Chosen To Be The Alpha's Surrogate
⊰ 66 ⊱ Crossroads

** Penelope **

I stir in sleep, instinctively reaching for Malachi's warmth beside me. My hand meets only cool sheets, and I blink awake, confusion clouding my mind. It's still dark, the bedroom bathed in soft moonlight casting through the balcony doors. I push myself up, one hand cradling my swollen belly, and glance at the clock on the nightstand.

*3:00 AM.*

"Mal?" I call softly into the darkness, but only silence answers.

Concern gnaws at me as I carefully slip out of bed. I pull on Malachi's discarded shirt, the fabric soft against my skin, his scent enveloping me like a comforting embrace. It falls to my thighs, barely covering my bump. I pad quietly to the bedroom door, the plush rug muffling my footsteps.

Opening the door, I find Derek standing guard, his posture rigid and alert even at the late hour.

"Where's Malachi?" I ask, trying to keep the worry from my voice.

Derek's face remains impassive, but I catch a flicker of something in his eyes. Uncertainty? Concern?

"The Alpha will be back soon, Luna," he says, his tone carefully neutral.

I nod, not entirely satisfied with his answer. It's strange for Malachi to leave in the middle of the night, especially without telling me. For a moment, unwelcome thoughts creep in-doubts and insecurities I thought I'd put to rest. But I push them away, refusing to let my mind wander down *that* path.

"Thank you, Derek," I murmur, retreating back into the bedroom.

After a quick trip to the bathroom, I crawl back into bed, but sleep eludes me. My mind races, replaying recent events, particularly just before I'd fallen asleep. The memory washes over me, vivid and intense:

Malachi's hands on my skin, his touch both gentle and desperate. The way he looked at me, as if I was the most precious thing in the world. The feeling of completeness as we joined, not just physically, but on a deeper, almost spiritual level. It wasn't just about pleasure it was about vulnerability.

I close my eyes, savoring the memory. The physical pleasure, while intense, pales in comparison to the emotional connection we shared. And now, that's what I crave that profound intimacy, that sense of being completely known and loved.

I bring my hand up to my neck, my finger brushing over the still tender area where he'd bitten me during the Hunt. I had wondered what this would mean, if I'd completely lose all sense of myself. But I couldn't have been more wrong. *I don't feel lost. I feel found.*

In the next moment, my reminiscing is interrupted by the soft click of the door opening. I keep my eyes closed, feigning sleep as I hear Malachi's familiar footsteps. He moves quietly across the room, clearly trying not to wake me. I hear the rustle of fabric as he removes his jacket, then his shirt. The soft thud of his shoes hitting the floor follows, along with the whisper of socks being removed.

Curiosity gets the better of me, and I crack open my eyes, watching through my lashes. Malachi, unaware of my gaze, steps out onto the balcony. The moonlight outlines his muscular form as he leans against the railing, lighting a cigar. Even from here, I can see the tension in his shoulders, the way his head bows between puffs.

*He's smoking? Since when does he smoke?*

...

*Something is very, very wrong.*

I push myself up, tugging Malachi's shirt down over my belly as I make my way to the balcony. He's so lost in thought that he doesn't notice me until I place a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Malachi?" I say softly.

He jolts, his head snapping towards me. The surprise in his eyes quickly gives way to concern. "Penny, what are you doing up?"

He straightens, moving the cigar away to keep the smoke from me. The gesture, so automatic and caring, makes my heart ache. "What's wrong?" I ask, searching his face.

"Everything's fine," he says, but the lie is transparent. He places a hand on the side of my head, planting a kiss on my forehead before pressing his own against it. "You should go back to bed." When he pulls away, I catch his gaze, holding it. "What happened? I can tell something's wrong, Mal. Please don't lie to me."

He looks at me for a long moment, and I can see the internal struggle playing out in his eyes. Finally, he sighs, nodding as he turns his head away.

"I went to see Elijah," he admits, his voice low.

I furrow my brows, now more concerned than before. I know that their relationship is strained, that much has always been evident to me.

He bows his head, shaking it slightly. "Our relationship has always been... difficult," he continues, struggling with the words. "But it wasn't always like this. We... we had a sister."

I feel my eyes widen in surprise.

*A sister? How am I only hearing about this now?*

Malachi takes a deep breath, his gaze distant as he recalls painful memories.

"Her name was Fallon," he says softly. "She was eighteen when she died, protecting us. Elijah and I were just kids."

"Oh, Mal," I breathe, reaching out to touch his shoulder. But he catches my hand, holding it tightly.

"She had just found her mate, an Alpha from another pack," he continues. "But he had enemies. Dangerous ones. Our parents were out of town, and Fallon was watching us. The attack came at night. She... she fought like hell, held them off until help arrived. But by then..."

His voice breaks, and I see tears prick at my eyes. I want, desperately, to understand so that I can help. But I never had a family I grew up with. I can't imagine the pain of losing a sibling, especially in such a violent way.

"After that, everything changed," Malachi says, his voice quivering slightly. "I was the oldest now, the heir. All the attention fell on me, and Elijah... he got pushed aside. I should have been a better brother, but I was so caught up in my new responsibilities, my ambition. I discarded him too."

I wrap my arms around him, offering what comfort I can. "I'm so sorry, Mal," I murmur into his chest. "I had no idea."

He holds me tight for a moment, then pulls back slightly. "Penny," he says, his voice hesitant, "would you be happier living a human life?"

I step back, taken aback by the question. "What do you mean?"

Malachi hesitates, then sighs. "Elijah wants me to give up the race for Continental King. And I've been thinking... what if I did? What if we just disappeared, you and me and the baby? We could live a human life, come back to visit when we can. But right now... what if we just went?"

I'm shaking my head before he even finishes. "No," I say firmly, placing a hand on his chest. "Malachi, I know how much you love being an Alpha. You'd be so unsatisfied living a human life."

He tries to argue, his eyes pleading with me to understand. "Penny, you don't understand. I have businesses in the human world. I could provide for our family without all this. We could have a normal life, just us and our child."

I shake my head, cutting him off. "No," I repeat firmly. "You're saying this because of your brother, but you wouldn't be happy. I know it. Malachi, being an Alpha isn't just a job for you, it's part of who you are. You thrive on the challenges, on leading and protecting the pack. A human life might seem simpler, but it would never fulfill you the way *this* does."

"What am I supposed to do?" he asks, and the vulnerability in his voice nearly breaks me.

I cup his face in my hands, forcing him to meet my eyes. "There has to be another way to fix your relationship with Elijah," I say softly but firmly. "If he really loves you, he would never ask you to give up what you've worked for your entire life. And even if you did, there's no guarantee he'd win. You're a strong contender, but you're not the only one."

I can see the logic of my words sinking in, but the pain and conflict are still there in his eyes. He wants so desperately to fix things with his brother, but at what cost?

"Please," I say, taking his hand. "Come to bed. We can figure this out together, but not tonight. Not like this."

For a moment, he hesitates, but then he nods, stubbing out his cigar in the ashtray before following me inside. As we settle into bed, Malachi pulls me close, his hand splayed protectively over my belly. I feel our child move, as if sensing his father's touch.

"I love you," Malachi murmurs into my hair. "Both of you. More than anything."

"We love you too," I whisper back. "Things will work out, and no matter what, we're here for you."

His hold on my tightens protectively, and I nuzzle into his embrace, letting myself drift off to sleep. But even as I do, I can't help but worry about what the future holds.