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!"

The driver slammed on the brakes at the Alpha's order, the tyres screeching as the car stopped by the roadside.

"What the hell, Killian? We're going to be late," Kael snapped.

The Alpha shot him a cold look. "You can go on without me I'll catch up when I can."

"Seriously, brother, what's going on?" Dante sighed heavily.

"I don't have time to explain," the Alpha replied, stepping out of the SUV with his phone pressed to his ear, urgency in his voice.

Kael's annoyance turned to disbelief. "You're really not coming? We can't show up to the council meeting looking like we can't get our acts together. You know that people talk."

"Come on, Kael, let's not kid ourselves. You've always wanted to be Alpha. Go save the day, brother," he said flatly as he walked towards another SUV parked behind.

Kael shot him a glare as he moved away. "That arrogant jerk."

The Alpha climbed into the car, and the driver quickly backed out. They watched as the vehicle vanished into the dense fog of the night.

Mallory leaned in closer, her perfectly manicured fingers drawing absent circles on Kael's sleeve, giving the impression that she was trying to comfort him, even though her words dripped with malice. "Sweetheart, chill out. You're going to get wrinkles on that forehead of yours if you worry too much." She tilted her head, her eyes sparkling in the soft glow of the car's interior. "You know, sometimes thrones do need replacements."

Dante rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Malory, you're sounding like a very boring bedtime story."

For a moment, silence hung in the air, with only the faint hum of the engine breaking it.

Kael rubbed his hand over his face in frustration. "Move," he commanded the driver. "The council isn't going to wait around forever." The driver looked back hesitantly, seeking Dante's approval with his gaze.

Dante, lazily leaning against the window, didn't look bothered. "We wait," he said softly.

Kael looked all confused, his eyebrows knitting together. "What did you say?"

"I said we wait," Dante repeated, his words slower this time. "If the Alpha isn't coming, then I'm not going either."

Kael scoffed, his voice turning sharp. "You must be out of your mind, Dante. It's one thing for the council to doubt his leadership-now he wants us to look like there is division amongst us"

Dante interrupted with a sly grin, "But there is division amongst us brother. We just know how to hide it in public."

Malory chuckled softly, crossing her legs. "You'd make a terrible Alpha, Dante."

"I know," he replied flatly. "That's why I sleep better than either of you."

Kael snapped back "Dante, do you really think this is funny? What is wrong with the two of you?"

Dante leaned in closer, his eyes now sharp and focused. "Killian has never been careless. Whatever made him stop on his way to the council meeting must be important. If the Alpha is out there dealing with whatever it is, we should just wait for him instead of showing up to the council meeting looking like a bunch of stray cats. That's what they call uhmmm... I don't know... loyalty? Sound familiar?"

Kael snorted. "Loyalty or foolishness?"

"Sometimes they go hand in hand," Dante said with a knowing smile. "You and Malory can go ahead."

Kael leaned back, shooting a glare at the mist-filled landscape. "Fine, we'll wait," he muttered.

Malory gave him an incredulous look.

*****

The rain poured down heavily, Onika and some of Alpha's men were scouring the woods with torchlights, desperately searching for Annie. Mud splattered up their legs as they pushed through the thick forest. Onika's hair was soaked, sticking to her face, and her black combat outfit clung to her skin.

"Keep moving," she commanded. "I want every trail, every scent, and every single leaf in this forest checked!"

One of the bodyguards cuts in "Ma'am, she couldn't have gone far, but the rain is washing away her tracks... it's impossible to..."

Onika turned around to face him, her fierce glare locking onto his eyes. "Do you think I'm interested in your excuses? She stepped closer, rain dripping from her lashes. "You couldn't even keep track of a vulnerable pregnant girl. How could she possibly slip away right under your nose?"

The bodyguard stammered, "Ma'am...I truly apologise," his voice barely steady as he panicked. "It doesn't even make any sense; we were watching her closely. One moment, she was right there in her room and the next, she just vanished into thin air."

Onika looked furious, "You had one job! Just one damn job, and you utterly failed at it. Do you really expect me to relay this ridiculous excuse you're feeding me to the Alpha? Really? Just get out of my sight!" she spat, waving her hand dismissively.

