Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

Chapter 352 – Keeping it in the Family

Ella

I’m the last one to the conference room – baby stuff but when I come through the door I’m very surprised to see that it’s just family gathering today.

“Where is everyone?” I ask, holding Rafe close to my chest so that he peers over my shoulder. He’s a very curious baby – he likes to look around, even though he can’t see much yet. I move over to the table where Cora, Roger, Henry, and Sinclair sit, all clearly waiting for me, all with faces which are …drawn. Concerned. And turned on me.

“What,” I breathe, freezing before I can sit down. “What’s wrong? What is it?” “Sit, Ella,” Henry says, waving to the open chair between him and Sinclair.

“No,” I say, shaking my head, the word falling out of my mouth before I can even think. “No way this looks… this looks like bad news.’

And some part of me knows that I’m being ridiculous – that it won’t be good news miraculously if I don’t hear it but still. Fear stripes through me – I really, really can’t handle more bad news now, not after the few days we’ve had. And not if it, apparently, all focuses on me.

“Ella, please,” Sinclair says, looking at me with gentle eyes and pulling the empty chair out. “I promise it’s not as bad as you think.”

“Do you all know?” I ask, going rigid.

“Henry told us before you came in,” Cora replies, leaning forward towards me across the table, Roger’s hand on her back. “He just wanted us to be prepared, so that the focus could be on you when we told you.’

“Oh my god,” I whisper, slowly moving to the chair and sitting down.” Is it me?” I ask. “Did I did I do something?”

wrong way. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I just – it was convenient that you were last,

them, I know, would be well enough to attend now, if they were wanted. ” Where are the other researchers?” I ask, knowing that Henry has been working

be briefed soon. But I wanted to talk about this together,

I say, drawing my lips together in a thin line. “Let’s get on with it then. What’s

talk in some kind of pre- arranged pattern. This, contrary

starts to fuss, and Sinclair takes him from me tucking Rafe into the crook of one elbow before draping his other arm warmly over my shoulders. I

focus to him. “Yesterday, when we were fighting the priest, he

say anything, just clench my teeth and

only got to whatever…I don’t know, whatever magical powder allowed him to really fire bomb us, by accident, and when he realized that he was going to

I ask, confused.

Roger replies, sighing a little at his inability to be clear. “I mean, slipped on

glancing down at Rafe sitting contentedly curled in the crook of Sinclair’s arm. He’s gotten a hand free of his swaddle and is clenching it and opening it, apparently fascinated by the movement of his fingers. “Do you are we assuming that the boy

are,” Henry confirms, drawing

I should just shut up and listen, but I can’t help myself. “Did he mean – did the priest

I’m following along. I’m grateful for it because even though I’m not stupid, I’m panicked enough

the God of Darkness. And never, in any of our materials both from centuries ago and today – have we ever seen any of

understand but I mean, I don’t get it. Not yet. Not in the same way that the rest of

sharply up at him. “That…there is someone else ordering all of this to happen. That they haven’t done this merely to serve their god, or at his orders