Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 429 – Names

Cora

Matthew? Roger tries, passing the name down the line to the baby and I grip his hand, and we both wait…

But nothing.

“The baby doesn’t like the name Matthew,” I whisper, laughing a little. “Well, it was just a starter,” Roger murmurs, grinning at me again. “You try one.”

“All right,” I say, leaning my head back and taking a deep breath. And then I pass a name down, trying… Oliver.

“Oliver!?” Roger bursts out in disgust and I gasp, glaring at him.

“You are biasing our son!” I accuse, sitting up to smack him. “I said nothing when you said stupid Matthew!”

“Matty is a cute name “he protests, laughing and blocking my blow. “Oliver is the name of a sickly Victorian child who wants more gruel -”

I growl and lay back, taking a deep breath and gathering myself. “Well, let’s see what the baby thinks,” I murmur, sending Roger another glare. And then I try again, whispering Oliver? down the bond. But nothing comes back.

“Good baby,” Roger murmurs, kissing my stomach again and making me laugh. “Don’t let her call you that. It’s terrible.”

“Okay okay,” I say, taking a deep breath. “Let’s try one more.”

“I’ll pick it?” Roger asks.

“Sure,” I reply, relaxing. “But this time, pick one you really, really like. One that you’d actually want him to be called – your favorite.”

“Okay,” he murmurs.

And then Roger passes another name down the bond, and I smile, because…

Because I love it.

And we wait…

at the same time as we

Happy!

my god,” I say, laughing and sitting up as Roger snatches me to him, pulling me fast

I take his face

think we just

that beach almost until the sun came up, and then we gathered up all of our sandy clothes and the blanket and trooped back to the house, where we closed the doors and

afternoon to the owner of the bungalow tapping on the door, bringing us a basket of food so we could eat something, and Roger went to get it while I curled further up in

I had to, eventually, because Roger wouldn’t let me eat all my meals in bed, instead insisting that I come and sit with him on the couch for the elaborate dinner he made. Well, elaborate for Roger,

brought us every day in baskets and otherwise laying in bed talking, making each other laugh, sending messages to the baby when he was awake to see what he’d do. And honestly, the baby never did much, but it made

with everything else we did, a usual part of the day as we napped, and went

we had to get back – because

close outside the little bungalow after we’ve packed and locked

let it sweep through me. “Maybe not

another little peck, before looking around. “I really like this place. Maybe the owner will let us buy it,” Roger murmurs, looking fondly at the

“But, considering that this

his eyebrows raising. “And considering what the goddess said that

break into a grin.

thinking a bunch more,” he nods, eager. “And I’m going

say, laughing and rolling my eyes, shoving him away a little bit. ”

for the car. ” Nah, I’m going to be a very involved

he opens my car door for me. “Or, we can just pass them all off on

our tiny luggage into the trunk before

“Ella, loaded up with four of her own kids and as many nieces and nephews

he says, half serious and grinning at me as he

him and stroking my belly fondly. “We’re