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?”

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 her know that he’s pissed – but

Ariel who lays cuddled in my arms,

she can’t make him take it back, Ells. That immortal gifts they’re not like…presents you can

makes sense,” I sigh, hoisting my baby up closer. “Well, at

it’s good,” Sinclair grumbles behind me. Clearly, he wanted

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

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

“and sent to you

the ‘gifts’ the Dark God has given?” Sinclair asks, his voice heavy and

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

voice a little annoyed in

Not things

through me at this and I find myself holding my breath as I

world?” Sinclair asks, going tense behind

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

go silent and still at

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

hell, Ariel,” he breathes, leaning forward to

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

with wide

going to be something like that,” I sigh, rolling my eyes and trying to shake the tension out of my shoulders. “It could be… something smaller. Maybe he’s just trying to get

I grin as Cora turns to smack him for speaking such blasphemy about our mother and a deity. Roger just wrinkles his nose at Cora as he grins and grabs his arm where she hit him, pretending that

around at the family. “So, she is the Alpha now.” Ariel, betraying my confidence, just gives

little pulse of pride and pleasure down my bond

her cousin,” Roger says, looking between the boys – Rafe toddling

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

Henry says, tilting his head and considering

Sinclair says, clearly thinking it through as he talks, “that’s not how bonds work, right? I mean, Cora and Ella are

glare at my mate over my shoulder.