Chosen To Be The Alpha's Surrogate

** Penelope **

I stand in front of the full-length mirror in the guest room Malachi *assigned* me, soothing my hands over the crimson fabric of my gown. It fits perfectly, hugging my curves and draping elegantly over the swell of my belly. I feel beautiful, confident, and a little nervous about the evening ahead.

A soft knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts, and I turn to see Malachi stepping into the room. My breath catches in my throat at the sight of him in a tailored black tuxedo, his hair slicked back and his jaw clean-shaven. He looks powerful, handsome, and every inch the Alpha he is.

"Wow," I breathe, my eyes drinking him in. "You look amazing.'

A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth as he crosses the room to stand before me. "I could say the same about you," he murmurs, his gaze sweeping over me appreciatively. "You're stunning, Penny."

I duck my head, my cheeks flushing. "Thank you," I say softly, smoothing a hand over my belly. "I just hope I don't stand out too much."

"You'll be perfect," he assures me, offering his arm. "Ready to go?"

*It's now or never, right?*

I nod, slipping my hand into the crook of his elbow and letting him lead me out of the room. Since this morning, strangers have been coming in and out of the mansion, getting the ballroom set up for the election banquet, of which I still don't know what to expect. What I do know is that this will be the first time I get to meet Malachi's pack.

He's been careful to keep me out of sight these past couple of months.

As we approach the ballroom, I can hear the soft strains of classical music and the hum of conversation growing louder. My heart begins to race, and I tighten my grip on Malachi's arm, suddenly feeling a wave of nervousness wash over me. He glances down at me, his brow furrowing slightly. "You okay?" he murmurs, his hand coming to rest reassuringly on top of mine.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my frayed nerves. "Yeah," I manage, giving him a small smile. "Just a little nervous, I guess. I've never been to anything like this before."

He nods, his unoccupied hand coming up to cup my jaw, his thumb caressing my cheek. "I know it can be overwhelming," he says quietly, his gaze holding mine. "But I'll be right beside you the whole time. Just be yourself, and let me handle the rest."

I nod, leaning into the steady warmth of his touch and presence beside me. "Okay," I murmur, squaring my shoulders and lifting my chin. "Let's do this."

Lowering his hand from my cheek, he leads me forward, and the pair of men standing beside the pair of golden doors to the ballroom pull them open, revealing a sea of people.

The room is full of glittering gowns and sharp tuxedos, the air filled with the soft strains of classical music and the hum of conversation. But as we step over the threshold, a hush falls over the crowd, every head turning in our direction. I feel the weight of their stares, the pressure of their curiosity and speculation, and for a moment, my steps falter. But Malachi's hand is steady on my back, solid and reassuring, and I draw in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. *Hold it together.*

Together, we descend the grand staircase into the ballroom, the crowd parting before us. I can hear the whispers starting up again, the rustle of fabric and the clink of glasses as the guests begin to murmur amongst themselves. "Is that her? The human?"

"I heard she's carrying his child."

"What is he thinking, bringing her here?"

I try to tune them out, focusing instead on the surety and strength of Malachi's steps as he leads me into the room.

At the bottom of the stairs, he pauses, turning to face the crowd with a cool, assessing gaze. The room falls silent once more, every eye trained on the Alpha and his human...*thing*.

Malachi's voice carries effortlessly through the room as he addresses the crowd. "Friends, allies, members of the pack," he begins, his hand resting reassuringly on the small of my back. "I want to thank you all for being here tonight, for joining us in celebration of the future we're building together."

He pauses, his gaze sweeping over the seat of faces, and I can feel the weight of their attention, the curiosity and anticipation crackling in the air.

"As many of you know, recent events have brought significant changes to our pack, to our way of life. The arrival of my mate, Penelope, and the child she carries, signals a new era for us all."

*Mate..?*

A murmur goes through the crowd at his words, and I feel a flutter of nerves in my belly. I fight desperately not to show my surprise at the sound of those words coming from his mouth, though a string of pride tugs at my chest.

