Chosen To Be The Alpha's Surrogate

**I Malachi I**

The words hang heavy in the air between us. "Because you summoned me to yours."

Penelope's eyes widen, a mix of confusion and fear clouding them. "What... what does that mean?" she whispers, her voice trembling.

I take a deep breath, my mind racing. The pieces are falling into place, a puzzle I didn't even know I was solving until this moment. It's as if the world has shifted on its axis, everything I thought I knew about Penelope suddenly cast in a new light.

*There's a wolf in her.*

The realization nearly cripples me, leaving me breathless with awe and a touch of fear. My heart pounds in my chest. I've heard legends, whispered stories passed down through generations, of wolves suppressed along with forgotten memories. People who can't recall their childhood, their wolf lying dormant within them.

As I look at Penelope, really look at her, it all starts to make sense. Her strength, her defiance, the way she's adapted to our world-it's not just human resilience. It's the wolf inside her, struggling to break free. *Fuck. How did I not see it before?*

I want to tell her, to share this monumental discovery. The words are on the tip of my tongue, ready to spill out. But as I look at her, I see the terror in her eyes, the way she's shrinking back into herself. Her small frame seems even more fragile now, as if the weight of this revelation might shatter her.

*She's not ready for this.*

...

*I'm not ready for this.*

Until I can figure out how this happened, what wolf line she comes from, it's best to keep this information to myself. For now, at least. The decision sits heavy in my gut, but I know it's the right call.

"It's because I'm a wolf," I say instead, choosing my words carefully. Each syllable feels like a betrayal, but I force myself to continue. "And you're carrying our child. It's created a connection between us that allows you to... reach out, in your dreams."

I watch as the fear in her eyes slowly recedes, replaced by cautious acceptance. She nods, processing what I'm telling her. The trust in her gaze is almost painful to see, knowing what I'm keeping from her. "But why..." she starts, then hesitates, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "Why did you pull away? In the dream?"

I suppress a groan, remembering the heat of her body against mine, the intoxicating scent of her arousal. Even now, the memory makes my wolf stir restlessly. "It's dangerous," I explain, fighting to keep my voice steady. "If I lose control in the dream, it could have real-world consequences. Especially since I haven't given you the imprinting mark yet."

She nods again, accepting my words without question. The complete faith in her eyes is like a knife to my heart, twisting with every lie I tell.

"I understand," she says softly. Then, with a conviction that makes my chest tighten, she adds, "I trust you, Mal. To lead me, to guide me through all of this. I'm... I'm really trying to come to terms with submitting to you. As my Alpha, as my

mate."

Guilt crashes over me like a wave, threatening to drown me. She's putting her faith in me, and I'm lying to her. The weight of it settles on my shoulders, a burden I'm not sure I can bear.

*But it's for her own good. Until I know more, until I can protect her from whatever this means.*

The justification feels hollow, but it's all I have.

"Get some sleep, little rabbit," I murmur, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

The pet name feels different now, knowing what I know. Is she still my little rabbit, or is she a wolf in sheep's clothing?

"We'll figure this out together."

She curls into me, her breathing quickly evening out as she drifts off. I lie there, rigid with tension, my mind whirling with what this could all mean. The warmth of her body against mine, once a comfort, now feels like a reminder of the secret I'm keeping.

Once I'm sure she's deeply asleep, I carefully extricate myself from her embrace. Each movement is slow, deliberate, as if I'm afraid that any sudden motion might shatter this fragile peace. I dress quickly and silently, my eyes never leaving Penelope's peaceful form.

In sleep, she looks so human, so vulnerable. It's hard to reconcile this image with the idea of a dormant wolf within her. Yet, as I watch her, I can almost see it a flicker of something wild beneath her skin, waiting to be awakened.

With one last glance at my sleeping mate, I slip out of the room.

The mansion is quiet at this late hour, the usual bustle of pack life muted to a whisper. But as I approach the parlor, I can hear low voices, Axel's familiar rumble among them. Even now, in the dead of night, my beta is working, ever vigilant. I push open the door, and conversation immediately ceases. My pack members look up at me, a mixture of curiosity and concern on their faces. I can smell their unease, their instinctive response to their Alpha's tension. "Leave us," I command, my eyes fixed on Axel. "Except you."

There's a flurry of movement as the others file out, their quick glances and hushed whispers telling me that rumors will be flying by morning. But that's a problem for another time.

As the door closes behind the last wolf, I'm left alone with Axel. My most trusted beta raises an eyebrow, waiting for me to speak. He knows me well enough to sense that something big is coming.

I pace the room, struggling to find the right words.

*How do I even begin to explain this?*

"It's Penelope," I finally say, my voice low and intense. I stop pacing, turning to face Axel head-on. "She's... she's a wolf."

Axel's eyes widen, shock clear on his usually impassive face. For a moment, he's speechless, and I can practically see the gears turning in his head as he processes this information.

"What? How is that possible?" he finally manages, his voice a mix of disbelief and awe.

I run a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling up. "I don't know," I admit, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. I'm the Alpha, I'm supposed to have answers, not more questions. "But it's the only explanation that makes sense. The dreams, her ability to summon me, the way she's adapted to our world... There's a wolf in her, Axel. Dormant, maybe, but there."

Axel is quiet for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought. I can see him piecing together all the little oddities about Penelope, all the things that never quite added up. Then he nods slowly, his expression clearing.

"It would explain a lot," he admits, his voice thoughtful. "Her scent, the way she carries herself... I always thought there was something different about her. Something that didn't quite fit with her being just human."

His words are both a relief and a new source of anxiety. On one hand, I'm glad I'm not crazy, that someone else can see the possibility. On the other, if Axel noticed something off, who else might have?

"I need you to look into this," I say, my voice taking on an edge of command. This isn't just a request from a friend, but an order from an Alpha to his beta. "Find out if there were any missing wolf children from the surrounding packs 21 years ago. Anything that might explain how a wolf ended up raised as a human."

Axel nods, a determination settling over his features. "I'll get right on it, Alpha," he assures me. "We'll get to the bottom of this."

He turns to leave, but then pauses, his hand on the doorknob. I can smell the hesitation on him, see the tension in his shoulders. "There's something else," he says, his voice hesitant. "About the imprinting mark..."

My head snaps up, my full attention on him. A chill runs down my spine, a premonition of bad news. "What about it? What did you find out?"

Axel takes a deep breath, his eyes meeting mine with a gravity that makes my stomach clench. "There's no record of a human ever receiving an imprinting mark," he says slowly, each word careful and measured. "Because no human has ever survived even a mating mark. The imprinting mark would be... fatal."

The words make my stomach drop, my heart skipping a beat. "What?" I manage to choke out, the single syllable laden with disbelief and dawning horror.

"I'm sorry, Alpha," Axel says, his voice soft with sympathy. "But it's true. The energy required for the imprinting bond... it would overwhelm a human body. Kill them instantly."

I nod numbly, dismissing him with a wave of my hand. As the door closes behind him, I sink into a nearby chair, my mind reeling.

*I could have killed her. I could've killed our son.*

The thought sends a wave of nausea through me, so strong I have to close my eyes and breathe deeply to keep from being sick. If I had given Penelope the imprinting mark, thinking it would strengthen our bond, protect her... I would have killed her. My mate. The mother of my child.

But even as the horror of that near miss washes over me, another thought takes hold. This is just further proof. Penelope survived the mating mark. She's carrying my child. She's dreaming of forests and summoning me to her side. *She's a wolf. She has to be.*

The question is, what do I do with this information? How do I protect her, guide her through this discovery, when I'm not even sure what it means myself?