Chosen To Be The Alpha's Surrogate
⊰ 52 ⊱ The Hunger Within

**Malachi **

The world narrows to just Penelope and me as passion overtakes us. It's not gentle or loving, but raw and primal. I pour all my frustration, fear, and need into each touch, each kiss. And Penelope responds with equal fervor, her cries echoing in the room.

Our bodies move together in a frenzied dance, the air thick with the scent of our mingled sweat and arousal. I lose myself in the feel of her, the taste of her skin, the sound of her voice calling my name. It's intoxicating, this power I have over her when we're like this, the way she yields to me completely.

My cock pulses in her as I release into her tight walls, a low grunt erupting from the back of my throat. She clenches around me, her body quavering with her own release. Our chests rise and fall unevenly, our breathing heavy. *So fucking good... my pretty little Penny.*

But even after planting my seed in her twice now, I'm still wound tight, my wolf close to the surface. Penelope seems to sense this, her hand tracing soothing patterns on my chest.

"Let me breathe for a moment," she whispers, her voice hoarse.

I nod, forcing myself to be still. My lips find her neck, trailing kisses over the marks I've left. Part of me feels guilty for being so rough, but another part-the wolf part-is satisfied seeing my claim on her skin. *Mine. All fucking mine.*

As my breathing slows, I take in the sight of her. Her hair is a tangled mess, her lips swollen from our kisses. There's a flush to her skin that extends down her neck to her chest. She's beautiful like this, thoroughly claimed and marked. Then, she shifts, her lips moving to my neck. Suddenly, she nips at my skin, and a growl rips from my throat. In an instant, I have her pinned to the bed, my hand at her throat.

There's a mischievous glint in her eyes that both thrills and terrifies me. I can feel my wolf straining against its leash, demanding to be let loose. The urge to bite her, to mark her permanently as mine, is almost overwhelming. "Don't," I warn, my voice low and dangerous. "You can't bite me, Penelope. Even playfully. It triggers the wolf, and I won't be able to control it."

Understanding dawns in her eyes, followed quickly by remorse. "I'm sorry," she says softly. "I didn't know."

I take a deep breath, forcing my wolf back. It's a struggle, harder than it's ever been before. The events of the day, the fear of losing her, the anger at her disobedience it all combines to make my control razor-thin. *Too fucking close.*

...

*That's enough for tonight.*

Slowly, I release her and lie down beside her, pulling her into my arms. We lie there in silence for a while, our breathing gradually returning to normal. I focus on the steady beat of her heart, letting it anchor me to the present moment. Finally, I speak. "Tomorrow is the Great Hunt," I remind her. "You'll enter the forest, and I'll find you. But I'll be in wolf form, Penny. I won't be as... controlled as I am now."

She tenses slightly in my arms. "What do I need to do?"

"Don't run," I say firmly. "No matter what. Running will trigger the wolf's instinct to chase, to conquer. It could be... dangerous."

Penelope nods against my chest. "I understand," she whispers.

*But does she? Can she truly comprehend what she's agreeing to?*

The Great Hunt is a primal ritual, one that taps into the deepest, most animalistic parts of our nature. Even now, thinking about it, I can feel my wolf stirring with anticipation.

"Penny," I say, my voice rough. "You need to understand. When I'm in wolf form, especially during the Hunt, my human side takes a back seat. The wolf... it sees you as its mate, yes, but also as prey. It will want to chase you, to dominate you."

I feel her shiver in my arms, but whether from fear or excitement, I can't tell. "Will you... will you hurt me?" she asks, her voice small.

The question cuts deep. "I'll try not to," I say honestly. "But I can't promise anything. That's why it's so important that you don't run. If you submit, if you show your throat to me, it should satisfy the wolf's need for dominance without violence."

Penelope is quiet for a long moment, processing this. When she speaks again, her voice is stronger. "I trust you, Mal. I know you'll do everything you can to protect me."

Her words fill me with a mix of pride and fear. Pride that she trusts me so completely, and fear that I might not be worthy of that trust. What if I lose control? What if the wolf takes over completely?

"I love you," I murmur into her hair, tightening my arms around her. "No matter what happens tomorrow, remember that. Remember that you're mine, and I'm yours."

As we lie there in the darkness, I can't help but think about how much has changed since Penelope came into my life. She's challenged me, frustrated me, pushed me to my limits. But she's also shown me a depth of love and acceptance I never thought possible.

Tomorrow will test us both. The Great Hunt is more than just a ritual-it's a crucible, one that will either strengthen our bond or break it completely.

As I drift off to sleep, Penelope's warm body nestled against mine, I send up a silent prayer to whatever powers might be listening.

*Let me be strong enough to protect her. Let her be strong enough to endure. And let our love be strong enough to survive whatever challenges lie ahead.*