CHAPTER-2

LAUREN MONROE

5 years later…..

"Come, monkey, time to get up," I whispered near my son's ear. He whined and pulled up the comforter to his head.

"Please, Mummy, let me sleep a little more. Leave my breakfast on the table, I promise…. I will finish everything after I wake up." I smiled at him while shaking my head and pulled the comforter off him, making him groan. Alex blinked with his beautiful baby-blue eyes at me.

"What's all this Mummy? Please let me sleep for some more. I'm feeling sleepy." He requested with his puppy eyes, making me smile.

"No, my monkey. You can't sleep more. Yesterday, when I left breakfast for you, you didn't finish it all and threw them out the window. What do you think, I'm dumb?" He bit his tongue squeezing his eyes tightly.

"Sorry, Mummy. I promise I won't repeat this mistake and today I'll finish everything." Pinching his throat he said making a cute face that is enough to melt anyone's heart.

"Mummy's little Monkey, we all know you very well, how pro you are of using your charm to melt someone's heart. So nothing is going to work today." Myra made her entry into Alex's room holding a bowl of cereal in her hand.

Myra's my best friend here in DC. She was my first friend when I got here five years ago. She was my lifesaver who gave me a job in a cafeteria, which belongs to her friend's mother where she works too as a patissier. We are just not friends but sisters. After working for some time in that coffee shop as a barista I managed to earn a good amount of money and we rented this place where we three live together now. Though it's a small apartment hence it gives a comfy atmosphere.

"Myra, you just flopped my plan," Alex whined, making both Myra and me laugh hard.

"I'm always like this, you know me, dude. I love to irritate you. It has become my habit now." Myra settled near Alex's bed who was making faces at Myra. And this girl was no less; she was also doing the same as a kid. No one can say she's 24 years old. She still behaves like a child.

"Ren, you go and get ready. I'm here. I'll make sure he finishes his breakfast." Myra told me and I nodded at her before leaving the room.

I changed into a pair of black jeans with a white blouse and then came out of my room to find Myra sitting at the breakfast table with Alex.

"How's the breakfast, Monkey?" I ruffled his hair and asked, making him groan in frustration. He does not like it if someone touches his hair. He's very possessive about his hair. And I love to touch them as they are so soft and silky.

"World's worst food." He said making a disgusting look and I stared at him with wide eyes while blinking repeatedly. He kept looking at me for some good moment and then burst into a guffaw.

"Mummy, your face. It was sightable." Saying that he started to laugh again but soon he started to cough badly and breathe heavily. I rushed to him and started to stroke his back. I tried to make him feel better but his breathing wasn't going normal so without wasting any time I scooped him in my arms and placed him on the sofa. Myra handed me Alex's medicine and I made him have them quickly so that his condition becomes normal. After some time his breathing becomes normal.

"Have some hot milk, dear. You will feel better." I made him take a sip from the milk glass.

"I told you so many times Alex, don't laugh so hard. You know your condition, Alex, right?" Saying that I hugged him holding his head against my chest tightly.

"Sorry, Mumma. Will remember in future." I placed a kiss on the top of his head and felt two tears slipping from my eyes then I let go of him.

"Okay, don't forget again. Okay?" Pointing my forefinger at him I asked him and he nodded his head lifting his right hand in the air.

"I promise, Mumma." I smiled at him and we heard the door knock. Myra moved to the door to open the door and I found Lily walking inside holding her laptop and backpack.

"Sorry, I'm a little bit late." She looked apologetic so I waved my hand at her.

"It's okay. I can understand. Please take care of Alex. And if his health gets worse, please don't forget to inform me immediately." I said holding Lily's shoulder and she nodded.

"Of course. I'll. You don't have to worry about him. I'm always there for him." Lily assured me and we both left for our workplace on Myra's bike. Lily belongs to the Black Moon pack ruled by a Lycan Alpha. As She has no wolf like mine she left her pack but her elder sister still belongs to that pack and she is a doctor.

I placed my head on Myra's back and closed my eyes feeling the cold breeze against my skin.

I never thought my life would become like this. I dreamed of a happy life with Rowen before. But everything changed so quickly. After I left the Silver Moon Pack and came to DC I had no place to survive. When I was crying while sitting near the fountain in front of the coffee shop I met Myra. She asked me why I was crying and I told her I have no place there. She felt pity for me and took me to her Boss. She was so sweet and kindhearted that she gave me a job and even gave me a place to stay in the basement of her coffee shop. It was a great help for me.

"Ren…." I came out of my train of thought when a voice fell into my ear and I sat straight.

"Are you alright, Ren? You look pale?" Myra asked me and I shook my head.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's get inside." I got off the bike and went inside of the coffee shop.

It was nearly five thirty when I got a call from Lily. My heart skipped a beat seeing her number on the screen. Because she doesn't call me if it's not urgent. So I immediately swiped the answer button and put the other phone on my ear.

"Hello, Lily!"

"Ren, come to the hospital immediately. Alex's condition is not well." My breath caught in my throat hearing her.

