The doctor fell backwards. "You said it yourself, you are cursed. No woman survives your seed but Miss Annie Morales did. All the other women died. No one from the point of conception has ever carried your seed for up to a week. Miss Morales is a month pregnant with your heir."

On hearing that, Alpha Killian pushed away every File, medical records on Doctor Owen's table and his laptop hit the floor and shattered. 

He had always been powerful- too powerful for his own good. He was a monster whenever he shifted to his wolf form. His strength was unmatched. His name was whispered in packs. Enemies feared Him. 

But with that kind of strength came hunger. There were nights he woke up soaking in blood that wasn't his, nights he couldn't remember what he had done. Only the screams of the people he hurt and some- he killed, remained in his head.

Seven years ago, at the age of twenty three, he went to a very powerful witch. Her name was Hannah. She told him she could remove the beast in him and make his power dormant forever so that no one would ever get hurt. No Alpha would ever agree to that but desperate for peace, he agreed and drank the potion she prepared unknowingly to him that the magic came at a higher cost. The witch hadn't subjugated his wolf power, she only moved it. She bound his power into his legacy. He would never father a child. Every woman that conceived his seed, died within one week.

He had spent seven years and resources looking for a cure - anything to remove Hannah's curse.

That's when he met doctor Owen who suggested IVF but so far two women have died trying to carry Alpha Killian's heir so he instructed doctor Owen to stop trying two years ago.

The doctor shouted, almost tearing up.

" I did this for you. After everything you've been through, you deserve to be a father."

Alpha looks like he's not really convinced. "Why did it work with her? How did you do it? Tell me everything." he demanded.

"she came in for a checkup because she kept fainting. She said she often blacked out and her temperature was too high." So I ran some tests." He paused watching the Alpha's eyes glaring at him. "But her blood wasn't normal. Her blood cells lit up under the scanner like it was reacting to energy. I almost thought the machines were going bad. I've never seen any kind of blood work like that."

Alpha Killian cuts in "so she's not human. Are you saying she is a witch?"

"NO, she's not a witch. Her DNA carries something else, more ancient. I don't know what she is but I know she is something special." he said, holding his throat where the Alpha's hand had just been.

"Does she know who she is?"

"Absolutely not! She is completely clueless. After her test results came out, I traced her family record and discovered that she is an orphan, raised by different foster parents and houses."

"How did you get her to do the IVF?"

Doctor Owen took a step back, for fear of what the Alpha might do once he answered that question. He cleared his throat. "Well, uhhmm during one of her fainting episodes, when she was sedated for observation I extracted a single ovum. The sedation kept her unaware. When she woke up, she believed she had just been through another medical routine. She doesn't know. I had the nurse call her in today to tell her about the pregnancy and that's when I called you too."

Alpha Killian growls in rage and disgust "You stole it?"

"I preserved your bloodline." Owen blurted out almost immediately.

"I used your sperm from the cryo bank you authorised two years ago and I merged them and her womb held it. I saved you" He moves closer to the Alpha "I did this for you."

"What you have done just might be the death of all of us. I smell war coming. The council will tear her apart if they find out about this. We don't know what she is. The one thing the council fears the most is the power they can't control. They'll see her as a threat and that puts her in danger."

"She is no threat at all," he argued back.

Alpha moved closer to the door almost as if he was leaving. "What if the reason she survived the implantation is because what lives inside of her is eager to destroy all of us?"

"But there is no hostility in her."

"Shut up Owen, you don't even know what she is. You have no idea of what you have done. She is carrying a hybrid and the council will sense the shift in bloodlines soon and they'll come for her.

You are a powerful Alpha, Your family is one of the most influential and highly connected werewolf conglomerates in America. You can protect her.

You have to protect her. Give me some time, and I'll definitely find out what she is.

 Alpha turned and walked out on him. Slammed the door and stormed into the rain and made his way back to the villa.

