Alpha Raze’s Surrogate Mate by Sunshine
Chapter 1

caught in the act

AMBER

“To us!” Father yells proudly, raising his glass in the air. “To us!” Everyone chorus, clicking their glasses with each other.

I’m standing alone in a corner and the few people around me act like I’m totally invisible.

I have no one to click my glass with so I just suck up the pain and sip my drink quietly.

The soft music comes up and slowly, almost everyone is paired up and starts doing a routined waltz on the dance floor.

Most of them are mated werewolves and few others are just friends.

Being one of the few mated werewolves that aren’t on the dance floor breaks my heart.

I grab another drink from the passing waitress and pretend to be nonchalant about the dance.

But deep down, I feel rather embarrassed and out of place as always.

I wish I didn’t have to come to these social gatherings. They only leave me more miserable and lonely than I really am.

If I could have it my way, there will never be a social gathering in Wolfsbane pack. Except for the mating balls.

But then, it’s just wishful thinking with zero chances of being a reality.

My father, Alpha Reagan, is a huge sucker for social gatherings and he makes sure to throw one every month.

As the Alpha of a growing pack, he believes it’s very important to maintain a cordial relationship with the neighboring packs. That way, we can keep them as allies and take good advantage of them.

It all has to do with the rogue invasion years back which cost the life of my mother.

I was three. Father wasn’t able to protect her. And ever since then, he seems obsessed with wanting to grow stronger.

To never allow such tragedy to fall on him again. But then, I’m the complete opposite of my Father.

I’m introverted, a loner, and clumsy to a fault. Worse, I’m an Alpha’s daughter but an Omega. Yeah, an ugly twist but that’s the kind of fate the Moon Goddess gave me.

And that keeps me in the bad books of my Father. To him, I’m just the useless excuse of a daughter who he’d gladly toss inside an inferno if he could.

I grew up facing his disappointment over my existence.

He always vents his rage on me, leaving me with gashes and bruises. Childhood was terrible, my teenage days weren’t any better.

I had my first shift at 17, and my wolf is one of the weakest in the pack.

Another shame to my Father who swore to never see me in my wolf form again. The humiliation he got at my first transformation was more than enough.

I turned 19 a few months ago and I found my mate. It wasn’t like the usual fairytales of perceiving a certain alluring scent or making deep eye contact or having some electrifying connection when you hold hands.

There was nothing too romantic about it.

He just came to me and Father confirmed he was my mate. Alpha Reece is my mate and the strongest Alpha male of our pack.

Father loves him to bits and keeps preparing him to be his successor after he dies.

I know I’m right when I say that having Reece as my mate is the only thing I’ve ever done that Father loved.

Every other thing else, he despises with his gut.

“Do you need anything else, Mistress?” I jolted out of my thoughts at the voice. It’s one Of the Omega waitresses. “No. No, I’m good. Thank you.” I smile at her.

She bows and walks away.

I empty my glass and place it on the table. My hands are clammy from how nervous I’m feeling. Gatherings like this make me a nervous wreck.

My gaze falls on the visiting Alpha daughters mingling and chit-chatting. They seem free, dominant, strong, and happy.

Everything I’ve never felt in my nineteen years of existence. Seeing them always crushes my self-confidence.

Most times, I wonder if growing up would have been sweeter if Mother was alive.

Would she feel disappointed like Father, or would she love me regardless? Too bad I’ll never replace out.

Tears sting my eyes but I quickly dab at them with a handkerchief as three of the visiting Alpha daughters come my way.

“Amber. Hi.” One of them giggles, pulling me into a quick hug. “Hello. Thank you for coming.” My reply is stiff and awkward. But I try to smile a bit more.

“Try to loosen up, sweetie. We don’t bite.” The second one teases as we hug. Her name is Lyna, from the closest pack to us.

I’ve been acquainted with her over the years. But we’re certainly not friends.

I don’t know the least thing about keeping friends. “Sorry. I just had a bit too much to drink.” I chuckle nervously.

“We understand. And you look pretty.” The third one hugs me. Her name is Ciara, a friend of Lyna. I’ve never spoken to her, not until today.

“You too,” I say to her, with a warm smile. But her compliment only increases my anxiety over my looks.

Short, brunette hair, a bit chubby on the face, Amber eyes.

Full brows. Less makeup. Short lashes. Nah. I don’t exactly fall under the ‘pretty’ category. I’m just…okay. “Why ain’t you on the dance floor with your mate?” Lyna punches in immediately.

“Yeah. Where’s Reece? I don’t see him anywhere.” Ciara adds with a chuckle. Their question increases the aching in my heart, but I try not to show it.

This is one of the reasons I stay away from their clique.

They always say stuff that jabs at my wounds. I don’t know if it’s intentional, or if I’m just a bit too sensitive.

“He – uh – He stepped out a while ago. But he’ll be here soon.” I say with a forced smile. It was a big lie though. I really don’t know where Reece is. I’ve been searching for him since we got here.

“Is it safe to let him wander off on his own?” The first girl chirps in with a sly smile. I still don’t know her name, probably because it’s my first time seeing her.

“What do you mean?” My brows crease in confusion. “Isn’t Alpha Reece the adonis of your pack?” She asks. “Being mated to him doesn’t mean he’s free from the hungry eyes of these young she-wolves.

They could grab him at the slightest chance, and that would be your loss.” “Oh…” I mutter, lowering my gaze. This conversation just got really awkward. “Yeah. Brianna is right.” Lyna chirps in. “You should hold onto him.

After all, he’s the only real thing you’ve got. Right?” I blink back my tears but deep down, I’m cussing at Lyna for being such a sly bully. “That’s right. I should go look for him. Excuse me.” I walk away from them, refusing to even glance back.

I leave the hall, letting go of my pent-up breath the second I step outside. Why do I always have to be at the receiving end of their low blows? It hurts. It f**king hurts.

Low voices waft through a corner, and I’m distracted from my agony. I trace the voices and replace two silhouettes in the dark, poolside.

Even though I don’t see their faces, one of the voices is very much familiar. It’s Reece’s voice. I step out to go meet him but I halt at his words. “Don’t you worry about that. I can easily sell off this pack to you. I mean, Amber is stupid and her Father trusts me a whole lot.

It’ll be easy to take over this pack. Just don’t forget your end of the bargain.” The smugness in his tone and how malicious his voice sounds give me the chills.

I was going to go meet him but what I hear gives me cold feet and all I do is stand and gape at them.