Piss Off, Alpha! You Lost Me Forever

SOPHIA'S POV

I stood outside the villa for a long time. The winter wind whipped against my face, leaving it as numb as my heart. When the thermometer pressed against my forehead, I knew it was that day of the month again.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The sharp alarm sounded, and the brass bell hanging at the main gate was immediately rung, urgent, like a death knell.

The two wolf guards stationed by the door finally stepped aside, silent. There was no respect in their eyes for me, their Luna, only indifference and impatience. And all of this was permitted by my husband, Alpha Damien.

"Hurry inside! Your fertile window won't wait for you!"

Just as I was about to step forward, the housekeeper, Mary, rushed out first, her tone sharp and hurried, as if I were the one keeping myself outside.

To an outsider, it would look like I was a surrogate mother here to meet her client.

But the truth?

I was here to see my mate, my husband, yet every time, it was like this: confirmed by the thermometer, summoned by the bell, scolded by the housekeeper.

And my arrival truly was like that of a surrogate, fulfilling a biological contract, a mechanical transaction and nothing more. All because, as Luna, I had only given birth to a daughter in all these years, failing to produce a male heir for this pack. Even though I nearly died bringing my daughter into the world, my heart stopped multiple times on the operating table. None of it mattered.

In this werewolf society, still clinging to primal traditions, a woman's worth is measured only by her fertility. And my husband is no ordinary man, he is the Alpha, the leader of this pack. Without a male heir, Damien's position would be questioned, even challenged by other Alphas. And I, Damien's mate, forced upon him, standing in the way of him and his true love, Tiffany, if I also cost him his power, I would have no reason to exist at all. How ironic, the fate of a power I would never possess rested entirely on my shoulders.

I lowered my head, a self-mocking twist to my lips, and followed Mary step by step through the familiar yet alien hallway to Damien's door. This place I visited only once a month, this husband I saw only during my fertile window.

"Come in."

Mary's hand was just raised to knock when the voice came from inside first.

Of course. He always knew when I was coming. We were bound mates, he can always catch my scent, just as I can catch his. Only in moments like these was there any proof our mate bond still existed.

Mary withdrew her hand and stepped aside. I pushed the door open. Damien stood by the window, his back to me, broad shoulders etched in cold, hard lines by the moonlight.I closed the door behind me. He didn't turn, just issued a cold command;

"Take off your