Lahat ng Kabanata ng Surrogate for the Alpha : Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

JANIS – POVThe park was quiet. Just as she remembered it.The old bench beneath the jacaranda tree still had Lara’s initials carved into it — a silly thing they’d done one night after too much cake and laughter. Janis stood there now, shoes digging into the wet grass, the air thick with the scent of fallen leaves and something heavier.Guilt.She took a shaky breath and closed her eyes.FLASHBACK —“Put that much pepper and I swear I’ll sue your taste buds,” Lara laughed, swatting Janis’s hand away from the sizzling pan.“It’s called seasoning, you uncultured goat,” Janis shot back, giggling as she dumped more onions in.The two of them danced around the portable stove, barefoot, hair messy, their laughter echoing through the empty park. No judgment. No boys. No secrets.Just Janis and Lara — soulmates who never needed romance to love each other.NOW —The memory made her chest cave i

Janis hadn’t touched her phone in days.It lay there on the dresser like a silent witness, holding messages she wasn’t ready to see. But that evening, something in her gave way. She switched it on.The screen lit up with a flood of notifications—missed calls, unread messages, some angry, some desperate. But her gaze froze on one name.Maya.The message was short.> Big brother is worried about you… and my baby sister or brother in your womb, Aunty Janis. Please come home.Her chest tightened. The words pressed against her ribs until breathing felt like work.At dinner, she pushed her food around for a while before looking up at Corey.“Can I… go see Maya? Just to make sure she’s okay. I’m feeling better now.”Corey’s fork paused mid-air. He knew the weight behind the request, knew where her thoughts might wander if she went. But he also knew she wasn’t asking for James—she was asking for Maya.

Morning light spilled gently across the garden, brushing against the fresh blooms that swayed in the early breeze. Crane was already gone for the day, leaving the estate unnervingly quiet—until Alex, Yousef, and Peter arrived like a burst of color. Breakfast was warm and full of teasing laughter. Afterwards, the four of them sat in the garden’s shaded alcove, the air carrying the faint scent of wet earth even though the sky was still clear. “It’s the start of a new month,” Alex said, leaning back in his chair with that lazy grin of his. “The beginning of the rainy season.” Yousef chuckled, sipping from his coffee. “Oh, it’s gonna pour hard today. First-day rain always hits like it wants to wash the whole town away.” Lara didn’t respond at first. She stared at her hands, a strange heaviness settling in her chest. She didn’t know why—but the thought of heavy rain made her uneasy. Alex noticed. He knew. Lara did

“Come on, Lara, you need a change of scenery,” Alex said, leaning casually against the doorframe. “A little shopping therapy—it’s doctor’s orders.” Peter grinned from behind him. “And by doctor, he means himself. Don’t worry, I’ll carry the bags.” Lara gave them both a look that was half amusement, half exasperation. She’d been staying indoors far too much lately, and they knew it. “Fine,” she sighed, trying not to smile. “But no fussing over me the entire time.” “Too late,” Peter said, opening the door like a chauffeur. “Fussing is part of the package.” --- The mall’s polished floors gleamed under the skylights, the hum of voices and faint scent of perfume wrapping around them. Alex was already steering her toward one of the higher-end boutiques, muttering about how Crane would ‘thank him later’ for upgrading her wardrobe. Peter trailed behind, alert but relaxed, his eyes scann

The dining hall was bathed in the pale gold of morning, sunlight spilling through tall windows and laying a warm glow across the long table. Breakfast had already been laid out—steaming bread rolls, platters of fruit, and trays of spiced meats—but the real heat wasn’t coming from the food. It was from the two people who kept stealing glances at each other from opposite ends of the table.Lara entered quietly, Peter hovering just behind her like a shadow. Her hair caught the light, her skin soft with the subtle glow that came with sleep and the life growing inside her. She gave a small, polite smile as she slid into her seat.Crane had been there already, posture rigid, his wolf humming beneath his skin the second she appeared. His eyes followed her every movement, sharp but softened in a way only she seemed to draw out of him. He tried to eat, but his appetite faltered—the only thing he craved sat across the table, delicately reaching for a slice of bread.