Page 65 of Fated Alpha Baby

“We did not get a name,” Amalia confirms, staring at the map through narrowed eyes that move to Amos. “But we do have information about the southern ruins in the Bitterroot Valley. The demons are not just after the powers of the werewolves, but there seems to be something beneath the surface of the old Ashclaw territory.”

“Is this why they’re after our children?” Damian speculates. “First, they drained our powers, then they were siphoning the Ashclaw magic that remains in the ruins. Now, our children. Is it tied to what’s hidden beneath the surface?”

Amos takes a deep breath, rubbing his chin. “Perhaps there is something under the Ashclaw territory that the demons want. But up until now, we didn’t even know of its existence. Whatever lies there could be the thing that trained the packs in their power in the first place.” He turns to his assistant. “Prepare the team. We are going to the southern ruins while there is sunlight.”

Amos’s assistant nods, then leaves Damian’s office.

“I will prepare a team of witches to accompany you, Amos. We will cast new spells and place new wards around the southern ruins. Perhaps we are no longer keeping demons out, but rather, keeping something locked away.” Amalia turns to me. “How are the children? How is Hannah doing?”

“The children are fine. We have Dorothy and Milly watching them in Iron Breath territory. Alpha Orlando has settled with his troops in campsites along the boundary lines,” I tell her. “And Hannah is recovering well.”

Amalia nods, worry still fresh on her quivering brows. “You should return to her, Alpha Conan. Make sure that she is well rested. We will handle the rest.”

“Amalia is right, Conan,” Heinrich agrees. “Damian, you need to be with Sophie. Annika and I will handle what we can on behalf of the Bitterroot Valley packs.”

Damian nods and proceeds to give his instructions to the soldiers waiting outside before him, and I leave for the Iron Breath side of the valley. He’s under immense stress. We both are. That’s why we barely speak as we head to the west side of the valley.

On one hand, my mate collapsed after the ritual to extract information from Marcus Hale. Though she woke up a day later and gave us all the information she found, the demons are still at large and remain a threat to our children and us.

We’ve moved back to Iron Breath territory, not lingering in one place so the demons won’t know where to find the children, using the masking potion to keep them hidden.

The same will happen to Damian and Sophie’s child when the hybrid pup is born—Sophie will have to consume the potion and breastfeed her child.

Tension hangs over our shoulders like a dark cloud.

“I’m gonna go check on Sophie,” Damian tells me when we reach Iron Breath territory and my house comes into view. “We’ll catch up later.”

I nod and wait for him to disappear behind the garden on the left, where a path leads to the guesthouse behind me. That’s where Damian and Sophie are staying while Dorothy looks after her, and Orlando, Nico, Milly, and some of the other witches occupy the log cabins out there.

Letting out an agitated breath, I shove my hands into my pockets and turn toward the porch. It may not be much, but I’m rather grateful for the small moment of respite while the others take care of things down in the south.

Hannah has done enough for the alliance, draining herself for the sake of the ritual that Amalia claims only she was meant to perform. It’s been two days, and while she’s been resting back at home, all I’ve been thinking about is that night when she fell into my arms and passed out.

I could have lost her.

That’s what Dorothy said when she checked up on Hannah that first night.

She could have been pulled so far into that vision that she could have been lost in it forever. It was by sheer willpower that she walked out of it in one piece, but I can’t stop worrying about her.

I can’t stop worrying about both my mate and our daughter.

Needing to check up on them, I make my way inside, only to stop short when I hear voices in the living room.

“I had no idea who you were to my grandson. If I had known, perhaps things would be different.”

I frown when I hear my grandfather’s voice, and tread carefully inside. Hannah stands in a corner, holding Clarissa’s shoulders as our daughter stands in front of her, both of them staring at my grandfather with wide eyes.

“What’s going on here?” I ask, immediately becoming protective of my mate and daughter when I sense their tension. I make my way toward them in the corner, eyes pinned to my grandfather on the sofa.

“Conan, I didn’t know you were done with the meeting,” Grandfather says, and clears his throat, looking uncomfortable.

I slide my arm over Hannah’s shoulders and place one hand over hers, where she holds Clarissa.

“I am done. Is everything alright?”

“Yes.” Grandfather’s eyes flicker between Hannah and me, then flit to Clarissa. “But there is something I must discuss with you both.”

I nod, turning to Hannah. She reads my expression and immediately understands when she leans down and whispers to Clarissa to go to her bedroom for a little while.