Chosen To Be The Alpha's Surrogate
⊰ 39 ⊱ Clash of Wills

** Malachi I**

The tension in the room grows, crackling like electricity in the air. Penelope's eyes, usually so warm and inviting, are now hard with anger and hurt. I can see the moment she decides she's had enough. "I can't do this right now," she says, her voice tight with emotion. She turns, making to leave the bathroom.

Something in me snaps. The Alpha in me, the part that demands respect and obedience, roars to the surface. Before I can think better of it, I reach out and grab her arm, stopping her in her tracks. "Don't you dare walk away from me," I growl, my voice low and dangerous.

Penelope whirls around, her eyes flashing with renewed fury. "Let go of me," she hisses, trying to wrench her arm from my grip.

I tighten my hold, barely registering her wincing in pain. But then, instinctively, I loosen my grip, never having intended to hurt her, though I don't let go entirely. "We're not done here, Penelope. You can't just walk away when things get tough."

"Tough?" she scoffs, her voice rising. "This isn't **tough'*, Malachi. This is insane! You're treating me like a prisoner, and then you have the audacity to be angry when I try to have a life outside these walls!"

Her words stoke the fire of my own anger. "A life?" I snarl. "Is that what you call putting yourself and our child in danger? Sneaking out the moment my back is turned?"

"I didn't sneak out!" Penelope shouts, tears of frustration gathering in her eyes. "I went to a café with a friend because I was lonely and tired of being cooped up in this mansion all day, every fucking day!" "And that's worth risking your life?" I roar, my control slipping further with each passing second. "Your loneliness, your boredom, that's more important than your safety? Than our child's safety?" "That's not fair!" Penelope cries, her voice cracking. "It's not fair for you to say that when you're gone all the time! You have no idea what it's like to be stuck here, alone, day after day!"

Her words hit me like a physical blow, and suddenly, all the fight drains out of me. I watch as Penelope crumples, her anger giving way to heart-wrenching sobs. She sinks to the floor, her body shaking with the force of her cries. A wave of regret washes over me, but I push it down. I'm the Alpha.

*I can't show weakness, even now.*

But seeing her like this... it twists something inside me.

I drop to my knees beside her, reaching out tentatively. When she doesn't pull away, I gather her into my arms, cradling her against my chest. She doesn't resist, but she doesn't return the embrace either. I can feel the anger still simmering beneath her sadness.

"Penny," I murmur, my voice rough. "This isn't... I didn't mean to lash out at you."

She doesn't respond, but her sobs gradually quiet to soft hiccups and sniffles.

I take a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. "But you need to understand the gravity of the situation. The threats we face... they're constant and growing bolder."

I feel her stiffen slightly in my arms, but she remains silent.

"That's why I'm not always home," I continue, my tone firm but less harsh than before. "I'm handling things, protecting what's mine. But it all falls apart if you don't stay where I know you're safe."

I swallow hard, steeling myself for what I'm about to reveal, for what I've been keeping from her for weeks. "Someone broke into the mansion a few weeks ago."

She pulls back slightly, her red-rimmed eyes wide with shock.

"They got past security," I forge on, my jaw clenching at the memory. "Made it to our bedroom while you were sleeping. If I hadn't come home early that night..." I trail off, unable to finish the thought.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Penelope whispers, her voice hoarse from crying.

I set my jaw, meeting her gaze steadily. "I handled it. I thought... I thought keeping you in the dark would be better. Safer."

"But I'm not safe," she says softly. "Am I?"

The question hangs in the air between us. I want to reassure her, to promise that nothing will ever harm her or our child. But I can't bring myself to lie to her again.

"I'm doing everything in my power to ensure you are," I say instead, my voice firm. "But there are risks. Dangers I can't always predict or prevent."

Penelope nods slowly, her gaze distant. I can see the wheels turning in her mind, processing everything I've told her. The silence stretches between us, taut and uncomfortable.

Finally, I can't take it anymore. "Penny," I say, my voice low but commanding. "Talk to me. Say something. Tell me you understand."

But she remains quiet, her face a mask I can't read. With a soft sigh, she pushes herself to her feet. I follow, hovering close as she makes her way out of the bathroom and towards our bed.

I help her settle in, my movements gentle despite the frustration simmering beneath the surface. All the while, she doesn't speak, doesn't even look at me. The silence is deafening, worse than any angry words she could throw at me. "Penelope,” I say, my voice carrying a hint of warning. "This isn't over. We need to talk about this."

But she just turns away, closing her eyes. The message is clear: she's done talking for tonight.

I stand there for a long moment, watching her feign sleep. The distance between us feels vast, a chasm I'm not sure how to bridge. Part of me wants to say more, to demand we finish this conversation now. But I know that pushing her further tonight won't solve anything.

With a quiet sigh, I turn and leave the room. As I close the door behind me, I lean against it, taking a deep breath to center myself. The alpha in me bristles at leaving things unresolved, but I force myself to step back. She needs space, and I need to cool down.

*For both our sakes.*

I make my way to my study, my mind still churning with everything that's happened. If I can't sleep, I might as well work. There are threats to neutralize, and a pack to lead. The Alpha doesn't get the luxury of dwelling on personal matters, no matter how pressing they feel.

As I settle behind my desk, I try to focus on the papers in front of me. But my thoughts keep drifting back to Penelope, to the hurt in her eyes and the silence that followed. We'll need to address this, to find a way forward that keeps her safe without making her feel trapped.

*That's a problem for tomorrow.*

For now, I throw myself into my work, letting the familiar routine of pack business distract me from the turmoil in my personal life. As the night wears on, my resolve hardens.

*I'll fix this. Whatever it takes. Penelope and our child are mine, and I protect what's mine.*

*Always.*