*****g kill him. How dare he treat her like that? It is bad enough that my Luna is hurt because of his actions. Now my mate is not only carrying the emotional scars of his treatment, but she is answering for his crimes against others too.

What had either of them seen in that scumbag? It smarted that my mate was carrying another man’s pup, but it didn’t matter. As she so eloquently put it: that was her baby, not some dead man’s.

I accepted both her and her children in my mind because I want her, every part of her. I intend on claiming her. I just didn’t know how much information she had about us and our world.

The thought of Junior Woodward’s throat in my mouth intrudes my sleep, which is already broken from sleeping in a chair next to Melanie’s bed. I have only left the room to use her en-suite to shower when my friends and family bring clean clothes and towels for me. I don’t want to go too far since she may need me, and I would do anything and everything for her. From now on, she will be worshipped.

Her whimpers break me out of my pondering. She cries a lot in her sleep, and my heart aches for her and for what she has lost. Ray reminds me we can now give her our pup instead, but my human side knows it’s not as simple as that. She will have to grieve and heal. She will have to accept us. She will have to want to move on from this horrific event and what it cost her.

I gently wipe away the tears that rest on her cheek. Her pale skin is soft and cool, and the warm vibrations of the mate bond course through me, filling me with longing and desire. She is mine. At long last, I have my mate.

My Alpha comes to visit and congratulates me on meeting my mate. “It’s a small world really, isn’t it, Max? How is she doing? Eva is doing her nut worrying about her, so I promised to pop in and check up on you both.”

I thank him for his consideration and officially resign from the temporary Gamma position.

At least I try to, but the Alpha won’t accept it. “Just take your time, Max, there is no rush. Eva’s not going anywhere for at least the next six months, and she trusts you and will want to keep you.

I smile at him. “I’m going with Melanie and if she doesn’t want to stay here, I will go with her.” He gives me his blessing either way and tells me I will always have a home at the Onyx River. The Gamma position is mine until my future with Melanie is sorted.

“Hopefully, you can persuade her to come and live here with us, but I understand your predicament completely. When I first met Eva and still thought she was human, the pack were not happy about her being my mate and, therefore, their future Luna. I told her if they didn’t accept her, I would relinquish my position and move to a human town to be with her instead, and I meant every word.”

“What are the chances of Melanie having a secret Alpha father too?” Alpha Aiden actually laughs at that question. “What can I tell her about our world, Alpha? How can I tell her what I am, what we are?” I had run through several scenarios in my head where I explained to Melanie that I was a werewolf, but they all sounded way too cheesy and unrealistic.

“Just take things slowly, she’s been through a massive ordeal. Don’t be too fast to put labels on things just yet. Time is what she needs, time and care.”

I thank him for his counsel and send him home with my best wishes for our Luna.

Melanie seems to sleep a lot, but the pack healers reassure me that this is normal for a human who is healing. When she wakes, after I told her she is mine, she gives me a tiny smile. “You’re still here,” she says in surprise.

“I’m real, Melanie and I’m not going to just vanish. Can I get you anything?” I want to look after her, but she refuses when I ask. When I see the nurses giving her a bed bath, I am full of envy and want to rip out their throats. MINE. Ray growls in my head, but I know we have to be cautious and patient.

“I really want to get a shower, but they say no to me because my stitches will get wet.” I k**s her hand, just a small peck, and her eyes widen in alarm at the short, innocent contact between us.

“Leave it with me, Honey.” If Melanie wants a shower, I will get her a shower.

Twenty minutes later, I am wheeling her to the shower room. “Melanie, I will have to stay in case you feel faint or fall but I will give you privacy, okay?” She gives me a stiff nod of consent and starts to undress before I can turn around.

“Look, I have to be realistic, and we have to be adults about this. This body, this battered and scarred body, is just flesh. It’s flesh that needs cleaning, and I need you to help me clean it.” She makes it sound so simple and yet Ray is already chirruping in my head at the thought of seeing and touching Melanie.

