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.

knows,” I say, my smile growing – because this could work! “Why not just have

think a little inspired by the idea. But then she realizes that she already has her mating

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

up at Roger, who just gives her a simple shrug, clearly communicating that it’s her choice. And then she grins, turning back to me. “Really?” she says, “You think it

Cora,” Sinclair says warmly behind me. “I think it’s precisely the message we want to send to both our people and some of our honored guests: that humans are equals in our eyes, that they’re part of our family. But, if you’d rather not – if you’d rather just keep the memory of

her face. “No, I

to mark this side this time,” Roger murmurs, drawing a finger down the opposite side of her throat

she doesn’t mean it. Cora hasn’t had nearly enough of Roger,

to throw them

us 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 my plans. He scolds me for it every morning, telling me I need my sleep or that I should wake him

and I’m happy he gets to sleep an extra hour while I take care of

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, and

back together to resemble what it looked like before? Steady days, routines, living in our own home (even if it is a palace now )? I see flashes of him come back. And it’s not that he’s lost the sides of him that

if at all possible, I love

all that’s left is for the governors 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

King Gabriel – but I’m also very curious to meet our other

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

Sarah and Jessica, usually in the evenings, bringing Rafe with me to chat and play. They’re thriving now, and I think that they’re happy and excited about the future that they’re building

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

it off, and she keeps not asking

night, laying naked with my

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

up at him. “If you wanted to keep me 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

two firm handfuls of 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