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.”

the door, Sinclair pulls me back against his chest. The big Alpha lowers

with excitement and apprehension, and I try to make my voice sound stronger than I feel.

low chuckle vibrates in 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 only a few feet behind us and can hear every word. I feel my cheeks

you two, we’re going to

the trunk before joining us. I’m deeply curious to know more about Henry’s relationship with Roger, especially given the way he warned us about his presence. “Do you see Roger often?”

pass over the older man’s features. “No, I’m afraid my son has never forgiven me for naming Dominic my

shouldn’t have asked.” I apologize, realizing how personal the

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

under his leadership, and I haven’t ever regretted passing the

and I can see his protective side coming out in response to his father’s sadness. “He’s been after me ever since Mom died, and becoming Alpha wouldn’t have helped our relationship at all. If anything it would have created more problems. He would have mismanaged things and I would have been compelled to challenge him. You did the right

there might have been a better way, I could have handled it differently, including losing

blinds us

it sounds like these cards were already on the table from the start. I’m sure you did the

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

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 festival, but the old town has truly been transformed for the holiday. Lights, greenery, ice sculptures

feast is happening against the backdrop of the Midwinter Fair, and though I wish we had time to explore the carnival, when we arrive reporters and photographers are clamoring around

growls at them in warning when they edge too close to me, and though they back off, they remain persistent in their demands for questions and

polite as one can be with political opponents. Afterwards we move to our assigned places

sit down. “Oh no,” I gulp, holding my breath when I see a large platter of grilled fish on the table. “Is that

gaze, quickly growling at a waiter. “Can you remove

it?” The man blinks, looking back and forth between us. I’ve got my hand over my mouth, and my face

smell makes Ella sick.” Sinclair explains, getting impatient with the man’s slowness on the uptake.

feeling my stomach turn in the very same second. I shake my head, knowing I’ve probably turned green and whimpering

enter I know the stranger must have insisted he not set foot in the

high heels clicking across the floor. “Oh you poor dear.” A feminine voice sounds behind me, and gentle hands pull the hair