3: Breeder Through Surrogacy

ROSENTINE

The sound of water trickling into the bathtub was the only thing filling the bathroom as I soaked. Until now, I still couldn’t believe what had just happened.

After Alpha Bastian declared that he wanted me as his breeder, he called a couple of warriors to take me to the main house, making sure I wouldn’t be able to run away again. Some maids then brought me here to the guest room. They even offered to help me with my bath, but I didn’t let them.

After all, I didn’t want them to catch a glimpse of my back, marred by a web of scars. Even with the tattoo inked over them, I feared they would still feel the roughness beneath their fingers.

I let out a sigh, sliding lower into the water and shutting my eyes. The gentle patter of water against the surface was oddly soothing, almost enough to distract me. However, it didn’t help much in emptying my head, especially when my thoughts kept looping back to everything that happened today.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t make them stop.

It was almost laughable how much had changed in less than a day. Just this morning, I had been anticipating my wedding. Now, here I was, unexpectedly stepping into the role of a breeder.

“What a freaking joke.” I almost laughed, except there was nothing funny about my situation.

Slowly, I opened my eyes, just as the knock landed sharply against the door—a reminder that I wasn’t as free as I let myself imagine.

“I’m still here,” I assured, because I knew the drill. The warrior outside wasn’t really checking on my well-being; she just wanted to make sure I hadn’t slipped out the window and escaped.

If I were being honest, the thought had crossed my mind as soon as I entered the bathroom. The window was right in front of me, tempting me with the idea of freedom. But I knew better than to actually risk my life escaping again.

“You’ve been there for 20 minutes, come out now,” the female warrior said, her voice impatient.

As a result, I let out a long sigh and forced myself to climb out of the tub. Then I dried off, slipped on the set of clothes they’d left for me before stepping out.

The glare she gave me could have cut glass, and even before I could gather my thoughts, her hand gripped my shoulder, spinning me around and shoving me forward. 

I stumbled, barely catching myself, and turned back to meet her eyes.

“Walk. The Alpha is waiting for you at his study,” she snapped, and something inside me recoiled at the way she said it. I glanced at the clock on the wall.

 3:30 A.M.

Just what kind of business couldn’t wait for daylight? Didn’t he ever sleep? Surely, he wouldn't want to mate right now, would he?

The questions crowded my throat, but I swallowed them down. I wasn’t here to ask questions or make demands. After all, I knew that wasn’t my place. I was just supposed to do what I was told.

Just because I was the Alpha’s breeder now didn’t mean I was no longer a prisoner. I may have escaped the cold, dark confines of the room I was in earlier, but that didn’t change the reality of my situation. 

I was still locked away, just in a different kind of cage.

It was a truth I had to accept.

So, I walked, letting the warrior direct me, my footsteps echoing down the hallway lined with identical doors until she told me to stop at the red one.

“Alpha, the breeder’s here,” she announced, her voice steady as she knocked.

“Let her in.” 

As soon as I heard the familiar voice, my heart jumped, then seemed to stop altogether when the door swung open. There he was—the Alpha, silhouetted against the moonlight pouring through the enormous window behind his desk.

The room in his study was dim, shadows stretching across the floor, but I could see enough to notice he wore only a black robe. When the door clicked shut behind me, he finally turned, and for a split second, I flinched.

Not only did the fabric of his robe hang loose, revealing most of his chest and abs, but he also looked more menacing as the pale light from outside cast stark shadows across his features.

“Sit down,” he said, his tone flat, almost bored, as he took a sip from the wine glass in his hand. I only nodded, sitting on the couch, and watching as he approached slowly.

He sat down across from me, and I felt every muscle in my body coil tight, like something bracing for a storm.

“Now then,” he began, his gaze steady and just a little too sharp. “Tell me your name and which pack do you belong to?”

“My name’s Rosentine Everhart. I used to be with the Frozen Valley pack,” I said, trying to keep my voice even, my mind fixed on the interview and not on the way he looked at me.

“Age?”

“24.”

“Hmm, and why were you wearing a wedding gown earlier?”

Even though I tried not to flinch, I knew I failed. I really didn’t want to dig through those memories, but what choice did I have?

