The Alpha King's Surrogate

Chapter 9: The Alpha Sent A Gamma

Kyra's POV

I opened the door wider.

The man on the other side filled most of the frame. He had broad shoulders, black warrior uniform that looked like it had seen real use. Crimson-red hair, messy in a way that suggested he’d run a hand through it after training instead of bothering with a comb and sky-blue eyes that took in my face, the room behind me, and the fact that I’d clearly been crying but didn't say anything about it.

A thin scar cut along his collarbone, just visible above the collar and more marks on his forearms when he shifted his weight. He was handsome in a rough, effortless way that probably made half the palace stare without shame.

“I'm Jake Storm. Head Warrior and Gamma of Crestwood." He gave a short nod. "The King assigned additional security to this corridor and to you specifically. I’m here to walk the suite and confirm the locks, windows, and call system are solid.”

His voice matched the rest of him, blunt, low, no wasted softness.

I stepped back to let him in. “All right.”

He moved through the rooms like he’d done the same checks a hundred times. He checked the windows first,every latch, every seal. Bathroom and main door again.

"There are some royal palace rules for the residential wing," He said not looking to me. "You don’t leave this suite without an escort after dark. Your daytime movement is limited to the designated gardens and the medical corridor unless Dr. Alyssa clears something else. If someone you don’t recognize shows up claiming they were sent by the King or the Luna, you don’t open the door. You hit the call button and wait for one of us."

"I understand," I said.

"You're carrying the heir," He finished the last window and turned. “That makes you a target for anyone stupid enough to think hurting you hurts the King. My job is to make sure they don’t get the chance and yours is to not make my job harder.”

I almost smiled. “I’ll do my best.”

A soft knock sounded at the open door. A woman stepped in carrying a covered tray and I forgot how to look away for a second.

She was softly curvy, full breasts that pushed against the fitted black bodice of her maid’s uniform, the neckline low enough that the soft, deep line of cleavage was impossible to miss when she moved and wide hips that filled out the skirt.

Jake’s attention caught on her for half a second, eyes dropping once, quick and involuntary, before he locked them forward again and cleared his throat.

“That’s everything on my end." His voice came out rough. "I’ll be on the night rotation for the first few days. Someone will be on this corridor at all times. Get some rest.”

He gave her a brief, carefully blank look, then me before he left.

The woman set the tray on the table near the window. When she straightened, the movement made the bodice shift just enough that the soft swell of her breasts pressed higher against the fabric for a moment.

"I hope I'm not interrupting," she said. "I’m on night duty starting tomorrow, but I wanted to introduce myself properly instead of just appearing with food later. I’m Jazmine. With a Z.”

I blinked at her, still raw from the call with Liam, still trying to hold myself together, and found myself still staring. I couldn’t help it. She was the most beautiful omega I had ever seen up close and the kind of body that would have gotten her locked away or passed around in Westwood before she turned eighteen.

"You're staring," she said slowly.

“Sorry,” I said, forcing my eyes up to her face. “You’re just… really pretty. Like, the kind of pretty that makes people forget what they were saying. I didn’t mean to be rude.”

"Thank you,":She laughed quietly. “I like your hair and eyes too. The green is striking.”

The compliment landed strangely. I couldn’t remember the last time another omega had said something kind to me.

"“If this were my old pack, someone who looked like you wouldn’t be bringing trays to a surrogate’s door," I sat on the edge of a chair. "You’d be claimed, or worse. Used and locked up for ranked wolves. You wouldn’t look this healthy. Or this calm. Especially not with…” I gestured vaguely at her chest and hips before I could stop myself. “All of that.”

Jazmine’s smile didn’t fade. She leaned a hip against the table, which only emphasized the curve of her waist and the full line of her breasts under the uniform.

"Yeah, I know how omegas get treated in a lot of packs.” She shrugged one shoulder. “Alpha King Davian doesn’t allow that kind of abuse. Not even the lowest omega in the kitchens. If someone tries it and gets caught, they don’t get a second chance.”

"That still doesn't explain how you're just..." I tried to find the perfect word to use. "walking around. Unclaimed. Nobody's tried anything?"

"Oh, I'm not unclaimed." She said. “My husband would skin anyone alive if they tried touching me.”

"Your husband." I repeated. "Who's your mate?"

"The Gamma." She said it like it was obvious."Jake."

That explained the half-second look. The way his posture had changed when she walked in.

“Oh,” I managed. “That… explains a few things.”

She nodded slowly, and pushed off the table and nodded at the tray.

"There's soup and bread, it's still arm." She said. "Tea too. If the portion’s wrong or you want something else later, just hit the call button.”

“Thank you.” I said quietly.

Jazmine paused at the door, one hand on the frame.

“If you ever need someone to talk to,” she said, “I’m usually around. Night shift mostly, but I can make time.”

I stared at her for a second longer than I should have. No one had offered that in years. Not without wanting something back.

“I might take you up on that,” I said quietly.

Jazmine gave me one last easy small smile, and slipped out into the corridor, closing the door softly behind her.

My throat felt tight, but for a different reason this time.