Chapter Eight

Damon

It was two years. Two years of being married to Sophie. And we had one major problem; she couldn’t bear me a child. I couldn’t blame her. It wasn’t her fault. It was the reality I had run from long ago. It was haunting me now.

Mother had been right. There were consequences for rejecting my mate, and this was one of them. Sophie couldn’t get me a son. And without that, I wouldn’t have an heir. I would be an abomination. I would destroy my father’s legacy and wouldn’t leave one. It was embarrassing.

I was sitting on the porch watching the sunset. I knew where it had gone wrong. It was all my fault. There was nobody I could blame. I felt useless for dragging Sophie into this. We were supposed to be happy together. But it was the complete opposite.

I sipped the scotch in my hand and sighed. The front door creaked open behind me and a figure stepped out. I could tell who it was without turning around.

“I never thought I would see you this way, Damon,” my father said.

I scoffed at his words and sipped the scotch again. He sat on the armchair beside me with a sigh. I wanted to be alone, but I couldn’t deny that my father’s presence was soothing. He had been with me every step of the way ever since I got married to Sophie.

Mother on the other hand was nonchalant about everything else. The only thing I could do was ignore her. She had warned me and begged me to listen but I refused. I was bearing the consequences for my disobedience.

“What am I going to do, Dad?” I asked.

We had been silent for so long that I almost forgot he was with me. His presence was still there. I could feel his aura seeping through my skin. Even though he wasn’t Alpha anymore, his aura was still unmatchable. Maybe I wouldn’t be able to match his legacy.

“There’s only one thing you can do, Damon,” he said.

I sighed. I didn’t know what his next words were, but I had a feeling in my gut that I wouldn’t like it.

“You have to mate with your real mate,” he said.

I was stunned by his words. I turned over to stare at him for the first time since he came onto the porch. He was wearing a black tank top that exposed his biceps. His face had a plain expression which meant he was serious about what he said.

“Huh?”

I was confused. Why would I go back to the woman I rejected? What would happen to my pride as an Alpha? And what about Sophie? Would she ever agree to something like this?

“You have to make her a surrogate,” he said. “Why do you think you and Sophie can’t have a child?”

I ran my fingers through my hair.

“I’m thinking it had something to do with rejecting Anna?”

“It has everything to do with rejecting her,” Father said. “She is your mate. Therefore she is the only person who can bear your child as an Alpha. Without her, your legacy will be gone forever.”

I clenched my jaws at that. Father was right. The only way that I could get what I wanted was to dig deep. I had to bury my head in shame to get what I wanted. I scratched my chin as I thought about it.

“Thank you, Father,” I said, rising to my feet. “I know what I must do now.”

Father nodded at that.

“And don’t worry about Sophie, I’ll talk to her.”

I nodded in understanding.

“Thank you.”

And with that, I left to find Anna.

***

Two hours later, I found myself standing on Stella Artwell’s porch. I had heard that Anna stayed with her ever since she had left my residence. It was amazing that she hadn’t tried to leave the pack even after I rejected her. I had set her free to go anywhere she wanted, but she stayed.

I knocked on the door and a second later, the door swung open revealing Stella. She was flabbergasted to see me standing on her porch. I watched her gulp hard before speaking.

“Alpha,” she called in amazement.

“Is Anna home?”

She nodded so hard that I feared her head would roll off her neck.

“Bring her to me.”

She nodded and let go of the door rushing away. I stepped into the living room and looked around. It looked quite small but comfortable. I wondered how she had managed to stay here for two years. Why hadn’t she tried to leave?

I hear footsteps coming down the stairs. Anna appeared in the living room, and her face was lit in shock. I could still remember her ocean-blue eyes and how they usually succumbed to my gaze. Her dark brown hair was smooth as they fell on her shoulders. She was dressed in a nightgown which made her look pretty.

“You asked to see me,” she said, coming forward.

“I’d like to speak to you, alone,” I demanded looking at Stella.

Stella for the signal immediately and darted upstairs.

“What can I do for you?” She asked coldly.

I smirked. How could I bring myself to say those words?

“I need your help,” I managed to say.

She cranked an eyebrow at me in surprise.

“What do you need?”

“I need you to mother my child,” I replied.

She was dumbfounded.

“As a surrogate,” I added.

She scoffed.

“Why would you think I’d help you? You rejected me, remember?” She reminded me.

I smirked.

“And now I’m giving you a chance to redeem yourself and your people,” I said.

She was silent for a long while. She was contemplating. There was no way she was going to reject it. This was the only way she could do something for her people who were nothing but slaves to us.

“I’ll do it,” she said finally.

I smiled.

“But one condition.”

I cranked an eyebrow at her.

“My people will be treated as equals.”

I clenched my jaws at that. It was unexpected. She was smarter than I thought. I didn’t have any choice. If I wanted this, I would have to comply.

I smiled, trying not to show how defeated I felt.

“We have a deal.”