Chosen To Be The Alpha's Surrogate
⊰ 37 ⊱ Silent Rescuer

** Penelope ** *Malachi... please, save me.*

My heart pounds in my chest as I stare defiantly at the leader of these shifters. Despite my bravado, fear courses through me. I'm acutely aware of how vulnerable I am a human, pregnant, and alone against four supernatural beings. *No one is coming to save me...*

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

My head snaps towards the source, and I see Elijah step out of the shadows wearing nothing but a pair of boxer briefs, his eyes glowing with an eerie intensity. Relief floods through me, quickly followed by confusion. *What is he doing here? Why is he naked?!*

The leader of the shifters snarls, turning to face this new threat. "This doesn't concern you. Walk away while you still can."

Elijah's lips curl into a predatory smile that sends chills down my spine. "Oh, but it *does* concern me. You see, that's my brother's mate you're manhandling."

What happens next is almost too fast for my human eyes to follow. Elijah lets out a bone-chilling roar, his body contorting and shifting. In the blink of an eye, where a man once stood, now there's a massive, snarling werewolf.

I gasp, unable to contain my shock. I've known about werewolves for months now, but seeing the transformation with my own eyes, completely lucid... it's something else entirely.

The other shifters follow suit, transforming into their wolf forms. The alley erupts into chaos-a blur of fur, fangs, and claws. I press myself against the wall, my arms wrapped protectively around my belly, watching in horror as the wolves tear into each other.

For the first time since learning about this supernatural world, I truly understand how vulnerable I am. The reality of my situation hits me like a physical blow, leaving me breathless and terrified. These creatures, with their superhuman strength and speed, could end me in seconds if they wanted to.

Elijah, his fur a dark silver that gleams in the dim light, fights with a ferocity that both awes and terrifies me. He takes on all four of the other wolves, his massive jaws snapping, claws raking across fur and flesh. Blood spatters the alley walls, and the air is filled with snarls and yelps of pain.

I want to run, to get as far away from this nightmare as possible, but my legs won't move. I'm frozen in place, watching this brutal display of nature red in tooth and claw.

Finally, after what feels like hours but was probably only minutes, the fight ends. The four shifters who attacked me lie on the ground, whimpering and bleeding. Elijah stands over them, his muzzle stained red, chest heaving with exertion. Then, as quickly as it began, the transformation reverses. Elijah's wolf form shrinks and twists, fur receding, until he's standing there in his human form, completely naked and splattered with blood.

I avert my eyes, my cheeks burning despite the terror still coursing through me. Elijah doesn't seem to care about his state of undress, striding over to me with concern etched on his face.

"Are you alright?" he asks, his voice gruff. "Did they hurt you?"

I shake my head, unable to form words. My hand instinctively goes to my cheek where I was struck, and Elijah's eyes narrow at the bruise undoubtedly forming there.

"Stay here," he orders, then walks over to a nearby dumpster. He rummages behind it for a moment before pulling out a bundle of clothes. As he dresses, I try to process what I've just witnessed. *They couldn't have been part of Malachi's pack... or Elijah's.*

"What... what were they?" I finally manage to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Elijah, now fully clothed, walks back over to me. "Rogue wolves," he explains, his tone grim. "Mercenaries, by the looks of it. Someone ordered them to come after you."

"But why?" I ask, wrapping my arms around myself. "And how did you know I was in trouble?"

Elijah's expression turns guarded. "I've been keeping an eye on you," he admits. "As for why... this isn't the first time something like this has happened. There are those who would use you to get to Malachi."

His vague answer raises more questions than it answers, but before I can press further, the back door of the café bursts open. Darnell rushes out, his eyes wild with worry.

"Penelope!" he shouts, running towards me. "My God, are you okay? What happened?"

He pulls me into a tight hug, and I can't help but collapse against him, the adrenaline finally wearing off. "I'm okay," I mumble into his chest, even as tears start to fall. "I'm okay."

Darnell pulls back, his eyes scanning me for injuries. When he sees the bruise on my cheek, his face darkens with anger. "Who did this to you?" he demands, then seems to notice Elijah for the first time. "Who the hell are you?"

"A friend," Elijah says smoothly, though I can see the tension in his stance. "I was passing by and saw these men harassing her. I... intervened."

Darnell looks skeptical, but his concern for me overrides his suspicion for now. "We need to call the police," he says, reaching for his phone.

"No!" I cry out, perhaps too forcefully. Both men look at me in surprise. "I mean... I just want to go home. Please, Nell. Can we just go?"

Darnell hesitates, clearly torn. Then his eyes light up with an idea. "We should call Malachi," he says, already reaching for my phone in my bag. "He needs to know about this." Panic flares in my chest.

*If Malachi finds out about this, he'll never let me out of his sight again.*

But even as I open my mouth to protest, I know it's futile. Darnell is already dialing, his face set with determination.

"Malachi?" Darnell says into the phone, his voice gruff. "It's Darnell, Penelope's friend. Some guys attacked or tried to attack Penelope. I-I don't know, but you need to get here now."

I can hear Malachi's voice on the other end, loud and panicked. Darnell gives him a brief rundown of what happened or at least, what he thinks happened and the address of the café.

As Darnell talks, I turn to Elijah. "You should go," I whisper urgently. "Malachi can't know you were here."

Elijah nods, understanding in his eyes. "Take care of yourself, Penelope," he says softly. "And remember-not everything is as it seems." With that cryptic message, he slips away into the shadows, leaving me with more questions than answers. Darnell hangs up the phone, turning back to me. "Malachi's on his way," he says, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and helping me back into the café. "He'll be here soon."

I nod, a mix of relief and apprehension swirling in my gut. As much as I long for the safety of Malachi's arms, I dread the fallout from this.

*Will he blame me for putting myself in danger? Will this be the final straw that convinces him I can't handle his world?*

As we wait for Malachi to arrive, I lean against Darnell, drawing comfort from his solid presence. My mind races, replaying the events of the night. The brutal fight, Elijah's timely appearance, the terrifying realization of just how fragile I am in this supernatural world.