Page 7 of Fated Alpha Baby

“Demons,” Amos responds, and the meeting chamber grows eerily quiet for a second as he pauses. “Two days ago, I spoke to the High Priestess of the coven, Amalia, and her description of the attacks and the creatures matches the demons we’ve been encountering.”

“Why are the demons attacking a coven in Helena Valley?” Heinrich frowns. “Are there witches in that coven linked to Ashclaw? Are there more descendants there?”

Amos shrugs. “We can’t know for sure, since wielding fire magic alone isn’t enough to link a witch to Ashclaw ancestry. But the coven isn’t the only clan in Helena that’s been fighting demons. There are other werewolf packs residing in the area, and they, too, have encountered demons. That’s why Sister Amalia has invited us to a conference this weekend.”

“A conference?” I ask, and Amos nods.

“A conference with the packs in Helena Valley to enter an alliance that may help in this fight against the demons.” Amos pauses with a deep breath. “She wants to extend the invitation of an alliance with the packs from Bitterroot Valley. What was most interesting was that one of the packs around Helena resides in Milford. An old sawmill community.”

Another bout of silence stretches over the room, and I rest my elbows on the table, leaning forward. “What are you saying, Amos?”

“I believe that the sawmill Annika had a vision of may be the one in Milford, where the Blood Mill Pack resides.”

“You want us to check this? And form an alliance with the others?” Damian nods thoughtfully.

“Yes,” Amos tells Damian. “It will be a good idea to join forces. I don’t think any of this is a coincidence. The sawmill…the witch coven…”

“Is it necessary for everyone to travel there?” I ask, seeing a way to get out of the valley for a while, where I’m not hounded by talks of visions and mates. “Sophie is pregnant, so Damian shouldn’t travel. He needs to keep her safe. And Heinrich and Annika should be here to protect everyone else.”

Amos nods. “You are absolutely right. The witches in Bitterroot shouldn’t leave the valley. It’s too dangerous. That’s why I was hoping you would go, Alpha Conan, and represent all of us. If the council agrees.”

I glance around the table as each of the council members gives a nod, followed by Damian and Heinrich.

“That settles it, then,” I say with a smirk, relieved to get some time away from the valley. “Is the plan to take Marcus Hale to Helena Valley so the witches can deal with him?”

Amos nods briskly at me. “Yes. Take Hale to the coven. Agree to the alliance. And meet the witch in the August Moon Circle who has the same powers you saw in the ritual. Burnt burgundy flames, with the ability to wield both fire and air.”

My heart stops dead in its tracks, and my jaw drops. “Wh-what?”

“Of course, I took the liberty of speaking to Sister Amalia, asking her if there were any witches with this specific power, since we’ve been on the hunt for your true mate.” Amos grins. “She assured me that one such witch is amongst them. So it’s up to you to determine if she is the woman from Annika’s vision, your true mate.”

Blood rushes in my ears, and I can feel myself paling.

So much for leaving the valley for some time away from my duties!

I am meant to be on a quest for my true mate. A quest I don’t want.

A mission I didn’t sign up for. One that I don’t care for.

Chapter 2 - Hannah

Three Days Ago

“Just as we discussed at our previous meeting, I have called upon the alphas of surrounding werewolf packs for the conference,” the High Priestess announces to the witches seated in Augusta Hall.

Not everyone is pleased by the news.

“She’s making a mistake,” Shanice, one of the witches who grew up in the coven, like her mother before her, whispers as she leans in, her voice laced with scorn.

I know exactly why Shanice isn’t always trusting of Amalia’s decisions. She still believes that it was Amalia’s ineptitude that led to her mother’s death last year.

Keeping my gaze pinned ahead of me, I don’t say anything to Shanice. She’s hardly a close friend, but she’s one of my sisters, and all I can do is tolerate her.

Luckily for me, Milly comes to my rescue, sliding her arm through mine and pulling me toward her.

“Ignore her,” Milly whispers, and that prompts a reaction from me as I glance at my friend and give her a gentle nod. We both know not to entertain Shanice’s shenanigans, which threaten to disrupt the peace the High Priestess works hard to keep in the coven.

There are real threats out there—like the demons who were behind a handful of our sisters losing their lives, including Shanice’s mother.