An Heir For Alpha Roman

7. Cheating Whores Make Me Sick

Romans POV:

“Roman?” Lyle, my best friend and Beta, called out as he strutted into my bedroom, wearing a dark gray suit. His light brown hair flopped messily over his forehead.

“ The car will be here in 10 minutes, and I have the—”

But Lyle's voice faded into mere background noise as a sharp pain erupted in my chest. I froze, clutching my hand to my chest desperately trying to breathe through the familiar discomfort—the kind I felt several times a day for the past 10 years. It was this exasperating pain that had kept me going, the pain that shaped me into the strong, powerful, and ruthless alpha I am today.

Betrayal pains.

“Here,” Lyle said, holding out a bottle of pills that I could have sworn I had thrown away. The desperation in his eyes was clear. “This will help with the pain.” I shook my head vigorously, refusing to show any sign of weakness.

With a frustrated growl, Lyle pressed, “Come on, Rome, just take them. It won’t make you weak—it will help you heal.”

“I said no,” I snarled, knocking the bottle out of his hands. Tiny white pills scattered across the floor as my beast surged within me, restless and furious. I wouldn’t allow myself to be caged by any form of weakness.

“I’m sorry, Roman.” He raised his hands in a gesture of defeat, frustration lacing his voice. “I’m just saying we have a big night tonight, and it would be nice if you could be clear-minded and present."

"I am very present, Lyle! And I don't want to have this conversation," I grunted, feeling the pain slowly begin to subside.

"Deflecting again, I see," he retorted, his gaze unyielding. “Your mother would hate to see you like this."

"My mother isn't here, Lyle," I gruffed, feeling more annoyed than I already was.

"You don't have to live like this—how long will you cling to Ana?” he barked. A growl erupted in the room, primal and raw, but Lyle stood his ground, unabashed. “You know the only way to truly end this pain is to reject her or mark someone else.”

“This pain fuels me; it sharpens my resolve,” I replied through labored breaths, every word a testament to my strength. Each stab of betrayal stoked the fire within me, urging me to fight harder for my pack and kingdom. I was destined for greatness, with or without that deceitful, bond-breaking witch of a mate.

“It’s killing you,” he snarled. I glared at him but relaxed when I saw the hurt and pain behind his eyes. I knew it wasn’t easy for him to see me like this; I was no longer the lively boy he grew up with. My heart had grown cold and complex, but I appreciated Lyle for never leaving or judging. He's my closest friend and is always there for me, just like I am for him. However, I was still his alpha—and king—and he needed to trust me!

But, before I could respond, Valentina—my obnoxious date for the evening- entered the room, holding two identical dresses, one red and the other blue. I groaned and pushed away from the mirror, heading to the door, but she blocked my path.

“Which one should I wear, Romy?” She asked, pressing her small breasts together and puckering her lips. I grimaced at the nickname and baby voice she used. It ached my ears and annoyed my wolf.

But I couldn’t just be a d**k to Valentina; she was the daughter of an alpha in my court. Her father and my father worked closely together when he was King; I know they’re hoping I’ll mark her and take her as my chosen mate and Queen. But my beast, Goliath, stubbornly refuses to mark anyone, his allegiance firmly fixed on just one woman: Analise Herrera.

The mere mention of her name shatters my heart into a thousand pieces, and my mind is engulfed in a torrent of vivid memories that resurface, haunting my thoughts and invading my dreams. I can see her as if she were standing before me: her long, flowing dark brown hair cascading like a waterfall, her porcelain skin glowing softly in the light, and her big blue eyes that held the ocean's depths. The intoxicating scent of honeydew and lemon lingers in the air, a reminder of all I’ve lost. I try to banish these visions from my mind, to scorch them into oblivion, knowing full well that they serve no purpose other than to deepen my despair. As the anguish settles in my chest, it soon becomes a smoldering anger.

She betrayed me in the most despicable way, leaving wounds that refuse to heal. I don't need her; I don't need any woman.

Valentina cleared her throat, pulling me from the abyss of my thoughts. I had forgotten her presence, lost in my troubles. My eyes dropped to the two dresses she was holding, and I felt crowded. With a growl of irritation, I pushed past her, snatching up my jacket from the chair and sliding it on. The fabric was a cold comfort against my skin as I fumbled to smooth out the collar.

