Chapter 6: The only Possibility

Brian

The words lingered between us long after Maya had spoken them.

"I'll be your surrogate."

For several long moments, I simply looked at her, convinced I had misunderstood what she'd just said. Of all the possibilities I had considered before asking her to research surrogacy agencies, this wasn't one of them, and it certainly wasn't an answer I had expected to hear from the woman standing quietly in front of my desk.

I slowly set the file in my hand aside before meeting her eyes.

"Maya, humans and werewolves aren't compatible."

She didn't look offended by the statement, nor did she seem surprised that I had dismissed the idea so quickly.

"I know that's what everyone believes," she replied calmly.

"It's more than a belief," I said, shaking my head. "It's biology."

She remained silent for a moment, gathering her thoughts before speaking again.

"I've read about a few documented cases over the years," she said. "Not many, but they exist. The pregnancies were considered exceptionally rare, yet none of the reports described them as impossible."

I frowned.

"You've been reading medical journals on human and werewolf pregnancies?"

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

"I read a lot."

That wasn't news to me.

During the three years Maya had worked beside me, I'd lost count of the mornings I'd found another werewolf history book, legal journal, medical publication, or pack archive resting neatly beside her keyboard before the workday began. More than once, I'd wondered whether she secretly had a werewolf friend supplying her with books most humans wouldn't even know existed

I'd never asked, until now, it had never seemed important.

She held my gaze without wavering.

"I'm not asking you to make a decision today," she said quietly. "I'm only asking you not to dismiss my offer until we've heard what a medical specialist has to say."

The office fell silent. She wasn't pleading, she was asking for the chance to be heard. I studied her for several seconds before giving a slow nod.

I couldn't deny her that.

"Fair enough."

The smallest hint of relief crossed her face before her professional composure returned.

"I'll contact Dr. Olivia Hayes," I said.

Unlike Roland, Olivia specialized in reproductive medicine and had spent years researching Alpha fertility, hybrid pregnancies, and bloodline compatibility. If anyone could answer the question Maya had raised, it was her.

I picked up my phone and dialed her direct number.

She answered almost immediately.

"Dr. Olivia Hayes speaking."

"Olivia, it's me."

Her tone became noticeably more serious.

"Alpha. Is everything alright?"

"I need a confidential consultation at Silver Moon Medical Center as soon as possible."

There was only the briefest pause.

"I'll prepare one of the private examination suites. How long until you arrive?"

"Twenty minutes."

"I'll be waiting." The call ended.

I slipped my phone back into my pocket just as Maya spoke.

"I'll have the car brought around."

I nodded .

A few minutes later, we stepped into the private elevator leading toward the underground parking level.

The doors had barely begun to open before I saw Ethan waiting beside the armored SUV, two Silver Moon warriors standing several feet behind him while another pair remained positioned near the garage entrance. Since the gala, security around me had doubled, and despite my repeated assurances that it wasn't necessary, Ethan refused to relax his guard.

He folded his arms across his chest.

"You weren't seriously planning to leave without me, were you?"

A faint smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.

"I'm going to the hospital, not into enemy territory."

"Three days ago the council of elders managed to poison the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack inside his own headquarters," Ethan replied evenly. "I'm not giving any person the opportunity to try it again, you don't go anywhere without me."

"I already have a security detail."

"Now you have me too."

There was enough quiet guilt in his voice that I chose not to argue.

He still blamed himself for missing Maya's message that night, even though I'd reminded him more than once that none of us could have predicted what would happen.

One of the warriors stepped forward and opened the rear passenger door.

"The vehicle is ready, Alpha."

I climbed inside.

Maya followed, taking the seat opposite me while Ethan settled beside the driver. Within seconds the convoy pulled away from Silverman Holdings, one security vehicle leading the route while another followed several car lengths behind.

The city slipped past the tinted windows in comfortable silence.

Then Maya shifted slightly in her seat. A familiar fragrance drifted through the car.

Jasmine and Soft vanilla.

My breathing caught before I could stop it. For one impossible heartbeat, I wasn't sitting inside an armored SUV. Warm fingertips brushed against my face and someone whispering my name.

The dream. The same dream that refused to leave me no matter how often I convinced myself it meant nothing.

I looked across the car.

Maya was watching the passing skyline, completely unaware that the scent surrounding her had stirred memories I still couldn't explain. I had known that fragrance for years without ever giving it a second thought, So why did it suddenly feel impossible to ignore?

Silver Moon Medical Center occupied the upper floors of the pack's medical research complex, and by the time our convoy reached the underground entrance, Dr. Olivia Hayes was already waiting outside one of the hospital's private consultation suites.

She greeted each of us with a polite nod.

"Alpha."

"Olivia."

Her attention shifted toward Maya.

"Miss Parker."

"Dr. Hayes."

Olivia motioned toward the consultation room.

"I understand this concerns the Council's ultimatum."

"It does," I replied.

Once the door closed behind us, she took a seat across from us and folded her hands neatly on top of the patient file she'd already prepared.

"Then tell me exactly why you're here."

There was no point delaying the conversation.

"Maya has volunteered to become my surrogate."

Olivia's eyebrows lifted. She turned toward Maya.

"You volunteered?"

"Yes."

She remained silent for several moments before leaning back thoughtfully.

"Alpha, you already know that compatibility between an Alpha and a human is exceptionally uncommon."

"I do."

"But not impossible," Maya added quietly.

Olivia gave a slow nod.

"No... not impossible."

Hope flickered briefly across Maya's face.

"I've read about a handful of successful cases," Maya said.

A faint smile crossed Olivia's face.

"So have I, because I helped publish one of them."

Maya's eyes widened slightly.

Olivia continued.

"They're among the rarest cases in reproductive medicine, but they do exist. Whether you happen to be one of those rare exceptions is something no one can determine without extensive testing."

I leaned forward.

"Then let's find out."

The next two hours passed in a blur of blood samples, scans, medical histories, and laboratory testing. Maya answered every question without hesitation while I sat outside the examination room, watching doctors and nurses move in and out with quiet efficiency.

When everything was finally complete, Dr. Olivia Hayes returned carrying a thick medical file.

She closed the consultation room door before taking the chair across from us.

"I've reviewed the results twice," she said. "I wanted to be absolutely certain before saying anything."

Neither Maya nor I interrupted.

Olivia opened the file and slid the first report toward me.

"The results confirm that Miss Parker is biologically compatible."

I looked up.

"Compatible?"

She nodded.

"Exceptionally compatible."

Maya stared at the report in disbelief.

"That can't be right."

"It shouldn't be," Olivia admitted. "Human compatibility with an Alpha pregnancy is extraordinarily rare, which is why every sample was tested more than once. The results were identical each time."

Silence settled over the room.

"In more than twenty years of reproductive research," Olivia continued, "I've only encountered records of a handful of successful cases."

She looked directly at Maya.

"You're one of them."

The words should have answered every question.

Instead, they created dozens more.

Olivia closed the file.

"There is one concern."

I met her gaze.

"What kind of concern?"

"An Alpha pregnancy places tremendous strain on the mother's body. In the documented cases, women carrying their first child experienced a significantly higher risk of serious complications. Those who had previously carried a pregnancy generally tolerated the process much better."

Her attention shifted to Maya.

"Miss Parker..."

Her voice remained calm and professional.

"Have you ever been pregnant before?"

The room became impossibly quiet.

Maya lowered her eyes for only a moment before lifting them again.

"Yes, I have"