Chapter 1

Olivia’s POV

My heart pounded wildly as I felt the weight of him pressing me against the wall, his hands gripping my wrists with a strength that was both terrifying and oddly mesmerizing. I tried to squirm free, calling out for help, but my voice barely came out, muffled by his possessive kiss. His lips were demanding and feverish, and each touch seemed to awaken something deep within me. I tried to push him away, but he was unmovable, a wall of muscle and strength.

My mind raced, searching for a way out. I managed to kick the mop, letting it clatter loudly onto the floor. The noise was enough to startle him, but not enough to make him release me. Someone knocked on the door, and a rush of hope surged through me. But his growl – low, deep, and filled with a warning – sent them away. My heart sank as I heard their footsteps retreat. Why did they leave? Couldn’t they sense my distress?

“Please… let me go,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

But he didn’t respond. Instead, he lifted me effortlessly, carrying me over to the bed. His size made me feel so small, so helpless, and I struggled against him, my hands pressing against his chest in a desperate attempt to push him away. But his grip on my wrist tightened, firm, enough to make me wince.

A small, involuntary cry escaped my lips, and he froze, his eyes flickering with something almost… human. For a moment, his gaze softened, and his hold loosened. His touch shifted, becoming gentle, his thumb brushing against my skin in a way that made my pulse quicken. His hands moved slowly now, tracing patterns along my arms, as if he was trying to soothe me, to make me forget my fear. My heart raced, my breath hitching as I looked up into his lake-green eyes, shining in the moonlight. There was something about the way he looked at me, something that seemed to pierce through my defenses as if he could see straight into my soul.

My head tilted and my eyes drifted to the full moon up in the sky through the large open window. I should have resisted. I should have fought harder. But watching the full moon, his touch was hypnotic, a warmth spreading through me that left me breathless. The scent of him—earthy, with a hint of something untamed—filled the air, and I found myself unable to look away from him.

Before I knew it, I felt my own body betraying me, a spark of longing awakening beneath his touch. His kisses trailed along my jaw, down to my neck, each one leaving me trembling. I felt myself slipping, giving in to the warmth, the safety he seemed to promise, even if only for a moment.

His hand brushed along my cheek, fingers slipping through my hair as he leaned in closer. “You…” he murmured, his voice barely a whisper, yet filled with a possessive tone that sent a shiver down my spine.

He held me like I was something fragile, yet something he was desperate to claim. The contrast between his strength and the gentleness in his touch left me dazed, caught between the urge to attempt to flee again and an inexplicable desire to stay. My heart pounded, each beat filling the silence as he leaned closer, his breath warm against my skin. I felt a strange pull, a kind of magnetic force that seemed to melt away my resistance, leaving me vulnerable under his gaze.

His hands moved slowly, almost reverently, as if savoring every moment. His fingers brushed along my collarbone, sending shivers racing through me, and I couldn’t help the gasp that escaped my lips. His touch was both intense and soothing, an odd mixture that both unsettled and calmed me. His lips traced a soft path along my neck, lingering as though he wanted to memorize the feeling of my skin beneath his.

I didn’t know if it was the pull of the full moon or something deeper, but I felt myself giving in, allowing his warmth to wash over me. His movements were both passionate and controlled, each gesture thoughtful, as if he feared I might vanish at any moment.

For a brief instant, I forgot everything else—my responsibilities, my fears, the weight of my world. In that stolen moment, there was just us, suspended in the quiet, with the moonlight casting a soft glow over us. I was lost in him, feeling both cherished and claimed, as if he was determined to etch his presence into my very soul.

---

The memory hit me like a punch to the gut, snapping me back to the present. I stood there, broom in hand, feeling the world around me blur as my wolf’s voice echoed in my mind.

“What? I’m… pregnant?”

I could hardly believe it. My hands instinctively moved to my stomach, the weight of the realization settling over me. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I had been careful; I had taken all the precautions. But my wolf wouldn’t lie, and the truth of it sank in with a painful clarity.

“All the late symptoms you've been showing leads to that. You're carrying a pup inside you," she confirmed again making me fret.

A wave of panic surged through me. What was I supposed to do? I could barely afford to take care of myself, let alone a child. Hospital procedures were costly, not to mention they’d require the father’s consent. The thought made my stomach twist—I didn’t even know who he was. The entire night was a foggy memory, his face a mere blur.

“Olivia! Get your head out of the clouds!” My boss’s sharp voice jolted me back to reality.

“I-I’m sorry,” I stammered, bowing my head in apology.

“If you don’t focus, I’ll find someone who will. Got it?”

I bit my lip, nodding quickly. I couldn’t afford to lose this job, not with my younger sister’s medical bills piling up. I needed every cent I could get just to keep her treatments going.

As I tried to shake off the lingering thoughts, something caught my eye—a broadcast playing on the giant screen outside. The announcer’s voice echoed through the street, grabbing the attention of everyone nearby.

“Attention, members of the Silver Claw Pack. Our Alpha is seeking a surrogate.”

I froze, my heart pounding as the image of the Alpha flashed across the screen. That face… seemed familiar.

My pulse quickened as a realization began to take shape, a memory surfacing of intense green eyes and the unmistakable aura of strength. It couldn’t be… Could it?

A chill ran through me, leaving me rooted to the spot. The Alpha… the same man who had held me under the full moon’s sway, the one whose face I could barely recall but whose presence lingered in my mind like a haunting shadow.