Chosen To Be The Alpha's Surrogate
⊰ 54 ⊱ Into the Unknown

**I Penelope I**

The cool water splashing on my face does little to calm my nerves. I stare at my reflection in the ornate bathroom mirror, scanning the pale look on my face. My eyes are wide, a little wild, and there's a flush to my cheeks that has nothing to do with the pregnancy.

*Get it together, Penelope. You're imagining things.*

But even as I try to convince myself, I can't shake the feeling that something is terribly wrong. Then the door to the bathroom swings open, and I freeze, my heart leaping into my throat. *The woman, the blonde from the other night. It's her.*

She's even more beautiful up close. Tall, slender, with flowing blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. She moves with a grace that makes me acutely aware of my own awkwardness, my swollen belly and clumsy human movements.

Our eyes meet in the mirror, and for a moment, time seems to stand still. There's a knowing look in her gaze, a hint of pity mixed with something that might be triumph. She knows who I am. And deep down, I think I know who she is, too. But I can't bring myself to acknowledge it. Not yet. Not here.

The blonde turns away, moving to wash her hands at the sink next to mine. The silence between us is deafening, filled with unspoken words and unanswered questions.

*Maybe I should talk to her. Maybe I should say something.*

But then the bathroom door swings open again, stopping me before I can even part my lips to speak. Malachi strides in, his eyes lock onto the blonde, and I watch as a myriad of emotions flash across his face. Shock, longing, pain, and something else I can't quite place.

He says nothing, but the way he looks at her speaks volumes. It's as if the rest of the world has fallen away, leaving just the two of them in their own private universe.

Finally, Malachi seems to remember I'm here. He turns to me, his expression unreadable.

"Penelope, go," he says, his voice tight.

I open my mouth, desperate to ask who she is, to demand an explanation. But Malachi cuts me off before I can speak.

"Now, Penelope," he says, his tone brooking no argument.

I flinch at the harshness in his voice. This isn't my Malachi, my mate. This is the Alpha, issuing a command. And despite everything in me screaming to stay, to fight, I find myself obeying.

With one last glance at the blonde woman, at the stranger who might be one second away from stealing everything from me, I turn and flee the bathroom.

The hallway outside is a blur. I don't know where I'm going, don't know what I'm supposed to do. All I know is that I want to run, as far and as fast as I can. It's a feeling I know all too well, one that takes me back to that awful night when I walked in on Donovan with his mistress.

*Is this what my life is destined to be? Always the one left behind, never quite good enough?*

I'm so lost in my thoughts that I almost collide with someone rounding a corner. Strong hands steady me, and I look up to see Elijah's concerned face.

"Luna? Are you alright?" he asks, his brow furrowed.

For a moment, I consider brushing him off, plastering on a fake smile and pretending everything's fine. But I'm so tired of pretending. So tired of trying when it might not matter after tonight.

Before I can stop myself, I'm crumbling. Tears well up in my eyes, and I hate myself for being so weak. "Elijah," I choke out, "who... who is that woman? The blonde one?"

Elijah's expression softens, a mix of pity and something else I can't quite place. "Oh, Penelope," he sighs. "I warned you, didn't I? Julia's return would make him abandon you. It was inevitable." The name knocks the breath from my lungs.

*Julia. Malachi's true mate. The woman he was destined to be with.*

Hearing it confirmed makes it real in a way I wasn't prepared for.

"But... but he said..." I stammer, unable to finish the thought.

*What did Malachi say, really? That he loved me? That I was his mate?*

Suddenly, all his promises seem hollow, built on a foundation of half-truths and omissions.

Before Elijah can respond, a deep voice cuts through the air. "Elijah. A word."

We both turn to see his father approaching, his face set in a stern expression. Elijah stiffens beside me, his demeanor changing instantly. Elijah steps away, toward his father, but not far enough for their conversation to miss my ears. "Father," he greets, his voice carefully neutral. "Is there a problem?"

The older wolf's eyes flick between Elijah and me, his frown deepening. "What exactly do you think you're doing?" he asks, his tone low and dangerous.

Elijah's jaw clenches. "Comforting our Luna. Someone has to, since Malachi seems to have forgotten his responsibilities."

His father's eyes narrow. "Watch your tone, boy. Your brother's personal matters are none of your concern."

"None of my concern?" Elijah scoffs, a bitter laugh escaping him. "When it affects the entire pack? When it threatens everything our family has worked for? Tell me, Father, how long are we going to pretend that this human can be our Luna?" Each word is like a knife to my heart, because deep down, I fear he's right. I'm not cut out for this. I'm not strong enough, not wolf enough, to be what Malachi and the pack need.

"Enough," his father growls, taking a step forward. "You forget your place, Elijah. Malachi is the Alpha. His choices are not for you to question."

The tension between them is palpable, years of resentment and hurt bubbling to the surface. I stand there, feeling invisible and yet horribly exposed. This is my fault. My presence, my inadequacy, is tearing this family apart.

I can't bear it anymore. I can't stand here and listen to them fight over me, about me, as if I'm not even here. As if I'm just a pawn in their power struggles.

Without a word, I turn and walk away. Neither of them seems to notice, too caught up in their heated exchange. I don't know where I'm going, but I know I can't stay here. Not now. Maybe not ever.

My feet carry me through the mansion, past confused and whispering wolves. Tears blur my vision as I push past anyone in my way, ignoring the calls of my name. I just need to get out, need to breathe, need to think.

As I burst through the doors into the cool night air, I pause for just a moment. The forest looms before me, dark and imposing. For a second, I hesitate. I know the dangers that lurk in those woods, the risks of a human wandering alone in werewolf territory.

But then I think of Julia's perfect face, of Malachi's dismissive tone, of Elijah's cutting words. And suddenly, the unknown terrors of the forest seem far less frightening than the pain waiting for me if I stay.

With one last look at the mansion behind me, I step into the shadows of the trees. My heart pounds in my chest, fear and determination coursing through me. I don't know where I'm going or what I'll do when I get there. All I know is that I can't stay here, can't keep pretending that I belong in a world that seems determined to reject me at every turn.

The forest swallows me up, and I disappear into the night, leaving behind the voices calling my name and the life I'm no longer sure I belong in.