Chosen To Be The Alpha's Surrogate

** Penelope **

My afternoon walk does little to distract me from the confusion in my heart as I move through the familiar paths of the castle grounds. Each step feels weighted with the memory of yesterday in the gazebo-Jax's warmth, his scent, the way his thumb had traced my bottom lip. The way I'd wanted to lean in...

*Stop thinking about him.*

But it's impossible not to, especially when his garden looms in my peripheral vision. I redirect my steps, purposely taking another path to try to put distance between myself and the memories of almost-moments in the rain.

The moonfire opal bounces against my chest with each step, a constant reminder of who I am who I'm supposed to be. Daughter of the Warrior King. True mate to a man who isn't the father of my child. *How did everything get so complicated?*

The baby kicks, as if sensing my turmoil. I rest my hand on my belly, trying to find comfort in the familiar movement. "I know, little one," I murmur. "Mama's confused too."

A twig snaps somewhere behind me.

I freeze, my heart suddenly thundering in my chest. Years of living as a human have taught me to trust my instincts when they scream that something's wrong.

And right now, they're screaming.

Slowly, I turn around. At first, I see nothing but the carefully manicured grounds. Then movement catches my eye-a shadow that shouldn't be there, moving too fast to be friendly.

A wolf emerges from behind a hedgerow. And somehow, I can tell, I can just *feel* that this isn't one of Rook's pack. This wolf is ragged, wild-eyed, with matted fur and bared teeth. Foam flecks its muzzle as it stalks toward me. *How did it get past the barriers? How did it get on the island?*

Terror freezes me in place. The rogue's eyes fix on my belly, and a low, menacing growl rumbles from its chest.

"Help!" I cry out, my voice shrill with fear. "Someone, please!"

The wolf lunges.

I try to turn, to run, but my body is too slow. I brace for the impact, for the tearing of teeth-

A blur of motion intercepts the rogue mid-leap. The sound of bodies colliding is like thunder, making the ground vibrate beneath my feet. Silver-streaked fur fills my vision as Jax lands between me and the attacker, his massive form a living shield.

The change happens in an instant-bones cracking, muscles reforming, fur bursting through skin. His wolf form is magnificent, larger than even Malachi's, with powerful shoulders and storm-blue eyes. The growl that rumbles from his chest is so deep it seems to shake the very earth he stands on.

The rogue recovers quickly, circling. But where its movements are erratic, desperate, Jax is all controlled power. He matches the rogue step for step, his massive paws silent on the grass despite his size.

When the rogue lunges again, Jax is ready. His jaws snap closed on empty air as the rogue feints left, then strikes for his flank. But Jax moves like liquid, twisting away from the attack and countering with one of his own. His teeth find the rogue's shoulder, tearing through muscle and sinew.

The sound of their collision is deafening snarls and growls mixing with the wet sounds of tearing flesh. The rogue fights dirty, desperate, but Jax is relentless. Each move is calculated, precise, designed to wear down his opponent.

Blood matts the rogue's already ragged fur, but still it fights, snapping and clawing at Jax's exposed areas. A lucky strike catches Jax's side, and I gasp as blood wells up through his silver-streaked coat. The injury seems to flip a switch in Jax. His next attack is brutal, lightning-fast. He feints right, and when the rogue moves to counter, Jax's jaws close around its throat. One violent shake, one sharp twist- The crack of breaking bone echoes across the grounds.

Something stirs in me as I watch him stand over his fallen enemy-something wild and ancient that recognizes the display of dominance for what it is. My heart races, but not entirely from fear anymore. *This is what he is. A protector. A warrior.*

Jax shifts back, unconcerned with his nudity as he strides to me. His hands cup my face, eyes scanning for injury. "Are you hurt?" he demands, his voice rough with lingering adrenalin. I shake my head, unable to form words. He's so close I can feel the heat radiating from his skin, can smell his scent mixed with the metallic tang of blood.

"Penelope!" Kira's voice carries from a distance. She appears at my side in the next second, wrapping a blanket around Jax's shoulders. "Let's get you inside. You need to sit down." Jax growls, reluctant to let me go, but Kira stands her ground. "Rook needs you," she says firmly. "We need to find out how that rogue got through our defenses."

His hands linger on my face for a moment longer before he finally pulls away. "Take care of her," he orders Kira, then turns to where Rook and other pack members are gathering.

Kira guides me inside, her arm steady around my waist. I let her lead me to my room, sink gratefully onto the bed as she pours me a glass of water.

"Small sips," she says, pressing the glass into my trembling hands. "The adrenaline will make you shaky for a while."

I take a small sip, trying to process the attack. "How did it get in?" I ask. "I thought the barriers, the island..."

"That's what they're trying to figure out." Kira's voice carries worry. "A rogue shouldn't have been able to penetrate our defenses."

*If one got through...*

*...*

*But this isn't all bad. Because maybe this means that Malachi can -*

A knock at the door interrupts my spiraling thoughts. Jax enters, now dressed in loose pants and a t-shirt that does little to hide the power in his frame. His eyes find me immediately, something possessive and hungry in his gaze. Kira rises smoothly before either of us can say anything. "I'll leave you two to talk," she says, and I want to beg her to stay. But something in the air between Jax and me tells me I shouldn't.

I watch Kira move toward the door, my heart racing. The Jax before me now isn't the gentle warrior who tends night-blooming flowers. This is the wolf who just tore apart a threat to me without hesitation, whose power still radiates from him in waves that make my skin prickle. Being alone with him feels dangerous-not because I fear him, but because I'm not sure I can trust myself. Not when the memory of him coming to my rescue is still so fresh, not when every instinct in my body screams to submit to the dominance rolling off him.

The door closes behind Kira with a soft click that seems to echo in the sudden silence, and I hold my breath subconsciously, the air too tense to move.

For the first time, I truly understand how a lamb might feel in the presence of a wolf-not scared, but... aware. Terrifyingly aware.