The Alpha's Surrogate

The Blue Moon Ball

Three years ago…

Edgar Callen watched the festivities from a concealed corner near the lavish velvet curtains. A pillar with an elaborate sculpture of a black wolf standing on its hind legs, fangs bared blocked him from view. A live orchestra played his favorite classics. The women who’d shown up for the Blue Moon Ball tonight were dressed in the finest silk, and adorned in gold and diamonds.

“Have you seen Edgar?” A hazel-eyed blonde with a French accent asked.

Edgar grimaced. His father had made a huge mistake throwing this Cinderella style ball at their Ontario mansion to find him a mate. It’s wasn’t that he couldn’t find any females – they usually found him – he just didn’t have the time for a relationship right now. How could he indulge in something as frivolous as a romantic relationship when rival packs were constantly fighting and killing innocents. He spent most of his free time coming up with ways to tighten their security. He glanced around the ball room. His father had hired armed human body guards to protect everyone at the ball tonight. He shook his head unable to believe the extent the violence between packs had reached.

Edgar left his empty glass on the pillar near the sculpture’s hind legs. Wouldn’t it be nice if he could roam around freely, without having to worry about being attacked? He waited for the French beauty to walk away before sneaking out of the ballroom and into the forest. How could he enjoy himself and choose a mate when his pack was afraid of going to sleep at night?

Thinking he was alone, he made himself comfortable under his favorite maple tree and lit a cigarette. He’d spend the rest of the evening here, he decided. The women inside would eventually grow tired of searching for him and leave. Or they would enjoy the night with one of the many humans or betas present.

“Your mate isn’t going to choose herself,” someone said.

The soft, teasing voice startled him. “I take it you’re not interested in being my mate,” he’d responded.

The woman laughed. “Imagine the catastrophe that we will all awaken to if I, Elena London, mated with you on a Blue Moon night.”

Elena London. Every instinct in his body warned him to run. It was common knowledge that Elena was trouble.

“I imagine it would make for interesting breakfast gossip tomorrow morning,” he replied, ignoring the warning bells going off in his head.

“I imagine it would end the senseless killings of our pack members. I’ve often wondered if there was a way we could live in peace. Wouldn’t life be different then?”

They paused reflecting on the possible consequences their union would cause, most of it good.

“We could focus on our lives for once,” Edgar said dreamily, “we could build careers instead of armies, raise wolves instead of warriors.” Maybe Elena London wasn’t so bad after all. Perhaps time had mellowed her adventurous spirit.

“Hmm. You know, it doesn’t sound like such a bad idea after all,” Elena said. “I could finally launch my fashion label, show my collection at New York Fashion Week.” He saw her smile in the moonlight, imagining her future. Elena London was a beautiful woman. Any Alpha in his right frame of mind steered clear of her.

“We could make it work,” Edgar replied. “I’ve always wondered what it would be like living without having to worry about being attacked, or letting my guard down.”

“Of course, we’d need rules since this is an arrangement of convenience.” She studied him from head to toe. “You’re gorgeous but hardly my type.”

Edgar had laughed. “You have a type.”

“Yeah. Silent and non-existent. I prefer a man who lets me live my life as I please. I want to travel the world, meet people, mingle with celebrities. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t plan on cheating or anything. I just don’t want to be bound by full moons, rules and traditions. Wolf- life can be so blew sometimes. I want to be free.”

Her words resonated with him. “I would also like to know what it feels like to be free for once. Truly free.”

“And one more thing,” she’d said, “I am not cut out to be a mother. I don’t want kids, cubs, babies – whatever we’re calling them these days.”

Edgar sighed. Nobody knew the family’s consulting witch had predicted Edgar would father the most powerful Alpha the world would ever see. Maybe Elena would change her mind over time, and help him fulfill that prophecy.

He snuffed out the cigarette, rose to his feet and held out his hand. “Let’s go announce our intentions to mate,” he told her.

“Fake mate,” she corrected, “you are my fake Alpha and I am your fake Luna.”

***

The Fake Luna

Where could she have gone to at this odd hour?

Edgar Callen jumped out of bed once he noticed the empty space beside him. Her half was untouched. Did this mean Elena hadn’t slept beside him last night? An icy shiver slithered down his back. Neither one of them could afford such a risk. Had she gone against her end of their arrangement? Edgar gasped.