"I have brought him to the hospital and Doctor Zane is treating him. He told you to come as soon as possible." My heart was pounding hard against my ribcage making it hard to breathe properly. Dread crawls down my spine.

"Okay, I'm on my way." Saying that I shove my phone in my pocket and left for the hospital letting my Boss know my son's condition.

.

.

.

"Look, Lauren, as you can see Alex's condition is getting worse. So we have to do his treatment as soon as possible." Doctor Zane told me while clasping his hands on the table.

"I know, Doctor. My son has been fighting against his blood cancer for two years. He's a fighter. And I'm proud of him."

"I have good news for you." I narrowed my eyes at Doctor Zane.

"What is it, Doctor?" I asked immediately.

"We got a donor for Alex." My face lit up hearing him. And I got up in excitement. My palms covered my mouth in disbelief.

"Really?" I asked him to confirm I heard him correctly. And he nodded his head with a smile.

I was so over the moon hearing that as we were looking for a donor for so long and finally, we have found one. He also informed me about the money. Which shook me to the core. Because they asked for $250,000 for the treatment. But I only have $60,000. I still needed $190,000. But the problem was how was I going to get the remaining money. And only in two days.

"Lauren, please try to collect the money as soon as possible. We can't lose this chance. Finding a suitable donor is not a joke. And you his reports, right? So better be quick." I bit my bottom lip as fear was eating me from inside. I could not think straight at that time.

"You don't have to worry about the money. I'll arrange the money in two days. You just make sure my son's treatment goes well." I left his cabin walking like a dead soul.

I contacted everyone whom I know here and they even helped me with some money but it wasn't sufficient. I was able to arrange only $20,000. Still, $170,000 to arrange. And I do not understand where I can get so much money.

I entered Alex's cabin room and he flashed me his charming smile.

"Mummy!" Alex squealed with joy bringing a bright smile to my face.

"How are you feeling, my little monkey?" I asked him sitting on the chair placed near his bed.

"I'm all good. Just a little weakness. But don't worry, I'm your strong Superman. I can endure this." Tears gathered in my eyes and I hugged him.

"Just two more days, Monkey. Mummy is going to do your treatment in two days." He pulled away from me and looked into my eyes excitedly.

"Really, Mommy?" His face was beaming with happiness.

"Of course, my Monkey." I pulled his cheeks and he lunged at me hugging me tightly.

"You are the best Mommy in the world," Alex exclaimed with delight and I laughed seeing his excitement and happiness.

"Lauren, please come outside with me. I have something important to tell you." I looked at Lily and then nodded at her.

"Monkey, you stay with Myra. Mommy will be back in a while." I caressed his face lovingly and he nodded. I left the room after placing a kiss on his forehead.

"What's the matter, Lily?" I asked her as soon as we came outside of the room.

"Umm, I talked to my sister about our situation and she said our former Alpha is willing to help you. But on one condition." Hearing her words only one thing came up in my mind.

"Hell, No! I'm not going to sell myself to him." Lily blinked dumbfounded.

"What? No, it's nothing like that. You got me wrong, Ren. I was trying to say that he wants you to be his son's surrogate." My mouth dropped to the floor from what I just heard.

Surrogate Mother!!! And that too for the Lycan beast Jaxon Salvatore Knight!!! Who is rumored to be killing every bride of his. Mr. Knight wants me to be his son's surrogate. But why? He knows me. He knows I don't have a wolf and I'm an Omega. Who can't breed an Alpha heir. Even if I succeed, I will die. Or the child will die. When he knows everything about me, why does he want to make me his son's surrogate? It's really strange.

"He asked you to meet him in the bar where you work if you are willing to do so. I heard that bar is theirs." I nodded at her.

"Are you willing to be Alpha's surrogate?" Lily asked me unsurely.

"Let's see. Well, thanks a lot, Lily. I owe you." I hugged her and then headed back to Alex's room. I stayed with him till evening then at 7 o'clock I left for the bar. Though I worked at Knight's Bar, I have never seen my Boss, Jaxon Salvatore Knight. I only heard about him.

He's breathtakingly handsome yet lethal. Literally, like a rose. Though the rose is beautiful, it has thrones. He's the same. He's everything a girl wants in her dream man. But he's dangerous too. I'm eager to meet him.

I pushed the door of the special suit and there I found a man sitting in the dark room. My heart was beating wildly against my chest. And cold sweat forms on my forehead in fear. I swallowed hard before approaching him. The place was so dark that it was giving me a negative vibe. Still, I moved forward.

"Mr. Knight, I'm here. Lauren, Lauren Monroe. You asked for me." I managed to speak to him.

"So, you are the girl my Dad chose as my child's surrogate mother." His words fell like thunder on me. And he turned on the lights, making my heart skip a beat.

My gaze met his. A deep emerald shade, flecked with darker marbling of grey and black. I was almost hypnotized by its intensity.

Oh, Goddess, an earth-shattering handsome man was sitting before me. And it was none other than "JAXON SALVATORE KNIGHT."