Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

Chapter 20

Ella

I dream that I’m on a boat, rocking gently in a starlit sea. I stare up at the night sky, bathed in the light of the full moon. My belly is swollen with my pup, and Sinclair is beside me, telling me stories about shifters – all the myths and legends. of his people.

His voice carries me along the waves, until he begins describing the life we’ll have together with our baby. He paints a picture of perfection, a happy life as a family of three- my child and I pampered and cared for while he rules his empire, wanting for nothing.

It all seems too good to be true, and it’s not until I realize I’m dreaming that I understand why. When I blink my eyes open, I realize that there are tears in them. I really am rocking, but not in any boat. Sinclair is carrying me inside from the car and clearly trying very hard not to wake me.

I must have fallen asleep. I realize dazedly.

“You don’t have to carry me.” I murmur, hoping the emotion in my voice can be passed off as grogginess.

“Hush now.” He croons, “I don’t mind. You just rest.”

Another time I might argue, but I’m so sleepy, and his arms feel so good around me that I just snuggle in. To my surprise, Sinclair leans his face towards my hair and inhales a deep breath. “You smell more like a wolf every day.” He shares. “The baby must be very healthy.”

This idea makes me smile, “Will I be able to feel it move soon, if pregnancy is so much shorter?”

“After a couple of months, yes.” He confirms.

This is still sooner than human babies quicken, but I feel so impatient. “Hmph, that’s so long to wait.”

Sinclair chuckles. “Maybe, but it will be so worth the wait, sweet Ella.”

“Do… do shifter pregnancies ever have complications?” I ask, finally feeling brave enough to voice this hidden worry. It’s been on my mind ever since the doctor told me the baby was developing slowly, but Sinclair seemed so confident that I told myself everything was fine.

“Rarely.” He answers. “But it happens. That’s why I’m being so cautious with you – I don’t want anything to happen, for both our sakes.”

I scoff, pressing my nose to his chest and inhaling his own scent. “I think you just like telling people what to do – baby or not.”

“Keep it up you naughty thing, and I’ll show you what strict really is.” Before I can respond or contemplate what this might mean, he

I want a shower first.” I

sure? It’s very

hate going to bed not feeling clean.” After a childhood

the zipper on my dress, and within minutes I’m standing beneath a steaming cascade of water, feeling more and more myself as more of the day washes

violent and very close by. It isn’t Sinclair, and it isn’t coming through the mental link with the

near. Did someone come into the bathroom after me? I wonder frantically, trying to peer through the fogged up glass, how

unable to stay quiet. I don’t think ten seconds passed before the

comes over to the shower stall, opening the glass door to release the steam, and finds me curled up in a ball in the corner. “I swear someone was in here with me.” I confess shakily. “I could hear them growling and snarling,

as he begins scenting the air and searching the room. “I don’t smell anything” He tells me after a moment, “but I’ll have

the room only long enough to bark some orders at his guards, telling them. to begin searching the grounds. While he’s away, I wrap a

into his arms. “It’s okay Ella, you’re safe.”

what’s wrong with

okay, it’s probably just all the stress piling up on you.” He reasons. “But if you don’t

bare for the first

up into his arms, or think about stopping to grab night clothes, I simply let Sinclair carry me back to his

I realize I didn’t bring anything to sleep in. I pause, trying to decide if I want to go back or ask to borrow something, when Sinclair’s voice interrupts my thoughts. “Oh no!”

I ask anxiously, spinning

I’ m painfully aware of the

my scent.” He frowns, prowling

going to sleep.

shakes his head. “We

feeling my blood heat

won’t be time to mark you before I go.” Sinclair reasons.

“Your wolf?” I squeak.

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