Page 74 of Fated Alpha Baby

“A pharmaceutical company…?” Elder Mortimer is bewildered.

“Yes, Father,” Heinrich sighs and glances at his mate. “That’s where I met Annika for the first time. She had been my assistant for four years. I’d been living a double life in Hamilton until Annika was revealed as my fated mate, and she learned about werewolves.”

“You have exposed our kind to the humans?” Elder Joel, Damian’s uncle, glares at Heinrich.

“No, Elder Joel. Before Annika, no one knew I was a wolf. Even now, my true identity is still a secret.”

“We still run the company,” Annika adds. “And to this day, no one even suspects that Heinrich is different. In fact, we believe that being amongst so many humans has just made his scent disappear in the crowd. Perfectly hidden from the likes of the demons.”

“So, what you’re saying is that we should send the hybrids into the human world? Scattered—”

Heinrich interrupts Elder Mortimer. “No, not scattered, Father. Apart from the company, we also own an apartment building in Hamilton. And I believe that the research team and the sisters can use the company facilities to conduct their studies and tests.”

My grandfather nods thoughtfully. “Perhaps this is a good idea,” he says, meeting my eyes. “The children and the lunas will be safest outside of the valley, and with the masking potion, there will be no way of detecting them. The rest of us in the valley will keep everyone safe. And if the ones the demons are after are not here, the demons won’t have a reason to attack.”

“They still have a reason, Elder Bernard,” Damian counters. “Whatever that thing is underneath the southern ruins, it keeps the demons coming back.”

Sophie sighs and turns to her mate. “Damian, what if we relocated? Even if it was just for a while. Anastasia, the healer from Red Moon, can come with us. She can be my midwife and help me give birth to our child. Goddess knows that the valley is currently not the ideal place to give birth.”

“Anastasia and I are actually partners in the company. She’s a silent partner, an anonymous one. She’s the reason I opened the company at all. We’ve been taking our research into human medicine. And I’m sure she’ll be more than happy to help Luna Sophie through the birth of your child, Damian.”

Damian nods slowly, brows furrowed in deep thought as he turns to me. “What about you, Conan? Are you okay with this?”

I nod immediately. “My priority right now is to protect my mate and our daughter. There is no question about it. If staying in Hamilton will ensure their safety, then I am willing to do it.”

Damian takes a deep breath before turning to Heinrich again. “Fine. I don’t like the thought of leaving the pack unattended, but Elder Joel will be in charge of Red Moon while we’re gone.”

“Nico and I will be joining you,” Alpha Orlando says. “If the offer is extended to the rest of the alliance, of course.”

“Naturally,” Heinrich responds with a firm nod. “Your son is a hybrid. He can’t stay here, and he shouldn’t go home. Anyone who is in danger is welcome to an apartment in the city.”

“Thank you, Alpha Heinrich,” Elder Joel says to him, and the rest of the meeting chamber follows with gratitude for Heinrich offering his help to keep the hybrids safe.

The meeting is wound up with Amos and Amalia’s setting out actionable plans to find out who was behind the initial awakening of the demons—the cloaked figure Hannah saw in her vision speaking to Marcus Hale.

As the chamber clears out, Hannah and I make our way back home, where Milly is watching Clarissa and Nico. Alpha Orlando soon joins us to get his son from our house.

“You have good friends in the valley, Alpha Conan,” he says as we walk up the path leading to the house.

“Friends…” I repeat, mulling over the word and glancing at Hannah.

She smiles as if she can read my thoughts, and I give her hand a gentle squeeze. The only friends I’ve ever known were Hannah, while growing up, and Simon.

Everyone else was simply an acquaintance. Just fellow werewolves, and later, alphas of other packs.

Perhaps I had been so tightly governed by my grandfather’s ways that I had become too blinded to see things that were right under my nose.

If there’s one thing about Damian and Hienrich, it’s that they will always put their people first. And somehow, Iron Breath has become a part of that equation. I can’t believe I ever doubted them or resisted the fated mate ritual for so long.

Orlando heads inside first to get Nico, and Hannah and I stay back on the porch when it seems like she has something on her mind.

“I hate the idea of Sophie traveling again when she’s about to give birth,” Hannah whispers.

“She’ll be fine, Hannah. She isn’t due for another two days. Anastasia will join us in the city, anyway. I heard she’s a very gifted healer.”

Hannah nods. “She does sound like a brilliant woman. I can’t wait to meet her.”

I run a hand through my hair and grimace. “I think I owe her an apology.”