The Alpha's Progeny [The Alpha's #3]

MALIK VLADIMIR

Mate?

Surely, it can’t be! We come here every other week! Malik told his wolf, his eyes wide with disbelief, locked onto the most beautiful golden brown orbs that he had ever seen,

She must have turned eighteen between today and the last time we visited.

I can’t believe we found her, he spoke in awe, unable to tear his eyes away from the most beautiful woman that he had ever seen. A contrast to her golden eyes, her hair was jet black and pin-straight, falling just past her shoulders. She had a cute little button nose and a full chin which gave her mouth a permanent naturally pouty look.

But it was the way she was looking at him that really caught his attention.

As there was a queue of customers waiting to place their ice cream orders, she was forced to continue working but every chance she got, she would glance up at him and hold her breath. She probably didn’t even realise she was doing that.

Malik watched as she served a man and his daughter. She clearly knew the man as they were talking casually while she took the order. When he went to get some money out of his wallet, the other server already beginning on their ice creams, he watched as she glanced up at him again. He was already watching. Her face began to warm at that and his lips curled up into a slow grin; having never seen anything cuter before in his entire life.ß

When he could hold himself back no longer, Malik jumped up to his feet and walked over to the counter.

“Where are you going?” Clyde called after him.

“You don’t even know what we want to order,” Alistair added, a sense of desperation in both of their voices.

You’d think a bunch of teenagers wouldn’t care so much what ice cream flavour they got.

“Fine. What do you both want?” Malik gritted the question through his teeth, refusing to turn around as that would mean he would have to look away from his mate.

“Two scoops of rocky road for me,” Alistair told him. Malik was glad that it was uncomplicated but soon ended up eating his words.

“One scoop mint, one scoop rocky road and one scoop vanilla, please,” Clyde chimed with a large grin on his face, knowing exactly what he was doing. After all, Malik hadn’t been trying to hide the way he had been openly staring at his mate. Why would he? She was absolutely perfect!

“I’ll be back soon,” he murmured to them both before heading up to join the short queue. There were only two people in front of him but Malik had never felt more impatient in his life. The short time he had to wait until he got to the front, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Malik was aware that this probably came across as creepy to some, but he just couldn’t help himself when it came to his mate. Plus, it wasn’t like she wasn’t stealing glances at him every chance she got.

“Hi, welcome to What’s the Scoop. What can I get for you today?” his mate spoke in the most sultry, luring tone that he had ever heard. He could spend the rest of his life listening to that voice and die a happy man.

“Hi, how are you?” Malik grinned back at his mate, barely managed to force himself out of the trance that his voice had put him in.

“I’m good, thank you. Actually, I’m great right now,” she grinned back at him. “What about you? How has your day been?”

“It’s been the best day,” he answered honestly, sending her a pointed look.

“I’m glad to hear that,” her grinned twitched higher at the corners as she tucked a dark strand of hair behind her ears. “What ice cream can I get you?”

“One cone with two scoops of rocky road, one with one scoop of strawberry, one scoop of chocolate and one scoop of cookie dough,” Malik placed the order.

“Nothing for you?” she asked as she began ringing up the till.

“I’m afraid what I want might not be on menu.”

“And what is it that you want?”

“Your number.”

“I might be able to make a special exception if you order something for yourself.”

“You’re quite the saleswoman…” his voice trailed off suggestively.

“Trinity.”

“You’ve got a beautiful name there, Trinity. Mine’s Malik,” he introduced himself, his heart fluttering what felt like a thousand beats per minute. Thankfully there wasn’t anyone behind him so he could take his time. “I’ll get a scoop of chocolate and rocky road, please.”

“That’ll be $18.95.”

Malik reached into his pocket to retrieve a $20 bill. “Keep the change,” he told her and since there still wasn’t anyone behind in the queue, he didn’t bother moving. Instead, he leaned forward to rest his elbows on the counter, staring up at his mate. “How long do you think we’ll go without addressing the elephant in the room?”

“I think it’s been long enough,” Trinity grinned, moving to lean on the counter until her face was only inches away from his. “I have to admit, I didn’t think I’d find my mate so soon after my birthday but I can’t complain,” she smiled at him, her soft, minty breath fanning toward him.

“When was your birthday?”

“Yesterday. You missed an epic party.”

“We’ll have to find a way to celebrate ourselves.”

“I look forward to it,” she laughed.

“So, since I placed an order, does that mean I can get your number?”

“Only since you placed an order,” she murmured, her lips curling up into a teasing grin. “You’re not from around here.”

“That wasn’t the first thing you noticed about me?”

“The first thing the both of us noticed about each other was that we’re mates. I’ve only just realised that you’re not from here. Are you visiting the pack?” Trinity asked, cocking her head to the side with a thoughtful expression on her face.

“I am,” he nodded.

