The Alpha's Hidden Heir

The night Elena Vale discovered she was pregnant was also the night she learned she had been lied to her entire life. Rain hammered against the windows of the little apartment while she stood barefoot in the bathroom, staring at the two pink lines in her trembling hand. Two. Not one. Two. Her breath caught. No… She tested again. Then a third time. The answer remained the same. Pregnant. Elena slowly lowered herself onto the closed toilet seat. For twenty-four years, she had been careful. Careful about whom she trusted. Careful about where she went. Careful about keeping the strange things that happened around her hidden. She had never shifted like the other wolves in her village. She had never heard a wolf whisper inside her head. She had never experienced the pull of a mate. And she had always been told that was because she was defective. Broken. Human. But there was one thing she had never been careful about. Darius Blackthorn. The most powerful Alpha in the Northern territories. The man she had spent one reckless night with six weeks ago. A man she had promised herself she would never see again. Elena closed her eyes. That night had been a mistake. At least, that was what she had told herself. Until now. Her phone suddenly rang. She flinched. Unknown number. She almost ignored it. Then it rang again. And again. Something in her chest tightened. She answered. Hello? Silence. Elena frowned. Who is this? A man's voice finally came through. Leave the city tonight. Her blood went cold. Who are you? You don't understand what you've done. The call ended. Elena stared at the screen. A second later, another message appeared. They know about the child. Her fingers went numb. The phone slipped from her hand. Child. Someone knew. But how? She hadn't told anyone. Not even her closest friend. She looked down at her stomach. There was nothing to see yet. Just a flat stomach beneath an oversized shirt. But suddenly it felt as though the entire world could see the secret she was carrying. She stood. Her heart pounded. She needed to leave. Immediately. Elena rushed to her bedroom and began throwing clothes into a bag. She had barely zipped it when she heard something outside. A low growl. Not human. Her entire body froze. Another growl followed. Closer. Elena slowly walked toward the window. She pulled the curtain aside. Three black SUVs were parked outside her building. Men dressed in dark clothing surrounded them. And they weren't human either. She could feel it. She had always been unusually sensitive to the presence of wolves. But tonight, the sensation was different. Stronger. As if something inside her had awakened. One of the men looked directly toward her window. Their eyes met. His eyes flashed gold. Elena stepped backward. No. The front door of her apartment building slammed open. Footsteps thundered up the stairs. One floor. Then another. Then another. They're coming for me. Elena grabbed her bag. She ran toward the back door. But before she could reach it, the apartment door exploded inward. Three men entered. The first was enormous. The second carried a silver knife. The third simply smiled. Found her. Elena backed away. Who are you? The smiling man looked at her stomach. Then his smile disappeared. Where is the child? Elena's heart stopped. I don't know what you're talking about. You're lying. The man moved toward her. Elena grabbed the nearest lamp and swung it. It connected with his shoulder. He staggered. She ran. She didn't make it two steps. A hand caught her wrist. Pain shot through her arm. Let go! She fought desperately. Then_ A deafening roar shook the entire building. Every wolf in the room froze. The man holding Elena released her. His face drained of color. No… Elena turned toward the broken doorway. A man stood there. Tall. Broad-shouldered. Dressed entirely in black. Rainwater dripped from his hair. His eyes were burning gold. Elena knew that face. She had tried very hard to forget it. Darius Blackthorn. The Alpha. Her one-night mistake. His gaze moved from the men… to Elena… and finally to her stomach. Something changed in his expression. Shock. Then fury. He took one slow step into the apartment. Who touched my mate? Elena's heart stopped. Mate? The word echoed inside her head. The men immediately dropped to their knees. Alpha. Darius didn't look at them. He looked only at Elena. His eyes narrowed. Then his face changed. He looked as though he had just discovered something impossible. Elena… She swallowed. How did you find me? He didn't answer. Instead, he walked toward her. One step. Then another. Elena backed away until her shoulders hit the wall. Darius stopped inches from her. His voice was dangerously quiet. Why didn't you tell me? Tell you what? His eyes dropped to her stomach. Elena. She couldn't breathe. He knew. Somehow, he knew. You're carrying my child. Silence. Then Elena whispered the words she had been too afraid to say aloud. Yes. For the first time, the ruthless Alpha looked genuinely shaken. He closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, something had changed. Possession. Fear. And something Elena couldn't name. You're coming with me. She shook her head. No. Darius's jaw tightened. You don't understand. I understand enough. Elena, those men weren't here to scare you. I know. They were sent to kill you. Her blood turned cold. And the baby? Darius looked at her. They were sent to kill both of you. Elena's hand instinctively moved to her stomach. Darius reached for her. She immediately stepped away. Don't. His hand stopped in midair. For a moment, neither spoke. Then Darius said something that made the entire room seem to disappear. The child you're carrying isn't just my heir. Elena stared at him. What does that mean? Darius looked toward the men kneeling on the floor. Then back at her. It means someone has been searching for your family for twenty-four years. Elena's heartbeat became thunderous. My family? You were never human, Elena. She shook her head. No. Your parents weren't who you thought they were. No. And the reason you were hidden… Darius stepped closer. …was because your bloodline has the power to challenge every Alpha in existence. Elena couldn't speak. For years, she had wondered why her mother had always been so afraid of questions about their past. Why there were no photographs of her father. Why her mother had refused to tell her where their family came from. Whenever Elena asked, she was given the same answer. Some things are safer forgotten. Now she understood. They hadn't been protecting her from the truth. They had been protecting the truth from her. What am I? she whispered. Darius stared at her for a long moment. Something the Alpha Council believed no longer existed. Elena's breathing became shallow. And my parents? Your parents belonged to a bloodline that disappeared before the current Alpha Council was formed. They were hunted because their blood could unite packs or destroy them. She shook her head. My parents died in an accident. That is what you were told. The words struck harder than she expected. Darius's voice softened. Your parents didn't abandon you, Elena. They hid you. From whom? Darius looked toward the windows. Everyone. Elena looked down at her stomach. And my baby? Darius's expression hardened. Your child inherited it. A cold silence filled the room. Then one of the men on the floor laughed. A quiet, terrified laugh. Darius turned sharply. What is it? The man's smile widened. You're too late, Alpha. Darius's eyes narrowed. Explain. The man looked directly at Elena. The heir has already been marked. Elena's hand flew to her stomach. A sudden burning sensation spread beneath her palm. She gasped. Something beneath her skin glowed faintly red. Darius stared. His face went completely pale. No… What? Elena whispered. Darius looked at her as though he was seeing her for the first time. Then he whispered, That's not possible. What isn't possible? Before he could answer, the lights went out. A howl echoed from somewhere in the distance. Then another. Then dozens. Darius grabbed Elena and pulled her behind him. Outside, the night erupted with the sound of approaching wolves. And from somewhere beyond the darkness came a voice Elena had never heard before. A voice that made every wolf in the room tremble. Bring me the heir.