Why do you need a child?

Chapter 4

    With the word from the sorcerer, Alpha Lino had taken to purchasing slaves, Omegas, and mating with them to produce an heir but none of them had given him a child. None of them could. He was starting to think the sorcerer had lied to him.

  

    

He sighed and the woman stirred at the sound of it.

   Her eyes snapped open and her red-rimmed eyes darted about until they focused on him and widened.

   The fear in her eyes was a punch to his gut and he immediately apologized.

   "I'm sorry," he said.

The woman blinked and her cerulean blue gaze narrowed, feeling him out. The fear disappeared and it was replaced with curiosity.

    Alpha Lino found it strange but he only extended the shirt to her. "I'm sorry," he said again, hoping it was enough for everything he'd put her through. 

     Surprisingly, she nodded slightly and stretched to take the shirt from him. She paused and her cheeks burned when she realized she was naked.

"You could use the bath and change into this. I would like to speak to you after that," Alpha Lino said and the woman nodded. He watched her fumble as she tried to remove the duvet from the bed. Her cheeks turned even redder when she successfully wrapped it around herself and she took the shirt from him without sparing him a second glance and hurriedly disappeared into the bathroom. 

    "What is your name?" He called out after her and her muffled reply came out a moment later.

    "Cassy."

   An hour later, Cassy sat together with Alpha Lino and listened attentively as he explained everything to her.

   After he was done, she sighed.

  She had been angry with him earlier but now, she felt sorry for him. Having to mate with people without one's free will must take a toll on him. If the fatigue in his eyes was any indication.

  "Why do you want a child badly?" She found herself asking.

   "Well," Alpha Lino paused.

   Alpha Lino felt comfortable around Cassy but it wasn't enough to make him blurt out everything.

   So, he said, "It's because I'm an Alpha," 

  Though Cassy didn't believe him, she decided not to push the issue any further.

   Alpha Lino frowned, suddenly realizing how quiet his wolf had been. His wolf usually didn't like it much when he touched other women. Wolves were free creatures but when they mated or bonded, it was for life. Hades was usually in the habit of yelling in his head whenever he touched another female, howbeit, the wolf had been rather taciturn since last night. 

   "Hades, do you like her?" Alpha Lino asked his wolf, puzzled.

   "I will throttle you!" Hades said, wiggling his tail and Alpha Lino chuckled.

   "Why are you laughing?" Cassy asked and Alpha lino waved in dismissal. 

   Alpha Lino's lips parted as if to say something but the door swung open so suddenly, Cassy's heart lurched. 

   

  Eleanor walked in, rich brown eyes searching about the room. "Lino? I was just--"

 

   She went still when she saw them seated by the bed together and her face drained of all light. She bared her teeth at them and snarled. "What are you doing with my mate?!"

   Cassy jumped, heart racing, but Alpha Zino stood in front of her, shielding her from Eleanor's blazing anger. She stepped on her toe and peeked at the angry woman over Zane's shoulder.

   Eleanor snarled again and Cassy hid behind Alpha Zino.

   "Eleanor, stop it." Alpha Lino said and Eleanor growled her response. "Get out, right now!"

    "Eleanor!" Alpha Lino bellowed and even Cassy had the sense to cower and draw back from him.

    

   Eleanor blinked and angled her head. He had never yelled at her that way before, much less in front of a stranger. "I'm sorry, but she should have left by now, it's morning already. You never let them stay this long." 

"Cassy will remain here until I say otherwise." Alpha Lino said and Eleanor's eyes widened.

   "You know her name?"

    Alpha Lino paused and tucked the thought away for later. He'd never asked the rest for their names. Hadn't cared enough to ask. Cassy was a fluke, and Lino knew it. He didn't want to know what it meant and refused to even think about it.

    "El, I will see you later," Alpha Lino said softly.

    Eleanor's look of surprise was nothing pleasant. "You're dismissing me?"

    "I'm your Alpha. You will do as I tell you to."

   "Like hell, I will! You can't do this to me, Lino! I'm your mate!" Eleanor yelled.

  "I will not condone this behavior. I will see you later, El" Alpha Lino said but Eleanor didn't budge.

   "You're sending me away because of her?" She cried, pointing at where Cassy stood silently behind Alpha Lino, avoiding Eleanor's gaze.

    Alpha Lino let out an exasperated sigh. "You know why I'm doing this. I need a child," Alpha Lino said.

"If you want a child this much, we could adopt. You don't have to do this."

  "It goes way beyond that. You do not understand, El."

   "Then help me understand. I'm your mate! You can tell me everything." She said.

    Hades whined within Lino and his heart ached, but everything was way out of his control. There was little he could do to stop or ease Eleanor's ache. His ache.

    "There is little I have to offer you, El. You will understand soon. Why all of this is necessary? Do not heighten your expectations and presume to understand who I am," He inclined his head towards the door. "You may leave now."

   Cassy watched the exchange between Eleanor and Alpha Lino and she couldn't help but feel sad on both their behalves. The Alpha who had to mate with other females that weren't his mate in search of an heir, and on the other hand was the mate who had to bear all of it.

   Cassy's gaze met Eleanor's and she flinched when she saw the hatred in Eleanor's brown orbs before she left.