The Alpha's surrogate secret.

Willow's POV.

Last night was dreadful, my mind wasn't settled with what Evelyn said.

“I think I have to go to the healer,” I thought to myself, knowing that would be the best solution.

While Evelyn and Silas went for a pack meeting, I used that opportunity to go to Miss Kitty, the healer of my pack.

I arrived at her place as early as I could. I smiled when I met with her,

“Ohh, my darling, what are you doing here?” She asked, her tone comforting.

I explained everything to her, she sighed and went to a drawer next to her curtain to take something.

“Take, drink it. Slowly.”

I stared at the small bottle of liquid in my hand. The liquid inside looked bluish gray, thick like a watered ash. It smelled bitter, sharp enough to sting my nose. My fingers trembled as I lifted it closer to my lips.

“Are you sure?” I whispered.

Miss kitty didn’t meet my eyes. “No.”

“If she is able to detect your scent again,” she continued quietly, “the chosen Luna will not stop at threats.”

I swallowed.

Evelyn’s eerie smile flashed through my mind. Calm, dangerous and hunting.

“And Alpha Silas?” I asked.

Her jaw tightened. “His wolf is more aware of these than himself.”

My chest tightened painfully.

“So this is the only way out?.”

She sighed. “It’s illegal and dangerous. Especially for someone who is expecting a child.”

I placed my hand on my stomach, looking at my stomach.

"I have no choice,” I said.

I removed the liquid cover and gulped it down. The taste felt wrong, it burned my tongue, it tasted metallic. My throat burned, and I nearly vomited but I had no choice but to force it down.

The liquid got into my stomach and it felt like fire.

Immediately, my body reacted to the liquid. Pain shot in my chest, sharp and it spread.

My wolf groaned in agony, confused and hurt. It felt like they tried to force something out of me. I held my chest, gasping, needing air to breathe, and my lungs felt tight.

"Easy,” the healer murmured.

“It will suppress your scent. But it will also weaken you.”

My legs felt shaky as I stood.

“How long will that be?” I asked.

“A few hours,” she replied.

“Maybe more, if you have a strong bond.”

I laughed weakly. “Of course it is.”

________

The estate gardens were quiet in the late afternoon.

Today, every step felt heavy.

The scent-blocker worked, but at a cost. My body felt misaligned, weak, like it wasn't mine.

My limbs ached as if I had run a long race. Even breathing felt difficult, every breath I took felt like hell, but I had to endure.

Still, when a servant passed nearby, I noticed something important. I could feel no reaction, no long stare or hard tension.

I smelled… like nothing. That made me relieved.

Then I staggered, shaking my head as I felt dizzy. I grabbed the edge of the wooden bench close by, my breathing hard. My vision blurry

"Just sit for a moment," I told myself. "Just a moment."

I felt a sharp pain in my abdomen, my voice shaking, fear filled me

"No,” I whispered. “Please, no.”

I placed my hands on my stomach, I began panicking as I remember the healer warnings against the use of high doses because it could stress the pregnancy

I tried to position myself, then the world spun and I fell.

“Willow!”

The voice reached me through darkness. It sounded strong and sharp. Hands wrapped around me before I reached the ground.

my wolf groaned weakly. I knew it was him, I could feel his arms around me but strangely he smelled different, distorted, like my body was foreign to him.

“What did you take?” he demanded.

I tried to answer. But I couldn't.

“Why does she smell like nothing?” he growled.

“Prepare the infirmary,” someone said.

“No,” Silas snapped.

The word cut through sharp and commanding.

I felt him change direction.

Stronger arms tightened around me, pulling me closer.

“Not the infirmary,” he said again, voice low and dangerous. “My room.”

_______

I woke slowly, the first thing I felt was warmth, next was softness. The atmosphere smells fresh, not the medical smell.

I was lying on something wide, deep and very comfortable. My fingers brushed through the sheets as I moaned to open my eyes

The air changed, the smell was that of pine, smoke and something darker.

The moment I noticed Silas, my heart pounded painfully, I tried to sit up and winced. My body felt sore.

"You’re awake.”

His voice came from nearby. I turned my head slowly. Alpha Silas sat beside the bed, sleeves rolled up, jaw tight. He looked… different. Less controlled. Like something inside him was pacing.

“Why am I here?” I asked softly.

His gaze fell on me.

“You fainted,” he said. “You almost lost the child.”

My breath caught. “Is the baby...?”

“Alive,” he said sharply. “For now.”

I felt so relieved that I held back my tears.

“What did you take?” he asked again.

I hesitated.

His gaze hardened. “Don't lie to me.”

I laughed weakly. “I wouldn’t dare.”

He waited, like he knew I wouldn't dare hold back.

“Scent-blockers,” I admitted. “Illegal ones.”

He kept quiet,

“You brought harm to my heir,” he said coldly.

“I protected myself,” I shot back, my strength coming back slowly. “And you know why.”

His jaw relaxed.

"You think Evelyn would suspect you?” he asked.

“I think she has a clue already,” I replied.

He looked away.

“That liquid could kill you,” he said.

"Then maybe you should stop pretending you don’t know what’s happening,” I whispered.

His eyes locked with mine

“Stop it, Willow.”

“Why?” I asked. “Because the truth makes you uncomfortable?”

The bond stirred faintly, aching for a reunion.

“You don’t get to punish me for surviving,” I continued. “You brought me here. You made me invisible. And now you’re angry I tried to stay that way.”

His silence was dangerous.

“Rest,” he said finally. “You’ll take no more of that poison.”

“You can’t stop me,” I said weakly.

“I can,” he replied. “And I will.”

I turned my face away.

“Why bring me here?” I asked quietly. “Why not the infirmary?”

He didn’t answer. I felt sleepy again. This time it was heavier and swift. It felt like the liquid took control of my senses.

Sometime later, my consciousness awoke though my eyes weren't open. I could still feel Silas's presence.

The room was quiet. Too quiet, then I heard Silas's voice, I listened quietly

Low, rough, like he was talking to himself, a voice that seemed like it wasn't meant to be heard.

"Why does my wolf want to kill anyone who looks at you?”

My breath halted, my ears aching to hear more.

“I rejected the bond,” he murmured. “I created the rules. I chose this path… For us.”

He paused with a sigh and continued,

“Why does it feel like losing you would tear something out of me?”

My heart pounded painfully against my ribs.

“I don’t want this feeling,” he whispered. “I don’t want you.”

Another pause. Longer.

“So why does it feel impossible to leave your side?”

I stayed perfectly still, afraid that if I moved, this moment would be gone... Forever.

The bond pulsed slowly, quiet, wounded, but alive. And for the first time, I realized something terrifying. Silas was fighting fate. He was fighting hard to not give in.