Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

Chapter 359 – Necessary Rest

Ella

I heal for hours that afternoon, long into the night. I stop and take breaks of course for dinner, to feed and spend a little time with Rafe, to consult with Cora about our next steps – but then I’m back to it. Talking to the men to see what hurts worst, accessing the gift, holding out my hands to fix them.

It’s incredible how much I get done, how much healing I perform as the day passes. By the time Sinclair puts his hands on my shoulders, proud but stern, I feel as if half of the room of terribly wounded men has been healed completely and the others are well on their way.

“Enough, trouble,” Sinclair murmurs to me and I gasp and twist to look up at him. “What?” I ask, confused. “But there’s so much more ”

“Enough,” he says, shaking his head at me. “It’s ten o’clock – ”

“What?” I gasp, truly surprised. I had no idea that the time had passed so quickly. I honestly thought it was earlier –

“Please,” he says softly, low enough so that only I can hear. “Stop now, Ella. They’ll all survive the night. They’ll make it till morning, when you can start again.”

I stop, trying to listen to him, but as I look around the room I feel so guilty. How can I let these men to go sleep in pain? How can I possibly curl up in my own bed, comfortable with my mate and my baby, knowing they won’t be able to sleep because they got hurt trying to protect my son? When if I just pushed a little further I could heal them –

“That’s it,” Sinclair snaps, perhaps sensing my guilt and anxiety, and before I can protest further he scoops me up in his arms, shaking his head down at me.

“Dominic!” I protest, frowning up at him. “Put me down! I’m not even tired yet! I can-

“Ella,” he says, his voice still stern, you have done enough for one day. And you don’t know what toll this gift takes on your body or if it takes a toll on = itself. Does it need to regenerate? Do you need to sleep for three days to build back your strength?”

I hesitate now, realizing that he has a point. We have no idea how this works, if there will be a cost to me. Honestly, considering that, I’m surprised he let me work as long as I did.

turning me towards the door where Cora

me my baby even though I’m still held lightly in Sinclair’s arms. “You did amazing today, Ella!” And I grin at

down, in fact, until we get to our little metal bedroom door – and then I think he only does so because neither of us have a free hand

Rafe, who burbles sleepily in my arms. As soon as

over his shoulder as he brings me into the bathroom. He doesn’t turn the lights on and I’m glad he doesn’t the bathroom only has horrible florescent light bulbs. Instead, Sinclair just turns on the shower in the dark and begins to strip himself

suggestion silently, stepping into the steaming water and taking a deep breath. Sinclair follows, wrapping his arms around me and letting me rest against him as I let the hot water

feel?” Sinclair murmurs, his voice barely audible above the pounding

winding my arms around him, enjoying the press of his wet skin

he asks, going a little tense beside me. “Do we

head. ” It’s a good tired – like after a busy day. But you’re right – my adrenaline was running me. It’s it’s good.

get some supplies. And then, to my delight and surprise, my mate begins to soap my body down, his movements

my back. “But we have to be careful with it. Both for any

turning towards him.

worried that…well, that if people find out what

baby is asleep in the next room. I want, quite suddenly, to have

do,” Sinclair confirms gently, that people would want to direct you

falls, then, as I realize that he’s right. At the disappointment that I feel, that some would see this gift as a point of control instead of for the ways that it could help. My heart sinks, suddenly – with exhaustion, with disappointment, with wanting,

whispers, pulling me against him again, and I close my eyes and take a deep breath,

at him. “Sinclair – I can’t I can’t keep this to – myself

to me, looking down into my face in the dim light. “But until we have

watches me carefully when we get up the next

to him, smiling and laughing,