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.

mate,” he murmurs to me, turning me towards the door where Cora waits with little Rafe curled

lightly in Sinclair’s arms. “You did amazing today, Ella!” And I grin at her, happy to see that her own

beds. He doesn’t put me 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 to

the small of my back and ushering me inside. I do as he says, cooing down to Rafe, who burbles sleepily in my arms. As soon as I get the baby ready for bed and down in his cradle, Sinclair takes my hand and directs me again, this time towards the

the lights on and I’m glad he doesn’t the bathroom only has horrible florescent light bulbs.

letting me rest against him as I let the hot water do its work, letting it relax me, letting me realize

his voice barely audible

him, enjoying the press of his wet skin against mine.

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

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

from me for a minute to get some supplies. And

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

now, turning towards

sighs, looking down at me. I’m worried that…well, that if people

say, my eyes going wide. And I look towards the door, to where our baby is asleep in the next

would want to direct you to use the gift

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, terribly, for things to just

again, and I close my eyes and take a deep

keep it a secret,” I say quietly after a few moments. “Not forever, though, yes?” I ask, looking up at him. “Sinclair – I can’t I can’t keep this to – myself forever, not if it

me, looking down into my face in the dim light.

watches me carefully when we get up the next morning, as I change and feed Rafe and get

him, smiling and laughing, knowing