Heirs, 10

(POV: Nicollas)

"Calm down, my wolf," I speak soft, stroking Lina's forehead, "Don't be like this."

She lifts her head from my chest, and we lock eyes. Through our bond, I can feel how uneasy and restless she is.

"Nick, I sense like something is about to happen. You know, I'm feeling euphoria, but I also have this strange tightness in my heart," she says. Looking away and then lying back on my chest, "I sense like something important is about to happen that will change our lives, but I don't know what it is. And I'm afraid, I don't know if it's good or bad," she hugs me tight. I kiss the top of her head while using my right hand to stroke her back.

I know how distressing that tightness in the chest can be. Maybe it's only the longing for our little wolf who disappeared. I refuse to think that somehow our offspring is going through difficulties, and Lina felt it. Our pup must be safe wherever she is.

I find it strange that the twins are taking so long. Lucca isn't one to arrive late. When he does, it's because he's studying in the library or training with his bow and arrow, but he always lets us know. Rapha always arrives early. He loves our private gym at home, so as soon as classes are over, he rushes to join the equipment. At fifteen, my firstborn already has the stature of a man.

I know that the fact that none of our children have transformed yet worries Lina. She's afraid that they might be bullied, especially Lucca. He's very quiet, keeps to himself, and his only friends are his cousins and his brother. There was also the time he asked Lina if they were adopted, but since he was very young at the time, Lina didn't want to tell him her life story. She was quite upset that day.

I find it unlikely that something like that would happen to them. After all, they are the children of the Supreme Alpha; everyone should respect them and know the consequences. Furthermore, they are the future Supreme Alpha and Beta of the pack. But a mother's intuition never fails; I will pay more attention to my youngest.

Raphael doesn't worry Lina too much, not because she loves one more than the other. But Rapha practices various types of martial arts. Participates in several competitions at the academy, and has won them all, even though he hasn't transformed yet. He's communicative, playful, knows how to assert himself, and knows his place.

"The boys are taking a long time," she comments without moving, "Do you think something happened?" she trembles at the possibility.

"Our children are on their way, my love, they are fine, I'm sure of it," I say firm, but in reality, I'm not so sure. This anxiety of my female is starting to worry me.

"Mom!" I hear Rapha shout outside the house, "Dad, help!"

Lina, with the speed of her wolf, jumps off me and disappears from my field of vision before I can process our son's desperate scream. We were lying in bed in our room on the second floor of our house. Seconds later, I do the same, getting up and leaving the room in a hurry, although not as hasti as my mate.

When I reach the living room, Lina is standing still, staring at our children by the door. Rapha is holding a girl in his arms, and Lucca is standing next to them with blood on his forehead.

My mate doesn't move, and when I approach and look at the injured girl's face, I'm taken aback. She looks so much like my Lina, but it would be impossible for her to be our lost pup and suddenly appear here out of nowhere.

(POV: Renata)

"What's your name, miss?" the boy named Lucca asks.

Damn! I hadn't thought of that yet. Of course, they would ask for my name! How did I not think of this before!?

Damn! Damn! Damn! I can't give my real name. But what should I say... Ah! I know!

"Lena," I say, flashing a fake smile.

"Funny," says the muscular boy carrying me, "Your name sounds like our mom's," he smiles sideways, and there's something about that smile that catches my attention, maybe the resemblance to my own sideways smile, how strange.

"So, you guys are siblings?" they nod.

"I'm the oldest," Rapha responds, laughing.

"We're twins!" Lucca says, smacking his brother's head.

"I was born first, only accept that you're my little brother," Rafael says, teasing his brother. Who walks away with a serious expression.

"Sometimes I wish our parents had a big secret, like they had three children. And the youngest one is lost out there, so you'd stop making fun of me," Lucca says as he walks ahead of us.

"Your mind operates on a different frequency, young-est," Rapha says slowly to annoy his brother.

"Nice to meet yous," I cut off a possible fight, regardless of who is older, it must be nice to have siblings. I wish I had some.

"The pleasure is ours, Lena," Rafael winks at me. But this time, I don't sense any malice in him. It's very different from what I felt with Deniel.

"Here," Lucca offers me a piece of cloth. I look at him without understanding, "To clean the blood from your forehead."

