The Inadequate Heir Novels & Stories

and the memories of her. “Fine.” I exhaled. “I’ll go.” Mother cheered. “That's my boy. I knew you wouldn't disappoint me.” Damian grinned. “It’ll do you good to get some air.” I discreetly gave him the middle finger and he laughed harder. Then Father cleared his throat. “One more thing, Nat. A ‘settled heir' inspires confidence in international negotiations. A bachelor might be seen as immature or unreliable.” My brows creased. “What do you mean?”

After all, he was in the wrong. Every word from Ashley’s lips about him pierced through him, destroying that window paper of self-righteousness. Just as he blamed Ashley for this unnecessary marriage, he knew he lacked the initiative to be a good father to his son. Maybe his grandfather saw through him, hence, the official will declaring Scottie as the rightful heir, bypassing him—his grandfather took the right to name an heir because he did not act like a responsible father in the first place. His grandfather’s worries had bases.

He holds my gaze and challenges every reason my brain comes up with that he’s here with me tonight for any reason other than he wants to be with me. “So, you’re not a choice of successor. You’re an heir,” he says slowly, as if trying to comprehend what I’m saying. “I’m not just AN heir, Benedict. I’m THE heir,” I say quietly. “What do you mean?” “When my grandfather met my grandmother, his fated mate, he didn’t accept her. He didn't realize that she had Alpha blood. You know how second sons become Betas and second sons of Betas become Gammas, etc?” I ask.

Now, the first thing that the family’s illegitimate daughter asked following her return was about being the heir. Everyone in the hall watched the show. “Adina’s so shameless. It’s only her first day back with the Jones family, yet she wants to be the heir. How shameful can she be?” “She’s really using all means to get the Jones family’s property. I can tell she’s been raised in the wrong way. Mr. Jones must regret holding this banquet. She has embarrassed the Jones family.” “In that case, Adina and Duke have truly gotten divorced, or else she wouldn’t want the Jones family’s property.”

Instead, I had outmaneuvered him, using the very bureaucracy he prided himself on. "You are arrogant, Cassius," he said, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. "You think because you rendered Draven incapable of continuing his lineage that you’ve won? You’ve merely created a vacuum." "I haven’t created a vacuum, Uncle. I’ve filled it," I countered, leaning forward, my hands locked tightly in front of me. "Draven was weak. He lacked the vision to manage the trade routes in the south. The law is clear: when an heir is unfit, the successor must be found."

With the drama escalating, the heir wanted nothing to do with the place. “Oh?” Kaze glanced at the seat long occupied by the heir and frowned. The heir was stunned, and his face flushed with rage. As Kaze narrowed his eyes, it dawned on the heir that despite Kaze’s reputation as a wife moocher, he had the guts to go up against Aiden. Losing his nerve, the heir replaced the chair and said, “Please sit, Kaze.” “Get lost.” Kaze did not see the point of playing nice with Aiden’s doormat.

As someone who grew up in the Toronto pack and who had heard rumblings of distrust toward other packs, including Greater London, I can’t help but feel like a traitor. Like my family. “I didn’t have any intentions at all,” Nathan says with a shrug. “When my father died, I knew I would eventually inherit his brother’s throne. I’m the only suitable heir.” I hold up my hand. “Stop. Back up. Explain ‘suitable’.” He blinks in what appears to be shock. “You didn’t say you were the only heir. You said you were the only suitable one. That means there are others out there. And if there are other heirs out there, that means our reign is threatened.”

“When my father died, I knew I would eventually inherit his brother’s throne. I’m the only suitable heir.” I hold up my hand. “Stop. Backup. Explain ‘suitable’.” He blinks in what appears to be shock. “You didn’t say you were the only heir. You said you were the only suitable one. That means there are others out there. And if there are other heirs out there, that implies our reign is threatened.” “It isn’t,” he assures me. “Archie had one son, and he was badly injured in a skiing accident forty years ago. He’s been in a nursing facility ever since.”

You could say my father was unimpressed with how I turned out—a girl. He thought someone like me would never be fit to inherit the dirty money the Bennington Legacy has. As if I’d want my hands on it. So he took in a kid who survived the streets through thick and thin; pick-pocketing, breaking houses, and even killing. A kid like Caesar with no background and parents to hold him back, was the perfect heir. “Father overdid it . . .” he blows on one of the wounds and I swallow the bile in my throat.

“If you don't have a strong partner like Adrian, your cousin will take everything from you. You know how your uncle has been waiting for this.” I stared at her. “Grandfather isn't even buried yet.” “You think the board is going to wait for you to finish mourning?” Her words hit harder than they should have. “You have no idea what you're talking about.” “I know exactly what I'm talking about.” She glanced toward Adrian. “He is the best option. The most successful man after Vance Blackwood.” I almost laughed. “Mother, he is a stranger.” “He is thirty-four, financially independent, educated, powerful, and the heir to one of the largest groups in the country.”