Chapter 3

Ryan’s POV

Standing before the mirror, I pulled at the collar of my shirt, unable to shake the irritation gnawing at me. This suit, the polished shoes, even the faint cologne—all of it felt wrong. My scowl deepened as I adjusted my cuff links. Behind me, the woman kneeling on the bed, dressed in nothing but a silk sheet, watched me with pleading eyes.

"Alpha Ryan," she said, her voice soft yet desperate. "Is there…something I can do to make this easier?"

Her words grated on me. I’d tried—really tried—to force some kind of connection with this surrogate. She was here because of duty, because of responsibility, not because I felt anything for her. But every attempt to interact with her, to reach for her, only fueled my frustration. And deep down, I knew why.

The surrogacy arrangement wasn’t about attraction, nor was it about wanting an heir for the sake of family. No, it was about stability. Tensions between packs were rising, and as Alpha of the Silver Claw, the strongest pack, I needed to show strength—either through marriage or an heir. But the idea of marrying someone who I had no feelings for or wasn't even my true mate? It wasn’t an option. I couldn’t settle for anything less. So, I’d come to surrogacy as a reluctant compromise, though each day it felt more like a burden than a solution.

Without a word, I turned and left the room, letting the door click shut behind me.

Outside, Jack, my Beta, waited. He glanced up at me, quickly reading my expression. “Should we… look for someone else?” he asked cautiously.

I shook my head, jaw clenched. “No. Put everything on hold, Jack. I need to focus on the pack's business for now. This—” I gestured back at the door. “It’s not going to work, at least not yet.”

Jack nodded, understanding that I was done with the subject, at least for now. He’d been searching for the woman from the full moon ceremony—the one who’d captivated my mind ever since that night. I’d tracked every rumor, every whisper, hoping she’d turn up. But business trips and pack issues had kept me away, leaving the task to Jack. Despite his best efforts, she remained a mystery. Unfound.

As I climbed into the car, Jack settled into the front seat. I had a virtual meeting scheduled, so I put on my headset as the car pulled away from the hotel. I listened, only half-focused, as my team provided updates on pack affairs and alliances, a swirl of discussions blurring in my ears.

Then, abruptly, the car lurched to a halt, throwing me forward in my seat. My focus snapped back.

“What’s going on?” I demanded, my tone sharper than I intended.

My driver glanced back at me, rattled. “Alpha, a woman—she ran out into the road. I think she…she fainted.”

I rolled my eyes, annoyed. Another desperate act from someone hoping for my attention, no doubt. “Call for an ambulance,” I instructed, waving it off.

But something nagged at me, an instinct I couldn’t ignore. I hesitated, glancing toward the windshield. A part of me wanted to ignore it and move on, but I had a strange feeling, an itch that I couldn’t shake. Against my better judgment, I stepped out of the car and made my way toward her.

The sight took my breath away. There, lying pale and unconscious, was a woman whose face had haunted my dreams. The woman from the full moon ceremony. The one I’d been searching for. Her features were unmistakable—delicate yet strong, with the same haunted, mysterious beauty that had captivated me.

My plan had been simple: find out who she was, compensate her, and move on. But now, as I looked at her lying there, vulnerable, I felt an unexpected urge to protect her.

“Alpha?” Jack’s voice broke through my thoughts as he approached. “The nearest hospital is at least forty minutes away.”

I nodded, processing the situation. “Don’t call the ambulance,” I said finally. “Get our doctor—the pack’s best. Have him meet us at my home.”

Jack’s eyebrows shot up, surprised. But he quickly recovered, nodding. “Understood, Alpha.”

I crouched down, slipping my arms under her as I lifted her gently. She felt fragile in my hold, and for a moment, I felt a pang of worry. Her scent was soft and faint, familiar yet elusive. The team back in the car, who had been waiting for me to resume the meeting, looked shocked as I carried her into the backseat and shut the door. I ignored their stares, reaching for my laptop to inform them of a delay.

“Resume without me,” I said curtly, snapping the laptop shut. I could tell about the shock etched on their faces, but I couldn't care less. Jack and the driver shared a glance, sensing the sudden shift in my mood, before they hurriedly climbed into their seats.

As we started moving again, I kept my eyes on her, watching the gentle rise and fall of her chest, relieved that she was breathing steadily. The car was silent, filled only with the quiet hum of the engine and the faint rustle of her breaths.

I leaned back, trying to calm the storm in my mind. There was a reason I’d kept searching for her, why I couldn’t forget her face. Her sudden appearance today was too much to dismiss as mere chance. I didn’t know her story or why fate had brought her into my life again, but one thing was clear: I couldn’t let her go this time.

A surge of determination swept through me. Whatever was necessary to keep her safe, I’d do it. And if fate had indeed brought her back into my life, I wasn’t going to waste this chance.

For the first time in a long time, I felt a flicker of hope mingled with purpose.

“Faster, Mas,” I snapped at the driver, barely taking my eyes off her as I adjusted the jacket I’d draped over Olivia’s shoulders. Her face, though still beautiful, was pale and tight with pain.

Mas nodded, pushing the accelerator as the car sped forward, but I wasn’t satisfied. “And keep it smooth,” I added sharply. “Any bumps, you’ll answer to me.”

The girl's hand twitched, her fingers curling slightly. Instinctively, I reached out, covering her hand with mine. She was warm and fragile.

“Hello,” I murmured, more to myself than her, my voice unexpectedly gentle. Her lips parted, a faint sound escaping, but her eyes remained closed.

I kept my hand on hers, feeling a strange surge in my chest, an urgency I didn’t recognize. This wasn’t just a chance encounter—there was something more here, something I wasn’t willing to let go of.