Page 60 of Surprise Baby for My Fated Alpha

"You’ve passed the trial," he said quietly. "But the cost is not over. The artifact will bind itself to you. Its power is immense, but it comes with a burden. You must wield it carefully, or it will consume you."

I nodded, barely able to stand, but refusing to show weakness. "I’ll do whatever it takes."

"Then take it, Orion. And may the gods have mercy on your soul." Gideon gave me one last look, the weight of his words heavy between us.

With trembling hands, I reached for the artifact.

“Whoa!” I gasped, my breath hitching in my throat. The power felt like a tempest, swirling inside me, igniting every nerve.

I staggered back, my heart pounding wildly. “What is this?” I stammered, my eyes wide, as I struggled to comprehend the raw force coursing through my veins. It was exhilarating yet terrifying. A double-edged sword poised to either save us or obliterate everything I held dear.

“Focus, Orion,” I told myself, clenching my fists to steady my racing heart. “You need to control it. You can’t let it control you.”

Taking a deep breath, I pressed my palms flat against the artifact, feeling the vibrations intensify. “Guide me,” I implored, feeling the power envelop me like a cloak. “Help me wield this strength.”

“It’s time for me to go. I wish you the best in the battle. It won’t be an easy one,” Gideon said, and disappeared.

The weight of the artifact pressed against my side as I strode down the rugged path, flanked by Jake and my men. The thrill of success was dulled by the gnawing anxiety in my gut. “Keep your guard up,” I instructed, my voice low but firm.

“Understood, Alpha,” Jake replied, his eyes scanning the tree line.

As we approached the estate, a sense of dread settled over me.

“Something feels off,” I muttered, quickening my pace. The mansion loomed ahead, but instead of the familiar warmth of home, I was met with chaos.

I burst through the front door, my heart racing. The sight that greeted me was a nightmare—furniture overturned, papers scattered.

“Luna!” I shouted, panic clawing at my throat.

“Alpha!” Jake called, rushing in behind me. “What happened here?”

“Where is she?” I demanded, fear and fury intertwining. I pushed past the chaos, searching for any sign of her. “Luna!”

My mind raced with horrifying possibilities. She had been safe here—she was supposed to be safe.

“Alpha, over here!” Jake yelled, crouching by a broken vase. “There are signs of a struggle.”

I felt my heart drop. “No,” I whispered, kneeling beside the wreckage. “They took her.”

Fury surged through me, a primal instinct igniting my alpha blood. “We need to move. Now.”

“Where do we start?” Jake asked, rising to his feet.

I took a deep breath, forcing my mind to focus amidst the chaos. “Marcosias will have left a trail. We just need to find it.”

“Let’s check the security footage,” Jake suggested, leading me toward the study. As we poured over the recordings, a sickening realization set in. “There! Look!” Jake pointed to the screen, where Marcosias and his clan members dragged Luna away. My heart raced as I caught a glimpse of her struggling.

“Those bastards,” I growled, slamming my fist against the desk. “I’ll make them pay for this.”

“Do you see that?” Jake pointed to a car’s license plate on the footage. “That’s our lead.”

With renewed determination, I gathered my men. “We move now,” I commanded. “We track Marcosias down, and we bring Luna back. No matter what it takes.”

The air crackled with intensity as we rushed out of the mansion, the artifact pulsating at my side—a reminder of the power I now wielded, and the stakes at hand.

After what felt like an eternity of tracking, we finally pulled up to the entrance of an old, decrepit warehouse that loomed before us like a ghost from a forgotten era. The structure sagged under its own weight, the paint peeling like sunburned skin, and the windows were shattered, giving it an ominous, eerie presence. Vines twisted around the supports, reclaiming what once stood proud.

“This place has seen better days,” Jake commented, eyeing the surroundings warily. “Looks like it’s been abandoned for years.”

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