Heirs, 32

(POV: Nicollas)

I approach the huge glass window of my office and sigh in frustration. No matter how hard I try, I can't quite digest the idea of an omega becoming the future Luna of the pack. Lina always asked me for more empathy towards this class, and through my interactions with her friends, I've learned to tolerate them better. However, that doesn't change the fact that they are inherently weak beings. Just the thought of an omega being my heir's mate fills me with anger, indignation, and frustration. Moon Goddess, why do you toy with me so?

I take a deep breath and pray that it's just teenage infatuation. I hope that Luan's mate will be someone of pure blood, maintaining our lineage's supremacy in the pack.

"Nicollas?" I snap out of my thoughts when I hear Lina calling my name.

"Hi, dear," I respond without much enthusiasm.

She enters my office and closes the door behind her. Walking towards me, she gently guides me to sit in my chair before taking a seat on my lap. In this position, her round and shapely behind presses against my lap. I take a deep breath and try to divert my attention from this fact, attempting to control myself so that I don't just throw her on my desk and take her.

"Has Luan done something?" she asks calmly, raising an eyebrow.

"No," I reply, feeling tired.

"What did he want to talk to you about?" she inquires.

"He came to tell me that he's in love with Lucia and thinks she will be his mate," I say calmly, observing her reaction.

"Lúcia is a very beautiful, polite girl, and she comes from a good family," Lina says happily. "My Luan will be lucky to have such a delicate and sweet mate. But he hasn't even shifted yet, so why does he think she'll be his mate? We don't have control over that," she asserts confidently.

"That's not the point. If he harbors feelings for this girl, once his true mate appears, this teenage infatuation will disappear instantly," I rest my hand on her shapely thighs.

"Why are you so downcast?" she asks, looking into my eyes, trying to decipher my unease.

"Isn't it obvious?" I respond.

"For me, it's not," she says, unfazed, her voice calm.

"Because if, by chance, the Moon Goddess decides to play and makes Lucia Luan's mate, the pure-blood lineage will be finished," I express my anguish.

"Nicollas!" she exclaims, shocked by my words. Her lips tremble slightly.

"I can't believe what I just heard," she says, her voice almost a whisper, laden with emotion. Her shocked expression turns into disbelief and disappointment.

With a sudden, abrupt movement, Lina jumps out of my lap as if the close physical proximity had suddenly become unbearable. Her eyes lock onto mine.

At this moment, silence hangs heavily in the air, and the tension is almost palpable. I look at her with a mixture of anguish and regret.

"Don't make that face, Lina," I plead. "No one would accept an omega as Luna of any pack."

"It's like you don't believe that," Lina says mockingly.

"I do," I insist, meeting her inquisitive gaze. "And I say more, no one has ever seen this girl in her wolf form. Who guarantees she's even a real wolf?"

"That's not the issue," I speak, trying to make her understand, but it's proving difficult.

"She is weak by nature," I emphasize. "She's an omega, her strength barely surpasses that of a human. She's not suitable for my son!"

"Why are you being so contradictory, Nicollas?" she asks, crossing her arms. "What's the real issue then?" she questions, her eyebrow arched.

"She's naturally weak," I attempt to get my point across. "She's an omega. Her strength barely surpasses that of a human. She's not suitable for our son," I correct myself.

"Who decides that isn't you, Nicollas," Lina declares sternly. "The Goddess will decide, and you should stop being so prejudiced."

"Prejudiced? Me?" I question in disbelief.

"If our son is really in love with this girl and she turns out to be his mate, will you be against your son's happiness? Will you disown him?" Lina inquires, her eyes blazing with anger.

"I would never harm my son," I say, trying to remain calm.

"He will disagree with that if he hears the absurd things you've said here," she says, angry.

"Our son," I repeat her words, and she shows me her middle finger before slamming the door shut with force.

I tilt my head back and release a loud sigh. Please, Moon Goddess, don't toy with me like this. I don't want my son to suffer from the judgments.

"You're the one passing judgment first," Ryan says.

"I just want to protect him."

"We should accept the Goddess's will, whatever it may be," he says sensibly.

"Shut up!" I say and stand up from the chair.

I grab my phone and call my beta, Albert.

"Yes?" he answers on the first ring.

"I want to go to the human city. I need to drink until I can't stand anymore."

"I'll get the car," he says, and I hang up.

I only called him because if I get drunk, I won't be able to drive back, and dealing with human police is too stressful. I grab my wallet, exit the office, and avoid passing through the kitchen. I know everyone is having breakfast, but I don't feel like talking to anyone right now. I just want to relax.

I leave the house, and Albert is already waiting inside the car. I get in, and without a word, he starts the engine. It's been about six months since I last visited the human city. The last time was only to close a few deals at the dealership and handle a legal problem caused by a client. But apart from that, my company's vice president does an excellent and very profitable job. This way, it's easy to keep the supplies well-stocked. Of course, with my businesses alone, I couldn't sustain all the packs. So, the alphas have their own means of maintaining their families' finances, and each one is responsible for their pack. I only provide support.

I roll down the car window, close my eyes, and feel the wind on my face. I have the urge to transform and run through the forest, hunt a beautiful prey, and spend the afternoon savoring it. But lately, I've been too busy.