No, this couldn’t be happening. How would he face the world without her? What would he tell her family? Nobody, absolutely nobody knew about the deal they’d struck with each other. A stunt like this would only draw attention to their fake relationship. He dared not imagine the consequences of anyone finding out about their arrangement.

“Elena?” he called. “Elena?”

He knocked on the bathroom door.

“Elena? Are you in there?”

Silence.

He rushed into the kitchen, the living room, the yoga studio…there was simply no sign of Elena. Edgar sank into a chair in the living room and stared at a picture of the two of them taken just after they’d met – both of them were laughing. Wind had ruffled Elena’s dark hair. Her sun kissed, bare face glowed in the summer sun. Nobody knew the photo had taken dozens of tries to get right. His mind drifted back to the night they’d met three years ago…

Elena London had always been the most beautiful Luna at any function. She drew attention to herself like flames hypnotized moths. She’d craved excitement, adventure and lived for her next thrilling life and death escapade. Being mated to an Alpha was the last thing on her mind. She lived life searching for her next adrenaline rush.

He wished he’d never laid eyes on her at the Blue Moon Ball. If only his father had taken the witch’s prophecy to heart. That damn prophecy. If his father hadn’t been so worried about fulfilling a witch’s prophecy none of this would be happening right now. He’d have never run into Elena and let himself be seduced by her web of promises.

“How could you do this?” he asked her frame picture, his frustration growing with each breath. The last few years of holding up his end of their deal been tough on him too. The pack had started to talk when Elena hadn’t fallen pregnant. How could he impregnate Elena when she was only his Luna for show? All hell would break loose if anyone discovered they’d fooled them all these years. He had to find her, bring her back somehow.

He dialed her cellphone…and was directed straight to her voicemail.

Edgar leaned as far back as his chair would allow. Elena had insisted on moving to Long Island from California, a few months ago. She’d wanted to be closer to her Head Quarters in New York.

He called her office, hoping she’d worked late last night. Edgar fought the frustration building up inside him. He should have thought twice before agreeing to her crazy arrangement. Everyone knew Elena London didn’t put down roots in one place too long. It was all the invitation her pack would need to disrupt the peace they’d enjoyed in the last three years.

Edgar sighed. He had to inform the pack that she’d run away. It was protocol after all.

***

Edgar forced himself out of the house and opted to drive to New York. The Callens, as his pack was known, were based in Manhattan. He phoned Harry, his beta, before driving. Harry was the only one who knew the truth about his and Elena’s relationship.

“Edgar? Is everything okay?” Harry asked.

Trust Harry’s sixth sense to pick up his mood. “No.” He paused. He night as well cut to the chase. “Elena’s gone.”

“What?”

“Yeah. I woke up this morning, and she was gone.” He turned the key in the ignition.

“When was the last time you saw her?” Harry asked.

Edgar shrugged. “Yesterday morning. She told me she was working on a new custom collection for a European Royal.”

Harry sighed. “I’m sorry. I know how hard you tried to keep your end of your arrangement.”

“Yeah. Listen, I don’t want you to say anything to anyone else until I arrive in New York. I need to call a meeting with the Elders in the Downtown Hideout before anyone else finds out Elena is missing.,” Edgar said.

“Okay,” Harry agreed. “I’ll meet you at the Hideout when you get here. Do you want me to file a missing persons report in the meantime?”

“No,” Edgar said, “we cannot take that chance and risk exposure. We will find Elena ourselves. That is, if she doesn’t turn up herself.”

“Okay, Edgar,” Harry said.

Edgar ended the call. The sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach worsened. How could Elena have betrayed him like this? He’d done everything she’d asked, even supported her career. He took one last look at their house, wishing she would magically appear. She didn’t. Perhaps she’d found a new adventure, something more exciting to fascinate her.

Leaving at 5 a.m. meant little to not traffic. Edgar stepped on the gas, oblivious of the speed limit

Edgar reached New York in under an hour. He found a parking space outside the house, the pack used when they were in New York, and had nick-named, the Hideout. He stared at the building, dreading the thought of going inside. He had to do this.

***