Hiding the Alpha's Twins

10~ The New CEO

~Avery~

The conference hall bustled with the presence of suited businessmen and women engaging in lively conversation as I entered through the west door, flanked by an imposing entourage of security personnel. A hush fell over the room as I strode toward the podium. All eyes turned toward me, and though nerves threatened to overwhelm me, I plastered on a confident smile to conceal my apprehension. Despite my efforts, I couldn't shake the feeling that many in the audience could sense my anxiety. However, I was resolute, boosted by the silent mantra whispered by my wolf, Tia.

'You've got this, Ave.'

Drawing in a deep breath, I allowed my smile to widen. My gaze swept across the room, until it rested upon the comforting sight of my mother and Jane, and then on my precious twins, Julian and Julia. Their radiant smiles infused me with the courage I desperately needed. Marrying Alpha Duncan Bells had been a decision primarily made for the sake of my children's future, but I never anticipated inheriting his company upon his passing.

Duncan and I first crossed paths when I discovered I was pregnant with twins, but our paths veered until Julian was diagnosed with asthma. His struggle with asthma kept us frequenting the hospital, where Duncan, who was visiting his ailing mother, who was then a cancer patient, re-entered my life. My kindness to his mother over the months forged a bond between us, resulting in an introduction to her son. Despite the tragic loss of his pregnant mate in a fire, Duncan and I found solace in each other's company. Our bond grew over months of shared experiences and conversations. While Duncan harboured deeper feelings for me, I made it clear that my affection didn't match his. Nonetheless, out of compassion for his terminal illness, which he confided in me, and out of concern for my children's welfare, I agreed to marry him.

Duncan’s mother passed away not long after our marriage, and his remaining days were filled with contentment. Despite facing opposition from Duncan’s pack due to my rogue status, I stood by him, providing care and support until his final breath. My motives were never driven by greed or ambition; I cared deeply for Duncan and remained steadfast by his side. It came as a shock to me when Duncan’s will was read three months after his death, and I got to keep his empire.

In his will, he expressed his trust in my ability to oversee the company, despite the reluctance of pack members to accept my children and me as leaders due to my kids' non-biological connection to him, and he had no heirs of his own. So, the mantle of Alpha would pass to his younger brother, Marcus, while the corporate empire was entrusted to me. However, Marcus would have to hold the company for a year, while I serve under him as a manager and learned all the leadership skills I needed, then, he would hand the full reins over to me.

Now, I found myself standing before the entire staff and shareholders of the main branch. It was a daunting task, but with the unwavering help and support of my mother and my wolf's encouragement, I knew I was equal to the task and had decided to take the bull by the horn.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, esteemed colleagues and honoured guests," I began, my voice surprisingly firmer than I thought. "Today, I stand before you humbled and filled with a deep sense of responsibility, as I prepare to embark on a journey that was both unexpected and profoundly meaningful. I am here to step into a role that is not just a position of leadership but a testament to a legacy, a vision, and a trust that has been placed upon me. Bells Empire has always been more than a company. It has been a beacon of innovation, a testament to resilience, and a family bound by shared values and ambitions. My late husband, Duncan Bells, the brilliant and visionary founder of Bells Empire, believed in the transformative power of this organization. He saw it not just as a business, but as a force for good, a catalyst for change, and a platform for growth. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my brother-in-law, who has been an unwavering pillar of support and guidance through all of this.

"Together, we will write the next chapter in the storied history of Bells Empire, a chapter that we can all be proud of. Thank you for your trust, your support, and your belief in what we can achieve together. The journey ahead is ours, and I am excited to embark on it with each and every one of you."

Applause reverberated throughout the room, accompanied by cheers of encouragement. I allowed myself a moment of pride, smiling warmly at the assembly, exchanging handshakes with some of the present business partners before posing for photographs with shareholders, partners, and clients of the company.

"Mummy! Mummy!" My twins' voices rang out amidst the commotion. Turning towards them, I knelt down and opened my arms wide, inviting them into my embrace. With joyful squeals, they rushed into my arms, and I enveloped them in a warm hug, their presence a balm to my soul.

Standing a few feet away, my mother and Jane, the twins' nanny who had grown to be a dear friend, watched us with affectionate smiles. After sharing a heartfelt hug with my children, I released them, looking into their bright eyes.

"Congratulations, Mom," Julian and Julia chimed in unison.

I responded with kisses on their foreheads, my heart swelling with love. "Thank you, my darlings," I whispered, gently smoothing their hair.

My twins were my pillars of strength, my beacon of hope through the storm of opposition we faced. From the moment of their birth, there was never any doubt about who their father was. I had looked at them and seen the complete picture of King. Julian, in particular, bore the unmistakable traits of King—their biological father, from his thick, almost bristling eyebrows to the unique way his lip curled when he smiled, even inheriting King's asthmatic condition. But despite the undeniable genetic ties, returning to a pack that had once scorned and humiliated me was out of the question. I had transformed my identity from Avery to Ava, and with Duncan’s support and influence, my real identity had stayed hidden, even to the members of his pack.

I hadn't reached out to King since the disorderly incident surrounding the twins' birth. For all I knew, he and Regina were happily married, so why disrupt their lives when Duncan provided everything we needed? But I couldn't shake the occasional pang of guilt, questioning whether I was doing the right thing by keeping his children's existence a secret from him. Rising, I took each of the twins by the hand and began to walk toward my mother.

"Mom, is our Daddy not as rich as Uncle Duncan?" Julia's innocent question brought me to a sudden halt, a furrow forming on my brow.

The question caught me off guard. What was my daughter talking about?

Puzzled, I asked, "What makes you ask that?"

Her response was a jolt to my heart. "Because Valerie said her mom told her that our Daddy is not rich and that you are stealing Uncle Duncan’s company."

"What the—" I nearly let slip a curse in my shock and dismay, catching myself just in time in front of the children.

Valerie was the youngest of the pack's beta's children, and her mother had never seen eye to eye with me, believing I had ulterior motives, and didn't deserve to be treated any less than an outcast. Adah and I had clashed in the past, but dragging my children into her malice crossed a line.

"Mom," I said, a determined edge in my voice as I passed the twins into her arms, "please, hold onto the twins. I need to speak with Adah."

My mother, always the voice of reason, gently protested, "Avery, dear, is this really necessary? Why not let it go?"

I met her concerned gaze with firm resolve. "I've told you, my name is Ava now, not Avery. And I can't let this go. I need to set things straight with that woman. I can't let her words go unchallenged and—"

"Mrs. Bells?" Stan, my assistant, interrupted, calling my attention, his expression apologetic. "I'm sorry to intrude, but Mr. Marcus has called for an impromptu board meeting, and your presence is requested."

Confusion and frustration mingled inside me at his words. Why would Marcus schedule a meeting so abruptly, without consulting me? The plan had been to return home with my children for a much-needed weekend together. Marcus and I had agreed on this; why was he making decisions without my input?