The gate of the villa swung open before the Alpha's black SUV even stopped. He stepped out and signalled all his men to gather around him.

"Where is she?" He asked. 

"Upstairs." 

Alpha's right hand man and one of his loyal guards, Adam, answered the Alpha.

"I had the maid prepare the guest house for her but she is restless. She's been yelling, and she wants to leave."

"Double the security around the perimeters. No one leaves and no one comes in. You breathe wrong around that girl, I'll rip your throat." Alpha commanded and walked away"

"Yes Alpha." all his men responded and scattered to their various posts, only Adam followed behind the Alpha. 

Annie was inside the room upstairs. She was pacing and banging on the door. Alpha could hear her scream as he walked up to her room. Adam unlocked the door and only the Alpha went in.

Annie's face was flushed with frustration, her hair loose and wild. And she looks way more fiesty than earlier at the hospital. For a minute Alpha thought she was breathtakingly beautiful but he shook it off.

"You! What do you want from me?" She pointed her finger at his face.

He shut the door behind him gently and leaned against it. "You are hiding something." He said.

Annie blinked "What? You kidnapped me! Now let me out of here."

"Don't play dumb with me" His voice became deeper and colder. "You came out of nowhere with a miraculous womb that can suddenly carry my heir. Tell me, what are you?

"Who the hell do you think you are? Annie snapped. I'm tired of listening to you talk crazy about an heir. Let me go now."

Alpha's brow lifted. No one has ever talked to him like that before. "You have no idea who you are talking to so I'll forgive you."

"Fuck you." she fired back at him "so you think because you have money and bodyguards everywhere that'll just fall on my knees to worship you?"

 He hated being talked to like that but damn she had fire in her bones and she is feisty too.

He took a step closer "You are not afraid of me." and grabbed her neck-not choking her but holding. "Why are you not afraid of me? Did one of my enemies send you?" 

Annie glared at him "You are just a man playing monster " let go of me."

He hates her courage but he is turned on by it. He was not used to being challenged but it thrilled him. He was drawn to her scent. He leaned close enough like he was going to sniff her. He stared at her and she stared back. She didn't move. He couldn't stop himself, in a heartbeat His mouth found hers, he kissed her and she froze. Lost in the moment for a second then realisation hit her. She pulled back and slapped him. 

A heavy silence between them, Annie's breath was pulsing with rage and fear. She was expecting him to hit her back. Alpha smiled slightly, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve like the slap never happened. 

"Doctor Owen said something interesting today."

Annie was thrown off by how easily he wasn't mad about the slap or hitting her. "What-what are you talking about?"

"Long story short- he stole your eggs, merged them with my sperm and he had IVF carried out on you during one of your medical check-ups and your womb held my seed without killing you." 

"He did all that without my consent? That's insane. I should sue both of you." Annie is even more confused. "That's horrible."

Alpha smirks- that dangerous kind of smirk that's like saying he is in control. "Before that, you need to survive first. Some dangerous people will not let you have this baby. You are not human, I am a werewolf, that baby has my blood and the blood of whatever you are. So I ask again, what are you?

Annie laughed and stepped forward "You're insane. I am human okay? I don't have claws or fangs or whatever sick fantasy you are spinning in that Crazy head of yours."

Alpha tightened his jaw "You are not human, you are not a witch and you are obviously not a werewolf. I can feel it. Your scent is different. I am not letting you go until I figure out what to do with you." He turned to leave her room.

Annie pulled up behind him. "You have no right. I need to..."

She heard the baby's voice again from within her. 

"He's right mummy. You are not human."

The baby's voice was faint and soft. Annie was shocked, clutching her belly "Did you hear that? 

"Hear what?" Alpha hadn't spoken. He watched her with curiosity and then Stepped towards her. 

Annie didn't answer. She held her belly with one hand, the other hand gripping the wall. The fear in her eyes was no longer directed at Him, it was inward, like she was trying to comprehend what was inside her.

