ALPHA'S HUMAN SURROGATE 24

JAYDEN

When the three of us asked the voice that came through Catriona who they were, someone poked me in the chest—just one finger—and everything started to blur. My vision faded like fog crawling over glass. I could still see Vanessa and Vivian arguing, but I couldn’t make out a single word they were saying. Their voices echoed like they were coming from the end of a long, deep tunnel.

I fought to stay grounded, struggled not to fall. I blinked, trying to clear my vision, but before I could fully open my eyes, someone pressed their thumbs to my temples. And that was it—I collapsed.

---

“Open your eyes, Mr. Jayden.”

It was the voice of an old man.

I opened them slowly. The first thing I saw was the sky—wide and blue, birds drifting lazily above. Waves lapped rhythmically against the shore. I sa……