SURROGATE TO THE COMATOSE ALPHA PRINCE

CHAPTER ONE Lillian's pov The quiet sound of fallen leaves under my boots accompanied my walk back home. The sun went down behind the frost-covered trees of the woods, turning the sky orange and dark purple. I arrived home two hours earlier than usual. The blacksmith shop in the lower village closed early because of the evening storm, so I had a rare chance to rest. I looked forward to making a warm meal before Adrian returned from his late shift at the timber mill. I walked onto the wooden front porch, the boards creaking softly under my feet. When I reached for the door handle, my wolf woke up inside my chest. A sudden feeling of worry rushed through me. She lifted her head, catching a strong scent that drifted through the door. It was Adrian’s scent of fresh wood and rain, but it mixed with another smell. A heavy, sweet perfume of flowers filled the front hall. My fingers stopped on the metal door handle. Adrian told me that morning that he planned to work extra hours to earn money for winter food. Yet his coat hung on the rack inside, wet with rain, and his leather boots rested near the fireplace. A faint sound came from the living room further down the hallway. I heard low laughter and the sound of glass cups touching. I moved forward because I thought there was a good reason for this. Adrian was my best friend. For four whole years, ever since my mother died and my father stopped caring about us, Adrian stood by my side. He held my hand during cold nights, told me he loved me, and promised we would build a happy life together. I stopped at the doorway of the living room and pulled back the lace curtain. The view made me stop breathing. Adrian stood near the fire, holding a glass of juice. Sitting in the big armchair was Selene Vance, the daughter of the richest family in our district. She wore a green silk dress, but over her shoulders was Adrian’s warm coat. It was the same coat I spent three weeks fixing for him last winter. They stood close together. Selene leaned her head back, her fingers resting on Adrian’s chest. He did not step away. Instead, he looked down at her with a calm smile that he never showed to me. "Adrian?" My voice came out as a quiet whisper. Selene wasn't startled by my voice. She simply turned her head, her dark eyes looking at me with a cool smile. Adrian turned his head slowly. I looked at his face, waiting for him to look sorry, scared, or embarrassed. Nothing happened. His blue eyes remained cold and quiet. "You came back early, Lillian," he said in a flat voice. He did not look ashamed at all. "What is this?" I asked, stepping into the room. My heart beat fast in my chest. "Who is she, Adrian? Why is she wearing your coat?" I waited for him to say it was a mistake. I waited for him to say she was just a visitor or that her wagon broke down on the road. I needed him to say anything that would save our relationship. Instead, Adrian set his glass down on the mantel. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at me like I was a stranger in his house. "It is what you see," Adrian said quietly. "Selene and I were together for many months." The words hurt me deeply. I took a step back and grabbed the doorframe. "Months? You told me you worked late shifts. You told me you were working to save money for our future." Selene laughed out loud. She stood up from the chair and moved Adrian’s coat around her shoulders. "A future with you?" Selene asked in a mean voice. "Look at this place, Lillian. Look at yourself. You live in a broken house at the edge of the woods. Your wolf is small and weak, and your family has no money. Adrian wants to be important. He deserves a better life than this poor village." "Be quiet," I said, my voice shaking as I looked at Adrian. "Adrian, talk to me. Tell me this is not true." "She is right, Lillian," Adrian said. "I spent four years waiting for things to get better, but nothing changed. Selene’s father gave me a good job in the city. With her family, I can become rich and famous. I cannot waste any more time sitting in this cold house with you." He threw away our past so easily. I noticed small things then. He wore a fancy tie around his neck, he had a new haircut, and he wore a silver ring on his finger. He planned this change for a long time. I was just the last person to find out. "You tricked me," I whispered, crying softly. "I did what was best for me," Adrian said without any sadness. "Take your things from my room before the weekend ends. Selene's family is buying this land soon." Selene gave a tiny smile as she walked closer to Adrian and took his hand. "Don't be sad, girl. Some people rule, and other people stay poor." I did not let them see me cry. I closed my mouth tight, lifted my head, and turned around. I walked out of the house into the cold evening air, keeping my tears inside until I crossed the fence. I ran down the dark road toward my father’s house, breathing hard in the cold. The feeling burned in my chest, and I realized that my four years of kindness meant nothing to Adrian. When I reached our small stone house, I saw a light in the window. I pushed the door open, wanting help, expecting my father to see that I was upset. He sat at the wooden kitchen table with a candle next to him. A half-empty bottle stood beside his arm. He did not look up to ask why I ran or why my hands were shaking. "You are late," my father said. "Father," I started, my voice full of sadness. "Adrian lied to me." "Be quiet for a minute," he said, waving his hand. He pointed to a big piece of paper on the table. "Look at this. The royal messenger brought it an hour ago." I stopped and wiped my face. "What is it?" "It is a letter from the king," he said in a sharp voice. "They chose you as a helper for the palace." I blinked and thought about his words. "A helper? For who?" "For the Crown Prince," he answered. "Prince Grayson Blackthorn." I felt cold inside. Everyone in the land knew the story of Prince Grayson. Two years ago, he fell asleep from magic after a fight in the mountains. He never woke up, and he stayed in his bed inside the castle ever since. "That makes no sense," I said, shaking my head. "We are poor. They only choose rich girls for the king. This is a mistake." "Read it," my father said, pushing the paper to my side of the table. I stepped closer and picked up the thick paper. I read the big words at the top. Then my eyes moved to the middle of the page, and my blood felt like ice. 'Chosen Person: Lillian Vance of the Northern Village.' My name was written in big black ink. "Did you give my name to the castle?" I whispered, looking at him with wide eyes. "Father, did you do this?" "We owe three hundred gold coins to the king," my father said, standing up from his chair. He looked away from me. "They came last week to take our home. If I did not give them something big, they would lock us in a room forever." "So you gave them your daughter?" I shouted, my voice loud in the room. "To a prince who is fast asleep? To a king who treats poor people like farm animals?" "It pays our debt!" he yelled back, hitting his hand on the table. "The paper says our debts disappear when you go to the castle. You have to do it, Lillian. If you say no, the soldiers take us to jail." I looked down at the paper. The sadness about Adrian went away, replaced by a cold fear. In one single night, my whole life was ruined by the two people I trusted most. "I will not go," I said quietly. "What did you say?" my father growled. "I said no." I took the paper in both hands. With a fast pull, I ripped the paper down the middle and threw the ripped pieces onto the table. "I am a person, not a toy for your debts." My father did not get mad. He reached into his coat pocket and took out another piece of paper with a red seal at the bottom. "I knew you would act like this," he said, opening the new paper on the table. "That first paper was just a copy." I looked down at the new page. At the bottom, next to the gold mark of the king, was my father’s name. Next to it was the official mark of the castle. It was not a question. It was a trade document. "You didn't even ask for permission," I whispered as the truth hurt my heart. "You already gave me away." "The wagon comes tomorrow morning," my father said, turning around to drink from his glass. "Go pack your things." I stood still in the dark kitchen, staring at the shiny seal of the king. I was not a helper who had a choice. I was already sold.