Lucy's POV

I woke up to the kind of silence that didn't belong in my world. The world was blurry when I opened my eyes. Soft sheets cocooned my body, and for a moment, I wasn't sure if I was dead or dreaming. Dim lighting and a scent that was expensive and clean-cedarwood, leather, and something sinfully masculine beneath my breath.

Last night, the rain had stopped, but my thoughts stormed with fear.

I sat up slowly, pain shooting through my ribs like I'd been trampled by a stampede. My fingers brushed the silk of the nightgown I wore-clean, unfamiliar, luxurious. I was expecting to still be in his coat, but I was cleanly dressed and safe. That wouldn't have been possible if he wasn't there on time. Remembering what I went through last night still makes me shiver.

My breath hitched. "Where am I?"

I tried to flutter my eyes fully open. The room wasn't just expensive-it was exclusive. Elite. A place where girls like me didn't belong. I know this couldn't be a guest room. It should be the Alpha's penthouse, but why would he take me to his private home? I learned from my bedtime story that Alphas only take their true lovers to their home, but I was only a... strip..per...

Just then, the door creaked open, and in walked a middle-aged woman with silver hair tied in a neat bun and a warm, practised smile covering her lips.

"A good morning to you, beautiful," she said, her voice sweet like cool night music. "I'm Lady Mayer, the housekeeper. Alpha Ryker left strict instructions-you're to have anything you need at any time."

Alpha Ryker. I repeated

Just the sound of the name sent a tremor through my spine. The man with ice in his eyes and steel in his voice. The one who'd sat quietly while chaos unfolded in the club, only to emerge when it mattered most. The one who carried me like I weighed nothing of an adult.

"You said Alpha Ryker...?" I repeated, confused. "As in the Alpha Ryker Thorn?"

The elderly lady smiled knowingly. "There's only one Ryker Thorn, darling. Alpha of the Thorn Syndicate. This is his private estate, and yes, you're right."

I blinked. This couldn't be happening. "But... why would he bring me here?"

Lady Mayer chuckled, placing a silver tray beside me. Fresh fruit, croissants, eggs, bacon, and hot coffee. "I've been with Ryker since he was in diapers. He doesn't bring just anyone home. "In fact..." she leaned in like she was sharing a secret. "You're the first woman to ever sleep in his bed." She smiled.

I choked. "What?"

She winked. "Don't overthink it, dear. Just eat. You've had a rough night."

I made a face because rough was an understatement. My body still remembered the alley. The screams. The blood. The weight of fear pressed down until Ryker tore through it like a storm in the shadows.

I didn't belong here. I was a stripper, nothing more. And this wasn't a fantasy-this was the lion's den. The thought kept running through my head.

The Lady handed me a small note and a sleek black card. "He asked me to give you this. He said you'd understand."

Then she patted my shoulder gently and slipped out of the room like a ghost.

Immediately, I unfolded the note.

Hey, sleeping head, By the time you read this, I'll be gone for business. Check the drawer. There's $49. Use it, it will just be enough for now. I'll find you when it's time. - R.T.

Holding the note tightly, I stared at the words like they might burn me. How did he know I needed money? At least the money could cover my rent.

Quickly, I sprang from the bed, my instincts screaming to run. I threw open drawers until I found the cash-neatly stacked, crisp bills bound together like it was nothing and like something that didn't matter.

I held the money, but was this a hush money? Or something worse?

I was in need of money, too, and I didn't wait to find out. I grabbed a hoodie from the closet, pulled it over my nightgown, shoved the money into a backpack, and slipped out before anyone could notice and stop me.

---

Last night, heavy rain washed the filth from the streets, but not from my life.

My landlord kept to his wicked threat as I stood in front of my apartment building, picking up what was left of my things-every last one of them-scattered on the sidewalk like trash. My mattress was soaked, my clothes ruined, and the neighbours were pretending not to watch from behind their curtains.

I bend to my knees and continue collecting the remnants of my life. Tears burned my eyes, but I didn't let them fall. Not here and not now.

I shoved what I could into the backpack and collapsed onto the broken frame of my bed, letting exhaustion swallow me whole.

"Sobbing...what now?

I had money for my rent now, But money didn't fix broken hearts or erase shame. And it sure as hell couldn't turn what had gone through into something normal.

Beep. Beep.

My phone buzzed in my back pocket. I snatched it up, my heart racing when I saw the caller ID.

"Hello?" I croaked.

