Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

Chapter 58

Ella

On the fourth day of the festival we wake to headlines about Lydia’s reappearance in Moon Valley.

I’m just coming out of the bathroom following my morning bout of vomiting, when I find Sinclair standing in the doorway, glaring at the newspaper. I startle slightly, not expecting to see him in my rooms. I left his bed only half an hour ago, and wasn’t planning on seeing him again until breakfast. I’m not sure what’s on the front page of the paper, but it must be bad if it couldn’t wait.

He glances up at me, frowning deeply. “I thought I asked you to tell me when you feel ill.”

“Dominic, it’s happening so often now that it would be impossible to tell you every time, and it’s not as if I have a lot of warning when it comes on.” I argue, though this isn’t the full truth. As much as his presence and gentle hands soothe me, I still find it horribly embarrassing to be sick in front of him, and I avoid informing him whenever possible.

Sinclair narrows his eyes, but before he can call me out for bending the truth I cross the distance between us. “What’s going on?”

He shows me the paper, which is dominated by a large black and white photo of Sinclair and Lydia by the snow maze. The headlines are in bold black lettering above the image.

Trouble in Paradise? Former Luna Returns to Reclaim her Mate.

My eyes widen in shock, and I quickly scan the article. While the media had been kept away from the main feast, they clearly hadn’t been barred from the rest of the fair. Worse, it seems like they overheard most or all of Sinclair’s confrontation with Lydia.

Though Moon Valley Alpha Dominic Sinclair seems to have won the lottery with his second chance mate, Ella Correntin, his attention wasn’t on his bride-to-be at the annual Yuletide Feast in Oldtown. Instead, the prospective King was seen chasing his ex-wife Lydia Davis – now of the Bloodbane pack – through the fait, causing his pregnant mate to walk Out of the event in protest. Onlookers report that the two engaged in a heated conversation wherein Lydia professed her desire to mend bridges with the Alpha, claiming she still loves him and that his second chance mate isn’t strong enough to lead the Moon Valley Pack, let alone the Kingdom. Though Sinclair rejected her advances, Lydia fiercely declared she wasn’t going to give up on him, leaving many to wonder if the fated pair might be able to repair their relationship.

“They’re all like this.” He shares, tension lacing his words. “Every paper and tabloid is some version of this.

fr****g Lydia probably planted the story herself, given the way they left out the pieces that might make her look bad.”

Guilt washes over me as I realize how leaving the festival must have looked to onlookers, especially given this information. “l’m so sorry I left.”I murmur. “l didn’t think, I should have stuck it out and waited for you to come back.”

Sinclair frowns down at me. “What are you talking about?”

with you

anyone is to blame it’s me for arguing with

try to

it isn’t your fault, and I meant it.” Sinclair

the campaign?” I ask, though it comes out rather muddled since his

a statement refuting all this, but the more important part is that we put

to steady my nerves. “And it’s was sailing tonight, right? So

“Right,” he confirms.

wish I could really drink.”I lament. “l could

to

you nervous but you always

to participate, you mean?” I correct him, still regretting my decision to

a free pass when it comes to all these public responsibilities. In case you’ve forgotten I was voting for you to

me after all.” I sigh,

his chest,

to see you’re learning that I’m

– much good that it does. “You

let you forget it, either.” Sinclair

laugh, ceasing my struggles and submitting to his petting.”Bossy

descends almost immediately. Cameras are flashing before we even exit the car. Sinclair wraps a protective arm around my shoulders, growling softly when the reporters get too close, and eventually they

any comment about the reports regarding your

Sinclair begins coolly. “That I’m happier with Ella than l ever was with her, and there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell that I would ever take back someone who walked out on their pack when they needed them most. There’s no love lost between us, but I have no respect for a Luna who abandons her responsibilities as a

reporter murmur and exchange glances, and suddenly the microphone is pointing to me. “Ella, how do you feel about Lydia’s accusations that you’re not strong enough

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