"Roman, where are you going?" Valentina whined, her voice trailing after me like a shadow, yet I remained indifferent. I vaguely caught Lyle's voice suggesting she try on the red dress, his words a faint echo as I turned away. The sound of Valentina's soft sulk barely registered as she reluctantly took the dress and vanished into my bathroom, shutting the door behind her with a soft click.

Seizing the moment of solitude, I escaped toward the waiting car outside. It hadn’t been more than five seconds before I heard the heavy thud of Lyle's footsteps rushing behind me, eager to catch up.

“Aren't you going to wait for Valentina?” he called out, curiosity lacing his voice. It pulled me from my thoughts about the past and back to the present, forcing me to confront my tangled emotions.

“No,” I replied, continuing down the hall. My warriors stood at attention, baring their necks in respect. I always traveled with a large security team for safety whenever I wasn’t in my kingdom; I had enemies everywhere, even in the human world.

“Come on, Rome, you must give the girl a shot. The kingdom needs this!” Lyle insisted from behind me.

“The kingdom is fine,” I argued, not slowing down. It had never been better. Our businesses thrived, and our allies were loyal. We were adding to our treasury with this ridiculous hotel venture.

“You know that’s not what I meant; you need Valentina for an heir, a successor. The pack needs to know its future is secure.”

“How long do I have to be at this event?” I interjected, ignoring his speech. I knew the elders were concerned. It wasn't a good look that at the age of 28, I had no Luna or pups. I know my enemies had taken notice, I didn't put much thought into it, my kingdom ran smoothly, so no one was foolish enough to challenge me or Goliath for the throne.

"Forty-five minutes," Lyle sighed, “an hour tops. Just smile, shake some hands, and thank your guests for coming; Stuart will handle the rest.” I nodded, glancing down at my phone—7:37 PM.

Stuart, my Gamma Wolf, managed all my business affairs with humans. Although I preferred to avoid engaging with them, my council insisted it was essential for our future expansion. Humans weren’t going anywhere, so we needed to figure out how to coexist. Most were unaware of our species' existence, which meant it was up to us supernaturals to adapt and blend in with them. This required us to contain our habits and animal instincts, a challenge I struggled with since Ana. Consequently, I rarely ventured into public spaces in BlackCreek or Teloma, only doing so when it was absolutely necessary.

“No interviews?” I asked as we stepped out of the front door, where five black SUVs awaited in the driveway.

“Nope. We have a private entrance for you; everyone knows you're there for personal reasons only. No business will be discussed—and as for Valentina," he said, glancing back down the hall, “you know why you need to mark her."

I rolled my eyes and slid into the backseat of the first car, with Lyle sliding in beside me.

“The kingdom looks weak without you," he continued, without taking a breath. "You’ve isolated yourself, becoming a shadow hidden from everyone. Your absence at the gatherings only fuels their speculations. The people are concerned... ever since you know who... they’re afraid of him,” he whispered, the last word.

“I’m going to an event now, aren't I?” I growled under my breath, knowing exactly who the "him' he referred to was. My blood boiled just thinking about the traitor he mentioned.

My other brother, Julius, whom I admired and revered above everyone else. I aspired to emulate him, shadowing his every move as closely as possible. To me, he epitomized greatness. He was the only alpha wolf I looked up to, commanding respect and admiration. Even though I was also an alpha and have always been bigger and stronger than my brother, I willingly submitted to him as my alpha. He's my elder and my father's firstborn son; his pride and joy, and my guiding light and superior.

However, despite Julius being set to become king, my father still taught me everything about running the kingdom. He made it clear that even though I wouldn't wear the crown, I still had significant responsibilities in the realm, particularly since I was stronger than the average alpha. From a young age, my father trained both of us. However, as we grew older, it became clear that I was stronger than Julius, which caused him to distance himself. He grew cold and stopped speaking to me altogether, which hurt me deeply. I felt like a piece of my heart was torn. I tried to mend things with him, but he avoided me, even going as far as neglecting his training and allowing his studies to suffer as well. To him, the endless training and studying felt pointless. He claimed he didn't need either to rule; he'd govern with an iron fist, punishing anyone who dared to disrespect him.

