Page 40 of The Alpha's Rejected Arranged Mate

“What’s happening?” she demanded. “Finn! Tell me what you see!”

Finn stepped forward as though he were moving through mud. He reached out a trembling hand toward her. When he touched her stomach with his fingertips, he shuddered and withdrew.

“There’s a demonic presence around you. It’s concentrated in your belly. I think… I think it’s the—”

“Don’t,” Elin gasped, her voice hoarse. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. This couldn’t be! He hadn’t seen any demonic presence near her. If there was one concentrated around her belly… She wrapped her arms around herself as though she could protect her son from something she couldn’t even see. “Finn, don’t. He’s not a demon. He’s not. He’s my baby!”

“It’s gone,” Finn murmured, but there was no relief in his words.

Elin closed her eyes. She pressed her lips together as she tried to come to terms with what had just happened. One thing was abundantly, terrifyingly clear. If there was a demonic influence around her, it meant that she wasn’t as protected in the town as she thought. Despite the salt barriers and talismans, she had to keep herself safe…

“Are you okay?” Finn asked, sitting on the bed next to her.

“Not really,” she choked out, blinking at the waves of tears that threatened to fall. “I’ve been having dreams. Nightmares, really. I’ve been telling myself it's just anxiety, but now… Finn, I think that something is happening.”

Finn’s blue eyes sharpened. “Tell me.”

She hesitated a moment, not sure how to describe what she was feeling. But then, Finn always seemed to understand her better than anyone else. “Lately, I’ve been dreaming about Zealuv possessing Hayden. It’s always right at the forefront of my vision but always just a little hazy. In my dreams, I’m holding my son. Singing to him. I sense Zealuv’s approach, but I can’t do anything to stop it. Something always felt… off.”

“Off how?”

Elin shook her head slowly. “You know how you sometimes dream about a person, but it doesn’t look like them? You know the person, but their face isn’t who they actually are?”

Finn nodded.

“It’s like that,” she said, still shaking her head as though the motion would rattle her thoughts into order. “It was Zealuv possessing Hayden, but it wasn’t Zealuv… I think I know why. I think I’m actually dreaming about Dukiel. Just like Beth did.”

Finn stiffened. “Because you’re afraid of him coming after me?” His voice was wary, careful. As though he understood what she was getting at but hadn’t quite put it all together yet.

“Because you’ve gotten the talisman now,” Elin whispered. “You’re immune to possession. But the baby isn’t. And if he can’t have you as the host, Dukiel will take him.”

Dukiel slept with Beth to produce Finn and create a perfect host for himself. His current host was failing. So, of course, he was looking for a new one. If the perfect host were no longer suitable, then Finn’s son would be the next best thing. He was still part demon. He’d have the same capability that Finn would have.

Elin bit back a shudder as she watched Finn’s face, hoping he’d reassure her and tell her it was impossible. His expression was stricken. The more he thought, the more horrified he became.

“Maybe I’m wrong,” Elin offered bleakly.

Finn shook his head. He stood as he began to pace. It struck Elin suddenly at how even more handsome he’d become over this last week. Part of her thought it was just the pregnancy hormones, but that wasn’t it. At least, not solely. Her wolf craved his company at every turn, but it wasn’t just because of his looks.Being the Alpha, leading Moon Lake pack, had caused a surge of confidence. He held himself straighter somehow, and though his physicality hadn’t changed, he seemed to be stronger.

“It makes sense,” Finn said. “He hasn’t shown up again since that first time. I thought he was going to try to sew seeds of dissent in Moon Lake. But now I think he must have sensed somehow that you were pregnant. He must have decided it was better to wait rather than try to fight for access to me.”

Elin pulled her blankets tighter, suddenly cold.

“The baby must be protected right now by the talismans in your body. But if he can reach through the barriers we have in place and influence you even with the talismans…” He came to a stop and turned to her with haunted eyes. “Are you sure this is worth the risk?”

Elin carefully got out of bed. She cupped his face in her hands, studying him, wanting to commit every feature to memory.

“Yes,” she told him, her voice low. “It is. I love this baby. He’s half me and half you. We’re still healthy, him and me. I’m not going to give up because of a demon.”

Finn opened his mouth, then shut it with a snap.

“I know you’re struggling.” Elin combed her fingers through his hair. “But I know we can do this. We defeated Zealuv. We can defeat Dukiel. He won’t hurt me or my baby. And when my son is born, he’ll have the same good heart that his father does.”

Finn swallowed roughly. “Do you really believe that?”

“I do. My baby—”

“No. I mean… that I’m a good person?” Finn’s voice was low, barely more than a whisper.

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