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?”

go that far,” Cora says, laughing and giving a little 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

in my arms, drowsy but idly kicking

shaking her head. “But she… she said she can’t make him take it back, Ells. That immortal gifts they’re not like…presents you

hoisting my baby up

good,” Sinclair grumbles behind me. Clearly, he

the Goddess and the Dark Lord. What is interesting is that they seem to be reliable – there is one text in particular that speaks

“Well, that’s interesting. Would I be

nodding, “and sent to you as soon

what were some of the ‘gifts’ the Dark God has given?” Sinclair asks, his

– her interests have always been more domestic, for lack of a better word. She deals with the heart and the home – assigning mates, healing the body, changing the weather to ensure good crops.” He nods to Cora and I as he lists our gifts

god?” Sinclair presses, his voice

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

I find myself holding my breath as I look

asks, going

he once gave a man the gift of eclipse, allowing him to hold the

all go silent and

long moment, only Roger is bold enough to break the quiet of

breathes, leaning forward to stare at

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

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

I sigh, rolling my eyes and trying to shake the tension out

mother and a deity. Roger just wrinkles his

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

of

Roger says, looking between the boys – Rafe toddling around on the floor and Jesse in Cora’s arms. “Though …none of them

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

tilting his head and considering his

not how bonds work, right? I mean, Cora and Ella are blessed with Goddess gifts, but

to glare at my mate over my shoulder. ” Excuse