He prioritized the power of kingship over the well-being of the people he was supposed to lead and protect. Our father began to worry about Julius's maturity for the throne. The situation worsened once he acquired his wolf; he became a nuisance. Father could barely control them. That’s when he stopped focusing on Julius and put all his attention on me. He said I would make a better king. I had the heart for it, but didn't want to be King; I was just fine with being one of his advisers. I didn't wish to seek status or attention, but my father said that's why I had to do this—to prevent our people from suffering under Julius’s rule. So, I agreed and began the royal training.

When Julius found out, he was furious and erratic. Always harming himself or someone else, he was like a switch in him flipped, and the loving brother I once knew was long gone. Things improved slightly when I met Analise; she filled the hole in my heart that Juluis left.

We knew we were mates instantly, even without our wolves, and for two years, things were magical. We were head over heels in love. That is, until the unspeakable happened.

It was on my eighteenth birthday that I found her and Julius having s*x in my chambers. My world shattered right before my eyes, time stopped, the rage within me burst, and I shifted right there in my room for the first time. To everyone's horror, my 'wolf', Goliath, was not just any wolf; he was a Lycan, a creature of imaginable strength and power, with a mind of his own, and a temper from hell; he scared the s**t out of everyone. The haunting echoes of fear painted across their faces replay in my mind, a poignant reminder of the terror he brought.

My father, Zayd Vicentè, is a man of strength and heritage. He descended from a long line of Lycans and revered alpha blood. Yet, the reality weighed heavily: a Lycan hadn’t been born in over a century, a ghost of a lineage thought lost, but the darkness of that blood still coursed through my veins. I had awakened something ancient and terrifying, and in doing so, I felt the deep, aching sorrow of a legacy that could tear us apart.

I couldn’t be reasoned with. Julius planned this to hurt me intentionally… like really destroy me. I knew he was upset that Father wanted me to take the throne, but to harbor that much hatred towards me, to stoop so low and mark my mate? That was unforgivable.

Analise tried to explain herself, but I didn't want to hear it, nor did Goliath. It took 30 guards and my father’s intervention to stop my lycan from going on a killing spree. They had to sedate us.

That night, my father banished both Analise and Julius. I haven’t seen them since, but I still feel the pain of betrayal from our bond, since we never formally rejected each other, our bond remains intact. Though it’s not strong because I never marked her, the pain still thrives, unwillingly to release itself until I reject her and mark a chosen mate. But, everyone knows a Lycan only gets one mate—Analise was it for me, and despite everything she's done, I couldn't find it in my heart to reject her- maybe Lyle was right. I was holding on, or I was a coward... either way ... the thought of seeing either of them again felt unbearable and dangerous. I tuned of Lyle and Stuart and tried my best to mentally prepapre for a shitload of boring conversations.

We arrived at the hotel around 9:00 PM, pulling into the underground private parking lot located at the back. After exiting the car, I entered through a discreet door beneath the hotel. I maintain underground offices in all my establishments, where my pack members oversee operations. While I’ve hired human workers to help maintain appearances for the visiting guests, I still harbor a deep-seated distrust for them.

"Alpha"

"Your Majesty"

"Alpha King"

Wolves bowed their heads and averted their eyes as I walked past. Lyle, Stuart, and I took the elevator to the main lobby. As soon as the doors opened, we were met by a tall, skinny man with blonde hair and blue eyes and his girlfriend, a bleached blonde woman with excessive lip filler and a poor spray tan. She wore a dress that was far too revealing for the theme.

“Hello, I’m Daniel Hudson from The Hudson magazine and—"

“No, thanks,” Lyle said, brushing past him. The man’s face fell, but he didn’t argue. I gave Stuart a look, and he stayed behind to ensure these folks got the hint and didn’t follow us. I continued to walk away.

I heard the man curse under his breath and yell at the bimbo next to him. "CALL EDEN NOW!!"

Who’s Eden? I wondered as I heard the sound of the elevator dinging from above us, Lyle and I exchanged glances. Upstairs wasn’t open to the public yet.

“I’ll check it out,” I said, swiftly turning back toward the elevators before he could protest.