"Lucy," the voice was urgent-nurse Kara from the hospital. "It's your brother. He's not breathing well, the doctor said the surgery needed to be done immediately. You need to come quickly. Lucy now."

My world tilted again. Why's all this happening to me?

---

I burst through the hospital doors, they barely let me into his room. Machines beeped in a rhythm that sounded like a countdown.

I grabbed his frail hand. "No, no, no-Eli, stay with me, please stay with me."

The nurse stepped back to give me space. "His condition's worsening. We need the rest of the money by tomorrow, so the surgery will be performed, or we'll have to transfer him to a state facility, and you know what that means."

I nodded numbly. I promise to think of something. I said, sobbing uncontrollably and forcefully handling the doctor the money Ryker gave to me. I know it's not enough, but please help me start with this. I will make it up.

The nurse handed the money back to me, and nurse Kara pulled me outside.

"What are you doing, Lucy"? Is this how you intend to save your brother?

"Why not accept this surrogate contract and save yourself from this drilling pile-up bills stress?".

"So you think that is the only way out, Kara? I ask amidst a sob.

" Yes, Lucy." I'm your friend. I can't lie to you. Accept this offer and save your brother.

"Fine." Let me look at the contract.

Lucy's POV

My palms were sweaty for no reason as I stared blankly at the paper before me.

There was black ink, with thick letters, all representing big trouble.

"Sign right here," Nurse Kara pointed out, pushing the clipboard in my direction, and one could easily conclude that she was handing me a death certificate, only waiting for my approval to strike.

"This, from the way it looks, isn't just a one-time baby mama deal, nurse Kara," I whispered only to her hearing, as I curiously eyed the golden seal attached to the bottom. "This, from all angles, represents my body. My fertile womb. My very soul."

"And what happens to your brother's life?" She didn't hesitate to whisper back, not missing even a dot.

Yes, I was touched, greatly moved.

I glanced tiredly through the boring letters of the terms again, not that I fully comprehended them. There were many clauses, including ones that had no connection in any way. Legal nonsense that sounded harmless, but would put one in danger if not handled with care. But the one that got my attention stated: "No termination would be granted under any circumstances."

So, this has turned me officially into a luxury womb.

I leaned back speechlessly against the cold, merciless hospital wall, tightly pressing the clipboard with both hands against my chest, my heart threatening to escape its abode.

"Is Ryker the real donor?" I asked, just for clarity's sake.

Kara hesitated, already tired of my many questions."Yes, and also the father."

Figures, that's the same.

Of course, it's no other than the ruthless Ryker. The broody Alpha with eyes like raging storms and a face carved only for sin. The one who did not mind his business but saved me.

The same man I have been running away from, refusing to abide by his rules because he made me feel things I never intended.

"You do have it in mind, I don't even as much as like him, right?" I muttered.

"Hmm," Kara hummed in frustration. "Which explains why your hands are shaking greatly and your pupils dilated funnily?"

I glared at her for not reasoning with me. She smiled mischievously.

"I don't even trust him."

"No one does that; trust is overrated. But the only thing you should know about this arrangement is that he pays well."

The low blow was hitting me directly.

I glanced again at the line-just one signature, done in one second. One second of scribbling my name and everything about me takes a different direction. Maybe forever, I guess.

"You don't owe him love, you are not obligated to do so, Lucy," Kara added gently, trying to comfort me. "You just have to pretend, tolerate and survive him."

And even that? I wasn't capable of making it possible.

But what would I possibly do at this dying moment? I was obviously out of options. My brother was just a few minutes away from dying. My landlord had succeeded in tossing my things out. My life was at a fast rate, circling a drain, giving me no room to scream for help.

So I did sign as expected.

Not just because I had no options and desperately needed to save my brother, but because for reasons I couldn't explain, Ryker already owned bigger pieces of me, and worst of all, I can't remember giving them to him.

Lucy Castellano.

It felt foreign, so unreal to see my name in such ink. I couldn't even explain the person I was fast becoming anymore.

When I finished, the door magically swung open, pen in hand, on the same clipboard. Speak of the ruthless devil.

Ryker stormed in like he owned the place, like the way sin would capture a body when with an agenda. He was dripping hot, with a black shirt and well-tailored pants with details, no tie to knot out his excesses, just clean, patterned lines and annoying alpha arrogance. His eyes landed on the contract, and then he remembered me.

"You signed?" he asked, like it was meant to be a challenge.

