Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

Chapter 442 – A Prince

Ella

I can’t help it, not at all. I burst immediately into tears. The crowd, when they realize what’s going on and when I think they see my over-emotional reaction to it – begin to again shout their approval. Sinclair laughs when he sees me crying, shaking his head at me as he returns to my side with the little crown in his hands.

“Well, if you didn’t want me to cry!” I say, stamping my foot lightly, “you should have told me!”

“Nah,” Sinclair says, smiling at me, his voice soft but somehow still audible over the cheers of the crowd. “This is way better. It was worth it to see your face.”

“Okay well,” I say in a rush, wiping hastily at my cheeks before raising Rafe a little so that he’s sitting straight up in my arms, looking up at his father with a happy smile. “Get on with it! I want to see how he looks!”

Sinclair laughs at me, shaking his head, and the crowd quiets, eager to hear what their King will say.

“Rafe Sinclair,” my mate says, looking seriously at his son. But Rafe frowns and waves his hands at him, confused by the seriousness of his voice, which makes Sinclair instantly laugh and have to start over.

The crowd laughs along with us, pleased, I think, to see their serious King look so human, to see how much he loves his son.

“Rafe Sinclair,” my mate tries again, his voice lighter this time, and Rafe lets out a little squeal of joy that threatens to make me cry again. Sinclair grins, leaning over a little. “I crown you as my Prince and my heir, to ascend to this throne when it is your time to rule. I promise to raise you to understand this responsibility, to grow to be a good man, and to deserve it.”

And then, when I think my heart will burst with love, Sinclair gently places the little crown on Rafe’s tiny head.

I watch eagerly to see what Rafe will do and then I burst into laugher when he reaches his pudgy hands up touching it experimentally, trying to get a grip on it so he can pull it off.

away and the crowd again bursts into cheers, charmed – I know – by their little Prince, who deserves

turning my head up to him, and he bends a little and kisses me, warm and real and true. I lose myself to the kiss, loving him so much I can hardly bear it,

shoulders, and

people behind, and we’re back in the private little room at the front of the great hall, and Henry and Cora and Roger come in smiling and

at my mate, my Alpha,

he murmurs, an arm around my waist pulling me close, Rafe snuggled between us. Sinclair uses his other hand

me later,” I murmur, feeling a

asks, quirking an

I say quietly, wanting to keep it between us, “that I promised to show you what I look like in nothing but this

his head, and he kisses me. And I stand on my toes

the majority of

celebrate with us, along with many of our

admit that I’m nearly overwhelmed by all of the guests and the attention. Sinclair and I spend hours turning to each new person who comes forward to greet us, to congratulate us, to shake our hands and tell us about their excitement for the future of the nation. I do my best to give each of them my full attention

of course, is that after three hours of the party I’m totally exhausted. But the ballroom is still packed with people, and our job isn’t nearly done, so I squeeze Sinclair’s hand, and kiss Rafe’s head, and

into a grin as I turn to see little Benny from the human refugee camp rushing towards me at the head of about five

needing to force my enthusiasm this time as I crouch down and open an arm to welcome him into a hug. “I’m so glad you could

encouraging some caretakers and children to attend, but I hadn’t received any word back. I look over Benny’s head and smile warmly at the other children

Queen,” Benny says, frowning up at my crown after

sense,” I say, wrinkling my nose at

had to be born a Queen,” Benny replies, turning his head and studying my crown curiously. Then he turns to look at Rafe, who is dozing a little, his own little crown still perched on his head.

“I guess it happens all