Page 73 of Fated Alpha Baby

Beside me, Hannah shivers at the mention of the child who was saved decades ago; her forefather, whose bloodline was passed down to her, Luna Sophie, and Luna Annika, as well as Alpha Orlando’s deceased mate, Candice. Goddess knows who else shares their lineage.

“We analyzed the ancient text, written in a language only Sister Amalia could translate. In a nutshell, this being was devastating the valley centuries ago, and the Ashclaw Pack had been keeping it locked away.”

“So, it wasn’t the Ashclaw Pack’s powers the demons were after…” Damian says thoughtfully, stroking his chin. “Or ours, for that matter.”

Amalia clears her throat. “No. It is your power they need, especially fire power. However, from what we have gathered from this scroll, it appears that they are trying to free their leader. Siphoning your powers is exactly what they need to free it. Fire power is especially needed, since fire is what trapped it.”

“So why open this portal in Helena Valley?” Heinrich asks.

“Because the more demons there are in our world, the easier it is to free their leader,” Amalia responds.

“But why do it in Milford?” Alpha William grunts.

“Because Helena Valley is where this being was originally found, almost a century ago,” Amalia responds, shivering again. “The August Moon witches never spoke his name. They called him the Hollow King. But in the oldest records, his name was Vaelkor.”

“Vaelkor…?” Alpha Orlando whispers. “We know that name in Nightcreek. It is a tale as old as time.”

“We’ve heard it, too,” I say, my heart hammering in my chest. “Old myths only. The kind of stories told around campfires.”

“We didn’t think any of it was true,” Alpha Theodore adds. “We’ve heard it in Goldfang, too.”

Amos takes a deep breath. “This is no longer a myth,” he says, exchanging a look with Amalia. “Vaelkor is a prisoner in the southern ruins. And we cannot let him out.”

“We have placed more runes around the valley, but there is no guarantee that it will hold him,” Amalia says with fear in her voice—the first time I’ve ever heard her sound fearful. “Not when more demons enter through that portal. We have to close it. And we have to find whoever is working so hard to orchestrate all of this.”

“Marcus Hale doesn’t have names,” Hannah says, and Amalia nods.

“He is being manipulated, and someone else is running the show and calling the shots. Until we find who it is, and until we find a way to close the portal, we cannot remain in the valley.”

“What do you mean, Amalia?” I ask.

“Those who are at greater risk, who mean something to Vaelkor’s release…they need to evacuate the valley. Go into hiding. The children, the descendants of Ashclaw, anyone who is a direct target.”

“We can’t just leave,” Sophie whispers, clutching her belly tightly, her face strained as if she’s having contractions already. “This is our home now.”

“I agree,” I say with a sigh. “But at the same time, we don’t expect you to devise a method to close the portal by using the children. There must be another way.”

Amalia nods. “We do not plan on using the children. I can assure you of that, Alpha Conan. The last thing we need is to put those children through more distress.”

“But we have to study why the portal reacts to them in different ways,” Amos adds. “And the children are not the only hybrids. Our lunas are hybrids, too. But this study will take some time. Until then, the valley is not safe for any hybrids.”

I glance at Hannah, noticing the way worry is etched on her brow, and turn back to the research team and Amalia.

“What do you suggest, then? We can’t hide out in Augusta, either. Helena Valley is high-risk, too.”

A long moment of silence stretches across the meeting chamber, and a hopeless feeling settles over everyone in the room.

Until Heinrich clears his throat.

“We may have a solution,” he offers, exchanging a knowing look with Annika.

“Yes, we do,” she concedes. “But it means living in the human world.”

“What are you talking about?” Elder Mortimer, Heinrich’s father, frowns at his son and the luna of the Silver Stone Pack.

Heinrich straightens and shifts closer to the table. “I have something that I’ve been keeping from everyone for many years. A secret of sorts. I own a pharmaceutical company in the city.”

An audible, unified gasp goes around the room.