Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

Chapter 346 – Parting

Ella

I blink, surprised, when I hear a laugh tumble from Roger’s mouth. Honestly, I had expected anything else. Yelling? Yes. Begging? Sure. Stern orders? Absolutely.

Anything, really, except the low chuckle that falls from Roger’s lips as he leans back and puts his hands in his pockets. “I’m serious,” Cora says, crossing her arms and glaring at him. “I’m going with you. You need me.”

“Cora,” Roger says, shaking his head. “I need you, absolutely. But if you think for a second that I’m letting my pregnant mate climb into a sewer with me as part of an attack on an unknown enemy.

“Well if you wouldn’t let me do it, why on earth would I let you do it!” she counters, angry.

“Because I’m not pregnant!” Roger shouts back, angry, as if it’s obvious. Sinclair shifts a little, moving behind me – his arms still around my shoulders – so we can both watch.

“We’re pregnant,” Cora shouts, pointing between herself and him. “ This is not a me or a you kind of thing! I am not interested in single motherhood on what is essentially day two of this pregnancy!”

“Cora,” Roger sighs, putting an exhausted hand on his forehead. “This is my job. This is what we do. You can’t ask me to back away from it.”

“Why not, when you’re doing the same to me?” Cora counters, shaking her head at him, being stubborn. I bite my lip, torn between wanting to support my sister and frankly agreeing with Roger. There’s absolutely no way in hell that Cora should be going on this mission.

“What are you talking about?” Roger asks, frustrated. “I can help,” she says, pointing at herself, “I’m a doctor. You guys are going to get all torn up out there – you need me!”

Have we had enough of this? Sinclair asks, speaking to me mind-to-mind as I lean back against him, tense as we watch our siblings argue. When do I interrupt?

second, I reply internally, wanting them to figure this out on their own if they can. But even if

It will be enough to hold us through it until we can get home –

rest of my life – what would I tell our child –

at this thought and I see him falter, no knowing how to reply. And frankly I’m

Sinclair asks me, his own inner voice dark and sad. Let me, I reply, and

her mate to look at me. Slowly, I shake my head, “Cora, you can’t

she growls, stern. “Because,” I reply, with a little shrug. “Your argument goes both ways. How the hell would Roger

he collects himself. Cora turns to look at him, surprised, I think, by the rare display of intense emotion. These Sinclair brothers – they’re so steady on the surface, but we always

her and wrapping her arms around his waist. She lays her

lips against his hair. “I’m sorry. But Cora, I promise you

this what I’ve gotten myself into? Battle after battle, fight after fight? Constantly worried about whether or not you’re

her question, looking up at Sinclair and meeting his eyes as he shakes his head steadily at me. No, he says, firm in my mind. We will

Roger replies, tightening his arms around her. “I

shepherd me out of the room and giving the two of them a moment alone. My mate takes my hand as we pass through the door and head down the hall, both of us silent, me looking down at

now?” Sinclair asks me

the baby as I carry him over to his little makeshift crib. “This isn’t

reply, straightening and looking up at

at the memory. He shushes me a little, pressing a finger to my mouth, and I nod, understanding. It’s not that he doesn’t

to go there. Not really. He will come back to me today, as he did before. As he

deep nod. “Brave little mate,” he whispers, leaning down to press a