Chosen To Be The Alpha's Surrogate

**I Penelope I**

Consciousness comes to me slowly, like waking from a deep, long sleep. The pounding in my head hits me then, a relentless drumbeat that seems to echo through my entire body. I groan, my hand instinctively moving to cradle my swollen belly. The baby kicks, as if sensing my distress, and I find a small measure of comfort in that familiar sensation.

*What happened..?*

I force my eyes open, blinking against the soft light filtering through unfamiliar curtains.

*Where am I..?*

Panic sets in as I realize I'm in a room I don't recognize. The walls are a soothing pale blue, the furniture simple but elegant. It's not the lavish decor of Malachi's mansion, nor is it anywhere I've ever been before.

My heart races as I try to piece together what happened. Flashes of memory come back to me then-growls and snarls echoing through the air, a loud bang that made me jump, the overwhelming sense of fear that gripped me. And then... nothing. Just darkness.

I struggle to sit up, my body heavy and feeling uncooperative. "Malachi?" I call out, my voice hoarse. But there's no answer, just the heavy silence of this strange room.

Then, before I can truly start to panic, the door opens. I tense, ready to defend myself if necessary, but the sight of the person entering makes me pause. It's Rook, looking far better than he did in Malachi's dungeon. The bruises on his face have faded completely, and he moves with the easy grace of someone who's no longer in constant pain.

"You're awake," he says, his voice softer than I remember. "How are you feeling?"

I eye him warily, unsure whether to trust him or not. "Where am I? What happened? Where's Malachi?"

Rook sighs, pulling up a chair to sit beside the bed. "You're safe," he assures me. "I brought you here to protect you."

"Protect me?" I repeat, incredulous. "You kidnapped me!"

"I *rescued* you," he corrects, his eyes hardening slightly. "If we could take you from Malachi this easily, what does that say about his ability to protect you and your child?"

For a moment, I'm stunned into silence. I want to argue, to defend Malachi, but a small part of me can't help but wonder if Rook has a point.

*How did this happen? Where was Malachi when I needed him?*

"I'll keep you safe," Rook continues, his voice gentling. "At least until you deliver the baby and you're not so vulnerable."

I shake my head, confusion and fear warring within me. "Why do you care so much? Why go to all this trouble for me?"

He's quiet for a moment, his gaze distant. When he speaks, his voice is heavy with something I don't quite understand. "Our fates are linked, Penelope. They always have been."

"What do you mean?" I ask, my hand unconsciously moving to my belly as the baby shifts restlessly.

"It's how I've always known you were alive," Rook explains. "Even when everyone else thought you were dead. I could feel you, somewhere out there." He pauses, seeming to gather his thoughts. "I'm only as strong as I am because of our bloodline. Because of our link."

I furrow my brow, trying to make sense of his words. "Our link? What are you talking about?"

Rook leans forward, his eyes intense. "We're twins, Penelope. Fraternal twins, but twins nonetheless. And twins in our world... they have a special connection. It's rare, especially with fraternal twins, but it happens. It's why your wolf has been suppressed all these years."

*Twins?*

My mind reels, trying to reconcile this new information with everything I thought I knew about myself. "But... how? I don't understand."

"The link between us is uneven," he continues. "I'm so strong because you're not. Your power, your wolf... it's been feeding mine all these years. But if something were to happen to you, my wolf would die with you. I need you alive, Penelope. You're my keeper as much as I am yours."

I sit back, overwhelmed by the implications of what he's saying. A part of me wants to deny it, to claim it's all some elaborate lie. But deep down, I know it's true. It explains so much the strange pull I felt towards Rook, the dreams I've been having, the sense that there was always something more to me than I understood.

As the initial shock wears off, a new question forms in my mind. I look at Rook, *really* look at him, searching for any familial resemblance. "Do you... do you really care about me as your sister? Or is it just because I'm your keeper?" His face softens, a mix of emotions playing across his features. "Penelope," he starts, then pauses, seeming to choose his words carefully. "You're my sister. My twin. That bond goes beyond any *mystical* link or supernatural power." His words should comfort me, but instead, they spark a new pain. Tears well up in my eyes as I ask, "If that's true, why did you never look for me? All those years... I was alone, thinking I had no family. Why?"

A shadow crosses Rook's face, regret evident in his eyes. "It was better that I didn't," he says softly. "As long as no one knew you were alive, that *I* had a twin, no one would come after you. You would have had a target on your back because of anyone who might try to take me down."

His explanation does little to soothe the ache in my chest. "So you left me alone to protect me? How is that any better?"

Rook sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I know it's hard to understand, but there are things going on that you don't know about. People who would use you, *hurt* you, to get what they want. I can't let that happen."

I shake my head, frustration building. "So your solution is to kidnap me? To keep me prisoner?"

"You're not a prisoner," Rook insists. "You're under my protection. There's a difference."

"Is there?" I challenge. "Because from where I'm sitting, it looks pretty much the same."

His expression hardens slightly. "I can't take you back to Malachi," he says firmly. "Not yet. It's not safe. But when the time is right, when I know you'll be safe, I'll help you get back to him."

His words ignite a fire in me. "No," I say, my voice stronger than I feel. "I won't wait for some arbitrary time that you decide is right. I need to go back to Malachi now."

Frustration flashes across Rook's face. "Penelope, be reasonable. You don't understand the danger you're in."

"Then explain it to me!" I snap, my hands balling into fists beside me. "Stop talking in riddles and just tell me what's going on!"

He takes a deep breath, visibly trying to calm himself. "Are you going to come quietly?" he asks, his voice tight.

I lift my chin, meeting his gaze defiantly. "No."

For a moment, we stare at each other, the air thick with tension. Then, Rook's shoulders slump slightly. "Then you leave me no choice."

Before I can ask what he means, the door opens. Two men enter. Even without shifting, I can sense their wolf nature. My heart races as they approach, their steps deliberate. "What are you doing?" I demand, trying to back away but finding myself cornered. "Stop it!"

But Rook doesn't meet my eyes as the men grab my arms. "Where are you taking me?" I cry out, struggling against their grip.

As they start to drag me from the room, Rook finally looks at me. His eyes are filled with a mix of determination and regret. "Somewhere safe," he says softly.