Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

Chapter 497- Bonded Power Ella

I give Ariel one last kiss for luck and exhale a deep breath, focusing my eyes on Henry as I lean back against my mate, who wraps a supportive arm around me.

“Actually, Ella,” Cora says, and my eyes dart to her. She smiles and me from across the couch, her arms wrapped around her baby on her lap. ” I’m the one who has news first.”

“Oh,” I say, my eyes going wide as I shift a little to direct my attention to her now. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know – ”

She shakes her head, dismissing my apology as Roger comes to perch on the arm of the couch behind her. She reaches up a hand and he takes it, giving her a little squeeze.

“Um, we contacted mom this morning,” she says quietly, apology all over her face. “To…to ask about what the Dark God could have possibly been up to. I’m sorry we did it without you – I know you would have wanted to be there -”

“No,” I breathe, even though I am a little disappointed. “I mean, I wouldn’t have been able to see her anyway, right?”

“Yeah,” she says, cocking her head to the side. “Unless we go to the temple, it is sort of a…one-on-one experience, isn’t it?”

“But we can go,” Sinclair murmurs behind me, supportive, “if we don’t get the answers you need – ”

“It’s okay,” I say, nodding to everyone around the room. “I get it – you don’t need to be so gentle with me. I was completely knocked out from giving birth and we needed information fast. It’s okay. So…” I flick my fingers at my sister, smiling at her. “Please, divulge. I’m dying to know.”

“Well,” Cora says, laughing a little and glancing up at Roger. “Mom was not happy to hear that her boyfriend visited you.”

“Really?” I gasp, a little delighted at the immortal gossip.

“Really,” Cora confirms, her eyes going wide as a grin overtakes her face. “She figured that he knew about you, but she had no idea that he’d go so far as to bestow a gift on the baby behind her back.”

“Behind her back,” I repeat, shaking my head. “Wow. So? Did she say it was… dangerous?”

shrug. “Or, well, those weren’t her precise words – but that was the sentiment. That he’s just trying to get her attention and let her know that he’s pissed – but that he knows better than to truly mess with

down at little Ariel who lays cuddled in my arms, drowsy but

said she can’t make him take it back, Ells. That immortal gifts they’re not like…presents you can return or regift. They become part of

baby up closer. “Well,

Sinclair grumbles behind me. Clearly, he wanted

leaning forward in his chair and studying the baby as best he can. “The texts are old, but there are some that report on gifts given by both the Goddess and the Dark Lord. What is interesting is

“Well, that’s

have it translated,” Henry says nodding, “and sent to you as soon as

the ‘gifts’ the Dark God has given?”

assigning mates, healing the body, changing the weather to ensure good crops.” He nods to Cora and I as he lists our gifts and I turn my head, because he’s right – while Cora and I have used them in much different ways, they do seem to be gifts that could be

dark god?” Sinclair presses, his voice a little annoyed in

shifting his eyes to his son now, “prefers…more sweeping magics. Not things that can

and I find myself holding my breath as I look down

Sinclair asks, going tense behind

reports that he once gave a man the gift of eclipse, allowing him to hold the moon’s shadow before

go silent and still

moment, only Roger is bold enough to break the quiet

he breathes, leaning forward to stare

me from this, and I shake my head as Cora and Sinclair and then Henry start to laugh as well. I shake my head at

at his niece with wide eyes. “She’s the littlest of all of us

rolling my eyes and trying to shake the tension out of my

and a deity. Roger just wrinkles his nose at Cora as he

the most powerful wolf amongst us,” I say with a sigh, propping her up a little in my arms so she can look around at the family. “So, she is the Alpha now.” Ariel, betraying my confidence, just gives a sleepy little mew, her eyelids fluttering shut as she snuggles back

of pride and pleasure down my bond

her brother and her cousin,” Roger says, looking between the boys – Rafe toddling around on the floor and Jesse in

have gifts from mom, right? But will her being strong make the boys strong

don’t know,” Henry says, tilting his head and considering his grandchildren

as he talks, “that’s not how bonds work, right? I mean, Cora and Ella are blessed with Goddess gifts, but Roger and I aren’t any stronger for

offended, and turn to glare at my mate over my shoulder. ”