The Alpha's Hidden Heir

THE WOMAN CARRYING HIS PUP CHLOE'S POV I was halfway through my second glass of wine, laughing at one of Ronan's ridiculous stories, when Darius walked into the Black Howl clubhouse with another woman clinging to his arm. I barely noticed him at first. The clubhouse was crowded that evening, filled with the usual noise of leather-clad riders, clinking glasses, and music blasting from the speakers. Talia sat beside me, stealing fries from my plate while Ronan entertained our table with a story about a disastrous run to a neighboring territory. Just then,someone whistled so I glanced toward the entrance, expecting to see another member of the club. Instead, my eyes landed on my mate, Darius Blackthorn, the Alpha of Ironfang and president of the Black Howl MC. He looked as handsome as ever in his black leather vest, his dark hair slightly tousled, and his expression carrying that familiar authority that made people move aside whenever he entered a room. But it wasn't Darius who made the smile disappear from my face. It was the woman beside him. Selene Voss. She was dressed in a fitted black dress, her blond hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders. One of Darius's hands rested against her back while the other held her arm, guiding her through the crowd. I watched them approach, trying to understand why she was standing so close to my man. Then I noticed her stomach. It wasn't particularly large, but there was no mistaking the gentle curve beneath her dress. She rested one hand over it protectively, and when Darius leaned down to whisper something to her, she smiled up at him with a familiarity that made my stomach tighten. "Chloe?" Talia touched my arm. "What's wrong?" "Nothing." I set my glass down, although I could no longer remember what we had been laughing about. "I need to ask Darius something." I rose from my seat and walked toward them. Darius noticed me immediately, his dark eyes meeting mine, but he didn't release Selene. If anything, he seemed perfectly comfortable with the way she leaned against him. "You're back early," I said, stopping in front of him. "You told me you wouldn't be here until later." "Plans changed." His gaze moved briefly toward Selene before returning to me. "We need to talk." I looked between them. "About what?" "Let's sit down, Chloe." Something in his voice made my chest tighten. Nevertheless, I followed him to a quieter booth at the far end of the clubhouse. Selene sat beside him, leaving me opposite them, and I suddenly felt like an outsider being summoned to a meeting I hadn't known existed. Darius rested his elbows on the table. "Selene is pregnant." He said as I stared at him, waiting for him to continue. When he didn't, I let out a confused laugh. "All right. Congratulations to the father, I suppose." "I'm the father." He said calmly and immediately,the smile vanished from my face. For a moment, I thought I had misunderstood him. I looked at Selene, then back at Darius, searching his expression for any indication that this was some terrible joke. He remained perfectly serious. "You're what?" "Selene is carrying my pup through a surrogacy arrangement." The words struck me with such force that I forgot how to breathe. My fingers curled around the edge of the table as I tried to make sense of what he had just said. "A surrogacy arrangement?" I repeated. "You arranged for another woman to carry your child?" "Yes." "And you never thought to tell me?" I asked, feeling the anger boiling through my veins. "The elders approved the arrangement. Ironfang needs an heir, Chloe, and as Alpha, I have a responsibility to ensure the future of this pack." I stared at him in disbelief. "And what exactly am I? Your chosen mate, Darius. Your future Luna. Have you forgotten that?" His jaw tightened. "I haven't forgotten anything. This arrangement doesn't change your position beside me." I almost laughed again, but this time there was nothing remotely amusing about the situation. He had arranged for another woman to carry his child without consulting me, yet he expected me to accept it because my title would supposedly remain untouched. "What if I don't accept it?" I asked. "Why wouldn't you? Selene is a surrogate. This isn't a romantic relationship." I looked at the woman beside him. She had remained unusually quiet, watching our exchange with an expression that suggested she was enjoying herself more than she wanted to admit. "Is that what you think?" I asked Darius. "That because you call it surrogacy, I have no reason to be hurt?" "You're making this more complicated than it needs to be." Before I could respond, Selene placed a hand over her stomach and spoke. "Chloe, I understand that this may be difficult for you, but someone has to think about Ironfang's future. Darius needs an heir, and I'm simply helping him fulfill his responsibilities." I turned toward her slowly. "Did I ask you to explain my mate's decisions to me?" Her lips parted, but no words came out. "Chloe," Darius warned. I looked back at him. "No. Don't do that. You bring me here, tell me that another woman is carrying your child, and then expect me to sit quietly while she explains why I should be grateful?" "Watch your tone." The coldness in his voice made something inside me crack. I had stood beside this man through countless disputes, supported his decisions, and defended him when others questioned whether he was capable of leading Ironfang. I had trusted him with my heart because I believed our bond meant we were building a future together. Now I was discovering that he could make a decision that changed our lives without even considering how it would affect me. "Did you ever intend to discuss this with me before making the arrangement?" I asked. "The elders and I discussed what was necessary for the pack. The decision has been made." "And my opinion?" "This isn't about your opinion. It's about the survival of Ironfang." I went completely still. He had answered my question, and somehow that hurt more than any insult could have. My feelings had never been part of the decision. Neither had our relationship, our future, or the possibility that I might want children of my own with him. I pushed my chair back and stood. "Then you should have married the elders." His eyes flashed dangerously. "Chloe." "No, Darius. You don't get to tell me that I still have a place beside you while making it clear that my voice doesn't matter." I reached for the silver necklace around my neck. It carried the Ironfang insignia, a symbol of the position I had once been proud to hold. I unclasped it and placed it on the table. Selene's eyes widened, while Darius rose to his feet. "Pick that up," he ordered. I shook my head. "You can find someone else to wear it." I walked away before he could respond, ignoring the curious looks from the riders who had begun noticing our argument. Talia called after me, but I couldn't bear to explain anything to anyone. I pushed through the clubhouse doors and stepped into the cool night air, desperately trying to hold myself together. A moment later, the doors opened behind me. "Chloe, stop." I turned as Darius approached. Even outside, he carried the same commanding presence that made people obey him without question. Usually, I found that confidence attractive. Tonight, it only reminded me how little room he left for anyone else's wishes. "What do you want?" I asked. "I want you to stop behaving as though I've betrayed you. You're my mate, and that hasn't changed." "Then why do I feel like I'm the last person who matters to you?" He exhaled impatiently. "I won't argue with you over this." "Of course you won't. You've already made your decision." I turned away, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing my tears. He called my name again, but I kept walking until I reached my quarters and locked the door behind me. Only then did I allow myself to cry. For weeks, I had been feeling unusually tired and nauseated. I had blamed the stress of pack life, never considering that something else might be happening. But sitting on the edge of my bed, with one hand pressed against my stomach, I suddenly remembered the pregnancy test I had bought several days earlier and forgotten in the bathroom cabinet. I retrieved it with trembling fingers and followed the instructions before forcing myself to wait. When I finally looked down, two distinct lines stared back at me. I sank onto the closed toilet seat, unable to move. I was pregnant with Darius's child, and he had just announced that another woman was carrying his heir.