Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 493 – Princess

Ella

“So you’re all right? You’re both all right?” My mate asks, pressing his forehead to mine, still reeling from the strange news of the Dark God’s gift.

“We are,” I say, nodding, sure of it. And then I shift again, passing the baby to him. “See for yourself, new papa,” I sigh, placing the little girl in her father’s arms.

On Sinclair’s face, and through our bond, I see his heart absolutely melt. ” Oh god,” he sighs, shaking his head as he stares down at his little girl. “I’m a gonner, Ella. This one she’s already got me in the palm of her hands, even as I hold her in mine.”

“Don’t worry,” I sigh, curling up next to him, indulging in the sight of my mate the one I love most in the world falling in love with our tiny daughter, as I’ve already done. “I won’t tell her the power she wields.”

“It will be our secret,” he says with a nod and a little smirk on his lips. We’re quiet for a moment, studying her, when suddenly I realize that she doesn’t have a name.

“What do you think?” I ask quietly, resting my head on his shoulder. “Is she an Emma? Or an Eloise?”

My mate’s smile deepens as he looks up at me, and I already know his answer before he says it, because it’s precisely the same as mine.

Those names are great – but they’re not hers.

“Nah,” Sinclair says, grinning at me before turning back to his little girl. ” She’s totally, completely an Ariel.”

“I know,” I sigh, tracing a finger down her cheek. “Welcome to the world, Ariel Sinclair. You are already so, so loved.”

And Ariel stretches her mouth in a wide yawn before snuggling down in her father’s arms, happy and content. Sinclair and I both laugh to see it, and I know that his heart, like mine, is so very full. I pass my joy and love down the bond to both of them, and am totally thrilled when Ariel gives a little tentative pulse of love back as she gets used to her new surroundings.

The next hour or so is busier than I’d like, with the doctors returning to the room so that I can finish the after- business of labor and ensure that our sweet Ariel is healthy and happy. But even as I feed her for the first time, and deliver the placenta, and take a shower, and am completely exhausted through it all, I can’t stop smiling and turning towards Ariel in the room, eager to keep my eyes on her.

God – her whole life is out there in front of her, and I

as a family. Roger comes into the room with a tearful Rafe on his hip as Cora finishes bundling Ariel into a swaddle and hands her off to Sinclair. Henry wheels into the room after

voice so terribly sad it

murmur, rushing over to Roger and taking my eldest baby up into my arms. “It’s all right,

Rafe

is my little Velcro baby pretty much always with me. But, then again, it’s not entirely his fault I’m could be accused of being an

that. I

and turning to where Sinclair walks over with the

with a little cry and reaches a hand

it. ”

showing Rafe the baby, and Rafe sits up straight to

suddenly Rafe gives a little cry of disgust and turns his head away, pressing his eyes shut and gripping my robe tight in his fists, not wanting

sheets and soiled linens thankfully already changed. I sigh a little with gratitude, thinking that it’s perhaps a little nice to be queen for things like this. And then I sink down against my pillows, taking Rafe with me and waving to my family

over his jealousy. Sinclair sinks down on his side of the bed and moves so that his side is pressed against mine. Henry wheels close, handing Jesse

can see into Sinclair’s arms more completely. Rafe turns his head, peering

to his son, and I look up to my other side when I hear Cora gasp. I grin when I see her pressing her hand to her chest, her eyes squeezed

name,” she mouths to me, and I laugh and nod

do you think, little Rafey?” I murmur, rubbing his back while he leans out to touch his sister.

Ariel, which makes me smile, but the moment his fingers press against her cheek I give a gasp. Sinclair

feel it too?” I

us whip our heads back to Rafe, who smiles at his sister for the first time. Ariel squirms a little in her swaddle, smacking her lips and turning her head to

it?”

I say, turning to her and grinning,

she says, standing up straight and looking down into her

looking between the babies. “What do you