The Forsaken Surrogate’s Rise and the pen

Chapter 1

Elera POV

The continuous sounds of footsteps woke me up before the day broke, and I quickly sat up and pulled my blanket around my body, my heart rang loud, if the guards met me still sleeping later, I would be seriously punished.

I ran out from my small room behind the kitchen. The air was cold. My bare feet touched the stone floor. I picked up the wooden bucket and started mopping the hall.

And I heard voices laughing out loud, which meant the Alphas and Betas were awake and I knew I had to move fast.

“Hey, wolfless girl!” a maid shouted from across the hall. “Don’t be lazy, the Alpha doesn’t want to see dirt anywhere today.”

I nodded quickly. “Yes, ma’am.”

“I wish I had a wolf,” I whisper to myself.

Someone hears me. “Keep wishing, curse girl. The Moon Goddess forgot you.”

It was Rina, she was another maid and she was older, and louder, and she likes to hurt me all the time with her words.

I then bit my lip. “Maybe she didn’t forget me,” I said quietly.

Rina laughed. “Keep dreaming.” She poured dirty water near my feet and walked away.

I bent down and cleaned the floor again, and my chest kept hurting me. By noon, I carried trays to the dining hall and I then placed the tray carefully before the Beta, but he didn’t look at me.

The door opened and everyone stood up fast as Alpha Damon walked in.

My hands froze and my eyes went to him, he was tall, with black hair and cold eyes and his steps were slow but high.

The air around him was different, it was like where power lived in it and everyone bowed their heads.

“Good morning, Alpha,” they all said.

He didn’t answer, his eyes moved across the room and for a second, they stopped on me, just one second, but it was enough. My throat went dry and then dropped the small jug in my hand and then it broke on the floor.

The sound was loud and everyone turned to me.

Damon’s voice was deep and sharp. “Clean it.”

I dropped to my knees. “Yes, Alpha.”

I picked up the broken pieces, and I knew his eyes were on me before he took it off, my hands were bleeding, but I did not stop. When he left everyone started whispering.

“She made the Alpha look at her.”

“She’s cursed.”

“She’ll bring bad luck.”

I kept remembering every one of their words till I finished scrubbing the floor and immediately I was done, I stood up and went back to my room.

My room was so quiet and the memory of my parents came rushing, I remembered the terrible fire, blood and how everything burnt.

My hands moved slowly and touched the small necklace on my neck, it was the only thing my mother left for me, the only thing I still have of my parents.

“You said the Moon Goddess loves everyone,” I whispered.

“Then why did she forget me?” I did not even receive any answers, and it was only the wind that blew through the window.

And that night, when everyone was already asleep, I walked outside, the moon was bright and I looked straight at the moon.

“Moon Goddess,” I said slowly. “Please, let me feel my wolf, even if it is just once, before my birthday.”

Then the wind blew and my hair was immediately moved and it felt like someone touched me and my eyes were filled with tears, but I smiled.

“Tomorrow is my birthday,” I said to myself “Maybe you will remember me.”

From far inside the mansion, I heard Damon’s voice shouting orders, his tone was cold, full of anger and the whole house shook from it.

The following morning, the pack house was already alive, everyone was preparing for the festival.

The Blackthorn Pack celebrated it like no other.

“Move faster, Elera!” Rina shouted from the dining hall, and she threw a cloth at me. “Alpha Damon wants everything perfect. If anything goes wrong, you’ll be the first person he kills.”

I picked up the cloth and nodded. “Yes.”

She laughed. “You should see your face, you are always scared like a rabbit.”

I ignored her; but fear sat in my stomach like a stone and I wiped the tables, polished the silver, and kept my head down.

The door to the main hall opened and a low growl followed, the air became heavy and I froze, everyone froze.

He was here. Alpha Damon.

The Alpha King of Blackthorn Pack.

He walked in slowly, his boots hit the floor hard, one step at a time and he wore a dark coat, his shoulders were broad and his eyes were colder than ice.

No one dares to breathe.

Beside him stood Beta Ryla, tall and calm, though even he looked tense and they spoke in low voices as they walked toward the stairs.

“Alpha,” Rylan said, “the council still waits for your decision.”

“I already gave it,” Damon answered and his voice was deep and sharp. “No marriage, no bond, I only need an heir.”

Rylan sighed “The elders will not be pleased.”

“I don’t care what pleases them.” Damon stopped at the middle of the stairs. “They can’t order me to love again.”

His tone made my chest tighten, and I didn’t know why it hurt to hear that.

He continued walking and I kept wiping the same table over and over, pretending not to listen.

The maids started whispering as soon as he left.

“They say he killed three warriors last winter.”

“They say he doesn’t sleep.”

“They say he still sees his dead fiance in his dreams.”

By evening, the mansion glowed with light, banners hung on the walls and the smell of wine filled the air. I was sent to the hallway near the Alpha’s office to serve drinks, and my steps were quiet.

From inside the office, I heard voices again.

Rylan spoke first. “Alpha, you can’t keep avoiding this. You need an heir.”

“I told you,” Damon replied coldly, “I don’t want a Luna, I only want a child.”

“But how will you get one?” Rylan asked, his voice was lowered, almost playful. “Maybe use a surrogate.”

There was silence and then Damon laughed, it was not warm, it was dark and short.

“A surrogate?” he repeated.

“Yes,” Rylan said “Someone worthless, someone with no ties, someone we can just use and discard! Like a secret, some like…”

The door opened before he finished answering. I jumped and almost dropped the tray. Rylan’s eyes flickered to me, and his mouth stopped moving.

Damon turned and his gaze was locked on mine.

Rylan then cleared his throat. “Someone like her.”

Damon’s voice was low. “Her?”

“She’s an omega, no wolf, no family, no one would question it,” Rylan said and his tone was half joking, and half serious. “It’s perfect.”

Damon’s silence lasted too long.

Then, quietly, he said, “Maybe you’re right.”

My heart stopped and I almost forgot to breathe.

Rylan laughed again. “Alpha, I was only teasing…”

“Leave,” Damon cut in and his voice turned hard.

Rylan hesitated, then left and then the door closed behind him.

I stood frozen, holding the tray.

Damon walked closer, slow and quiet and his shadow covered mine.

“Your name,” he said.

“Elera,” I whispered.

He studied me for a long moment, his eyes were unreadable. “Elera,” he repeated. “You’re the one who cleans the eastern hall.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

He nodded once, and then turned away. “Go.”

I rushed out, my heart was beating too fast and my legs felt weak.

I closed my eyes and his voice still echoed in my head.

“Elera.”

That was the last sound I heard before thunder rolled across the night sky, and the Moon Festival began.