Moon Goddess, why do you torture me? What did I ever do to you?

I help her with her nightgown and socks and before I assist her so she can stand, I run the shower so it is warm for her. “Place your hands around my neck,” I tell her. She is fronting this out, but her vulnerability is evident in her expression. “Place your feet on the ground. Good, now I’m going to straighten up really slowly and help you to stand.”

As I stand and straighten, Melanie’s body follows mine. Her breasts press against my chest. “I need you to unfasten my…” She indicates around her back. My hands shake as I slide them down her back to the clasp on her bra. I undo it in one motion, though I don’t know how I managed that, as my hands tremble like mad. “Thank you. Now I need to take off the rest of my clothes. I’m sorry, Max.”

As a sweat breaks out on my forehead, my eyes flash open. “Why are you saying sorry?”

She keeps her head lowered. Her body starts to tremble too. I wonder if she is cold.

“I have to take off the rest of my underwear. It’s not something you want to see right now.” She is obviously embarrassed about the bleeding and the pads she is wearing, but I couldn’t give a sh!t about it. It doesn’t bother me.

“Don’t worry, Honey, let’s just get you cleaned up and feeling better.” I hold her up as she uncovers the rest of her body and I help her to step into the shower cubicle. As the warm jets of water hit her body, she m***s in pleasure. This is going to take a lot more control than I initially thought. After standing for a minute or two, she starts to tire, so I get the shower chair and when she sits down, I shampoo her hair.

I’ve never shampooed someone else’s hair before. My own hair is short and easy to manage. Melanie’s hair is long and looks like spun gold. As I lather her hair she closes her eyes and exhales when I massage her head. I rinse off her hair, careful to not get suds in her eyes.

Once she has finished washing everywhere, I shut off the shower and cover her with a pile of thick, white, fluffy towels. I carry her back to the bench to dry off and dress. Before I place her down, she touches my face; her light blue eyes are deep and mesmerising.

“Thank you, Max. I don’t think anyone has ever done anything like this for me before.” My heart fills with affection for my fragile human mate.

“I want to look after you like this forever, Honey. I just need you to let me love you.” Her eyes widen and I’m shocked when she drops her head to my shoulder and cries.

“I want to. God, how I want to let you. But what if you change your mind? I am barely holding on as it is.” She’s scared to let me in in case I leave like everyone else. She has never been anyone’s priority. Well, from now on, she will be my number one. The be all and end all of my life.

“Eventually, you’ll realise that I am never going to leave. Maybe not right away, but in twenty years’ time when we start to grow old together, maybe then you’ll know I’m a keeper. Until then, let’s just take it one day at a time, an hour at a time if you have to.”

She nods her agreement to my plan and a tiny amount of the pressure in my chest eases. She is showing me what her needs are and now it’s my turn to show her how I can more than meet those needs.

*** Eva ***

Even though I have been stuck in this cell, life continues to hurtle on at an alarming pace. I hate that Aiden is being stretched so thin and there is very little I can do to support him.

When my father and his mate arrive to keep me company, Aiden, Amber and Preston leave for the trial in the Silver Shore territory.

Luna Lydia stands in the doorway, she seems timid and shy, which is a total contrast from the other day when she marched in here introducing herself to Summer as her new Granny. I was angry and startled when she did it because I hadn’t even introduced my father to Summer yet. I don’t want Lydia to feel uncomfortable and if she is willing to accept Summer and me, then I am happy to do that, but I need to do it at a more gradual pace.

“Thank you for inviting us both here today, Evangelina, it’s such a pleasure to meet your little girl.” I smile at my father. So far, he has done everything by the book for me. He is trying to be honest and open with me and though we have had several things that could impact on our wobbly foundation, instead he keeps steadying the ship.

“Summer, come here, sweetheart. This is your grandad. This is mummy’s daddy.” My little girl looks confused between me and my dad. “Do you want to say hi?”

