Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 477- Labor

Cora

I narrow my eyes at Roger when he comes upstairs about forty-five minutes later. “Are you going to behave better now?” I ask, my voice tense.

“Yup,” he says, leaning in the doorway with a lazy smile.

I start to laugh as I look over his too – loose stature. “Is it because you’re all drunk?” My eyes shift to Sinclair as he appears in the doorway behind his brother. “Seriously, did you get him all drunk?”

Sinclair, Rafe sitting up in his arms, just gives a little shrug, his mouth pulled up at the corner in a secret smile.

“I am only,” Roger says, smiling as he steps into the room and holding up a hand with his thumb and pointer finger pressed very close together, “a very tiny bit drunk. Just something to steady the nerves.”

Ella laughs next to me before she scoots off the bed.

“All right, then,” she says, gesturing to me as she moves around the bed and reaches to take Rafe from Sinclair. ” Take your spot, Roger. And stop freaking her out, okay?”

“I promise,” Roger mumbles, giving Ella a sloppy little salute before climbing onto the bed and taking her place.

“We’ll be downstairs,” Ella says when I turn my eyes to her. “You just call, and we’ll be right up. Okay?”

I nod to her, smiling a little, grateful that she’s here. Beyond having the power to heal me instantly should anything go wrong, it’s just…really nice to have my sister close by.

Roger sighs as he pulls himself into the spot close on my right and tucks his legs in under the blankets. Then he turns to me, his face serious. “I’m sorry, Cora,” he says quietly.

“Thank you,” I say, my anger fading as I see that he means it. I lift a hand to his cheek, wanting to touch him, wanting him close.

“I just love you so much

“I get it,” I say, nodding.

He nods too, capturing my hand and pressing a kiss to it. “But I didn’t listen to you. And Sinclair made me sit down and listen – which he shouldn’t have to do, so I’m sorry about that. But he explained that you need to be the one freaking out today. So, I have to just… be steady. Is that right?”

“It’s closer,” I say quietly, studying him. “I mean, Roger, it’s not that you can’t feel afraid too – I get that it’s a big day-”

the air out of the room. I’m sorry, Cora – you’re right, we had a plan,

now as he slips an arm

asks, looking down at my belly and stroking it softly with his

minutes,” I answer, my voice quiet. “Or, maybe a little faster now? Four

a calmness that I know he doesn’t feel. ” That is all

start to

Roger asks, turning to

Roger Sinclair,” I murmur, taking his cheeks in my hands and leaning forward to

I have to try, don’t I,” he murmurs against my lips, kissing me back.

real cutie,” I say, leaning back and smiling down at my belly. And I bite my lip, feeling significantly calmer now, starting

as he tucks his head close to mine and

you think

me click my tongue and pull

that even be

goddess grandchildren,” he says, grinning at

“would have shown up

he says, holding up a finger, “would

for a second, before the

his best to stay quiet, his eyes on me throughout the whole contraction. He keeps his arms around me too until the

right?” he says quietly when it

to his now. And then I smile a little, returning my hand to his cheek. “I hope the baby’s eyes are just like

says, smirking at me. “Big brown ones, like

we’ll just have to wait and see,” I reply, dropping my hand from his cheek and wrapping my fingers

the baby to hurry up,” Roger murmurs, turning is attention to the

the bond as well. “Nah, don’t rush him,” I sigh. ” He’ll come on his

kid,” Roger says, sighing as he inspects the bond and passes love and comfort and reassurance to the baby, as well

out here,” I say, laughing a bit. “Whenever he’s ready to

kid,” Roger murmurs. ” Any time you want,

ready to bring

really start to heat up. By then, the house is busy with all the

the time I’m almost ready to push. But I smile when I see him standing, quite suddenly, at

smiling at me