Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

Chapter 422- Bath Time

Ella

“Cora,” I scold, frowning, “you know I don’t’ feel that way – ”

“Well I know you’d never say it,” she protests, sighing. “But I do get that this union between a wolf and a human that, symbolically, it’s important. And even if you’re not disappointed that it could be…disappointing.”

“I want you to have the mating ceremony you want, Cora,” I reply, steady in my truth here. “Especially in the case of something as important as this.” I give her hand a little squeeze before pulling mine away. “But if you’d like to consider a middle path…maybe you could let me show you what I was thinking?”

She turns her head to look up at me, surprised. “You’ve been…planning?”

“Just a little,” I say, unable to keep the eagerness out of my voice. “Just late at night when Sinclair is asleep and I can’t sleep, or I get up to feed Rafe – ”

“You’ve been loosing sleep over this!?”

“No!” I protest, but then I hesitate. ” Well, not much.”

“Ella!”

“Just – can I show you what I was thinking!?” I plead, “sister to sister!? And then, if you hate it, you can say no.” A wide grin comes to my face then. “But I think you’re going to like it.”

Cora gives a big sigh, leaning back into her seat and closing her eyes. ” Fine, Ella,” she says. “But this is not a yes.”

“I didn’t think it was!” I say, newly excited. Because honestly…it’s gorgeous, and I can’t wait to show her my plans.

up at me from his casual position on the bed – looking down at his tablet, still doing work, as usual – and

chest. I put my hands on my hips.

his hands into his pockets and smirks as he looks me up and down. “I just

hurry in and gasp when I see myself in the mirror. “Oh my god,” I murmur, leaning in to get a good look at the very real layer of dusty dark

me. I groan when I see our contrast in the mirror – him

eyes light on little Rafe, who is likewise covered in a light layer of brown dust. “Oh my god!” I exclaim

hurt him,” Sinclair chuckles, reaching out to unstrap the baby from me.

I murmur, helping him take the baby from my arms. “Honestly, if this is

he replies, holding the baby away from him a little as he carries him over to his little baby bath. “Hopefully all of the people will be out of those terrible camps and in better situation

warmth

take him and let him

Sinclair murmurs, smirking at me and laying the baby down in his bath. “Let him cry a little for once he’s the happiest baby in the world, it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.” Then, as I begin to strip out of my

sigh, watching the little pieces of baby clothing disappear into the basket, “he’ll probably be too big to wear those by the time they’re clean. He grows

naked belly, proud, as he turns on the warm water and prepares to start bathing him. Rafe still fusses

shower for myself. I continue talking to Sinclair as I climb into the hot

the wedding,” I call over my shoulder, starting to shampoo my hair. “I don’t think

But yeah, Roger told me pretty much

you mad?” I ask, turning to see his reaction, and Sinclair shoots

I’m not mad,

a little, shaking my head and turning away to rinse the shampoo from my hair. “That’s not what I mean I know that you’d never be mad at them

a washcloth and using it to gently clean the baby, making soft, warm noises to little Rafe as he does. Rafe, tired, lets his father know his protest, but my heart swells with the patience I see in my mate as he washes his baby, explaining softly to him that he’s sorry he has to take a bath so late at night, but mommy got