"I know there are questions, concerns, even doubts among some of you. Change is never easy, and the path ahead is not without its challenges."

His gaze finds mine, holding it with an intensity that steals my breath. "But I have faith in our strength and our unity as a pack. I have faith that we, together, will build a stronger future."

It's as though he's speaking directly to me, and emotion swells in my chest.

He turns back to the crowd, his voice ringing with conviction. "So tonight, let us come together in celebration and solidarity. Let us reaffirm the bonds that unite us, and look forward to the bright future that awaits." Applause breaks out, filling the ballroom with the sound of hundreds of hands clapping in unison. Malachi nods in acknowledgement, a small smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

As the applause dies down, he gestures to the orchestra, and music swells once more, signaling the start of the festivities. Guests begin to mingle and drift towards the refreshment table, the hum of conversation rising to fill the air. Malachi turns to me, his hand sliding from my back to grasp my fingers. "Shall we?" he murmurs, inclining his head towards the crowd.

I nod, letting him lead me into the throng of people. As we make our way through the room, I can feel the curious stares on me, hearing the whispers trailing in our wake. But I hold my head high, buoyed by Malachi's presence at my side and the knowledge that I belong here, that I have a place in this world.

We pause to greet various guests, Malachi introducing me with a proud hand at the small of my back. I smile and shake hands, exchanging pleasantries and trying to remember the dizzying array of names and faces.

Through it all, my eyes keep straying back to Malachi, drawn to the magnetic pull of his presence. And each time, I find him already watching me, his gaze heated and intense, sending a shiver down my spine.

It's as if there's an invisible tether between us, a connection that keeps us attuned to each other even in the midst of the crowd. I can feel it like a physical thing, a humming awareness that makes my skin prickle and my heart race.

As we make our way towards the refreshment table, a tall, dark-haired man in a sharp tuxedo approaches us, his smile a little too wide, his eyes a little too cold.

"Brother," he greets Malachi, his voice smooth as talk. "Congratulations on your happy news."

Malachi's hand tightens on mine, his posture stiffening almost imperceptibly. "Elijah," he acknowledges, his tone carefully neutral. "Thank you for coming."

Elijah's gaze slides to me, his eyes raking over my form in a way that makes me want to shrink back. "And this must be the lovely Penelope," he purrs, extending a hand. "I've heard so much about you."

*And I've heard nothing about you.*

Reluctantly, I place my hand in his, suppressing a shudder as his fingers close around mine. His skin is cold, his grip just a little too tight to be comfortable.

"It's nice to meet you," I manage, forcing a smile.

Elijah holds my gaze, something dark and unsettling flickering in his silver irises. "The pleasure is all mine," he murmurs, his thumb stroking over my knuckles in a way that feels entirely too familiar. "I must say, my brother is a lucky man." Malachi clears his throat, his hand sliding possessively around my waist. "Yes, I am," he agrees, his voice hard. "If you'll excuse me, Elijah, there are other guests we need to greet."

Elijah inclines his head, releasing my hand with a final lingering squeeze. "Of course," he says smoothly. "I wouldn't want to monopolize your time. But I do hope we'll have a chance to chat more later, Penelope. I'm sure we have much in common."

With a final, enigmatic smile, he melts back into the crowd, leaving an unsettling and vaguely nauseous feeling in my gut.

"Who was that?" I ask Malachi, my voice low and strained.

He sighs, his jaw tight. "My brother, Elijah. He's...complicated."

*Brother? I didn't know he had siblings.*

...

*Then again, there's a lot I don't know about him still.*

I frown, glancing back in the direction Elijah disappeared. "Complicated how?"

Malachi is silent for a moment, his gaze distant. "He was...a candidate for the throne, before you and the baby. He's not exactly thrilled about the change in succession."

A chill goes through me, my hand instinctively, protectively floating to my belly.

*Now, I'm definitely not leaving your side.*