"You think you can break me, that I won't survive you?" I fired back, trying my best to maintain eye contact with him.

He smirked, the type that comes out very slowly in a sexy way, yet is dangerous. "Oh, my little sweetheart. I'm counting on your words then."

Kara cleared her throat to notify us of her presence. It was like a concerned adult catching two crazy teens about to commit a crime. "I'll, uhm, take my leave now, and give you two space to... finalize the arrangements."

She quietly slipped out, but not without an annoying grin.

The moment she was out of sight, Ryker took a few dangerous steps toward me, though not rushed, but also not slow. Everything was just controlled, well calculated.

He stopped to give me space, just inches away.

"I don't appreciate when people doubt me," he said.

"You are not alone; neither am I," I replied.

His lips slightly twitched. "You're a bag of trouble."

"You're more than poison," I said without smiling.

"Then, that made a pair, perfect for each other," he replied, grinning.

I rolled my eyes dramatically, but my breath unexpectedly hitched, embarrassing me when he reached out and brushed his fingers on the clipboard I just signed.

"You understand what just transpired here today, right?" he asked in a husky voice.

"That I'm lending you my womb just for nine months, and you'll, in turn, ensure you keep my brother breathing and healthy," I responded.

His eyes turned dark immediately. "And what would happen when that's finally over?"

"I would take a walk. You would disappear in thin air. We pretend we never crossed paths."

Ryker's jaw furiously clenched, as if I had said something wrong. My answer wasn't what he expected.

"Fine then," he yelled. "Then let's waste no time in making this official."

He reached out, pulled a black envelope containing some documents, and handed it to me. I opened it, curiosity taking a greater part of me.

I saw tickets, giving directions to his private villa, and a gold card, which I found had my full name strangely engraved on it.

"What is this for? When did all these happen?"

"There's no way I would be allowing you to carry my child in a rusting apartment with disgusting mold all over the ceiling. You are, by no choice, moving in with me. And it's tonight."

Excuse me, Mr arrogant?

I folded my arms, unable to believe he wants to cage me. "You think because I signed those damn papers would give you the right to control me, even to the point of where I sleep now?"

"No, not that," he said coolly. "Carrying my child does in your dry womb."

I opened my mouth to curse him, but nothing matched his energy.

"You should understand that I'm not the enemy here, Lucy. I'm simply the devil you couldn't stay having a deal with."

"Ensure you are ready by 8," he said with a knowing smirk. "And Lucy?"

"What again do you want? My head now?"

"Don't make me come here to get you myself."

I stood there frozen, my heart doing wonders with its escape tactics.

I had just walked into the devil's den and made a deal with him. And right now, it seems he isn't done collecting whatever he needs from me.

Lucy's POV

The horrible rain had stopped a long time ago, but do you know what refused to stop dripping wet? My life was still soaked.

From my mattress, to my clothes, everything was dumped outside. Or is it having the worst neighbors ever?

I stood for minutes, shamelessly hugging what remained of my deteriorating pride, when all of a sudden, a black SUV pulled up before me, very fancy, shiny, and of course official.

"Alpha Ryker sent me to you."

Of course, that's what he knows how best to do, controlling people.

Then got in without sparing it a second thought.

I shouldn't have waited, I was supposed to run.

But instead, I waited until I was standing in front of Ryker's mansion-no, this is more than a castle. Minutes after the driver dropped me off, I stood like an idiot with a cheap suitcase-the type that Ryker wouldn't waste time insulting-and right on my hand was the contract-a baby that would never be born, and I wasn't ready to become its mother growing inside me.

The iron gates we drove through minutes after automatically closed with a heavy clang. It dawned on me that my fate had been sealed, as seen mainly in the opening scene of a horror-filled movie.

Ryker's driver made no effort to start a conversation throughout the ride here, and neither did I. It was an arranged encounter. Because what could I possibly be discussing with him?

"Hi, I'm Lucy Castellano. Stripper, by profession, and a human, obviously. And right now, I have transformed into the baby mama of someone I don't like, a ruthless werewolf I don't even trust but strangely find disturbingly hot and attractive."

Nope, I didn't dare. I kept it all zipped in, with me.

On arrival, a butler-fully gloved and everything professional-opened the door with the most polite nod and captivating smile. "Ms. Castellano, you're welcome. We've been expecting you, ma'am."

Of course, I was welcomed to enjoy life for once.

I stepped inside and was graced with holy hell...

