The Alpha's Princess Surrogate

Astrid's POV

It was my birthday.

Well, it was going to be my birthday in exactly ten minutes.

How did I know this? I put a timer on it.

One wonders why I was going through the effort of timing the exact moment I turned eighteen.

It was because I was turning eighteen. That magical birthday when wolves found their mates and everything finally slid into place in their world.

I lit the last candle and looked down on the beautiful game Darryl from the kitchens where I often cleaned had gifted me with.

It was small but it was probably the nicest thing anyone had done for an orphan like me in this big pack.

"I can't take this."

"You will," She'd harrumphed. "I know you don't like showy stuff but it's your birthday. You should have a cake at least."

I smiled at the memory of her unwillingness to let me feel alone even for a second.

The timer was already counting down and I felt butterflies in my belly at the thought of finally meeting my mate.

I was about to sit down when the door of my room suddenly barged open.

I jumped, my pulse racing from both the abruptness of the opening of the door and at the sight of my biggest tormentor.

"Well, well isn't this cute?" Lyra drawled, her voice warm and friendly making my skin crawl as she invaded my personal space.

Lyra was the daughter of my Pack's Beta. She was everything I wasn't. Tall, blond, lithe, effortlessly powerful and beautiful.

She delighted in torturing people beneath her station and I couldn't count how many beatings I had gotten because of her.

She was also drunk judging from the strong smell of booze that followed her as she stepped in.

I backed away instinctively. Without alcohol, she was very unpredictable. I couldn't telll what she would do to me now.

I shouldn't have worried because Lyra only had eyes for my cake.

She covered her mouth with an exaggerated gasp. "Little Astrid made a cute little cake for her birthday."

My cheeks burned and I hugged myself avoiding her gaze so she would take my words as a challenge.

"Please leave."

Before I could blink she slapped me tightly across my face making my ears ring.

"Who do you think you are talking to, runt?"

Hot tears ran down my cheeks as I bowed my head to her. I could not stand against her.

She was stronger than me as the Beta's daughter. Even now I could feel her dominance push against me.

"I'm sorry, Lyra."

My apology wasn't enough because the next thing I knew, she had shoved me to the ground.

"How dare you think to talk back at me?!" Lyra growled from above me.

I didn't dare move before Lyra hit me as she always did.

Suddenly I felt a charge in the air of the room and a low growl that sent shivers up my spine.

"Enough!"

I didn't look up but I would know that voice anywhere.

It was Xavier. The heir to my pack, the Moonshadow pack, my childhood friend and my crush for as far back as I could remember.

Someone touched my shoulder making me tremble. I saw Xavier's bigger, more muscular hand cover mine as he pulled me up to my feet.

Xavier was stunning. His hair was a dark coffee brown, his eyes a shade lighter but just as intoxicating, his body so beautifully built.

Those brown eyes were wide in concern as he looked at me. "Are you alright?"

My voice couldn't function properly. Was I dreaming?

"I.I'm fine."

Xavier's concerned look disappeared beneath a wicked smile that made my heart drop. "Do you think I actually care about how you feel?"

"Xavier-"

I was cut off by Xavier grabbing me at either side of my face yanking roughly towards him as he snarled at me.

"How dare an omega like you not know your place? You will call me by my rightful station."

I let my eyes fall from him along with my tears.

Ever since my thirteenth birthday had come and gone with no sign of my wolf, Xavier's behaviour towards me had changed.

Instead of protecting me, he had joined the wolf cubs continually tormenting me.

What had I expected? For him to treat me differently today of all days?

"I'm sorry, Alpha Heir."

Lyra's gaze sharpened as she caught onto his arm pulling him away from me and latching on to him as though I wanted to take him from her.

"She's so pathetic, babe." Lyra said snidely.

Xavier's gaze on me was as degrading as ever.

"You are right. She is utterly disgusting."

He looked back at Lyra, his gaze softening as he kissed her on her forehead making her smile.

My heart twinged slightly. I should have looked away but I couldn't. Xavier seemed to sense my gaze on him because he looked up at me, his anger returning.

