Accidental Surrogate For The Alpha

When the neighboring pack held a grand gathering to create stronger alliances, Alpha Asher Atkins, my mate and the father of our daughter, Beatrice, was determined to take us along despite the whirlwind of duties we juggled as Alpha and Luna of the Moon Valley Pack.

At first, I was hesitant. I wasn’t born of Lunar blood; I came from a cursed bloodline shunned by most packs.

My family had been wiped out, leaving me homeless, wandering, and without a pack to call my own.

I was no longer a lost soul when the Moon Goddess intertwined our paths. I became Alpha Asher’s fated mate, and from a forgotten outcast, I ascended to Luna of the Moon Valley Pack.

For Alpha Asher, being here wasn’t about seeking alliances; this was his public statement, claiming me as his mate and proving that Amara, his ex-Luna, was nothing more than a distant memory.

Alpha Asher and Beatrice made their entrance into the grand hall while I trailed just behind. The room filled with welcoming smiles from the Alphas and Lunas, though most eyes lingered curiously on Beatrice.

One Alpha, his brow creased in confusion, finally spoke up. “Alpha Asher, is this your daughter with Luna Amara? She’s the spitting image of her.”

Amara. Her name lingered like a shadow from a distant past. She had once been Alpha Asher’s cherished mate, taken too soon in a rogue ambush at Moon Valley long before I entered his world. Her death deepened Asher’s deep-seated hatred for rogues and his thirst for vengeance.

“Alpha, the Moon Goddess has indeed blessed you with a daughter so divine,” another stated, their gaze still fixed on Beatrice.

My heart tightened as realization set in. They all believed Beatrice belonged to Amara. It baffled me. How could they not see she was my daughter?

Alpha Asher’s commanding voice sliced through the murmurs. “Beatrice is not Amara’s child. Amara has been gone for eight years,” he declared.

He extended his hand to me and, with a smile, introduced me. "This is Vienna Bernett, my mate, my wife, and the mother of my daughter."

A hushed silence fell over the room as heads turned and whispers stirred. It was clear many had no idea I was his new mate. But this wasn’t new to me.

For years, some pack members had whispered about Asher’s love for Luna Amara, speculating that I was nothing more than a replacement to help him move on from her tragic death.

Yet, I refused to let their doubts rattle me. I held the truth close to my heart. I was his mate, his Luna, and together, we had built a family around our precious daughter, Beatrice.

In the midst of their murmurs, I stood my ground, unshaken. At least after Alpha Asher’s fierce warning, no one dared to utter Amara’s name again.

The gathering continued, but I couldn't shake the unsettling thoughts that crept into my mind.

Everyone seemed convinced that Beatrice was Amara's daughter, not mine. While the elders and healers knew I was the one who had given her life, an uneasy sensation tugged at my thoughts.

Every inch of Beatrice seemed to be crafted from Alpha Asher himself; her lips, eyebrows, and striking features mirrored his perfectly. Yet, I found no trace of myself within her.

Her big, round eyes were nothing like mine. While both Asher and I had long, oval faces, Beatrice’s was round and square, almost a replica of the photo of Amara I had seen in her picture.

But I quickly brushed it aside with a laugh. Amara had been gone for eight years, and Beatrice was six. There was no way the child I had cradled for nine months could belong to anyone else but me.

Still, the nagging doubt lingered as we returned to Moon Valley Pack.

Once home, I tucked Beatrice into her bed and stood there for a moment, just watching her sleep. I couldn’t help but search for any part of me in her delicate face.

Alpha Asher entered the room, standing beside me.

His voice was low, but there was a hint of amusement. “Why do you look like that? Don’t tell me you're still hung up on what they said at the gathering? Amara’s been gone for years. There’s no need to get worked up over it.”

It was clear that Alpha Asher had always been open about his feelings for Amara.

From the moment we accepted our second-chance mate bond, he entrusted me with the heartbreaking story of her loss.

When we married under the full moon and embraced Beatrice into our family, I felt assured of his commitment.

Nevertheless, doubt lingered, an insistent whisper echoing in the shadows of my mind.

I breathed out slowly, locking eyes with him, determined to mask my unease. “Alpha,” I said, my tone gentle yet firm, “You have been my mate for years now, but can feel it. Is there anything you hide from me?"