Micah’s POV

A lot was expected of an ancient werewolf family that had existed for centuries. We could trace our lineage back until the beginning of Werewolf time, or so some claimed. The point was, we were well established. The Volkov family went far back in Russia before they moved to the States to continue their reign.

Our name carried weight, not just among our kind but even among other supernatural factions. Alliances were formed, and enemies were made, all in the pursuit of power and dominance. Even now, expectations loomed over every decision, every action scrutinized. Failure wasn’t an option.

The second I was old enough, I tried to leave and establish a life of my own, but my family always drew me back in. No matter how hard I tried, they drew me back in.

I originally went to school to become a professor. People in my family didn’t do such jobs, choosing to work for the family rather than outside it, but I was one of the first ones to decide I wanted to work outside them.

But working as a professor proved to be mind-numbing and too much consistency in life.

I loved my students, don’t get me wrong, but I wanted more.

It was difficult to suppress that urge, but I did in the beginning—until I found out that my bloodline would be the one chosen as a possible successor once my father retired as Alpha. It was between me, my sister, and my brother. I was glad to give it to one of them, wanting to distance myself from the entire family.

The memory is as clear as it was years ago.

I hate family dinners.

Everyone hates family dinners, but we put up with them because we have to.

My father was droning on about family business. Mostly everyone was hanging on his every word—except me and my mother. Mom hated him and made it known. I don’t know how the two of them had managed to stay mated as long as they had. They weren’t fated mates—that was rare. But chosen because they seemed like a good match.

“And what do all of you think?”

I blinked, looking up from my food. “What?”

My father growled. “Micah, I am talking about naming my heir Alpha Apparent. Seeing as you and the rest of your siblings are alphas, any one of you could be chosen, but you must prove to me you are up to the task.”

Silence settled over the table, tension thick in the air. My brother Nikolas straightened in his seat, eyes gleaming with barely concealed ambition. My sister Vera smirked, stirring her wine like this was some game she had already planned ten moves for.

I leaned back in my chair, pushing my plate aside. “And how exactly do we prove ourselves?”

My father’s lips curled. “By doing what needs to be done. Loyalty. Strength. Strategy. Whoever proves themselves most capable will be my successor.”

Mom scoffed, swirling her drink. “Or whoever you like best at the moment.”

His gaze snapped to her. “You have something to say, Lena?”

She met his glare head-on. “Just that we all know how this will go. You’ll set impossible standards, pit them against each other, and in the end, you’ll pick whoever kisses your ass the most.”

A muscle in his jaw twitched. “That is enough.”

I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face. “So, what? We just start tearing each other apart for a title none of us even want?”

Nikolas chuckled. “Speak for yourself, Micah.”

Vera lifted her glass in a mock toast. “May the best wolf win.”

“Great, I can’t fucking wait.”

My father’s eyes darkened. “Watch your tone, Micah.”

I exhaled sharply, crossing my arms. “What? You want me to pretend I’m excited about this? Like we haven’t seen this play out a hundred times before?”

Nikolas smirked. “Sounds like someone’s afraid of a little competition.”

I shot him a glare. “No, I just don’t see the point of fighting over something when we all know Dad already has a favorite.”

Vera laughed, tapping a nail against her glass. “Ooh, do tell. Who do you think it is?”

I rolled my eyes. “Like you don’t already know.”

Our father slammed his hand down on the table, rattling the dishes. “Enough. This is not a game.”

Mom snorted. “Could’ve fooled me.”

He ignored her, focusing his sharp gaze on us. “I expect all of you to prove yourselves. You’ll each be given tasks, challenges that will determine your worthiness. I will not tolerate failure.”

“Sounds fun,” I muttered under my breath.

His eyes snapped to me again. “You can always refuse, Micah. But if you do, don’t expect to be treated like an alpha anymore.”

The air around the table grew colder. Nikolas looked downright pleased. Vera, for once, didn’t have a quip ready.

I clenched my jaw. “Fine.”

My father smirked. “Good. Then let the games begin.”

But then came the threats to get me fired and ensure I would never work anywhere. It forced me to work with my family and their criminal enterprise, which I was good at. However, I wanted more.

Then I left the country for a teaching job overseas. It was a way for me to put as much distance between my family as possible.

It lasted for a while. Until my father got sick, indicating that he would no longer be able to run the family as effectively.

Mother called me back. She wielded not threats but family pressure. It was her best tool.

I resisted as long as I could until realizing that I had to go back home, and go back I did.

It didn’t take me long to secure a teaching job Mother didn’t waste any time trying to pressure me to get married. She kept trying to set me up, pissing me off. I didn’t want to be set up. Getting married or even having a partner was not something I wanted, so I decided that if I was able to have an heir, to guarantee that I would continue the family line, then she would back off.

That is what put me on the surrogacy path.

I got involved with a doctor and let them go through the applications. They ended up forwarding me the ones that would be most interesting to me.

It was there that I saw Robin Delgado’s name and picture. She was who I went with.

Everything seemed to be going as planned since we had ironed things out. The paper was signed, and we were getting ready for the procedure.

Then I happened to see her at school, causing me to freeze.

I knew she was a college student but to realize she was a college student here was shocking. But there was no getting around it now, especially when she was approaching me.

But I tried to ignore it.

I planned to go straight home until my mother rung me up, saying I had to take care of some family business.

We were essentially the Russian mob. It was something I came to term with a long time ago and with me having ancient werewolf blood, my parents wanted me to take over.

“Yes mother?” I asked, trying not to sound annoyed with the call.

“We need you to find one of our former associates. He decided ot betray the family and needs to pay.”

I huffed. “What’s his name?”

“Reggie.”

My stomach dropped. Reggie was an old friend of mine. He had been taken in by my family and worked his way up the ranks. Yet now I had to go after him?

“Mother—”

“Micah, we leave you out of the family business as much as possible but you must do this. Given your former friendship, perhaps you can convince him to give himself up peacefully.”

So, I had no choice but to go see Reggie.