Zoey's POV

"Next one."

An impatient call came from the office, interrupting my deep thoughts.

The girl who had been waiting in front of the office door for a long time joyfully raised her hand and walked in.

It was only then, as I had been crouching in the corner, that I realized — damn it, it had started to rain!

Boom—

The thunder outside rings in my ears like those horrible trombones and bassoons. They make my soul fill with horror.

I looked up as raindrops fell from the eaves to the ground in front of my feet, my brows furrowing involuntarily. I muttered under my breath, "What bad luck!"

This horrible rain that when it starts seems like it will never end.

I hate rain. I have never been able to understand why people love it.

From my experience, only terrible things happen on rainy days.

"Yes, the heavens are hinting at us, we should hurry and leave!" Tilly, my wolf, almost whispers.

Ever since I resolved to attend the surrogate interview, she has been against it.

She has a heap of reasons, each very sensible; I can't argue with her, so I choose silence because I have no other option.

Because I need the money. I need to save my Godmother. She's the only family I have left, and I can't lose her. If possible, I would die for her.

Sadly, my life is worth much, the only slightly useful thing I have is my womb, and that little secret...

Truthfully, I never thought I'd come to a point where I'd need to use it...

A week ago, Alpha Tristan Mayer made the big announcement that he will pay 500K to any virgin women who will be worthy to carry his pup.

This was tantamount to declaring that he would never have a mate. Even just bearing a child for someone as noble as him was considered the utmost honor by many women.

Huh, what an absurd world.

Every single woman in this pack and from neighboring packs are coming on a pilgrimage to the pious him, hoping that his dick will approve them to be his surrogate.

I have no right to criticize other women for being too subservient, as I too stand in the line, the only difference being...

I konw that I AM the best choice for him. As long as I show up, he has no reason to choose anyone else.

"Zoey!" Tilly, still unwilling to give up, tried to persuade me.

Bang—

But the room door was forcefully pushed open, and a loud noise interrupted her.

I looked up to see the girl who had just been happily smiling, the daughter of the Gamma family from a neighboring pack, walking outside while wiping away her tears. In just those few short minutes, she went from heaven to hell.

But this was within my expectations; those people are no less devilish than Satan himself.

When she saw me glance at her, she immediately wiped the tears from her face and glared viciously at me and said through clenched teeth, "Why are you here, you murderer? Don't you dream!"

After saying that, she flung her head away as if she loathed the smell of my body.

Murderer.

That's the tag I've heard the most in the past few years, almost replacing Zoey as my name.

And because of these rumors, I, as beta, have been forced to live on the borders of the pack, treated as a rogue, and everyone hates me...

Anyone who sees me can spit on me, even other pack people.

" Look! Everyone knows this is a fucking stupid plan!" Tilly was still begging me, "HE HATES US! He'll kill us, Zoey!"

Yeah, he may do it or he may not and continue to ignore me like I'm a plague in his life.

Like he's been doing all these years.

"I..." I'm about to re-emphasize how much I need the money when I can hear his Gamma, Nicholas, yelling from the office.

"NEXT!"

"Don't go inside!" Tilly cries. "ZOEY!"

No! I must go! Even if it means death!

I ignored a ranting Tilly and straightened my back, look up noble and ready to fight with this jerk and his friends.

The door opens in front of me and I step inside but as soon as my eyes meet their eyes. I can see the shock on Tristan's face to see me here, as if he just saw a horror movie that scared the shit out of him.

"DEAM!"

Before I could react his Beta, Mason, is grabbing me by my arms and pushing me into the wall, while Nicholas blocks in his tracks.

"What the FUCK are you doing here?! You murderer!" and grabbing my throat he lifts me in the air, holding me there.

"I,ugh..." My survival instincts kept me struggling, trying to dislodge his hand, but it didn't help at all before the absolute strength advantage!

His strength was immense, all the air was squeezed out of my airway and very soon I felt instantly suffocated like I was drowning.

Shit, I'm not really going to die like this!

UntilI hear Nicholas's voice from behind, "Man! What the hell are you doing? Let her go! Do you really want to kill her?!" but Mason doesn't even flinch.

Mason is a beta so he won't submit in front of a Gamma, just because he commanded him to do it.

Still, Nicholas's interference caused him to relax the strength in his hands and I took the opportunity to try and fight back., using all my force.

I am a beta in the end.

Even if they don't allow me to train, there must be some strength inside.

I grab the hand that is holding me in the air and I am striking my claws in his flesh, but he continues to strangle me.

My resistance obviously angered him, and he was noticeably more forceful than he had been to begin with!

"Mason!" Nicholas says scared and I see him coming to save me, but before he could touch me, An imperious command sounded, ending the farce.

"Let her go!" it is Tristan Mayer.

Mason looks at me with hatred but he continues to keep me in the air for a few more seconds until Alpha Tristan growls at him, "I SAID, let her go, are you deaf, BETA Mason?"

Bang!

He throws me to the floor, making me slip on my back on the wooden floor until I hit a massive chair.

I quickly grew my mouth to let air into my starving lungs and coughed uncontrollably, " ahem, ahem---"

Holy crap! I almost did die!

But soon enough, my breathing calmed down, and though my body was still damn sore from the fall, I couldn't let them see it.

I witnessed Mason being forced to yield under Tristan's heavy pressure. Provocatively, I raised my middle finger at him, saying, "Loser!"

Mason attempted to advance towards me again, but Tristan's gaze compelled him to clench his fists, directed at himself.

"Tristan. murderers have no right to be here!" Mason explains to Tristan, and then looks at me again with spite, "Much less carry your child! She killed your parents! Did you forget?!"