Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

Ella

“You look radiant.” Sinclair’s father is beaming up at me from his wheelchair, “how’s my grandbaby treating you?”

“Oh he’s certainly making his presence known.”I laugh, sliding my arms into the sleeves of my coat.

Sinclair is holding the garment up for me, then straightens it around my shoulders as if worried I won’t be warm enough. He’s been particularly on edge tonight, and though I understand his agitation, I’m beginning to tire of being treated like a china doll. “Stop fussing, Dominic, I’m fine.”

“I’m still not sure this is a good idea.” He grumbles. “

Your blood pressure was much too high this afternoon and you didn’t get nearly enough rest.”

“You’re the one who keeps telling me how important these events are.”i remind him. “And I feel perfectly well.

He’s still muttering to himself, and Henry chuckles,

You’re fighting a losing battle, my dear. There won’t be any reasoning with him – I was the same way when his mother was breeding and we weren’t campaigning.”

“It’s too much stress.” Sinclair agrees. “All the media and the royal family, on top of the crowds.”

“Not to mention your brother.” Henry adds darkly. It’s true that this is the first time l’m going to be encountering all of these people together, but it’s also far from the last. The Yuletide Feast is only the third night of the festival, and we still have four more high profile events to get through before we can relax. Even then it will only be a temporary reprieve – we still have the rest of the campaign to get through.

“I’Il be fine.” l insist. “You don’t have to coddle me. “

Both men raise their eyebrows, as if to say that this isn’t my decision and I absolutely do need to be coddled.

Sure enough, Sinclair shakes his head and overrules me.

“We’ll come home at the first sign you feel overwhelmed – and that isn’t up for debate.”

face. However as I begin to step towards the door, Sinclair pulls me back against his chest. The big

and I try to make my voice sound stronger

his chest, and I feel very overheated all of a sudden. “Liar.” Sinclair croons, petting me affectionately. I’m only too aware that his father is

two, we’re going to

and into the back of the limo, Sinclair effortlessly lifting his father into the seat and stowing his wheelchair in the trunk before joining us. I’m deeply curious to know more about Henry’s relationship with Roger, especially given the way

“No, I’m afraid my son has never forgiven me for naming

have asked.” I

Henry assures me, looking pensive. “I love my son as any father should,” he shares thoughtfully, “and when

the pack as well as him. Neither would have thrived under his leadership, and I haven’t ever regretted

been after me ever since Mom died, and becoming Alpha wouldn’t have helped our

thinking that there might have been a better way, I could have handled

l offer gently. “And grief blinds us all, there is no right

I’m sure you did the best

you Ella.” Henry proclaims, managing a dim smile. “I

continue to the fair in peaceful silence, and I find myself staring out the window at all the lavish decorations which were put up around the city yesterday. I was too preoccupied fighting with Sinclair to notice when we departed the

and though I wish we had time to explore the carnival, when we arrive reporters and photographers are clamoring around us the moment we

edge too close to me, and though they back off, they remain persistent in their demands for questions and photos. So we head straight to the

and making polite conversation – at least, as polite as one can be with political opponents. Afterwards we move

down. “Oh no,” I gulp, holding my breath when I see

at a waiter. “Can you remove the

over my mouth, and my face is probably very pale from holding my breath.

smell makes Ella sick.” Sinclair explains, getting impatient with the man’s slowness on the uptake. “Get it out of here, can’t you

shake my head, knowing I’ve probably turned green and whimpering when l feel my gag reflex engage. I take off for the restrooms, knowing ifl stay “‘ll be sick all over the beautiful

I race into the bathroom just as another woman is exiting. I can barely hear their confrontation over the sounds of my own retching, but when Sinclair doesn’t enter I know

overtakes me, and I hear high heels clicking across the floor. “Oh you poor dear.” A feminine voice sounds behind