Page 55 of Fated Alpha Baby

I nod at Damian. “Sounds good. Hannah?”

“If you’re joining the search team, then I’d like to come with you. I have known Nico since he was a baby. I need to be there with my sisters.”

“What about Clarissa?”

“We’ll take her with us.”

Damian interjects. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to expose your daughter like that. If you want, she can stay with Sophie and me. We’ll take care of her. Keep her safe in Red Moon territory. If anything, Sophie is still able to use her magic as a defense against the demons. She will be safe for now. At least until you can get this potion.”

Though I’m not entirely sure that I want Hannah to accompany me on the search for Alpha Orlando’s child, I can’t help but understand her concerns. I know our daughter will be safe with Damian and Sophie in Red Moon territory.

And I’m not about to get into an argument with her in front of everyone else.

What I wasn’t expecting was for my grandfather to say, “I will accompany your daughter to Red Moon territory to keep an eye on her.”

Hannah gasps. “That won’t be necessary, Elder Bernard.”

“I insist. The child is my great-granddaughter, and I would like to get to know her.”

“Yes, Elder Bernard,” Hannah says, lowering her head and turning to whisper to me, “If you want, I’ll stay with Clarissa.”

“No,” I whisper back. “You can come with me. She’ll be safe with Damian and my grandfather.”

“Can you ask him to keep our secret, for now?”

“I will do that.”

Hannah nods, but there’s a fearful look on her face. Dismissing it to everything that’s going on currently, I return my attention to the meeting and discuss who will join the search party, and who will remain to keep everyone safe.

Chapter 16 - Hannah

With Clarissa safely in Red Moon territory, under Sophie’s and Damian’s protection, I accompany the group from Bitterroot Valley back to Augusta.

Everyone is already waiting for us there, and Milly greets me with the tightest hug as soon as we arrive in Augusta. Orlando is obviously troubled, his eyes worn and rimmed with dark circles of restlessness, his cold, hard expression visible from across the hall.

Conan, Heinrich, Annika, Simon, Heinrich’s delta, Dedrik, and a few other soldiers from all three sides of the Bitterroot Valley join the allies to discuss a way to find Nico. We’re all unsettled by his capture.

But his father is the most distressed.

Worried for the child, I’m also worried about Clarissa, who’s back in the valley, under Damian and Sophie’s care, with Elder Bernard watching over her.

Conan doesn’t appear fazed by it, proving that he doesn’t know about my exile at his grandfather’s hands. In fact, it’s almost as if he was glad that his grandfather didn’t bat an eyelid before offering to watch Clarissa and keep her safe.

He doesn’t know…

And that’s why, throughout our journey to Augusta, I’ve been mulling over what Dorothy told me—that Conan never knew I’d been banished.

But there’s no time to think about that right now. We have to find Nico.

“Everyone, settle down,” High Priestess Amalia announces once we’ve all gathered inside the coven’s ceremonial hall. Candles burn along the stone walls, their flames flickering violently from the storm brewing outside. “We need answers, and quickly.”

Orlando drags a hand over his exhausted face. “My patrol found traces of demon corruption near the northern riverbank,” he growls. “That’s where Nico disappeared.”

“Was he alone?” Conan asks sharply.

Orlando shakes his head. “Two guards were with him. They’d been training near the riverbank. Nico’s wolf emerged earlier than expected,” Orlando admits with a heavy-hearted sigh. “Both guards were slaughtered.” His jaw tightens dangerously. “Nico was taken alive.”

Silence falls heavily across the hall.