Page 7 of The Billionaire Alpha Surrogate

“I know. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay. The people in the human world are pretty nice,” Lucy said. “I have only met a couple of them, but they are great.”

“You’ll meet new people and find some friends. People seem to gravitate toward you,” Sophia said.

Lucy tried to hold back, but the question exploded out of her mouth. “What are Leo and Ashley doing?”

Sophia was quiet for a second. “Ashley is pregnant. She probably was on your mating ceremony date.”

The news slammed into Lucy’s gut like a ton of bricks.

“I’m so sorry, honey.”

“It’s okay. I’ll be alright,” she said. “I hope they’re happy. Fate will take me down the path I’m supposed to be on.”

“That’s a good attitude, but know that I’m here for you.”

“Thanks, Mom. I love you. Give everyone my love.”

She ended the call and stared out the window. I have a chance to start my life over and do anything I want to. I can be anything I want to. I’ll start with working on my book.

Grabbing her computer, Lucy tried to focus on her book. However, she couldn’t even remember her plot, even though she had the outline right in front of her.

Lucy thought about Jade’s suggestion. On one hand, it would be a good job to have where she could concentrate on getting her book written and her publishing business off the ground. On the other hand, it was a baby. It would grow inside of her and be a part of her. Then, she would hand it off to its parents and never see it again, knowing that it was out there in the world.

She thought about getting a job at the convenience store. Then, she remembered that one of her friends had worked at a convenience store for about a year. The friend had horror stories about what people did in public bathrooms. Lucy knew the first time she walked into a bathroom and saw poop, or worse, smeared all over the walls, she would throw up.

“I can do this,” she told herself.

The next morning, she called the clinic and they told her to come in right away. When she explained that she would have to get an Uber, the doctor sent someone to pick her up.

The clinic was nice and airy. Lucy didn’t know why, but she expected it to be some hole in the wall with grimy chairs and an obese doctor with a long beard chewing on a cigar.

Dr. Ratcliff was very charming. His wife, Jessica, was the nurse. She was very sweet and put Lucy at ease immediately.

“You’re going to be poked and prodded. We want to make sure you’re healthy,” Jessica said.

“Fun,” Lucy muttered.

After the tests revealed that she was physically healthy, she sat down for the interview.

“Why do you want to be a surrogate?” the doctor asked.

Lucy hesitated before she answered. “I know the right answer is that I want to make a difference for other people and help them have a baby when they can’t on their own. The truth is that I thought this would be a good chance to earn money while I get my life back together.”

She explained the disastrous mating ceremony and that she had come to the human world to concentrate on getting her publishing company going.

“You seem to be a very loving and caring person,” Jessica said. “Are you sure that you’re going to be able to give up the child after carrying it for six months?”

“I’m sure,” Lucy said softly, pretty sure that she was lying to herself.

She would be able to give up the baby, but she also knew it would hurt.

“Do you want to only carry bear shifters?”

Lucy was startled by the question. She thought about it for a second and said, “I don’t guess it really matters.”

They talked for another hour and then Jessica hugged her. “You’re doing something great, for yourself and for a family.”

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