Chapter 416 Unborn Threat

Chapter 416 Unborn Threat
Hope Elara's POV

Rain tapped against the window.

From the bathroom, I could see the Eiffel Tower.

That view was the reason I chose this apartment when I first moved here.

I glanced toward the bedroom.

I hadn't been back here in almost a year.

I opened the bathroom door.

It didn't lead to my bedroom.

Instead, I stepped into a huge Victorian nursery.

The room was filled with old bassinets decorated with soft ribbons and chiffon.

The one nearest the window had my name stitched across it in elegant script.

The one beside it said...

Derek.

I walked closer.

Inside my bassinet was a small silver wolf.

Derek's bassinet held the exact same toy.

The door behind me slammed shut.

I jumped.

I hurried back and reached for the knob.

Before I could touch it, the door opened.

Derek stood on the other side.

He looked just as confused as I felt.

"What the hell are you doing?" he asked.

I blinked.

"You can see me?"

We stared at each other.

Neither of us spoke.

Were we... sharing the same dream?

"What is happening?" Derek finally asked.

I shrugged and looked back at the bassinets.

"I think we're asleep."

"Very clever," he muttered.

A movement caught my eye.

Derek instantly stepped in front of me.

His body became a shield.

"That's her," I said, placing a hand on his wrist.

"That's Eliza Rizen."

She looked from him to me.

There was surprise in her eyes.

Almost as if she hadn't expected us to be standing together.

Honestly...

Neither had I.

Not long ago, I barely knew Derek.

Now I saw him as my brother.

Just as much as I saw Perry as my sister.

Standing beside him now, I could finally see the family resemblance.

"How did you two find each other?" Eliza asked.

"You grew up in completely different worlds."

Neither of us answered.

"I know you both know about Pernicious," she continued.

"Who else knows?"

Who else?

Were there more people involved?

"What do you want?" Derek asked.

His voice was cold.

"They'll never discover that we can speak this way," Eliza said calmly.

She looked at me.

"Thank you, Hope Elara."

"You helped me find your brother."

"You two have a remarkable connection."

She turned to Derek.

"He's worried about you."

"About your family."

"That worry is becoming one of his weaknesses."

"He doesn't have many."

"Just like you."

"What do you want?" Derek repeated, louder this time.

His patience was gone.

"To warn you."

Eliza walked toward another row of bassinets.

She stopped beside the last one.

"You two were the only children I gave birth to."

"The others were born through surrogates."

She rested her hand on the final bassinet.

It had no name.

"There is another child on the way."

"Why should we believe anything you say?" Derek growled.

"It doesn't matter if you believe me."

"It won't change the truth."

She looked down at the empty bassinet.

"This child has been entrusted to a witch."

"The affinities our blood carries will become seven times stronger."

"A witch with the power of a Silverback?" Derek asked immediately.

"What is the witch's name?"

"So you understand what has to be done?" Eliza asked.

"Wait."

I stepped between them.

"We're talking about a child."

"Hope Elara..."

Derek sighed.

"This is one of those risks we can't take."

"You mean like when your crazy mother tried to kill me and my children?"

I looked straight at him.

"Like when everyone decided I deserved to die because of what I am?"

"How is this any different?"

"You can't risk opening a gateway to hell, Hope," Derek said.

I froze.

"Wait..."

I looked at Eliza.

"This is what Sloane was talking about."

"We all thought she was crazy."

"You've spoken to my mother?" Eliza asked.

"She's with the Traditionalists."

"They sent me a warning."

"The Traditionalists warned you?" Eliza asked.

"Why?"

"The new laws between the rogues and the packs," Derek answered.

His eyes never left Eliza.

"What is the witch's name?"

"Tamara Helios."

I frowned.

"The owner of Helios Fashion?"

I looked between the two of them.

"I know her."

"She and her husband have been trying to have a baby for years."

"Where was she getting treatment?" Derek asked.

"I don't know."

I shook my head.

"She always gave me the creeps."

"The way she looked at the twins..."

"It never felt right."

"There are twelve," Derek said quietly.

"There are only five of us."

Eliza looked at me.

"Hope Elara was..."

She paused.

"An accident."

"I was twenty-two."

"I was reckless."

"When your father and I removed the former King and placed the new one on the throne, we lost Hope Elara."

Her eyes stayed on mine.

"You were created out of convenience."

"We never believed she would find her way back."

She glanced at Derek.

"The rest of your siblings were his work."

"They were all placed around you for your protection."

"Now that the two of you have found each other..."

"Everything is changing."

"The power the two of you carry."

"And Pernicious."

She became quiet for a moment.

"The higher-ups are furious."

"They believe she forced herself into something she doesn't understand."

"Lycan Tech is becoming an economic powerhouse."

"We still don't know how."

"Or what strategy they're using."

"It's making them nervous."

"I don't know anything about that," I admitted.

"I only know she owns the company."

"Same here," Derek said.

Eliza looked at both of us.

"I wasn't asking."

"If anyone can stand against them and survive..."

"It is the unkillable force known as the Wolf Bait."

She slowly looked toward the ceiling.

Derek and I followed her gaze.

There was nothing there.

"Who are they?" I asked.

"They call themselves..."

"FATE."

She smiled softly.

"I have to go."

"It was good seeing you again."

"Take care of each other."

Then she was gone.

Silence filled the nursery.

I looked at Derek.

"Are we really believing any of this?"

His jaw tightened.

"We have to prove it's a lie."

"If that child is born..."

"A lot of people are going to die."

"We need to prepare."

He looked at me.

"Tell Valduz everything."

"This could start a war with the witches."

"Derek..."

But he was already walking toward the door we had entered through.

I stayed behind for one more moment.

My eyes drifted over the bassinets.

Hope Elara.

Derek.

Cassidy.

Ace.

Omen.

Chester.

Cheshire.

Benjamin.

Melody.

And...

The empty one.

I took one last look.

Then I walked back to the door.

I closed it behind me.

I shut my eyes.

When I opened them again...

I was back in bed.

Valduz was asleep beside me.

One arm was tucked beneath my body.

The other rested gently over my belly.

I turned toward him.

Without waking, he pulled me closer.

After everything that had happened...

Being angry over Amy suddenly felt so small.

"Valduz."

I gave him a gentle shake.

His eyes opened immediately.

"Hey."

He pushed himself up.

"Another nightmare?"

I nodded.

"I think so."

"But I need to tell you something."

"Is your dad here?"

He studied my face for a second.

"I'll go get him."

"I'll bring you something to drink too."

He climbed out of bed.

Before leaving, he looked back at me.

His eyes were full of worry.

"What the hell is happening?"

"Was that really a dream?"