Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 449 – Borrowed Trouble

Ella

I feel the poor human woman’s shoulders shake and I take a deep breath, remembering my duty to her as well. “Come on,” I say, trying to keep my voice light as I turn her and her daughters away. “I’m so sorry about this – let’s get somewhere more peaceful.”

And as we begin to walk away, I leave my faith in Sinclair to settle this as he will. But I hope to hell the Atalaxians know what’s good for them, because my mate?

He won’t hesitate to fight, if they push him to it. And if they do? I shake my head, considering how fast each of them will lose.

But I put this out of my mind, chatting lightly with the woman as we move away, asking her name. The woman introduces herself as Tempest Bowers, a journalist and the wife of an elected official of one of our eastern provinces. Genuinely pleased to meet her, I begin to ask more questions about their lives as we move to the head table, where I know for certain that there is plenty of candy for the girls to take.

But before we can get there, someone hits my shoulder – hard as they pass, making me stumble. My ankle twists in my high heel and I lose my balance, threatening to fall, gasping and holding Rafe tight to me.

Tempest grabs my arm just in time.

“Oh my goodness,” she says, her eyes wide as she helps me regain my balance. And then both of our eyes move to follow the hateful old man my uncle, of course who hit me hard with his shoulder on his way out. He does not bother to look back and apologize.

Of course, why would he? He did it on purpose.

“He’s a hateful old creep, isn’t he?” I ask, frowning after the man, and the woman to my surprise – bursts out laughing.

“He is certainly a piece of work,” she says, nodding along and dropping my arm. “Do you…know him?”

“He’s my uncle,” I say with a grimace, making her laugh again, harder this time.

“I have some in my family,” Tempest says, looking after him as he storms from the room, “who are…less pleasant too. So, I can emote with that.”

genuinely at her then, liking this woman very much. We finish crossing to the table where Sinclair and I had our dinner and I hand the girls as

laughing. ” Go find

as I watch them run

finger across Rafe’s sleepy

he flatters himself so,” I say on a happy little sigh, looking down

shoulder, seeing Sinclair

him. “But it was very nice to meet you, your highness – and thank you, very much, for your help over there. I apologize for any trouble –

I say, my eyebrows going up. “You did nothing wrong. And please call me Ella,” I say with a grin. “After that? We have to

laughs and nods, stepping away from me with a

he asks, his voice worried. Then his eyes follow my new friend as

well recovered,” I say, pleased, “though I wish it hadn’t happened at all. I mean honestly, why would the

grimace, “that they were looking for a bit of

my eyes going

to have someone to pick their fight for them. I mean, come on they had to know he’s at the end of his rope and wasn’t going to just come along for the

to him and likewise looking towards the door. “Bringing someone who they knew would force you

may not be done,” he sighs. I look up at Sinclair to ask why, but we’re both distracted when the

unconsciously reaching for the baby. I smile a little, handing

as Cora and I are, but I have to admit – he makes quite the handsome groom, and

he stands there listening to Sinclair recap the events? He’s every bit the

take a deep breath, so grateful again for my family, but I’m distracted

hips as he, too, looks towards the door. “I don’t trust this. If he was publicly embarrassed and his new nation didn’t stand up for

agree,” a voice chimes in, and Roger and Sinclair part to reveal Calvin standing there behind them, his own face worried. “I came to let you know that trouble is brewing, but…I

taking a step forward, my face falling. “Is

only on me. “But he believes himself to have been insulted. I don’t think he’s going to take it lightly. And quite frankly, I think he was egged on by some of our constituents tonight. I think…” he sighs, looking down at his shoes, ashamed, “honestly, I’m sorry, but I think