Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 445- Into You Ella

“Ella,” Clavin says, his voice thick with emotion. His hand continues its path, reaching for me, his fingers brushing the velvet sleeve of my gown before I can pull away.

“What,” I whisper, taking a few steps back, wanting space between us. “What was that?”

“I don’t – ”

Before he can finish though, we both turn towards the darkened doorway to the balcony. I instantly recognize the silhouette I see there as my mate’s and breathe out a breath of relief.

I mean it’s not that I think that Calvin or I did anything wrong, or that Calvin was going to hurt me, but whatever passed between us? It was strange.

And suddenly as I remember the pulse that happened last night, when Calvin touched my hand – I want my mate here, now, at my side.

“Is everything all right out here?” Sinclair growls, his voice low and full of the threat that his words don’t carry.

He takes a step forward into the darkness as Calvin takes a step away from me and bows to him, both a formality shown to a king and a display of deference to an Alpha who thinks he might sense a threat to his mate.

“Everything is fine, Dominic,” I say, holding out a hand to him, doing my best to keep my voice light though I suspect I’m failing a little bit. “Prince Calvin was just telling me about his children. Did you know that he has a son just older than Rafe? And his daughter is three.”

“I did not know,” Sinclair says, prowling to my side, his eyes fixed on the Atalaxian prince. “Your family keeps such information close to their chest, do they not?”

“We do,” Calvin confirms, his voice formal and quiet now. “Though, we do share it with our closest friends. And I very much hope that after this trip that I will be able to tell my children about my new friends in Moon Valley.”

hoping my words assure Calvin that I’m on his side, and to persuade Sinclair that no matter what he sensed, Calvin

as he stands close at my side, pressing his hands into his pockets and looking Calvin up and down. “Especially after the stunts your delegation has been pulling with Xander. He upset Ella very much tonight. Were you aware

face genuinely pained. “I

Calvin sighs deeply as he listens, lifting a hand to rub

“It is…please, I beg you you to consider that there was and is dissent within our nation. While I’m sure that some of our delegation encouraged Xander

says slowly. “Then I’d look forward to

to set it up,” the

his mouth, clear that

wheels in motion before stepping towards the door. When he reaches it, he clasps Conner on the shoulder and bids him a good night as well, a move that adds another tick in his favor as far as I’m concerned. I quite like it when persons of

at this particular moment, I look up at Sinclair. “Is everything

he says, looming over me a bit,

confused. ” What did

here, Ella?” Sinclair says, shaking his head at me a little. “Having private conversations with a member of

a hand towards the door.

you he wants a change,” Sinclair growls, “to get you on his side. He knows you’re soft hearted! He told you about his children who we don’t even know exist – in

value about me. You can’t have

sighs and then nods his head. “All right, that’s fair,” he murmurs. ” But Ella, we agreed that you’d let me take the lead on these things –

trust my instincts, and they’re telling me to trust him. Prince Calvin – he speaks to me and if this is an in with the Atalaxians? A way to create an alliance, to avoid war, to perhaps even help some of the women within that

to you,” Sinclair growls, ” because

out laughing at this and Sinclair’s growl deepens, which – I mean, it’s probably not good – but honestly it just makes me laugh

has a Luna! And two children! There’s absolutely nothing to suggest that his interest in me is anything but