Mating the Female Alpha
Chapter 79 – Not the only shifter

Landry's POV

"Yes, Alpha King..." one of the doctors confirmed. "I'm afraid we will lose them both if we don't get them to surgery right away."

Landry was frozen, but he managed to step aside so they could bring Bernice to the operating room.

Pregnant?

They were having a baby?

When did this happen?

"What happened?" Jessie asked coming up from behind him. "Did you see Bernice?"

"She's heading to the operating room," Landry said as if he was in a trance.

"She's going to be okay..." Jessie said, but even her voice sounded worried. "She has to be okay..."

"Jessie..." he breathed. "She's pregnant."

...

Cora's POV

Cora made her way back to the layer; on her walk there, she could feel the moonlight rejuvenating her powers. But she needed a little more time. She knew the vampire Lord had a potion that could help her recharge quicker. She just needed to get to it.

The layer was just outside the werewolf territory; it was held deep in the underground and out of sight. It is a perfect hiding spot to keep a layer without the wolves finding it or picking up on it's scent. Rachel greeted her at the entrance; she looked wary, unlike herself.

"I wasn't expecting you here," Cora said, raising her brows. "Why aren't you at home?" "The vampire Lord wanted me here. He needed me to speak to you about something." "Speak to me?" Cora asked, a knot forming in her stomach. "Why did he send you?"

"Because he knows we are friends and that you'll listen to me," she explained. "He discovered something, and he isn't happy. Can we talk in the dungeon area?"

"Where the omega is?" Cora asked. "I suppose so."

Before she entered, Rachel glanced behind her.

"Are you sure you weren't followed?"

"Positive," Cora said with an eye roll. "You'd smell them if they were nearby."

"Okay," she said before stepping aside and allowing Cora to enter the layer.

They went down a long corridor that lead down the stairs to the underground layer Alaric had set up right outside the werewolf territory. It was better to stay hidden, which made the underground perfect.

"So, apparently there's been a change of plans," Rachel said as they continued through the long halls. "Alaric is setting her free as we speak."

"What?" Cora gasped. "After all the work I had done? Now he wants to set her free? For what reasoning?"

"He discovered something that proves to be more valuable. He came up with a new plan to conquer the wolf territory."

"What plan would that be? I don't see anything being better than making Landry hopeless heartbroken and vulnerable." Rachel pauses outside the dungeon doors to look at her.

"There is," she says with a smile before opening the doors. Cora follows closely behind her.

There were a couple of vampire soldiers in place, but Alaric was nowhere to be seen. Neither was the omega.

"What's going on?" Cora asked, looking amongst the small group that was staring at her.

"It turns out we missed something during all our investigations. Though, come to think of it, I'm not sure she knew either. But now Alaric wants it for himself. He thinks he can use it to get what he wants. It's like a missing gem to him. When other creatures find out about it, they will want it for themselves as well."

"I don't understand, what could be so valuable?" Cora asked, raising her brows.

"A baby," Rachel said. "An Alpha baby."

"What?" Cora gasped. "Are you telling me that the omega is pregnant?"

"Why is that so surprising?" Rachel asked. "Omegas are prone to get pregnant, way easier than any other kind. But yes. She's having a baby. This means Alaric wants the baby for himself."

"He's planning on kidnapping this baby?" Cora wanted to laugh. "He's delusional if they think that's going to be easy."

"It's certainly not going to be easy, but Lord Alaric is extremely powerful. There's nothing he can't do. He's always 10 steps ahead of us. You out of everyone should know that."

Cora nodded; she knew her friend was right. Alaric would stop at nothing to get what he wants, and what he wants is the entire werewolf territory. It would make sense to kidnap this baby to get what he wants. It would be a sure thing to keep Landry and Bernice at his mercy. They will give him anything he wants to keep their young pup safe.

The plan was brilliant; Cora wanted to admit that.

"So, what is it you need me to do? Where's Alaric now?"

"Actually, that's why we needed to speak to you in here..." Rachel said, giving her a small smile. But the smile didn't reach her eyes; she sounded strange. It gave Cora an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach as the guards also took a step toward her.

"I don't understand," Cora said, looking around at all of them. "What's going on?"

"It's not personal," Rachel shrugged. "But you are no longer needed. Actually, Alaric is cross with you because you failed to realize this important detail about the Omega."

"It wasn't my fault! None of us knew. I don't think they knew either. How was I supposed to know—"

"You are an Alaric golden spy. You were supposed to be his secret weapon. Better than the rest. Yet, you failed your job."

The vampires took another step toward her, closing in on her. Cora had half the mind to run away, but she didn't think she'd get far with vampires on her tail.

"What about you?" Cora spat at her. "You were sent to pose as a reporter and get information from her and yet you failed too. You didn't do your job well at all. I found out way more information than you!" Rachel chuckled and shook her head, keeping her eyes locked on Cora's.

"Alaric took care of that bitch long ago," Rachel said, narrowing her eyes. "Did you really not realize your friend was no longer with us? I would think that a shifter would be able to recognize a fellow shifter." Her body began to transform, her face began to change.

Cora's

eyes widened as she took an unsteady step away. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. She was deceived by another shapeshifter. How had she not realized this sooner? "Talia..." Cora breathed, staring at the other shapeshifter in front of her. "It's you..."

"Hello, sister," Talia chuckled. "It's been a long time. I thought for sure you'd know it was me right away. But I guess Alaric was right. You're pathetic."

"I don't understand... why are you here?" Cora asked, her words trembling.

"I'm here to finish what you started. I'm afraid you aren't needed anymore. Your presence will only cause more damage than necessary."

Cora's breathing grew shaky, she took another step, only to run into a broad figure standing behind her. She turned to see a tall vampire guard glaring down at her.

"It was nice seeing you again," Talia said. "But this is the last encounter we will have."

Cora went to turn to face her sister, but the guard grabbed Cora's head and twisted her neck with force, snapping it.