Surrogate for My Brother-in-law - Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Leo was startled by Eva's sudden, fervent kiss. He didn't have the heart to pull away, though. This sweet, pliant woman was so different from the haughty, spoiled girl he saw during the day.
He understood. He really did. Things were hard for the women in a pack. Many of them presented an aggressive, untouchable front to protect themselves.
Leo thought it would have been better for the Alpha's own daughter, though. Didn't Arthur protect his only child?
Well, Arthur was aging, and he had only an Alpha Daughter, no other heirs. And, well, everyone knew that his wife wasn't his true mate. They didn't talk about it, but people knew.
So maybe Eva's position wasn't as secure as she pretended. Maybe she needed to put up that prickly front to keep herself safe. It was awful, but Leo understood.
“There's no more need for that,” Leo said. “I'm here now. I'll protect you.”
His mate's eyes glistened with unshed tears. Leo held her tighter. He'd protect her from now on.
“I...” Eva turned away and rubbed at her eyes. “I thought maybe you wouldn't like me. Because I have to pretend.”
“I love you,” Leo promised. “I love your strength. I love your softness. I understand if you need to keep that side of you just for us, just when we're private, for now.”
“You understand?” She looked up at him as if he'd just offered her the world.
“I do,” Leo said.
Eva leaned in and kissed him again. Leo matched her passion with his own. He couldn't get enough of those kisses. He wrapped her in his arms and held her until she pulled away.
Mate. His wolf declared itself again.
Odd how he only heard his wolf when Eva was in his arms like this.
His wolf urged him to take things further, to claim his mate again. He was sorely tempted. Eva was so soft and pliant and warm in his hold.
But she hadn't given any hint she wanted more than the kisses. And Leo didn't want to push her, not when she'd made herself so open and vulnerable to him. This, tonight, wasn't about being his mate. It was about becoming his wife.
Mate. Claim. Leo's wolf insisted.
Leo hated to push aside his wolf after nearly losing it forever. But he needed to tend to his wife in that moment. His wolf would keep for later. It was recovering, and somehow Leo thought he owed that to his mate. Something about her had sparked his healing.
Later. Leo hushed his wolf and turned his full attention back to Eva.
She stared up at him with adoration in her eyes. Leo smiled, and twisted so that he could rest his head against her belly. He hadn't had a chance to do that yet.
“Leo!” Eva yelped.
“I just want to hear. If that's okay?”
“Oh! Yes, go ahead.” Eva leaned back so that Leo had more access to her stomach.
The pup was barely formed, still, but with his ear directly against Eva's belly he could just make out the tiny, faint heartbeat. Leo closed his eyes and luxuriated in that beautiful little noise.
“Is it all right?” Eva asked, nervous.
“It's perfect,” Leo said, smiling up at her. “Our pup is perfect. Just like it's mother.”
Eva blushed and looked away. Leo laughed.
He sat up and gave her a moment.
“I was thinking,” he said, “if it's a boy, I want to name him Alex. If it's a girl, I was thinking Sable.”
“You've already picked out names?” Eva asked, laughing softly.
“Oh, I thought of names for my babies years ago,” Leo admitted. “I've dreamed of having a family of my own for so long.”
“Really?” Eva asked, her voice a soft whisper.
“Really.”
Eva covered her mouth and turned away. She was crying again.
“It's okay!” Leo wrapped her in another hug. “It's all right if, if you had your own names. We can compromise. If it's a boy, I name him and if it's a girl you pick. Or, or you can pick. Please, it's all right.”
Eva sniffled and tucked herself closer into his arms.
“No, no it's not the names. Your names are beautiful,” Eva said. “I love your names. The pup will be Alex or Sable. I love them already.”
“Okay. I'm glad but why... why are you crying?” Leo asked.
How had he upset his mate? What did he do wrong? How did he fix it?
“I just,” Eva sniffled and smiled, “I'm just so happy, that's all.”
“Happy?”
“I... I've always dreamed. Of having a family.” Eva said. “A family of my own, I mean. My own pups. My own mate.”
“Well, you have it now,” Leo said, glad to realize she was crying happy tears. She must just be overwhelmed.
“That's right,” Eva said, curling into Leo's side. “I have it now.”
Leo held her until they both drifted off into sleep. It was so wonderful to just hold her, to be together with his mate. It was everything he'd dreamed.
When Leo woke up, he was alone and Eva's side of the bed was cold. Why did she always wake up so early? And why did she think she had to leave?
“Eva?” he called out, hoping in vain that she had just stepped into the other room.
Only silence answered him.
Leo stepped out into the hall and looked up and down the corridor in hopes of locating his mate. He caught sight of a familiar figure at the corner of the hall and rushed to follow.
Hearing his footsteps, the woman paused and turned. Leo saw a scarred face and hunched shoulders. It was the maid from the banquet.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded. Was the maid trying to get into his rooms again?
“I was mopping,” she said, curling tighter in on herself.
Why did this maid always hide her face when she talked to him? What was she trying to hide?
“Mopping?” he repeated, looking behind her to see she did, in fact, have a rolling mop bucket. There was a mop leaning against the wall.
“Yes, Alpha, I mop in the mornings, before everyone's awake. Every day. It's my job.”
Everyone except Eva, apparently. Where was she anyway? He thought about asking the maid, but that would mean admitting his wife had left him without a word.
Leo didn't want his relationship to Eva to be the subject of gossip among her family's servants.
Instead, he said, “I told you I didn't want you anywhere near my rooms.”
The maid cringed back. “I thought you meant in your rooms,” she said. “I-I have to do the mopping. If I don't I'll get in trouble.”
“Have someone else do it,” Leo snarled. “I don't trust you. Stay away from me.”
The maid bowed. “Of course. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause trouble.”
An arm wrapped around Leo from behind. He twisted and looked down into Eva's face. She smirked up at him.
“Get back to work,” Eva ordered the maid. “And stop bothering my husband.”
The maid bowed again and scurried away. Leo relaxed. Something about the scarred maid bothered him.
“Why are you up so early?” Leo asked, wrapping his arm over Eva's shoulder.
“Oh, I was just getting ready,” Eva said. “We should go to breakfast.”
She smiled and chatted about her plans for the day. Leo listened attentively, but something bothered him. Something in her face, or her voice, was off. The magic from last night was gone.
He realized what it was after they reached the dining room and Eva greeted her parents. She had her haughty Alpha Daughter mask back on. She had been the same with the maid.
Leo understood the need to have a public persona, and how a woman might need to project strength to survive in a pack. But why did Eva feel the need for those masks with the servants, and with her own parents?
What was wrong with this pack?