“I got rejected on my wedding day,” I told him quietly, and even though he didn’t follow up, the words kept coming, tumbling out because I just wanted this over. The sooner I finished, the sooner I could rest.

“My pack basically sold me to be a breeder, so if you’re going to pay compensation, please give it to me instead of them.” I added, “I don’t want them benefiting from me anymore.”

He rubbed his chin, eyes never leaving my face, and if anything, that just made me more uneasy. The silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable.

Honestly, I couldn’t figure out why he’d picked me all of a sudden, especially when I hadn’t even taken a test.

I mean, sure, I’d always wanted someone to choose me, to want me for once—but not like this. Not in a situation where I was barely holding myself together, desperate for it to just be over.

“All right,” he said, his nod subtle and unhurried, something about it loosening the tension in my chest just a little.

But the relief barely lasted before the next question tumbled out of him, so blunt and unexpected it left me reeling.

“Are you a virgin?”

My eyes flew wide, and I could only stare, mouth parting, words caught somewhere between shock and disbelief.

“Excuse me?”

The room fell into dead silence again, and after several moments passed, I realized that he was asking a serious question. He didn’t even look embarrassed. Just eerily calm, like he was asking about the weather, not something so… personal.

Was this what everyone meant when they called him unhinged?

He took another leisurely sip of wine, gaze steady over the rim of his glass.

“Are you?” he repeated, like it was nothing.

“Y-yes,” I whispered, the word tasting sour and embarrassing at the same time.

Though there were moments when Ezekiel felt drawn to me because of our bond during our engagement, he never laid a finger on me. It was always about him, using me to meet his desires—whether it was my hand or my mouth, it didn’t matter as long as he found his pleasure.

“Why did you get rejected?” Alpha Bastian asked again, and I couldn’t help but smile bitterly as I looked him in the eyes.

“Because I’m unwanted,” I said, simple and ugly, the words scraping my throat on their way out. Then, I changed the topic, “Are you going to breed me tonight?”

He blinked, and for a split second, he almost seemed surprised. Not that it mattered. I didn’t care what happened to me anymore, not really.

“No,” he replied, setting his empty goblet down with a dull clink. “You’ll be my breeder, but you won’t be the mother of my pup.”

My finger twitched, my brows furrowing in pure confusion. “What does that mean?”

He leaned back against the couch, crossing his legs, one arm draped casually on the armrest, but his eyes never left mine—they pinned me in place, sharp and cold.

“You’ll be my breeder through surrogacy.” he explained casually, “You see, I have a secret mate, but she’s sickly and fragile, so she wouldn’t be able to conceive.”

For a second, I forgot how to breathe. He had a mate?

“We both agree to take a breeder since I need to produce an heir. You’ll carry my pup through IVF, but you cannot tell anyone about it,” he continued, not giving me the time to process his words. “In public, you’ll be known as my breeder. But inside my pack, you’re a surrogate.”

I could feel my brain short-circuiting as my head spun. Though I understood his words, the physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion were taking their toll on me, slowing me down, giving me trouble following his explanation.

“So… that means you won’t mate with me to produce a pup?” I asked softly, just wanting to be sure, needing to know exactly where I stood.

“That’s right.” His tone was flat, matter-of-fact, but his stare burned. “But in some circumstances, I may require your help to ease my urges.”

“But you have a mate. That’s basically having an affair.” I frowned, lost, not even sure what he wanted me to be anymore.

“I know it sounds complicated, but it’s not an affair or anything. Just think of it as part of your service,” he sighed, all the tension gathering in his shoulders as he rubbed at his temple, like the whole conversation was giving him a headache, too. “I have my mate’s permission on this, so just do as you’re told.”

I pressed my lips together, not sure how to argue, or even if I wanted to. The words just tangled up in my throat.

But then, before I could stop myself, the question slipped out. “Then, may I ask why you chose me?”

For a moment, he paused, seeming to study me carefully. Then, he shifted uncomfortably, running one hand through his hair and leaning forward onto the table, his elbows resting on top of his thighs.

“Because you resemble my mate.”