"I don't know what Dad was thinking, letting her live here with us."

The fact that I wasn't a real member of this pack was the origin of all my problems. No one knew my roots. Just that I was brought here.

After my thirteenth birthday without a wolf to secure my official ranking, the pack members became more hostile to me.

I looked at Xavier and for the first time in a long while, I found the courage to stand up to him.

"Xavier, we were friends once, how can you be so heartless?"

Xavier glared at me. "Remembering we were once friends makes me feel so disgusted."

His words hurt me far more than I thought they would considering the fact that he had not hidden his disgust with my powerlessness all this while.

He didn't seem to notice the hurt on my face as his sneer broadened on seeing my cake.

"It's your birthday?"

Lyra giggled, her arm firmly linked with Xavier's.

"Look, she even put a little timer. She can't wait to meet her very own pathetic mate who will be a weak wolf-less omega like she is."

My cheeks flushed for the second time that night.

Wolves are usually matched according to strength. I would probably be linked with an omega like myself. I didn't mind. But the way Lyra said it made it sound like a bad thing.

Xavier's eyebrows went up with a sight-mocking edge to his voice.

"Is that true? You can't wait to meet your mate?"

I looked at the floor twisting my fingers together hoping that both of them would just leave me alone.

Xavier must have read the truth on my face because his next statement was as cutting as it was honest.

"Well, don't get your hopes up, Astrid. No one. Not even a hopeless omega will want you to be their mate."

His words made me want to cry. To bawl my eyes out and cry but I couldn't do that yet. Xavier and Lyra were waiting for the slightest provocation to laugh at me.

My silence seemed to displease Lyra who pushed my cake to the floor. The candles went out and it scattered in a creamy smear across the floor.

A soft gasp escaped me and this time I couldn't stop the flood of tears that escaped me.

It was a small thing. Just a cake but they couldn't even let me have this one thing.

Lyra smirked at me viciously before smiling up at Xavier. "There is no need for a cake if there is no celebration. Right, babe?"

But Xavier's eyes never left my face. He seemed to be enjoying the sight of me in pain. In tears.

"She should eat it off the ground. Like the trash that she is." He mocked.

Lyra laughed pettily. "At this point, Xavier, I can't wait to see her mate." Her blue eyes sparked with dark amusement. "Maybe we can go on double dates together where they wait on us. It'll be so much fun."

Xavier laughed as though she had said something very funny before dropping a small kiss on her mouth that was barely a step away from a full-blown make-out session.

They acted like I wasn't there. Like I didn't matter. To them, I probably didn't. I was no one. Nothing. Just a wolfless omega to toy with.

My timer went off with a loud sound that startled them apart from their kiss and my world stopped.

My world doesn't stop exactly. It was full of color and scents.

An intoxicating scent in particular that had me taking a step forward in search of the origin of that delicious scent.

Xavier took a step towards me and put gazes locked.

"Mate." The words escaped me in a shocked gasp.

How could Xavier be my mate? How could I feel so drawn to my tormentor?

Lyra paled looking between the both of us, a curse escaping her. "What the hell."

Her words seemed to draw Xavier out of the trance he had been in since the timer went off and his face hardened as he took a deliberate step away from me.

"You can never be my mate. You are nobody."

My heart broke but that was only the beginning, my mate wasn't done tormenting me just yet.

"I, Xavier Blackwood, future heir of the Moonshadow Pack, reject you Astrid Nightshade as my mate."

Astrid's POV

The pain of my mate rejecting me slammed into me making me gasp as I rocked back, my body shaking and vibrating.

l had heard of people rejecting their true mate yet I had never thought that it would happen to me.

Somehow I had thought surely the moon goddess wouldn't be so cruel as to give me a mate that wouldn't care for me in addition to all my troubles.

I had been wrong. I didn't even know how it was possible for a wolfless omega like me to have a mate like Xavier. I wasn't as strong as Lyra so why me?

What I knew was that I was in a world of pain. To think that if I had a wolf the pain would have been twofold of what I was feeling now. Guess there was a good side to being a wolfless omega after all.

