Chosen To Be The Alpha's Surrogate
⊰ 92 ⊱ A Race Against Time

**I Malachi I**

I've been pacing for hours in my office, the soft carpet hardly muffling my heavy footsteps. Every second that ticks by on the antique clock on my desk is another moment Penelope is away from me, away from our pack, our home. My hands clench and unclench at my sides, claws threatening to break through. The wolf inside me is restless. I catch a glimpse of myself in the window's reflection--eyes flickering between human and wolf. *Fuck this. I'm getting on a plane now-*

I stride towards the door, my decision made. Just as my fingers brush the cool metal, the door swings open, and Axel's scent hits me before I see him. There's a heaviness to it, tinged with frustration and... defeat? My wolf bristles, sensing bad

news.

"Report," I growl, not bothering with pleasantries.

Axel meets my gaze, a serious look on his face. I can hear his heart rate increase slightly as he prepares to deliver his news. "Alpha, we've analyzed every possible approach. The island's defenses are... formidable. More than we anticipated." "I don't care," I snarl, my patience wearing thin. I grab the front of Axel's shirt, pulling him closer. "Give me details, not excuses!"

To his credit, Axel doesn't flinch. His scent remains steady, likely prepared for my reaction. He takes a deep breath, and I can smell the mix of determination and resignation on him as he continues. "The entire perimeter is lined with silver- infused barriers. They've got state-of-the-art surveillance systems, armed patrols 24/7, and if our intel is correct, a small army of werewolves loyal to Rook."

"And?" I press, my voice dangerously low. I release his shirt, but remain close, my presence looming.

He takes a deep breath, steeling himself. "And... there's no way we can get there without getting ourselves killed. It's a suicide mission, Alpha."

Rage explodes within me, a red haze descending over my vision. In one swift motion, I sweep everything off my desk. The sound of papers flying and my laptop crashing to the floor echoes in the room. "Unacceptable!" I roar, my voice reverberating off the walls. I feel my fangs lengthen, my wolf pushing closer to the surface. "I don't care what it takes. We're getting her back!"

I grab the heavy oak desk, my muscles straining as I lift it. With a guttural growl, I hurl it across the room. It splinters against the wall, leaving a sizable dent in the plaster.

"Malachi," Axel says softly, trying to reason with me. "Think about this. If we fail, if we're killed or captured, what happens to Penelope then? What happens to our pack?"

"Don't you dare tell me to think!" I snap, rounding on him. "My mate is out there, Axel. My *pregnant* mate. Our son could be born any day now, and you're telling me to wait?"

But Axel stands his ground, though I can smell his fear. "She's not due until a couple more months, Alpha. We have time to do this right."

"A couple of months?" I laugh bitterly. "She's due in *less than* eight weeks! Do you have any idea what can happen in eight weeks? What that bastard Rook could do to her in that time?" "But she's safe," Axel insists. "You've said it yourself. You can feel it through the bond."

"She's not hurt," I admit grudgingly. "But that doesn't mean she's safe."

"It means we have time," He presses. "Time to do this *right* and bring her home safely."

I turn away, striding towards the window. The cool glass is a shock against my overheated skin as I press my forehead against it.

"How long?" I ask, my voice rough and trembling slightly with rage. "How long until we can mount a successful rescue?"

Axel hesitates, and I can smell his unease. "It's hard to say. We need more intel, more resources. And we need to find a way to neutralize their defenses. It could be weeks... maybe months."

"Months?" I roar, turning back to face him. The glass cracks under my hand as I push off from the window. "She could have our child by then!"

"I know, Alpha," Axel says, his voice steady despite my reaction. "We're doing everything we can. Every pack that's pledged support is working on this. We *will* find a way."

I run a hand through my hair, tugging at the strands in frustration. Every instinct in me is screaming to act, to fight, to tear through anyone and anything standing between me and my mate. But the cold, hard reality of our situation is starting to sink in.

*I don't have a choice... I could lose my entire pack. Or worse... I could leave Penelope without a mate and our child fatherless.*

...

*I'm sorry, Penny. I'm so sorry.*

"Fine," I growl finally, the word tasting like ash in my mouth. "But I want updates every hour. Every scrap of intel, every potential lead. If there's even a *chance* of getting to her sooner, I want to know about it."

"Of course, Alpha," Axel nods, a tinge of relief shifting his posture. "We won't stop until we bring her home."

As he turns to leave, a familiar scent catches my attention. My head snaps up, nostrils flaring. "Wait," I command, my voice sharp.

Axel pauses, hand on the doorknob. "Alpha?"

I move swiftly to the door, yanking it open. And there she is, as if conjured by my tumultuous thoughts.

*Julia.*

Her scent hits me with full force a mix of jasmine and something wild that I once found intoxicating. Now, it only serves to fuel my rage. She stands in the hallway, looking as beautiful and dangerous as ever. Her long dark hair cascades over her shoulders, and her green eyes meet mine.

"Hello, Malachi," she says, her voice soft but steady.

The sight of her, here, now, when everything is falling apart, is the final straw. A growl builds in my chest, rumbling through the air between us. My vision tinges red, the wolf within me clawing for release.

I snarl, my voice barely human. "You..."