Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 381 – Persistence

Sinclair

I wake up frowning, knowing immediately that something is…well, not wrong, but certainly off. I reach out an arm, seeking Ella, but my hand passes over cold sheets. My frown deepens as I sit up and realize that she’s not here. A glance at Rafes bassinet makes it clear that he’s not here either.

Where the hell is my family?

I sigh, swinging my legs out of the bed, wondering how much time has passed. As I scrub a hand down my face I consider that it can’t have been much – there’s still no daylight peeking around the blinds. So, a few hours a most. But why the hell hasn’t she come to bed?

I stand and head for the door, wondering what the hell trouble is getting up to now. I smirk a little to consider it. Ella…well, it’s part of her appeal, isn’t it? She’s always up to something. I’ll certainly never be bored by her side.

The hallway outside my room is empty but I head down it towards where I hear a few murmuring voices. But when I turn into the room, I’m surprised because the first person I see is my father, sitting quietly in his chair by the door, staring into the room.

We don’t say anything to each other as I lean against the doorway by his side, because we’re both aware that I didn’t come here seeking him. I give him a nod and place a hand on his shoulder as my eyes turn to her – Ella, across the room, my infant son sleeping pressed against her chest while she holds her hands out over one of my wounded men, healing him.

“She’s going to wear herself out,” my father says quietly.

“How long has she been at it?”

“Hours,” he says, shaking his head. ” She’s been burning her candle at both ends for days, Dominic. She’s…very dedicated, she wants to do good. But she gives too much.”

I nod, understanding, agreeing silently. My kind mate with her big heart she can’t stop giving, even if it means giving all of herself. But that’s where I come in. It’s my job to take care of her, when she’d burn herself out taking care of the whole world if I let her.

interrupt her in the middle of her task. I’m content to wait in silence, but my father surprises me with his

so sorry, Dominic,” he says, his voice

down at him.

looking up at me with such

us everything. I played right into the enemy’s hands and risked your mate, your child -” He covers his

tightening my

away and leave Cora and Ella unprotected – I should have seen it coming, that of course they would follow us back to the bunker after the first attack in the

starting to get angry with him. “This was not your fault, dad

was my plan –

was our plan!” My voice comes out louder, harsher than I meant it to. But my dad just looks

I continue, working hard to bring my voice back down to a calmer register. ” Me, Roger, Ella, Cora – all of our men, the whole team. We all fell for it, we were all…” I sigh, shutting my eyes and reliving the shame that flooded me the moment I realized that Xander was working to trap us in that house, that he was going after the girls and the baby. “We all messed up, almost cost ourselves everything. You are not

opens his mouth to protest, to continue, but his voice fails him. And he just hangs his head, breaking my

and I look up from my father to see her standing before us, her eyes wide with worry as she

silent for a beat as I try to figure out what to say, but then I just shake my head. “It’s nothing, Ella,” I respond, not

my father. “Haven’t we been through this already?” she asks quietly. “No one blames you.” I nod, agreeing with her, looking down at my father

have his guilt,” he sighs, working hard to give us a tired smile. ” It gives us something to dwell on to fill these long days. But you two -” he shifts his

” Will you take him, Dominic? I wouldn’t have kept him out here so long – I just didn’t want to risk him waking you if he got up in the middle

up at me with surprise. “You’re going to bed with the baby. Come on.” I

and backing up a step. “I

men who I need

“You’ve done enough.” I lower my voice so that just she can hear me, so that