He sensed the shift in her attitude. He took another step closer to her, his eyes narrowing, he held her wrist "What is it? What did you hear?"

"Don't touch me" Annie removed his hand. 

"Mommy, you have to stay. He is the only one who can protect us. You have to trust the Alpha." Annie instinctively knew she was safe around him.

"Are you the Alpha?" She stared into his eyes. 

He hesitated for a moment but said it calmly. "Yes, I'm the Alpha. You said you are human. How did you know that?" He watched her like she was a puzzle and a threat. 

"It's the baby. The baby said You are Alpha and that I can trust you." Annie sobbed. "What is happening to me?"

Alpha's gaze softened in a way he's never allowed anyone to see "The baby spoke to you?"

Annie nodded slowly. "I think so. I also heard it back at the hospital. It was coming out of me and it wasn't my voice."

The Alpha exhaled. Of all the strange things he had seen in his life-shape-shifting beasts, wolf pack wars and witches' curses, this was different. He lowered his voice and looked into her eyes. "Listen to me Annie, this child is not ordinary. It's special in ways you may not understand right but if this child trusts me, you should trust me and do as I say. I'll never let any harm come to either of you."

They were both silent and looking deep into each other's eyes. Then he looked away, composing himself again, commanding like a man hiding the softness he had just revealed. "You will stay here. I'll ask the maids to give you food and a change of clothes. I'll leave the door open trusting that you will not try to run away with our mysterious baby. Feel free to have a tour of the villa if you want, as long as you don't cross the gate." He left the room.

The house was quiet in the morning, and Annie woke up to the smell of rain. She left her room, gazing through the hallway barefoot. The mansion was enormous and reeked of luxury. Her curiosity led her to a half-closed door –the Alpha's study.

She didn't really mean to look but she did.

The sight of what she saw shocked her.

She saw Alpha Killian standing behind a woman, her black leather pants undone, her legs spread apart and her back arced over the table. The table shook softly as Alpha stroked her from behind. His breath came in a rough burst against her neck and she moaned in a soft low tone. Her hair was loose from Alpha's tight grip.

Annie stepped back, heart pounding and mouth wide open. The Alpha's broad back was turned towards her. His shirt was discarded somewhere on the floor. She stared a second longer, long enough to notice the control in his movement, the strange quiet authority that made even sex look like power. She slowly walked away before she would be noticed. 

Alpha, while he finished off on the woman, he held her for a calm moment and said her name. 

"Onika." 

He leaned back on his chair, half-dressed, sweat dripping down his chest. He watched her dress up.

Yes, Alpha " The room was silent except for the faint sound of Onika pulling her pants back on. Her body was full of scars– scars that held painful stories. They've had sex too many times. She didn't hide her body from him, She never did.

Alpha poured himself a glass of whisky "The baby inside her...it talks." he said quietly almost to himself. 

"Talks?" Onika sat on the edge of the table, adjusted her leather jacket and tied her hair back. She is calm, poised and her movements are soldier-like.

Alpha definitely is not going to repeat himself. He sipped his whisky. "Tighten security around her. No one– no one goes an inch near her without your clearance."

"You are worried," she said with unwavering certainty. 

Alpha looked away from her and fixed his gaze on the glass of whisky "I don't like it when you read me like that."

"You don't like that, I'm right. You've never had any weaknesses till now. She's your weakness " Onika stood up and backed away. "I'll see to the security, make sure she is safe."

"She's not just any kind of weakness, she is also a threat. I hate not knowing what's going on with her. Doctor Owen says her fucking blood is not human and he doesn't know what she is." he threw the glass cup of whisky on the wall and it shattered. 

Onika didn't blink. There is no softness in her only loyalty. She stepped closer to him "You are the Alpha. You've faced worse. You've tamed monsters. Built an empire. You are in control. Whatever this is, you'll handle it. You always do.

