Chosen To Be The Alpha's Surrogate
⊰ 50 ⊱ A Shattering Image

** Malachi I**

The limo's tinted windows shield me from the curious gazes of the pack as we pull away from the festival grounds. My jaw clenches, the muscles in my neck taut with barely contained fury. The parade is over, my duty fulfilled, but the humiliation burns hot in my gut.

Part of me is glad for the distance. If I'd gone home with Penelope immediately after that spectacle, I might have done something I'd regret. *Stay in control. Stay in control.*

The wolf inside me snarls, demanding retribution, demanding I assert my dominance. But I can't. Not yet. Not until I've regained complete handle of myself.

Seth, my oldest friend and one of my most loyal wolves, sits across from me. His presence is both a comfort and an irritation. He slipped into the limo before it took off, and I know what he's going to say before he even opens his mouth. "Was Penelope taken home safely?" I ask, my voice gruff.

Seth nods, his expression carefully neutral. "Yes, Alpha. Axel personally escorted her and stayed to ensure her safety."

I grunt in acknowledgment, my gaze fixed on the passing scenery. The silence stretches between us, heavy with unspoken words.

Finally, Seth breaks it. "Malachi," he starts, his tone cautious, "we need to talk about what happened."

I turn to face him, my eyes narrowing. "Go on."

He takes a deep breath, steeling himself. "Penelope is... she's more trouble than she's worth. Her upbringing, her human nature she doesn't know how to submit. At this point, she's hurting your image more than she's helping it." His words make my breath catch in my lungs, not because they're surprising, but because they echo my own thoughts. I love Penelope, fiercely and completely. But I'm starting to realize that love might not be enough. She's no good for me, for my position as Alpha, for the pack.

"I know," I growl, the admission tasting bitter on my tongue. "Believe me, I fucking know."

Seth leans forward, his eyes intense. "It's going to be hard to recover from this, Malachi. The Prince himself... if it had just been an argument between you two, we could have managed. But she disrespected Tarlac in front of everyone." I close my eyes, remembering the sound of Tarlac's hand connecting with Penelope's cheek. The memory makes my wolf howl with rage and shame.

*I should have protected her. I should have...*

"We've got people on damage control," Seth continues. "We're spreading the word that it's the pregnancy. Wolf pregnancies are notoriously difficult, after all. But there's only so much that explanation will cover. You're going to have to step up, do something about this."

"I know," I repeat, my voice low and dangerous. "Trust me, I know exactly what needs to be done."

The truth is, I've been avoiding the obvious solution. If I had given Penelope the imprinting mark instead of just the mating mark, none of this would be happening. The imprinting mark enhances a woman's submissive traits, aligns her more closely with her wolf nature. It would have made Penelope the perfect Luna, the perfect mate.

But she's human. And pregnant. The risks... they're not insignificant.

"Seth," I say, my voice rough with concern I can't quite hide. "What do you know about how humans react to the imprinting mark?"

He raises an eyebrow, surprise flickering across his face. "Not much," he admits. "It's not exactly a common occurrence. But I can do some research, reach out to some contacts."

I nod, grateful for his competence. "Do it. Quietly."

*I'm running out of options... and patience.*

The limo pulls up to the mansion, and I feel my muscles tense in anticipation of the confrontation to come. As I step out, Seth calls after me.

"Malachi," he says, his voice low and serious. "Be smart about this. Don't let your wolf take control."

I turn back, meeting his gaze. The concern there is clear. He's worried I might lose control, might hurt Penelope and our child in a fit of rage. And despite his feelings about her, he knows that if I ever harmed Penelope, even accidentally, it would destroy me.

"I've got it under control," I assure him, even as I feel my wolf stirring restlessly beneath my skin.

As I make my way into the mansion, I can feel the eyes of my pack members on me. They can sense my mood, the anger and frustration rolling off me in waves. Those who stayed behind from the festival instinctively cower as I pass, averting their eyes and baring their necks in submission.

*Good. At least someone in this fucking house knows their place.*

I spot Derek at the bottom of the staircase, his posture stiff and alert. "Where is she?" I demand, not bothering with pleasantries.

"In the bedroom, Alpha," he responds promptly.

I nod, taking a deep breath as I start up the stairs. With each step, I feel my control slipping a little more. The wolf is close to the surface now, demanding action, demanding I put my mate in her place.

But as I reach for the bedroom door, Seth's warning echoes in my mind.

*Be smart. Don't let the wolf take control.*

I pause, my hand on the doorknob, and force myself to take several deep breaths. I need to be calm. I need to be in control. Because what happens next will determine the future of my relationship with Penelope, the future of my pack, and possibly the future of my entire fucking world.

With one final, steadying breath, I turn the knob and push the door open, ready to face whatever waits for me on the other side.