She frowns and shakes her head. “Where my daddy bear gone?” Oh geez, she must think I’m trying to replace Aiden.

“Your daddy had to go out and he’ll be back later for story time. This is my daddy.” Summer looks between me and my dad with wide eyes and then giggles. “And this is your granny.” I reach out to Luna Lydia and, with an expression full of shock that quickly transforms into joy, she comes and joins us.

“Thank you, Eva. With everything going on, this is just what we needed.” My father’s gratitude melts my heart a little more. I want to be close to him and I want Summer and the new baby to have grandparents.

I hold out my arms through my bars and my dad finally comes and gives me a hug. My eyes fill with tears when he does. We have missed so much time. I don’t want to miss any more time.

“Thank you for coming and sitting with me, Dad. And you too, Luna Lydia. Thank you both for everything.” They both look choked up at my words, but I mean it.

We play games and talk. The Omegas bring drinks and food and Luna Lydia insists on me calling her mother or granny for Summer’s sake.

Summer settles for a nap and we sit and talk quietly when she does. “How is your human friend doing now?” my father asks solemnly. I know he, like me, feels responsible for what happened to Melanie.

“She lost her baby, and she had to have some pretty serious surgery. She is still in the clinic. Max stayed with her. He found out just before she was attacked that she is his mate.”

Both of them seem to pale under the significance of Melanie’s injuries. “I’d like to visit her on your behalf if that is okay, Eva. I could take her some books or magazines, fresh pyjamas and flowers, fruit… whatever she may need.” Lydia’s kindness is heart-warming. I think we could become friends and it would be nice to have a mother figure.

Contentment fills me like I’ve never known. My father is finally part of my life, and his wife didn’t reject me, she wants to be part of this blended patchwork of a family that is flourishing in front of my very eyes. I feel slightly uncomfortable for a passing moment and Lina purrs loudly in my head as sensations very similar to an elastic band twang inside me.

Eva… it’s happening. Bonding with father has reversed some of the manifestations. The hurt of him not being in our lives is healed by their acceptance of us and Summer.

“Why are you grinning?” my father asks as he grins too.

I hug him again, “Lina said that our bonding is healing some of the manifestations. I’m so happy that we are all becoming a family. I’ve craved this all my life.” I reach out to Lydia too and the three of us hug each other, with only the bars of my cell in the way.

“I’m so happy too. I have always loved you, darling. I wish I hadn’t been such a coward. Eva, there is something we both need to talk to you and Aiden about. I wish we had more time, but we don’t and it’s important that we sort this out as soon as possible.”

I have been expecting this, especially now that the Werewolf Council will have to punish Junior, and that’s before the Mafia and Aiden get a hold of him for what he has done.

“I will tell Aiden when he calls, and we can sit down and talk then.” They both smile, their relief obvious that their request would at least be heard by us.

“Did John go to court today to support Amber?” My father asks me when the conversation starts to dry up. No one else knows that Aiden and Amber’s father has been hiding since their return from Scotland. There will be plenty of questions today as to why he isn’t there supporting his daughter.

“Aiden didn’t say. I still haven’t met his father and I’m not sure I want to after what Aiden has been through.”

Lydia writes out a list of things I may need for Summer and myself and the baby growing inside me. She also promises to come back and visit Melanie on my behalf. “Would you mind if I started knitting for the baby, Eva? I have the patterns for blankets, cardigans, booties and hats.”

Shyly, I admit that I would love her to do that. When my dad notices my timidity, he cuddles me and tells me to let them help, that it is their pleasure.

“Thank you. You don’t know how good it is to have your support. Apart from my friend, Salma, there was no one to help when I was having Summer. I have so much support now.” Every word is true, I am blessed with love and support and I am so thankful for it.

There have been some really sh!tty times in my life, but the good times far outweigh the bad and now, with my family around me, supporting me and loving me, I can only see blue skies ahead.

