The Alpha's Property

*** Aiden ***

Once I have moved Eva and Summer on to the car to safety, I run back to the people who dared bring harm and suffering to my mate. I tell them in no uncertain terms if they involve Social Services or the police that I would ensure every missing child involved with Carole Barkley would be mentioned and I would ensure they all go away for a very long time.

I knew I was on to something when they told me I was on private property, and since I got what I came for, I could leave.

“Tell Carole this isn’t over. I will hunt her down, the cruel old hag. She will rue the day she messed with me, with Eva, and with Summer. I will make it my life’s work to ensure she pays for what she has done!” And I sincerely mean it. No one messes with me and mine and gets away with it.

I sit in the back with Eva and Summer on the way back to her house, and despite what has happened, Summer does not seem overly affected by it. She is really affectionate and loving towards Eva; in fact, they are adorable together. I find myself watching them in awe. Eva is an amazing mother and I couldn’t have asked the Moon Goddess to bless me with a better mate than her, she is everything I want and need.

Summer is curious about me, she even climbs on my lap and cuddles into me, and I feel like I could get used to this family business. Well, I could if it was with Eva. Her little girl chatters away between us, leaving us grinning at her obvious contentment.

When we get to Eva’s house, Summer runs straight to it. “Baba!” she shouts as she enters her house. “BABA!” And then I hear her giggles as she lifts and then hugs her baby doll close to her. The little girl is precious, and I know now in my heart I could love her as my own because she is like a carbon copy of Eva.

As Eva spends time checking Summer over, bathing her, getting her clean clothes and decent food, I debrief my team on a job well done. Once the debrief is over, I see Preston loitering on the fringes of the group.

You said you’d look after Amber. Don’t forget your promise to me, Alpha. I can feel her hurt and loneliness and I can’t stand it. You promised me, Aiden.

I had hoped to spend the night here with Eva, but he’s right, I did promise him and now that he tells me he can feel Amber's despair, I know I have to return to my pack to check in on my sister.

Throw me a bone here, Preston. I just want a tiny bit of time alone with her before I have to leave again. Then I promise I will go home to Amber and look after her.

To be fair, Preston owes me nothing. Whenever I caught him and Amber together, I had made an example of him, but he understands the mate bond better than I ever had until now.

Fine. Ring Amber and check on her and you can spend an hour with your mate before you return to keep your promise to me. One hour, and I want you to remember this if Amber doesn’t reject me.

I nod my agreement because I would no longer have a leg to stand on when it came to the two of them and the mate bond. Now I was a lovesick puppy just like they were.

When Preston and the others leave the house to set up their perimeter checks, I notice Summer has fallen asleep in her mother’s arms.

“Shall I lift her up to her bed, Shortie? And maybe we could have a talk?” Eva looks at me with enchanting eyes as she nods. I lift her baby with ease, she is as light as a feather and sucks her thumb as she sleeps. “She is so cute, Eva, I don’t think I’ve ever met such a placid and loving pup.”

“She’s not a pup, she’s a little girl!” Eva says in outrage. There are so many differences between us it almost makes me laugh.

“I didn’t mean any offence, Shortie, that’s what we call our young in our pack: pups.” Realisation dawns on her face.

As I place the little girl in her tiny bed, I watch as Eva fusses over her, and my heart swells for her. She is so tender and loving and giving. I never had that from my mother, and I am happy that this is what my pups could have if Eva accepts me.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” Her sweet voice interrupts my thoughts.

“I want you; I want you so badly Eva. Will you be mine? Will you accept me as your mate?” There’s a flash of fear in her eyes, and I know I’m moving fast but I am willing to offer her everything and I want her to know that. I want her to be mine and mine alone.

“Aiden, I need time. I want to see what we could be but I have just ended my marriage and I have a child to consider. I can’t just bring people into her life. I won’t just bring people into her life. I need to be sure. I need time.”

I pull her from her child’s bedroom and into her own room before I start to kiss her. “Do you want me to stop?” I ask her and she shakes her head. That’s a start.

I kiss her again and move my hands gently down her body, grazing her pert boobs and tiny waist and ending on her perfect ass. She moans into me, relishing my touch and I smile into our kisses. She is trying to be level-headed, but her body cannot lie, she wants me back and so I will give her all the time she needs, knowing eventually she will belong to me.

I pull away from kissing her before I speak again. “I can give you space if you give me some of your time, Shortie. Do we have a deal?”

Eva looks at me in bewilderment. Her response to me is so primal and honest, it turns me on so much. “What do you propose, Aiden?” she asks in a passion-filled voice.

“I’d like to take you on a date, Shortie, on lots of dates. Would that be acceptable for now?” She nods again.

“I’d like that Aiden, thank you,” she replies as she leans into me. A fresh wave of her arousal hits me, and I know I am playing with fire.

I have never had to date anyone before, especially not a human. What have I set myself up for? All I know is I would do anything in the world to have Eva in my life so if that means playing the long game, the long game I’ll play. No matter what it takes, I will prove to her I can make her happy, that she can depend on me and that she belongs with me by my side.

*** Amber ***

I haven’t left my bed today and I haven’t allowed anyone access to my room. Even the Omega assigned to us has knocked on the door several times begging me to eat and drink but I am so down I cannot even bring myself to respond other than to tell them no. I want to be alone.

In the past, I have spent weeks not speaking to Preston, keeping my distance and watching him from afar. Waiting for him to fuck up. I had expected him to start sleeping around again, like he did before we found out we were mates, and I would watch jealously and enviously when he spoke to girls I knew he had fucked before. However, the distance between us this time causes an overwhelming physical pain deep down in a soul. My wolf, Lizzie, whimpers and cries and I feel my strength deserting me.

Preston always said that he wouldn’t break his promises to me, and especially that he wouldn’t touch another she-wolf while we explored our bond, but only six months after my 18th birthday, Preston did break a promise he made to me. It’s that memory I think back now, the time Aiden walked in on me and Preston together for the first time.