Alpha looked at her and said calmly "You could have had a different life, you know. 

"I did once." she said quietly " until your father destroyed my pack. I lost everything. You gave me a choice –revenge or purpose and I chose purpose."

He nodded "and you've never regretted it?"

"Regret is Luxury Alpha," she said, meeting his eyes. " You thought me better than that."

Years ago, Alpha Killian saved Onika from his father's wrath. When he rose to power she followed him, not as a lover, not as a slave but as his blade. When Alpha's curse began, and every woman who got pregnant with his child died, Onika took out her womb as an act of sexual service to the Alpha. She can never get pregnant or die from Alpha's cursed seed because she has no womb.

He didn't ask her to do it but she volunteered and since then, she had been his sex mate, his most loyal, most dangerous weapon. For two years, he had not been with any other woman sexually. 

Alpha exhaled deeply "You've given too much for me Onika. "

"I owe you my life." she smiled faintly "You got this Alpha. "

Alpha stood up and looked through the window in a silent moment. "You know she saw us right?"

Onika nodded "Yes I caught her scent too. She's a strong one." She stepped closer to the door and then turned to the Alpha "I'll see to her security. You should rest."

Alpha watched her leave and continued to stare into the air.

Far beyond the walls of the Alpha's mansion where the world grew quieter and the air still smelled of dew, a lone witch woke to the same dawn.

Her name was Lady Eden. The forest around her cabin was still. She was not old but her hair was grey. Her fingers were long and dirty from years of handling ash.

She rose from her bed and stepped into the circle she had drawn before. Candles, White Chalk, bones, a werewolf skeleton, and a bowl of clean water that reflected her face.

She knelt to do her prayers, waved her hand and the candles lit themselves, she whispered incantations and the air around her felt like danger was lurking. Her hand trembled. The clean water darkened and she saw a vision through the bowl of water. She stumbled back, holding her chest.

"A baby" 

She murmured. "Something has awakened." she chanted more and deeper and she saw more vision. 

The bowl of water caught fire.

Then came a flash – a woman carrying a baby in her womb, glowing faintly with fire. Wolves burning, witches falling to their knees, supernaturals burning and screaming as they were burned to ashes but she didn't see the woman's face.

"Something is coming," she said in a more trembling voice. "It grows in the womb of fire. It's going to end us all." Her body shook violently as she tried to look deeper into the vision, but the moment she did, her eyes bled out. 

Blood ran down her cheek like tears. She screamed and slammed her palm against the floor breaking the connections. The fire in the bowl of water went out instantly. Only her intense breathing remained. She stared at her trembling hands.

"Someone has broken the balance. If this child is born we will all burn." She reached for the bowl of salt on her table and cast it into the air trying to cleanse the vision but the air still felt dark and unmoved.

******

The night came, the Zerok family private property sat on the edge of the forest – old and private. It held all their family's secrets. 

 Alpha had two half-brothers. They are of the same father but not of the same mother. Alpha and his two half-brothers always gathered there whenever they needed to present a united front to the outside world, especially at the council meetings even when they could barely stand each other's scent. They would never attend any council meeting alone, they always went together to let the other packs and council members know that their family bond is unbreakable. They never visited each other. That's why they rendezvous at the family's private estate property. 

Kael and his wife were the first ones to arrive. He never liked being kept waiting – certainly not by the Alpha. Dressed in his black tailored suits, he paced near the windows watching the moonlight and the polished cars in the driveway. 

He checked his wristwatch for the third time. Irritated. "He's late again," he muttered, glancing towards the massive wooden door that hadn't opened over an hour ago.

His wife Malory sat near the grand piano, her legs elegantly crossed, scrolling through her phone as if she were bored at a funeral she didn't want to attend. "He enjoys it – making us wait. He likes making an entrance " she didn't look up. "

Kael Scoffs while pacing. "Typical Killian. I really don't have time for this."

