The Alpha's surrogate secret.

Willow's POV.

I held my banging head as I sat up. I scrutinized my surroundings then I found out I was on the bed. It looked like I had fainted in Silas's office.

Maids strode into my room and placed some refreshments before turning to leave. I took a glass of water and smiled at them.

“She arrived early,”

The maids said to each other before walking away.

I froze, still seated on my bed. My fingers are tightening around the glass of water I was holding. An unsettling cold feeling rumbled in my stomach.

She. I didn't need to ask who, I knew it was Evelyn. Alpha Silas’s chosen Luna, the woman whom he has concluded to marry and the woman who I am not allowed to be near.

I took a deep breath, reminding myself of the temporary contract. I'm just a body carrying a child, nothing more.

Still my heart ached, I needed to see her. Greet her before Alpha Silas corrects me.

I moved out of my room and my breath hitched as I turned towards the staircase. I saw her before she saw me.

Evelyn stood in the center of the sitting room like it was made for her. Dressed in blue silk that matched the estate’s beauty perfectly. Her hair cascading down her back and when she smiled at Silas it was practiced and calm.

“This place still looks the same,” she said softly, “Still dark. Still intimidating,”

“That's intentional,” he replied.

She chuckled lightly and touched his arm.

The bond inside me stirred, pain struck my chest.

I sucked in a breath and stepped back, pressing myself against the wall. My wolf whimpered; hurt and confused.

Evelyn’s smile faded,

Slowly she turned her head. Her eyes locked with mine.

“Who is that?” She asked.

Silas didn't answer instantly.

“This is Willow,” he said finally, “The surrogate.”

Evelyn looked at me from head to toe, not rudely. Just accessing, like I was someone not important, someone she had decided didn't matter.

“An omega?” she asked once again.

“Yes,” Silas replied.

Her brows lifted slightly with a smirk, “what an interesting choice,”

I lowered my gaze, my throat itchy.

“I thought you would pick someone…. Stronger,” she continued, “Higher rank, someone with a better bloodline not this…”

Silas's jaw tightened, “She was sufficient and that's enough,”

Evelyn hummed lightly, moving closer to me, she was too close and then the air changed.

Her eyebrows lifted, I felt it, her attention sharpened, not on my appearance but on something else. My scent.

Her gaze went to Silas and back to me, she did that again and inhaled slowly, not once but twice.

I gulped hard,

“You smell strange,” she said calmly.

“I… I’m sorry,” my voice cracked.

She smiled, but it wasn't from her heart,

“You don't smell like an omega,” she said softly, “You smell like Silas,”

She turned to look at Silas, requesting an answer. The pain in my chest flared, everywhere went still.

Silas cleared his throat, “That's enough, Evelyn,”

But she ignored him.

“A scent tracker never lies. Your scent is different,” she said, circling me slowly, “ Your scent is deeply entwined… I think with him,”

It felt like I was exposed. Naked.

“That seems impossible,” she continued. “Unless…”

“Evelyn,” Silas warned.

She stood in front of me.

Her eyes were sharp now. Focused.

“Unless there’s something you’re hiding from us,” she said.

I shook my head. “There isn’t.”

She stared at me intensely like she was studying my face. She smiled again, sweet, controlled, dangerous.

“Of course,” she said. “You’re just the surrogate.”

Later that night, I went to the kitchen, searching for stuff to calm myself. I never knew Evelyn was a scent tracker.

I thought it would be easy to hide the mate bond from her but now it looks difficult.

The smell of herbs and warm soup filled the space. I focused on slow movements. Quiet breathing.

I didn't hear anyone entering.

“You’re hiding something.”

I startled and turned, recognizing the voice.

Evelyn stood in the doorway, arms crossed, her expression polite but cold.

“I’m not,” I said.

She smirks, staring at my belly. My heart beat quickened, terrified of what was going through her mind.

“Don’t think carrying Silas’s baby makes you special. Her arms still folded as she continued, “I wouldn't have been suspicious of a lowly omega but your scent says otherwise,”

I gulped hard, the place which was supposed to be my calming medicine became my terror. As cold as the kitchen was, sweats formed on my face.

She stepped closer, touching my hair with her hands and inhaling it. I could feel her anger the more she inhaled it.

I shifted away to avoid any bad circumstances from happening.

“Willow right?,”

I nodded, she looked at my belly once again and back at me.

“Consider yourself lucky for now,”

My eyebrows lifted, confused at her words, but deep down my body was on fire, my heart beat pounding as fast as it could.

Forcing myself to spout these words,

“What do you mean by that?”

“Don't worry,”

Evelyn smirked,

“The contract says you leave the moment the baby is born.”

I nodded. “I know.”

Her smile cunning

“But I think,” she said softly, “I’ll have you leave the moment I find out what you’re hiding.”

My wolf recoiled in fear. I hid my fidgeting hands, hoping she wouldn't find out my biggest secret. And for the first time since coming to this estate, I understood something clearly.

Evelyn wasn’t just watching me. She was hunting.