Damien, far from the hospital, deep in the shadowed forest, Damien felt it immediately—a surge of energy, wild and pure, unlike anything he had sensed before. His eyes glowed brighter, pupils narrowing as the scent of new life reached him.. A cruel, hungry smile spread across his face.
"So… the prophecy is true. The Chosen One has been born."
He crouched low, claws digging into the earth as his mind raced. He could sense the power emanating from the child, small yet fierce, carrying both the blood of an Alpha and the spirit of humanity. The mixture made Damien's pulse quicken, hunger and obsession flooding through him.
"They've defied me," he hissed under his breath. "Adrian… Celine… you think you can hide this from me? That you can protect what is mine by locking yourselves away?"
Damien's jaw tightened. "No. This child is more than just a baby. He is the key—the one who could tip the balance of power between wolves and humans. And I will have him."
His claws scraped the soil as he rose, towering in the darkness, eyes fixed on the distant lights of the city where the hospital stood. "They've grown careless… but I will not fail again. Not now. Not ever."
The forest seemed to whisper around him, leaves trembling in the cold wind, and Damien's growl merged with the shadows. "Prepare yourself, little hybrid," he murmured, voice low and dangerous. "Your life, your power… they belong to me. And I will claim them."
Even as the night stretched on, the obsession burning within him would not rest. Every instinct, every plan, every shadow of patience he had cultivated over years—all were ready to strike. The birth of the hybrid had changed everything. The game had only just begun.
Even in the sterile brightness of the hospital room, Adrian's instincts hummed with unease. He held their newborn close, eyes scanning the room, every muscle tense. Shadow rested at his feet, ears twitching, sensing something Adrian could already feel—an invisible weight pressing against the edges of their safety.
Celine, exhausted but radiant, rested beside him, stroking the baby's tiny hand. Her voice was soft, almost a whisper. "Adrian… do you feel that?"
He looked at her sharply, golden eyes narrowing. "Yes," he murmured, his senses flaring. "Something… or someone is near. I can feel it."
Celine shivered, instinctively clutching her child closer. "Is it… Damien?" she asked, her voice trembling despite her exhaustion.
Adrian's jaw tightened. "It has to be. He knows. He always knows. He'll be watching, waiting for the right moment."
Outside, the hospital's quiet hum contrasted sharply with the tension inside the room. Every shadow seemed heavier, every sound amplified. Adrian's gaze flicked to the door, then to the windows. He could sense Damien's presence without seeing him—a predator coiling, waiting, calculating.
Celine's hand trembled as she reached for Adrian. "What if he comes… what if he tries to take him?"
Adrian pressed a reassuring kiss to her forehead, his voice low but fierce. "He won't touch either of you. Not while I'm here. I'll protect you both. Always."
But even as he said the words, his instincts warned him that Damien's patience was endless. This was only the beginning. The hybrid's birth had awakened something ancient, something dangerous, and Damien would not stop until he claimed what he considered his.
Shadow growled softly at Adrian's feet, and the air seemed to thrum with tension. Adrian's hands tightened around their child. "We need to be ready," he said, voice firm. "No distractions. No mistakes. If Damien comes, we fight. And we don't let him win."
Celine nodded, eyes wide, trembling but resolute. "I trust you… Adrian. I trust you with everything."
And in that silent hospital room, a promise was made—not just to each other, but to the tiny life nestled between them. Whatever Damien had planned, whatever shadows lurked in the night, they would face it together.
The night outside the hospital was silent, but inside, a different kind of presence had arrived. Damien moved through the shadows, his human form deceptively calm, almost unnervingly so. Every step was precise, controlled, predatory, yet he carried the quiet authority of someone who knew he was feared.
He paused just outside the maternity ward, his eyes narrowing as he sensed the faint, yet unmistakable, heartbeat of the newborn hybrid. The mingling of human and wolf energy pulsed through the walls, alerting him to the miracle he had been hunting.
"So… it has been done," Damien whispered to himself, a cruel smile curling his lips. "The child is here. And the parents… so fragile, so distracted. I have only to wait."
Stepping into the corridor, he appeared in full view, human form masking his true nature, but the danger emanating from him was undeniable. He raised his hands slightly, voice calm but dripping with menace.
"Adrian… Celine…" he said, drawing their attention immediately. "I can sense everything. I know the baby is here. I know what you've done, how you've hidden him—but it's pointless. You cannot escape what is meant to be mine."
Celine clutched the blanket around their child, her heart hammering, while Adrian stepped instinctively in front of her, protective and alert.
"Step outside," Damien continued, his tone soft yet chilling. "Come with me willingly, and this will end easily. Hand over the child, and none of you will be harmed. Resist, and… well, you already know I am not one to forgive mistakes."
Adrian's jaw tightened, golden eyes flashing dangerously. "Never," he growled. "You will not touch this child. Not today, not ever. If you come any closer, you will regret it."
Damien tilted his head, his cruel smile widening. "I expected as much. But patience, Adrian… patience is my ally. Soon, you will tire. Soon, they will all be mine, and there will be nothing you can do to stop it. Just wait, little wolf… I will have him. And when I do…"
Celine's grip on their child tightened, fear and determination mixing in her gaze. Adrian's stance shifted, ready to defend them with every ounce of his strength. The hospital, once a place of safety, had now become a stage for the deadly game between predator and protector, and the night had only just begun.
Night After the Birth:
The soft hum of hospital machines filled the room as the night deepened. Celine lay in the bed, exhausted but glowing, the baby nestled safely against her chest. Adrian sat beside her, gently brushing her hair from her forehead, eyes flickering with concern and love.
Dr. Lucian Hawke had reminded them earlier, "You need rest tonight. Tomorrow, you'll be cleared to go home. For now, sleep, recover, and bond with your child."
Adrian nodded, his protective instincts never waning. "Of course," he said softly, leaning closer to Celine. "I'll make sure you're comfortable and everything you need is here."
Shortly after, a tray of food arrived—warm, nourishing meals specifically for new mothers. Adrian had ordered it himself, thinking of what would give Celine strength for recovery and for breastfeeding. He carefully helped her with the food, making sure she could eat without strain.
Celine smiled weakly, eyes glistening. "You think of everything," she whispered.
Adrian pressed a gentle kiss to her temple.
Celine held the baby close, exhausted but feeling slightly stronger as Adrian fed her a warm, nourishing meal. The soft aroma of the food filled the room, and for a moment, it felt like peace.
Adrian watched her carefully, his golden eyes serious and intense. As she took a bite, he leaned closer, voice low but firm. "Celine… there's something I need you to understand."
She looked up, curiosity and concern flickering in her tired eyes. "What is it?"
He reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "No matter what happens… you cannot tell anyone about the mark on the baby. Not Dr. Hawke, not anyone outside this room. It's too dangerous. You promise me?"
Celine's hand trembled slightly as she nodded. "I promise… I won't tell anyone."
Adrian's expression softened, though his eyes remained sharp. "Good. I swear to you… no matter what, I will never let anyone find out. You and the baby are safe with me. Always."
Celine's heart warmed at his words. She pressed a soft kiss to his hand. "Thank you… I trust you."
He leaned closer, whispering against her hair, "And I'll keep that promise… even if it costs me everything."
The room was quiet again, save for the baby's gentle breathing and the soft hum of the hospital. Yet the weight of their secret lingered, a silent pact between them, binding them tighter than ever