werewolf /mafia romance

The heir two lines

Chapter 6: The Heir

PART 1: TWO LINES

One month after the war ended.

The mansion was quiet.

For the first time in 200 years, Luca was smiling.

Every morning he made me coffee.

Every night he held me.

We were finally safe.

And then my world stopped.

Bathroom.

3 AM.

I couldn't sleep.

I was holding a small white stick.

Two pink lines.

Pregnant.

My hands started shaking.

"Luca?" I whispered.

He was asleep in 2 seconds.

At my voice.

"What? What's wrong?"

He was already checking me for injuries.

I held out the test.

Shaking.

He looked at it.

Then at me.

Then back at it.

His gold eyes went wide.

And then the Alpha King dropped to his knees.

"Aria," he whispered.

"Is it... real?"

I nodded.

Tears falling.

He put his ear on my stomach.

"Hello," he whispered.

"I'm your father."

And he started crying.

PART 2: OUR SECRET

The next morning.

Sun was coming through the window.

Golden light on our bed.

I was still asleep.

And Luca was awake.

Staring at me.

Not at my face.

At my stomach.

"Stop looking," I whispered without opening my eyes.

"I can feel you."

He laughed.

Soft.

"Can I help it?

There's a baby in there.

Our baby."

He put his hand on my stomach.

So gentle.

Like I was made of glass.

"Good morning, little one," he whispered to it.

"Daddy's here."

I opened my eyes.

And my heart melted.

The most dangerous man in New York.

The Alpha King.

Talking to my stomach at 7 AM.

"Come here," I said.

He lay down next to me.

Pulled me into his arms.

"Are you happy?" I asked.

He kissed my forehead.

Then my nose.

Then my lips.

Slow.

"More than I've been in 200 years," he said.

"Are you?"

I nodded.

"Scared.

But happy.

With you."

PART 3: THE DOCTOR

We went to the doctor that afternoon.

Just us.

No guards.

No pack.

Luca held my hand the whole time.

So tight.

"8 weeks," the doctor said.

"Healthy.

Baby and Mom both perfect."

Luca exhaled.

Like he'd been holding his breath.

Outside, in the car.

He didn't drive.

He just looked at me.

"We're really doing this," he said.

"A family."

I nodded.

"Yeah."

He leaned over.

Kissed me.

Slow.

Deep.

Full of promise.

"Thank you," he whispered against my lips.

"For choosing me."

PART 4: TELLING MOM

That night at dinner.

My mom made pasta.

My favorite.

Halfway through, I couldn't eat.

Too nervous.

Luca noticed.

He put his hand on my knee under the table.

"What's wrong?" my mom asked.

I looked at Luca.

He squeezed my hand.

"I'm pregnant," I said.

Silence.

Then my mom dropped her fork.

And started crying.

"Oh my God!"

She ran to me.

Hugged me so tight.

"Kissed my face.

"I'm going to be a Nana!"

Luca was smiling.

A real, wide smile.

"Congratulations," my mom said to him.

"You better take care of my daughter."

"I will," Luca said.

His voice was serious.

"With my life."

That night, my mom cried happy tears for 2 hours.

And Luca just held me.

PART 5: THE NURSERY

Week 12.

Luca turned the whole east wing into a nursery.

Pink.

Blue.

Yellow.

He bought everything.

"I don't know what to buy," he said.

Standing in the baby store.

Looking lost and so cute.

"Luca," I laughed.

"You look like you're going to war."

"I am," he said seriously.

"Against bad baby furniture."

He picked up a tiny onesie.

Black.

With a tiny wolf on it.

"This," he said.

"This is perfect."

I rolled my eyes.

"Our baby is not going to wear all black."

"Yes they are," he said.

"They're a De Rossi."

He paid for 3 carts full.

And when we got home,

he built the crib himself.

At 2 AM.

I found him asleep on the floor.

Next to the crib.

With a screwdriver in his hand.

PART 6: KASHISH MOMENTS

Every night became Kashish.

Luca would come to bed.

And the first thing he did?

Put his hand on my stomach.

"Hi baby," he would whisper.

"How's Mommy today?"

And he would talk to me.

For hours.

About his day.

About his fears.

About his dreams.

"I never thought," he said one night.

"I would have this.

Someone to come home to.

Someone who waits for me."

I traced his face.

"You do now," I said.

"Always."

He pulled me closer.

And we fell asleep.

With his hand on me.

And love all around us.

PART 7: THE FIRST KICK

Week 18.

We were watching a movie.

On the couch.

His arm around me.

And then it happened.

A tiny flutter.

In my stomach.

