All Chapters of The Alpha's Hidden Heir: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

ERINThe letter crumbled in Marty's fist, paper cracking like bones. From where I stood, I could see his knuckles white with pressure, veins standing out on his forearms. Marcus moved closer to him, the only wolf brave enough to approach. Whatever Marty whispered made Marcus's face go pale. Then, in a move that shocked everyone, Marty straightened his shoulders, smoothed out the letter, and tucked it into his pocket like it was nothing. Like his world hadn't just imploded."Trial Two begins tomorrow." His voice carried across the square, steady as stone. "I'll be ready."The crowd dispersed slowly, confused by the anticlimactic response. But I saw the truth in how he walked—too careful, too controlled. Like a man holding broken glass in his chest, trying not to let it cut deeper. Clay caught my eye from across the square, his expression confirming what we both knew. The letter was the formal challenge he'd warned about. Marty had two weeks before his pack voted him out, and he couldn'

ERINThe morning sickness hit like a freight train at dawn, sending me stumbling to the bathroom while Marty was somewhere in the mountains, facing his second trial. I retched until my ribs ached, until tears mixed with sweat on my face. This wasn't normal morning sickness. My whole body felt wrong, like something inside was fighting to get out. When I finally lifted my head from the toilet, Jake was there with a cold washcloth, and Maya stood in the doorway with her phone already out."That's it," Maya said, her voice brooking no argument. "You're seeing Nadia. Today."I wanted to protest, but another wave of nausea stole my words. Jake helped me to the couch while Maya made the call. Through the fog of sickness, I heard her voice go quiet, urgent. "It's worse than yesterday. And she mentioned something about her eyes—" She cut off when she saw me listening, turning away to finish in whispers."What did Marty mean?" I asked Jake while Maya scheduled the appointment. "About what I am.

ERINThe border station smelled like fear—old fear, soaked into the wooden walls over decades of sentinels waiting for attacks that came without warning. Connor stood in the doorway while I unpacked medical supplies, his shadow stretching across the floor like an accusation."You could have asked me first," I said without looking up. "Before adding my name to that board.""Would you have said no?" His voice held no judgment, just curiosity."That's not the point." I slammed a box of bandages onto the shelf harder than necessary. "Everyone keeps making decisions about my life. About my body. About my baby. Like I'm a child who can't handle the truth."Connor moved into the room, closing the door behind him. For a moment, he looked older than his years, worn down by secrets. "Silver Ridge doesn't hide its people, Erin. We face our problems together. That includes you.""Even when I'm the problem?" The words came out bitter. "Because that's what I am, isn't it? Some kind of problem you'r

ERINJake's apartment smelled like pine and leather, nothing like the clinical antiseptic of the medical station. He poured whiskey with hands that barely shook, the amber liquid catching lamplight like trapped fire. We hadn't spoken during the walk here. Some truths were too dangerous for open air."My grandmother had stories," he said finally, not looking at me. "About wolves that shouldn't exist anymore. A bloodline that was—" He stopped, took a drink. "Wiped out before I was born. Before my mother was born, even.""What bloodline?" My voice came out steadier than I felt."She called them Moonbloods." The word fell between us like a stone into still water. "Said they had silver coats that only showed during partial shifts. Said they were stronger than normal wolves, faster, and could heal others with their blood." He turned to face me then, and his eyes held fear. "Said they were hunted to extinction because other packs thought they were too dangerous to exist."The room spun sligh

ERINThe brewery felt like a cage after Marty left. I opened for business anyway, hands moving through familiar motions while my mind raced. Pour, smile, serve. Like the world hadn't just tilted off its axis. Like I wasn't carrying the child of a man who stood guard at my window each night.Three hours later, Marty returned. Not alone this time—Marcus flanked him, face carefully neutral. They entered through the front door like customers, but everyone in the brewery went silent. Even the tourists sensed predator energy, hurriedly finishing their drinks and leaving cash on tables."We need to talk." Marty's voice was controlled, but I caught the edge underneath. "All three of us.""I'm working." I kept wiping down the bar, not looking at him. "Some of us still have responsibilities to this pack.""Your shift ends in ten minutes." He pulled out a chair, the scrape of wood on wood loud as a scream. "We'll wait."Those ten minutes stretched like hours. Marcus stood by the door, not quite