Malory looked up and said "I guess it's his favourite form of dominance ever since he lost the ability to shift into a wolf " 

Kael gave a low chuckle "You think it makes him feel powerful?"

"Power has to be seen, Kael and he is desperate for everyone to keep seeing it," she said coolly. 

"We've all gone crazy following an Alpha without a wolf. What kind of Alpha gives up his wolf simply because he couldn't handle guilt?" Kael stopped pacing and looked towards his younger brother Dante.

Dante was lounging on the far side of the room. Quiet, calm. And disinterested, he had been flipping through the pages of a worn out book the whole time, enjoying a glass of whisky, ignoring them. 

Dante is the calm one among the three brothers but he is also a man who can burn the whole world down if he chooses to but he wants nothing to do with the werewolf hierarchy. His posture is lazy but yet he is very strong.

"Dante" 

Kael called with irritation "You've been sitting there long enough like a corpse, don't you have anything to say?"

Dante's gaze was still on the book, and he sipped his drink from the other hand. "About Killian being late? He's always late, you are always angry and Malory is always talking. Nothing is new." 

Malory adjusted her fur coat. "None of you ever listens."

Kael shot a look at his wife then looked back at Dante. "You think pretending like you don't care about all of this makes you look cool?"

Dante rolled his eyes. "You crave the Alpha's seat so much, it's eating you alive."

Kael laughed " I crave for balance brother, a leader who can actually lead properly, someone who's not a walking corpse. An Alpha who can't even shapeshift should at least show up on time." 

Dante shrugged his shoulders "he may have lost his wolf but the pack would literally die for him. He's got loyalists who would sacrifice everything for him. You've seen it. So quit blabbing and make yourself useful."

Kaels expression darkened "They'd die because they fear him, That's not loyalty, that's control, He's weak."

Malory sighs "You might as well get them to fear you too."

Kael turned sharply towards her "Careful now Malory."

Dante watched them from his seat unimpressed. "You two need therapy."

Malory ignored them, moving toward the window, she saw headlights in the distance and the engine rumbled. The Alpha's convoy rolled into the compound. "He's here," she said, voice dropping. 

Immediately both men straightened. Kael exhaled "Finally." 

Dante shut his book and gulped down the remaining whisky. "It's show time."

The door opened and the Alpha walked in. He didn't apologise for being late, he never did.

"Hello brothers, Malory." He simply said with one hand in his pocket. 

Kael forced a smile "Brother, we were starting to think you forgot about the council meeting today." 

"Kael, wipe that fake smile off your face." He said calmly. 

Kael smirked almost like he expected that response. "The council is waiting." 

No matter their opinions or grudges,  

In front of the world, they stood united. They would never let the council see division. That was a rule.

Dante stood up now, slipped his hand into his pocket. "Anyway," he said slowly and unbothered. "It's what we always do. Let the council see us together – united even if it's for a show"

Kael fixed his gaze on the Alpha "Well we wouldn't want them thinking the great Zerok brothers can't keep to time."

The Alpha was already walking towards the door. "Let's go" he turned towards the door and they followed behind him.

The Zerok brothers' convoy drove through the forest road, three cars, all moving in perfect sync. 

The brothers and Malory rode inside Alpha's executive black luxury van – armoured and tinted so deeply. The interior and seats were arranged like a private jet cabin, facing each other.

The brothers sat facing each other, and Malory lounged at Kael's side. No one spoke. Alpha didn't like small talk.

Then–

"Ping."

The sound of a text message dropped, cutting through the quietness.

Alpha Killian slipped his hand into his breast pocket and pulled out his phone. He glanced through the screen and opened the new message from Onika.

Onika

"She's gone. The girl escaped."

Alpha's eyes looked so mad, he gripped the phone tightly "stop the car" he said calmly but the car didn't stop maybe the driver thought he misheard. 

"I said stop the car now!"