Page 39 of The Alpha's Forced Rejected Mate
Adrian’s posture shifted slightly, his attention sharpening. “What did you see?”
“Xavier.” Dominic kept his voice low, aware of how dangerous the conversation had become. “He’s not human, Adrian. He’s a demon.”
Instead of disbelief or shock, Adrian’s expression settled into grim acceptance. “I suspected something was wrong with him.” He gestured to the papers. “But I needed proof.”
“Now we have it.” Dominic moved to the desk, scanning the documents Adrian had been examining. “Luna’s magic revealed his true form during the ritual. She saw it, too.”
Adrian’s brow furrowed. “But the ritual was supposed to suppress her powers, not enhance them.”
“I have to tell you the truth now. She’s my true mate. The bond strengthened her magic instead of destroying it.” Dominic felt strange saying it aloud.
“Shit,” Adrian said. “That complicates things.”
“Tell me about it.” Dominic’s lips thinned into a hard line. “We need to figure out how deep this goes. How many of the Council are demons? How many hunters are under their influence?”
Adrian nodded, gathering the papers into a neat stack. “We need to be careful. If Xavier suspects we know…”
The sound of voices in the outer quarters cut their conversation short. Both men tensed, their enhanced senses picking up the sound of footsteps approaching.
“Xavier,” Adrian mouthed, recognizing the distinctive cadence.
In one fluid motion, Dominic grabbed the papers and shoved them into a folder, while Adrian quickly straightened the desk. They moved toward the adjoining bathroom just as the office door began to open.
Inside the small space, they stood motionless, barely breathing. Through the crack in the door, they could see Xavier enter with another Council member, their voices low but clear to shifter hearing.
“The witch’s power should have been completely drained by now,” Xavier was saying, his usually smooth voice edged with frustration. “Something went wrong with the ritual.”
“Perhaps Blackwood isn’t controlling her properly,” the other Council member suggested. “He seems…different since the ceremony.”
Xavier’s laugh was cold. “Dominic has always been exceptionally loyal. The darkness in him runs deeper than most. Still, we should accelerate our plans. Bring in the next witch sooner than scheduled.”
“What about Blackwood’s witch? Should we eliminate her?”
There was a pause, and Dominic’s hands curled into fists, his claws threatening to emerge.
“No,” Xavier finally said. “We need to observe what went wrong first. Besides, she may still be useful. Her power signature is…unusual.”
The conversation continued, but they moved out of earshot, deeper into Xavier’s quarters. Dominic and Adrian waited several tense minutes before slipping out of the bathroom.
“We need to move quickly,” Adrian whispered, his ice-blue eyes serious. “They’re suspicious already.”
Dominic nodded, his mind racing. “Keep gathering information. I’ll warn Luna.”
They parted ways at the door, Adrian disappearing into the shadows while Dominic forced himself to walk casually. His instincts screamed at him to run, to get to Luna as quickly as possible, but he maintained his composure until he reached the cabin.
Once inside, he locked the door and swept the room for listening devices—a precaution he’d never thought necessary before. Finding nothing, he moved to inner room where Luna slept.
Luna sat on the edge of the bed, watching him warily as he entered. She wore the clothes he’d given her, his shirt, oversized on her and slipping off one shoulder to reveal smooth skin beneath.
“What’s wrong?” she asked immediately, rising to her feet. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Dominic closed the door behind him, keeping his voice low. “We need to talk.”
Luna crossed her arms over her chest, creating a barrier between them. The gesture sent a pang through him that he quickly suppressed.
“About what? Have you finally decided to believe what we both saw during the ritual?”
He moved closer, his tall frame looming over her, but she didn’t back down. Her scent—like wildflowers and something uniquely Luna—filled his senses, making it hard to concentrate.
