Chosen To Be The Alpha's Surrogate
⊰ 41 ⊱ Silent Fears

**I Penelope I**

The car ride to the parenting class is filled with a nervous energy that I can't quite shake. Malachi's hand rests on my thigh, a comforting touch that grounds me as we navigate the busy streets of the city. We're heading to a specialized class for werewolf parents-to-be, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little terrified.

"You okay, little rabbit?" Malachi asks, his eyes flicking to me briefly before returning to the road.

I nod, trying to muster up a smile. "Just nervous, I guess. I mean, I knew werewolf babies were different, but... a special class? It's a lot to take in."

Malachi chuckles. "Wait until you see them in action. Werewolf pups are something else."

"Oh God," I groan, only half-joking. "Is our baby going to be able to fly right after birth? Because I'm not sure I'm prepared for that."

His laugh is fuller this time, and he squeezes my thigh gently. "No flying, I promise. But they do develop faster than human babies. You'll see." *Faster? How much faster?*

As we pull into the parking lot of a nondescript building, I take a deep breath.

*This is just another step in our journey. Just another way to prepare for our little miracle.*

The classroom is bright and airy, with posters of wolf pups and human babies adorning the walls. Other couples mill about, some looking as nervous as I feel, others chatting easily. Malachi's hand lingers on the small of my back, a comforting reassurance as we make our way to a pair of open seats.

The instructor, a petite woman with a shock of red hair, claps her hands to get our attention. "Welcome, everyone! I'm Sally, and I'll be guiding you through the wonderful world of werewolf parenting today."

As Sally begins her introduction, I find myself relaxing slightly.

*This isn't so different from a regular parenting class, right? Just with a few... supernatural tweaks.*

That is, until Sally announces our first activity.

"Alright, couples! Time for a little friendly competition. Let's see who can change a diaper the fastest!"

I turn to Malachi, a competitive glint in my eye. "You're going down, Alpha."

He grins, all perfectly white teeth and confidence. "Bring it on, little rabbit."

We're each given a life-like baby doll and a stack of diapers. On Sally's count, we begin. I fumble with the tabs at first, my fingers feeling clumsy and uncooperative. But then muscle memory from my days of babysitting kicks in, and I find a rhythm.

Glancing over, I see Malachi's brow furrowed in concentration, his large hands looking comically out of place as he wrestles with the tiny diaper. I can't help but giggle, which earns me a playful growl.

"Done!" I cry triumphantly, holding up my perfectly diapered doll.

Malachi finishes a second later, his diaper slightly lopsided but securely fastened. He looks at me with a mix of pride and mock indignation. "Well done, little rabbit. But don't get too cocky. There's still plenty of class left."

As the lesson progresses, we learn about the accelerated growth of werewolf babies, their heightened senses, and the importance of pack bonds in their development. It's fascinating, but also a little overwhelming. Each new piece of information seems to underscore just how different this experience will be from a typical human pregnancy.

During a break, Sally leads us through some pregnancy-safe yoga poses. I ease myself onto a mat, grateful for the chance to stretch my increasingly uncomfortable body. As I settle into a gentle cat-cow pose, my eyes wander around the room, taking in the various posters and charts adorning the walls.

That's when I see it.

At first glance, it looks like a standard fetal development chart. But as my gaze lingers, the details come into focus, and my blood runs cold. The poster shows the average pre-birth weight of a werewolf baby. It's... it's almost twice the size of a human baby.

My arms begin to tremble, no longer from the exertion of holding the pose.

*How am I supposed to deliver a baby that size? Is it even possible for a human woman to survive that?*

"Penny?" Malachi's voice breaks through my spiraling thoughts. He's on the mat next to me, his brow furrowed in concern. "You okay? You've gone pale."

I blink, trying to compose myself. "I'm fine," I lie, forcing a smile that feels brittle on my face. "Just a little dizzy from the stretches."

Malachi's eyes narrow slightly, and I can tell he doesn't quite believe me. But before he can press further, Sally calls the class back to order.

For the remainder of the session, I try to focus on the information being shared. Sally discusses proper nutrition for werewolf pregnancies, the importance of a strong pack support system, and techniques for managing a newborn pup's heightened senses. But my mind keeps drifting back to that poster, to the terrifying numbers that seem to spell out a death sentence.

As the class wraps up, I mechanically gather my things, my movements slow and distracted. Malachi's hand on my lower back guides me towards the exit, and I can feel his eyes on me, searching, questioning.

The car ride home is quieter than our journey to the class. The excited chatter from earlier has been replaced by a heavy silence. Malachi keeps shooting me concerned glances, but I pretend not to notice, staring out the window at the passing scenery. The trees and buildings blur together, much like my jumbled thoughts.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" Malachi finally says as we pull into our driveway, his tone carefully casual.

I muster up a smile, hoping it doesn't look as forced as it feels. "No, it was... informative."

Malachi cuts the engine and turns to face me fully. For a moment, I think he's going to confront me about my odd behavior. But instead, he simply leans over and presses a gentle kiss to my forehead. "Let's get you inside, little rabbit. You look tired."

He helps me out of the car, his touch gentle but firm. As we walk towards the house, I can feel the weight of his gaze on me. He knows something's up, I know it, and it's only a matter of time before he confronts me about it. But for now, I keep my fears to myself. Because how do I tell the man I love, the father of my child, that I'm terrified our baby might kill me?