The Alpha's Four Hidden Heirs (Natalie and Samuel) novel Chapter 138

**The City That Drowned in the Sound of Its Own Heartbeat by Erynd Cal DusK 138**

**Chapter 138**

Alpha’s Samuel Bowers.

The expression on my brother’s face was nothing short of hilarious; his jaw hung open as if he were trying to catch flies. I could hardly blame him. The tale we had just unveiled was a whirlwind, a tapestry woven with threads of disbelief and shock. Most people would likely dismiss it as a fantasy, a figment of someone’s overactive imagination.

“So, does your sister know you’re still alive?” Steven directed his question at Natalie, his brow furrowing with concern.

“No, she doesn’t, and I intend to keep it that way for the time being,” she replied, her voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of anxiety. Steven nodded in understanding, though I could see the wheels turning in his mind.

“To add to that, Yara is no longer welcome in this pack, and she’s been forbidden from seeing the kids,” I interjected, my voice firm. Steven’s expression shifted to one of anger as he absorbed the weight of my words.

“Well, naturally! The woman is pure evil. Now I see why Franklin and Sophia wanted nothing to do with her; they must have sensed it,” he retorted, his gaze shifting to Natalie, softening slightly.

“I’m truly sorry you had to endure all of that, Natalie,” he said, his tone sincere as he stepped forward to envelop her in a hug. For a moment, Natalie seemed taken aback, her eyes wide with surprise, but then she melted into the embrace, returning it with a warmth that spoke volumes.

“Thank you, Steven,” she murmured, a genuine smile breaking through her earlier tension.

As he released her, he remained close, a protective presence at her side. If I didn’t know better, I might have felt a twinge of jealousy, but this was simply Steven’s nature—fiercely protective of those he considered family, and Natalie had quickly become one of us.

“So, who else is in the know?” Steven inquired, his voice steady but probing.

“There’s Ed and Theo, then the kids, and that’s about it,” Natalie replied, her gaze shifting between us.

“Okay, so I assume there’s a plan in motion to deal with Yara?” he asked, eyebrows raised expectantly.

“Yes, but we have something more pressing to address right now,” I responded, urgency creeping into my tone as I sensed the gravity of our situation.

“What is it?” Natalie’s voice was sharp with curiosity and concern.

“Mark and his men managed to track down the individual Jack had delivered the men to. But it turns out he’s not a wolf; he’s a witch—or a warlock, I’m not entirely sure what they prefer to call themselves. I reached out to Kataleya for assistance, and she arrived swiftly. She performed a mind dive on him and discovered he’s part of an ancient order of witches known as The Valkyrie. They were thought to have been wiped out after Venya was imprisoned, but it seems some of them survived and are rekindling their coven.” I paused, letting the weight of this revelation settle in the air before I dropped the next piece of information.

“Wait a minute,” Natalie interjected, brows furrowing in confusion. “You’ve only been gone for thirty minutes—how did Kataleya get here so quickly?”

“Just like she did with us—she teleported,” I explained, trying to gauge her reaction.

“Oh, okay,” she replied, her mind clearly racing to comprehend the implications of such power.

“Did Kataleya discover anything else?” Steven asked, his eyes narrowing with intrigue.

“Yeah, she pinpointed the location where he takes the men—where their lab is situated,” I informed them, my gaze locked onto Natalie.

“Speaking of the kids, there’s something crucial you need to know,” I mentioned, my voice dropping slightly.

“What is it?” Steven inquired, the concern evident in his tone.

I proceeded to relay everything Kataleya had shared with us about the children—the significance of their bloodline and the necessity for heightened vigilance.

“Well, damn! It seems like the challenges just keep piling up, don’t they? You don’t need to worry; I won’t let them out of my sight,” he assured us, determination etched on his face.

“We trust you, but keep a close watch on Clayton. He won’t intentionally disobey you, but he has a tendency to get lost in his own world and wander off,” Natalie cautioned.

“Noted. They should be waking up soon; I’m going to check on them,” he said, turning on his heel and striding out of the kitchen.

“He’ll watch them like a hawk,” I remarked to Natalie, who offered a smile, though it felt somewhat strained.

“Are you certain you’re ready for this?” I asked her, concern creeping into my voice.

“I wasn’t sure I was ready to face Yara either, but I did. This isn’t just about me; that company belonged to my grandfather, and I promised him I would reclaim it. He established that company to help people, and what they’re doing with it now is a slap in the face to his legacy. I need to uncover whether my father is involved,” she replied, her tone resolute, yet a hardness settled in her eyes.

“What if he is?” I probed gently, the weight of the question hanging heavy in the air.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” she said, her determination unwavering.