All Chapters of Surrogate for My Sister's Mate: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

BASTIANThe moment the morning sun slipped past the curtains and landed squarely on my face, I instinctively winced. I raised my hand to shield my eyes from it, but then I caught a faint groan coming from next to me.There, Rosentine was sleeping, her eyebrows drawn together in the sunlight, even in sleep. It made something twist inside me, causing me to shift, awkward and careful, adjusting myself so I could block the sunlight with my body.As much as possible, I wanted her to rest longer. After last night, after everything, she deserved it. After all, I was the reason she’d had to push herself so hard.I’d always known about her family and mate since she’d been honest about it from the start, but seeing it unfold with my own eyes last night—it was worse than I’d imagined.Even with me there, her mate and brother hadn’t bothered to hide their scorn. They mocked her openly, right in front of me, like it was nothing. I kept thinking, if that was how they behaved with an audience, what

ROSENTINEIt had been four days since I acknowledged my feelings for Alpha Bastian, and ever since then, ever since our first kiss, it was like everything had shifted between us.Our relationship was changing, quick and quiet, like the seasons moving without anyone noticing at first.When we returned to the North, he didn’t wait even a day before telling Via and Beta Owen to reschedule the party on my birthday, so we could have a double celebration.Honestly, it felt strange to be celebrating my birthday again after sixteen years of pretending that day didn’t exist. I wanted to reject the idea, but I couldn’t, not when Alpha Bastian seemed so eager, so determined to make it special for me.So, even if part of me was unsure how to feel about it, I let myself get swept along.Then the day after we returned, news about me possibly becoming his Luna spread through the Kingdom like wildfire, but Alpha Bastian shut down the gossip right away. He explained to the pack that he’d only said it

ROSENTINE“Are you okay? You look a little let down for someone who’s about to celebrate two occasions today.” Via said as soon as I was done getting ready for the party. I turned to her on the couch, where she was waiting for me, and smiled bitterly.Today wasn’t really a good day for me. I used to be the type who got excited whenever my birthday came around, the kind who counted down days, waiting for gifts from my siblings, for the whole pack to gather and sing.But that was when I was a kid, and ever since the incident, this day, more than any other, had turned into a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from.Honestly, I shouldn’t be acting like this, not when they went out of their way to host a party for me. But pretending everything was fine felt impossible.Every time my mind slipped back to my 8th birthday, the guilt just tangled up inside me, reminding me again and again that I didn’t have the right to celebrate anymore.“I’m okay, it’s just that...” I trailed off, the words dying

BASTIAN“Arabella,” I called the moment I entered her room and saw that she was indeed awake. That tired smile of hers, the one that never quite reached her cheeks anymore, just hovered there, thin and almost transparent.I hurried over and took her hand, squeezing it as if I could somehow give strength back into her.“How do you feel?”She barely shrugged, the gesture soft, her head sinking further into the pillows. “I’m feeling okay. Is there an occasion? You’re dressed well.”“Ah, right. We’re having a banquet at the main house.” I explained, realizing that I had left in the middle of my dance with Rosentine. “You were in a coma for three months, and a lot of things happened.”“I found a surrogate, and she’s expecting a baby now. We’re celebrating her pregnancy and her 25th birthday.” I added, noticing how her face dimmed slightly, but she quickly masked it with a smile.“I’m glad you'll finally have an heir. Where’s the surrogate?” Arabella’s words were polite, but I could feel so

ROSENTINE“Let go,” Devin snarled, yanking my wrist hard enough that I thought for a second something might snap. Pain shot up my arm, sharp and throbbing, but I only winced instead of saying something.“Hey! What are you doing?” A voice boomed from the corridor, causing us to both turn and see Beta Owen striding towards us, his expression serious.“She grabbed me—” Devin started, but the Beta barely looked at him. Instead, his eyes landed on me, scanning my face as I held my wrist.“Are you okay?” he asked, and I only nodded before he turned his attention back to the warrior. “You. What do you think you’re doing? How can you use your strength like that against a pregnant woman?”“I’m fine,” I said, my voice thin as I pulled at his sleeve, desperate for this not to spiral. “Please. I just want to ask him about my sister. He knows something.”My words lingered in the air, and a wave of anxiety washed over me. Something was off; something had happened while I was unconscious—I could fee