Behind her, one of the bodyguards, clearly overwhelmed, stumbled onto a root, grasping onto his torchlight as if it could save him from Onika's furious gaze. "Ma'am, I believe she might be heading north," he managed to say, his voice shaky, unsure if it would even help their plight.

"Good!" Onika snapped back, her authority unwavering. "Now, I want you all to spread out. Three of you take the eastern ridge; the other three, circle back to the villa. The rest of you are coming with me as we go north!" Her commanding tone left no room for disobedience.

As thunder rumbled overhead, a bolt of lightning lit up the darkened sky, briefly lighting up Onika's face, revealing how overwhelmed she was "Tonight is the full moon," she said, her voice low yet intense. "You all better pray that other wolves don't find her before we do. The Alpha would bury us if that happened..." She wiped the rain from her face, "He'll... he'll never forgive me," she murmured to herself, the thought of letting the Alpha down, made her stomach twist. 

The rain kept pouring down. The forest was full of sticks that scratched Annie's legs, her hair, and her dress was soaked. She pushed through wet leaves and tall trees, her eyes searching for a way out of the bush.

"Alpha my foot! What kind of stupid name is that huh?" She hissed and advanced further into the woods.

But then, softly and slowly came the baby's voice "Mommy it's not safe out here, you have to go back now."

Annie wasn't startled at hearing the baby's voice again this time "Ohhh not again!" She pressed her hand on her abdomen, "I am not listening to an embryo"

"Mommy, where would you go?" the tiny voice persisted, almost pleading in its tone. 

"Home!" she snapped back, her voice irritated. "Away from this nightmare. I know you're not real! Alpha? Villa? None of this is true, okay? I'm heading back to the real world where things make sense."

"Mommy, something bad is going to happen. We are not safe here," the baby warned, 

"Oh yeah? How would you-a tiny winy barely-formed embryo-know that it's not safe huh? You're just..."

Before she could finish, a massive tree branch crashed down in front of her, she jumped back and her foot hit a rock, her ankle twisted. She stumbled and crashed down hard onto the wet ground and she screamed. 

She tried to stand up but she couldn't, then she saw the blood gushing out from the side of her ribs, she had torn her ribs from the fall. She whimpered in pain and tears. 

"No, no, no..." down on the soaked ground, she struggled to get back on her feet, her fingers digging into the mud below her. She tried to look at her wound to see how injured she was.

"Mommy you need to get up and run now! There's no time!" 

"Give me a break, you little..." 

That's when she heard it-a low growl that made her freeze in place. Slowly lifting her head, she saw it-just a stone's throw away, a massive wolf with wet fur, glowing eyes, and long sharp teeth, clearly hungry.

In a flash, Annie found her footing and took off, running faster than she ever had. The wolf chased her immediately. She didn't dare look back, even though the growl behind her sounded like thunder. 

Branches whipped against her face, and mud clung to her legs. The more she ran, the more she tore her injured ribs. 

She could feel it - the creature chasing her. Heavy, fast, hungry, and relentless. The ground trembled with each step.

Her heart pounding, her vision blurred,

Then - a root.

She didn't see it.

She stumbled and hit the ground painfully, landing on her stomach. A sharp wave of pain coursed through her body. She gripped her belly with one hand, gasping desperately, blood mingling with rain on her face. Fear flooded her mind-was her baby okay?

"My... baby..."

Her voice shook as she attempted to crawl, but each movement sent searing pain through her ribs and every breath was like torture.

Behind her, the growl grew louder. The bad wolf had found her, lying helplessly on the ground, unable to run anymore. It prowled around her knowing she couldn't run anymore, the wolf stepped into her front view, looking massive and terrible, It lowered its head, teeth glinting like blades.

Annie whimpered, dragging herself backwards. 

"Please..." 

She begged, pressing her hand against her belly as if to protect the baby from the wolf.

 "Baby... I'm so sorry..." She closed her eyes, surrendering to the reality that escape was impossible.

The wolf lunged at her throat.