Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 470- Friendship Across Boundaries

Ella

I ignore the soft growl that rumbles from the doorway, though Calvin glances briefly in that direction.

“No, Calvin,” I say, shaking my head softly. “We did a little bit of research this afternoon. And I’m sorry to say it if it makes you sad, but you’re not my mate.”

“What?” he breathes, confused, his eyebrows knitting together. “But – ”

“Why do you think you are?” I ask, honestly conflicted now.

And Calvin sweetly and awkwardly blushes, looking down at the carpet. ” My wolf is…pretty convinced, Ella,” he murmurs, probably fully aware that the words are enough to set Sinclair off again.

“Really?” I ask, pushing now,” Because my wolf – she says that you’re important to me, but she wasn’t sure enough to give it the name mate. And everyone else I’ve asked, Calvin…they were sure. Is your wolf absolutely positive?”

He sighs now, looking down at his hands as he perhaps consults with his wolf inside. “It’s…the strongest connection I’ve ever felt, Ella,” he murmurs. “With anyone. Is it…is it not enough? Even if my wolf feels a little bit of doubt, and can’t give you a certain yes?”

And suddenly my heart breaks for this man who I realize is…lonely. Who had an arranged marriage to a woman I’m not sure he loves, who is surrounded by a Kingdom full of people whose deepest beliefs he at least doubts, if not outright disbelieves. Calvin – he saw the bond between us and he grasped at it desperately, wanting it.

Wanting the different life I potentially offered one with love in it, and a new world full of different ideas.

My heart – it absolutely breaks for him, and down the bond I feel Sinclair’s own pity as he feels my emotions along with me.

But still I can’t love him just because he wants me to. I have a mate whom I love very, very much.

“Maybe it would be enough,” I say softly, “in a different time, a different… life. But Calvin, we asked and had it confirmed. You’re not my mate – I only have one. And it’s Dominic.”

in

I say, smiling a little bit. ” She’s not

much Xander told him, but since they didn’t bring it my or Cora’s powers in the peace talks as a negotiating point,

Calvin stares at me in confusion. It’s his

Calvin?” I ask quietly, leaning forward and raising a

and I bizarrely feel a little pulse of truth down…down what I can only assume is a new bond between myself and this prince. My lips part in surprise as Calvin stares at me in

mother, and contacting her today, and everything she said about our bond being a seed. By

I was, ready to confess my devotion to you, and all along it was…nothing romantic. Not at all. Instead just a seed,

growl from the doorway, letting Calvin know that he needs to watch himself, but I ignore him, reaching out a hand between us. “Just

we feel that pulse between us. Until the glow forms between our hands, eventually raising sparks in the

“See?” I say. “Magic.”

his head. But then he pulls his hand away and tucks it into his pocket, glancing towards the door. “I’m sorry… I realize what I did was selfish, and

couch now so that we sit close

huffs a laugh, looking down into his lap. “I was ready to leave

“You’d have gone home, Calvin. For your children. And eventually, you would have figured out that what’s between us? It’s special, but it’s friendship. And you’d

hand, pressing it softly to my cheek. “For what might have been, Ella,” he murmurs, “I’ll at least

at him, smiling a little, marveling at the magic that swirls in the air. But

smile as my eyes fall on my mate, my sweet baby in his arms, glaring at both of us. Rafe lets out a little happy squeal and waves his hand, clearly choosing to respond to my emotions instead of his father’s. Calvin hastily drops his hand from my

go,” Calvin

him leave. There’s so much left here we need to explore

and Calvin say at once, making me

say, putting my hands up and admitting when I’ve been outvoted. “But Calvin, you always have friends here. I hope that you truly believe that. The Goddess has wrought a bond between us, though it may

have a friend in Atalaxia, though I may be the only one,” he says with a little shrug. Then he looks over at Rafe, sleeping in Sinclair’s arms. “Though I hope the numbers grow as our children

put a hand on his shoulder, feeling the little pulse pass through me like a zap of