Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

Ella

“What?” I squeak, my voice catching in my throat.

The moment the words left Sinclair’s mouth I felt my blood run cold, and now I feel as though I might topple over with the shock of it. I must have misheard him, surely he doesn’t mean what I think he does.

“That night you heard someone growling in your bathroom?” Sinclair explains, stepping forward as though he wants to reach for me, but stopping himself short when I flinch away. “I told you I didn’t smell anything… but I lied. There was someone in your rooms, I just didn’t want to scare you.”

“And you let me go back there, knowing there’d been an intruder?” I demand, indignation swirling to life amidst my fear, surprise and sorrow.

“Sweetheart, I had the guards do a thorough search of the grounds then and there. They were long gone, and I’ve had you sleeping in my rooms ever since. I also increased the guards during the day when I knew you’d be back there.” He shares. “Trust me, I’ve done everything possible to ensure your safety.”

“Except tell me that I was in danger!” I cry. “It’s no wonder you flipped out the way you did when I went to see your father! And you blamed me like I was supposed to know about the threat!”

“Ella – He begins in a placating tone.

“No!” I cut him off, stomping my foot out of pure wrath. “How am I supposed to know it’s dangerous if you don’t tell me, Dominic?” I exclaim. “You didn’t even tell me about the rogue attack and that had nothing to do with me! All this time I thought you were being overbearing and overprotective, but l just didn’t have a clue what was happening in my own life!” Too late I realize my earlier desire to leave before I start crying is now a lost cause. Tears are sliding down my cheekS as l continue. “How could you do that! You know what I went through with Mike. I spent years thinking I knew my situation when it was all lies – and you turned around and did the exact same thing!”

Dominic’s usually golden skin goes very pale.

Goddess Ella, I never even thought about it that way.” He admits. “l was just trying to protect you and the pup. I didn’t want you to be afraid”

“Well all you actually did was make a fool of me.”I inform him stiffly. “And for the record, you also made me more vulnerable to danger. Do you think I would have ever considered sneaking away without guards if I knew someone might actually be after me?! Do you believe would ever risk my baby that way?”

“Ella, I’m sorry.” Sinclair professes, and l’m amazed to see how earnest he looks. Gone is the bossy Alpha who orders everyone about and lays down the law when they defy him, replaced by a man who has been truly humbled.

going on about being a team

to admit a mistake – or any fault for that matter. I thoroughly believed that people of his kind never

any man tell me that l’m right in a disagreement i.. well, I think this is the first

going, coming forward to brush the hair back from my face, and

over my chest, tilting my chin up and giving him a haughty sniff to

promise never to do it

“l’m still an Alpha, and hopefully a King. It’s in my nature to protect at all costs, and those instincts are strongest when it comes to she-wolves and pups. When I think about you in danger my wolf fairly loses his mind, and I really am concerned about this pregnancy. You’re high risk as a human, and the longer your blood pressure stays elevated, the more likely you are to become

words send a frisson of

gone mad, but when he puts it in these terms I realize my baby and I might have a harder road ahead of us than I realized. I hadn’t considered myself high risk simply because I’m a human carrying a shifter pup,

I really don’t mind if I suffer, but the idea of

again, ” Sinclair forges ahead, massaging my arms with the pads of his thumbs, “but I promise to

you.” I murmur,

of my head, wrapping his strong arms around

inquire,

me a wolfish grin. “As long as you let me post

and shake my head. “l want to

in contentment. “Good. It’s

can say that again.” I agree, wriggling out of his hold so I can retrieve a night dress from my designated drawer in

back as I rest my uninjured cheek on his bare pec, immediately soothed by his intoxicating scent. I once asked him why I find smelling him so soothing, and he explained that it’s just the pup. Still, l can’t help thinking that I would

sure you’re alright?” Sinclair asks, tracing his fingers in soothing patterns down my back. “After the

of his chest and landing

loud rumble vibrates against my cheek. “Not to me” Sinclair

myself caressing his soft skin, hoping to soothe him the way he so often