ALPHA ANDRAS I'm in my office, head bent, trying to sort through some critical files with my beta, Donovan, when the door bursts open, and Jenna enters. "The council is—" Donovan stops talking halfway through when he notices her. His brow furrows, and he blinks a few times in surprise before remaining silent. He just bows respectfully and steps back from the desk. Looking up from the documents in my hands as she moves towards me, my wolf growls disapprovingly at the sight of her, and its irritation is even more apparent when she circles the desk and leans over to kiss my cheek. I'm perplexed by my wolf's aggressive attitude, but I don't press it. Instead, I try to quiet the beast down. It's been over a year since we married, and while my wolf has never reacted warmly to Jenna's presence - which I thought was unusual given that we're mates - it's never been this violent. And this is not just happening today.My wolf has been restless lately, snarling incessantly and snapping at une

AZALEAIt's been three days since my last meeting with Alpha Andras, and now I'm standing in the servants' kitchen, completely unaware of the eyes staring at me as I make breakfast.Working in the kitchen is much more enjoyable than washing floors and dealing with piles of filthy laundry or picking weeds and farming constantly in the castle's enormous garden. At least here, I can see, talk, and gossip with Darla. Jenna is also not constantly around, and that is a bonus. The smell of spicy pork bacon frying in the skillet fills the air. It smells lovely, but it makes me a little nauseous. At first, I don't think much of it, and despite the discomfort, I continue chopping veggies. However, when Darla enters with a plate of cracked raw eggs, all hell breaks loose. The smell of the eggs, along with pork and some stray spices, makes me gag and cough uncontrollably. The knife falls from my hand into the bowl, and I hold my throat, desperately attempting to keep the vomit from flowing out.

AZALEAI have never been more grateful for an interruption in my life. And when a gasp escapes my lips at Alpha Andras's thunderous remarks, an inward sense of relief floods me.I'd been on edge since the Royal Doctor left and Jenna started laying out the pregnancy rules. Her comments about my weight hurt, but when she referred to the baby inside me as 'hers,' I clenched my fists. Hard. I shouldn't be envious or possessive of the child because it isn’t mine. I am only a surrogate. Regardless, it hurt, and the thought of being cast away once I gave birth, like every other breeder who served this wretched kingdom, made the knot in my stomach tighten even further. Then Alpha Andras's statement - more like a command - happened, and my heart skipped a beat. His voice echoed throughout the room, exuding a sense of authority unrivaled. "Let the girl breathe. It's too early for this." He continues with his gaze fixated on his wife. "Andras?"His look becomes serious as he asks calmly. "Do

AZALEAI can't sleep. I've been trying for an hour now since I took the tablets and snuggled myself into bed, but no matter what position I'm in or how I lie, it's not enough to help me close my eyes. It's like some invisible force is tugging at me, keeping me upright, and I let out a painful hiss. As if to worsen the situation, my stomach growls in a low-threatening tone.The cravings. The ones I’d been trying to avoid tonight suddenly sprang up, and I let out another hiss."Fuck!" When my stomach makes another hungry sound, I leap out of bed and curse. I sigh loudly as I gaze up at the wall clock, which shows it's a few minutes before midnight. I won't be able to sleep now unless I satisfy this hunger, so I take a deep breath and stand on wobbling legs, heading towards the kitchen.I stroll through the dimly lit hallway, and an unsettling calm envelopes me, causing me to shudder slightly. The castle feels vacant, and this area is much emptier. What do I expect from the servants' q

I stroll through the palace halls with one of my maids, discussing the various things needed in the palace. It's that time of the year where I make sure every single thing about the castle is renovated to my taste.The walls of the castle are repainted, new furnitures are brought in, bedsheets and curtains are replaced and the groceries restocked according to my meal plan.“Is everything I asked for on the list?”. I inquire.“Yes your majesty, everything is on the list as you requested”. She responds, bowing her head to the ground.“Good, instruct th–”I stop halfway through, spotting a commotion going on in the east wing of the palace and my curiosity kicks in. What the hell is happening?I approach a guard carrying furniture and inquire, "What's going on?""The king requested that the surrogate slave's room be changed. We're doing as we were instructed, your majesty." The guard replies.My body goes numb, unable to believe my ears or process the shocking reality in front of me. From