Xavier wrapped his arm around Lyra and the stab of pain in my chest made my knees weak beneath me.

I wanted to crawl under my covers and hide.

But I had been doing that my whole life.

Hiding because I was a powerless omega, hiding to avoid the people who would hurt me.

Hiding because maybe if I lived quietly enough they would let me live in peace.

But none of that had worked anyway. I was done with that.

I stood up to Xavier. My mate who had rejected me.

"I used to love you," I told him knowing that I might still love him but it didn't matter anymore because to him my status mattered more than our mate bond.

Tears filled my eyes as I continued speaking. "We had so many beautiful memories together. But that only blinded me to the monster you have become."

"Monster? You bitch." Lyra lashed at me, her claws tearing across my face. "He is my mate, not yours!"

Blood dripped down my face staining my hand as I cupped my cheek. Xavier watched on unmoved as his girlfriend assaulted me. This was not the sort of mate I wished to have.

"You can have him," I told Lyra before turning to face Xavier. "I also don't want you, Xavier. I also refuse to accept you as my mate."

I saw the shock on Lyra's face and the anger on Xavier's.

He bared his teeth at me.

"Do you think you have any choice?" It was as if no one had ever rejected him. "I am an Alpha. Soon, I will inherit this pack. You think I want a mate as weak and useless as you are?"

I didn't say anything as I watched him waiting for him to finish what he had to say.

He looked at me from head to toe with barely concealed hatred. "The moon goddess has made a big mistake."

I smiled. At least I had gotten to him as he had me. "Don't worry, Xavier, I will remedy that. I, Astrid Nightshade, rejec-"

"Stop!"

We all collectively froze as the growl of Xavier's father, Alpha Finn, filled my room.

He walked in authoritatively, his dominant aura making all of us apart from Xavier bow.

Alpha Finn was the one who had brought me to this pack and while he was always busy with his pack duties to notice how bad the bullying got, he was always caring and nice to me whenever we interacted.

I had come to even see him somewhat as a fatherly figure.

"Alpha." I bowed lower.

"Alpha Finn." Lyra echoed.

"Dad, what are you doing here?"

I raised my head in time to see Alpha Finn give Xavier what had to be the harshest glare I had seen him give his son.

"Stopping you from making the biggest mistake in your life."

What?

Alpha Finn wanted me to be his daughter-in-law?

From the look on his face, Xavier didn't seem to like the idea one bit.

However Lyra spoke first, her voice high-pitched and nearly hysterical.

"Alpha, she is an omega. She's not suitable for him. I should be your daughter-in-law, you already accepted me."

Really? I thought she and Xavier were just seeing each other casually. But it made sense for him to accept her. She was beautiful. Strong and not an omega.

Alpha Finn looked at Lyra with obvious pity.

"The moon goddess obviously disagrees."

Lyra's anger grew. "But-"

Alpha Finn didn't let her finish. "I'm still speaking to my son, you will not interfere."

Xavier looked from his father to me to Lyra, his confusion obvious.

"Dad, what are you saying?"

Alpha Finn merely raised his hand, his countenance firm and unshakable.

"Shut up. You have said enough."

I just watched everything happening around me with wide eyes up until Alpha Finn took my hand, his gaze kind and sincere.

"I know my son has said a lot to you but I want to apologize on his behalf."

Lyra made a sound of outage and Xavuer looked at me with so much anger that if looks could kill, I would be six feet under.

I focused on the Alpha in front of me apologizing to me, an omega.

"Alpha."

Alpha Finn smiled at me softly and in that smile, I saw the man that had always had my back no matter what.

"My son is an immature child who doesn't understand the gift of finding one's true mate. I will explain it all to him."

I was confused. Why was he taking my side over his son's? I didn't dare look up at Xavier whose anger was so great that I could feel him vibrating with it.

Alpha Finn's hold on my hand tightened slightly bringing my attention back to him and away from my thoughts.

"Trust me."

Growing up here, he had been the nicest to me. How could I not trust him?

