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?”

he didn’t have the balls to 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

say, looking down at little Ariel who lays cuddled in my arms, drowsy but idly kicking her little feet. “It really

she can’t make him take it back, Ells.

sense,” I sigh, hoisting my baby up closer. “Well, at least we know

doesn’t mean it’s good,” Sinclair grumbles behind me.

Goddess and the Dark Lord. What is interesting is that they seem to be reliable – there is one text in particular that speaks of a Goddess-given gift of healing that sounds quite a bit

I say, perking up a little. “Well, that’s interesting. Would I

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

were some of the ‘gifts’ the Dark God has given?” Sinclair

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,

presses, his voice a little annoyed in his anxiety

shifting his eyes to his son now, “prefers…more sweeping magics. Not things that can or should be used every day.

and I find myself holding my breath as I look down at my

Sinclair asks, going tense behind

of eclipse, allowing him to hold the moon’s shadow before the

all go silent and

moment, only Roger is bold enough to

Ariel,” he breathes, leaning

and Sinclair and then Henry start to laugh as well. I shake my head at my brother-in-law, so

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

trying to shake the tension out of my shoulders. “It could be… something smaller. Maybe he’s just trying

just wrinkles his nose at Cora as he grins and grabs his

is clearly 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

feel a little pulse of pride and pleasure down my bond with

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

“Does it…I mean, they all have gifts from mom, right? But will her being strong make the boys strong – through

his head and considering

“that’s not how bonds work, right? I mean, Cora and Ella are

my tongue, offended, and turn to glare at my mate over my shoulder. ” Excuse me, Dominic, but you have