"Luca," I gasped.

"Did you feel that?"

He sat up instantly.

"What? What happened?"

"The baby," I said.

"Kicked."

His eyes went wide.

"Really?"

I put his hand on my stomach.

And waited.

30 seconds.

1 minute.

And then...

Bump.

Right against his hand.

Luca froze.

Then his whole face lit up.

"That was me?" he whispered.

"That was my baby?"

He started laughing.

And crying.

At the same time.

"Again," he said.

"Do it again, baby."

And the baby did.

Like it knew its Daddy was listening.

PART 8: OUR SECRET DATES

The doctor said I needed to rest.

So Luca planned "rest dates".

Picnic in the garden.

Just us.

Blanket.

Food.

And him reading to me.

Movie nights.

With him massaging my feet.

Because they were swollen.

Late night talks.

On the balcony.

Under the stars.

With him behind me.

Arms around me.

Hand on my stomach.

"Do you know what I love most?" he asked one night.

"What?"

"This," he said.

"Us.

Quiet.

No war.

No blood.

Just you.

And me.

And them."

PART 9: THE SCARE

Week 20.

I was in the garden.

Picking flowers.

And then sharp pain.

In my stomach.

I fell to my knees.

"Luca!" I screamed.

He was there in 3 seconds.

"I've got you," he said.

Panicking.

"Don't you dare.

Don't you dare leave me."

Hospital.

Again.

The doctor checked me.

"It's just Braxton Hicks," she said.

"False labor.

You and the baby are fine."

Luca collapsed to his knees.

And cried.

When I came out,

he didn't say anything.

He just held me.

For an hour.

"I thought I lost you," he whispered.

"You can't leave me.

Not yet.

Not ever."

PART 10: THE NAME

Week 24.

Gender scan.

The doctor smiled.

"It's a girl."

Luca froze.

"A girl?"

"Yes," the doctor said.

"Perfectly healthy."

Luca looked at me.

Tears in his eyes.

"A daughter," he whispered.

"I have a daughter."

That night,

we couldn't sleep.

"What should we name her?" I asked.

Luca thought.

"Luna," he said.

"After the moon.

Because she's going to be my light."

I smiled.

"Luna De Rossi.

I love it."

He kissed my stomach.

"Hi Luna," he whispered.

"Daddy's here.

And Daddy loves you so much."

PART 11: THE PROMISE

Week 28.

Night.

I couldn't sleep.

Back hurt.

Feet swollen.

Luca was awake.

Massaging my feet.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

"I'm so big and uncomfortable."

He looked up.

"Don't you ever say that," he said.

"You are carrying my child.

You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."

He kissed my stomach.

"Hi Luna.

Are you kicking Mommy too much?

Be nice to her.

Or Daddy will be mad."

I laughed.

Then cried.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing," I said.

"I'm just so happy.

And so scared."

He came and lay next to me.

Held me.

"Don't be scared," he said.

"We're going to be okay.

The three of us.

Always."

He kissed me.

"Promise?"

"Promise," I whispered.

And we fell asleep.

With his hand on my stomach.

And Luna kicking between us.

PART 3: LUNA'S BIRTH

Week 40.

2:14 AM.

I woke up to pain.

Real pain.

Not Braxton Hicks.

This was different.

"Luca," I whispered.

He was awake in one second.

Like he hadn't slept at all.

"What, baby?"

"It's time."

His face went pale.

"Now?"

I nodded.

Tears and smile together.

"Now."

He picked me up.

Barefoot.

Ran down the stairs.

"Driver!" he yelled.

"Hospital.

NOW!"

In the car, he held my hand.

Kissed it.

Kissed me.

"Look at me," he said.

"Breathe with me.

You can do this.

For us.

For Luna."

PART 4: THE DELIVERY ROOM

Chaos.

Doctors.

Nurses.

Machines beeping.

And Luca.

Losing his mind.

"Why is it taking so long?"

"Is she okay?"

"Someone help my wife!"

"Mr. De Rossi," the doctor said.

"You need to calm down."

He looked at me.

On the bed.

Sweating.

Crying.

"I'm not leaving," he said.

He came to my side.

Took my hand.

"I'll be right here.

Every second.

I promise."

Hours passed.

The pain was everything.

"Luca," I screamed.

"I can't—"

"Yes you can," he said.

He wiped my forehead.

"You are the strongest person I know.

You are doing amazing.

For Luna."

"One more push," the doctor said.

"One more.

I can see the head."

I screamed.

And pushed.

And then...

A cry.

Tiny.

Loud.

Perfect.

PART 5: THE FIRST SECOND

"She's here," the nurse said.

