Chapter 3 Be My Surrogate

REIKA'S POV When I woke up, my head felt heavy, and for a moment, I thought I was dreaming. The bed beneath me was almost too soft, like sinking into a cloud. My body ached, bruises reminding me of the rogues' attack. I winced, fighting to keep my eyes open. The room I was in was nothing like the one I left behind at the Shadow Claw Pack. There, I had lived in a dark, slave's space that barely counted as a room. Here, everything was lavish. It made my head spin. I pushed myself up, feeling the unfamiliar fabric against my skin. That's when I realized I wasn't wearing my clothes. My heart jumped into my throat, and I clutched the blanket, suddenly aware I was missing more than my shirt. My bra was also replaced by an oversized shirt that smelled like fresh soap and was distinctly masculine. The door creaked, and my gaze snapped to the doorway, where the man from earlier stepped in. "You're awake," he said, his voice gruff but not unkind. I stiffened, clutching the blanket even tighter. "A slave helped you into bed," he said, his voice lowering as if to address the silent question. "I had no part in that." Relief flooded through me, but it was quickly replaced by embarrassment. "W-where am I?" "You're in the Thunder Howl Pack territory," he said, stopping at the edge of the bed. "I'm Orion, Beta of Alpha Apollo. You're safe now." I stared at him, the words sinking in slowly. Beta. He wasn't even the strongest one here, yet he had torn through those rogues like they were nothing. My throat tightened. There's someone even stronger than him? What kind of pack had I stumbled into? I had never heard Alpha Martin mention this pack, and that alone made me wonder how powerful they must be. "Thank you... for saving me," I whispered, keeping my gaze lowered, unsure how to act around him. Before Orion could respond, the door behind him opened more expansively, and I felt the air in the room shift. Someone else entered. The atmosphere became thicker and heavier, and I immediately felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise. A taller, broader man stepped into view. My breath caught in my throat. He was like nothing I had ever seen—more dangerous than beta Orion, more commanding, and infinitely more intimidating. His green eyes were piercing, locked onto me coldly. He exuded an aura of raw power that made every nerve in my body scream to be still. This must be Alpha Apollo. Orion bowed slightly, stepping aside as the man approached, his movements deliberate. My lips parted as I took him in. There was something... mesmerizing about him. I felt a chill run through me, but I couldn't tear my eyes away. APOLLO'S POV When I opened the door, revealing her, I steeled myself, but the sight of her nearly took my breath away. She was small and fragile in appearance, but there was something else—something raw beneath that surface. "She's ours now," my wolf Ragnar growled. "Not yet; we need to scrutinize her," I suppressed my wolf firmly. I hated it. I hated how my wolf shifted restlessly inside, wanting to get closer, touch, and take in more of her scent. But I couldn't let myself be moved by something as simple as desire. As an Alpha, discipline was everything. She looked at me, wide-eyed, scared—and she should be. I had no room for weakness here, no room for misplaced trust. No one, not even a woman as stunning as her, could escape my scrutiny. My instincts were sharper than most, and I didn't believe in second chances. The girl instinctively shrank back against the headboard, her fingers gripping the edge of the blanket like it was a lifeline. Good. She should be on edge. That fear—it would keep her honest, force her to understand what it meant to be under my rule. My presence was enough to scare her. I could sense her confusion, the way her heartbeat picked up as I neared, how her scent subtly shifted as anxiety and curiosity warred within her. But I wouldn't let on that I was affected by her—by the pull that gnawed at my control. Control. That was how I maintained dominance over the Thunder Howl Pack. "So, your name is Reika." I kept my tone low and steady as I stepped closer. She nodded a bit slowly. "Did you suddenly become mute in front of me?" I bit out. Patience wasn't my strong suit. "I need answers, not silent nods." She flinched slightly, and I saw her try to form words, her lips parting as though they weren't sure whether to stay shut or spill her secrets. "Yes, my name is Reika." Finally, she spoke in a voice so soft it barely reached me. She forced herself up to stand, and bowed her head, showing the respect she clearly knew was owed to an Alpha. Smart girl. She understood who she was dealing with. But I wasn't about to let her off that easily. Respect alone didn't guarantee loyalty, and a stranger in my territory was more of a threat than a potential ally. I couldn't let anyone, even a frail girl like her, slip past our borders without proving they were here for the right reasons. "Why were you running from your pack?" My voice was cold, demanding. She hesitated, and I watched her battle with herself, eyes flickering as though weighing her options. Finally, she lowered her gaze. "My mate… rejected me. So I decided to leave." She wasn't giving me the whole story. But it was true enough to pass for honesty, and I felt the slightest shift in my gut as I watched her. I narrowed my eyes. "Look at me," I said, my tone hard. She hesitated for a split second before lifting her eyes to meet mine. I studied her face, every line and angle, searching for even a flicker of deception. But I found none. "If you're lying, I won't show you any mercy. I'll kill you myself," I said, my words cold, a warning she'd better take to heart. She nodded, "I understand." Her voice trembled slightly. "Since my Beta Orion has done you a favor," I said, keeping my gaze steady on her, "wouldn't it be nice if you did the same for us?" Reika's eyes widened slightly, the color draining from her face. She seemed to freeze, staring back at me. "What... kind of favor does an Alpha want from me?" she asked, her tone laced with caution. The blanket fell away as her hands trembled. Her nipples were clearly marked on her shirt, enough to stir something primal within me. Her form was wrapped in one of the shirts we kept for guests. But it clung to her in all the wrong ways—or the right ones, depending on who you asked. The outline was clear, leaving no mistake that she wore nothing underneath. I felt Ragnar stir, his impatience seeping into my thoughts like a hot pulse. "She should bear our child," Ragnar growled, his voice rumbling through me. "We don't know her yet," I shot back, though my resolve weakened every second. I needed more control, but Ragnar only scoffed. "Don't fool yourself, Apollo. I know you like her too." Ragnar had a point, as much as I hated to admit it. No other woman had managed to stir this kind of reaction in me, not even close. But I needed to test her further. "Be my surrogate," I said, not a flicker of hesitation in my voice. "I need you to conceive my child."