The Alpha's Heartbound

KA'

g metal instruments, and monitors flashing bright displays. Thunder Howl's hospital was like nothing I'd ever seen in my old pack. E

eful way of moving, a gentle voice that soothed my nervous thoughts, and an undeniable authority that di

and reassuring. "I'm going to perform a general health check, then some tests t

e contract was the reason I was here in the first place. It fel

ssuring look, noticing my stiffness. "Is this your first time seein

xpecting judgment, but Jade's expression remained soft,

to have a resilient body," she observed. "That's rare

l, especially when my old pack constantly reminded me I was "weak and didn't have the same healing ability as them.

ient tone that made the procedures bearable. The tests were more thorough than expected, and her calmness dull

le," Jade said, sensing my hesitat

all-too-familiar feeling. I could see it in how her eyes narrowed-a message that said I didn't belong here, that I was just

ne and smiled. "I'll add you to the list, Reika, but if all

t?" The word felt odd. "W

pollo keeps a waiting list of surrogates-women who volunteer or are assessed as pote

of women he thinks he can pick and choose from?" He had planned

touch of sympathy in her voice. "But the pack needs an heir, and Apollo feels a duty to make

be in trouble, knowing how authoritative her brother was. He probabl

"I'm used to being treated like a tool, just something convenient.

own an ounce of sympathy since I got in the

llo's reasons, I think he sees something in you beyond the poten

warmth that didn't feel forced. I felt a glimmer of reassurance for the first

st a little. "Thank you, Dr. Jade," I said softly. "I'm so

r, but he has his flaws," she admitted a hint of understanding in her voice. "But I've seen him care fo

know what was ahead, but in that moment, her quiet confidenc

n my face as he slid a sleek, white folder across the table. The contra

m and matter-of-fact. "These a

rough the pages, skimming over the details-compensation, living arrangements, and medical provisions. Everything had been account

relinquish all parental rights to Alpha Apollo Astor. Upon deli

second time, but the words hit just as hard. The reality sank in, cold and unrelenting. I'd

ollo watching me, his gaze calculating and unyielding. I forced mysel

es. "Why would you want your child to grow up without a mother?" We've talked about it,

the terms he had laid out so meticulously. But I couldn't hold back the anger that had built up inside me. The thought of

my palms. "Do you know what it's like to grow up without anyone? No mother, no

st like what Orion did to the rogues. But I couldn't care less. Does he think he could

d unreadable, but there was something in his gaze, a flicker of... restraint? It

d around the table, standing next to me. He leaned in, and I could feel the heat radiating off him, his scent-powerful and unmistakable-filling the

ring me to rechallenge him. "Today