"7 pounds 3 ounces.

Perfectly healthy.

Baby girl."

Luca didn't move.

He was staring at me.

Tears running down his face.

"Did you hear that?" he whispered.

"Our daughter."

They put her on my chest.

Warm.

Small.

Ours.

And Luca...

The Alpha King...

Fell to his knees.

He cried.

Real, deep sobs.

"Hey," I whispered.

Touching his hair.

"Look at her."

He looked up.

At her.

And his whole world changed.

"Hi," he whispered.

"Hi, Luna."

He touched her tiny hand.

With one finger.

"She's perfect," he said.

"Just like her mom."

He looked at me.

"Thank you," he said.

"Thank you for giving me this.

For giving me you.

For giving me her."

And he kissed me.

Soft.

Full of 200 years of love.

PART 6: THE FIRST NIGHT

Midnight.

Hospital room.

Luna was sleeping in the bassinet.

And Luca was asleep in the chair.

Still holding my hand.

He woke up every 10 minutes.

To check on her.

To check on me.

"You're okay?" he asked.

"Yes," I smiled.

"Tired.

But okay."

He came to the bed.

Lay next to me carefully.

"Can I tell you something?" he whispered.

"What?"

"I never thought I deserved this," he said.

"A family.

A daughter.

You."

He kissed my hand.

"You gave me everything."

I cried.

"Stop making me cry," I said.

"I'm exhausted."

He laughed.

And held me all night.

PART 7: GOING HOME

3 days later.

The mansion was full.

Balloons.

Flowers.

"Welcome Home Princess Luna" signs.

The whole pack was outside.

500 wolves.

To see her.

Luca carried her out.

So proud.

So careful.

"People of the pack," he said.

"This is Luna De Rossi.

My daughter.

Your future Alpha."

The wolves howled.

Not in war.

In joy.

Viktor was crying.

"She looks like you, brother," he said.

"But with her mother's heart."

Luca looked at me.

"She looks like her mother.

Perfect."

PART 8: DADDY'S GIRL

Week 1 at home.

Luca didn't sleep.

Not once.

Up every 2 hours.

To feed her.

To change her.

To rock her.

"Aria, sleep," I told him.

"I can't," he said.

"If I sleep, I might miss her first smile."

He learned everything.

Burping.

Swaddling.

Lullabies in Italian.

And Luna?

She only stopped crying in his arms.

One night I found him in the nursery.

Rocking her at 3 AM.

"I love you," he whispered to her.

"So much it hurts.

I will protect you.

I will be the best dad."

I stood in the door.

And cried.

Because I had never seen anything

so beautiful.

PART 9: THE SCARE

Week 3.

Luna got a fever.

102.5

Luca lost it.

"Hospital.

Now," he said.

Voice deadly calm.

In the ER,

he held her the whole time.

Wouldn't let go.

"She's fine," the doctor said.

"Just a virus."

Luca didn't believe it until she smiled.

A tiny smile.

Then he collapsed.

And sobbed.

"I can't lose her," he said to me.

"I can't, Aria.

She's everything."

I held him.

"I know," I said.

"Me neither."

PART 10: OUR NEW NORMAL

Month 2.

Chaos.

Beautiful chaos.

No sleep.

Dirty diapers.

Coffee at 3 AM.

And more love than I ever knew.

Luca gave up meetings.

Gave up fighting.

For now.

"My job is here," he said.

"With you.

With her."

He took photos of everything.

First bath.

First smile.

First time she grabbed his finger.

"She's going to hate these," I laughed.

"Good," he said.

"Then she'll know how much she was loved."

PART 11: KASHISH MOMENTS

Every night.

After Luna slept.

Luca and I had our time.

He would make tea.

We would sit on the balcony.

"Do you remember?" he would ask.

"When we first met?

You hated me."

I would laugh.

"I was terrified of you."

"And now look at us," he would say.

He would put his hand on my cheek.

"You.

Me.

Her.

A family."

He would kiss me.

Slow.

Like we had all the time in the world.

Because we did.

PART 12: ONE YEAR LATER

Luna's first birthday.

Balloons everywhere.

Cake with a tiny wolf.

Luca carried her.

"My baby," he said.

"My girl.

One year."

She grabbed his face.

And kissed him.

And he melted.

That night.

Luca came to bed.

Pulled me close.

"One year," he whispered.

"One year of us.

Of her.

Of this."

"Best year of my life," I said.

"Mine too," he said.

He kissed my forehead.

"Here's to 100 more."

And we fell asleep.

The three of us.

Safe.

Loved.

Home.

The End of Chapter 6