A New Heir

“Hush, little baby don't say a word Momma’s gonna buy you a mocking bird,” Tessa sang quietly.

Tessa sat in a rocking chair in the corner of a bedroom nursing her new baby. She looked like a dollbaby wrapped up snuggly in her fuzzy pink blanket. Her lips curled around Tessa as she put her tiny arm over her face and signed softly as she drank.Tessa ran her fingers along Marissa’s arm, causing the babys lips to curl into a smile. She was perfect.

Marissa was the third heir of Alpha Logan, leader of the Blue Ridge Mountain Pack.

Twenty two years have passed since Tessa and Logan welcomed their first son, Jacob, into this world. With this newest addition there were now three Hexom children: Jacob, Erik and Marissa.

Erik and Marissa both favored Tessa. Curly dark hair and widows peak. Green eyes. Olive toned complexion. However, Jacob looked like his namesake, his Uncle Jacob. His fathers twin. He stood around six feet tall with light blonde hair and blue eyes. He looked and acted so much like Tessa’s late husband that it stung, for both Logan and Tessa. Yet, it brought them comfort. Tessa's husband left this world so quickly and violently. It left a hole in their lives and watching young Jacob grow up, seeing glimpses of his uncle in him, filled it.

Often, Tessa would look at her son and be swept back to the day that she met her mates by the pond. How Jacob snuggled up against her and smiled at her with his wide dimply grim. How he took every moment they were together to show her she was loved and important. How Jacob made her laugh. He was a treasure, a gift that was taken away too quickly. He was a good man that Tessa knew she didn’t deserve. She still bore his mark on her neck and it still ached for him. Although Jacob had been long gone from their lives, the bond was never broken.

When she was finished her feeding, Tessa put Marissa on her shoulder and patted her gently, humming softly as she did. She put her face to the back of Marissa’s head, taking in the subtle odor of jasmine that her babies always had. It was the most wonderful and calming thing in the world.

As Tessa had always suspected he would be, Logan was a wonderful father. He prized his wife and children above eveything. His children often accompanied him in his office or on pack business. He showered them with affection, earning confused looks from people who only knew the Alpha. The expressionless prick with a sharp tongue and horrible temper.

Tessa and their children were everything to him, his reason for breathing. He was a protective parent but he expected nothing but the best from them. He wanted his children to be an example to his pack.

His possessiveness of Tessa never really diminished, either. He liked to keep her hidden away and was careful who he allowed to be in her presence.

Even with all their children, he feared that someone would take her away. He still had nightmares of Tessa and their children being killed, ever since the battle where his brother fell. Logan took every precaution to keep that from happening.

The only men he allowed Tessa to be alone with were her twin, Teddy, and her sons.

He also took measures to keep the town safe from attacks. Pack security was taken very seriously, after all, it was his own flesh and blood on the line. He had increased warrior numbers several times over.

Tessa's brother, Thorin, served as Logan's Beta. He was the more eloqunetly spoken of the two, but he was no less ruthless. His wife and child were also nearly killed during the battle and he never forgot. Witches have long memories and even longer cruel streaks. He had devised new and terrible ways to crush his enemies. Logan liked the new and serious Thorin. It was a smart match as far as commanding authority went.

The battle all those years ago had changed Logan. He was never going to lose another person he loved to hunters, rogues or any other unforseen enemy. Logan expected them to be ready at all times.

It made him look cold but that was not him at all. There was the other side of him. The one who worried about everything in silence. He kept most concerns close to his chest, not even revealing them to Tessa. He worshipped her and did not want to bother her with what he considered frivilous concerns.

He constantly worried about his childrens happiness and safety. There had not been an attack in many years, but it was always in the back of his mind and it took its toll on him. This was made worse by his son's appearance in his command..

Jacob, was now a rising star among the pack warriors. Logan was both proud of his son's talent and afraid for his safety. If anything happened to Jacob, he would never be able to live with it. His wife would never recover from the loss of one of her children. The thought of her suffering because of his failures as a leader and father made Logan nauseaous.

Although these were peaceful times, training never stopped. Jacob was becoming a wolf to be reckoned with. He spent his time learning to fight and helped his parents lead the Pack. He took his role as future alpha very seriously, it was an honor.

After Logan and Tessa took over the Pack, they developed a close relationship with Tessa’s Order. It was mutually beneficial. The deals struck between the two have increased their wealth exponentially and nearly eliminated enemies for both. After the battle, the witches went on a killing spree that would impress even the most war tested general. Every person that had, in some way, been responsible for the killing of Jacob that day was disposed of in a way that could only be described as horrific. Tessa and Logan wanted vengence, reckoning for Jacob and they got it times three. As a result, Logan never lost another pack member to violence on his lands.

The witches were secretive and eccentric but they had powerful political connections and weren’t opposed to doing not so ethical things to accomplish their goals. They were a powerful ally. It would be a mistake to sever that alliance.

The Order, from time to time, would send witches for Tessa to train in the art of healing. Witches were a fun, adventurous bunch and the young, unattached pack members looked forward to their visits. Particularly, Jacob. He had bedded his fair share. Witches were notoriously promiscuous, even the married ones. They weren’t clingy like wolves and were ok with a one nighter. It was a bit of a sport, really. When a witch was scheduled to stay with the pack, the wolves would have contests to see who could bed them first and the most often. It's all fun and games anyway for the young and single.