“Are you going to tell me which pack you’re visiting from?”

“Let’s leave that till next time.”

“What? You’re holding out on me?”

“I’m just leaving a little mystery.”

“Were you at least going to tell me that you’re an Alpha?”

“it took you quite some time to pick up on that.”

“Just because I haven’t mentioned it doesn’t mean that I didn’t know from the very beginning,” Trinity laughed, moving out of the way when her colleague moved to deliver their ice creams. Before Malik could accept all three cones, the two culprits emerged to beat him to it.

“You got my order completely wrong!” Clyde whined, not bothered enough to stop him from taking a generous lick.

“That’s too bad for you because he got my order completely right,” Alistair chuckled, not missing an opportunity to make friend of his friend and cousin.

“That’s because he was too busy flirting up Trinity when he was placing my order,” Clyde huffed and before Malik could wring his neck for that comment, Clyde ducked out of the way and headed back to their previous table with Alistair hot on his heel.

“I’m sorry about that,” Malik chuckled in apology as he turned back to face his mate. “My cousins don’t know when to shut up sometimes.”

“Alistair and Clyde make for a funny pair. Especially since Alistair is supposed to be the older one but is probably the most immature out of the two.”

“You can say that again,” he snorted, sharing a story which further proved her point right. It was only when his phone rang in his pocket that Malik was forced to look away from his mate.

“Sorry, I have to take this,” Malik apologised as he fished his phone out of his pocket. “Mars?” he answered, pressing it against his ear. “Is the baby here yet?”

“She sure is! And she’s got a big set of lungs in her!” Mars laughed, the sound of a baby crying sounding on the other end of the line.

“This is so exciting!” Malik grinned and turned around, gesturing to Clyde and Alistair that they needed to leave. “Is it a good time for us to come over?”

“Perfect timing! Alistair owes me money.”

“Sounds like the Alpha family has turned into a family of four,” Trinity hummed as he ended the call. “It’s a girl?”

“It is.”

“That’s great news!” she grinned. “It’s even greater since Alistair now owes me some nice chunk of change.”

“Has Alistair placed a bet with everyone in the pack?” Malik laughed. “I have to go now but can I see you later?”

“You’ve already got my number and I’ve already texted you.”

“You have?”

His phone chimed in his hand just then.

Dinner at mine. Seven. Come hungry.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Malik grinned as he slipped his phone back into his pocket.

“Great, I’ll see you later!”

Malik was very tempted to reach over the counter and pull his mate in for a hug. A kiss would have been far too soon and a handshake would have been far too formal. He probably would have gone for the hug if Clyde and Alistair hadn’t rushed him out of the store in all their excitement. If he didn’t have plans to see Trinity later, he would have wrung both of their necks.

Lord Erebus knew they deserved it!

-

“She’s so precious,” Malik cooed as he held the little bundle of joy in his arms.

“Far too precious to be the offspring of dad,” Clyde snorted from where he was on the bean bag next to Malik, peering over his shoulder at his new baby sister.

“You’re my offspring too,” Marcellus snorted from where he was sat on the bed next to Anastasia, smoothing the hair away from her face while she slept.

“You sure about that?” Clyde teased, a no-good grin on his face.

“Very funny,” the Alpha wolf replied dryly. “She looks just like you when you were born. A scrunched up, red little thing.”

“I think she’ll look just like mum when she grows up. She’s already got her nose and mouth.”

“Have you named her yet?” Malik asked curiously, glancing up from the baby in his arms.

“I would tell you but I know Ana wants to tell you this herself,” Marcellus grinned.

“Can I hold her now?” Clyde all but whined, grinning and moving back when Malik turned to hand over the baby. He watched as the older brother held his little sister, and as their dad moved over to make sure he was supporting her neck properly. The only thing missing now from this picture perfect moment was Anastasia, currently snoring lightly from the bed.

After the birth that she had been through, a little bit of rest was the least of what she deserved.

“I’ll just be a moment,” Malik murmured as he excused himself. He dialled the number while he walked down the stairs to head outside, looking for some privacy.

“Malik?” his dad answered the call on the second ring. “I have to admit, I didn’t think you would call me this weekend. Especially this soon.”

“I know, dad,” Malik sighed. “I’m just calling to say sorry we argued this morning.”

“I’m so glad you said that! I’m sorry we argued this morning too. It was so stupid!”

“So, so stupid!” he grinned, grateful that his dad saw it the same way. “I can’t talk right now we’ll talk more when I get back on Monday when I get back, okay?”

“Sounds great. What do you have planned for the weekend?”

“Usually training but Mars and Stassie just had their baby so I’ll probably be busy helping them.”

“Marcellus and Anastasia just had their baby?”

“A little girl!”

“How sweet,” Orpheus murmured, his son being far too gone to pick up on the dark undertone in his voice.

-

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Layla Knight

11.08.2021