*** Amber ***

The wait is killing me. I just want this over and done with. Preston and Aiden are both driving me wild with their pacing and impatient growling and complaining.

The legal representative returns and instructs me to sit down at the small table, which I do. We sit facing each other.

“The Council has considered your counter plea. While this is a lot less than they would have liked, they are willing to accept a guilty plea to the lesser charge of ‘Inappropriate use of an offensive weapon’. However, there will be several stipulations to your sentence.”

For a moment, I don’t fully understand, my hearing seems muffled like my ears are filled with cotton wool. The rep’s mouth moves but nothing makes sense.

It’s only when Preston and Aiden surround me with massive smiles, whooping and cheering that I realise that it’s good news. I don’t know what the sentence is… did she tell me?

The burden of the past couple of months has completely and utterly drained me, and although I am relieved, I am also exhausted and overwrought. “I’m not going to prison?” I ask, bewildered.

“No, sis. Didn’t you hear? You got a suspended sentence. You need to stay out of trouble for three years or they can recall you and you must attend a course. But other than that, you are free, you’re free!” The stress of the past couple of months seems to have piled on top of my brother too.

Although he is restraining himself, it is clear to see that he is emotional and when I jump up to hug him and my mate, he finally lets it all out. “I was so worried we were going to lose you, sis. It’s been driving me crazy, feeling so out of control and not being able to do anything more to help you.”

My big brother, the big soft wolf, holds back tears of relief. “Did father come, Aidy? Will you find out if he is here?” He looks away from me, and I already know the answer. “He didn’t come, did he? The son of a b!tch. Well, now the trial is dealt with…” The insinuation is clear; we have already agreed on our plan of action if I was acquitted and Aiden latches onto that thought.

“Now we can go and deal with the vicious little bastard,” he says, and I nod at him in agreement before returning to my mate’s arms and holding him tight to me.

“Aiden, there is one more thing. Can Preston and I have our Mating Ceremony this weekend, please? I don’t want to wait any longer now that the trial is done. Preston has waited long enough.” I look into the passionate gaze of my mate as my brother instructs me to organise it. With excitement bubbling in my tummy, and an overwhelming ache building right between my legs, I can do nothing but nod my enthusiastic response to Preston’s mindlink.

Come on Red, let’s go home and celebrate. Just you and me and our bed.

I am a free woman and I get to spend the rest of my days exactly how I want. I can think of nothing better than Preston’s suggestion for now and for always.

*** Junior ***

I watch from our hidden cave as my mother and father cross our border to the Onyx River. Those traitorous pieces of sh!t. Especially her, that useless, unworthy wh0re. I’m glad I hit her to escape the dungeon. She deserves it.

Nikki and I have been trapped here since the attack. Luckily, she has been able to place repellent charms, so we haven’t been found. The battery on my phone is dead, so I have no way of contacting Dominga. At times I really miss her and then at others she fades from my mind like she never even existed.

In the lulls, we get so bored that we f**k to pass the time and, I’m not going to lie, it feels amazing. Nikki is a passionate and demanding lover, but she is also very skilled in the art of love making too. She is completely draining my balls and, with a lack of cond0ms available, even if I could be bothered to use them, her wish for a pup will soon be fulfilled: of that, I have no doubt.

I know the officials from the Council are looking for me, but my b***d runs cold when I see the Mafia princess, the one I had been following and whose father I poisoned for Dominga. I am in far deeper trouble than I ever anticipated.

Has Dominga sold me out when I didn’t return like I said I would? I will kill her if she has. However, my father’s bastard, Eva, she is at the top of my list. This is definitely something to do with her.

Eva must have found out what I did and is now telling the Mafia so they can get rid of me, leaving the path clear for her to take my Alpha position at the Moon Stone. Well, if I can’t have it, no one can. Her throat will be mine too.

We’ll see who’s laughing then.