HEIR OF PAIN

Madeline:

"You're pregnant, Madeline." The doctor sat in her seat, her eyes fixed on me as she pointed to the reports on the table. My heart stopped. I had suspected it when I missed my period, but I hadn’t dared to accept the truth.

"Do you know who the baby's father is? Is it your fated mate?" she asked in a soft but firm tone, tapping the tip of her pen on the reports.

I was shaking under my oversized hoodie, my sleeves pulled so far down that only the tips of my fingers were visible. 

Waiting for the results had knotted me with anxiety, and now that they were in front of me, even breathing felt heavy. 

My mind spun with a thousand questions. What would happen to me now? The doctor would tell the alpha, and then what would happen?

My heart sank. The council would be furious. An 18-year-old girl without a wolf or mate getting pregnant was enough to shake the entire pack. That was unacceptable. The doctor’s eyes said it all, she was judging me.

"Tell me, Madeline, you do know you are the daughter of an omega, right? And they spend their entire life savings on your education, and this is how you repay them. Does your mother know you are pregnant?" she hissed, her eyes crunched in disgust. 

She wouldn’t speak to a beta, gamma, or alpha’s daughter this way, but I was just an omega’s daughter. Of course, she felt no empathy for me.

I started nervously fidgeting with my fingers.

"Madeline, do you even know who the father of your baby is?" Her voice snapped louder this time, but what cut deepest was that she was right. 

I didn’t know who the father of my baby was.

Two Months Ago:

"Happy birthday, Madeline!" Alpha Elgin sang in the sweetest tone, while Alpha Graham and Alpha Baxter clapped along. It meant so much that my three best friends had come to celebrate my 18th birthday.

"So, what did you wish for, Madeline?" Alpha Graham asked, his green eyes sparkling. His black hair fell perfectly over his forehead, a little messy in that effortlessly handsome way. 

Every time I looked at him, my heart skipped a beat. But I doubted he ever noticed me that way. To him, I was just the silly little friend he had known since we were too young to understand love.

"If I tell you my wish, it won’t come true," I said with a small smile, feeling shy around them. All three were powerful Alphas from large packs–over six feet five, muscular, and very handsome.

"Okay, fine. Don’t tell us your wish," Alpha Baxter said, his gray eyes fixed on me. "Just tell us, did you find your mate today?"

My heart started racing, and I was confused. Why was I attracted to all three of them? They were my best friends. A crush was supposed to be for just one person, right? But I felt differently around each of them. 

"No, I still haven’t found my fated mate. But my wolf isn’t awake yet either," I murmured, shrugging. Sadness washed over me.

"Alright, enough," Alpha Elgin said, smiling. "Why are we sitting around talking about mates when she already has three friends here? What does she need a mate for?" His blue eyes flicked to Graham and Baxter. "Let’s not spoil the mood. We’re here to celebrate her birthday. Let’s make it special."

"Hold on, Elgin. I don’t agree with that," Graham said, but after a moment, he leaned back, stretching with a quiet yawn. As he did, his shirt shifted slightly, and I glimpsed his abs. 

His pants sat a bit low on his hips, showing the waistband of his underwear and his V-line. I tried not to look, but I couldn’t resist.

"She will need a mate eventually," Graham said after stretching. "The three of us are her friends, but a friend can never replace a fated mate." He adjusted his shirt, and I had to force myself to focus on his words.

"Don’t get me wrong," he added, "I’ll always stand by her, but some things only a mate can do." He sat back on the bed, his gaze intense and focused on me.

"What things?" I asked, unsure what he meant. They exchanged a glance, then looked back at me.

"Tell me," I pressed, still confused. Baxter glanced at Graham and smirked.

"Who will help you with your body heat, Madeline? You’ll need a mate for that," Baxter said, leaning across the small table with the cake. The way he said it, looking straight at me, made my heart race.

We were alone at my house; my family wouldn’t be back until the next evening. 

"Oh, look, she’s blushing," Graham teased, poking my cheek lightly. His voice lowered, losing some of its teasing tone. I looked down, and they all laughed.

"Okay, you’re getting ahead of yourselves. Her mate or not, we’re here for her," Elgin said, stopping their laughter. I looked at them, noticing how closely they were watching me.

"I mean," he continued, "isn’t it easier with friends? She might feel more comfortable with us, and we can be gentle." Elgin got up and sat beside me on the sofa, making me squeeze into the corner. 

He placed his hand on my thigh, and my heart sank.

"I agree. We can make you more comfortable than some stranger claiming to be your mate." Baxter, agreeing with Elgin, left me shocked. 

For a moment, I thought they were joking. I never imagined they could look at me like that.

"I don’t understand," I said softly.

"Let me explain," Elgin whispered, leaning close while the others watched. "Let us be your first. We will be gentle with your pussy." The moment he said that, I understood what they meant.

Call it my desire for their attention or the result of a long-time crush, but I gave in. I remember them taking turns, and I felt every moment with them. Their whispers and promises to never leave me made me feel confident being with all of them.

The night ended, and we all fell asleep. I hoped to wake up with them beside me, holding onto the promises they made. 

But I woke alone, wrapped in a blanket and naked underneath. I sat up quickly, confused and shocked. They were gone.

The worst part came when I checked my phone and realized they had all blocked me.

Present Time:

"Madeline, I asked you something. Do you know who the father is?" Doctor Willow’s voice thundered as she slammed her hand on the table. The sound snapped me out of my thoughts.

I slowly lifted my head and met her eyes. What I saw shocked me. She was angry and disgusted. 

I was trapped in something far bigger than I had imagined. I was pregnant, with no clue which of the three was the father.

And the three who had promised to stand by me were nowhere in sight. They were gone.