Ryan’s POVStanding 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 neede
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