I nodded.

He beamed at me making me feel even safer.

"Thank you, Astrid." He kissed my forehead. "Now off you go, I arranged a surprise for you in the gardens for the celebration of your birthday."

I knew he was just getting rid of me so he could talk to Xavier but the fact that he remembered that it was my birthday made me want to cry.

"Thank you very much." I said.

Alpha Finn nodded and I stepped out of my room.

I should have gone straight to the gardens to collect my gift but I found that I couldn't. Something was tightening in my chest and I was surprised to discover that I was worried for my mate.

Xavier might have rejected me but I had not accepted his rejection or rejected his well in return. The bond was still there on my chest, hurting from his rejection but still there.

So I hung around. Just close enough to overhear them.

Lyra was wailing. "Alpha Finn, please don't separate me from Xavier for that whore!"

I was a virgin but the truth had never stopped Lyra from saying all sorts of things about me before.

"Enough!" Alpha Finn growled, obviously losing his anger and patience for her. "She will be my daughter-in-law and if you know what is good for you, you will not utter another word against her."

Lyra didn't say anything anymore but her sobs were loud enough for me to hear them clearly from where I stood.

Xavier growled, making goosebumps travel up my hand. "Will you silence me too Dad?"

Alpha Finn was silent and Xavier continued.

"I will never touch her. She is a weak omega who will destroy this pack."

My heart lurched in my chest at his words. For Xavier would I never rise above my station? Would he forever see me as a weak omega instead of his mate?

Alpha Finn seemed to be outraged at Xavier's words.

"You dare oppose me?! Fool. Stupid idiot. Follow me right now to my office!"

I barely hid in a nearby room in time to avoid them seeing me.

Once their footsteps faded, I slumped against the door, my heart pounding and racing in fear.

What would Alpha Finn do to punish Xavier for opposing him?

Astrid's POV

Maybe I should have followed them.

But I didn't. It was one thing to eavesdrop on them from my room and another entirely to go to the Alpha quarters out of bounds for omegas just to listen in on their conversations.

So I went to the gardens instead. All the way there, I thought of how unreal all of this was. Me, an omega mated to an Alpha. How exactly did that work?

I also thought of all the things that Xavier had done to me over the years. Could I really forgive him for all of that just because of the mate bond?

But I was already worried about what his father would do to him.

No, Astrid. You will not let your conflicted feelings because of the mate bond affect you.

I reached the gardens that were decorated with strings of light, music -that I couldn't tell where it was coming from- and an adorned table that held a much larger cake, gifts and a box that revealed a gold and diamond necklace.

There was no one here just yet but I could see the platters of food for people.

It was almost as though I had come to my own party too early. I couldn't believe it. Alpha Finn, had all this prepared before he even knew that I was Xavier's mate?

It was without doubt the most considerate thing anyone had done for me. I put on the necklace feeling the surprisingly light weight of the diamond settle on my chest. I had to thank Alpha Finn. And maybe even use the chance to check on Xavier.

I still thought that he was an ass but I just needed to confirm that he was fine.

The guards around the Alpha quarters of the pack house were absent and I realized why when I heard the raised voices coming from the office.

"What is wrong with you Dad?!" Xavier growled and I drew closer to the closed door even though I knew it was the last place I should be.

Xavier was still talking. "You took the side of a worthless omega over mine and you even ridiculed my future Luna in front of her."

Listening to him, I felt my heart break again. How could Xavier say that? Didn't he feel even the slightest hint of the bond between us?

I heard Alpha Finn growl through the wall.

"I always thought that as my son, you would inherit my sense but no. All you know how to do is pursue women!"

"That is not the issue at hand," Xavier responded rudely. "You must explain why you did that to me and Lyra now or else, you can just ask the omega to rule your pack for you."

My eyes widened in shock. He would rather lose his place in his pack rather than mate with me?

"Shut up! What did you think? That I would do what I did without a good reason?"

"That's what I want to know Dad."

Alpha Finn seemed to hesitate for a moment then he was speaking again in a hushed voice that I had to struggle to pick up.