There were marble floors. Crystal chandeliers filled the room. There were expenses on the walls, one of which probably cost more than ten years' rent of my old apartment. The air had the aura of power and forbidden wealth-and, of course, his aura.

And then, as always, speaking ill of the devil, he slowly descended down to meet me from the grand staircase, practicing deliberate steps.

He wore a black shirt, but this time, he ensured no buttons were undone, giving him the look of the emperor and owner of the world.

"You're a few minutes late," he said, eyes roaming as they scanned me from head to toe. It wasn't the look of rivals, it was a claim.

"Well," I started. "I had spent most of the time packing all my dignity. Some took me a while to locate."

Saying that alone earned me the tiniest smirk ever.

"Follow me, right away," he commanded, turning without sparing me a glance or checking if I was indeed following. Typical Alpha with no regard.

I followed him, I had no option now.

We went up, passed two flights, turned down a long hallway, and passed a set of double doors.

That was where my new room is located.

Point of correction, it was a whole damn wing that he assigned to me.

I stepped inside and a gasp escaped my mouth. A four-poster bed lay by the corner waiting for my arrival. The balcony was purposely created to give a sea view. Did I mention the walk-in closet? The ensuite bathroom is 20 times bigger than my rich friends' living rooms.

"You'll be staying here starting today, " the officer reissued an order behind me. "You don't need to worry, it's only for the duration of the pregnancy."

I turned to fully face him. "You mean till the expiration of my hostage situation?"

He took two quick steps closer.

Way too close that I feared our lips would lock.

"You shouldn't consider yourself a hostage, Lucy," he said, voice somehow low and sweet. "You're my responsibility now, since you are carrying my child, a royalty. You'll receive all the royal treatment you could get as such."

"Until the baby finally pops out to grace this world. Then what's next? You waste no time tossing me out, compensating me with a fruit basket?"

His jaw shifted in fury. "You willingly signed the contract after reading all the conditions applied."

"I was desperately in need of a way out."

"You haven't changed, still, you are your desperate self."

That hit got me on a high revenge level, paining more than it should. I looked away to hide the tears that had started welling up in the corners of my eyes. But Ryker was fast, he noticed.

He cursed heavily under his breath, stretched out to remove a stubborn and reached strand of hair from my teary face.

And that's how the atmosphere shifted.

The room, everything in it, including me.

His masculine fingers lingered for a few seconds on my face. His thumb caressed my cheek in a circular motion.

I should've never given in, I was supposed to pull back.

But I did none of that.

Neither did he even attempt to pull out.

His eyes landed on my lips, lusting after them. "We shouldn't be doing this," he murmured almost to his hearing alone.

"Then don't do what you would regret," I whispered, still not taking any step backward in disagreement.

We stood awkwardly like that, neither of us ready to make a move to stop and prevent what was clearly happening.

His right hand moved down my neck, stopping just an inch away from igniting fire above my collarbone. My pulse had accelerated greatly, drumming against his sweaty palm.

"You smell exactly like rain," he whispered roughly.

"You have the smell of trouble."

"Then why are you still hooked up with me, not running?"

"Because there's no need for that, as you already caught me."

There was a deafening silence.

Heavy, very tense, making me breathless.

And then, just as we were about to break the rules...

There came a heavy knock.

We both, in shame, jerked back just the same way teenagers behave when caught in the act.

The butler's voice was heard next. "Dinner is ready and served, my Alpha."

Ryker didn't answer as he was still recovering from our moment together. He said nothing but just stared at me.

Something unusual was seen in his stare, something representing hunger.

Finally, he found his voice again. "There are rules before you came here."

I arched a brow, clearly taken aback by his sudden outburst. "Oh, I am made for rules."

He stepped back, breathing in fury like someone holding wickedness. "No touching is one of them."

I held his gaze, crossed my arms dramatically. "It's no news that you touched me first."

"That was an honest mistake which can be ignored."

"But the problem now isn't about ignoring the touch, you obviously haven't stopped thinking about how you mistakenly touched me."

"...Don't dare tempt me, Lucy."

"Yes, Your royal Alphaness, right?"

He paused to take a last glance at me.

I didn't care to get out immediately for dinner, so I decided to unpack, but something caught my attention when I opened the wardrobe.

Tucked in between expensive ball gowns was a familiar necklace.

It was actually a pendant.

And my mother's. She had worn it the very night she disappeared....

Why is it in his possession?