Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 431- Plans in Motion

Ella

“So you two,” Cora says, flicking her gaze between Roger and Sinclair, ” you’re all right now? After fifteen minutes, it’s all cleared up?”

Sinclair shrugs. “We kept it pretty cut and dry. He’s on probation.”

“No, I’m not,” Roger murmurs, dismissive, shaking his head to Cora.

“He is,” Sinclair growls. Roger just leans down, pretending to whisper in Cora’s ear but speaking loud enough for all of us to hear, “probation doesn’t mean anything. But it made him happy to slap a word on the lack of consequences.”

Cora laughs, her face turned up to her mate, and I bite my lip to stifle my own giggle, wanting to be loyal to Sinclair, who just sighs behind me.

“Either way,” Sinclair says, moving on. “Congratulations, Cora,” he says, his focus on her now and his voice sincere. “I’m very happy for you – for both of you. It’s a big event.”

“Thank you, Dominic,” Cora says, smiling at him softly and turning her head to the side, clearly touched. I beam at my sister as well. It’s not that I’ve let her off the hook for keeping the baby name a secret when I want to know so terribly badly – but? Well. I’ll bug her about it later.

“We are sorry though,” Cora says, reaching up to take Roger’s hand. “I know that…the wedding meant a lot to you, and that it was going to do good things for the nation. But…” she bites her lip, hesitating, and I can tell that she feels selfish. I open my mouth to protest against this but she continues before I can start. “But – I needed it to be like this, to be personal. I hope that you’ll forgive me.”

“There’s nothing to forgive, Cora,” Sinclair murmurs, smiling at her warmly. “I completely understand you’ve done nothing wrong.”

And quite suddenly, something comes to me. “Cora,” I say, turning my head to the side and leaning forward. “Does.. anyone else know? About your mark, or your little personal ceremony, besides us four?”

She frowns at me, confused. “Well, no,” she says quietly. “I mean, neither of us really have social media or anything -”

“Or any friends,” Roger murmurs, a little chagrined, which makes me laugh. They don’t need friends, they have us!

“Well then,” I say, a big smile breaking out on my face. “Would you consider…doing it anyway?”

“What?” Cora asks, confused.

could work! “Why not just have the wedding/ mating ceremony publicly, like

she says, surprised, and then she starts to laugh, I think a little inspired by the idea. But then she realizes that she already has her mating

to cover it up,” I suggest with a little shrug. ” I’m sure they can do it –

clearly communicating that it’s her choice. And then

are equals in

her face. “No, I want to do it –

a finger down the opposite side

you,” she murmurs, though I know she doesn’t mean it. Cora hasn’t had nearly enough of

throw them a

have made our plans, and my days and weeks quickly fill with tasks. I wake up early earlier than Sinclair, even to take care of the baby and begin to make

gets to sleep an extra hour while I take care of things.

is busier than he’s ever been. He reminds me, in some ways, of the cold, brooding, discerning business man I met at the beginning of all of this. In some ways I lost track of that man I fell in love with in all of our odd adventures in Vanara, and in the bunker,

routines, living in our own home (even if it is a palace now )? I see flashes

at all possible, I love

to ratify the claim, and the packs to demonstrate their support by paying fealty at the coronation. It’s all gone smoothly, as Sinclair predicted it would, and so we’ve moved forward with the plans. Delegations from all the neighboring countries are set to begin arriving in our beautiful Moon Valley over the course of the

from Vanara including King Gabriel

I’m most worried about predictably is that the Atalaxians have indeed signaled their intent to attend,

a little time every day with Sarah and Jessica, usually in the evenings, bringing Rafe with me to chat and play. They’re thriving now, and I think that

in Atalaxia, and that they’re sending a delegation. It’s not that I’m keeping it from them – if they asked, I’d tell them in a minute, of

and she keeps not asking so…we’re at

be like?” I ask Sinclair one night, laying naked with my

lazy hand down my back. “I do my best work, and you want to ask about the

from asking complicated questions, Dominic, you shouldn’t have gone and become King, making me a Queen. Should have just stayed a businessman and lived in our old house, kept me locked away in the bedroom as

my ass. “Don’t tempt me, trouble,” he murmurs, and I bite my lip as I feel warmth pool at my core, again. “But you’re right,” he sighs, using his grip on me to pull me upwards so that my face is even with his, so that I can dip my head and press teasing kisses