"Then listen well and this story must not be told to anyone. Not even Lyra."

I was still. Very still. Even I wanted to know the reason he wanted me to mate with Xavier. The reason he arranged that set up for my birthday. And I needed to know why it was all some big secret.

Xavier agreed with his condition. "Okay, Dad."

"You recall that I was the one who brought Astrid home?"

I couldn't even remember it. I had been so little. All my memories were of this house. This pack.

"Yes, Dad."

"I found her in the arms of a dead woman in the area on the border of our land."

My mother was dead. I knew that for sure now and I didn't know how to feel about it. When times had gotten hard, I told myself maybe one day my parents would pop up and rescue me.

It was a childish fantasy. But it had gotten me through many tough times. Now I knew there was no rescue coming.

But Alpha Finn wasn't nearly done yet.

"That woman was the mate of the Alpha King."

What?!

My head nearly imploded from the shock.

My mom was the mate of the Alpha King. I was. royalty.

"That.that is impossible." Xavier seemed to echo my thoughts. "The Alpha King is missing and he doesn't have any heirs."

It was a popular subject of discussion in the pack. In almost every pack in fact. The missing Alpha King who had left a vacuum in his absence that many Alphas were trying to usurp in order to get his power.

Only the council kept the seat empty insisting that the Alpha King still lived. My father could be alive.

I had never heard such a greedy tone from Alpha Finn before.

"But he does have an heir. And that heir is Astrid. I know what I saw, boy."

A chill came over my skin as Xavier voiced my thoughts once more.

"This is why you want me to accept her."

Alpha Finn didn't deny it. "You will take the Alpha King's vacant throne. You will rule all of the wolfkind on this continent."

That was why he had prepared my eighteenth birthday party. To soften me up to his son's advances. To get me into his family all the more faster so they could take my father's position.

Alpha Finn laughed darkly. "Why else do you think that I have been so good to her? Both of you turning out to be mates was just the doing of the Goddess."

I heard my heart break and shatter for the last time that night. The person I saw as my one ally was just using me to further the goal of his family.

He wasn't even done yet.

"As the daughter of the Alpha King, she should be strong but she is so weak and pathetic. The only thing you need from her is the throne. You can even keep Lyra on the side until your coronation."

So this was the truth of Alpha Finn. It was truly a father-like-son situation. If I hadn't come here, I would have carried on believing that he was on my side. That he cared about me.

Everything was a lie. My whole life had been a lie. I had grown up being told how worthless I was. How I couldn't rise above my station.

But in reality, it had all been a lie.

How wicked could one person be? How despicable.

Xavier spoke again after his long silence. It seemed like he was just getting over the shock of my identity.

"But Dad, I can't become the Alpha King without the ring. And only the missing Alpha king has that required ring."

Another restriction from the council. To hand down the throne, the Alpha King had to hand it down his line or had to be fought and ousted from his position and the ring taken.

Without the ring, no one could make a claim to the throne.

Alpha Finn naturally had a solution to this dilemma no doubt due to how long he had planned this.

"We will use your mate's family bond with him, and once we find him, we will kill him, collect the ring and you will have the throne."

I covered my mouth as I gasped before I could give myself away. Did Alpha Finn really mean to use me to kill my father, get the ring and discard me afterwards?

I knew Xavier. No. He was mean to me but surely he wouldn't go this far for a throne as his father would.

He had been my best friend once. I knew him. He wouldn't-

"I will do it." Xavier's voice came out lower and scarier than I expected it to. "I'll pretend to care about her and make her fall for me then I will track down the Alpha King and take his throne."

I backed away from the door, my hands shaking at my side. Somehow hearing this from Xavier felt like a bigger betrayal than what I had heard from his father.

He planned to make me fall for him. To break my trust once again. To use me.

This was all I would be good for in this pack. An empty-headed omega to be used at will.

That was not the life I wanted for myself. All my life they had tormented me in this pack. Not anymore.

I decided there and then what I was going to do.

I would leave this pack and find my father. I would find my real home. Xavier and his father could go to hell.