"Oh, thank you," I take the cloth from him and start wiping the blood from my forehead, but it hurts, so I stop, "Your forehead is bleeding too," I state the obvious.

"That's when my mother won't sleep from worrying," he says dramatical.

We walk in silence until we stop in front of a huge, beautiful house.

Lucca opens the door and Rapha enters with me on his lap. I look at everything in amazement, their house is very elegant. Well decorated and so clean that I sense like a beggar.

"Mommm!" I almost go deaf when Rapha shouts for his mother.

"Do you want to make me deaf?" I asks, covering his ears, what a son of a bitch.

"Sorry, beautiful," I smile sideways and that feeling of familiarity hits me again.

"Don't call me that, you idiot, I have a name and it's..."

"Where were you until this hour?" a voice with an urgent tone interrupts me. I look towards the stairs of the mansion and see a disgusted woman coming down, "Do you by any chance want to...," she stops talking as soon as she sees me and only stares at us.

I see that her eyes have gone wide and the blood has drained from her face. Behind her, I see a shirtless man appear and as soon as he sees me, his eyes go wide too.

"This is Lena, we found her wounded near the forest on our way home," Lucca explains to her parents. "Lena, these are our parents, the supreme alpha Nicollas and his companion, the supreme Luna Lina." I widen my eyes in surprise, what luck!

I bumped into who I was looking for, so my saviors are the children of the Supremes, how interesting, my mother didn't mention that they had children.

Lina comes up to me and looks me in the eye, I don't understand why, so I only bow my head, maybe that's a way of showing them respect, I don't know the customs of wolves.

She lifted my head by the chin with her index finger and stared at me. Her gaze roaming all over my face intent, as if she were analyzing me and looking for something. I think she was trying to smell me, because I could tell when she took a deep breath right next to my face.

"Take her to the guest room, I'll get her some clothes," she says and I sense as if something has made her sa I can see disappointment in his dark eyes, she's very beautiful and doesn't look like a heartless being capable of killing on a whim. But as they say, appearances can be deceiving, "By the moon, what was that on your forehead, my son?" she asks worriedly, looking at Lucca's bruise.

"I slipped on the moss near the waterfall and hit my head on the ground. It's nothing, Mom," he reassures her, but I have a feeling he's lying.

I try to hide my unease as I watch her lick Lucca's wound. I remembered from books that wolves have a habit of licking wounds to prevent infection. Apparently, it works the same way for werewolves.

"Are you feeling any pain, dear?" she asks me.

"Only a pain where I hurt my forehead," I touch the spot.

"I'll get some medicine for you and some food. You can take a bath, and in a moment, I'll bring you a change of clothes and food. You must be tired," she smiles, and I inadvertent smile back. Curse it, I can't like this cruel woman.

I'm relieved that she doesn't try to lick me.

I see her disappear up the stairs and look at Nicollas, whose gaze is fixed on me.

"Where did you come from?" he asks without looking away.

Man, why didn't I think of these questions before leaving home?

"Dad, maybe we should save the questions for tomorrow; she's tired," Rapha says, saving me, and I'm grateful.

"Alright," he doesn't insist, "But were these injuries from a wolf?"

"Daddy," Lucca reproaches him.

"Sorry, Lena," he raises his hands in surrender, "I was only worried, and you, little one?" he touches Lucca's shoulders, and it's clear that Lucca is holding back a groan. "You don't think you can fool me with that story about slipping near the waterfall, do you? When you lie, your nose turns red."

"It does not!" he scoffs.

"It's nothing that me and my brother can't handle, Dad," Rapha speaks up. "Don't worry."

"I'll trust you," he kisses his son's forehead, and I'm touched by that display of affection.

Without saying anything else, Rapha leads me to the first floor of the house. Up the huge white marble staircase that leads to a corridor painted in a very light shade of blue. He enters the first door. When he opens it, I find myself in a huge suite with a double canopy bed that looks like it's fit for a princess. The room is very feminine, with cream-colored walls that match the white furniture. He sets me down near the bed, and before I can say anything, Lina enters the room.

"I'll take care of her from here, son," she gives her son's forehead a loving kiss.

"You're in good hands, Lena," he pats my head and then leaves the room, leaving me alone with this woman. I smile awkwardly.